September days have the warmth of summer in their briefer hours, but in their lengthening evenings a prophetic breath of autumn. — Rowland E. Robinson
Happy almost mid-September! This quote… so very true. I love the warmth of the September sun that gives way to a hint of the coming autumn at night! Yes to another blanket on the bed… at least on my side! Ha!
Ruminating —
I have been doing a good bit of thinking about my making life… how I really want to spend my time next year.
My Rumination List:
I think I would like to do another temperature project… perhaps a bit of a riff on this genius little book that Jo Avery is doing this year. I think square within a square would work… and would be a touch simpler than stitching circles.
I am pretty sure that I will be letting Ali Edwards go… no, I am NOT giving up a word! (My new word has me so excited!!) What I don’t think I need any longer is a video of direction and ideas. And while I am not a scrap booker, I the past two years I have worked a bit in a Word Journal… one which I print out a photo of me sort of for posterity (and really to get more comfortable with taking *and appreciating* photos of myself). But next year I am trying a new calendar/journal… I ordered a Hobonici Weeks MEGA (thanks, Carole for the inspiration) and I am going to do *all-in-one* next year… calendar, thoughts, images, word, etc.
I am not letting go of Ann Wood’s Stitch Club… the group of people there is most inspiring! And I am looking forward to another 100 Day Book!
I am waiting to see what Karen Turner does for 2025 daily stitching before I make a decision there.
And… I am thinking about paring back on knitting. I know. I know… but I am just thinking about it at this point.
Indulging (my) Inner (painter) —
One thing I have really loved this year was my impromptu sketch/painting time. I am spending about 15-20 minutes every weekday just doing. I generally use a photo I have taken for inspiration and I am learning so much! Do I see room for improvement? Absolutely! Do I expect perfection? Oh hell no! It is all about the process and I am liking painting so much more now than I did trying to recreate someone else’s painting. Now, don’t get me wrong… I learned volumes in all those classes I invested in… but I needed to find “my style” and I think I am figuring that out!
I am making my way through lists each week this month… I have somehow been fortunate to get Michigan voters. I am enjoying jotting a note about the JOY of voting. I hope my letters inspire everyone to go vote! I am especially loving sitting outside on these glorious sunny afternoons and writing a letter or ten!
(RE) FILL —
The loss of Sherman has not easy but this month we began to contemplate being ready for a new furry family member. I did some research, made some phone calls and, wonder of wonders, we have a plan that will find October welcoming a new little furball into our lives! Yes… after we get back from Erie we will be taking a trip to pick up a new pug! I don’t know which I am more excited for… a vacation with just the two of us or that vacation being over so we can go get the new puppy! I have not had a puppy in EONS… Sherman came to us when he was six months old! I am nervous and excited all at the same time!
This little boy will be coming to my house soon!
That’s it for me this week! See you all back here on Monday! Have a great weekend everyone!
I don’t know about all of you, but I did not at all realize how heavy the weight of uncertainty was until JOY showed up on July 21, 2024.
Now, don’t get me wrong… I was 100% voting for President Biden in November and I believed that he would continue on, working tirelessly for all of us. But there was still that constant weight of uncertainty pressing me down.
Since then, each day the JOY has increased. Dramatically. There are times when the joy so overwhelms me that it leaks out of my eyes unexpectedly.
I did not know that joy could be so cleansing. So inspiring. So uplifting. So CONTAGIOUS! Because I am seeing a lot of JOYFUL faces in the places I go… yes, more smiles at the grocers… more smiles at the post office… more smiles at Joanns! The UPS man!! It seems that JOY is taking hold all over!
I know that all this joy is great, but what if we all just float along on the Sea of Joy and think life is grand and that it is so good that maybe our vote is not necessary… well, that Sea of Joy needs to bring on a TSUNAMI of votes!
Jane mentioned Vote Forward a few days ago and I began doing some research. I very much like what I found… the commitment is very doable… and it is NON-PARTISAN! Can I send a letter to some people sharing why I vote? Why, yes I can! Voting is the one thing that I believe most strongly about… it is our voice in what is happening… from the local boards to the national offices… my vote counts! And when everyone votes… well that is the absolute best way that we can participate in the sometimes messy thing that democracy is. When. We. All. Vote. So yes, I am committed to sending some letters to fellow citizens between now and Election Day.
Perhaps you all are looking for some way to be involved…. Vote Forward might be it!
Now, I am off to bask in the abundance of JOY that is everywhere! Happy Friday all! See you all back here on Monday!
In case you missed it, the race is on! In 95 short days, November 5th will be upon us! Yes, we have reached the All Hands On Deck portion of the election cycle! (which I think should NEVER be more than 90 days, but that is just me…)
Every election is determined by the people who show up.
― Larry J. Sabato , Pendulum Swing
This year there is something you should do ASAP to make sure you are ready to show up and vote!!
When a citizen gives his suffrage to a man of known immorality he abuses his trust; he sacrifices not only his own interest, but that of his neighbor; he betrays the interest of his country. – Noah Webster
Robocalls are over, although the ones from Barack and Michelle Obama are pretty darn awesome, the others not so much.
The media will again focus on what is going on in the world we live in, not just politics!
But today, 96 years after the ratification of the 19th Amendment, I will vote as I have done every single election since I was 18. However, this time will be different. Today, I will cast my vote for her. Gladly. Emotionally. Proudly!
I really hope you will be joining me and voting today. It is the most important thing you will do today!
