Scattered
This has not been the easiest summer. Just when I thought things might ease up a bit at work, I needed to rapidly get some data done to help a labmate get a paper ready for publication. And just as I was getting started with that, I found out my younger grandmother (only 96), Grandma Adeline, was in the hospital with pneumonia and kidney failure. She only survived a day in the hospital, where all they could do was make her comfortable. So, we hurried back to the Midwest for her funeral. She had planned her funeral, and a deacon of her church, who was a close friend, led the service with great love and sincerity. She was very smart, was a wonderful story teller, and had a great sense of humor, so she will be missed.
Then it was back to California to all those experiments to do and all the housework and laundry to catch up on. When I am under stress, I have trouble focusing. And since I am normally able to focus bizarrely well, a lack of focus is all the more upsetting. I must have at least 6 books started. I have so many socks started, that I can’t knit any second socks until I finish another first. Even though I have a third of a sweater done, I’ve swatched for several other garments and large projects. I have two FOs to weave in ends and block. It’s all a little too much right now.
I finally downloaded a whole raft of pictures from the small point-and-shoot camera I carry in my purse, and I’ve chosen some of my favorite images that cheer and calm:
A neighbor’s tree in bloom
Kitty #34 looking disgruntled; she’s probably wondering where M, her true love, is.
Kitty #34 wondering why M, her true love, won’t let her up into his lap (he’s allergic).
A neighborhood view during an evening walk (I love the light).
Another view of our neighborhood.
Roses at the university arboretum.
M making cocktails.
I love these photos; if you haven’t already seen Capote, you might enjoy the way they use color in the film – it’s quite striking. And I’m sorry about your grandmother; I still miss mine, and it’s been years.
So sorry to hear about your grandmother, but it sounds like you got be around her a lot while she was here, and that is really what counts.
Love the pictures! How dare someone be ALLERGIC!! 🙂
Sorry to hear about your grandmother – she sounds like she was great!
Great photos! (But poor Kitty #34 – woe! Woe!) Here’s hoping that things slow down for you and you get your focus back.
I’m so sorry about your Grandma Adeline, Brenda.
Oh how sweet — I was wondering about Kitty #34. What a shame M is allergic (we have a kitty-allergic son and it’s a sad state of affairs . . . no cats for us, and I love them).
Your point-and-shoot photos are gorgeous. And I’m sure that cocktail was much needed. Good for M!
So sorry to hear of your loss…thank heaven she lived a good long life! Your photos are delightful, but I’m most in love with the first – pink!!! pink!!!
🙂
(((hugs)))
I’m so sorry to hear about your Grandma Adeline. I hope the experiments wind down soon and give you and M a chance to take a breath.
Brenda- So sorry about your Grandmother- that’s a great age, 96.
Lovely kitty shots.
Thinking of you, Brenda. I’m so sorry about your Grandmother. Be gentle with yourself . . . it’s okay to be scattered sometimes. Especially when things scatter around us.
So sorry to hear about your grandmother and your lack of focus. I am also very focused and find that lack-of-focus distressing. I hope that things have been better for you recently.