This is one of my all time favorite photos. I think it’s amazing.
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This is my latest painted sketch.
Today I’m going to start several St. Pat’s Day themed thank you cards.
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I had a visitor to my place this morning. I almost missed him. My window shade was the perfect camouflage for him. If he hadn’t have moved, I wouldn’t have seen him. He was a gecko, little bitty, skinny, body about 2 inches long and longer with his arms, legs, and tail. I watched him, but was too slow and dumb at o-dark-thirty this morning to get a picture of him. I told him that he was free to stay and eat as many bugs as he could find.
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Alamy
We visited my husband this morning at the nursing home. At first we thought he wasn’t going to respond at all, but he got a bit better as the time went on. He was fixated on wanting me to do a “REWARD” sign to hang outside his door, so he could list reward amounts for various things that have gone missing. Who he thinks would see the sign or respond is a mystery. He listed things that we explained had been left for auction in Arkansas when we moved, given to good friends, or we hadn’t had for years and years, but I don’t think we got through. He may be frustrated with me next visit because I don’t have the sign for him… He DID thank us for coming this time!
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Pinterest
My changing my afternoon exercise to morning has helped with me actually DOING it, rather than coming up with my inexhaustible supply of excuses. Today I’m having to do my yoga stretches at the normal afternoon time due to our visiting Harvey, but I have the mat on the rug now, looking at me…
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“Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn.” ― Lewis Grizzard
I can imagine all kinds of entertaining here. It looks sturdy enough to withstand rambunctious kids, sprawling teenagers, clusters of adults, a happy couple spending a quiet night together… I love the fireplace and he woods and it looks like water of some kind on out farther.
Siima.hassan
I like the combination of the tile and the brick here. The arbor-like ‘ceiling’ with the greenery brings the outside in.
Vanessa
I think this one is my favorite – with the comfortable protected furniture, rugs, fireplace – and then, of course the pool and the extension of the patio…
Viola Biancain
But this one is a very close second. Just lovely, with the arched windows and greenery ceiling. I love the humongous table amd the cooking area…
Full Disclosure: I am a box freak. I fall in love with them when I don’t have the tiniest excuse for a box. I think they are beautiful decoration pieces throughout your home or office, giving in life and character.
Hajna V. Csorba – Artist – ArtPal
This is a box for treasures for sure. Keepsakes, mementos, pictures, ticket stubs, intineraries, plans, dreams….
Hummingbird Bentwood-Guy Louie Jr
Another decorator piece. I don’t know if this is a sturdy box or if you would need to worry about damaging it. I love the color scheme.
Instructables
And this one jumped out at me as something that would look good in my art alcove. Any excuse will do…
The flowers that my son brought me yesterday for my birthday celebration are still smiling at me today. Such happy flowers – gerbera daisies, roses, carnations, and more.
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Earthwise Windows and Doors
I had my windows open for a while this morning. It was lovely. I kept my eye on my air pollution website and closed everything up when the gauge went into the ‘unhealthy’ zone and turned on my air filters and my a/c and fan. It’s much easier to cool off here than it is to warm up!
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(This is the older tote.)
One of the handmade inner bags.
This is the other inner bag. These keep everything from being on the bottom of my carrier for me to have to route through to find things.
I washed my newer tote/carrier in my bucket in the sink this morning. I also washed the little bags that go inside it. All are out on my balcony drying now. I transferred everything to the crocheted bag I had washed several months ago (Pictured) , so everything is cleaned out and organized now. When the carrier and bags I washed dry (it may take a day or two) I’ll put them into plastic bags and put them in my closet to wait for the next switch.
I’m trying to take good care of these because the ladies who made them by hand take pride in their work and I want them to last as long as possible. I turn everything inside out when I put them on the drying rack on my balcony so any fading from the sun will be kept to a minimum.
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boredpanda.com
TeluguOne.com
I have switched my afternoon exercise sessions to the morning because I am making far too many excuses for skipping the sessions in the afternoons. Yesterday I started by doing my old lady yoga stretches mid morning. I felt good about that all day, feeling I was doing something good for myself and I felt good about not procrastinating or being a sloth. Today I did my exercises with water bottles at 9:00. I did a good workout, so I’m patting myself on the head a bit that I know myself well enough to realize how lazy I am and that I needed to change my focus and schedule to get around that.
I’ve always dreamed of a gorgeous patio where I wanted to spend a lot of time, with an outdoor kitchen type area, comfortable chairs, some kind of cover to protect you from the too hot sun, maybe some way to stay warm when it’s a bit too cool…
This one hits all my buttons. I love the different TEXTURES in this one. It would be so much fun to create humongous salads, trays of cut up fruit, grilled meat, and more.
Color Harmony Palettes
I was immediately drawn in by the lights on this one, and the fact there is an oven, plus lots of counter space for a crock pot. It looks so comfortable, homey, welcoming. I just love it!
Eudes Sallagan
Oh, my mouth is watering! I love the hanging copper pots and pans. It looks like there is a rotisserie type grill. You could set up a buffet with the nice table close by. Pipe in some music, slow dance around the table…
K & R Companies
I like the combination of the really comfortable looking chairs, the fire pit, the brick on the pillars and the fireplace. The lighting.
My actual balcony here is about a foot and a half – maybe two feet deep by about 6 feet long, but as long as I can dream…. 🤗
February 11th I enjoyed a “celebrational 1st birthday” after the kind people in the hospital saved me and gave me a second chance at life with a pacemaker on Feb. 11, 2025.
Today I’m celebrating the fact that I’m still on the planet, living – and loving life – at 79. I no longer regret being “older than dirt.” I pass out little shovels! 🤣
I’ve walked my mile at the gym, showered, shared breakfast with my son, Brian, done a 45 minute session of old lady yoga stretches, and taken my clothes to the laundry this morning. My son gave me a big hug this morning in the elevator and said, “Happy Birthday, Mom” – some of the sweetest words a mom will ever hear. I received a beautiful e-card from a good long-time friend, so I have had a lovely celebration.
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My day will be a quiet one – my favorite choice these days – where I can move from one thing I like to the next at my own speed, depending only on what “I” would like to do. What freedom and joy there is in that!
I will at least get started painting another of my sketches.
I’m in the middle of a good book on my Kindle, have the Sketching Journal book I showed you recently that I’m having touble putting down, and have a book on Thailand I want to start going through.
My turtle puzzle is calling, “Linnnnnnnn-dahhhhhhhh!” from across the room as I type.
I feel so good after doing my yoga stretches early today that I’m thinking of doing a session with the water bottles this afternoon…
Before I do any of that, though, I will enjoy writing at least two more posts here.😁
I hope that you have enjoyed a great weekend and have remembered (in the States) that it’s Daylight Savings Time again, so you should have set your clocks FORWARD an hour.
UPDATE: My son texted me, asking me to unlock my door. He brought me a gorgeous bouquet of flowers, an iced mocha, and we each had a really decadent DELICIOUS dessert! I teared up, but manage to hug him several times without crying. He really made me feel special.
Sorry, I would have shared, but “somebody” ate every bite. At least I didn’t lick the container…. 😍
This is a sample of some of the beautiful flowers all over the place in Chiang Mai. Just a FEAST for the eyes and heart!
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Freepik
I walked my mile this morning on the treadmill at the gym, then shared a sumptuous breakfast with Brian of 2 fried eggs cooked together with slice sausage on one part and chicken slivers on the other, with 3 slices of a Thai apple on the side. Chaga mushroom tea with bone broth added. Just the thing after the gym and a shower.
Etsy
We visited my husband at the nursing home this morning. We had to get Harvey’s thumbprints on 30 pages or so of documents (again!) for renewal of his medical visa. We have to do this every 90 days in order for him to be here legally. The government is really picked about how pages are copied and where the thumbprints are, so we had to do it twice this time to get it right. Thankfully, my husband was feeling cooperative.
He knew who we were this morning and was happy that I brought the 2nd book in the Jake Moriarity series for him today. Other than that, he made little sense – he had ordered another phone plus a luxury electric hybrid car, AND he and 20 young women were going to make an x-rated move today….
I am concentrating on him being comfortable and calm, and what I can do to make him glad we came, rather than internalizing what he says or doesn’t say – the key to sanity – at least I HOPE!
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I rested a good while when we got home. I’m planning to paint some this afternoon.
My latest painted sketches.
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I’ve been enjoying doing some research, finding some things I want to share with you here. I’ve also been pouring through the new sketch book getting new ideas about things I want to try. I get started and my day just zips past my head, making my hair blow!
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Facebook
The severe weather across the U.S. was awful. It’s so sad when lives are cut short like that. I checked on my loved ones, and all were good. I’m very grateful. One of the bad things about the spring is the amount of severe weather as the temperatures change so drastically. Please keep an eye out for what is happening in your area and try to stay safe.
“This song “I Am Not Okay” by Jelly Roll, and another one, “It’s Okay Not to be Okay” by Demi Lovato have brought out the issue, and it’s way overdue.
When we are not okay, we may express it in many ways – getting quiet, stuffing our feelings inside, avoiding other people, trying to make the pain go away by dulling it with drugs or alcohol, even doing violence to ourselves or others.
These songs are telling us that the artists have been there, done that, felt the same way and have emerged from that feeling, with at least the hope that things will get better.
What can we do when we are not okay?
The most important thing is to acknowledge your feelings. Own them. Until you face your feelings head on, there is no getting better. If you have some really good friends, tell them how you are feeling. Sit somewhere, close your eyes, and acknowledge how you feel. You may cry. That’s okay, too. Let it out as much as you can. Some people write their feelings down.
When you have acknowledged how you feel, recognize the source(s) of those feelings. It may be something from your past that you are carrying around with you. It may be that you lost someone you love, a relationship may have shattered. You may have lost an opportunity you were hoping for.
I had been carrying around some hurtful things for years. One example was that my older brother told my mother that I was “not worth knowing.” I felt “less than” for years – in fact until my brother died. I was finally able to work through my feelings and realize that what he thought about me had actually worked to my advantage. His opinion made me strive harder, though not to please HIM or change his opinion of me, but to feel good about my efforts in whatever I was trying to do. I was able to let go of a hurtful thing, realizing that this was waaaaaay in the past and actually was a good thing.
Things in the present are more difficult. I have felt ‘not okay’ about the fact that my husband and I thought we were moving to Thailand to retire, get out from under the onerous responsibilities we had in Arkansas, live the good life and be able to live close to our grown son. Now my husband is in a nursing home, totally incapacitated, with our main thought to show him he is loved, make sure he is as calm and comfortable as possible, and make sure he is getting the care he needs.
After acknowledging my feelings, I am working my way through this by living in the moment now. I don’t make plans anymore. I live one day at a time, wringing as much joy out of the day as I can, moving from one fun thing to another, learning, varying my activities, concentrating on getting as healthy as possible, enjoying every minute I have with our son.
If you’re not okay, decide if it’s something that you can do something about. Can you look at it differently, causing you to see it in a different light? Can you talk about it to someone else, or would you rather work through the feelings by yourself?
If you can’t change something, then acknowledge that. Really understand and believe that. If it’s possible, put it in a place where it doesn’t stare you in the face anymore – a kind of ‘shelf’ in your mind you don’t look at often, if at all.
If you CAN change it, figure out what you need to do to do that. It may take many steps to solve. Write them down, starting with the most important or time-sensitive thing first. Then work your way down the list. Don’t be afraid to ask for help for this. We all need help from time to time. When you are feeling better, you can pay it forward for someone else.
Realize it’s okay not to feel okay. I am practicing this in a very small way by NOT giving a knee-jerk answer when my son asks, “Are you okay?” Up until now he has followed my “I’m doing fine” with his now famous, “Fur real?” I’m making it a point to tell him when I’m not okay, in as brief a manner as possible, what specifically is bothering me. Many times, we sit and talk about it, and I feel better just having been truthful with him. We are communicating better, understanding each other better every day.
The end of Jelly Roll’s song says something like, “I’m not okay, but it’s all gonna be all right.”
“In Thailand, you must remove your shoes before entering someone’s home, temples, and sometimes, specific shops or small businesses, as a sign of respect and for cleanliness. If you see a pile of shoes outside or a shoe rack, it is a clear sign to take your shoes off.
Where to Remove: Always remove shoes before entering a Thai home, regardless of how grand or humble it is. Shoes are mandatory to remove at temple interiors where Buddha images are housed, though not usually on the surrounding grounds.
Signs & Cues: If you see a pile of shoes at the entrance, a shoe rack, or even a few pairs outside a small shop, spa, or clinic, take your shoes off.
Reasoning: Feet are considered the dirtiest part of the body, and shoes are even dirtier, making this a crucial gesture of respect for the host’s space.
Tips: Wear easy slip-on shoes for convenience. If unsure, look to see if locals are wearing shoes and follow their lead.”
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This is a very important part of Thai culture. It was one of the first things I noticed when we first entered our condo building. There were pairs of shoes outside some of the condo doors. When Brian showed us the air-bnb where we would be staying while we waited for the condo paperwork for our own condo to be finalized, the first thing we learned to do was take off our shoes before entering ours or anyone else’s condo. (If there are no shoes outside the door, you remove your shoes as soon as you enter.)
Both my husband and I had problems getting our shoes off without having a place to sit down, and even more trouble trying to get them back on when we left, so one of the first errands we ran was to a shoe store. We both found Sketchers tennis shoes in their ‘Step-in’ model. We can simply toe off the shoes to enter a place, and then balancing on each other, we could simply step into our shoes when we left. These were the perfect solution for us.
Almost all of the places you have services, like massages, haircuts, mani/pedis, some doctor offices, etc. have shoes outside with racks of slippers for you to use while you are inside. It becomes second nature to check the doorway to see if you are supposed to remove you shoes or not.
Added details that I have learned are that places like our gym have a tray outside the door filled with water. They ask that you dip your shoe bottom in the tray and then use the big mat in front of the door to clean your shoes as much as possible before you enter. There is another mat inside where you make sure your shoes are as dry as possible before proceeding into the gym.
At my husband’s nursing home, there is one rack for leaving your shoes and another rack with slippers for you to wear. This is a difficult thing for me, as the slippers do not stay on my feet well. I tend to walk right out of them, or trip, or lose my balance. Brian holds my hand tightly as we walk down the hall to Harvey’s room and back out to the front porch when we leave.
Removing shoes seemed a bit weird to me when we first moved here. People’s feet may have odors, bare feet can seem really odd at first. But, when I thought about it more, I realized how very dirty your shoes can get walking around on the streets. You want to honor houses, shops, or temples by either wearing the slippers provided or simply leaving your shoes outside while you are allowed to enter. I now make it a practice to wash the bottoms and edges of my shoes on a regular basis, just because I look at them in a different way now.
I LOVE this mug! I laughed out loud when I found it. I love this sense of humor.
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I received the sketching book I ordered and am finding it very interesting. It is written by a very talented artist, Kimiko Sekimoto. Her approach is to show you how to sketch on the go, in various situations. How to dress so you have all the supplies you need, what exactly to put in your pockets or carry bags, and more. She gives tips on how to draw a chair, for example – something that will really help me, since I am perspective-challenged.
This is her style, where she has a running record of where she went, what she ate, who she met, and more, with wonderful illustrations.
I will do a lot of studying of this book. My juices are flowing!!!
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I should have a nice, quiet day today, where I hope to paint a sketch, work on my puzzle, start a new book, and reach out to some friends.
I hope that your day or evening brings you lots of hugs and smiles.
“I love March as it gives me hope that new beginnings are always beautiful.” ― Anamika Mishra
“The wai (ไหว้) is a traditional Thai greeting showing respect, gratitude, or an apology by placing palms together in a prayer-like gesture and bowing slightly. Key rules: the higher the hands (closer to the forehead), the more respect is shown. It is used for greetings, thanking, or saying goodbye. jonesyinthailand.com +4
Key Aspects of the Wai Custom
Levels of Respect:
Chest level: Used for peers, friends, or people of similar age.
Chin/Mouth level: Used for older people or those of higher status.
Nose/Forehead level: Used for monks, royalty, and religious icons.
How to Perform: Place palms together, usually accompanied by a slight bow.
When to Use: It is used to greet (sawasdee), thank, apologize, or say goodbye.
Etiquette for Foreigners: While tourists aren’t expected to initiate a wai to everyone, it is polite to return one.”
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This is one of the few phrases and customs I have learned so far Whenever we see anyone, we bow, we do the ‘wai’ and say
(pronunication – “sawat dee kah’-ah“.) *If you are a female, this is correct. ) Luckily, Thai people are quite forgiving if you are a foreigner and you don’t have the wai at the correct level. They are happy that you are trying. I usually do mine just under my chin, since trying to figure out how old someone is, or if they have higher status, or, or, or, – is too much for this old lady. I smile, bow, and mangle the pronunciation as little as possible. If the people on the receiving end are pretty far away, I usually add a wave, since I always have things in my hands, and my carrier on my shoulder, and so have trouble freeing both hands at the same time for the wai.
The people are so very nice here. I now have several people who not only return my wai, they come over and patt me on the shoulder or back, or even hug me, so it’s a very pleasant way to honor the people you see.
I had a glorious massage this morning and am feeling WONDERFUL right now! I am drinking a glass of water now because I read – “you should drink water after a massage to rehydrate muscles, aid in flushing out metabolic waste released during the session, and reduce potential soreness or headaches. Massage acts similarly to exercise by increasing circulation and, when dehydrated, lymph can become sluggish. Aim for 8-16 ounces shortly after, continuing throughout the day.” Ahhhhhhh!
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Vecteezy
We will go to the cafe this afternoon where I’ll sketch, read, and hopefully watch traffic if I get my favorite spot there. The cafe staff welcome you to stay as long as you like. I get an iced mocha and Brian gets an iced chocolate drink. Later on, if they can, we have them make us a lemonade. My favorite spot is a wonderful place to relax and sketch. I lose track of time as I sit comfortably, concentrating on trying to draw what I’m looking at. I usually do several sketches, then switch to reading on my Kindle, and then finally just sitting there watching the traffic whiz past – or watch as the cars, buses and trucks sit clogged up, while the motorcycles, motor scooters, bicycles and pedestrians, wind their way in and out between them. Simply amazing!
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The people at our chocolate place have gotten koi fish! This picture is awful, but I wanted to share the fact that the fish were very busily swimming around as we left.
“March brings breezes loud and shrill, stirs the dancing daffodil.” ― Sara Coleridge
I love this photo. It’s artistic, like the best of paintings as well as beautiful photos.
In Arkansas we knew spring had sprung when our daffodils sprang up. We had them all around our well house, plus dotted around in our planters, plus some clumps of them in different places in our front yard. I loved it when they bloomed, making our yard smile.
There was one ‘bouquet’ in particular that I looked forward to. One of my good friends, Debbye, died of recurrent breast cancer. At her funeral, there was a humongous bucket at the door of the church filled with daffodil bulbs. We were encouraged to grab a whole double handful and plant them in memory of Debbye. I did this, in a space in the front yard between the house and the beginning of the woods that surrounded the house. Every year they bloomed profusely, growing in numbers, the bouquet widening. I thought it was a fabulous way to remember a very special lady.
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I’m beginning to think that there exists a group of people I call ‘malicious puzzlers’ who exist to confound and frustrate people trying to put together puzzles. Among these are
the people responsible for leaving out one or more pieces of the puzzle, so you get all the way to the end and are unable to ever really finish the puzzle.
the people who carelessly pack the puzzle pieces so they are damaged, bent, or completely broken off so those pieces must be fitted at the very end of the puzzle building, still leaving holes or rough places in the finished puzzle.
I’m beginning to think there are people who delight in throwing in extra pieces that LOOK like they fit everywhere, but actually fit NOWHERE…
Can you tell I’m feeling a bit of frustration that my current puzzle featuring a truly handsome turtle is giving me fits? It’s making me doubt my ability to put puzzles together anymore. I work and work and only manage to fit a few pieces before I give up and go do something else. ARRRRGH! 😖
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We met my husband and his nurse at the hospital this morning to meet with his main doctor for routine blood work and an exam. The big picture was that the doctor was pleased and Harvey was alert and reacting to what was said to him. We got the meds we needed to buy from the hospital and the paperwork we needed in order to have the agency lady help us get his medical visa renewed for another 90 days.
The smaller picture made me feel like I was on a tilt-a-whirl, where you’re moving at breakneck speed in one direction and then are whirled around and jerked into the opposite direction over and over. He didn’t know who I was half the time. He called me, “Momma,” and he called Brian, “Bill.” Other times he knew who we were, but was saying things that made no sense like the trick they did this morning in the ambulance that allowed them to time travel. I was kissing his head and telling him I loved him, and he said, “I want my wife. She should be here.” I asked him what his wife’s name was. He said, “Linda.” I said, “I’m Linda. I’m your wife and I love you with all my heart.” He answered, “Where is my wife?” I also reminded him that in June we will have been married for 57 years. He looked at me and said, “It’s not long enough.”
Brian and I stopped for chocolate drinks on the way home. Brian knew I was upset. I told him the “Brian and chocolate are the cures for everything.”
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I’m going to dive into painting a sketch this afternoon. I hope you are also diving into something fun today.
A lot of us make promises to ourselves at the start of each year to do a whole list of things we feel we ‘should’ be doing to make ourselves ‘better.’ And we honestly mean those promises, but somehow life gets in the way and….
Dying twice a year ago in February and having been given a 2nd chance at life with a pacemaker, plus pulling up stakes in the States and moving to Thailand to retire and live close to our son, only to have my husband suffer a stroke and be confined to a nursing home now, changes how I look at life.
I agree with this quote completely. Small steps – even only one – bring about the most lasting change. Mine is living in the moment. Really being present, noticing the little things that make my life beautiful, appreciating the people who mean the world to me, being grateful to wring every drop of joy out of each moment that I can, have completely changed my life
Getting to see the blood moon this morning, if only for a minute or two, feeling good enough to walk my mile on the treadmill, being happy when a friend waved at me at the gym, how good my shower felt, sharing breakfast with my son, writing posts for my blog and answering comments that readers leave, communicating with friends from the states, painting thank you cards for my housekeeper, enjoying an iced mocha my son ordered for me….
You take one small step and the rest ripples from that. When you’re aware of all you have, the gratefulness and happiness simply wells up inside and spills out all over.
My life is forever changed. I will live in the moment, cherishing the good I have found. What one small step will YOU take?
This is my latest painted sketch. I also sketched some new thank you cards for Khun Nong yesterday. I’ll share them when they are painted.
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Nation Thailand
Brian and I actually caught a glimpse of the blood moon this morning on our way to the gym. What a glorious sight! Usually, I would get all excited about one of these spectacular events when we lived in the States, and then our weather was cloudy, rainy, or some other problem interfered. This was stunningly beautiful. It was just above the trees and we stopped for a minute or two to simply enjoy.
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I had my windows open this morning and Brian texted me, telling me that the air was unhealthy today. I checked my Chiang Mai Air Pollution Real-Time website and the reading was 120, well into the unhealthy range. I closed everything up and turned on the air filters. It doesn’t look bad outside, but I will monitor things more carefully to try to make sure my lungs are not affected. The ‘hot and hazy’ season lasts from March through April in Chiang Mai.
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When we visited my husband at the nursing home yesterday, we saw the tree outside his window sporting THESE! A nice bunch of Thai bananas. The Thai bananas are small and shorter than the ones in the States, but they taste so much better! The ones in the states can be prettier when you see them in the stores, but they may be essentially tasteless. These are full of sweet flavor. I just love them. My husband will share in a nice treat soon!
Also on the way to the nursing home I saw a man walking across the street with two large transparent bags full of several beautiful kinds of salad stuff. Lot of different types of lettuce. He was walking toward one of the food stores, so my assumption is that he will sell his harvest of the day to the food store, which will provide beautiful produce for their customers. No middle men. Just goodness changing hands.
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I wish you a fun-filled day.
“In March winter is holding back and spring is pulling forward. Something holds and something pulls inside of us too.” ― Jean Hersey
Brian has been teaching me about Thai money. Both the paper money and the coins are clearly marked, once you know what to look for – particularly on the coins.
The paper money is all different colors, making it easy to see what you have quickly. It comes in denominations of 20, 50, 100, and 500 baht. (Maybe more, but I haven’t seen any higher.)
The coins are a bit harder when you need glasses to see things up close. 🤓 They come in demonations of 1, 5, and 10 baht most commonly.
After Brian’s kind lesson, I can tell which is what on the coins. My biggest problem at this point is having to use the calculator on my phone when I’m in a place like the 7-11 buying several things, making sure I have enough money to pay at the register, plus figuring out how much money I’m really spending (comparing baht to U.S. dollars) There are roughly 35 baht to a dollar, so again I’m using my calculator to figure out how much something costs.
One thing I really like about Thailand is that you aren’t faced with trying to figure out sales tax at the checkout. The price shown is the price you pay. Period. I know that money has to come from somewhere for roads and city projects, etc., but I haven’t figured that out yet.
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Today I sketched out 4 more thank you cards for my housekeeper, Khun Nong. I try to stay ahead so I always have one to include with her pay each week. I’m simply thrilled to have her, and I want to make sure that she knows how much I appreciate what she does for me. (The one above is the one for Friday)
I also started painting a rabbit today. I’ll probably finish him up tomorrow.
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We visited my husband, Harvey, at the nursing home this morning. He was calm, comfortable, and was being well taken care of. He was glad to see us, though he called me, “Momma,” when I went in, wanting me to put his socks on him. He made almost no sense today, announcing that he had killed one of his “abductors” today, and that he had 7 or 8 wives now, but couldn’t remember the exact number…
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Make this a wonderful day and evening.
“Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!’” ― Robin Williams
This one sentence describes the way I feel right now perfectly.
My heart feels so full I find it difficult to type. My son is trying to teach me to meditate, thinking of a thing I’m thankful for, closing my eyes, feet flat on the floor, FEELING that gratitude flow through me.
That is what I felt just now when I found this. Overwhelming gratitude that
my husband is comfortable in the nursing home,
that I’m living close to our son and that we spend such wonderful time together,
that I’m safe and incredibly well cared for,even though I’m in a new country where I don’t speak the language, don’t know many of the customs yet, am just learning the money, and am totally dependent on my son for everything
that I can spend my days in joyful activities, like writing this blog, sketching something and painting it, reading a good book, working on a jigsaw puzzle, listening to music, taking a walk, watching TV or a movie, taking a nap in the middle of the day, enjoying a mocha, watching the traffic
that I have friends from the states that I’m able to keep up with, and more friends from my blog, so we can help each other through tough times or laugh together
that I am getting healthier every day, adding to my exercises, eating right, drinking water, and getting enough sleep
We are all in this world together, helping each other the best way we can with what we have at the time, knowing there is care and love behind it. May we make our world a kinder place with everyone feeling as happy as I do right now.
I absolutely LOVE this painting. It’s calming, mesmerising. I want to take a walk in there, find a spot to sit, and simply breathe…
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My husband, Harvey’s, nurse sent a video to Brian this morning showing Harvey up and in a wheelchair in the community room! The nurses were playing music and obviously trying to get the people to clap in time to the music. Harvey was actually trying to do it, even though I have NEVER seen him do ANYTHING in time to music before. Amazing and encouraging. 🙏🏻🎶
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This is my newest painted sketch.
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Brian texted me this morning, asking me to go through a Thai used bookstore list and see if there were any books I wanted him to order for me. I found two Nora Roberts books I didn’t remember, a book all about Thailand, and a book about sketching.
He could order all of them except the sketching book, but went on Amazon, found it, and ordered it! I can’t wait to dive into it!
My son is spoiling me terribly. Soon I will be completely insufferable…
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I hope Mother Nature is starting to smile at least in your direction now. I think everyone has had more than enough winter now and think that spring weather, planting, and outside activities should be starting. Hopefully, she’ll get the memo we sent soon!
“March is a tomboy with tousled hair, a mischievous smile, mud on her shoes, and a laugh in her voice.” ― Hal Borland
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