Category: Ten on Tuesday

This week, Carole invited us to write ten sentences that start with “I am…”

1. I am optimistic.

2. I am reading Nancy Drew The Secret of the Old Clock with a few knitting friends. Teenage girls had sophisticated vocabularies in 1930/59.

3. I am learning to knit Eastern Uncrossed, or as Donna told me it is called in Lithuanian books, Močiutės Mezgimas. I took a class at my LYS on Saturday, and it renewed my interest in knitting. I’d been in a knitting slump.

4. I am knitting Maren for my Olympics project.

5. I am on my third swatch for Maren. I know, stop the press. I knit the first my usual English style, and the next Eastern Uncrossed. Holy gauge difference! The swatch I’m knitting now is looking better since I switched from 7s to 5s.

6. I am excited to watch the Olympics. I prefer the winter games to the summer.

7. I am looking for new winter vegetarian recipes. Please share links!

8. I am eager to start Oskar’s next round of training. We couldn’t take the February intermediate because of scheduling conflicts; March can’t come fast enough!

9. I am ready for spring, although the winter wonderland created by a fresh 3″ of snow is pretty.

10. I am curious. Tell me what you are!

Yesterday Neal sent me a link to this video of Neil Gaiman reading Green Eggs and Ham. Perfect for today’s prompt!

Carole asked us to share 10 Favorite Moments of 2013. It’s hard to limit to ten!

1.My sister’s eldest, Drew, visited in January. We took the train to NYC, saw the Beatrix Potter exhibit at the Morgan, and enjoyed pastries at my favorite NYC cafe.  

2. My birthday dinner with Neal. A blizzard hit, and Neal spent the day snow blowing and shoveling. He then took me skiing, and finally, to a lovely dinner.

3. Playing with Maddie in the brook during the spring.

4. Spending loads of time in Paris. I especially loved wandering Shakespeare and Company while listening to this young woman play the piano.

5. A sunny day in Montplaisir that ended with time spent watercoloring.

6. Morning and evening visits at Montplaisir from my four-legged friend (I named him Arno).

 

7. A lovely afternoon in Camon, where nearly every doorway is covered in roses, with artist Cassandra Einstein and her charming musical husband.

 

8. Time shopping in the Parisian markets with Sara. Well, let’s just say all moments with Sara were top moments!

9. Enjoying time on the beautiful screened porch that Neal built me. This included our fun-filled Open Porch Wednesdays (the porch was open to all from 6-9 with drinks and snacks at the ready…I can’t wait for summer to start it up again!), time napping, reading, chatting, watercolor paining, and writing. And…before the screens went in, I saw our clutch of phoebes learn to fly!

10. Bringing little Oskar into our family. Moments when we hiked together, watched the pups all playing, celebrated Tilly’s return to health as she ran with the new dog, remembered sweet Maddie when Oskar did something just the way she used to.

There are thousands of great memories from 2013, most of them revolving around Neal, my best pals, my family, my mutts, my creative outlets, and teaching. What are some of your favorite moments from 2013?

 

 

 

 

Today Carole invited us to share Ten Things I am Thankful For:

1. My dogs. I miss my little Maddie all the time, but Oskar, Coco, and Tilly add joy to every day. Sometimes worry and frustration, too, but always joy.

2. Living near my parents. I never thought I’d end up back in CT. I was happy to leave it, and while I returned for love, I’ve always wished my love lived elsewhere. Still, in the last year, I’ve grown more grateful to be here, near my parents, which allows me to have a stronger relationship with them than I did in the past.

3. My family. They’re pretty great.

4. All the abundance in my life. I remember times when my food budget was smaller than the cost of a manicure. I am grateful to be able to purchase not only whatever food I want, but whatever quality food. I’m grateful to have a sweet home, transportation, a job, supplies for crafting, access to any book I want to read.

5. My Oboz hiking boots. I’m spending a lot of time in the woods with Oskar, and I splurged on a pair of proper boots. They have made hiking even better.

6. My friends. What is better than that solid group of people who you really get and who get you, who will do silly or serious activities with you with the same exuberance?

7. Good health insurance. I had a battle with an immersion blender Sunday night. The immersion blender was not the one to go to the ER. I’m grateful that it was inexpensive (and that I didn’t lose the tip of my finger–the cuts, while painful and sharp, should heal easily. They were surprisingly minor, needing only steri-strips).

8. My online community. I’m thrilled by the enthusiasm for Craft Friday!

9. Writing projects. My projects, while slow going, keep me focused on what matters the most to me. Story rocks my world, and I’m grateful to create it.

10. Neal. This man, sometimes compared by my friends to Ron Swanson, makes me feel thankful all day long, every day. I feel fortunate to spend my life with him.

I’ll post with more Craft Friday details on Wednesday. In the meantime, what has you feeling thankful this year?

 

Carole wants to hear about my (long) weekend, and when she asks, I respond! So here are some glimpses at what I did.

1. Cooked this spaghetti squash noodle bowl recipe (with adjustments). So. So. Good.

2. Taught a class on adding crochet edgings to pillowcases. I love doing this, and it is so easy. Just sew on a base using back stitch or blanket stitch, then crochet what ever edging you like onto the base. It is a fast, adorable project!

3. Crocheted granny squares for a Christmas stocking class I’m teaching. I’ve fallen madly in love (again) with crochet lately.

4. Started this baby blanket for a co-worker’s new boy. I’m using Berroco Vintage, and it feels great as I stitch–smooth, soft, not splitty.

5. Organized my supplies for Brene Brown’s OWN class “The Gifts of Imperfection”  (let me know if you’re taking it; I’d love to connect over this class).

6. Visited with good friends over Thai food.

7. Watched baseball with Neal. He’s a lifelong Cardinals fan. Need I say more?

8. Finished reading Half the Sky. I’m not a big fan of non-fiction, but this book was worth the time I spent reading it. I’m inspired to find a way to do more to empower women in other parts of the world. I’ll keep you posted when I figure out what that “do more” is!

9.Rode the stationery bike for 40 minutes. I did very little outside riding this year. I’m not meeting my 100-mile goal in 2013. I’ve already started thinking about 2014, though, and I’ve been increasing the time on the trainer. 40 minutes feels like a lot more than my old usual, 30 minutes!

10. Adopted this guy

 

It’s only been a month since we lost our darling Maddie, but I saw this gorgeous Siberian Husky on the Boot ‘n Kit page and had to meet him. He has been with us since Sunday afternoon, and so far, he’s a charming addition to the pack. Once we all get to know each other a bit more, I’ll give him his own post. Oh, his name?

Oskar Blue. Or just plain Oskar.

What did you do this weekend?

Hey, Banned Books. Hey Censorship. Guess what? Carole asked us to list ten books we’re excited about reading. Even the challenged and censored ones.

1. Beautiful Wreck by Larissa Brown. Okay, I am reading it (I’ve been fortunate enough to get the plum job of working with Larissa as she edits it), but I can’t wait to read it when it comes out at the end of the year. You will love it, too, so get on the mailing list to learn more.

2. The Revolution of Every Day by Cari Luna. I’ve read this one, too, and I’m super duper excited to read it again with my students. You can check out my Amazon review here and order your copy at the same time.

3. The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides. A good friend loaned it to me quite some time ago, and I’ve been eager to dive in and read it.

4. Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. This is my university’s First Year book, and though I’m not teaching any comp classes this year, I don’t want to miss what everyone is buzzing about.

5. The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. I worked through this book in 2001, and I feel ready to do so again. By the way, this is a Challenged book.

6. MaddAddam by Margaret Atwood. I enjoyed the first two in the trilogy and have been eager for this third novel.

7. Nights I Dreamed of Hubert Humphrey by Dan Mueller. Another one I’ve read, but I’m re-reading it with my creative writing students. Such powerful, funny, gut-wrenching short stories!

8. Pack Up the Moon by Rachael Herron. I’ll have to hold my horses a bit, but I know it will be worth my anticipation!

9. Dimanche by Irene Nemirovsky has been on my bookshelf for a while. I am saving it for the next time I need a fix of her fantastic characters.

10. The Art of Styling Sentences by Ann Longknife and K.D. Sullivan. I know, I know. Could it get more exciting? Not for this word nerd!

This week, Carole invited us to share Ten Favorite Summertime Treats.

1. Watermelon. Last summer I shared some of my favorite ways to eat it on Your Lovely Life.

2. Ice cream. Sorbet. Frozen yogurt. I love it all.

3. Just picked veggies. I wait all year for the couldn’t-be-fresher taste.

4. Swimming pools. Ah, what a treat to float around in the heat. Just roll off the raft–and you’re cool again.

5. Outdoor shows. Shakespeare, concerts, movies…any entertainment that allows me to pack a picnic and stretch out on a blanket is a treat.

6. Beach trips. The sand between my toes! The salt air in my nose! The ocean water cradling me like a dangerous baby sitter!

7. Tomatoes. Oh, tomatoes! I refused to eat tomatoes until I was in my late 20s. My dad would pick them off the plant in his robust garden, bite into them like apples and say “you don’t know what you’re missing!” He was correct. I’m trying to make up for all those tomato-free years. Dinner at least twice a week is sliced tomatoes on a good bread (too hot to bake, but Collinsville Bakery makes excellent bread) with a sliver of mozzarella. So delicious.

8. Gin & Tonic. I’m late to the g&t party, but I’ll be staying all night! Is there a more refreshing cocktail? I haven’t found it.

9. Sweaty bike rides. Biking is always a treat in my book, and I love it extra hard when it’s hot out. Working up the big sweat makes all the other treats even more delightful.

10. Rainy days. As long as there aren’t too many of them, a rainy day after a week-long heat wave (yes, I’m looking out the window at the post-heat wave rainy day) is a real treat. I’ll be spending the day writing and sewing and listening to the rain’s gentle fall.

What are your favorite summer treats?

Don’t forget: if you’d like to join the Writers #Roadtrip fun,  click here to subscribe to the #roadtrip prompts…and I hope you’ll take a look at my new e-course You Have Time.  

This week Carole invited everyone to list Ten Favorite Things to Do When You’re Alone. While I was rarely alone as a child, as an adult, I’ve spent quite a lot of time alone. I don’t mind it one bit. There’s a freedom to being alone, a sense of opportunity…yet I savor the wonderful feeling when Neal comes home, and I’m alone no more!

1. Read. As the youngest of five kids, I learned to sink into a book no matter what racket occurred around me. But, oh, the luxury of reading alone on the (nearly finished) porch, which is just what I did on Saturday while Neal was at the races with his buds. (Neil Gaiman’s Ocean at the End of the Lane, in case you need a good book. Perfect for reading in one lovely, long sitting.)

2. Eat foods no one else likes. Since I’m a vegetarian and Neal is not, we don’t always eat the same meals. Often, my dinner is a side dish for him. There are some meals I enjoy that he finds icky (egg noodles smothered in sauteed onions and cottage cheese, I’m looking at you) (don’t judge; it was a cheap, filling meal I ate often as a graduate student). Since he respects my absolute abhorrence of the lingering smell of fish cooked inside and avoids making it when I’m home, I spare him the noodly mess he dislikes.

3. Read at the table while I eat. We both read at breakfast on the weekend. Ever since I was a kid, I would eat at every meal if I could. When I’m alone, I do!

4. Clean. In particular, wash floors. I enjoy cleaning (when I’m not burdened by a stack of papers that need to be read), and I prefer to do it alone. And then bask in a sparkling house before anyone comes back inside and, well, lives in it.

5. Write. I can write when I’m not alone, but I prefer solitude so I can sink into the world of my novel or test out lines of poetry out loud without embarrassment.

6. Listen to a story. My neighbor blog-free Kim stopped by a few weeks ago, and we chatted about our current reads. She mentioned her excitement at downloading books from the library. I’ve downloaded library books, including audio books, before, but I had not done so in a while. I visited my library’s website, saw that they offer audio books through OneClick, and that it is easy to search for books via OneClick! I realized that the poor search features of a few years ago had made me resist getting e-books and audio books from the library. I’ve listened to Joyce Carol Oates’s Wild Nights! ,and I’m in the middle of Geraldine Brooks’s People of the Book, which I am loving. When I’m alone, cooking or weeding or stitching, it’s so nice to enjoy a good story.

7. Read French magazines. I want to improve my French vocabulary. I bought a few magazines and novels (I’m not ready for those just yet) while I visited Sara. I find it hard to concentrate on reading them if I’m not alone. I can’t read for long (reading and thinking in another language when my skill level is so poor is a challenge! It makes my brain hurt! But I persist.), but I find it satisfying when I can feel confident that I have understood an entire page.

8. Paint. I don’t mind doing this around others. I’m just sort of smitten with watercolors right now, so if I’m alone with nothing else slated for my time, well, out come the paints!

9. Craft. See above. I’m happy crafting with others, but I’m just as happy crafting alone if I have a good story to keep me company.

10. Write letters. I find it challenging to write a letter if there’s too much action around. I can manage it, but it’s more fun to see what the quiet sparks in my imagination.

What are your favorite things to do when you’re alone? If letting your imagination spark is one of them, I hope you’ll join our friendly caravan on the writers #roadtrip!

Carole asked us to list Ten Things I’m Looking Forward to in May. Easy Peasy.

First, some specific dates:

1. May 2: Last day of classes.

2. May 3-5: My brother and sister who live far away will be in town for the weekend.

3. May 7: Collect final portfolios from students. After that, a grading party, and I’m done teaching for the semester.

4. May 18: Neal and I celebrate our sixth wedding anniversary.

5. May 19-June 6: I visit Sara in France where we will celebrate our 30th year of friendship.

Now, some general lovely things I’m looking forward to in May:

6. I’m going to launch my first e-course. I’ve been working hard to transform my method of finding time to do what I want to do into something that will be useful to you. I can’t wait to share it!

7. Lilacs. Last summer Neal moved our lilac trees to a new, sunnier location, and I expect mounds of flowers this year. They look SO happy with their new homes!

8. Violet jelly. I’m hoping to pick my violets on Wednesday or Friday.

9. Mother’s Day. I haven’t quite decided la façon de célébrer ma mère (I’ve been practicing my French, see?!), but she has had a challenging year and deserves an extra-special day.

10. Did I mention school letting out? And my anniversary? And that adventure ahead of me? Yes. I think May is going to be a lovely month!

What are you looking forward to in May?

My vacation is still over a month away, but I’m already thinking about 10 Things I (plan to) Bring on Vacation (I’m taking out the Always. I don’t know that I Always bring the same things). You can see my similar list circa 2010.

1. I still bring my fabulous luggage. I’m a firm believer in investing in quality pieces, and this one looks even better than when I bought it ten years ago.

2. A bathing suit. I have a bikini I like from Fig Leaves. The shop is great for odd shaped (and aren’t we all a bit oddly shaped?) bodies. Even if I don’t end up with a chance to swim, I want to prepared for the beach, a sailboat, a pool…

3. iPad. I now prefer it to my Kindle for reading, mostly because it is back lit. I can’t emphasize how much easier traveling is without books weighing down my luggage.

4. Journal. I plan to do lots and lots of sketching and writing while I’m in France. I treasure my travel journals.

5. Rita. This dress (mine is black) is as comfy as a lovely bathrobe yet looks stylish. It will emerge from my bag sans wrinkles. Should I get asked to a fancy-pants dinner, I will be prepared.

6. Knitting. Since I’m planning a meet up with Heather in Paris, and since we’re having a little #VeeraKAL, I may have my in-progress Color Affection along. Or maybe a sock.

7. Wireless keyboard. This is a little bit of a luxury item to take, but I will be on a firm writing schedule, don’t want to schlep my laptop, and will use it daily (so I say).

8. iPhone. Technically, I could write with this rather than the iPad, but I can’t read on the phone for long periods of time. However, I will listen to audio books and music on it.

9. Good shoes. I’m not sure what I’ll chose for France, but they’ll have to look stylish and be comfortable. In that order. Yes, I am vain, vain, vain.

10. Sense of adventure. I like to balance seeing the touristy sights with meandering. I love the adventure of turning a corner and finding a delightful little museum or shop or cafe. Sara and I are good travel companions (we should be after 30 years of hanging out together!), so I expect that we shall have lots of fun wanders. I’m ready for them all.

What do you like to bring on vacation?

Carole asked for Ten Things on My Mind. It is an odd place, the mind, so prepare for randomness:

1. Dreams. I so rarely remember my dreams, but lately I’ve woken from a few that have stuck. They are always gruesome. Always. Today, upon 6 a.m. discovery that my university closed for weather, I snuggled under the covers only to awake from a dream about two gangs fighting on the roof of a hotel. There were turtles involved, but not Teenage Mutant Ninjas, rest assured.

2. France. In late May I’m heading to France to spend almost three weeks with Sara. I can’t stop thinking about it!

3. This pattern. Pretty much all of Kate Davies patterns, if I’m to be honest.

4. Potholders. I’ve been hard at work on the last two for my e-book Little Potholders with Big Ideas (click to pre-order!). Next week my graphic artist will take them all for their photo shoot. I can’t wait to see how he styles them!

5. Summer. Now that spring break is over, I’m closing in on summer break. Don’t get me wrong. I love my work. I’m just eager to spend sustained time on my own creative projects.

6. Sketching. I’m taking a class with Katie Rodgers to develop my fashion illustration skills. When I say develop, I mean from nothing. I enjoy sketching, but my skills are elementary. I’m learning a lot, though!

7. The Good Blog Project. I’ve been working with Courtney Carver through this project. She’s helped me to articulate what I want to do and start creating the work that is important to me. She’s opening another session in May, and I can’t recommend it enough.

8. Bloom. This is my One Little Word for 2013. It is constantly on my mind as I strive to bloom in a variety of ways.

9. Finding a writing scholarship. Not for myself, but to donate to. Charlotte Rains Dixon and I have hatched a writing project, and we want to donate proceeds from it to a writing scholarship for young women. It’s challenging to find one, though, so if you know of a great program, will you pass along information?

10. Biking. This snow day is a nice treat, but I was just beginning to think it is time to pull out my road bike. I can’t wait to bike outside!

What’s on your mind?

Would you like to receive PoMo posts by email? Subscribe in the sidebar box. Let’s connect on Twitter, too!