Weekending – Morning Glory Studio

weekending into monday |2.3.20…

Published on February 3, 2020 by Honoré12 Comments

In 1985, my mother and I went to the Metropolitan Opera in New York City to see The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. On Saturday, I saw the current performance with a friend, my niece and my sister, in a local movie house, at the Metropolitan’s Opera Live in HD series. Before the opera began, I managed to knit about 3 stitches on the 9 Patch Log Cabin. During the Super Bowl I finished one block and started another!

The performance did not disappoint! The Met Live in HD is about as close to being there as can be! If you’re an opera fan, this is the next best thing.

Today we were greeted with a preview of Spring. Not warm enough – at least for me – to go coatless or short sleeved but certainly a breath of fresh air. Blue skies were made a study by all the jet contrails. I took this picture at the church where our quilting group meets – it’s quite close to BWI Airport and there was a lot of air traffic at 10:30 am.

And now I’ve got to get to work on today’s LOAD (Layout a Day); this session’s theme is Magic, inspired by Harry Potter books (which I’ve never read – but maybe I should ’cause I’m currently fresh outta inspiration) … I have til 12 PM Pacific Standard Time to get something posted…

Cheers~

weekending | 12. 28-29.19 …

Published on December 30, 2019 by Honoré11 Comments

saturday 28 december

Mother Nature provided a delightful taste of spring – temps in the high 60s and since my plans for the day were rescheduled, I decided to make a WanDer* trip to the Smithsonian Mall, specifically the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden. I ws looking for a gift, had something special in mind (unfortunately, what I wanted wasn’t in stock any longer – but I found a suitable substitute.). As I was plotting my agenda and Metro (subway) trip, I discovered a store totally dedicated to journal writing tools: journals; pens; Traveler’s Notebooks; planners; etc … Yes, Virginia there is a full fledged journal/planner store!

After making my purchases, I took Metro to the Smithsonian Mall! Lots and lots of visitors…

line waiting to get in the Museum of Natural History

while eating lunch, I enjoyed watching the ice skaters

191230_project-life-B17F90

sunday 29 december

Friendstitching Day. It poured buckets most of the day… perfect for a day of stitching and reconnecting with friends. We were treated not only to good food but wonderful details from friend Michelle’s recent trip to Copenhagen, Praque and Paris!

The butterfly is a needlepoint being stitched by Margaret; it will eventually be a pillow. The upper right photo is cross stitching friend Pat started many moons ago, she says; her plan is to finish in 2020. I think all the stitching’s done. She just needs to frame. The lower right is also needlepoint, being stitched by Michelle. (If I remember correctly, she bought the canvas in Paris). I am close to finishing a cap I started knitting earlier this year! Just a few more rows and bind off! Yes!

And now it’s time to wrap this up and go fix myself some tea. Unfortunately, Santa brought me a cold… I’ll be back tomorrow with an end- of-year One Little Word update.

Cheers~

*WanDer is my shorthand for scheduling solo journeys to the Smithsonian Mall; I aim for once a quarter ~ don’t always make it!

weekending labor day style | 2019 …

Published on September 2, 2019 by Honoré8 Comments

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!

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…

Saturday 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.

Sunday! 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.

Today, 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~

weekending| 8.26.19 …

Published on August 26, 2019 by Honoré7 Comments

The weekend was filled with two activities I most enjoy:

spending time with friends
stitching

Friday

On Fri (8.23.19), three friends and I went to Baltimore (I drove) to see a photographic exhibit of the Women of Gee’s Bend, Alabama. The women are African American quilters who gained national attention in the early 2000s. The exhibit, displayed at the Reginald F. Lewis African American Museum of Art, features the photography of a reknown Baltimore photographer, Linda Day Clark, .

In 2002, the New York Times sent Day Clark to Gee’s Bend to photograph the quilters @home. Gee’s Bend is one of the poorest areas in the US. This current exhibition includes portraits of some of the quilters, their families and everyday life – as well as a display of four quilts (two shown above) owned by Linda Day Clark that have never been displayed before. They are exquisite!

my first Gee’s Bend inspired quilt, 2009 ~ signed by the Gee’s Bend Quilters

I first encountered the Gee’s Bend Quilters in 2009, on my maiden trip to Sisters Oregon. My friend Pat and I traveled there to take classes, especially a workshop taught by them. T’is an experience that has become one of our fondest memories. We returned again for a second workshop in 2011.

Seeing the photos of the women we met, their home life, family (including grand children – and the quilts) was a back to the future experience. I have had all sorts of brainstorms and inspirations about how I plan to proceed and in particular, finish the quilt I began in 2017 – my latest trip to Sister. It will tie in beautifully. Sometimes I guess one just has to wait for the Universe to converge. Stay tuned…

Sunday

Sunday was our monthly Friendstitch gathering, replete with a delicious spread! And the yummiest of desserts: lemon flavored cake and cookies!

Margaret’s needlepointing a cute canvas featuring a dog suggesting a walk? Theresa’s knitting a baby sweater; Michelle, needlepointing a holiday piece (Christmas is 4 months away, just sayin’) and Pat is doing a cross stitch… I think she did all of the spool of thread. I played around with weaving and knitting.

Too soon the afternoon ended and we packed up til our Sept gathering.

T’was a lovely weekend and I’m so grateful to have spent it among and with friends!

Cheers~

this past weekend …

Published on August 5, 2019 by Honoré8 Comments

Q: What do two retired librarians do on a hot Saturday in July?

A: Attend a day long event, “Books to Leaf Through This Fall ” listening to local indie bookstore owners preview their picks of this year’s new books in : Literary Fiction, Biographies and Memoirs, Local Authors and Mystery/Suspense categories. Friend Margaret treated me ~ an early birthday (Nov). In addition to a list of potential good reads, we were also excited to learn about the four bookstores.

The event was sponsored by the Smithsonian Associates and held in the Ripley Center on the Smithsonian Mall. The Center is unique in that it is a round building on ground level and all the meeting, exhibit and office space are three floors below ground.

After the program, we each went separate ways (we take different Metro trains home). I moseyed across the Mall to the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden & Restaurant, ordered a decaf iced caramel latté and watched the fountain spray. T’was all very refreshing and relaxing.

Saturday, I clocked 11,523 steps/4.43 miles. I’d walked to the Metro station in the morning and started to walk home from the Metro station in the afternoon; got about 2 blocks and a bus pulled up. I jumped on for 2.5-3 blocks and then walked the short distance to the house. Needless to say, Sunday I was a tad on the worn -out side; I was pretty sedentary. Today, I am resting … tho’ I did go for my daily walk. Tomorrow I may’ve recovered.

Cheers~