Spring Break: End of Day 2

Whew!  I really got a lot done today – some planned, some not.  Very satisfying to accomplish little things.  And big things.

Today I took Wicket out for a walk, around 9:00 a.m., and as I usually walk him at night, I don’t get to see the details in the neighborhood.  Along the way I discovered avocado trees in bloom, raspberry blossoms, roses, and the sweet scent of orange blossoms mixed with lavender.

Dandelions are popping up in the grass – much to the grassophile’s chagrin (admittedly mine, too) – but they are such cheerful plants, how can you not but appreciate them?  Did you ever make “curly cues” out of them?  You blow away all the seeds, and then take the stem, tear it in lengths, and put them in water.  They curl up into all sorts of shapes.

Then, home, and phone calls to friends and family, as well as calls from friends who know I am not teaching right now, and am actually interested in being sociable!  A nap, spanikopita for lunch, Vietnamese coffee for an afternoon treat, and then the pleasure of sitting in the sun to read.  And, as the sun began to get lower in the sky, the chill of the spring returned, and I went inside to sew.  I made frames for photographic reflectors out of PVC pipe, and today I put together a silver and gold cover for it (one color on each side) and a transparent white one.  These pull over the frame like pillow cases.  Tomorrow, I think I will make some feet for it.

And now, I am making grapefruit cake.  I’ve never heard of it, but came across it quite by accident.  You can find the recipe here, at Not So Humble Pie.  It sounds so good, and right now it is citrus season and my counter is loaded with pink and yellow grapefruit, limes, lemons, oranges and mandarins.  New uses for the fruit is always welcomed; I’m seriously considering putting up a batch of lime marmalade or lime curd.

Not a bad way to spend a Saturday, if I do say so myself!

Spring Break: Morning of Day 2

The list is still listed.  It also lies in front of me with a few additions.

Up at 5:30 to the tune of the coffee pot, and get Josh up so he can go shoot rockets in the middle of the desert.  Did you know that you need to file some kind of flight plan with the FAA to do this??  He took a camera, so maybe we will have something new and different to post in the near future.  Also, watching the eagle webcam, and those little eaglets are now at a gawky stage – big feet, big beaks, and clumsy-looking.  Pretty funny!  And a fish for breakfast, probably a trout.

My studio is on the eastern side of the house, so the morning light comes streaming in through my cruddy windows.  The redbud tree is right outside, and the light passing through the deep wine-colored leaves makes for wonderful shadows.  The leaves look like little hanging hearts.

Fuchsia Redbud

A few planned items for the day – besides the daily chores – are to photograph a cute little Phalaenopsis orchid which just bloomed for the first time in a couple of years, and to get outdoors.  There is a native plant sale happening nearby, so that might be a fun thing to look at.  I also want to get some sewing done and pull out some paints or ink and take a brush for a twirl.  And call up some people I haven’t spoken to in ages.  Meanwhile, Lightroom is importing all my pictures.  Maybe I should read a bit in my book, too?

Spring Break: Day 1

Today . . . did I get anything on the list done?  I don’t know!  I don’t think so.  I did start a lace pattern for the shawl I mentioned, but I didn’t like it, and ripped it out.  I did vacuum and sweep and do some grocery shopping.  I took a wonderful nap out on the patio, with a blanket and a hat.  I took a few pictures of the astrolomeria I bought a few days ago.  Oh, one thing I did was make an applesauce coffee cake – that was really good.  I’m nearly done cooking dinner, and then we eat and spend the evening being comfortably, happily blobby.

Spring Break: The Dawning

Our spring break at school begins today.  In not any particular order, these are what is on the list I drew up yesterday:

  • build photography reflectors and stands out of PVC pipe
  • sewing
  • work on CE course
  • enquire about use of eJunkie for PayPal and other account payments
  • work on HIPAA PowerPoint
  • Read and learn about Lightroom 3 and Photoshop CS5
  • Take some course at Lynda.com
  • exercise
  • walk Wicket (the dog) more
  • design a shawl out of the sock yarn I have
  • work on the Man Sweater and redesign it
  • Pay a bill or two, and plan out the budget
  • hike
  • mending
  • polish my shoes
  • clean out closets and drawers
  • get a haircut
  • clean out the garage (ha!  I need a year for that, or more!)
  • sumi-e (yeah!)
  • get together with some friends!

The Pinning

Leaf Detail

The Saroyan has landed – finished, and now pinned out – to the tune of The Wizard of Oz, Little Big Man, and The DaVinci Code audiobook.  Very pleased with it – not too pleased with these pictures!  It’s outdoors on the patio table, weighted down with a rock, just in case the wind picks up.  Once it dries, all the loose ends will be woven in.

Entire Saroyan Pinned Out