Clouds of Pink

Last fall a cloud of pink flowers appeared on a strange plant that is at the bottom of our driveway. I took a sample of it to the farmers market to see if anyone could tell me what it was and found out it is called Japanese Knotweed. It appears in the spring as strong stems that look like bamboo and grows about eight feet tall. In September large clumps of tiny flowers appear. They start as a pale pink and then open up to a beautiful pink. Unfortunately these are incredibly invasive plants but a really great flash of color when most flowers are finished.

Magical Driveway Watermelon

We have had a vine growing near where we park our car for some time. We knew it was a volunteer but weren't sure what fruit it would be producing. We checked a few times and there were lots of flowers but no fruit....until two days ago! We found a small oval shaped thing. We weren't sure if it was a cucumber, zucchini or melon. Then we lifted it and it was so heavy we decided it must be a watermelon. Last summer we bought a few miniature watermelons at the farmers market and this must be one of the off-spring. What is kind of funny is it is growing from this compost pile but underneath is mostly gravel. If you've ever read The Findhorn Garden you would think we have spirits and faries around the place. Actually, I think we do!

Birthday Celebrations

Well, I turned 50. Surprisingly it was not traumatic...I think I have been thinking about being 50 for about a year so that may have something to do with it. My husband sort of surprised me (he gave me so many hints I pretty much knew everything) by arranging for some friends to meet us at a local music venue and we heard some good music and ate some great food. That was a few days before the actual day. We had a nice dinner at a local restaurant on the day and a friend took me out for lunch yesterday. The celebration may continue for a few more days as I connect with more friends. It has been fun and there is still some cake left!

Just a Happy Day

Well, I don't really have a subject today, but I thought these monkeys were funny. I took the photo this summer when we went to the county fair.

I had a great time speaking with the doll club in Richmond on Wednesday, but forgot to take my camera with me. The women were very nice and several more signed up to take the classes I will be teaching in October.

We continue to get more rain, which is great. The grass has gotten pretty long in just the last two days, so the mower needs to be employed soon.

My husband is planning a "surprise" 50th birthday party for me on Saturday. He isn't very good at keeping it a secret. Someone will call him about the party and loudly he will say "Oh, hi ________. I can't talk right now Susan is here." And then he'll barely move out of earshot. He really wants me to know he is planning something...and I do. Maybe he is the monkey!

Lecture

Tonight I'll be in Richmond giving a talk about the dolls I make. The talk will be at Quilting Adventures from 6-8 and I will be speaking with their doll club. I think it should be a lot of fun and hopefully will have photos to post tomorrow. If you happen to be in the Richmond Virginia area come by.

Nameless Textile Group Meeting

Yesterday my textile group with no name met (we have been trying to come up with a name for about eight months now). We hadn't gotten together since May...once kids get out of school everyone seems to get too busy to find a common time to get together.

We caught up, laughed, told stories and had a good time. We have set up projects for ourselves and some are still finishing old ones. There was one that didn't inspire me (Medusa warmth...not sure what to do with that), so I'm skipping it. We decided on a small project (extra credit and optional) to make a dish towel, which could be functional or not. It is supposed to have a local theme as well...we defined local quite broadly, like we live in this state, in our country, on our planet and in the Milky Way. I'm guessing anything goes. I'll post a photo when I get it done.

Hands

I had a massage today and it was wonderful. Helaine, the massage therapist, has hands that are magic. She is able to get all of the kinks and lumps out of my muscles.

These are not actually her hands, but I wanted a photo of some hands, so my husband filled in.

Max

Max is the only pet I have that, up until now, had not made her appearance on this blog. Max is one of a kind. When we first adopted Max and her sister Phoebe, we kept them away from our other cat until they had all of their shots. The day I let them out seemed normal enough until I got my lunch. I took it into the living room, put it on the coffee table and sat down on the floor to watch the news and eat as I usually did. From out of nowhere came this flying kitten, who grabbed at my sandwich and tried to make off with it. That is how things started and after thirteen years, not much has changed. We now lock Max in her own special room whenever we get out food.

So, why is Max one of my blessings? Well, I really believe that everything that presents itself in my life is to inform me and teach me something. I think Max's lesson to me is to go after my dreams with persistence and determination.

I think Max's greatest dream is to be left alone in the house (no dog to find out what she is doing and thwart the effort) with the refrigerator door wide open and stocked with tuna salad, a whole roast chicken and maybe even an open carton of milk which could be knocked over easily to wash it all down. I think the lesson Max needs to learn from me is self-control!

Lists of Four

I saw this great list on coyote craft and thought I would add to the fun.

Four places I go over and over: the grocery store, Java Java, my studio, the bathroom(!)

Four people who e-mail me regularly: Art Doll Cool Aberation, John, Barnes, Noble

Four places I would like to be right now: My studio, Nags Head, Bar Harbor Maine, Minneapolis

Four TV shows/programs I watch over and over: Well, we have one channel, so I dont really watch anything over and over, so I'm changing the question. The four radio show I listen to over and over are Talk of the Nation, Diane Rehm Show, Morning Edition and All Things Considered.

Four things I have for breakfast: coffee, half and half, oatmeal, bananas

Four animals I like best: Cats, Dogs (mine especially) rabbits, wild birds

Four beaches I have been to: Nags Head NC, St John USVI, Bornholm Denmark, Rehoboth Beach DE

It's September

Well, it's September. School has started again, leaves will be turning soon, apples are ripening and squirrels gathering nuts are everywhere. I hope you have a good September. Happy Birthday Mom!

Thanks to all of you that left comments. I really enjoyed reading about your happy moments and adding to the wonder.

Add to the Wonder

Hi, I know I have folks who look at this blog and I was wondering, what is going great in your life? Add a comment to my blog so you can share the joy. Nothing helps it expand like writing it down and sharing it. Hope to hear from you and I hope you enjoy this great image from the farmers market. What abundance!

Susan

Doll Round Robin

I belong to an on-line art doll round robin where everyone in the group started a doll and then sent it to another person to add to it. In all the dolls will go to eight people before they return to the person that started them. I have been working on "Colette" who was started by Gloria in New Jersey. I made her a face and gave her some arms and hands as well as a small bouquet of glass flowers. This has been a lot of fun and the dolls are going all over the world. Mine will be going to England, Japan and Australia as well as many places in the U.S.