Corner View - Hobbies and a hearty thank-you to Joanne

Corner View is a weekly appointment - each Wednesday - created by Jane and currently curated by Francesca, where bloggers from all corners of the world share their view on a pre-arranged theme. If you'd like to join in, please leave a link to your Corner View post in the comments at www.fuoriborgo.com, and be sure to visit other participants, too.

Hobbies... there was a character in a book I read who collected them.  I can relate!  I like to do a number of crafts - cross-stitch, crochet, knit, paint, sew.  I also like to play the piano, garden, travel, read.  I'm not necessarily good at any of it, but I enjoy it all and that's what's important.  It's the process, not the product that counts to me :-)

Not too long ago, I received a DVD from Corner-View's own JGY a/k/a Joanne.  It was an inspirational short film (or rather two interwoven films) reminding the viewer to enjoy the dance that every day brings.  My roommate and I watched it together and were both inspired.

Thanks, Joanne!

Happy Corner-Viewing!

Corner View - Adult "Blankie"

Corner View is a weekly appointment - each Wednesday - created by Jane and currently curated by Francesca, where bloggers from all corners of the world share their view on a pre-arranged theme. If you'd like to join in, please leave a link to your Corner View post in the comments at www.fuoriborgo.com, and be sure to visit other participants, too.

Children carry security blankets (a/k/a blankies).  My adult version of the "blankie" is my Daytimer (a/k/a old school calendar).  I have been teased incessantly over the last 15 years for clinging to my Daytimer.  However, I have worked in a field fueled by deadlines for over 22 years and have NEVER missed a court, client or other deadline.  I also keep personal dates in it - birthdays, anniversaries, vacations, classes.    The only drawback is that if I accidently leave it at home or at work, I have to go back and get it - not for fear of missing a deadline, but for psychological reasons :-)

So here it is at the office in "day mode" - the gray spiral behind it is the 2014 calendar insert.

And here it is closed and ready to go home.

And when my Daytimer and I got home, we were greeted by a lovely surprise - a beautiful postcard of a butterfly from Nadine, our own Tiny Wolf!

Santa wanted to read the note, so here it is on his table :-)

  

Happy corner-viewing!

Corner View - View on My Street

Corner View is a weekly appointment - each Wednesday - created by Jane and currently curated by Francesca, where bloggers from all corners of the world share their view on a pre-arranged theme. If you'd like to join in, please leave a link to your Corner View post in the comments at www.fuoriborgo.com, and be sure to visit other participants, too.

I meant to take some photos this weekend when people were out and about... but I forgot.  So this is the view on my street at 7am on a Tuesday :-)

This is the view around 7:30am of the street where my office is located.

Happy corner-viewing!

ps  I am cheating by adding this one as my roommate took it.  This is a photo of yesterday's rocket launch.  The photo was taken from my backyard.

Corner View Pets

Corner View is a weekly appointment - each Wednesday - created by Jane and currently curated by Francesca, where bloggers from all corners of the world share their view on a pre-arranged theme. If you'd like to join in, please leave a link to your Corner View post in the comments at www.fuoriborgo.com, and be sure to visit other participants, too.


Noni and Chip - true puppy love!

Happy Corner-Viewing!  

Corner View - Favorite Clothes

Corner View is a weekly appointment - each Wednesday - created by Jane and currently curated by Francesca, where bloggers from all corners of the world share their view on a pre-arranged theme. If you'd like to join in, please leave a link to your Corner View post in the comments at www.fuoriborgo.com, and be sure to visit other participants, too.

Over the years my fashion taste has changed dramatically.  Most of the things I wore in the 1980s have long been evicted from my closet and only live through photographs.  There are, however, two dresses from 1986 that I have been unable to part with - not because of the shape or design of either dress, but because of the fabrics.

The first dress is the one I wore to the Father/Daughter dance my senior year in high school.

The second one I found a few months later when I was job hunting.  I came home that night and told my parents that I hadn't found a job, but I found the most amazing dress at Laura Ashley and it was being held for me.  It's hard to imagine that I ever thought THIS was hot.  Ugh - look at those sleeves. (when it's ironed, those are some seriously puffy sleeves!) It came with a three inch sash of the same fabric that tied into a HUGE bow in the back.   Hideous.  

While the dresses are seriously dated, I think the fabrics are fabulous:

The fabrics would make nice pillows, curtains, etc.    And maybe before the dresses hit the "30 year mark" I will have repurposed the fabric.

Happy corner-viewing!

Corner View - Self-Portrait

Corner View is a weekly appointment - each Wednesday - created by Jane and currently curated by Francesca, where bloggers from all corners of the world share their view on a pre-arranged theme. If you'd like to join in, please leave a link to your Corner View post in the comments at www.fuoriborgo.com, and be sure to visit other participants, too.

Last week, I took a class, Healing and Expression Through Art,  at the Florida School of Holistic Living.  It was a wonderful experience.

The instructor started with having us sit in a circle and meditate.  Then he had us paint something that we feared.  As we didn't take photos of the process, I have reproduced using a Sharpy and legal pad :-)

(1) This is me... in a box - afraid of alienation and isolation.

(2) Then he had us draw some positive thoughts.  I added a lion from my trip to Africa, poppies for Italy, Buddha for my future trip to Thailand, and the Himalayas for another future trip.

(3) Then he had us turn our fear into something positive.  I began by using the only color left on my palette at the time - yellow.  Using the yellow, I "reached: out to the past and the future. And I became a sunflower - totally by accident!

Happy corner-viewing!

Corner View - Wine

Corner View is a weekly appointment - each Wednesday - created by Jane and currently curated by Francesca, where bloggers from all corners of the world share their view on a pre-arranged theme. If you'd like to join in, please leave a link to your Corner View post in the comments at www.fuoriborgo.com, and be sure to visit other participants, too.

One of the many great things about having a roommate is that my little wine rack is now full.

And it's fun to have someone to work on emptying the rack... even on a Tuesday night.

In Italy this summer, the four Floridians rented a car and rode off into the Tuscan countryside.  (The two Brits decided not to join us.  I guess a carload of Americans is rather daunting.)   Wouldn't you know?  We ended up - totally by accident - at a winery owed by a FLORIDIAN!

Happy corner-viewing!

CV - All the small things...

Corner View is a weekly appointment - each Wednesday - created by Jane and currently curated by Francesca, where bloggers from all corners of the world share their view on a pre-arranged theme. If you'd like to join in, please leave a link to your Corner View post in the comments at www.fuoriborgo.com, and be sure to visit other participants, too.

I am easily amused - especially by small things.  Give me a cut out to put my face in and I'm happy!  

Happy corner-viewing!

CV - Sacred Space

Corner View is a weekly appointment - each Wednesday - created by Jane and currently curated by Francesca, where bloggers from all corners of the world share their view on a pre-arranged theme. If you'd like to join in, please leave a link to your Corner View post in the comments at www.fuoriborgo.com, and be sure to visit other participants, too.

I haven't created my space, yet.  (I have a friend moving in for a few months and have been creating "Cindy Space" since the class.)  However, as I took this class at the Kadampa Center, I will be creating my own sacred space SOON :-)

Happy corner-viewing!

Corner View - Before and After/Last, but not Least

Corner View is a weekly appointment - each Wednesday - created by Jane and currently curated by Francesca, where bloggers from all corners of the world share their view on a pre-arranged theme. If you'd like to join in, please leave a link to your Corner View post in the comments at www.fuoriborgo.com, and be sure to visit other participants, too.

Before and after - this topic came at the perfect time as my college roommate was in town last week. 

Before:  Here we are in our dorm at the University of Montevallo in 1986 or 1987.  (The hairdos give away the decade, don't they??? And great quality photo from the "disk" cameras of the '80s.  Anyone else remember those?)

Jeanny is in the yellow sweater on the left. I am two over in the blue behind the girl in the pink.

 

 

 

After:  This was last Wednesday in Orlando - not a good one of me.  My "after" looks like I've been on a bender!!  (I only had ONE glass of wine - honest!)

 

 



Last, but not least, a photo of a nursing baboon...

Corner View - Roadside

Corner View is a weekly appointment - each Wednesday - created by Jane and currently curated by Francesca, where bloggers from all corners of the world share their view on a pre-arranged theme. If you'd like to join in, please leave a link to your Corner View post in the comments at www.fuoriborgo.com, and be sure to visit other participants, too.

I took this photo a couple of months ago on my way home from the office.  The man was standing on a corner in rush hour traffic holding this sign, "Be encouraged."   It was so resfreshing and made me - and I'm sure others - smile

Happy corner-viewing!

Corner View - For Lunch

Corner View is a weekly appointment - each Wednesday - created by Jane and currently curated by Francesca, where bloggers from all corners of the world share their view on a pre-arranged theme. If you'd like to join in, please leave a link to your Corner View post in the comments at www.fuoriborgo.com, and be sure to visit other participants, too.

Yesterday's lunch at the office - sunflower seeds, detox drink, and a notary public class (yawn).  I hope today's lunch is a little more exciting!

 

Happy corner-viewing!

CV - Away

Corner View is a weekly appointment - each Wednesday - created by Jane and currently curated by Francesca, where bloggers from all corners of the world share their view on a pre-arranged theme. If you'd like to join in, please leave a link to your Corner View post in the comments at www.fuoriborgo.com, and be sure to visit other participants, too.

While we were away from Corner View, I redecorated my living room and hung new curtains in the kitchen.  (Can you tell that I like color?? Lots and lots of color?)

I hope everyone had a great summer!

Happy Corner Viewing!

CV - Home

Corner View is a weekly appointment - each Wednesday - created by Jane and currently curated by Francesca, where bloggers from all corners of the world share their view on a pre-arranged theme. If you'd like to join in, please leave a link to your Corner View post in the comments at www.fuoriborgo.com, and be sure to visit other participants, too.

Home is where the wine is... a much-needed commodity this week!

Happy corner-viewing!

Corner View - 5 Things About Me

Corner View is a weekly appointment - each Wednesday - created by Jane and currently curated by Francesca, where bloggers from all corners of the world share their view on a pre-arranged theme. If you'd like to join in, please leave a link to your Corner View post in the comments at www.fuoriborgo.com, and be sure to visit other participants, too.

5 Things About Me:

(1)  I just got back from an amazing vacation in Italy. (See photos below.)

(2)  I am going back to school for a 2nd BA - this one in Humanities.  I submitted my application to my number one choice, Rollins College, tonight - please cross your fingers for me!

(3)  I have the sense of humor of a 13 year old boy.  I can make any statement "dirty."  I consider it a gift... but I don't think my friends fully appreciate my "gift" :-)

(4)  I've only been back from my vacation two weeks and I'm already planning my next one. (January 2015 - Thailand and Cambodia - any tips on either destination are welcome.)

(5) Even though I'm 45, I talk to my parents almost daily.

Sorry that I've been out of blogland for so long.  I was in Italy for almost 3 weeks.  The week before my trip, I had surgery.  I had my gallbladder removed.  Who knew such a useless organ could cause so much pain?!?  I was a sick girlie the two weeks before the surgery. (I am doing wonderfully now!)  So, that's where I've been.  This weekend, I plan to catch up on my blog reads and look forward to seeing what everyone's been up to recently!

Happy corner-viewing!

Elayne, Debbie and me - Amalfi Coast

Deb and me - Capri

Herculaneum

Doge's Palace - Venice

Monterosso 

Our last supper in Rome - with my cousin, Ian, and Lawrence

Corner View - Music

Corner View is a weekly appointment - each Wednesday - created by Jane and currently curated by Francesca, where bloggers from all corners of the world share their view on a pre-arranged theme. If you'd like to join in, please leave a link to your Corner View post in the comments at www.fuoriborgo.com, and be sure to visit other participants, too.

I love this week's topic.  Music - what a wonderful thing!  And there are so many different types of music.  Yesterday, walking back from lunch, I enjoyed the music of singing birds.  Last night, I was lulled to sleep by the music of a gentle Spring rain. 

When I'm in a funk, I pop in Mika's CD, Life in Cartoon Motion, and my mood lifts immediately.  If I want to relax and slow things down, I pop in The Best of Sade.

There are also songs that remind me of a specific time and place - Red Red Wine always makes me think of a special first date, Morris Day and the Time and early Prince remind me of "parking" at Audubon Park :-) ... every Christmas season, I cry the first time I hear Band-Aid sing "Do they know it's Christmas?"  (And who can keep a dry eye when they hear the "Ballad Loch Lomond"?)

Sometimes a song will cause an unexpected reaction.  The other day, I was driving to work and heard "Rock Me Amadeus" - not a sad song, but it made me cry.  I had just heard that a friend had passed away and that song was popular when we met.   On the flip side, "Sweet Home Alabama", a song I detested when I lived in Alabama, now brings a smile to my face when I hear it.  (I still change the station when it comes on, but now I do so with a smile on my face.) 

Still, I think the best kind of music is the kind that celebrates life.   Here's the staff at the Ashnil Mara Camp dancing and singing to celebrate Debbie's 50th birthday.  

Happy corner-viewing!

CV - Bridges and Backroads

Corner View is a weekly appointment - each Wednesday - created by Jane and currently curated by Francesca, where bloggers from all corners of the world share their view on a pre-arranged theme. If you'd like to join in, please leave a link to your Corner View post in the comments at www.fuoriborgo.com, and be sure to visit other participants, too.

This week's corner view topic was  perfectly timed for me!  My parents were vacationing in Jekyll Island, Georgia and Saturday Roxanne and I drove up and spent the day with them.  Here's the bridge to Jekyll Island.  (I would have taken more photos, but my camera battery died... oops.)

Happy cornerviewing!