Hello Gentle Readers. Welcome to the first Friday of the month. Since I had no other occasion to post these sunset photos, I'm sharing them today, looking both backward and forward. The first was taken early in December from a plane east of Kansas City, Mo. Our flight had been delayed by three hours. I was too tired to knit or read so I watched the setting sun. Here in the northern hemisphere, darkness comes early and it can be beautiful.
Today I am thinking (maybe overthinking 😏) about the construction of a cover, spine, and pages for a stitch journal. Some makers stitch pieces/pages and then assemble them into book form while others make the journal and add pieces as they are completed. I'm going to make the physical book/journal first. This week, I pulled some fabrics for the cover and need to play around with size and measurements.
I am inspired by a new year and a new word for 2025. Earlier in her "Cup of Kindness" posts, Kym wrote two posts about "protecting your peace." To support the practice, I chose "nourish" as a word for the year. I hope it's a way to not only shelter but also enrich the coming year. If you are interested in choosing a word, Kat has posted some ideas and links. Later this month, I'll write more.
I am grateful for many things. This afternoon, I returned library books and picked up two more holds: Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout and Night Flyer: Harriet Tubman and the Faith Dreams of a Free People by Tia Myles. I looked at the shelves of new fiction and nonfiction but nothing else caught my eye. Public libraries are a treasure. I am grateful for access to a robust city library system and especially for the librarians who staff them.
Earlier this afternoon I had a fun coffee date at The Mill - Telegraph with two dear friends. (The Mill is a locally owned coffee shop with several locations in Lincoln and one in Omaha. This particular shop is located in what is called "the telegraph district" because it used to house the telegraph office and the telephone company.) We caught up on family/friend news and talked books. Two of us knit a few stitches.
I'm easing my way into the new year and reminding myself everything doesn't have to be done or decided at once. January is three days young with plenty of time to savor winter days.
This last photo was taken very near the end of 2024. Here's to unwrapping beautiful sunsets in 2025.
Hi Jane! So glad that your 2025 is off to a good start. I love that sunset picture from the airplane window. I always enjoy reading about what you have been up to. Enjoy the weekend. See you again soon.
ReplyDeleteYour sunsets are stunning and I thank you for sharing them with us, along with the reminder that we can take time to approach things gently and savor the beauty of winter.
ReplyDeleteCoffee dates are just the best!!! That coffee shop sounds very interesting.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I'm also trying to ease into the year without making any big decisions right away. This is unusual for me! I loved the newest Elizabeth Strout - having Lucy and Olive in the same room was such an experience!
ReplyDeleteYour sunset pictures are amazing - thank you for sharing them. Happy 2025!
Gosh Jane here I am already running late… it’s almost the end of Saturday the 4th (here in a very hot Melbourne) and I still haven’t wished you a Happy New Year
ReplyDeleteIsn’t ‘coffee with friends’ just the right thing to do some days. Yours sounded as though it really was the right way to start the year. Here’s to more of them
These photos are both stunning! And they're worthy of sharing even if they're completely unrelated to anything you've written (though my idea of nourish involves allowing myself to experience beauty, which these photos certainly do). I think you will very much enjoy your new library books, though I've only read the Elizabeth Strout -- but I've heard excellent things about the other one and will look forward to your thoughts. Here's to a new year of crafting and reading!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely end to 2024 and such a peaceful (nourishment for the soul) beginning to 2025 ... thank you! I'm looking forward to following along your stitching journal; I've been seeing some stitched books on Instagram these past few days and I'm intrigued. Also happy for you to read Night Flyer. I loved it - Tiya Miles is a genius with finding stories that haven't been written !own - and think you will, too. Happy new year, Jane!
ReplyDeleteand ps - one of my in-person bookgroups chose The Alchemist for January and I opted to skip the meeting rather than re-read the book. I read it 20-ish years ago and did not like it ... I felt like I was too old for it then! The average age of my bookgroup is probably about my age ... will be interesting to hear reports on the discussion (we can share notes!). Also, I read Clear on the page back in July - seeing the words in print was powerful.
DeleteI am assembling my stitching this week (they are drying right now after a bit of a bath!) I am going to try a knotted binder that I saw recently. I am eager to see your stitching!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a lot of profound thinking going on this week...all wonderful!!!! The pictures are beautiful. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteI love the thinking part of the new year. I am very motivated to achieve all the things while giving myself grace to do none of them if I don't feel like it.
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful sunsets! True "beauty emergencies." I love taking January s l o w l y. It feels so much better for me to let things just unravel at their own pace. And I think nourish is a perfect word for the coming year. XO
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