Seasons of Creativity

The Grand Girls and I celebrated the start of a new school season with a visit to one of my memorable spots!  Pineridge Hollow goes way back to when its owner and I had small kids who played in the sandbox while I explored the nooks and crannies in her old house/shop at the end of her driveway.  Her wildly successful business has moved down the road and is an amazing property and still very much fun!  We were pleased to find the walkway that led to the front doors.   Arriving a bit early we had time to look around at all the plethora of merchandise including furniture, accessories, clothing, jewelry and even 'stuffies'!  There was all kinds of interesting doorways to explore.  Up under the eaves we enjoyed a lovely meal.  The girls spyed the animals through the leafy canopy.  Some of the food is grown in the enclosed garden and on the property.   Off down one of the many paths to explore! The girls just luv animals of all kinds.  I ...

August was to be scheduled as the month to finish my projects.  Who knew the harvest would have kept us so busy. And who knew the trellis colour would be problematic.  I thought the preservative would do it.  hmm, definitely a no.  Then a paint, Oasis Blue looked way too blue.  Well, maybe not when it dries but maybe Dollar Bill green stain would be the better choice for a trellis.  I had to concede to my main man that he was right, not much difference. We took a look at the forecast and painted on.  Good painting weather.  We got a good half done before things turned rainy.  In the mean time we moved to the Mayor's house.  Same song second verse!  I had figured all the drawers as horizontal.  This end is the 'dining' area.  I'd have just banged them on but the OCD guy got out the level and did something to the backing, etc., etc.!  Two tries only to get the small wall hutch centered!  Works for me.  But tha...

      Trying to overcome my 'tendency' to leave things unfinished so, with all that in mind I have made the decision to end each month with some accountability.  Please feel free to help with  "what about...?' ha!  I almost postponed this post as the end of summer harvest has been very busy as I help the harvester with some of his projects.  August was to be 'my' month which meant my outdoor projects.  But as I was saying, the harvest... As summer ends I did finally finish:   The quilt top for the study. I began to see that the black and white blocks were too high contrast so I tried to spread them around but actually the low contrast fuzzy black and white ones are now showing up as the more troublesome.  A good lesson in value contrasts for me.  It was to be a 'controled' scrap quilt and I will be doing more along this scrappy line 'cause I obviously need more practice.  I need to spend more time working on the design w...

  I think we leave grade 12 terribly deficient.  I mean diagraming sentences,  mathematical theorums, the number of molecules in water and the ingredients for tuna noodle casserole are not going to cut it.  We need a bit more elementary psychology and not the type magazine quizzes offer to tell you what kind of fruit one is.  If we understood we are all different in spite of uniform uniforms and lock steps; if we understood that not only do we look different but learn differently; and if we understood the why of what completes the teacher's pet as well as the class clown, we might walk through life with a few less stumbles and far less bruises.  Full disclosure- I do not have a diploma except from the School of Hard Knocks and seems I am still working on my Phd!  So: How come I have a lovely playroom and NOT a roomful of completed projects to show for all my playing? I have always thought of myself as a procrastinator.  But this isn't really the w...

                                                       I am happy with the layout of my playroom.  The traffic patterns work.  I have the supplies in their corresponding areas.   The new book confirms I am doing things right.   There is a section on keeping track of UFOs and Wips that I can try. But... I am incredibly cramped in my morning journal corner.  I don't mind working in a small area but not when I have to put my journal on top of my 'other' journal it is too cramped.   So.... I am happy to back to working on this desk which I had used before I changed everything.  I had to sacrifice a book case because of the depth but downsizing is good!  I also gained a second narrow sh...