Looking Forward to Summer

Summer Sun Umbrella

Images as well as thoughts of summer can make spring rainy days go by smoother. 

Ages ago, more than once, I set about to train myself to only use one fork, spoon, knife, cup and plate. There's no reason, I feel, for one person to empty the utensils' holder in a day. That's a lot of spoons! Yet, I do it all the time. Collecting containers and utensils for my summer excursions has brought me back to trying again the one utensil life style. 

The summer set up will be complete when I get are a small clip on sun shade umbrella, picnic blanket, cooler for ice, and put together a first aid kit. I already have the mosquito net hat, bug spray and sunscreen. The sun hat for this season, bought a couple of years ago, will be redecorated. A rain umbrella as a parasol for walking is also on the buy list (with the clip on shade umbrella).

Have you begun preparing for summer?

🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞

Day 109 of Week 16 April 2024

Lake Champlain in April 2024
Upstate New York at Fort Saint Frederic

The beautiful Chartreuse buds on the trees are everywhere. An audience waiting for a spring concert of leaves to begin playing in the wind is one of the many delights of the season of new growth.

So what's up?

Well, my 2024 change of lifestyle doesn't seem to be much different than 2023. The changes I have made are subtle. 

For example, my attitude has improved as I am less tolerant of worrying too much over tiny things. If stress becomes too high, then nightmares will let me know when to make asjustments. I've discovered a color I look best wearing, navy blue. Not having bread every day doesn't ruin my life. Forgetting to buy ketchup so often is not a betrayal of the my New England (Boston Area) roots (of ketchup on most everything).  

How is 2024 going for you? Noticed any changes in attitude? Menu? Fashion sense?

This year, I put a purchase limit to one pair of sandals. Pleased with my online thrift order, the sandals fit, but they need to stretch out to be comfortable. Given a strap does go over my arthritic toe, the limit on sandals is now at 3, with an emphasis on no straps across the big toe. 

I've begun to put together a paint and picnic tote. The thrift store had a good selection of small well sealed containers that are perfect for fruit and veggies. I wish I bought a few more.

This summer, the goal is to prep 2 days of fruit and vegetables instead of preparing a single meal each day. The reduction of waste by doing that is a plus as too many times fruit and vegetables are pushed to the back of the fridge to be forgotten.  If the weather is good, then I can quickly put together a picnic and be outdoors.

Have a Summery Thinking Weekend!

Browse fun tee shirts online

Bake carrots and apples

Sing to your garden space

Buy new garden gloves

Clean out your vehicle

Glue a together a collage

Take photos of tree buds

Hello March

There are 112 days until summer.

Spring is 19 days away.

Posting is on Pause.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About the looking at the orange nasturtium each morning to boost my energy:

The results are such that I am sure orange is a joyful color. However, my increase in energy is not enough to attribute it to the color watching only.

There were too many sunny mornings that interfered with pure results. 

Next week I will try looking at a deep navy blue to see how that goes.

About Learning Photography

Leaf on Hot Concrete
Digital photo August 2019

What you might notice when going through photo folders of years gone by, are subjects you've photographed a lot, composition quality improvement, and not all cameras take good photos.

Clouds. I have a lot of cloud pictures. Moon. Lots of those pics as well. Plants. Like I'll forget what basil and nasturtiums look like. Autumn. Season favoritism shows. 

You can be engaged in pursuing adjustments in your life when other things you do merge, enter the room, have a sit down on the brain until you figure out why it deserves a seat. Becoming a better photographer deserves a seat in my mind is a no brainer.

Style. Are you a good photographer, candid picture taker or have a lens why not record an image? I think it depends on the moment and what you are looking at. 

I can be all three at the same time. Attitude prevails. What doesn't enter the picture is the effort to improve my skill as a photographer of any style level. Thus, with a depression dip to deal with, I'm now into learning photography. An item on the lists you see on websites for how to get out of a depression surge, is to learn or do something new. 

Below are a couple of links to get you started, if you have the mind to pursue photography improvement.

10 Best Free Online Photography Courses, petalpixel.com, 2024.

Intro to Photography Class, Reddit.com, authored by professional photographer, Alex Buisse.

I wish you much success in having fun with your photography at whatever level of expertise you are comfortable with.

I've feel encouraged to improve my photography skills after watching a fantastic YouTube video by professional photographer, Drew Simms. 

Yellowstone Winter Camping and Wildlife Photography

An Outstanding video

A Summer Reminder

Addison County Vermont 2019

Petunias, Exercise & Excursions

 A petunia stem broke off. I stuck the little flower in an empty container of dirt and forgot about it.

A few days later, the flower is still blooming. It has continued to flower one after another for almost 3 weeks. I didn't know petunias will root and grow like that.

Today is half a day of summer. Half a day of thunderstorms with rain. I keep reminding myself there isn't a drought. (Ooo, that was loud!)

After week one on the exercise bike, I ache without ibuprofen. I'll adjust the handle bars lower in the hopes the muscle pain decreases. I'm also going to every other day with a stretching routine in between.

On the down slope of peak summer, my hopes are on August being wonderful. 

Petunias & Torenia

My tiny garden has a huge planter next to it acting as a nursery for plants that will go in the ground elsewhere. As it turns out, the  plants that are there look too nice to move.

Torenia flowers fit well under the petunias still in the plastic planter.

The small purple petunias are the type with white patches, In the shade the white grow better. In the sun, the flowers are all purple.

Next week is my excursion time,  a simple walk downtown to a Vermont state park for a picnic lunch and plein air painting. Matching it with a home project, the dinning table sanding will be next week as well. It will be a challenge to get outdoors, but outdoors I must go. Wherever anxiety is the lowest will determine the destination.

How are your summer excursions going? 

July 2023, Week 27, Day 189

 

Dusty Miller & Petunia

Nearing mid July, we will be at peak Summer here in this Northern Hemisphere. 

I still have a sense of waiting for summer to arrive. 

On the bright side, Neutrogena* Beach Defense sunscreen SPF 30 doesn't irritate my facial skin (applied lightly).

Mosquitoes I've seen this year, haven't reached a high level due to regularly spraying repellent before I go outdoors, especially my foot area. I read last year mosquitoes are drawn to the odor of feet. Mind you, feet can be clean and still have a scent. That explains  why my feet were bitten so often when I got in my vehicle. 

Last week I was reminded of website glitches. Walmart, for example, (using a cell phone), sends verification codes that are rejected when I'm trying to change my phone number. On my computer, I can't log in because Walmart requires sending a code to my old phone number. No other option is provided. Contacting and, sending feedback about the problem has yet, in I think a year plus, helped them fix the glitch.

In order to have correct information on my Walmart page I had to open another account. Imagine a business with duplicate accounts. 

The glitch is not unique. There are other websites I've used that have similar problems. To their credit, Google is not one of them.

To be fair, human glitch. I couldn't find my phone. Using the Google Search, I found my phone on the phone stand right beside me where I put it. The problem...I also put a paper in front of it to cover the lens.

Ugh.

The more I shop online, the more I love feet in the door at a real live in person store. 

How was your week?

*Not a sponsered post

July 2023, Week 26, Day 182

What are your plans for July 2023?

Beach, lake, lawn or patio, July is peak summer in this northern hemisphere. 

At the Seaside c. 1892
William Merritt Chase

I think of sun, sand, sweat, shorts, sunscreen, umbrella/parasol, humidity, and heat waves. Last year the season was perforated with brutal heat that kept me indoors. 

At my age, there is no braving the high temperatures. As a kid, being outdoors was better than inside a home with no air conditioning. Cooling off was at the penny pool, (later price increase). Kids yelling, water splashing sprinkled with a scream now and then, those were the days.  

Learning to swim, I was so proud as I literally annihilated the pool surface in a violent flaying of arms and white water. "See what I can do!" I can still feel those words. No surprise that a life long dream is to be able to glide through the water like Ester Williams. (I can float and glide though.)

Time for me to stop day dreaming and do errands. Deciding on dinner today always ends with a no, too salty, too hot to use the oven or no McD's for a diet consideration.  

Photo of the Week

Otter Creek Park

Look at those classy shades of green. Mesmerizing, they are to this artist (that doesn't like to paint big green landscapes). The wavey reflections soften the scene. The light is just right in the photograph.

The trees are on the northeastern side of the park where you can drive down to. On the other side of the creek, at the boat launch area, there are picnic tables as well as a hiking path. 

Have a good last week of June 2023. Clean out the coolers. Dust off the straw hats. Select your picnic dining utensils and insulated water glass. 

Buy Sunscreen & 

Bug Repellent!

PS...1:11 PM EDT there is a thunderstorm and downpour over Vergennes. 

Weather, Napping & Sacrifice

June Rain Clouds

June has been a month of cloudy days and rain. Aquifer happiness.  

Cloud formations have been mainly overcast. There have been dramatic skies with clouds so low, you could almost touch them. In the higher Vermont elevations, clouds can hug you. 

Summer offers most and almost, is it or isn't it contrasts that I don't feel from the other three seasons. The stronger desire to be outdoors in summer elevates the interest in the weather. For the four months, I have a background vibe focused on whether or not it is nice outside. Those nice days are so important, I will give up a god nap to be outdoors.

Sacrifice with a smile. 

Tomorrow is the 1st day of Summer 2023. 
Embrace the wonder no matter what the weather is that day. 
It will change.

Thoughts in June

 The lobelia are doing well. The impatiens are slow. In the weeks ahead, I suspect sunny days will turn me into a rain substitute.

Three plus months no television, I began watching YouTube videos. Missing TV is minimal. Suprises me. 

Current pondering issues:

 -> How or when do you know the difference between being thrilled with a project versus tired if it and just want it done?  

-> The portability of boredom means I can go anywhere with it, even on walks. 

-> What kind of life is...Might as well? Is it a handy decision tool or a handy excuse?

For this summer, another want to is added to my list. Sand. What it so great about walking and sitting on sand. I feel a major essay developing.

In a way, blogging is like writing an essay.

Hello June!

 Vermont has been blessed with some perfect days this May.

June arrives with heat as the forecast reads today, Hot, as in the 90s°F (32°C).

Sitting in the shade by Otter Creek is cool and relaxing. I didn't stay long because it was time to go.

When there are people around, being outdoors feels safer to me.  We should always be aware of our surroundings no matter how many folks are around. A long walk on a deserted beach may sound lovely, but not quite safe.

That day I was alone after another visitor left. Then another arrives. Despite a near empty parking lot,  in a space marked for trucks with trailors, (boat ramp area), the visitor parks right next to me. Not a cool thing to do. I left, taking my better safe than sorry attitude with me.

This summer I pray for the end to the violence in our communities.

When out and about, please don't be alone in lonely places. Always tell others  where you are going, and when you will return. Read up on hot weather safety. Be prepared for the unusual from stubbing your toe to worse. 

Never 

Leave Children or pets 

in a hot car...double check before you walk away!

Have a Safe Summer!

Summer Vibes In Progress

Salubrity Summer, In Progress Drawing
18" x 24" Mixed Media Acrylic

Live in the sunshine, swim in the sea,

Drink from the wild air's salubrity

from Poems, 1904 Household Edition

Ralph Waldo Emerson

1803 ~ 1882 

The original, "Merlin's Song," in May-Day, 1867, has only one stanza that doesn't include the often used Emerson quote.  In his book, Poems, the poem, Merlin, has the quote.

The year 1904 is the publication copyright date by his son, Edward Emerson. RW Emerson copyright of the book is dated 1867, 1876. You can read more about Poems, Household Edition, at the website,  Wikisource.org.

Salubrity is a new word to me that I rather like. Thus, the drawing in progress has a title. Wild air in a way, I feel, has a summery vibe.

My spring cleaning is helping me feel enthusiastic about warm sunny summer days. I'm also pleased that I found my fabric remnant bin. Like an Alfred Hitchcock drama, the bin has been about two feet away from me under the card table. I lol for that one.

How was your week-end?

Update, 13 March 2023 late afternoon:

After painting more, I'll let it rest before finishing the colors. For now, I'll not be adding more drawing because it is busy enough, and, color will bring it together.