sometimes my dance with autumn

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I look all about me on the misty, moisty, dew filled morning. The trees are covered with frosting, hanging heavy. I stop to be reminded, only November, still November. Sometimes my dance with autumn is more like a gliding, sliding, fairy ride skiing. On these days, I need often stop to do the math. Still November. Still autumn. Yes, each season has three months. There are four seasons. Still autumn. 

That excitement building makes me dream on the winter wonderland. I must block those visions of long, cold January. I must block those visions of sometimes smothering March. As I glide in this seeming winter wonderland, though still autumn, I embrace the beauty of the day.











I grasp hold of the magic. Vow never to let it slide away.



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SAD

BRRRR.
It's been cold. It's been cloudy. It's been snowing.



I, well, I have been dragging my feet. I could be doing this and I could be doing that, but, sigh. I haven't been doing much of anything. I suppose if I took inventory I could think of a few things, but once again the grey skies would desire to pull me down.

That's alright. I love Christmas. I love creating.



Now that I've got my table and floors all spread out with supplies, I guess I'll trip over it if I try to go anywhere : ) And, I remember. I found the book in which I had done some gluing. It was under a stack of other books to weight it down. I had forgotten what was there. I lifted the books - tah-dah. YES! I can make a very unique - umm - surprise.

I'm still dreaming on, and investigating etsy. In the meantime I discovered this afternoon I've been blogged. That was very cool. My art on top of the writing seems to be catching. First one of my pages was chosen for the button of the flickr "journal junk" group. On the weekend I was asked if the same button could go on the new "journal junk" blog. Whoo-hoo. And now this new avenue. I love it. Thanks Isabella.

The weekend may not allow much time for creating as our St. Peter's Chorus concerts are tomorrow night and Sunday afternoon. This takes time and energy but is something I definitely love to do. Here are a couple of the numbers we'll be singing. We don't do them quite so well, but do very fine, considering.
Hosanna
Prayer of the children:



For now I must remember, remember to take time:

Deer tracks and skiing: When we went for our "before breakfast" walk this morning I decided I should take my camera along as the sun is shining and the temperatures have warmed up. I was talking about deer tracks the other day so decided to show you these tracks from on the golf course and in the yard west of the golf course. Greg was telling the story that apparently the does (females) and the young ones are smart enough in the fall to eat enough to make up for what shortages there might be over winter. Hmmm. Wondering what's on the minds of the men (I mean males).

I also heard that in the cemetary on the north side of town there are typically four deer over-nighting. And now that it has started to melt a tiny bit, deer can be seen in double digit numbers in the fields scrounging for food.

Diane was asking if we can ski on the driveway - pretty much so - though skating might have worked better. Now that it's warming up the snow could disappear quickly but I thought I'd show these "ski jumps" from our yard. I've put my glove in the two pictures so you get some idea of the size of these "steps". Greg worked to try to clear the path to the back where we take our compost and we also take the dog to do his wet job. Because the garage is beside this path and the snow drips off the roof AND when the temps are below zero and it freezes the path can be treacherous, Greg tried to remove a greater chunk of the snow. Perfect for jumping, I think.

Dreaming of spring: As I think of decorating my dream jar I am dreaming also of spring. I took these photos about noon today. On one you see a heap of snow beside the trellis. We have a long driveway. There are still a few inches of snow piled on it but some of the snow has been shoveled into the backyard.
Billy doesn't mind the snow, especially when he has his fave toy. He actually loves the snow except when it gets stuck in his paws.
The other two pictures show the place on our driveway where the greenhouse gets set up temporarily and one of the benches which goes inside of the greenhouse. For now the skis seem more appropriate but hopefully sometime in April the greenhouse can be set up. One of the reasons I love the greenhouse is I can just go out there to "be". The poor plants which are cramped into a tiny room in the basement under grow lights just spring back to life, it seems, when they are placed in the greenhouse.
Sigh, dreaming of the day the green house is set up again.

Journal quilt stage 2 or maybe you could call it stage 3. It's a stormy blustery day with very cold temperatures. For anyone wishing for snow I can empathize most days, not today. Actually it is a lovely day to vegetate in the house and do some art, between phone calls of cancellations, postponements and the like. We were supposed to have our writer's group tonight. Sigh. Greg got stuck in the driveway on his way home at lunch. Children are being kept home from school and tomorrow has warnings of severe cold.

I've had time to wonder-under the painted fabric softener sheet pieces to my started quilt. I'm disappointed. With the pressing, the sheets lost much of their beauty and texture. A learning process I guess. I suppose it would have been better to just sew them on with the quilting.

I want to put on some beads yet. I was thinking about sequins BUT I don't have any here and I don't think I'll consider going out to get any. Greg called to say they are all being sent home and ALL the school kids are to come too. Oh NO!!!! There goes my time to myself.

I've been trying to learn EXACTLY what a journal quilt is. I'm not certain if I'm supposed to put writing on the back of the quilt or write it on paper in a separate paper journal. Either way, I think I can manage. I definitely know I will be learning new techniques and letting myself stretch and grow.

YES!!!! I'm excited.

Sun setting at Creekside - November 11