Springtime, Rain, Coronation

This has been another crazy spring! The weather has waffled between cold and too hot, too soon. Yesterday and today we are back to colder and rainy. It's pouring right now and I'm loving it! I've always been a fan of a rainy day. Perhaps I should be living closer to the coast or somewhere like Portland or Seattle where they get a lot of rain.

Speaking of rain, did you watch the Coronation of King Charles? A bit of a rainy day for it, but I loved all the pomp and circumstance and the historical rituals involved in every aspect of the day. Since I get Britbox streaming TV, I watched the British coverage. Next best thing to being there. It was broken into three episodes like a mini series. A very long day for all those involved but so important. Everything from the coach, the horses, the military, the decor, the clothing, the crowns... it was all amazing to see! The music was also beautiful! I love an orchestra and a choir! 

Here's a glimpse of my springtime.

Beautiful pink blossoms!

A Snowfall of Blossoms. What happens when the spring winds hit.

And the Barbies! I bought myself these off of eBay. Sold my childhood Barbies years ago and decided I wanted to own a Barbie again. The one like I originally had was listed at $350!!! Not on my budget, so I bid on a couple of affordable ones. This replica of the 1959 Barbie is now 30 years old! The replica!!! The Arizona Jeans Barbie is 28! Where do the years disappear to? I'm watching a GAP Barbie right now, hoping the price won't go too high. I'm a jeans and t-shirt gal so I love having a Barbie in jeans!

"Cool shades!"

"I think we're headed to very different parties."
"Love your jacket!"

I've been keeping myself busy with audiobooks, working on the Grow Me A Story challenges. Posting springtime photos to Instagram and Facebook, pushing myself to get back to journaling every morning, listening to their Dreams and Bones Podcasts (you can listen to these on the website or wherever you stream your podcasts), and I'm also writing a bit. Lots more that needs doing, which is why my blogging has taken a hit. I'd say I'll do better, but I don't want to make empty promises. It is on my huge to do list, so we shall see. Until next time!

© 07MAY2023 ajjahner

Busy With Life

I'm sorry to be so neglectful of this blog. Life has been busy with activities for the Grow Me A Story classes and life in general. I seem to be on a disconnect with my writing at the moment, but I have ideas for some art projects. I actually have one in the works right now. Our classes focus on all types of creativity including decorating, artwork, music, story writing and telling, gardening and more. Anything you put your creative skills to work on qualifies.

Yesterday the class was on how to make use of the Canva website. It is a free online graphic desgn tool you can use to create social media posts, presentations, posters, videos, logos, business cards, and more! Below are two examples. I made these after the class to post to my Instagram account.

This was my first attempt.
I wanted something pretty for springtime.

My second attempt used a free image from Pixabay 
and a poem I wrote early this morning.

It was challenging and fun! I can't wait to try out some other ideas in the coming weeks! Until then...

© 01APR2023 ajjahner

Poetry Month, Blogging, Springtime...

I've really been missing my blogging friends, so this weekend I plan to visit a few of them. Maybe I'm wrong, but it feels like Facebook, Twitter, and such have replaced blogging for many people. For some, it's a financial decision because their blogs were an extension of their online business. For others, it's just a matter of setting different priorities. For me, life has just been busy and complicated, so I don't sit down to write much.

In Idaho, we're finally getting some warmer days. Today is a mix of sunshine, a little rain, and perhaps a thunder storm moving in later. My white tulips just opened up, the red are already gone along with the hyacinths. Each morning there are bird songs to enjoy. One of my favorite sounds is the call of the mourning dove.

Poetry month is coming to a close soon. I feel uninspired today, so here is one I wrote a few years ago. Perhaps it will bring back memories of your childhood. I hope it at least makes you smile.

Taking Flight

My feet push against the earth

Higher, higher

The swing takes me up

To blue sky and then back again

Toes striking the soft, dusty brown earth

Pushing, pushing

Reaching for the sky

Imagination taking flight with the seagulls,

The robins, the wild geese

Grandma calls, “Dinner”

Releasing the chains I fly through

The air for an instant

Then feet connect firmly with the ground and

I go running back to reality and the mundane

© 11JAN2010 ajjahner

Until next time...

A Few Brief Thoughts...

I don't have a lot to share, but I wanted to list some random thoughts...

It's mom's birthday, as always I'm thinking of her and remembering her with love.

I'm enjoying having both sons here for spring break. They bring so much laughter and fun into our lives. They are each such a gift and blessing to me.

My hyacinths have blossomed. They always smell so sweet! Some of the tulips have bloomed as well.

Spent yesterday with my little sis. Out to breakfast, and on to the Antique Mall to purchase more family photos. Then we wandered, just looking at all the other fun things for sale. I bought a Kenyan hand carved stone egg for $4.00, just in time to add it to my Easter decorations.

We had a whopper of a thunderstorm yesterday. Rain pelted the house, then turned into hail for a bit, wind roared, lightening striking all around. March has been mild this year, but yesterday it was a lion!

I'm getting ready to watch an episode of The Voice which I recorded earlier. I've been avoiding all the news of the world. I just needed a little oasis of peace today. Music always soothes the soul.

Wishing you Peace, sprinkled with a huge dose of Joy!

Early Spring...

I've been so busy recently. Took my sis to breakfast and to the Antique Mall last weekend. It was such a fun morning. Shared recent news and reminisced over old family stories. We scored some more family photos at the mall! In one lot, there was my own wedding photo which I'd given a great aunt and uncle. You just never know what you'll find when you go treasure hunting. Does that mean my sweetheart and I are now antiques? Or at least very collectible?

My youngest was on his break between winter session and spring semester. It was very nice having him home. I know the days of him hanging out with us may be very short. He graduates from college this year, and who knows where his future will take him. My mom heart is praying he gets a fantastic job, but just not too far away. That's reasonable, right?

Last evening we went to dinner at Red Robin, with two of our best friends. I tried their french dip with grilled onions. Oh my, it was so good! I've found a new favorite! Afterward, we went back to their home and played Dominoes. We had so many laughs. It was a wonderful time.

I've spent part of today scanning old negatives onto my computer. It's a long-term project which I started two or three years ago. It's very time consuming, but will be worth it to have our photos backed up on computer and in "the cloud" wherever that really is.

It feels like an early spring really is in store this year. I am definitely ready for it. Spring is already in my heart today!

© 06Feb2016 ajj

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

The last three weeks were filled with some illness and other minor inconveniences, but we've sailed through the worst of it once again!

Today was so beautiful! I've been looking forward to warmer spring weather and it arrived. My hyacinths are blooming! I love their soft fragrance.  I've been doing more organizing. I know, I know... by now I should have the most organized home on the planet, but I get so distracted by every little treasure I find. This week I found a box of photos I thought had been destroyed. It was mislabeled. It was the happiest discovery I've made in a while. There was my little red photo album my mom made for me years ago! It held so many childhood photos, including my elementary school group pictures. It was such fun reminiscing.

I've lapsed terribly on my writing goals, but my characters are speaking to me again, which is a good sign.

Wishing you a Happy St. Patrick's Day! Even if you're not Irish, you can still celebrate the coming of Spring!

Free Image from The Graphics Fairy

It's May Already!

I'm shocked I missed an entire month of blogging!  Life has had some ups and downs, and I've just been very busy.  I've been taking care of some health issues, working on my family tree, done a little bit of work on my book, and a lot of other stuff!  Too much for one post.

I'm getting ready to go on a trial run with a new MS medication, so I had a brain MRI today as a new "baseline" to refer back to.  It had been about 4 years since the last brain scan.  They alternate, so two years ago it was the spine.  I'm excited about this new medication.  It's not a cure, there isn't one yet, but it is supposed to slow down the progression.

Afterwards, my husband took me out for lunch, which we rarely do these days.  It was so nice to be out with him!  Then we went to a second hand furniture store that I like.  I found a gently used sofa and chair at a bargain price!  They'll be delivered in a couple days, and my old sofa will go back with them to be placed on consignment!  A few days ago, my sweet husband brought home a new TV.  It's got a much bigger screen, so I can actually see it, and even read words on it!  We were able to indulge in a little shopping due to the road widening behind our home.  We're losing a wide chunk of the easement at the back of our lot, so there is a small financial compensation.  I'm hoping there will be enough left for some new flooring or carpet too!  Have to wait and see on that!

Well, I will try to be back a little more often.  No promises though!  Spring has been beautiful, and I have several projects lined up!  Wishing all of you a beautiful week!

Sunshine Today...

There's been sunshine this afternoon!  The day began with a winter storm, snow and strong winds, but all has settled now.  The mounds of white are starting to melt, though I doubt it will all disappear just yet.  I got out a couple days ago, and started bringing in the Christmas lights.  They stayed up way too long because of the freezing temperatures.  The ones along the roof-line are still there because they were frozen in place.  It's predicted to warm up to the low 40's by Friday, so they'll be coming down soon!

I have been in such a happy place.  Dreaming of spring and the projects I want to do.  This is the year to repaint several rooms inside my home.  I keep wavering on color.  Do I go bold or stay with neutrals?  I just can't decide.  I am leaning toward neutral beach tones, especially for our bedroom.  I love the coast, and I'd like to have a light, "beach cottage" feel without being too obviously "beachy"!  Lol!  I'm pretty sure I'll stay with white paint for the family room/kitchen/dining area.  It's much easier to get the color in the accessories, than risk making a color mistake in such a large area.  It's fun thinking about it.

I'm still battling the eye problems, so if any of you have noticed I'm not commenting on your blogs, it's because my computer time has to be very limited for now.  I'm believing this is for a short time!  I love visiting blogs, reading about your lives, and I hope to be back at it soon!

Stay warm, spring is just around the bend!

Art by Kate Greenaway, Free Image courtesy of Dover Publications.

Another Selection for Poetry Month

Just a little poem, on this cold spring day.  Even with the wind, and the chill in the air, the birds have been singing outside my door...

Sweet bird, thy bower is ever green,

Thy sky is ever clear:

Thou hast no sorrow in thy song,

No winter in thy year.

Oh, could I fly, I'd fly with thee!

We'd make, with joyful wing,

Our annual visit o'er the globe,

Companions of the spring.

~ John Logan ~

This free image was shared by Dawn of The Feathered Nest.

Poem, Art

I decided to go with a short poem, lighter poem today.  This was written for a Sunday Scribblings prompt in 2009.  I've been thinking about art, and some projects I started but never returned to.  Springtime makes me think of painting, creating, renewal... 

Art
Pencils, pens
Paint, charcoals, watercolors
Brushes, palettes, canvas, paper
Putting imagination to work
Bringing the unseen to life
Recreating what is seen
Visual, visceral, vague
Yet defined
Art


copyright February 2009 - ajj

Cold, Grey Tuesday...

We finally got a bit of sunshine yesterday, and again for a little while this morning, but it's been a long, grey day.  Overcast and gloomy, with a bit of rain.  And cold!

Even on this chilly day, my heart is in a sunny place.  I've been visiting some very colorful blogs.  I also found some lovely, free images over at The Graphics Fairy, The Vintage Moth, and The Feathered Nest.  I've been mentally preparing some craft projects.  I think I'm in a springtime frame of mind... crafting, yard sales, flowers.  And, in the spirit of "thinking spring" today, here is some free art for you to use.  These images are all from Dover Publications and are royalty free, so right-click away and take one or all!  (Hint:  Click on the picture, it enlarges to full size, then save it to your files.)

A Favorite of Mine... Little Peter Rabbit!

Springtime

I love listening to the end of 60 Minutes each Sunday... the rambling thoughts of Andy Rooney.  This week he was admonishing us, and himself, against the impulse to look too far forward.  On some program, he'd heard the announcer say that Summer was just around the corner.  To this, Andy pointed out that Summer does not begin until June 21st... weeks away from now... not "around the corner"  as quoted. 

When we think too far forward, we forget the many random pleasures of today.  This day, the air is cold, crisp, and the sky is overcast.  There are Robins in my yard, and other various birds are flitting back and forth
from the nests they have built.  There are songs and bird calls in the air.  My tulips are near to perfection.  The trees in the lane are covered with tiny white flowers.  I don't want to look forward so much that I miss this moment in time.  Following is a poem by Robert Frost, that describes the pleasures of Spring:

A Prayer in Spring 

by Robert Frost

Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers to-day;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard,
The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,
And off a blossom in mid air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,
The which it is reserved for God above
To sanctify to what far ends He will,
But which it only needs that we fulfil.

I hope you will take the time to enjoy this day, this moment.  Breath it all in.  Let it fill your senses to overflowing.  Let your spirit dance the happy dance of Spring.

April Is The Cruelest Month...

I just read a post by Inland Empire Girl.  It was on the loss and hope that April brings.  I couldn't help but remember that April brought loss to my life, more than once.  It has often felt cruel. It's a month tinged with sadness along with the joy of the coming warmth and beauty. 

It was always puzzling to me why someone would "go" just when the promise of springtime had arrived.  Perhaps they could see a much brighter "springtime" with their spirit eyes.  For some, I know it was not a choice.  That made it harder... sitting on the steps, missing a sweet friend, and hearing the songbirds continue to sing.  I can only hope as those dear ones left this life for the next, they were accompanied by anthems of hope... starting with the songbirds and ending with them being greeted by a Heavenly chorus. 

May April bring you hope for brighter days...

Spring Has Sprung!

We are having the most glorious "First Day of Spring" ever! It is sunny and in the high 60's! The birds have been singing all day long in a symphony of harmonious voices. (I know... gushing a bit... but it is sooo beautiful today)

I have been in spring clean mode for the couple of days! It's slow going, but so satisfying. Right now I just want to go outside and enjoy the sunny day...

...and that's exactly what I'm going to do!

Blessings to all!

Nita Jo

~ ~ ~

Oops, almost forgot. This is a Free Image. Click on it and save it to your computer if you wish. It is a piece of royalty free Dover Clipart. Enjoy!

100 and Counting...

Well, this is my 100th post! I kept putting it off because I wanted to get something ready for a Give Away. I finally decided, if I waited until things settled down to get a Give Away ready, I might never get back to posting again! So I dropped the Give Away idea for now. I will be doing one sometime down the road... Please be sure to check back with me.

We have a touch of springlike weather today. It's in the 50's, windy but sunny right now, bit of rain earlier, and my tulips and hyacinths are beginning to come up! Beautiful! I am looking forward to even warmer weather. We have so many outside projects just waiting to be done. More changes in our landscaping, extending our original patio with pavers, repairs & paint on our fence, clearing our garage! I'm sure there are more that I haven't even thought of yet.

I had a friend spend the morning with me on Saturday. She gave me some terrific organizing ideas, and even helped me by tackling my pantry. It's shocking how bad things get when you haven't been feeling your best. It meant a lot to me. I was definitely at a stand still!

This morning when I got up and looked into my newly reorganized pantry, it made me smile. It also gave me a new energy to push my way back into living. Circumstances are not in my control, but how I meet them is. It's a step at a time, a day at a time. With God's help, and the support of family and friends, I can rise above my circumstance.

I wish you a beautiful day!