Cleaning Distraction

by | Jun 8, 2011 | Projects

put·ter 2 

v. put·tered, put·ter·ing, put·ters

v.intr.

To occupy oneself in an aimless or ineffective manner.
v.tr.

To waste (time) in idling: puttered away the hours in the garden.
[Probably alteration of potter, probably frequentative of Middle English poten, to poke, push, from Old English potian.]
putter·er n.
Do you ever start out cleaning but end up puttering instead? Yesterday an attempt to de-clutter the kitchen counters cost me valuable time as I began to “putter!” Another habit/inclination that I picked up from my mom I suppose. Sometimes however, it’s precisely what one needs. And it makes cleaning slightly, more attractive.
This putter session resulted in a temporary (summer) fix to adorn my terribly outdated garden window. I picked up the fun outdoor party lights (above) recently and decided that they might add some glam inside, as I (Cinderella) wash (load in the new dishwasher) the dishes. Now, how can I construct a valance out of some of these vintage/antique garden prints and seed catalogs collected over the years. Ideas anyone? Not to worry, I’ll scan & print, to preserve the charming ephemera.

Love Those Lunas

by | Jun 6, 2011 | Field Trip

Actias Luna – Luna Moth, life cycle

It’s a treat when these fascinating creatures show up for a short showy viewing. This one was spotted by Sydney on Sunday and it is still perched on the brick under the porch light this (Monday) morning. With only five days to live, what’s he/she doing sitting on the wall? The one in the red coat (close-up below) was featured in my “Woodsy Wonders” fabric line.



Boot Straps & Brass Tacks

by | Jun 5, 2011 | Healthy Stuff, Spiritual

I’m getting a strong sense that it’s time for the tough (me?) to get going, to pull oneself up by the boot straps and get down to brass tacks. Time to get back on the front lines and keep going. Time to clean up this joint (house/studio) and back to the business of making art and living life. To both, follow the examples set for me and to be an example for those coming up, after me.

My mom was a strong believer in old sayings and recognized their significance. She often referred to them and passed them on. Both my mom and dad would be telling us now, ” don’t give up, keep going.” Their generation truly was the “great generation!” I miss them. I miss their encouragement.

I like to research these oldies but goodies, interesting & remarkably, they hold true:

Get down to brass tacks – Deal with basic realities, hard facts or details of immediate practical importance.

The origin perhaps refers to fabric shops a strip of metal, a yard in length, is ofter set along the edge of the corner so that material can easily be measured. An alternative to this used to be and sometimes still is, two brass nails set a certain distance apart. After a customer had selected a fabric, the sales assistant would suggest getting down to the brass tacks to work out the practical details of measurement and price.

Boot Straps –Improve your situation by your own efforts.

The origin of this descriptive phrase isn’t known. It refers of course to boots and their straps (laces) and to the imagined feat of a lifting oneself off the ground by pulling on one’s bootstraps. This impossible task is supposed to exemplify the achievement in getting out of a difficult situation by one’s own efforts.

The past few months have been tough going.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. – When a situation is difficult or dangerous, strong people work harder to resolve the problem. This saying relies on a difficult play on words; it could be rephrased word-for-word as: “When the situation becomes hard, strong people start working.”

Origin, this saying is attributed both to Joseph P. Kennedy (1888-1969), father of the USA President John F. Kennedy, and to Norwegian-born American football player and coach Knute Rockne (1888-1931).

The Armor of God – “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God,…   Eph. 6:10-11

Turtle Safety

by | May 28, 2011 | Field Trip

Does anyone, besides me (& my friend Denise) help turtles cross the road, when in a safe area of course? And only the box turtles, not the snapping type. I suppose all the rain we’ve had lately, has our oldest, favorite reptiles on the move, have you noticed? Or perhaps it’s Spring fever? What ever the reason, I’ve moved a lot of turtles off the country roads recently. I really enjoy watching them….and drawing them too.

 

It’s Official

by | May 23, 2011 | Field Trip, Spiritual

Sunday was a day of celebration and marked the official opening of the new church building. The variety of volunteer tradesmen were the guests of honor. Gratitude and goodies were in abundance. It was great to be a part and to help break in the new kitchen.

Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. ”Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.  John 4:35