Tag Archives: painted sketches

June 16, 2026 · 7:02 am

Tuesday 6-16-2026

Borealman-“Lake of the Woods” – @borealman63.bsky.social

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I have had a really packed day.

I didn’t sleep well, so opted out of the gym this morning. We left early to go visit Harvey. He was especially affectionate today, leaning first one way in the bed and then the other, so we took turns hugging him. We didn’t say much, but the communication was there. Brian ordered him some French Fries to be delivered after we left.

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From there, we went to the bank to get the paperwork we needed to renew my retirement visa. We were there a total of a little over two hours, with the waiting for our turn and then the service itself. We got what we needed, though, and that’s the important thing. After that, we went to the chocolate place for a much-needed boost.

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I was going to catch a nap, but it’s renovation season at our building, and as soon as I closed my eyes, the loud drilling and hammering began. I gave up and went to the cafe, where I enjoyed an iced latte and did some sketching.

This one goes into the group that I’ll take to put up on Harvey’s Happy Wall. It doesn’t matter that he doesn’t remember that this is one we cut out to put on the mailbox. The fact he likes it on his wall now is enough. This Saturday, though, I’m taking a painting for Father’s Day.

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I finished the “Cats on the Beach” jigsaw puzzle this afternoon!

I’ll have Brian take a photo of it Friday so that he can send the photo to have a glass print made. We’re waiting for the one he already ordered of the “Rooster Runway.”

This is the new one I asked Brian to order for me. It’s called, “Abstract Cat.” He should be pleased with this one. It’s labeled, “Difficult to impossible,” so it’ll probably take me some time to complete…

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This evening I changed my carrier with its inner pouches. The carrier is hand-knit and the pouches are handmade and hand-embroidered. I change this out between this one and another one, carefully hand washing the one after I change to the second one. It’ll probably take several days to dry, given our weather, but I’ll move my drying rack off and on to my balcony to speed the process as much as I can.

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I hope you have a great day.

Confucius – Quotefancy

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May 22, 2026 · 11:30 pm

Saturday 5-23-2026

“Huskies” – Anna B – @bornforart.bsky.social

I wouldn’t want to BE out in this, but I think the photograph and the huskies, are amazing.

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The electricity was still off at the gym this morning, so Brian and I walked through the park again – a different route this time. Mostly, I am better from being sick, but both Brian and I are noticing that I’m a bit short of breath. My ears are also clogged up, so my hearing is more muffled than usual. Other than that, this chicken is clucking up a storm.

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I wil have some painted sketches to show you tomorrow. (I know, I said that yesterday.) But it’s TRUE this time. I have some details to finish on SEVERAL sketches. I’ll share a passel of them tomorrow.

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I’m making a bit of progress on tuning my guitar with the use of my computer and then practicing some chords. I have three down now, though my fingertips are still lacking the callouses I need. I’m doing it two or three times a day, though, trying to build them up, so hopefully things will improve soon. The sick frog I sound like is alive and well. I don’t know if that will improve or not. At least I’m giving you the gift of not having to LISTEN…

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We’ll probably go to the cafe this afternoon. We are moving into the rainy season now. It really rained while I was sketching. I was sitting at a side table (someone obviously didn’t REALIZE they had taken MY spot!) The rain was quite peaceful right beside my chair. Quite calming. The last half hour one of the servers came and told me my spot had opened up, so I moved and thanked them profusely.

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I wish you a happy weekend.

“Dance. Smile. Giggle. Marvel. TRUST. HOPE. LOVE. WISH. BELIEVE. Most of all, enjoy every moment of the journey, and appreciate where you are at this moment instead of always focusing on how far you have to go.”
― Mandy Hale, The Single Woman–Life, Love, and a Dash of Sass: Embracing Singleness with Confidence

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May 18, 2026 · 6:55 am

Monday 5-18-2026

Going Mutts Pet Services, LLC

Still feeling pretty bad. Brian finally gave in and got himself the same meds I’m taking, since we can tell that I’m improving. Hopefully we will both feel more like ourselves in another couple of days….

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We had to be at the hospital for an appointment at 8:30 with the main doctor in charge of Harvey, Harvey, and Harvey’s nurse for his routine checkup. We bought meds, got the paperwork the doctor filled out for us, and visited with Harvey for a bit. We will see Harvey again on Thursday.

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One of the side effects of the med for sore throat and throat irritation is that you may feel drowsy. That’s for sure in my case. We got home and I was out like a light for an hour and a half. I took it easy the rest of the day, mainly painting.

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This last painted sketch is for the ‘house shrine’ I was telling you about yesterday. This one is in a tree and rustic-looking with weathered wood. Others are bright white, quite ornate, and sit on pedestals.

I’ll show you more painted sketches tomorrow.

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“If you’re reading this…
Congratulations, you’re alive.
If that’s not something to smile about,
then I don’t know what is.”
― Chad Sugg, Monsters Under Your Head

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April 29, 2026 · 4:32 am

Wednesday 4-29-2026

@dcfitzgerald.bsky.social

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I’ve had a good, busy day. It’s just after 4pm on Wednesday here, and I have been going non-stop the whole day. It has been glorious.

When we aren’t going to visit Harvey, I’m starting to paint one of my sketches when I get back from the gym and breakfast with Brian. While the paint is drying, I’m answering email and blog post comments, then doing a session with my new guitar. This morning I then did good yoga stretches, then did another layer of painting, another session with the guitar, and then it was time to go to the cafe. I did some good sketching – starting out at one place and then getting to move to ‘my spot’ to spend a good while. Brian, who was already wearing a sweatshirt over his tee, was too cold, so we came home.

I’m starting a new sketchbook (#3) very soon, so I got that ready this afternoon.

I laughed when I started trying to work with my guitar this morning. When I first learned to play, my teacher, who was from the deep south, would say, “Keep your flesh off the box, dahlin’.” You’re supposed to put your finger TIPS down close to the frets, resulting in a nice tone. When you “put your flesh on the box, dahlin’,” the sound is completely deadened. I was, indeed, puttin’ my flesh on the box, dahlin’ this morning – the neck of this guitar is quite wide for me, so I’ll have to work on techniques to get my hands and fingers to stretch to position them correctly so my chords sound like music, rather than noise.

It has been around 60 or so years since I played and sang at my high school, at my college, and at “The Dust Bowl” in Tulsa, a place where folk singers were welcome, so to say I’m starting over, learning the chords, finger positions, how to use a new style capo, is an understatement. There’s a YouTube site that helps you tune your guitar, another that shows basic chords and finger positions. When I’m ready, YouTube also offers songs with lyrics and chords! I basically play by ear, so this will help me out a lot.

My fingers hurt after only a few minutes, so I’ll do a session, rest and do something else, and then do another session, building my knowledge, calluses, and hopefully learning the proper finger positions so I can actually play some chords.

This is a wonderful way to learn. I have absolutely no pressure. No deadlines. No one will hear me croak or play. The insulation in the building is good so my neighbors won’t hear me. I am really, really happy to try to add back making some music to my new life.

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Newest painted sketch

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April 23, 2026 · 3:51 am

Thursday 4-23-2026

Brian-@balail.bsky.social

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Today has been a good day, but flew past so fast my hair blew! Actually, it was 100 degrees earlier while we were at the cafe. All of a sudden the sky was a lot darker, and the app on my phone said “thunderstorm,” so I headed back home. It rained, but not enough to even test my new windows, so I still don’t know if they will actually keep the rain out and not leak, but this is the first rain we’ve had in several months now.

Brian texted me a few minutes ago, asking if it was okay if he came by with a few things. He brought some medicine we ordered, but ALSO cream-filled-something-or-others that are to die for! We sat right down and scarfed them down like we were starving. Oh! SO GOOD!!!!

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Well, this is the water gun that also shoots LED lights that Harvey wanted me to draw and paint for his wall. I will take it Saturday. I have no clue if he will like it or not, but this is the best I can do.

This is my latest otherwise.

I spent my time at the cafe today creating some thank you cards for Khun Nong’s sister, who will be cleaning both Brian’s and my places every Friday while Khun Nong is gone.

Tracking Happiness

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August 30, 2025 · 8:47 pm

8-31-2025 Thoughts

Two of the latest sketches/paintings.

My friend Carla (the pretty lady in yellow) and her son, Clint – to the left of her in the photo – were the car race feature winners last week! They share a love of fast cars and racing, and they enjoy being together to build the cars and try to win on the weekends at the local racetracks. Mother/son adventure – BEAUTIFUL!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!👍🥳

Making progress on the owls puzzle. I’ll work on it again this afternoon.

We are still trying to decide whether to try to go visit Harvey this morning or not. My phone app is saying “Very Heavy Rain” basically from now through the rest of the day. We looked at a radar image of the storm coming toward us from Vietnam, and it looks like the worst of it is going to the south of us (thanks also to Sheila for this info.)

If it looks like ‘just rain,’ we’ll go. If it looks like our places may need bucket and towels and that we might get stranded at the nursing home which is a good 40 minutes away, we’ll cancel the trip for today. We’ll decide closer to the time.

I hope that good things are happening with/to/for you!

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