All Things...Paper?

Sometimes friends are better than family and strangers are better than friends!

What? How dare I? Have you ever heard of the phrase "snail mail"? What comes to mind something from the "olden days"? Something from way-back-when? Something way before YOUR time? There is definitely a negative connotation to snail mail or regular mail. Yup, the kind that actually uses some form of paper and requires a stamp, a trip through the post office, man power, and ultimately delivery to your neighbor, across the country, or beyond. I have been luckily enough to stumble upon a group of artists who pride themselves on creating unique artistic pieces of mail for others to enjoy. The others I refer to are complete strangers! What? Can these people be trusted? Who are they? In the world of technology where almost anything can be found out about almost anyone or anything and the thought of "can we trust them" crosses our mind seems ludicrous. These artists are a unique breed of which I have joined.

However, this isn't ra-heally what I wanted to write about when I thought of this title! Go figure...off on a tangent sometimes. (I tend to do that because I like details. The more details I know the better image I can create in my head!) Anyway, I come to realize something about myself...I like paper!Looking back I have always liked paper for different reasons. I am a tactile person in some ways but in other ways I am not. There are things out there that I do not like to touch and I do not like them on my hands...hand lotion for one! But, I like to feel paper! I like to hold a book, a magazine, a bookmark. I like to feel the quality and texture of the paper. Needless to say I also have a lot of paper around the house in lots of forms. One form that is not around my house is wallpaper. Eww...I guess because my house is small and it just would not fit despite the print or pattern. Oh well. Paper it is. I have collections of magazines I cannot throw out (even duplicate copies cannot be tossed!). I have lots of note cards, tags, craft supplies, articles, books, newspaper clippings, cookbooks, recipe cards, stickie notes, calendars, construction paper, reminders, receipts...you name it it is probably somewhere around here. However, I am not a hoarder nor do I consider myself a pack rat or clutterer. I just have paper around me. The thought came over me "what if I got rid of every single piece of paper I own"...an incomprehensible thought that I can NOT get around my mind.

More and more I see people reading from their Kindle and I don't know how they do it! I need to hold the book, I need to feel the pages, I need to cross-reference parts and reread parts that require further contemplation, I need to fold over the pages so I don't get lost, I need to feel the weight of the book even if it is a 99cent paperback...I just need paper. Odd? I am not sure. I just find it comforting to be able to fulfill my tactile need while educating myself of the material ON the paper! This brings me back to my introduction to mail artists. Since I am a paper fanatic I am pleased that I have found a group of people who are also into paper. They, however, have kicked it up a notch by sharing their skills and talents with strangers no less in paper form. While it is challenging to find the time to do a good quality piece to send to a friendly stranger who shares the same interest there is nothing like opening your mailbox to find a treasured piece from a stranger who gave you their time because they like what they do. In this day and age it is rare to find people who really want to give you the time of day never mind take the time to create a unique piece of art (and write a letter!) and mail it to you! For this weird oddity or as I like to call them -isms I am happy that I have an avenue to share my paper with of which I know it will be appreciated!

Happy Summer 2011!

It's the birth of something new! We all can breath a little easier because we think that the summer is a time to slow down and relax a bit. Well, it is! All the anticipation all spring (and even winter) for the summer to come and it is here, today, June 21! So, what is your plan for the next 2 1/2 months? What comes to mind when you think of summer? What is your most favorite part of the summer?

There are many things that I like about summer that naming my favorite is impossible! This is what I love and will appreciate the next couple of months:

• longer days & sunshine
• leaves on the trees
• lighter, easier clothes
• the smell of freshness in the air
• dew on the lawn when the sun just comes up
• being outside
• leaving the windows open at night
• or better yet, opening the windows!
• bare feet
• fresh array of nail polish - sherbet, watermelon, reds, pinks...
• flowers
• bees
• hummingbirds
• outdoor fireplace
• walks after dinner
• sunsets
• rain storms after a long hot day
• the beach (I can't believe this is here and not at the top!)
• sand
• unplanned adventures
• ice cream stops
• Del's
• the smell of fresh cut grass
• rainbows
• vacations
• hiking
• walks
• picnics
• gathering shells, rocks, wood on the beach
• sounds of nature at night
• the owl
• grilled food
• tomato basil salad
• corn on the cob
• mojitos
• flip flops
• NOT the bathingsuit (surprised?)
• shorts
• summer reading
• flower gardens

So, while I reminisce about my summer....stop and take a moment for yourself about your summer!

(all photos are the property of Color of Inspiration)

It's Raining...Again!

Yes, I am at a loss for posting ideas tonight! It has been a trying week not because anything "major" happened but a gazillion little things happened! I don't know about you but all the little things added up = a "major"! They are exhausting to say the least! So I thought I would share my little annoyances that bothered me this week...I am sure you don't want to hear it but, yes, it's raining...again!

Yup, rainy weather is here today! People often talk (or complain) about the northwest being wet I can't say New England is perfect. We get a lot of water in all forms mind you! With the water we get we also get "other" things...mosquitoes! Yup, those big nasty ones that just will keep coming at you like there is no tomorrow! The bug spray has arrived! I like to address these pesky visitors naturally but sometimes they declare war and the spray needs to pay a visit (DEET free!).

A hornet entered the premises as I was replacing the kitchen chairs to the table after washing the floor...to this day I don't know where he went but he was the size of a humming bird! He either declared truce and found his own resting spot or somehow escaped, I am not sure!

There was a spider in the curtain (a big ugly one!); ants (we've had a little problem this spring!); the raccoons enjoyed their meal from our garbage cans and trace evidence was strewn all over; my car window was accidentally left open during the night while it down poured; three hours was spent on the phone on Monday only to get a call on Tuesday that those three hours were all-for-naught; I went to replace a light bulb for the deck light, I reached in only to learn that bees have created a beautiful nest; the light bulb rolled off the banister and shattered into a million pieces in a place that will require moving multiple items; I discovered creamed, rotten, solidified milk in the fridge; was NOT able to locate a music CD for my husband; the birds enjoyed all my nice organically grown strawberries before I could pick them; the tractor ran out of gas; received a letter of "increased rates"; received an email of "overdue books" (this has NEVER happened!); made it to the train station bike trail only to have it downpour once the car was parked; battled a migraine for two days; ...........and the saga continues! I think you get the gist of my week. It was an exhausting week dealing with all these time consuming annoyances. There are more but I am tired of reliving the week in a post. I am hoping that with the start of the weekend I will be able to relax and enjoy time with my best friend!

I end this post with three pictures I took earlier in the spring. I am very connected to nature and find peace and comfort with the beauty that is around me. Since it was such a long week I needed some cheerful pictures to make the post not seem depressing!

Have a happy and wonderful weekend!

Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk...

I've come to realize that humor isn't dripping through my posts. I guess I am a serious person but I do have a sense of humor as well. So, you want to know about the title of this post? Why else would you be this far into reading my musing today? Anyway, yes, I spilled some milk and this is how I found out!

A couple three weeks ago I had purchased a half gallon milk container and stored it on the bottom shelf of my refrigerator like usual. An hour later I went back into the fridge only to find a pile of milk on the shelf itself! What? Are you kidding me? Milk!? So, I cleaned up the pile and put the milk upright on the top shelf. No more problems. Not sure what I was thinking how this could have happened, I didn't think any more about the milk, problem solved!

Today. Today happened. OK, in and out of the fridge for a variety of reasons, milk for coffee, eggs for breakfast, bread for a sandwich, ice water...you get the gist! (sniff. sniff.) Looked around the half empty fridge to see what was "left over" from weeks past...nothing. OK, maybe it was me. A couple hours later ice water was needed (sniff. sniff.). What? What is that smell? I look around again and again there was nothing that could cause the aroma. As I was preparing for dinner, again, it was required I enter the fridge. (sniff. sniff.) You have got to be kidding me! I don't know what is wrong! Is it the eggs? NO. Is it the cauliflower? NO.

I was now on a mission! I took everything out and inspected the contents. Nothing was out of line. I could not figure it out. I pulled out the produce drawers, inspected, all looked well.....UNTIL....I decided to remove the drawers to make sure nothing creepy crawly was behind and THAT is when the source of the aroma was revealed! It was NOT pretty! It was NOT what I expected to see! What I found was a heaping remnant pile of old, stale, rotten, milk that creamed itself! It was now a yellow, creamy, solid mix glued to the bottom of my fridge. eeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

Gross. Yuck. PU. I can't believe this. You have got to be kidding me! Out comes the organic sprayer and a roll of towels. That is what free time today bought me! A half hour of spraying, wiping, spraying, wiping until the mixture released itself enough to be captured by the paper towel to then be tossed in a stinky garbage!

Tonight the mess is cleaned but the aroma still lingers quite pungently. I hope in the morning there is not one spec of a trace of this icky event left in my fridge!!!

(all photos are the personal property of Color of Inspiration)

Inspiring Books - to be continued...

Do you have any books that inspired you? Such a big question because we all have different ideas of what an inspiring book means to each of us. I have a list of books that have influenced the person I am, the person I want to become, the person I need to be, and the person that once was! I find tremendous comfort in books. I am drawn to books that I could learn something from. I like to read about other peoples tales and how they overcame their greatest challenge. What works for one person does not work for someone else. The more you read the more you realize this and start connecting the dots from book to book that you read.

I pick up a book depending on what is going on in my mind, in my soul, in my life. Books to me are like a best friend ready and waiting for a good discussion! I not only enjoy books but I have to say that I enjoy magazines and catalogs as well. What I like in these two forms of reading is home and garden and lots of photography! Yes, pictures are staged to perfection but it is nice to dream and to peek into the life of someone else. For years I have gotten Coastal Living, Architectural Digest, Martha Stewart, House Beautiful, Home & Garden, to name a few. Why so many? It is a cheap form of entertainment for me. It is cheaper to dish out $10 for a year's subscription than it is to go out. What can you do for $10 these days? Hmm...not much. Plus, reading a magazine takes way more time...and I don't have to pay for gas! Ha!

Back from the detour and onto the start of sharing some of my most inspiring books. The first book I would like to share is a book called Slow Love by Domenique Browning. It is not a romance novel but the story of a New York woman who lost her job and had to find direction again. Oh, so cliche, and sounds "typical" these days. But this book is written in a way that makes the reader feel that your best friend is talking to you. You connect with the author immediately! For any woman who is in need of direction, hearing someone elses woes, inspiration, and strength, this is a great read! I read this book at a time when I was completely devastated and deflated and had no idea how to handle things in my life. The author discusses her divorce, her kids, her affair, her homes, moving, unemployment, you name it she shares her honest feelings with the reader. No, I did not go through a divorce, but similarities in feelings regardless of the situation helps get some perspective on your own life. I highly recommend this book and continue to recommend this book to good friends who need a little hug in the form of a book!!!

(To Be Continued...)

Mixed

...and my mind goes again! Lots of ideas and things I want to do, yet, not enough time in the day to accomplish them! I read about other bloggers and how they manage their life that includes not one but several children, hobbies, crafts, personal business, phone calls, emails...you get the gist...how in the world do they do it? I have a favorite blogger whom I have been following for some time. She is an amazing person and it shows in her site. She is family focused, God centered, career focused, a mother, wife...again, you get the gist...she does it all! How? I have read her advice over and over and over again and multitasking is not a skill I have adapted well to. Hmmm, I wonder why? Well, I know why! I don't want to be a good multitasker because for me to multitask I know I won't be putting my best efforts in all the things I am doing! I've learned that when I multitask I get more things done but in the end I didn't like the overall outcome of all that was just completed!

Life is hard. Sometimes it is harder than you could ever imagine and more confusing than you can comprehend. Sometimes things make sense, other times they blindside you and you can't make heads or tails about it!! It has been one of those weeks. Excitement followed by frustration. Accomplishment followed by defeat. Completeness followed by undoneness! The older I get the more sensitive I've become to things. I've heard that the older you get the more desensitized you get to life, but, no, not here! 

One snippet into my week...made chops for dinner...poured the extra hot oil into a can to dispose of later...dropped the can of melted grease all over the kitchen, wall, carpet, and a variety of other items were in the path of trajectory! Cleaning up grease is like cleaning up a dozen of uncooked eggs! It is virtually impossible and requires an enormous amount of time and patience, both of which I did not behold today! This has been my week. Mind you this is one of the smaller travesties of the week, but nonetheless, it still happened and irked me!

Today...

TODAY has been one of those days and I have decided to take a break and watch a baseball game!

See you tomorrow with a new post!