Under a Red Roof

October Sun

October 27, 2008 in Being, Loving by Colleen | 1 comment

Do you ever have those times when you realize that your life really is something special, that it is filled with remarkable people and perfect days? So much so that you wish you could take it with both hands and dance around the room, laughing and twirling with glee? That is how I feel when I reflect on this past weekend. I want to take my lovely life for a joyful spin on the dance floor, and whisper in her ear, “This is it; you need no more, no less.”

It began with a phone call, that led to another, and an impromptu dinner party Friday night at Bridget’s. We stayed way past bed time, listening to great music, chatting about all manner of things, receiving “smoothing” lessons from sweet Stella, eating, drinking, and loving it all.

Saturday found us in the yard, attending to the needs of the birds, enjoying the sun with Milo and Paris, before venturing to the other side of town, in search of corduroys, but finding some cake, too.

Then there was Sunday, glorious Sunday. Late to rise, we walked over to Sweetness for a bit of a farewell (the reason will come later), before continuing on to the library, poring over books of all shapes and sizes, bringing many home. All the while, we chatted happily – of big ideas, and tiny random thoughts, with sprinkles of kisses and hugs.

Yes, this weekend was a keeper of the highest order for the Pollyanna file. How about yours?

A Day Late…

October 24, 2008 in Making by Colleen | Permalink

But not a dollar short!

I had intended to show you some of this yesterday, but my camera batteries were dead, and by the time I got them recharged I wasn’t fond of the light. Hence the title, but, as everything has a lovely way of working out in these parts, I got to paint a little more whilst sitting in the gorgeous light you see above.

I love when the light looks like that, shining through the apple tree. Judging by the shape of the fruits, we think it is a Red Delicious. It didn’t bear as many as usual this year, which is a bit of a blessing. Trying to keep up with the fruit can be a little crazy – applesauce, cider, chutney, butter, sliced and dried, piles to give away. You get the idea.

Anyway, you will also notice a little watercolor station on my jammied lap. Yep, jammies. It is 3:11p.m. and I have yet to get properly dressed. I have, however, worked out, gotten two loads of laundry out on the line, and painted in the shade of the aforementioned apple tree. I’m not a total slacker.

As for the painting, I took some classes in college, but hadn’t really touched a brush since. When I worked at Clark College, I attended a conference in the Seattle area. We stayed in a kind of icky dormitory, but man-oh-man, did it have lovely grounds that were right on the Sound. In the early mornings, I spied my colleague out sketching, and envied his air of peace and contemplation, really seeing his surroundings. It got me thinking that I’d like to to that someday.

Then, when we were in New Mexico this past summer, admiring the landscape, I wished for watercolors to magically appear, so I could capture my interpretation on paper. It’s popped in my head a few more times since, so yesterday, after dropping a package off at the post office, I walked to the art supply store and hooked myself up. In addition to what is on my lap, I bought another pad of paper. A good start.

I’m already having a grand time, which is certainly helped by my willingness to let go. When I painted before, I was so wrapped up in getting it right that I didn’t have a whole lot of fun. Now I can let it be play. What happens when I do this? Neat! And that? Ooh, not what I was expecting. As the kids say, “It’s all good.”

Is there anything you’d like to get back to doing or just try someday?

Puzzling

October 21, 2008 in Being by Colleen | Permalink

You know what is really neat about being in a wonderful relationship is the time spent together. It doesn’t matter what we do, we always have fun.

Whether it is a brisk morning walk, doing work around the house, or staying up past bed time to complete a not-so-easy puzzle. It is all good and sweet and wonderful. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Sixty-Seven

October 20, 2008 in Receiving by Colleen | 1 comment

That’s how many pennies I just found dumped in the street in front of my house. Sixty-seven! There was tobacco, cigarette butts, and some industrial staples in the mix too, but sixty-seven cents. Holy smokes, Mr. or Mrs. Hepped-Up-On-Nicotine, you could have bought a candy bar with that money, savoring every sweet bite, or given it to a child and watched her count each coppery one, staring in wonder to see if she put them into neat piles, long rows, or groups of five or ten (like I did below – after washing them off). Gobs of entertainment potential for that sixty-seven cents and you chose to dump it on the asphalt.

Well, as my dear Byron Katie would say, “There are no mistakes,” and, “This is happening for you,” so rather than remain miffed at this dump, I enjoyed it. I really did, here’s how:

First off, as you may recall, I’ve kind of got a thing for pennies, especially found ones. So when I gazed out the window and saw them shimmering in the afternoon light, you bet I got excited. To think that God sent me sixty-seven of them at once is nothing short of fantastic!

Second, as I was crouched in the street, hair wild and my husband’s rather large winter coat about my shoulders, filling my hands with the precious metal, my letter carrier, Karl, happened to come along and said, “Hey, you know, I could pay you for the chutney you gave me, no need to get money off the street!” We both had a good laugh.

Third, I most certainly had to call my dear hubby to tell him, not only about my find, but about Karl finding me in the midst of my find. More laughter!

Fourth, I documented the story with this post and a photo to boot.

So, I guess the only thing left to say is, thank you Smoker – you made my day!

Sounds Like Fall

October 17, 2008 in Listening, Remembering, Spotlighting by Colleen | 1 comment

I had some friends over last night and this was one of our musical selections. It is such a great soundtrack for fall, though I don’t quite know why I make this association. Which reminds me of a funny story.

When I was in high school and college, I listened to a lot of Van Morrison, because, well, that is what one does isn’t it? Golly, he was everywhere I went back then. Anyway, there is this song, “Jackie Wilson Said,” one that I always associated with Christmas. I was with my friend Mitch and we were singing along to it, and I mentioned that fact to him, when suddenly the answer came. He smiled and said, “It wouldn’t be that would it?” Sure enough, it was, “ding-a-ling-a-ling…” I just about peed my pants with laughter. Darn Christmas bells hiding in plain sight like that.

So there may be something that I’m missing with The Hour of Bewilderbeast, but here’s what I do know. The CD is nice and long (no feeling cheated – I paid that much for thirty minutes?!) and, musically, it goes all over the map. There are some ethereal themes, rockin’ tunes, quirky sounds (think underwater), and down right sweet lyrics. If you are a fan of the film About a Boy (Hugh Grant’s best, I think), this is the man in charge of that sound track. Good listening!