Two days (and counting) have passed since I planned and would normally have drafted and hopefully published this monthly post…I kept telling myself: “later”… Well, now IS later.

In the background, my clock, ticks steadily: tick tock, tick tock, tick tock…I don’t remember the last time I changed the battery. I do know it’s been more than a few years. T’is a comforting sound. The clock, designed to replicate three book spines, has faded over the years I’ve had it…at least ten? A quote from Anne Lamott : “It’s good to remember: We are all on borrowed time.”

Wednesday, my birthday – a quite a lovely day it was:

• Loads of well wishes from family and old friends, far and near. Beautiful cards plus, a long call from my college days’ friend – we were freshwomen when we first met…that was eons ago…
• Kicking off with a Zoom session with friend Kathy, complete with my wearing a paper crown…

• A long phone chat with a local friend (too many days had passed since last we spoke) …

• My friend Linda sent this absolutely lovely hand painted, stitched quilted piece she made…

As it is November and the month of gratitudes, I have been keenly conscious of my own gratitude list. Each day, during my 8 AM Writers’ Hour session, prompted by a DayONE Gratitude challenge, the theme on my birthday, 15 November: “ a simple delight I have been enjoying lately” and to the above I also add:

• Good books – source for another post. Currently, I’m reading a second Maggie Smith title: Keep Moving, after enjoying a Writers’ Hour interview with her last week…

• Autumn colors, temps and sky – for the win!..
• Decluttering my craft and stitching studios for current and end of 2023 holiday projects…

Thanks for spending a few moments with me. Do have a great week end.

Cheers~