Posts

Enjoying

Image
I love lying in bed. I think I’ve mentioned this before, but it’s so true. The weather has turned cooler, and we’re off Daylight Saving Time. My sheets are clean and crisp. I’ve turned on my side of the heated mattress pad to low. Absolutely luxury. Even the cat has been enjoying lying in. The only downside is that I’ve reached my 6-week mark, maybe a little longer, in my morning exercise program. I’ve noticed that in the past, I do really well, then start missing a day or two, then a week, then it’s over. This time, I am determined to change the pattern. Yes, there will be breaks when I’m out of town, and realistically, I am not going to lie on hotel floors and do sit-ups. I’m also not going to carry my little weights to exercise my arms. However, there is not a reason not to start back when I get home. I’m up to 26 back-and-forths in the pool. I never know whether 1 way is a lap, or is it 2? In any case, I always loose what number I’m on. So at Denny’s suggestion, I’ve changed to cou...
Post a Comment
Read more

Time to Paint

Image
It rained 3 1/2” Sunday night through Monday, and another 1/2” Tuesday so all outside activity was on hold. The ground is soggy, and the canal full. Every time I  started out to bring in the Halloween skeletons and garden flag, the rain returned. Finally, late in the afternoon, I grabbed them all and put them to dry in the garage. I’d already dragged the front porch rug there and turned our small fan to help it dry. I had time to paint and draw. I caught up on October tiny paintings with Kristin Van Leuen. They all used masking fluid. Perhaps I am somewhat better with that technique. Not my favorite. November is  about gouache, new to me, and I hope less frustrating. I also finished the little summer sketchbook with Andrea Nelson. I’d bought the VIP package ($37) for permanent access to Sketching Retreat 2026, an online set of 1/2-hour sketching and drawing tutorials. It included an additional set of watercolor ones. Bottom line from all: do the art, enjoy the process.
Post a Comment
Read more

Stunned?

Image
The residential cruise ship my friends Chris and Jim moved aboard 18 months ago has gone belly up. Thankfully only financially. It is still floating upright, but Tuesday at 7:00 AM, all passengers were given until 2:00 that afternoon to get themselves and all of their belongings off the boat. In Sihanoukville, Cambodia.  The company claimed it had run out of money because fuel costs soared. That war thing. Commentators took to social media claiming they had predicted this scam would fail. Easy to claim after the fact. Who knows what to believe.  By my math, Chris and Jim paid $240k ($150k upfront + $5k/month) to have a marvelous adventure for a year and a half of sailing. seeing new places, and meeting new friends. Maybe not a bad deal. No car payments or insurance. No laundry or cooking. Endless sunsets and mimosas. Pricey or priceless? If we didn’t have our children and grands, I’d have seriously considered it. They are contemplating their choices, with the hope that the shi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ambitious (Overly?)

I have paid deposits on 3 trips for 2027. The plus side is that I no longer have anxiety about whether to go or not. Literally, have put paid to that. The negative: have I deluded myself into what I am physically able to do? First was deciding about seeing the Bayeaux tapestry. This has been on my mind for the past 2 years since I read about its upcoming exhibition at the British Museum this fall and next spring. I joined the museum to get early access to tickets. One slight complication is that I decided to go in May and also attend the Chelsea Garden Show. Tickets to see the tapestry March-May don’t go on sale until January, probably too late to join any garden show tour. And I think the flower show would be too much walking for Grant. What to do? I asked Peg if she’d like to join me. I would have a traveling companion who is comfortable making trip plans a year or more out. She liked the tour I’d found and, when I dithered, insisted we put a deposit before the spaces were gone. Done...
Post a Comment
Read more

Recovered

Image
October 13th.  After 3 days, I think we have all about recovered from our sleep deprivation. Lenora May (I suggested Pamela Louise but) has taking to nursing like a champ. The house is full of pack-n-plays , baby bouncers, and car seats that have been borrowed or ordered. Soon, the desired ones will be chosen, and the others returned, boxes to recycling. Still to come is a stroller. Bella and I are crocheting miniature amigurumi*: her a leopard, me a rabbit. Most of the pattern directions start, “Make a magic ring, crochet 6 dc in it.”  I was really struggling until I realized these directions are English. The dc is what I call a single crochet, not a double. That helps. Next problem is that the pieces are so small, and the yarn is so springy. My arthritic fingers and dry eyes are rebelling. We shall persevere and win. However, her plan of making all 26 amigurumi may be more ambitious than I am feeling. I do wish I’d made one before I started helping Vera. As I’ve crocheted my...
Post a Comment
Read more

All’s Well

Image
It’s just sleep. We will catch up. Mary woke me about 3:00 AM yesterday, saying she’d had a couple of contractions, but they were nothing. We decided she should call Triage to report, then we went back to sleep. I thought I heard her call me about 5:45. She was awake, having showered, and having some discomfort. I jumped into the shower, then dressed. By 6:00, her water broke, and we were hustling Bella and Remi to car. No time to speak to neighbor Lisa who came out to wish Mary well. Slowing down to throw kids out at Sarah’s, I used my race driving skills to hustle to hospital, while Mary yelled which lane, relatively speaking, was smoother. Hitting bumps at speed did not help her discomfort. I careened into the emergency lane at Naval Hospital, ran (if one could call it that) to the door, where a person was already ready grabbing a wheelchair. Mary was able to get out of car between contractions and was wheeled away. By the time I parked, hustled to the elevator, rode to the third fl...
1 comment
Read more

Busy, Busy

Image
Welcome to busy first days of October. Thursday. I gave a fairly off the cuff speech at Toastmasters about coping with change, then Grant and I picked up a Joe Pye weed at the Bloom & Grow sale. That evening, Orlando Shakes’ production of Dracula: A Comedy of Terror.  Since we donated $500 to the organization, at every show, there is a little gift at our seats. This time, 2 vampire teeth lapel pins. Cute. We cashed in the free drink tickets given to us at the previous production. Friday morning, I worked like crazy to plant the 6 Brussels sprouts and 7 romaine plants I’d bought at Lowe’s. I weeded beneath my sad Romano tomatoes for the latter, crossing my fingers that all will be well. I restrung the anti-bunny fencing just in case there are plants to eat. That afternoon, watercolor class of a pipeline swallowtail, and a chance to catch up with Kathy Santz., who had been to Egypt in May. I think my wings turned out well. The body, meh. Next time. Then Stephanie took us to see h...
Post a Comment
Read more