Tag: social distancing

unraveled wednesday | 4.22.20 …

Published on by Honoré10 Comments

I’m at the half-way point of the medium-sized Log Cabin/9Patch blocks. Progress is certainly swifter when the number of stitches per row is only 20 and the rows are garter coupled with taking a 4 PM TV break. At this rate, who knows, I may even have the entire knitted blanket done by autumn…no rush, of course.

On the reading front, I’m feeling as tho’ I’m between a rock and a hard place. Nothing’s quite captured my attention … tho’ I’ve been gathering possibilities for SAH Book Bingo 2020  for whenever social distancing guidelines/orders are lifted, I can get my “in the bookstore and library fix!” (We’re expecting at least another month here in the DMV area).

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The weather was absolutely lovely today (rain is forecast for the next four days)  – an invitation to make the 14 blocks’ (each way) walk  to the Franciscan Monastery … alas, the outdoor sanctuary grounds were gated but the tulips were lovely…and the walk,  invigorating.

Joining Kat and friends for another week of unraveled wednesday .

Cheers~

3 on thursday|4.9.20 …

Published on by Honoré14 Comments

2020-03-19 Things I can and Cannot Control

As mentioned previously several times, every (most) morning/s, I read the day’s Simple Abundance essay. I have done this off/on since the publication of the first edition in 1995. Each reread has brought forth a new perspective, tempered by the times and places I’m in at that particular juncture in my life. In 2019, Simple Abundance marked its 25th anniversary with a new and updated edition… and as I read, little nuances, references have substantiated the claim. Yesterday’s entry Affordable Luxury encourages us to experience more affluence in our daily lives through pampering…

What an invitation! I thought about how I’d like to pamper me but cannot due to the corona virus and social distancing. Here’s my list :

  1. Spend the entire day pampering me! First, I’d go to the hairdresser! I need a hair cut and the luxury of having my hair shampooed and styled. My many grey strands are wiry – each has a mind of its own and needs a bit o’ taming… I also need a manicure/pedicure … maybe even a body massage…
  2. Go to several bookstores! There are two Indie stores in DC -new to me -that I’d particularly like to visit, spend the day and browse, have a caramel latte, sit with my journal, people watch, dip in/out of the pile of books before me…
  3. Go to the Smithsonian’s National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden /Restaurant, have lunch out on the restaurant’s terrace. Just sit, with my journal, people watch and be grateful… always, grateful.

As I’ve sat here, drafting this post, the rain has stopped and there’s a hint that the sun is coming out… an omen? What’s on your pampering list?

Joining Carol for Three on Thursday.

Cheers~

PS. For more information on the above graphic, do visit  The Counseling Teacher.com where you’ll also find an editable version of the graphic.

tgif |4.3.20…

Published on by Honoré9 Comments

~social distancing @ Whole Foods~

t: tired this morning. Hangover from yesterday when we were up and out of the house at 6:30 am to grocery shop …we were pleasantly surprised to find the produce, dairy, bread sections and meat cases well stocked; not so: frozen veggies/fruits and canned beans/tomato goods.

g: grateful for a good night’s rest, a quiet morning, sunny skies, and a chance to reclaim my depleted energies. Even tho’ I am an early bird, the out of the house early morning venture took its toll later that evening: I realized that I dozed through much of an evening Zoom scrapbooking crop. C’est la vie!

i: inspired tho’ perhaps a bit sad – today was the last session for this season’s Journal Club. Jamie always has a great closing planned; I looked forward to whatever surprise she had in store to carry us through the break ( 8 weeks?) before we reconvene. I was not disappointed.

f: finding renewed energy on this bright sunshine-filled-tho’-a-tad-windy-day. Our season of Journal Club ended with a spirited dance and reconnection to our animal spirit guide: Turtle. And so, in honor of Journal Club and National Poetry Month, I share this stanza from Dr. Seuss: 

And the turtles, of course all the turtles are free, as turtles and, maybe, all creatures should be. *    

Have a great weekend.

Cheers~

Read more: https://www.wiseoldsayings.com/turtle-quotes/#ixzz6IZljySgE

sometimes mondays | 3.30.20 …

Published on by Honoré13 Comments

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(just days ago, this tree was white flowers)

My DayONE journal prompt for today asks: What’s the oldest thing you own that you still use daily?  My answer: My brain! At least, most times, tho’ some days I wonder.

I also have, being more practical, several pair of flannel PJs that I’d like to nominate. However, they are pretty much worn to a frizzle frazzle. I hate to part with them, despite that they are thread-bare, mainly ‘cause they’re decorated with Scotty dogs… but, I will have to succumb and use the flannel pieces in a scrappy quilt perhaps or better yet: add to my memory keeping album. Yeah! That’s a great idea!

Interesting, yesterday’s Simple Abundance read focused on “Comfort Clothes and What They Mean.” Sarah shares that she has “a beloved pair of paisley cotton knit PJs that she would wear 24/7 if I could only figure out how to get away with it…”  I can relate tho’ I hasten to add that one would also need to shed periodically for a bit o’ washing, I imagine …

Also in my closet of well-worn, cherished items of clothing: 4 plaid, flannel night shirts. They are light-weight yet warm for cool mornings. I’ve had easily 15 years – several were my mom’s so they hold added value. I can just see her mornings, at her desk in a shirt, coffee cup in one hand, a pencil in the other with both the New York Times and Washington Post Sunday crossword puzzles in front of her…and as she tackled the NYT, she’d occasionally say “This is wicked, Honoré, just plain wicked.”

As I write this post, the washing machine is going through the spin cycle, the first of several loads. There is comfort in this activity for it is familiar and well worn in my life too. I am grateful that during these social distancing times we do indeed have comfort memories, items, chores and evidence of Spring: green trees, bushes, and grasses.

What’s on your list of everyday comfort items? 

Cheers~

P.S. And a reminder: Tomorrow, 31 March, is our One Little Word share update on this blog. 

staying connected …

Published on by Honoré12 Comments
IMG_0201 Another day @home, Monday, made ever gentle by a spring rain. Sunday was warm, sunny and inviting: I took a walk through the park, enjoying the cherry blossoms and watching the children playing; other walkers were out too. IMG_0204

clearly my screen time has jumped!

My stitching friends and I have been meeting via FaceTime and also doing a lot of texting… some of us are making face masks for health care workers, sharing resources and our “makes” via photo. Almost a “stitch in” taking place… IMG_0206

Five year old Chris has his own iPod so he’s been joining in our family texts and holding his own. He reads quite readily though I’m not sure how the actual texting is accomplished.  Some, I believe he types and the other, perhaps tells his mom who types  We celebrated Dolly’s birthday via FaceTime – what fun. Elias totally enjoyed the cake…yum, yum. We didn’t have that same experience …sadly, tech hasn’t figured that out, yet.

Simple Scrapper.com – my scrapbooking community with members from around the globe – meets via Zoom several times a week, just to chat and document our memories… Clearly “social distancing” is a top topic for each of us. Our sessions are sometimes “formal” and sometimes very informal, just a gathering.

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Patti Callahan, author on Zoom MMD Book Tour

Earlier this month,  I joined author Anne Bogel’s Modern Mrs Darcy’s Book Cub; this past Friday, I attended the book discussion of Anne’s newly released title:  Don’t Overthink It. Scheduled to go on a book tour, cancelled because of the virus, Anne decided to do a “stay-at-home” online book tour this week, also on Zoom. Each day this week, Mon-Fri, an author will be the guest. Monday was the first session and featured Patti Callahan, author of the historical novel, Becoming Mrs.Lewis . Originally published in 2018, the book is being released in paperback. The author shared her very interesting experiences writing the book; I thoroughly enjoyed her presentation, look behind the scenes and have added the title to my TBR list. FaceTime; Skype; Txt; Zoom, and of course, blogging! All are really great ways to stay connected, share ideas, information, inspiration … I see the time is past 2 PM, the day is moving on and I guess I should too… I still have a few items on my daily to do/be list and time marches on. How are you spending your days these days? Cheers~