Envy vs. Action

One of the blogs I followed and loved is now defunct and a good friend of mine recently quit facebook, mostly for the same reasons.  Too much time spent online, feelings of envy and depression, taking away from time that could be spent creatively...

I have similar issues although I am not thinking of quitting blogging or facebook.  I am trying not to be so envious of things... Recently a friend and penpal found a spinning post card rack like you see in stores and I was happy for her but also a little envious. I was thinking about it and about how it's a perfect example of this type of envy. I would have no place to put such a thing! And it's really cool, but before I saw it I wasn't thinking about how much I wanted one! 

Or those awesome boots that my friend found for $5 at a yard sale that look just like the ones I had for horseback riding when I was younger.  All of a sudden they are brought to my attention so I really want them.

There's also the Ex Postal Facto event that Jennie Hinchcliff is putting on in San Francisco.  Man, that sounds so awesome. But there's no way I can go. But I've been wanting for a year to set up my own public letter writing event and I haven't made any progress towards it.  It's so easy to focus on the things you want and can't have than it is to focus on the stuff that you really could do, but would require some work.

So that is what I'm trying for. Focusing less on the stuff I can't/don't have, and more on the things that I could do, fulfilling things that would make me happy.

The desk

Ms. Bea says no more letters, petting instead.

She really liked playing with those pink strips of paper.

The desk now has a couple plants on it. I've been really wanting to have plants on my desk, but it was a challenge because my desk was always so crowded... But I just had to make room for them. So these marigolds are super hardy. They were pulled up from the garden earlier this summer because they were growing too close together. I just placed them in this bowl outside that had water in it and they kept growing and even flowered! So I brought them in and placed them in our old coffee pot with more water. The roots are huge. I think soon I'll add some dirt and/or plant food. They don't get nearly as much light as they used to, but I think they will be fine.

Doodles for the Dactyl

I've been saving that Snail Mail sticker forever. It is on a clear background which I just thought was really cool.  I have a few more from that sticker sheet.

I just found in my closet a few sheets of velum sticker paper... and now I have a printer AND a computer... maybe I will be creating my own amazing snail mail stickers soon.    :-)

Outgoing from May

Sticker selvage for Mary. Selvage is one of my favorite words now. It's such a useful word!

Ripped scraps from the Chinese newspaper at my favorite Chinese restaurant, Golden Harbor. They have 1000+ items on their menu.

Shiny number stickers? Yes please.

Vacation postcards

I'm the kind of person whose postcards don't get sent until after the vacation. I came prepared with postcard stamps but then all the good postcards were the big ones that require regular postage. I'm not a big fan of that. But it did give me a chance to buy the new lighthouse stamps! Very into the theme. :) 

A letter to Limner also got sent out.

My writing desk in the new office

This used to be the bedroom but we recently switched the two rooms around so that this is my office, Clay's desk is downstairs and the old office is our bedroom. We are both very happy with the new arrangements, Clay especially now that there's not so much overflow from my desk to his. The silver bookcase next to the desk is supposed to be Clay's... I've kind of commandeered it. We need more bookcases! I'm considering painting my desk... I don't have a big attachment to it since we got it at a Salvation Army earlier this year. I am also considering making my own shades for the lamp in the corner. The colored ones feel very college to me, plus the green, blue and red ones are quite darkening. 

What my desk normally looks like. It used to be worse. I'm pretty happy if I can see a bit of wood. :)

Hung up on either side of the window are ribbons, received mail art and a little felt heart garland that my aunt made for me.

Awesome! And cherry pie

Two letters from my oldest penpal, Amanda.

From Hannah

And from Rusty, she always uses such great stamps.

And now... I got these sour cherries from a co-worker who has a tree in her yard. What could I do but make a pie?

I tried the advice I got of using a hair pin to pit them, but soon figured out that the cherries were soft enough that it was easier to use my fingers.

Here it is finally baked. It was so so delicious! I shared it with Clay and my cousin and his girlfriend who spent a night on their way out to Oregon.

I will never be the same again.