Pond Party

I helped sponsor a Potluck Pond Party in our neighborhood.....and yes...it was down by the pond. I feel blessed to live in a beautiful setting...with really good people.

But I'm tired....in a good kind of way.

It rained last night...so the rain lilies were shouting for joy this morning!

It's where they get their name.

And by late afternoon...they were all in fully open.

Time to put my feet up.

Fascinating Fungi!

Mother Nature sure knows how to keep things interesting.

Here comes one of her strangest plants in the woods: ghost plants...also known as corpse plants. They have no chlorophyll and do not require sunlight. They live off the fungi in the soil.

I share them every year...because every year they fascinate me even more. And they also creep me out just a bit.

And this odd pink fungi appeared in my garden surrounding one of my tiny hostas. 

I always panic a little bit when I see something like this...but after doing a little research I found that this helotiaceae is harmless and is just feeding off the decaying matter in the soil helping to break it down. Some studies even show that it can actually inhibit other harmful fungi.

It's also known as jelly drops...or jelly discs....and I can see why.

I'm going to be watching it closely every day to see how it changes. It's actually very cool.

It's a nice little pop of color in my texture garden. 

I didn't spend time looking...I might have even missed it. 

Just As They Are

I checked on Bessie today...the beloved hackmatack tree I visit on a regular basis...and she seems happy and healthy. 

She's a quirky little tree...with lots of character. 

And I do adore her tiny pinecones.

 I get a weekly substack post from Claudia Cummings. Today's post was called Happy Right Now, Contentment Amid the Chaos and can be found here. 

Claudia pointed out how much time we spend searching for comfort and trying to "get things just so we can relax and be happy." She advocates for having "a deep and abiding love for our lives just as they are. A love of rain as well as sun, a thankfulness for mistakes that teach us how to live, an appreciation for bumps and bruises, and smiles and friendships, all rolled up together in this messy play of life." 

I have places and spaces in my life that are always a bit chaotic and messy....and sometimes I get a little frustrated that I can't quite get things under control. But mostly I have come to understand it's just how I roll. Claudia advocates "cultivating contentment amid the chaos, not in spite of it. It offers us so much hope. It's messier, but more beautiful too. And it feels honest, and quite possibly even doable. And so very filled with love." 

I do believe that my messy places are filled with love....just as they are. And I'm working on being happy and content amid my chaos.

Touch of Whimsy

I finished my swirl project...and I think the striped border was just the right touch of whimsy to frame the piece and pull in all the colors.

I will admit that I'm not in love with it...but like it well enough. I do like the color scheme...and I loved that I was able to incorporate the thrifted linen blouse. Those pieces seems to give it little resting places.

I didn't realize until I was well on my way that it's pretty much the same design as the swirl from the last time I took the course. Now I can take the best elements and lessons from both as I move forward with other pieces.

Next time I'm thinking just soft curves...I think I'm done with swirls.

I started it off thinking it was going to be 8 x 8 to be mounted on a wooden canvas I had on hand with my wrapped binding technique. 

But when I trimmed it down a few weeks ago to 7 x 7 I didn't realize how much harder that made it for framing with that odd size. So I bound the piece with some striped fabric and mounted it on a piece of foam core with wrapped edges. I can attach a hanger, or use velcro Command Strip hangers.

I may not be in love with the piece...but I do love pieces and parts. 

I learned a lot as Izzy is such a great teacher. There are tips and tricks that I can use over and over. 

I didn't leave enough room for too much cable stitching...but the couple of red squiggly lines are a few of my favorites...and add to the whimsy.

One Corner

I had several of those quiet gorgeous moments again today....it was a good day.

Paul and I were sitting on patio for happy hour enjoying the birds at the feeders and in the bath...when I saw a little red spot in the woods. From my vantage point it was about the size of a dime...but it was catching the late day sun just right...so it was glowing. 

I remember the same thing happening last year....so I knew I was going to find something special with a closer look.

One lone little spiraea stem...in one corner of the woods...with one tiny bloom.

Even when you zoom in you can't see it in the photograph. 

But I could see it clear as day from my chair.

And I'll share one corner of my swirl project with just a bit of beading and hand stitching. I'm calling it done and I'll share more about it tomorrow. And...it matches the spiraea.

Abundance can also include the space you have in your life for rest, rejuvenation, naps, taking long breaks, practicing stillness, doing nothing. 

Yumi Sakugawa

Nudge

There are a couple of summer blooms I just love to watch. The process of unfurling just fascinates me. One of my favorites is coneflower....and I'll share the other one when I see it. Some of you might be able to guess.

I generally take an after dinner walk in the neighborhood...around the pond and down some of the dead end streets. I noticed that my neighbor's small patch of coneflowers were just getting started....and that's all the nudge I needed.

I extended my walk to a nearby neighborhood where I knew there was a larger patch because I wanted to see how they were doing.

They weren't very far along either...but that's OK....because what I love all the stages. I love how the tight center unfurls and tiny green petals emerge. 

They start off as tiny stubs...then grow and unfurl into their lovely pink color. 

It's so easy to miss how the world gives you quiet gorgeous moments and whispers, this is something I thought you would love. Flying Edna

I enjoy paying attention for the quiet gorgeous moments....but I never mind a little nudge.

The Power of Joy

 The world can't heal without joy. 

I read this in the email that came with the Flying Edna story of the day post yesterday...and it has lingered in my mind ever since. 

Every single day I read about dozens of things that are happening in our country that are so hateful and downright terrifying. But every single day I also find dozens of tiny things that bring me joy...like this little rainbow flag that was handed to me at the Pride Parade and greets us and our visitors at our front door.

The world can't heal without joy.

Speaking of joy....this video came across my Instagram feed and absolutely stole my heart.

I am SOOO doing this the next time I need party balloons for a celebration! I can already see the Pink Panther with a balloon in his hand!

The reaction of this little two year old is worth a watch...and you can find the video here:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DLxutI5Ml_S

This is the power of joy!

I'm guessing the parent/parents had as much fun with this as this sweet little boy.

Life Is Good

It's always fun to have a new puzzle on my table. These days I'm mostly redoing old ones...but I couldn't resist ordering a couple new ones from Philippa Stanton aka 5ftinf. I enjoy supporting her art.

I'm excited about her newest design called World Stamps....and she even included a few vintage stamps to go along with it.

She had a sale on a few older ones in her shop and I found one I didn't have. So I also ordered her Conscious Creativity Card puzzle. This may be my quota on puzzles for the year.

I'm starting with the stamps....how could I not buy this fabulous colorful puzzle! It's a collection of stamps from her Grandfather that she arranged and photographed on her table. The puzzle is printed and on recycled board...and the pieces feel so nice.

This closeup image is from her shop.

I got the pieces sorted into my album boxes a few days ago....

a system that works well for me and my small table.

The frame is mostly together...and I'm second guessing my choice to pull out all the red pieces out on the table. But I'm just going with it.

I'm not second guessing my decision to buy this puzzle....each stamp is like doing a mini jigsaw. It's going to be a fun challenge...and it will take as long as it takes! I'll be settled into red for a while. Life is good with a new puzzle on my table.

Thank you Rose!

My day got away from me...and was jam packed full. And my evening is getting away from me too.

So it's a good day to share a few photos of rain lilies that I have given away. I love that they are sprinkled out all over and my sister LaVonn would be so pleased. The original bulbs came from her...and she got them from her mother-in-law Rose. Thank you Rose!

These are in Deer with Dana and Anne.

And these are in York with Linda.

Cause for Celebration

Sam turned 36 today....and that's cause for celebration. 

He's spent the day with Kelly and friends today...a much needed break after a busy moving week. We will celebrate with him later in the week.

Sam is several months into a full time teaching position at one of the Maine prisons. It's a challenging and unique opportunity to make a difference in the lives of these men and women. He has a lot of gifts to offer.

I am so proud of him and all that he has accomplished.

PhD from BU

My grandmother's devotion calendar is making the rounds with my sisters and it's been sitting on my puzzle table since I got it from LaVonn. Grandma made a note about Sam's birth back in 1989. 

It was a hot and humid  that day in Wisconsin....and it's a hot and humid day today here today. I love this connection with Grandma Bessie....and today the connection with Sam.

I thought the quote was appropriate for the day. Sam has had some difficult patches in his life and at times not very hopeful about the future. But he is optimistic now....and finding many more flowers than weeds. 

My art buddy Eliza and her mom Barbara were here for a visit....and that's another cause for celebration. Eliza is on her way to a week at a summer camp here in Maine...and she and her mom had time to stop for lunch...and a little art play. 

Eliza had grown several inches from when she was here about a year ago...and is an amazing 9 year old.

We had just enough time to do some sun printing...and Eliza got the hang of it pretty quickly. She used a combination of stencils and pressed plants.

This was her favorite little garden.

We were so busy...I didn't take a lot of photos.

There were more drying on another counter...but here are a few of her prints. She may do some coloring and painting in some of the white spaces. 

What a fun day celebratory day it was!

Syncronicity

Carl Jung introduced the concept of synchronicity He believed that synchronistic events are not simply random occurrences, but rather manifestations of a deeper order in the universe. 

I stocked up on salad veggies at Winslow Farm this morning and fell in love with these funky ombre carrots. Some of them were joined at the hip.

Then when I cut into one...I loved them even more. It's a big bonus when your food is beautiful! 

There was a moment of synchronicity a week ago when at the same time I was working on Genine's bird puzzle......

....she was working on a new version of the same art piece. I've had this puzzle for years and years...and picked this particular time frame to work on it.

Then the exact day she posted her finished art piece....

I finished her puzzle. There is order in the universe! 

I'm starting to sort the next one...and I am very excited about it! 

Independence Day

Be the voice of democracy today and don't let Trump steal your joy. Joyce Vance

Happy Independence Day! Our freedoms and liberties feel especially fragile and vulnerable this year.

It always surprises me when a few leaves on the small chokeberry tree at the corner of our condo start to turn color this time of year. It feels like summer is just getting started...but there are already signs of seasons to come.

Things are always changing...always in motion. Especially Mother Nature. 

I cropped up my swirl piece...and have started some handwork.