Dazzled

"Still, what I want in my life is to be willing to be dazzled - to cast aside the weight of facts and maybe even float a little above this difficult world."  Mary Oliver

If there's one thing I've learned from writing this blog.....it's that there's always something to celebrate.....even when life seems complicated and heartbreaking. 

Today was a beautiful crisp fall day.  I had an appointment and several errands around town and I am so grateful that I was able to do them all on foot....it was a good day to be walking.  My last errand was picking up a few groceries and this small gourd captured my heart.  It's OK to set aside weighty things...and just be dazzled by a simple curly stem. 

Autumn Joy

Celebrating my Autumn Joy Sedum today! 
What a wonderful name for a plant!

The two-tone color detail is incredible....

I'm not sure I've ever really looked at it this closely before.

Lesson learned again: always look closely!

Play

"It is a happy talent to know how to play."  Ralph Waldo Emerson

Playing with watercolors....and scissors.

We started the day in southern Maine....and ended it on the South Shore of Boston.  Paul performed a a wedding this evening....and I was his date.  It was a lovely evening in Quincy, MA.

Fall Color Collecting

"Collecting colour through observation is a simple way to lead you into a daily practice of actually looking at what's around you and loosens up your 'noticing' skills. It brings a simple sense of purpose to the act of looking, which in turn means that you don't just look, you actively 'see' things."
Philippa Stanton, Consciously Creativity

Paul picked up this leaf for me this morning...there's so many colors and interesting textures in this small space.

The main street into our condo complex goes all the way through but the back exit is blocked off. This makes for a quiet neighborhood with only walkers and bikers cutting through.

This quiet end of the street is wild and overgrown and I love it this time of year.  I took a walk this afternoon and did a little fall color collecting with my camera on my way through.

Noticing....looking....seeing....are good for the soul.

Color Repeat

About this same time last year when I was wrapping sticks and wheat I was looking for yarn with a short color repeat which would create interesting patterns and stripes of color.  "Stacks" was my theme at the time....so sock yarns worked really well.

This ball of yarn got cast aside because the color repeat was too long...too much space between the color changes.  The texture and colors were yummy....but when wrapped on something skinny like a stick it didn't create the effect I was looking for. 

But last night I was compelled to wrap some wheat (Paul wonders if any other woman ever had that same need) and I embraced this yummy yarn creating a whole different rainbow effect. There's subtle texture in each color which gives each bundle interest and because all the yarn is from the same skein they coordinate beautifully.  I think they're scrumptious!  I may throw in a few striped ones too....but I'm kind of in love with this little bouquet!

Evening Sky

"It's not the weight you carry but how you carry it - books, bricks, grief - it's all in the way you embrace it, balance it, carry it when you cannot, and would not, put it down."  
Mary Oliver

The evening sky was just glorious!

It's All About the Stem

I've said it before....and I'll say it again...it's all about the stem!

I drove up to Maine yesterday and it was so nice to see so much fall color along the highway.  I took a little detour in southern Maine and stopped at a farm stand to buy a pumpkin.....and this fantastic stem gourd. 

We have couple trees in their full glory at the condo.

And....as I pulled in to park at Margie's apartment today there was a whole row of bushes with fabulous berries turning from yellow to red.  I need to find out what these are....I love them.                                                                                                          

Margie has a nice view of the changing colors in the woods from her living room and...... 

...I fell in love with the one tiny red maple out in the distance from her balcony.

I've said this before....and I'll say this again too.....I love fall.

Happy Birthday to my dear friend Becky....who I've known almost my whole life.

This may not have been our best look....but it's a tiny glimpse into our comfort level with each other and a few things we have in common.  This was taken September 21, 2015 during her visit to chilly New England.....and I love it.

2020

It's time for my sister-in-law Liz's reader calendar.....her birthday is right around the corner.  I enjoy searching for images throughout the year....then designing these little 4 x 6 calendar pages on my computer.  Liz keeps it on her desk at work and seems to enjoy it....and that makes me happy.  I've been making these for her birthday since 2014...so this is my 7th one!

I am especially fond of the sweet illustrations of Jane Massey.  Her simple little sketches make my heart melt.  When I checked out her Instagram page...I found several more that may make it into next year's calendar....including this sweet one.

And this one.....

https://www.instagram.com/janemasseyillustration/

Happy Birthday Liz!  I've already started collecting for 2021.

Impossible Gardens

There were all kinds of events and festivities today for our Puerto Rican friends including two opportunities for worship. All three communities that received assistance from "Lexington Unites for Puerto Rico" are from different parts of the island and of different faith backgrounds and didn't know each other until they met here in New England this weekend.  Now they have a bond and connection with each other that will continue when they go back home. It was all very powerful!

Margie, my mother-in-law, gave me notecards a while back that said "Plant Impossible Gardens."  I used them sparingly because I loved the idea  so much of an impossible garden.  This weekend it was clear to me that impossible gardens have been planted.

In between events I dug up several varieties of my miniature hosta for Carmen and Wendall, the couple in our church who got this whole Puerto Rico project going. 

Wendall had expressed interest in my minis....so now he and Carmen have at least 8 varieties for their own garden. They hosted a final send off dinner this evening...and this was my gift....a reminder of the "impossible garden" they helped plant.

And....for those of you who know my dear friend Connie...I'm still "gardening in her shoes." I think about her every time I wear them. 

"Lexington Unites....

...for Puerto Rico." 

Two years ago our church spearheaded a community wide effort to fill a cargo container with relief supplies for Puerto Rico after hurricane Maria.  We partnered with three churches in Puerto Rico and the connection, support, and partnership has continued ever since.

This weekend Hancock Church has been hosting the ministers and representatives from these three church communities and tonight we all attended the "Transforming Communities Gala" fundraiser....I think the total is going to end up well over $100,000 raised.  

It was humbling to hear their stories of devastation and loss and hopeful to hear about their resilience and rebuilding.  What a joy is was to participate!

Effort and Attitude

This list came across my Pinterst feed a few days ago and it struck a chord.  I have more control over these 5 things than I know.....and when I pay attention to them it makes a positive difference in my day.

Inspired by young Greta Thunberg,  climate strikes were held around the world today demanding action to help our damaged and suffering planet. In solidarity the students at Lexington High marched out of class onto the football field and an overwhelming number of residents of all ages showed up to literally surround them in support. It would have been so easy to stay home...it was a beautiful day and there were so many things on my list. But I walked to the school with Paul and other Hancock Church members to show support for the students and the cause....words, actions, and effort.  I'm glad I went.

I love clean windows....but I don't love washing them so I don't do it very often.  Our windows are older and each has two separate storms and a screen and cleaning the outside requires wrestling with bushes to find room for my step stool....not much fun.  But today was the day....and my goal was to wash the 4 first floor windows facing the street because they were the worst.  I went into it with a positive attitude....put in the effort...and was thrilled when it was done. 

A long line of Lexington students marching out of the school...it gave me chills.

The view out one of my clean windows.

And just for fun....a view of the zinnias this morning at Hancock Church.  I'm grateful to Cheryl for planting them.....I'm going to be sure and thank her. 

Good manners are also completely in my control.

Glass and Grapes

Today was a chore day.....and although cleaning bathrooms, laundry, and going though piles of mail are all good things....they don't make for a good blog post.  So I thought I would share a few things that didn't make it into previous posts.

When I was at Jane's for the wedding I got to see my stained glass piece all installed in her bathroom and I think it looks pretty good.  I'm quite fond of the mixture of patterns in the clear glass.

Did I mention Jane and Andy have grapes? 

I've been there dozens and dozens of times but never realized they were there.  Or maybe I just forgot....that's entirely possible too. The best thing about forgetting is that you get to see them again for the first time.  The colors and textures were amazing...and they tasted pretty good too!

Field Trip

Anita and I took a field trip to visit Linda at her beach house in Southern Maine....it was a delight from start to finish.  I've written about David and Linda's place before...it's always a treat to wander the gardens and paths, listen to the waves and birds, and smell the sea air.

I was immediately drawn to the beautiful bouquet on Linda's table...I needed to know more. She told me it was ironweed....and I was anxious to see it in the garden.

photo found on-line

Every time I visit David and Linda's gardens....there's always something big and tall that captures my attention.  Last year it was the meadow rue.....the year before that it was castor bean.  This year it was ironweed.

It was over 7 feet tall and although it's hard to see in the photo...the deep purple color against the blue sky was stunning.

We visited York beach...just steps away from the house with a view of Nubble Lighthouse way out there on the point.....

....then took a little drive and got a closer look.

We had a lovely lunch in York Harbor and wandered through a park along the shore.

Most public sculptures are large....but these bronze beach people were tiny and having a good time partying and sun bathing on a rock with a great view of the water.

I was most taken with the reader sitting on the edge. I've been working on my yearly reader calendar for my sister-in-law....so this guy made me smile and think of Liz.  I'll be sharing that project soon.

It was an amazing day....I'm not sure you can pack more joy into a day.

Thanks Linda and Anita!