Story Time

Happy Friday the 13th!

• Both of my parents are gone, but today would have been their 67th wedding anniversary… if I have the year right… which I think I do.  I hope they are enjoying eternity together.
• I know I have mentioned before that my mom used to work at Ames and Zayre department stores.  Keziah occasionally gets donations at her store with tags or in bags from these stores.  Both have been out of business for some time.  Today she found a notebook in a box of donations.  Many of the craft supplies that belonged to my mother will end up at Keziah’s store, but they haven't yet.  Anyhow, this notebook not only has a price tag on it from Zayre, it has my mother's name on it and a piece of paper inside has my niece's name on it all in my mom's handwriting.  This notebook used to belong to my mom and we don't know where it came from.  How weird is that?  I mean, I guess we must have somehow brought it there with other things, but neither of us remember doing so.  And how did it get into the middle of a box of donations?  Puzzling.

An Ames bag she found today.

THE NOTEBOOK. 

• Keziah asked me to do some sewing for her at the studio.  It has been a long time since I spent any time there.  I sewed a bunch of favors that she printed last week.  She will be giving them to the new SCA Queen of the East tomorrow.  It was good to spend some time at the studio.

• At Keziah’s store we stayed late because she had her first private function.  She got what used to be the pharmacy cleaned up and a group from Kimball Jenkins School of Art met there and did some artsy things.  They pulled stuff off the shelves and used them to create things.  Keziah and I took the time to stock shelves.  

Empty spots!

All filled up!

• The Inktober prompt for today is Rise.

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Currently reading: She's Come Undone, by Wally Lamb.

Currently listening to: Dark Lord of Derkholm, by Diana Wynne Jones.

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Cinco de Mayo

There was nothing special for me this year for Cinco de Mayo. Here are some happy things from today:

• I chose to walk in the city today with little in mind but playing Pokémon Go, Pikmin Bloom, and going to a store. Keziah dropped me off and I did these things and walked to the studio. It was a really nice day to be outside.  I took a few pictures of things that made me happy.

Mural

Lilacs

Flowering Tree

Bluets

Trail over the river

• For some reason I haven't been feeling very creative lately. When I'm at the studio my mind goes blank and I don't know what to do. I should probably have a plan in mind but I don't. Today I found something to do that wasn't very artsy or crafty–it was untangling string for later use–but it felt like I started to feel better about being there. After doing that for a little bit I helped Keziah by finishing some hand sewing on a tunic for Gideon.  Maybe some creative juices started flowing a little.

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Currently listening to: The Swiss Nurse, by Mario Escobar.

Currently NOT reading: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, by Susan Cain. I am putting this aside and waiting for it to be available to listen to.

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe

The School of Art

Yesterday the friend I visited in the hospital on Saturday, Isa, passed away.  I'll remember her smile and sweet conversations the most.  Hug your loved ones.  

Some happy things from today:

• This morning my friend Kimberly and I walked to the studio. With the warmer weather and sunshine I'm having a better time being outside. Having company is helping too.  We saw a hawk resting in front of a church.

Hawk.

The Merrimac River.

• Keziah, Dennis, and Gideon met us at the studio. We got a tour of the four buildings there. The architecture and details in the mansion always fascinates me. Things like every fireplace being unique but also the door hinges, knobs, and locks being decorated.

Gideon art hanging outside the gallery.

Inside the Mansion.

One of the fireplaces.

Ceilings in the attic.

The sycamore tree.

• Last year I took a ceramics class at the art studio.  Today I collected a piece that I had missed when getting everything else.  It has been bisqued, but I still need to glaze it.  That will be for another day.  

☮

Finished listening to: Angela’s Ashes, by Frank McCourt

Currently reading: An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed, by Helene Thursten

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.