Photograph of the week
 |
| First Morning Glory of the Summer |
In the measure of things, when turmoil blankets life, I believe, it can be a catalyst for change. Change to take the overwhelming too much, and get out from under it by lifting yourself up.
Starting out easy on yourself at a reasonable pace. Focus on endeavors that can bring you success, even when you don’t win every time.
I’m searching for blogs and vlogs/channels to balance my main interests with my reading and viewing time. So far, the inspiration is rewarding.
Writing is back on my agenda. Gentle Scary Stories is a public blog again. There will be weekly installments of short stories as well as commentary about my writing process.
At present, a story I began years ago has the first part posted. It is based on a true event that I experienced. As it is often said about writing, write about what you know.
Thank you for visiting
 |
| The Nostradamus Sparrow an old favorite digital photograph |
 |
| Sunflower bud |
Reading blogs is often a boost of inspiration. To enhance the experience, I’ll pursue finding blogs in areas of interest. A weekly blog expedition will add blogs to a bookmark folder.
In the weeks following, reading the favorites will sort the blogs to regularly read, and the others to visit sometimes.
What’s interesting starting out to blog search is that in the year’s of my blog reading, my favorites don’t cover well my main interests. The majority are for needlework, sewing, crafts, and such. I read more about gardening and quilting than I do fine art, creative writing or geology.
Fine Point. It is the people over content that are interesting! I will explore that idea further during my stepping back healing time.
🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞
Photograph of the Week
 |
| My Go to sewing repair kit |
Once again, things get in the way of life going smoothly for me. On one side, I reached my limit dealing with a situation (resolved). On another side, sorrow appears. Not to leave much of a sliver for relief to shine through, adjusting to my injury fills in the rest.
I usually take refuge here as blogging is a place away from most of the woes of life. I’m taking a step back for prayer and time to heal. I will post a weekly photograph and read blogs.
Enjoy your summer
🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞
I polished my right hand fingernails using two fingers sticking out of the wrist splint wrap. It was funny to do. The left hand nails look great polished nice with no chips, all the same length filed perfectly. They almost look fake. The right hand is shabby polish all worn and chipped.
The other day I bought a treat, a mini pint of ice cream (at the same price of the old pint size container.) Calculating calories for that day, I mentally screamed when I saw 930 calories on the info. 😱 For about a cup of ice cream, that is outrageous. No more treats without checking the calories first.
Day lilies are beautiful to see on the side of the road. However, allergy wise they are sneeze. city. Sinus stuffed, one’s balance can be off. I believe it is best to be on the summer slow setting.
The bluejay has an Ah vibe that brings on a feeling of cooler temperatures.
Meanwhile, enjoy summer!
 |
| Bluejay in January 2026 |
The directional choices for consumers have flexibilities that are, I feel, uneasy to grasp.
Why is something so good for the human mind as researching is, be taken away in the guise of helping mankind, by pushing AI?
Technology is a constant tide flowing into our lives. There is no ebb.
If the passage of time interests you, then keep a journal that numbers the days. Instead of floating on your future as a background always there, enjoy the your view, the one you create for as much as you are able.
Shape your weekend well
This is July day one. There is a high heat advisory posted already! Out my door it is 95°F ( 35°C). I will not be surprised if the ambient temperature hits 100°F ( 37°C) this week.
Please, pack an emergency kit for the heat. Check out the government CDC and National Weather websites for extreme heat safety.
Think. Freezer packs in a thermal bag plus water. Walking, I keep a blue freezer block on the inside of my baclpack where it rest on my lower spine.
🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞
Anywayz, I am happy to have seen that happen. So, as fate goes with its well developed sense of humor, the stretch fabric over my cast, after a thorough clipping of demon strays, now has three more for me to clip. 🤣
.
 |
| I found a fourth one. 😱 (top left horizontal) |
There are things I hope to do. For this year’s warm weather months in this northern hemisphere, not making plans is the theme I’m going to go by. Once the cast is replaced with a splint, my confidence doing more will kick in.
For now, I’m in awe that after 4 days not wearing earrings, I put in a pair of French wires using one hand. Yesterday I scored my 5th Wordle on 2 out of 120 games. I’m so scared about tripping and falling, I went barefoot. Having to use my right arm more, I ache more from sore muscles than the broken wrist.
Meanwhile, I’d like to paint today, sit outdoors under an umbrella with a no sugar ice tea, and glue something fun.
 |
| Tissue decoupage on an Altoids tin takes several layers to obscure the raised lettering. |
 |
| Adding fabric over the tissue, the raised lettering still shows through. It adds a homemade vibe. |
Yesterday, a thing happens out of nowhere. I tripped on the new door mat. Seconds later, I’m assessing the situation and going for my phone, just in case.
Unreal, just like the TV ad, I couldn’t get up. My neighbor helped me. Another neighbor drove me to the ER and picked me up almost 6 hours later.
Staff at Porter Hospital, Middlebury Vermont are impressive, very caring and tuned into the discomfort. The folks in the nearly full waiting room were so nice, I believe the atmosphere helped calm me. I wanted to cry really bad. Instead, I was talking and even laughing sometimes.
Lucky I am that no surgery needed. My wrist has two small breaks. I saw them on the x-rays. I didn’t want to think about the damage because that can increase stress. At a time of injury, calm is the focus. The body is upset enough. Shifting attention from hurt person to caring for that delicate self is calming. I learned that from reading about the physiology of child birth.
In a cast for a week and then to ortho doctor for a splint. A surprise to me is the decrease of soreness. My fingers can wiggle without pain. I can peel a banana with one hand. 😁 A good part about is I don’t need pain meds. Ibuprofen is sufficient if needed. Alas, the cast adds weight on my scale. So, no weigh ins for a week. 😂🥳
Oh, I discovered that twirling around to help pull up your pants with one hand doesn’t make them rise faster. 😂 A quick jump up does though.
 |
| The Green Mountains View from Porter Hospital ER parking lot, Middlebury, Vermont |
Here I am on day 2 of painting subjects’ week starting out with sneezing bouts, hunger grumblings, and a weird sense of lightness.
Food we digest takes time to process through our bodies. It can take days, weeks even for it all to be sorted out. Changes for me. For 3 weeks +/- Greek yogurt is part of my daily menu. The limit foods I have are mainly plant based. I start my day with spring water, eggs or a banana. Weight loss has been light ( 1 lb.), due to taking it easy for a while.
The themed weeks will help me move around more as well as reduce stress. I now see food and activity as partners in healthy living.
Staying with, what I know, selecting common objects as subjects is rather intriguing to me. The spiral notebook has to be included this week.
The light enhancing the texture showing wear in the cardboard is a challenge. Thinking watercolor feels right. Alas, my masking fluid, I think, is so old, it’s probably gummy by now. Pencil is my first thought. Acrylic, though, will help along the abstract story of the curving metal.
Today’s subject: My spiral notebook journal
 |
| Digital photo, spiral notebook detail |
Changing your mind about a theme for the week is a good part of the idea as flexibility and creativity are cousins. Music was the planned theme first this week. Why change?
A documentary on YouTube, “Wyeth,” 2018 inspires me to select this week’s theme: Painting Subjects.
In art and writing, the high priority is to create what you know. The film set me to exploring how I chose subjects to paint. What do I know?
Flowing with the moment. Clutter comfort turns into a shop of painting subjects, so much to choose from. I would define myself as mainly landscape and abstract artist. Attention to still life will be an interesting path to follow this summer.
First Subject: A banana peel
 |
| A Banana Peel Digital photo 2026 |
This week has had a Saturday morning vibe. I thought today that will change. It has, to an atmosphere of summer is ending instead of Juneteenth and Midsummer Night’s Eve.
Overcast skies with rain in the forecast help set that stage.
What plays on the mind with impish moods braided through the stream of my life? Is there a key to open the mystery? Probably. The hints I’ve been noticing are through links bloggers post to amazingly creative websites.
It is possible to be in a rut without knowing that’s where you are? Who wakes up everyday right off analyzing who they are? Not me.
In a recovering from a health issue flare up, my menu has changed. I no longer have a hot coffee, tea or other beverage in the morning. I no longer have milk. My dairy source is Greek yogurt. Gone are citrus, spicy and rich desserts. Cheese is no longer my go to snack.
Hmm? Could the fun Saturday morning cartoons vibe be due to my eating differently? Methinks yes. It could also be an emotional isostatic rebound thing after suffering through episodes of 8-10 pain levels. My spirit is embracing the absence of pain by giving me a Saturday morning vibe all week. I shall not complain about that. 😎
Have a painless weekend!
 |
| Almost (a capturing raindrops attempt) |
 |
| New Haven River up stream |
 |
| Rock roses by the riverside Eagle Park, Lincoln Vermont |
 |
| Down stream The New Haven River in June |
After errands this morning, realizing I am up early enough for the McD breakfast menu, I go that way.
The thrift store is open. I stop there.
On my keep a look out for list is a dress, a casual style for summer to dress up or down. The dress I considered before (a few times), finally made it with me to the checkout desk. There were days my closet had many dresses.
After the thrift store, I visited the New Haven River in Lincoln, Vermont. Heavy rains cause the water to be running fairly fast. The sunny weather is ideal for a picnic lunch next to a sparkling river.
At home now, I can hardly keep my eyes open.
Hilarious, typing, at home now, through spell check editing, stated something that read like, I’m high now. No, I am not high nor do I take anything to get high. Spell check combined with keyboards not fat finger friendly is becoming a constant source of laughs as well as moments of sheer horror.
 |
| Eagle Park, Lincoln, Vermont along the New Haven River fishing platform |
Having a purpose, an enjoyable thing to do as part of my day is proving to be wonderful. As I gather up a few summer editions of “Yankee Magazine,” (dating from 2021-2023), up pops a 2004 edition of the “American Art Review.” (The local library use to have loads of great magazines at their book sales.)
My feast of reading about art starts with the article, “The Western Massachusetts Art Trail.” The border to Massachusetts from here in Vermont is about a 2 hour drive (200 miles +/-). I feel giddy with dreams of going on an art excursion someday.
As it goes, it is a learning experience to select a painting from which you paint your own similar scene from life, in the style of that artist. I did that once using as inspiration a tree painting by Van Gogh. Below is my painting of a local tree.
Be inspired, read about art.
 |
| The Tree 9x12 inch acrylic |
