Sunday Words - two ... seeing what is right in front of us

We did not change as we grew older; we just became more clearly ourselves.
Lynn Hall, Where Have All the Tigers Gone?, 1989







In my days of growing older I find this quote so true. Everyday I get to know my self better. I love this photo. The sunset was so pretty through the rain even through all the traffic. A perfect desciption of life. Look above us and appreciate what we see.


Inspired by the wonderful Tracy at Notes from a Cottage Industry!

A new adventure

Hi,

I have been thinking alot about my blog lately. I am going to jump on a new adventure with it. I have two ideas. I need to get the motivation to post. I look at it a lot and think, I need to post. But i don't have the inspiration. I have been sick with a cold on and off for the past 3 weeks (it's dreadful) and I haven't been motivated to do any crafting. I have even sat down to do cross stitch and i just can't do it and go back to bed. lol

My ideas:

1. Make a post about the letter of the alphabet. A through Z. Now would it be crafting influenced i don't know I have so many interests i might just do it on what ever interests me. i think some of the letters might be hard like Q. But then quilting popped in to my head so it might not be as hard as i thought.

2. Take a photo sometime during the day for a month. I know I could do this. The hard part would be downloading it.

3. Write a story in continuous parts like Louisa Alcott use to do for the papers.

4. Write reviews

5. Write a mystery quilting pattern. First I would need to start quilting again.. lol

I am going to think about this more today and i will be back with an update.

Dottie

New movies to remember

Cocco before channel
Bright Star
Ice Castles
An Education
The Inviciticus - matt damoen rubgy player

Thrifty Saturday..

Today I stopped at my local Salvation Army store to look at a dining table. It had caught my eye on Thursday as I was driving to work. The curls on the ends of the legs remind me of the curly curl on the end of elf shoes. lol.. I have dreamed about it the last two days - on how cool it would look painted it white. I forgot to take a photo when I got out. I looked it over and I decided not to buy it. One reason is the price but then I found it was 40% off. That would have made it better but I wasn't in love with it up close. Two - was where would I put it? I am saving for my own place. There are just a few things I need. A dining room table, a double mattress and a few other things. I have stuff in storage that will fill up an apartment - just if i could afford it. lol.. Where I am staying now there is not really a place to work on it. Third - I didn't like the kind of wood it was, it didn't seem to be good quality. I haven't worked on too many pieces but I didn't know how this one would work.

I did go in though and look around. I read where someone found an old copy of Julia Child's cookbook so I am always on the lookout for that. Didn't find one but I did find a really cute glass candy dish that is footed. It has the cutest flowers on it. I fell in love and brought it home with me. I will post a photo soon.

When I walked away I thought of a present my family can get me. A sander. lol

Till later..

Sunday Words - one

“What we do today, right now, Will have an accumulated effect on all our tomorrows.”
By Alexandra Stoddard
I have been following Tracie’s Sunday inspiration posts on her blog “A Cottage Industry” since the weeks were in single digits. I like how her posts seem to reflect what we know of her bliss and sometimes helps us reflect on the times in our lives. I am including a quote by Alexandra Stoddard, as she is someone who has inspired me through the years. The photo above is two quilts I made for my niece and nephew... The photo is a bit blurry as it was from a couple of camera's ago and I have gotten much better as a photographer.

Reading habits...

I am sorry it has been so long since i posted but i would get caught up in the Olympics in the evening and those dang facebook games... lol

I have been reading around my favorite blogs lately and they have reminded me about some fantastic books and authors.

The first is the Betsy and Tacy stories at Progressive Pioneer . I can't remember how I found the books but it happened in the last 10 years or so. After I found them, I read every one that the library had. Last year I gave the first 4 of the series to my niece Francine for Christmas. I don't know if she fell in love with them like I did, I should ask her.

There is also a wonderful review of the Little House on the Prairie series on the blog. I loved the books and the TV show. Which reminds me of a cute story. I live in Oregon, kinda of near the Oregon Trail (but not really) and along the valley of the Columbia River. When I was a kid I was enthralled with wagon train stories and living on the prairie. In my mind the two kinds of adventures were one in the same. One day I was riding my bike up and down my street and I decided that one of the narrow ruts in the pavement up the block was a rut left by the wagon trains on there journey to the Oregon Territory. Everyone tried to convince me that it was not..... but I wouldn't believe it, I knew it would be true. Looking back it is a bit silly but there is still a little part of me that still believes that the wagon trains really rolled down my street.

The second writer is Alexandra Stoddard. I first found her books in a little antique/flower store in downtown Tigard, Oregon during a lunch break. It was sitting on a chair in the setting with flowers all around. I can't remember which book it was but I think it was her "Creating a Beautiful Home" Her writing just attracted me instantly. I have stared for hours and hours at the cover of the book as I loved her living room. It is still my style. I have continued to read her books. Buying some, checking some out of the library, and even found one at Anthopologie in The Pearl and then went across the street to Powell's and bought a used one for half the price. I was so excited when she was the writer in residence for Victoria Magazine in 2008/2009. She has developed into a philosopher and I do enjoy reading her words. They are refreshing and helps me bring myself back to center and to know what i really want. I recently read in her book "Things I want my Daughters to Know" about never spending more than 5 hours with friends and family. This was a statement that really made me think. I could see so many instances where this is true and would be healthy for all, but on the other hand what about those times where you are have game day or some other event and you need to spend more than 5 hours together. Is this such a bad thing? Even just writing this out for you I am seeing her idea from a different angle and has me rethinking my first reactions to it. But isn't that awesome that someones writings can inspire you to really think what matters to you.

Well it's time to wrap up. Thank you blog friends for being so much inspiration to create, contentment and joy to my life. Everyone, keep your head up high and smile everyday as life is so precious.