Cape Breton is as beautiful as everyone said it would be. Sweeping vistas,




lighthouses,


wildlife,

new shoes.

Rain here too. But the days we hiked and paddled were hot and sunny.

This is in Margaree Harbor, on the west side and just as you start to travel up the Cabot Trail. Wish you could smell the wild roses that covered this banking just ahead of my kayak. And we found a nesting area of gulls. I've lived off the coast of Maine all my life and I've never seen baby gulls this small. Who would have thought those noisy, raucous things could be so downy cute.

It's raining. Again.

Gifts

Three special gifts for three special people.  Birthday, anniversary and graduation.  The gifts themselves aren't that spectacular, but the wrapping is wonderful. There's pleasure in the details.  At least for me.

They're getting bigger

How do they all fit? And could they be any cuter. This was the last picture before they flew the coop.

Traveling

This is my box. I never travel without my box...( Amahl). Anyway, silliness aside, vacation is coming up and I'll carry this with me in case the mood strikes and I see something I want to record. In this box is everything I need to create a little piece, by hand, on the spot. I am imagining myself sitting in a field or on the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean all the way to Ireland. It all fits into a flat wooden cigar box that fits on my lap. In it are needles, thread, floss, scissors, beads, buttons, fabric scraps. Draped over the top are the precut base fabric and batting.


I'll also have my journals, pens, paper,and paints in another bag. Hopefully, there'll be room for the necessities, like clothes. And wine.

Look what I found!

In the corner of our house is a little nest, chock full of baby birds. The mother graciously stepped aside (not too far, mind you) so I could get a baby picture. There are at least 3 and maybe even 4.

Bright spots

Do you remember when you were 10? I do. I remember struggling to think of something to say in letters to my two grandmothers who lived in the same town. It was so much work that I would write one and copy the same words in the other, usually starting out with, "Hi- How are you?-I'm fine. " Little did I know they would talk and chuckle together over the sameness of their notes from me. In hindsight I'm happy I could at least provide a little enjoyment for them. So, now I'm enjoying my own little chuckle from my 10 year old niece who is thanking me for going to her grandparents day at school:

Thanks for coming to grandpersons day I couldn't find any one else. Mom work Dad
working Papa wouldn't like it very much. Other grandparents Florida Aunts and uncles working exept you! Love Ella J

Oh, the innocence of youth searching for words.

I'm still here!!

I have so many loose ends in my life right now, things seem a bit overwhelming. Nothing bad, but just thins I can't come to closure with, you know? And I NEED that. Tie up loose ends. Cross it off my list. So, consequently, I feel stuck. It's all my own doing, you know, in my HEAD, thinkin too much. And because of it, and because I'm here now, I'm goin to move forward, my new mantra will be "DON'T THINK SO MUCH".

It doesn't help that my 'g' key is stuck. A metaphor, perhaps?

On another more upbeat note, we just spent the weekend in Bar Harbor. We had a little bit of every kind of weather, rain, sun, warm, cold. And we were there for one and a half days only. The highlight might have been the Azalea Gardens at the Asticou Inn in Northeast Harbor. IF you ever come to Maine check it out. It's stunning any time of year, but especially now when the flowers are blooming.

I've put toether a little travel kit of supplies that I take with me in case I get the urge to do some spontaneous handwork. (see the little birds I made a few posts ago). I'm finding it challenging to create these pieces from nothing, except what I have in my box. Recreating what I see by looking at a scene and without drawing anything, just cutting fabric scraps and sewing it all by hand. And trying to do it within the time I sit there. I mention this because in the new Cloth, Paper, Scissors Studio magazine is an article titled,"You can take it with you", travel kits. As soon as I tidy mine up a bit, I'll snap a picture and post it tomorrow. How's that for selfmotivation to post sooner rather than later?