What’s been going on? Is it really spring already? I have to say that, aside from not having any snow, I loved February and I'm still thinkin' about it. Good things happened!
I got out with my camera. A little bit. This is still a struggle as it’s just so easy to shoot with my phone all the time. I have to make a conscious effort to bring the “real” camera along when I go somewhere. I’m wondering if it’s that I don’t like lugging around extra stuff (I don’t even really carry a purse.) That said, my little Fuji XT1 is the size of my old 35mm which I used to take with me everywhere, so it's not like it's heavy or takes up tons of space. I keep pondering these things as I go out for my walks.
I’ve been making an effort to get outside even when it’s cold, and it’s nice to have Griggs Reservoir right across the street. I love the moods of the water. One of my favorite images is of the ice forming again after one of the thaws we had. I swear I could almost see it freezing right in front of me.
My big February happiness by a longshot was singing jazz at the St. Francis pasta dinner. Yes I bought an Elvis mic! Yes I took a bunch of selfies with it.
Yes I wore my pillbox hat and false eyelashes for the show. (Thanks, Ardell!)
It went so well! I was so nervous that I’d forget the words at some point but I didn’t. I loved working with Tony Hagood on piano, and the accordion really sounded so perfect with "Moon River" and "La Vie en Rose." Thank you, John Marazita!
I suppose I have to think about what’s next with all of this. An open mic somewhere? Not sure. But I am proud of myself for preparing. A year ago I just had a dream, but now I have some songs to make it happen. It was on the bucket list to sing "La Vie en Rose" in French, and I did it.
News at home? I ran for a seat on our condo board and got elected! You’re lookin’ at The Landings’ new Vice President. I love where we live. This is the name tag I made and wore to the pre-election meet-and-greet.
Last month I finished the photographs and writing I needed to do to make a new webpage for Flying Adventures. This was no small thing and had been on my to-do list forever. I had to figure out how I wanted to print and frame book pages and do some serious thinking about where I want to bring the project and what would make a venue want to host it. There’s information about the whole project now, including how I can tie a reading & exhibition into educational programming and community outreach. I am proud of myself for continuing on with this despite how loooong it feels like it's taking.
Sewing. I don’t get very far when Sherman decides to help. Right now I’m working with jersey fabric for the first time, trying to sew some long-sleeve tops. Success mostly. But as I try to make one that fits perfectly so that I can archive my pattern changes, I get all frustrated figuring out how to make those changes. I told a friend I threw my sewing machine into the dumpster and gave away my fabric stash because that's what I imagined myself doing. Sigh. I am learning valuable lessons about patience, practice, and how to work smarter: step AWAY from the sewing machine if it’s starting to drive me crazy. (Duh, right? But I’m so stubbornly persistent.) Coming back to it the next day after a break makes all the difference.
Been reading. It still goes in fits and starts though. Sometimes I devour pages, and other days it’s more like an afterthought before I go to bed. In my stack right now: The Colette Guide to Sewing With Knits, Grow Great Grub, Easy Growing (both by Gayla Trail, my favorite gardening author), A Beautiful Mess (fun one about daily-life photography), and On Green Dolphin Street, which I just started. I just finished House of Sand and Fog, which I borrowed from my brother. What a story. You know it’s heading for disaster but you keep hoping something good will happen instead… ooof!
Oh yeah, with all that warm (barefoot in February!!??) weather, I couldn’t help but catch the gardening bug, especially when the seed catalogs showed up in my mail slot. Does anyone remember the Scholastic books catalog in grade school? When that thing showed up I pored over those pages, folding over corners and circling books in different color pens based on order of preference. The seed catalogs remind me of that. I am probably going to over-order. I can’t help it. But at a couple bucks a packet, it beats having a more expensive addiction, right?
Sooo… cheers to longer days and spring!! How have you been?