Yes, there is ONE thing that makes or breaks a good blog. Well, one thing that catches my attention and keeps me there. That one thing is pictures. I love the pictures. Close-ups of life-as-it's-happening. The little stories they tell. The tid-bits of inspiration... I love pictures.
I'm not a photographer. I rarely pick up one of our two cameras and shoot off pictures. I appreciate good photos. My parents were professional photographers during my first 14+ years of life but...me? And the cameras we have are so technical. I squirm and duck. I'm not smart enough to... it'll take to long to learn...
Well, pooh on that! Today I pulled out the manual for our best camera and... I'm on page 40 of 139. I WILL figure this out.
So, expect pictures and soon. ;)
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Huh!? =)
The question of common sense is always what is art good for? A question which would abolish the rose and be answered triumphantly by the cabbage. ~James Russell Lowell
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Quotes
I've always been drawn to quotes. Quotes about all sorts of things. In fact, in college I spent a ton on a big huge thick book of quotes, just for the pleasure of having it available.
This year I have a desktop calendar that, among other things, has a new quote for each day. This morning's quote was quite profound, especially for me at this point in my life.
"Noise is an imposition on sanity, and we live in very noisy times." - Joan Baez
Well put, Joan!
This year I have a desktop calendar that, among other things, has a new quote for each day. This morning's quote was quite profound, especially for me at this point in my life.
"Noise is an imposition on sanity, and we live in very noisy times." - Joan Baez
Well put, Joan!
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Now THAT is what I'm talkin' about!
This morning I woke up at 7:20am and stayed in bed reading until 8:20am. I'm usually awake before 4:30am, even on the weekends.
Sid says I haven't snored for the last few nights.
I feel calmer and less tired. More energy, but not using it except for puttering around.
THIS is vacation. Renewal. Rest.
ONWARD!
A
Sid says I haven't snored for the last few nights.
I feel calmer and less tired. More energy, but not using it except for puttering around.
THIS is vacation. Renewal. Rest.
ONWARD!
A
Friday, January 8, 2010
"Vacation" Days
This week I declared "Vacation" for myself from Tues. until this coming Monday. Well... Okay a modified vacation? Something close? LOL!
Defining my "vacation" is in order. I'm still working with my clients in the afternoons, going out and doing what I need to do with and for them but when I'm home... I do whatever I feel like doing. Period.
So, Tuesday morning, after everyone left for school and work, I crawled into the hot tub and didn't get out for an hour. In fact, I floated on my back for a full twenty minutes straight. Thinking... "Relax. Listen to your heart beat. Relax. Breath in and out slowly." I even closed my eyes for most of that 20 min.
Now, I know that doesn't seem astounding. But let me explain. Up until this week, it's been hard for me to sit still in the hot tub and hard to stay in there for more than 30 min. LOL! Too keyed up, too much going on between my ears. So, this hour with 20 min. of it being a float... that's really something for me.
Vacation. Rest. Catch my breath and slow it down.
Wednesday morning I dipped pretzels and baked cookies for a friend's birthday. All alone in the house. No other humans, just the dogs and the cat. No music, no extra unnecessary sounds. My brain quieted down a bit more.
Wednesday evening is Knit Night. My favorite evening of the week. LOVE IT! I meet up with my knitterly friends and we have a fabulous time together. This group has been meeting for a couple years or more. Very diverse in every possible way.
Within just the spectrum of knitting, we've even got the entire level represented. Beginners to Master Knitters. It's great because I know that no matter what I attempt in my knitting adventures, I'll be okay! I get stuck, someone at Knit Night can help bail me out and/or show me how to do it. It's lovely. No fear. Onward! LOL!
Thursday morning I watched "Phantom of the Opera" and knitted. After that was over, I puttered around the house. Did a bit of this and a bit of that... quietly in solitude. Delicious.
This morning I had planned to putter around the house again but with a bit more focus and speed. My plants were needing attention and water, the blankets over the couch needed taken off and washed, the floors... And I did have to go out and work for an hour. Something came up that was unavoidable. But that was finished quickly, I got grocery shopping done (alone!) and then came home to fix a lunch.
Lunch was stir-fry. And the way we do that is like at one of those buffet grill places. All the veggies, etc. are prepared and in seperate container. Each of us took our bowl and filled it with whatever veggies, etc. that we wanted in our stir-fry and the each is cooked individually. With ramen or brown rice. Jess decided both. (one for healthy, the other for fun) Yummy and very healthy. Win win.
After lunch I set up the "barbershop" and cut Sid's hair. He was looking rather shaggy. For once, I didn't scalp him. LOL! Amazing!
Then back to the puttering and cleaning.
Lovely vacation, so far! Doesn't it sound like a vacation to you?
I guess thing elements that I long for the most would be -
Solitude sprinkled liberally with long overdue and much desired phone visits with friends.
Quiet puttering around the house, doing whatever.
Sleep is very important, but my desire to make the most of my alone time has the sleep looking more like going to bed early and sleeping in an hour or so. No naps, but I may get one in tomorrow.
Being at home, amazingly is a big part of it. Not running around in town or going some place. No, I just love being in my own home space alone. It's delicious and something I crave. So...vacation = home alone.
Good food is a must. LOL! This time I'm thinking in terms of good for me, rather than the "fun" and fattening. So it's been lots of fresh fruit, whole grains, veggies and legumes. YUMMMMM!!!! Have you had a little Clementine or Mandarin yet this year? They are SO good and sweet. And Fuji apples? Is it possible to ever get tired of those? Snappy crisp and sweet juicy... it drips down your chin, better have a napkin handy! And pomeagrates? OhhhMY! I went online and figured out how to open them. Very easy! I polished one off for breakfast this morning. ;)
That about covers it, I think. The essential elements for my favorite vacations.
Don't get me wrong, I reallyREALLY enjoy traveling. I really do. I've enjoyed the conference type vacation where you go, take classes, shop... I enjoy traveling with my family! I like camping, even sleeping in a tent! Well, okay packing for camping sucks but once that's over it's fun!
I wonder... I wonder if someday I might be able to schedule in literal vacation time, away from work entirely AND sent my family off on a camping trip or something so that I could have an entire week of this vacation bliss? Hmmmm... I need to think about that one. Maybe it could be done! Just maybe! Even a few days!?
Stand by! The creative and motivated mind is at work! LOL!!!!
And while I'm thinking on that... I'm going to go have a couple "baby oranges" as my kids call them and then sit and knit.
What am I knitting now? HA! Dishclothes. 38 stitches across, cast on and stitch away for about 62 little rows, bind off, weave in the beginning and end tails... Quick & easy. In and out in a day. Knitting candy. And it's helping restock my gift cupboard! Love that!
Okay, off of here. I've got a really FINE vacation to plan, yummys to eat and stitches to stitch.
ONWARD!
Defining my "vacation" is in order. I'm still working with my clients in the afternoons, going out and doing what I need to do with and for them but when I'm home... I do whatever I feel like doing. Period.
So, Tuesday morning, after everyone left for school and work, I crawled into the hot tub and didn't get out for an hour. In fact, I floated on my back for a full twenty minutes straight. Thinking... "Relax. Listen to your heart beat. Relax. Breath in and out slowly." I even closed my eyes for most of that 20 min.
Now, I know that doesn't seem astounding. But let me explain. Up until this week, it's been hard for me to sit still in the hot tub and hard to stay in there for more than 30 min. LOL! Too keyed up, too much going on between my ears. So, this hour with 20 min. of it being a float... that's really something for me.
Vacation. Rest. Catch my breath and slow it down.
Wednesday morning I dipped pretzels and baked cookies for a friend's birthday. All alone in the house. No other humans, just the dogs and the cat. No music, no extra unnecessary sounds. My brain quieted down a bit more.
Wednesday evening is Knit Night. My favorite evening of the week. LOVE IT! I meet up with my knitterly friends and we have a fabulous time together. This group has been meeting for a couple years or more. Very diverse in every possible way.
Within just the spectrum of knitting, we've even got the entire level represented. Beginners to Master Knitters. It's great because I know that no matter what I attempt in my knitting adventures, I'll be okay! I get stuck, someone at Knit Night can help bail me out and/or show me how to do it. It's lovely. No fear. Onward! LOL!
Thursday morning I watched "Phantom of the Opera" and knitted. After that was over, I puttered around the house. Did a bit of this and a bit of that... quietly in solitude. Delicious.
This morning I had planned to putter around the house again but with a bit more focus and speed. My plants were needing attention and water, the blankets over the couch needed taken off and washed, the floors... And I did have to go out and work for an hour. Something came up that was unavoidable. But that was finished quickly, I got grocery shopping done (alone!) and then came home to fix a lunch.
Lunch was stir-fry. And the way we do that is like at one of those buffet grill places. All the veggies, etc. are prepared and in seperate container. Each of us took our bowl and filled it with whatever veggies, etc. that we wanted in our stir-fry and the each is cooked individually. With ramen or brown rice. Jess decided both. (one for healthy, the other for fun) Yummy and very healthy. Win win.
After lunch I set up the "barbershop" and cut Sid's hair. He was looking rather shaggy. For once, I didn't scalp him. LOL! Amazing!
Then back to the puttering and cleaning.
Lovely vacation, so far! Doesn't it sound like a vacation to you?
I guess thing elements that I long for the most would be -
Solitude sprinkled liberally with long overdue and much desired phone visits with friends.
Quiet puttering around the house, doing whatever.
Sleep is very important, but my desire to make the most of my alone time has the sleep looking more like going to bed early and sleeping in an hour or so. No naps, but I may get one in tomorrow.
Being at home, amazingly is a big part of it. Not running around in town or going some place. No, I just love being in my own home space alone. It's delicious and something I crave. So...vacation = home alone.
Good food is a must. LOL! This time I'm thinking in terms of good for me, rather than the "fun" and fattening. So it's been lots of fresh fruit, whole grains, veggies and legumes. YUMMMMM!!!! Have you had a little Clementine or Mandarin yet this year? They are SO good and sweet. And Fuji apples? Is it possible to ever get tired of those? Snappy crisp and sweet juicy... it drips down your chin, better have a napkin handy! And pomeagrates? OhhhMY! I went online and figured out how to open them. Very easy! I polished one off for breakfast this morning. ;)
That about covers it, I think. The essential elements for my favorite vacations.
Don't get me wrong, I reallyREALLY enjoy traveling. I really do. I've enjoyed the conference type vacation where you go, take classes, shop... I enjoy traveling with my family! I like camping, even sleeping in a tent! Well, okay packing for camping sucks but once that's over it's fun!
I wonder... I wonder if someday I might be able to schedule in literal vacation time, away from work entirely AND sent my family off on a camping trip or something so that I could have an entire week of this vacation bliss? Hmmmm... I need to think about that one. Maybe it could be done! Just maybe! Even a few days!?
Stand by! The creative and motivated mind is at work! LOL!!!!
And while I'm thinking on that... I'm going to go have a couple "baby oranges" as my kids call them and then sit and knit.
What am I knitting now? HA! Dishclothes. 38 stitches across, cast on and stitch away for about 62 little rows, bind off, weave in the beginning and end tails... Quick & easy. In and out in a day. Knitting candy. And it's helping restock my gift cupboard! Love that!
Okay, off of here. I've got a really FINE vacation to plan, yummys to eat and stitches to stitch.
ONWARD!
Friday, January 1, 2010
HAPPY 2010!
(The New Years Pretties gifted to me by Sid ;)! )
I wonder how long it will take me before I finally and easily remember that 2010 number when I write it on something? LOL! One time I caught myself writing 1980-something and totally cracked up. My levels of blissful insanity never cease to amaze me. HA!
So, it's a NEW YEAR! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
Our family kicked off our New Years celebration with a fun meal of fancy artesian breads, cheeses (vegan, brie and havarti) and yummy fresh fruits (two kinds of pears and fuji apples).
When we had that cleaned up and cleared off, out came the games. Sid and the teens played Quad, a tick-tack-toe game on steroids, that Sid's had since he was a kid. The teens had a blast trying to beat their dad. They did, too! You should have heard the them. It was a show unto itself.
Ben and I opted for Dominoes and Uno, his two favorites. (And I like them much better than Quad, let me tell you. LOL!)
(He's putting them away in these two pics. We were ready for Uno!)
(I made the cardboard card holder years ago...makes playing Uno much easier for Ben. And he LOVES playing Uno!)
After the games... well... honestly? I went downstairs, flopped across our bed sideways with the intent to rest and read a bit and POOF! I was out. HA! After a while of peaceful zzzzzzz stacking, I was tortured awake by Jessie. "Let's go out to the hot tub, Mommy!", "Come on, MOM! You can't sleep thru the New Year. Wake up!" On and on it went, the endless lines of torment laced with liberal mix of guilt and temptation. LOL!!! And yes, I got up.
Into the swimsuits and out to the hot tub. (What a GOOD idea that hot tub has proven to be. It's a family thing that we all enjoy and can share... well, all that is except Ben. He hasn't been in there yet and isn't about to start now. Okay?!)
We shouted and whistled in the New Year from the hot tub. What FUN!!!
Back inside for some home made sparkly, (a can of concentrated fruit juice, I used white grape and raspberry this time ) using club soda instead of water...YUMMM!!!
(my new fav...straight and on the rocks)
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
May this year be filled with lovely and happy memories of times spent with those you love.
May it be spent doing something fun and creative, just because you can.
Be well.
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