Do One Thing Every Day

What do you like to do?   It's entirely possible that you like to do more than one thing.  Do you do the things you like to do or do you just think about them?  Say  " Boy, I sure would like to write a blog."  Or, maybe it's, "I sure would like to finish  those projects I have started."


It's possible you may find yourself reading a variety of blogs rather than writing one.  Perhaps starting a new project is more fun than finishing that one from last year.   But as the day ends, you realized you didn't really do a blog post or work on a UFO.   Maybe you are busy with a job, young kids, teens (or both) pets, volunteering and are tired at the end of the day.

Years ago when I was a nursing student, 1990's,  I worked very hard at that and also did my housework (sort of) and mothering.  There was so much reading, learning medications, diagnoses, signs and symptoms, that I just didn't do much else.  A couple of years later when I returned to nursing school to get my RN, I decided I couldn't do without reading something other than text books. My plan was to read 5 minutes a day at bedtime something non-medical.

I did that no matter how late it was, after all it was only 5 minutes.
It made all the difference in my year.  My mind relished in the joy of poetry, a mystery or biography.

So have decided to try to do things every day for 30 days. Go outside and move about (sitting outside not included) for 10 minutes and write for 10 minutes, poetry, letters, journal and/or blog post.  I keep 3 journals, computer, handwritten and recorded.
So any of the three qualify.

I'll write a post about my efforts in 31 days.  Ya'll come back and see what happens.  

I got this idea awhile ago from an article from somewhere in which I have written "from Cyndi's blog lipstick jungle".  Today have searched for this so I can give her credit, but I couldn't find it anywhere.  In the article she mentions, Austin Kleon, whose blog I did find.   He mentions the 30 day goal so here is a link to that.       

Thirty Day Challenge     

Besides this post from November 1, 2017, he has other interesting things to day.  He is a writer who also does art.

I will leave you today with a beautiful photo of a cloud.  I hope it's one I've not already posted.

My Pink Cloud

"Spinning Around Like a Fool"

The title of the post is a line from a favorite song of mine by Bobby Caldwell.  Stuck on You 
Now this is a great song, but it's not really about spinning.  
Years ago my daughter worked for a radio station that played 'smooth jazz'.  She met Bobby when he came to the station.  Very nice.  Then she got tickets to the Russian River Jazz Festival and we went.  Bobby was performing. Again very nice.  We were way in the back. Not so nice.  But I could see him because he was wearing a yellow suit. Sooooooooooo nice.  Any way back to spinning.

The second weekend in October I was spinning for 3 days at Coloma Gold Rush Live.  This is a video of some of the festivities.  You might see me briefly at my wheel.   There was just so much to see and do there, the videographer couldn't keep focusing on me. HeeHee.

The weather was so nice on those days, though it did get pretty warm Sunday afternoon. Wearing long sleeves and long skirts, stockings and boots can certainly add to the discomfort.  But in the mornings I was quite comfortable in my 1850's dress.

Now that October is in it's third week, I am less busy and enjoying some of my hobbies. Spinning for example.  So some photos.

This is actually prettier in person. More blue-purple not so grey. This is 2 ply

Maybe this is a bit better.

This may be the same roving, but in a single before playing, but I really don't know.  I'm going to keep better tract of what I'm spinning.

This was is also a single and called Morning Fenceline.  It's BFL wool and silk.   I need more,

This is some handspun, plied and wound into a ball.

That's all for this post.  May God bless you and keep you well.  No flu!!

Gold Rush Live in Coloma

Oh My Goodness

Has it really been over 2 months since I last wrote a post?  Yup.

Fall is here!!  I just find myself doing the dance of joy every day.  Cool mornings and sunny, mild afternoons.  Doors open all day.  No need to keep them closed against the heat.  The same with the curtains.  All summer it's open them on the west side in the morning, then close for the afternoon.  Just the opposite of the east. Fall Fall Fall.  I love it.

Zorro collecting fallen leaves.

This is glorious, but it's not at my house.

I saw this lovely plant at  a rest stop in Arkansas.

I want to get back to sewing and I have several projects to complete and I would like to make myself a couple of tops.  I'm going to the /San Francisco Opera in November so I'm thinking of making something new for that event. 

Well I'm ending this now.  Pretty frustrated because I cannot find the photos I was going to show. Off to make a birthday card for a very old friend.  Perhaps I'll be back sooner than later.

Heat Wave

Back in 2014, I wrote a post about it being 'too darn hot' here.   I included a link to Ann Miller singing and dancing to "It's Too Darn Hot".

I don't want to repeat myself so this time I've got Ella Fitzgerald singing "Tropical Heat Wave"  with some great art.

And now for those cool and refreshing photos.  All courtesy of the internet.

.

Fall will be here before we know it.  It's nice to think about that.

Ocean Beach Shore

I miss the coast.  It doesn't have to be a tropical beach with surfers and volleyball.  Sand castle building is always nice.

I found this one. Wow!  The rock surround.  There was no one nearby to claim it though I expect the waves eventually did.

Unless otherwise noted the following photos are by me. Some have been in a post before.

Clouds, ocean, shore, ahhhh.

A tropical island in the Gulf of Mexico.

Pomponio Beach, CA

A wonderful place to be in March 2016

There must be a lighthouse sometimes. Cape Disappointment, WA.

This next photo I got from the internet.  I want to go to this beach some day  Actually there are many coasts I wish to see.

In Cornwall

A sea bird is calling my name. Farewell for now.

Weaving at Asilomar

In early May, I went to a weaving conference at Asilomar Beach and Conference Grounds.  What a wonderful place to stay.  There are many historic buildings designed by Julia Morgan.  Asilomar was first conceived as a place for members of the YWCA  from around the country to meet.  If you are interested you can read the history of Asilomar here

 Merrill Hall

     We gathered in Merrill Hall for meetings and speeches and our vendor.

Looking up in Merrill Hall

More ceiling views

Fireplace in Hearst Building

There were paved and board walks all around the facility.  We were right on the beach.

A boardwalk leading to the ocean.

Ah, the ocean.  So beautiful. 

Well, as I mentioned I was there for weaving.  I took a class on weaving with neutrals.  This was bold for me as I prefer color and more  color.  But I enjoyed it very much.  There were 20 students and therefore, 20 looms in a light airy room (but it was pretty cold outside most of the time) We learned a lot about what one tie-up can produce by varying the threading and the pattern.    Below are some of our work in progress.  We were weaving only samples so there wasn't a finished piece.

My start

Another's loom

Another

When we were done we cut our samples up so everyone got a 2" square of everyone's efforts for future reference along with the patterns.

When I arrived home I still had unused warp on the loom so I  wove a bit more.

I enjoyed seeing what differences just changing the shades of weft would do.

Just below a very light view our our classroom.

Thanks for stopping by. 

Rejoice!  this is a day the Lord has made.

Making Book Again

 A couple of years ago I mentioned making a journal here in my blog. Making Book and Need a Journal

It's nearly full. Only 3 pages left to fill.  I don't write every day, but I sometimes write a lot or I sometimes write big.  So anyway time to make another.

This time I used a graham cracker crumbs box. 

I decided to make this journal more square and this box was squarish. 

To cover the covers, made from the crumb box, measure the paper 1/2 -1 inch larger all the way around.  Score the paper where it should fold over the cardboard.

Glue, but don't leave it like this. Smooth it with a foam brush or your fingers.

Center the cardboard on the paper and smooth it. Then fold up the sides and the top and bottom edges and smooth.  Using the bone folder helps.

Next I cut a piece of paper to fit the inside of the covers except for about 1/4 inch all around.

(I missed a few photo opportunities throughout the process. Please don't consider this a true tutorial.)

This is the inside of the other cover.

The outside back cover.

The front cover.

The signatures with stitching holes poked.

 About halfway through the stitching process.  I love the colored cord.

 Finished.  In this photo you can see the curved needle.  It makes the sewing up easier, but a straight needle can be used.

Ready now for recording anything I might need to say.

Here is the book I absolutely love for making books.  Very easy to follow directions.

A peek inside.  Coptic Binding is the binding I'm more familiar with.  But I have made a couple of other kinds.

I made this one using a glued binding.

I found this idea on YouTube. HERE . Sea Lemon has some very nice book making tutorials.

That is all for today and, really that's enough.

Ta Ta,

Poem

Is it True?

They sometimes say
An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

It's also been said
That violets are blue and roses are red

I've heard reports
That some like the arts while others like sports.

Have they been discussed
Preventing  decay or removing rust?

On occasion they speak
Of  what they've found and who they seek.

Have there been mentions
Of heavenly streets paved with good intentions?

Has it been proclaimed
Who is at fault and who will be blamed?

You may well ask
 Is this the right time to complete the task?

One mustn't whine
It is almost the end and everything's fine.

The End

This poem was indeed written by me.  I like it perhaps you do too.  There may be more poems as I have plenty of them.  Please, if you use it, give me authorship.  Thank you


As it is nearly Easter, here is my favorite resurrection hymn.
May the Lord bless you every day.

Miscellaneous

A Sunrise from my Window

Jean Louis, a

 skier from France.

Whitley Bay, a place I would like to go.

Easter on the Prairie

1976

Still Life with Wine

Handspun yarn in Muted Conversation

Spun and plied by moi

Goofy socks, I loved them so much I bought two pair. A year later I met the man who does Goofy's voice, but, alas, I wasn't wearing my socks.

In an old Bunker

Princess Sophie Louisa Marie Tucker Jean 

Vintage 1971

Ponchos and VW Bug

A Cabin Wall 2014

A Glorious Sunset in Cayucos after a storm.

Come back again sometime, please.  It will be grand having you back.