zibaldone| may 2022 …

 

The news this week, in addition to the Russian-Ukraine war; the continued Covid- 19 variants; and now Monkey Pod – has been overlaid with yet again a tragedy: the mass shooting of 19 elementary school aged children and two teachers in Texas!  Totally innocent people going about their lives; for sure this event was not on their agenda. And of course, the law makers and so called law keepers are appropriately remorseful and angered … Sadly,  in a few days, “normal” life will resume until the next time… rest assured there will be a “next time.” We must also be cognizant of the atrocities that take place daily in life…  In the meantime, the Republican Senatorial response, according to the Washington Post: “our thoughts and prayers are with you.”

I sit here, at the table the spot where one can find me most mornings, looking out at the vista:

  • the sky’s overcast, grey;
  • birds and squirrels forage;
  • a slight breeze, barely perceptible via the slow movement of leaves on the trees;
  • grass needs cutting…badly;
  • my tea needs replenishing.  I can’t cut the grass but the tea, I can replenish.

Writers’ Hour.  I’m currently engaged in Writers’ Hour, 50 focused minutes of writing, a free Zoom event, offered four times a day – in the world’s different time zones. We set and share our intentions and write together,  in our “little Zoom boxes” on/off the screen.  I joined the 8AM EST Writers’ Hour on March 9 of this year and for the past two months since, have written in DayONE,  65 consecutive days daily – a streak – and counting…Go ME! 

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Cybrary … a what?  Recently, while driving through the University of Maryland’s campus, I saw  a building with this sign… naturally, being a retired librarian – public- my curiosity was piqued.  And so what does one do but a ‘google’ search…Go here: https://www.cybrary.it/about/     for the answer to my and your question.

And that’s a snippet or two of my May… Have a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend.

Peace.

 

simply a moment | 7.15.21 …

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~

wintry morn | 2.18.21 …

…sleet, snow, birds of many feathers, flocking to stay warm, forage, occasionally gang up on one who has a prized gem in its beak.

I sit here at the table, watching Mother Nature; it seems that the sky is brighter – still very much grey – yet brighter. We’ve just finished breakfast – late, today; but that’s OK, we’ve nowhere to go, be. Thankfully.

I check the weather app; yep, precip scheduled to end in the next 4 min – it’s now 11 AM. The birds are resting on tree branches, electric and Fios wires. Perhaps wondering what they’ll do next? As I.

I see a new denizen in the yard – a squirrel …and that reminds me of a project patiently awaiting my attention. Yes, for sure I will stitch a bit … but first, time to wash breakfast dishes and then … so many choices.

I hope you are having a good day.

Cheers~

unraveled wednesday|10.14.20 …

I began the morning thinking I’d engage in MSQT on my Mac, upstairs in my craft studio – a fancy name, for sure. Fixing my morning tea, waiting for the tea kettle to boil, I gazed out the window at the this tree. It occurred to me that I’d not really taken a close look at it for a while – Oh my! Against the backdrop of a cloudless blue sky, irrefutable evidence of Mother Nature’s work as the autumnal season moves in/on… I decided to stay at the table to engage in my morning’s activity that refuels my soul : MSQT! As vital as a good night’s sleep, which I also enjoyed.

I have no idea how this – or any – day will unfold; I just know that at this time, I am so grateful for it’s return to normal :

  • Norman preparing his breakfast; the smells and sounds make a nice background…
  • My niece Dolly sends a text saying Chris was taking a practice reading assessment this morning and passed 100%. Next week: the real deal; I wonder why?!
  • Chris’ grandmother sends a text: “the Professor is awesome!” I laugh out loud!
  • N’s daily listen… CNBC – stock market program…
  • I contemplate today’s agenda:
    • Create today’s LOAD – 14 . (LOAD is a Layout A Day, the last month-long daily sprint for 2020)…
    • Noon Daily Pages break followed by a 1 PM Zoom session with another group of memory keepers …
    • Walk and listen to Happier with Gretchen Rubin, my fave podcast
    • Continue listening to The Mountains Sing. I am also reading it on my Kindle – trying to see if I like that combo…
    • Cast on, again for the 99th time, stitches for the second sock !!! I am determined to succeed!

It is time to move on with the morning and thus the day. I still have my AM reads and breakfast to eat. Joining Kat and friends for this week’s Unraveled Wednesday.

Cheers~

PS. My new blogging schedule got off track, right fast, yesterday. I had two appointments scheduled 1 – 3 PM. Today is a new day and another opportunity to start again for the first time.

one little word | 2/20 …

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Good morning or afternoon or evening ~ or whenever you read this. Fifteen years and counting, 365 days out of the year, I begin my morning sitting at the dining table in the Great Room (as I dub it – the addition, kitchen/eating area, we built 15 years ago). This morning I’m in my craft room where my computer is located; my tea mug is close at hand and I am journaling via the keyboard rather than by pen in hand. Just as I was retiring last night, I realized that today was the last Tuesday and I had not drafted today’s post. Ah yes! Guess that habit – my 2020 one little word – hasn’t taken hold, yet!

This month, my focus has been on visiting my routines and tiny habits – the things I do consciously, intentionally or out of habit. For example: I’ve dubbed my mornings as MSQT – morning solitude and quiet time. I go downstairs to the Great Room, make tea and set the table with my journal/s/, pens, AM good reads and planner/s.* This past month, I added to my routine the practice of taking a minimum of 350 steps as tea water brews (in my new electric cordless kettle, just sayin’). This is a tiny habit that’s easy to implement: I can simply walk briskly around the perimeter of the Great Room and get my body movin’. Win Win!

Tiny Habits is also the title of a  new book published the end of 2019. BJ Fogg, the author has been studying habits for several decades and has narrowed the formation of new habits to the tiniest cue, e.g., you tie a desired behavior to something you already do. In my example, I want to be a little more active in the morning, get a jump start on my daily step count, so I tied walking with flipping the switch of the electric kettle.

BJ offered a free 10 sessions ‘ online class to the book’s purchasers; I joined and have been attending the ‘class’ this month. The interaction between BJ and class participants via text chat has been illuminating.  Today is our 7th session.

How is life with your word proceeding ? Please do share in the comments and if you’ve written a post, please also include the link in the comments.*

Looking forward to reading the stories of your February love affair with your 2020 one little word. And now, it’s time for me to hit publish, go downstairs and walk my 350 steps as water boils for my second cuppa tea.

Cheers~

*Yes, I have more than one planner; that’s a story for another post … and mark your calendar: Tuesday March 31 is the next OLW update! Apologies for no linkup party this month… I need to understand how the feature works. I’m sure it’s easier than their instructions and it’s past time to hit publish.

 

‘’O’ me of little faith…”

    (screen shot from WSHU.org site)

Last Night : 10.30.19

I went to bed somewhere during the 5th inning, deciding the game was clearly going to be won by the Astros. I said to Norman: “Oh well, they surprised us all and made it to the World Series and this far… nite!” O’ me of little faith

This Morning: 10.31.19

I awoke at my usual dark early time and proceeded to indulge in my favorite AM activity: Morning Solitude and Quiet Time (MSQT):

  • Fixed tea;
  • Journaled a bit;
  • Read another chapter … on journaling… in Stillness is the Key;
  • Decided to look up something on the Internet;
  • Logged onto my iPad/Safari and decided to close a few open windows from previous searches;
  • Got to the WSHU.org site – I listen to Sunday Baroque – sometimes repeat during the week and
  • Shrieked!!!

They WON! They WON! They WON!

Go Nats Go!

sometimes mondays | 5.6.19 …

awake @ 5 am

finish putting laundry away; straighten workspace in craft room; empty dishwasher; make tea, light candle…

sit @ 6am

relax, take first sip o’ tea, a deep breath, think …

“I’ve done a day’s work, already! in an hour” …

the sky is grey; rush hour traffic is still light. It is quiet. the tea soothes, feels good as it travels down my throat, warms my insides, enough so I think a long sip o’ iced H2O is in order…Ahhh!

catch a whiff of the candle’s lavender scent – hmmm, heavenly. I remind myself how.very.much I love the smell of lavender. grow a bit? for sure, buy some dried. remember I have some!

fix another cup o’ tea; walk a bit in the kitchen; think about today’s agenda; update May calendar; plan this week’s blog posts, create today’s and hit publish!

7:45 am

time to get a move on … the sun just broke through! Have a great day!

Cheers ~

sometimes mondays | 3.25.19…

“Coffee, Tea and Me…

I started drinking coffee when I was 17 and pretty much did so until 2005 – when I switched to tea. Mainly because the addition was being built – and we were without a kitchen and stove, just the microwave. Heating water for tea was was easy and I do not like instant coffee. Besides, microwave cooking has been a staple with me since 1985! All in all, it just made plain sense.

Fast forward to today: The microwave died over the weekend. To heat water, I use the electric stove. Earlier this year I opined that I might buy an electric tea kettle; suffice it to say, I have not, yet.

  • News Flash! I just remembered: I do, however, have a brand-spanking-new -still-in-the-box, electric coffee maker! I can use it for boiling water until I decide to:
    • resume morning coffee drinking or
    • buy an electric tea kettle and
    • replace the microwave – which, quiet as it’s kept, will be #3 – since we replaced the first one, bought in 2005, in 2014.

    Today’s sunrise was lovely and I’ve a lot to do this morning before I leave for my Monday Morning quilt meeting. And no doubt, shopping for a new microwave oven!

    Wishing you a great day!

    Cheers~

    sometimes mondays | 3.4.19…

    …are off …to a much slower start… than usual…. slept later… not up til 6am… puttered. wasted time… slow down…BREATHE… catch my breath… inhale… exhale… s-l-o-w-l-y. again… cloudy now – sun’s breaking through… tea mug is warm in my hand…tea, tasty in my mouth… blend of ginger peach and peach…yum… running through my mind ~ today’s agenda, this week’s, this month’s … this moment’s…BREATHE…

    (Thanks to Michelle GD for today’s take on Sometimes Mondays…)