September … the new January

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Today we’ve reached the predicted high: 95 degrees and we still have hours to go before sunset. The forecast: hotter through Friday and then thankfully, a cool down to on the weekend, the mid-90s. Can’t come too soon!

On the last day of school, I remember singing the lyrics “school’s out, school’s out, teacher’s let the fools out …no more pencils, no more books…” as we headed home. The very next week, we were bored to tears and complained of having “nothing to do.” Which was patently untrue!

For my ducats, I’m with the meteorologists : September is the beginning of Autumn/Fall, my favorite season of the year. My childhood memory of Labor Day was the ending of summer, the beginning of Autumn and the return to school! YAY!

Tomorrow, the kids return to school; city pools close – good they were open today, truly a Sayonara song. Life returns to normal…whatever that is.

One of the joys I remember from starting back to school: new pencils, a box of crayons and a ream of newsprint. There was a paper mill on the outskirts of town and we could get a ream of paper for a whole 25 cents – a quarter! I have a roll of newsprint I’ve had for years – one used to be able to get such from stores for packing purchases – no more.

These days, my “back-to-school” kit includes a couple new journals; composition books in a variety of colors; both analog and digital planners; and of course, my iPad, iPhone and Mac. I can ne’er make up my mind and I experiment with a lot of different ones- both analog and digital. Old habits are hard to break…and really, why should I?

Welcome September!

LSNED

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September. Today, being the first day of meteorological autumn – my very favorite time of the year – and an absolutely gorgeous day: warm temps with no humidity, bright sunlight and the Friday before 2023’s Monday Labor Day –

At least ten years ago, I joined Shimelle Laine and scrapbookers from around the world document something learned daily, during the 30 days of September. I decided to revive the practice and document what I learned each day this month. It’s always a good thing to pause and take stock of one’s learning …or lack thereof.

Today has been absolutely gorgeous: Sunshine, blue sky, temperatures in the mid 70s and low-to-no humidity ~ the perfect invitation for a walk to my favorite resting place: the Franciscan Monastery, about a 14 block walk – if I take a particular route (hold onto that thought: it’s a critical piece of today’s learning experience). I decided that I’d first walk to Zeke’s, the coffee shop about a mile from home for a pumpkin spiced latté. I learned that I was a few days ahead of their schedule – PSL not available til next week. C’est la vie; LSNED. I ordered a different concoction, a tad sweet but tasty. I drank most. LSNED!

I arrived at the Monastery tired, ready to sit for a spell. My walk turned out to be longer and farther than I anticipated – I’d taken a wrong turn that led me to a dead end street – so I had to back track my steps. As many times as I’d walked to the Monastery, I’d never started from the coffee shop. LSNED!

Once I arrived, I sat for a while, enjoying the fresh air; trees, reaching high to the sky; squirrels playing tag and butterflies, flying high. I might have stayed a tad longer but looked at my watch and realized I needed to start home. My lawn care service was scheduled to arrive shortly around 3 PM. I arrived home to find them busy cutting the grass.

Wonder what other new things I’ll learn this month. Are you planning to LSN this month?

Cheers~

PS. The class is no longer offered but there are plenty sites to visit if you want a broader view. Just search Shimelle and Learn Something New.

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…

Simply A Moment | 8.15.23

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7:05 PM The temperature is currently 86 degrees on this mostly cloudy day in August. The clouds have indeed been a study and as I “pen” this post, the sun is blasting through the clouds over my right shoulder.

My day started with the replacement of the tub in my washing machine, just about 20 months old – followed by the hauling away of stuff that’s accumulated in the garage since I started parking on the street . The garage is 99% empty; my car is still parked out front – but that will change by week #33’s end. Yes, it’s the 33rd week of 2023. I know: hard to believe: only 19 weeks left in 2023! Where has the time, the year gone?

After the garage declutter, I took a walk and made a quick trip to the bank and grocery store. I was absolutely mesmerized by the clouds and every chance: on my walk, trip to the bank, grocery store, looking out the window , I took a photo or two.

It is my aim, anticipation, ambition to teach myself how to paint clouds- a goal I’ve shared before. The coolest thing : Mother Nature usually provides a daily invitation:

~9:28 AM ~ Aug 14 2023 ~

~1:36 PM ~ Aug 15 2023 ~

~1:55 PM ~ Aug 15, 2023 ~

Too Cool!

an august moon and clouds …

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After what felt like years of unprecedented heat last week, August arrived with cooler air, lower humidity and therefore temperature and the arrival of a “super moon” gracing our nightly skies. Sadly, for moi and most of us who live in the US, folk on the west coast, especially in Eugene OR have the best opportunity of viewing the delightful event.

I did a quick google search and found a link to space.com with this appealing headline: “Watch the supermoon of August 2023 rise today with free telescope livestream (video)”. Hey, hey I thought, how cool is that and, I clicked! Only to be greeted with “Update 3:30 p.m. ET: “The virtual Telescope Project’s livestream of the Full Sturgeon Moon was cancelled due to clouds.”

I share with you some pics of the clouds I took on my walk yesterday. They are a study and make for a good study, too!

I took a quick look out the window and yep! There are clouds moving in. I take a lot of photos of clouds and have recommitted to practicing watercolor painting them. And since I am also mesmerized by clouds, I guess I won’t be too crestfallen … but still!

Fortunately, we have one more opportunity to see a super-moon, the Full Blue Moon, which rises August 30th. Keeping my fingers crossed!

It’s also “Crepe Myrtle Season!” The flowering trees just burst open last week . My neighbors have quite a tree in their yard and as I fix my tea every morning, I glance out the window and am momentarily mesmerized by its beauty. If the weather’s nice, I’ll step out on the deck to get a better view… as with the photo, below. Today, I happened on a link with instructions on how to remove wires from photos. I haven’t tried -yet- but intend to do so, soon! There’s hope…

Wishing all a great month. Who knows what Mother Nature has in store !!!

Cheers~

simply a moment |7.15.23 …

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Yep, it’s a H-O-T one in these parts today. As I type this post, the temperature is currently 89 degrees …

This morning, I got out early, about 10:35 AM, before the heat became totally unbearable. Decided to walk to Zeke’s, – the neighborhood coffee shop, round trip a good 1.5 mile – for a latté and a sit outside. The latter didn’t happen – too hot! But the latté was great and I enjoyed it in the cool of home. Thank goodness the AC is working properly.

On my walk I was greeted with a variety of colorful flowers – on trees, in the ground and in planters. They are all very lovely and …

they reminded me of my colorful new mug that I inaugurated today with my morning cuppa tea…

…and my latté fit inside perfectly! It all made me happier! What small moment or several today made you happier?

Cheers~

welcome july 2023 …

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It is no secret that July and August are the hottest, least desirable months of the year here in these parts – Washington DC – according to my body thermometer. And it is no secret that I am an autumn/fall September girl – have been for as long as I can remember, when I was 4 years old, just two months and 15 days shy of being five when I started kindergarten. I have very vivid memories of the dress I wore and the new shoes I wore on my first day of school…but, I’ll save sharing more ‘til September …

Today’s temperature has already reached it’s forecasted high: 87 degrees and the air quality is 117 – Unhealthy for sensitive groups. I have already taken my daily walk – just moments before it got too hot. On my walk, I noted the current crop of flowers’ color: various shades of purple. Different and nice…

Today, I start a journaling art class, taught by Brandi Kincaid and hosted on the Get Messy Art site. I haven’t looked at the first lesson yet but I’m thinking my purple/pink flowers are a refreshing focus color … and purple goes so well with yellow…Agree?

One of my goals this summer is to read more fiction titles. I’m just 38 pages to the end of No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister. The opening quote: “No two persons ever read the same book, or saw the same picture.” ~ The Writings of Madame Swetchine, 1860 is quite apt for this book. If you read, I’d love to know your thoughts.

Cheers to a safe Fourth of July !

Welcome Summer | 6.22.23 …

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My dear friend Laura sent me a box of “happy mail” that included a variety of stickers and my 2023 word: Happier. Thanks Laura and Jeff! Made me happier, for sure.

Recently, I bought a new iPhone; I intended to have the old phone become a backup; somehow, my “old phone” disappeared. I was totally baffled. What had I done with it?! I was convinced the “Time Thieves” had somehow managed to get involved. Where might those phones be? For several days, I methodically went through every box, drawer and shelf in my craft room – the place I remembered I last had the phones. Nothing. I decided that I had one last place to look: my sewing studio… Holding my breath, I opened a drawer… THERE THEY WERE! WHEW! I was one happy camper !

I’m finding I’m really attracted to butterflies; I think this attraction has been around for a while, as I look through my art, quilting stash and photo archives. I saw this display today on my trip to the library to pick up a couple reserves. Fun! And the tag line is spot on. Makes me happier.

Saturday, 10 June, was “World Knit in Public Day.” The weather was perfect, low 80s and low humidity. I decided to walk to Zeke’s, our neighborhood coffee shop that is definitely open now that Covid is on the wane. (I got my 4th booster 6.14.23!) I retrieved a knit piece that will eventually be a dishcloth; it’s a simple garter stitch and I thought it might be a good way resurrect my knitting.

I shall make one more attempt to reteach myself to “cast on,” a definite required knitting technique.

On this the second day of summer, it rains! Welcome! The upside is the heat associated with a DC summer is not a factor, at least not today! That indeed makes me happier as I am not a fan of summer heat nor winter cold.

Now that it is summer, what’s making you happier?

Cheers~

Week #21 – Happiness|

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IMG_7319

 

     Week #21 started with a bang:  
    Monday, I went downtown to The National Mall – there were people all ages from all over the world – lots of school trips. The weather was lovely, a perfect Spring day!  I specifically went to meet Juliann, F2F, who was visiting. We’ve been Zoom and FT and ALP friends for several years; this was our first Face-to-Face meetup, ever. T’was a delightful day, spent mostly at the African American Museum of Art and then a bite to eat afterwards …  Visit her blog to see a photo of the two of us …
    Tuesday, in comparison, quiet time for me.   Wednesday, I was in seventh heaven: The London Writers’ Salon sponsored a special interview/chat with Maggie O’Farrell– author of many books, her two most recent: Hamnet and Portrait of A Marriage.
Along with all the others in the audience, I was captivated, hang- ing onto her every word. After the session, I promptly checked my two local library systems for her memoir : I Am, I Am, I Am. As luck would have it, both dc public and pgcmls (Prince George’s County, MD) library systems had copies available – one of which I now have in my reading stack, started Thursday night after …

         Thursday, I met two friends for breakfast and a long overdue gathering. We were           so busy catching up, eating, etc, we forgot to grab a picture to memorialize the                     event. But, that’s OK; our hearts are warmed and the memory of our gathering,                   indelibly impressed on our minds…

Friday, I waited all day for a service call re: my washing machine. It walks.                      The service tech arrived at 5:15 pm. No service performed!Suffice it to say, I was                  not a happy camper! Second service call scheduled for Wednesday.

Friday’s fiasco not withstanding, in the overall scheme of things, I am more                           happier – as Gretchen and sister, Liz share on their twice a month Saturday  podcast.         What’s making you more happier these days?  Have a great holiday!

Cheers~

Apologies for the disatrous formatting – last three paragraphs. Word Press strikes again and frankly, I’m too irritated to bother.