@shannonguerra on Substack
I’m sitting here wondering why the sign makes me want to do just that – 😜
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Here are my latest painted sketches –
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Brian texted me yesterday afternoon, asking me to unlock my door. When I did, he came in with a guitar! Somehow he decided that I had shown enough determination and had tried to fight with the fact that the guitar was large for me and the neck was so wide I was really having to work to get my fingers into position on the frets that he had chosen wrong before and had brought me a replacement!
It’s smaller, the neck is narrower, it FEELS better when I hold it. I was able to show him that I could move from one chord to another – not with grace – but showed I had been working hard to re-memorize finger positions and with the smaller neck, I was indeed, able to ‘keep my flesh off the box, dahlin” and make a pretty clear sound. To say I’m thrilled is such an understatement.
We will either sell or give away the other guitar, and I’ll start trying to actually PLAY something today!!!! There is still a LOT of work to do so I know what I’m doing again, and the sick frog voice is alive and well, but I will be grinning when I’m trying to work on an actual song today. 🎸😜
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When we were sharing breakfast, I mentioned that the next completely frivolous thing I would like to look for was a Thai broom. I’ve done a post where I showed you some of the wonderful brooms they make (and USE!) here. He got up, went to a closet, and pulled out this broom –
I have it hanging on my wall next to my little kitchen now, considering it a work of art. The workmanship is amazing. Brian says it was made by the ‘mountain people’ above Chiang Mai.
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Small Town Girl – @donna855789 – on Substack
I love your latest paintings and that broom is a work of art. Enjoy playing with the new guitar.
Thank you, Liz! I’m delighted you like the paintings. I’m thrilled with both the broom (which I hope will be the start of a collection for that wall) and the new guitar. I just tried to play a song. LOTS of work ahead. My fingers are still screaming, but I was actually trying to play a song! I’ll be heading for the cafe this afternoon.
Enjoy the rest of your day.
Thank so much, Liz. 😁
Wow~!
I LOVE that broom. I love floor care, to be honest. Having a clear, clean floor soothes me, and cleaning is always a relaxing and enjoyable task. Since moving to Asia, I have to admit I’m not always happy with the brooms as tools. This could be user error! The synthetic American ones are hardy and technically do sweep really well. But this is gorgeous, and the angled shape may have an advantage over the more fan-shaped ones — and definitely does over the king-sized paintbrush variety they offer where I live in India. The beautiful handiwork cuff topping the bristles, of course, puts your broom on another level — and qualifies as wall art, to be sure!
I hope to build a whole collection of all kinds of brooms and brushes, though I have to admit that the one I actually USE is a cheap synthetic American type. I have noticed, though, that people here use a kind of choppy motion to both sweep and then get the debris into the basket. I want to get one of the fan-shaped ones, and then one of the hand brushes I have seen. They will only see “use” as the beautiful artwork they are. 😁
What a nice post! I especially liked the woman with the cup of coffee noting her statement of doing what she wants! LOL
I’m glad you enjoyed the post, Linda. I especially appreciate your telling me that. :0). I liked the woman doing what she wants, too. May we all be like her.
OMG! I LOVE the broom, Linda! Now, imagine how little the witch would need to be to fly on it?!? Hahaha!!!
I also adore your sketches (of course!) and that Brian brought you an easier to handle guitar! Wow!! He keeps scoring points for BEST SON EVER award, for sure!!! LOL
❤️💙❤️💙
I smile every time I look at that end of the room now. I see the broom and a wonderful feeling rushes over me. I’m amazed at the expertise and craftsmanship, plus the additions to make it so pretty. I’m glad you liked the sketches. I’ve been practicing an actual song on the guitar! I’m still awful, but I’m smiling as I croak. I can now reach the places my fingers are supposed to go, and I was able to show him I’ve been memorizing the finger placement on the chords. They actually sounded almost clear! Practicing will be a lot nicer now. And YES! In my book, he has long since won he contest for the best son ever award – starting when he dropped everything and flew to our home to take care of us.
Your paintings are beautiful, as always. I especially like the one Give Yourself The Gift of Better Health.
I am happy for you that you can more easily play the guitar. Small things can sometimes give us the greatest pleasure.
The broom is pretty but does not look very practical for using to actually sweep the floor. Take care, (Donna)
Thanks for writing, Sweet Donna. I was actually enjoying my guitar practice last night – other than the sore fingertips. The people here use a chopping type motion when sweeping, rather than the more usual movements we’re used to, so maybe it works better for that. I just loved it for its beauty, so it will never see any more dirty floors (if it has ever). It makes me smile.