Merry Christmas!

Loving Tim's painted fake mustache! 

dilly-dally

 
While I've neglected this blog in that nothing new had been posted since early October, it has been lingering in the back of my mind to post something.  As in, I really ought to find a photo or a YouTube video of a song I love and put it up. 

Well, today is Christmas Eve, and I'm clearing my desk of "to do" stuff.  Checking things off my list that have been on there for way too long.  Things that take up more space in the back of my thoughts as stuff I should be doing, items I should be addressing.  Why today?  It's a quiet Sunday, it's cold outside, and the inspiration to purge items on my list hit me at around 11 am.  As the year quickly comes to a close, I've no wish to have these things still hanging around undone, cluttering my desk and my mind, preventing me from doing things in the space where my desk lives that I'd much rather be doing.  You know, creative stuff.  Sewing, jewelry-making, writing, perusing my ever-growing collections of postcards, fabric, paper and beads.  In a nutshell, pleasurable activities.

Do you ever do that?  Allow the little annoyances of life like balancing your checkbook or updating your life insurance policy or switching an old 401K to an IRA to go undone where it becomes a burden just knowing they're STILL on your list?  What's that word?  Oh, right....procrastination.  I'm really good at it.  Better than anyone should be, really.  There have been times where it has spurred creativity.  More often, however, it causes stress.  Especially when it interferes with activities that bring my life joy and a sense of fulfillment.  Procrastination throws off the balance. 

So I'm taking care of most things today.  By Tuesday afternoon I should be able to devote time to what brings me comfort and delight - creating.  It's quite likely holiday movies and hot cocoa will be included.  Maybe even a nap.  

The first two photos above were taken at Red Butte Garden in Salt Lake City, and the others at Clover Springs Campground near Rush Valley, UT.  The photos below are from a trip Tim and I took to Yellowstone in mid-October.  

 

 

We saw Alison Krauss in October at USANNA.  It was something like 36 degrees at an outdoor venue, but her angelic voice and the incredible musicians that accompany her made the slight discomfort well worth it.  David Gray was her opening act.  Lovely performances all around plus there were two barn owls swooping back and forth under the canopy of the stage throughout the show.  Tim had to keep reminding me to watch the concert rather than the birds!

  

Alpine Loop Scenic Drive and Sundance Resort

Mt. Nebo Scenic Byway

 
We took a drive yesterday over the Mt. Nebo Scenic Byway.  It was pretty stunning from start to finish - hoodoos, mountain views, free-roaming cows and calves, a huge variety of trees, soaring birds, steep and windy roads with huge drop offs and not a single guard rail, autumn colors just starting to show.  It was gorgeous.  I kept saying that if this were a national park, it would be way more crowded.  Mt. Nebo is the highest peak in the Wasatch Range at just under 12,000 feet.  I felt as though I were in the Alps somewhere in Austria!  There was a bit of snow on its peak and a few of those on either side of it, and while parts of the terrain were still quite green, pops of yellow, red and orange could be seen all around.  We're hoping to go back in a week or two in hopes the Aspen trees will be in full autumnal splendor.  
 

Devil's Kitchen aka "A Mini-Bryce Canyon"

At around 9,000 feet, we saw Indian Paintbrush in mid-September!

Well....just because.

Mary Chapin Carpenter at Red Butte Garden in Salt Lake City.  Beautiful night, great show, wonderful woman whose music has inspired me for years.

 

Recollecting

Even though I've had feline companions in my life off and on since I was around fourteen, man had I forgotten how much work they can be.  When they're all cute and cuddly and purring or waking up from a nap doing kitty yoga and yawning, they sure are cute.  You think to yourself "I'm so glad this little one came into my life."  Then they grow several inches in less than two weeks, and they suddenly decide your toes and fingers are available for their sharp teeth and razor sharp claws to attack.  Then you think to yourself "somehow I forgot that itty bitty kittens do this."  Our new kitten is stinking adorable, no doubt about it.  Just check out the pictures below.  But I am already finding myself looking forward to a more mature kitten who likes to nap and cuddle on laps and watch birds from the window sill and "talk" to us with her meows and lower her forehead for incoming kisses.  Kind of like our Miss Penny.  Also see photo below.  Maybe I'm just in need of a nap of my own.

On an unrelated topic, I made some ornament/sun catcher-type things as gifts for my older sister's (very, very belated) birthday package.  Back in 2014 I took a pottery class and made loads of clay shapes with holes for hanging them - some carved, some stamped, some full of pattern from lace and button impressions.  I've been meaning to turn them into something to be displayed or gifted, and this was a good opportunity to do so.  I often choose to make presents for friends and family.  Heaven knows I have plenty of crafty stuff and beads to utilize for such projects.

 

 
This last one is a simple metal frame and glass slides embellished with fun craft paper, pretty beads and a long ribbon.