A Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY ~ Wednesday 7th March 2012

Outside my window...the sun is now shining in a clear baby blue sky. There's crispness to the air coming in through the window which tells me autumn is approaching. The magpies are fired up about something this morning, as they chortle away amongst themselves. One flies up into the fir tree in our garden ~ a fine perch to sit and conduct his meeting. Discussing the general happenings of the day. He's certainly smart in his business suit...black coat with a crisp white shirt! The odd car passes by busy to get to and fro.
The posties passing by so no bills today. : D

I am thinking...why the lorikeets didn't want to dine at our place? I've seen them in so many gardens nearby and set up a huge seed block. I was certain they'd come.....wrong! I guess you just can't force these things. The slugs and snails have had a fine time on it though, so I think it might well be time for a new winter menu. I'll let you know if they do decide to call...keep your fingers crossed.

I am thankful...I am able to read. I cannot imagine what life would be like without this ability. I love to read for the absolute joy of it. I can get totally immersed in a book. It is a way to expand, challenge and open your mind and heart. Giving different perspectives and allowing you to grow beyond age and social class.It also feeds my imagination and introduces me to new ideas and thoughts.  I love getting into a great story; I fade away and immerse myself, releasing whatever else is on my mind, if only for a short time.

In the kitchen...fresh veggies and lots of them. Sweetcorn, turnips, swede, sweet potato, shallots, pumpkin,
fennel and potatoes to name but a few. We're having roasted veg tonight with a little meat on the side ; )
Last night salad was on the menu ~ for summer's passing. Tonight roasted veg ~ for the arrival of autumn. I tend to let the temperature dictate what kind of meal will be suitable.

I am wearing...Jeans, white t-shirt vest under a floral blue and white blouse. Imagine Spode or Staffordshire blue china and you'll be close. Hey...guess what? I'm actually wearing runners...not the usual bare feet having just rushed to the shops.

I am creating...finally I can say I've managed to produce some art work! I know "it's about time" I hear you say...as you can imagine I am so thrilled. 

It's taken me some time, but I think I've finally managed to allocate a hour or two in my day. I went on a drawing workshop and had a  fantastic time. It was like I'd returned home, finally sitting and producing a piece of art. I'm now becoming at ease in the studio space where before it was just another room. There's a long way to go...but I now feel I'm on the right path.

I am going...to organise planting some bulbs and veggies. Then I'll have wonderful surprises in Spring.
I'm not sure if we will actually be here in this house for the spring, so until I know for sure I'll have to be a little restrained. (Oh I know...it's a long story that will no doubt come out over the next few months posts).

I am wondering...why supermarkets don't have breaks on their trolleys! Trolleys are notorious for having a mind of their own and none worse than when they are loaded up to capacity. You can usually guarantee that the car park is on a slop too. It's like trying to swim through concrete ~ not that I've ever tried that particular sport. The %$#@ thing always wants to go in the opposite direction that you want to go, or takes a real shine to the new expensive car parked nearby and wants to basically mount it! It's so hard to hold your foot under the wheel, whilst lifting the boot with one hand and tyring to reach and swing over the heavy bags into the boot with the other!
I watched a mother today with her baby in the seat, try this feat and sadly the trolley kept trying to escape kidnapping the baby. The trolley won until I gave her a hand...
Airport trolleys have those brake handles that work, so why can't supermarkets have them too?
Come on it's hard enough getting the shopping in the first place without testing your dexterity to the max.  (Rant over)

I am reading... My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate - a life and a role that she has never questioned… until now.

Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister - and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable… a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves. My Sister's Keeper examines what it means to be a good parent, a good sister, a good person. Is it morally correct to do whatever it takes to save a child's life… even if that means infringing upon the rights of another? Is it worth trying to discover who you really are, if that quest makes you like yourself less?

I know I'm perhaps a little late reading this especially with the movie now viewed by so many...but I haven't seen it yet and as you know I much prefer to read a book before seeing the film.

The book is certainly highlighting a complex emotive subject and although I've only just started to read it, I'm already involved with fascinating characters contained within.

At this stage I don't wish to research any further about the book because it may give too much away and don't want to spoil it for myself. It has grabbed me from the first page.
I just wish I didn't have to sleep then I could find time to read it...

“ The author vividly evokes the physical and psychic toll a desperately sick child imposes on a family, even a close and loving one like the Fitzgeralds… there can be no easy outcomes in a tale about individual autonomy clashing with a sibling's right to life, but Picoult thwarts out expectations in unexpected ways… a telling portrait of a profoundly stressed family. ”

—Kirkus Reviews

About the Authur:

Jodi Picoult, 44, is the bestselling author of eighteen novels ~ the last five of which debuted at number one on the New York Times bestseller list. Picoult studied creative writing with Mary Morris at Princeton, and had two short stories published in Seventeen magazine while still a student. Realism - and a profound desire to be able to pay the rent - led Picoult to a series of different jobs following her graduation: as a technical writer for a Wall Street brokerage firm, as a copywriter at an ad agency, as an editor at a textbook publisher, and as an 8th grade English teacher - before entering Harvard to pursue a master’s in education. She married Tim Van Leer, whom she had known at Princeton, and it was while she was pregnant with her first child that she wrote her first novel,Songs of a Humpback Whale.

In 2003 she was awarded the New England Bookseller Award for Fiction. She has also been the recipient an Alex Award from the Young Adult Library Services Association, sponsored by the Margaret Alexander Edwards Trust and Booklist, one of ten books written for adults that have special appeal for young adults; the Book Browse Diamond Award for novel of the year; a lifetime achievement award for mainstream fiction from the Romance Writers of America; Cosmopolitan magazine’s ‘Fearless Fiction’ Award 2007; Waterstone’s Author of the Year in the UK, a Vermont Green Mountain Book Award, a Virginia Reader’s Choice Award, the Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award, and a Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award. She wrote five issues of the Wonder Woman comic book series for DC Comics. Her books are translated into thirty four languages in thirty five countries. Four – The Pact, Plain Truth, The Tenth Circle, and Salem Falls - have been made into television movies. My Sister’s Keeper was a big-screen released from New Line Cinema, with Nick Cassavetes directing and Cameron Diaz starring, which is now available in DVD. She received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Dartmouth College in 2010 and another from the University of New Haven in 2012.

She and Tim and their three children live in Hanover, New Hampshire with two Springer spaniels, a rescue puppy, two donkeys, two geese, one duck, eight chickens, and the occasional Holstein.

I am hoping...that I can manage to get into the studio today to draw again. Iwant to keep the momentum going, now that it's started. It would be easy to loose it. I've also got a few emails to deal with after this post and numerous other tasks but I hope I'll find the time. 
I wrote to Kate Devine, the artist whose workshop I attended last Sunday to let her know that I'd done a post about her workshop. She sent me a lovely email back which was great. 
 

I am looking forward to...going to the cinema on Friday night. I haven't been for ages. I'm not sure what we are going to see yet but there's quite a few films that I'm wanting to see. There shouldn't be a problem choosing one.

Around the house...leaves are falling. I knew I'd have to collect the leaves in the autumn but I've been sweeping them up since we moved here in July! It's never ending and heaven help me when the fall really starts. 
There are also a few doggy toys out which Zac and Muffin take vengeance with at various times of the day.
The old faithful 'Wilson' which is Muffin's favourite. A furry soft football with rope through the center is jointly favoured. And Zac's favourite ~ a squeaky plastic bone! Oh my the noise is unbelievable at times....but he loves it! It's funny that they are allowed to keep their toys out, but when my children were little, they always had to be put away. Maybe if they were like Uggie - alias the dog in Michel Hazanavicius's The Artist I could train them to put them away themselves.....  ^..^

A favourite quote for today...

“This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life.” ~  Anonymous

One of my favourite things...bells and wind chimes. But not at 3am like the other morning. My OH had to nip outside to tie our wind chime up, otherwise I think our neighbour might have come round to tie us up!
I've always liked bells but have no idea why. They always get my attention and stir me...even if they're far off or just a whisper on the breeze ~ they just get to me. Maybe I should become a campanologist!

A few plans for the rest of the week: I want to organise the studio so that I have everything on hand to spend some quality time in there. I need a trip to the art shop for paper, pens and anything that takes my eye. It could be dangerous. There's quite a space to fill.
It was my book club meeting last night so there's lots of actions and organising to do, emails to write, book recommendations to list etc etc.
I also need to organise the guest bedroom because my SIL is coming to stay soon. My son has been using that room....enough said!

A peek into my day... Muffin and Zac relaxing sitting in the afternoon sun. Who said it was a dog's life?

And that's it for this week; I hope you enjoyed your visit. Don't forget to pop over to The Simple Womans Daybook and check out the other day book entries

Have fun : D