The visit with Harvey this morning was challenging. He was obviously feeling despondent and listless. He did tell me he was happy to see me when we first went in, then followed that up soon after, asking if I was “really his wife.” He was unhappy his nurse wouldn’t let down the guardrail on his bed, and had tried to grab her phone out of her hand. We explained to him that she was trying to keep him from falling out of the bed and breaking bones. He was quiet for a bit and then demanded that “I” let the guardrail down. He did enjoy the orange drink Brian brought him, but had little to say.
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I had a good session at the cafe. Here are the latest sketches –
Today I finished sketchbook #4 since I’ve been in Thailand. That means 400 sketches (actually 399, since I threw one away before deciding I would keep them all to keep a record of how I was doing.) I say this because I really think that sketching every day, trying my best to get down on paper what I’m seeing or what I’m thinking is helping me draw better. I know it brings me joy, and that’s the most important part. 😁 🎨
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It’s time for dinner now. I hope you have a wonderful day.
I’m just home from sketching at the cafe. My place is sparkling and I’m feeling thoroughly spoiled with my massage this morning, Brian ordering us a “san-ack” at my place, then going to the cafe while my housekeeper did her thing.
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The owner of the cafe came in just before I left. She has been gone, helping her mom who was having cataracts removed. All of that went well, but Cartoon (pronounced Kah-toon’) had her arm in a cast! When she got home from helping her mom, she had some elective surgery done on her arm. Apparently surgery was done in three places and recovery time will be approximately 10 weeks with physical therapy following. Today was Day 3 since the surgery. I hugged her carefully, and then gave her the Halloween card I made for her. She lit up like a torch when she saw it. She is SUCH a beautiful person, so full of joy with a huge smile on her face. Her mom is worried about HER now, and so will be traveling to Chiang Mai to take care of her. Since Cartoon was SUPPOSED to be wearing a sling – and wasn’t – it sounds like a good idea to me. I hope I get to meet her.
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I only have one blank sheet in my sketchbook now. I will start the next one for drawing, but will base paint several sketches I did today and so will have TWO sketchbooks in my art backpack for at least a day or two. Here are my latest sketches –
Last night the street crew was picking up – and sometimes DROPPING! – big heavy metal rectangles that have been covering large areas of the street. One woke me up, making me jump straight up in my bed, and it took me a while to figure out what was going on and relax enough to get back to sleep: hence, I took another nap this morning before heading for the cafe.
I had a good time at the cafe, although someone had taken ‘my’ spot. I had a good time finishing up two sketches and getting a third one started.
Here are the finished sketches –
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Tomorrow we meet Harvey and Khun Pim and the main doctor at the hospital for his routine visit and to get the doctor to fill out the form we need to take to the agent who helps us get Harvey’s medical visa renewed. We may go directly from the hospital to the agent’s place to take her the paperwork so she can get things processed for us.
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I gave one of the cleaning ladies a Halloween card this morning, and took one to the office staff of the building today, as well. It seems that people are happy to get them, so I’m pleased.
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I went ahead and read more than one chapter in the “Fury in Death” book by J.D. Robb this morning, unable to hold myself off any longer, and I finished the book. I really love the group of people that Eve Dallas has in her life in these books. Each new book feels like a reunion with friends to me. I feel lucky to have found this series and am always pre-ordering the next one…
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The cats puzzle is coming together in a whole different way than the others I’ve tackled. So far, I have one mostly-there face, one upper half of a face, another cat’s hat, plus another cat’s ear. The only clues I’m getting are fur patterns, so I’m putting them together to see what I come up with. It’s fun and interesting.
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TikTok
I’ve been increasing the incline on the treadmill at the gym and burning more calories than usual. Tomorrow I’ll change my focus – slow down, no incline, and concentrate on my balance, trying not to hold onto the handlebars. Although my balance is better than it was when I first came here – the retraining my brain and body is extremely slow. I do fine when my head is down and I’m looking at my feet on the street, for example, unless I turn my head to look at something. And then I get ‘wonky,’ listing to one side or the other. Sometimes, if I weren’t holding Brian’s hand, I think I might have a problem. I’m also training myself to stop before I look at something, but that’s hard when we’re going somewhere.
I am back from the cafe. I had a really nice massage this morning. I changed my clothes and we immediately left for the cafe because Khun Bpaum and her helpers were coming early and doing BOTH of our places from 11:00 – 2:00.
I had a really nice time at the cafe. I met two ladies from China. One had two children. They met here and have become friends. Both are visiting for about a month. The boy saw me drawing and wanted his mom to let him come in and see what I was doing. They all came in and were quite complimentary about my stuff. We had a fun visit.
This is a door I thought was beautiful.
And this is the second lizard that lives somewhere around the cafe.
I’m working on a bunny rabbit, and also trying to draw a pair of ‘elephant pants.’ I guess every tourist has a pair. I have yet to find someone who actually looks GOOD in a pair, but they seem to be the thing everyone should have – except me..
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I came back to my beautifully clean place. I always check the windows to make sure they got locked (the cleaners clean them inside and out every week!) One was left unlocked, so I quickly took care of that. I sat down to write blog posts and had no cursor. All the things on my desk were lined up neatly. My track pad was working fine this morning, but I checked all the connections, even rebooted, but couldn’t get one to show up. I finally texted Brian on my phone. He looked things over and then showed me that there was a minute little button on one edge of the track pad that had been moved, turning the pad off. When he pushed it the other way, a tiny green light appeared and I had a cursor again. I didn’t even know the button was there, but I know what to check for if it happens again…
Isn’t this an amazing photo? I’m going to try to draw it.
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Facebook
I know it is still early to wish you a Happy Father’s Day, but the time difference makes this the best way to reach you before your celebration is over. Good fathers are beyond price and should be celebrated every day of the year.
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These are my latest painted sketches.
Hill Street Grocer
Food Experiment:
“Gaeng Jued Wonton” (a clear, soothing broth with pork-filled wontons and vegetables) – Brian and I ate this last night for dinner. It was good, but the broth, which was supposed to be ‘soothing’ was actually hot – to the point this wuss was breathing fire when I was finishing. It tasted good, though. In the middle of the night, though, I had super intense heartburn that woke me up and had me scurrying for the Thai equivalent of Alka-Seltzer. My throat was sore and irritated, making me cough after I took that, so I ended up sucking on one of the lozenges I got when we were sick with the cough/runny nose/sore throat thing that was going around earlier. That finally made it so I could sleep. I ended up sleeping well the rest of the night and had a good session at the gym this morning and good appetite for breakfast. We agreed that we will try the pork dumplings in another dish, but without soup. (meanwhile, I’ll try to stock up on the Alka-Seltzer type stuff.)
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Sprout
Hope in a bowl.
This is the jackfruit seed (one of the three I kept and tried) that is showing a teeny, tiny sprout. I have no idea if this will continue to grow or not, and I’m not looking to grow an actual fruit. I would just like to enjoy the leaves of the plant, if I’m successful. It’s fun to try.
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Today is a quiet day. I did well at the gym, and later today I’ll do exercises with my water bottles. I’ll practice my guitar chords, too. Brian took pics of the Cats on the Beach finished jigsaw puzzle, but ‘warned’ me to slow my speed on finishing the puzzles. I see no problem, since the next one, “Abstract Cat” is labled ‘difficult to impossible.’ I’ll spend time at the cafe, seeing how I do on some new sketches. I’m also researching the Thai Zodiac, preparing to try to draw a sketch to go with “Year of the Horse” which is THIS year. It’s actually “Year of the Red Horse” – something that happens once every 60 years.
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
The owner/manager of the hotel affiliated with the cafe gave me this teeny tiny lovely bunch of flowers wrapped in leaves. It is called a Yellow Champaca.
“In Thailand, it is a symbol of auspiciousness. The flowers are frequently threaded into garlands (phuang malai) for temple offerings, or floated in water bowls to freshen living spaces. The yellow Champaca (botanically Magnolia champaca, formerly Michelia champaca) is a tall, evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia. Highly prized in Thailand for its intoxicating, sweet fragrance, its vivid orange-yellow flowers are traditionally used in garlands, offerings, and natural perfumes.”
She said she got the idea from ME to find some to plant as part of the elephant shrine I sketched and painted! It will add even more growing plant color to the shrine, as well as the beautiful fragrance. She says even the withered petals give off the nice fragrance!
I showed her the “house shrine” then, and was relieved when she thought my version was okay. She was quite complimentary, but I think it’s just because I’m trying to honor parts of their culture, rather than the drawing being good. For whatever reason, I’m grateful.
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The cheetah is finished! Brian will come take pics to send off to have a print made on glass. I have the NEW puzzle that just came yesterday, when I finished the cheetah…
This is called, “Runway Rooster” and I think it’s a hoot! I love the 3-D-ness of it, plus the personalities of the roosters, plus the colors! Can’t wait to get started!!!
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Brian and I felt better this morning and will plan to get back to the gym tomorrow morning. We will go visit Harvey tomorrow. I’m taking the sketch I did of the Tasmanian Devil and will hope that Harvey wants me to add it to his happy wall.
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I hope you’re having a great day.
“I was smiling yesterday,I am smiling today and I will smile tomorrow.Simply because life is too short to cry for anything.” ― Santosh Kalwar, Quote Me Everyday
Happy Mother’s Day for those in my time zone. (We’ll celebrate for everyone else again tomorrow. :0) )
“When you’re a child she walks before you
To set an example.
When you’re a teenager she walks behind you
To be there should you need her.
When you’re an adult she walks beside you
So that as two friends you can enjoy life together.”
—Unknown
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Harvey didn’t smile, but he took the painting in his hand, looked at it a long time and said, “Good.” I asked him if he wanted me to add it to his wall, and he nodded. I am planning to take him another cartoon character every other week, unless there is a holiday or other special day to celebrate instead. Harvey wasn’t making a lot of sense, otherwise, but he seemed content and comfortable. He did tell me he loved me when I told him and hugged his head. A good visit.
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Newest painted sketches. I will finish one sketchbook today and have started sketchbook #3. Between sketching, painting them, writing blog posts and researching to find more things to share, I have such a happy life. Both of these things are challenging, fun, and fulfilling.
And THEN I add trying to re-learn to play my guitar and sing, working on a beautiful jigsaw puzzle that lives on my puzzle table ready for me to come work on it whenever I can make the time, listening to music, reading, doing my exercises, taking short walks, going to the cafe, I’m a lucky, spoiled-rotten, very happy and grateful lady.
