Journaling – Morning Glory Studio

simply a moment | 7.15.21 …

Published on July 15, 2021 by Honoré8 Comments

2:22 pm: I’m having a hard time grasping the idea – well, no – the reality – that today is Thursday and the week is better than half over! As is almost the month! And also, if one follows the meteorological calendar, summer, June 1 – August 31, is almost half over. YAY! Bring on autumn! Already, there is evidence of the changing season: crepe myrtle and day lilies are in full bloom; oak and birch leaves, especially those that are closer to the sky are turning brown and falling and: It is HOT!

This morning, since today is simply a moment, I resumed capturing a few moments, written by hand. Over the past 4-5 weeks, since about June 11, I’ve opted to journal using the app DayONE. It’s pretty cool, is a good way for me to practice qwerty (aka typing) and syncs across all my iTools/Toys: the Mac, iPad and iPhone. Not only that, the app keeps track of streaks- today is my 35th day of at least opening the app and adding a word or two. But …

… I have been missing writing by hand – after all, one doesn’t just quit a nearly quarter century (24+ years ) habit like so… I know there are a lot of factors, er uh, Covid for starters, that have played into my dis-ease with my MSQT journaling. Today, though, I’ve felt very comfortable bouncing between the two platforms. Yes! there is room in my life for both and then some. I think/know that I will spend the next weeks over this summer exploring and creating a practice that works for and with me. Stay tuned.

I invite you to join me in capturing the moments of your life: the ordinary as well as the special. And if you do and choose to blog , please share your post’s link in the comments.

Cheers~

sometimes mondays | 5.17.21

Published on May 17, 2021 by Honoré9 Comments

Tho’ the morning began @ circa 6 am, I was almost wide awake and looked forward to the quiet start of a new day, a new week. Last week I participated in week in the life – using the DayONE app on my iPhone and iPad. And tho’ I don’t do QWERTY ( aka “I don’t type” ), I found doing my morning journaling in the app was indeed a good method for practicing and improving my typing…now, if I can only learn the QWERTY row on the keyboard, perhaps I will break myself of the habit of typing oyu for you. Mornings, my journaling is generally an overview of daily plans, etc. I’m also trying to decide if/how to meld the analog and digital systems: I still intend to hand journal – perhaps close out the day by hand… something to ponder.

We have several new toys, er uh, tools in the house… one is an air fryer. A week ago this past Friday, our oven died. Replacing the oven is more than a notion so we/ I decided to try an air fryer. Saturday, the cook, moi, attempted to bake chicken tenders …they were tasty but fried to a crisp! – aka tough. Of course I will give the chicken tenders another try … or perhaps return the air fryer oven. To be continued… the jury is still out. Any and all tips are welcomed!

Here’s to a good week!

Cheers~

friday’s thoughts | 5.22.20 …

Published on May 22, 2020 by Honoré9 Comments

~18 may 2020 LOAD entry~

the days run together… in these times, only venturing out primarily to a) get some fresh air or b) stretch my legs, I’m in the house … today it rains, il pleut, as I always enter in my journal. the steady patter of rain drops on the skylight is very soothing, almost causing me to doze off -ha!, tho’ I did consider a return to bed with a good book – but who am I kidding? I don’t return to bed for naps unless I am not feeling well and well, that’s not the situation, knock on wood!

Friday afternoons’ Journal Club sessions are on hiatus until the Fall. Hmmm. I normally continue the practice, on my own, during the interim…thus far, since the session’s end, I’ve fallen out of the practice (i.e., Friday afternoon journaling session). Time to resume; I know the rhythm. Yes! I will do that; in fact, I am doing so now, sortof, as I pen this post. Normally, my journaling is handwritten.

The house is quiet; Norman just left to take a walk. The only sounds I hear are the click, click of the keyboard, the tick tick of the clock and an occasional car driving down the street. What do I do next? I have plenty options:

create today’s LOAD 520 layout – the theme is friendship;
find some fabric among my stash for two small quilt projects on my list;
update the May Collect photo collage;
take a lunch break; and
read a chapter in Before We Were Yours.

I think after I hit publish I’ll do 4 and 5 … and then see what next calls to me…

We here in the Nation’s capital are still under a stay-at-home order with a possible lifting 29 May. Ah, here comes the sun? And a reminder: Tuesday, 26 May is the One Little Word monthly link up here on this blog. Looking forward to sharing and reading.

Have a great holiday weekend, however you spend it. Be safe!

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!

sometimes mondays | 10.7.19 …

Published on October 7, 2019 by Honoré7 Comments

this is week # 41 of 2019…and if you are like me, you are wondering where did the time go? During this year, for ten weeks of each season, I’ve begun and ended the work week, Mon -Fri, with two online journaling practice activities: Mindful Monday and Journal Club. Created and facilitated by Jamie Ridler (more here), I find both to be great grounding activities as well as being fun and insightful. This morning I couldn’t find my earbuds (stuck in my shirt pocket from yesterday’s walk, natch), so I was a tad discombobulated … but my frazzled nerves were calmed by our opening meditation session.

after Mindful Monday, I drove to my weekly quilting group meeting. on the way, I stopped at Starbucks for a cuppa decaf with pumpkin spice… they had no decaf coffee and it was going to take at least 5 min to brew. I think I was a tad chagrinned… after the meeting, I decided to treat myself to lunch at Nordstrom since I’d not been all summer. My meal: shrimp arugula salad and tomato bisque soup was delish and filling… in fact, half of the salad came home with me. by the end of the meal, my nerves were no longer frazzled so I decided to walk around a bit – as I was also looking for a birthday present. I didn’t find a present but I did discover a new store, pictured above! quite dramatic.

and that’s the way it was this monday. oh, and by the way, I did finally have a decaf coffee with pumpkin spice at Nordstrom; coffee was brewed…

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.