Organization. What a joke!

“Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all.”
― Emily Dickinson

I took the time yesterday afternoon to sort through my idea sketches. Wanted to remind myself of what things I want to make and sort of prioritized them as to which ones I would like to work first. But of course this is subject to change as I get other jobs to do. But there are certain projects I want to make time to make no matter how busy I get.

 What started me going through the sketches is I added a couple more to the stack and took a good look and realized it was getting a little out of hand here. I have two letter posts I stick my ideas on. They were getting a little full. They are still just as full, But  they do have some sense of which ones I would like to work up first.

The one aspect of all this is I doubt I will ever run out of things to do. I just have to ruffle through this stack and my fingers itch to create.

I look around me and I see two projects in progress. I also have the thread sitting here tempting me for a thread project. It helps to keep me motivated to finish up the projects I have on my hook. The sooner I am done the sooner I can let a new idea take off.  But my desk looks anything but organized. Neat files, organized boxes of yarn and thread don't exist around here. But I still manage to get everything done. Everyone works differently. So as long as it works I don't think I will worry too much. I do know where most things are at all times, and that is what counts.

 

Well I have a few pictures for you today. 

We have had rain this past week. YEAH!  Of course things take off when there is any moisture around here. Under my tree in my front yard I had mushrooms or toadstools not sure which they are. First I have seen of these. So I had to get pictures. 

I also tried to capture the moon last night it was almost full and I caught Pip too.

Since I can't share pictures of what I am creating at this point I will share these with you.

I love the look of these,The patterns of nature fascinate me.  

And a closer shot! My mind is playing with ideas. We shall see what comes of it.

Not quite full, but so compelling. I wonder what the neighbors would think if I started howling.

They would probably look at me like I was nuts. Just like Pip does sometimes.

 

“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”
― Marcel Proust

The plan for this weekend is staying home and taking it easy. Marv had a procedure done that needs time to heal. So I will get lots and lots of crochet time this weekend.

My chest is still hurting pretty good also so staying quiet will be a good thing. It is slowly getting better but my body still refuses to let me finish a sneeze. It just says no way that is going to hurt way too much. Nights are the worst as finding a comfortable position to sleep is tricky.  

Last weekend we went antiquing. A great summer activity for us as the antique stores are normally air conditioned. I lucked out and found one antique crochet hook. I also found a great project box. Anyone who knows me, knows I have a thing for boxes. Neat boxes that is. Of course I am a bit like Pandora and have to open a box if I see it. But a really neat box draws me like a magnet. Marv just laughs at me and indulges me. This one is great as it is perfect to hold 6 balls of my DMC thread. I have all my thread for my play project in it right now.

 I am happily working on my latest project. Well actually I have the three projects going. One has to stay here as I am revamping the pattern as I go. The other two are more flexible. One of them has a deadline and the other is my pure joy, just to see if my idea works project. Of course that is my favorite one, but also the one that I have to set aside most often.

I do have it where I can see it as I work on the other two. It helps me to stay motivated.

Oh I caught Mr R again yesterday afternoon, On camera that is. My poor plant. It's getting smaller and smaller.  

 

As you can see he is seriously working the poor thing over

My great new project box from the top.

New box from the front. Two of my current projects visible too.

 

 

 

Two days in a row! On a roll!

“I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”
― Albert Einstein

 

I am so proud of myself and for such a simple thing. I got my family room all cleaned up. Right now it's a major challenge as it hurts to do a lot of things I normally take for granted. So this was a biggie. It was driving me crazy though and something had to be done. I am so much more productive when I work in a pleasant environment. Afraid the rest of the house is going to have to wait though and only get the picking up and straightening that I do between cleanings.

I can even see my desk top..... WHOOOHU  and I haven't even finished the project I am working on. That is when I normally reclaim my desk.

I still haven't found anything to plant around my bird bath that the rabbits won't eat. I keep testing plants. I buy one plant that I think might be a candidate and put it out by the birdbath and then wait to see if it gets visited and eaten. So far Rabbits 6- plants 0.  I got a picture of one of  the rascally fellows yesterday. Can't take the best shots as I am shooting through the window and the screen door.

There are days I think the desert just might win! My luck with growing anything edible is zilch. I have had one very expensive tomato so far and 1 green bean the critters missed. The green house should help this winter but it is just too much of a sauna in there in the summer. That and the water is so hard on the valves and sprinklers. I don't mean to whine but it is frustrating.

I am doing better on the flowering plants though as long as they are shrubs. I did figure out how to keep the lizards from stripping my plants bare. At least I think it was lizards. I bought a bunch of glass light shades and have turned them upside down so the wide end is at the top. They apparently can't climb over the glass and my plants have a chance to grow. So my lantana, gardenia, fairyduster, and mallow are all starting to get new growth on them and look almost healthy. Once they get big enough I can take them off and they should be able to fend for themselves as they have left the larger plants alone. Only my baby plants were being attacked with vigor.

I have 3 three projects on my hooks at the moment. 2 with deadlines and one just because I need to feed the creative side of my soul. I always need a " what if "  piece going.  So I have the 2 designs that I have already figured out and just need to finish crocheting and writing the patterns up for and I have the one that is still 80% idea and only 20% fact yet. I only allow myself to work on this one though when I have put my time in on the other 2 designs. It's the carrot I am dangling out there for myself.

I have 2 pictures for you today. One is my Spectrum picture I took yesterday afternoon.

I love this shot. It really humbles me to see how easily nature can produce art. I just feel lucky enough to have captured it with my camera.

The other is the rabbit and my plant. The little criminal needed a mug shot. I don't think putting up wanted posters would do me much good. My luck everyone would dump their pesky rabbits on me and I would have a worse problem than I do........  Think I will leave well enough alone for now!

 

This is why I always keep my camera close to hand these days.

Love the color and the shapes

Mr Rabbit and the poor sacrificial plant. It was twice as big as it is now.

I think they should at least leave me a Thank you note for all the goodies I am putting out for them.

 

Hey Lookie! I am posting

“Shoot for the moon, even if you fail, you'll land among the stars”
Cecelia Ahern,

I said I would try and be better about posting and lookie, I am here..... I know big hairy deal. But for me it's a positive thing and that makes it a good thing.

I broke down and went to the doctor yesterday to be checked out as I was still hurting pretty good. Well I guess I will be hurting for a while longer. I have some torn ligaments on my sternum. So taking a deep breath is painful.  Reaching above my head hurts like crazy.  The doctor said 4 - 6 weeks to heal. Did you hear the cuss words at your place. I was pretty grumbly yesterday and the volume might of got a bit out of control at times....... Sorry if I disturbed you! . Still not sure what I am supposed to do to help this heal up. The doctor wasn't too specific about that. But then I never seem to get doctors that are helpful. I still haven't found one I am comfortable with down here. But that isn't surprising as I try and avoid a doctors office unless I am really, really hurting or sick. So it makes finding one a bit tough when you don't go in except in an emergency or as a last resort.  Then you take what is available. It's a vicious circle, my lack of faith in doctors keep me from going. and when I do go I get the whoever is available, and my faith in doctors drops some more....... and it goes on and on and on.......  

 

 I am just thankful my job isn't too physical these days. I can work on my designing . Though I won't be working on anything heavy at this time. I do have to take a few more breaks too as I stiffen up if I sit too long.

I am making good progress on my latest project. It's one of the things helping me through this rough time.

I got up to rain this morning which started my day a little better. I do love the rain. Maybe we will get some more this evening. I won't hold my breath though.

I did get a shot of a lightening bolt over the Superstitions last night, ( actually 2 shots )  and Marv took a great sunset picture. One direction we had a glorious sunset and the other we had dark ominous clouds with lightening dancing over the hills. But that isn't that unusual around here. But it made it hard to decide what to focus the camera on..

It only took over 300 shots to capture these. Thankfully film is cheap

But this is the first time I ever took a picture of lightening

And the second shot.

This is the sunset Marv caught. What dramatic colors.

I caught this a little while later. But the colors weren't nearly as vibrant.

 

Crazy last couple of weeks and still crazy

“To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.”
― Winston Churchill

I apologized last time I was on for not posting and now It's been over three weeks. I guess I really should get down on the floor and grovel for that. But I think I will pass.

I have been so busy the last few weeks. Settling in after such a great trip to Manchester. Waiting for my feet to finally hit the floor after doing so well in the design competition.
Then I was swatching like crazy trying to get things sent off to editors.
Last week I could finally draw a deep breath and think about just enjoy the work and the process.
We thought we would take advantage of this time and give my bathroom a much needed face lift over the weekend. You know new paint, new toilet, new vanity and sink, new door that opens the opposite of the old one. Which when all is done should give the poor room a much larger and more open look. We removed the shower door as I never shower. I am a bath soaker..... Give me a good book and lots and lots of bubbles to relax by.
Well all was going well.

Then on Sunday we got bumped....... Well our car did anyways.

Some guy forgot that you are supposed to yield to oncoming traffic in an intersection. He turned right into us while making a left turn. Thankfully he only clipped our front quarter panel. We are both in pretty good shape considering. Though Marv has a broken thumb. Me? Well I have places that ache that I didn't think could ache. The main one being my chest where the seat belt stopped me from going into the dash. But better that then what I could have looked like or felt like without that seatbelt. But I do ache and will for a while I think. Our poor car will be a while being fixed. 

 So between doctors appointments, car rentals. Stress.... lots of stress. My life is Topsy turvy again. My bathroom is half done and waiting for us to be able to finish it up. 

Thankfully my crocheting helps to keep me sane and gives me something to do while my body heals up.  

I will try and do better about posting here. I have to admit I have missed my blog. It's great to be able to ramble on about what is going on in my life. Helps me keep it all in perspective.

Me at Convention with my Winning Shawls.

The poor Toyota after its ill fated meeting on Sunday.