This was taken last year about this time in my first rainy season. Sometimes umbrellas aren’t enough and a ‘rain suit’ sold by the locals is a great solution. It is a light trash bag with sleeves and a hoodie. I carry it in my carrier, along with my umbrella, in my carrier all the time, since you usually don’t get much warning that it’s going to rain, how hard, how long, etc. Mine is actually purple, though it looks pink in this photo. It’s an invaluable clever product.
This morning our rain suits got a good workout. It’s down to a ‘regular rain’ now, rather than a blowing harder rain. We’ve been to the gym, had breakfast, I’ve had a really nice massage, and we’re spending time at my place before we go to the cafe to get out of my housekeeper’s way. (She’s at Brian’s place now.)
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An old lady’s hand (mine).
A rooster
Another in the Thai Scene series
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I’ve put my guitar in its case and propped it up in a corner where it will stay until after dinner. I’m finally making a bit of progress with the C progression of chords on my guitar. I’m remember the order of the chords and I remember where my fingers go without checking my diagrams, but I’m still really slow. I move from one chord to the next, trying to get a clean sound. I can usually try the round of 4 chords three times before my fingertips throw a fit. Then I put the guitar down, go do something else, and then pick it up and try again later.
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I’m finding lots of things I want to share with you. I’m trying to make some kind of a plan on how to group the different things. It’s wonderful to know that there are so many great things out there that we can enjoy.
We went to visit Harvey this morning. He has been largely unresponsive the last several times we have visited. He says, “Hi,” or kisses my hand, but that’s basically it. He is calm and content, comfortable, and just wants to look out the window or watch the TV. He lives in his own little world. We are grateful that the quality of his life seems to satisfy him.
The nursing home is now under new ownership. We met the doctor and his assistant today. It looks like we are all in good hands, and that we may be partners in Harvey’s care, with us all on the same page. That is comforting.
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These are my latest painted sketches.
I just came home from the cafe. I got my favorite spot and sat happily sketching and making notes this afternoon.
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I finally got the border for the chameleon puzzle finished. I may die of old age before finishing this one. There are few clues as to what you’re working on or even what colors you’re working with. This will be a challenge, and the chamelon is right in the middle…
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I’m practicing the Key of C chord progression on my guitar – C – G – Am – F. These are some basic chords that are used in lots of popular songs. Of course, I’m vastly simplifying things, but it’s a start.
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I saw a church steeple sticking up out of the ‘noise’ of the city and took a picture of it. I’m going to see if I can draw at least part of it. I also took pictures of two different lizards lately, one that had a blue head, and the other that blended right in with the rocks. The server at the cafe told me that some of the lizards can fly! I looked it up and they can kind of GLIDE down, some up to 60 or so feet (1) to get away from a predator! I’m going to try to draw them, as well. I started a sketch of an old woman’s hands (mine). I don’t know if I can get it to come out at all well. We’ll see. I’ve also started a rooster.
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Today is Tuesday. That means water bottle exercises. I’ll do those as soon as I finish my blog posts for the day.
I hope that you and your family are enjoying the celebration of our country’s 250th birthday, and that you’re full of food, feeling fabulous and full, and have enjoyed a wonderful display of fireworks.
I will see if I can find coverage of some fireworks later today.
Yesterday when we visited my husband, I reminded Harvey about the holiday where he spent the whole evening setting off fireworks because the lights of the fireworks were basically the only thing my dad was still able to see, due to his severe cataracts. My dad cried he was so happy. If I hadn’t fallen in love with Harvey already, I would have that night. When I talked to him about it, he didn’t remember, but then said, “Well, I always loved to blow stuff up.”
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Pinterest
I just finished practicing my guitar. My fingertips are yelling at me. I found some information on chord progressions, so I made notes and have started practicing the first basic one. I’m hoping to train my head, ears, and fingers to “hear” the progressions, stretching my fingers to form the chords in the progression, and remember them as a kind of unit while I hum along with them.
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I finished sketching a base painting some thank you cards this morning. I’ll take them to the cafe in a while and add the details to finish them. I gave one to Harvey’s nurse yesterday, and she was giggling as she went down the hall.
I saw my neighbors yesterday – a man and his son. The boy was taking a robot head he fashioned out of cardboard and painted for school. I told him I really liked it and he simply lit up the elevator with his smile. I decided to make a card for him showing a robot swinging in a tree swing to give him the next time I see them.
I just LOVE this! I wish I could watch it walk around. I love the long legs and the long beak. Great photo!
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Mercifies
I know we are celebrating early here – partly because they don’t have a celebration here, and also because we were scheduled to go see Harvey today; and even celebrating tomorrow would be early as far as people in the States – but I’m wishing those of you heading out to celebrate a Father’s Day weekend celebration together the happiest of Father’s Days.
We have just gotten back from visiting Harvey. He seemed to like the Father’s Day painting and nodded to my putting it up on his wall.
He actually thanked Brian for getting him French Fries – a first, and responded when I told him I loved him, “I love you, too,” so it was a good visit.
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We finished the things required for renewal of my retirement visa yesterday – after spending much of the day at the immigration place. We will go Monday to pick up my renewed visa and Brian needs to sign a document that goes with his visa. WHEW! 🥳
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I have almost everything back inside that has been drying on my drying rack on the balcony this morning. Two things left. I’m going to go to the cafe, and rain is forecast, so we’ll see what happens. It wouldn’t be the end of the world if it rains on what is still not dry.
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I’m going to finish blog posts, do my yoga stretching, and practice my guitar before dinner. It’s a good, full, happy day for me.
The sun is shining brightly right now, so I moved my drying rack back out on my balcony. I’m hoping a lot of the things will be dry so I can bring them inside before we leave to go see the lady who helps us with our visas mid morning. The sun was so intense I felt as if I were burning just hanging things up out there!
Other than the gym, laundry, and going to see the visa lady, things will be quiet around here. I plan to do my yoga stretches, practice my guitar some more, and dive into a new book I downloaded onto my Kindle last night. Later this afternoon, I hope to get over to the cafe.
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I hope that your week is shaping up to be a nice one.
Tom Wilson – photo: flickr.com/Lew White – WheelBrothers.com
This tree is at Harvey’s nursing home. I have no clue what it is. I’m amazed at the huge green ‘fruit’ hanging from some of the branches.
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Mango.org
Speaking of fruit, Brian received a gift when he was out walking yesterday afternoon. A lady who runs a Thai food shop stopped him. (He really likes that place, but her hours run such that, since we don’t eat lunch, we basically can’t go while she’s open.) She gave him a mango (a yellow one), just to be nice. We shared it for breakfast this morning and I don’t see how a fruit could taste better. It was perfectly ripe and very sweet. Absolutely delicious!
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AND, speaking of how NICE people are here in Chiang Mai, when we were at the cafe this afternoon, the nice lady server I gave the earrings to brought me my mocha. She had noticed that I always get up soon after my drink arrives, and get two napkins – one to fold under the glass and the other to wrap around the drink. (The glass gets wet and I can’t do my sketches or finish my painted sketches with wet fingers. ) Today without a word, my drink had a napkin folded under it, and another napkin wrapped around it in such a way that she had ‘TIED’ it to stay on the glass. She is really spoiling me. (The other two servers, including my guy I had the water fights with) don’t do that, so I’ll just enjoy the spoiling when it happens. :0)
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AND – a special treat while I was at the cafe – a lady stopped by my table, looking amazed. Then she had a delighted look on her face. She asked me if she could take a picture. She did, and thanked me. I told her I was just trying to teach myself how to draw and then painting the sketches. Before we left, I stopped and thanked her for making my day. 🎨
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These are new painted sketches.
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We went to visit Harvey this morning. He was comfortable and calm, but basically wanted to watch TV instead of talk with us. We confirmed that he is reading his book – not whether or not he’s using the reading light he asked us to get for him – but that was the whole of the conversation today. I’m thankful he was content and interested in the pretty ladies doing something similar to a QVC channel.
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Acoustic Guitar
I’m making a bit of progress on relearning my basic chords. I can now play “A” and “E minor” without referring to anything and they sound okay. “C” is still a disaster – I can hear my teacher from the Dark Ages telling me to “keep your flesh off the box, dahlin'” as my strings are all flat and muffled. I’m trying to learn to change my grip so my fingers will stretch, and push hard enough, but the fingertips give out before I can get the clear sound I want. I keep practicing really short sessions several times a day, trying to build up my callouses so I can practice longer…
