Tag Archives: flowers from my housekeeper

December 12, 2025 · 8:49 pm

Saturday, Dec. 13 – 2025

My son’s birthday is today. I gave him this card I painted. I got a HUGE smile, TWO nice ‘thank you’s’ and TWO big hugs…. 🤗

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Yesterday was a wonderful day

My housekeeper left these flowers for me, PLUS a spotlessly clean place. I’m so lucky to have her.

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I gave my favorite server at the cafe a Christmas card a week or so ago. He came back to my table later to ask if I had painted the card. When I said, “yes,” he clutched the card to his chest and gave me the sweetest smile I think I have ever seen. Yesterday he brought me a gift –

He actually wrote me a note inside the card IN ENGLISH! He was very worried that he had made a mistake. It said, “I wish you good health and happy forever Auntie. Merry Christmas.” and he added a very small heart.

The pouch has a stuffed bear face on the front and a keychain. It was inside the sweet Christmas box. Inside the box was –

Thai people are very into stickers of all kinds, in fact that’s the main thing they do for Valentine’s Day, for example. I put two of the stickers on my sketchbook, since I bring that to the cafe every Friday. I put sketching supplies inside the pouch and will bring that next Friday. I attached the stuffed Christmas tree to the keychain on the pouch. Isn’t this amazing! 🤗

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One of the building cleaning ladies ‘thanked’ me for her card by bringing a dessert filled stick of bamboo to my door soon after. This is a traditional dessert for Thai people, made of rice, coconut milk, and various flavorings to make a really tasty treat. Brian and I had a great time devouring it.

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I’m going to make thank you cards for both of these kind people. I never expected anything in return for the cards I made. This just shows you what a wonderful place Thailand is!!!

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At about noon, the locksmith is supposed to come back to my place to install my new lock. It was too large for the hole in my door and he didn’t have the tools to make the hole larger, so hopefully today I’ll have my new lock! Brian will be able to get into my place, if needed, and vice versa, with the new locks. It’s a nice security addition. PLUS, I can quit using the lock in the doorknob that is very cranky at times! 🔑

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Edge Early Learning

I’m hoping to spend a good amount of time in my art alcove today. I want to sketch the thank you cards and I want to start painted a backlog of sketches I’ve done in my sketchbook.

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MAKE this a wonderful day!

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November 21, 2025 · 8:05 pm

Thoughts – Sat., Nov. 22nd – 2025

Tina Ann

Friends – they make our lives so rich. They help us celebrate the wonderful things that happen. They sit with us when things comes crashing down. They laugh and cry and hope and dread with us. They are the special chosen people who make our lives doable. If we’re lucky we have a few we can tell everything, knowing they will listen without judgment, only wanting to support us. They will carefully tell us when they think we are wrong, hoping to share some insights that may make us rethink a situation or belief. They will scoff when we’re being silly and tell us in no uncertain terms how funny they think we are when we deserve ridicule. They are precious and priceless.

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Today we go to visit my husband at the nursing home. I am hopeful that he will show us in some way he is glad we’re there. It would be great if he responds to what we’re telling him. I would love it if he would talk, even if what he says doesn’t make sense. Every once in a while there are glimmers of the man I married. I live for those.

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This isn’t just ANY door. It’s MY door to my place! A man came a few days ago, took it off its hinges and planed the inside edge until it opened and closed like a real door! To a person who has felt a bit trapped by the fact I was unable to open the door to get out or open it to get back in by myself, needing my son to force the poor, swollen door one way or the other, this is a miracle. I will probably one day take it for granted that I can put my key in the door, turn it, and the door opens – but not any time soon.

This is the inside of my door! A man came yesterday and painted not only the planed edge, but the entire door, inside and out. So now it LOOKS fresh and neat, too! I think it’s BEAUTIFUL!

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We stayed at my place yesterday until my housekeeper came, not wanting her to feel uncomfortable to find a man painting the door when she arrived. She gave me a hug and did her normal job of making my place spotless while Brian and I went to the cafe.

I sketched more Christmas cards and visited with a friend and her little girl for a bit while we waited for Khun Nong to finish cleaning. When I got back, this is what I found –

She left me TWO bottles of flowers! She displayed them on my dining table along with the plant she gave me several weeks ago. Don’t they look lovely?

This morning I decided I wanted to ‘spread the wealth,’ so I left the tall bottle on the dining table, moved the shorter one to my computer table, and the plant to my art alcove. Now I have pretty things all around!

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I started my day yesterday with a trip to the gym, then later went for my Friday massage. I took two ‘thank you’ cards to give to the two ladies there. They seemed to like them. When I was finished with my massage (AHHHHHH! – thank you, Khun Weaw!) I came out to the other lady pointing to the wall where she put up my card to her! I took out my phone and showed them that I had left a review of the shop on Google Maps. Both were thrilled with that. I was happy that there is no doubt now how much I think of both of these wonderful people, how I think they take good care of me, and how I hope to bring more business to them.

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I hope that you will enjoy a wonderful weekend.

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October 28, 2025 · 9:27 pm

Odds n Ends 10-29-2025

Giphy

I melted into a puddle when I found this. I wish I looked a THIRD as cute on the treadmill.

Yesterday I had to opt out of my gym time, but today I felt fine. My balance was a bit wonky, but I managed to correct without having to hold on to anything – a win in my book.

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This is the last of the flowers my wonderful housekeeper, Khun Nong, brought me a week ago Friday. I had enough to fill this glass today. I have them sitting on my computer table as I type, making me smile.

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We will leave soon to go visit Harvey. I’m hoping he slept well and will be glad to see us this time. He did tell Brian he was glad we came last time, but I was in the bathroom and missed it. He didn’t say anything when I kissed him and told him how much I love him. I’m hoping he is comfortable and calm today.

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I will have the afternoon to myself today. Depending on when we get home from visiting Harvey, I’ll watch a movie, work on my puzzle, paint another of my sketches, or read my book. I have SUCH a hard life! 😂

We’re almost to Halloween. I have heard that children do dress up here a bit, but I don’t think they ‘trick or treat’ as kids in the states do. I’ll see if I can find another group of pictures to share.

Have a fun day!

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October 24, 2025 · 12:42 am

Friday Thoughts 10-24-2025

Father Time – Mikki Life – Pinterest

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I asked Brian if I could leave another review for each of the two shops from which we bought the crocheted carriers and smaller, zippered bags. He said he thought that Google Reviews only allowed one review per customer.

Happily, I discovered that, though he was right, I COULD ‘edit’ my original review. I did that, adding a paragraph about the second purchase and the fact that the carrier and pouches washed just beautifully. 😃

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We got a good report from Harvey’s nurse this morning. They had to suction him again to clear his lungs (and hopefully avert pneumonia). That, and the supplemental oxygen allowed him to sleep well last night. Although he is still using a nasal tube for most of his nutrition, they are starting to give him small bites of fruit and crackers in addition. He was in a good mood and talking. HOORAY!!!

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I had a fabulous massage this morning. For some reason, I was really stiff and sore when I got up today, even after I walked my mile at the gym. Now I feel absolutely GREAT. Thanks to Khun Weaw for her caring expertise in making me functional again.

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Since it looks like I may actually finish my current jigsaw puzzle in the near future 😋, I’ve started looking for another puzzle to order. As I’m finding each, I’m bookmarking the page with the puzzle I’ve chosen and putting it into a folder on my computer. It’ll be fun to choose my next challenge.

I’m going to have Brian take a picture of the finished puzzle -when it’s finished and being shown off in all its glory on my puzzle table – so that we can order a glass print of it, as we did with the owls puzzle, so I can keep it on my special treasures shelf in my living area.

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Later today we’ll go to the cafe to spend time while we wait for Khun Nong, my cherished housekeeper, to do her thing to make my place shine. I’m taking my sketchbook and drawing supplies, my Kindle, and my sweatshirt, because it tends to be cold in there.

About half of the blossoms are gone from the spectacular bouquet she left for me last Friday, but I think it still looks great, and I smile every time I see it!

I hope that this day is a fun one for you, full of family and friends.

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September 26, 2025 · 9:43 pm

Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025

WebstaurantStore

The “Bucket and Towels Brigade” was activated at 3:15 a.m. when I heard rain pelting my bedroom window. I got up to find one of my window sills absolutely full to the brim with water and ready to spill over down the wall. I managed to get things under control, but couldn’t go back to sleep. This situation will hopefully be solved in November, when the ‘rainy season’ finally ends and exterior work on the building, including repairs window seals, will happen before repainting. I now have the wrung out towels hanging on my drying rack inside with a fan on them. (I just noticed the sun has come out, so I have moved the rack outside, to my balcony.) 😁

Yesterday was wonderful, starting with a massage that relaxed me SO much I took a nap when I got home. Khun Wey-o is truly an artist, and she now knows exactly where I keep the worst of my tension and knots and zeroed in on them beautifully. I’m so lucky to have found her, and also the prices here are such that I can afford to have a massage each Friday.

Khun Nong, my exceptionally nice housekeeper, brought new flowers to put with what was left of the old to make another stunning bouquet for me. My house is now sparkling (except for the areas that are still wet from the leakage) AND I have gorgeous flowers to keep my spirits high!

I did lots of sketching yesterday at the cafe, so I have plenty to start painting later today. Brian is working, but said he might text later and we can go for chocolate – always a favorite thing in my book. 😋

We got a short video of Harvey sitting in a wheelchair eating a meal! I think this means that he was wheeled to the dining room of the nursing home for the first time since he’s been there! We will see him again tomorrow and find out for sure.

Have a wonderful day. Find something special to do that makes you happy.

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September 19, 2025 · 8:47 pm

Towel & Bucket Day

Esbobeldijk – Dreamstime.com

This is a towel and bucket day here. We skipped the gym this morning because it was raining REALLY hard. I’ve been wringing out towels into my bucket all morning so far. Hopefully, this will become a more gentle rain that won’t pelt into my windows, causing leaks. Update – later – the SUN has come out now, but I’ll still keep my laundry drying rack inside. Dark clouds are looming.

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Otherwise, things are good here. I’m about to have breakfast with Brian and then plan to enjoy the day, moving from one fun thing to another – assuming the rain calms down enough. 🙂

Besides having a sparkling clean place, this is what greeted me when I came home. My wonderful housekeeper left these gorgeous flowers for me! When Brian received a text from my thanks to her, he read it to me. It said, “It is good ‘Mom liked the flowers.” What a sweet lady. I LOVE it that she calls me ‘mom’!

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When I was in the cafe yesterday killing time, I enjoyed watching the traffic outside the window. I’m in awe of the motorcyclists! Brian says they have all been riding on, or driving motorcycles for years and have lots of experience.

The riding gear varies all over the block. Some wear helmets, others don’t. Almost all wear long-sleeved shirts, jackets, or hoodies. Some wear health masks.

I saw a father, his child, his wife, and another child on ONE motorcycle yesterday. I saw a mother with her toddler in front of her on one. Lots of people are carrying things, too. I’ve seen people with big boxes between the driver and the passenger. Bags of food and drink hang off to either side. Backpacks are full. Some actually carry pipe for repairing plumbing, pictures in frames, animals, and more.

The sheer number of motorcycles boggles my mind. For every car – and there are three lanes of traffic going each way – there are a dozen or more motorcycles zipping around and between vehicles. There are few stop lights and no cross walks. I wouldn’t call it ‘aggression,’ but more ‘quiet insistence’ that vehicles will ease into traffic or change lanes. It is utterly amazing.

I hope that you have a fun-filled day.

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July 29, 2025 · 10:14 pm

Thoughts on Wed, 7-30, 9am

This is a wonderful fruit in Thailand called, “Logan” or, locally, “Lamyai.” One of the ladies who cleans the public places in our building came running up to us recently when we were returning from our morning gym session with a sack containing a branch with a LOT of these as a gift to us!

In this picture I found, you can see the beige peeling. You press the fruit lightly and the skin splits, allowing you to peel it. This leaves a white, round pulp with a big seed. You use your thumb to pop the seed out and then eat the white pulp. It’s delicious! Messy? Yes. A bit laborious? Yes. Worth it? YES!

Last Friday my cleaning lady, Khun Nong, left these for me! I will NEVER get beyond being THRILLED to HAVE a cleaning lady. I have taken care of whatever house I’m in since 1969 and have never been able to afford having help. Having someone who leaves my place spotless each week, doing all the heavy stuff it’s getting harder for me to handle, is a true relief. Having a person who is so kind as to leave flowers to “Brian’s Mum” is priceless.

I put one of these ‘thank you’ mini-paintings each week under the payment I leave for her to show her how much I appreciate her efforts.

This is one of my latest sketchbook paintings. It shows my joy about FINALLY getting the magic “RETIREMENT” stamp in my passport on July 22, 2025. This opens doors to things I couldn’t do before, so it’s a very welcome change after 4 months of jumping through hoops. We still have 90-day reporting, and I’ll renew my visa in one year, but it’s a significant improvement!

We also got my husband’s medical visa approved. We have to continue hoop jumping every 90 days with forms to be filled out at the hospital, but we know what to do now, so it won’t be as nerve-racking next time.

Otaki Mail

July Weight Report – I have officially hit the 70-pounds off since my heaviest mark now. (I’ve lost 16 pounds since the initial visit with my doctor here) whom I see every couple of months so far. My plan is to see her every 3 months for monitoring my medications, blood work, etc. going forward if she’s pleased when we go toward the end of August. There is almost 66 inches less of me than when I was my largest.

I’m DELIGHTED to be able to post on my blog again! It’s an essential part of my day to try to find things I want to share with you. It enriches my life to find so many talented folks creating wonderful things on our planet, or recording nature with their camera expertise.

There are several things that are different now for me, now that I have changed the plan I’m using. For example, it took about 10 minutes of messing around until I found where comments were listed and I could respond.

There were several people who wrote, asking for access to the ‘private’ blog. I’m trying to figure out how to get back to them, telling them they are now free to come look any time they wish. Hopefully, I can figure out all the changes soon.

Have a wonderful day or evening.

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