Thursday, September 19, 2013

Jutta Dobler's "Be Yourself" Course and a Little Trip to Stretch Out Summer

I've been good to myself lately! Two trips in a month AND I took Jutta's Dobler's course, "be yourself."  Jutta is a healing facilitator, intuitive coach, yoga instructor, and a Reiki practitioner as well as a great writer, poet, and photographer.  Her recent decision to shift her blogging more to her work as an intuitive coach made me realize that we all need to rethink the direction we are going in from time to time.  Life changes.  We need to make thoughtful changes to accommodate it.

Feeling more than a bit confused about what I really want to do with this part of my life, I decided to take the course Jutta has available on her website. I worked my way through the guidebook at my own pace.  Then, set up a Skype call where the coaching and intuitive guidance helped sort out any areas where I needed additional help.  After that, Jutta sent me a recording of the healing feedback. It was such a great experience! 

Oh and that second trip to soak of the last bits of summer was to Virginia Beach.  Perfect beach weather all week!
 
View from the balcony
Look at this bike!  That is a cup holder next to that basket.
 

There were yellow bikes, orange bikes, all kinds of bright colors.  The cup holder, however are what I really, really want.  And mine WILL have flowers around the edge.  Yeah, I need to get my bike repainted, too.  The silver seems sooo dull now that I've seen these southern beauties.

Friday, September 6, 2013

Even I Am Going to Have to Admit It

 Yes, autumn is upon us.  This monster--I mean leaf fluttered down as I walked by.  I think it's time for a trip south.  Just a short one so that I can pull myself together, gather up the fabric--or rather, the strength to get through our cold months.  Be back soon.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Lake Shore Trail by Shelving Rock Falls

Yup, we went hiking again.  I love this one.  It’s more of a walk than a hike, not too long and fairly flat. The majority is wide and sandy except for a small patch at the beginning of the Shelving Rock trail entry.  Can’t beat this for a path.

You can get there by boat,


hiking,
The outlet for the falls.


Lots of fungi!  Chanterelle maybe???



or on horseback.
I didn't see any actual horses but thought you would rather see little trail marker instead of the other "evidence" that horse riders do, indeed, use the trail.  'Nuf said.

Lots of places to stop for a picnic, fishing, sunbathing, or our choice that day, just reading.
Nature made a surprisingly comfortable rocky chair.


Mr. E. with his ancient oversized Kindle.
View from our Rocky chairs looking out over the lake.

and straight ahead.
Every time I hike I tell Brian that what I hear is often as beautiful as what I see.  Leaves blowing in the wind, water falls tricking or crashing down, and burbling brook (Yes, burbling IS a word.) He finally said, "You do know there is a video function on the camera, right?"  THAT"S what that little squiggle is!  Check out my Shelving Rock Falls video.  I finally figured out how to get a video on my blog! Well, I think I did.  Let me know if it doesn't work.

 
 
 
 

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

O'Susannah's Quilts and Gifts Shop in Watkins Glen

Look what I found tucked away just off the main street of Watkins Glen.

A sweet little quilt shop with  a welcoming staff!  While not a huge store, O'Susannah's is packed with all kinds of good things.  So many notions! Such beautiful fabrics.  And that sweet pattern that I didn't buy--still kicking myself. 


This shop is one of ten chosen from across the U. S. for inclusion in the Fall 2013 issue of Quilt Sampler Magazine. The featured quilt is hanging in their classroom area.  Go see it if you can or look for it in the magazine. 

I promised there would be no more fabric buying until I put a significant dent in the stash, but there I was in wine country with these so very appropriate fabrics from Timeless Treasures.

They matched the newest pieces of my wine stash.

I think wine-related fabric purchases while vacationing in wine country should be an exception to the stash building moratorium, right? 

If you are in the area, this shop is well worth a visit.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

You Know You Are A Redneck When...

While out biking around the campgrounds at Keuka State Park, we found this little wonder hanging.

 
It's a wind chime.  Really, that's what the proud owners said, and it does make a lovely sound.  You can see it blowing in the wind a bit in the photo below.  It is my all time favorite bit of campsite decor.  I must have a little redneck blood somewhere back there.
 
 
I know you want one.  Come on, admit it.  I'd make one, but the boys have all been drinking their beer from bottles lately.  My diet ginger ale cans just don't seem right for this kind of project.  So here's a close-up and tutorial for those who need a beauty like this hanging in their yard or campsite.
 
You tie the first can on the string with a knot using the ring of the flip top, slide the others on the string through  their rings, and tie the last one on with a knot.  Be sure to use a long piece of string because you know you're gonna to want to continue to add to it.  If you look at the first photo above you can see that the string is dragging on the ground.  These people have definite plans for future partying. 
 
 




Sunday, August 25, 2013

Pinned It and Did It!

Here is what I pinned:

When I pinned this quote, I wasn't planning on doing it or, at least, not quite this soon.  However, remember back on August 9th when I posted that I would finish the Arrested Development embroidery piece in two weeks?  Well that deadline whooshed by and this is how far I've gotten:

I had to chuckle.  My intentions were honorable, but life so very often has other plans. Embroidering on an over-sized pure white cloth while camping in a tent turned out to be a really bad idea as other tent campers will, no doubt, attest. What was I thinking?!?!  Then there was all the laundry and cleaning up of tenting stuff that took a couple of days, and the shopping to restock the kitchen.

I did get that one sentence of the embroidery done, though.  How fitting is it that it contains the word "buffoonery." Buffoonery, such a fun word, and so fitting to this pinning/embroidery experience!  I still remember learning it in elementary school.  I worked at finding every possible excuse to use it for months afterward. 

Nonetheless, I'm on a roll with this project now--two sentences are finished as I type this.  Should be done...well, soon.


Saturday, August 24, 2013

A Year of Jogging--Care to Join me?

Day one complete!

Kiefer came home yesterday and said that a friend's mom had just successfully completed a year of jogging every single day.  Wow!  Sounds like a something that could make exercising a bit more fun.  I have a two and a half mile route around my neighborhood that I generally use for jogging.  However, I've been the queen of excuses for not getting out there on way too many days.

They say that publicly stating your goal makes it more likely you will complete it.  So here it is:  I'm gonna do it!  There is my countdown meter on the sidebar.  If I cannot make any given day, I will start the counter again.   

The only real rule is to get out there every day.  Preferably I will do it outside rain, shine, hot, or cold but not on icy days.  I've got a treadmill for the icy days.  I want to complete at least two and a half miles if not more every day. 

Only 364 more days to go!  Feel free to join me.  I'm using a counter from Countingdownto.com.  It was free--free is always good.  If you know of a better one, let me know. 

I'm really not just doing this as an excuse to get new running shoes, honestly!  But, they do look a bit worn, don't they?  Poor me, I'm gonna have to go shopping for shoes! I don't know why that exclamation point is there.  I meant to use a period.