FALLING

I am most amazed by the changes that come when fall hits the area. The trees begin their journey to colors that express all the heat of summer; lots of reds, oranges, yellows - as if the sun itself lived in each leaf. We have come upon fall here in Port Townsend in a big way now. Temperatures have dropped, moisture hangs in the air, wind has begun to blow and the sun is missing in the sky. Just before falling into autumn. on what turned out to be maybe the last sunny day for a while, I took these pictures of trees in my neighborhood. My favorite tree has only just been kissed at the very topmost leaves with a hint of color. Pictures will have to come later of that spectacularly beautiful tree.

When I come across someone's needlework project all finished or nearly finished in a thrift shop or junk store; I am a little bit heartbroken at seeing it there all alone, love poured into it, hours of time, skill and contemplation gone into it's work and I am thinking I need to rescue this piece. Finish this woman's work, make it complete and breathe into a life. Allowing the piece the appreciation that it so deserves giving it and the life lived that created it, completion.

The bandages are off my finger and I have managed to not only work the bead show, but spend a bit of time in the studio ( mostly making lists of what I want to do ) and an evening or two in the shop merchandising, displaying and making more to do lists.

I was moving along at a great pace tonight in the shop setting things up for Girls Night Out tomorrow which actually occurs all day, go figure, when I moved a display cube and whacked my wounded finger. I mean I whacked it but good. The kind of whack where you see stars and head into blackness. All I could think to do after shouting out the initial cuss word was revert to my old lamaze breathing. Now, how long is that memory and technique going to hang around in my life? I mean to say that my youngest child is sixteen after all, and you would think that those childbirth " techniques " which I huffed and puffed my way through all those years ago would be gone, faded away but no, in times of bad pain, the breathing comes right back around. After I returned to this world and full conscience-ness,   I laughed at the memory, glad that those years of childbearing are thankfully a long way behind me!

The moon is 85% full tonight and so bright and glorious in our night sky as to steal one's breath away. Without all our rain and clouds, which I miss by the way, we can see the moon! The sky looks like a movie scene and the tree's silhouettes a character actor in a story. What beauty and mystery hangs so deeply in the sky.

Live simply. Live well. I have been thinking of this notion a lot lately and mostly in response to aging. Not that I am old but I am on that part of the  journey in life that looks for a difference or a change. Do I stay the same? In the same place? Do I like this life that is mine?  I forget that in all the searching for solutions to problems and situations that I have created is to just SIMPLIFY. Breathe. Live simply. Live well. 

Be good, my friends. Be kind. 

This is the journey of my finger and its surgery. I was scared witless of course, all medical procedures scare me and make me imagine the worse. Anyhow, the surgeon, Dr. Olch, the anesthesiologist, Dr. Lamb and the nurses were amazing! Knowledgeable, friendly, kind even allowing Phil to stay with me right up to the operating room. I spent most of yesterday sleeping and today, I alternated between sleeping and being bored. I have never had time when I could not draw, bead, knit, silversmith. I am idle. I can barely type, which is not surprising since I could not type before but of the three fingers I could use, now I can only use two. Life's little lessons come quietly in small doses and I am lucky I feel better, there is a chipmunk in the tree outside my bedroom window, Daisy and Jesse were content to lay about with me and there is plenty of nonsense to watch on the idiot box. Here, then are a few pics of my journey.....

Outside the hand clinic are the leftover remains of the old growth forest
that used to be Silverdale.

Owie - IV in.

Dr. Olch and his artwork on my finger.

Dr. Lamb who sent me off to lala land. 

Afterwards. Animal crackers and loopy Lois.

On October 1st, we can remove the bandages. I wonder if I will have the finger of a 25 year old again. ...

Friday on the way to work, I stopped at our quaint and wonderful Jefferson County Fairgrounds to see the annual Cabin Fever Quilters show. I am so inspired by the colors and intricate piecing of the designs. Just being around all the cloth, colors and sewing techniques, encourages me to continue on in my latest fiber explorations using wool, felt, raw canvas, paint, and various embellishing stitches and objects. I left the fairgrounds with a smile in my heart and colors dancing in my head.

I have worked exceptionally hard this summer. Long days in the shop and when not there; working in the studio creating much of the inventory that I sell in the shop. I have enjoyed nearly every moment of this time. I love talking to people, greeting customers, displaying merchandise and creating an atmosphere that I would want to invite people into all day. Today, finally, almost a whole day off! I stayed out of the shop until after closing and then went to work making new displays with some of the most exciting beads and jewelry of the season! Wait, I am not writing here to talk of shop work! I am writing to be able to post the pictures I took today of our drive around Sequim. What a gorgeous day to be out and about. Heavy fog this morning giving way to wonderfully clear, warm afternoon skies. Here then are some pictures of my brief, ever so brief holiday!

A large weird flower growing in the lavender plant.

Sequim Bay.

The remains of an old dock.

The dock had lots of bird visitors.

Looking down the road from the Old Three Crabs restaurant.

Do you see the large Heron on the log in this wetlands shot?

Estuary.

A tributary feeding into the estuary.

A driftwood still life.