On to South

Today is a new month already....where do they go?

After somewhat of a hiatus I'm jumping back on the Project Spectrum bandwagon.

So July ushers in a new direction....one that I am really excited about and looking forward to working with.

SOUTH (July/August)
Color: Red
Material: Metal
Season: Summer
Element: Fire

As you can see from my blog header I've updated it to reflect the South direction. Fresh red strawberries mean summer to me. I love the heat and sun of summer time. (As long as it's not unbearable heat!) And I love fire.

I'm not really sure how I'll incorporate all these various things into a project. I do know that I'll continue working on my Project Spectrum quilt (that update will be coming soon!) The yarn in the middle up there reminds me of a summer sunset. That will hopefully turn into Monkey socks.

I also started the Southern Direction today at lunchtime with a mexican burrito. I LOVE mexican/spicy food...."South of the Border" foods.

And I plan on taking pictures each day to reflect the summer season. And nature has once again cooporated with this turn of Project Spectrum directions. All day long today we've been in the midst of summer thunderstorms and downpours.

Yes, I think this direction may be my favorite so far and it's barely begun!!

Finishing up "East"

So I completly blew this "round" of Project Spectrum. Two months sure does go by fast!! Especially when one gets sick at the beginning of one month and only just starts to feel better at the end of the second month!

So I did nothing for East. None of the small projects I had planned; none of the Eastern Orthodox studies that I wanted to do; none of the photographing of various yellow things that came my way.

But yesterday I did manage to get a few pictures snapped.

One of the aspects for East is "wood". As I was sitting around the living room yesterday it struck me how much wood objects we have around.....all handmade by my dad. So I did a quick photo shoot of some of the pieces that he has made through out the years. I am proud to be a benefit of some of these things that will be treasured forever!

Seven Quick Takes Friday

1)

Talk about a long blogging break. It wasn't intentional by any means. But a spring cold/sinus thing got a hold of me at the beginning of May and is just now (finally) beginning to leave.

2)

Along with a blogging break I also took a break from: knitting; photography; Project Spectrum (the whole yellow;spring;air;wood section); any sort of crafting/creativity. Basically anything that wasn't: get up, get dressed, go to work, go home.

3)

But being sick/ not doing much left a lot of time for thinking/praying. And boy did I do tons of that. Many, many changes are in the works. But all of those are for their own post. All good things though.

4)

This probably should have been the number 1 thing but: I'm going to be a first time Aunt! Sometime around February 12th my sister and brother-in-law are expecting their "little muffin". We're so excited and that baby is going to be the most spoiled little thing anyone's ever seen!!

5)

So I'm sure there will be tons of baby crafting going on around here to show off.

6)

June is less then five days from ending and we've seen a TOTAL of 4 days of sunshine (and even those haven't been 4 FULL days of sunshine). This rainy cold weather has got to stop. I want summer time!

7)

And last a quick re-cap of goings on since my last post on May 12th: Mother's Day; coughing; my parents birthdays; lots of use of tissues; Father's Day; medication; graduation party; sneezing; yardsale; rain;

A Quote and a Question

I am loving Sarahs' blog Handmade Homeschool. Her posts are always inspirational and chock full of creativity.

She has a feature where she posts a quote and a question. A quote for her readers to think about and then a question for us to answer. I've never participated in this before "publically" but thought it would be a good thing to blog.

Here is her post from the other day.

And this is the quote and question:

“Before we can make things that are pleasant to see, we must find pleasure in seeing the things that are offered to our sight.”Eva Zeisel
___
What can you delight in seeing this very moment?

At this very moment I am delighting in seeing the tiny bit of sunlight that is coming in through the window. It's not a burst of sunshine by any means but the brightening of the sky is making me hopefuly for a burst of sunshine SOON. And the promise that the sun most certainly hasn't forgotten about us down here!

Tuesday Daybook

Go check out everyone else's Daybooks!

FOR TODAY ... May 12, 2009

Outside my window...Spring time thunder showers

I am thinking...Actually my mind is pretty blank at the moment! Peaceful

I am thankful for...A successful, beautiful First Holy Communion last Saturday

From the kitchen...to be honest I have no idea!!!

I am wearing...black pants; purple 3/4 shirt; white sweater

I am creating...finishing up a knitted prayer shawl and working on knitting up a few more baby hats for the baby shower at Church this weekend

I am going...to sit and knit once I hit "publish post"

I am reading...nothing at the moment....I need to pick out one of the (many) books on my "to be read" pile

I am hoping...that the thunderstorms stick around for a little while

I am hearing...the news

Around the house...lots and lots of clutter

One of my favorite things...the smell of spring rain

A few plans for the rest of the week....it's looking to be a relaxing week. Just what is needed after last week's busy-ness

Here is picture thought I am sharing...The cake for the First Communion reception

Quick Takes Friday!

1)

It's amazing how quickly time is flying by! The first week of May is already gone. Although you couldn't tell it's May by the weather!

2)

Tomorrow is First Communion Day. I love the celebration of the Sacraments. So much joy and grace abounding.

3)

A new tradition in my family: Sunday nights in the Emergency Room. I WILL be breaking this tradition this weekend....I'm the only one not to have visited there since January. I won't be going either!

4)

I need to get back into a morning prayer routine. It's lacking and I'm not liking it. I've finally managed to get myself in the habit of getting up earlier so I have plenty of time before I need to leave the house. But the time set aside for prayer has turned into "doing other things". Not good.

5)

I'm glad the swine flu panic seems to be dying down. There have been a few cases around here and it's just been a little disconcerting....not enough to make me bunker down in the house but enough to make me leery of where I go.

6)

Mother's Day is Sunday and I have my mom's present bought AND wrapped. Usually I'm buying the day before and wrapping two seconds before I give it to her. I'm very proud of myself!

7)

I hate the dentist. And I have a dentist appointment this morning. I really hate going to the dentist!

Turning towards the East

May and June are the months dedicated to the EAST. It is represented by the element of air; the season of Spring; the material of wood and the color yellow.

I honestly am not sure where this will take me. I want to get out and photograph the yellow that can be found in nature (there is a beautiful yellow bush next to where I park my car I want to take a picture of) and maybe get some pictures of the trees that are in flower around town. What my mind keeps coming back to is the element of air. Possibly do a project in lacy tones? Bigger needles and thinner yarn? I'm not sure yet.

One thing I really do want to focus on is some of the Eastern Religions....particularly the Eastern Orthodox Church. It has fascinated me for a long time now and some research into that may be just the thing for this section of Project Spectrum.

I received a beautiful yellow/gold skein of yarn from the swap I just participated in at Ravalry....I'm thinking of making that into a baby hat and booties.

But for right now I'm just reveling in this time of year....Spring. I love it. (Now if only the weather would cooporate....it's been raining since last Friday!! and the weather shows it's going to keep raining through at least Saturday!)