Morning Glory Studio

sometimes mondays |8.19.19 |…

Published on August 19, 2019 by Honoré7 Comments

I recall seeing these lilies last year and was delighted to stumble across them again

Noting that today’s temperature was on the way upppp, I took my daily walk early … and I’m so glad I did! The temp, as I pen this, is now 97° F …and climbing. Yuk! After I walked, showered, had brunch, I went upstairs, about noon, to attend to today’s @computer/calls tasks. First on my list: today’s blog post. Hah! It is now 2:50 pm – I’m not sure where the time went. I recall reading an email that directed me 1) to a book that 2) sent me down a rabbit hole. And now, I’m up for air… can’t even say I’m any wiser and I’m definitely not ahead with today’s agenda possibilities…but, hey, that’s just how sometimes mondays roll.

Guess I’ll replenish my iced H2O and resume my list. One done and next? Hmm, let’s see: guess I’ll throw the dice and see what’s next!

Hope your Monday is cool and relaxing.

Cheers~

tgif | 8.16.19 …

Published on August 16, 2019 by Honoré7 Comments

thinking: I’ve run out of steam; made a list of 8 things to do today ~ so far I’m batting 50%. I’ve been taking it slow n’ easy…

grateful: I’ve nowhere to be or anyplace to go today, tomorrow, Sunday …

inspiration: since Tuesday, I’ve been participating in a mini LOAD (layout a day);* the theme is Yearbook/School Memories and it’s been lots of fun. Yesterday’s (Thursday) topic: school lunches. Perfect ~ for this was also the day my Thursday stitching group met at Hilary’s – the brunch spread was phenomenal. Seasonal produce; quiche; and homemade peach ice cream! Yum!

fun: for this mini-LOAD, I am using a Traveler’s Notebook – it is the perfect size. I plan to use this size more often; I can feel my creative juices beginning to flow ~ who knows what adventures lie ahead?

Enjoy your weekend. And now, I’m back to creating today’s LOAD : Recess/Breaks is the topic.

Cheers~

*just 7 days compared to the month long events held February, May and October.

unraveled wednesday | 8.14.19 …

Published on August 14, 2019 by Honoré8 Comments

What you do from 5 -9 am is what you’ll do from 9am – 5pm ~ Stacy Julian

I loved the shadow of the pitcher – which sits on the table – the sun made about 7:25 am this morning, on my Flower Garden quilt; quite apropos, I think… The quote I heard on a podcast during my morning walk. It all just came together so nicely… and was a nice entré for the day…I thought.

Over the past few days, I’ve been revisiting the practice of bullet journaling…a couple years ago I joined the world’s millions who jumped on the bandwagon…and then for some reason, I stopped. Maybe not completely – within my journal, I do a bit here and there but I don’t consider myself a real bullet journaler – whatever that is! I scoured my collection of books and previous Bujos (journals) and am reacquainting myself with those aspects I like, have used and new features I think I’ll try. I’ve come to the conclusion that predesigned journals and planners just don’t work for me but the blank page does. So, it’s off to the races I go, yet again.

The book Things You Save in a Fire arrived on my doorstep yesterday…addressed to me, apparently ordered by me from Amazon… A new release, the book has received great reviews from the likes of Kirkus, Booklist, NYTimes, Washington Post, Good Reads (the author even gave herself 5 stars … and why not‽) . I

don’t know the author …
have read several pages …
am surprisingly intrigued to read on…
invite you to stay tuned!

This about wraps up my Unraveled Wednesday; joining Kat and friends here.

Cheers~

sometimes mondays| 8.12.19 …

Published on August 12, 2019August 12, 2019 by Honoré7 Comments

I took an earlier than usual walk this morning, at the tail end of morning rush hour. The sky was as clear as crystal and the temperature, in the cool 70s. As I wended my way, I saw a gift bag, sitting on the ground at a bus stop. Of course, I had to take a look-seek : the bag was empty, save for some sort of advertisement. Amusing… curious … why was the bag there? Oh well, tho’ I’ll never know, I thought: perhaps this day was the gift. Yeah! I think I like that thought, a lot!

What gift/s did this day bring you?

Cheers~

tgif | 8.9.19 …

Published on August 9, 2019 by Honoré5 Comments

~flowers outside the Smithsonian Castle ~

thinking: what a delightful summer day this has been: a breeze; blue skies; lower humidity – making the heat more than tolerable. buoyed by those ingredients and a calendar with nothing to do/nowhere to be, I gathered my journal, iPad, pens and money and walked to Zeke’s (coffee shop) where I sat outside for several hours: reading, writing, looking, thinking, relishing, being…

grateful: for the peace this day has brought; this has been a tough, tough week …

inspired: by Brené Brown’s TGIF tribute to Toni Morrison in Brené ‘s weekly TGIF (available via email – subscribe here to get on the mailing list). Toni Morrison inspired Brené to write and self-publish her first book: Women and Shame …

fun: looking forward to a quiet weekend, ending with an outside “summer fling” Sunday at a friend’s home. Last year it rained; fingers crossed that won’t be the case this year. And should it, we’ll make the best of the situation, stay dry inside and enjoy the food and camaraderie.

Have a peaceful weekend!

Cheers~

unraveled wednesday | 8.7.19 …

Published on August 7, 2019 by Honoré5 Comments

~gingko leaves~

Not much on the horizon this week. I was looking over photos taken over the past several days and rather surprised that the pickins were rather slim. I did so enjoy seeing these gingko leaves against the afternoon sky this past Saturday…as I wended my way home…

…and this is another look at the journal. I went with an elastic band, found a small lock and keys in my stash (who knew?) and just for fun, added them.

I also added two bands on the inside front/back covers to help hold a journal in place…the fabric in the middle of the band is stretchy; hopefully, that will allow the cover to expand as my friend fills in her journal…she does a lot of tipping in of pages she’s culled from magazines, ephemera, etc… all which contribute to the journal’s growth.

Educated, the book and podcasts remain my faithful walking companions. I’m dipping into a lot of different nonfiction titles on habits and “unplugging” from the digital world. I’ll do a roundup soon.

Off to run a few errands before a 1pm hair appt…Joining Kat and friends for another round of unraveled wednesdays.

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~

tgif | 8.2.19 …

Published on August 2, 2019 by Honoré6 Comments

thinking: I can’t believe that August is here and this time next month will be Labor Day… already, leaves are falling from the trees…

gratitude: July, albeit beastly hot was pleasant and filled with the colors, sights and sounds of my days. I am so ever grateful that I was able to capture the month’s glory …

inspired : by the rhythm of my/ our days during this summer of 2019: slow, easy; a quiet staycation …

forward looking : continuing the slow, steady pace of summer, especially more flirtation with creative play and the completion – or near – of a quilt project, long overdue.

Have a great weekend!

Cheers~

unraveled wednesday | 7.31.19 …

Published on July 31, 2019 by Honoré7 Comments

I have quite a library of books about journaling – no surprise. Last week I bought Be A Blessing, a journal created and written by Debbie Macomber, the author. It’s colorful, fun and she uses a gardening metaphor. I think I’ll buy copies for my nieces’ Christmas presents.

I finished the journal! And soon it will be wending its way to my friend in FL. I opted for the elastic band; she also weighed in and said she liked that option. Wish granted. Thanks for your suggestions and votes.

My next quilting project is to assemble approximately 75 of the above squares – each different and made by members of my quilting association as a gift/thank you at the end of my presidency, 2015. Obviously, I didn’t rush into completing this quilt; it has literally taken me this long to find a fabric I liked that complimented the variety of the blocks. All very colorful. I think the fabric works.

And that’s the way it is on this, the last day of July 2019. My, how time flies! Feel that way to you, also?

Joining Kat and friends for another Unraveled Wednesday.

Cheers~

PS. Several readers commented on yesterday’s post about habits and the “need/desire” to make a few adjustments to their own mornings. Check out this link on the process of using a tiny habit to create a new one.