Morning Glory Studio

MMM* and a little Weekending, thrown in...

T’is a lovely, quiet Monday.  Both the washer and drayer are doing their thing...almost done with that chore. The day is cool-ish: mid 70s (no complaint here!) and grey-ish. Occasionally, I look up and out, astonished to see leaves falling from a tree! So soon? Closer examination reveals the tree’s turning; the leaves have a brown-yellowish tint. 

 

Last week I promised to share a bit o’ mail I received from my friend Kathy. She made the card to enclose some photos from a high tea tasting we so enjoyed several years ago...the tea room is in historical Ellicott City MD and has experienced, in a year’s time, two devastating floods that have practically wiped out the popular tourist attraction shops...not sure the town will come  back...The mail was bittersweet: bringing back memories of my friend - we just  don’t see one another often enough and poignant because of the floods. My friend Pat grew up in Ellicott City so I know she's unavoidably saddened. 

 

Yesterday was my monthly Friendstitching gathering (apparently I’ve written this sentence more than once cause my autofill prompted the words in italics before I touched the keyboard - FREAKY!) There were just three of us: Pat, Margaret and me. Theresa was in PA...I added the borders on my Convergence Quilt. Finally decided what I wanted to do so, the rest should be smooth sailing here out...possibly even a FINISH this week! And in my email this morning: announcement of a Convergence Quilt class # 2. Guess who plans to sign up...which reminds me, I’d better do that next. 

Happy Monday!

 Cheers~

*MemosMailMe

sometimes weekends and mondays...

 

 

(Photos: Friday morning MSQT; Saturday morning sunrise; indoor picnic; baby Elias and  Chris; 10:17 was also the address of our childhood home.)

...do manage to get away from me/us. T'was very quiet, delightfully so 'cause it rained Saturday.  Sunday was very hot - and still is. Today's weather is not fit for man or beast. I've spent most of the day reading, writing, sorting through papers (a NEVER! ending activity) and contemplating what I'd pen for today's post. Most of yesterday - I'm almost ashamed to admit - I found myself deeply down the YouTube hole; actually, it was all the energy I could muster. I did tear myself away long enough to join Norman and his son, Myron, for an indoor picnic, complete with a flute or two of champagne (but alas, no pizza). 

 The big news is that Christian moved  into her first, own apartment! It's 600 sq ft and she hasn't a stick of furniture, possibly not even a plate or fork! But, it's within walking distance of work,  in a section of town that's rapidly growing with young folk and new apartment buildings. She spent her first night there and reports: "it wasn't too bad!"  I'm going over one evening after she gets off work to size up the lay of the land and then, we'll take it from there: IKEA; Goodwill; Salvation Army; family and friends...reminds me of when I  set up my first apartment, many decades ago. I still have some of the silverware...

Tomorrow's a busy day and unfortunately, I have to go out in the heat.Yuk! Perhaps after my appointment, I'll mosey on over to Barnes & Noble, yeah! That sounds very appealing...

I trust it's cooler in your parts - much!

Cheers~

tiny-tiny moments | Memorial Day 2018 weekend...

 

 Baby Elias’ first visit on his six months’ birthday, Sunday 27 th

Top Left to Right: Looking at the ceiling fan; a snuggle from Mommy...

Bottom Left to Right: A big smile for Great Grand Auntie Honoré ‘s camera and a nap in Mimi’s (his grandmother) arms.

Other  Holiday Weekend moments: 

1. Finished - at last the 4th Inspector Gamache novel:    Four down, nine to go! Numbers 5 & 6 are queued in my Audible account, ready for the big listen...
2. Enjoyed our family gatherings, Sunday: my nieces and Baby Elias. Big brother Chris was otherwise engaged ( with his dad) so ;-((.  Monday: Norman’s son visited...
3. Completed the major döstädning of my craft and sewing rooms...well, at least, the first pass through...Over the summer’s 100 days plus, I plan to tackle the closets/storage areas; books; memory keeping and quilting projects, supplies; stuff and clothes ...
4. Watched a bit o’ baseball and a movie or two ...
5. Appreciated the quiet of the “world slowed down” a tad thanks to the 3-day weekend.

What magical tiny tiny moments filled your holiday weekend?

Cheers~

weekending...

 

The first sunset of DST (daylight savings time and also the English letters of my Greek Sorority, Delta Δ Sigma  ∑ Theta Θ - just a bit of trivia...) 

7:14 PM/ESDST:  I looked out the window and noted the sun was setting...and promptly went to capture a few pics...

Quiet around here today; we're both trying to readjust to the loss of an hour -  I didn't do so well, getting up a good hour+ after my normal waking time and then, lounging in bed, reading, journaling, etc...

Spent some time - the sun was shining in my sewing studio - sewing the strips of Elias' quilt. Yesterday, I decided to order some fabric, after all, to include in the quilt...I think it's going to be "just perfect;" the only problem: it's coming from Oregon...

My arm still smarts from Friday's pneumonia shot. Seems that as the day wears on, discomfort intensifies...

I listened to this week's 100 Day Project interview. Not sure that I'm doing a project...contemplating several options. If I do, it will be to create and establish or solidify habit/s pertaining to my 2018 words, especially "mindful"...

Döstädning  continues... a long, slow process, especially sorting through papers and odds/ends of notes, mostly written on whatever piece of paper was handy at the time the thought materialized... but I have no deadline. Who knows, this may be my 100 day project! ...

Last Sunday, I stopped at the grocery store and there was a Brownie troop, setup outside, selling Girl Scout cookies - after all, it is March! They were a loud group of little ones, just as cute as can be with their fun sunglasses and signs and unbridled excitement. Reminded me of my Brownie/Girl Scout days: I was not a successful door-to-door salesperson and we certainly didn't have the opportunity to set up shop outside a supermarket. Of course I bought a box of shortbread cookies - my favorite - and got permission to take their picture. Fun trip down memory lane! 

And that's a wrap for this, the 10th weekend of 2018. What stood out for you this weekend?

Cheers~

Next! ...

 

   (fabric and cats for baby Elias' quilt)

Christian's costume - the tulle skirt, is done. We made some minor changes as she told me the wrong amount of yardage to buy...no big deal. She says she's completed the top half and that she'll be ready to board the boat at 8:30 pm, tonight! I hope so or else she'll get left behind! Horrors! I'm looking forward to seeing photos of her in full regalia...should be fun (I plan to share tomorrow/Monday).

Next on the "family stitching" agenda: a quilt for Baby Elias who's scheduled to arrive in January! I plan to cut the pieces out tomorrow...and have decided that I will also have six other cats cut...so half face left and the other right...thinking I'd like that better...

Over this past week, I've accomplished  a lot in the way of decluttering...no where near finished but both my sewing studio and craft room are organized and functional! Today, too, has been quietly  busy.

Next: time to relax, read, perhaps knit a bit ...that appeals to me!

Cheers~

 

around here | on a rainy Sunday ...

 

9:24 am:  the effects of  Tropical Storm Nate are slowly making their way north... Today: light rain accompanied by 94% humidity. Norman just walked inside - out to feed the cat - "it's like a beautiful spring day!" I don't think so...just humid and wet. The rainy grey morning is brightened by the alstroemeria on the table and the trees in my view...slowly changing to a  green tea greenish-yellow with just a hint of red here-n-there.

10:30 am: breakfast over and in the background, a Sunday TV talk show on.  Norman's expecting his son and godson this afternoon so we've started to "pick up, " not that it matters. He's mopping the kitchen floor; I decide to relocate some books and magazines that have lived on the library table and hassock in the entry-way far too long. I needed the encouragement ...

1 pm: Myron arrives and immediately he and his dad start "solving MLB team playoff  and the world's problems...I think to myself, they make a lot of sense and certainly we could use some sense. A call from his godson: his 90+ grandmother in the hospital for observation so he won't be able to join Norman and Myron. We hope that the grandmother will be better, soon...

1:30 pm: I go upstairs. Time to finish unpacking my stitching stuff from my trip plus pull together supplies, etc for tomorrow's quilting class  sponsored by my quilting group. While I'm at it, I decide to reorganize my studio, a bit - tho' there's not much I can do. I have way too much stuff for a 72 square foot room. I think that I also need more shelving and resist the (momentary) urge to go to IKEA. Not a good idea, especially on the weekend. I walk into my craft/office area and think: if I weed some of my books and consolidate some stuff, I'd have plenty of space. Note to Self: add to this month's projects. I also make a mental note: since i reorganized the basement storage area, there's a bit more space there, too, if...

4:15 pm: the phone rings and I answer...a survey being conducted for DC government about services for residents over 50; yes, I agree to be surveyed. After the survey, I fix myself a sandwich and more tea; the guys have already eaten and have resumed solving the world's problems. 

4:45 pm: Back upstairs to finish organizing and putting away stuff in my sewing studio...I'm taking a break to finish this post and once I hit publish, I'll  try to make some sense in the other room, too. And maybe later this evening, top the day off with a glass of champagne and Inspector Gamache!

Yeah! That sounds like a good plan. How was your weekend/Sunday?

Cheers~

a saturday adventure...

 

 

I had an interesting walk this afternoon:

• I decided to go to Zeke's, my local coffee shop, and sit outside...the day was warm - well hot (how 'bout 90+ degrees in the shade - and tho' a tad humid, bearable) and watch the activity on the Avenue (Rhode Island/US 1).  On my way, there was a noticeable increase in traffic..and as I got closer to the area park, music and lots of people, arriving and/or situated there. Food stands, classic convertibles; children; families; young/old...all gathered to honor and celebrate Chuck Brown, the Founder/Godfather of the  Go Go music genre.  I realized that when I'd walked through the park earlier this week there was a lot of grounds' maintenance going on: grass and  hanging tree limbs cut; additional  porta-johns and trash receptacles being situated, etc...curious, I thought then and dismissed it...

 

• At Zeke's, I ordered a cold brew and definitely decided to sit outside...their A/C is on the blink...second time this season! Despite the temp and humidity, it was definitely cooler out than in. Just as I sat down a woman sat down at the table next to me...we struck up a conversation and she shared with me lots of history about the area. She's lived here for nearly 55 years. We talked for a good 45 minutes and then walked towards home -  we discovered we were going in the same direction as we live  about 8 blocks away from one another. Small world ...

 

• Just as I arrived home, I saw the mail carrier and waited til she got to the house. For me: happy mail! Inside? Stay tuned...

 

• Hot - did I share the temps were in the 90s? - I immediately went upstairs to shower (Norman was on the phone with his son) and realized I'd gotten sun burned! My face, arms, hands . I was wearing a hat, sunglasses -but no sunscreen. I wonder if the coming eclipse has anything to do with the strength of the sun's rays...After my shower, I parked myself on the bed to catch up on email and read a tad...A perfect ending to the day's adventure.

 

Cheers~ 

on a rare day in JULY!

 

Sunday 30 July 2017 83 degrees

This has been a day to be outside, taking in the sights, sounds, sensations of an absolutely rare day in June... July!    Mother Nature has truly blessed us.  My day started with my usual MSQT and a nice chat with friend Pat. About 10:20am, Norman and I left - he going to Mass and I,  to sit out on the Avenue@ Zeke's Coffee Shop.  On the way, I stopped at a neighborhood grocery store and bought a filling and delish lemon ricotta-filled muffin and some bananas (we were out). Figured I'd have breakfast @ Zeke's.

Settled at an outside table with my coffee, muffin, banana, iPhone/iPad and journal, I spent the next hour and a half or so enjoying conversations with others seated in the outdoors portion of the coffee shop and just enjoying the moments:

• Most amusing: a young mother with twins, a boy and a girl, about 14 months old, just starting to walk. The girl, steadier on her feet and less adventuresome; the boy: wobblier and adventuresome - off he'd go. Poor mom, trying to take a few minutes and drink her iced coffee - he had other thoughts. T'was funny and finally, Mom decided to put them both -especially him- in their strollers. He was an unhappy camper...
• Most enterprising: a guy washing and detailing cars, just a few yards down the street...this could only be done on a Sunday morning, I'm sure...traffic too dense and fast on weekdays...

I might have stayed put all day but I closed up shop about 12:30 pm and walked home. Norman had returned from Mass and we watched a couple Sunday talk shows...

About 3:30 pm (Norman had gone for a walk - to the grocery store), I heard a commotion on the street and  went to check it out... and there for the entire block  were at least seven fire, hazardous materials trucks and an ambulance! Apparently, neighbors about 7 houses down thought they smelled/detected carbon monoxide - fortunately, not. The trucks left, I returned to my perch at the table; shortly thereafter, Norman returned home from his walk to  the grocery store. I'm thinking as I wrap up this post, he's now probably taking a nap. Just like the cat has all day. It's just been one of those lazy summer days. 

Cheers~

 

saturday morning...

 

 

 

9:30 am      saturday    24 June 2017

tv  playing in the background...

A/C on; deck door wide open...

Norman on phone with his godson...

I am reading blog posts, catching up...

a breeze as seen in the trees' movement; puffy white clouds float in the bright blue sky...

what's for breakfast?...

we lost power about 8:11 am.  oh no!..

fortunately, short lived. whew!

on father's day | 18 june 2017...

 

 

Norman and his son Myron have had a wonderful afternoon:

• working on a special project;
• watching and listening to the Nat/Mets game - Nats lost;  
• chatting - their favorite  pastime - and solving the world's problems; no headway there;
• staying cool and most importantly -
• enjoying one another's  company!

Before Myron arrived, I walked to Zeke's and spent about an hour there  - inside! Too hot to sit outside. The coffee shop was busy - a seat or two left. On my way home, I stopped at the library. Home, I took another shower and lounged on the bed, reading and journaling. Just cooling it...and remembering my dad  - with a huge smile on my face.

 

Hope your Father's Day has been a good one, filled wth old and new memories.

Cheers~