Another wonderful organ day!

I spent a wonderful afternoon at the Lee Conklin ReedOrgan Museum. Last Sunday, we drove to the middle of your palm area of Michigan. It was in the Heartland of America. A pleasant drive to rural life. There, we visited a room full of reed organs!

                                                                          I still have to retrieve my photos I snapped, but in the meantime, enjoy the pictures on their website. Yes, I did play several. The one with the faux pipes against the wall was fun! I wish I had the time to play them all! I did not spot any Woods organs. My husband was able to play “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” on a barrel organ. So much fun!!!

In an attempt to burn off the pounds I gained eating with the Italian side of our family, I went walking at the beach. I did catch a poor picture of the dolphins that were out that day:

As for tatting, I finished another Joy bookmark and worked almost all of Round 7 of Wiosna 2017. The lanyard for the nametag is coming along nicely. I didn’t get asked once in the airport or on the plane what I was doing. I take that as an indication that more people have discovered tatting. Either that or everyone was too tired. I’d rather believe the first reason!

Now to unpack and reorganize……

Sighting in Carmel

Normally that phrase is followed by a description of some celebrity, rare automobile, or something haute…(couture, cuisine, etc.) that costs a bunch of cash.

 My sighting yesterday was free. I saw a pod of dolphins just off the shore while walking on Carmel Beach. There was a whale off the point also. This year, the sightings have become quite common. Whale watching in a boat is thrilling. Kayakers report close encounters all the time. 

Yesterday was the first time I personally have been in the right place at the right time. I knew better than to try to capture anything in a photograph with my phone. So, no picture here. You’ll just have to come for a visit. (grin!)

Jelly time

mass of jellies by dock

I’m so easily distracted by the sea! Here’s what I saw at the Coast Guard pier:

Blue strip jelly

Brown top jelly and seastar

sitting and watching us...

so many!

I promise I’ll get to work!

Found objects and treasures

I slipped away to the beach last week for a walk. Here’s what I found:

 I think some of these I will use the Ice Drop method. Some I may use the Button method. Some may just be pretty inspiration!

Our house continues to tell us stories. We’ll find evidence of past damage and repair, past remodel and additions, and see how the structure fits it to our lives. A hi-phalootin’ way to say, “This appeared on a post.”

This is what happens when the sun shines through the peep hole in the front door and hits a white surface. I couldn’t get the peep hole completely clean, too much pollen kicked up by the wind. If I closed the glass door between the front door and the post, the rainbow disappeared. Mmmmm Science rules!

With inspiration like this, you’d think I could turn out more desi….squirrel!

A Gigue to thread

Bead added….

Earring tatted….(no picture as it’s a gift)

Walk on the beach enjoyed…..

And as a special bonus, the sky was clear yesterday morning, so I enjoyed a wonderful colorful sunrise!

I have been considering possible designs to tat as I play through the “Gigue” Fugue. The notes are arranged in groups of 3. I’ve been toying with ways to weave in groups of 3. I have several possibilities to try. And wouldn’t it be fun if I had a thread that changed colors in the same proportion as the music changed key centers? I’d like something a bit brighter than the Herbal Garden. The music is so happy and cheerful sounding! That triangle piece is so lush and calm. I’ll just have to dance over to the stash and see what I can find!

Written Friday, posted Saturday

After I figured out what I'd done wrong yesterday, I have this to add today:

It’s Friday already. Sigh. I had one of those afternoons yesterday when I finished a task and had some time before starting dinner. What to tackle next? Since I no longer have wee ones demanding my attention every waking moment, it’s a bit harder to say what’s most important. The ole checklist (food, clothing, shelter) for survival doesn’t take long to work through. Then what????

I know, I know….if I really were buying into my resolve to get these tatting patterns out of my brain, into thread, and published I wouldn’t have to ask what next.

So what did I end up picking up? The Kathleen Norris Book (Cloister Walk). And what did I read? “The Benedictines … insist that there is time in each day for prayer, for work, for study, and for play.” Sigh. Perhaps it is time to walk on the beach and let the ocean center me.