Tag Archives: my latest painted sketch

Saturday 1-24-2026


“Steve is trying his best to not eat cake. Will he succeed? Unlikely.” ~ “In Otter News” – Substack

I know JUST how he feels…. :0)

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Tenor

Laughing is Great Exercise –

Brian and I were at the chocolate place after visiting Harvey at the nursing home. When we finish our drinks, Brian got out his sugar-free gum packs, and we each took one out of each of two different flavor packs. (He says chewing this after eating sugar of any kind gets rid of it in your mouth. )

He gave me a pack after taking a piece of gum. I saw I was getting the last piece in the pack. In the past I have put the two pieces together and fooled him into putting the package back in his carrier. (a running joke)

I started to do that, but he caught me. I just put the two pieces of the package on the table tray. He frowned at me, picked up the pieces, put them together and put the package back on the tray. I then got what turned out to be the last piece in the 2nd package. I just looked at him ‘defiantly’ and put the two pieces of the package on the tray.

The look on his face was priceless and I started to laugh. He frowned even more and I laughed harder. I finally pressed my hands to my stomach – I was laughing so hard my stomach and cheeks were hurting! The server lady I like so much there was laughing, too, just watching and listening to us.

I woke up in the middle of the night laughing. I was still smiling when I joined Brian for the gym and then breakfast. I brought it up – he frowned and started me off again. What a joy it is to completely lose it like that!!

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This is the latest painted sketch.

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Cinderblock – Metro News

Making Progress –

Today while I was walking on the treadmill, I actually FELT my stomach muscles working! That may not sound like much, but when you are obese like I was, it’s kind of like your abdomen is a whole different entity from the rest of your body, not moving in relation to the exercise you’re doing – if that makes any sense. Anyway, I could really feel a difference this morning! I felt ‘looser’ and was able to actually hold my stomach in a bit, feeling the muscles move as I walked. Hooray!

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Pexels

I just looked at the U.S. National Weather map for tomorrow and it looks pretty awful for much of the country, with sleet, ice, snow, and super low temperatures through Monday. I hope you get stocked up today so you can just stay where you are until this passes. I hope your power stays on and that you have water. I’m trying to send warm in your direction. You’ll be in my thoughts. Take care.

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Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Javier Lazaro – @lazaroillustrations.bsky.social

Isn’t the movement in this wonderful?

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Latest painted sketch.

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Tenor

This morning I learned something new about my computer. I was charging my keypad and track pad. I’ve done this over and over and haven’t had any problem. This morning when I tried to remove the charging cable from my keypad, my computer screen suddenly went almost black. I – the most far removed from a techie – almost panicked. I contacted my son, Brian, by text and carefully explained what I was trying to do and what happened. He asked me if I could see the ‘sunshine’ icons on the F1 and F2 keys on the keypad. When I said, ‘yes,’ he told me to press the F2 button several times and see if the screen got brighter. To my intense relief, it DID! So now I know that the F1 and F2 keys make my computer screen lighter or darker, and that the F10 key mutes sound, F11 turns down the volume, and F12 turns it up. I’m empowered!!!!

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Freepik

I’m still a bit overwhelmed by my new jigsaw puzzle. I’m one piece away from having the outside edge together now, and several bunches of things put together, but my usual techniques aren’t working very well yet. I’m putting on my ‘methodical hat’ and continuing to work my way through things, trying to make sense of it. This may be my most challenging puzzle yet! 🧩

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Painting to Gogh

I’m finishing up the humongous sketchbook I started about 6 months ago. I feel that I have learned a lot by trying to draw what I see. I have 5 more pages before this one is filled up. I have a new one ready to start. Here’s hoping that when I compare the new sketches with the old, I’ll see some improvement…

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I hope 2026 has had a peaceful start for you.

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