Small Comforts today

Of course, Covid-19 has affected us all, and I'm not going to address the differences in today and a year ago. But here are some things that have meaning to me today.

1. A cup of Chamba chai, iced, in the morning.  

2. Phone calls with my family, which have increased during these 2020 days.

3. My Birds of a Feather calendar by Geninne D. Zlatkis.  Love this, and love her designs, and love her artwork and love her photographs.  But this is the first year I've gotten a planner from her.

4. My handy pocket camera - aka smart phone. It is such a treat to be able to quickly and easily photograph my world

5. The deer family, hummingbird family, and rabbits that visit us daily.

Enough for today. I'm trying to get the DH to do the same.  We were talking about lists and how our daily lists today would be so different from 20 years ago.  Wish we had those! They do give a look into what's important in our lives.

What daily comforts have you found today? I would love to know. 

Well, back in the saddle..

Aargh! - Old post from 2013 - updated...

With some encouragement (thanks wild courage soul sisters), I'm going to get back to posting things that I care about that make me happy.  So here was a lovely day last weekend with Bob and grandson Nathaniel at Lockett Meadows north of Flagstaff.

Bob and grandson Nathaniel
 

We drove up the road which had been closed the last time we were there.  Talk about a steep narrow (one lane) road!  But we made it.  I was driving so the guys were on the side of the downhill side of the mountain - looking out over the side of the truck at where we would fall if I got a little too close to the edge.  They were very brave!

Nathaniel and I took a hike - him up to the top of the mountain where he could see all the way to the Grand Canyon.  I took a short hike and returned to the parking lot where I sat and sketched for about an hour.  How lovely!  How calming!  This was the first time in a long, long time I had sketched outdoors.  Here is a preview of a drawing I started.  Brand new watercolor set I had only used a few times. And I'll see if I can put the more complete (not complete by any means, though) sketch next to it.  I'm just getting warmed up. 

Well, it takes me a very long time to get warmed up! Like seven years!  Started this a long time ago, and decided to dust it off.  Changing the name, blah blah blah.  

Anyway, enjoy.  Love to all.  g.

Small Comforts

List It Tuesday - from Artsyville blog

Things that offer me small comfort.  Quickly thought of - I'm sure there are more.  So this week I will be thinking about what offers small comfort. (Forgot to publish this in December so actually published in October 2013.  Hmmm...only 10 months behind?) Still fun to think about though.

Here's my list in no particular order:

1.  A cup of hot cocoa – homemade

2.  Eating outside on the porch with Bob

3.  Picnics – any weather, any time, any day. We had a picnic on July 4th one year in the Uintas in Utah and there was snow on the ground at that elevation with people cross-country skiing.  We ate in the car.  It was wonderful. 

4.  New art materials – pencils, anything.  Just bought a couple of Inktense pencils after seeing so many people brag about them.  Haven't tried them yet - saving that little comfort.

5.  Artful Blogging Magazine - I do get a little tired of all the interior design blogs but I still enjoy it and love the photos.

6. A good book I can’t put down.  I love getting lost in literature.

7. Butterflies - not so many of them here in our part of AZ.

8. Seeing a moose up north.  Haven't seen any in our past few trips.  Read someone killed a cow and calf near West Yellowstone - hope they catch whoever did it. 

9.  Seeing elk in AZ.  We sometimes see them near Williams, but not often.  We aren't there late enough in the day, I think.

10. Running into an old friend unexpectedly.

What would your small comforts be this very day?

 

More books

Finally updated my reading list.  Joined goodreads, after finding a review for "The Pig and Me" on it and buying the book and reading it in a couple of days.   I do enjoy reading about what others are reading, and love being able to purchase a book with a click and having it on my Nook immediately.  Thanks, Amy, for the giftcard!

Reading, Reading, Reading

I think I just might read too much.  Just in case, or in order to find out, I decided to keep a list of all the books I read in 2012.   I will probably add a few I've recently finished in 2011 just because I liked the books and want to remember them.

Someone--me maybe?--needs to add some art (!) to the heading.  

Fly-fishing with The Fonz

I just came across Henry Winkler's book I've NeverMet an Idiot on the River and first of all, yes, you're right -- we haven't met on any of those Montana, Yellowstone or Idaho rivers.  The book is great--especially for those interested in learning about fly-fishing that little corner of the world.  Or for those interested in learning about what makes someone like Mr. Winkler tick.  I found the book motivational, charming and inspirational.  Just made me want to head north, that's for sure.  See my page Yellowstone Dreamin' for more.  The photos here are mine, but Mr. Winkler includes his photographs and they illustrate the special experience of that place in my heart. 

"Oh, Boy" Waffles

This is one of the kids' favorites and have been made many many times.  It's from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book, published 1971.   I've only made one slight change.  We have served this to many, many guests.  It's not as popular as the Gingerbread Waffles, but we need a good pot of sourdough to make those.