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Thoughts on a Wednesday 3-11-2020

“Dandelion Wishes” -Dick van Dujin Photography via Penny Yaffe Krakow

About 20 minutes ago the sky was really dark, even though it was about 9:30 a.m.  It looked like we were in for quite a storm. Now it’s gray and sprinkling, but it looks like the ‘storm’ blew past us. Whew!

Things are pretty much back to normal again after my glorious marathon birthday celebration, although my husband surprised me after errands yesterday by taking me to The Dari to share a seafood platter for lunch! I’m am TOTALLY spoiled at this point, have a big head – since my family and friends made me feel so special – and have become insufferable. I have a bathroom to scrub upstairs today, so that should bring me down to Earth a bit. :0)

Seriously – (and I’m going to show my advanced age now) – I have felt like the winner on the old “Queen for a Day” cheesy TV program from a hundred years or so ago where some woman was showered with wonderful things from friends, family, and the show, making her, her family, and ME cry.  I just searched and found an actual show from 1963 on YouTube 

So now I’m concentrating on getting back to my normal, happy self after a tear-worthy celebration that I’m still alive, kicking, and still hard to live with.

As fears concerning the coronavirus rise, I want to share some facts from the CDC website that are helping ME keep things in perspective so far – As of today, March 11th, there are 1016 confirmed cases and 31 deaths in the United States.  The numbers will continue to rise, adding to the tension. ALSO, though, according to the CDC website, so far in 2020, there have been 34,000+ cases and 20,000+ deaths from the REGULAR STRAIN OF THE FLU. 

The cautions to prevent infections for both are the same. People 60 and over, particularly those with underlying health conditions, should avoid large crowds as much as possible. We should all wash our hands and try not to touch our faces. (Not touching my face is apparently a HUGE one for me. I never realized how MUCH I scratch my face, pull on my nose, rub my eyes, etc. I saw a picture of a man wearing one of the huge plastic collars they put on animals that keep them from licking a wound, suggesting that might be a good thing to use. :0)  I may actually have to DO that – or wear mittens.

What I’m saying doesn’t ally all the fear, but hopefully it brings some perspective. Hopefully the FDA won’t throw up all the roadblocks they normally do, causing horrible delays in getting a possible vaccine to the public. Maybe there will be a waiver one can sign in order to get the possible protection. One can hope. If you are in the risk group, as my husband and I are, pay attention and be smart.

I’ll share some pics I took of the garden with you as soon as the battery on my camera charges up again. I am on the ‘sealing stage’ on a new design of wooden earrings. I’ll share some pics of those, too, if possible, later today.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

 

I Love My Life!

Anwar B – Linked In

I may have indicated before – or you probably have picked it up by yourself – that I’m a very spoiled woman. :0)

My husband and I are retired, meaning that we can now decide what we want to do most days. We are so busy now that we honestly can’t figure out how we got everything done when we both worked full-time, many times with my husband in another part of the country on a work contract.

I honestly can’t imagine being bored. See what I mean? I’m SPOILED.

I have SO many things I want to do each day that I don’t have the time or the energy. I also have the wonderful freedom to decide to do NOTHING.

I honestly love my life, moving between online things – friends to chat with, my ArtFire site, my new Etsy site, this blog, plus watching webinars and YouTube to learn new things until my poor head explodes, playing in my art room, working outside in my greenhouse, my flower planters, my veggie garden… reading all kinds of wonderful books, watching TV and movies with my husband, planning and implementing new projects with him, such as, mailbox decorations, stained glass projects, mosaics, and more.

This coming school year, starting in August, we’ll be the host parents of Alessandro, a 16-year-old boy from Italy who loves soccer. This will open up a whole new world of attending sports matches, events, shows, and such at the school, meeting the friends he makes and hopefully will invite to our home, going places we don’t take time to visit when we’re by ourselves, taking him to his friends’ homes, cooking a LOT more – and differently… A teenager-centered home after some 25 years.

Happily, we’re pretty healthy for our ages, and getting healthier, since we’re trying to lose the lard and exercise. We want to feel good enough to enjoy our lives, not be crawling back and forth from doc to doc, feeling lousy and our world becoming smaller due to that.

Today I’m bouncing between some very much needed housework – to errands – to cutting up strawberries – to my art room – to my veggie garden – to weed whacking – to re-reading a loved book – to catching up with friends via email – to talking to our son, who is across the world from us.

Did I tell you I love my life?

Playing in my Art Room!

Healing with Art via Cathy Ruggiero

As a birthday present to myself today, I’m going to give myself permission to go upstairs and play in my art room. Can’t wait to do some experimenting!

Happy, Happy Birthday!

Pinterest

The day isn’t yet half over and I’ve already had a super celebration of my birthday. It seems the older you get the more you get to celebrate! :0)

My celebration started yesterday at Lunch Bunch. One of my dear friends, Linda, brought me an inspired present – a pair of battery-powered LED candles. I say, “inspired” because I LOVE candles, but I almost never burn them anymore because I’m afraid I’ll forget I lit them and will leave them to cause damage to our home. These give a nice wavy glow like a candle, but they don’t get hot, won’t burn the house down, and turn off after 4 hours. I can move them to wherever I am! I’m enjoying one beside my computer right now. We enjoyed one at breakfast, and then I moved it to the table beside my chair in the living room.

I wish I were a better photographer because this picture doesn’t do them justice. I’ve seen things where there are real plants between two layers of glass, and those are lovely. These are reminiscent of that, but also look like a nice watercolor.

When I came home yesterday, I had a birthday card waiting in the mailbox from a dear friend! We chat often via email, but it’s wonderful to have a real card – personal mail – in the box.

Today I have received MANY beautiful wishes from friends on Facebook and LinkedIn. I’m really overwhelmed and thankful.

Next week my husband is taking me out for my favorite food – lobster tail!

AND another wonderful friend has told me I’ll get another present at Lunch Bunch next Friday.

I am 72 today, and very happy to be celebrating yet another birthday. I have a wonderful life, sharing it daily with a man I fell in love with 58 years ago. (We’ll celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary in June). We have a son who is living his dream, yet takes time to tell us he loves us and thank us for our support. What more could anyone ask?

I’ll also celebrate by playing in my art room today. I’m working on a painting I started yesterday. I’m having great fun experimenting with techniques. :0)

THANK YOU for giving me such a happy celebration!