Stress induced
Saturday, April 30, 2022
Friday, April 29, 2022
INDIGO TO NAVY
I love that time
in the morning
when the sky
gradually turn
from that
inky indigo
to the deepest navy.
It’s magic!
Thursday, April 28, 2022
NEW SANDALS
I bought a new pair of sandals and last night I wore them around the house just to see how they felt. They are light comfy and I think they will wear well in the sand. I’m almost ready to head to the beach. 
And they match the polish on my toes! Win Win!!!
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
A PROJECT
At the moment my “studio” is looking like an atomic bomb went off in my basement. But with some time and effort, I think it is going to be a place of creativity and peace. I am tickled to have so much space to work in. So much space to create new things. There is room enough for a quilt frame to be set up and never interfere with my sewing area. I’m tickled. 
I am looking forward to organizing all my hordes of fabric. I have been collecting and storing fabric for so long, I am excited to get it all out and let the cresting begin. As I was searching for something on my phone last night, I saw a picture of a quilt I would like to make. I don’t know how practical it will be, and I have no idea where to store something like this. But I can imagine my Mayberry loving it. So it is the newest project on my To Do list!
EXPLORATION OF COLOR
In the Midwest, I have the privilege to witness the changing of the seasons. Unlike living in the Desert-Southwest, where the seasons are so mildly different, sometimes they go unnoticed. The Midwest puts on a show in every season. If you were to ask me what season is my favorite, I honestly couldn’t tell you. Why limit yourself to a favorite when there are so many things to love about each.
It’s Spring right now, and man oh man has it sprung. We had three days of warm weather (this Phoenician says there is no reason to rush the heat) and the growing things all exploded. Last week on Wednesday the tree in my front yard had three inch seed pods that literally seemed to grow overnight. But add a weekend of weather in the 80’s and all the trees are covered in an explosion of green. And it’s that new spring green; vibrant and almost neon. I know the leaves will deepen as the season continues, but this ‘spring is here’ green is awesome. The crepe myrtle bush that we pruned in early spring is now covered in leaves. I love this bush, it has amazingly pink flowers when it blooms. The tree in my backyard has bright pink flowers covering it, it’s breathtaking. And when it sadly drops it’s flowers to exchange then for green leaves, the locust trees will be covered in brilliant white flowers. The flowers don’t stay nearly as long as I would like, but when the locust blooms drop, my yard once again is covered in white. It looks like snow, but it’s just flower petals. My irises are just about ready to bloom (they are my favorites). And the hostas, pansies, snap dragons and other plants in my yard are looking lovely. Although my lawn is more creeping charly and crabgrass than actual grass, it is lovely. And I love the tiny violets and other minuscule flowers that grow there…even if the native inhabitants here call them weeds. I like to refer to them as wild flowers! Along my path to work there are fields of yellow flowers, that are turning into fields of wild wishes. There is one stretch or road that I love to drive, that is covered by a canopy of trees. Currently they are all turning green and fluffy, it’s truly an enchanting spot.
As a child in Sunday school, we sang “ … I looked out the window and what did I see? Popcorn popping on the apricot tree…” I am not sure I have ever seen an apricot tree, and as I child growing up in Phoenix, I truly had no clue what that was really like. But living in the Midwest in the spring is truly a wonder to all the senses and an explosive popping of life.
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Monday, April 25, 2022
DESIDERATA
Desired Things
Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace
there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and
lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements
as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career,
however humble;
it is a real possession
in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to
what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity
and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you
in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself
with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue
and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe
is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life
keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery,
and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
Sunday, April 24, 2022
WINDING DOWN
It’s been a full day. I have logged over 14000 steps. I prepared three meals (biscuits and gravy, three cheese - grilled cheese on Hawaiian bread, and Navy been and ham soup), I assisted and oversaw the move of my studio. And did several loads of laundry. I wanted my Sunday drive, but by the time I could take it, I needed a nap. So I had one! I am ending my day by par rousing the latest editions of Veranda and Living… and giving a bit of thought to vacation options. 
WORDS AND MEANINGS
Exuberance: the quality of being full of energy, excitement, and cheerfulness; ebullience
Ebullience: the quality of being cheerful and full of energy, exuberance
Saturday, April 23, 2022
PLAN AND PLOT
My daughter is planning a move, and over the last few months she has quietly been planning, plotting and mentally walking through all aspects of this move. Her ‘to do’ list is coming right along. She is a list writer. She walks through everything a million times in her head until she has it all in place and can accomplish the next task.
I have loved watching her plan, plot and accomplish throughout life. She was like this even as a very little girl.
Today as I made the huge push to pack my sewing room in preparation for my movers tomorrow.
I have moved over 25 times in my life, I should be an expert by now I suppose. And just like my daughter I plan and plot, and I walk through each step in my head far before I ever really make a move move.
So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I had figured it all out, down to the number of boxes it took to pack. I had it all done in record time and I’m so excited to get it all relocated to my new creative studio.
MY BED
I’m sitting on my bed, the one in the basement. Funny that my heart is heavy over a cheap awful bed.
After all 600+ cotton thread count on smooth skin is always going to be one of my priorities in life!!!
I bought it a million years ago. My thought at the time was a smaller bed might help my marriage.( I found out that nothing could save my marriage.) I had never bought a bed before, and I learned fast that inexpensive is not the way to go when you are planning to spend 1/3 of each day there. I bought foam toppers, down toppers and I was even gifted a memory foam topper after my daughter stayed with me for a few days and declared that my bed was the worst bed she had ever slept on. I still prefer my crappy bed to the 10 inch foam one I’m currently sleeping on, but I’m sure I’m just ready for something new.
When we moved into the little red brick house, I had my bed put in the basement. It is all made and ready to be used. But the only time it’s been slept in in the past 3 years is during tornado warnings.
Tomorrow I’m having my bed taken to the garage until I can have it hauled away. Movers are coming and I am having my sewing room and all it’s contents moved to the basement. My sewing room is too small for true creativity, and I am excited to have a space that I will love. My basement is very large and I think this will be the perfect studio.
But as I sit here on my bed, I just feel nostalgic. My children all snuggled in this bed. My first grandchild snuggled in this bed. This bed has seen some ‘amazing action’ as well!
I will take all the linens off it, wash them, and pack them away. And in a week or so, someone will come and haul this old bed away. It is well past it’s prime and I am grateful for all the years I have had it. I am a silly sentimental lady I suppose.
After all 600+ cotton thread count on smooth skin is always going to be one of my priorities in life!!!
Friday, April 22, 2022
95
My grandmother, Mary Martin, would have been 95 this summer. She was a wonderful lady.
She had an amazing voice. At 17 she tried out for and was invited to sing and tour with Tommy Dorsey’s Big Band. Her parents wouldn’t let her go. But boy oh boy could my grandma sing.
As I grew up, granddad played his fancy organ and grandma would sing from the kitchen. I sure miss that. All the old songs. I loved it.
I loved grandmas little kitchen and her pantry that never had the doors hung right. I loved her cast iron skillet that she made Italian meat balls in, and her ‘Aunt Jemima’ cookie jar.
In her back yard, she had a flagstone patio with a bar, a very big inground pool with a slide and diving board. She use to have big parties, she loved to entertain. She had an arbor, that looked like it came from Hawaii.
She had a huge lemon tree. I learned to love all things lemon. (We would make lemon salad: chopped up pealed lemons with olive oil and salt. Powerful but delicious.) She had a ‘date palm’ that she took such good care of. Wrapping the date clusters so the birds wouldn’t get then. She kept the ripe dates in a very large glass jar, they would dry as they aged. I loved eating them. After grandma passed away I took the last few dates and put them in a small canning jar. I still have them on a shelf.
Grandma had a very large cedar chest. Inside she kept her treasures. I don’t remember much, but there was an emerald green silk evening gown that she had worn back in the 1940s. It was beautiful.
I remember how grandma cried when Elvis Presley died. And how she loved camping in the camper on the back of the Chevy truck.
She was the stability of my childhood. She was there when my parents never were. I never doubted her love. I always felt it.
I have a replica of the music box she kept on her dresser.
Grandma gave me her hanky collection and her mother’s (my nana’s) button box. When she passed away I got her very first cookbook, the one she had when she was a new bride in the 40’s.
Grandma said she didn’t understand why they didn’t have water vending machines like they had for soda. I know she would love to see that we do now.
She had my mom when she was young. She later gave birth to a little boy who was still born. I know she mourned him all her life. The last time I saw grandma was in the hospital. She had a very fast growing tumor in her brain. She was dying and we knew it. I took my little girls to see her. Grandma told me that she was going to go see her boy. I didn’t doubt that. I’m sure the reunion between mother and son was wonderful.
I can’t wait for my reunion with grandma. It’s going to be awesome!
MISS IVY
I met a woman named Linda Ivy yesterday. We chatted about where we live and why we love it here. She told me of how things use to be and what she would like to see happen in our little community. We spoke about our appreciation of art and our respect for those with talent. Our conversation was not long, but I am so very glad I had the privilege to spend time with her.
EARTHDAY
The 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) to transform our world:
GOAL 3: Good Health and Well-being
GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
GOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
GOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal
https://sdgs.un.org/goalsThursday, April 21, 2022
RAIN
It had been sprinkling along my drive home, and as I stepped out of my Ford, the smell of the rain was delicious. Just a bit of water on soil and vegetation. I am sure that the chemical make up of these things can explain the delightful aroma. I am sure that someone who understands the elements and compounds could explain the reasons that rain and earth make me so very happy.
Maybe a wiser person could explain why the rain in Kentucky in spring smells so different than the rain in the Arizona desert. But no matter the reasons, these smells are glorious and truly a splendid thing to enjoy.
Wednesday, April 20, 2022
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