Category: Just Life

ensconced …

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Looking back on the week, I think it’s been a good one, despite*the current state of my well-being:

• Monday: I attended weekly quilt group meeting followed by my fave lunch at Nordstrom…

• Tuesday: @ home day, tackling and completing my least fave activity: tallying monthly expenses…

• Wednesday: a hint of spring in the air and the invitation to take a longer than usual walk. My walking companion: more of  Anne Patchett’s Dutch House. I am so enjoying this book; Tom Hanks’ narration is perfect!  Wednesday evening I started feeling punk…

• Thursday: I missed joining my stitching group, opting to stay home and take care of me. Wise move…which brings me to today …

• *Friday/Today:  I’m sitting in bed, surrounded by books, journals, planner, a magazine and my iToys, er uh, tools. Not too far away, a glass of water, my tea mug with tea half cooled; issues and a packet of DayQuil/NightQuil acetaminophen capsules. Yucky! Yep, I have been stopped in my tracks – I have a cold! Despite both flu and pneumonia vaccines. I tell myself “this too shall pass” and I certainly hope such is the case, soon! Of course, against the backdrop of novel COVID19, this malady takes on a larger magnitude, as cases here in the US spread and increase in numbers. My cold began late Wednesday evening and seems to be running the usual course. I certainly hope that is the case. 

My appetite is intact; that’s a good sign and an invitation to feed me some breakfast .

Have a great weekend.

Cheers~

ode to my mug …

Published on by Honoré12 Comments

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~11 may  2014~

All good things come to an end and this morning, my beloved ceramic tea mug*  bit the dust. I’d washed the cup in the dishwasher and emptying said, picked up the mug, out of the top rack, by its silicone sleeve whereby the mug slid out, landing on the granite counter – of course! Result: the rim of the cup chipped on two sides – opposite, mais oui! – thereby rendering the cup useless.

A quick web search this morning yielded many replacements but none quite measure up. A while back, I bought a similar mug from IKEA and it seems to come closest to the real thing! With Christmas coming – just 30 days away – I will soon be using my fave Scotty Dog mug – best for hot tea and hot chocolate – until I find a suitable replacement or Santa brings a new mug.

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In every cloud, there is indeed a silver lining; a post for today plus a zillion – I exaggerate a wee bit – mug shots (pun intended) above, taken over the years, through all seasons, morning, noon, and night. Seldom has my mug been beyond arm’s reach. I suspect the mug is still serviceable as a pen/pencil holder. I’ll consider.

Cheers~

 

*gifted to me by my dear friend Linda in Oregon, May 2014.

celebrating…

Published on by Honoré13 Comments

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~Atlantic Ocean view from restaurant,  4:20 pm, 15 Nov 2019 ~

 I had an absolutely delightful weekend celebrating my Fri, November 15 birthday with friends: some from far away and long ago; others, right here in the area:

  • Thursday, friends Kathy and Laura (both former work colleagues. Laura lives in FL; Kathy, DE. Laura was here Wednesday for an end-of-training session celebration in Columbia MD. I picked her up Thursday morning} and I drove to Bethany Beach , DE for a retreat in the off-season!

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~sunset, Bethany Beach, 15 November, 4:55 pm EST~

  • Friday, we walked the beach; collected shells and pictures of the ocean, sky, waves; ate; laughed; chatted; journaled; shared books and ideas and caught up with one another.  Friday was also Journal Club  and we joined in, sitting at the same table!  Afterwards we went to a fun restaurant for an early dinner, more laughing, sharing, reminiscing,… wash, rinse, repeat…
  • Saturday, we awoke to a roiling ocean. Sadly, our gathering was ending and we had to resume normal lives. After depositing Kathy at home, I dropped Laura off at the airport, drove home arriving  about 8 pm. Exhilarated and tired. Ready for my own bed…
  • Sunday, monthly Friendstitch gathering. More birthday celebration: good friends, good  food (pizza; champagne; salads; cookies and lemon tart cake) and fun… and on
  • Monday, she rested!

I am so grateful to my friends for this wonderful celebration and forever memories.

just life …

Published on by Honoré11 Comments

 

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… Robert Burns: “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men / Gang aft a-gley.” is a quote frequently featured on this blog over the nearly 10 years I’ve been blogging. The events in my life last week…and I don’t intend to be melodramatic, eclipse any previous examples I’ve shared to illustrate RBurns’ ode. I don’t know why I didn’t get around to last Wednesday’s post, just that I’d decided to gather Wed, Thurs and Fri bon mots into one post, slated to publish Friday.

All of that changed Thursday morning, approximately 9:15 am.  Norman had a 10 am appointment; I was dropping him off and planned to proceed to join my Thursday Stitching group. I’d put my stitching basket in the back seat of the car, tuned to go back into the house and the next thing I knew, I was flat on my face. Yep! I fell! Fortunately, I didn’t beak any bones or teeth but I did have to go to the dentist because tissue from my upper lip got stuck in between my two front teeth.

I am on the mend; bruised but not broken, thankfully. I’m not sure what caused my fall; I do recall feeling a little roughness in the curb’s concrete; perhaps the sole of my shoe got stuck momentarily. It’s all a mystery. Whatever, gravity won – always. The bruising is beginning to fade.

Today is my niece/namesake’s 51st birthday.  To celebrate, my niece decided to have a family PJ party Saturday with her mom (my sister), girls (my grand nieces),  the little boys and Hazel (Chris’ pup). I opted not to stay overnight. Everybody had a grand time; I’m not too sure how much sleep anyone got.  Happy Happy Mimi as her grandsons, Chris and Elias, call her.

Yesterday (Sunday)  it rained buckets and more buckets. Today has been a perfect Fall day; it has been cold enough to spur the leaves to begin changing colors. Finally!  I have a quiet week ahead and I’m looking forward to resuming my old +new = different rhythm/cadence‽ And the Wed and Fri blog post schedule.

Cheers~

 

on an autumn day …

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#blueskyblooms

This lovely 12th day of autumn/fall brought:

  • brilliant blue sky with temps in the low 70s;
  • my morning walk enhanced by the above;
  • Journal Club Friday;
  • an hair appt + fast trip to Whole Foods for a few items including a slice of my fave pizza: margherita: cheese+spinach+tomato;*
  • a long chat with a friend ~ we hadn’t spoken for too long;
  • monthly expenses (my least favorite activity) computed and accounts all reconciled.

There’s one last thing left on today’s agenda and that’s to make a layout for the 31 days October LOAD (layout a day) challenge. I have til midnight Pacific time  – which is 3 AM EST – to get it posted but who am I kidding? There’s no way I’ll be up at that hour. And so with that I wish us all a wonderful weekend!

Cheers~

*I think I will practice my hand at making the pizza one day in the not-so-distant future tho’ that might not be a good idea; I might wind up with pizza several times a week contrasted to approx once a month …

collecting september 2019 …

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Here we are into another month. Seems just yesterday September was beginning! September was hot, almost too hot to spend outside but I managed to get my fair share of the outdoors in. Memories of the days:

1 – The first brings the latest One Little Word prompt from Ali Edwards; t’is how I usually begin that morning …

3 – Chris returning home from his first day of school and l’il brother Elias ever so happy to see him; t’was a long day …

4 – Lovely flowers and discovered a new yoga studio on my  morning walk; Note To Self: remember to look into the offerings …

5 – For sure, a sign of autumn, as also in 16, 17, 19, & 20. It’s been hot and dry; not sure what the Fall colors are going to look like this year …

6, 10, 26*, 28 & 29 – AM  and/or PM sky, always a study …. * 26 is a photo of a plane flying toward the moon ( kinda hard to see); reminded me of the popular phrase  to the moon and back …

7 – A beautiful day, weather wise. I walked to the Franciscan Monastery and enjoyed being out in the nature, as Dolly – now 33 – characterized when she was a little one …

8 – Hazel, niece Chris’ pup, is no longer hazel in coloring; 14 – meet Tiki, dog of one of my quilting friends …

9 – A quilt pattern I’ve added to my someday maybe list …

22 – Celebrating friend Pat’s birthday, happy Happy!

25 – Me, waiting at DMV to renew driver’s license … still waiting …

29 – Trying to capture the sunset; the mesh screen added a different look to the photo…

30 – UMD marching band practicing… college football season is here!

And thus it was: many moments that contribute to a grateful life.

Cheers~

 

collecting august 2019 …

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Twenty days into September! Two thirds of the month gone. TODAY,  realizing  I totally forgot to post August’s “Collect” post…so, here t’is…

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Highlights of the month – Photos:

  • 3, 4 & 5: taken on the Saturday friend Margaret and I attended a full day’s preview of Fall’s new book releases, presented by Washington DC local/area indie booksellers. Photo #4 was taken underground at a Metro station, while waiting for a train; first time I’d ever seen a musician playing inside a station ~ maybe ’cause it was a weekend?
  • 9, 10 & 11: weather was absolutely perfect – an early preview of Fall. I walked to the Franciscan Monastery and just enjoyed being… Did you see the butterfly in the 10th’s picture? On the 11th, a friend held her annual Summer Fling – last year, rained out. This year, Mother Nature redeemed herself  and we had a lovely early evening love affair under blue skies, tall, elegant trees, a setting enhanced by music from a jazz trio and good food!
  • 13 -19: I participated in a mini LOAD – Layout A Day this week. I used a Traveler’s Notebook for my album and enjoyed the compactness of the 2-page spread for each story/layout. I see more on the horizon ~ possibly soon. The October 31-days’ session is just around the bend.
  • 20 & 31: 20-tieth  was actually sunset on the 19th ~ such dramatic clouds! 31st was taken in the morning – I loved capturing the sun peeking out from behind the tree.

Always, when I look back and reflect on the month, I am so very grateful for these lovely moments in and of my life!

Enjoy your weekend!

Cheers~

weekending labor day style | 2019 …

Published on by Honoré8 Comments

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Thursday had to be the perfect- it’s – almost-Fall day. The Thursday  Stitchers had lunch outside and just enjoyed the weather! Brunch:  margherita pizza and fresh watermelon. Yum!

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I have an idea for rearranging the living room. Friday morning I went to IKEA to see if there are any furniture pieces – as in bookshelves and tables – that might fit the bill. I arrived early for their Swedish American breakfast (the restaurant opens 30 minutes before the showrooms). Seated at the window, I  looked up and saw a flock of Canadien Geese, yes – heading south. By the time I got my iPhone on, I was just able to catch the formation – upper left corner…

IMG_9735Saturday was the Library of Congress’  National Book Festival, held in the Washington Convention Center. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg was the star attraction – more than 4000 people were in the audience for her segment – some having arrived at 4 a.m to get in line. I opted to watch on TV – at home; best seat in the house. A quick google search will pull up the program, broadcast on C-span2/Book TV, if you want to see it. Later that morning,  I ran errands, finding myself away the balance of the afternoon. T’was a pleasant outing.

IMG_9740Sunday! Welcome September, Fall (meteorological)  and the September prompt  from Ali Edwards for one’s One Little Word. We spent the day relaxing – tho’ I did take a brisk walk. Otherwise, Norman watched TV;  I set up September calendar and plans.

IMG_9749Today, Monday! Labor Day! No work done around here. I toyed with the idea of cleaning out the refrigerator and mopping the kitchen floor but opted instead to take a leisurely walk to the coffee shop and treat myself to an iced caramel  almond milk decaf latté.

And that’s the way it was this Labor Day weekend… a wonderful way to greet the new season! What was the highlight of your weekend?

Cheers~

 

Kayla’s Graduation | 5.29.19…

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I come to you from my niece’ Kayla’s graduation from high school – 609 strong!

Diplomas are being given out – and with them, peaks of joy and screams from friends and family in the stands. We are seated at the U of Maryland’s Xfinity Center – where basketball is played.

Soon our girl Kayla will walk across the stage … and I’ve no doubt we’ll be just as loud and excited! A milestone and a moment in our lives – for the graduates and their families . We’re proud of all and wish for them the realization of the promise this day holds for them … and us!

There she is! A Graduate!!! 10:39 am EST!

Go Kayla Go! You did it!

Yay!!!