"Get To"

The air is cool and dry....the windows are open....and I'm actually enjoying getting to do my chores and daily tasks again.

I started with the things that are alive: tending to the birds, the plants...inside and out.

Then I sat down for a while.

My fragrant royal standard hosta buds are starting to open....

and these sweet little purple buds are starting to show their color.

I wrote about this plant a year ago in this post:

https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2022/08/see-it-through.html

Then I moved to the other time sensitive things like finishing and getting out a  Condo Newsletter....which I call "In And Around Parsons Pond." It takes a lot of time...but it's one of the important way I contribute to my condo community.

Then I took a nap.

I heard once that by shifting your thinking from "I have to" to "I get to" do things like chores and tasks makes things seem more appealing. Being sick for a week also puts that "get to" bounce into my chores steps.  

The Backside

I think I'm finally on the backside of this COVID thing.  I'm not symptom free yet.....but this is the first day that I had glimpses into feeling more like myself. I tended to a few household chores, completed a few Condo Board Committee tasks....and puttered around in my studio. I'm going to keep taking it slow.

Speaking of backside....I also did a simple design and quote on the back of my Rainbow Connection pink/coral card.  I knew I needed to circle back to Kimberly's childhood comment about how it wasn't fair that pink wasn't in the rainbow.  It will always be in mine from now on!

I could have done better....but I'll take done over better.  

Here's another look at the front.

This beautiful owl was right outside Roseanne's back deck this morning. 

I've only seen a handful in my whole life.

And these were Alyson's photos from last night's exchange...

they took my breath away!

 

Patience

I actually sat outside for a while today....and it felt really good. 

I'm practicing patience and listening to my body.

I have appreciated all the kind words of support and encouragement.  Thank you!

Sunsets

I actually feel a bit better today....and these beautiful sunset photos helped.

There is light at the end of the tunnel and sunsets at the end of the day.

Paul texted me this view from the patio last evening.  

I have two more days of isolating...then I can get back out there!

Ann texted me this photo of a beautiful sunset at her cottage in Bar Harbor.  

Paul and I got to stop by on our way home from Cranberry Island....so

I can picture the exact spot this photos was taken!

Stages

I had hopes I would be able to do something today other than sleep and watch TV.  I was wrong.  This COVID journey has been harder than I thought.

Here are some beautiful blooms that caught my eye on a walk a few days ago.  I love that there are so many stages present on the plants.

My Picture This App tells me it's called Sneezeweed.  

Seems fitting as sneezing is a new stage of my illness.

 

 

Pink!

Brenda made a cherry blossom stamp to use for her pink/coral card.  

She printed it with acrylic paint and added gold and white highlights.  

I love it! It's bright and cheery and such a perfect blend pink/coral!

Well done Brenda!

Speaking of pink.....I came across this lovely cosmos on my walk yesterday morning. I won't be getting out in the next several days....I tested positive for COVID this morning and have been laying low all day. I don't even remember the last time I was sick.....feels so strange. Paul is much better and Sam is still testing negative. It will be a good day when our whole household is healthy again.

Through The Phone

How excited was I when Linda texted this photo of her white rain lilies that she enjoyed during her lunch.  Her bulbs originally came from my bulbs...which came from Becky.  It's the gift that just keeps on giving.  

Today is mostly a blur.  I'm still testing negative...but don't really feel all that well and have very little energy.  So how wonderful that friends shared their joy with me. 

I also got a photo of Max from Becky today.  I don't have permission to share it....so you'll just have to imagine his darling little smile. 

I also got a photo and video of Janice's daughter Rachel finishing the Appalachian Trail. I just wept with tears of joy. What a journey!

There's always joy....even if it comes through your phone from friends.

Auditioning

When I first trimmed up my starburst....I started auditioning centers.  This was a cutout from some commercial paper that I had painted pink. It was a little underwhelming.  

The card is just sitting on a 4 inch piece of cardstock at this point...it's not glued yet.  It's just helps me visualize when there's a frame.

I liked it better with a black and white striped border....but still not quite right.

So in hopes for something better....I painted some gold swirls with a fine line applicator on pink gelli print last night. And just for fun....I painted some dots....because you never know when you might need them!    

The minute I cut one out this morning...I knew it was right.  It was that "in light of day" thing again.    

In hindsight....I actually might have liked the white border better.  Or maybe cream or a very light pink or coral would have been nice.  But I used a darker pink...and I'm happy enough with it. The front is done!

Anything with metallic accents is hard to photograph...it looks so much better in person. The whole things just glows....and I actually love it.

Now I just need something for the back....

....and I think I know what I want it to say. 

Stay tuned.

In The Light Of Day

Paul is holding his own...no better and no worse...and Sam and I are still fine and testing negative.

When I start an art project late at night...I never know if I'm going to like it until I see it in the light of day.  Sometimes I like it.....and sometimes I don't.

It was time to start my final card for our Rainbow Connection exchange. But this time there's no exchange....we're keeping our pink/coral cards.  Since it's a keeper...I can share my process as I go along.  There's no one to surprise.

I'm excited that we added pink to the end of the Rainbow Connection project...and I'm thinking about Ann and her granddaughter Kimberly as I work on this card.  I explain why....here in this post:  https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2023/05/collecting-pink.html

My card was inspired by these metallic strips that came in a scrap pack from Mulberry Paper Store.  Beautiful pinks and corals...with splashes of gold...and I knew I wanted to use them somehow.

Skinny strips? Quilt like? Weaving? Part of a collage? I wasn't sure.  But then I had an idea....something I've done before.

Late in the evening a few nights ago I drew a rough 4 inch square and started gluing long skinny triangles into a starburst.  I worked on my lap....using just a glue stick while I watched TV.  It was mindfully mindless....just the project I needed.

I mixed in some solids and painted papers....and just kept cutting and gluing. I I pressed it under a book overnight...and hoped for the best.

In the light of day I was relieved that I actually liked it.

And once I cover the center....it could be a pretty card!

I was ambivalent about stitching...but I thought the lines needed definition.  

I started with off white thread skipping around where I stitched.

Then I switched to metallic thread and that was a game changer.  

It kind of woke it up...bringing it to life and giving it texture and sparkle.

 

I've trimmed it up....and I'll share more in the next day or two. Who knows...maybe I'll work on it tonight....and see how it looks in the light of day tomorrow.

Almost

I was so happy to have Paul back...not only for his company and sunny personality....but for all the things he does around the house.  He's the chief cook and bottle washer. But Paul tested positive for COVID this morning....so he is isolating and I'm back on my own. Sam and I are hoping we steer clear....time will tell.  So far his symptoms are manageable...let's hope it stays that way.  Until now...neither one of us has had it.

Just because I haven't written about a puzzle in a while....doesn't mean I haven't been working on one.  I always have one going....I've just been practicing restraint.  But the floodgates are opening today....and you're getting all the photos at one time that I almost posted along the way.  

I almost wrote about this one back at the beginning of the month.  This is how I often start the big ones that fill my table...working on the top chunk before moving it up and connecting the border. 

I almost wrote about it when I did finally did just that.... and it was fun to move to the bottom chunk. And it always feels good to have the border all together.

I almost wrote about it when I realized this was going to be a good one for Margie.  Since she works on a board on her lap....she prefers smaller ones so she can manage the pieces more easily.  But you can see that this one can easily be divided into three layers....so I will put it away in chunks.  She'll have three 333 piece puzzles!

I almost wrote about it when to my delight I woke up to a couple little piles of pieces to work on with my breakfast and coffee.  I love it when I do that ahead of time!

I almost wrote about it yesterday because I was in the home stretch.  I was down to one box of pieces (from 6) and the last pieces were just falling into place. 

It was almost done!

And...I'm writing about it today because it is done. 

I can't wait to share it with Margie!    

It's almost time to start another one.

Enough

Paul took this photo in the the meadow at Pingree Park where he was on retreat with his buddies.  Colorado had a lot of rain in the early summer...which is unusual....so the mountain flowers were prolific.

The summer days have been just packed....but I still try and find little moments here and there for art. And for now...that is enough.

I decided I wanted the "little guide to glimmers"  by Helen Marie I posted about a week or so ago recorded in my art journal. The guide was a little long.....so rather than hand letter it I decided to type it out so I could control the sizing.

I found a gelli print that coordinated with the page and formatted the quote to fit the space. 

I'm glad to have it here....it's still resonating with me.

I did a light watercolor wash and some doodles on the back of the circles on the left. It's a simple spread....but I kind of like it.  I'm not even sure the asemic writing page needs a focal point....but I can always change my mind on that. For now...it is enough.

I will continue with the last two pages in this Cranberry Island circle watercolor inspired series in the middle of my art journal.  An idea will emerge.....and little moments of time will present themselves. And it will be enough.

Here's the glimmer guide again.

Poking Around Partner

Every once in a while I am compelled to share this view of my garden.  There is something about the perspective from this spot...including whatever shoes I have on...that just makes my heart sing.  

With all the rain the plants have doubled in size...and the many shades of textured greens are lush and and beautiful.  And the best part is that the garden extends well beyond this little view. And although you can't see it...my sweet meadow rue is dangling just above it.  "Sometimes I need only to stand wherever I am to be blessed."  Mary Oliver

My partner Paul is home!  Yay!

Yesterday's post continued....I just had to.  

Speaking of partner.....

my friend and neighbor Patty was my poking around partner yesterday.  We shopped a little downtown...then headed to the junk beach.

 Our beach mission was to collect some of the metal shavings that are littered along the high tide line.  I wrote about the junk beach and the metal shavings here in this post: https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2018/06/junk-beach.html

Patty had seen an artist's version of a nest made out of these shavings...and she wanted to give it a try.  So we started collecting.  This photo is not her pile....her stash is in the green bag. This is a photo of a gnarly clump that is twisted and embedded into the rocks and sand....impossible to pick up. 

The junk beach is a strange and fascinating place....

....with sweeping views of the Portland skyline.

Another great find at the beach was a large piece of driftwood. It took both of us to haul it from the beach to my car...then to her backyard berm.  It looks right at home here at the edge of her hydrangea garden.