Tag Archives: cheetah puzzle

May 21, 2026 · 6:35 am

Thursday 5-21-2026

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I’m late in writing my blog posts today. The day went by in a blur and I’m just now sitting down at my computer.

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We went to the gym this morning for the first time in about a week – since we got sick. We are still coughing a bit, but mostly over the problem now. I felt kind of weak and wonky and so held onto the handle bars as I walked today. I don’t think it matters, as long as I’m doing the walking. I’ll gain steadiness and strength as the week progresses.

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We went to visit Harvey at the nursing home this morning. I took the “Tasmanian Devil” painted sketch I did. Harvey liked it, though he was pretty unresponsive otherwise, he seemed to like the sketch and wanted it on his wall. He was comfortable and calm, so that’s about the best it gets now. My biggest disappointment is that he didn’t remember our cutting out all the cartoon characters out of sheet metal in the shop to make the decorations for the mailbox…

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Brian took pics of the Cheetah and will order a glass print made of the photo for my statement shelf today. I took the puzzle apart after running my hands over it for awhile and boxed it up for someone else to enjoy. I started my new puzzle, the “Runway Roosters” this afternoon. I’m trying to put the border together now.

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We spent time at the cafe. I got my favorite spot by the front window. 😁. I finished two painted sketches and did some more sketches.

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Tomorrow will be a differently timed day than usual.

We will go to the gym. I’ll shower and go for my massage at the usual time. Then my housekeeper may be at my place before I come back from that. If she is, I’ll just close my bedroom door, get dressed for the day, bow, and thank her, and get out of her way. I’ll go to Brian’s and we’ll leave for the cafe for the rest of the time she is cleaning our places.

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“Always find opportunities to make someone smile, and to offer random acts of kindness in everyday life.”
― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart

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May 17, 2026 · 1:18 am

Sunday, 5-17-2026

Burgess Health Center

Both Brian and I had our colds get worse yesterday. We opted out of the yesterday and today. We shared breakfast, then I took the new medicine. Two and a half hours later, I woke up from a ‘nap.’ One good thing, these meds are helping me get rid of the congestion in my chest. The bad thing, I’m using up an entire box of Kleenex blowing my nose….

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I’m beginning to paint my impression of a “house shrine.”

“In Thailand, a spirit house (known as San Phra Phum) is a miniature, ornate shrine built on a pedestal to shelter the guardian spirits of the land. Found outside homes, businesses, and temples, these shrines are actively maintained with daily offerings of food, incense, and brightly colored drinks to ensure good fortune and protection.” ~ Wikipedia.

My understanding is that the Thai people are thanking the spirits for allowing them use of the land and they are promising to maintain that land for the spirits and themselves. You will see the shrines all all over the place here. They are quite beautiful – all different – all beautifully maintained.

I will see how the painting goes, and may be able to share it tomorrow.

I also did some other sketches, plus 4 more ‘thank you’ cards for our housekeeper’s sister. We don’t know how long Khun Bpaum will be helping us, and I want to be sure I have enough cards to thank her for her good work.

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The cheetah puzzle is coming along nicely, although this last part is the most difficult. All the pieces are basically the same color, no outstanding shapes, no way to put together a group that might slide into place…. Character-building time for sure.

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I hope that you are having a great weekend.

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May 12, 2026 · 10:44 pm

Wednesday 5-13-2026

I love this image by Tina Ann.

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This is my new haircut. Not quite where I want to go yet, but he’s getting closer. At least it looks like someone had a plan now, rather than my former dandelion-gone-to-seed look.

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The visit to Harvey yesterday was mixed. Most of the time he made little or no sense. He looked at me for a long time and then said he liked my earrings. Then after we sat silently a while longer, he said, “I like waking up to the pictures on my wall. They make me happy.” I thanked him for telling me that and then had to excuse myself to cry in the bathroom for a couple of minutes. This Saturday we do all the thumbprints and pictures needed to Harvey’s renewal of his medical visa. Monday he has an appointment at the hospital with his main doctor, and that doctor will fill out the rest of the paperwork we need. We’ll probably stop by the visa lady’s office on the way home from seeing Harvey Monday at the hospital.

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Yesterday at the cafe I felt someone looking at me while I was sketching. I looked up out the window and there was a man standing there grinning at me. He pointed to my sketchbook and then did a thumb’s up, continuing to grin and bow. He did that a couple of times to make sure I got the message and then went on his way. Honestly, it astonishes me how nice people are here.

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This is the newest painted sketch.

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Meet “Gus.” He’s my resident gecko. He moves from my bathroom, to skittering across my art alcove counter, and elsewhere, moving from a complete standstill to running as fast as he can. He is probably 1-1/2 inches long at the most, and is as cute as geckos get. I’ve decided to name him and call him a pet, since he seems to have adopted my place. Hopefully, he’ll eat any bugs he finds.

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I’m closing in on finishing the cheetah puzzle. I just love how he stands out in this photo.

I found another puzzle I love and looked on Lazada (our Amazon type place) to find it again. After looking and looking, I finally decided they no longer offered it. I looked on Amazon and FOUND it! I texted Brian and he just told me he had ordered it. He really spoils me, and I make sure he knows how much I appreciate him.

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April 26, 2026 · 3:38 am

Sunday 4-26-2026

Patty Tait sent me this photo she took of female elephant seals lying on the beach on the coast of California on a short trip last week. I have never seen anything like this. Wow. Just wow. Thank you, Patty!

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Women’s Health

A big shout-out and THANK YOU to my wonderful sister-in-law, Mary Lou Lewis, who took us with her this past week for a vicarious trip to a beach on the coast of North Carolina – and not only that – but sent terrific pictures that made us feel we were there with her. Many of you wrote nice comments about both her photos and the fact that she let us come with her. I forwarded them to her so that she could read first-hand how what she did was appreciated. :0)

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I’m just back home from spending some time at the cafe and sketching. I got my favorite spot this time and was very comfy with my pillow to sit on, my mocha to drink, and my supplies ready at hand. I did several sketches. I’m in the process of painting several of them and will probably start posting some of them tomorrow.

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Meanwhile, I’ve been working on my Cheetah puzzle. I have the border done and the cheetah is emerging!

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I got the idea of drawing some of my husband’s favorite old school cartoon characters – like some of the ones we did for our mailbox decorations – to paint and add to his ‘happy wall.’ I’ll see what I can come up with. I hope he’ll be happy to see them.

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Wisdom Quotes

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April 25, 2026 · 1:00 am

Saturday 4-25-2026

“Forest Stream” -Ali Khaliq – @khaliqali.bsky.social

Here’s another place I would love to spend some time. Want to come with me?

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Two beautiful words –

We went to visit Harvey at the nursing home this morning and just got back. He was glad to see us, was comfortable, and mostly made sense. When I showed him the picture I painted of the water gun that also shoots LED lights for his wall,

he looked at it for quite a while and finally he said, “It’s good.” Those two words made my day – quite a bit more than that, actually.

This is his “Happy Wall” now. (The poster on the right is the “Reward” one Brian did for him about three of the things Harvey thinks have been ‘stolen’ since he went to the nursing home. The poster clearly states (in Thai) that these things are NOT missing, and thanking everyone at the nursing home for their patience with Harvey. (There is one on the outside of his room door, as well, at his insistence.) Today we clipped his fingernails, and then he used the fingernail file we brought recently. He wanted me to leave my fingernail clippers – and then proceeded to slide the fingernail file between his arm and the wristband on his watch, saying it will keep the people there from ‘stealing’ them. We told him we’ll bring him some clippers, and I managed to put the fingernail file back in the book – where it was as I left it last time.

He actually told us that he had read a lot of the RG Ryan book since we saw him last, and told us he would tell us when he was ready for us to order the next one in the series. We showed him a picture of the light we ordered for him, and he seemed to think it might work for him. (It was delivered this morning while we were visiting him, so we’ll take it to him Tuesday with a battery installed and a spare.) Finally, he wanted Brian to order French fries for him, so Brian checked on it while we were stopped for a chocolate after the visit, and it was being delivered as we checked.

So, as visits go, this one was a stellar visit.

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I’m working on my new Cheetah puzzle. I have some various pieces put together in ‘clumps,’ and I can tell it’s part of the cheetah. One of the clumps shows his whiskers!

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Next we will probably go to the cafe for a while. It gives focus to the afternoon and lets us enjoy a drink. Hopefully, my favorite spot will be free. I have a problem I haven’t had for as long as I remember! With my weight loss, I don’t have nearly as much padding on which to sit as I used to, so many chairs are now uncomfortable. I tried bringing a towel to add to the chair. Yesterday I stuffed a small pillow in my art backpack and that worked really well. I think it’s funny that my new problems with my size are so different than having problems squeezing into smaller spaces without running into things or knocking things over, or sitting on a bench seat rather than a chair with arms to give me more room. Change of focus can bring a smile…

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The Today Show

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April 21, 2026 · 11:40 pm

Wednesday 4-22-2026

Nursery Nisarga

Thanks to my good friend Sheila Murrey we now know that the gorgeous blooming tree I was talking about a couple of days ago is called “Peacock Flower,” “Pride of Barbados,” and “Dwarf Poinciana.” The only thing different out the one I was pointing out is that the center cluster in mine is yellow and the spent flowers are more orange. The tree is stunning and the spent blooms grab my attention each time we pass it. THANK YOU, Sheila.

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My wonderful son treated me to a mani/pedi this morning. Both he and my husband were remarking that I needed work, so this morning was the morning. Now I am sparkly green! I’m still looking for sparkly ‘cyan’ to please my son, but I only saw a pale sparkly blue, not the more turquoise shade I was looking for. Anyway, I’ve never had this color before, so I’m grinning from ear to ear as I share my ‘elegance.’ We’ll show Harvey Saturday.

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We are planning to spend time at the cafe today, and I’ll try to get started on the sketch for the water gun that also shoots LED lights that Harvey expressed interest in to go on his wall. I’m REALLY out of my comfort zone on this, but I’ll just do the best I can and hope for the best. I’m supposed to take it to him Saturday.

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These are my two latest sketches.

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Can you see the Cheetah? Oh, come on, you can if you look carefully. Look on the left side of the photo toward the bottom, and you can see the tip of his foot. That’s the ONLY part of him that is anywhere on the border of the puzzle. Needs work, I know…. hahahahahahahah 🧩 😂

Bamboo Garden Yoga

Today is yoga stretches. I’m looking forward to a nice long session where I can loosen everything up.

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