Tag Archives: latest sketches

Sunday 6-21-2026

@oldandcranky.bsky.social

Isn’t this an amazing photo? I’m going to try to draw it.

___________

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.

___________

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.)

________________

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.

________________

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.

____________________

4 Comments

Filed under Thoughts on a ________

Thursday 5-21-2026

AOL.com

______________

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.

______________

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.

_______________

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…

___________________

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.

_________________

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.

_________________

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.

__________________

“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

6 Comments

Filed under Thoughts on a ________

Wednesday 5-20-2026

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.

_________________

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!!!

___________________

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.

____________________

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

6 Comments

Filed under Thoughts on a ________

Sunday 5-10-2026

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

_____________

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.

_____________

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.

________________

Happy Mother’s Day!

11 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized