listening after dark

Travel = brainpower

Travel makes the world look new, and when the world looks new, our brains work harder.*

Even travel that takes us only a short distance from home.

When I travel with my camera, even just across town or into the woods, I look at everything differently. I focus on small details. I see patterns and contrasts. Mundane items have new appeal. I make connections. I remember.

*Quote from Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon. This book was a perfect reminder that creativity is earned and learned. It's a habit. The blogging I used to do was more about unfolding ideas and sharing pieces than a day-to-day account of my life. It was not facebook.

One of Kleon's suggestions is to "give away your secrets." I think that's what I try to do by sharing ideas and pieces. These aren't dirty secrets. They aren't even big secrets. They are small, but still worthwhile.

Garden inspiration II

All this is in an alley I walk through every day on my way to work. I love how lush and colorful it is. I'm planning on clematis for the sunny side of our shed.

Things are growing

One of the fun things about buying a house with existing landscaping is waiting to see what will pop up. So far, the fruit trees are looking good. The sweet cherries were mostly eaten by the birds, but the sour cherries are (thus far) untouched. I have plans for pie.

The basil was started from seed months ago, and has taken off in the hot sun. Broccoli starts from a co-worker have flourished in our one garden bed, along with radishes, transplanted chives and a few wimpy peppers.

As far as I can tell, we have two cherry trees, a pear tree, three(?) apple trees and two plum trees. Plus two small trees that won't bear any fruit for a few years. This summer we're growing tomatoes in buckets, with plans to start a larger raised-bed garden next year.

There are some good bulbs on the property, including a huge mass of orange day lilies. Earlier we had yellow, purple and burgundy iris, and when I first looked at the house in April, there were masses of hyacinth and crocus scattered about. Surprises for next spring.

I've planted some cheap annuals in pots, and started nasturtiums from seed for the heck of it. I enjoy watching these things grow.

Garden inspiration

Three days of sun

Autumn flashback

Winter has mellowed from its initial outburst of cold and snow, but we still have some ice and snow. It doesn't look nearly as lovely as it did in late October, when the leaves were suddenly all gold and falling.

This was excellent for scuffing through.

It's knitting time again

Well, for me it's always knitting time. But every fall, I feel the need to knit a sweater. The problem, of course, is the size of such a project. And the expense of the yarn. And the time involved. Hats are so much easier and faster. But still, the idea of a knit sweater is enticing...

If I were to knit a sweater this year, it would have to be one of these, from Vintage Modern Knits. But which one?

Long weekend in Montana

Wyoming and Montana sure have some good scenery.

Boulder Hot Springs

Growing things

We'll see how long this lasts. The germinating usually goes well; it's a few weeks later when I run into trouble.

A brief escape

At the end of October, I took a quick trip to North Carolina to visit my friend Katie (and the beach). The weather was perfect and the beer was cold.