Scott

Scott has found his passion. He loves music. He is currently going to school for sound engineering and loves it.  He also plays the drums on the weekends with his band Threefold Echo. 

The cleaning bug

It must be the season for it. I’ve got the Spring Cleaning bug. I can’t resist the urge to organize drawers and closets. I must take advantage of the feeling for it doesn’t come often. I figure it’s instinctual because it isn’t in my nature to be OCD. But I love the feeling of getting it done. I just finished reading Decluttering at the speed of Life which gave some advice about letting things go. The older I get the easier it is to let go..especially of things I find don’t fit the life I lead now. I have a bag of clothes to donate and my drawers look a lot better now. I am astonished to say that I actually have two (really..two!) empty drawers in my dressers. I’m sure with summer clothes coming I will find something to fill them up with. Pulling the bins from the attic and rehanging all the clothes is a mighty chore which will be done soon. Is it just in the north that we have two different distinct clothes in the closet? My next chore will be letting go of some of my winter coats. In the book I read on decluttering she suggests that you think of your house, your closets, your drawers as containers and only keep what will comfortably fit in the the container. Choose your very favorites to keep and only keep what you have room for. That way your house will not be overstuffed. (That is the problem isn’t it?  Too much stuff. ) What can you let go of?

This is a cocoa day

The daffodils have finally bloomed and I fluctuate between wanting to cut some to bring in the house or leaving them there to enjoy outside. I never seem to enough to do both. A dream of mine is to have a cutting garden with blooms galore. I must work on that this summer. I really don’t know where to begin. I am not a good gardener...just passable. I rely on annuals and really sturdy perennials. But I do love it in the spring when blooms pop up from the year before. 

  We are promised a wonderful warm week in the coming days but this weekend is cool and rainy. I went out early this morning to a vendor’s fair at the local high school. It was small and there wasn’t anything I was interested in. I also went to a local library book sale...finding nothing of great interest. I plan on spending the rest of the day reading or working on the computer. Later I’ll cook a nice dinner for Don and I. I will enjoy the quiet weekend. 

TO BUSY TO BLOG

Whew! It has been a busy day. After coffee and Walmart I wanted to get a few things done. I started out by taking Roundup to all the weeds which are the first thing to grow in my garden. Hopefully this will help kill all the roots so they won’t get a start. Next week promises to be nice so I’m hoping to start cleaning up the beds. Next I came inside and back up to the attic. I sorted through my Christmas decorations but can report that there was nothing I wanted to sell, donate, or give away. But I did rearrange the boxes in the storage area so they are neat. I know I have too much still. After that job I got out my summer floral curtains for the sunroom and ironed them and put them up. The last chore was changing the bedspread and pillow shams for the new season. These little chores made me feel more like Spring is really coming even though the temperatures this weekend don’t look too promising. I didn’t take any pictures for the blog today. So I’ll use this favorite picture of mine showing the breezeway in the summer. Something to look forward to.

Taking time out

A strange thing happened last night. I went to bed and ....woke up twelve hours later. This never happens. I didn’t have to get up for coffee this morning because some of the girls had a previous engagement so I knew I could sleep in. I told Don not to wake me up and just let me sleep for as long as I could. I was very tired when I climbed into the bed at nine o’clock because the night before I had been awake for an hour and a half during the middle of the night. I couldn’t hold my eyes open and was sleeping by nine thirty. Of course I woke up several time during the night to go to the bathroom (yes, it happens) but then went right back to dreamland. I am a dreamer and my vivid dreams are a complete other world to me. I woke up briefly at six to look at the clock and decided not to get up yet so back to sleep I went. Finally I woke up and looked at the clock.  9:40.  !!!!!  I never sleep in like that. And I was still groggy and had a hard time waking up completely. All I can say is I must have needed rest. For a week my body has been trying to fight off something and I think it was happy just to have sleep to heal. I’m still amazed that I could sleep that long. 

It must have improved my mood because I decided to add some placemats, napkins and plates to my table. 

I am trying to get inside jobs done before the weather gets so nice I will want to work outside. Yesterday I climbed up the attic stairs and condensed my Spring/Easter decorations into one big bin. I am trying to gather things for a sale that Linda will be having in the summer. I am so happy when something leaves the house. Today I am going back up to find more things for the sale. 

Things to come

I posted this picture to give me hope of things to come this summer. I am trying to be patient…I really am.

Possible future paintings

THE STORY OF A SUNNY DAY

How rare....a beautiful sunny day when the thermometer climbed over seventy. This is a story of how I enjoyed it. The sky was bright blue and cloudless as the sun poured warmth on my back. It was the perfect day for a walk. Sadie gets very excited when I ask her to go for a walk (even though she can’t walk she enjoys the stroller rides). We hopped into he car and drove the less than two miles to the back side of the University trail. 

As Sadie and I walked the two miles from one end of the trail on Langmaid lane to the where it crossed Dorothy lane we passed many others out for a stroll enjoying the blessed day. There were people walking dogs, others with children in tow, and one guy with his shirt off and bare feet. 

We passed behind the dorms of the University of Pittsburgh and followed the meandering creek and soon reached a small pond with a gazebo where we paused to sit and enjoy the view. 

Soon a mother with two children came upon us and wandered over to the pond carrying nets on a long poles. We got into a discussion of what they were trying to catch and I asked permission to take a picture. 

Along the way back I stopped briefly to capture the crocuses blooming as the first harbinger of Spring. 

Not to be outdone the pussy willows popped their catkins and heralded the season. 

It was a wonderful refreshing walk that we both enjoyed so much. Today it is back to cooler weather but it gave us hope that soon officially Spring will begin. 

Best laid plans

I fully intended to paint yesterday but a sore throat got in the way and I spent most of the day fighting off this bug that is determined to take me. It seems last week I have been feeling poorly every other day as my body alternately fights or gives in to being sick. Even so I managed to clean the top of my closet where I store my personal memorabilia and managed to dispose of my college yearbooks without a backward glance. Also gone is a wedding record of the cards I received and an old sorority scrapbook from days gone by. I am sure none of these will be missed at all. 

     I put ribbons around the old love letters that my husband wrote to me when he was in the navy in 1963 as well as those I wrote to him. I sat down and reread those pages full of love and hope for the future. Fifty years later the love spark still burns as bright. I hung on to a scrapbook of jokes and personal drawings by my sisters when we celebrated our first anniversary. Looking back at those funny sayings and cartoons brings a smile even today. And my high school yearbooks stayed as well as wedding albums and scrapbooks of my Europe trips. It is nostalgic to look back to years so long ago and remember the fun times I have had. Maybe when I am gone my children will quickly put them in the trash but for now they are cherished. 

   What have you saved from the past that means so much to you? (I found my old ponytail...can you believe it?)

I’ll get by with a little help from my friends

The sun was shining all day and even though the temperature didn’t get very high it really lifted people’s moods. The snow is finally completely gone and we have hopes that spring has finally arrived. And with spring comes spring cleaning inclinations. Don and I tackled his closet and with his help we managed to sort and discard quite a bit. The main idea was to get like things together. For instance he had some Bradford history books in a bin there which should be with our other books. Some of his coin collection was in the closet too. It needs to be with his other coins. And little odds and ends found there way out of the closet and in to their proper places. It is a chore that Don doesn’t care for and despite his grumbling at times we managed to do a great job. Men don’t understand the concept that when you are doing a big job like that it looks a lot worse until it gets better. He really was happy when it was complete though.

   Later he and I went out to dinner with two other couples who have been our friends for decades. We ate at Togi’s a local restaurant where the food and service were excellent. We all hadn’t been together in a while so we sat and talked for hours. We all agreed that we should do this once a month. When you get older it seems sometimes that you don’t make those special times for friends as often as you should. This next week we decided to go to one gal’s house to help her get organized in her spare room. She is paralyzed with the enormity of letting go and we know that it is a lot easier if someone unattached to the “things” comes and walks you through it. I remember when my sisters visited me after I retired. We went through my closet and they helped me thin down my wardrobe. I donated many bags of clothes that were out of style or just didn’t look that great on me anymore. It is so helpful to see through other’s eyes. 

  Today is laundry day, changing the bed, paying bills..a typical Sunday. My goal today is to paint. I have one more picture in the online class I have been taking. I don’t know if I have been putting it off because I don’t want the class to end or I just haven’t made the time for it. But today is the day!

WHO DOESN’T LOVE A RUMMAGE SALE?

Should I or shouldn’t I? That was my internal debate this morning as I contemplated going to a rummage sale at a local church. I have been to this one before and they always have the nicest things. My curiosity got the best of me so I ran down at nine o’clock. And I wasn’t disappointed. Have you noticed that a lot of older people are disposing of their wedding china, fancy cake plates, punch bowls, and platters? Along with Corningware bowls, old linens, and books. There was a lot to choose from and the sale was crowded (having a good reputation.) First I rather rapidly scoped out all the tables seeing if there was something special that caught my eye. I know at these sales you should pick something up and carry it around while you are making up your mind or it will be gone by the time you get back to it. The first thing I picked up was a cloche (well, it wasn’t a real cloche because it didn’t have the knob on the top...it was more of a display dome with a wooden bottom. ) But I carried it around quite a while until I decided that it wasn’t exactly what I was looking for. I did find a few other “treasures”. 

Two books...Keepting Entertaing Simple (even though I don’t entertain as much as I used to this book still appealed to me) and Tea at Glenbrooke (which had ideas for teas and some recipes)

Two glass candle holders with lilac candle rings and candles. (I think I am yearning for lilacs and Spring)

A really old Jane Fonda walking dvd. (Hey, if I can look as good as she does at her age it must work)

A long animal print scarf (I’m a sucker for anything animal print)

A glass holder for my tea bags (so I don’t have to open the cupboard and search every day)

All in all it was fun....and I got it all for $7.50....bargain!

DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY

It seems like forever since I have had my “big girl” camera out. I use the excuse of the cold weather for not taking photo walks or that there is nothing new to take pictures of. I know they are excuses. I could do photo lays in the house (where you put something on the ground and take a picture of it.) I always take photos for my blog but use the iphone or ipad because it just so easy. But I bought a big camera just to get the blur. (yes I did). I love just shooting. I promise myself that when the weather gets warmer that I am going to practice more. Meanwhile I took these indoor shots of some money plant branches that were in the house.

FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE

American Idol is one of my favorite shows. When I came across this cover of Ed Sheeren's song Perfect I thought I would share it with you. This is a gorgeous song and done so well by a former American Idol
David James Archuleta (born December 28, 1990) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and actor. At 10 years old, he won the children's division of the Utah Talent Competition leading to other television singing appearances.When he was twelve years old, Archuleta became the Junior Vocal Champion on "Star Search 2".
In 2007, aged 16, he became one of the youngest contestants on the seventh season of "American Idol". In May 2008 he finished as the runner-up, receiving 44 percent of over 97 million votes


Love it so much I wondered what else he has done and I found this one. Too bad he didn't make it really big. I love his voice.

art

“No matter what your age or your life path, whether making art is your career or your hobby or your dream, it is not too late or too egotistical or too selfish or too silly to work on your creativity.”  Julia Cameron, the Artist’s Way

Are you creative? I’ve always taken creativity for granted because it came so naturally to me. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I realized that I was different than some. When people would tell me that they liked the things I did it made me happy since it was so effortless for me to do. Art just came so easy. It was my favorite subject in school and I loved drawing and creating at home. My parents must have recognized a talent in me because they arranged for me to have private art lessons with a neighbor. My goal was to be an art teacher. How life gets in the way. Through circumstances (my parent being in a head on collision) I ended up dropping out of art college and eventually going to another school to be a teacher. I kept using creativity in my teaching in many various ways but actually becoming an artist took a back seat to children and life for a long time. For a while I still drew or painted but eventually turned to embroidery, crafts, and other ways to express myself. I never, ever considered myself as an artist. So many years later, just a while ago, I decided to take a painting class. And that has made all the difference. With the help of capable instructors I have begun to have confidence in myself. You know we are our worst critics and I was the worst. In my mind I knew how I wanted a picture to turn out and if it didn’t meet my standards I was unhappy with it. But through my class I have learned to go with my instincts and I have ended up with some decent canvases that I am proud of. My current teacher is excellent with just the right blend of correction, teaching, and praising that is needed for growth. Now I have more confidence to tackle a difficult task. Sometimes we need a little push and some help to achieve our goals. Now I will say that I am an artist.

Focusing on indoors

Turning indoors and fluffing is what I am doing lately. When you are indoors as much as we are in the winter you have to change things up a little to get a new view once in a while. Yesterday I put a different arrangement on my coffee table. I just moved around some things that were already in the living room.

I’m not going to say it one more time

I am getting tired of saying it’s snowing again so I am not going to say it one more time after this.  I will just ignore the white outside and pretend that spring has actually come. Inside I have moved into spring with this pillow cover I found at a consignment shop when I was visiting my sisters. 

I loved the bright yellow and the flowers and it called out to me. Where my sister lives on the lake she is far away from major retail stores but there are some little consignment stores that are as nice as any gift shops that you would go into. I usually can find a treasure or two every time I go there. 

This little vignette really reminds me of spring. I found the tulips last year in the same shop as the pillow. 

Yesterday was giggle girl time and even though I was a little under the weather I couldn’t miss it. (When I got home I had to go straight to bed and warm up. I felt fine later so it must have been a 24 hour bug). We decided next time to meet at Westline Inn to play cards. I hope they can stand all the laughter. Westline is a small, very small, out in woods restaurant that draws hunters, snowmobiles, skiers and a lot of people who go there just for a good dinner. My uncle used to own half of it a long time ago. My cousins still have a hunting camp near there. Nearby is a little gift store which I’m sure I will have to check out on my way out. 

bucket list

Do you have a bucket list. I was looking through some old posts and found mine. I’ve crossed off a lot of things. Now I can cross off stud at painting and become an artist and have a woman’s support group and have a family vacation at a destination.  And I’m taking become a runner off the list! This summer I will try to cross off a few more. 

Go to Paris again. 

Experience Tuscany. 
Take a cooking class. 
Study painting and become an artist. 
Go to a spa and have a facial. 
Read along the beach. 
Remodel/redecorate the house. 
Take a vacation to Alaska with Don. 
Drive a Porsche. 
Get false nails. 
Go to a workshop of all women. 
take a watercolor class. 
Make a cutting garden. 
Make money on a craft. 
Stay at a luxurious hotel. 
Go to Disneyworld. 
Go antiquing in Brimfield Mass. 
go to the Poconos in the fall. 
Ride a bike around State Park. 
Get a Vespa. 
Go on a picnic to the Welland Canal. 
See a broadway play. 
Take a class at Chautauqua Institute. 
get a digital camera. 
Decoupage photos onto fabric pillows. 
Have a women’s support group. 
Go to the beach. 
Go on a cruise. 
Get on a walking program. 
Ride horseback. 
Go on a surprise weekend with my husband. 
Sell something on Ebay. 
Get the house organized. 
Have a yard sale. 
Spend a lazy day on the boat 
Go for a picnic to State Park. 
Become a runner. 
Spend the night on a boat. 
Go to New England. 
Enjoy a Bemus point Concert. 
Put an addition on the house. 
Ride in a limo. 
Light a paper lantern on the shore of a lake and let it sail into the sky. 
Go to the Florida Keys and watch a sunset. 
Have a family vacation at a destination. 
Go to Carmel, California and stay at a Bed and Breakfast. 
Stay up and watch the falling stars. 

ALONE

It is rare that I am alone. I grew up in a family, went to college where I was surrounded by people in my dorm, immediately married so I never really lived alone. In fact when I am alone it feel foreign to me. Yesterday I was alone all day. Don went to Erie to visit his good high school friend and attend a gun raffle party. He left in the morning so I had the whole day ahead of me. I didn’t even get dressed until almost ten thirty walking around in my nightclothes all morning. That was strange. I occupied myself by going from the computer to a book to doing a few cleaning chores. I really wanted to go for a walk but it seemed a little cold outside even though it finally did reach sixty. I watched a little tv. And then at five my girlfriend picked me up and I went out to dinner with their Saturday night group. It was just the four of us this time and we went to Sassy’s, a truck stop right across the New York border. It was the first time the girls ate there and we discovered that it was very noisy. It was hard to converse because of the noise of the dining room with high ceilings and no acoustics. The food was ok. Two people got salads, I got a burger and one gal had chicken Marsala. I’m not raving about it but it was ok. It is on the Seneca Indian reservation and so there is no tax on the bill.  A lot of people go over the line into New York State on the reservation to buy their gas because it is quite a bit cheaper than in our town and only ten miles away. When I got home Sadie was on watch for her daddy. She won’t settle down until Don gets home and even though I took her to bed with me she barked at every little noise waiting for him to come. And of course when he got home at eleven thirty she barked and barked waking me up. And kept barking until he came in the bedroom to acknowledge her presence. I must admit that I was glad to have him back home too. 

Sara

I waited such a long time to get a girl in the family. Don’t you love the bling on her feet?

When the mood hits, go with it

As you may have guessed I have been exhausted this week from all my travels but that didn’t stop me. I am not the type to just lay low and not do anything so I carried on. I have this problem of thinking I’m still in my thirties and can do whatever my mind wants. But my body says, “Oh no you don’t!”.  Finally yesterday I felt energetic for the first time this week and spring fever hit. It was a case of one thing leads to another. I was in the kitchen early having awakened at six and noticed that the fan had dust on the blades. Well, funny I hadn’t really noticed it before but I put some lavender scented Lysol in a bowl and climbed right up on my step stool and went to work. What satisfaction it was. The fan looked just like new. While I was up there I noticed the cupboards could use a good wiping down. So as long as I had the stool out I used Guardsman and proceeded to go all around the kitchen wiping all the upper cabinets. How they shined! Soooo..while I was doing that I saw the walls on the soffits looked a little dusty. Back to the Lysol and scrubbing down all the walls, molding, and ceiling. What?It was only seven thirty in the morning! This is not me!

   After all that I got dressed and went to coffee but when I got home I continued to clean the kitchen. One thing I did was dust all the pictures behind the table and decided to do something different over there. I have done a lot of artwork over the last few years with my art clas and decided to put a picture that I had made on the wall. This led to rearranging the whole area. It is a different look and it is nice to actually see my own creations hanging up. 

I thought you might like to see it in some of its other incarnations.