A Handful of Joys for a Friday
It's Friday. Sunny for the moment. No snow in the air. We had snow a couple days this week and it put me in a slump. The tulips? They didn't seem to mind. I brought some in yesterday, the first cut flowers of the season. It felt so good, like I am finally me again.
Even on the snow slumped days there were little joys glimmering:
Reading Anne of Green Gables again(did you know it's available for free through Project Gutenberg?), one of my favorite books to read in the spring. Do you have a favorite book you like to re-read in the spring, or another time of year?
Listening to the new Death Cab for Cutie album, Kintsugi.
Seeing roots on the cuttings I took from a double impatiens plant last week.
Last year I grew a double impatiens plant in a shady corner of the yard and it bloomed all summer long. This year I plan on filling up bare spots in the shade with plants I've grown from cuttings. They root so quickly and so easily. I prefer doing it in water so I can see the roots and easily keep an eye on everything. If you want to do this, be sure the cuttings not in sun. I accidentally put mine where they got some sun and they looked like they weren't going to make it.
Enjoying some local beer, like New Glarus Brewing Company's Hopster and the harder to find (and quickly sold out) pseudoSue from Toppling Goliath. I love the idea of local, handcrafted beer and how microbreweries, fueled by passion and followed with passion, seem to be growing everywhere.
Wearing the comfy lounge pants I sewed on Sunday from thrifted curtains.
I have leftover fabric that may end up as a top and this piece will probably become a scarf or headband. The project was so quick and I'm kicking myself for not doing it sooner. I used a very simple pattern for pants that was included in a dress and top pattern, nothing I would have looked at twice, but it worked fine. I'm so glad to be on a weekend sewing roll.
Looking forward to the new Star Wars movie and watching the new teaser.
Picking up some violas to pop here and there in the garden (and possibly paint).
Reading Amanda Blake Soule's posts about her time in Bali (here, here and here), especially this story of something very special she brought back with her.
Painting geraniums.
(Available here).
The new Organic Life magazine. I was a little skeptical at first about the transformation of Organic Gardening into Organic Life, but so far I like it. Have you seen it? What do you think?
Planning a project for this weekend. A hint? It involves rope and it seems that everyone is doing it. There might also be another dress in the works, depending on the weather.
What about you? What's been bringing you joy lately?
Even on the snow slumped days there were little joys glimmering:
Reading Anne of Green Gables again(did you know it's available for free through Project Gutenberg?), one of my favorite books to read in the spring. Do you have a favorite book you like to re-read in the spring, or another time of year?
Listening to the new Death Cab for Cutie album, Kintsugi.
Seeing roots on the cuttings I took from a double impatiens plant last week.
Last year I grew a double impatiens plant in a shady corner of the yard and it bloomed all summer long. This year I plan on filling up bare spots in the shade with plants I've grown from cuttings. They root so quickly and so easily. I prefer doing it in water so I can see the roots and easily keep an eye on everything. If you want to do this, be sure the cuttings not in sun. I accidentally put mine where they got some sun and they looked like they weren't going to make it.
Enjoying some local beer, like New Glarus Brewing Company's Hopster and the harder to find (and quickly sold out) pseudoSue from Toppling Goliath. I love the idea of local, handcrafted beer and how microbreweries, fueled by passion and followed with passion, seem to be growing everywhere.
Wearing the comfy lounge pants I sewed on Sunday from thrifted curtains.
I have leftover fabric that may end up as a top and this piece will probably become a scarf or headband. The project was so quick and I'm kicking myself for not doing it sooner. I used a very simple pattern for pants that was included in a dress and top pattern, nothing I would have looked at twice, but it worked fine. I'm so glad to be on a weekend sewing roll.
Looking forward to the new Star Wars movie and watching the new teaser.
Picking up some violas to pop here and there in the garden (and possibly paint).
Reading Amanda Blake Soule's posts about her time in Bali (here, here and here), especially this story of something very special she brought back with her.
Painting geraniums.
(Available here).
The new Organic Life magazine. I was a little skeptical at first about the transformation of Organic Gardening into Organic Life, but so far I like it. Have you seen it? What do you think?
Planning a project for this weekend. A hint? It involves rope and it seems that everyone is doing it. There might also be another dress in the works, depending on the weather.
What about you? What's been bringing you joy lately?
Your photos are bringing me joy! How nice to have tulips, new lounge pants from thrifted fabric, excellent reading material and paints! You're inspiring me to do more this weekend. Here's to spring sunshine and farmer's markets (ours just opened with mostly lettuce and radishes available).
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sharon! Hope you are having a wonderful weekend. Our farmer's market starts next saturday. Such a great feeling that spring is here!
DeleteI am growing impatiens from seed this year and they're doing great. I think I have that same tulip but mine are larger, but it could be just older bulbs. That red is my favorite. i bought some viola seed this year, but never planted it. They will be a gorgeous subject for you to paint. These are so pretty and I just love your geranium painting. I think we've just had our dogwood winter in our area maybe that's what you're experiencing, too. Stormy weather predicted today stopped me from setting up at an outdoor art festival today. Have you got any shows you're planning on doing this summer?
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome, Jaime. I've never grown impatiens from seed.
DeleteThose tulips were here when we moved in, though I didn't know it till our first spring. I have no idea what type they are, but they are really wonderful. It's amazing how much they change once they've been cut (and how long they last). They've been opening and closing and growing and stretching. Fun to watch.
Sorry you couldn't go to the festival. I'm sure there will be plenty more. I don't have any planned for this summer. I'm not focusing on them because they have always seemed more work and expense than is worth it, though if I had a bunch lined up, maybe it would even out?
I'm not sure what dogwood winter is, but I'm off to look it up!
There is more than a handful of joys in this post Anne! I am intrigued about your project with a rope! I hope you have a lovely weekend making lots more joy! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Simone! I'm feeling even more joyful today because it's sunny and is supposed to warm up today.
DeleteI had quite an adventure with my rope and plan to share it soon.
Hope your weekend has been a good one!
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI too was in a slump when we received that cold wind, snow and sleet this week. I was crabby! My entire family was crabby.
:-) I try to not let the weather get to us. I think we felt cold and that made us moody.
Yippee - the sun is out and we feel the warmth!
I love your honest thoughts in your posts.
Carla
I'm so glad that the weather and our moods changed!
DeleteI feel really silly that my mood can be so easily affected by something like the weather, but it can. Crabbiness happens. :) But so does that light, happy, dancing feeling when the sun is out and the air is warm and the flowers are blooming. Guess I'd rather put up with the crabbiness and be able to feel joy from the good weather, than not to feel either.
Hope you have a great week!
I read the pictures first - and when I saw the impatiens I wondered where on earth you had found a rose bud this time of year - buy my eye told me the leaf was wrong. By that time the words had caught up. Lovely pics. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for roses! And I guess that's why I like the double impatiens. They look like little roses! Too bad they don't smell. :)
Deleteoh Anne, your joys are sweet. you are a goddess of creativity and inspiration! Thank you so much for sharing
ReplyDeleteAwww... thanks, Aga. You make me smile. I'm working on a design for some more business cards and I'm almost tempted to put "goddess of creativity and inspiration" on them. ;)
Delete