That Blue Chair

This is a follow-up to Monday's move...it deserved a post all its own.  I've mentioned that I'll be heading to Colorado soon to help Paul's mom.  Since I needed to supervise the move in South Portland we had to do it a few weeks earlier than the closing. But Paul will still be around so he's going to "camp" in the house while I'm gone. I left him the blue chair, an air mattress, the music dock, and the coffee maker.  If you haven't read the post about "the blue chair" you can read it here.

It doesn't take much to make Paul happy...a good book...a little jazz...it's all good in the blue chair.

The blue chair is coming home to Lexington....it's just wrong for it to sit in storage.

Creative Energy....

...Round Two.

In June of 2015 I shared that we were putting our weekend home in South Portland, Maine on the market. I titled that post "Creative Energy" and wrote about getting the house ready to show.

We could have easily sold the house at that time...but after a blip in the process we paused and decided to hang on to it. We originally bought this house as a weekend get-a-way...not really thinking about retirement because it seemed so far down the road. But that road doesn't seem so long any more.

During this past year and a half we tackled a few projects and once again took a good look at this house. Was it the right house for retirement?  For a variety of reasons we came to the conclusion that it's not. In late August we sold it to a wonderful family who is very excited to make it their new home. We have been on hold for several months while they worked on selling their home. But it's finally time...the closing is just around the corner...and yesterday was moving day.

My fusing projects are patiently waiting and my sewing machine sits idle, but I believe creativity is at work in almost all that I do...even household chores. Much of my creative energy over the past few months has quietly gone into this house process. I've been assessing our stuff...what do we keep...what do we let go of....what goes into storage...what comes home to Lexington. Everything came off the walls, the holes all got filled, and the paint touched up. I want this new family to walk in and have it feel like home...fresh, clean, and ready for their paint colors and personal touches. I have been putting a lot of my creative energy into this house once again....this time making it ready to be someone else's home.

 In the mean time I love our home in Lexington and will welcome more time to tend to it and the gardens.  And...there's so much to explore around the greater Boston area. What lies ahead is exciting...and when it's time I most certainly will be sharing the process of making a new house a home...this time one that we'll settle into for a LONG time. We just have to wait for the right one to come along....hopefully not too far from Bug Light Park. We have time.

Birthday....

follow-up.

I came across this photo this morning.  It was the first time Paul came home to meet my parents over Thanksgiving break our sophomore year in college.We also celebrated his birthday. And...just for the record...my parents loved him too!

Birthday Pause

I'm in the middle of one of those busy stretches when there's hardly a minute to breathe.  It's all good and there's nothing that can come off the list....I just have to keep going. But every evening I pause to write a little something here...it's an important pause in my day. Today it's a birthday pause.

Tomorrow is Paul's birthday and it's going to get a little lost in all that we have going on. He's the best thing that's ever happened to me...I'm a very lucky woman. My birthday frogs have been on my kitchen window sill for several weeks now reminding me there's a special birthday coming. They're silly...but they make me smile. Happy Birthday Paul!

It was a very long work day for me today...but when I got home Paul had dinner ready for me. He also shared a card that he got from his sister Alyson...I laughed until I cried. It's the best card I've seen in a long time. A good laugh was just what I needed today.  

The Hour Between

Our church has two services with an hour between and a variety of activities are being offered to facilitate interacting and learning.  Today I held a simple card making session using punched squares. We had a lovely setting in the conference room overlooking the memorial garden.

Many of the participants had never seen or used a square punch...and it was fun seeing the enthusiasm.

I didn't get photos of all the finished cards...but here are a couple using squares from greeting cards.                                                                 

And here's one using photos.  It was a fun way to spend the hour between....I alway enjoy helping people make things.  

"Magic...

...in little things."

This came across my Tumblr feed a few days ago...it describes exactly how I feel.

I'll be fine.

Paul and I just spent a delightful evening with our son Sam....I cooked him a vegetarian Thanksgiving dinner.  I am so proud of all that he is doing....I could listen to him for hours.

You Just Have to Chuckle

Just a block so away from our house at the top of Meeting House Hill in South Portland is Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

It's the home to one of Paul's favorite trees...he finds a new favorite everywhere he lives.  This one is an evergreen with massive arching limbs....some of which recently had to be pruned.

And it's also the home to our favorite gravestone. You just have to chuckle.  

George clearly lived a happy life.

Beach Walk

Paul and I had a delightful Thanksgiving morning walk at Willard Beach in South Portland. Spring Point light was off in the distance...and I enjoyed the view as we got closer. It was a lovely crisp. late fall day....even the gray was beautiful.

This bright orange piece of seaweed was attached to a roundish stone and the bright oranges and reds of the rose hips popped in landscape.

The veining in the sand looked like tree branches.  

So may visual treats this Thanksgiving morning!

Gratitude...

...and Joy!
Happy Thanksgiving!

So many things to be grateful for...especially these three men in my life!

This photo was taken several years ago on
State Street in Madison, Wisconsin.

And...getting to play a little "joy"
in a Words With Friends game.

Actual Cookie

When Anita and I met for our walk this morning she gave me this adorable cookie. 

Her story of why she made it is fun....but that's her story. My story is that she shared one with me just when I needed it.

When we're busy, harried, or just plain tired, a couple other friends and I often say..."we need to sit and have a cookie." It's comforting....even if there are no actual cookies.

Thanks Anita!  An actual cookie today was perfect. I ate it after dinner and it was as tasty as it was cute!

Dragon Flies....

....ginkgo leaves....and a smile. The last and final ginkgo post.  (probably)

My good friend Linda has been celebrating my ginkgo tree right along with me.  As a matter of fact she stopped by today and picked up some leaves.  She told me a few days ago that two of her favorite things are ginkgo leaves and dragon flies...so here you go Linda...this is for you! This little guy sits in the garden by my front door...and is quite content surrounded by a yellow blanket.

I could stretch my ginkgo stories and photos out for weeks....but it might be time to move on.  But here are a few "day after" photos and a few more thoughts.

It snowed a little last night....so the carpet of yellow took on a whole new glow this morning.  The fact that they fell yesterday...and there was snow today was a clear sign that the season has turned.

There are still a few stragglers left on the tree....but with the temperature drop I'm sure not for long.

And the leaves are everywhere....on every side of my house....down the street....on the roof out every window and nested in every bush.  It's a mess....but oddly comforting.

"Nothing dies as beautifully as autumn." 

Ashlee Willis 

The Big Day!

It was GINKGO DAY!

There wasn't a hard frost last night and today was breezy, misty, and 42 degrees...but at some point the leaves just gotta' fall. Today was the big day!

I uploaded a video to YouTube....you can view it here.  I love the carpet of yellow!

I got up early this morning hoping to get some things done. But instead I felt like a kid on Christmas morning....I couldn't stop watching the tree. I was kind of giddy actually. At several points I just had to stand out in the middle of it. And when I wasn't out I was sitting in this chair at the front door. The timing was perfect...and I enjoyed every minute of it!

I was thrilled to get an e-mail yesterday from Christine from California who was in both the fusing and Sticky Fingers online classes.  She had seen the posts on my tree and shared some of her favorite photos of ginkgo trees taken on her walks in Pasadena. Thanks Christine!  I know there are lots of ginkgo fans out there!

Lexington Art Walk

I love small town community events. Downtown Lexington is hosting an art walk and many of the businesses in town are displaying art from all ages. So while we were out walking yesterday Anita and I checked it out.  It was a beautiful day....a perfect day for an art walk in our lovely historic town.

There are several stores that have beautiful window boxes all year round....

and this leisurely walk gave us an opportunity to enjoy them.

A window selfie...and some colorful art.

Some of my favorite art was done by some kindergarten kids. There were several of birds....birds in trees and birds on wires.  They were so sweet...and so happy! Sorry, I had no idea how to avoid the glare.

And there was a whole series of lovely moons...also done by kids.

 Thank you Lexington for hosting this event.  It was a delightful way to spend part of our morning walk.