When I moved here, I discovered ..

 Wilmington is a mecca of creativity.

I don’t know if people are drawn to its vibe or if they are freer to release their creative nature after being here. Maybe it is the light of the sun or the energy from the waters we lie between. Maybe it’s like an Italian city in that way. We have a dynamic mass of painters and makers of visual arts. The theatre and music communities bless our town in so many ways. New chefs come and set up their own small restaurants with delicious and diverse manus. I’m not in touch with the writers here, but it is lonelier work, and Wilmington is also quite social. Anyway, it is a good fit for me. Even if I had not had to come home to Wilmington, beloved homeland of half my ancestors, I would love it. 

Golden cardinal

 

Wisteria

 The wisteria vine is a pretty addition to spring.

Easter 1948. Wilmington.

 

New Art Club

 For the past few months, back into fall 2023, I have been helping start a new art club. It not like the one I slaved for before I got the gallery. It’s fun, and I am beginning to get the hang of what it could be. 

This evening was our second meeting. Not every meeting will be a meeting. Some will be activities, like the plan for next month. But back to today, tonight. I had a bad dream early this morning that it was a failure, that hardly anyone came and that those who did started leaving as soon as we were sent to a small back room to meet. And none of the people who showed up had come last time and who were they anyway. 

In reality, fewer people people did come, but a lot was happening in and around this town of ours, and it was expected. The totally awesome speakers we lined up were appreciated and enjoyed by all in the room.  My camera was charged and ready for use, but I was so caught up in the moments, I never took it from my bag.  

I hope this cool new art club will live long and prosper.  

Forward or Backward

A tag in my jeans read: Save the planet. Wash less, wash cold, dry on line. How funny and sad.

Red Onion

This onion was so expensive, I needed to give it a starring role.

Trees

 

Mama’s shoes

I went shopping today for new wearable items. 

First a trip to Rack Room in the mall. A few years ago, BC (before Covid), I bought four pairs at once, and was I proud of myself! Today I did the same, and what a great price I paid for all four! 

I know I’ll be happy I got them. 

As I was loading the fours shoe boxes in the car, I was reminded of my Wilmington grandmother and her shoes. Mama bought one pair a year. It was a big deal that day when she went downtown to carefully select them. They new ones looked like the old ones, black pumps with a bit of a sturdy heel, just shinier and unwrinkled. The new shoes were saved for church or other dressing up, and the older ones she wore around the house. Both pairs were kept under her side of the bed. Mama couldn’t walk without shoes! It seems I remember she had a very old pair of black lace up boot-like shoes, the kind that needed a special tool for lacing. I was born in 1944 and spent a lot of time with her the first seven or eight years of my life. I love having those memories to compare with how life is lived today. 

KBeach

 It is most wonderful to get to any beach. It is healing, invigorating, and inspiring. 

A little poem about the sunrise

 ball of marigold in a lavender sky

moving up unnoticed like time

splits the blanket of thick morning gray 

Signs and wonders

Ahead of me - could that faint color be a rainbow? In a minute I saw the shape form and all seven colors become clearly visible. How quickly it came and went, but of course it gave me a few moments to reflect on God’s majesty and promise. I liked this sort of impressionist photo.

Apricot (a sweet) Cheese Log

 I made this up to have as an hors d’oeuvre last week, and it got rave reviews. 

Finely chopped some dried apricots, stirred some honey into them, and a dash cinnamon, and let them sit in fridge overnight. With fork, mixed goat cheese (some with honey added) and cream cheese and a spoonful of plain yogurt. Then I mixed in the apricots. Rolled into a log, wrapped in plastic wrap, and refrigerated. Next day for serving, I sliced some dried apricots in two and stood up on the top to make it pretty. Serve with crackers.

Should have taken a picture!

First to Bloom

When I was new in Wilmington, I loved to go downtown and reminisce. Now I go only if I must. Today was such a day. But on my hike from the parking garage to the building where the inservice was being held, I stopped to snap a pic of a blooming saucer magnolia in front of the courthouse. Can azaleas be far behind?

Bad Habits in Old TV Shows

At this time, the only shows I watch on television are Perry Mason and Adam 12, thanks to METV. 

I remember watching Perry Mason starting when I was thirteen. It was on for nine seasons, so I was grown and married when it ended. Though I have never understood any of the complicated plots, I do love Perry’s impeccable grammar and sense of timing. Paul and Della make up the rest of the successful team. The best casting! Most interesting is how everyone everywhere back in the fifties and sixties lit up cigarettes and smoked. The actors did in real life, too, as evidenced by the number of them who died too early of lung cancer. It was an acceptable addiction, one that didn’t cause divorces or family shame.

Adam 12 was a popular cop show in the seventies. I remember my sons watching it when I was going to bridge club. My daughter-in-law said her grandmother watched faithfully in her later years and called the two good looking stars “the boys.” I get it. I also like that it makes me think of situations my husband had to handle when he was a cop, his favorite job. “The boys” use so much wisdom as they confront wrongdoers, victims, as well as innocent parties. The show was based on real situations, and they regularly dealt with drunk drivers. It wasn’t a crime then. We hadn't yet recognized how many people were killed by drivers under the influence of legal alcohol. 

WB Saturday

One way or another, I get to the beach almost enough. Saturday I was at WB for an event inside a nice building, but I hoped to get out to the ocean on this relatively nice day. Lucky me, the time came! I ditched my semi-dressy shoes, rolled up my pants legs, and kicked up some salt water. Through the years, I have learned how to seize and savor the moment. 

The Peaceful Month

 I always hate to say goodbye.

There is something lovely and undemanding about the dark chilly days of January. 

December is the hard month. Filled with memories of what was and what could have should have. Culminating in a frenzy of emotions. 

How welcome January is and then over too soon.

ADD

 Recently I had fun taking an online personality test. Everyone should do it! 

My results were totally me, and validated why I described myself as annoying when hubby and I were planning to marry.  I thought I should tell him in case he hadn't noticed. Actually, nobody ever told me I was annoying, but I felt that I was. The way I caught on to things so quickly and skipped from one thing to another annoyed me! Also now I follow ADHD folks on Instagram. There are others out there like me, I was thrilled to learn.

Tomorrow a group of women will be coming over, so I need to and planned to clean and do preparation today. But here it is, after three pm, and I haven't even started. Instead I delved into another unnecessary creative venture. That's just how I roll. Remarkably I have always been ready when the time came for the event. 

today

 so..

I've survived a few weeks of an abnormal respiratory type bug and am back to my annoyingly enthusiastic state of being. Having met my fun quotient yesterday, I am choosing to stay in today. I am choosing being thrifty over ogling items in a store and risking a purchase of something unneeded. Pretty soon I be baking since that's my in home default setting. 

On my wall is a painting I just framed, one I did that I actually think has value. I have a love-hate relationship with all of art, and-but I cannot-do not leave it. 

Winter. January is a lovely peaceful month. But cold weather? It's not for me except for those few times that it feels adventurous and enhances my sense of wonder.