Category: Unraveled Wednesday

unraveled wednesday | 1.15.20 …

Published on by Honoré13 Comments

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Yesterday – Tuesday – was our bi-monthly Recent Reads gathering. My friend Margaret who is a fan of contemporary poets/poetry introduced us to the newest Poet Laureate, Joy Harjo, shown above. Joy, a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation, is the Nation’s first Native American Poet Laureate. She is also a saxophonist ( and for that alone, she wins points from Norman, who plays/ed the sax). I’m looking forward to delving into her poetry and listening to her music.

I started Fever (reading the Kindle version) and  finding the book fascinating – it reads less like fiction than I expected. I was particularly surprised that I adapted to the e-version so readily. I actually prefer print on paper… For my ears, I’ve downloaded  Louise Penny’s 6th Inspector Gamache novel:  Bury Your Dead for my next walking companion (not tomorrow, tho’; forecast is for high winds, sleet, snow? Time will tell).

The hat is finished! I have left over yarn; I think I’ll add it to the Log Cabin/9 Patch  (LC9P) when I get to the smaller blocks. The LC9P and the Christmas stocking are next on the knitting list. Every stitch moves me closer to the finish line – 5 knitting projects to complete in 2020.

And that just about wraps up Unraveled Wednesday for me this week. Hop over to Kat’s blog to see what others are unraveling.

Cheers~

(Photo of Joy Harjo featured in the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, Winter 2019 , p 24.)

 

 

 

unraveled wednesday | 1.8.20 …

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SNOW! Yesterday we had more than a dusting: enough for government workers to close up shop/go home early; all told, I guess we had about 2 inches or so of the white stuff. Elias was delighted that he got to don his new snow suit.

This morning, the snow remains and the sky’s dark grey but the forecast: sunshine and a high of 45°… sooo long SNOW!

Today would be a great day to snuggle up with a cuppa hot tea, the last of homemade Christmas cookies and a good book. Alas, I have dental and hair appointments so I will take my iTools (Pad and Phone) to begin The Dutch House (ears) and/or Fever (ears & eyes).

On the knitting front: the hat is an almost finished… last 6 stitches to bind off and still, the tassel to make… Knitting continues on the Log Cabin lap blanket; and in my stash are several projects ~ all with a 2020 complete date!

*the second sock of a pair;

*a blanket started several years ago;

*a shawl that has been patiently waiting for me to finish the above – hang tight; your day is coming! And

*oh yes, lest I forget: the Christmas stocking! One of these years…

Time to get ready for my appointments. Joining Kat and Friends for Unraveled Wednesday! Sun’s out!

Cheers~

unraveled wednesday | 1.1.20

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Happy New Year! Yesterday, the UPS driver rang the bell and delivered a package with the two books shown; I’d completely forgotten I’d ordered and they were to be delivered the 31st! Tiny Habits will be a great follow-up to Bad Habits. Good Habits. I’m almost done reading it.

Whizz Bang is by an Australian quilter; her book – in both French and English simultaneously – has taken the quilting world-wide community by storm, according to the press I’ve read. I’m eager to dive in the book and play with the technique but will hold off until I’ve strengthened  a few habits (habit, my 2019 word, I’m continuing in 2020). Good things come to those who wait…

The knit piece is a hat I started last year; I’ve about two rounds of knitting to do before I bind off and it’ll be done except for the tassel. 

One of the things I’m focusing on as I work on recalibrating my creativity habits is to identify UFOs that I will keep or donate. My goal is to donate most and finish any I keep from years gone by before 2021 arrives.

Joining Kat and friends for another year of Unraveled Wednesdays.

Cheers~

 

on Christmas morning | 12.25.19…

Published on by Honoré9 Comments

I awoke to witness another lovely sunrise following Christmas Eve’s glowing sunset. Quiet as I write; the furnace, chugging along, keeps the house warm. A dog’s bark – that momentarily shattered the peace- has ended. Frost adorns rooftops and grassy surfaces.

~a friend is a present you give yourself~

Arriving just yesterday, a package from friend Kathy; I open this morning and am greeted with a delightful mug and all sorts of Christmas/Holiday themed paraphernalia to include in my Christmas album/journal. I squeal -only to my ears – with delight!

My second cuppa tea, graced by a delicious Christmas cookie made by friend Betsy. Yum! Betcha can’t eat just one! Right. I treat myself to two!

Two new books, under the tree, ahem, await my perusal. Gifts from me for me. Simple Abundance is an updated version marking the 25th anniversary of the original publication. 366 days of reading await! Norman’s gift is in the freezer: steaks; burgers; pork chops…what he requested. In my car, new floor mats…

Today, this morning, will be quiet; we’ll join family mid afternoon. I’m excited to see what Santa brought the little ones: Chris, 5 and Elias, 2. Two Christmases ago, Elias, after a two months’ early arrival and nearly a month in the NICU, was home for Christmas. We are so grateful that both he and his mom are doing well.

unraveled wednesday | 12.18.19

Published on by Honoré10 Comments

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~a friend is a present you give yourself~

Is unwrapping the same as unraveling? Of course not, silly. Today, Pat, my longtime friend of 33 years and I met for a long overdue lunch and reconnection. We’d not seen one another for nearly three months! We had a lot of catching up to do…and we did. We also celebrated my birthday (Nov); the lovely journal – despite the light’s glare – a gift from Pat, is made by an artist who lives in Oregon. After lunch, we stopped at a delightful store that sells all sorts of art supplies… I needed to replenish ink for my LAMY pen. And we both had our creative juices stirred a bit by some gorgeous iridescent watercolor paints; for sure, we’re coming back in 2020, just around the corner!

After two days of rain, today was sunny, lovely and cold! Perfect for spending quality friend time. Tho’ I have not included any knitting or other fun craft update in this post nor nary a word about this past week’s reads, I encourage you to join Kat and others for Unraveled Wednesday… lotsa good books and fun knitting projects are shared there!

Cheers~

unraveled wednesday|12.11.19…

Published on by Honoré11 Comments

 

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Earlier today I wrote a draft post; imagine my surprise when I discovered it had been unraveled: MIA; gone; kaput!  Oh well! Be that as it may, I have no tales of unraveled knitting – I’ve not done so over the past week – or reading; I’ve been dipping in a couple books, none have captured my attention nor time. And, as I rewrite, I am still puzzled : where is that post?

Time out: I decided to look on my phone for the errant post; no such luck. So, then I went to my iPad that I’d used to write the draft – and by golly, there it was and now, here t’is:

Today finds me sitting at Panera, having finished lunch and enjoying a cuppa tea. I had an early appointment on our first snowy morning of the season. The sun shines, the first snow – just enough to coat flat surfaces and bring a smile – is gone and the air’s filled with the chill. My meal served both breakfast and lunch meals so I’m satiated. Soon, I’ll pack up and walk to Barnes & Noble, stopping along the way to window shop…my first foray among the holiday shoppers.

Today I completed a very. big. item on my 19 in 2019 list…(and if I could find the list, I might be able to check off other completes)… doing so almost has me ready to turn a somersault – hah! WHO am I kidding? Despite the huge check mark/cross out on my list, my days, since last Wednesday, have been very full and I’ve not knit or sewn a stitch or barely read a word – for the latter, I exaggerate …

It’s 8:43 PM; time for me to wrap up shop this evening and turn my attention to the news being made in Congress. Perhaps I’ll get some knitting done. Joining Kat and friends for Unraveled Wednesday.

Cheers~

 

it’s wednesday | 11.27.19 …

Published on by Honoré7 Comments

 

Joining Juliann for 2019 One Little Word Update and Kat for Unraveled Wednesday.

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Both raveling and reading over the past few days have been sporadic, preempted by assorted other activities- just life! I finished Forest Bathing Retreat (shared last week)- really like that book – and have begun the lovely book, pictured, that my friend Laura gifted to me; the card is from my quilting association.

My 2019 word Habit finds me at the half-way point – still working on eliminating some, revising others and creating new ones. I think that’s the way it works. I’ve come to conclude that the hardest habits to get a firm grip on are those I most want to change-up or eliminate. Many are the result of influential (at the time) circumstances; I have no idea as to when/why and how created, evolved or simply showed up. They are just there and require my intention as well as my attention! So, as is my habit – pun intended – I seek and experiment with all sorts of tricks, novel ideas, etc  to make changes … I have been making progress, for the most part, in writing one-off notes in one place.*

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The best news of all: Today, Elias is TWO! and grown enough to fit in big brother Chris’ coat. We celebrate tomorrow!

Wishing you the best Thanksgiving ever.

Cheers~

 

*This requires concerted effort but I sense it is on the verge of becoming a desired new habit! However, looking at my desk, currently, one might question…I do! The name of the game: If you don’t succeed, try, try again!

unraveled wednesday | 11.20.19 …

Published on by Honoré13 Comments

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Nearly twelve hours ago, 7:00 am, I settled in my favorite spot, the dining table in the Great Room (aka as the kitchen/dining area) and proceeded with MSQT – morning solitude and quiet time. I opened my journal and began to write: I am on a quest to create a new habit by eliminating an old one: writing on whatever’s within reach.” The consequences of my current habit: a myriad of notes on a myriad pieces of paper… My goal is to contain random thoughts and reflections, miscellaneous ideas, to do items, forget-me-nots, brain explosions, and lapses, etc in one-to-two spaces/places …only!

Thus, I have spent the entire day – still at it as I pen this post at 5:50 pm – sifting through a few months’ accumulation of random sheets of papers  and transferring thoughts, quotes, ideas, lists, forget-me-nots, etc onto/into one common journal. All of this against the background of today’s Congressional impeachment inquiry hearing, still in process.

In the above photo, a hat I’m knitting – started last winter – to donate; a delightful book on forest bathing that friend Laura introduced at our beach weekend – I love trees, and that’s a topic for another post – and a pretty cool 3-D birthday card…

My stomach’s beginning to growl and the second hearing’s begun so I shall sign off…joining Kat and friends for this week’s unraveled wednesday.

Cheers~

 

 

unraveled wednesday | 11.13.19 …

Published on by Honoré12 Comments

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~full November Beaver moon – 11.11.19~

Today! Our first taste of winter cold: a mere 29 degrees Fahrenheit on a very sunny day! It helps. I am preparing for a 2.5 days’ visit to the beach – go figure in below freezing temps – for a meet up with two friends. Great fun in store !

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Yesterday, my Recent Reads group – there are four of us – met for our bimonthly gathering. I was late to the party (Norman had an unplanned medical appointment)…and oh what a party: we had “high tea,” complete with antique table setting: china; serving dishes; linens; silverware; and a printed menu! So delicious… we were also  given wonderful little boxes to fill with tasty delectables to TAKE HOME.

On the reading front, I finished Stillness is the Key. Really, really like this book: it is filled with information, ideas, vignettes of history’s great thinkers, ranging from the stoics to Winston Churchill to Anne Frank to Tiger Woods to Mr. Rogers… with practical invitations and ideas to assist the reader incorporate stillness in her life (and we all know we need those moments of  stillness).  I am in catch-up mode with Just Mercy; it is not easy reading – wonderful writing but tough content. [deep sigh]. Twyla Tharp  (The Creative Habit)  has a new book: Keep It Moving: Lessons for the Rest of Your Life . She is 78 and still moving!

And I guess I’d better get a moveon, too. Tomorrow will be here before I know it; I have stuff to gather and a bag to pack! Joining Kat and friends for another unraveled wednesday..

Cheers~