tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186596362024-03-07T16:37:57.081-08:00MommaTiaTiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02630463199395498371noreply@blogger.comBlogger766125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18659636.post-48854897265497024412020-12-31T12:00:00.000-08:002020-12-31T12:00:02.089-08:00I'll Share This Poem From Maggie Smith<p> <span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Rain, New Year's Eve</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The rain is a broken piano,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">playing the same note over and over.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">My five year-old said that.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Already she knows loving the world</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">means loving the wobbles</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">you can't shim, the creaks you can't</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">oil silent-the jerry-rigged parts,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">MacGyvered with twine and chewing gum.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Let me love the cold rain's plinking.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Let me love the world the way I love</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">my young son, not only when</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">he cups my face in his sticky hands,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">but when, roughhousing,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">he accidentally splits my lip.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Let me love the world like a mother.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Let me be tender when it lets me down.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Let me listen to the rain's one note</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">and hear a beginner's song. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">-Maggie Smith</span></p>Tiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02630463199395498371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18659636.post-9057643593314895842020-12-27T14:16:00.014-08:002020-12-31T14:26:48.289-08:002020 Front Door Bling, or How I Made the Dresden Wreath<p></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESQ8tvnH5Qxy6xWg9aNRBWHW8COSWJiSXhpVJcJHCa3KIIljDE7tjRo8NtkdORppBCehl1aZIEgm0UjvU5Un29VMBhDEoqyBxbQhjsvsfvrKDfcXbGyD7h-6LwbmZmjSvHbxemg/s2048/HipstamaticPhoto-628387753.087350.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESQ8tvnH5Qxy6xWg9aNRBWHW8COSWJiSXhpVJcJHCa3KIIljDE7tjRo8NtkdORppBCehl1aZIEgm0UjvU5Un29VMBhDEoqyBxbQhjsvsfvrKDfcXbGyD7h-6LwbmZmjSvHbxemg/w640-h640/HipstamaticPhoto-628387753.087350.jpg" width="640" /></a><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">I saw the Dresden Wreath on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/houselarsbuilt/">The House of Lars's Instagram</a> and I loved it so much, I had to try making it. I finished it around Thanksgiving, in time to go up when we got our tree. I loved this project. Below are the deets re: my experience making it. </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"> The tutorial is <a href="https://thehousethatlarsbuilt.com/2016/12/paper-dresden-wreath.html/">here</a>.</span><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">My first task, per their directions, was to create a circular "form" by wrapping 5-6 strands of wire around a cylindrical lampshade and connecting the strands by wrapping a smaller wire around those every four inches or so. The form felt unstable and limp, but I laid it on my table anyway and moved to the next step. (Looking back, if I'd reshaped a wire hanger or used thicker wire for the form, it would've been better; the pictures on their tutorial look like their circular form was firmer and thicker vs. a bunch of bundled wires together). </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">I've only done about four things with my <a href="https://cricut.com/en_us/cricut-explore-air-2-mint.html">Cricut</a> machine since I got it for Christmas a few years ago. So each time I use it, it's like re-learning what to do. Once I watched some simple tutorials like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwEU3mhkVhE">this one</a>, I bought the <a href="https://shop.thehousethatlarsbuilt.com/collections/svg-patterns-printables/products/dresden-gold-wreath-svg-pdf-template">files on House That Lars Built</a>, uploaded them to my computer and then to the design space, fed the gold sheets of card stock into the Cricut and then punched them out. (I did feed about three sheets in when my machine was set to vinyl so those cuts didn't go all the way through the card stock-oops. I still fed them in again so as not to waste those). </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">If you look at the original wreath in the House That Lars Built post, they didn't cram as many shapes onto their wreath. She said she only used about 5 sheets of the card stock. I used about 8 sheets. </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Once the shapes were punched out, I affixed thin golden wires to the back of each using small neat squares of packing tape vs. hot glue, (my hot glue sticks were at school) and then bent them through the strands of wire in the wire form. This was done over a few days. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">When I hung it on my door, it sagged because the wire form didn't have enough rigidity to it. I needed to attach it to a firmer circular shape because there was no way to add wire to make the original circle firmer. I thought about buying a gold ring (14-16") but found an embroidery hoop in my closet and used its' inner wooden form to give the wreath more shape. Thankfully the wooden round was disguised behind all the shapes and though it was 14" and the wreath was more like 15.5", I just bent/gathered the sections that sagged with more wire. I didn't use every shape in the template-there were camels and deer, for example. One thing I wish I'd done was to add the bow to the top. Within the design space you can enlarge certain shapes if you want and I'd played around with making the bow bigger but then never ended up cutting it out. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">I was pretty pleased with how it turned out, despite minor glitches here and there. </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">It's a fun new holiday decoration! Definitely worth making. </span></div><div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_8NyS56AN9M4rn10MWWphUp-O_Yauy_-q2f4chbg7cXNZSfymHLip3BJ1rDbqEOLhtgHVN8CJyeBK9cHHkyS6DI-fpHRpkYFrtWiWTe75mQFlKxUBdkpZxr4pYQIW_z9WjCKGjg/s2048/HipstamaticPhoto-628396095.702590.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_8NyS56AN9M4rn10MWWphUp-O_Yauy_-q2f4chbg7cXNZSfymHLip3BJ1rDbqEOLhtgHVN8CJyeBK9cHHkyS6DI-fpHRpkYFrtWiWTe75mQFlKxUBdkpZxr4pYQIW_z9WjCKGjg/w640-h640/HipstamaticPhoto-628396095.702590.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Looks so different depending on the photographic filter!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil09yqA5xPUbbMERBFDEGii36QGftwwfhrenZch-Z8Oa48GJG4SV7aO_5anTWsapNbv7ViRZzR4_XyjkFQWAYD11Ito7Td3Vf08k2C1AC0OefWFXKXjGNAVlEDchzqx7v64a924A/s2048/OD5ukix2RaeUaLzV1YNebQ.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil09yqA5xPUbbMERBFDEGii36QGftwwfhrenZch-Z8Oa48GJG4SV7aO_5anTWsapNbv7ViRZzR4_XyjkFQWAYD11Ito7Td3Vf08k2C1AC0OefWFXKXjGNAVlEDchzqx7v64a924A/w480-h640/OD5ukix2RaeUaLzV1YNebQ.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p></div></div>Tiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02630463199395498371noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18659636.post-47219367476771909172020-12-24T19:56:00.009-08:002020-12-24T19:59:42.702-08:00Iron Springs Resort<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LHTYEaA_ma1Hic0HqZzURUuwxi3hxEo-1ywzZPoX0DHTnvVJj8Y9Je2xB7w6zGbDK4mGf66J1g1rapdi2xwGilpL6aG5bomW2FsBpFtvsBRb9wyAfX0PR1TyMM6d-LVgvCFGnw/s2048/EJImknaxRzyTNrd%2525mD9zGA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LHTYEaA_ma1Hic0HqZzURUuwxi3hxEo-1ywzZPoX0DHTnvVJj8Y9Je2xB7w6zGbDK4mGf66J1g1rapdi2xwGilpL6aG5bomW2FsBpFtvsBRb9wyAfX0PR1TyMM6d-LVgvCFGnw/w640-h480/EJImknaxRzyTNrd%2525mD9zGA.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">We were lucky to get away as a family for a two-nighter at the coast right before Christmas. We landed at the <a href="https://www.ironspringsresort.com" target="_blank">Iron Springs Resort</a> on a brisk Monday, the wind whisky and blowing above us, but nestled into the side of a hill in our charming little two-bedroom cabin overlooking the sand. It was one of our most beautiful beach views. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDd1VNPMJGSnmgPkNqO4Vit3-Wy79Mxd2lF6g1GQCdldnpZzCbwiCFfJZiZ2-G2fhCSx1-hP1t5puaMKuZZwxdCOWX9sulyfn1vjf2Y27Tic1DrGVFf01nwv6gMXgT7Gsptw_IRQ/s2048/IMLO6YlvSVyGGylh9kxBOA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDd1VNPMJGSnmgPkNqO4Vit3-Wy79Mxd2lF6g1GQCdldnpZzCbwiCFfJZiZ2-G2fhCSx1-hP1t5puaMKuZZwxdCOWX9sulyfn1vjf2Y27Tic1DrGVFf01nwv6gMXgT7Gsptw_IRQ/w640-h480/IMLO6YlvSVyGGylh9kxBOA.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">While here, we had a dance party, played Scattegories, ate delicious Chicago-style pizzas sent to us as a Christmas gift from my mom, watched movies, and put together puzzles. Of course we also hit the beach after breakfast, much to the delight of Molly, who was PUMPED to chase her tennis ball and explore. (She also plopped down in two different streams). </span></div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FcuxMV0ZE9Msb8MmP9qQgpxykE4BJm2EwjK9-SOwu7jVt5l3uZadbOFa5d8BLVY7aq8pWF-pSMAUzbAkqtGx7mbTcawAB3AALqmuksfhm0EekSLtQahbIiLNejC2KIxDtWLCGA/s2048/H1yQm8qaTUWiUBlDcbWp6w.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FcuxMV0ZE9Msb8MmP9qQgpxykE4BJm2EwjK9-SOwu7jVt5l3uZadbOFa5d8BLVY7aq8pWF-pSMAUzbAkqtGx7mbTcawAB3AALqmuksfhm0EekSLtQahbIiLNejC2KIxDtWLCGA/w480-h640/H1yQm8qaTUWiUBlDcbWp6w.jpg" width="480" /></a><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4fN5wQmtCW8UpBQYVKZqaeXn8ZRzJ2dTBOqMtGqo6cbm8kPltScnnd9MiaOIipWiSjxqWEMpFH0nGi5OrCleaORfQgzWt2wMpgaCKYiuDLyOIwq8i-f4CChp1TthEqVK2BpRSw/s2048/3VAeHsiwREiBMSRKnZuzNA.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4fN5wQmtCW8UpBQYVKZqaeXn8ZRzJ2dTBOqMtGqo6cbm8kPltScnnd9MiaOIipWiSjxqWEMpFH0nGi5OrCleaORfQgzWt2wMpgaCKYiuDLyOIwq8i-f4CChp1TthEqVK2BpRSw/w480-h640/3VAeHsiwREiBMSRKnZuzNA.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Check out this forest sprite on the trail to the sand! </span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNC30Ux8kVy5vCudR99WT-1BjByjCUWCLx0P4MUCfv_MxWzl3NGjCRo01q3xj0-fR_RrBokpIMTVqHPPZcrnpq1jtnkvQnyP7GjNPAJmC-JTfZ48WB6YAf5-jSvSGCvRbXIW_Tw/s2048/dUsY%252BpT3SU2aF49eQBfjBQ.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNC30Ux8kVy5vCudR99WT-1BjByjCUWCLx0P4MUCfv_MxWzl3NGjCRo01q3xj0-fR_RrBokpIMTVqHPPZcrnpq1jtnkvQnyP7GjNPAJmC-JTfZ48WB6YAf5-jSvSGCvRbXIW_Tw/w640-h480/dUsY%252BpT3SU2aF49eQBfjBQ.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Here the girls pose with their pops under a bevy of sea-finds, strung together to creatively frame a picture. </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">This section of coast features its own airport, landing strip on the sand. How crazy is that? </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KxUoMWj4V6y-7X_1dA9DT_-htCwlcZoBJkOzVTHUQvrzjrDDziy773fNKratH5I7-EnFsfKjXndc-x318st_NQUiGBbIZJLh4XMkGMMVTpSDT-c7K03_SOvyPaosqdpijDcxBQ/s2048/MgZAP4T9T4CiKU0O0d1DLg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KxUoMWj4V6y-7X_1dA9DT_-htCwlcZoBJkOzVTHUQvrzjrDDziy773fNKratH5I7-EnFsfKjXndc-x318st_NQUiGBbIZJLh4XMkGMMVTpSDT-c7K03_SOvyPaosqdpijDcxBQ/w640-h480/MgZAP4T9T4CiKU0O0d1DLg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJduJ82yWAElcyFIOOSx7uCKKaxKmQOKRvVobtQrTNVYhpdnhXBmeioLy1bsrcQupSCv4cQlMzKBmeNE6VK_mgvtX0bbfHLvpv3eTIv1cDTPtEhpNyNVHiDm801E5HTLy-X3uqg/s2048/RSsf7zwDTGGEs366jhm5Mg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJduJ82yWAElcyFIOOSx7uCKKaxKmQOKRvVobtQrTNVYhpdnhXBmeioLy1bsrcQupSCv4cQlMzKBmeNE6VK_mgvtX0bbfHLvpv3eTIv1cDTPtEhpNyNVHiDm801E5HTLy-X3uqg/w480-h640/RSsf7zwDTGGEs366jhm5Mg.jpg" width="480" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicM19n58XGI2y1qSdom2SqYREU_bG1W2b89P1ObcsHsbU4E3aoNfA4DZkH-4VbGbsFl-hAiCzlLNst3o9A04uOAHsnUp84XPHY_f9bz_aMWId2zIJps8AumDjXGUncsMlA_Q3f9A/s2048/ti%2525QVWC2Qc2R0gQMmgz3MQ.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicM19n58XGI2y1qSdom2SqYREU_bG1W2b89P1ObcsHsbU4E3aoNfA4DZkH-4VbGbsFl-hAiCzlLNst3o9A04uOAHsnUp84XPHY_f9bz_aMWId2zIJps8AumDjXGUncsMlA_Q3f9A/w640-h480/ti%2525QVWC2Qc2R0gQMmgz3MQ.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Here's a shot of the resort from the beach. There are 28 units, most are cabins but there are also several condos on the highest bluff. This resort has been in existence for 50 years and was once owned by a granny who made chowder and cinnamon rolls and delivered them to guests in her Model T. The current owners bought it in 2010 from the original owner's daughters and have renovated all the cabins. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewuFRZIzuxb5T6KzBdE2Rg8COw5W7gJHbQRgpWttbZJiEl7T8048iIbDg_fhyD-Jhn7FJnUocWt-NxbmAlCopYCo6lHQTS0MKwuj-itcpFp73w-CXGs2aKPgZxMG0qdLwTTMX9w/s2048/UvCyIhsZQ%2525y2E4wKjf6CLw.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewuFRZIzuxb5T6KzBdE2Rg8COw5W7gJHbQRgpWttbZJiEl7T8048iIbDg_fhyD-Jhn7FJnUocWt-NxbmAlCopYCo6lHQTS0MKwuj-itcpFp73w-CXGs2aKPgZxMG0qdLwTTMX9w/w640-h480/UvCyIhsZQ%2525y2E4wKjf6CLw.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><div style="text-align: center;">Look at that light!</div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">One of the coolest things about the resort is that all the cabins are dog-friendly. They do things like provide dog water and food bowls/mats and DOG TOWELS! (Which we lamented forgetting and I thought they might have). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">They also had black wash-cloths for make-up removal, hooks everywhere, and super comfy beds and sheets with a stellar view our our bedroom window. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">I love any chance to get away together, felt comfortable doing so with no contact with anyone. We did drive into Ocean Shores for take-out at Bennet's Fish Shack. It was delicious. What a blessing to explore a new area. </span></div><br /> <p></p>Tiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02630463199395498371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18659636.post-14884723458801626972020-11-30T00:00:00.001-08:002020-11-30T08:08:29.509-08:00Damselfly or Dragonfly?<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">I'd just been born, and immediately flew, the feeling filling me with elation. I was above the lake, the waters of which I'd spent the bulk of my life in, nymphlike. Landing on an oar of a boat, I heard a faint voice of the woman rowing, say "Wow, Dragonflies everywhere! Aren't they gorgeous? Seems lucky somehow having them land there."</span><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Her friend sighed. "Dragonflies are a symbol of transformation. They remind you to be light and joyful." She dipped her oar into the lake and splashed her, the merry squeal in response startling me as it rang out across the lake.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">On the edge of a fishing boat, a boy saw me and asked, "Dad? Is a dragonfly good bait?"</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">"Son, fish love dragonflies, and there are a ton of lours that look just like 'em."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">I flew on, the sun warm on my wings. When I landed on a Madrona leaf, an insect landed near me, with wings that stuck straight out on each side, a thick body, and eyes close together, with no space in between, like I had. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">"Good day, damselfly," the insect breathed before flying off. "You only have one, make the most of it."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Damselfly? Damselfly? Wait, am I a damselfly?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: xx-small;">Last spring, writer Kate DiCamillo recorded 12 brief 1-2 minute videos giving writers tips and assignments. One was to create five beginning sentences, take one and develop it, then on a different day rewrite it completely. The above page was my second attempt at a tiny story about a damselfly thinking she was a dragonfly based on everyone's misconceptions. The story below, was my first attempt. Which is better?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Once upon a tall reed, an insect was born. She had already lived most of her life underwater as a nymph. With only several weeks, months to go, she couldn't wait to live her life in the air, buzzing about, being who she was. But who was she?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The first day she was born, her blue body was fainter then most blue bodies. A boy in a boat saw her and said, "Mom! It's a dragonfly!"</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">She landed on a fisherman's cap and heard, "Check out that dragonfly!" </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">In the sky, flitting over the water, she saw lots of other insects just like her. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">She saw there was a dragonfly meeting at the Hollow stump. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">She hadn't even landed when a dragonfly near the entrance of the stump said, "Hey! Where do you think you're going?"</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">"To the dragonfly meeting."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">"But you're not a dragonfly."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">"I am! I have been, my whole adult life!"</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The other insect chuckled, knowing that her whole adult life had really just started.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">"Listen, check out your eyes," she looked in the reflection of the lake. "Two eyes, separated by some space. That's not how dragonflies eyes are."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">"And check out your wings. They're against your body, not sticking out. Look at your body and my body. (Hers looked long and skinny, hi was thicker). You're a Bog Diver, you're not a Snake Doctor, like us. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The insect fluttered away, weakly, feeling sad and sniffly, and because she thought she was one thing and now she didn't know who she was, she gobbled up her dinner of mosquitos with a mini moth for dessert then flew on. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">"You coming? We're late!" A friendly insect with eye like hers whizzed past. "Follow meeeee!"</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">"I'm coming," she said. As she flew, she saw dragonflies and damselflies zooming all over the place, all making the sky an exciting place to be, all eating mosquitoes, and living near an ecosystem that was healthy, not polluted. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">PS It is said that a Devil's Darning Needle sews the fingers or toes together of a person who goes to sleep within its reach. </span></div>Tiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02630463199395498371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18659636.post-22449908268139490752020-11-29T00:00:00.000-08:002020-11-29T00:00:05.907-08:00Favorite Reads of 2020<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">I have read some stunners this year that impacted me a lot. Here's the top ten I would recommend:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLoLBjr6Hr2_-N3Y6t6FQq7oVpVsM4iCfLnhFzeY45CJB4xLhBZRNkuOd0225JBs3te5PXDNcsHy1u35bOeCJWAl6Er5FD6k-f2-DVKxXl6l5iJz2_7xCIBVEolY_Qx1sZsXexg/s1683/Screen+Shot+2020-11-27+at+11.01.57+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: "Century Gothic"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1683" data-original-width="1180" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLoLBjr6Hr2_-N3Y6t6FQq7oVpVsM4iCfLnhFzeY45CJB4xLhBZRNkuOd0225JBs3te5PXDNcsHy1u35bOeCJWAl6Er5FD6k-f2-DVKxXl6l5iJz2_7xCIBVEolY_Qx1sZsXexg/w448-h640/Screen+Shot+2020-11-27+at+11.01.57+PM.png" width="448" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/We-Are-Luckiest-Surprising-Magic/dp/160868654X/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=we+are+the+luckiest&qid=1606545798&sr=8-2">We are the Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life by Laura McKowen</a></span></p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7l6SipI9VOJ4v8xhK3lk2NYbyLkdUzwMS0hogNUmcR2B_mAoPIXzozhNgT_XWupl5jdEErtPW3xgzXUb5icmk_EHVAWNtKKPhKqysi79qAk99S_tjCeFk6ghWLeu_uYQnsrlGQ/s1642/Screen+Shot+2020-11-27+at+11.02.30+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: "Century Gothic"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1642" data-original-width="1181" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7l6SipI9VOJ4v8xhK3lk2NYbyLkdUzwMS0hogNUmcR2B_mAoPIXzozhNgT_XWupl5jdEErtPW3xgzXUb5icmk_EHVAWNtKKPhKqysi79qAk99S_tjCeFk6ghWLeu_uYQnsrlGQ/w460-h640/Screen+Shot+2020-11-27+at+11.02.30+PM.png" width="460" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Here-Real-World-Sara-Pennypacker/dp/0062698958/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=here+in+the+real+world&qid=1606545749&sr=8-2">Here in the Real World by Sara Pennypacker</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bnSjj6nAVqTWHScb6-vmkdCSutVvNuYX8GYfT1OvpyplXV5r_LhMLstgEycRs1vE_Ch5EIuoeCg6Zeo4ffgai0UqR0zYAmwydMZExqMVzS9i9Nw6Z825WnFLmtWPZ_i8nUwFmw/s1530/Screen+Shot+2020-11-27+at+11.01.21+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="1183" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bnSjj6nAVqTWHScb6-vmkdCSutVvNuYX8GYfT1OvpyplXV5r_LhMLstgEycRs1vE_Ch5EIuoeCg6Zeo4ffgai0UqR0zYAmwydMZExqMVzS9i9Nw6Z825WnFLmtWPZ_i8nUwFmw/w494-h640/Screen+Shot+2020-11-27+at+11.01.21+PM.png" width="494" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Who-Wet-Pants-Bob-Shea/dp/0316525219/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=who+wet+my+pants%3F&qid=1606545831&sr=8-2" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Who Wet My Pants? by Bob Shea</a></p><p><br /></p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53xFW5lRgKD3MpQz7InmUA4nrQkDX5CWwDQA_XKjRbRzrxbAsf9OQg3nX6un9bq8cGL4vHrIR-9JdPLuAn_5_LDVLcQ5WrZpZqDuS6mVTgFn7i7IcsWLK_4jjNCHJqGn9aNVHBw/s1808/Screen+Shot+2020-11-27+at+11.00.46+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1808" data-original-width="1186" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53xFW5lRgKD3MpQz7InmUA4nrQkDX5CWwDQA_XKjRbRzrxbAsf9OQg3nX6un9bq8cGL4vHrIR-9JdPLuAn_5_LDVLcQ5WrZpZqDuS6mVTgFn7i7IcsWLK_4jjNCHJqGn9aNVHBw/w420-h640/Screen+Shot+2020-11-27+at+11.00.46+PM.png" width="420" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Untamed-Glennon-Doyle-Melton/dp/1984801252/ref=sxts_sxwds-bia-wc-drs1_0?cv_ct_cx=untamed&dchild=1&keywords=untamed&pd_rd_i=1984801252&pd_rd_r=c68ce2e7-ae16-4e45-991a-c003417ba4b6&pd_rd_w=UQHWM&pd_rd_wg=V7S3C&pf_rd_p=c33e4373-edb9-47f9-a7e6-5d3d6a7a4ad0&pf_rd_r=WE84RZDDGAEM6XTV99H6&psc=1&qid=1606545856&sr=1-1-5e875a02-02b1-4426-9916-8a5c26cd5a14">Untamed by Glennon Doyle</a></span></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sourland-WILLIAM-H-ARMSTRONG/dp/B001IECY24/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=sourland&qid=1606545881&s=books&sr=1-4">Sourland by William H. Armstrong</a></span></p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8MG237mdwclSkwFuevTzpJdjb0N_QUWsHAD7fpBlLM3RheSBP-vo2oHuk9iIUi1ooxM3aRD_LnWR6zMi1uUuDJT3nB5i9tQwhLUCnFvh87E42T1nDpco1BX2Xp94IsrtTL0dYQ/s1869/Screen+Shot+2020-11-27+at+11.00.00+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1869" data-original-width="1191" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8MG237mdwclSkwFuevTzpJdjb0N_QUWsHAD7fpBlLM3RheSBP-vo2oHuk9iIUi1ooxM3aRD_LnWR6zMi1uUuDJT3nB5i9tQwhLUCnFvh87E42T1nDpco1BX2Xp94IsrtTL0dYQ/w408-h640/Screen+Shot+2020-11-27+at+11.00.00+PM.png" width="408" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sourland-WILLIAM-H-ARMSTRONG/dp/B001IECY24/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=sourland&qid=1606545881&s=books&sr=1-4">The Women of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor</a></span></p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJKOFV0RlGmJdKQhdSGIl-V-GqGH9Z1qqVu8RHVhD8OtRcR3E6OeCqbCDdw2UTBrdNpiR1Mv1WTp6oIEgJBk-36f2GGrvI25ZI1jUQl9WrvnIG3dTCWtVpnz2Nu_GGGbQeQMwhg/s665/Screen+Shot+2020-11-27+at+10.59.18+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="665" data-original-width="424" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJKOFV0RlGmJdKQhdSGIl-V-GqGH9Z1qqVu8RHVhD8OtRcR3E6OeCqbCDdw2UTBrdNpiR1Mv1WTp6oIEgJBk-36f2GGrvI25ZI1jUQl9WrvnIG3dTCWtVpnz2Nu_GGGbQeQMwhg/w408-h640/Screen+Shot+2020-11-27+at+10.59.18+PM.png" width="408" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Women-Food-God-Unexpected-Everything/dp/1416543082/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=women+food+and+god&qid=1606546149&s=books&sr=1-1">Women, Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything by Geneen Roth</a></span></p><p><br /></p><p> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Louding-Voice-Novel/dp/1524746029/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=the+girl+with+the+louding+voice&qid=1606546363&s=books&sr=1-2" style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1770" data-original-width="1195" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk03wNnTTQZ5RvpyPJWO_m1JKYXfcA3_o5GCn4gnqpd6y0bLlQUrueDmGxP7gL6Nnmw0NzJH7GUV2TlpA7vw6M5pUIV7M_NBGtOwmrEQijOCUj-liXI7sAgwG-rwpfc0SJx-kr9g/w432-h640/Screen+Shot+2020-11-27+at+10.57.05+PM.png" width="432" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Knockout-Queen-novel-Rufi-Thorpe/dp/0525656782/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2I9DPKRG8Y6L&dchild=1&keywords=the+knockout+queen&qid=1606546226&s=books&sprefix=the+knockout%2Cstripbooks%2C225&sr=1-2">The Knockout Queen by Rufi Thorpe</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Louding-Voice-Novel/dp/1524746029/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=the+girl+with+the+louding+voice&qid=1606546363&s=books&sr=1-2" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; font-family: "Century Gothic"; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1599" data-original-width="1186" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbH3mMs9RRS1E4y5UvdwMORrd3VDn0bJT4WaOCQb4Vse167kRLfopUPLEfNjsPPgYsA_D2r_u1OqjdTEu4iSVxTnDnQn5sEO9yEWjpQfOCscAyT5oFVB4gjUVdcVqdqphkgnw9Tw/w474-h640/Screen+Shot+2020-11-27+at+10.56.18+PM.png" width="474" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Harold-Snipperpots-Best-Disaster-Ever/dp/0062498827/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+best+disaster+ever&qid=1606546282&s=books&sr=1-1">Harold Snipperpot's Best Disaster Ever by Beatrice Alemagna</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e4hmbZM8AU">Here's</a> a great reading of it.</span></p><p><br /></p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzcQWaet23R9U3tVJ8GNwgRuxhnsySKLlWOG-WvXq5n8Pu8a89y1FS2e934fHhVCj9w4xZd-QHJqVUjQRDQCR42GqA1UNL1HXgKUh8ccwNY8n_sjp9RdDAVDNxXRcRjADo3H9xIA/s1809/Screen+Shot+2020-11-27+at+10.55.45+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: "Century Gothic"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1809" data-original-width="1185" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzcQWaet23R9U3tVJ8GNwgRuxhnsySKLlWOG-WvXq5n8Pu8a89y1FS2e934fHhVCj9w4xZd-QHJqVUjQRDQCR42GqA1UNL1HXgKUh8ccwNY8n_sjp9RdDAVDNxXRcRjADo3H9xIA/w420-h640/Screen+Shot+2020-11-27+at+10.55.45+PM.png" width="420" /></a></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Louding-Voice-Novel/dp/1524746029/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=the+girl+with+the+louding+voice&qid=1606546363&s=books&sr=1-2" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">The Girl With the Louding Voice by Abi Dare</a></div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Louding-Voice-Novel/dp/1524746029/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=the+girl+with+the+louding+voice&qid=1606546363&s=books&sr=1-2"><br /></a></div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Louding-Voice-Novel/dp/1524746029/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=the+girl+with+the+louding+voice&qid=1606546363&s=books&sr=1-2"><br /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Louding-Voice-Novel/dp/1524746029/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=the+girl+with+the+louding+voice&qid=1606546363&s=books&sr=1-2"><br /></a></div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Louding-Voice-Novel/dp/1524746029/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=the+girl+with+the+louding+voice&qid=1606546363&s=books&sr=1-2"><br /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Louding-Voice-Novel/dp/1524746029/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=the+girl+with+the+louding+voice&qid=1606546363&s=books&sr=1-2"><br /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Louding-Voice-Novel/dp/1524746029/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=the+girl+with+the+louding+voice&qid=1606546363&s=books&sr=1-2"><br /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Louding-Voice-Novel/dp/1524746029/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=the+girl+with+the+louding+voice&qid=1606546363&s=books&sr=1-2"><br /></a></div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Louding-Voice-Novel/dp/1524746029/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=the+girl+with+the+louding+voice&qid=1606546363&s=books&sr=1-2"><br /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Louding-Voice-Novel/dp/1524746029/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=the+girl+with+the+louding+voice&qid=1606546363&s=books&sr=1-2"><br /></a></div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Louding-Voice-Novel/dp/1524746029/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=the+girl+with+the+louding+voice&qid=1606546363&s=books&sr=1-2"><br /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Louding-Voice-Novel/dp/1524746029/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=the+girl+with+the+louding+voice&qid=1606546363&s=books&sr=1-2"><br /></a></div><br /></span><p></p>Tiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02630463199395498371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18659636.post-78314094774137465772020-11-28T00:00:00.001-08:002020-11-28T00:00:03.618-08:00SCREENSHOT OF THE WEEK/SHOUTOUT TO FARMINGTON GARDENS<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNr22WjWfyJjNJV1hXHgo_OqbdsjCZePkpozQGk1PYDa51teYDHPQICmiHEY3JCzhS7PPl6cLDInesibjPrNoYo6mfC9kbJmsNYRlGmwvAYdhDaT4DKmcx2OIKoJDQJA8o6ocEXg/s1334/IMG_4571.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNr22WjWfyJjNJV1hXHgo_OqbdsjCZePkpozQGk1PYDa51teYDHPQICmiHEY3JCzhS7PPl6cLDInesibjPrNoYo6mfC9kbJmsNYRlGmwvAYdhDaT4DKmcx2OIKoJDQJA8o6ocEXg/w360-h640/IMG_4571.PNG" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWPdRx8ukOlFArDqDF7KrXZWlm5q3D_pyeewXgt2S2ys-cBKmCnusinsbcRCI0qkPCRQqje0qzTasKffd5dnoY0ozQca7P47LfL6LXPFR99WzXobzs6mPpQuJk3bikqQVxphoiQ/s1334/IMG_4572.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWPdRx8ukOlFArDqDF7KrXZWlm5q3D_pyeewXgt2S2ys-cBKmCnusinsbcRCI0qkPCRQqje0qzTasKffd5dnoY0ozQca7P47LfL6LXPFR99WzXobzs6mPpQuJk3bikqQVxphoiQ/w360-h640/IMG_4572.PNG" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinv7HdKZ8ogpqIQastVD8B9D2dwBUvwUaU8-jfmwkQ1LDtbrHDmzKM3p8XOavOCGGX25M_uc1e_JF8zPKTFkSRQ2qy2gMU5yApvXUGZhgBStfysm-SNrw6XyIg-yx3Eumu02bKIA/s1334/IMG_4573.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinv7HdKZ8ogpqIQastVD8B9D2dwBUvwUaU8-jfmwkQ1LDtbrHDmzKM3p8XOavOCGGX25M_uc1e_JF8zPKTFkSRQ2qy2gMU5yApvXUGZhgBStfysm-SNrw6XyIg-yx3Eumu02bKIA/w360-h640/IMG_4573.PNG" width="360" /></a></div><br /> <span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-large;">Their flower arrangements are my favorite! </span><p></p>Tiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02630463199395498371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18659636.post-59162960186384403002020-11-27T00:00:00.144-08:002020-11-27T23:28:26.869-08:00Ry-Day<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">I've talked about Ryan off and on over the years <a href="https://mommatiablog.blogspot.com/2009/11/rap-juja-hap-bird-oo-doo.html">here</a> and <a href="https://mommatiablog.blogspot.com/2014/11/happy-birthday-to-him.html">here</a> and <a href="https://mommatiablog.blogspot.com/2011/11/happy-birthday-brother.html">here</a>, usually on his birthday every November when he gets to be the subject of one of my blog posts. Ry has always been fun to have deep talks with, to laugh with, and he's always had a golden heart. He's emotionally wise and able to be vulnerable. Did I mention he's single?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">I haven't talked about his struggles; they aren't mine to tell. In retrospect, all I'll say is that for many years he </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">he was perpetually sick and sad.</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"> I wasn't sure how it would turn out. I began to lose hope. My deep-down-in tiny belief in him clashed with how difficult it was watching him self destruct. He was still my brother who I cared about, but he didn't care about himself. That's hard to see. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">I believe Al-Anon got my mom out of the way, to begin with. But at the same time, something changed inside him and after many attempts at recovery that didn't stick, finally he made a decision to get well. He kept making that decision daily. Two years, two months later, he's come a LONG WAY on a journey of growth and discovery, of wellness and living in integrity with who he wants to be. I know better than to have any expectations about tomorrow, but today, seeing him like this is real good. I love him no matter what, but truly, what a gift to see him happy and healthy, supported, able to support others. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">What a true gift to see my brother Ryan alive and truly living.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBbB8azhjf_ZCNjjJC4w-teVxfVEoDd3lBrMTflubNVUCy8xRXBUOZwpiJH0-LVHOkUjKAXg6uBNwNRHw8q0RWWrclxIhrHFbao_DqKZwCIcnVclWDE8ZXT17e-dZLb3feg8I9w/s892/fullsizeoutput_af4a.jpeg" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 238); clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="892" data-original-width="581" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBbB8azhjf_ZCNjjJC4w-teVxfVEoDd3lBrMTflubNVUCy8xRXBUOZwpiJH0-LVHOkUjKAXg6uBNwNRHw8q0RWWrclxIhrHFbao_DqKZwCIcnVclWDE8ZXT17e-dZLb3feg8I9w/w416-h640/fullsizeoutput_af4a.jpeg" width="416" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">He's wearing one of my dad's classic corduroy visors here. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitCRQ9WWCf4vKvQMlUVVi_YGBH9qDJPQFkcbl390ED2Z89WK4BUVT-wVjjXRStVQBrPNzjxXkQoVm4lqrr2QVmt0XjX1YVylwAjfqZAU1GYPe05-7mvPwvBPI2KsUqGQwZKPklfw/s2048/1sYgJAjVQYKKLm2Vmia3%2525w.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitCRQ9WWCf4vKvQMlUVVi_YGBH9qDJPQFkcbl390ED2Z89WK4BUVT-wVjjXRStVQBrPNzjxXkQoVm4lqrr2QVmt0XjX1YVylwAjfqZAU1GYPe05-7mvPwvBPI2KsUqGQwZKPklfw/w480-h640/1sYgJAjVQYKKLm2Vmia3%2525w.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Thank God he's in the business of working at a few different golf courses. <br />They've been open all COVID-long. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiWJJK1hrRkVj50rMVKtwlz1IqGk9mrQj-daZXRo5QZT6Ns6pRrG9l7Wh_loW1ja6eJ5Vy3rgY3jwAMCW4v7XX8Ve_V5imgGD058FNjfUByfTOCcHJQ271xwc0UrNqVNd9MJECA/s2048/OiHz7BTISZebQSHMjOT5Ew.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiWJJK1hrRkVj50rMVKtwlz1IqGk9mrQj-daZXRo5QZT6Ns6pRrG9l7Wh_loW1ja6eJ5Vy3rgY3jwAMCW4v7XX8Ve_V5imgGD058FNjfUByfTOCcHJQ271xwc0UrNqVNd9MJECA/w480-h640/OiHz7BTISZebQSHMjOT5Ew.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAaWgFLErfA81IgSFoz3L05rV-87dGaR5sI_fQoqeo71_Q-ihZR7wF9GL_uvi6E6P-ZvxWLaT9ZyOi6TF3P1AAikigM7fD49WjTbiPnr2gjngFj3_fs0LFcNbM5My7ZTZPDcn11g/s2048/jLdj6O39TWiUE7Ivoxr3Sw.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAaWgFLErfA81IgSFoz3L05rV-87dGaR5sI_fQoqeo71_Q-ihZR7wF9GL_uvi6E6P-ZvxWLaT9ZyOi6TF3P1AAikigM7fD49WjTbiPnr2gjngFj3_fs0LFcNbM5My7ZTZPDcn11g/w480-h640/jLdj6O39TWiUE7Ivoxr3Sw.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">This guy's as goofy as they come. I love laughing with Ry. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSugxDI4XSzzgycZl5uKqi_lWLTyg4eLYk37bt-NJHhC40voXNSBQC6mhJTsOJT-OlYpKq4L2JI3FWPDPCKW5GZ2abMIeAWBWsDqnifFDOt8yFaObesYKB__biW4PdT8995W5iA/s2048/HipstamaticPhoto-615614600.813563.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSugxDI4XSzzgycZl5uKqi_lWLTyg4eLYk37bt-NJHhC40voXNSBQC6mhJTsOJT-OlYpKq4L2JI3FWPDPCKW5GZ2abMIeAWBWsDqnifFDOt8yFaObesYKB__biW4PdT8995W5iA/w640-h640/HipstamaticPhoto-615614600.813563.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">He plays a mean uncle, or Funcle, as the girls call him. Here he bonds with our nephews. Nothing like a trip around the grass in a golf court with S'mores supplies on your lap and the eternal Funcle's, "YES!" in reply to your question.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1cTo1GZTLnRVE4hYWulQV-DfC-MKE7NJzJOu4xTGghJsz6bOJVzYVl6hdMFpsZhSrF1quCNZ4lk5ycEp7gln8j6rvQ1oL5Sx9fRUtPCAz0ABatGTSJz2oNP1GnV6F0sVotqvVw/s636/fullsizeoutput_af47.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="438" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1cTo1GZTLnRVE4hYWulQV-DfC-MKE7NJzJOu4xTGghJsz6bOJVzYVl6hdMFpsZhSrF1quCNZ4lk5ycEp7gln8j6rvQ1oL5Sx9fRUtPCAz0ABatGTSJz2oNP1GnV6F0sVotqvVw/w440-h640/fullsizeoutput_af47.jpeg" width="440" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Happy 46th, blood!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBbB8azhjf_ZCNjjJC4w-teVxfVEoDd3lBrMTflubNVUCy8xRXBUOZwpiJH0-LVHOkUjKAXg6uBNwNRHw8q0RWWrclxIhrHFbao_DqKZwCIcnVclWDE8ZXT17e-dZLb3feg8I9w/s892/fullsizeoutput_af4a.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Tiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02630463199395498371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18659636.post-5995484972774585842020-11-26T00:00:00.001-08:002020-11-26T00:00:03.918-08:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWxlkeyqWR_6IWpOoKuhYVjSAKC3MH4w6KYCHlU2Ic-4lpmaF_34fdmmd1RKhFRBpGScPgTV4miYM-BPspGme-L31FCfwZfS15VHF5wHKIYgR08tJX5PaiCDYUlzwki7lDlrhOw/s2048/HipstamaticPhoto-594434900.655504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWxlkeyqWR_6IWpOoKuhYVjSAKC3MH4w6KYCHlU2Ic-4lpmaF_34fdmmd1RKhFRBpGScPgTV4miYM-BPspGme-L31FCfwZfS15VHF5wHKIYgR08tJX5PaiCDYUlzwki7lDlrhOw/w640-h640/HipstamaticPhoto-594434900.655504.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Tiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02630463199395498371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18659636.post-82195403692637431392020-11-24T19:59:00.213-08:002020-11-25T15:22:19.568-08:00Black Butte<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6WeaKtLtk_1VBITq4o5iD0KPUJ6C_Tg5h3QZJKCIp7LgaiVnCqGeyF6yF21SIluT0N0rO3yu9vGcftM3IGiGZRd77TWph9Bbcp9DG6RXTTdp5D5up5Bh_bNmMzpLYsg4m9WM0g/s2048/fullsizeoutput_ac3f.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6WeaKtLtk_1VBITq4o5iD0KPUJ6C_Tg5h3QZJKCIp7LgaiVnCqGeyF6yF21SIluT0N0rO3yu9vGcftM3IGiGZRd77TWph9Bbcp9DG6RXTTdp5D5up5Bh_bNmMzpLYsg4m9WM0g/w640-h640/fullsizeoutput_ac3f.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The Cottonwood outside the lodge was impressive<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">In late summer we decided to plan a weekend away</span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">, our destination somewhere this Oregonian had actually never been: Black Butte. </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"> This trip, spent safely distanced and holed up in a little cabin for the weekend, was just the novelty we needed. I felt really lucky and loved getting a taste of a super cool Oregon locale. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Black Butte was born in 1970, so it was fun to see all the 70's era cabins with their angles and vaulted ceilings. It reminded me of Sunriver, another Oregon resort further East that I HAD been many times. At 1800 acres, Black Butte is about half the size of Sunriver and known more for its' spa, golf courses, horseback riding, and hiking and biking trails. To me, it felt smaller in a good way.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">We rented Aspen House 21, which was perfect for our family of four and dog.</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"> The girls made themselves at home in their shared bedroom. The dog relaxed into new smells and squirrel-stalking from the large windows. My husband and I geeked out trying to identify </span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">unfamiliar birds and pines. (Yes, we smelled a few that were indeed butterscotch-scented Ponderosas). </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8O8lB2E0_2OGTsY_EKnREU_mYNyp98Okoztjm-c0gZNPTceYiY7j4zKKKqsTF5Sf6LJt-A4ZPbOTK9M3VhGgKYKjtjze3kdaq5FX08b0J1nQJ-DcgBx_G-4bJmsnsHNXWC_-KCA/s2048/HipstamaticPhoto-625256367.145367.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8O8lB2E0_2OGTsY_EKnREU_mYNyp98Okoztjm-c0gZNPTceYiY7j4zKKKqsTF5Sf6LJt-A4ZPbOTK9M3VhGgKYKjtjze3kdaq5FX08b0J1nQJ-DcgBx_G-4bJmsnsHNXWC_-KCA/w640-h640/HipstamaticPhoto-625256367.145367.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZZGRLR9FzG7Ay1LJMq6Goii5FLikTIjr9QgbFWZTavpZPmf1iv7oJ6r6z8QPbBDD_v1IwuIhbgBMTErc9SZU48LNygRDrFD5QbOXz8mwW5oaKdxBLceBggiVzmZRTMvUf6Lhdg/s2048/HipstamaticPhoto-625251764.017387.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZZGRLR9FzG7Ay1LJMq6Goii5FLikTIjr9QgbFWZTavpZPmf1iv7oJ6r6z8QPbBDD_v1IwuIhbgBMTErc9SZU48LNygRDrFD5QbOXz8mwW5oaKdxBLceBggiVzmZRTMvUf6Lhdg/w640-h640/HipstamaticPhoto-625251764.017387.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">There are trails and a pond behind Aspen 21 </span> </td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeW3iKFfwG4DO0auP8BXLHVCjSq7ig1Fl37Fi8U_N66xfO90nrAikpblMV6CMy_Vvdy_Cmdi0VHiy2HfsqTx92Mro9BXt6tzUPukDXrhJWC9qiG0TNWEbh8ug6QRjMTQCc4ZMYA/s2048/hw6EjqIuQsm%252Bt1Eu3YD7qg.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeW3iKFfwG4DO0auP8BXLHVCjSq7ig1Fl37Fi8U_N66xfO90nrAikpblMV6CMy_Vvdy_Cmdi0VHiy2HfsqTx92Mro9BXt6tzUPukDXrhJWC9qiG0TNWEbh8ug6QRjMTQCc4ZMYA/w480-h640/hw6EjqIuQsm%252Bt1Eu3YD7qg.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; text-align: left;">Aspen, aplenty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUwyY8XJ1BH6ClWP_iYSFkMIcpMTwfbAKi7ZqrxNehyphenhyphenDPwEXL9gXgrklAyrxOeD8IKeNit5PJVzde7mduKj5JiiPT0lU2PEtt3acvCSn-6prmi8FYkDePBSgmlrwR7uyhzfSMUxw/s2048/fullsizeoutput_ac45.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUwyY8XJ1BH6ClWP_iYSFkMIcpMTwfbAKi7ZqrxNehyphenhyphenDPwEXL9gXgrklAyrxOeD8IKeNit5PJVzde7mduKj5JiiPT0lU2PEtt3acvCSn-6prmi8FYkDePBSgmlrwR7uyhzfSMUxw/w480-h640/fullsizeoutput_ac45.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Saturday morning I made mammoth buttermilk pancakes before we set out to explore and hike the millions of trails. D</span><span style="text-align: justify;">espite cold temps and precipitation, we got around and found lots to see. One trail we checked out was near the Lakeside Bistro and extended into the Meadow, partially closed due to the season. </span></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRnYpM4leovmkaVFtb5i48d0QEIVyM3bgTec2kf7iE7qn_RROEthghQ4Gw_pP7DQizp0pk6lEqksopMgxPDMZXfQlr9YDtKgE_ZW00g95JRrywXKG7PWX3TTFP8sDkl_MFcH7Kw/s2048/HipstamaticPhoto-625259203.872819.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRnYpM4leovmkaVFtb5i48d0QEIVyM3bgTec2kf7iE7qn_RROEthghQ4Gw_pP7DQizp0pk6lEqksopMgxPDMZXfQlr9YDtKgE_ZW00g95JRrywXKG7PWX3TTFP8sDkl_MFcH7Kw/w640-h640/HipstamaticPhoto-625259203.872819.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Lakeside Bistro </span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXScQM5hyZdh5gvul7tmtT4lzF079YisuDA70SuAO2NfjGdDo9W-mBXps2ZN40Kq9DivkaPiVJoJn6JhUdkUNy8iJ4ppQateaNlNHD8ng-K8FmQo8CkHDzifW-rXwzJJCNpN3-6w/s2048/HipstamaticPhoto-625260315.745331.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXScQM5hyZdh5gvul7tmtT4lzF079YisuDA70SuAO2NfjGdDo9W-mBXps2ZN40Kq9DivkaPiVJoJn6JhUdkUNy8iJ4ppQateaNlNHD8ng-K8FmQo8CkHDzifW-rXwzJJCNpN3-6w/s320/HipstamaticPhoto-625260315.745331.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Did I mention it snowed?<br /><span style="text-align: left;">We got swept up in a marathon Scattegories championship Saturday night with football on in the background and warm lasagna in our bellies. </span><br /><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Sunday we ate a delicious breakfast at the Lakeside Bistro. The sun came out but it was still very chilly. We saw otters tumbling playfully on a nearby dock. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">I'm so grateful we were able to get away. </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Black Butte, we will definitely be back when we can bring our bikes and ride your 18 miles of bike trails. </span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div></div>Tiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02630463199395498371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18659636.post-65720814284424577682020-11-23T00:00:00.001-08:002020-11-23T00:00:03.200-08:00On Wish Trees<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtIG56lfQ1F7lJZ136Cp0Os-DPaK383J5Jcae3xWItGGnb3V-kOS-Xy_CogHZ98FAfeE4eRWnIempwcgdegsjJ-QPPeCW9sOe22euQXc3s4q0Tq2wAQKC39PP_2P8dZ2ga7Zfww/s2048/HipstamaticPhoto-624039450.473044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtIG56lfQ1F7lJZ136Cp0Os-DPaK383J5Jcae3xWItGGnb3V-kOS-Xy_CogHZ98FAfeE4eRWnIempwcgdegsjJ-QPPeCW9sOe22euQXc3s4q0Tq2wAQKC39PP_2P8dZ2ga7Zfww/w640-h640/HipstamaticPhoto-624039450.473044.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Our town has a wish tree every October. I was very excited to visit it and hang some wishes upon it on a grey and rainy day. There's a great book I read to my class: Wish Tree by Katherine Applegate and I've always wanted to do a wish tree at our school where passers-by and students could hang wishes to dangle in the wind. I haven't made it enough of a priority, I feel I need permission from someone somewhere. But the book is one of tolerance and kindness and stands for goodness and in the name of that book alone, I have reason, especially in a district that I'm proud to say, stands for all people. </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">What wish would you hang on a wish tree?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiemImGJlcjDGKGsESRQyN34OYIhOuow1ewf0MeSTYDPwgCYZyVDipSaQDLtPVKquBdBcJV1XkEcE_M2ZTQVNA4Fm_oDziz_vVL3ybqSvrOcQmF4OEwa-JC-jShBpzS5twXK5tg/s2048/HipstamaticPhoto-624039465.500032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiemImGJlcjDGKGsESRQyN34OYIhOuow1ewf0MeSTYDPwgCYZyVDipSaQDLtPVKquBdBcJV1XkEcE_M2ZTQVNA4Fm_oDziz_vVL3ybqSvrOcQmF4OEwa-JC-jShBpzS5twXK5tg/w640-h640/HipstamaticPhoto-624039465.500032.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Tiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02630463199395498371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18659636.post-53761504887577496692020-11-22T12:30:00.010-08:002020-11-22T14:23:55.854-08:00Everywhere, Everywhere, Heart-Shaped Things<p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p><span style="color: white; font-family: Century Gothic;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: white; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEd12VGavfUdBVaXLNX9YLdg0_RdOpYfNTHxZjFmskGt27-8xsclA-8iw3HLViUCwnQ4xa3bABbYe8cZrkC8TN7vnPVuqzvNOJKCSZQEGIoJJ32AawHrZH0h4kkFbNzNyeioNAg/s2048/HipstamaticPhoto-621635272.156482.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEd12VGavfUdBVaXLNX9YLdg0_RdOpYfNTHxZjFmskGt27-8xsclA-8iw3HLViUCwnQ4xa3bABbYe8cZrkC8TN7vnPVuqzvNOJKCSZQEGIoJJ32AawHrZH0h4kkFbNzNyeioNAg/w640-h640/HipstamaticPhoto-621635272.156482.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">A potato chip</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Century Gothic;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8ae7JOAE-M-FYzRlFCbU7_nCPmiDly8XbcG28IJ_L-8z4PhnsSOhU-Q5wwQSu-YFUV0PRPcLdWDI_etqJl_m-R_64sSQ0uz6-OzCSpwJxIMPqqitq5M94wmsACjXsGGPJ1csSw/s2048/zyTKe2XsRf6sbXRCFVvBVw.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8ae7JOAE-M-FYzRlFCbU7_nCPmiDly8XbcG28IJ_L-8z4PhnsSOhU-Q5wwQSu-YFUV0PRPcLdWDI_etqJl_m-R_64sSQ0uz6-OzCSpwJxIMPqqitq5M94wmsACjXsGGPJ1csSw/w480-h640/zyTKe2XsRf6sbXRCFVvBVw.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">A strange fleck of something on an unbaked frozen cherry pie</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: white; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLSsEU-CBYlOy4JT7BUqdeuVkPjxM0KYn0Wja9usJkl8Rfd9tbJaQLgAjt82ESQQbgJAdwLFlvKFg3-OpLk1Ndq2eDidKEsWIWXg5xB8gOIhB8PPnjm0dK5mG0ylgRg2uGpD9tQA/s1579/fullsizeoutput_aa81.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1579" data-original-width="817" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLSsEU-CBYlOy4JT7BUqdeuVkPjxM0KYn0Wja9usJkl8Rfd9tbJaQLgAjt82ESQQbgJAdwLFlvKFg3-OpLk1Ndq2eDidKEsWIWXg5xB8gOIhB8PPnjm0dK5mG0ylgRg2uGpD9tQA/w332-h640/fullsizeoutput_aa81.jpeg" width="332" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Wayward crumbs on a plate</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: white; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNHUgr4JyhVblktYXIjKmHOwMpGrJF3-NorVxnHsvsk_Hwmbs89ZaFzl6U4X5kxtgp42ok4gO_9PCMpxslIYbBSjS7BGuWOYsLnc1yWPGhZ89grmD_ftSV7d8QzT-iWcal0DfTLA/s1569/fullsizeoutput_aa87.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1335" data-original-width="1569" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNHUgr4JyhVblktYXIjKmHOwMpGrJF3-NorVxnHsvsk_Hwmbs89ZaFzl6U4X5kxtgp42ok4gO_9PCMpxslIYbBSjS7BGuWOYsLnc1yWPGhZ89grmD_ftSV7d8QzT-iWcal0DfTLA/w640-h544/fullsizeoutput_aa87.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div></span></div></div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"> </span><span>A </span>strange crumb or seed on the table</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: white; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDjim6wLS3w4ctf_WVr3N-yaSjWSdYu24awKsMtW8cCUsx7Ey2JUT05c4X0v06a0m63WJU2xFwiaHa9CLWdrHov2PO6171ksjgAirvSwuRErXkQVazpFbYl7SiVSxg8taKSbK7w/s2048/HipstamaticPhoto-622651555.597072.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDjim6wLS3w4ctf_WVr3N-yaSjWSdYu24awKsMtW8cCUsx7Ey2JUT05c4X0v06a0m63WJU2xFwiaHa9CLWdrHov2PO6171ksjgAirvSwuRErXkQVazpFbYl7SiVSxg8taKSbK7w/w640-h640/HipstamaticPhoto-622651555.597072.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">A scrap of paper left from a spiral notebook</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHbhnocbj8VdkYmqS6It2HKJnQpGf4Ld6lwxV8YphNl5v3GIISI-9haFqvRbxIIJe56_Kz_DwusHi6CBLoMcAHgs64mFMR8h4KiElaWveAjrCX4lLwbwwMsvVWk7w2-IvWmfDsbA/s2048/MJRiMIqnR8aokr%2525EcYtk2g.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHbhnocbj8VdkYmqS6It2HKJnQpGf4Ld6lwxV8YphNl5v3GIISI-9haFqvRbxIIJe56_Kz_DwusHi6CBLoMcAHgs64mFMR8h4KiElaWveAjrCX4lLwbwwMsvVWk7w2-IvWmfDsbA/w480-h640/MJRiMIqnR8aokr%2525EcYtk2g.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></div><span><div style="text-align: center;">a speck of leaf </div></span><br /></span><p></p><br />Tiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02630463199395498371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18659636.post-68326653301366073572020-11-21T05:00:00.040-08:002020-11-28T10:30:10.474-08:00Sing it!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; text-align: left;">I didn't grow up singing in a school choir, but as an adult I've wanted to join one for awhile now. I'm not a church-goer, so that's out. It's a pandemic, so there's that. </span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; text-align: left;">I recently got a gold bluetooth "karaoke" microphone, and the joy it's given me is crazy. </span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; text-align: left;">I play the tunes, pull up the lyrics, turn on my mike, and lose an hour just singing along with the original singer. </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; text-align: left;">It nurtures me. It takes me into the flow and out of my head. Singing has proven to be very therapeutic</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; text-align: left;"> these days. </span></div><p></p><div><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><u>S</u></span><u style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">ongs I love to sing <b>along with</b> include</u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Here You Come Again, Dolly Parton</span><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Magic, Suddenly (from Xanadu) Olivia Newton John</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Stay (I missed you) Lisa Loeb</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Sour Flower, Lost and Found Lianne La Havas</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Ten Cent Wings Jonatha Brooke</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Morning Train, Sheena Easton</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Try, Colbie Caillat</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">So Much Mine, The Story</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Don't Know Why, Norah Jones</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Gravity, Sara Bareilles</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Any Amy Grant songs from the 80's</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Ocean Eyes, Alicia Keys cover</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Muskrat Love, Captain and Tennille</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Power of Two, Indigo Girls</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Like the Weather, 10,000 Maniacs</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Get Me, Everything But the Girl</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">I Say a Little Prayer, Aretha Franklin</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></p></div>Tiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02630463199395498371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18659636.post-33946526150953048052020-11-20T16:46:00.002-08:002020-11-20T16:55:42.152-08:00Screenshot of the Week/SHOUTOUT TO LISA CONGDON<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlp6Gfn90gSvs7XLz_KDuMO42NiiPanUZHvDbnVj6AFtmDgrcopFtGkA4_DuYWMKTAgf2q5yV9bbyToy1L5Ll92DOBIkNmvk-Xu3NSlX0DlCYZLoe2GBDbnNFmQMfVef7g6_nH2g/s1334/fullsizeoutput_aaed.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlp6Gfn90gSvs7XLz_KDuMO42NiiPanUZHvDbnVj6AFtmDgrcopFtGkA4_DuYWMKTAgf2q5yV9bbyToy1L5Ll92DOBIkNmvk-Xu3NSlX0DlCYZLoe2GBDbnNFmQMfVef7g6_nH2g/w360-h640/fullsizeoutput_aaed.jpeg" width="360" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><div style="text-align: center;">THE CHARGE TO BE A JOY MONGER, WHAT A DELICIOUS IDEA. </div></span><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">LISA CONGDON (MENTIONED DURING MY COLLAGE POST EARLIER THIS WEEK) IS A FAVE. I'VE MET HER AT </span><a href="https://lisacongdon.com/pages/visit-our-store" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">HER STORE</a><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"> IN PORTLAND. I LOVE HER ART FOR ITS CHEER AND COLOR (<a href="https://lisacongdon.com/collections/art-prints/products/eyes-in-the-garden-art-print">THIS PRINT</a> HANGS IN MY HALLWAY AND IS ALSO THE BACKDROP ON MY PHONE CASE). IT'S FUNNY I POST THIS SCREENSHOT TODAY BECAUSE I'M TOTALLY WEARING MY LISA CONGDON PEACE AND LOVE <a href="https://lisacongdon.com/collections/scarves/products/peace-and-love-socks">SOCKS</a> I GOT FOR MY BIRTHDAY. I ESPECIALLY LOVE HER ILLUSTRATED QUOTES, AND <a href="https://lisacongdon.com/collections/books/products/fortune-favors-the-brave-book">THIS BOOK OF THEM</a>. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p></p>Tiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02630463199395498371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18659636.post-77647724359497605932020-11-19T00:00:00.094-08:002020-11-19T08:28:17.688-08:00Habit Trackers<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMEL5dkQum2CXwKBfFLoZa3YRRnarJvIzNQsJm1lSeVMnPAnK_dH6iF0-hZo5U-H7jZrt1MqV0-Cu3eMR8biM6HPQn1YtyIldv5Y6TSNdujMBh_tYrENiAzABvCvnE6ILDnp2FQ/s1407/Screen+Shot+2020-11-18+at+10.56.07+PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="1407" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMEL5dkQum2CXwKBfFLoZa3YRRnarJvIzNQsJm1lSeVMnPAnK_dH6iF0-hZo5U-H7jZrt1MqV0-Cu3eMR8biM6HPQn1YtyIldv5Y6TSNdujMBh_tYrENiAzABvCvnE6ILDnp2FQ/s320/Screen+Shot+2020-11-18+at+10.56.07+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />One of my favorite podcasts is <a href="https://primalpotential.com/primal-potential-podcast/">Primal Potential</a>. I've learned SO MUCH listening to it, but I believe Elizabeth was central in teaching me the importance of using small habits to make big changes over time. Building small habits using a habit tracker has really been transformational for me. </span><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The habit tracker I like (pictured above) was created by <a href="https://seanwes.com/2018/five-habit-tracker-free-printable-pdf/">Sean McCabe</a>. I love its' design. His trackers focus in on five habits each month. This month, for example, I'm tracking writing daily, doing something to nurture myself, and meditation, plus two other habits. </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"> For me, I am not super militant and obsessive about getting every habit done every day, which allows my habit happening to fluctuate. It's interesting to look at patterns, too, like the weekends are typically times when I get all the habits done. It's super rare for me to do NOTHING ( I usually do at least three). </span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Some days I don't even care if I get more than one done. </span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Elizabeth quotes James Clear as saying, "Don't miss twice." Each new </span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">day comes and brings with it a chance to do more. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">I've built lots of habits over time, things like making my bed every day, writing down three things I'm thankful for, getting in at least 10,000 steps, not to mention just plain </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">tracking habits. </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Accomplishing my habits is satisfying and I've noticed lately that between the "retired habits" I'm still doing every day and the ones on my tracker, there's not as much room in my day for negative habits. I'm motivated and committed to work on them each day, like a promise to myself. Showing up for yourself is huge. It's a confidence-builder to see that you can do the thing you wanted to do and to keep your mind on what you're doing, not what you're NOT doing. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Make a list of things you want to try to do more often in your life. That's where I started. Pick a few things that would be easy to accomplish, it helps grease the wheels in the beginning to have something to feel successful about. During an interesting time in our world's history, focusing in on small things you want to change in your life can be a hopeful act. If those accomplishments have an impact on your mind, who knows what the ripple effect will eventually be in the world. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"> </span></div>Tiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02630463199395498371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18659636.post-60474097282026549252020-11-18T00:00:00.014-08:002020-11-22T14:22:14.379-08:00A Roundup of Sweet Projects<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xxkDPRec9qIJ4WjWhwi_9DyDSn839cfo4l89s1RGjCgyAzHEiCkYwufdxTkiDkIrxMp-e-fiqYX8HZ392AI2xz_LDHeOBa8qw7kRAdUQoS547BZp0WWSxnJSOAsq2ILmfOVm1g/s698/fullsizeoutput_ae91.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="698" data-original-width="626" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xxkDPRec9qIJ4WjWhwi_9DyDSn839cfo4l89s1RGjCgyAzHEiCkYwufdxTkiDkIrxMp-e-fiqYX8HZ392AI2xz_LDHeOBa8qw7kRAdUQoS547BZp0WWSxnJSOAsq2ILmfOVm1g/w574-h640/fullsizeoutput_ae91.jpeg" width="574" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://thehousethatlarsbuilt.com">House That Lars Built</a>'s Dresden Wreath</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">I have a few fun ideas for projects to try this winter. </span><a href="https://thehousethatlarsbuilt.com/2020/11/how-to-make-a-quilted-coat.html/" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">A quilt coat </a><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><a href="https://thehousethatlarsbuilt.com/2020/11/how-to-make-a-quilted-coat.html/">(</a>I'd probably use a pattern <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/894819573/vintage-1970s-jacket-70s-beige-hooded?show_sold_out_detail=1&ref=nla_listing_details">like this</a>). I love t</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">his </span><a href="https://thehousethatlarsbuilt.com/2016/12/paper-dresden-wreath.html/" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">adorable Dresden Wreath</a>. <span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">I can imagine these </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvI6rWEuuHU" style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Macrame Ornaments</a><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"> being a hit with my girls. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxXvtYpL-xU">Here's another cool one</a>. </span><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></p>Tiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02630463199395498371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18659636.post-77108276822480877142020-11-17T00:00:00.144-08:002020-11-21T19:29:32.499-08:00How to Collage<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;">(A STILL IMAGE FROM <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Le6RwddcX24">THIS VIDEO TUTORIAL</a> BY LISA CONDON ON HER INSTAGRAM STORY INSPIRED MY CREATION OF AND PLAYING WITH THESE SHAPES. TO <a href="https://lisacongdon.com">HER </a>GOES ALL THE CREDIT). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBUcz83aSyEiy20P47p436soTKPQAms5_BuTnbvcgv7_k0HNe3YD8wO55lQsT0Mj5B24KUimz7PBqk1iS21dJLUqWxT3zP_Md9K180nZ2CXeuR_5fMhhZ6vOniBs0E8-vurJjUw/s2048/IMG_9386.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBUcz83aSyEiy20P47p436soTKPQAms5_BuTnbvcgv7_k0HNe3YD8wO55lQsT0Mj5B24KUimz7PBqk1iS21dJLUqWxT3zP_Md9K180nZ2CXeuR_5fMhhZ6vOniBs0E8-vurJjUw/w480-h640/IMG_9386.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Create different sized shapes out of different patterned papers. These are all bumps and circles, sitting and awaiting the magic on my green desktop. </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9evZiWBlNYpMtpWeYmPKDc2Yp7bBKWpIt0g-dU-g3b-UbvNIuf1FwTFEhxL9ZfNUSf63NJ5x6PD762nybUISXNevCRirv-n5Gdei-wALrle62kMBLz05-ASZYxeUeOcP084XZA/s2048/fullsizeoutput_a1b9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1422" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9evZiWBlNYpMtpWeYmPKDc2Yp7bBKWpIt0g-dU-g3b-UbvNIuf1FwTFEhxL9ZfNUSf63NJ5x6PD762nybUISXNevCRirv-n5Gdei-wALrle62kMBLz05-ASZYxeUeOcP084XZA/s320/fullsizeoutput_a1b9.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLaKQur-Bb84glKa4LE90nQR9W_wCwmixr9kk8uNhLjmOpCVzeiaWA8o3WoCEFcQqKbfV3PmlpjxOBR56CB3jmwF-GsjCXBiwuxbC8IIcCpl1XQz5WMF5FSs5n5IOPPWfsRKxcg/s2048/fullsizeoutput_a1bb.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1896" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLaKQur-Bb84glKa4LE90nQR9W_wCwmixr9kk8uNhLjmOpCVzeiaWA8o3WoCEFcQqKbfV3PmlpjxOBR56CB3jmwF-GsjCXBiwuxbC8IIcCpl1XQz5WMF5FSs5n5IOPPWfsRKxcg/s320/fullsizeoutput_a1bb.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Arrange them in different ways. You can overlap. You can put them in their own area touching nothing. Take pictures of the arrangements, in different light. <br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgTADAZmlBQyfa5O-AV13Gxbt4UAWgohBXTpiLADVRkplIthdyj06IjAOaunr5pfio6k1CZSyvaBd0Fjt9zd-eoRtU4JiA4HlCkx34-PoCbSNaV2n6mkFf-YLhoFE2OEjWa83Bw/s2048/fullsizeoutput_a1c9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1444" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgTADAZmlBQyfa5O-AV13Gxbt4UAWgohBXTpiLADVRkplIthdyj06IjAOaunr5pfio6k1CZSyvaBd0Fjt9zd-eoRtU4JiA4HlCkx34-PoCbSNaV2n6mkFf-YLhoFE2OEjWa83Bw/w452-h640/fullsizeoutput_a1c9.jpeg" width="452" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">That's the same green desktop, just in a new light. </span></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKtIcBR83vO4N_pZQCBxxdsBiF21zECS1c6aZxKL8v3zaP_ZDO4NFYTODrBhUDbInLoM1-kCcnJJeBjwH1rebouFlcj9oR7KkXwrLLRlLg17SM1M-iwz-g56Ve5J26UMzpKzv0Q/s2048/IMG_9380.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKtIcBR83vO4N_pZQCBxxdsBiF21zECS1c6aZxKL8v3zaP_ZDO4NFYTODrBhUDbInLoM1-kCcnJJeBjwH1rebouFlcj9oR7KkXwrLLRlLg17SM1M-iwz-g56Ve5J26UMzpKzv0Q/w480-h640/IMG_9380.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Set the shapes on a new background,</span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHA1zZgEj15050gjWTF2oZJXng_VS-p4QZQety5vZcQf_bt9McQtsJeygTqR_N_wlW3AOFQYNiaaMQYT8CMnQK-VfmYUQDKK8rvvu8HYb8E8SiJi9ANZpTAks-eyG6qvHeL8XD_w/s2048/fullsizeoutput_a1ce.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1698" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHA1zZgEj15050gjWTF2oZJXng_VS-p4QZQety5vZcQf_bt9McQtsJeygTqR_N_wlW3AOFQYNiaaMQYT8CMnQK-VfmYUQDKK8rvvu8HYb8E8SiJi9ANZpTAks-eyG6qvHeL8XD_w/s320/fullsizeoutput_a1ce.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">or another background.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE25dpmJHezu8s8BQazZoNBVDYeOBzqbC0vZELyfOD1-YmqLJ5ro8F_9WwvjwVOIVaBKECuhvVvOWtFt5fqqrUyWRG8bRbIrIJxn4xIGo_tC5LWhUzeh3P7z-jiDcMZIw_VNpLuA/s2048/IMG_9401.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE25dpmJHezu8s8BQazZoNBVDYeOBzqbC0vZELyfOD1-YmqLJ5ro8F_9WwvjwVOIVaBKECuhvVvOWtFt5fqqrUyWRG8bRbIrIJxn4xIGo_tC5LWhUzeh3P7z-jiDcMZIw_VNpLuA/s320/IMG_9401.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-Cjl9cBwYg9fTyXuS4c7g6K9jZt5biv1112hyphenhyphenp6rPbyyO8saCc0J-DoCtrVNhB1oNssH3RGFWCzT_zzNtjiqcr6SQ8K7M7VKwXyXSh269rdpP9DDS1ZifwuQr60nZe0kp0hg4A/s2048/fullsizeoutput_a1c5.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-Cjl9cBwYg9fTyXuS4c7g6K9jZt5biv1112hyphenhyphenp6rPbyyO8saCc0J-DoCtrVNhB1oNssH3RGFWCzT_zzNtjiqcr6SQ8K7M7VKwXyXSh269rdpP9DDS1ZifwuQr60nZe0kp0hg4A/s320/fullsizeoutput_a1c5.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Put colors together that you like together. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2iH4PsXf_Xq1x0RkFyFLzAbnXluf-xc3jGtqBqf9djTLRLjb8kmxZPfzz9JcPvb88HUZH_bN6859o-gz2NnTVUlKuCR29rb3iLFmEEAny-q7-HB_YhyphenhyphenYaxDUtIBpDFCJtwGEsgA/s2016/fullsizeoutput_a1d2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1777" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2iH4PsXf_Xq1x0RkFyFLzAbnXluf-xc3jGtqBqf9djTLRLjb8kmxZPfzz9JcPvb88HUZH_bN6859o-gz2NnTVUlKuCR29rb3iLFmEEAny-q7-HB_YhyphenhyphenYaxDUtIBpDFCJtwGEsgA/w564-h640/fullsizeoutput_a1d2.jpeg" width="564" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">When you know it's right, affix them onto the surface. I use Alene's Tacky glue mixed with water and brush a light layer over the surface, lay the paper down, then brush a light layer over the paper, often smoothing it with my fingers. (I keep a wet washcloth or sponge handy to wipe off my gluey fingers). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8IWf5-XfrosB1gphmdg9IIGOlTHL14OLis1XLshk2vl4xsI9U6mluct1APZ5YYtmiO9zZz0hp46cp40mPBSnhRjPU261mHNnaJalDZYyZ3Go_AQ6QR6ULyhHhXqYRQT8TygAqA/s2048/IMG_9573.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8IWf5-XfrosB1gphmdg9IIGOlTHL14OLis1XLshk2vl4xsI9U6mluct1APZ5YYtmiO9zZz0hp46cp40mPBSnhRjPU261mHNnaJalDZYyZ3Go_AQ6QR6ULyhHhXqYRQT8TygAqA/w480-h640/IMG_9573.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Start over with new shapes and a new background</span>. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim1Obv2y4ZJFPwueoTnwUvqzPcglu1KgYPryAu70zQ2AyUK2GdQynIsVUuqh7wW3LUQMzC766leqg1yiYsc3T6jEaegee6zUFmTC_tEA2FqjTmC_RDsJGcuU8oSr_rhdXkh5z8LQ/s1914/fullsizeoutput_a280.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1914" data-original-width="1683" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim1Obv2y4ZJFPwueoTnwUvqzPcglu1KgYPryAu70zQ2AyUK2GdQynIsVUuqh7wW3LUQMzC766leqg1yiYsc3T6jEaegee6zUFmTC_tEA2FqjTmC_RDsJGcuU8oSr_rhdXkh5z8LQ/w562-h640/fullsizeoutput_a280.jpeg" width="562" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><div style="text-align: center;">The shapes are solid colors this time, on plain white canvas backgrounds.</div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijgtFYpjq2UxkAYTCYOtgPXW3vQAEUWEXRLWZG3GYIPTm9IG5xXcQBqrTi5GFOh7DzZANNIiPvyuaR3IguTpdxuNNsfwdW2E7jA4FUnoIm4hdSZVeWKzJmOq84v4DwsUC_3WI51Q/s1351/fullsizeoutput_a281.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="1351" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijgtFYpjq2UxkAYTCYOtgPXW3vQAEUWEXRLWZG3GYIPTm9IG5xXcQBqrTi5GFOh7DzZANNIiPvyuaR3IguTpdxuNNsfwdW2E7jA4FUnoIm4hdSZVeWKzJmOq84v4DwsUC_3WI51Q/w640-h542/fullsizeoutput_a281.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">What do they look like to you?How do you want them to be? You're in charge, here.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYUVp8UIH28_hyF6x1CQIqNFPRFa0ARHYYbLkCXrb6d7HS-4FMV7_HvtzD5DhsH11naeGAKK0jdzajjY2JviZglG3yHkkJxk0aIF-aT85upk55UI4OdqxH6O2dOeKd_2qF0vv1g/s2048/fullsizeoutput_a282.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1710" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYUVp8UIH28_hyF6x1CQIqNFPRFa0ARHYYbLkCXrb6d7HS-4FMV7_HvtzD5DhsH11naeGAKK0jdzajjY2JviZglG3yHkkJxk0aIF-aT85upk55UI4OdqxH6O2dOeKd_2qF0vv1g/w534-h640/fullsizeoutput_a282.jpeg" width="534" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Once you've made them, zoom in and take more pictures. Then zoom back out and show the whole. </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3ymgG_e-pN5zBRWc3yySxcq6GNL7lsft7CkoC_8zPIJFaKUOnDNTuSq69UsXqngyLApPX8lZLcVxBiV1-qGherQEV0jNkPG2hLLD15RUF8yC02-dknPXtB16tRN8lKmdlxMzHw/s2048/SLZV2j3pQ2yRIjN52VQpUQ.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3ymgG_e-pN5zBRWc3yySxcq6GNL7lsft7CkoC_8zPIJFaKUOnDNTuSq69UsXqngyLApPX8lZLcVxBiV1-qGherQEV0jNkPG2hLLD15RUF8yC02-dknPXtB16tRN8lKmdlxMzHw/w480-h640/SLZV2j3pQ2yRIjN52VQpUQ.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">More than anything, collage is about play, about putting things together in new and different ways, and eventually, about making a decision about where the shapes will stay and what you will create. Once it's created, you can have fun zooming in on parts of the collage that are interesting. For me the bottom left corner here keeps grabbing my eye. </span>Tiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02630463199395498371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18659636.post-52381192857845580352020-11-16T00:00:00.010-08:002020-11-16T00:00:04.828-08:00Window -Naomi Shihab Nye<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3dFfA8zRqVfeK8l9aSbbzLwwbPUQseJbUehhkRZadSylLskYdmHT5aWkzTiiMHI_9r5QxepQWFquJ_0y7AFyrxWO_sfkEjoitTUxvUZwVTAD5906FyRDbD0n_b5m0RavnI1QJw/s2048/HipstamaticPhoto-626553199.751819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3dFfA8zRqVfeK8l9aSbbzLwwbPUQseJbUehhkRZadSylLskYdmHT5aWkzTiiMHI_9r5QxepQWFquJ_0y7AFyrxWO_sfkEjoitTUxvUZwVTAD5906FyRDbD0n_b5m0RavnI1QJw/w640-h640/HipstamaticPhoto-626553199.751819.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Tiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02630463199395498371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18659636.post-17826431746069289782020-11-15T00:00:00.350-08:002021-07-27T10:43:46.095-07:00Hi, I'm Tia<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcDEsHDWL2Zk65z4eazHILj2tWO9yY-YIySMEu_FzqVtjj0RopEbohpNi1buqMKSTaq2M1ylYPEc5jQMk1S8i1b_H8f9c8eyCaK14P67b-2n-FsyNKfUV3ri-zumjwrMi-RzhLg/s2048/HipstamaticPhoto-594413983.601311.jpg" style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcDEsHDWL2Zk65z4eazHILj2tWO9yY-YIySMEu_FzqVtjj0RopEbohpNi1buqMKSTaq2M1ylYPEc5jQMk1S8i1b_H8f9c8eyCaK14P67b-2n-FsyNKfUV3ri-zumjwrMi-RzhLg/w640-h640/HipstamaticPhoto-594413983.601311.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">My calendar reminded me the other day, it was time for the Fall Women's Al-anon retreat. The dates were set a year ago, entered reverently into my phone with the intent to attend. If we weren't in a pandemic, I'd have been there, beside my mom and 80 other women, in a cozy lodge beside the Mackenzie River, working on our recovery. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">I must preface this by saying I went to this retreat in the fall and spring with my mom multiple times without actually going to Al-anon meetings myself and working on MY recovery. People always thought it was so cool that I was there with my mom, and the messages and teaching were impactful, but I wasn't working any sort of program, at first. My mom got me Hope for Today and it sat, unread, for a long time. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Alcoholism affects everyone around it, and my first qualifier was in my life from day one so my need for recovery was there, multiplied by having new qualifiers. I just didn't want to go to Al-anon and give attention to/revolve around any alcoholics I knew. Ironically, I still was. My own behavior in response to alcoholism was causing problems for me. I eventually learned that just as </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">alcoholics can work on their recovery from their disease, I too, could work on my own recovery from who I was in the face of the disease.</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The moment of realization that I actually might benefit from being a part of Al-anon meetings (vs. attending retreats "with my mom") came after a trip to LA four years ago. My daughter was watching a drunk make-up tutorial and it triggered me, big time. I didn't want her admiring drunk behavior. Out of nowhere, I was crying, saying, "I would just die if you got drunk." I was telling a friend about my reaction and, bless her honesty, she said, "Oh, Tia, you shouldn't have said that stuff to her. Who knows what she will do, but you can't put such pressure on her. You need to go to Al-anon." </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">I cried in front of my friend. I was ashamed and shame is my direct road to tears. There is so much SHAME with this disease, often projected between family members. I was shaming my daughter for an innocent behavior that did NOT mean she would be an alcoholic. I went back to her and apologized. (A magical thing for a parent to do). </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">I told her I had a ton of baggage and worry around drinking and had seen it affect so many people, I was deathly afraid of it affecting my own kids. I truly didn't know HOW I would be able to handle having ONE MORE qualifier. I told her I had serious work to do, that she hadn't done anything wrong, and that she was going to do what she was going to do and I needed to work on me. And then I went to an Al-anon meeting, where I shared the first day and felt heard, and felt a long-needed release from my own inner reaction to others' drinking. I never stopped going. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; text-align: left;">Three and a half years later, I am in a space of acceptance. I accept myself as I am, I accept my alcoholic qualifiers as they are. I have a sponsor and am working the steps. Sometimes I stall and I'm currently firmly on step four, which many others seem to stall on as well. I lead meetings and have taken on a leadership role in my group. I enjoy attending online meetings and find serenity in my Al-anon daily readings. That's the exterior stuff that was the pathway to the interior stuff. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; text-align: left;">Inwardly, I have found long-needed peace. </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">I have learned to focus on me, to have boundaries, to look at myself vs. others. I have learned to have compassion for those with the disease. Al-anon has taught me I always have choices, and for so long, I never felt that. I've been working on not explaining my behavior to others, not swooping in with advice or directing another, not feeling I need to please others, not being reactive, and speaking my truth regardless of potential abandonment. I can see my own progress in the fact that my teenager, whose drunk make-up tutorial triggered fear in me four years ago, is now allowed to make choices around </span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">alcohol and have honest discussions with us about it. All I can do is present honest information to her about addiction in our family and she takes that into account with her choices. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">For so long, I was affected by others' drinking and because of how long I was, there are paths carved into who I am, meaning at times I still will be.</span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"> Over time, I have tried making small changes that have led to healing. Sometimes I have to make those small changes again. </span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Last November I went to that retreat, and I spoke at meetings, beside my mom. I was finally there, though, "with me." </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><br /></p>Tiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02630463199395498371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18659636.post-52475710955365330782020-11-14T02:00:00.006-08:002020-11-14T11:23:22.253-08:00Yellow<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiemsQuGxQ1ck-WWWpPoN_l61kbMHbWmq1BNrAgJoQRQrQBvka44VHWM84sBce8POdnXi1QHLNpQwLnIAAwk57stuuJN4otkrKk0hEQO7vwPinHoDZewx_kqF9XvqPFTfL-Q3gj3Q/s2048/fullsizeoutput_ac43.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1788" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiemsQuGxQ1ck-WWWpPoN_l61kbMHbWmq1BNrAgJoQRQrQBvka44VHWM84sBce8POdnXi1QHLNpQwLnIAAwk57stuuJN4otkrKk0hEQO7vwPinHoDZewx_kqF9XvqPFTfL-Q3gj3Q/w558-h640/fullsizeoutput_ac43.jpeg" width="558" /></a></div><br /> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-e929f274-7fff-f76e-3755-2c0ffecbc7d5"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">All the aspen near,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">share the same roots,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">a family.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Their leaves,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">once yellow</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">are now round and brown</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">said to quake, to tremble. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">To me, </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">they’re like jazz hands</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">bold and flashing,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Celebrating,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Before the fall.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">-TIa</span></span></p></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Tiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02630463199395498371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18659636.post-54571934337038651432020-11-13T16:58:00.019-08:002020-11-20T17:09:04.433-08:00SCREENSHOT OF THE WEEK/SHOUTOUT TO LAURA MCKOWEN<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJjiOuW9-QSQH7XQl9ZPJ6gwZJCiOnRJsKMbPeJwNG6Sc-VOG0mQSfn4vjyKla14B3mdDWcVyjWRArugfebuenf9k7EB3w0tFYQmfOrXRcH9xL1OeP242amwcHaOH9NEPSY_i1g/s361/fullsizeoutput_ae8e.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="226" data-original-width="361" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJjiOuW9-QSQH7XQl9ZPJ6gwZJCiOnRJsKMbPeJwNG6Sc-VOG0mQSfn4vjyKla14B3mdDWcVyjWRArugfebuenf9k7EB3w0tFYQmfOrXRcH9xL1OeP242amwcHaOH9NEPSY_i1g/w640-h400/fullsizeoutput_ae8e.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">I listened to Laura's book <u><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/We-Are-the-Luckiest-Audiobook/1608687031?source_code=GO1DH13310082090P1&gclsrc=aw.ds&ds_rl=1262685&ds_rl=1263561&ds_rl=1260658&gclid=CjwKCAiA7939BRBMEiwA-hX5J33kK3HWp4pzQnG8x-K6_aAHkuYs3mk_4PCKzR5ls2nEkZIkQ43xJxoCfVcQAvD_BwE">We Are the Luckiest</a>,</u> then listened again and took notes. I was so struck by SO MANY THINGS. What resulted was pages and pages of wisdom. It's basically the story of her getting sober. The magic of the book is that whatever your <i>thing</i> is, (I believe we all struggle with <i>something</i>), there is a path around it to beauty, vitality, to living in harmony with your truest beliefs. Watching her transformation to get there, wow. </span><p></p>Tiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02630463199395498371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18659636.post-72993880977556513602020-11-12T11:00:00.048-08:002020-11-12T15:21:26.617-08:00The Pattern Gals<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjXpLoxGr4M_9LIn4bUmX3T97dQb3VQbzCwxz3nuhAkYjdirrJfnocSpgtLS2xP7khgTlo8yb8BhzjetTrvZQ1eAJ_F0FAm33oKlXdbV6A7XgHszhhfjbN3XqdC0vT9pop1dD43w/s971/IMG_4251.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="971" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjXpLoxGr4M_9LIn4bUmX3T97dQb3VQbzCwxz3nuhAkYjdirrJfnocSpgtLS2xP7khgTlo8yb8BhzjetTrvZQ1eAJ_F0FAm33oKlXdbV6A7XgHszhhfjbN3XqdC0vT9pop1dD43w/w494-h640/IMG_4251.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; text-align: left;">I fought joining Pinterest forever. I was worried about it being a time suck; I was already consuming too much social media. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; text-align: left;">Then, maybe because of the pandemic, I jumped in, giving me a nice break from Facebook and its' exhausting and divisive political commentary.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; text-align: left;">It's been fun to collect and categorize ideas and images, everything from inspirational quotes to school ideas to sweet spaces in houses, vacation destinations, memories from childhood and fun mugs. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; text-align: left;">On </span><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/tiasemmelroth/_saved/" style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; text-align: left;">my Pinterest page</a><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; text-align: left;">, one board features vintage 70's sewing patterns covers. I LOVE the art on them and especially the gals the pattern illustrators drew. </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; text-align: left;">I loved and revered them enough to try to search for one I could use a doppleganger on my Facebook page. I haven't found her yet. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; text-align: left;"> </span></div><span style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipfvmb9tOBbWbhhDOaElcYyqFDlaci8kXOkE3W5qVIRo0auSaL_0aKWqqL0nV6pr2c3mEWjW3TAFCAmC6xcWYUPhtS1At0WIzPl5ekOhuo5PkqlpNt95UF0OVCbvCQEgaPSphNbA/s2019/2A66D826-5E31-40C6-93D9-58B5A3C60567.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1462" data-original-width="2019" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipfvmb9tOBbWbhhDOaElcYyqFDlaci8kXOkE3W5qVIRo0auSaL_0aKWqqL0nV6pr2c3mEWjW3TAFCAmC6xcWYUPhtS1At0WIzPl5ekOhuo5PkqlpNt95UF0OVCbvCQEgaPSphNbA/s320/2A66D826-5E31-40C6-93D9-58B5A3C60567.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">This one, maybe if I had bangs...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Century Gothic"; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">I researched one of the illustrators, </span><a href="https://artfashioncreation.blogspot.com/search/label/art%20fashion%20creation%20winslow%20interview" style="text-align: left;">Karen Winslow</a><span style="text-align: left;">. I'm not sure if any of these gals was drawn by her, but her style makes me wonder if they might be hers. Good stuff.</span></div></span></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhupDgmM3MSk65uDBF6MAyGgeXmTJ666rfAeIPb6LeHU2Xvs_wUGYTezuxNUZWwLzKDTgMDl73j914jJxW3sxJiFUHwrDERQSOcatVskbKlNo-rtLSffsbloVB8yOyZbEIa_5UqOA/s919/IMG_4254.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="737" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhupDgmM3MSk65uDBF6MAyGgeXmTJ666rfAeIPb6LeHU2Xvs_wUGYTezuxNUZWwLzKDTgMDl73j914jJxW3sxJiFUHwrDERQSOcatVskbKlNo-rtLSffsbloVB8yOyZbEIa_5UqOA/w514-h640/IMG_4254.jpg" width="514" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8FDT_ycz5H7LKV2MyqpcEnmO4Rh9Ogk2E8UfObMJN36-i1_-rKyLCdQ_ee5l_vhFhyphenhyphen63s2ljrmN4N5EpdUEL3pPDdSLNWN-9k-N-wgUKYLJdPqtKWWPNl4UF0OzLlb2aAb8RsA/s984/IMG_4256.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="984" data-original-width="743" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8FDT_ycz5H7LKV2MyqpcEnmO4Rh9Ogk2E8UfObMJN36-i1_-rKyLCdQ_ee5l_vhFhyphenhyphen63s2ljrmN4N5EpdUEL3pPDdSLNWN-9k-N-wgUKYLJdPqtKWWPNl4UF0OzLlb2aAb8RsA/w484-h640/IMG_4256.jpg" width="484" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMWT-Lscj_-vYjq4q_2xXl-g90CmYC83PqHFzIY3R5M0o6lHnauIec3MlQifJQs3-uKorQ2g4vP5gNFK029GxkyExNDMr2ND2h9BgO-gyxX6aUJ_gGKunmb61AKDIf6thStuT4A/s987/IMG_4250.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="987" data-original-width="745" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMWT-Lscj_-vYjq4q_2xXl-g90CmYC83PqHFzIY3R5M0o6lHnauIec3MlQifJQs3-uKorQ2g4vP5gNFK029GxkyExNDMr2ND2h9BgO-gyxX6aUJ_gGKunmb61AKDIf6thStuT4A/w484-h640/IMG_4250.jpg" width="484" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; text-align: left;">I'm one of those people who's always comparing people and saying, "She reminds me of".....So of course, looking at the pattern gals, I am reminded of people....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kgWV3XQhoosy3gDx0mvDP7SF4rZ1PTZn9gAKaSaesv7JbQm2W5D4emAfuEmGDwJ8r4LeUBPHDdz3hNCy5VQ78n9xmi6JZL9wLr2Hbv4EZuJNHgWX5JdYdVIEN4ZvPrcYyjGB7Q/s295/IMG_3668.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="245" data-original-width="295" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kgWV3XQhoosy3gDx0mvDP7SF4rZ1PTZn9gAKaSaesv7JbQm2W5D4emAfuEmGDwJ8r4LeUBPHDdz3hNCy5VQ78n9xmi6JZL9wLr2Hbv4EZuJNHgWX5JdYdVIEN4ZvPrcYyjGB7Q/w400-h333/IMG_3668.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">This one could be my own girls back in the day....</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wMxrSaXd3bgTF1JMiBLQ6V83SzYt-wld5TWywOnkpH9jlCn7wiakArG_daAA536UETHhr16GluuOcYI22v4t9DSzlOUfCJrdUSK8TYvPSoLyKpN0i3e43dicth4g3jfY6QHjag/s221/IMG_3644.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="221" data-original-width="139" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wMxrSaXd3bgTF1JMiBLQ6V83SzYt-wld5TWywOnkpH9jlCn7wiakArG_daAA536UETHhr16GluuOcYI22v4t9DSzlOUfCJrdUSK8TYvPSoLyKpN0i3e43dicth4g3jfY6QHjag/w403-h640/IMG_3644.jpg" width="403" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; text-align: left;">This one reminds me of one of the sisters (Nancy?)on Eight is Enough</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJqpT6cPncXaOm9kFkbtTMXJTAG7P1zimPDoN3To4RmAj1SzlbOAIFXfYOxBH-0hmhKATZ8TVoWKz7RvPkWwGxZZVNusB09T9sqKN42y7cs7ODoR1BDtdOohn7qrcSNhujnad9Q/s264/fullsizeoutput_aabf.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="213" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJqpT6cPncXaOm9kFkbtTMXJTAG7P1zimPDoN3To4RmAj1SzlbOAIFXfYOxBH-0hmhKATZ8TVoWKz7RvPkWwGxZZVNusB09T9sqKN42y7cs7ODoR1BDtdOohn7qrcSNhujnad9Q/w517-h640/fullsizeoutput_aabf.jpeg" width="517" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">A young Drew Barrymore</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqFLanWL-cbAG8pkPRLvRstcD3XAzr4Jh9q2vbmB5pbVnjnXkeEd-TAo5fBRTsw9X6rjt_Nvtp8FAo92ShlKKOqqcU2HpSqKYu4Y4kwEtyMnFAAGLg6I044U7OFZGYXcFHVFj-A/s256/fullsizeoutput_aac1.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="181" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqFLanWL-cbAG8pkPRLvRstcD3XAzr4Jh9q2vbmB5pbVnjnXkeEd-TAo5fBRTsw9X6rjt_Nvtp8FAo92ShlKKOqqcU2HpSqKYu4Y4kwEtyMnFAAGLg6I044U7OFZGYXcFHVFj-A/w453-h640/fullsizeoutput_aac1.jpeg" width="453" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Demi from Bachelor with a saucy bob</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCtTkodi-DrebrZ37HArMqPcn5wKbC1DnaS0iAy049sHav3yepQMOhi5z26iI6J7I0GCm85jFCGFOiu-R9ocbN7MYVx88DqH8r7P79jzz5b9lcbe1PMnqzTawJ4i3t2qPG_bGsw/s240/IMG_3583.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="162" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjCtTkodi-DrebrZ37HArMqPcn5wKbC1DnaS0iAy049sHav3yepQMOhi5z26iI6J7I0GCm85jFCGFOiu-R9ocbN7MYVx88DqH8r7P79jzz5b9lcbe1PMnqzTawJ4i3t2qPG_bGsw/w432-h640/IMG_3583.jpg" width="432" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Dani Shapiro, the writer</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></span></div></span></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Tiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02630463199395498371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18659636.post-67111566919748387382020-11-11T11:50:00.023-08:002020-11-12T15:29:00.847-08:00Sisters at an Apple Farm<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUc4rT7Qb1IWws3OzwlPUO2m8sbHk76Ujhy6fOQRqCINNvLroGlbEEqDBnrVYNS4u3ZuLyuNiPaBHiZgIM91agmes-KlP6gwxjUtrZDfJW4cu7FH7-dQoArwN_TEC7HiYPt4wbg/s2048/HipstamaticPhoto-622321044.915399.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUc4rT7Qb1IWws3OzwlPUO2m8sbHk76Ujhy6fOQRqCINNvLroGlbEEqDBnrVYNS4u3ZuLyuNiPaBHiZgIM91agmes-KlP6gwxjUtrZDfJW4cu7FH7-dQoArwN_TEC7HiYPt4wbg/w640-h640/HipstamaticPhoto-622321044.915399.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Last fall our Right Brain liaison came out from Portland and was excited to stop by <a href="https://www.oregonheritagefarms.com">Oregon Heritage Farms</a>, super close to our school, on her way home for their famous cider slushies. I worked less than a mile away and I'd never gone. Soon I was pulling in on my way home to see what the fuss was about.</span><div><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">In the same way a teacher friend and I took turns driving and bringing one another lattes on Friday mornings, it became a new tradition to stop at the apple farm to pick up cider slushies on the way home. </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Next, I brought the girls and we came home with apples and pumpkin bread. Before you know it we were trying the Carmel apples, the BEST I've eaten. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">I'm teaching online and miss the drives out into the scenic area where my school is nestled. As summer closed, amidst pandemic limits, we hit the apple farm as a family, getting all the goods. I snapped this shot of two smiling sisters near the orchard. We stopped at a roadside flower stand that now takes Venmo for a gorgeous bouquet crowded with dhalias. </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYe_jUZYnkC89nI-pg1AO5Pk13GeSE8mj_gSzPcqsVc6TOjj7yOgLJt2Ssc7my_DpKF9sZtvtAd6xCzMYZ950p-lmiZA7Ir0ktAYsShax-9Y9zToYSoYU8EJD2KkgapP3ta8H31w/s2048/HipstamaticPhoto-622336274.923101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYe_jUZYnkC89nI-pg1AO5Pk13GeSE8mj_gSzPcqsVc6TOjj7yOgLJt2Ssc7my_DpKF9sZtvtAd6xCzMYZ950p-lmiZA7Ir0ktAYsShax-9Y9zToYSoYU8EJD2KkgapP3ta8H31w/s320/HipstamaticPhoto-622336274.923101.jpg" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">Fast forward to today, the apple farm's season is officially over. When we go next fall, who knows what life will be like. Will my senior will be a freshman ON a college campus? Will I will be teaching again, in person? One thing's for sure: there will always be apples. Guaranteed they'll grow on, past pandemics and into new presidencies. </span></div><div><div><p></p></div></div>Tiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02630463199395498371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18659636.post-39590885155297431212020-11-10T11:50:00.001-08:002020-11-10T11:50:00.769-08:00Classic<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PtJ2ei1A-hzPKcNy_dOaUKJQCQAUf1AzXt3buJFMih-SMAr5quE1E1opkqkvoDV1ArC_tsRgijcTR2wdelbsALYTMb-VkxYwIPw3g117kGTpZZBvFycOwYjLTP9IkdUJIFpZ6g/s2048/IMG_3335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PtJ2ei1A-hzPKcNy_dOaUKJQCQAUf1AzXt3buJFMih-SMAr5quE1E1opkqkvoDV1ArC_tsRgijcTR2wdelbsALYTMb-VkxYwIPw3g117kGTpZZBvFycOwYjLTP9IkdUJIFpZ6g/w480-h640/IMG_3335.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Here my mom sits on a tandem flanked by her siblings in Seaside in the 60's</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </p>Tiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02630463199395498371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18659636.post-36340688032382974532020-11-09T20:44:00.008-08:002020-11-11T14:36:55.997-08:00Night Mowing<span id="docs-internal-guid-b6afe36c-7fff-598c-e46e-b1ab8cfe729e"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Setting out </span></span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">through dusk, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">(my destination </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">the cute mid-century ranch,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">new to Redfin)</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">My </span><span style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Labrador</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Molly and I</span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">walk and look.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I imagine it’s mine</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">(as I do with </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">all charming ones),</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">then turn toward my</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">vinyl-clad neighborhood,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">the stadium lights</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">illuminating the night.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">In the wide, quiet street,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">a lawn mower starts, </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">and I sing.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">“Night mowing...</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">deserves a quiet night.”</span></span></p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Molly looks up,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">(alert, since the squirrels</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">she usually stalks </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">have snuggled in </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">for the night).</span></span></p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-skip: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Lawn Mowing at Night</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">could be the title </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">of a short story, </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">about someone drunk. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">I wonder if the mower,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">blindly zig-zagging </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">across </span></span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">a lawn unseen </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">is sober.</span></p><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Close to home, I</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">bend toward chestnuts</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">in that same black night,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Shoving them in my pockets</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">as I hum.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">-Tia </span></span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">10-5-19</span></p></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Tiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02630463199395498371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18659636.post-44630021125301298502020-11-08T11:58:00.017-08:002020-11-11T12:32:05.892-08:00Things Worth Watching During the Pandemic<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><div style="text-align: center;">Since March, I've enjoyed some great programming. A few of these I watched each night with my husband. (Americans, Six Feet Under)</div></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Ry_H5_3-c2jAd1uEzFQ3rOk7QIvVIIcrTTbOL0yUsEKnM6zN4VH9m2_oEzItREP3eyNnWiIoc2MOT1ZnoVMlW1NLDS88tfhrzO0yF1SIqCUqVrkGn2uLCiE1wEz2fVuAYiYntQ/s1455/AFRUE1452.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1392" data-original-width="1455" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Ry_H5_3-c2jAd1uEzFQ3rOk7QIvVIIcrTTbOL0yUsEKnM6zN4VH9m2_oEzItREP3eyNnWiIoc2MOT1ZnoVMlW1NLDS88tfhrzO0yF1SIqCUqVrkGn2uLCiE1wEz2fVuAYiYntQ/s320/AFRUE1452.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0251497/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">Big Brother 22</a> (often with Molly)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuhCZLe60DUCqGlotddSLprkW660JerUM0uM7mX5I8paJr_9eGWhNrLPd7hfbEzhZb_MNDix7CrOvOk60bnubg-epwLWZw74BbHiCuhf3XubxCq83hophrnXpESJ8pJtpRBw4d9w/s807/fullsizeoutput_a2ec.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="704" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuhCZLe60DUCqGlotddSLprkW660JerUM0uM7mX5I8paJr_9eGWhNrLPd7hfbEzhZb_MNDix7CrOvOk60bnubg-epwLWZw74BbHiCuhf3XubxCq83hophrnXpESJ8pJtpRBw4d9w/s320/fullsizeoutput_a2ec.jpeg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0248654/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">Six Feet Under (the complete series)</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7Wl4tpHZxlWIykH9jYSmaOwimGDjZQGbawzWr6r0bS1rUUsijf61PgNihAGiq35NcOWPQm1nNY2oWMOhPyjyI_CDYUAWs1C1vzX9Ibo9C7qSN4B4SI9RP95dlcDHAgDpxbnRuw/s2048/fullsizeoutput_aae3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1374" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7Wl4tpHZxlWIykH9jYSmaOwimGDjZQGbawzWr6r0bS1rUUsijf61PgNihAGiq35NcOWPQm1nNY2oWMOhPyjyI_CDYUAWs1C1vzX9Ibo9C7qSN4B4SI9RP95dlcDHAgDpxbnRuw/s320/fullsizeoutput_aae3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=771F3a1UTyQ">Manatee Cam</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5014882/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">The Durrells in Corfu</a></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9anjR3DsxNdWaxcaVWTge_caKxSFe0Rs_QIe0zh93GEqKdF50HPypdBNECHUh3CG_ylg__x1SOX3qJAWGXbAaTUQxf0pZpvysDLfk6ug07vWiCaT-oG4vBCz71jjFgg9tboqcw/s2048/fullsizeoutput_a186.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1267" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9anjR3DsxNdWaxcaVWTge_caKxSFe0Rs_QIe0zh93GEqKdF50HPypdBNECHUh3CG_ylg__x1SOX3qJAWGXbAaTUQxf0pZpvysDLfk6ug07vWiCaT-oG4vBCz71jjFgg9tboqcw/s320/fullsizeoutput_a186.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-emg3bF3Nllt9H1oS7xxRb6jFP5Zbl4zXZiZ_Gmu7ynIpeDiQ8fPdLwtSd69aV-kfFA009e5FkCNfgYXNb8WjrjCaYo2HYsdODAteVbU1XUsdGMjWDsHKxiMFa7BqCFX3iUZ-Q/s2048/Tx3LEGuDS0ObE8XdmhoMvQ.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-emg3bF3Nllt9H1oS7xxRb6jFP5Zbl4zXZiZ_Gmu7ynIpeDiQ8fPdLwtSd69aV-kfFA009e5FkCNfgYXNb8WjrjCaYo2HYsdODAteVbU1XUsdGMjWDsHKxiMFa7BqCFX3iUZ-Q/s320/Tx3LEGuDS0ObE8XdmhoMvQ.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9059760/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">Normal People</a></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqH9BAaBgFd1tcJBupUpelVFjWzHDuh_FltoiWDUPuNvHABweQy6nZ-pPqmuM9nfDjmLRkK181ysK9MHrfAkkr2XGt7vvxfBsFHPYuKUqxSW-wEZ8lMKdmCJkBZNtHNAnXHWLrkw/s2048/nefCXn3URWKmhZMd8YL03A.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqH9BAaBgFd1tcJBupUpelVFjWzHDuh_FltoiWDUPuNvHABweQy6nZ-pPqmuM9nfDjmLRkK181ysK9MHrfAkkr2XGt7vvxfBsFHPYuKUqxSW-wEZ8lMKdmCJkBZNtHNAnXHWLrkw/s320/nefCXn3URWKmhZMd8YL03A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FdavupGd0c7FYZ6p8H14CGD4p8lB02JVwiU7oZa6F2nqlcV65EB0HpybqycKaPp6NeSXNqNOfEKUmKntDym1Ao64hnIWlr15q7eVXBd_DEzICDCuBkI1c35w0KrrqvAK3gMbxw/s2048/IMG_9522.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FdavupGd0c7FYZ6p8H14CGD4p8lB02JVwiU7oZa6F2nqlcV65EB0HpybqycKaPp6NeSXNqNOfEKUmKntDym1Ao64hnIWlr15q7eVXBd_DEzICDCuBkI1c35w0KrrqvAK3gMbxw/s320/IMG_9522.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUvizoN11BCo9ab2uRpU-TuJhqgDFUOR0E0oPniCN4Qvl374O5bVSr0ISL2rX1q4vYAcEpbAzqEsHHSuksZ8v_VOnVIIhZxIKxhBy4c9gTVqZ-oVrGzG8gJGnZImHVFqbqyAtNA/s2048/fullsizeoutput_abce.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1345" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUvizoN11BCo9ab2uRpU-TuJhqgDFUOR0E0oPniCN4Qvl374O5bVSr0ISL2rX1q4vYAcEpbAzqEsHHSuksZ8v_VOnVIIhZxIKxhBy4c9gTVqZ-oVrGzG8gJGnZImHVFqbqyAtNA/s320/fullsizeoutput_abce.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7846844/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">Enola Holmes</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDcGxTefWStYYnrlJ-Vl22IEps4lYelNoG2Z5xRcaWlizakN2rA8GUqf3xZltiJsUI4nkdhY6U-AGgMwtcYl6_emOvmY_emWK1dR3sjA6pJMYOiWXnV5bc4CA_2skcQxigbu2Ww/s2048/HipstamaticPhoto-621324298.281122.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDcGxTefWStYYnrlJ-Vl22IEps4lYelNoG2Z5xRcaWlizakN2rA8GUqf3xZltiJsUI4nkdhY6U-AGgMwtcYl6_emOvmY_emWK1dR3sjA6pJMYOiWXnV5bc4CA_2skcQxigbu2Ww/s320/HipstamaticPhoto-621324298.281122.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2149175/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0">The Americans (the complete series)</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinl6irPjzTg65QBYiAaB7jpkH-_VvXuVTx5t5jM9ledme4U7EJQuWOoZ08HoGxsomGcG122t6OXkwMKBMnQGJAAHGfOt2hnKSPi7PNTtV6nXr8TsHr5xUSmSbK-HKLLJ8xE8StZQ/s2048/HipstamaticPhoto-622009751.357017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinl6irPjzTg65QBYiAaB7jpkH-_VvXuVTx5t5jM9ledme4U7EJQuWOoZ08HoGxsomGcG122t6OXkwMKBMnQGJAAHGfOt2hnKSPi7PNTtV6nXr8TsHr5xUSmSbK-HKLLJ8xE8StZQ/s320/HipstamaticPhoto-622009751.357017.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6433456/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">Becoming Astrid</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7KqRWIehTK68aYn-aRTBN5ckvBiUCyXYwprNVIBVEa25XjqBNExcCYNuuQUI__VMFpiy9J_o5mibABl1RsBH75dypEHg39fqsl3PmTWKUbHwT-96Kh6sZvjDlCpVc69myvCQtA/s2048/HipstamaticPhoto-622276229.089318.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7KqRWIehTK68aYn-aRTBN5ckvBiUCyXYwprNVIBVEa25XjqBNExcCYNuuQUI__VMFpiy9J_o5mibABl1RsBH75dypEHg39fqsl3PmTWKUbHwT-96Kh6sZvjDlCpVc69myvCQtA/s320/HipstamaticPhoto-622276229.089318.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7689964/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">RBG</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWVZIOirTlsz7VEn0OdWH0nNsvvo-JVpJle1YKqOpHpt2d1CFtuiCB3OJpMmFOMFOdEMz_u8QmsaSP5Wty3g2yFdRq_ZB2SkPbJrOcVPpcEeRIBy6FsvPwmgD-BNEinBjB83X4w/s2048/U%252Bs%252BMvHHRQ%252BSsQb%252BKoX6LQ.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWVZIOirTlsz7VEn0OdWH0nNsvvo-JVpJle1YKqOpHpt2d1CFtuiCB3OJpMmFOMFOdEMz_u8QmsaSP5Wty3g2yFdRq_ZB2SkPbJrOcVPpcEeRIBy6FsvPwmgD-BNEinBjB83X4w/s320/U%252Bs%252BMvHHRQ%252BSsQb%252BKoX6LQ.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3661394/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">The One and Only Ivan</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeg4s6qHE88DIjQWTAZ4n2xcXJPHjNEYuAiJQ7r-LQDi6_1sHZsVWz9dZkeOv_1XrALwuxP8BWaNCGoNvOmDcehJA61Xrb0K34LNaZ46-oiHy58vqFeTCxDPFWrFSiAbJZdLjN9Q/s2048/vSdqnNliRMeI2IJ1nHr1%252BA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeg4s6qHE88DIjQWTAZ4n2xcXJPHjNEYuAiJQ7r-LQDi6_1sHZsVWz9dZkeOv_1XrALwuxP8BWaNCGoNvOmDcehJA61Xrb0K34LNaZ46-oiHy58vqFeTCxDPFWrFSiAbJZdLjN9Q/s320/vSdqnNliRMeI2IJ1nHr1%252BA.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0465653/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">Under the Greenwood Tree</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Also enjoyed:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6315640/">Atypical</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8089592/">Little Fires Everywhere</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8503618/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">Hamilton</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5649144/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">The Florida Project</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11464826/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">Social Dilemma </a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0805647/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">The Witches</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7125860/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">If Beale Street Could Talk</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">and am halfway through <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3526078/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">Schitts Creek</a> and <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10380768/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">Love Life</a> and this pandemic isn't going anywhere so the list will continue......</span></div> <p></p></div>Tiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02630463199395498371noreply@blogger.com0