I went to sleep early last night, simply too sleepy to stay awake. Right at midnight the sound of explosions woke me up. I looked out my bedroom window to see the most glorious display of fireworks I have EVER seen. I was up high enough that even though the fireworks were being set off behind buildings, I felt like I was INSIDE the colors streaking everywhere, sparkling, one after the other for a full 5 minutes. My heart was in my throat by the end of this, SO happy to be awakened for such a great reason! 🥳 🎆
In Arkansas, we would have this mailbox decoration up to welcome the new year. Calvin & Hobbes were always one of our favorites.
Whether you’ve already celebrated, or will celebrate tonight, I wish you a very Happy New Year. I hope that this year brings you wonderful things, surrounds you with lots and lots of love, and brings a smile to your face as you do things you love.
We visited my husband, Harvey, in the nursing home this morning. It was Khun Yuwaret’s (Harvey’s nurse’s) last day, as she is going home to be with her family. We are really going to miss her. She has treated Harvey like he was her dad, and you can’t get better care than that. I got some pics, and the visit was a good one. When I told him I loved him, he said, “I reciprocate.” 🤣
We live on a busy street in Chiang Mai, and the celebrating may be loud and boisterous tonight. Harvey asked if there would be fireworks. I hadn’t thought of that, so I thanked him for giving me something to look forward to. Brian and I have no interest in getting out in the midst of young, drinking revelers, but I love fireworks. We will get up early tomorrow, as we do every morning, to do our walking, celebrating the beginning of a brand, spanking new year, full of possibilities.
Chiang Mai fireworks will probably originate from the river that runs through the old, original center of the city. That will make them much safer. I hope they will start as soon as it gets dark!
This was sent to me by my good friend, Nora. I think it’s beautiful.
Happy New Year, whether you’re celebrating tonight or tomorrow. Wishing you a joyous year full of love and gratitude.
I love the fact that this doggie seems to be enjoying being a Christmas tree.
Cardfool.com
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Brian and I went to a get-together yesterday afternoon and evening at the beautiful condo of a friend nearby, joined by our adoptive family and a BUNCH of other people. I knew some of them and met a whole lot of others. There were three kids there as well as the adults, so it was a fun mix.
A beautifully decorated table was groaning with all kinds of finger foods. Brian kept going and filling our plate with more – and I ate ALL of my share, loving every bite.
As we got ready to leave, I thanked our hosts and gave them a Christmas card. I then went around the room, distributing the cards I had made. My Christmas gift was seeing the surprise and pleasure the cards brought. If you could ‘see happiness,’ it was overflowing out of the top of my head…
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Yesterday morning we visited Harvey at the nursing home. It was a visit I will treasure. It started with him greeting me saying, “Hi, Babe.” He was alert, not in pain, and not complaining about anything. I gave Khun Yuwaret, his nurse, the card I made for her and we cried and hugged each other. We have been so lucky to have her take care of Harvey. She will be missed and no one will ever replace her.
Harvey told me that he had ordered 40 gallons of coffee for me and a handbag. (there is no way he can actually DO this, thank goodness). When I reminded him that we had loved each other for over 64 years now (56+ married and then 9 years or so before that while we were dating), he said, “64 years is a good start.” And then he said, “You are my Miss Universe.” He also said that I was his ‘favorite’ wife. (He has announced he has married several others since his stroke and has fathered children on Mars.) I told him that as long as I was his “Number 1” wife, he could have as many women in his harem as he liked. There was just a glimmer of a smile at that. Both Brian and I saw it. It was the first since April’s stroke. To say that I will never forget this visit is an understatement.
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On the way back from visiting Harvey, we stopped at Central Festival, the big mall in Chiang Mai, so that I could see the decorations and we could see if I could find a pair of jeans that fit.
The decorations were pretty, but not what I expected. There were signs here and there of the queen mother, who passed away last month, saying celebrations had been held to a minimum in deference to her passing.
I did find two pairs of jeans and two new tees. Since my weight loss, I had no clue what size I wear. Compounding this problem, Thai people are very small. That means that if there is any ‘size’ to YOU, you have to think to get several sizes larger than your normal size in order to have a chance of getting into it. We just held them up in front of me and I took a trip to the dressing room.
I still don’t know what size I wear – 26 cms – 12A – 6-B1 were on the labels, but I feel GOOD that I am close to my weight loss goal now and I’m delighted that I feel so much healthier. I’ll continue to try to get to my goal, but my focus is changing to adding more varieties of exercise to my day to increase stamina, flexibility, strength, and balance. Merry Christmas to me!
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I had my weekly massage this morning and it was terrific, as usual. This afternoon we will go the cafe to get out of Khun Nong’s way while she cleans my place. I love being a pampered “Lady of Leisure!”
Enjoy this day – whether it’s Christmas Eve or Christmas Day where you are. Memories are the FEELINGS you created with people you love. They last forever. No one will remember if things you planned didn’t turn out exactly right. They remember that you were all together, laughing, hugging, eating, playing. That’s what’s important. Enjoy the moments.
It’s Christmas Eve here in Chiang Mai. I hope that your travels are safe, your family and friends are in good health, that your food is delicious, and that your heart is full of gratitude and love.
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Today will be a quiet day for me – just the way I love it. I can choose between things I want to do the whole day today!
I did my chores for the morning, had my walk at the gym, had a great breakfast (breakfast burrito – 1/2 of a tortilla filled with scrambled eggs, bacon, and salad), had a shower and am ready to enjoy my day. The sun is shining, it’s 71 degrees right now. I have my laundry on the drying rack on my balcony.
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This is my latest painting of a sketch – Drawing – Lion Cub
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My puzzle is coming along nicely. I’m at the most difficult part, though, where most of the pieces look like each other, so it’s slow going.
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Childhood101
I put off the hemming of the sleeves of my blouses yesterday, so I’ll really try to get one done today…
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Nora Roberts – “The Lost Bride Trilogy” – “The Seven Rings”
I’m reading the last book of Nora Robert’s trilogy, “The Lost Brides,” and it is definitely calling to me. It’s hard to get anything else done!
“Angels on treetops and tinsel so shiny, Porcelain Santas and Reindeer quite tiny – Low-hanging ornaments, Popcorn on Strings… Say your goodbyes to your favorite things.” ~ “Christmas Tree” – Sandy Humphries – Pinterest
If you’ll look very closely down from the bow on the tree, you will see the prime ‘ornament’ on my good friend Carla’s son’s Christmas tree this year…
Meet Sunny. She decided to take up residence in the tree. The wise owners then took down the breakable ornaments in deference to Sunny. Isn’t she beautiful?
As you can see, she has made herself quite comfortable.
Here’s looking at YOU, Human! Meowy Christmas!!!
“May your Christmas tree survive its annual battle with your cat.” ~ Jane
These cute photos were supplied by Jonas Grinevicius and Vikorija Osikaite via their article, “Cats 1st Christmas” on BoredPanda.com
I well remember one of our cats diving into the middle of our newly decorated tree, bringing the whole thing down onto the living room floor. After that, I only used ornaments that wouldn’t break…
I had a very happy surprise yesterday. I told you a while back that Harvey and I were ‘adopted’ as honorary grandparents by a family who is friends with Brian. Now they have become friends of mine, as well, and I’m grateful to them for making us feel welcome. Brian and I got an invitation to share Thanksgiving dinner with them this evening! I couldn’t be happier.
My ‘grandson’ is 4 now and his sister turned 1 recently. I’m taking him a painted sketch, since he is really into dinosaurs –
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This is one of my new windows installed yesterday. The frames on all the windows are white, so they open up the view to the outside even more. 4 of my windows are now openable, with screens! I’m going to wait until the middle of the day Saturday to have the ‘great open up’ ceremony, giving the outside seal another 48 hours – but then I’m going to open up all my “openables,” (if you’ll pardon the expression) letting lots of fresh air in! I don’t mind it at all that the ‘bucket and towel brigade’ gets to retire now, too.
I’m getting hopelessly spoiled. I now can go out my door and come in again just with a turn of the knob or insertion of my key – just like a REAL door! -AND I now have brand new windows that look great, are openable with screens, and don’t leak. Can you see me grinning from ear to ear? 😁 Talk about having a LOT for which to be thankful!
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Chicago Parent
I finished sketching my group of 25 Christmas cards yesterday, so I’m going to start painting them today. My research shows that a LOT of Christmas celebrations here start around the 19th, so I’m going to try to have these ready and in my carrier to start giving as I run into people around that time. I’ll need to get my paintbrush hot! 🎨
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If you’re traveling to be with family, I hope you have a smooth, safe trip. If you’re already there, I hope you’re giving and getting lots of hugs. Soak up the love and good memories of this holiday and hold them tightly in your heart.
Many of you will be traveling this holiday, so you won’t be home. I didn’t want to miss the chance to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.
This was one of our mailbox decorations we made using the CNC set up in the shop with its computer-guided torch we could use to cut out the design, attach it to the bar that we used to attach it to the mailbox.
I hope that you will be surrounded with relatives, friends, food, laughter and lots of love this holiday, remembering how special it is that you can arrange to be together like this. I wish you safe travel.
This is a sketch and painting I did yesterday. He would like to be invited to the festivities, but as a GUEST, not the main part of the MEAL….
“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” ~ Marcel Proust
This is one of the mailbox decorations my husband and I made.
And this is one of the metal critters in our yard we made out of an old propane tank and scrap metal in Arkansas.
Thanksgiving quotes include the famous line, “Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings,” by William Arthur Ward, and John F. Kennedy’s advice to “find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.”
I am filled with gratitude these days, and so take the quote by William Arthur Ward to heart. Each night I take 5 minutes. I get into a comfortable sitting position with my feet on the floor. I concentrate on something that makes me feel grateful. Two things that I concentrate on lately is (1) a photo I took of Brian kissing Harvey’s head before leaving the nursing home, and (2) the feeling I get when Brian hugs me or kisses my head. That’s it. Usually I end up in tears as the gratitude fills me up and spills over. Just 5 minutes and I’m calm, thankful, and full of gratitude.
Second, I am trying to show people how very much I value them. I tell my good friends how much they mean to me and how much I love them. I thank Brian, and tell him I appreciate him taking such good care of me. I have made some ‘thank you’ cards I will take to my massage Friday to let the two ladies there know how much they are changing my life and how much I appreciate that. I’m painting individual Christmas cards for the people here in my new country who make a difference in my life on a daily basis. I want them to know I don’t take them for granted and realize how they go out of their way to make me feel welcome.
Thanksgiving is EVERY day – not just one Thursday in November. We gather the family, have a special dinner, enjoy being together – but that should just be the beginning. How amazing our lives are and how much we have for which to be thankful!
We can never thank our veterans enough for all the sacrifices they and their families have made.
We used to live in Greenwood, Arkansas, a community of about 9,700 people. In the center of the ‘square’ is Greenwood Memorial Park where lots of events are held each year. On Veterans Day, U.S. Flags are placed behind the stones of veterans who served us, bought by their families to honor them.
I wanted to get a stone for my husband, Harvey, because he served 4 years in the Marine Corps. He refused, saying he wasn’t in an active fight (although he was on ships offshore several really hot spots ready to go ashore if ordered), but he didn’t consider that enough to warrant a stone.
Memorial Park looks so pretty for this day we honor our Veterans. Assemblies at the schools honor our men and women in uniform. Local veterans attend these assemblies, allowing us to thank them in person with lumps in our throats. A parade goes down Main Street, around the square, and back up to the high school. Bands play and crowds cheer. It’s a beautiful thing to watch.
Veterans Day from Thailand seems weird to me. It’s the first one where I haven’t been in the U.S. to participate. I even had to remember when to write this post so that it would arrive on Veterans Day in the U.S., rather than November 12th, as it is in Thailand now.
We visit my personal hero tomorrow in the nursing home. I don’t know how alert he will be. I would like to be able to talk with him about his service. He joined the Marines when he was 17 and I was 14. We dated on all his ‘leaves’ for the 4 years, letters flying back and forth as fast as we could write and send them. (No texting or social media accounts back in the Stone Age.)
Even the mailman got into the act. If he saw there was a letter from Harvey for me, he would break the rules and put the red flag up on the mailbox because he knew I would be in the house, face plastered to the window, watching him. If the red flag came up, I would dash out of the house, running to retrieve the mail, smiling like an idiot. We would smile at each other, he would tip his hat and drive off.
Harvey won a medal for his sharp shooting in the Marines. He was proud of his service, but always downplayed it in honor of the ‘real veterans.’
Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays.
Back in ‘days of yore” (1492 when I was young) we trick-or-treated. I got together with my friends and we walked down to the neighborhood close to us where the houses were closer together and people were wonderful about turning their porch lights on to show you were welcome to come knock on the door.
We didn’t have our parents with us. We roamed for a couple of hours, going from welcoming house to the next until our containers were absolutely groaning from the weight of all the goodies we loved and we were finally tired from all the walking. We made our way home again where we dumped out our goodies on our beds and dove in to eat at least a couple of things before our parents announced it was time for bed.
Back in the ‘olden days’ parents didn’t have to worry about their children getting hurt or abducted. They just said, “have a great time” and got ready to answer their own doors for visitors.
Now parents either go with their children from house to house holding their hands or follow the kids in their cars. OR they arrange parties in their homes or go to community parties overseen by trusted adults.
Gone are the days of spending pennies on a costume, gathering your friends, shrieking in delight when you got good things or were “scared” by someone in a frightening mask. All you needed was a flashlight, a big container for goodies, and your friends…
Labor Day “honors the contributions of labor movements that fought for better working conditions, fair wages, and reasonable hours. The holiday was born out of a time of immense industrial change and often-harsh working environments in the late 19th century.”
As with a lot of holidays in the United States, people lose sight of the meaning of the holiday – just enjoy having the day off from work, a day to play, have a gathering with good food, games, and more. Children who have started school for the year cheer about a day off.
Labor Day weekend has become larger and larger over the years, with parades, craft fairs, organized sports games, concerts, and more.
Whatever your form of celebration, I hope that you have enjoyed a fabulous weekend and that you will enjoy your Monday off.
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A personal memory – My dad loved to say that he thought it was quite ‘appropriate’ that he was actually born on Labor Day, September 6th, 1918.
I’m told that some people may set off fireworks this evening somewhere around Chiang Mai, though there isn’t an organized event. I guess there might be enough expatriates here. It would be wonderful to see.
TikTok
OC Fireworks
My dad’s favorite holiday was the 4th of July. We made it an all day event at our house with ‘snakes’ and a ladyfinger or two, but we always went to the swimming club my parents belonged to in order to cook outside, swim, and see their fireworks display.
One year my dad developed cataracts in both eyes. The doctors said they had to get ‘bad’ enough for them to operate on one at a time, but that 4th of July, my dad was almost completely blind. He had given up reading, TV, becoming really depressed about the upcoming holiday. He COULD see lights, but decided he wouldn’t ask Harvey and me to drive my mom and him to the club.
Harvey spent the day out doing errands. He came home with a humongous grocery sack full of fireworks, plus snakes and a whole group of ladyfingers tied together. We brought cookout stuff, which my parents expected.
When we finished dinner Harvey suggested we sit out on the back patio. My dad reluctantly joined us, but it was obvious that his heart wasn’t in it.
Harvey brought out the snakes first. My dad’s face nearly cracked open when he ‘saw’ what Harvey had brought. He got down low, sitting on the concrete, so he could see the snakes as they were lit and grew, curling all over the patio. He was like a kid at Christmas.
Harvey brought out the ladyfingers and my dad hugged him. He asked Harvey to light the end so that the whole group of ladyfingers went off one after the other.
And finally, the sky grew dark. My dad had gotten quiet, wishing he could see fireworks.
Harvey spent the rest of the evening setting off one firework after another in our back yard – safely – but close enough my dad had the best row in the house actually being able to SEE each one. He thanked Harvey over and over for providing the “best 4th of July EVER!”
I brought out a towel and a beer for Harvey, who had been working so hard he was wringing wet and thirsty.
If I hadn’t already loved my husband as much as humanly possible before this, this would have proved to me that my husband was a ‘keeper.’ 🤗
My dad carved these sweet doggies for my mom. I would love these simply for that, but the remarkable thing is that my dad only had the use of one hand. He fell off a horse when he was three. Back then (1920’s) they didn’t know much about setting young children’s broken bones and hands, so he was left with a much shorter left arm than right and useless left hand.
He overcame being bullied at school because of his sense of humor. The other kids found it difficult to bully him and laugh at his jokes at the same time, so the bullying stopped. His sense of humor was one of his strengths thoroughout his life. (When he died, he left a note that said, “Remember me laughing.”)
He started a one-man radio advertising agency in Tulsa, OK and not only provided a living for his family, but garnered awards from the advertisers professional group in Tulsa for a lifetime of achievement.
When he asked my mom to marry him, he gave her this ring he carved.
I have shown you this recently. It’s one of the few oil paintings he did. I loved a set of three landscapes he did – 3 small paintings of some evergreens – framed in the same way. He also did these ‘portrait/personality’ paintings of my brother and me. Brian had an image of this reproduced on glass and it’s sitting on my mantel in my new condo. So my dad lives on in my heart and he is now in Thailand with me.
Celebrate your dad this Father’s Day today – and EVERY day!
I hope that 2025 is a fabulous year for you, full of all the good things there are.
We had a quiet celebration here. I was hoping our backyard neighbors might shoot off some fireworks, but it was too cold, even for them this year. I’m glad they stayed warm.
Brenda Beaudet – scontent-vie1-1.xx.fbcdn.net
My to-do list is long today, but I’m still yawning and drinking coffee, trying to fully wake up. Our weather is definitely turning toward winter now, with freezing almost every morning and the ‘highs’ gradually getting lower each week. I really wish I could just LOOK at pretty snow pictures, photos of creative snow people and animals folks have made, watch videos of snowball fights, snow angels, and more – rather than to. actually. be. IN. it.
Deep Space Sparkle
My aim for the day is to clean off my drafting table in my art room in preparation for whatever comes next as a project. I almost need a bulldozer right now, but hope I can make good progress if I can just get up there.
CNN
I’m on strike as far as cooking today. We’ll have our regular low carb lunch and hot dogs for dinner. YEA!
Pixabay
Have a wonderful day. I hope that you’re off for the day from work and that you find fun ways to spend your day. Happy 2025!
If only I looked this criminally cute when I relaxed! The best I can do is burrow down into my recliner, my heat pad under me and my throw above me, making kind of a ‘Linda Sandwich.’ I try to do this a couple of times a week – a rare, but much appreciated pleasure!
In typical Arkansas fashion, we went from spring yesterday to winter this morning. The skies are really cloudy and grim-looking. The temperature isn’t that bad, but there is a strong wind that blows right through you. I had my coat, but I should have worn a cap and gloves. It feels COLD!!! Very thankful today for a warm, dry house.
I’m going to make one of our favorite recipes from Suzanne Ryan’s book, “Simply Keto,” called, “Sausage, Egg & Cheese Breakfast Bake”. We like it for dinner, and I throw in a veggie, like broccoli or spinach. It’s a nice comfort food for a cold night.
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I’m feeling really slothful this afternoon. I have a lot of things I could, or should, be doing, but I’m ignoring them, at least for now. It’s New Year’s Eve. I’m hoping to see fireworks in the valley behind our house tonight, ringing in a brand new year with bright colors, noise and happy displays, and hope.
We’re having a quiet Christmas, just my husband and I, this year. It’s warmer today, 49 degrees as I type this, but it’s still gray and gloomy-looking. A great day to stay in, relax in our recliners, maybe have a snooze. :0)
Our son and I had a conference call this morning, and it was the best gift ever. I love seeing him smile and laugh, catching up on what he’s doing, planning, and more. I got everything except one of his good, strong hugs. I’m still smiling.
One of the best Christmases ever when my brother and I were growing up was the one when my parents got each of us a 3-speed English racing bike. The controls were in the handles. One grip was the brakes. The other was the gear shift. They were light-weight, sleek, pretty, and fast. We were both in Heaven.
Back in 1492 when we were young (:0) we had freedom that kids can’t enjoy now. We lived in an area of Tulsa, OK where there were two parallel streets a mile long, called Johannson Acres. Each house was on an acre and a quarter lot. My friend was down the road from us, and I immediately leaped on my new bike and sped off to see my best friend, Ann Bulloch. I practically lived at her house. Her mom was the ‘perfect’ mom, always with a fresh batch of cookies, or offers to share a meal, spend the night, start a summer business in her yard, and more. They oohed an ahhed over my new transportation.
I loved the bike, racing all over the place in complete freedom. A wonderful memory of a very special Christmas for us.
Enjoy your celebrations today. Take time to give everyone a special hug. There is nothing more important than family. Merry Christmas, and may 2025 be a wonderful year for you.
Happy Christmas Eve! I hope you are up to your ears in love and laughter today – Smiles and hugs – Food you might not be supposed to be eating delighting your mouth. Enjoy every minute of this day.
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Education Next
Here in Arkansas, I’m trying to wake up. It’s dark and rainy outside, which isn’t helping. I’m glugging coffee, and that should. It’s 48 degrees, so I don’t think we’re in for anything severe, just making it a really great day to crawl under my throw in my recliner and catch some z’s. My husband is sleeping in this morning and Amber and Monster Cat are going up and down the stairs, trying to make enough noise outside his door to wake him up. Even though all the morning chores are done and both have had breakfast, their day doesn’t officially start until he is up and functioning. :0)
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People.com
I saw two good friends yesterday afternoon. I hadn’t seen either of them in the longest time and it was truly wonderful to hug their necks and take a bit of time to catch up. Thankfully, both are doing well. They both seemed to like the personalized bookmarks I made for them. Friends are one of the true joys in life. You can never tell them how much they mean to you. Even though I can’t visit often, I’ve made a promise to myself that I will text them on a regular basis going forward. AND my husband was fine when I got home.
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Enjoy your day, cherish the memories you’re making. Make today super special.
creativeartworksblog 