12 Reasons

1. Saw lots of family at Thanksgiving.
2. Celebrated my dad's 90th birthday with pumpkin pie.
3. Caught up with a friend by phone tonight.
4. Found some Christmas lights.
5. Got my printer working again.
6. Replaced a much needed tool.
7. Making another fabric heart tonight.
8. Took a two mile walk in the sun (brrr...) this afternoon.
9. Saw a group of snow geese floating near the shore this morning.
10. Found a new fun coffee place.
11. Looking forward to two friends coming to visit on Tuesday.
12. One piece of pecan pie left...but not for long!

The Curious Nest

The Curious Nest

A new favorite place of inspiration. Looking for found objects? French antiques, religious medals, sheet music, and bobbles? How about local artists? The Curious Nest has it all--and very fun owners too.

I recommend a road trip to check them out:

The Curious Nest

2916 NE 55th St

Seattle, WA 98105

I picked up a few medals to use on my memory candles...and a few postcards...pictures in another post.

Inspired by "Art Saves"

This is an amazing book. The kind of you see and instantly know that it has a life changing quality to it. Jenny Doh has pulled together interviews, stories, artistic processes and techniques of 20 dynamic artists into this treasure of a book. But, it is much more than a how-to book of creativity and art. Art Saves includes, life lessons, wisdom, practical ideas, ways of giving back and much much more. This is a rare find and well worth checking out. 

To learn more simply click on the book above. 

Be inspired

A friend sent me a link to  I Should Be Folding My Laundry ... and I love her You Capture project. It more than piqued my interest it stirred my creativity. So, I have to take the challenge--at least off and on (I'll be realistic and recognize that my time for creativity is limited--but I do carry my camera everywhere and love to take unusual ways--see left) to see where it leads.

To read all about the You Capture project just click on the picture the right-- the woman holding the camera and read all about it.

Paul Hawken's Commencement Talk at University of Portland

I have rarely been very impressed with speakers during Commencement 'doings'--including my own. However, this month Paul Hawken's spoke to the class of 2009 at University of Portland and he was remarkable. Check it out and share it.

bloomin' clematis!

This is a close up of the clematis that climbs the backyard fence...I didn't think it would do as well this year since I just did not ever get it cut back after last year. Last year it had a mediocre showing--but it loved the harsh winter and slow spring I guess....because it is as beautiful and full as it has ever been. I could just pull a chair up in front of it and stare, well, sitting on the patio I have basically done just that....My mom is smiling--they were one of her very favorites and if I learned one thing from her it is to keep a large rock over the roots to keep them out of the direct sun....this one's for you Mom!

I like early morning in the garden more than almost any other time of the day...when weather finally permits me out there...I remember it all over again. I take my coffee, a few books and my journal and settle in for awhile. It almost always ends as it did today--with me pulling weeds in with my robe and pj's still on....sitting turns to work and I have to remind myself to sit back down and just look... just listen...just be....the rest of the day will be work enough. These precious moments are for pure inspiration...and breathing.

doors and more doors

Long ago I used to stop all the long the way from here to there to take pictures of barns...for the last several years it has been doors and windows that have intrigued me most. This door is in Bisbee, AZ that I just could not pass up. Of course, it didn't hurt to learn later that the town has actual put out a whole poster's worth of great doors in Bisbee.

So, doors (and to a slightly lesser extent, windows) are my current architectural obsession. Some doors, like this one, make me wonder who I would be and what I would be about--if this were my threshold at the start and finish of each day. They aren't exactly spellbinding to most people. Ah well, no matter, for me they make affordable treasure when wandering.

new beginnings

As usual the new year brings changes. So too for from the dresser drawer. Please bear with me as I play, plot, plan and grow. I will appreciate feedback and encouragement where ever and when ever it feels right for you. I am going to try adding pages in order to broaden and expand my ability to delve into some of my favorite areas more deeply. We shall see.

I found these rocks in a basket on our patio awhile back and they were are shiny-wet from the dew...looking polished and new, or fresh from some river. I have a thing for rocks--from tiny to very large. They are friends for the journey.

old resolutions discovered

So, I was telling a friend about remembering last year's resolutions, but only dimly...and as we talked I went and pulled out last year's journal and flipped through...finding them in February...ok a slow start--but I got over it. There were 7 not 3 and Simplify was a key to them. There are two pertaining to weight--just for clarification the first one refers to how much I physically carry around: computer bag, general bag-o-stuff, purse-type bag, more-bag-of-the-day. The second notation about weight is, indeed, my weight...and I am still working to 'find my weight.' Well, I will ease into the new year again and mull things over...perhaps not until February but no promises.

The wind was persistent. The leaves were skating across the top of the thick snow in our backyard. The bird feeder had but an inch of sunflower seeds frozen into the feeder. The birdies had to work hard at loosening each seed embedded in snow from all sides.

I decided it was too cold to go outside to take pictures so I took a trip from window to window to explore what was what--before letting the Edward and Wilbur out. This was one of my favorite views--that also brought, "uh-oh" to my lips. (I meant to empty the water and move the rocks earlier in October....oops)

Being frozen in a day or so is a treat...beyond that we must go retrieve coffee.

a mindful knitting retreat--awesome!

Now, this would be fun....a mindful knitting retreat in Vermont! Ok, a mindful knitting retreat in Vancouver B.C., in St. Paul, in Half Moon Bay,CA.... almost anywhere would be fun, but you see my point? Seriously, check this out and dream a little.

a river of yellows and golds

I walked around the neighborhood the other day. Some of our trees are still holding onto their colors--or moving through them more slowly. A few of my favorite trees we particularly, and surprisingly, still vibrant. Sadly, it was not the right light to capture them.

As I read my little tidbit in Gunilla's book (see 11/17 post) this morning this quote found me: "We know that winterkill will come, the life kill, the unexpected. It is good to prune, to cut back to essentials, to where life really is, where it can be sustained when the comes. It is painstaking and so very slow."

to be inspired

So, here is a bit off the top of my current soul food reading stack:

• the new Artful Blogging from Somerset Studio


• A Mystic Garden by Gunilla Norris (set up by seasons I have reached the Autumn section...I've been savoring it slowly)


• Riding the Dragon by Robert J. Wicks (I am starting this one all over again)


• Knitting Heaven and Earth by Susan Gordon Lydon (reading this for the second time around and savoring it slowly and knitting all the while)


• Collected Poems by Wendell Berry (this is a favorite in our house...it was just time to pick it up and browse again)


• The Lobster Chronicles by Linda Greenlaw (this is one of those golden moments in a bookstore...found it in the travel writing section and could not resist it...reading a chapter a day in the morning and it is true discipline to put it down...it is so good)

a small dresser drawer and then some

I admit it. I am a collector of a variety of things. postcards among them. Now mind you, I send them to people regularly--"postis" (pronounced post--ees)as they are referred to in this house. It is just that my collecting of them over the years out paced the actual mailing of them at enough different times that I find I have a substantial collection of them now. The are both visual and soul-food inspiration to sit and look through... be they black and white, muted color, humorous, sacred, endearing, travel, art history, or one of many more categories. I admit to having a small dresser drawer filled with them and a few small gift bags besides, and then some. There are times when they are used as decoration--no it is more than mere decoration, but what? Adornment? A heart rendering?
The right posti at the right time can be my muse, my unspoken prayer. And they are ever so much better than receiving a bill in the mail...who knows I may be sending you one soon.