This was posted a bit late, but it IS the official beginning of fall, and I love it so much I wanted to share it.
Lady Caroline – @a lady’s substack
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Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird – Chiang Mai – Instagram
Brian and I were on our way home from the gym yesterday and saw what looked like a hummingbird drinking nectar from a whole row of long red blossomed flowers. We stopped and admired him for a minute or two. I had read before that Thailand doesn’t have hummingbirds, as such, but have Sunbirds and a moth that imitates the hovering of a hummingbird.
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Speaking of the gym, we saw Ugly American jogging ahead of us as we walked. I thought, ‘Oh, no.’ but he didn’t come into the gym today. Later Brian told me he had his phone out and that he seemed to be watching a movie where a lady was screaming. (One reason to be happy I don’t wear my hearing aids to the gym!) I can’t believe the stupidity of a guy running in public down a street with the sounds of someone screaming coming from him.
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I have a normal, wonderful day today. Rain chances are low today. The sun is shining brightly now and it is already feeling quite warm. I’m enjoying my J.D. Robb, “Fury in Death” book, but I’m limiting myself to one chapter a day in order to get other things done. 📖
As I told you, the puzzle is coming along extremely slowly, but I AM making a bit of progress. Meanwhile, this colorful guy is brightening up one side of my living area with his gorgeous body.
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I’m looking forward to going to the cafe this afternoon. I have one sketch in process, and a couple I would like to get started. I’m having such a good time with this!
The night crew was busy and noisy last night. (1-4am). They had a truck with a really long, heavy trailer that was carrying humongous coils of wire or pipe or “something.” They used two hoe-digger vehicles to get the coils off the truck and onto the road. One coil covered half of the road. The road was narrowed down to one lane while they did this with people directing traffic. The workers tied one end of the coil to one of the vehicles and the other to the 2nd vehicle. The first drove down the road pulling the coil straight and running it along the edge of the street. (When one man stood inside the coil, he disappeared, the coil was so big.) They did this procedure for each of the 4 coils. I don’t know what happened after that. I got 3 hours of sleep last night and wasn’t the brightest bulb in the light socket today.
I went to the gym and then shared breakfast with Brian. Then I came and took a nap until it was time for my massage. I got a great massage! Brian and I spent some time at my place and then we went to the cafe to get out of my housekeeper’s way while did performed miracles on my place.
While we were at the cafe, my friend Heidi came! We had a great time together, getting to know each other better (although she is someone I feel like I’ve known for years.) We had a wonderful conversation, then moved to creating some art together. I worked on one of my sketches and Heidi had brought her collage materials and proceeded to make two collage pieces – giving one to me and keeping the other companion piece as mementos of our afternoon.
It’s on my wall beside my computer where I can see it every day. She wrote a nice note on the back, too. A really lovely woman.
We came back home and had some dinner, and now I’m just betting to writing blog posts.
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I should have some artwork to show you tomorrow. We’re going to see Harvey at the nursing home in the morning and then I’ll be at the cafe in the afternoon.
I’ve had a good morning. The card reader on the gym door was working today, so we exercised as usual. I liked walking in the park, but I like to work myself a bit harder without worrying about tripping on something as I did in in the park, with all the mossy steps, bumps, breaks in the concrete, etc. It was good to be back.
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We had a good breakfast of 1/2 of a breakfast burrito (ham, scrambled eggs, salad and dressing rolled up in a burrito) with a slice of cantaloupe and two slices of Thai apples on the side, plus mushroom tea with bone broth added.
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I am looking like a woman in need of a bit of attention lately, having my nails grown out or the polish peeled off entirely in places, plus my hair is an exploded dandelion. We’ve had lots of other priorities, but we’re trying to get me so I’m not an embarrassment to my son. I went for a mani/pedi this morning and Brian is trying to get me an appointment with the hair stylist.
I love the sparkly colors! There were nail samples done in silver and gold, but they made my hands look ‘dead,’ so I went for the color here. I feel like I’m much better groomed now. Maybe my guitar practice will go better with my hands looking better….. 😂 😜 🎸
I’m going to show this pic to my hair stylist when I go. I know I won’t look like this, but I really like the tousled look, the short sides and back, and the longer bangs and top. I’ll be able to wash it in my daily shower after the gym and blow it dry quickly. However it turns out, it’ll look like “someone had a plan” – a distinct improvement.
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I published my 2nd article on Substack – a synopsis of my losing my lard and things that worked for me.
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These are my latest painted sketches.
I’m going to head over to the cafe soon to work on a sketch I started yesterday. I also plan to do a few thank you cards, plus I have ideas for more sketches. Yesterday I felt a ‘presence’ while I was working. I looked up to find an Asian man with white hair with his family behind him. He smiled at me, gave me a thumbs up, and said, “Nice!” Isn’t it amazing how NICE people are?
We went to see Harvey this morning. He nodded when he saw the Calvin & Hobbes painting, so I put it up on his wall.
He was still coughing badly and wasn’t communicating much at all. The only thing he said was he wanted a 50 caliber weapon so that he could blow up the white birds in the rice field. I know better than to go for a visit hoping or having expectations, but I slipped and brought them today. I was really down after the visit. I want to wave a magic wand and make him feel better.
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I forgot to tell you about something that keeps coming up in my thoughts. When we were in ICU at the hospital, we passed a room where the staff had lockers to keep their belongings. There were keys in the locks with all KINDS of stuffed animals attached to them. I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say there were at LEAST 75 plush little critters dangling. Brian said it would be rude to take a picture, so you’ll just have to use your imagination. Maybe I can draw something that would give you an idea. I just loved it.
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I’m just back from the cafe. Today was a therapeutic session to bring me out of being down. One nice thing – the lady server was again looking out for me and came and got me when ‘my spot’ was vacated and helped me move my stuff. How do you thank someone this nice? Then a man stopped and said what I was doing was ‘beautiful,’ especially the one with the ‘eyes.’ If that doesn’t bring you out of the doldrums, nothing will. :0)
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My faith is somewhat renewed in what I’ve always called, “Quack Nostrums,” – things that are SUPPOSED to work, but actually don’t, for whatever problem you have. This time I had my first ever CORN on my foot. It really hurt, and since I’m trying to go to the gym every day and walk a mile, it was distracting, to say the least. I went to the pharmacy to try to get a patch after doing a bit of research. He didn’t have a patch, but he had a bottle of “ConCon” which is a liquid containing sallicylic acid and liquefied phenol (whatever that is). You’re supposed to paint it on the corn twice a day, filing the area down every once in a while. I’ve been using it for about 3 weeks now, and the CORN IS GONE! The stuff actually worked! Hooray!!!!! So – the next time you come across “ConCon” with the directions in Thai, get it! 😂
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Here are my latest painted sketches –
This was a pot with plant I saw in the hospital. This drawing doesn’t do it justice, but it’s the best I can do right now.
This is my bear I brought with me from the States. He is articulated, so I can move his head, arms and legs. He is really soft and cuddly and comforting. He listens and doesn’t judge. 🙂
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I made it to the gym today for the first time since I got the sore throat. My body wasn’t enthusiastic, but I just laid my hands on the handlbars of the treadmill and walked it out. Tomorrow I’m hoping to be a bit stronger.
Maje Baker via Pamela Schifano – @pammypoo on Substack
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No news on Harvey this morning. We’re hoping to hear from Khun Pim, his nursing home nurse who is with him, that he has been moved to a private room. We will try to have a regular day.
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I’ve been to the gym and shared breakfast with Brian. I will practice my guitar, write posts for the blog, finish base painting some sketches so I can work on the details at the cafe, and do water bottle exercises. 🎸👩💻🎨💪🏻
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I’m starting a new book by I. L. Williams today called, “The Way Home.” I can’t say enough about her writing. I’m looking forward to diving in.
I’m having my usual Fabulous Friday. I did fine this morning at the gym. We had a good breakfast and I got a truly wonderful massage. It had been a while since I thanked the two ladies especially, so I gave them hand-painted thank you cards today. They seemed to really like them, smiling and showing each other the card they received. :0)
Brian and I just had a snack and we’re spending some time at my place and then will move to the cafe to be out of the housekeeper’s way in a bit. Meanwhile, I’m writing posts for the blog and catching up on some other things.
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These are my latest sketches. The bottom one shows two women on their hands and knees scrubbing the outside, floor, and steps of a building with rags, a brush, and buckets of soap. I was really impressed at how hard they worked and that it seemed to be a normal part of their duties.
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When I came home from the cafe yesterday afternoon, Brian was at my place finishing up installing a brand new shower assembly! The shower head I was using was 7/8 clogged and the whole thing was leaking pretty badly. It had gotten to the point where I was scrunching myself up in the corner in order to get enough water to soap up, wash my hair, and rinse off again. Brian called the maintenance man who brought a tool to install a means of securing the bottom part of the assembly more securely, and the job was done!
This morning was the first time I used it. I was in Heaven! I didn’t want to come out. I actually have a luxurious rain head in there now, plus a 2nd hand-held head if desired (you can switch back and forth) plus it’s the one the housekeeper uses for cleaning the shower. I already had the instant hot water heater, so I’m simply delighted!
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I had a fun time at the cafe yesterday. A lady from China (I think) stopped and asked me if she could see some of my sketches. I showed her, and we had a really nice conversation. She is an artist and does her drawings on something electronic. She showed me a drawing of an eye that was stunning. She was really good. Anyway, she was going back home yesterday afternoon, but it was the kind of spur of the moment thing that can happen in a large city like this that has a lot of tourists. I just love it!
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Pamela Schifano – Mermaid Musings – @pammypoo on Substack
I’ve had a busy day. We went to the gym this morning. I walked my mile more easily today, though it still seemed “long.” I’m hoping my strength is building each day. I’m still feeling more comfortable holding on to the handle bars of the treadmill.
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We went to see Harvey after breakfast. He knew who we were, and showed it by kissing my hand as I hugged his head and kissed him. That’s where making sense ended, though. He broke my heart at one point telling us he ‘wanted to come home,’ but didn’t know where that was…
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After we got back from visiting Harvey, we went to the cafe. I finished three more sketches –
This is my interpretation of the Chiang Mai lottery. Young and old line up side by side under umbrellas to protect from sun or rain while they sit there all day selling chances to win the lottery. Some, like the man shown here, wear them as sign boards around their necks. I’m not sure of all the details, but it’s a huge business here. In this sketch, they have set up in front of some stores. You will also see a whole line of them on the sides of the roads. Some look like kids. Some look older than I am – if you can imagine that. I have noticed some ‘redemption’ places, where you can redeem your winning tickets for all kinds of merchandise…
Brian has said that Thai people delight in betting on EVERYTHING here. If it will rain – how much rain we’ll get – whether the turtle crossing the street will make it across alive – how fast the squirrel will cross from one spot to another using the wires above for ‘roads,’ …..
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I’m going to try to draw the Chiang Mai version of the ice cream man as one of my next sketches. I have wonderful memories of hearing the distinctive music of the ice cream man driving down the road in his truck and kids coming running out of their houses after having moved heaven and earth to get enough money to buy something. It’s much the same here, except the look is quite unique.
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I hope that you have had a good Memorial Day weekend surrounded by love while honoring those who have sacrificed everything for us.
We had the busy morning I talked about yesterday, got through it all, and lived to tell about it! HOOORAAAY! 😁
I walked my mile on the treadmill at the gym. I don’t know how to really ‘describe’ the differences I’m feeling – other than not having to hold onto the handle bars any more without falling on my head. The best way I can describe it is that I’m feeling my stomach muscles working for the first time in years and years. I feel looser in my ‘core,’ now and it feels GOOD to be walking – not having to concentrate so hard on not listing to the right or the left or having to ‘correct’ for balance issues so hard. 💪🏻
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Small Door Veterinary
I took a quick shower, dressed for the rest of the day, and we grabbed a GRAB (Uber type transformation) to go for my routine doctor’s appointment. I had dreaded it because the last time the lady took my blood for labs, it HURT and I ended up with a fairly impressive hematoma that lasted several days before just becoming a bruise and fading. This time she didn’t hurt me (Yea!) and I only have a small bruise.
The first time I went to this doctor was in May after we got my husband settled at the nursing home. We found my blood pressure to be sky high – they took my pressure several times, then got me meds to give me right there at the clinic so I wouldn’t stroke out. She suggested that I continue my efforts to lose the lard, be serious about taking the blood pressure medicine she prescribed, and exercise.
I am now taking half a blood pressure pill daily and it’s keeping me under good control. Since that first checkup, I have lost 35+ pounds (90 pounds in the past two years) and am doing yoga stretches and water bottle exercises on alternate days in addition to the daily treadmill, plus using the stairs here at the condo building when reasonable.
I should get the official results in the next couple of days. I’m hoping to get much improved numbers.
Something that made me the happiest – I am finally maturing as an adult (I know, you’re rolling your eyes and saying, “It’s about TIME!”) – but I figured out that I was wanting to see the doctor to have her give me kudos in my efforts to follow her advice. Now I don’t need that! I am happy inside MYSELF that I am trying to take better care of myself. I feel better than I have in a long time. I’m continuing to watch what I eat and my portions. I will continue trying to add to my regimen of moving my body more as I can tolerate it. 🙏🏻
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Harem – Wikipedia
After the doctor appointment, we went to visit my husband, Harvey, at the nursing home. His new nurse is very young and incredibly sweet. I don’t know her name yet, but Brian said he would write the nursing home and find out.
This was a very strange visit. Harvey was comfortable and in a good mood. He greeted us with the fact that he was going to be married again today. He couldn’t tell us the name of the woman he was going to marry. When I remarked that he had quite a harem now, he kind of smirked and said he couldn’t remember how many he had now or their names. He said he had 8 0r 9 children, but couldn’t remember their names, either. Brian described himself, and Harvey turned to look at him, but couldn’t come up with his name. When I told him I still wanted to be his #1 wife, he didn’t answer, so I might be being replaced….
I took him “Watercolor Dreams” by RG Ryan, one of the series of books I love now. He listened as I described the main character, a man my husband would identify with, and he looked interested. Hopefully, he’ll get into it later and get hooked, as I did.
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Chelsea’sMessyApron.com
We got back home around noon. My stomach had decided my throat had been cut. It had been since 5:30 yesterday since I had eaten. Brian had ordered half a chicken salad sandwich with avocado slices to be waiting for me when we got home – thereby saving my life. 🥪
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NBC News
I’m now up from a short nap, trying to get my act together for the rest of the day. I’ve retrieved part of my laundry from my drying rack on the balcony. I got my clothes from the laundry as we got home, so that is all under control now.
Our housekeeper is cleaning Brian’s condo this afternoon, so he will come to my place this evening, bringing dinner. We’ll back up my phone and computer data and then both of us will probably crash early.
A good day, all in all. I hope that you have had an enjoyable day or evening.
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.
I’ve been to the gym, showered, eaten breakfast, and will soon go to get my Friday massage. This is truly a gift that I am giving myself. Khun Weaw is a master. She knows without words where I’m sore, where my tensions have settled, how much she can do to help without breaking me me each week. I consider her time and care part of my new health regimen.
The image above is the card I painted to show her in a small way how much I appreciate being able to come to her each week. I know how to bow and SAY “Hello “(and best wishes for a blessed day for you) and “Thank You” now – in awkward Thai, and say these each time I go, but I have no idea how to WRITE “Thank You,” so just had to write that in English.
Brian told me something I hadn’t realized before. He said that when I give someone a gift, I should bow 🙏🏻 and present the gift with BOTH HANDS so that the person understands it’s a gift, so I’ll be sure and do that this morning. I hope it makes her feel special.
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When I finish my massage and get dressed again, Brian and I will go visit my husband in the nursing home. I’m hoping he’s alert and more comfortable than the last time we saw him. He’s having more trouble eating. There are various options, none of which we like. We’re taking this one visit at a time and making decisions as we go. Going to visit him is a 3-hour round trip.
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When we come back from visiting my husband, we will gather the things we need from Brian’s place and prepare to spend the rest of the afternoon at a cafe where they make you feel comfortable to sit as long as you would like. I get an iced mocha, and sometimes Brian and I get a fresh lemonade for the last bit of time we’re there.
I take my sketchbook and supplies, and sit there happily trying to draw images I find on my phone that I’ll paint later on in the week. I also take my Kindle, where I’m in the middle of a book from an author new to me.
Finally, if I’m lucky enough to get the seat at the front of the cafe, I can watch the activity on the big street outside. I’m fascinated to watch the many lanes of vehicles – cars, buses, trucks, Tuk-Tuks, a gazillion (give or take one or two) motorcycles, motor scooters, and bicycles zipping in and out of the lanes of traffic almost without slowing down or stopping. Finally, the pedestrians walking on both sides of the street, crossing the road (some carefully, using good sense – others waiting, then RUNNING full speed, hoping they make it to the other side.)
It’s intelligent chaos. Everyone is used to the flow. They know what to do and not do (except for the runners.) I’m fascinated, and VERY glad my husband and I don’t have to try to drive in this.
(Brian and I use Grabs for wherever we go. It’s amazing how fast they come and how expertly they drive, using their GPS’s to take you right where you want to go, whether they have been there personally before or not). PLUS, I get a lot of practice trying to say “Hello” and “Thank You!”
We’ll get home around dinner time, and then I’ll end the busy Friday lounging on my couch, wearing my headphones, and listening to and watching YouTube before bed.
I hope you have a fun time today. Make yourself a priority for at least a while during the day, doing something you truly enjoy. It’ll fill up your heart and have your smile spilling over onto all around you!
It wasn’t raining when Brian and I made our way to the gym this morning! Later the sun came out, and it’s a lovely day here.
We went to see my husband at the nursing home. He has a new full time caregiver who is very nice. She suggested we get him toys to give him something to do with his hands, so we’re looking into that. We stopped for a chocolate drink on the way home, having a nice conversation.
I have the afternoon to myself. I’m going to paint some of the drawings I did recently after I finish writing my blog posts. Such a great way to spend the afternoon! 😃
I am learning gradually to eat Thai food. Brian supplies me with a glass of water, plus I am learning to combine bites to include something that makes the ‘hot and spicy’ easier on my mouth.
Also, we’re drinking some mushroom tea in the mornings with breakfast. It’s Brian’s idea that the worse the tea tastes, the better it is for us. 🤣 He got us two teas – one container each from two different mushrooms. We also add bone broth to it for added health benefits. Both have long lists of all the wonderful stuff they provide. One doesn’t taste like much of anything except hot water. The other tastes truly awful. Of course, Brian thinks the latter is ‘better for us.’ We trade off on which one we drink each morning. There is no telling if either one really are that great health-wise, but it’s worth a shot. Plus, it gives us something to laugh about every other day…
