Tag Archives: iced mocha

Friday 1-30-2026

“Gnarly Birch” – Matt Oliver – “Among Trees” – Substack

This photo takes my breath away! What a life this tree has had…

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Thai Gestures: Learning the Thai language is coming very slowly for me. I AM learning essential phrases, such as,

“Hello – may you have a blessed day,” (pronounced “sawat dee Ka’ah)

“Thank you,” (pronounced “cawp coon ka’ah”) and

“I’m sorry.” (pronounced “caw toad ka’ah”)

I’m also learning essential Thai gestures – ones to make and ones to avoid at all costs –

When you say “hello,” you perform the “Wai” (pronounced “Why“). It’s the praying hands and bowing gesture. This is many times complicated because you’re carrying things, so doing it with one hand is okay – and be sure to smile! 🙏🏻

If you gesture “Come here” with the waving toward yourself gesture common in the States, you have just performed a major insult. You have called them an animal or treated them like an animal.

When you want to gesture “come here,” in Thailand, you make a crawling or digging gesture with your fingers, palm down toward the floor.

Got that? There will be a test later…

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4 GIFs.com

I had a massage this morning. I had some really sore muscles right around my waistline on my right side. They aren’t completely fixed now, but my massage therapist, Khun Weaw. did a wonderful job. I’m so lucky that I can tell her where I’m hurting, put myself in her hands, and know that she won’t hurt me. I can completely relax and let her perform her magic. Ahhhh! (And this is all with ‘pantomime,’ since I don’t speak Thai and she doesn’t speak English – PRICELESS!)

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Facebook – traffic in Chiang Mai

In a few minutes, Brian and I will go to our cafe to get out of Khun Nong’s way while she cleans my place. I will take my sketchbook, drawing supplies, my kindle and my sweatshirt. I will get an iced mocha. 😃

We’re lucky to have a place that encourages people to feel comfortable “whiling” away some time. I’m hoping I get my favorite spot by the front window so I can goggle at the amazing traffic that goes by. The last time I was there, an entire family (man, woman, two children, and their dog!) went by on a motorcyle…

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Sunday, 1-18-2026

Latest painted sketch

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I had a really nice, busy afternoon yesterday. My son came to my place 3 different times – once to bring me an iced mocha – YUM! – and twice more to bring packages. It was like Christmas here! 🎄

The first package was the glass print of my dolphins jigsaw puzzle. It’s now sitting on my ‘statement shelf’ in my living area, where I keep things that mean the world to me now.

I have 2 other glass prints of finished jigsaw puzzles –

I call this puzzle, “Fantasy.”

“Owls”

The glass print of the painting my dad painted of me when I was about 6, saying it captured my “personality.” – (Brian had this made as a condo-warming present for me when I first moved in – making me feel my dad is here, too.)

And this is a framed print of a painting in a Christmas card sent to me by Jon Alston from the States.

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The third time Brian came to my place yesterday afternoon was to bring me the door wreath and holder we ordered when I took down my Christmas wreath.

This will stay up all the time the Christmas wreath is stored. I haven’t seen any other door decorations in the condo building. I wanted something welcoming, that made me happy each time I came back. This colorful basket of flowers does that for me. The holder makes it a bit harder to work the lock on my door, but I don’t care. The extra ‘oomph’ it takes to lock or unlock it is well overcome by the joy the wreath brings me. 😁

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Being the pampered retired lady I am, I’m looking forward to writing a couple more blog posts and then spending the rest of the afternoon bouncing between doing more sketches, working on my turtle jigsaw puzzle, reading, listening to music, doing a session of water bottle exercises for my arms, and maybe even watching a movie…

I’m going to throw open my windows because it’s up to 75 now. I LOVE how light and airy my place is with the sunshine coming in all the windows!

MAKE this a happy day!

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Wednesday – 11-19-2025

Jatayu – “King of Vultures- bird sculpture – James Lucas – Substack

“The Jatayu Earth’s Center features the world’s largest bird sculpture, created by sculptor Rajiv Anchal.  “According to local lore of Kerala, it is believed that Jatayu fell on the rocks in Chadayamangalam in the Kollam district of Kerala after his wings were clipped off by Ravana. The name “Chadayamangalam” is said to be derived from “Jatayu-mangalam”.[citation needed] Jatayu Earth’s Center Nature Park in Chadayamangalam features a 61 metres (200 ft) wide statue of Jatayu, which is credited as the world’s largest bird sculpture.[6] – Wikipedia

I thought this was amazing and huge – until I noticed the MAN standing on his wing. My jaw dropped.

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Today was a ‘bucket and towels brigade morning. Before we went to the gym, I put rolled up towels on the sills of all my windows. When we returned, about half of the towels were damp, but none needed to be wrung out. I’m trying to dry the towels now on my drying rack that I dragged inside. The rain has stopped now.

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I haven’t heard from the repair people yet today, but I’m still hopeful they can make the time to come and do whatever painting they plan to do on my miraculous door. I’m speaking of the door to my condo that now opens and closes at the touch of the doorknob! I’m thrilled at my regained independence and freedom. The paint is only cosmetic. It will be nice, but I can wait, if needed.

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I have started the sketches for the Christmas cards I’m going to paint for the people here in Chiang Mai. They have made me feel so welcome. Some go out of their way to inquire how my husband is (through Brian, of course.) Some cross the room when they are working to say ‘hello,’ or smile and bow. Some even give me a much needed hug, something that almost makes me cry. The cards are such a little thing, but I’m hoping that when I give them, each person will know how much they mean to me. It’s fun to think of particular people as I choose the theme of their Christmas card. I’m going to sketch all of them first, and then start painting.

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I may be becoming a little bit acclimated to the higher temperatures and higher humidity here. Part of that may be due to my finally being able to lose another 27 pounds since I moved to Thailand. Right now my phone says it’s 72 and it’s started to rain again. I shut off the a/c because I felt cold. I then changed my regular shirt for a sweatshirt…. This will all probably change when “The Hot (and Smokey) Season” starts. Brian says he’s comfortable at 92. Yeah, right.

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Brian just texted me, asking if I want a drink. He’s going to bring me an iced mocha as soon as it’s delivered. Am I a totally spoiled rotten lady or what! 😜

Have a wonderful day.

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Full Friday

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!

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