monday gratitudes

shadows on the wall

Today I am grateful for...

• my students and their enthusiasm.
• mentors.
• the opportunity to bake pies for my clients. they deserve homemade pies for thanksgiving.
• cell phones to bridge miles.
• the resources to fix my car.
• mechanics and thier skills and knowledge.
• my airline tickets to see my guy on the base after Christmas.
• the scent of the apple orchard.
• new england in fall.
• my apartment.
• growing up with a mom who instilled in my an enjoyment of cooking and baking.

Happy Monday!

glad it's friday

heath bar cookies i have been enjoying this week

It has been a long week. So glad it is Friday. I have to work at the college tomorrow and then have the brakes on my car looked at and then I'm free! I had a stressful week regarding my car. It is only 6/7 years old but I had a strange sound diagnosed at the dealership this week. They found three problems and said it would be $1800! Are you kidding me? No way. So I am taking it to my friend's husband who is a mechanic. He is pricing it at almost half that. But I'll find out more tomorrow. So needless to say I had a minor panic attack this week. It was more than the fact that my car is going to cost so much...it was all that represents. I am tired of feeling like I'm struggling all the time. I want to feel like I am moving forward personally and in my relationship. And finances play a major role in all that.

But I am now feeling more positive. It will get done. And for now I have a date with my couch and television!

Happy Friday!

monday gratitudes

suncatcher rainbow maker from my dad

Today I am grateful for...

• Cell phones to maintain communication across miles.
• Feeling better!
• The toffee cookies I baked yesterday.
• Seeing my parents.
• Coffee.
• My art supplies and having a little extra to buy them.
• My creativity.
• New England in the fall.
• Having taken a sick day Friday so I could finally focus on myself and getting better.
• DVD's of old tv shows.
• America's Next Top Model marathon! Just joking...but it helped me escape all day saturday while I was sick!
• Autumn Leaves Yankee Candle.
• airplanes.
• Thanksgiving.

Happy Monday!

my world today

Posts two days in a row...I'm on a roll! I'm feeling a lot better today and am planning on still laying low around the apartment so I don't backtrack. I have an incredibly busy work week next week. But I do want to catch up on cleaning and doing some fun projects. I decided to take a few photos around the apartment today. One of the goals I mentioned yesterday was to take more photos. I have gotten away from doing that. It is the little things I see in old photos that I love. Daily things that go forgotten years later. I also thought it would be fun to do a post about where I am at this moment in a few words. I got the idea from the blog "Dynamo" by Sandra C.

So here goes with a few words and photos of my world right now.

listening: "Top Chef - Just Desserts" on the tv in the background
eating: finishing up my sunday morning coffee. Having a cold for a few days I have been having tea instead. Oh how I missed my coffee!
drinking: see above!
wearing: pj's
feeling: tired but so much better
weather: warmer than usual for New England in November but overcast
wanting: more time to relax and recover from stress and illness
needing: creative time.
thinking: of all the things I want to accomplish today.
enjoying: a long sunday morning and the scent of my "Autumn Leaves" Yankee Candle.
wondering: if I can live by the quote, " “Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.”-unknown. I am having trouble with that.


Images of my world right now:



my oldest plant. i have kept it alive for 10 years.

kitchen table with one of my great-grandfather's paintings above. nate berkus would be appalled by my fake leaves!

this plate is a comfort. it was my grandmother's and reminds me of her and her house. simpler times. pumpkin was from Pier 1. It is full of hershey kisses!

what I have to do (study for LMHC exam) -vs- what I want to do (finish ATC's and other artsy stuff)

bedside table. i borrowed the latest "shopoholic" book from my mom. if you haven't read this series I HIGHLY suggest it! laugh out loud funny!

christmas card supplies purchased last week on my lss's bus trip to local shops.

my large framed drawing i did for my senior studio thesis in college and fall decorations in the hall.

clementines i bought yesterday. not sure they are completely ripe. i love these in season. above is another prized possession of my parent's. they recieved it from a family friend when i was little. a madonna and child triptych.

Well..I'm off to try and get some stuff done today!
Happy sunday!



updating

autumn scents

I have been terrible about updating here. I used to be so good about posting projects and goings on in my world. I have also been terrible about keeping up with my favorite bloggers. I have always enjoyed the give and take of sharing and reading about others who have similar interests...my goal is to catch up!

Here's what I've been up to...

• Sick day yesterday. Have been feeling run down for a few weeks and gradually worse last week. Developed into a simple cold but enough to feel crummy. I am hopeful that things will improve next week. I'm trying to stay in the moment because I have had really long weeks at work and next week is looking to be extremely busy. One day at a time.
• Last saturday I went on a day-long bus trip to several scrapbook stores in the area. My LSS hosted. It was fun. I mainly focused on getting supplies for this years Christmas cards. Because my list gets longer and longer every year I am simplifying. I am only going to make some of the cards. The rest will be store bought. I am trying to focus on the idea of enjoying this yearly tradition instead of turning it into a chore that I will dread.
• Studying for my state counseling license exam. I'm a little overwhelmed. It has been a long time and I think I may now have jumped over the hoops neccesary to apply for my license (after 10 years!) but first the exam...not telling anyone when I actually take it because I am nervous on how I will do.
• Working on a set of fall ATC's for a  swap and group this week. I am hoping to feel better tomorrow so I can finish them up. I have felt useless yesterday and today.
• Finally got the energy to buy groceries today. Planning on baking my guy some of his family's recipe chocolate chip cookies to send to him on the base. He has been gone 3 weeks and it feels like an eternity. But I was able to get a plane ticket to see him for New Year's! We weren't sure we could find something affordale. I cannot wait to see his face.
• Realizing how few photos I have been taking lately. I want to focus on doing that going into the holidays.
• Laughing out loud in my living room watching all the seasons of Ally McBeal on DVD. I LOVED that show!
• Staying busy so that time goes enjoyable and quickly while my guy is away from home.
• Knitting! Ready to piece together a friend's baby sweater. Her shower is in a few weeks...I need to get on it! Also working on a throw blanket for us. Started this "Hemlock Ring" throw yesterday. It is looking to be a quick knit!

Well now that I've updated...I'm going to catch up on others blogs.

Happy Saturday!

wordless wednesday

meet jack