Category: currently

practicing gratitude |

Published on by Honoré10 Comments

Sunday: Norman’s birthday. Now, he’s a young 87 years old! We had a quiet celebration with his son … I managed to capture the Oct/Nov full moon …

Monday: New carpet for basement & first floor steps… I love the look, the smell …

Tuesday/Today/Election Day: We voted by mail several weeks ago – the District mailed ballots to all registered voters. .. and here we are on election day! Finally! I guess … I hope.

About mid-day, I took a long walk through our neighborhood park – almost deserted. Probably because the weather’s turned a tad bit chilly. The sun on the changing, colorful leaves left my heart and me warm… and for that, I am always grateful.

Time to hit publish, watch the setting sun, prepare dinner … and wait.

Cheers~

sometimes …

Published on by Honoré9 Comments
  IMG_1078      monday morphs into tuesday… I had the best intentions, plans and ideas yesterday to post … and somehow for some reason, some way, the day got away from me … as it did over the weekend. Perhaps because I was on Zoom, more than off, it seems – I hasten to add, not a complaint, just a fact. I am grateful for Zoom and other similar technologies; not only are we  able to keep in touch with family,  we’re also enabled to:
  1. connect with friends , including those who perhaps we’ve only met online via our blogs and other social media;
  2. learn new techniques in areas of our own personal interests, etc.
IMG_1064      saturday -the 15th- afternoon, I went to Barnes & Noble and managed to spend more than enough on books to keep me company for a bit…more on them tomorrow.  t’ws my first visit to a bookstore since February! I also stopped at a local office supply  – filled with back to school supplies. In normal times, the inventory would be pretty much decimated. I bought the little guys each their own composition notebook, designed specifically for their ages: 6 and 2 3/4. I know that through the balance of 2020, Chris (6 years) will be doing first grade virtually and Elias, of course, will want to do everything his big bro’ (idol) does. I felt a tinge of sadness as I looked at all the school supplies – memories of back-to-school from my childhood, my nieces, flooded over and floored me as the reality of these times stopped me cold. [deep sigh].   IMG_1088      yesterday it rained off -n-on and then of course stormed – just as Norman was putting the trash out for tuesday’s collection. why not? fortunately, tv reception wasn’t affected so we were able to watch the Democratic National Convention.   IMG_1113      today was nearly perfect – low 80s ! Unheard of in the middle of August in these parts. I do not complain!  Cheers~     PS. A reminder: next Tuesday, August 25 is the monthly one little word linkup on this blog!  

Random thoughts …

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~Fri 7 Aug – 7:36 PM EST~

… last week (as I took my late afternoon walk , alone and slowly, for my aching back pain was then and at times, still attention-gripping), Friday’s sky was indeed a study. I wished I had watercolors and brush to stop and play; instead, I gave thanks for my iPhone camera. I wished also to lay down on the grass and look up at the sky. Ha! Who am I kidding ? I’d probably still be there, unable to get up… still the thought appeals …

… today, the sky poured earlier.  As I pen this post, it appears that the rain is over – an invitation for a walk…

… the grass in the back yard, is overdue for a cut – I can see the blades waving, caressed (?) by a gentle breeze. Our lawn care guy had to postpone the scheduled “cut;” his dad tested positive for Covid-19 …

… leaving you with this link (from the Smithsonian ) to a very different window on the world during these times of Covid-19 … Enjoy!

…and now, I’m off for the walk before the next round of rain comes!

Cheers~

 

july’s new moon | 7.20.20 …

Published on by Honoré12 Comments

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Today, the hottest day so far this season, is also the new moon.  According to my zodiac sign – Scorpio – travel and books are on my mind . Yep, I have to agree. I’d hoped to be traveling to Sisters OR, early Fall and I’ve two books  – both vying for my time and attention – nearly finished, just in time for tomorrow’s Recent Reads Zoom gathering. I have at least one Zoom session every day this week! To say Zoom has been a lifeline is an understatement. I’d planned to post earlier today but got sidetracked by another project I am resurrecting, starting today.  My plan is to share more about it later this week.

I hope you have a cool(er) week than what we’re having right now- our prospects don’t look too good. Fortunately, we have AC!!! and I’ve plenty of activities to keep me occupied.

Visit this site if you’d like to read your horoscope for July’s New Moon in Cancer … and stay cool.

Cheers~

PS. The moon face is from a Sunrise greeting card  I found in my stash- NA as best I can tell.

begin again*…

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This year, 2020 – 244 years ago – the United States, on July 4, 1776  declared its independence as a nation…

This year, 2020, the United States, is experiencing  a world-wide health pandemic of epic proportions…

This year, 2020, the United States, is at a crossroads, on the threshold of finally living up to the ideals and principles of the Declaration of Independence for all peoples of this country  – or not.

*Begin Again by Eddie S. Glaude, Jr., published just this week: [It ] is at once a searing exploration that lays bare the tangled web of race, trauma, and memory, and a powerful interrogation of what we all must ask of ourselves in order to call forth a new America…  Good Reads

Will we begin again?

3 for …

Published on by Honoré12 Comments

 

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1.  and now he is SIX!

Tuesday, June 9, Chris graduated from KDG to First grade – virtually!  Yesterday, 10 June, he turned 6. We celebrated via Zoom and watched with drooling mouths as his cake was cut and eaten. Despite being miles apart, as far away as Ohio where his great grandad lives, we had a raucous good time…Norman and I celebrated with champagne, of course!

2. back to the future is now 

Earlier this month, in this space and on my Instagram, I allowed as how I was learning the 3 Needle Bind Off  technique for joining squares of the LogCabin9Patch lap blanket I’m knitting – or is it that I’m being knitted? Whatever, I’m running into a problem with dropping stitches, losing count. So it’s tink, tink, tink. I am determined to master this and have the 4 PM hour reserved for the endeavor. So far, success remains elusive but I shall push on…

3. it ain’t just broke 

 IT is Central Air and has to be replaced! The entire system, mais oui (but of course). Naturally one finds this out when the temperature is in the 90s with the humidity equally high! I guess it’s a good thing I am not going to Oregon this Fall, as I’d tentatively planned before Covid-19 …

Joining Unraveled Wednesday and 3 on Thursday this week.  Do visit Kat and Carole and see what’s going on with others this week.

I think I feel a slight breeze. Wahoo!

Cheers~

 

 

wrap up …

Published on by Honoré9 Comments

 

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In January, I shared a quilt block I’d made to send to the Quilt Blocks for Australian Wollongong Modern Quilt Guild in the Australian province of New South Wales. They report we have “received blocks from over 30 countries. Our current block tally is 14,359. We estimate that the final number of blocks will be over 15,000 blocks.” The blocks are a delight. Want to see some? Check out this link : https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/bushfireblocks/?hl=en

We took a walk early afternoon. The flowers were lovely. Tomorrow, the City’s monthly shred and disposal of household electronics, etc reopens…so I’ve spent the past couple hours purging files to take to be shredded.

As I draft this post, the sky is turning ominously gray; I imagine a storm is brewing which is good because we’ve had a second day in a row of humid, hot weather. A cool off will be much appreciated.

Hope you have a good and cool weekend ahead.

Cheers~

 

on a rare day in June …

Published on by Honoré8 Comments

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I believe this sidewalk art was made by a young girl, approximately 9 years old. I have seen her in her yard on my walks.

Against the backdrop of the first of June’s rare days, we ~ here in the Nation’s capital ~ are under a 7 PM – 6AM curfew. On Friday last, the Covid-19 “stay at home” order was lifted … and here, as with many major cities across the Nation, protests have been ongoing and devastating.

Peace.

friday’s thoughts | 5.22.20 …

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~18 may 2020 LOAD entry~

the days run together… in these times, only venturing out primarily to a) get some fresh air or b) stretch my legs, I’m in the house … today it rains, il pleut, as I always enter in my journal. the steady patter of rain drops on the skylight is very soothing, almost causing me to doze off -ha!, tho’ I did consider a return to bed with a good book – but who am I kidding? I don’t return to bed for naps unless I am not feeling well and well, that’s not the situation, knock on wood!

Friday afternoons’ Journal Club sessions are on hiatus until the Fall. Hmmm. I normally continue the practice, on my own, during the interim…thus far, since the session’s end, I’ve fallen out of the practice (i.e., Friday afternoon journaling session). Time to resume; I know the rhythm. Yes! I will do that; in fact, I am doing so now, sortof, as I pen this post. Normally, my journaling is handwritten.

The house is quiet; Norman just left to take a walk. The only sounds I hear are the click, click of the keyboard, the tick tick of the clock and an occasional car driving down the street. What do I do next?  I have plenty options:

  1. create today’s LOAD 520 layout – the theme is friendship;
  2. find some fabric among my stash for two small quilt projects on my list;
  3. update the May Collect photo collage;
  4.  take a lunch break; and
  5. read a chapter in Before We Were Yours.

I think after I hit publish I’ll do 4 and 5 … and then see what next calls to me…

We here in the Nation’s capital are still under a stay-at-home order with a possible lifting 29 May. Ah, here comes the sun? And a reminder: Tuesday, 26 May is the One Little Word monthly link up here on this blog. Looking forward to sharing and reading.

Have a great holiday weekend, however you spend it. Be safe!

Cheers~