Tag: Seasons

simply a moment | 9.15.24

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On my walk, Sunday, September 15, 2:42 PM:

Leaves on the sidewalk crunch under my feet. I hadn’t realized how impactful the few days of cool weather has been on the trees just two days ago. Hardly any leaves had turned – yet today, not only have many leaves on many different kinds of trees turned, they are also falling, falling, falling. A dog being walked by its owner is just panting. Kind of snuck up on me – thankfully it’s on a leash! He looks like he’s a bulldog mix. It might be a she for all I know.


I stopped to take some pictures of leaves on trees and the ground and see that two other dogs are at a standoff . The owners apparently know one another. And the dogs? One decided s/he wasn’t going to be friendly. The other responded in kind; they may know each other and they may just do that every time they meet.


As I arrive home, my first thought: Where is my car? … and then I remember: my sister has it. A reminder: I need to have the garage auto door looked at – does the remote opener actually function. I just need to make sure the opener works or will it need to be replaced? And if I need to upgrade, how much will it cost? I make a mental note to talk to my neighbors and see what they suggest.

The azalea bush has bloomed again. This is probably not its last time this year…

I check my watch for my walk stats: 43:14 min; 1.10 mi; 2:12 -2:55 pm; 80 degrees; 47% humidity . Exercise goal achieved! Go Me!

Simply a Moment | 4.15.24 …

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Monday! Monday! Mondays! are generally fairly well filled with household chores: laundry; trash out for Tuesday’s collection; planning the week’s agenda…

Today’s list also included going to the post office to mail state income tax return and walking Hazel – or rather I should say, being walked by Hazel – to/thru the park. The weather was delightful: sunshine , warm but not too hot; and the park was filled with children, caregivers – all enjoying this delightful Spring Day – not only a Monday and TAX filing day.

One neighbor delivered a bag of apples and cheeses; another – who likes to bake – a little box filled with very tasty mini-cakes. I made a long overdue list of this week’s “to do”agenda; one item included making an appointment on Friday for a mani/pedi. It’s been way too long for this treat.

We’ve had a delightful Spring day – not too hot and I’m feeling that I “done good.”

Plus, I had 4 Zoom sessions. One’s coming up in a few minutes so I guess I’ll review this post one last time and hit PUBLISH!

Cheers~

one little word | 11.30.21…

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This morning, about 8:45 am, we had a very light dusting of S-N-O-W! Or maybe a combination of sleet. T’was exciting and interesting, considering the season we’re entering once the clock rolls over at midnight. Of course, the snow/sleet melted just as it hit the deck, ground…

On my walk earlier this afternoon, I was struck by the colors of this autumn day. Mother Nature has done a magnificent job of commemorating my 2021 word: color, this season. Plus, the addition of several holiday-themed yard decor adds to the ambience. Tomorrow we embark on the Christmas holiday season; ‘t’will be interesting to see how the season’s colors are revealed.

Joining Carolyn and friends for November’s One Word roundup.

Cheers~

summer’s end …

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Bright blue cloudless sky. Birds sing ” caw caw caw” … September’s air feels good against my face. I’m wearing my winter coat and I have on no hat – but that’s OK !  Despite the cooler temps, it is beautiful!  I  stop, take a look around, capture the sky, sun and also the sound : quiet.

I’ve reached the park. Children’s voices permeate the air along with the sounds of lawn mowers and leaf blowers. I hear the creak, squeak of a swing or two. I’m trying to decide which way do I go:  my usual route or forge a new one? Lotsa children at the playground – don’t see too many adults but I do see a rather large dog.

I  decide to take my usual route and trek up the hill, gathering  just enough speed to get my momentum going. Other than the children, not too many people in the park –  usually there are one to four parked at benches, shooting the breeze; others, at a table: writing; reading; sometimes napping …

Tomorrow is the first day of an astrological event: Autumn.  It feels good to walk through this park on this last day of summer. In a way, it’s a sanctuary. A sanctuary.

Autumn. My favorite season of all.

tgif | 12.20.19 …

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~day is done, gone the sun~

thinking… the month has really flown by, as has the year. Hard to believe that there are just 11 days left in the month and the decade! by golly, just this time 10 years ago I was preparing to retire…and wondering what would be next? how was I going to fill my time? realizing I’m still pondering that question…some things never change …

grateful … that we’ve not had to brave much cold weather this week, despite 20 degrees at the start of this day. Temps today made it to 40 degrees, and we’ve been greeted with sunny skies, thankfully …

intending … to brave the shopping crowds tomorrow and maybe look for twinkling lights that hang vertically in a window… still no decision on the tree (and soon it won’t matter – shhh). When I was a child, we did all the tree buying/trimming/decorating on Christmas Eve day…guess a part of me still operates on that clock … I recall that the year my sister’s son – my nephew – was just weeks away from his first birthday, she and I were traveling the streets of Toledo, well after midnight, looking for an open tree lot…which we found!

finishing … Just think, in a little over 19 hours, Fall will have been superseded by Winter.  Do you have shopping yet to do? Have a great weekend.

Cheers~

 

 

 

 

sometimes mondays | 10.7.19 …

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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~

 

welcome autumn | 9.23.19…

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The Autumnal Equinox officially arrived this morning at 3:50 am, EST. Despite my desire to be wide awake then, I wasn’t nor did I make plans to get up quite that early. In fact, I even overslept, getting up about 7: 15 am… AND, I actually spent MSQT in my craft studio rather than the Great Room (aka dining room/kitchen). Why? Today was the first Mindful Monday session  – a 10 week’s program created and led by Jamie Ridler, the convener of Friday afternoon Journal Club – which resumes this Friday, Yay! Actually, I have spent most of today at the computer – between two sessions with Jamie and catching up with email, etc. We did take time out to bag leaves for tomorrow’s pickup…and you know, it’s hot out; currently 91° F. Yuk! Plus, looks like it’s going to rain.

Yesterday was our monthly Friendstitching gathering…and we celebrated Pat’s birthday! Lunch was delicious: shrimp, rice, salad, breads, fruit and mimosas plus delicious dessert. It is our practice that the hostess gives us each a tchotchke; we got that delightful fall  dishtowel… On my walk yesterday evening, I ran across the sidewalk chalk art and thought of the towel. Pretty close match.

To quote Dee: It’s Finally Fall Y’all *

Cheers~

*Do drop by her blog to see the delightful piece she just finished.

mandalas and spring …

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~quilted mandalas~

     My quilt group meets weekly on Monday. At the end of each meeting, we have show-n-tell, an informal sharing by members of their recent quilting projects . This is a photo of quilted mandalas; I have a secret love affair with mandalas. Occasionally, I color one or try to create my own design. When I saw these, I knew I wanted to add making one or more to my someday maybe quilt project list. I chatted with the maker of these and asked her to send me a reference to the magazine and  instructions, if she still had them. She did and left me a message last night. Hmm, I thought, I think I might have that issue… and by golly, I do! I think I bought it before Christmas, skimmed the issue and marked the article to read/try later How about that for a bit of serendipity?

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~this tree~

This morning I was convinced that I saw just the faintest signs of green on this tree, often featured on my blog as I use it to track seasons. We’re having most welcomed spring temps. Yesterday, 60s and today, 70s. Maybe Phil was right – Spring will be early! Only time will tell…

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~#blueskybuds~

Today, I took a long walk – the first in days. I was on the lookout for forsythia; too soon…but I did see #blueskybuds ! And that made my heart sing!

What signs of spring have you seen?

Cheers~

welcome winter solstice…

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Full December Cold Moon ~ 5:46 P.M. ~ 12.21.18

Technically, the Winter Solstice arrived today, 12.21.18, at 5:23 pm, accompanied by the Full December Cold Moon. Despite the moon’s moniker and the advent of colder temperatures, we’ve enjoyed spring like temperatures all day – mid 60°s, accompanied by a nice downpour, mid afternoon.

Technically, the full December Cold Moon is tomorrow, Sat 22 Dec at 12:48 pm. Why can one see the moon in the daylight? The technical term for  this phenom is syzygy . Interesting.

Our day has been quiet…I had a hair appointment and stopped at the grocery store for a few items. Tomorrow, my plan for any weekend shopping is to begin early and return home  circa 2 pm. That should give me my “fill of mingling with holiday crowds.”

Have a grand weekend!

Cheers~