I have very much been enjoying my blog break… perhaps a bit too much. I have done some serious contemplating on my continued blogging. Most of it has revolved around the “creativity” issue…
i.e. Do I have any fresh ideas, thoughts, or anything of value to release into the void…
My answer to myself was… maybe a thing or two… maybe. Jane, who is much wiser than I am, once shared this wisdom in a comment here “Blogging once a week has advantages.”
It certainly does… and so these thoughts continue to rumble around my brain. I am not ready to give up blogging completely, but I need a shake up a bit in an effort to find a new creativity well to drink from!
So as a more quiet July draws to a close… a quiet that may extend into August as well.
So why am I here today? Well… some months ago I read a book and that book has stayed with me in a most profound way. I have not stopped thinking about it… but better, I have been applying it to my life… that is, I have been paying much more attention to the world around me with some delightful effects!
(and if you are not currently following Margaret on Instagram… you should be!)
I thought that a nice way to close out each month would be to share things I have noticed from the month… things outside and inside…
This week I have been closely watching my tomatoes begin their journey from green to yellow to orange to red. For a tomato lover this is absolutely the best thing of gardening… harvesting the fruits of my labor. A couple of FB friends have prolific gardens… and they both shared some advice recently that I am taking action on. It is all about when to pick those tomatoes… and both of these ladies pick their tomatoes when they begin to break color from green to yellow. (Judy Wright shared this article that explains it clearly.) I have a baker’s dozen tomatoes all at various stages of ripening on my kitchen sill and I am prepping my living room sill today as well!
Last Saturday, I watched in awe as our resident rabbit, a proud and watchful poppa, carefully dig a new nest for his mate. This will be the 4th nest I have noticed this year. However, this is the first one that I caught in the construction process. I have only seen the mother near the nest a couple of times this week, but he watches it all day. These rabbits have brought such joy to my days… I feel honored that they trust us to raise their young in my yard.
In July I began putting a few shelled peanuts (unsalted, of course!) out for our resident squirrel and imagine my delight when I discovered that putting peanuts out meant I would see more Blue Jays! Now, the Blue Jays greet me every morning with the hope of me putting out a peanut or two. Their antics are quite hilarious and I am enjoying them so very much!
The hot weather means that I have been putting out more water for the wildlife. I have also been making sure the gravel dish has water for the insects as well. That same heat and humidity has kept me indoors most mornings this week… quick trips out with Sherman that finds us both wilting a bit as we head back indoors. There is no joy at all for me in this heat and it must be even less joyful for the animals, birds, and insects that can’t escape to a cooler place.
Since solstice, we (Pittsburgh, that is) have lost 39 minutes of daylight… I did not notice less light so much as the month began, but I absolutely am noting it as the month ends. I am missing those minutes of daylight very much… and I am wondering if winter would be more delightful if it was brighter!
In the quieting of the days… I have much been thinking about my making. I am wavering a bit on finishing projects… my desire is to have small portable things… easy to pick up and put down. I don’t want to be “chained” to a room to craft so I did not sign up for a painting class this month. And despite all that I found myself craving artistic inspiration so I really am shaking things up!! I have signed up for a hand appliqué class that begins in August. I know nothing about appliqué and I am looking forward to learning more about the process. I have this lovely idea in my mind’s eye of me sitting in the cooler morning air as I get comfortable with needle turn appliqué. This idea fills me with joy and I think that it will give me something to challenge me… something to inspire me… and something to help me extend summer beyond August and into September sitting on my porch stitching something.
Last but not least… did you see these!? I have plans to begin them this weekend!
What about you? I would love to know how your are quieting your days or what you noted in July!
See you all back here on Monday with my word update!
I did see those socks and immediately thought of you! Your story of peanuts and the Jays reminds me of my SIL who used to put out bread every morning for crows. If she was late or didn’t have any, she heard from them!! Very loudly. LOL I can’t wait to get my hands on “The Comfort of Crows” and am in the queue at my library. Finally, I do hope you continue blogging – I always enjoy your missives! Hoping for a break from this hot and humid weather for all of us. Happy Weekend Kat – Enjoy!
Blogging seems to ebb and flow for me. Some days I can’t find a single thing to write about and on other days the words come easily. I hope you arrive at something that feels good for you (and I don’t disagree with that once-a-week thing)!
John and I disagree about when to pick tomatoes every year. He likes to pick them when they turn from green to yellow; I like a sun-warmed, really red, ripe tomato. Then they are ready immediately for tomato sandwiches!
I have resisted the Pressed Flower Socks… so far. Haha. Have a great weekend, Kat!!
Ohmigod, Kat–the applique class. That Floral Dance Mini Quilt is intoxicating! No other word for it. (Those tulips remind me of Lotta Jansdotter a little bit. The shape.) I hope you have a fantastic time.
And I hear you so loudly and clearly on the blogging question. I feel like I ask myself, oh, every few months, if I should reconsider. (I know others have mentioned it, too.) And what I always come back to is that my life feels fuller for the contributions and gleanings of the wise, talented women here. And the accountability factor, for me, is big, as well. As far as my own contributions — sometimes my well feels just plain dry. And that’s when I think we might simply…take a break. (And GIVE ourselves a break!) (I remind myself that expectations of ourselves are certainly higher than what anyone else puts on us…)
I like Jane’s wisdom–of the once a week thing. Your post also prompts me to consider more regularly taking a break. (Because blogging DOES take time! And maybe I/we could use a little of that time to refill our well in a different way once in a while?)
It’d be fun to have this conversation all together, wouldn’t it? A happy hour conversation on this topic. Something tells me it’d be a rich one!
I would very much miss your voice if you stopped blogging, so perhaps it’s selfish to hope you stick with it. But I also think you should blog when you feel like you have something to share, not just because you think it’s expected of you.
I love hearing about all the wonderful things you’re seeing in your yard, and I can’t wait to hear more about that applique class!
I’ve been blogging for so long that I can’t imagine not doing it. But I do sometimes struggle with things to say. I hope you’ll find a way to continue that works for you and inspires you, too.
I enjoy reading your blog but we all have to find the way that suits us best. Thanks for the shout-out. I pick my tomatoes after they have turned orange. Mostly I’ve done this in the last few years to avoid the birds and squirrels who like to take bites out of low hanging ripe fruit. I didn’t notice that it made any difference in the taste. I’m happy to know I’m not crazy. I hope you enjoy the hand applique class. There is something lovely about stitching by hand.
Oh, the blogging question. It seems I struggle with that one (mightily) every year in a big way. And then, usually, if I take a break for a while . . . new ideas emerge. I have a feeling the same will happen for you, Kat. Just look at all the new ideas that are flowing from your “quiet July!” And I know that your readers and followers will be interested in seeing where all these new ideas take you! One thing I never expected when I started blogging is the community we share with those who read our blogs (other bloggers and non-bloggers, both). I feel really fortunate to be part of your life . . . through blogging. XO
Interesting information on when to pick tomatoes. I don’t have enough sun to grow them successfully — oh, how I have tried! Sometimes I feel that my current blogging schedule leaves no time for personal stuff, boring as that may be.
I think about cutting down on the blogging many times and when I am away I just don’t do it, I don’t have the time. Quitting altogether is tempting but then I do like to talk a lot!!