Waiting For the Change of Seasons

I read someone's blog today and it seems the seasons are changing in New York. How I wish they were changing in Florida. Just in case autumn is right around the corner, I spent the day killing weeds and getting the garden ready for it's next performance. I used to pull weeds by hand but lately, I've decided that using weed killer is much more efficient and saves my energy for things that are more important. Although I thought the hummingbirds had begun their southern migration, I was wrong. They are still in the garden and I saw two of them this morning. I also was happy to see three or four nuthatches that were eating bugs all over the garden. I never have nuthatches in my yard so this was quite a thrill for me. It doesn't take much. Just a new bird or a new flower or maybe a little change in the morning light to let me know cooler weather is on it's way. The bean plants are about six inches tall and the lettuce are thriving. In about two more weeks, I'll plant Swiss Chard. In the meantime, I will dream of a drop in temperature and an excuse to wear my black suede jacket.

A Bit of Rumination

I am having a very hard time with work right now. It is brutally busy and I am very, very tired. I decided that I need to be working on a journal in which I chronicle how long during the weekend it takes me to recover from the week. And so, I began this Saturday. It took me until about noon to get my energy rounded up so that I could enjoy the rest of Saturday and the entire day on Sunday. I am trying to decide how much longer I want to work and we are taking Thanksgiving week off to spend some time at the beach as we contemplate the next stage of our lives. The last time I retired, I became bored very quickly and felt purposeless and useless. (Those are almost the same, aren't they?) But that was nine years ago (actually, almost ten) and I was much younger. These days, I relish a lazy beginning to the morning with a good cup of coffee and a round of Farmville with a few friends on Facebook. Then I like to do a little art or maybe a little gardening. I think I sound like an old woman. Yee Gads!! Then a trip to IKEA or to the Friday Farmer's Market.

I have a lot of thinking to do. I will know more after our November retreat.

A Trip to IKEA

We took a field trip to IKEA last Saturday and among the wonderful things we brought home was this kitchen island. I have wanted a chopping block island since we moved into this house and now I finally have it. I can't wait to start chopping on it. After seeing Julie and Julia this past weekend, I will act like Julia Child and chop onions until I am an expert.

Where This Blogger Creates

Colette Copeland of A Bird in the Hand, said in her daily blog that today is" Where Bloggers Create" day. I think that means posting a photo of where we create if we blog because she posted a photograph of her blogging space. Well, this is a picture of my blogging space; also, my studio space, my guest room when the Murphy bed is pulled down, and my workout room when I am working out to a DVD on the computer. So I guess this is my multi-purpose room. But I love it. It is the place I go to think, to create, to network, and to drink my coffee first thing in the morning.

New Little Idea

New little hang-tag created from a very old, vintage birthday card. Isn't she cute?

Sketches

Yesterday, I wanted to try a new sketch but couldn't really find any subject matter that appealed to me. It was raining outside so I couldn't so out into the garden and the inside of the house seemed boring to me. So I looked in my photo box for two vintage photographs. Although both photos featured people, I can't draw people yet so I left the people out. The sketch above is one of a little store in Tampa back in the 1920's.
This is a sketch of the house where my parents spent part of their honeymoon in San Francisco in 1933, I like the idea of drawing only the background scenery in photographs and may do more.

Something To Ponder

Yesterday, while looking for something to read, I selected Winter Walk from our extensive library collection. Winter Walk is the true story of an Alaskan Athabascan woman, her children, and her journey of survival during the winter of 1892. While Janet is a reader of historical non-fiction, I tend to select books of other genre. However, once I read the following quote from the prologue, I knew I would be compelled to read the entire book.

"Imagine if the survival of others as well as ourselves depended on our skills, knowledge, inner strength, and respect."

I wonder if I would have had the courage and fortitude to make the very hard decisions this woman was required to make throughout the course of this story. I wonder if I would have been able to make the sacrifices necessary to protect my children. I suppose these are questions every mother would ask in light of a story such as this one. I recommend this book highly. It raises many questions about life, hardship, commitment, family, and what is really important when all is said and done. And you can read it in one afternoon.

Alaska today.....still very desolate and unforgiving in it's uninhabited territories, even in the spring of the year (pictured here).