In Between Time

I was quite struck with Claudia Dilller's Facebook post this morning about this "in between time of year. " When the calendar says fall...but things are mostly still summery green....with just touches of color and a bit of chill.

It was so evident on my after dinner walk.

Claudia wondered if trees think like women do this time of year .....when it's time to put away the summer clothes and pull out some fall colors.  We might just dabble with it to start.....maybe a pop of orange....

...or maybe a touch of red. This sumac leaf looked like it was wearing red lipstick.  

I've never worn lipstick in my entire life....but if I did...I would wear red.

Do trees like to tease us with just a hint of color....a few highlights?  

And do some go all out right away and ask....does this color look good on me?  

Claudia got me thinking about all of these things.

This maple is one street over and I've been watching it for weeks.  It's not messing around with in between....it's just going for it! And in case it was wondering...these colors look great on it!

I have admired Claudia's art for years.... and you can see some of of her work that I own here in these posts: https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/search?q=Claudia

Here are a couple of her fall paintings that caught my eye.

http://www.claudiadiller.com/

And finally....a fun little story from today.

I visited Margie this morning and she was excited to show me this apple.  My photo is terrible...but the tiny apple stem has a cute little curve.  She's been paying attention....it IS all about the stem.

And it's also about a beautiful finished puzzle on her table....with touches of gold. I'm looking forward to doing this one!

Circle Up

Six more circle phrases: circle of life, sewing circle, circle back, full circle, inner circle, family circle

Circle puzzle....finished and fabulous!

Wabi-Sabi circle....love this  almost better than a perfect fall leaf.

Hand cut circles...wonky and wonderful.

Punched then scissor snipped circles....not as much character...but a lot easier.

A circle of circles.

I Yam...

 ...what I yam.  (I couldn't help myself.)

Six words for today:  Maybe the best found object ever!

I walk 2 or 3 miles with Paul in the morning...and he continues on for a couple more.  Today he came home with this found object....it was just laying alongside of the road. 

And who can help me...is it a sweet potato or a yam?  Is there a difference?  Does it even matter? 

I actually just looked it up....and this is most definitely a sweet potato. But then my opening line doesn't work....but I'm going with it anyway.  😊

No matter which way you turn it....it's still a yam sweet potato.

There are dozens of things I could write about today.....but I'm just going to keep it to the sweet potato....and this photo.

Every morning I check on the rain lilies.  And at this particular moment in time I have blooms at 6 stages.  More if you count the 3 I just deadheaded.  

Between this and the potato....how could I be more blessed.

Sorting and Housekeeping

Six words for today: Sorting and housekeeping are always worthwhile.

I'm not sure I'm going to do these six word stories every day....but it's what I'm doing for now.  I'm enjoying summing up the post this way.

I have to take a minute and update you on my puzzle.

The circle is filling in and the end is in sight.....even more reason to take it slow.  It's been a challenge...but I've loved it.

It made such a difference to sort the pieces by shape.

And just recently I started putting a sticky arrow on the image insert where I was working because sometimes it's helpful to see the context.  It's always good to reassess your strategies!

Paper cutting creates a big mess....and sometimes you just have to take the time for housekeeping.  Now I'm all ready for the next cuts. The paper I'm using is from a journal/sketchbook I've had for years. The paper is just the right weight and a little off white...but the journal wasn't very useful.  The book didn't lay open very well so the pages were not very accessible. I love that it now has a use.

Here are my recent collage attempts with papercut overlays.

I'm not as wild about this papercut....it's too rigid and not really the right scale for the piece. It's a learning curve. 

Curious.....

....about what's inside.

A Sunday six word story:   I hope I always stay curious .

Just yesterday Patty gave me a little gift. It might seem like an odd gift....but she knew it was just perfect for me. 

The gift even came with a label: "Scarlet Runner Beans." I'd never heard of them.

Patty said what made these bean special....was inside. 

I shucked a few yesterday....and the rest today.  Could these beans be more beautiful? 

Yes...I have glue on my fingers....but look at that bean!

Here's my whole haul....I'll be curious how they'll dry. 

I take a lot of my photos outside because the light is better....and I like the beautiful backdrop of the woods.  

While I was out I noticed the beans fit right in with my garden...especially the purple coral bell and my bean shaped "mom rock" rock I found in Lexington.  It was just luck that my sandals matched too.....and I even picked the right shape plate. 

You can read my "mom rock" story here: https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2020/05/rock-in-garden.html

Thanks Patty!

I walk by these dogwood trees in our condo complex sometimes twice a day on my walks.

They are in full fruit and I find the red bumpy balls quite fascinating.  There were a bunch smashed on the sidewalk and I noticed they were bright yellow-orange inside.

So I took one home...cut it open...and looked inside.

I'm often encouraging people to take time to really look closely at something that catches your eye....but sometimes you also need to take time to look at what's inside!

Angel On My Shoulder

A six word story for today: Celebrating Connie's tools of her trade.

I'm working my way through another online class.....and since it's self paced I'm taking it slow.  This is a busy time of year for the Board and I'm still so drawn to be outdoors. I will share more about the class in general in days to come....but today's post is really about this sunshine yellow exacto knife.

One of the lessons in the class was papercuts....I think I'm hooked.  I have always admired these....but never thought it was something I could do. Turns out....I just needed a sentimental tool with a brand new sharp blade...and a little chunk of time.  And to perfect it...I'll need a lot of practice.

Many of you are familiar with my long journey with my dear friend Connie.  

I was her decorator, caregiver, gardener, craft partner, and errand girl.  She was a huge influence in my life and is dearly missed.  If you put "Connie" in the search box at the top left of the blog....dozens and dozens of posts will come up.  

Connie is sprinkled all over my home....furniture, kitchen items, her fabulous art, and lots of craft supplies. I often hear her voice in my head giving me life advice and cheering me on as I try something new.  Connie loved taking classes and the depth and vastness of her art still boggles my mind.  

I needed an exacto knife for the papercuts.  I had one....but the blade was dull and rusty and I didn't have extras.  One of the goals I have with the art classes I take is to try and make use of what I already have.

Then I remembered a box I got from Connie....and amazingly enough I was able to find it. The fact that it was in a beautiful box helped. It was like I struck gold.  

There were exacto knives of all sizes...a fabulous awl, and a few things that are a little puzzling that I'll have to figure out.

And win win...she had a whole box of new blades.  She was always prepared...and continues to be an angel on my shoulder. 

Here's a few more of my papercut experperiments....I'm just getting started and there's lots of room for improvement.  And lots of ideas.

And just in case you're wondering what I'm going to do with them....here are a few magazine collage thumbnails with a few papercut overlays.  Also for the class.

Highlight!

A six word story for today: Always make time for important things.

There weren't enough hours to do everything I wanted to do today....

...but walking the yard with Colin and Janice was certainly the highlight!

There's always an explosion of color at Janice's house....and I always go home with something in my hands....and I always feel blessed.

I came home with some swiss chard....and Paul added it to our sillett vegetables tonight....and I will admit it was a first.  We are experimenting more and more...but this was a first for this beauty.

It sure is a beautiful vegetable!

The zinnias...oh how I love the zinnias!

And look what else I came home with!

And then there's the chickens.

Isn't that tiny brown one adorable!  Did I say highlight?