Nuggets of Joy

Nuggets of Joy have evaded me lately. grrrr! But today they seem to be plentiful and perhaps are making up for the last week or so? I've watched this video numerous times after seeing a post on Face-book and today it popped into my radar again. There is something very poignant and uplifting about Tanya Davis and her approach to being alone. Kudos to Bravo fro producing the video and to Andrea Dorfman who filmed it. It's shot in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Enjoy!

When I finally climbed out of bed at 10:30 this morning I as greeted by 9 cactus blooms and yes I know I've shared photos of them before. But if there is infatuation shouldn't that be shared? By the time I wandered outside the heat had taken its toll on the blooms and they were beginning to lose their joy and fall off of the plants. Hm, they might make great still-life images. I envision hours of playing with PSE using the dozen or so images that shot. More images are on the photo blog.

 Any guesses about what the top photo is of?

Quote: Learn to expect, not to doubt. In doing so you bring everything

 into the realm of possibility. Norman Vincent Peale.

The free counter on the right side of this blog hit 16660 today. Wonder who will be #16666.

Nugget of Joy

I finally know what the cover looks like for 1000 Artisan Textiles. Why the excitement? I'm proud to be able to say that two out four submissions of my work were chosen for publication. I have no idea which two and will have to wait until  May to find out. Of course the book can be pre-ordered on Amazon.com.











Quote: Given a choice, be happy. You are given a choice. Sally Huss

Nuggets of Joy

Yesterday, Sunday, winter decided  that the desert needed more rain; that was okay with me. It was a nice day to work on a few projects while the rain lightly dripped down my clean window. You know what they say is always true; wash your car or windows and it'll rain.

I photographed the garden while it was wet and soggy to remind myself when the temps stay over 100+ for months on end that we did have a very pleasant winter this year. I won't bore you those photos that are destined for my journal, but the stains on the patio created marvelous abstracts. Perfect for manipulating in PSE and Nuggets of Joy!

The following quote was on Laura Cater-Woods' newsletter a couple of days ago. It reminds me of how my mother now sees the world. Mom will look at something, comment on it, look away for maybe a second or two and return to the TV, food, magazine, view out the window or whatever and act as if it's the first time she's seen what is in front of her and make the same comment. Everything is new to her again and again and again. The mind of a person with Alzheimer's is interesting. Nothing is old or boring, but that also means that nothing enters her memory bank; it's been wiped clean.

Quote: I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead; I lift my eyes and all is born again. " Sylvia Plath

Nuggets of Joy

There was something cathartic about finishing the Puzzlement Challenge Piece, quite unexpected actually. It was as if a weight had been lifted once I posted about the piece; I had no idea that I was hanging on so strongly to so many weighty emotions that seem to have lightened up now.

A few nights ago while a pot of rice was cooking I took the opportunity to sit in one of my favorite places in the yard, the left rear side near a tree with a different view of the house; I often end up sitting on the patio in this photo. As the sun set I sipped my drink and finished reading a novel. Once the intense summer heat hits I will no longer be able to enjoy pleasant evenings outdoors, so I captured it with my Canon Powershot.  The photo of the cactus is directly to the left of where I was sitting.

There are many Nuggets of Joy in my own surroundings as I'm sure there are in everyone's.

Quote: I thought I'd leave you with a lighter quote by Anne Lamott, the last two have been heavy ones.

"Joy is the best makeup."

— Anne Lamott (Grace [Eventually]: Thoughts on Faith

More Nuggets of Joy

Don't you just love the close-up feature on digital cameras? Two years ago I bought a tiny cactus at the .99 store. The tag said that it was a spider web variety. I now have six plants of this fast spreading low plant.

Tomorrow seems to be the day that the gardeners are going to come and pull out the remaining ground-cover so I can get that area planted.

Seth added my tip to his Sunday Secrets, nice surprise and thanks for stopping by. I think that I'm proudest of my 52 projects that I did last year. They can be found in the Labels category on the side-bar.

Courageous is another embossed metal piece stitched onto needle punched fabric.

Quotes: Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day. — Henri Nouwen

The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud. Coco Chanel

Nuggets of Joy

Joy: painted foam letters adhered to embossed metal. The fabric started out as red flannel with glitzy fabrics needle punched on thus making a one-of-a-kind fabric.

Nuggets of Joy can occur when a road runner darts across the back wall, or comes right up to the glass bedroom door and amuses Spencer, aka the very large male cat, and I by talking to us through the closed door. Other nuggets of joy happened when I discovered that I suddenly have a dozen followers of this blog. One of which I'd like to introduce you to. Laura not only has FM like I do but does amazing art and has written a book. I'm in awe.

Another follower, who is also a dear friend, is Pam.  I'm envious of her writing and of her approach to grow her skills.

Nuggets of Joy can be found in my backyard which is in the throes of being redone, well not the entire yard, but the raised bed area. The HOA insists that yards be completely planted during the first 6 months after purchase of a new house. As it turns out that is a hard thing to do; gardens aren't stagnate but change with seasons and how a garden develops which can take years. So, the original ground cover plants that took over the mounded area have got go; they're making the yard smaller than it needs to look, plus, they're overgrown and devoured by bugs. This is just one small area that I've tackled so far. My guy was going to start the work in November when the temps dipped below 90 degrees, but I'm now left with the work while his brain recovers from two strokes. To the left, out of frame, is the next area that I will also plant with cactus that were purchased last summer. I'm not fond of so many stepping stones in the garden, but the tree trimmers need places to stand.

This odd seed pod is from a white oleander plant. I've never seen a bloom do this before. Marvelous in a scary way; I imagine that birds might like to use it for nest building? Or, maybe they're smart enough to know about the poisonous plant. I grew up in the Land-of-Oleanders and never thought I'd grow them again, but they grow fast and were perfect for the side yard. They didn't let me down and now are providing much needed shade.


Quote: Practice random expressions of happiness. It might just catch on. Sally Huss