welcome july …

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~sunrise today 7:03 am~

Welcome July! You arrived complete with sunshine and delightful temperatures. It’s been a real treat to greet you with the deck doors wide open!

This morning not only started a new month with a new calendar entry but also, a new Scribbles journal. It felt so good to “open it and begin journaling, again, for the first time.” I have big staycation plans for the summer months, ending with the arrival of the autumnal equinox. But more on that down the road. First, a look at this past month, June:

You will note quite a few photos of flowers: Spring – and now Summer – was especially gorgeous, a result of all the rain we had. Trees and shrubbery are fuller and a lusher green; les fleurs, more abundant and vibrant. I’m even convinced the sky is bluer – when it is blue!

  • #1 and #14: two excursions to Zeke’s, my neighborhood coffee roaster/shop ~ warm enough to sit out!
  • #2 and #4 from Kayla’s and my trip to the new Apple Carnegie library…
  • Swans – # 7 and #25 – are this summer’s Journal Club animal spirit guide; seems that everywhere I look these days I see the swan image. My subconscious brain at work‽
  • # 8 – flowers in  are an example of thread painting with a sewing machine; I saw them on a pillow at Target. The picture reminds me that I plan to try the technique this summer, just for fun…
  •  # 9 – friends, Margaret and Ed, have a sweet new rescue dog: Hannah; I got to meet her for the first time…
  •  #11 captures sunlight streaming through a wooded area…
  • # 15 and #16  – are from Chris’ 5th birthday party  at the Climbing Zone. He decided not to climb, tho’ he gave it a try; niece Kayla did make it to the top!
  • #17 – June’s full Strawberry moon – a stock photo coupled with a web article I read; unfortunately, the sky was cloudy so I didn’t get to see the moon in real life…
  • #19 – I thought the tree was interesting; not sure how it lost all its leaves but it made for a different photo of #blueskyblooms – or not!
  • #20 – a delicious Caprese mini pizza, without onion, made by friend Hilary for me! Onions and I don’t get along. I discovered that the blurry photo was the result of my camera lens needing to be cleaned!
  • #23 – Norman all dressed up for Men’s Recognition Day at church…
  •  # 26 and #27 – sunset and a sunrise shadow…
  • #30 – #blueskyblooms  of a Crepe Myrtle; they are quite luscious this year, tho’ the photo doesn’t give justice.

And that’s a wrap for June 2019 and this post. Hoping your July is off to a fantastic start, as is mine. Looking forward to spending July with you!

Cheers~

PS. Oops! #1 was taken outside the Clarice Performing Arts Center; I was waiting for friends to arrive and sitting outside with a glass of wine before the concert!

Currently| 6.28.19

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5:41 pm | 91 degrees |unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups

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Hearing a clap of thunder…

Seeing tree leaves sway a bit more and birds dart across the sky …

Watching the sky change from sunny and blue to grey as rain clouds are ushered in…

Listening to jazz vocal hits …oldies and some new …

Taking a loooong sip of ice cold water …

Laughing at Norman who just suggested that we could “turn the AC off; it’s cold in here.” I responded: “It’s not cold in here. Would you like a blanket?” And we both laughed …

Thinking I’d best wrap this post – the thunder claps are getting louder and closer, the trees swaying even more and the sky, greyer…me thinks the storm’s just moments away!

Enjoy the weekend and the last two days of June!

Cheers~

unraveled wednesday|6.26.19…

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Hah! I wish that were true! My friend Betsy had this shirt on and the minute I saw it, I knew I had to take a photo and share. This past weekend, I finished a quilt wall hanging that my friend Pat and I made for another friend – who is winding down her annual Aruba ‘vaca’ – so the quilt is yet to be gifted…and that’s about all the quilting I’ve done since May…not much… But! I have more quilting projects patiently waiting in the wings.

Knitting on the Log Cabin continues… I tell myself  ’tis good practice and soon will be very useful when the weather returns to cooler… November? Perhaps by then, I’ll be done! Perhaps… 

Tho’ I’m not doing a summer bingo, I am aiming to read a few fiction titles: Where the Crawdads Sing; two more of Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache: Bury Your Dead and A Trick of Light ; and finish Stephen King’s 11.22.63 . These should carry me through the summer.

And with that, I shall call this post a wrap. Joining Kat and friends for another Unraveled Wednesday!

Cheers~

 

olw : habit | 6.25.2019 …

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… a tiny calendar update: Christmas is exactly six months away! will you be ready? that is, if you celebrate the date? and no, I’m not trying to rush the season despite the fact that we’re entering into our first summer heat wave…’t’was just a thought that flipped through my mind as I changed the block calendar this morning and again, just minutes ago, when I sat down to pen this post…

so, the question is: what do I have to share about my progress – or not – with my word? As they say in the ol’ country: fair to middlin’ 

I chose my word because I wanted to make better use of my time on a daily basis… one habit I especially wanted to create: getting dressed in the morning before I went downstairs for MSQT. For most of my nearly 10 retirement years, my day begins in my jammies. Why? I just don’t  a) like to “dress” and b) see much need if I ‘m not leaving the house before 10-11 am. The downside: tho’ I’m totally relaxed and enjoying whatever I’m doing, I also am postponing the doing of other things that are of importance and value —so, I think. And I’ve found that I stay in a state of mental quandary: this? that?  maybe the the other? …well, maybe no…maybe yes… and so it goes… A broken record that gets on one’s my nerves! Resulting in not-a-thing happening, getting done, etc. Even Scarlett (Gone With the Wind) ran out of tomorrows…

This past month, I decided to make a tiny change-up: most days I actually began the morning dressed! Even I am impressed! Am I checking off more things on my “get it done!” list? Dubious but then, it may be too early to tell … perhaps if I found the list?

tbc…joining Juliann and others here…

Cheers~

FLASH! FLASH! My Apple Watch just reported: Today is my 81st consecutive day of meeting/exceeding my daily Move goal! I like the accountability feature the watch provides. Hmmm: Wonder if I can get it/an app to work for a few other things/habits?!

 

welcome summer | 6.21.19 …

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Summer officially arrived in my time zone – Eastern Standard Daylight Savings – at 11:54 am. This day, the first, has been perfectly perfect. During Journal Club, I wrote:

The sky’s been a study…the wind moving clouds in/around. Lovely and ever-changing. Now, the sun’s out and the sky is blue tho’ the wind’s still evident …resting a bit, I suspect. Shortly before the arrival of the Summer Solstice, I took a walk; the Day Lily are at peak bloom. Delightful
!

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And yes, I’d be the happiest camper in these parts if today’s preview was a promise of the summer days to come.  But alas, I’ve lived in these parts with way too many summers that were just plain wretched: hot and humid! I took a peek at next week’s weather…  Yep! projected forecast: Hot! Humid. Low 90s. Yuk!

Tho, who knows, Mother Nature may just decide otherwise…

Regardless, my plan is to enjoy each day to its fullest…for I am grateful that I am around to do so!

Enjoy this first weekend of Summer 2019!

Cheers~

unraveled wednesday | 6.19.19

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Chris’ 5th birthday celebration was Saturday; I thought it was being held at a LEGO playland…nope! A place called Climbzone – for adults and children alike. Chris, his pals and aunts Chris and Kayla tried but…but… the kiddles preferred the bouncy house, all things considered! I suppose the ClimbZone theme was appropriate for the party; Chris is a big fan of Batman… known also for scaling tall buildings. Apparently Aunts Chris and Kayla did make it to the top…I didn’t see because I was in my car, warming up…(t’was a tad cold in the building!)

We’ve had delightful end of spring weather; I’ve been taking long walks these past couple days…enjoying the flowers that are in abundance.

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Just think: In two days it will be SUMMER! I am no fan of summer in these parts…but, perhaps ( a very slim perhaps) the temps won’t be so horribly hot…one can hope. I shall return after the Summer Solstice arrives @ 11:54am, ESDST! What are your summer plans?

Joining Kat and friends here

Cheers~

tgif | 6.14.19…

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thinking/trusting: today is Flag Day and Sunday, Fathers’ Day. not sure how frequently these two events are so close together – guessing it doesn’t really matter. today, my thoughts turn to my dad who was a proud soldier in the US Army, during WWII. tho’ he never went overseas to battle, he and his troops were ready, even tho’ they didn’t get to go. after the war, Daddy  remained in the US Army Reserves, until his death, 40 years later. my father believed in the principles on which this country  was founded (and is still engaged in making the mark): respect, liberty and justice for all. I am reminded that I, too, must keep the faith, must trust that the foundation is strong and goodness will persevere…

gratitude/gifts: we have been graced nearly all week with subsequent rare June days. it has been a joy to sleep with open windows, greeted by sunshine- filled mornings and delightful, just-right temperatures…

inspiring/inspired by: clouds. yesterday and today, the sky’s been a study with glorious, magnificent clouds rolling by, occasionally hiding the sun …and then a breakthrough.

 feeling/finding: looking ahead, a nearly blank calendar – as in, no outside appointments  – for nearly the next two weeks…hmmm. wondering how I will fulfill those days, hours, moments of promise…

wishing all a weekend filled with many moments of promise…and fulfillment.

unraveled wednesday |6.12.19…

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Chris has a busy week:

  • Monday: celebrating his 5th birthday. One only turns five once! I think 5 year-olds are pretty neat people: they know just enough to be independent and still adorable little people.
  • Tuesday: PreK graduation.  My sister – his great grandmother – bought him the cap + gown (worn after the ceremony) and the label on top of his mortar board! The ceremony was at 8:30 am! ~ which meant I had to get up and arrive at his home by 7:45 am! After all the excitement, we went to iHop for brunch. When I arrived home, I took a nap!
  • Saturday : Birthday celebration at a Lego Playland.

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I have finished the 3rd color of the log cabin squares and planning pink for the next.  The books are three new-to-me this week; the Stacey Abrams title – from my friend Margaret, taking a detour with me – is on its way to Kayla.  Both the Debbie Macomber Be A Blessing and the 100-Day Goal are journals.  Debbie – a prolific author and knitter – is also a journaler and this book is bright, colorful, cheerful, inviting. I may pass it on to Kayla, too. The bella Grace magazine features an article: Cultivating Quiet by Michelle GD; she is featuring a companion free course this summer on her blog .

We’re having another rare day in June; I think I’ll take a walk to the neighborhood coffee shop – then return for a bit of stitching. Joining Kat and friends for another Unraveled Wednesday.

Cheers~