A Reflection of Adventure in 2015

At the beginning of 2015, I told myself I would spend the year having an adventure.  In 2014, I told myself that I would be brave, which I did, but at the end of 2014 I didn't spend too much time reflecting about the many ways I was brave during the 2014 year.  This year, I wanted to reflect a little bit more about my chosen word because I realize that sometimes, blogging is the only way I get to put some of my thoughts in writing.

This year, I really opened myself up for adventure.  I kept an open mind, and when I felt fearful or panicky about an adventure, I reminded myself that I would be okay or I just needed to have faith. This year, I made the big jump to be united with Mr. Man.  I was so resistant for so long, but once I made the decision, I didn't look back.  I knew that this would be a long term adventure and I'm still learning so much about him and me.

I also had an adventure going to Florida and Puerto Rico in July (it was the first time I've ever been to either places).  I paraglided for the first time (although I would prefer jumping out of an airplane), went to the Everglades, swam in the Atlantic Ocean, and taught myself night photography.

In July, I also embarked on another long term adventure.  This adventure, I am learning to finally appreciate the process.  There are stages that I'm glad are over with, but right now, I'm enjoying the time I have while on this adventure.  Before I know it, one stage of this adventure will end and another will begin.

I've also allowed myself to dream about having adventures outside of the everyday life I'm living and to even think that I could move beyond my current profession.  Even though it's more dreaming than substantive, it's just as important and helps to create a foundation to something more.

I've had quite a year.  What about you?  How was your 2015?

Books of 2015

I'm not going to finish another book by the end of this year, so I'm posting the books that I've read this year.  

1. The Language of Flowers--Vanessa Diffenbaugh
2. The Peach Keeper--Sarah Addison Allen
3.  Unforgettable--Paulette Alden
4.  Lost and Found--Brooke Davis
5.  The Dress Shop of Dreams--Menna Van Praag
6.  The Love Song of Ms. Queenie Hennessey--Rachel Joyce
7.  Letters From Skye--Jessica Brockmole
8.  Cobweb Bride--Vera Nazarina
9.  The Taste of Apple Seeds--Katharina Hagena
10.  Witches of Lychford--Paul Cornell
11.  First Frost--Sarah Addison Allen
12.  Season of the Dragonflies--Sarah Creech
13.  Eight Hundred Grapes--Laura Dave
14.  Little Beach Street Bakery--Jenny Colgan

From the list above, I highly recommend  Lost and Found by Brooke Davis.  I love the three main characters (a little girl, an old man, and an older "senile" woman), and the story focuses on the three of them.  The author is from Australia, so if you are not from Australia, you'll come across some terminology that isn't too familiar.

The other book I'd recommend is Cobweb Bride by Vera Nazarina.  I think the story's inspired by the mythological tale of Hades and Persephone.  I love the author's writing style and the story's quite engaging.  This book is also the first in a trilogy, so be aware that you might need to get the second and third book in the series to find out what eventually happens.

Did you set a reading requirement for yourself this year?  Do you have any book recommendations? 

Red and White Quilt

Last weekend, I had a really bad hankering to start a quilt.  Yes, another one.  I won't pretend that I don't already have A LOT of quilts that are in progress.  (I can count at least four quilts that I've been working on over the years.)  Yet, I was so determined to get a new quilt started, so I did.  I even knew the design I wanted:  a Red Cross/Swiss Flag Cross.

I don't even remember how I came across images of the Red Cross/Swiss Flag Cross.  Once I started looking on the internet and saw the different quilts and blankets with the cross design, I knew that I wanted one.  I saw the ones with a black and white color scheme, but felt more drawn to the red and white color scheme.  I decided that having a red cross on white fabric would be a lot better on the eyes.  I also wanted my red crosses aligned, without an alternating space in between the crosses.  In addition to making a blanket, I also wanted to make two matching throw pillows.

So, I made a design, determined the finished size of the quilt, got fabric, and started sewing.  I've been working on it during most of my free time and I'm about one-third way done with the quilt top.  This is the most motivated I've been in finishing a quilt and I'm telling myself that I must finish this quilt before winter ends.  Like all of my other projects, I will update you on it.

Have you started on any new projects? 

Tuesday's Tune: I Will Wait

I love this song when it came out, and still do.  The other day, it came on the radio and put me in a reverie.  Memories and a deeper introspection of my own life came to surface.  I thought about what it meant to wait, why we wait (why we don't want to wait), reasons for waiting, and the results that come from waiting or not waiting.

I may have mentioned this before, but at a point in my life, I had the option of living my life out as a single woman (always a "wild one") waiting for the right love to come OR to live the life I had and to not wait for what may be.  I chose the latter and do not regret the decision I've made.  As I said before, life is meant to be lived.

Now, I do recognize that I've made decisions that have affected others.  I have made them wait.  For their patience, I thank them.  I hope they know that I didn't mean to make them wait.  I hope they forgive me and know that I love them very much.

What about you?  What or who did you wait for?  Did you make someone wait?

Upgrades

I hate upgrading a lot of my things, probably with the exception of my camera.  (I cried when I had to buy my new hybrid car in 2012.)  I'm generally happy with what I have, even if it no longer works.  Today, I got my new phone and knew it was time to face the truth: there's no going back.  I already knew that upgrading my phone was inevitable.  (I feel so sad.)  I've had my old smart phone since Thanksgiving 2009 and I think it could last me a couple of more years. It does 90% of what I want it to do (talk, text, and some web surfing), and it fits into my palm.  It's outdated, I know it is.  But, again, I'm not that reliant on my phone and it does the basic things I want it to do.

So why update?  I had to start thinking about interfacing and how I needed to make my life a lot more seamless.  For example, since my phone was so old, I couldn't connect to my work calendar; thus, I had to keep three calendars, or worse, just try and remember that I didn't have anything important scheduled.  It was also harder for me to do a more effective web search for certain things (e.g. pulling up maps, opening up certain websites for work purposes).  I guess I could try and look on the bright side and think of all the things I could do with this new phone (e.g. join Instagram, take better pictures, easier to surf the web), but I'm still so sad.

Okay, I'll try to be not so sad.  It just takes some getting use to.  I hope you're doing a lot better than me.

Mending

Patching a worn red square with blue fabric.

I've mentioned this blanket before.  Even though it isn't my mee maw that made it, I very much cherish it because there's something appealing about it.  I really don't know when it was made (maybe in the late 1990s and early 2000's), but I do know that I took an interest in it around 2009 or 2010 and decided that it was going to be mine and to take good care of it.  It was still in good condition, but I also saw that some of the fabrics were older and worn, so I rarely used it and tried not to wash it often.

The white and striped green fabric above are fraying and need to be patched up.

Some months ago, I noticed that three of the squares were torn and needed to be repaired.  So, today, I stopped being lazy and took some time to patch up the blanket.  Rather than rip out each torn square, I just mended it by appliqueing another piece of fabric on top of each torn square.  Once I was done, it isn't noticeable that the blanket was mended.  I'm happy that I could save this blanket and keep it for posterity.

Do you have any handmade items that you cherish?

O' Christmas Tree

My Mr. Man has a thing about Christmas trees.  He's a stickler about having a real Christmas tree in the house and not a fake one.  Furthermore, it has to be one where he or someone has to cut down and not one that's already pre-cut.  So, each year he takes a bunch a of his nieces and nephews to a tree farm to choose a tree, cut it down, and drag it home.

This year was my first year going with him and the kids.  There was some wind, but it was a mild winter day.  There was still some snow, which allowed us to use a sled to not only pull the kids, but also the chopped down tree.  At its worst, it was very slushy and I wished I had brought my snow shoes.

It didn't take too long for the kids to find a suitable tree.  Once it was found, we got the kids to start sawing away.  Of course, they were only able to saw half way through the trunk and Mr. Man had to finish the rest up.  Then off to pay for the tree, while stopping for some free hot cider.  Before we knew it, we were home bound.

I guess the experience wasn't so bad this year.  Maybe a lot had to do with the mild weather.  Regardless, I already know that this will continue to be an annual tradition.

What tradition do you have each year with your family during the holidays?

Remembering This Sunrise

[Puerto Rico, taken July 24, 2015.]