“Sunset” – Michael Hall – @mhallarts.bsky.social
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Caroline Gardner
Today would have been my parents’ 85th wedding anniversary. My dad, who had an amazing sense of humor, wanted to get married on April Fool’s Day. My mom looked him in the eye and said, “I’m not foolin’.” They married in Chicago in 1941, had my brother and me, moved to Levittown NY. My dad had a chance to do the advertising for a company in Tulsa, Oklahoma when I was 5. We moved to Tulsa in 1952 when there was almost nothing there yet. I lived in the home they had built until Harvey and I got married in 1969. My dad had started a one-man advertising agency with my mom acting as an unpaid ‘do-everything-else-but-write-and-record-the-radio-ads’ person -ads that won The Silver Addy Award for Lifetime Achievement from the advertising community. They made a mark.
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This is my latest painted sketch.
I am now using one of the small backpacks we used to move here as my ‘Friday Pack.’ Every week I have crammed my carrier/tote full of what I needed for our afternoons at the cafe while Khun Nong cleans my place. I carried what wouldn’t fit in my carrier, trying not to drop or lose anything.
I had a “Duh!” moment when I figured out I could use the backpack, putting everything in it I wanted for Fridays at the cafe and just keep it packed. I’ve been working out of it this week and it’s working well. When we leave, I’ll just zip it up and carry it and my tote to the cafe! Sometimes it amazes me how long it takes me to figure out a solution to a ‘problem-I-didn’t-realize-I-had.’
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This is the reading of the air pollution index here now.
Yesterday it got my attention because the reading was 216 – into the ‘very unhealthy’ range. It has only been that high for that one day so far. I’ll just monitor things, keeping my windows closed and my air filters and a/c on.
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Pet Nurture
I got a massage this morning. Ahhhhhh! My regular therapist was back! With the magic of pantomime and determination, I figured out that Khun Weaw’s place was being remodeled, so she had to move EVERYTHING out, have the remodeling done, and then move EVERYTHING back in again. A lot of work!
She again mentioned my weight loss. I was able to show her the numbers on the calculator on my phone and pantomime, doctor/keeping my mouth shut/ and exercising.
I hugged her, and the nice lady, Khun Sulee, who substituted for her, today, thanking them for taking such good care of me.
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Good Housekeeping
creativeartworksblog 
Your latest painting sketch is absolutely beautiful! I just love it, and I bet it looks just like what you have seen before and then decided to sketch it.
I know you truly enjoyed the massage in the company, too, no doubt. I’m sure you make the ladies feel good with your compliments just like they make you feel good with the massage.
It is Friday morning, April 3, 2026 at 7:19 AM, and I am waiting to clock and don’t usually check my email this early at work, but I’m glad I did and saw your beautiful painting! I hope you have enjoyed your day and enjoy your evening. (Donna)
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What a nice note, Donna! Thank you. I’m glad you like the sketch. I’m going to try to do another one, showing different details of the streets here. I took some photos so I can try to get the flavor of it better. I hope your work went well.
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I could hear a lot of gratitude in your words today!
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I feel gratitude every day, Linda, but sometimes I have so much it simply spills out the top. I’m a truly lucky lady.
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Oh, no wonder you’re such a talented artist, Linda! Your parents being so creative! Wow! I love they won the Silver Addy Award, and yes, I know what those are because my husband has won Addy Awards as well!
I love your street scene painted sketch! Yes, I see Spa and Coffee and the little cat too! How colorful! (I’m not even going to attempt this one!)
I finished one of your sketches today with a mix of pen (the art store kind) and the oil pastels. I will share it tomorrow. I finished a rather complicated blog article today and used the time coloring to chill out from that! Hubby liked the sketch very much! He is looking for a smudge pencil thing for me to be able to blend the colors.
Glad your regular massage lady is back! What an ordeal she had to have her place remodeled! Wow!
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Yes, I won the lottery in parents. They were both great role models, as well. Good for your husband on winning Addy awards! I’m glad you liked the street scene sketch. I’m going to try another one soon emphasizing the electrical line system around here. I’m looking forward to the art you created. Art is such a great way to channel your energy and calm you down, as it takes total concentration, making all other concerns drop off. The smudge pencil thing sounds interesting.
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Yes, your parents were a dream team it seems, Linda! Yay! The electric lines sound like a good challenge. The concentration thing, yes! I get so into the art creating that I ignore Richard! Ha! But he understands. He’s now looking again for the art smudger thing again.
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Richard is definitely a keeper. Set your alarm so you ‘remember’ him….
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You got it, Linda. His meds alarm always scares me when it goes off too (how did you know?) haha
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😊😂
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