The season of Thanksgiving prompted me to think of an old favorite video, which I posed way back here In doing so, I discovered this one that I also like very much.
I
sincerely hope all of you (those who celebrate the Thanksgiving Holiday) had a lovely holiday filled with warmth, humor and lots of
loving. Even if you don't celebrate Thanksgiving, per se, I wish you days of this goodness as well. I am deeply grateful for each of you and the ways we connect.
Morning Birds
Around
these parts recently, I've been up to...wait for it...yep, the exact
same things I usually am up to, with a couple of Thanksgiving togetherness meals
thrown in for good measure.
Driving, working, walking,
reading, stitching and of course computing (probably too much of that!)
So, here are a few random thoughts and photographs to maybe go along
with them, or not.
Walking on my lunch break: A fluttering shadow is noticed on the
asphalt. It looks kinda big. My eyes search for what is creating such a
shadow. I am delighted to realize it is a small yellow butterfly.
This prompts the thought: "Something so small can still throw a mighty
shadow". This leads to the thought that this is a pretty good
metaphor...for many things. Young children can throw a pretty big
shadow. Many people doing small tasks together can too.
For two weeks I did some apple tasting. I eat an apple on my drive home everyday, usually a Gala or Fuji. But during a burst of Autumn feeling a couple of weeks ago, I decided to get one or two of all many different varieties. J. makes my lunch, so he put in a different kind each day, without telling me what kind it was. Some I hadn't had in years like the good old Delicious apple (which really wasn't) and some I'd never tasted before.
So Many Kinds of Apples!
Then, when I arrived home I reported my findings and J. wrote that on the running chart he'd created. It was kinda like we do in the classroom with preschoolers, a taste test. Mine was a blind one though as he had removed the sticker in the morning. I discovered the Red Delicious that I use to eat exclusively, really isn't tasty to me anymore, nor is the Rome. I also discovered that I really like the HoneyCrisp (even if they are so juicy that they are hard to eat while driving!!). I also like the Jazz & the Sweet Tango a lot! I didn't really try any green apples, as I don't usually care for the sour taste. It's pretty funny how much fun we had doing this, me getting a little surprise after a long day and him having full charge of the choice for the day and the results chart! Silly, but good.
The First Week of Charting
At work we had the Thanksgiving Celebration last Friday. It included a branches-tree with tags to write something/someone we are thankful for. My favorite was the 2.5 year old who said, "I am thankful for bacon". Evidently she really meant it as that was her very first response and she stuck with it for the rest of the discussions throughout the week!
Found Twig: Later Warped and Woven
I used a needle to help me 'weave' on the above twig. Warp was some string, Weft was green, because its a little tree of course! What did someone call that? Sewoven?
A couple of days I have worked an earlier shift. This means the sun is coming up in my eyes as I head out. I put on sunglasses and enjoy the view!
Sunrise
Sunrise/Moon
I haven't had much time to sew on the Comfort Cloth in the past two weeks. Additionally, I seemed to have misplaced all the tiny squares for the 9 Patch section and the Greens for the earthy section (near where the tan is stitched down). I've looked in the car and the traveling sewing basket. No luck just yet. Plus, I now have a Christmas Stocking order, which I have to work on! It has a nice story with it though. I made the Young Mother her own stocking back in 1996, when she was just 11 years old. At the time I also made one for her younger sister, her parents and Grandma. A couple of years ago, I made one for her new husband. This year I am making their new baby boy a stocking. It feels amazing to me to have known this family so long and the fact that the treasure their stockings so much, using them year after year, brings me warm fuzzy feelings. You can read more about the stockings and see her husband's back here. After this post, I will continue cross-stitching the baby's name. In the meantime, I saw a 'fish' on the Comfort Cloth the other day! Do you see it? Glub Glub!
Fish Facing Left
Halloween and now Holiday shoppers have put many more people out on the roads and sidewalks. The busy, excited feel is nice...but I am always glad to get back home to the quiet of my home. In the mornings there have been beautiful contrails!
Sky Show in the Morning
Morning Sky Show
Bright Drive to Work
I recently read Goodnight June. If you have ever read the children's book, Goodnight Moon...you'll enjoy this charming novel. Thanks go to my sister for loaning it to me. I have now picked up two more books from the library: "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry" and "The Angle of Repose". I can't wait to get started on them!
Work Walk: Talking to him on the phone, I head out on my lunch time walk. I round the corner, pass a house or two...then I see it. It is a small, Sparrow sized, bird. It is black, gray and white. I've never seen this kind of bird before. It is sitting on the tip of a branch, which has fallen off of the tree and landed upside-down on the front grass. There the branch sits, resting lightly on the two smaller groupings of twigs coming out. It looks like an upside-down "Y". I describe the bird to him. I describe the branch to him. I bemoan the fact that I do not have my camera with me. When I get back to my car, it occurs to me that maybe I should try to draw it. I've seen others do this. I've seen Saskia do this recently. I rummage around for paper and find the Fire Extinguisher pamphlet from a recent training and a pen (wished I had a pencil!!)...I try to visualize the little bird and the branch for a few moments. Then, I give my hand at drawing a try.
During this season of long shadows, holidays and shift...I hope you all are enjoying the little things in life. ~Nancy
However, that does not mean I have not drafted many posts in my head.
I have.
I've designed them, strung words together, chosen photos and decided on videos.
And then I've mostly done none of it.
And I really want to. Really.
I have so many things I want to say and/or share.
Of course, I've been cleaning out in the Big March Clean Up/Out!
Last weekend I did the big bookcase. This involved removing each book to dust. It involved wood polishing and making decisions about what would stay and what could go. More stayed, obviously.
I found doubles of books and I found many I wanted to read or reread.
And I just really wish I had more time for all I want to do.
Getting de-cluttered and clean up is important to me.
I can't think with all of this and I really, really, really
want to be able to focus on the new What If? class with Jude Hill of Spirit Cloth!
She is starting with 'white'...which can certainly represent a blank slate.
I will have to put on blinders to focus on anything in the upheaval going on during the spring cleaning!
I will have to keep my resolve to create with the busy days of a work/commute life.
But, for now, look at the beautiful bookcase!
Many of the books belonged to or were given to me by my mom (or both, hence the doubles!)
Does anything here catch your fancy too?
That is it for today.
I'm glad to post this (one week later).
I'm glad to accomplish something productive.
Now to go in search of white...
LOOK WHAT I FOUND! THIS OLD 'DRAFT' IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW ONE CAN NOW ACCUMULATE ELECTRONIC CLUTTER!! I WROTE THIS POST LAST YEAR, NEVER FINISHED IT...NEVER POSTED IT!
NOW IT IS THE FIRST OF MARCH 2013 AND I AM PREPARING TO ONCE AGAIN CLEAR CLUTTER. HOW DO I KEEP CLEARING IT AND IT KEEPS STAYING AND GROWING??!!
LAST MARCH I DID CLUTTER CLEARING THAT INVOLVED REMOVING 'AT LEAST' ONE THING FROM THE HOUSE EVERY DAY. SOME DAYS I CLEANED OUT WHOLE JUNK DRAWERS OR CLOSET SHELVES, WHILE OTHER DAYS I QUICKLY THREW AWAY ONE THING AS I TROTTED OFF TO BED.
I'M ACTUALLY REALLY EXCITED TO DO THIS AGAIN.
IN JANUARY - I WROTE ONE SMALL STONE EVERY DAY.
IN FEBRUARY, I HAD THOUGHT OF DOING A ______ (SOMETHING) EVERYDAY. BUT, I'VE MOSTLY BEEN SICK EVERY DAY (DOES THAT COUNT? HA!)
SO NOW HERE WE ARE AT MARCH, AND LIKE LAST MARCH IT WILL BE CLEANING TIME AGAIN! I WILL USE THE SAME PLAN AS LAST YEAR: REMOVE AT LEAST ONE THING FROM THE HOUSE EVERY DAY. I ALREADY HAVE A BAG OF OLD CLOTHES FOR THE GOODWILL READY TO GO FOR TOMORROW.
I'VE ALSO BEEN WORKING ON GETTING RID OF THE DUPLICATE AND TRIPLICATE PHOTOS I BROUGHT HOME FROM MY MOM'S THINGS. THIS JOB HAS BEEN VERY TIME CONSUMING...BUT EASY ENOUGH TO DO WHEN ON THE COUCH NOT FEELING WELL!
I WANT LESS...LESS...LESS!
I AM WILLING TO PART WITH MORE OLD SEWING/ART/CRAFT MAGAZINES.
I AM WILLING TO SELL SOME OF MY ART.
I AM WILLING TO SHARE, SELL, GIFT SOME OF MY FABRIC.
(LEAVE A MESSAGE OR EMAIL ME IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ANYTHING)
HERE IS A GOOD ARTICLE THAT I HAD IN AN OLD POST. I THOUGHT I'D SHARE IT AGAIN IN CASE SOMEONE ELSE IS READY FOR INSPIRATION FOR SPRING CLEANING.
~I'VE TYPED THIS IN ALL CAPS TO DIFFERENTIATE IT FROM THE OLD 'STUFF' DRAFT I FOUND. NOW, WHEN I POST THIS, I WILL HAVE SUCCESSFULLY CLEANED OUT ONE OLD DRAFT AND BE MOVING FORWARD TO MORE 'STUFF'!!!
SO, WITHOUT FURTHER ADIEU...
THE OLD DISCOVERED POST ABOUT 'STUFF':
*Please Note: Remember, this is George Carlin...profanity included.
This is where I've been...surrounded in Stuff. Pondering where stuff fits, in this phase of my life. I feel like I am suffocating.
I take photos back to my sisters and somehow end up with another batch to bring home.
Little me from the never-ending photo stash!
Some stuff is easy to decide about. The photo below shows a piece of artwork that hung in our dining room during our childhood. There were others that surrounded this center piece, but this is what's left. Every time I touch it, another piece comes off in my hand! Can you find the 2 two-headed men? Well, I don't think they were meant to have two heads, but that is how 2 little girls saw it! Oh my, how we studied that picture over the years. I think I will put the two-headed men on the shoe project! In fact, there will be many new layers added to the shoe!
We have had time to reminisce while looking over these belongings. My three nieces laughing at the photos and the extra long formal gloves, wondering at the need for a silver, glass-lined butter dish and not understanding the urgency, concern and sadness that my sister and I embrace as we are propelled through family history. It's nice to be able to share some of these moments with them.
I long for my own children to be here.
“If you want a golden rule that will fit everybody, this is it:
Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful,
More by I.C. Springman Illustrated by Brian Lies Published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, March 6, 2012 *Copyright infringement not intended*
A book that demonstrates the question, "When is enough, enough?" A wonderful springboard to further conversations regarding consumption of material products, living simple, sharing and more!
Do you remember this book from a post I did way back in March? I stumbled across this book in the local bookstore and fell in love. I love that feeling when you just happen to land on something really great. This book speaks to something that I often reflect on (as I know many of you do too) and the artwork is amazing. There are so many fine details, one could look forever picking out familiar objects. Children love these kinds of pictures, sort of the 'I Spy' idea. I can't think of a nicer way to spend time than curled up with a child and a good book! Enjoy! Link for book (also in 'March' link): http://www.amazon.com/More-I-C-Springman/dp/0547610831/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1331100474&sr=1-4http://www.amazon.com/More-I-C-Springman/dp/0547610831/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1331100474&sr=1-4 Link for video (in case it doesn't work here for you): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hF8imGRVQDI&feature=plcp
UPDATE:
I ran across this article this morning. Perfect timing :)
