Tag: Covid-19

thursday three| 2.3.22

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~Chris waiting for school bus~

Tuesday saw the return to in-person school days for Chris, 7 1/2, second grade. T’was cold as he and his mom waited for the big yellow school bus. Despite the look on his face, Chris was excited to resume in person classes – his first since March 2020. Mom and Elias – 4 years – perhaps not so; Elias entertained himself with the Very Hungry Caterpillar among other fun titles.

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I received my copy of Daniel Pink’s newest book:

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I first “met” Daniel Pink in 2007 when I’d stumbled upon his book A WHOLE NEW MIND, Riverhead Books,  c2005. I’d arrived home late in the evening, after driving from Delaware. Wide awake, I decided to read my new book… I remember reading the entire 234 pages that night, well into the wee small hours of the morning. Of course I had to go to work …

Fast forward 15 years: I was delighted to learn that Dan had a new book and I attended a pre-pub Zoom event Sunday evening, Feb 1, 2022… Like clockwork, the book arrived about 10:30 am, Tuesday morning.  Fortunately these days, I don’t have “bright and early” meetings to attend  and can therefore, read late into the wee small hours of the morning…except I rarely do. My “internal clock” winds down much earlier these days and most of my reading takes place mornings. I am definitely a LARK.

I have started THE POWER OF REGRET.  I am pacing myself: I have several other books in various stages of being read and a few other things that also demand my undivided attention. I’ve been retired for 12 years; funny, I seem to have less time now than I did way back when …

Cheers~

one little word|12.28.21…

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Christmas Cactus ~ a gift

In just 3 days, a new year is about to be ushered in, give or take a few minutes or so. last year, we had such hopes that the virus would be gone and we would all magically return to life as it was…little did we know. events – both health and political – have yet again, made 2021 an unprecedented year – which is probably an understatement.

As I prepared to “pen ” this post on my 2021 one little word: color, I looked over my entries and was buoyed by the colors ~ gifts from Mother Nature ~ of the trees, flowers, sky and some human-created things, too. As I move through my house, I see all the colors that bring me comfort and joy, noting that the walls on the first floor need a fresh coat of paint – it’s been a few years – and thinking how long color had been a very integral part of my life with one, yellow, always the piece de resistance.

I end this year’s one little word journey so very thankful for the colors that have provided me comfort and solace during this year, 2021. I plan to share my 2022 word next week Monday, January 4, 2022!

Have a joyous end to 2021 and may 2022 be our best year, ever! Joining Carolyn and friends here.

Cheers~

reunion…

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yesterday was a five+ star day: our Sunday Friendstitching group met for the first time since January 2020. we -all fully vaccinated – gathered in a spacious, well ventilated screened-in porch with a beautiful view of trees, accompanied by the incessant, unmistakable drone of cicadas …but we didn’t mind ’cause our chatter drowned them (the cicadas ) out! t’was a glorious day, one indelibly written on our minds and hearts.

we were all doing some sort of handwork: Theresa – knitting; Pat – applique; Barbi and Michelle – crossstitch; Margaret – needlepoint; and I – practiced drawing ( I was attending a Zoom session featuring Samantha Dion Baker, artist and author of Draw Your Day and soon to be released – 22 June – Draw Your World ).

I cannot put into words how incredibly grateful each of us was for this day; life hasn’t been easy for any of us, in addition to the pandemic. we each appreciate the blessings of our friendship and that we had this opportunity to reunite. I suspect we all slept very well … I know I did. I have this quote next to my Mac: each morning we are born again, what we do today is what matters most. ~ Buddah

tgif | 5.7.21 …

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  • at sunrise this morning: 6:05 am EST
  • knit the sky yarns – Done Roving Yarns
  • Hazel & Chris out for a walk

Currently, I am participating in the annual May rendition of LOAD – Layout A Day. Our theme this month is The Golden Girls and thus far it’s been a lot of fun. I’ve watched Golden Girls since it first aired in 1985; I suspect I’ve seen all 185 episodes at least ten times but each one is almost always fresh, new and funny! I normally catch a few episodes, aired on the Hallmark Channel, on weekends.

In my last post, I shared a bit about a PiP (project in progress…or not ): knitting the sky. No, I’ve not yet started the project tho’ Thursday morning , I did begin reading the book Knit the Sky on my Kindle. I rarely read ebooks so I’m relearning the platform – which has been updated considerably since the last time I read a Kindle book. Above are the yarns I’ll be using for the project…now, to get started!

And, also in my last post, I shared a picture of Hazel – niece Chris’ labradoodle. Hazel has a new look and I thought she’d be OK with my sharing another photo. She’s such a cutie!

My daily schedule has been drastically changed over the past six months and I’ve too often found myself trying to fit things in the old time frame, only to run out of time and steam! As I was drafting this post, keenly aware that too many days have elapsed since I last posted, I had a bright idea: Usually , M- F, I’m on line during the noon hour, creating daily pages in small 3 x 5 or 4 x 6 journals. I had the bright idea: I’ll use the following 12:45 – 2 PM time slot, give or take 10-15 minutes, to draft, edit, schedule or publish posts as well as attend to other blogging activity: reading and responding to comments, visiting others’ blogs, etc. As I shared earlier, I think this plan is a prime candidate for time blocking… time will tell… and as friend of mine oft said: nothing beats a failure but a try… I’m not quite sure how this will all turn out but I plan to give it a good try. Now if I could only figure out how to use Word Press’ new editor program. I do not at all like it!

Wishing all a great weekend! My niece Kayla – age 20 – got her first Covid-19 vaccination today! Maybe by Memorial Day we’ll be able to have a family gathering…

Cheers~

it’s thursday !| 3.4.21 …

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…and as I begin to pen this post, also 4:45 pm, EST. I have had great intentions to post every day this first week of March – as they say: “life gets in the way of one’s plans…” Seems that my plans and better intentions are waylaid by unplanned events, e.g., today: I wound up making a grocery store run; fortunately, it took me about 75 minutes, portal to portal. And then, the next thing I know the day’s over and I’ve not written a word let alone a post. Oh well, I tell myself: “there’s always tomorrow.” Oh really?

Fortunately I’ve managed to carve out a 45-60 minutes block at noon, most days of the week to make a Daily Page, to play with cardstock, rubber stamps, washi tape, watercolors, etc on a 3 x 5 or 4 x 6 canvas along with people from all over the globe – also under COVID-19 restrictions. Thus far this week, I’ve also walked outside at least 20 minutes a day!!! I owe Mother Nature a huge thanks – she’s certainly brought us the weather that encourages such activity. The forecast for Sunday is very promising, too – maybe a walk to Franciscan Monastery? Weather permitting.

I am about to begin The Confetti Quilt Stitch Along. I alluded to it in my post last Thurs. Currently, I am waiting for my background fabric, on order from a shop in Texas – I think they’re back in business after all the turmoil with water and electrical grid … I am especially excited because I’ve not done any quilting since the beginning of COVID-19 …

On the reading front: I commented on Mary’s blog post for today: “Fun post AND I think “I’ll borrow a page from your book” -pun intended (I.am.so. clever – hah!): since I have yet to connect to my/a year-long read, I’ll read fiction in the morning, also! Duh! What took me so long to figure that out?!
Thanks friend for waking up a few sleepy brain cells…
Cheers~

The neat thing about this bright idea is I have lots of fiction titles awaiting my read – I don’t read much fiction and have been aiming to change that but have not had much success I think this will definitely work! Stay tuned.

Finally, I am pleased to report that soon both Norman and I will be among the 100 million who will have received their Covid-19 vaccination during POTUS 46’s First 100 Days!

Have a good weekend!

Cheers~

tgif | 11.27.20 …

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                           surprise thanksgiving package left by a friend

thinking:

… in just 4 days, December will be upon us and the end of 2020 – just 31 days away! I’m very much looking forward – – to 2020’s end and hopefully, the nightmare we’ve been living …

grateful:

… despite this year’s challenges, I am grateful that friends and family, have for the most part, fared well. Several friends and I lost a long-time very dear friend and it has been so comforting for us to have one another.

inspiring:

… I read this article this AM, selected for me by google – sometimes I resent google’s snooping in my search and email in order to personalize web content for me but this time, I’m OK. I immediately downloaded the Kindle book and I’m off to Ravelry to look some more. My mind’s racing with ideas for doing this ’cause sky/cloud/season watching soothes my soul …

fun:

… it’s a fact that I’ve made corn pudding dozens of times (see 11/26/20 post). Yesterday, I managed to burn the dish…for some reason, I set the oven for 450 degrees, not the required 350 degrees! Go figure. I’m just grateful that we weren’t having company and that, fortunately, only the top was charred. And – Elias is THREE today! Will share a photo or two, as soon as Dolly sends some.

Have a great weekend!

Cheers~

sometimes mondays | 10.19.20 …

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“Self-care is a deliberate choice to gift yourself with people, places, things, events, and opportunities that recharge our personal battery and promote whole health — body, mind, and spirit.” ~ Pass It On

Today, this morning, for a brief moment, I saw the birds flocking towards the sunrise …they fly so fast that I can’t train my camera eye to catch before they are out of its view…but, that’s OK, I tell myself : the image is indelibly imprinted in my mind. I watch for Canadian Geese – so far, I’ve seen none.

Life is slowly adjusting to the new normal – a term we hear and say too often. This morning, the temps dropped low enough to kick in both the furnace and the heat pump – both are working on all cylinders. Thankfully. Especially after replacing the A/C-HeatPump this summer at ruinous costs. We’re set for winter and it appears, based on the ten-day forecast that we may not have a brief reprise of summer weather/temps before November.

This week’s calendar is pretty clear – save for my Daily Pages 12 N Zoom session, still very much a delightful break in the day. More Zoom sessions scattered throughout the week. And as I look at the clock, I think I’d best get a move on for my quilting group’s meeting in just an hour – @ 10 am.

Have a great day and week!

Cheers~

tgif | 10.16.20 …

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thinking : or as they say: best laid plans of mice, men and Honore´ … I wrote a draft of todays’s post earlier today but then got involved in sorting and planning several memory keeping projects for the balance of 2020. Can’t believe there are just 10 weeks left in 2020! Who-da thought we’d have the ride we’ve been on and are still on ???

grateful : for a stirring to resume a couple stitching projects – just as soon as I finish reorganizing my sewing room. one project on my agenda is “sewing school” for my nieces – they each want to learn how to sew and I have a few spare machines – one for each ( i.e., 3) plus a major supply of fabric, tools, etc. I think that with Zoom and my sister’s plus quilting friends’ help, we/they can do this…and heaven knows there are books ( many that I also have) and online resources to round out the curriculum. Christmas will be early this year…

interesting : “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” our neighborhood drugstore (Walgreen’s!) is still without rubbing alcohol – it’s been over three weeks. they are well supplied with hand sanitizers and masks and alcohol wipes and other COVID-19 related items… just no alcohol. truly a curiosity.

fun: October is another LOAD (layout a day month); I have been enjoying capturing autumn memories during this unprecedented year – COVID-19. The photo above was yesterday’s creation …

Have a great weekend!

Cheers~

sometimes mondays |8.24.20 …

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… are like and unlike any other. this morning, at 8:24 am, stillness. the world around appears to still be very much sleeping in. Eventually, the “world will awaken” but for the now, I shall relish these quiet moments.

… as I look out the window, evidence of autumn greets: just the slightest twinge of brown on the leaves of this tree and larger spaces of blue sky show in between branches. against the nearly cloudless sky,  red crepe myrtle dot the landscape.

… in this 5th month of Covid-19, the stealthy, incognito, non-discerning, easily transmitted virus continues to devastate … and yet, the grass continues to grow; clouds form, come and go; birds fly, stop to rest on an electric wire or tree branch or fence; squirrels scamper; bees, butterflies and other flying insects flit their way across my vista. in the not too far distance, I see traffic move and even two small dogs out for a walk.

… in the not too distant future, the sky will be more revealed as leaves from this tree begin to drop. soon to be autumn. I hope your Monday morning was as peaceful.

Cheers~

PS. A reminder: tomorrow is share your 2020 August word experience on this blog.