I don’t remember when the last time I have done a “currents” post (I looked, and it was May) and with Carole away on vacation it seemed the perfect day to do one! Waning August is heavy on my mind. Things look tired in my yard… spent…done, perhaps even overdone! It is sad to spend time in the vegetable garden because things there are almost done. I don’t know how many more big tomatoes we will get, but I am still harvesting a few cherry tomatoes every day, but I don’t think that will be the case much longer! The beans seem to be the one thing that has been entirely unaffected by all this wretched heat… I am picking a healthy handful every day. But, this was not a good year for peppers at all. But, am I really ready for a new month and a new season? Yes, I confess I absolutely am! And, here is what else is filling my days and will carry me into September!
Watched/Watching: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society is a lovely movie! It was most excellent company for Cretan stitching! It’s on Netflix if you are interested! I am also eagerly waiting each week for a new episode of Castle Rock on Hulu… it is also so good!
Listening: My new favorite channel on Spotify is Your Favorite Coffeehouse…it is my favorite Friday Happy Hour mix and we are listening to it regularly! Also, I am anticipating the new Tony Bennett and Diana Krall music!
Making: Every day! Right? But, I am caught between two seasons – trying to finish things up to wear them while there is still summer, and getting things done to be ready when the inevitable change in the weather happens. And, sewing is really consuming my mind…I have a vision for a slim, straight black knit skirt to go with my new AC-esque shirt! A blog friend asked yesterday if this sewing theme will continue into the fall, and yes… I believe it will – for the foreseeable future!
Feeling: Cooped up! It has been such a hot summer, I am really feeling a good bit of excitement for cooler nights (and yes… days too!) A house with wide open windows and with no AC running is my latest obsession! Also, I am feeling a perverse sense of joy at school being back in session! Really… the days are so incredibly quiet now and it is the loveliest thing!
Planning: Our trip to Michigan to visit the kids and my granddaughter and I really can’t wait. We are staying in a new place, much closer to them and with much more room. This means more cooking for me and “forced family fun” (as my kids loved to call it) but, I am eagerly anticipating it!
Loving: And feeling rather proud about some rather difficult decisions I have recently made! But, the realization that the decision to NOT be in choir this year was just what I needed…the feeling of a weight being lifted, the sense of dread gone, the anxiousness removed! Just because you have always done something, does not mean you always have to… trust me when I tell you that changing things up gives the most amazing new perspective!
Reading: voraciously! Yes, this has been one heck of a summer for books for me! I have read 45 books since Memorial Day weekend. So many good books! I also blew past my Goodreads goal this month, and have exceeded 100 books read this year! The key to my voluminous reading success is the number of audio books I have listened to this year. And, a huge thanks to Carnegie Library for their amazing selection of audiobooks to choose from!
There you have what my Waning August looks like. What about you? What does your current look like?
It seems with blogging daily I am telling you everything that is going on in my life. Close, but not really. A good bit of time has passed since my last Currently post, and Tuesday’s being an inordinately challenging blog post day, I figure it might be time for some more current and pressing things in my life right now, right?
Watching: I recently binged the London Spy on Netflix. Wow. It was good and had crazy twists and turns. I highly recommend. I am also watching Season 2 of The Handmaid’s Tale as they drop each week on Wednesday, also so good! And, The American’s is winding down to the series finale. So, lots of mystery and wtf moments in the watching department!
Experiencing: Incredible relief! I had a little sit down about my volunteer activities and it worked out better than I thought it might! Yes, I am still doing some volunteering, but it now feels more like volunteering and less like free work! This is a very good reminder to me that setting boundaries in all things are a best practice.
Planning: Lots of things (some of which I shared yesterday) but really… MEALS! I have somehow strayed from healthy eating. Okay, that makes it seem like I was not at all responsible for what I eat and drink, lol. The fact is I have gained some weight back and it is a good reminder that being healthy is a lifestyle, not a temporary fix. So, we have been spending the month of May focusing on getting back to that lifestyle. It has been a challenge, but I think we are turning the corner. I am not beating myself up over this lapse, but rather using it as a motivational point.
Loving: This post from IG that January One shared on Sunday. It struck a cord with me and was just what I needed to see.
Repurposing: I have discovered that Lotta Jandottor’s Esme Top with cap sleeves (which needs no binding around the sleeves) fits PERFECTLY in a repurposed 100 Acts of Sewing Dress No. 2. I will be sewing up a few more tops in the next week or so and it makes me feel so good that these dresses are not going to waste!
Contemplating: Planting!! Specifically, tomato and pepper varieties and pondering beans with the hopes that Operation Keep Bunnies Out does do just that.
And, there you have a list of what’s current in my world right now! What about you?
Watching Loch Ness which I borrowed from the library.
Reading A Stash of One’s Own by Clara Parkes – this one will fill a slot on my Read Harder Challenge list.
Listening to Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and I am enjoying it tremendously.
Making a bunny in a bear suit, mystery socks (which still are a mystery to me!), and sleeves on my Strokkur!
Feeling eager for the arrival of spring, gardening, and spending more time out-of-doors and ennui about my current knitting projects (except that little bear which is getting all the love!)
Planning lots of things! Starting with my participation in The 100 Day Project again this year. I would like to do something a bit more creative than I did last year. I am thinking about how I can successfully accomplish this. I am also planning some “days of sewing” coming up – why days? Well, when I get out the sewing machine – I’d like to have a few things to work on while it is out! And, the garden – lots of planning is happening over what to grow this year!
Loving the longer days and these surprisingly sturdy snowdrops that survived the weekends gale-force winds!
Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? Mary Oliver
This quote is the January inspiration from The Balanced Life and it is speaking volumes to me each day. I have included it in my morning mediation and it has been a wonderful help in homing in on that which improves my one “wild and precious life”!
This year, I have not made “resolutions” nor have I set any “intentions”. I did not spend time thinking about any little words to choose for the year. But, rather this year I have decided to move forward with those things that worked well last year with hopes of improving them even more this year. Those things include healthy food and activity, inspiring creativity in myself and others, and giving more – especially my time.
So, with these things in mind, here is my “right now”:
Queueing Up: as many healthy Instant Pot recipes that I can for these cold winter days. I have started a board on Pinterest, and last night began day one of our “Instant Pot” suppers. I am always wowed by how easy the Instant Pot is, seriously. In less than 30 minutes start to finish dinner was ready! I would like to get to the point where I don’t need a “recipe” and feel comfortable using the Instant Pot for a variety of meals. Vicki shared a link yesterday, and I will be making it later this week. I will let you know what I think! Last nights supper was super easy: Boneless pork loin chops, frozen diced red peppers from last summer, 1 diced onion, a bit of salt and pepper, half a cup of water and half a jar of salsa. I served this on warm cannellini beans and topped with a diced jalapeno. It was so good, and the pork chops were so tender and moist!
Stitching: For a much longer time each day. I have already filled about half of my fabric and I am really happy with how Winter is progressing. I am using the books Margene sent to me to help me learn new stitch patterns and I have been enjoying practicing the new things I am learning over the course of several days. I have also been planning how to put together last years stitching, and I think I am ready to begin that process! Then I just need to figure out what I want to use for backing!
Procrastinating: Yes, this is still a problem in my life, but I am working on it! I want to participate in Beth’s Weave Along, but I have yet to wind my warp. I am procrastinating because the thoughts of warping the loom are more than a bit daunting. I am not sure I remember exactly how to do it. However, I have queued up a Craftsy class with hopes that it will jog my memory and spur me to get this done!
Selecting: Yarn from my stash to knit Kirsten Kapur’s mystery socks in February. I am also wondering why I can manage to finish mystery socks, but non-mystery socks remain in the unfinished category. Perhaps, non-mystery socks need to go in the procrastinating category! Ha!
Moving: Several times a week I have been doing this HIIT workout that Robin sent out; it is HARD but I feel so good when I am done! This has been super helpful in these bitterly cold days when getting outside at all is a challenge!
There you have my life currently, what are you up to?
The mind moves in the direction of our current dominant thoughts. Earl Nightingale
Finishing: I am closing in on the finish of the body of my Rusty. My goal for today is to finish these last few rows and get my crochet steeks done so that I can cut it apart tonight at knitting, per request. Apparently, no one there has ever steeked before, so I will attempt to alleviate some of the fears about doing it!
Watching…very little recently. But, I do have some catch up to do from Sunday night’s PBS line up! So in order to assure that I get my finishing gets done, I will be queueing up Poldark and The Durrell’s shortly. I also have been watching The Collection which is a very interesting series from Amazon that my local PBS station is running.
Reflecting: I just spent seven days with Michelle GD immersed in gratitude – there were wonderful messages and much to think about. This year was especially wonderful with some new ways to consider gratitude in my life.
Drinking: Lots of Old Fashioned cocktails! My favorite was a pumpkin-spiced Old Fashioned and I was asked for the recipe, so here you go! This one is really thanks to Steve because he created the pumpkin spice ingredient for some beer he is brewing. He did not use all the liquid, and so a new Old Fashioned was born.
Pumpkin-Spiced Old Fashioned:
4 ounces Crown Royal Black Label
1-ounce simple syrup
1 tsp. pumpkin spiced vodka **
Pour all ingredients over ice and stir well to chill. Pour over ice and garnish with a flamed zest of an orange. Enjoy!
** Pumpkin Spiced “syrup”: 6 ounces neutral spirit (he used Skyy Vodka) and 2 Tbsp. Organic Pumpkin Pie Spice (we got this at Whole Paycheck Foods but it was the cheapest and organic) Do no refrigerate and shake daily for at least 7 days. You can strain if you want, but it was not necessary at all.
There you have what is dominating my thoughts these days. What about you?
