I keep trying to be a better blogger, but at the very least, I keep showing up, right?  

I have found a few new things that have kept me off of social media and I am completely ok with this because social media can be such a mindless time suck that really doesn't produce much other than a sense of not being able to keep up with people who seem to be able to do it all. A wonderful life, amazing talent, beautiful pictures, etc.  I know I am not the only person who feels that sense of "less".  I'm not sure that "less" is the right word…but still I'm sure many of you understand what I mean.

 I recently stumbled upon this Zinnia app on Instagram (social media ,ironic right?).  I signed up for the trial but forgot to cancel it before I was charged for the full year, which is 34.00, so I figured if I paid for the App, I was going to learn how to make it work for me.

Well let me tell you, it can be a deep rabbit hole when you start looking at all of the ways you can customize it.  It is so much fun creating for a month.  It can be journal, tracker or a planner or all wrapped into one. So far I have not regretted that 34.00 for a year.

Here are a few links to some of the videos I have enjoyed.

Karin also has so many videos on Procreate which is another amazing app.  I am learning so much from her. Along with digital watercolor art, I am learning lettering as well on practice sheets similar to when I was in the second grade!
It's the first time I have truly been excited about journaling, tracking habits, spending and joy.
I love it!

Another thing I did was to step out of my comfort zone and join a book club that included a Zoom meeting once a month.  After a year of being confined so much due to the Pandemic, I was ready to reach out and be a part of something.
Sandy Hurley an old time fiber friend along with familiar friends, Norma Miller and Teresa Campbell made it an easy place to step into, even though I was nervous. 
Social Anxiety, it's a real thing….
I so enjoyed my first Zoom meeting with them!

Our first book for me with them, was Maid.  It was an interesting read, but I think we all came away from the book with a similar sentiment.  Maybe not very well written, maybe not a likable character and a sense of sadness that people live in this kind of poverty lacking the ability to find their way out of this poverty.

I am looking forward to the next book and actually listening to it instead of reading it.  This is a first for me and I'm not every sure how to do this, but I have a sweater that needs to be finished soon, so I thought that this might be a good way to do both!
Hopefully I can figure it out..ha!

I am also reading another book with different group of my favorite people as well, and we will have our discussion about the book, "Matrix", soon as well.
It feels nice to be doing things with friends instead of the solitary life I have lived over the last few years and reading new books I probably never would have chosen.
New experiences!

….and finally, I move on to something that gives me so much joy.  
Beach stones..

I have long collected stones from the ocean and beaches for as long as I can remember.  When we first started staying on Cape Cod, I started off dating each rock that I collected and where it came from, until finally there were just too many beautiful rocks in the bowl to keep up with.

Ken shakes his head at the number of rocks I bring home with me, but I love that he indulges me in this thing that gives me joy.  Seriously I have bowls and bowls full, but any rocks that I don't love once they have dried, go back to the beach I collected it from to spend it's life where it came from. 

Recently, I met a woman who nurtured a new sense of creativity with my rocks and with her amazing generosity, she gave me the tools and knowledge to be creative with them.
Look in this space in a few weeks to see what these precious to me rocks will become. 

I know it's been a little while, but now you know why I have been a bit quiet.
I have SO many creative ideas floating around in my head!
I just need to catch them and focus all that "Sparkling Energy!"
❤️

I know….another weekending post, but this was a different kind of weekend.  It was a weekend shared with friends, some of which we haven't been able to see for 3 years now, so it was an extra meaningful time filled with laughter and good food!

"Friendsgiving" was hosted by my talented friend Sean, sitting at the head of the table.
He is an AMAZING cook and dinner did not disappoint, as you can see from the top picture.
Everyone brought something to share and what a meal we had!

I was also able to meet Sean's husband, Michael, for the first time.  Every-time I have visited with Sean at his home, Michael has been away, so it was nice to finally put a personality to a face!  What fun he is!

More than anything, I was grateful for the time away to gather with friends.  It was a magical time!
These days it doesn't happen nearly enough living with aging dogs and the care that they need.

Speaking of pets, I was so happy to meet the Siamese twins, Fred and George!
So much blessed cuteness in 2 little bodies…such little loves!

I want to start off by saying thank you all so much for the kind words you left me last week.
Aging hands and brand new hands. ❤️

Ken took a few days to head south to visit his mother and brother's family in Pennsylvania last week and after working 2 long weeks, I was ready for some down time for sure.  Saturday I spent some time knitting, reading and playing in my shop trying out some new things.

 
Sunday, I packed up my car with both a winter and a rain jacket not knowing what kind of weather I would find at the beach.
I was looking forward to feeling the cold salty weather on my face once again.  I was definitely happy that I brought both my winter jacket and a hat…and the lonely single Angora mitten that I pulled out of my pocket was so appreciated because it was very chilly.
(Reminder…you need to make a new pair of mittens!)

As I was searching for beautiful stones, I met the sweetest nun who was also enjoying her walk along the beach.  She told me a story of how she found a half of a sand dollar with a tiny sand dollar tucked in as if tucked under a blanket…and how it grew little by little into a little tiny nativity scene.  Precious!

As I was heading off the beach, I ran into her again and she held out to me this small little stone and asked me if I saw anything?  
I told her that I could kind of see a face and then she pointed out all of the face features.  She asked if I had any children and when I told her that I had grandchildren, she tucked the stone in my hand and said, "take this little stone for them".
Sigh…such a endearing moment.  You never know who will walk into your life at just the right moment, do you?
I have tucked this little stone away to make something special with it.

…and for the Making part of my weekend…
I spent part of my Saturday trying out a new drill press that will give me so many options for endless creations with the rocks that I have been collecting for years.

It's going to take a little practice, but I think I did ok with the first 3 stones I drilled out, other than the scratch on the big one. No cracks and the teeniest of blow-outs on the back of the stone with the bigger hole.
Isn't it fun to discover new things?
I love it!

I want to start off by saying thank you all so much for the kind words you left me last week.
Aging hands and brand new hands. ❤️

Ken took a few days to head south to visit his mother and brother's family in Pennsylvania last week and after working 2 long weeks, I was ready for some down time for sure.  Saturday I spent some time knitting, reading and playing in my shop trying out some new things.

 
Sunday, I packed up my car with both a winter and a rain jacket not knowing what kind of weather I would find at the beach.
I was looking forward to feeling the cold salty weather on my face once again.  I was definitely happy that I brought both my winter jacket and a hat…and the lonely single Angora mitten that I pulled out of my pocket was so appreciated because it was very chilly.

As I was searching for beautiful stones, I met the sweetest nun who was also enjoying her walk along the beach.  She told me a story of how she found a half of a silver dollar with a tiny silver dollar tucked in as if tucked under a blanket…and how it grew little by little into a little tiny nativity scene.  Precious!

As I was heading off the beach, I ran into her again and she held out to me this small little stone and asked me if I saw anything?  
I told her that I could kind of see a face and then she pointed out all of the face features.  She asked if I had any children and when I told her that I had grandchildren, she tucked the stone in my hand and said, "take this little stone for them".
Sigh…such a endearing moment.  You never know who will walk into your life at just the right moment, do you?

…and for the Making part of my weekend…
I spent part of my Saturday trying out a new drill press that will give me so many options for endless creations with the rocks that I have been collecting for years.

It's going to take a little practice, but I think I did ok with the first 3 stones I drilled out, other than the scratch on the big one.
Isn't it fun to discover new things?
I love it!

"Holding hands is a promise to one another that, for just a moment, the two of you don't have to face the world alone."

My hands are the story of my life.  When I look at them, I see my age (hands don't lie)..my years of labor and love, my years of loss and success.  They are the story of my life, my life as a maker who uses her hands to create, yet also the hands that have raised and loved the large family that I get to call my own.

When I look at her sweet little hand, I see all that she has before her.  Hands untouched, but ready to learn all that life has to give and teach her…so much to embrace.

Lives intertwined by hands, giving and receiving. ❤️

~

Have a wonderful weekend in your corner of the world!

WOW, what a beautiful stretch of weather we have had for November!  I love it!
The last 2 days had me at Ashley's house watching little June again.  Ashley lives in such a beautiful corner of the world that of course had me and Little Miss June going for a walk again both days.  Good for June and certainly good for me!

It does make me a wee bit sad to see all of these leaves on the ground, but it certainly was a beautiful carpet to walk against on my way down the hill.
We know what that next season will be soon and it's not that I dislike winter, I just wish it didn't last so long up here…so for each of these beautiful warm days, I send up a thank you!

Even this fat sassy chipmunk was sunning himself out on the back deck.  Mellow enough to let me take numerous pictures of him.
It looks like he is well prepared for the next season with his fat belly.
(and it could be a she??  ha)

Of course I had to take a picture of my smiling little girl, Junie Bee.
It was such a treat spending some one on one time with her over the last 2 weeks.
She is such a joy!

"Daffodils, blossom and tulips jostle to the front of the stage in April. I love these early perennials: they may be more modest but they nearly all have that one special quality that a plant needs to transform your affections from admiration to affection – charm."
"Monty Don"

Nearing the end of this wee sweater as I continue on the big brown blob. Two little sleeves and some pretty little buttons are all that is left. 💕.
It's been a very busy couple of weeks, some of which has allowed me some good car knitting time, which is always a little blessing tucked in between a sometimes crazy schedule.

Yesterday we traveled down to my home town to say a special good-bye to a dear family member.  A celebration of his life..and a life well lived but cut too short from a tick borne disease called Powassan.  Take time to read the article because it could save a life.

It was bittersweet seeing so many friends and family that I haven't seen some for almost 30 years.  It reminded me of all the good years I had with them when my older children were small…..and many good times we had indeed!

Take time today to give a friend a hug or say I love you to a loved one, because sometimes life passes by us too quickly…

❤️

 

A few weeks ago my daughter, Ashley, asked me if I could watch little Junie on Monday and Tuesday for the first 2 weeks in November and knowing that I didn't have any commitments I was so happy to be able to spend this time with her.

Technically this isn't Walk with Me Wednesday, but technicalities are such a bother sometimes right?  This was actually Tuesday..ha!
It was such a beautiful day and what better way to spend a bit of time walking along a beautiful, quiet road. Ashley lives in such a pretty place. I have always believed that a good hour of fresh air is wonderful for a baby, even in the winter and I know that Ashley agrees!

The foliage is starting to fade, but some of my most favorite colors are starting to appear.  The lovely golds, the soft yellows and browns and the more vibrant, yet softer brown reds and golds of the Oaks before they turn brown….and those mushrooms!!  How awesome are they!!!

This!!  This vibrant red/brown before the leaves actually turns to brown is one of my favorites! So many varying shades of the same color but yet so different from tree to tree.
I have been compiling a group of pictures from this fall to start dyeing soon.  To all of my fiber friends, I am thinking about doing this in a DK weight.  What do you think?  I have some lovely pictures for inspiration!

It was a wonderful walk and I think little Miss Junie Bee enjoyed her little adventure.
Such a sweet little soul. ❤️

What a week this has been!  First there was the blender disaster, that ceiling still isn't cleaned up enough (I am short), so I will be working on that this week now that Ken pulled out the ladder for me. 

Then Friday night, just as we were getting ready to leave the Vet Hospital, a cat who was hit by a car was brought in, always stressful, especially at the end of the day when full staff is not there.  Dr. Sheri had him stable enough to bring him home with her, so we all got ready to leave, except my keys were no where to be found.  Big sigh….typical Kim.  I'd lose my head if it wasn't attached to my shoulders

I keep my work bag (suitcase) next to the trash bucket, so I wondered if I had tossed them into the bucket accidentally instead of my bag?  A trip out to the dumpster for a little dumpster diving and sure enough those silver keys were quickly found in the big black bag that we toss all of the day's nasty trash in…great.

Next day…where is my phone?????  I know I had my phone in my hand when I went back into the hospital to search for the keys in that big black bag, so I figured if they weren’t here at home, I probably left them on the counter at work.

Ummmm…Nope,that would be too easy.  The phone was nowhere to be found.  Not at home and not at work.  I went back home to use the find my phone app on my computer and …groan….the dumpster came up.  Seriously???  Really?  Dump diving #2.  This time Ken came with me and pulled out that same black bag and sure as shit, my phone was at the bottom of the bag. Ugggh…there truly is nasty stuff in that bag!!

I went into the office to let the girls know that I found my phone and how it must have fell out of my coat pocket when I leaned in to grab my keys.  I am going to stay away from that big black trash can for a while!!

Good Lord, it’s not even a full moon!!  All in the day of a life named Kim!