tuesday

sniffles

A lousy summer cold has kept me in bed today.

Outside it was beautiful!  All sun and blue and breezy.

The last full day of Spring.

There were moments of recline, when my mind 

started planning the day's adventures...

but when I rose my body thought otherwise.

Instead, a day spent 

mindlessly searching through Ravelry,

with tea and plenty of naps.

xo, j

toshiko takaezu

above the studio sink 

toshiko's hats

view of the kiln rooms

Sorry I've been away so long, my job consumed my life

for the last month but now I'm ready to take back control

and make time for myself again.

Today was the Spring Open House at Toshiko Takaezu's

studio in Quakertown, New Jersey.

My two favorite Jenn's and I loaded up the car 

and headed out on a adventure.

The studio was full of beautiful pottery and interesting people

and we came home with more than our share of mugs and bowls.

A wonderful day spent with dear friends.

Hope everyone is well, I've missed being here.

xo, j

weekend

chamomile sprouts

"gale" in Cascade 128, Nebula Heat

terrarium

branches bare

common speedwell, the first flower

xo, j

morning light

 

my warping board seems to become a coat racks when not in use

This morning I woke with no regard for the clock

and turned on some of my favorite music.

I pottered about, feeding the fish and the cat with a coffee in hand,

straightened up a bit and then pruned and watered my windowsill gardens.

Later in the day I sat down with a cup of apple cinnamon tea

and a book I've been trying to finish for a week...still not done.

Then some knitting and the ripping out of a sweater that took me three

months to complete but was a couple of sizes too big and looked ridiculous!

I don't properly swatch my projects and over estimated the size that would fit me.

An optimist would say it's like having all new yarn to begin another project!

The photos are of my meanderings around the apartment.

The black/blue/red jacket in the last pic was thought to be lost,

I was so over joyed upon finding it I hugged it like an old friend.

I perfectly lovely day…

Hope yours was too.

xo, j

autumn

dogwood fruit, wild apples, yarn, pumpkin

Today I went for a drive to my favorite stretch of local road

and took a few photos of the changing landscape.

The wind crackled through the drying corn 

and set the goldenrod tops dancing.

What appeared to be a golden eagle hunted over the field.

I admit it's early to see these majestic birds migrating,

but the size, level wing span, golden head 

and lack of white had me convinced.

The photos aren't the best, the bird was quite high up.

(I cropped them down to the last point of focus.)

You can see the bird as a dark spot in the upper right corner of the first photo.

Back home to an afternoon with a new knitting project  

and a bowl of vegetable soup for dinner.

Happy Equinox!

xo, j

back home

I'm back home for a while.

My stay in the city was exhausting and allowed

no time for wandering or sight-seeing.

Each morning I walked a block over on 28th street from my hotel

to the subway and then a block from my stop at Union Square to work.

But they were interesting blocks!

28th street is known for its flower markets so each morning the 

street was lined with buckets of beautiful plants and flowers.

Union Square is known for its wonderful farmers' market

and the players who set up their chess boards awaiting an opponent.

The schools are opening and the streets are filled with students

from all over the world...so many aspiring young ones.

It's good to be home where I can sleep in the moonlight

under an open window listening to the ocean of crickets.

hydrangeas

She strode into the store and down the center aisle

in a dress the color of fire with an armful of blue smoke.

The magnificent Hydrangeas are a gift from a dear friend

and her darling young boys men.

overnight in the mountains

 

Last night I slept under the stars at the foot of the Blue Mountain.

It's been months since I've been camping and I craved the fresh air, 

sounds of the forest and woodsmoke.

The Appalachian Trail runs along the top ridge and I managed a 

quick walk before the bugs and mosquitoes sent me back to camp.

The recent heavy rains left the trail spongy and dotted with mushrooms.

Dry stone walls emerge from a sea of ferns as the familiar

white blaze leads you along the trail.

Early the next morning I sat very still by the cold campfire,

enjoying the family of Tufted Titmice that flew by so close 

I could feel the air from their wings on my cheek.

Just as quietly a first year raccoon made its way up from the creek 

and straight for where I was sitting.

Knowing it's best not to startle a wild one I gently 

moved my leg to alert if of my presence.

It's startled dark face looked up and it quickly turned, hurried back to the creek,

swam across and then continued up stream on the opposite bank.

Probably on it's way to bed after a night of foraging.

Back home I continued my quiet day and read a novel from cover to cover.

Two days of self indulgence...I'm ready for the week ahead!

xo, j

green summer rain

Outside my window Common Sunflowers droop from the day's steady rain.

I wonder if they grew from seeds I threw out for the birds and squirrels this past winter?

Sorry for not posting this week, I've been impossibly busy.

The embroidery is all I've been able to work on lately, a little Day Lily sachet, not quite done.

Thanks so much for the kind comments and words of encouragement on the needlework.

They have lifted my spirits!

xo, j

sunday handiwork

There was another heat warning in effect today

as the the heat index rose to the high 90's.

I stayed at home and did some very fast cleaning

so I could get back to my embroidery!

(Dave, leave the white gloves in Florida!)

The unplanned style of the garden required more time 

to work out but I kept reminding myself "this is just a sampler."

It's all very basic but now I have plenty of ideas.

I made a refillable cheesecloth bag and stuffed it with lavender.

It felt great to complete something in such a short amount of time

Hope everyone had a lovely summertime weekend.

xo, j