Mining My Week for Treasures: 10/11/13

There must have been some sort of time anomaly at work this week.  I’m pretty sure about two minutes ago it was Saturday afternoon and now it’s Friday. How did that happen?  But in any case, it’s time to play in Cythia Lee’s The Scattered Life Collective reporting what the week has brought.  She’s taking a bit of a blogging break but that’s not stopping me from reporting my scatterings.    My week has been full of colors and light, hands and laughter, and always, always, always connection to my friends, both seen and unseen.

current time: 4:30 p.m.

on the menu:

African peanut stew/soup.  There are a billion different recipes for this and I’m always on the lookout for a new one to try, so tonight it’s going to be this version. 

out the window:   

Really enjoying my porch railing flower boxes in the afternoon autumn light.  It won’t be too much longer before an early frost necessitates rescuing what I can bring indoors, and so this time feels all the more precious.

reading:

Lots of things in various stages of completion, but the only one I actually called it a wrap on was Josh Bazell’s Beat the Reaper.  It got rave reviews including from the person who loaned it to me, but I’m not raising my thumbs in recommendation.  It’s quirky and darkly humorous, but it’s also way too violent for me.  About three-quarters of the way through I set it down and wondered why I am reading this?  But I finished it anyway.  Not sure what that says.

listening:

Today has been a Richard Bona day – I’ve had his Reverence album spinning pretty much nonstop. 

watching:

Netflixing the Grimm tv series.

in the mail:  

A sweet note from a friend.   Don’t you love snail mail?  (If you do, you may want to consider signing up for my semi-secret snail-mail list on my website.  The secret directions:  check out the header tab Love Letters, click on Free Resources and then scroll down to Love Letters for You.  Send me your snail mail address and when you least expect it I’ll visit your mailbox with a little love.)

good things:

• waking up from nap and finding the walls awash in rainbows
• giant pumpkin purchased
• pink tinged just-post-sunrise clouds
• amusing faux challenge from a friend who knows the extent of my fashion savvyness is reflected in the fact that I literally live in jeans.   She’s suggested I author some fashionista posts here on the blog, and who am I to say no.  Let’s just say there will be hats, and we’ll leave it at that for the moment. 

Around and About –

• I’ve mentioned I’m a collector of hands here.   Check out this beautiful installation by Olga Ziemska a sculptor and public artist.   Swoon worthy.

• I had a cold that laid me a bit low earlier in the week.  And as I was endlessly blowing my nose, I thought about handkerchiefs.  I have a small collection of vintage handkerchiefs that I often use on altars.  I love those with tatting or charming printed designs.   But when I came across this art by Elisabeth Lecourt it made my head spin in delight.

• I stumbled upon this rainbow quiz, and of course I love what it says about me so I’ll share.  Had it said my choices meant I was a creepy potential loser with criminal intent I probably would have kept the info to myself. 

What it says about me:  You are a creative person. You appreciate beauty and craftsmanship. You are patient and will keep trying to understand something until you’ve mastered it.

Find the colors of your rainbow.  

• And since colors and rainbows were so on my mind this week, who can resist these?  They are so going on my wish list!

• Butterflies were also up for me this week (see here), and so this how appropriate to find  this installation by Rachael Ashe.

• And finally my papercutting-loving heart started pounding in joy when I found this cut leaf by Lorenzo Manuel Durán.  Oh my!

Here’s my weekly playing card summary of this week’s events ala Teresa Robinson’s 52-weeks of noting. along with my favorite selfie.

Now tell me about your week.  Notice any themes?  Come across any wonderful links to share?  Have a music or book recommendation?  Do tell – you know I want to hear.