Living on the edge
And it’s a big one! Thursday was a beautiful day for a walk. It turned out to not be really great exercise as I was enjoying the weather too much and stopping too many times for photos. But, at least winter appears to be gone and it’s good weather for long walks in town.
Here’s Ridgefield’s largest sugar maple — from a 2008 survey and contest.
If you go back about a year in this blog you will find a large empty room with construction photos as a wall of windows was being replaced. Well, after a summer of trying to contract a painter, we found one at the end of the season who is now in with his “guys” and painting this room. It’s going to be fantastic when it is done. In fact, it is already looking much better as the paint goes on. But the smell of the oil based primer is driving me out of the house today. Hubby will be here to supervise!
So, it snowed about 2 inches here today and I’m enjoying a day where I don’t have to go anywhere or do anything until tonight. Decided to do a little blog work and so some postings with reflections on the holidays just past.
This photo is from our day trip to Peddler’s Village in Lahaska, PA with our good friends from Jew Jersey. There is a gingerbread house contest there every year. One of my favorites from this year is the leaning tower of pisa represented in gingerbread. And guess what is keeping it from falling down? A bunch of Santa’s reindeer have joined forces to hold it up from the right side. There are also several in the sleigh cheering them on. Close up photos will reveal a strained look on the face of the reindeer who is the bottom of the group holding up the tower and a couple of them in the sleigh with their “arms” raised in cheering. So cute!
Photo taken on almost the last day of the year (Dec 29). Where did 2014 go?
Yes, it’s time for those resolutions again. Blogging is among them.
Future post — more info on how running alters time./
It most certainly must, because here we are in 2015 and I haven’t posted since October of 2014.
But life is good.
Today, two minutes seemed way longer than two minutes. Or maybe, since I was running in my hilly community, my timing was just off and the uphill portions were in the wrong part of my splits. Running uphill is a bit challenging when you are just starting out after not running for about 30 years. Where are those endorphins that everyone keeps talking about? I could have used a few of them today. But day 2 is under my belt, so to speak.
Started training for the Turkey Trot today. Did a 55 minute workout with 9 five-minute splits in it (2 on 3 off). Not really a hard workout but by the 5th split, the three minute walk was sooooo short.
But I was running in a beautiful resort community in Westbrook CT – great views of Long Island Sound.
So it begins.
Beautiful summer weather greeted us as we drove onto Cape Cod in August — and it’s still here. Weather folks are saying this is the most summery weather they’ve had in a while. We’re loving it. Out on the bicycles, out on a whale watch, out on a seal cruise, or sitting on the deck drinking iced tea and reading a book ——- the weather has been fantastic.
This photo just screams “Cape Cod” – light house on the far reaches of Chatham —
And we saw whales on the “high seas” on Wednesday of last week
And the seals were so cute! They were almost all very curious about the boat as it approached and often turned to stare at us.
It is going to be a great day at the pond. At least 3 pink waterlilies will be blooming as soon as the sun gets a little stronger. Spitty is spitting straight towards the camera as the pond wakes up on a beautiful August morning
It is said that you always remember fondly your first love. Well, my first crafting love was Needlepoint. It all started on my very first computer programmer job. My cubicle mate was a great gal — Pam — and she loved to needlepoint. Me, just fresh out of college and unused to having any spare time, did not have any handcrafting hobbies. And this is actually a bit strange since my Mom was an avid crocheter and also did hand embroidery. Anyway, ladies in our department always took the same lunch hour and on one of these, Pam and I ate quickly then walked across the neighboring mall property to the far side where existed a needlepoint shop. And, my love of handcrafting got its start.
I believe my first completed piece was a turtle — and I still have it. I also still have the memories of working with the scratchy wool yarn. Fast forward to today — and, my oh my, it is not your grandmother’s needlepoint anymore. I took needlepoint sampler class in 2007 and learned that stitches were now different and thread choices were out of this world. My sampler was done in a set of merino wool fibers. And my current project contains shiny metallics, silk, and all sorts of other wonderful stitching goodies!
I’m becoming reacquainted with my first love — and we’re having a good time together.
Mr, Cardinal, my current project:
And here’s my reunion piece, the sampler, almost done:
Windows were open today and some spring cleaning has begun. Things are really waking up around here and today’s (or this week’s discoveries) include:
– at least 21 of my BFFs are alive and well and swimming around (Best Fish Friends)
– at least 5 frogs have survived the winter including the original pair who have created the family we have — Yes Phinneas and Phillis are back!
– several daffodils opened today
– lots of day-lilies are showing thru the ground
– and hubby has found the first deer tick on his body! oh boy, here we go again
And I did some “airing of the quilts”. These are destined for the Hospital Avenue Housatonic Habitat homeowners. A friend of mine has a friend who wants to do charity quilting for Habitat so she gave me 5 of her quilts. They have been in this friend’s house since completion and the house has a big hairy dog. So, I’m tumbling them in the dryer to remove dog hair and airing them out. They now look and smell great!
