LittleRedHouse-Cass-@thesereneartist.bsky.social
Summer Light -Jia Li – via @trahias.bsky.social
Vera Kober Art – @ verakoberart on Substack
Susan Fallow – @susareetow.bsky.social-synthart
Jean S. Kaiyou – @jeanskaiyou on Substack
Lisa Wellwood Art – 2
Filed under drawings
Sunday 7-19-2026
Maje Baker via Pamela Schifano – @pammypoo on Substack
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No news on Harvey this morning. We’re hoping to hear from Khun Pim, his nursing home nurse who is with him, that he has been moved to a private room. We will try to have a regular day.
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I’ve been to the gym and shared breakfast with Brian. I will practice my guitar, write posts for the blog, finish base painting some sketches so I can work on the details at the cafe, and do water bottle exercises. 🎸👩💻🎨💪🏻
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I’m starting a new book by I. L. Williams today called, “The Way Home.” I can’t say enough about her writing. I’m looking forward to diving in.
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saruntcha
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Saturday 7-18-2026
PictureQuotes.com
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We spent about half the day at the hospital. Harvey’s fever is gone and the antibiotic seems to be working to fight the infection. The doctor wants to do more to get rid of more of the ‘stuff’ in his lungs, and we don’t know the results of the A1C yet. They were going to do the procedure today and maybe move him out of ICU and into a private room tonight.
The one thing Harvey said that made sense was that he ‘thought he was going to die this time.” That tore my guts out. He was calm, though he said his right arm felt like it had been ‘chewed.’ It LOOKED a little like that, too, with all the bruising…
We’re taking one day at a time, either going to the hospital ICU, a new private room, or maybe they will let him go back to the nursing home.
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These are the two latest painted sketches. The first shows that the Thai people not only work to preserve trees, they actively build AROUND them, as it shows in my imaginary cafe, though I have seen shops and cafes built around gnarled trees. I think it’s great.
The second shows a gazebo featuring an elephant dressed in gold. I took quite a few liberties with this one, wanting to get the FEELING of the place and the honor shown the elephant, rather than the actual dimensions of the gazebo. The actual one had the elephant looking smaller up on a block of cement so you looked up at him, and there were two elephants side by side, rather than only one. The gazebo was very tall and spacious – quite a sight to behold.
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My time at the cafe is a lifesaver for my sanity and peace of mind. It’s very calming to go to such a welcoming, comfortable place where I can sit and drink an iced latte and draw to my heart’s content.
Yesterday I had a nice thing happen. A man from India stopped and said it was a ‘beautiful sight’ to see someone sitting and drawing. We had a chat and I showed him some of my stuff. He is here in Thailand with his wife. He makes jewelry. It was interesting to visit with him.
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It’s almost time for dinner, so I can’t promise to write more today, but I’ll try.
Simply True Designs
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Parker Thornton Art
Parker Thornton Art – @pthornton – Substack
Miniature graphite drawings. Commissions available.
Filed under Uncategorized
The Jacket
Shady – Emmanuel Eticka – “Planet Positive” – Substack – @planetpositive
Filed under kindness
Friday 7-17-2026
Dee Dee
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Hospital Update – Harvey was awake and watching TV this morning in ICU. Pim, his nurse from the nursing home, said tests would be run today. The hospital wants to keep him another day. They will keep him busy with tests. Other than that, he should sleep while the antibiotics do their work, so we will plan to go see him wherever he is tomorrow.
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I had a really nice massage this morning and Brian and I are hanging out at my place until we move to the cafe to get out of the housekeeper’s way.
This bird is called the Greater Coucal. I have never seen a bird with the beautiful chestnut colored wings and back. In certain light his tail looks green, and you can see his red eyes here. He makes a whoop-whoop-whoop sound. Today, when I was changing from my massage clothes to my rest-of-the-day clothes, one of these was in the tree outside my bedroom window! Brian tried to get a picture, but it flew off before he could.
I also had a teeny, tiny gecko helping me get my laundry out on my drying rack on my balcony this morning. He is smaller around through the body than the last one I had, but longer and skinny and blazingly fast. I only saw the last one once. I don’t know if I’ll see this one again or not.
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Roos Peeters
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Thursday 7-16-2026
Pamela Schifano – @pammypoo on Substack
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We spent almost the entire day at the hospital today. Harvey developed a fever and was having trouble breathing with congestion in his lungs, so they took him to the hospital by ambulance. Brian and I met Harvey and his nurse there.
They have him on antibiotics now and will probably suction his lungs today. They are running more tests and are keeping him overnight. He was really spaced out and coughing a lot. This developed very quickly, so we’re not sure what is going on. To say today was stressful is an understatement.
We made sure he was in a room in the ICU after he was released from the triage ER, and that his nurse was comfortable. We talked to the doctor.
We will go back to the hospital in the morning to see what is happening. Hopefully, the antibiotics and the suction will have broken the fever and have him feeling more comfortable and coughing much less.
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I collapsed when I got back home and slept for about 45 minutes. Then I went to the cafe to get a latte and destress.
These are my latest
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Brian and I will share dinner very soon and then I will probably go to bed earlier than usual to see if I can get enough rest to hit the gym in the morning and see what the day holds. Not sure whether I will be able to have my massage or not, but we’ll vacate so the housekeeper can do her magic.
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I hope all of you are doing well.
Shellie Atkins
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Lisa Wellwood Art
Filed under drawings
Cute Cats Photos – 2
“There are two means of refuge from the misery of life — music and cats.”
― Albert Schweitzer
“Meow” means “woof” in cat.”
― George Carlin
“Time spent with a cat is never wasted.”
― Colette
“Arise from sleep, old cat,
And with great yawns and stretchings…
Amble out for love”
― Issa, Japanese Haiku
“A house isn’t a home without the ineffable contentment of a cat with its tail folded about its feet. A cat gives mystery, charm, suggestion.”
― L.M. Montgomery, Emily’s Quest
Photos gathered by Hidreley of BoredPanda.com
Filed under Uncategorized
Wednesday 7-15-2026
Tracy Chrest – @tracychrest989204 on Substack
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I’ve had a good morning. We went to the gym and shared breakfast as usual. Then I did something I’ve never done before – I didn’t sleep well last night, having to take a Tylenol-type pill in the middle of the night, so I was tired and sleepy. When I got back to my place, I turned off the air filters, opened all the windows, turned on the fan, and took a nap.
I felt MUCH better when I woke up, more ready to face the day. I closed everything up again, turned on the a/c and did a good, long session of yoga stretches.
And finally, I gave myself the treat of rereading a story by I.L. Williams about a girl and her dog. It got me emotionally the same way it did the first time. I.L. Williams is quite a storyteller. She draws you in immediately, makes you care.
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These are the latest painted sketches.
I’m going to add the details to some Christmas cards I started yesterday and then choose what to tackle next on drawings. I have several wonderful or challenging choices to try. I’ll spend part of the afternoon at the cafe, enjoying a latte and sketching.
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Bia Jan
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
In Otter News – 5
I have rarely found a column I actively look for each morning. The person who writes the captions for these wonderful photos is right on my wavelength. I don’t know if this is a man or a woman, but I can’t say enough about how witty I think he or she is.
Filed under Funny Signs - Humor, Substack
Paintings I Love
@longpainter.bsky.social
AnnaB – @bornforart.bsky.social
AnnaB – @bornforart.bsky.social
@LikeCatsandDogs-Substack
@LikeCatsandDogs-Substack
Filed under paintings I love
Tuesday 7-14-2026
Tracy Chrest – @tracychrest989204 on Substack
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My latest painted sketches.
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We went to visit my husband this morning. He was largely unresponsive, which is becoming more and more the norm. He is gradually withdrawing into himself and his own little world. There are a few exceptions to that. He did reach out and take my hand today and just held it for much of time we were there. His usual response now is “no” when we ask him something, like a small child – a knee jerk reaction. So I just got my phone and started showing him things, even though he said he had no interest, and he did show some interest, though didn’t say anything. When we left, he again said, “Get me out of here.” But when we asked him if the people were treating him well, he nodded. When we asked him if he hurt, he shook his head, “no.” He couldn’t answer any of the questions about HOW we would go about getting him out of there or what we would do if we DID get him out of there, so it’s another knee jerk reaction. He wants to be with us, wants things back the way they used to be. So do we. So.do.we.
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Brian and I spent time at the cafe this afternoon and just came home. We had a good time – Brian working on his computer, me finishing some sketches and starting others, both of us having a nice drink.
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I thought it was going to rain on us, but it only sprinkled on the way home from the nursing home, and didn’t do anything at all while we were at the cafe.
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I learned another ‘perk’ of getting older – that of bruising more easily. ‘Something’ bit me around the time we were going to the cafe. It was itching, so I scratched it, more than once. I looked down at my arm later and saw a BRUISE where I had been scratching. That’s the first time that has happened. I’ll have to put “do not scratch hard” on my list now…
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Spotted Moon
Filed under Uncategorized
Sarah Strachan Craft
Sarah makes these dogs and sells them from her shop, Sarah Strachan Craft on Etsy. She also will take custom orders, as well, if you’d like her to make one that looks like YOUR dog! (Thank you to I.L. Williams on Substack for sharing this.)
Filed under Sarah Strachan Craft - dogs - Etsy
Monday 7-13-2026
Cristina Arcenegui Bono – womensartbluesky.bsky.social
I really can’t believe this is a QUILT. I am completely overwhelmed and just love it. I’m going to save the image and see if I can draw it.
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These are my two new sketches.
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Brian and I took a really nice walk this morning. We left my laundry, and then we were free to roam. We went to visit my huge koi fish. They happened to be feeding them automatically while we were there. All of a sudden soft pellet-looking things were floating on the surface. The fish didn’t have a frenzy or anything because apparently they are well enough fed that they are interested, but not frantic. There was a steady swimming around by all parties, each scooping up a couple of pellets. I swear they were ‘chewing.’ I KNOW fish don’t have teeth and don’t need to, but the motion they made with their mouths and jaws imitated the action….🐠
We also saw a huge gazebo with a double elephant statue in the center. It was really impressive. I took some photos and hope to be able to draw it well enough to share soon. 🐘
The last thing I took pics of was a humongous snail sitting on a step. He was beautiful. 🐌
The frogs were quiet, or have all left as of today. It was the first time they have been quiet in several weeks. I guess the mating season is over. 🐸
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I have the base painting done on one sketch and one Christmas card. I’ll take these to the cafe this afternoon to add the details, and then get started on something else fun. 🎨
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Today is yoga stretches day, so I’ll do that when I get back from the cafe, before dinner. I did pretty well on the treadmill this morning, keeping up my speed and adding some incline. 🚶♀️🧘
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The weather forecast is for ‘heavy rain warning’ for the foreseeable future, with the LOWEST chance of rain percentage 70%. It is quite cloudy right now. I’m trying to be like the Thai people, take my umbrella and rain suit and continue on with whatever I wanted to do – unless the rain is really pouring on us right then – and then we just wait it out. ☔️
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Joan Kempiak – Sweet Pea’s Whimsy
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Vera Kober Art – 4
Filed under paintings I love
Sunday 7-12-2026
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Yesterday when Brian and I were on our way to the gym I heard a bird song that somehow reminded me of a kookaburra. And THAT reminded me of when I was a Bluebird (a baby Camp Fire Girl) and we sang two ’rounds’ that I remember and can hear them now.
Total Voice Studio
A ’round’ in music is “a type of vocal composition where two or more singers sing the exact same melody, but start at staggered times. Because the singers overlap, their different parts harmonize to create a continuous loop of beautiful music.”
“Le Carillon de Vendôme”
Orléans, Beaugency,
Notre-Dame de Cléry,
Vendôme, Vendôme !
This is the first one I remember. When we sang, it sounded like bells were ringing. The first group would start the song. The second group started right after “Orle’ans”. The sound we made, even though we weren’t great singers, was breathtaking.
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Kookabyrra
Kookaburra sits on the old gum tree,
Merry merry king of the bush is he.
Laugh, Kookaburra, laugh, Kookaburra,
Gay your life must be!
Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Eating all the gumdrops he can see
Stop, Kookaburra, Stop, Kookaburra
Leave some there for me.
Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree,
Counting all the monkeys he can see
Stop, Kookaburra, Stop, Kookaburra,
That’s no monkey, that’s me.
This is the second one, and was mainly just fun. The first group would sing the first line, and the second one would start after that. I can remember singing those, delight on our faces, the whole time we were members of the Blue Birds. I don’t hear anyone singing rounds anymore. I miss them.
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This is my latest sketch. I took photos of the lizard at the top and then going up the tree while I was sitting at the window in the cafe. One of the servers told me they could fly. I looked it up and found that they can glide up to 60 feet to get away from a predator. I didn’t actually see the ‘wings’ on this one, but I drew the one I found on the net. I think it’s amazing how fast they move without having to fly, and that their tails are at least twice as long as their bodies…
I have two sketches base painted that I’ll take to the cafe this afternoon. I want to try to draw the axolotl that I found on the net soon. I also have an idea rattling around in my head with a ‘keep moving’ theme I was to start on.
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I’m not making much progress at all with my jigsaw puzzle of the chameleon. The border is done, and I have a small group of pieces that is part of the branch, but that’s it. This one will definitely take a while. Brian is thrilled. 😁
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I hope you’re having a great weekend.
Pamela Schifano – Substack
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Hoarding
Emmanuel Etika hosts this column on Substack called, “Planet Positive”– “A collection of kindness-driven stories with compassionate reflections designed to help readers process emotions, find clarity, and feel less alone.”
I just love this column. I hope that you will follow him. Planet Positive
Filed under kindness
Saturday 7-11-2026
Shout out to my friend Sheila Murrey for taking this photo of the axolotls in the store where her daughter works for me. I simply LOVE these. If you look very carefully, you can see the gray one pretty easily. You might have to look a bit longer to see the white one who is trying to hide. Thank you, Sheila!!! ♥️
“The axolotl is a species of mole salamander. It is neotenic, reaching sexual maturity without undergoing metamorphosis, and the adults remain fully aquatic with obvious external gills.”
I found this pic on the net and will try to draw it.
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I finished the first few Christmas cards yesterday.
Each card will be different, and different from anything I did last year. I’ll make a few at a time, finding designs I like, figuring out which ones might be good for each person.
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We are just back from visiting my husband at the nursing home. He was more alert today, but was delusional most of the time, talking about plotting to take over a place we visited years ago and ridding it of all the bad stuff. Brian teased him about being a “master mind of evil,” and he almost smiled with his eyes. He has the idea now that he wants to rearrange his Happy Wall and thinks I’m the current Grandma Moses and that we can sell all my drawings for a fortune – talk about delusional! Anyway, that was a nice thing to say. He broke my heart right before we left. He motioned that he wanted me to come back to his bedside, and he said, “Get me out of here.”
Brian and I talked about it. Harvey says all is good there. He is not hurting. The people are treating him well. So what is he actually meaning when he says this –
We really think he is actually saying, “Do something to make all this go away. Take away the bad stuff that has happened and make it go back the way it was when I was healthier, able to take care of myself, think straight, get out of bed and do the things I used to do.”
He doesn’t realize it now takes three trained people to get him out of the bed and into a wheelchair. That he cannot eat enough food by himself without the nasal tube to survive. Can’t understand where he is, what is happening, what year it is, who we are much of the time, and more. Trying to explain any of this over and over again is fruitless.
We just hold his hands, hug him and kiss him. bring him pictures for his wall from time to time, bring him pineapple pies and grape drink (plus a probiotic, if he’ll drink it), and talk to him about whatever is on his mind while we’re there.
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I feel good because I’m wearing a jeans vest that I’ ve had for 100 years or so that I’ve always worn open (because I couldn’t even THINK of actually trying to button the buttons. Today I put it on, buttoned the buttons, and actually find it ROOMY. The best part of my weight loss is that I’m feeling so much better, but a nice sidebar is when I can FEEL a difference from two years ago to now. 🥳
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I forgot to tell you yesterday that my neighbors and I went toward the elevator at the same time yesterday morning as I was going up to join Brian for breakfast. I asked them if they had a minute and gave the little boy the card I made showing the robot in the tree swing. He really seemed to like it. The parents grabbed a whole sack of his artwork. I took a minute to look and he’s really good. I apologized that I had to leave, but that I would love to take more time and really enjoy looking at his work at another time. Hopefully, they will invite me.
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Pamela Schifano – Substack
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
In Otter News – 4
I check “In Otter News” every morning to give myself the gift of a smile, a snort, an ‘awwww’ or an outright laugh. I hope you are enjoying these, as well.
In Otter News. @inotternews on Substack
Filed under Funny Signs - Humor
Friday 7-10-2026
This morning our rain suits got a good workout. It’s down to a ‘regular rain’ now, rather than a blowing harder rain. We’ve been to the gym, had breakfast, I’ve had a really nice massage, and we’re spending time at my place before we go to the cafe to get out of my housekeeper’s way. (She’s at Brian’s place now.)
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An old lady’s hand (mine).
A rooster
Another in the Thai Scene series
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I’ve put my guitar in its case and propped it up in a corner where it will stay until after dinner. I’m finally making a bit of progress with the C progression of chords on my guitar. I’m remember the order of the chords and I remember where my fingers go without checking my diagrams, but I’m still really slow. I move from one chord to the next, trying to get a clean sound. I can usually try the round of 4 chords three times before my fingertips throw a fit. Then I put the guitar down, go do something else, and then pick it up and try again later.
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I’m finding lots of things I want to share with you. I’m trying to make some kind of a plan on how to group the different things. It’s wonderful to know that there are so many great things out there that we can enjoy.
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Lana Signs Fliearman
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Exercising Your Options
CoolFunnyQuotes.com
I’ve told you that I’m concentrating on exercising now that I’ve finally lost my extra lard and have wrinkles on my wrinkles now. This is what I look like now – except not nearly as cute…
Amazon.ca (I think the name on this photo is Nina Pastova, but I could be wrong.)
Yesterday I tried doing a ‘squat’ like my friend Sheila has been doing. She is doing hangs and squats and getting good results, strengthening her upper and lower back and already has lost an inch from her waist!
I found, after going down for the squat, that this is not the exercise for me. I have always had bad knees (got cortisone shots in my knees when I was 12) and I have had to be careful with my joints, particularly now that I’m becoming ancient.
CoolFunnyQuotes.com
Just as in medications, everyone is different. A medicine that is great for taking away pain or a headache in ME does nothing for someone else, or makes them sick, or they find they are allergic. Everyone is different on the subject of exercise, too.
CoolFunnyQuotes.com
We each need to try different things on for size when we’re deciding what to do to make up our routine in the first place, and then what to add to our routine later.
I follow Mike, an Australian exercise guy online who specializes in ‘seniors’ and I have found his exercises to be helpful without causing me any problems. I also found a man yesterday who makes videos for people over 60. (Did you ever notice they seem to stop counting after 60? I have never seen a title about ‘flexibility in your 80’s,’ or something similar. I kind of resent that.
CoolFunnyQuotes.com
My point in writing this is that what you do with your body – whether it’s trying different eating styles, ways to get healthier, ways to lose weight, ways to exercise to make yourself stronger, with better balance, and more stamina, are all individual decisions that will be different for each of us.
Thank goodness we have lots of options, lots of suggestions, plus information we can research to learn what is right for us.
Keep sharing things that you find help you. They may help others, as well.
Kudos to all of us for TRYING to be the healthiest we can be!
Filed under Uncategorized
Such Beautiful Birds!
Brian-@balail.bsky.social
Ed Foster-@fo5ered.bsky.social
Helen Alexander-@bawley.bsky.social
Nick Vertsonis Photorgraphy via Eloise Powers
Jay Shetty via@openwings – Substack
Filed under Awe-Inspiring Photography
Scrap Metal Treasures – 4
Michael
Norma Richter
Terri Orr Hilgerman
TheSawLady.com
wordpress.com
Filed under scrap metal art
Thursday 7-9-2026
Kris Vereecken
I don’t just mean the cliche’ here. I am trying to shed worry about things I can’t do anything about anyway. I am working on NOT imagining possible scenarios that MIGHT – but almost NEVER – happen. I’m concentrating on seeing the good wherever it might be and enjoying every moment of it.
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I’m still working on two sketches today – one of an old woman’s hand (mine) and a church-steeple-spire building I took a picture of recently. If I can finish them today, I’ll share them tomorrow.
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Yesterday afternoon there was a wreck in the street that runs in front of my building. I heard the sound and ran to the window to see a sedan type vehicle and a pink motor scooter with a girl on the ground. I couldn’t tell what had happened. The girl was able to get up and there was no blood. They both took pictures and moved their vehicles to the side of the road, and got on their phones. They were there a LONG time waiting for the police to come. A lady came to sit with the girl, and the two of them eventually went away in an ambulance. (I didn’t see what happened to her scooter.) The man was still waiting (I guess for insurance or possible tow truck) to come. I’m amazed that this doesn’t happen more often. This is the only wreck I have seen the aftermath of in the over a year since I’ve been here.
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I’m trying again on getting my wash from yesterday dry, plus added to it this morning. It’s cloudy, with rain forecast, but hopefully I can get things done today.
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Today is the day I get ready for my housekeeper to come tomorrow. (I will NEVER take this for granted. I have always done my own cleaning, but now am definitely getting too old in the tooth to get down on my hands and knees and scrub anymore.) I will change the sheets on my bed, put out fresh towels everywhere, gather and empty the trash, general straightening, otherwise.
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Filed under Thoughts on a ________
creativeartworksblog 