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Simply a moment | 11.15, 11.16, 11.17…

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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~

Happier | 8.25.23 …

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I’ve spent most of the past couple days sorting through papers for notes and ideas I want to retain…I have the bad, bad habit of writing things down on any and all available pieces of paper …and while doing so captures the moment, retrieving and using my “brilliant idea or thought” is more often than not, just a notion.

I tell myself that I should capture these “brainstorms” digitally in/on one of my iToys, er uh, tools – my watch, phone and or iPad. Yes, perhaps, but the pencil and paper are so handy and besides, I’ve been using them far longer than the digital tools have been in existence. But, as James Clear, author of Atomic Habits shared in his weekly Aug 17, 2023 newsletter, 3-2-1 Thursday:

“Some things work and some things don’t. There’s is almost always another way to get where you want to go. Don’t keep trying to open a locked door.”

Perhaps that is the key. Perhaps I will set up some sort of digital repository for my brilliant ideas.

Perhaps…

one little word | 3.28.23 …

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3.26, was Friendstitch Sunday … the six of us always, always look forward to these monthly gatherings, now in the 9th year. This past Sunday, we met at Michelle’s and were greeted with gorgeous spring flowers: daffodils and amaryllis. For Christmas 2019, I gave Michelle (and the others, each) a bulb… Michelle has the magic green thumb. We were delighted to see the amaryllis in full bloom. In addition to being treated to a spectacularly colorful array of flowers, we had an absolutely delicious meal. Yum! The memory of Sunday makes me happier…

My walks, most days, weather permitting, I am greeted by the constant display of signs of Spring: magnolia and cherry blossoms, daffodils, maple trees and forsythia bushes. Delightful.

For the past year, I’ve focused on s-l-o-w-l-y retelling my AmaZe – about me, A-Z – life story that I hope to publish as a memoir style photo album/book. My goal is to have completed this project close to June 1, 2023…If I meet this self imposed deadline, I’m confident I’ll be happier!

The star is a needlepoint I found as I’ve been weeding my stash of projects – a project long overdue but also one that has very tangible results. And this too, makes me happier.

You know, happier is a good place to be! What’s making you happier these days?

Cheers~

simply a moment | 12.15.22…

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I loved: Niece CMarie’s and labradoodle Hazel’s matching winter jackets…fun and funny, especially for cold, rainy nearly winter days…

I think: Rainy days are good for wrapping up odds and ends chores on the ever-present, never ending task lists. Write X; Pay Y; Schedule Z… Read this crop of email that arrived in the past 10 minutes. Delete is more likely to happen. Catch up on past days’ news: Today, I was pleased to read that WOMAN is dictionary. com’s word of the year 2022. (Apparently the announcement was made yesterday)…

I saw: UPS trucks, gathered to exchange packages so that the day’s deliveries make it to their final destinations – I presume in time for the holiday gift exchange … just 10 days away. It has been raining cats and dogs all day. So far today, too cold for my daily walk. So, I make do with extra trips up and down the stairs and around the house … something’s better than nothing!

And that’s a glimpse of a few moments of my days.

sometimes mondays | 1.11.21 …

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… begin with

… a spectacular sunrise, so I was advised by friends who saw such … and shared, per above. sadly I did not … tho’ the sun did shine a bit and there was the gentle hint of rose pinks in the sky on my end…

… a late breakfast: scrambled egg with a bit o’ chicken, broccoli and Vermont sharp white cheddar cheese plus unsweetened applesauce; I am full …

… seven items on today’s agenda – the last of which is updating/posting to the blog. Wahoo! One down and only six left to do. Yep, I got this!

How is your Monday shaping out? Have a great one!

Cheers~

tgif | 10.16.20 …

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thinking : or as they say: best laid plans of mice, men and Honore´ … I wrote a draft of todays’s post earlier today but then got involved in sorting and planning several memory keeping projects for the balance of 2020. Can’t believe there are just 10 weeks left in 2020! Who-da thought we’d have the ride we’ve been on and are still on ???

grateful : for a stirring to resume a couple stitching projects – just as soon as I finish reorganizing my sewing room. one project on my agenda is “sewing school” for my nieces – they each want to learn how to sew and I have a few spare machines – one for each ( i.e., 3) plus a major supply of fabric, tools, etc. I think that with Zoom and my sister’s plus quilting friends’ help, we/they can do this…and heaven knows there are books ( many that I also have) and online resources to round out the curriculum. Christmas will be early this year…

interesting : “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” our neighborhood drugstore (Walgreen’s!) is still without rubbing alcohol – it’s been over three weeks. they are well supplied with hand sanitizers and masks and alcohol wipes and other COVID-19 related items… just no alcohol. truly a curiosity.

fun: October is another LOAD (layout a day month); I have been enjoying capturing autumn memories during this unprecedented year – COVID-19. The photo above was yesterday’s creation …

Have a great weekend!

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~

unraveled wednesday | 2.19.20 …

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Hello! Yes, I’m still around… I took a break from blogging; not meaning to but it happened. There just weren’t enough hours in my days and I had a groaning board agenda or perhaps I’m just not too organized. Whatever, my days have been full; I can’t quite believe a week has come and gone. Time flies…

  • On Valentine’s Day, I finished the second tree quilt block for Australia and off they’ll go tomorrow. Wahoo!
  • Monday we got a new microwave oven. Wahoo!
  • I have kept up with LOAD (making a scrapbook layout a day).Wahoo!
  • I started what I think will be the last big block on my log cabin 9-patch lap quilt and then I’ll decide the next size blocks I’ll make. Wahoo!
  • I am finishing Fever … later than I planned but I expect to do so before Feb 25.

Time for me to hit publish and go fix dinner…Joining Kat and friends for Unraveled Wednesday.

Cheers~

an idea… maybe

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  1. Several years ago, well to be exact, in 2015, I bought a small table loom and yarn with the idea of practicing weaving. It has become a bucket list item…
  2. Last week, 2019, I treated myself to a tin of FineTec pearlescent colours. These watercolors, when painted on black watercolor stock, are brilliant…
  3. Today, 1.2.2020, I had an idea related to documenting my 2020 habit journey: I will weave  – Rumplestiltskin anyone? – and paint  – Monet? – habit trackers to document my OLW journey, one or more months…

Joining Carole for Three on Thursdays…

Cheers~