Little Things

Good Morning! It's already mid-January, imagine that! Today feels like spring---cold, grey and rainy---instead of the crystal sharp brilliance I expect of a January beach day. This quiet time of year is, for me, a time of enjoying, of noticing, the small pleasures that brighten each day.
A cup of tea or a new bergamot scented candle. (Bergamot-peppercorn, Bath & Body Shop)

I also treated myself to a small Mrs Meyer's Lemon Verbena candle here

... and her new laundry scent boost, also Lemon Verbena. Lovely for towels and sheets that will be stored until summer. here
One of my favorite things, on sunnier days than today, is getting up early and as I go to the living room to let Mo out, each day I am thrilled to discover the rooms filled with tiny rainbows. You all know how much I love rainbows.

In the fall and winter the sun is low enough to shine in my big beach-facing windows.

I like to hang these prisms to catch the sun and create rainbows in unexpected places.

I find these gorgeous old cut crystal / glass  chandelier prisms at the flea market and I often sell them in my etsy shop rewired with hangers as Christmas ornaments.

























But now and then a few get detoured and are hung on my windows. And they create the many little rainbows on sunny days. They make delightful suncatchers.

My mother had a small collection of cut crystal c.1950s ashtrays in our living room in Illinois when I was a little girl. She wasn't a smoker, but she loved the rainbows the crystal ashtrays created. She'd spin the little bowls, and the rainbows would also whirl like a kaleidoscope for our fascinated childish eyes.

Sometimes even Mo is rainbow colored though he wouldn't let me take his picture.

Here he is playing with his gifted hand crocheted Jelly, a jellyfish toy made by Mel. It's stuffed with crinkly something--fascinating! And I can insert small treats to add to the attraction. Mo is thrilled, though I fear Jelly may be loved to death and need refurbishing soon.

The snow melted, then returned on Saturday and Sunday. Our ''snow showers'' forecast ended up being 3 inches! This did not deter Mo, who actually made me sit out on the deck to sew on Sunday afternoon. Oooh, cold fingers, but he was so happy. [I lasted maybe 20 minutes, mostly because of the fast fading light.]

PS My potato soup came out good. It was a kit from my snow day stocked pantry, just add water and simmer. I added sauteed leeks too. It made gallons of soup! I froze it in portions and will make:
 1-bacon corn chowder & 2,-Mel's kielbasa-cabbage soup.  Maybe clam chowder? Just add a can of clams?  It's comforting to know the basic soup is there waiting.

Have a great week. Soon we're starting our indoor bulbs! Did you buy any last October?

love


lizzy

gone to the beach...

 not Mo. Yet.

Sunsets, Rainbows, Watermelons,Kitty!

Hi everyone! Now in mid-July the afternoons are too hot and muggy for me, and especially Mo!---to sit out on the deck and sew. Pugs have the notion they like lying in hot sunshine but it's not good for them. Poor Mo is relegated to the shady AC living room instead. But by evening the sea breeze picks up and long blue shadows bring cooling hours. We almost always try to sit out to enjoy the sunset.

Days are still very long. The sky begins to lighten at 4 AM and with sunset at 8.45, the blue twilight lingers on. This almost looks like an October sky! A harbinger of change?

I love it when the glowing sunsets turn the ocean pink as well.

And when the sun lights up the big ships far out at sea.

And the odd phenomenon of brilliants sunsets in the eastern sky, mimicking sunrise.

And look who's here! Kitty coming through the rosy air for her evening snack. I love her though I think she is not the original Kitty, but one of the Twins. And I think---I hope!---I spotted Stripey one night, though he'd be a very old cat-man by now. I miss his visits.

We've been having brief squally thunderstorms too. I always must go look for the rainbow, never will be too familiar or mundane.

I've had a few better days. The hip pain is hovering but mostly for now has relocated to my left forearm So weird and random. I was able one day to actually do some sewing! I quickly made this Watermelon sundress for Mo's little girlfriend who will be 2 soon! I hope she [and her mom & daddy], like it.

pug kisses!

Have a good weekend!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach....

So far

Hi! So far, I am surviving still! Thank you, everyone, for the kind get well messages and emails, it does mean a lot to have friends' encouragement during difficult time. I'm a bit better this Sunday, and was able to get  up and out to enjoy the first rainbow of the summer! And to welcome Mo home from his weekend sleep-away.

Keep rooting for me!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...