Day 646: In the Sky and On the Ground

I added this new photograph to
Creative Journey in
my Photography section,
Sunburst

So, OK. I don't like camping in the woods. But I do like going for my walk there.

The sun is out. The puffs of clouds scurry across the sky. These yellow bursts of color currently cover the forest floor.

They make me happy, just walking by them.

Not an Outdoorsy Kind o' Gal

Summer is upon us. I live in beautiful north Idaho. A mecca for all things outdoorsy. We have lakes and rivers on which to boat and ski and swim. We have hunting and fishing. We have lots and lots of woods. Lots and lots of camping.

But ... not for me.

Ol' Peggy got it just about right, from where I sit ... inside ... in front of a computer. ;-)

Day 645: On the Forest Floor

I added this new photograph to
Creative Journey in
my Photography section,
Bit o' Blue

Popping out among the pine needles and new grass, these delicate blue stars.

For Petey's Sake! Turn on the Light!

I'm organized, but messy. Mostly.

I can usually find what I'm looking for if I'm the last person that used the thing. I'm usually good at putting a thing in the spot that's been allocated for it.

Know why? When I was a kid, I shared a room with two of my older sisters. When we had to clean up, the oldest of us three would be the Queen. My other sister and I had to be the Subjects. The Queen sat near the pile of junk and told us subjects where to put each object. If she didn't know where an object belonged, she'd have us shove it in "your little sister's bottom drawer."

It got to a point where I couldn't even open my drawer any more.
Pissed me off.

All because of that childhood trauma, I don't have junk drawers in my house (at least, in any room where *I'm* in charge!

Please. Please.
Let me be organized.
Or my soul feels scrunched.

Day 644: More Blossom Beauty

I added this new photograph to
Creative Journey in
my Photography section,
Puff

I'm not sure the name makes sense.

Yet when I look at this photo, the pinkie flowers remind me of a powder puff.

We Shall Overcome

This is why I'm an optimist.

Even on 911, it really was a small group of people that CAUSED the destruction.

It was a HUGE OUTPOURING of people that helped each other get through it.

Good wins. There is more to the overcoming of suffering than the causing of it.

Day 643: On My Desk - Teddy

I added this new photograph to Creative Journey
in my Photography section,
Teddy

Here's my next installment as a participant in this photo meme.

This isn't exactly my desk ... but it is the table in my stitching nest in the TV room. I've been poking away at another Christmas ornament that I'll donate to charity.

Little Teddy is just about done. I only need to complete the backstitching. Then he'll be ready to sew into an ornament.

Fear and Courage

The hardest thing is just taking that first step, isn't it? Because ... heck ... that first step often feels like you're stepping off a cliff!

But really, it's more likely that you're just stepping off a curb. Sure, you've got to look both ways so you don't get run over by passing vehicles. Yet with the coast clear, it's not all that difficult to cross the street.

But that first step ...
:: sigh ::

Day 642: The Idaho Primary

I added this new photograph to
Creative Journey
in my Photography section,
The Candidate

Ah! A familiar name on the primary ballot!

He got my vote!
... a very l-o-n-g time ago!

Literacy

I never quite understood people who don't enjoy reading. My sister taught me to read when I was just four. I couldn't wait to learn. Reading is one of my favorite pastimes. And if I can't find time to SIT and read, I'll listen to audio books. There's just too much to learn. Too many great ideas to plant. Too much to think about.

Why have this great skill and not use it? That doesn't compute in this knobby head.

Sunday Secrets: May 25, 2008

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard. I find it to be an amazing sociological experiment. This secret touched my heart this week ...

Sigh. I was told this once. It made a world of difference.

Happy Dance: FOUR Bookmarks!

I finished four bookmarks this week.

I plan to donate all of them to a literacy program.

You can read about each pattern's details in my gallery, Cameo's Corner.

Just click on each image to see a larger view.

Day 641: Spring is Poppin' Up All Over

I added this new photograph to
Creative Journey
in my Photography section,
Pop of Color

Here's another flower that caught my eye on my latest walk around the neighborhood. I'm so glad my neighbors have such festive gardens!

Right Thinking ... Right Acting

Sometimes a clear distinction between right and wrong is not apparent. When faced with such a choice, I try to choose what is reasonable.

When the distinction is clear, it may take courage to do the right thing. So work diligently to do it with dignity and finesse, and not at the expense of others.

Day 640: Sticky Situation

I added this new photograph to
Creative Journey
in my Photography section,
Thorns

Don't toucha my leaves!

Yike! Such vengence!

Getting to Like Oneself

Yeah. That's a good start!

Day 639: Where'd I Hide Those Nuts?

I added this new photograph to
Creative Journey
in my Photography section,
Fence Walker

He turned away just as I snapped the photo. Ah, well.

Not so bad, getting a bit of tail.

Spending Time

Yeah, Baby!
Let's sing of our strengths and successes!
(you know, just for today, for a change of pace)
[we can go back to feeling inadequate next week]

Day 638: What the Sun Brings Forth

I added this new photograph to
Creative Journey
in my Photography section,
Blush Variegation


Spring.


Long awaited.

Much appreciated.

What Can YOU Do?

This is something my sweet husband keeps trying to knock into my head:
I am more capable than I think I am.

Day 637: On My Desk - To Do List

I added this new photograph to Creative Journey
in my Photography section,
To Do List

Here's my next installment as a participant in this photo meme.

Another Wednesday. Another view of what's on my desk. Another day to try to stop procrastinating.

This time?

1. Some used charts that fellow stitchers want to buy from me. I did manage to e-mail the buyers and get that process under way.
   
   
2. The bookmark I finished last night. Time to post it on my website and blog.
   
   
3. Monday's To Do List. I have good intentions, but as you can see, not a lot is crossed off the list yet.

Tomorrow I have no appointments scheduled. Perhaps ... just perhaps ... I can actually get some of those tasks done. If I can, I'll even have a chance to e-mail some old friends, read or watch a movie and stitch!

What's Happy?

I think that loving your spouse is a lot like this, too.

Maybe 'content' would be a more accurate word than 'happy.'

Either way ... nobody's perfect, so might as well be happy and content with what we have, yes?

Day 636: Bloomin' Tulips

I added this new photograph to Creative Journey
in my Photography section,
Among the Red

The flowers in the neighborhood change from day to day.

Just 5 days ago, these red tulips were in full bloom, with the lone white bud in their midst.

Today, on the same walk, the red tulips have wilted. Their petals are beginning to fall off. The white is in full bloom.

Further down the street, some gorgeous fuzzy buds have sprung out in leaf. In the park, the little blue flowers have sprung up everywhere. The ground is abloom in the yellow daisy-like weedy flowers.

I took my macro lens with me on today's walk. Over the next few days, we'll discover together what images I captured.

What Wonders, if Only You Believe

A little something I need to remind myself of.

It's way easier to do on a good night's sleep. If you've gotten enough sleep, you can cope. You can feel your strength in your body because it's had time to repair itself. It's easier to step out into the world with surety, and if you're lucky, that helps lead to capability and competence.

Last night, I had a good night's sleep.

Today, I am feeling fairly strong and competent.

Hooray!

Day 635: Invitation

I added this new photograph to Creative Journey
in my Photography section,
Late Afternoon Shadows

These long sweet afternoons are ideal for walks.

The shadows dapple the tender grass. Urge me to play in the shade.

Distance Vision

On days when things feel out of control, it may be wise to step back and get the bigger picture.

Remember that the situation used to be worse. That progress has been made. That setbacks are only temporary. That over the long haul, the boulder is getting rolled up the hill.

And Atlas doesn't shrug.
Really. The sky is not falling.

Happy Dance: Lots of Love Heart

I finished my sixth heart quilt block for charity! It's posted in my stitching gallery.

This is based on a Kidlinks chart that was in my stash.

You can read a bit more about this quilt block in Cameo's Corner.

Sunday Secrets: May 18, 2008

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard. I find it to be an amazing sociological experiment. These three secrets resonated with me this week ...

This is funny. My mom was so particular about how the dishwasher was loaded that I used to say I attended the "Emily Codispoti School of Dishwasher Loading." As a mother, I INSISTED that my kids load the dishwasher in the prescribed fashion. After I joined Flylady and learned that "housework done incorrectly still blesses the family, " I finally gave up being so particular. Now that I've loosened my grip on that task, I have all kinds of help with the dishes.


All my life I've shared a birthday. Either with my sister Janet (whose birthday was three days before mine). Or with Gail Kelly (whose birthday was two days after mine). Or with Thanksgiving Day. Or with my daughter Jeanne, who was born on my 27th birthday. As a rare treat, I get to have a birthday all to myself — like on my 50th. That one was a winner!


It's hard to remember this. But if I can, I tend to be much more compassionate.

Day 634 - Speaking of Blossoms ...

I added this new photograph to Creative Journey
in my Photography section,
Low-Hanging Branch

All over town, the trees are in bloom.

The wind blows the petals like confetti.

Fancy That

This is what my husband and I did today. Yielded to whim.

We ended up watching a bunch of The West Wing episodes on DVD.

In the late afternoon, we yielded to the whim to go on a drive in the convertible. It's a gorgeous 85+ degree day in north Idaho, the wind strong enough to keep the flags waving and the cherry petals blowing into the lobby of the grocery store. There are a few puffy clouds in the distance over the hills. The air's a bit hazy from the bits of prairie that are in flight with the breeze.

Perfect day for a "top down."

Book Review: 102 Minutes

I've added a short book review of this story of 9/11. The book recreates the 102-minute span between the moment Flight 11 hit the first tower of the World Trade Center, and the moment the second tower collapsed.

You can read my review on my website in
The Bookshelf.

Day 633: Total Irreverence

I added this new photograph to Creative Journey
in my Photography section,
The Light of Christ

Found this on a car in the parking lot of my daughter's high school as we emerged from her Jazz Band concert.

Sorry ... just couldn't help myself!
:: grin ::

Shhhhhhhh

But to hear, you need to get quiet.

Hush.
Be calm.

Day 632: On My Desk - Fix-It Time

I added this new photograph to Creative Journey
in my Photography section,
Repair Job

I keep procrastinating. But just how hard can it be and how long will it take to just fix the thing?

Melodrama

Well, except maybe in my life! ;-)

Day 631: Even the Lowliest Share a Stark Beauty

I added this new photograph to Creative Journey
in my Photography section,
Weeds

On the back side of the path, protected from the street by a line of trees, the weeds of last Fall stand.

The nice thing about taking walks is getting to trod the less-worn path where gems like this hide out.

If Ya Gotta Have Strife ...

... then strive this way.

There just aren't that many of us that can be a perfect "10."

Yes, yes. I realize you think I am, but listen, bub ... I'm not.

What a shocker.

It's true, though, isn't it? Strive for excellence and at least you'll hit, "Hey, not bad!"

But strive for perfection, and you'll be sure to disappoint yourself.

I'll take a "Not Bad!" over feeling disappointed or demoralized every time.

Two of my Favorite Ladies

Happy
Birthday

to two of
my very
favorite women

My adopted grandmother, Catherine ... and my mom, Emily

Day 630: Are We in Holland Yet?

I added this new photograph to Creative Journey
in my Photography section,
Red Bulbs

Another image from my rain-spattered walk.

They look thirsty, don' they? And fresh from their shower.

Speaking of which, time to go take mine.

Teeter-Totter

Ah. Learning to maintain equilibrium. I know a thing or two about that.

I strive for balance, logic and wholeness each day. On the good days, I have some. On the tough days, things get skewed to one end or the other. My teeter-totter can make me fly or bang hard into the ground.

For even on some days where I have "balance," the balance comes from being really positive on one end and really negative on the other, all in the span of 24 hours. So I may have balance on that day, but with extremes in emotions, at what cost?

Equilibrium. There are some medications that can help. Mood stabilizers. Antidepressants. Depressants. Finding the balance of those things is tough, too. I was recently in a room full of folks suffering from wide mood swings. The cocktail of medications some of them had to take was complex. It was difficult to tell if the meds were working. So yes, medications can help, but they are not the complete answer.

I've mentioned before that I go to counseling. The length of time between visits has a lot to do with how balanced I feel. My counselor is great — she and I "fit" well as professional and patient, so talking with her gives me food for thought. Listening to her suggestions and trying some of them out gives me room to grow. I get a lot of help from her.

But ultimately, Dr. Braceland is right on the money. The best hope for maintaining equilibrium lies within ourselves. We need to be aware of our thoughts, our actions. We need to seek the help we need. Then we need to take counsel with ourselves and follow our best prayers. For by maintaining equilibrium, we can move on to make sound decisions that make our lives — and the lives in our circle of humanity — fuller and more positive.

We get to spread the hope.

Day 629: The Rain, It Does Fall

I added this new photograph to Creative Journey
in my Photography section,
Pine Drop

Then lingers on the trees.

Genius!

I appreciate the notion of Big Ideas. (It's likely part of the reason I married an Idea Guy).

So if you want to learn the secret to ideas, might as well follow the lead of a genius, yes?

And how simple. Kindness. Beauty. Truth.

Day 628: It's Getting Hot Around Here

I added this new photograph to Creative Journey
in my Photography section,
Hot Pink

I headed west on my walk this rainy morning. For the next few days, you'll see evidence of some different foliage along that path.

These hot pink blooms grow on a bush in the front yard of the church secretary's house.

Priorities

Yup. It's all about priorities.

What's important will get done, because you make the time and give it the attention to get it done.

Just ask a busy person.