Three Things

A favorite quote from Flying Edna came to my inbox as the Story for the Day:

"Three things to remember at the start of each day.

#1.  This is your real life.

#2. Joy is easier to see when you quit complaining.

#3. You never know what the third thing is going to be until later....so pay attention so you don't miss it."

My three things from today:

#1. Sun printing is my real life right now. Why not just go with it!

This was going to be the day where I didn't do any sun printing and tend to the house and gardens. I did a few chores...but I also did a some printing. I just couldn't help myself. This is my real life right now. I think of things in the middle of the night...and just have to try them.  

A few days ago I collected more of the wabi-sabi leaves I love from the pond and did this print on a book page. I love the ragged edges and the bug eaten holes...and every detail printed beautifully. I used a few of these leaves a while back in some gelli prints. 

Then late last night I wondered about stitching several pieces of paper together...and printing on them all at the same time. 

So I used the same pressed leaf...and did a quick test. It certainly worked...but the verdict is still out if I'll do it again. 

I do love the different papers in this quilty style....and I do like that the leaf image spans across them all.

But I would prefer more contrast in the papers. Some papers react differently and print lighter so that would be helpful. Maybe if the paper at the bottom started as a stripe...or a map...I might have gotten a better result.  I guess I'll have to play around a bit more. It is my real life right now.

#2. Joy is easier to see when you quit complaining. 

It's been hot and humid and I'm not a fan. And when I have to be out in it I tend to complain about it. So mostly...I don't go out. I swim in the early morning...and mostly stay tucked inside....except to tend to my sunprints.

But today I grabbed my big sunhat and went to Winslow Farm to pick a few blueberries in the humidity and the hot midday sun.

Blueberries are beautiful as they ripen and the joy was much easier to see when I wasn't complaining about the heat. I barely noticed it was hot.

Well...that's not true...but I just didn't let it get to me and was distracted by joy.

#3 You never know what that third thing will be until later...so try and pay attention so you don't miss it. And it might just be very very small.

My first white rain lily bloomed a few days ago...and I've been enjoying it.  And...there are several more buds coming.  

As I headed outside this evening I noticed it had started to close up for the night. It was translucent in the setting sun so you could see the shadows of the other petals. It was lovely.

Then I took closer look inside and found a little surprise.

You never know what that third thing will be...so pay attention or you might miss it.