Category: Sometimes Mondays

sometimes mondays | 11.8.21…

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thinking I frequently approach Mondays focusing (obsessing?) about all that’s on the week’s docket: things to do that are due or even, overdue… and I (we) wonder: how will I fit it all in? Today, I took a different approach and decided to focus on the following:

inspired by the gorgeous colors of autumn ~ especially today’s display of trees, their foliage, captured on my walk this afternoon… a perfect autumn day with just right temperature for a long walk…

grateful that my niece Dolly, husband and the two little guys arrived safely in North Carolina to visit in-laws – both are having health-related issues. not (ever?) a good time but all are thankful for and taking each day at a time. Dolly did all the driving; for sure she’s tired. Rest up!

fulfilled by yesterday’s Friendstitch gathering. this time we celebrated two birthdays: Margaret’s Oct 29th and mine, on its way Nov 15 <more on that next week… As always, the food was delicious: yummy homemade vegetable soup; delicious salads; scrumptious desserts (no, one could not just eat one); and Prosecco…

… and now the sun’s beginning to set – it’s just barely 5 PM non-DST ! I for one am perfectly happy that real time has returned! How about you?

Cheers~

sometimes mondays |10.11.21 …

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Sunrise 4 October 2021

The following questions are from the book An American Sunrise, Poems by Joy Harjo, an internationally renowned performer (she plays the saxophone) and writer of the Muscogee Creek Nation. She was named Poet Laureate of the United States in 2019.

“FOR THOSE WHO WOULD GOVERN, p. 74

First question: Can you first govern yourself?

Second question: What is the state of your own household?

Third question: Do you have a proven record of community service and compassionate acts?

Fourth question: Do you know the history and laws of your principalities?

Fifth question: So you follow sound principles? Look for fresh vision to lift all the inhabitants of the land, including animals, plants, elements, all who share this earth?

Sixth question: Are you owned by lawyers, bankers, insurance agents, lobbyists, or other politicians, anyone else who would unfairly profit by your decisions ?

Seventh question: Do you have authority by the original keepers of the lands, those who obey natural law and are in the service of the lands on which you stand? “

I found this poem provocative and thought it most fitting for contemplation on this day of commemorating Indigenous Peoples Day.

An American Sunrise : poems/Joy Harjo. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2019.

welcome summer 6.21.21 …

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Summer arrived with a vengeance ! Temps are in the 90s – even in Washington state! Yesterday, Norman’s son was visiting and as they are wont to do: solved all the world’s problems – I wish – in between watching baseball games and other TV events.

I took my sister to Laurel and decided, since I was near, to make a quick run to Savage Mill. I needed help with a couple fountain pens that were not writing ( probably becuz the ink had dried, duh!). It was very quiet, i.e, I didn’t hear any cicadas; perhaps their time is over – or at least winding down. I was delighted to see my friend Patti, owner of The Queen’s Ink; I’ve know her easily 10 years and last saw her Dec, 2019. She looked great; her hair was especially delightful – you know color – my 2021 word. And the t-shirt she was wearing was stamped with outlines of cicadas – her cicada had a crown! If you look closely, you can see the tips of the crown on her shirt …

In addition to ink, I bought a couple 3.75 x 5.25 sketch book journals – the paper is ideal for drawing, sketching & journaling with pencil, ink, crayon, markers, pastels, etc – and the eight signatures are sewn! I also bought a 3″ x 5″ GELLI printing plate. Playing with it, the sketch journals and my fountain pens is going to be sooo much fun!

I am eager to resume my WANDER journaling/sketching dates to the National Museum of Art’s Sculpture Gardens. When I do, guess what’s coming along with me?

Trust it’s cooler in your part of the country .

Cheers~

sometimes mondays | 5.17.21

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Tho’ the morning began @ circa 6 am, I was almost wide awake and looked forward to the quiet start of a new day, a new week. Last week I participated in week in the life – using the DayONE app on my iPhone and iPad. And tho’ I don’t do QWERTY ( aka “I don’t type” ), I found doing my morning journaling in the app was indeed a good method for practicing and improving my typing…now, if I can only learn the QWERTY row on the keyboard, perhaps I will break myself of the habit of typing oyu for you. Mornings, my journaling is generally an overview of daily plans, etc. I’m also trying to decide if/how to meld the analog and digital systems: I still intend to hand journal – perhaps close out the day by hand… something to ponder.

Before the air fryer…

We have several new toys, er uh, tools in the house… one is an air fryer. A week ago this past Friday, our oven died. Replacing the oven is more than a notion so we/ I decided to try an air fryer. Saturday, the cook, moi, attempted to bake chicken tenders …they were tasty but fried to a crisp! – aka tough. Of course I will give the chicken tenders another try … or perhaps return the air fryer oven. To be continued… the jury is still out. Any and all tips are welcomed!

Here’s to a good week!

Cheers~

sometimes mondays | 5.10.21 …

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today begins Ali Edwards’ (at least annual ) Week in the Life documentation of one’s daily life. the week always starts with a big bang, lots of excitement and determination to see the project through with the same intensity at the end – sunday – as one began the previous monday. this year, I decided to use the DayONE app to document my days; it’s available on all my iTools : Mac; iPhone and iPad … and I really do need to learn the program. with the app, I can write in both type and cursive; the latter using the Apple pencil or my finger to scribble – the software converts to type… that’s pretty cool.

it is now 1:30 pm; I looked at my DayONE notes thus far – I haven’t recorded anything since 10:30 am, +/- when my sister arrived – we started a family text chat with her daughter/granddaughters…and then, life got in the way and then, time to join Daily Pages…

so here I sit, at the Mac; Daily Pages have ended and true to my vow to myself last week, I am drafting a post for today. also on my agenda for the rest of the day:

  • send email re: tomorrow’s Recent Reads Zoom session
  • make today’s LOAD entry
  • take out trash for tomorrow’s weekly collection
  • prepare/eat dinner and
  • settle in with a good book or two…

the day’s turning out to be quite lovely: morning clouds have moved on, the sun shines, the temperature is 64 degrees – a perfect invitation for a walk.

on my way !

Cheers~

sometimes mondays | 1.25.21

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…are grey and dismal and cold. a winter weather advisory – mixed precip: possible snow accumulation, 1-2 inches and ice — in effect until tomorrow AM.

…are not a good day for calling a business…apparently everyone who has business with the same company as I, chose to call today. one listens to the message and choices and then, after selecting the “speak to a customer service rep,” a prerecorded voice comes on the line: “all service reps are busy …” and the call is abruptly ended. C’est toute! irritating, to say the least.

…are the 25th day of the new year, 2021 and one month since Christmas Day of the previous. we were ever so eager for 2020 to come to a close and are thankful that the protracted victory of the presidential election and installation of POTUS 46 has transpired. a deep sigh of relief…

…and a note: Carolyn of youroneword is hosting the 2021 monthly One Little Word share/linkup. So mosey on over to share your 2021 word and see what others’ words are, too.

Cheers~

sometimes mondays | 10.19.20 …

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“Self-care is a deliberate choice to gift yourself with people, places, things, events, and opportunities that recharge our personal battery and promote whole health — body, mind, and spirit.” ~ Pass It On

Today, this morning, for a brief moment, I saw the birds flocking towards the sunrise …they fly so fast that I can’t train my camera eye to catch before they are out of its view…but, that’s OK, I tell myself : the image is indelibly imprinted in my mind. I watch for Canadian Geese – so far, I’ve seen none.

Life is slowly adjusting to the new normal – a term we hear and say too often. This morning, the temps dropped low enough to kick in both the furnace and the heat pump – both are working on all cylinders. Thankfully. Especially after replacing the A/C-HeatPump this summer at ruinous costs. We’re set for winter and it appears, based on the ten-day forecast that we may not have a brief reprise of summer weather/temps before November.

This week’s calendar is pretty clear – save for my Daily Pages 12 N Zoom session, still very much a delightful break in the day. More Zoom sessions scattered throughout the week. And as I look at the clock, I think I’d best get a move on for my quilting group’s meeting in just an hour – @ 10 am.

Have a great day and week!

Cheers~

a habit update:blogging …

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…and the days dwindle down, to a precious few…september, november …

I know that I’ve been AOL in this space since September 29th… In my last post, I said I was going to begin habit stacking and every day I awoke with the best intentions to establish the new habit as well as “Blog!” – a standing 5 star item on my daily agenda – at least 3 times a week. Tho’ my best laid schemes gang aft agley are conspicuously absent in this space, they are never in my mind!

Over the past ten+ days I’ve starred, underlined, bolded, highlighted, started, and abandoned posting… mainly because I’ve run out of time and energy. Life in these parts have taken a dramatic turn: Norman’s health has taken front and center, totally throwing previous schedules and plans out the door. These days: glucose readings and blood pressure monitoring coupled with many health consultations by phone are primary. He is doing well but we’re still working on the daily schedule revision. I think we’re finding our stride and settling into the new new normal.

Old habits are h-a-r-d to break; New habits harder to make.

To this end, I’ve decided that my blogging focus time – e.g., drafting, reading/responding to comments and blog visits – will be 1 -2 PM, give or take a minute or so! I plan to post M, W, F plus any special times of the month, e.g., one little word monthly linkup the last Tues of the month: 27 Oct, 30 Nov, and 29 Dec. Last month I designated the 1 PM hour for daily art journaling; I’m thinking perhaps Tu, Th and Sat/Sun for that activity. Time will tell…

To be continued…

Cheers~

summer’s end …

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Bright blue cloudless sky. Birds sing ” caw caw caw” … September’s air feels good against my face. I’m wearing my winter coat and I have on no hat – but that’s OK !  Despite the cooler temps, it is beautiful!  I  stop, take a look around, capture the sky, sun and also the sound : quiet.

I’ve reached the park. Children’s voices permeate the air along with the sounds of lawn mowers and leaf blowers. I hear the creak, squeak of a swing or two. I’m trying to decide which way do I go:  my usual route or forge a new one? Lotsa children at the playground – don’t see too many adults but I do see a rather large dog.

I  decide to take my usual route and trek up the hill, gathering  just enough speed to get my momentum going. Other than the children, not too many people in the park –  usually there are one to four parked at benches, shooting the breeze; others, at a table: writing; reading; sometimes napping …

Tomorrow is the first day of an astrological event: Autumn.  It feels good to walk through this park on this last day of summer. In a way, it’s a sanctuary. A sanctuary.

Autumn. My favorite season of all.