Little things

It was mostly a chore day around the condo....and Paul and I got a lot done. None of it very blog worthy...but there is joy...and certainly satisfaction in checking things off the long list. 

I started early this morning hand watering some of the new landscaping at the pool.  It was lightly misting the whole time...but not enough rain to be beneficial. Not the most pleasant weather to be working in...but I didn't mind getting wet....I was going to swim anyway. I actually take great delight in swimming in the misty rain....it feels strangely special.

My long cloth hose was squiggled along the pavers as I deeply watered a couple new trees while I swam. And much to my delight when I pulled it up the dry imprint of the hose looked painted along the pavement.  

I know I know...it's a silly little thing. But that's my point....why not delight in the little things!

And speaking of little things....after my post about the wild cucumber curls, Gretchen texted me these photos of wild cucumber seed pods she had collected. They look like textile...or wire art. I was smitten.

That got me thinking....I've picked up a few of these not knowing what they were! Sure enough...in my seed pod collection (yes I have one...and it's impressive) were some of my own pods....not quite as weathered as Gretchen's...but still very cool. 

You don't know until you know....and now I know these delightful not so little seed pods are from the wild cucumbers. Cool!         

 

And just when I thought that was enough....there it was.

A dried...and perfectly intact wabi-sabi curl. 

You can't make this stuff up. You just have to notice the little things.

Nests

I finished this fabulous puzzle today....and have already passed it onto Patsy and her husband Brian to enjoy.

I loved every minute of this one!  Do I say that every time?  But I really really mean it this time.

 The little nooks were full of colorful curiosities...including this little nest.

Speaking of nests....did you know that Queen Anne's Lace forms a nest?

There was always Queen Anne's Lace along the roadside where I grew up.  

I've posted this photo several times with the farm I grew up on in Wisconsin there on the horizon....and the Queen Anne's Lace along Fox Road.

I watched this clump of queen Anne's lace all summer long on one of our walking routes here in Portland.

And I loved all the stages.

On the other side of the sidewalk there's a field with other wildflowers including black-eyed Susan. It's takes me right back to the Wisconsin roadsides.

I think the flowers are delicate and delightful.

As the flowers finish blooming they curl inward to form a little nest....eventually drying into a brown ball of seed heads.  I took this photo back in August.

I found this photo online...it really shows the nest and the beautiful seeds.

Why am I writing about this now?  I picked this dried Queen Anne's Lace flower head this morning on our walk....and you can still see the nest shape.

Still celebrating Seed Season!

Practicing Patience

A year ago today I was in Colorado helping Paul's sisters with their house projects....and I took this photo on an walk in their neighborhood. I have always love the bright blue of juniper berries.

Patience does not always come easy for me.  I sometimes get anxious...but mostly I excited ....and rushing into things doesn't always work in my favor.  

When I got home from my trip I was pretty excited to get to work on my exchange cards.  I had some pieces and parts done...and want to start cutting and assembling.  Even though I wore my brace....I set things back a bit with my thumb. Now it hurts in a whole different place making it hard to do almost everything including brushing my teeth.

Lucky for me....there are still plenty things I can do that don't require my thumb. I can still visit....and walk....and read....and notice...and reminisce.

I was celebrating Seed Season a year ago too!  

Fish Scales

I've been working on Tracie's and my Anchor Image Exchange pieces for our art group. I'll get Brenda's image tomorrow and Becky's next Sunday.  It's strange to be working on something I can't share yet....but I'm challenged and having fun! I know the whole project is a bit confusing....but it's actually not as complicated as it sounds and I'll look forward to talking more about it later.

Some of what I've been doing has involved some catalog snippets....so as I was cleaning up the table I made a little fish scale tag inspired by Jennifer Wilkin Penick.  Jennifer does a lot of collage with fish scales from both recycled papers and her own painted papers.  I enjoy her whimsical loose style...and you can check her out here:  https://www.instagram.com/jenniferwilkinpenick/

There is something about these simple rounded shapes that appeals to me.

I wished I would have added one pink or orange scale as a nod to the last tag....but this one lone spot will have to do. 

The color scheme and this "spot" flow well from last two cards.  I think I'm enjoying going with the flow with these cards as much as making them.

Speaking of orange spots...I was doing some chores at the pool and was quite taken again with these euonymus berries.  Or are they seeds? 

I've seen them here and there on our walks and think I posted a photo not that long ago

. They start pink...and burst open to bright orange.

 

I brought a handful home with me....

...and will watch them on the window sill for a while.

I scrolled back through Jennifer's Instagram page...and so many things sparked ideas.  

Here she added her fish scales to the front bottoms of envelopes she used for an ATC swap. (artist trading cards)

And these were some of the ATC's that went inside.

I do like the mix of the fish scales and vintage photos.

Pathway

Subtitle: Win Win

Signs of Seed Season on our morning walk!

I've written before about getting to a point in a puzzle where I am compelled to make a pathway from top to bottom or side to side.  Not on every puzzle....but many of them....and it adds a little extra joy to the journey. 

I didn't love this puzzle when I started it.  I can't really say why....but I gave it a few days and it has grown on me as I've worked along.  And the moment I knew I was close to a pathway from top to bottom...I had a little spring in my step!

I found the last piece this morning that closed the gap.  

There are so many things in the world and even in my quiet little life right now that don't necessarily have a clear pathway forward.....both literally and figuratively.  

Things will be OK one way or another.....but for today....I'm going to take this simple dotted pathway as a win!

AND....I just noticed as I'm writing this that there's also a path in the middle from side to side. So it's actually a win win!

Beautiful Seeds

"A new study shows that people who have a ridiculous amount of craft supplies live longer than those who point it out."  unknown author with a great sense of humor!

We have some fabulous maples in the neighborhood....
....and they're producing beautiful seeds.  

Seed Season!

All Time Favorites

It was cloudy today....but still a lovely fall day.  On my way home from a walk I had a nice visit with Robin, who lives just outside our condo complex.  I admire her orange paper lanterns every year...and she invited me to pick a bouquet. They are one of my all time favorite fall seed pods! Yay for Seed Season!

And it might not surprise you that I love this  brown dried one as much as the others.  The interesting thing is...they usually keep their bright orange color even when they're dry.  I don't know why it turned brown. It had a mind of its own...and now I love it even more.

For now I'm going to enjoy the bouquet on my puzzle table.

And as you can see the tiny tree puzzle is done. 

I really savored the end....doing just a few pieces at a time.  They just plopped in one right after another here at the end.   

There was something so satisfying about the sorting strategy...and it worked like a dream. Except when I didn't have a piece sorted correctly. 

If you look at the piece on the left....I was certain that was a tree top in the center.  But as you can see it's actually a tree bottom and I had it upside down in the box.  So for a while I was CERTAIN that the piece for that spot was missing....and that happened several times.  So I apologize to the previous owner for the moments I was disappointed in them for losing pieces. Right now I'm so grateful that they donated this beautiful puzzle to Goodwill.  It's right up there as one of my all time favorites.

Holiday Season

"Shout out to everyone who got through the day without taking nap!"  This made me chuckle. I've not always been a napper....but I think I'm becoming one!

I came across a gelli print with white blobs....and thought they gave a nod to seeds.  

So I cut a few out and assembled a simple collage on the back of my first tag in celebration of Seed Season.  

You may have noticed that I'm capitalizing Seed Season because I've decided to make it an official holiday season for me.

My tag just happened to coordinate with this spectacular zinnia Alyson sent me in our evening photo exchange.  It's two tones...and absolutely stunning!  I thought it might be a dahlia...but if you follow the stem down to the leaf...that looks like a zinnia....and my Picture This app agreed.