this and that

  end.of.summer.  those are three words that i never like to hear.  summer always rushes past me at lightning speed, and leaves me standing vacantly in its wake with my mouth and heart wide open, wondering how the hours could have gained so much force from simple forward motion.  this summer (and last year's, too, when i remember it) flew by so quickly that my sense of inner placement and balance have been altered.  i don't know where i am when i wake.  i never know the date, or the day of the week.  the hours seem off, a little, somehow.  but august, oh august.  i always know you when you stand so softly, quietly, by my pining side.  i do not ever want to say goodbye.

this post, as others from this summer have been, will remain brief.  i'm still playing catch up from being gone from home more than i am ever here.  firefly road, a place where i live and dream... a place that gathers dust and spiderwebs, stacks of unopened mail and magazines and endless, copius amounts of unordered and unwanted catalogs.  such a waste of paper.  poor trees...   "A few minutes ago every tree was excited, bowing to the roaring storm, waving, swirling, tossing their branches in glorious enthusiasm like worship. But though to the outer ear these trees are now silent, their songs never cease. Every hidden cell is throbbing with music and life, every fiber thrilling like harp strings, while incense is ever flowing from the balsam bells and leaves.”  - John Muir

when next i write (in the next day or so), i'll feature photographs of jewelry i made while soaking in the glorious light of colorado.  i still bask in that light, through memories that refuse to let me be.  sweet memories, all;  i won't forget.  i'll also be listing in the next few days a grouping of jewelry that i've been making and setting aside for summer's end.  so suddenly, that time comes.  that time is here.

for now, late in this afternoon, i'm sitting out on the porch with the laptop where it was meant to be - in my lap - with feet propped up on the wicker ottoman, a glass of sparkling lemonade weeping condensation on the little weathered wooden table at my side. i work like this, tapping away on a familiar keyboard, scrolling through images, searching for words.  it isn't a bad way to spend a working day.

folks have asked about remaining workshops for the rest of the year.  i'll remind you that there is a link to them over in the righthand column of Ornamental; two remain - art and soul in portland/october, and the red thread retreat, also in october, on the border of virginia and west virginia.  red thread is full, but there are remaining spaces in workshops i'm teaching at art and soul:  a lovely lace/leather/bead nest necklace, a leather/hammered word-metal/bead wrapped bracelet, and a metal/paper page necklace of affirmation:   winter nest

fit for a king

necklace of affirmation

and just like that, another year of teaching will have passed.  it was a quiet year for me, in workshop regard - playing catch up from last year, when all hell broke loose with the loss of my father, with the aftermath of grief and disorder that always follows.  i taught at valley ridge, in wisconsin, and have the upcoming fall venues; then, quiet.  winter.  introspection.

next february, i'll be returning to artful journey with a mixed media workshop, one that incorporates a blend of collage/assemblage/jewelry making techniques in shadowbox form.  this is another of my three day classes, and the only class i've scheduled thus far for next year.     last night's dream

  (prayers and intentions, rolled up and tucked away into little cubbyholes)

i'd love to have you join me in portland and/or in california!

xo

 

Comments

[Diana B]

Register with https://www.catalogchoice.org/ and start getting rid of catalogs and other crap you don't want in your mailbox. It takes a little while to see results, but I probably get a quarter of what I used to before I signed up and started picking off the catalogs!

[Tina in McLeansville]

welcome home...you have been missed. portland and/or california both sound nice...but i'll take the sparkling lemonade on the porch over either of them any day! life is at its' best when simple. ;) hugs...xo

[Carol Weiler]

Oh, I am so sad to see summer's end so near also. And yet fall is my favorite season by far.sounds like you have earned some well deserved "Home time". Enjoy the moments.

[A Facebook User]

Summer here in Florida is a constant. I so miss Maine and the seasonal changes which one could sense intuitively before they arrived. Wishing you could come down here for a workshop. I would be the first to sign on:)
M

[Monica]

The images of the jewelry are lovely, as always Nina! And I am with you on the end of summer as the days begin to get shorter and shorter. Though I do NOT miss the heat of summer, I sure do miss long days of happy bright sunlight during the winter months =-(

[jennifer]

oh how I love the little prayers rolled into such shabby sweetness.
I can always turn here when I crave beauty and spirit...
thank you for that.

[Kathy Edwards Hayslett]

Oh august August indeed! So happy to know you are home safe and have created much since Valley Ridge. I've made some tightly wound cocoons of late. Hmmm. Will keep trying to loosen it up. Husband did get job. xxoo KEH

[Alicia SPICYHEART]

So u were here in Colorado, I live in Breckenridge :)
This summer its been beautiful!
I enjoy making jewelry as well.
It would it b nice to meet. Next time ;).
By the way your art is very inspiring :).
Enjoy the rest of the season =D

Alicia
www.facebook.com/myspicyheart

[susan]

Enjoy these last fleeting days of summer, Nina.
Enjoy this quiet peaceful time.

dusan xo

[Vickie]

What a lovely post. Sometimes the words heart and soul get tossed around willy-nilly but your words and photos always seem to touch those places for me when I need it the most and I thank you for that.
vickie in kc

[sandra]

Thank you for the updates. Looking forward to your upcoming post and pictures. We are more alike than our differences. I have many of the same sentiments.

[gloria martin]

Oh dear Nina, how your words, new pieces, photo's everything on your pages, touch my heart, and how deeply I empathize!!!! Sending love, and many blessings. xo

[delila]

summer has truly gone too quickly. partly because i was too nervous about this coming autumn. but i do love the changing colors, the beautiful fading seed pods, autumn flowers and the light. i wish this autumn will bring special magic moments for you Nina, which will inspire you.

hugs.

[Lorraine]

I am glad you have returned home... I have missed your writing so very much!! Welcome back an I look forward to more posts to come!!

[Vickie]

I feel the same about August - too soon too soon don't go yet... love you I do

[Seth]

I, like you Nina, cannot believe that time has gone so fast that we are now on the edge of autumn. As hot as this summer was in my neck of the woods...I could use just a little bit more.