month in review? Naw, just move on....to SumoKitty!

It's been a crazy couple of days. August certainly was a turbulent, trying, testy kind of month.  Surgery, deathbed visit, funeral, birthday, fall, new diagnosis, recurring illness, fatigue, froggin', resigning, second/third/fourth guessing a decision just to name a few of the things that happened.

But this was a highlight. A birthday box from a bestie!  It's... A Tote Bag!

SumoKitty!

And he comes with his own book!

Nothing better than a friend who knows you....except one who knows you love totes!

Here's hoping you find some sumo-fun in the mail today!

Feeling metaphorical

I did look that up and it's a real word and not just one of my personal use words!

met·a·phor·i·cal

/ˌmedəˈfôrik(ə)l/

adjective

1. characteristic of or relating to metaphor; figurative.

   "many of our metaphorical expressions develop from our perceptions of the body"

   synonyms:

   figurative, allegorical, analogous, symbolic, emblematic; More

From Oxford

Feedback

I took this picture a while ago just because it spoke to me. Doesn't matter to me that it was a screen saver. Sometimes it's the color combination that draws my eye, sometimes it's a travel dream, this time, it was just the overall picture.

Evening time - my hours changed but even so, not usually this late.  So yeah, the colors were cool. The sound of the water and resultant breeze is almost real.  Way off, it looks calm like the future if you can just get there.  The rocks look dangerous and who hasn't spent some time at work avoiding those things (or people) that can hurt you?  Those same deadly rocks also provide some protection.  You trudge a weary path of wondering if today is the day I'll misstep and get sucked in?

August hasn't been the best month.  There have been some highlights, one of which I'll share tomorrow. I was feeling pretty blue about the funeral and let's face it, a little mentally out of it. With Bluemans episodes and the maternal unit struggling, it's been hard. A beautiful note from a friend really perked me up though and made me realize how blessed I am in my friends.

It's really made me wonder if I need to keep picking my way through the dangerous "watch every step" areas or if it's time to sit down for a hot minute, listen to the sounds of Mother Nature and find a new place to spend my time.

Here's hoping a positive change comes to you today!

I don't know if I like it...

If you hold it horizontally striped, it was long enough to but then it folds into an odd tiny shape.

If you hold it vertically striped, it was just as long but...vertical stripes, you know?

Also odd.

So I set it aside to percolate and I'm using the leftovers to make something smaller.

The "first day of school" was a little rough. I feel like I'm missing something.  It's like going back to a hometown and realizing they didn't stop living while you were gone.  And it's amazing how much I forgot how to do (okay maybe not forgot but it certainly felt unfamiliar).  Perhaps it will be easier tomorrow.
I'll just let the idea of that percolate too!

Here's hoping you find something to percolate on!

Struggling

so the project I was knitting on while traveling back and forth with Blueman to see and say goodbye to my FIL is done. I don't like it. It's indicative of the state of mind I had while working on it.  It's a little okay, a little scattered, a bit shaky in places.  Grief hits us in different ways at different times, I guess.  I'm finding it very easy to do household chores and even planning errands but I'm finding it quite difficult to contemplate being at work.  I just don't want to go there.

I figure it's like the first day of school. A mix of emotions that usually settles once you're in your routine.  But at the same time I just really don't want to go.  The idea of never going back makes me feel good and I'm happy.  But since I'm not one to walk away from responsibilities, I will go back tomorrow.

Some bits and pieces bought recently. 

My FIL liked the John Deere so I had to buy this remnant. 

I think I'll make a little pillow as a remembrance.

The grey feathers will go nicely with the gray and white orphan blocks.

The pink is being used in the current July color of the month blocks.

And who could resist a turquoise cactus print?

Hope you find something irresistible today!

Little shopping bits

There are alway some interesting things to find in a store especially a store attached to a restaurant!

These made me smile!

Another little fella to add to my collection. 

Happy birthday to me!

I was just discussing Jean handbags with a coworker when I saw these. Too steep of a price for me for something I feel I could make at home.

Will I? Probably not.

Could I? Yeah, probably.

Here's hoping you create a treasure out of something that might have started as something else!

Another trip

Preparing for a trip is time consuming. I don't make a physical list but I do make one in my head. This may not be a smart tool in future as my head tends to inconveniently erase things from the list or just 'misplace' it altogether if a shiny object is too distracting!  I must needs remember that we are not going to outer Siberia and that anything I forget outside of ID or the breathing device can be replaced as stores work much the same way there as here.

Out of town funeral. Oy.  So I must pack my somber garments, check weather for temperature appropriate gear, have enough distracting crafts, etc, to work on....etc. all of this mental traffic to help disguise the fact that we will be saying goodbye to someone we love.  I don't think my somber gear has pockets. Hankies pulled from cleavage might be frowned upon but who wants to carry a handbag if they don't have to?  I suppose I could use Blueman as my clean tissue receptacle. Men are just covered in pockets.

Meanwhile at the homestead, the children will have a new keeper as the maternal unit (their normal surrogate mommie) has developed vertigo.  It's probably from all the high wire acrobatics she likes to do in her free time when no one is watching but she's on self imposed house arrest for a few days while the crystals in her ears try to reset. Or some such thing.

Perhaps I will expand my freebie hotel goodies collection.

My last 'haul' from last week. 

Here is hoping you find unexpected joy today!

June squares are done and a little birthday fun.

hey that rhymes!

Anywho, while waiting for blueman to get ready, this:

Became this!

And the colors have been chosen for the next square set.  Pink.  Who remembered I even had these?  I guess wandering around in specific bins every so often is a good idea!

Speaking of wandering, here's what I found while wandering in the collectibles mall. Ain't he cute?

Happy birthday to me!

May squares are done!

yes, May squares. I'm terribly behind and am trying not to beat myself over it!
The rainbow challenge is what I'm loosely following. She is focusing on tiny squares. Mine are considerably larger but I may try small squares in the future.  Being rather new to sewing still, I fear tiny interactions.  Too many corners to meet can terrorize me.

Obviously the color for the month is orange.

I added some cat fabric just for fun.

The fuzzy afghan is still growing.  I'm about 1 1/2 skeins in. 

We (my yarn advisor and I) think it could finish at three skeins.

I'd be pleased to have it done this month. 

How cool would it be to have four things done this month?

Here's hoping you finish something fun!

What day is it?

I've been mixed up on days since rushing out of work to go have an emergency visit with my FIL.  We made it in time to see him and it was a couple of days after we got home that he passed.

I started this on the drive upstate and worked on it coming home.

It is about 1/3 complete at this point.

I made it too wide so will be too large for a prayer shawl but will be a lovely lap blanket.

It's soft and loose and will always remind me of my father in law since he was on my mind and in my thoughts while I was making it.

Rest in peace, dear man.

There is a new star in Heaven today.

Away from home

So we did the difficult task of telling my awesome father in law goodbye. If anything good has come from this process it is the fact that you take a moment to think about life and use this as a navigation tool.  Are the paperwork and signatures in line? Have you thought about this thing or that thing? It's not being morbid, it's a help.  Or it will be.

We didn't stay long (one evening). There are lots of folks trying to get in and say their goodbyes and the house is tiny. What a glorious problem to have, so many who love you that they are lined up to tell you so.

So as with any trip, I tried to take note of the beauty around whether it be made in nature or by man from nature.

The view from the hotel. About five yards from the building, it begins to turn into the natural woods it used to be.

Feels like this desk was just something made from leftover rustic building materials. 

Quite beautiful.

This is what life is. 

I saw much affection and love as people pull together to walk through this section of life.

Loss is hard but we are better for having been here.

Here's hoping you find the love and beauty in your life today.

August finish

I suppose I could have made it bigger. I had more flowers left. They might be added to for another project.  I think I was caught up in the finish.  Lately what started as a fun adventure (clean up those languishing projects) seems to be more about saying goodbye to old friends.  Perhaps that is where my head is lately.

I just watched a movie called still mine with James Cromwell and Genevieve Bujold about dementia. Sad but yet true in how it can affect your life.  I'm at the age where I check to see if I or those around me have the start of it.  Haven't a clue as to what I would do if they did, but I still watch.

My father in law is in hospice.  His body is tired and worn.  The someday you knew would come is barreling in like a freight train and so far folks are just scattering and yet trying to hold on to anything.  I find myself sensitive to things that even sound remotely dark and am on edge.  Everyone will pass from this earth, it's true. It's also inevitable that in your life you will walk this path that ends in a physical goodbye.  I wish I could do so with more grace.

So, I guess to end this depressing post, I shall endeavor to focus on the beauty you find, like flowers in the field. (My unofficial name for the project).

Here is hoping you find beauty to get you through the tough times.

A new look at an old thing...

These little fellas were peeking out at me at the stores produce section.

Freaky little critters.

Turns out they were coconuts! 

I cleaned out my purse. Sadly it was all in a busy quilt top.

But it was like a funny version of where's Waldo!

I had eight ink pens.

Eight!

In line for my once a week drink treat (mango dragonfruit) and I caught sight of this.

It is the drain spouts from the roof but...

It looks like some cut the feet off the wicked witch from the wizard of oz.

So... Maybe that's just me?

Here's hoping you see something in a new light today.