Thirty Thousand...

A very off day...I can barely talk, feel like I should go hibernate...just sleep until Spring. I can not get out of my own way. A combination of things...

The President's call for 30,000 more troops for Afghanistan this evening didn't boost my mood any...I have a 23 year old Grandson who will be among that 30,000...I almost felt like I was listening to George Bush. Oh well, too late for any of that. All I can do is love and support him and my daughter. He made it known he really liked Magic Cookie Bars on Thanksgiving Day...so guess what I will be shipping. Pray for them all...

Thanks for reading. Peace.

I Did It!

This makes my thirtieth post during the month of November. I can't quite believe that I did it. I have only posted twice this year. There were times this month where I thought, I just have nothing to say, but I had challenged myself to do this so quitting, for me was not an option, though I thought about it... But each night that I completed a post I felt strangely satisfied...so who knows. I hope to continue...

I was looking through my copy of Stillmeadow Calendar by Gladys Taber. I have quite a few of her books, and I usually like to pick one from the bookshelf at this time of year and reread her descriptions of her life in the country with her friend and her dogs. It occurred to me as I was looking at the writings for the month of November that they are like little 'blog' postings. This book was published in 1967 so how one felt or how one saw their life in relation to everything else had to be written out in long hand in a diary or pad of paper or of course use a typewriter...sometimes others read it but usually not unless it was meant to be published. Now we blog and the world can read what we are writing...almost instantaneously. What would Gladys think?

The photo is what is left of the flower garden...for just a time, it will be back.

Have a good evening. Thanks for reading. Peace.

Thanksgiving, Take 2

Today marks the first Sunday of Advent, a time of darkness and a time of preparation while we wait for the Light, Christmas...



Today was the Annual After Thanksgiving Thanksgiving held at Karole and Al's home, a lovely old home built in 1860, in what I believe they call Federal style. The reason for this gathering arose because Karole has 7 married children all with families with varying plans for the holiday. So it was decided we would all get together the Sunday after...and a wonderful time it is. Tables and chairs are set up in every possible room because the dining room will not accommodate everyone. Today's weather helped by being pretty mild which allowed some of the older children to eat on the deck at the picnic table. A great day of good friends, good food and good conversation...a satisfying day, one in which one sees tangible reasons to be grateful. The photo above is her beautiful dining room that is cozy and lit with many hand dipped candles...it just envelopes us with love.

"My friends are my estate."
~ Emily Dickinson

Thanks for reading...Have a blessed evening...Peace

Think Like A Tree

Think Like a Tree

by Karen I. Shragg

Soak up the sun
Affirm life's magic
Be graceful in the wind
Stand tall after a storm
Feel refreshed after it rains
Grow strong without notice
Be prepared for each season
Provide shelter to strangers
Hang tough through a cold spell
Emerge renewed at the first signs of spring
Stay deeply rooted while reaching for the sky
Be still long enough to
hear your own leaves rustling.

I thought I'd share a favorite poem...I love trees in all of their states. Right now they are at their most beautiful, most interesting... especially against a Fall sky. And as the poet, Karen I. Shragg, states in her poem, we have a lot to learn from trees. I tend to agree with her.

Thanks for reading and , yes..."be still long enough to hear your own leaves rustling." Peace

Quiet Days...

I spent a very quiet day, with no agenda...nothing. I am not a shopper, so I did not nor have I ever participated in the Black Friday ritual. I think it is stupid myself. I prefer making my gifts or at least put a little more thought into them. I can't stand the mall during regular hours so I can not envision me getting up at some unnatural hour to go there. I also don't buy the pumping up the economy spin either.

Instead I painted for a good amount of the day and really enjoyed myself. I ate, had tea, talked with my friend on the phone, had pie, found my Christmas books( purely because I was searching for something else) and finally had popcorn and watched a Christmas movie, The Family Stone. I worked on my sleeve knitting and finally on the 3rd of 5 repeats and finished increasing, so humbly, I am on my way. Read previous posts to understand the humility...

When I opened my Christmas book box the top book was a gift from my friend Karole last Christmas. Last year she was excited about a book of readings for advent, Watch For The Light, and easy to see why. The authors of the writings were some of the best spiritual thinkers and writers, such as C.S. Lewis, Thomas Merton, Henri Nouwen, Annie Dillard, and Dorothy Day to name a few. My copy is special because she gave it to me for Christmas last year, during Advent. A few of us received it because she so wanted us to share in the gems she was reading...Anyway I pulled it out tonight and I had to thank her again. A book is like that...I felt like I had just opened the gift again.

Have a good night and thank you for reading. Peace...

Thankgiving Night

It is almost midnight and I am thinking about the day we had and my heart is full. The food was plentiful. We were together with love and cooperation. No one felt overworked. There was even a little backlog for the oven in order to heat things up, but no problem, no one became impatient. Julie even had a grease fire in her oven which meant some things had to come back here to finish heating. Good thing my home is only 5 houses away from hers...but it all came together and we were are seated and eating, talking and as usual, laughing together.

My grandson graced us with a little music today. He is a senior this year and thinking about college. The plan is study music and teach. So tonight his dad, my son called after we had all gone home to let me know that they had started the application process online with three colleges here in state. It is exciting to hear their plans and watch as they carry them out.

One of my grandson's started college this fall and he is studying art. It was so cool when he asked last night if I wanted to see his work so far, as he had brought home his portfolio to finish a project for his design class. Are you kidding me...of course I want to see it all! So yes, it is great to be able to share their lives. Six grandsons and one grand daughter and I am very proud of them all. Rachel announced tonight that she is going to audition at a local theater for an up and coming production. Theater has always been her passion. So maybe that is what I am so pleased about, thankful for... that they have passions and they are going after them. Another in college exploring and has mentioned some interest in engineering another just beginning high school who loves sports and has already asked me about college and sports. Then there is the one leaving in January for the Army. We will be listening closely Tuesday evening when the President speaks from West Point...He tried Magic Cookie Bars and loved them so you know one of the things I'll be shipping regularly. My oldest grandson is still trying to find his own way. So there are seven people I am thankful for...but then I have a very long list.

I am a grateful woman tonight, as I said, my heart is full. We were missing a few people at the table but prayed for them and our gratefulness for what we did have this year...That is all one can do.

I get to do this again on Sunday. My friend holds Thanksgiving II her children, friends, children of friends, for all of us to be together as everyone does so many different things on Thanksgiving Day. So let the season begin...
Thanks for reading. Peace...

Thanksgiving (complete)

Happy Thanksgiving...

Grateful ...

This morning as I was beginning to wake up my best friend came up beside me quietly and leaned against me. What a moment... a peaceful sweet moment. My mug of hot coffee and my dog...it was all I needed. It perfect way to start this busy day. Simplicity...


Well, it is almost upon us and I have put the farm table to use as is. I have been pretty busy all day cooking and my assistant never left my side. She has finally given up and gone to bed. I still have two pumpkin pies in the oven and still thinking about what I want to eat. Tonight when my daughters left I went out and bought my protein part of my plate and vegan gravy mix. I have had the Quorn turk'y roast before at someone's home and it was very good. I only have the roasted vegetables to do in the morning. I am the only vegetarian in my family so it falls on me to take care of what I need for a holiday or cook-outs in the summer. My family and friends know and are usually pretty accommodating when I am invited to their homes for a meal or I simply bring
something, it's not a big deal.

Maggie tried singing for anything that resembles food and Amy tagging along just in case there is some action. My daughters are singing with her.


That's it for today. Have a great day tomorrow. Thanks for reading...Peace

Tuesday Thoughts

Man, this sleeve. Who ever heard of a sleeve warranting all of this attention, blog time, my time, and knitting time. The sweater has been hanging around for a few years now, I am ashamed to say, so I am anxious to get it done. Yesterday I made great progress...today, however was another matter. I picked it up and didn't bother to check my chart and off I went, found a mistake, fixed it and I just continued to knit...then I thought I'd better get my chart caught up with my markers and there it was, I neglected a bobble...oh for crying out loud, and believe me I felt like crying. So I ripped it back two rows and put it aside. Tomorrow is another day. So no photo of more progress tonight.

I picked up a book at the library I had reserved. It is Half The Sky by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. There is also an interesting website. The byline states 'turning oppression into opportunity for women worldwide'.

Not much to add other than I am looking forward to Thanksgiving. I have decided where it is held is not half as important as that we are all together. Julie went shopping and delivered the food tonight that I will be preparing tomorrow while she is at work. So far it looks like I will be making some pumpkin pies, stuffing, roasted vegetables, tomato sauce, lasagna, and the famous(in my family) Magic Cookie Bars. Julie will do the turkey and gravy and mashed potatoes and squash soup. So we have a plan. That feels better. Twenty four hours ago it was still too vague for me... Who knew, I need a plan...Julie and maybe Cheryl will come over tomorrow night and we will have fried breaded cauliflower together and finish any last minute things, but just relax together, hopefully. The Magic Cookie Bars will be tasted, they always are. But that is the fun of the holiday. My Grandson leaves for basic training in the Army after the holidays so we want these holidays to be special, good memories for him and for us, as we are not sure where he will be stationed( well yes, I do possibly, but I don't like to think about it just yet) and yes, so this needs to be just right we have determined.

Have a good evening. Thanks for reading. Peace.

Another Grey Monday...

Here it is the Monday before Thanksgiving and it feels very strange that I am not having dinner here. I am a little disoriented with the change...not sure how I feel about it. It happened because of all of the changes that took place in my house over the past few months. It began with my husband and son playing at remodeling my kitchen last November, yes a year ago. It never got really finished, it should have never been started...and that's all I am going to say about that. Then I moved my studio into the living room during the summer. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but as soon as I did it I knew it was a mistake...too late, I gave up my original room. The room I am in now just is not conducive for quiet thinking or planning and carrying out whatever, I am less productive than ever...My family still thinks living room... they walk in, open the blinds or the door, stop and talk, the wood stove needs to be fed , it is off the kitchen, just a wrong move...so I am still working this out...a cause of much frustration to be sure. The ideal would be an addition on my home, but of course, that won't be happening...Too bad, because it looks great in my head.

So dinner will be at my daughter's house and that will be OK. Has to be as not much I can do about it now. It did not go unnoticed by my kids that the house shrank considerably this year. I will still be doing some cooking here and schlep it all over there.

Picked up my knitting this evening and made some significant progress for which I am pleased. So if I can keep up the pace...

I'd like to end my post today by sharing a nice story I read online today that will make you smile...

Have a good evening. Thanks for reading, although I don't think anybody is...In any case, peace to any one who happens by...

Sunday Blues

Not sure what more to write about. So this may be short. Went to church this morning. After I took a ride and visited a few antique shops. I love doing that. I don't buy anything unless it is so inexpensive and I absolutely love it. I just like to browse kind of absently. I then came home and have just again done nothing. I suppose I really celebrated the Sabbath by not doing anything. Why do I always think I should be doing something. I am still tired and looking forward to bed. So I am either fighting a cold or flu( hope not ) or I am depressed, maybe both. If it gets darker any earlier I might as well not even get out of bed. I am affected by the winter darkness but I have a propensity for depression anyway. Nothing to be ashamed of, it is what it is...So I am feeling like I lead a pretty boring life these days, I can't seem to find anything to write about. That's it. Running out of steam. Have a good evening. Thanks for reading.

Silent Saturday

Didn't get much accomplished today and have been pretty quiet all day... And seriously have nothing to write about. I did an errand and came home and have been dozing most of the night...and as soon as I can, I am going to bed. Serious fatigue...So I have posted.
Thanks for checking in. Have a good evening. Peace

Painting Days...

I met my friends at the Botanical Center this afternoon. It is located within Roger Williams Park and Zoo in the city of Providence. A gem in the middle of the city that has been around as long as I can remember and then some. I had to stop for geese crossing on the way in and the way out. Pretty funny if you are a patient soul but then there were the people who were speeding by and really didn't care if they hit a goose or not, they were pretty scary people to begin with in my book as he was behind me for a whileand was raging at a light because the cars in front of me were not moving fast enough for him, so he began gesturing...then there was the ignoramus that revved his motor and leaned on his horn at this point when O took the photo. He was coming from the other direction...I on the other hand seized the opportunity to turn it into a photo op and take photos of the parade...they were great. Unless you are giving birth or in a rescue vehicle, nothing is that important. Everyone is in a hurry, in a rush. Sad really as well as frustrating when one doesn't mind being slowed down...

The Botanical Center was sporting Poinsettias today. We walked around and noticed the changes in the plants from when we were there 2 weeks ago. We took lots of pictures. For example the amazing bloom on this banana plant opened. The air in there feels good to breath, pure oxygen, clean because of all the plants.

We painted while activity was going on around us. I am beginning to feel more comfortable with that, not so self conscious. I am finding that I am so involved with what I am doing that I barely know someone is walking by. So that is an improvement. I was working on this scene.
. The colors of the leaves and the dried places where the palms had broken off I found interesting. So my painting was more of an exploration forcing me to really look at it and to pick out each of the leaves and those things on the bottom of the palm tree, which I wish I knew what they are called. But now this will prompt me to do research and find out the answers to my questions. There was also a commercial being filmed advertising a Poinsettia Sale coming up at URI's East Farm Horticultural Facility. There was also a tour with a group of middle school kids. So today was a busy day there and a little hard to settle down. Took me a while... It was a good time, asking each other what do you think, conversation, painting tips shared, and eating a bagged lunch there is a treat. It is like being on a picnic. Here is Cindy painting.



I have posted the girls in a few days but this was funny yesterday. They looked like they were following a tennis match...but in reality they where watching my husband eating peanut butter and crackers. They missed nothing. I am not sure if they even blinked.


Thanks for reading. Peace.

Amy's Long Night...

I am tired this evening because I have gone to bed late for days now. First I was stalking the meteor showers then last night my old girl, Amy was up for hours trying to cough something up. I didn't know what to do for her other than pet her head and tell her it was going to be OK...not likely, she is 13 and a half. She is getting tinier and gaunt looking I noticed today and she didn't hear me tell her something until I raised my voice...she seems better today. Her nails were quite long so she visited the groomer for a manicure. I had let them go too long because I am afraid to cut her nails. Maggie won't let me , partly because I am just plain fearful of hurting them. So it presents a problem. So she is comfortable and is curled up on her bed and soundly sleeping. I hope she continues through the night like this. And with that I am finished for today, she is looking too comfortable to ignore the fact I need to also go and get comfortable. I love my dogs.

I finished the banana leaf painting exercise. Pleased with it and the things I learned. Back to the Botanical Center tomorrow to meet my friend and paint for the afternoon. It feels so good to be painting again...

Have a good evening. Thanks for reading. Peace.

Fun in the Afternoon

My daughter had a day off from work today which is all too rare. She is a hard worker, a single Mom to three young men, two in college and one on his way in to the Army after the holidays. Oh yes, and a Bulldog. Up to recently she didn't really have anything that she could just sit and relax and do that was just for her. She gardens and loves it but this is New England and the growing season isn't that long.

I have been knitting things and giving them to her as gifts over the years and she wears them all proudly...ahem, all except one. She chose a sweater, a beautiful Aran pullover with equally beautiful yarn. She purchased all of this and it was agreed that I would make it for her along with a 6 foot scarf( a least it seemed that long, also cabled). I finished it in record time and she was able to wear it that winter...that is until she decided to shrink it a wee bit...she forgot it and it went through a full wash cycle and into the dryer it went...it came out looking like a pot holder. It took a few days for her to tell me. I have no idea what she was thinking but she was sad enough without me going there. Now we are able to laugh, somewhat...She asked would I make it again. Answer from me, not on your life, kiddo. But I will teach you how to do it.


And teach I did. To date she had finished scarves, a felted bag, and a wonderful little sweater out of a Noro book she liked. She has found her way around the knitting world on the internet to purchased yarn and she has joined Ravelry. Her current project is on the cover of Fall '09 Interweave Knits. A very ambitious project at that, but she wants to knit what she likes and will wear. So I encouraged her to go for it. She cast on a week or so ago and her goal is to wear it this winter. So today after our respective errands we decided to hang out at my table and knit. She has learned well. She brought pastry, I made tea and we ate pastry, all of it.
My other daughter came in and we were telling stories,laughing, discussing disturbing news stories, and playing with dogs. Dogs, the great levelers when things get hard. Meanwhile she is trying to reach inch 19 on the back which means she can begin the raglan shaping. She made it. I on the other hand was trying to keep track of a Aran sleeve while we were having fun and I was missing a stitch.... I had to fix something this morning, and now I had to fix something else. So I ripped back and found the little stitch that somehow got included with a bobble...So I am back on my way and hopefully without anymore stops along the way.

So teach someone to knit. We are trying to entice Cheryl to come over to the knitting side. She is starting to feel left out. I was willing today but she wasn't. She knows that I am ready when she is.

Also made a trip to Joann's with my Granddaughter who likes to make jewelry. She was in need of supplies. I browsed through the 14.99 magazines. When did magazines get so expensive?

Passages this evening. A full day full of inspiration. Have a great evening and thanks for reading.Peace

Tired Tuesday

Well I am past the half way point...day 17. Some days it is pure stretch as to what to write about. Today was made up with doing some of what had to be done, some straitening out, some bill paying, library, purchase dog food, a few groceries and a bottle of aspirin...you know, stuff one just has to do. The library isn't really something I would put in the category of 'have to do', but I did have to pick up something I had requested...the music from the film 'Once'. So of course once there I couldn't leave with just one thing...I ended up leaving with 2 Nora Jones CD's, Eva Cassidy, Hillary James and Quincy Jones. Found the book Sunflowers on the shelf so that came home with me, as it is on my to read list. Then I brought home 2 movies Canvas and Howard's End. A trip to the library wouldn't be complete unless I stopped at the sale table...and of course I brought home Francine Rivers' Redeeming Love and Linda Novick's The Painting Path, both 1 dollar each. If that was not enough a friend called today and she told me she had listened to Larry Crabb's The Papa Prayer. I had a credit on i tunes, so I downloaded that and got it loaded on my i pod to listen while knitting or weaving. I brought home a lot of entertainment and all I spent was 2 dollars. The gift of a library...The i tunes was part of a gift card I got for Mothers Day. So a balance of enjoyable errands and the ones not quite so enjoyable...make it all palatable on these cold and dark days.

On the knitting note, picked the sleeve up and settled in to knit. Worked a few rows and looked at it and there it was, a mistake a few rows back...I have tried to isolate the 8 stitches and fix it that way but I keep making a mistake. That's it for today. Tomorrow I will deal with it. And with that I am finished with this post.

Thanks for reading. Peace.

Monday, Monday...

Remember The Mamas andThe Papas? Probably not...Oh well, it works for the title of this post. I am always stymied with titles. My play frame of mind has stayed with me from yesterday and I have continued some more exploration...kind of picking up where I had left off before all the moving of the original studio and emptying the basement occurred. It feels good to drawing and painting and exploring. I am not happy about the lack of real studio because I am now in the living room which is not private but now full of my looms and my paints along with my sewing machine. The art supplies not in use at the moment are all in my bedroom. I can barely keep it all straight where anything is anymore. I try to keep my knitting in a large knitting bag along with my tools with work in process also with the looms and paints. Today I decided to continue going through the book Painting Flowers by Sharon Hinckley and work on some of the projects regarding the mixing my own greens rather than out of the tube, so far successful but if nothing else I am enjoying the book and the wetting of my brush brush...it is not finished and again an exercise from a book. A learning tool. This is a leaf painting exercise focusing on backgrounds and the mixing of greens on the paper rather than the palette. I took allot of photos at the botanical center last week and I have plans for them. So I am interested in this subject right now. Just research, part of the process.

Last Friday I was reading some blogs I have set up on Bloglines, one of which is Wendy Knits.
She had been given two copies of Nicky Epstein's new book,Knitting A Kiss In Every Stitch, one for herself and one to give away. All one needed to do was leave a comment. I was comment number 389 on Friday. The drawing was at set for 4 PM today by a random generator. By today the number was in the 600's. I found the e-mail around 4:30 from Wendy congratulating me, I was the winner! I never win anything...until today, that is. I was so excited and pleased. It was a really nice surprise. A little surprise now and again is a refreshing thing to happen to us. So thanks again to Wendy.

My knitting is stalled again...that last sleeve is going to take me forever. I am working up the first of I believe 5 repeats. Hopefully I will pick up some speed.

I just went into my room to get my knitting and with my camera in hand in order to take a picture of my progress...thinking if I post my progress or lack of it, it might motivate me to get moving on it. As I walked in ...who's been sleeping in my bed...she even pulled the covers down and made herself quite comfortable...smile...then I escorted her off. I love sleeping with her, I do, but I wake up with swollen eyes and that just can not be good. Yes, I am allergic to my pups and my cat...but I love my animals, love all animals..so I wash my hands and face allot.

Have a good evening. Thanks for reading. Peace.

Slow Sunday

A quiet Sunday, and that I found was the problem...I came home from church at odds with myself. I had plenty I could do and even wanted to do yet I was finding it so hard to settle down and do something, any thing. Instead I paced and just could not settle down, kept thinking I should be doing something, going somewhere...finally took a small nap...not even sure if I slept at all but got up and felt better minus the feeling I should be somewhere or doing something. I found it so hard to just be still, just be...

On the way home from church this morning I stopped at Savers. I love to browse their book section and sometimes I find exactly what I am looking for.


Today I found this. I had a copy of my own years ago but it, like a few of my books, has gone missing. My Thomas Merton books, all missing, for example. Every once in a while I think 'I use to have that book'. Some I don't care to replace but there are some, this was one of the important ones to me. So it was a nice gift, really, I was only charged a dollar for it. Even better!

One daughter popped in to visit and it was a good visit then my other daughter came in and the three of us continued to have a good visit with tea and talk...I love those moments, treasure them actually. My son called while they were here so that was nice as well as he out of state and we don't get to see him too often.


After they had left I then sat and played, just mixing colors on the paper.


This day showed me very clearly I am too serious at times...I don't let myself just play. When we were children play was how we learned...when did that change for us?



Thanks for reading. Peace

Stormy Saturday

Here is my painting in progress, very preliminary. More a study to learn more about painting leaves. For me though, the fact I began is big...It has been a difficult year or so for many reasons and my creative well has been so dry for so long and yet the urge to paint is sometimes all I can think about...


Today I went to my spinning guild meeting which is held most of the year at Slater Mill. Slater is a historic spinning and weaving mill where the birth of industrialization began, so it is pretty cool that we meet here. There are also knitting, weaving, quilting and basket making guilds now meeting here on a regular basis as well as a variety of classes making it a valuable fiber arts center. Todays meeting was focusing on plying techniques and needle felting, with these being demonstrated by members. We was given a felting needle and some dyed fiber to make a pumpkin. There is a good tutorial on You Tube. There was also a demonstration on making center pull balls of yarn and this is show it being done using a nostepine. That's Cindy demoing...Judy was beside her. I took their pictures but I didn't bet permission to post them but I'll link their blogs.
.

Then we have Stan with his needle felted cigar and in his lap he is working on an ash tray. Jen is hard at work on an angel.


And the result of my needle felting...still needs finishing but I need more light. As I was adding the wool I was thinking it is a watercolor pumpkin because the wool I was given is multicolor , so it was not just one shade of orange.



So for a very stormy Saturday it was a great day. Some research dealing with my painting, a trip to Utrecht's for a couple of tubes of needed paint and another sheet of 300 lb paper with a 40% coupon, and then to the guild meeting where it is always good to hang out with my creative, fun friends, some of whom I have known now a good many years. Yes, today was a filling of the well.

Have a good evening and thanks for reading. Peace.

Who Does She Think She Is? THEATRICAL TRAILER

Day 12...

Day 12 and I am even short a post or two because I started late and I am at a loss for words. Kind of a quiet day. Dragged my farm table back in because the weather is changing. It grew too cold to work on it any further and a storm is coming up the coast, I think they are calling it a Northeaster. I don't mind, a good excuse to hunker down and be cozy and just be.

I began a painting today. I was excited to get painting. There just never is time or I am looking for a place in my house to physically put my self to do so. I no sooner began and a family member decided her emergency, in her way of thinking, was more important...Have you seen the movie "Who Does She Think She Is?" Take a peak at the trailer.

I belong to a small group that meets at my church for the purpose of looking at creativity, art and faith. We have worked through some books over the past year or more, beginning with The Artist Way. Now we are working through the book Creativity and Divine Surprise. But the most important thing we do is encourage on another. Tonight we decided to begin a program that was found on a web site called Prayerwindows. We will work it independently then share what we discover and anything we do in the way of art making weekly. I'll let you know...

This is Amy. She is a 13" Beagle. I usually show Maggie on here just because that is how it happens. Amy is getting on in years I guess is the polite way to say it. She is 13 plus years and pretty feisty compared to the meek little thing she used to be...and begging was something she left up to Maggie to do but now her begging skills are up there with the best of them. These days she misses breakfast and sleeps in and most of the day really. I just thought I'd introduce her.


Thanks for reading. Peace.

Veteran's Day Thoughts

Today my thoughts went to my family members who served and are no longer with us. I guess with the war going on and and the talk of sending more to Afghanistan and my Grandson being one of the 'more' He enlisted a few months ago, got sworn in and he leaves for basic in January...So this post is to honor them. My grandfather, Elmer who was a Canadian, served during World War I. My Dad served during the Korean conflict and my brother, Sam served during Desert Storm. So now it is Joe ...

To lighten this up in a way that my grandfather, father and brother would have appreciated as well as Joey. Dog loving is in our DNA. So here they are, just a while ago. The working of the wood stove is very serious business...they make sure that each step is observed in the lighting of the stove.



Then they relax...


Thanks for reading Have a great evening. Peace.

Frustration Days...

Don't have anything I want to write about. Just another day of continuing to gain order in here, find homes for things, places to do other things, with a little procrastination thrown in. It is all very frustrating.

Did a little sketching from a photo I took Friday at the botanical center. It is of a Canna. I've done a few sketches of it now and played with adding some color but not on watercolor paper. My photo's don't pick up my line drawings well, so I didn't photograph it. I need to make the commitment and get it it on some watercolor paper, regardless of how it comes out. Somewhere I picked up don't waste the 'good' paper or don't use the 'good' canvas...so I need to start using the paper. Maybe tomorrow.



That's it for today. Thanks for reading. Peace.

Simple Pleasures

This was how I started my day. Anne Lamott is a favorite author of mine. I have read her three latest books, Traveling Mercies, Plan B, and Grace Eventually. I found Bird by Bird on the library sale table for a dollar! I had been wanting to read it for a while. I love when that happens.



My friend gave me a farm table to use as an island , work table of sorts because I have very little counter space. It needs work but I am not sure yet what I want to do with it...so for now I have had it in the kitchen much to the dismay of two of my daughters. I love old furniture and I told them it was shabby chic, jokingly... But today I decided to take advantage of the warm weather we are having and I brought the table out side to remove paint and to begin the process of cleaning it up. Here it is before I brought it out doors.



Have a great day and thanks for reading. Peace.