Tag Archives: smile quote

August 15, 2026 · 9:37 pm

Sunday 8-16-2026

hahahahahahahaha. LOVE this!

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Yesterday there were monks at the nursing home! One came into Harvey’s room, and blessed us by sprinkling water in his direction and then in ours. It was surprising and quite lovely. We did the ‘wei’ when we left to a whole room full of monks. I guess they were blessing the whole facility for the new owner, who also introduced us to the man who will be trying to help Harvey with some modified physical therapy starting Monday. (You are not supposed to touch or photograph monks)

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I have my windows open and am enjoying a nice breeze and intermittent sunshine pouring through my place. This is the time of year that you keep an eye on the skies, leaping up to bring laundry in from the balcony, or hurrying to use facilities or get home before the rain starts. When it rains while I’m at the cafe, I simply wait it out, because usually it doesn’t last long.

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The card reader at the gym was still not working this morning, so Brian and I enjoyed another walk in the park. It was a beautiful day for that walk. I saw a humongous tree that was was truly lovely while we were there. There was a group of people exercising together in one part, too. The birds were singing, the sun emerging, a nice breeze blowing…

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I have a free day today, so I plan to move from one fun thing to another today. I’ll enjoy finding things to share for the blog, getting lost in the incredible talent I find.

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I’ll spend time at the cafe this afternoon. I’m hoping that a new friend will join me, bringing her collage supplies, so we can sit and chat while each works on creating something. It’s such a gift finding someone you feel comfortable with, clicking immediately, enjoying chatting or each working on something – someone you would have never had the chance to meet, otherwise. Priceless!

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I hope to finish a couple of sketches at the cafe today. Instead of finished sketches, I’m including a picture of me wearing the pins that two of the cleaning ladies from the building gave me for Mother’s Day. I’m hoping I run into them today so that they can see how much I appreciate their kindness.

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Wisdom Quotes & Stories

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July 8, 2026 · 11:21 pm

Thursday 7-9-2026

Kris Vereecken

I don’t just mean the cliche’ here. I am trying to shed worry about things I can’t do anything about anyway. I am working on NOT imagining possible scenarios that MIGHT – but almost NEVER – happen. I’m concentrating on seeing the good wherever it might be and enjoying every moment of it.

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I’m still working on two sketches today – one of an old woman’s hand (mine) and a church-steeple-spire building I took a picture of recently. If I can finish them today, I’ll share them tomorrow.

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Yesterday afternoon there was a wreck in the street that runs in front of my building. I heard the sound and ran to the window to see a sedan type vehicle and a pink motor scooter with a girl on the ground. I couldn’t tell what had happened. The girl was able to get up and there was no blood. They both took pictures and moved their vehicles to the side of the road, and got on their phones. They were there a LONG time waiting for the police to come. A lady came to sit with the girl, and the two of them eventually went away in an ambulance. (I didn’t see what happened to her scooter.) The man was still waiting (I guess for insurance or possible tow truck) to come. I’m amazed that this doesn’t happen more often. This is the only wreck I have seen the aftermath of in the over a year since I’ve been here.

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I’m trying again on getting my wash from yesterday dry, plus added to it this morning. It’s cloudy, with rain forecast, but hopefully I can get things done today.

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Today is the day I get ready for my housekeeper to come tomorrow. (I will NEVER take this for granted. I have always done my own cleaning, but now am definitely getting too old in the tooth to get down on my hands and knees and scrub anymore.) I will change the sheets on my bed, put out fresh towels everywhere, gather and empty the trash, general straightening, otherwise.

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June 30, 2026 · 10:48 pm

Wednesday – Happy July!

joliecarte.com

Lake Girl

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The sun is out now, but it was raining earlier and I think we have a 100% chance of heavy rain off and on today, at least according to the weather app on my phone. Since the “bucket and towel brigade” seems to have been given the go-ahead to retire, I can simply smile and look outside, or take my umbrella if I’m going out. Hooray!

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These are my latest painted sketches. I’m doing the base painting on two more today, plus working on a sketch that shows two women scrubbing an outside porch and steps. I’m also going to TRY to draw an old lady’s hands (mine). That will be super difficult and may be totally beyond my abilities now, but I’ve been dreaming about it.

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I opted out of the gym this morning. For some strange reason, I really didn’t sleep well. I ate breakfast with Brian, came back to my place, stretched out on the couch and slept until about an hour ago. I feel much better now. I’ll do a good session of yoga stretches this afternoon.

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I’m reading a good book called “The Goodest Boy, Volume 2: Heartwarming Dog Stories” by author I.L. Williams. I follow him on Substack and I can’t say enough about his posts and his writing and his heart.

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Teresa McBee – Ingenious Umbrella

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June 28, 2026 · 9:10 pm

Monday 6-29-2026

@tracychrest989204 on Substack

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These are my latest painted sketches. The upended cat was from a section of the “Cats on the Beach” jigsaw puzzle I finished recently. I have photos of another couple of sections I’m going to try to draw.

The “Planting the Rice” scene is from a photo taken outside my husband’s room. I was fascinated that the workers had made hats of umbrellas so their hands were completely free and they were well shaded from the really strong sun. I’ve tried to show the “poking” gesture they were making in distributing the rice seed. I have no idea why they do that, rather than what I expected – more of a feeding-the-chickens type strewing motion. I have actually seen workers putting the plugs in the ground in rows once the seeds have grown. There is another part of the fields around that is the brightest, most stunning shade of green I’ve ever seen. It was simply beautiful!

I’m going to do the base painting on two sketches I did at the cafe yesterday. I’ll take my art backpack to the cafe later this afternoon.

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Today is yoga stretches to go along with the walking on the treadmill I did this morning. I’m also taking the stairs when I come down from Bri’s condo to mine at least twice daily.

LOSING THE LARD MONTHLY UPDATE – As of today, I have lost 95 pounds (going from my heaviest at 205 to the 110 I am now.) I have lost a total of 89.7 inches. I am trying to eat like a normal human being (breakfast and dinner with careful portions daily, drink more water, and move more. I am now concentrating on trying to increase my balance, flexibility, core strength, arm and back strength.

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My new way of practicing my guitar was better yesterday. I’m showing the lyrics and chords needed on my phone and the finger diagrams for the chords on my computer, looking from one to the other as I practice. I am lasting longer with the practice, with it taking longer before my fingertips yell at me. I’m hoping this will increase gradually and I can concentrate more on the song, rather than all the details. I’m enjoying trying to relearn something I used to do a lot a hundred years or so ago…

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I watch/listen to YouTube each evening while winding down for bed. I’ve been watching singing contest videos – loving it when people face their fears and discover the audience and the judges love what they’re doing. You’d think I’m their mama… :0). Lately, I’ve been talking into my remote, giving the name of one of my favorite singers or musicians. YouTube pops up several videos I can listen to from that particular artist, plus collaborations with other artists. I really like this feature!

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TheFunnyBeaver.com

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June 27, 2026 · 10:22 pm

Sunday 6-28-2026

@openwings on Substack

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These are my latest painted sketches.

I’m working on several right now, doing the base painting in preparation for going to the cafe this afternoon to finish the details.

I researched planting rice in Chiang Mai. The first step I kept finding was where a group of people have ‘plugs’ of rice plants that they bend down and stab into the ground in rows. The thing I’M trying to draw is one step before that – when the people are carrying sacks of rice seed. They use one hand to make a kind of “poking” motion as they let the rice go. I guess this may result in a cluster of seeds forming the ‘plugs’ they later pull up, divide, and replant in the rows. I’ll continue to research. Meanwhile, I’ll try to finish the sketch.

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Dogs Naturally

I did well at the gym this morning, moving my speed up a tick and staying steady. Brian and I shared a nice breakfast of two fried eggs with cooked sliced sausage and chicken slivers cooked right into the eggs. Delicious! Today is Sunday, so that means exercises with water bottles this afternoon.

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ru.pinterest.com

I did my first session of a new way of practicing for me this morning. I pulled up the lyrics to “Killing Me Softly” by Roberta Flack on my phone. It shows the chords that are to be played, too.

On my computer, I pulled up the diagrams of the finger positions of each of the chords I need to play the song. (I missed C sharp and F major 7, though, so I’ll need to find those. I tried to play the song, practicing changing the chords at the proper time while the sick frog croaked and my eyes moved from the phone to the computer to the neck of the guitar. I started to get a feel for when the chords change and was moving from one to the other. I lasted about 10 minutes more before my fingertips started screaming. I’ll do that once or twice more today.

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We found out that my “Abstract Cat” Puzzle is NOT coming. They failed to notify Brian about the problem, but he was able to look up the order. I spent a lot of time yesterday evening and chose another one. Brian ordered it for me last night.

I like chameleons. I love the colors in this one, plus the 3-D quality of the flowers and his ‘scales.’ I’m looking forward to it being delivered sometime soon.

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Spiritual Sundays

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June 27, 2026 · 4:35 am

Soggy Saturday 6-27-2026

Substack

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Latest painted sketches

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We visited my husband this morning. It was challenging, in that there was very little of my husband “there” today. He acknowledged us, but had nothing to say that made any sense at all. I think we brightened his day a bit, and he wasn’t upset or hurting.

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Fit & Well

I went to the cafe this afternoon. It rained twice while I was there, and still looks like it could rain again. I came home between rain showers. I’ve just finished a good session of yoga stretches. Ahhhh!

I never realized before how much I clench my jaw. When I’m doing my yoga stretches, I have to consciously remind myself, “Relax your jaw. Relax your face.” It’s amazing how much that helps. I spent about 45 minutes today and feel good now.

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I checked on my puzzle that we ordered from Amazon this morning. It showed, “Unavailable. Not sure when or if it will come back in stock.” Brian is going to check to see if he has received any notices about the order or if we lucked out and got the last one or something. If we didn’t, I’ll need to start over on finding a new puzzle. 🧩 ☹️

I went ahead and took apart the “Cats on the Beach” puzzle this afternoon. I bagged it up carefully, included the reference picture, and put it in the original box for donation. I left it in the donation area before I left for the cafe. My puzzle area looks really empty right now. I’m looking at that as a character building exercise.

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I haven’t practice my guitar yet today. I’ll spend some good time on that this evening after dinner. I found diagrams of the chords needed to play the two songs I want to be able to sing one day again. I’ll start practicing all of these at least once a day until I’m able to go from one chord to another without having to check the diagram or fight with the fingers of my hand to stretch them into the proper position without messing up the sound. I AM making a slight bit of progess – not so that anyone but ME can tell, but it’s there. 🎸

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I’m going to look for a video that shows the steps in growing rice. I’m working on a sketch now that shows some people in the rice field outside Harvey’s window at the nursing home. I want to know more about the process and hopefully can do at least one reasonable sketch of how the process is done here. 🌾

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June 26, 2026 · 4:05 am

Fabulous Friday 6-26-2026

John Rinaldo – The Positive Pen – Substack

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This is another Fabulous Friday, starting with the gym, shower, and breakfast, then great massage, then spending time with Brian in my place while the housekeeper is cleaning his, then going to the cafe to get out of the way while she cleans mine. Today she wanted to come early, so that worked out fine.

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These are the latest painted sketches.

I had a nice thing happen on the way to the gym this morning. As we walked through the lobby, one of the cleaning ladies for the building greeted us. I said my usual version of a Thai ‘hello,’ and she said to Brian that my Thai sounded GOOD! Then, delighted, I turned and said my version of Thai ‘thank you,’ and she hugged me. What a beautiful, encouraging person she is!

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I had fun sketching at the cafe today. I got ‘my spot’ – something that I haven’t had this week, so I was super comfortable with my picture window, a table, two chairs, and a wide window ledge where I can spread out my supplies. I had a latte with ‘less sugar,’ so the atmosphere was perfect. I can watch people come in and out of the cafe, watch people and traffic on the street, and sit there comfortably working on one of my sketches.

Today I did two simple sketches and have started one that I HOPE will give people the idea of what goes into the planting of rice here.

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Brian ordered new air filters for our systems and they were delivered today. We brought them up, got the old filters out which were completely filled with ‘stuff’ from the hot and hazy season – produced by the farmers burning off the residue of their fields and getting ready to plant again. We are now able to dial the intensity of the systems back to a more regular level, making them quieter and not having to work so hard. We won’t have to change them again until the NEXT hot and hazy season.

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I have my a/c on and my fan swiveling in my clean condo, so I’m sitting at my computer happily talking to you now. I hope that things are good where you are, too.

Ingenious Umbrellas

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June 24, 2026 · 10:57 pm

Thursday 6-25-2026

“Last Breath” – Beth Robertson Fiddes via @womensartbluesky.bsky.social

Water is ‘impossible’ to draw or paint – so says ME – – – this is magnificent, isn’t it?

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I’m getting ready for my housekeeper to come tomorrow – changing sheets on the bed, getting out fresh towels, gathering trash, straightening, etc. Soon I’ll go get cash for this and my massage tomorrow.

I had a good session walking at the gym, ate a delicious breakfast, got my laundry hung on the balcony, and then felt sleepy. So – this decadent lady took a nap! Ahhhhh! And I don’t even feel guilty. 🤭 I feel much better now.

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These are my latest painted sketches.

I’m doing the base painting on more so that I can work on them when I go to the cafe later today.

Speaking of the cafe, I had the NICEST thing happen yesterday. I was in the elevator and a young couple joined me. The man turned to me and said, “You’re the lady who paints in the cafe! I love watching you work.” To say I’m still walking around 3 inches above the ground is an understatement. 🎨 😁

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Today is Thursday. That means that I’ll do my exercises with water bottles today. I’ll also do a couple of practice sessions with my guitar.

By the way, since my fingernails are shorter, it’s easier to press my fingertips down on the frets on the neck of my guitar now. I had a better practice session yesterday. I still have a long way to go, but I’m making some progress lately. Since the two songs I would like to work on playing and singing use different chords than the basic ones I’m practicing now, I’m going to see if I can find finger placement diagrams for the other ones I need. 🎸

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June 23, 2026 · 11:47 pm

Wednesday 6-24-2026

@drritalouise-substack

This is such an important thing to learn. However, few of us has the confidence to stand out at a young age. I remember how hard I tried to ‘be like everyone else,’ and ‘fit in’ when I was growing up. I got so upset that I got sick before school because my mother insisted that I wear an outfit that had green and yellow in it and it was a Thursday. This was a huge ‘no-no’ in my group, and the nurse sent me home when I kept throwing up.

It was, I guess, when my husband and I lived on top of a ridge line in Arkansas, seeing very few people on a daily basis that I realized that no one really cared anymore what I was doing or not doing, and that I could and should make my own decisions about what I wanted.

When I got to Thailand and my husband’s and my retirement plans went up in smoke, I really broke free and decided, since I had a second chance at life, thanks to to the good people in the ER in the hospital in AR installing a pacemaker, and then my husband suffering a stroke 2 weeks after we arrived forcing a month long hospital stay followed by residence in a nursing home, and my living alone for the first time in my life, that I should build a life where being different is a good thing, doing what I want, spending time doing what means something to me, what gives me joy, is the way I want to spend the rest of my life.

Being different still seems to be a thing to be avoided when you’re growing up. It should be celebrated, revered, encouraged, and nurtured. Maybe one day…

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This morning I was treated to a mani/pedi. I found something really close to the ‘cyan’ Brian has been wanting me to get. My husband just said, “blue,” so he should like this, too. I’ve decided that getting sparkly polish is one of the things I will enjoy as long as possible. Every time I look at it, I smile.

I made a change and cut my fingernails short so that I can practice my guitar more easily and effectively, so I had the nice ladies at the salon cut them even shorter and just round them off, and then cut my toenails shorter and cut them straight across.

Instead of half grown out nails on my fingernails and toenails that snag my socks, I now look much more civilized – PLUS – I sparkle!!!

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Flame Tree Blog – Flame Tree Publishing

I’m working on several sketches right now. I’m doing some base painting on some so that I can finish them at the cafe this afternoon. I’ll be able to share those tomorrow. I’m having a great time working on things, plus the ideas are coming fast and furious now. I’m even dreaming about them! Do you think that’s a sign of something worrisome? 😜

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http://www.tiktok.con

I’m going to start TRYING to look at the chords and lyrics for Roberta Flack’s two songs that are my personal, long-time favorites to start trying to play them. It will be a LONG time before this is something I can really do, and I’m not even talking about the singing along with the guitar, but I figure if I’m practicing with a specific goal in mind, I MIGHT be able to persuade my fingertips to last a bit longer before yelling at me.

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Luvze

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June 9, 2026 · 8:49 pm

Wednesday 6-10-2026

“Aria Among the Trees” – AnnaB – @bvornforart.bsky.social

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Sorry about not posting yesterday. I was under the weather and slept most of the day, plus all night. I feel much better now. Since my digestion has been an issue, I’m going back to a mostly low carb diet for a bit and see if that does the trick.

We will leave soon to go visit my husband at the nursing home. True to “Finagle’s Law of Dynamic Negatives” (sometimes aka “Murphy’s Law”) I go to VISIT him and he either doesn’t remember me or doesn’t have anything to say to me. Yesterday the staff sent Brian a video of Harvey saying, “I already miss her” when apparently told we were having to delay our visit to today because I wasn’t feeling well.

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I didn’t work on anything at all yesterday, so have no paintings to show you. Hopefully, I can finish some I’m working on and show them tomorrow.

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Good to be “back” and hope all of you are feeling sassy.

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June 7, 2026 · 10:46 pm

Monday 6-8-2026

Ryosuke_art – Substack – “Eyes Within the Shadow”

Drawing totally in charcoal. This artist is fabulous, isn’t he?

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2nd try at the elegant lady in the white dress. It still isn’t what I had in my mind, but it’s the best I can do right now.

This is the other one I finished yesterday.

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Brian and I just finished taking my laundry. On the way, I stopped and visited my Koi fish! I could stay there for half the day. It’s so calm and restful there. The fish are so well taken care of. Today the aeration had been increased and I think some of the fish were larger, if that can be believed. I’m not exaggerating when I say that some of them are right at 2 feet long. We continued our walk to go around the long way. The weather was perfect for this.

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One of the issues I had on leaving the hospital a year ago in February was that I had a fairly significant hearing loss. I ended up with a realing nice set of hearing aids called the Oticon Intent 3 miniRITE. They are wonderful, easy to clean, and rechargeable.

The last few days, though, the right one has been acting up – or, to be more specific, isn’t working. The battery shows it’s fully charged, so I’m not sure what the deal is. Brian is trying to get me an appointment to see the people at the place where we purchased these to see if they can help. I’m functional, but it would be nice to be able to hear out of both ears again.

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When I finish my posts, I’m going to do my yoga stretches and then practice my guitar. I’ve also promised myself to do a bunch of reading in-between sessions working on my puzzle. I’m hoping our glass print of the cheetah puzzle will arrive soon. I will probably spend some time at the cafe this afternoon. Just a nice, relaxed, nice day.

Pinterest

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June 6, 2026 · 9:41 pm

Sunday 6-7-2026

Nick Mackman -Dart Gallery – Dartmouth Devon

This lady is such a talented sculptor. I’m in awe of her work.

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This is the newest addition to Harvey’s “Happy Wall” at the nursing home. He seemed pleased with it, though didn’t remember that we cut this out of sheet metal, making a mailbox decoration. He said once that he likes waking up to the pictures on his wall, so I’m trying to make sure that I take additions to it on a regular basis. The next one will be Saturday, when I take him our 57th wedding anniversary painting.

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Yesterday the workmen finished cleaning up the porch area that is being redone at the cafe we like. They then spent the day spreading cement, patiently waiting for an area to be ready for another smoothing. They were still there, finishing up, cleaning up after the cement work, at about 6:30 last night. I don’t know what happens next.

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I’m working on several sketches at once. I’m doing the base painting on some, plus some more thank you cards today. I’ll post one of them later today in one of my posts.

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I’m making a bit of progress – both on memorizing more chords, plus making a better sound – when I practice on the guitar the past couple of days. Still agonizingly slow, and my fingertips still complain vigorously after just a few minutes, but the progress IS there. The voice still sounds like a sick frog, but I’m the only one here to complain… 🤣🎸🎵

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Etsy

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June 6, 2026 · 1:14 am

Saturday 6-6-2026

We went to visit Harvey this morning. He was almost totally unresponsive, seeming tired, though not uncomfortable. He liked the headless snowman I brought him for his wall – another one of pictures of mailbox decorations we made out of sheet metal in Arkansas.

The only other thing he said was that I ‘had thrown him into the lake off the dock at Tate’ (Tate Mountain, Georgia) one summer. I don’t remember it, but if I did, he deserved it.

Last night I woke up from dreaming that I was writing a letter to him. I continued writing it in my mind as I remained sleepless. I’ve decided to write that letter in my sketchbook.

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We are indeed entering the rainy season here. It was cloudy this morning, but I went ahead and got my laundry out on the drying rack on the balcony. On the way back from the nursing home the skies opened up and it POURED to the point it was hard for our GRAB driver to see or get around. Then, as suddenly as it started, the faucet was turned off and the rain stopped. By the time we got to the chocolate place, it was as if it hadn’t rained at all. We’ve been to the gym, the nursing home and the chocolate place today and haven’t gotten wet at all.

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We’ll go to the cafe after a while for Brian to work and me to sketch. Hopefully, our luck with the weather will hold.

There were workmen redoing the stones on the front porch at the cafe. They had a pry bar, a drill, and a hammer, and managed, somehow to get all the heavy stones up and moved. They continued breaking up the rocks until they could put the pieces in a gazillion sacks. They then rested and waited for a pick up truck. They loaded all the sacks into the back of the truck and then covered whatever they were going to put down with tarps to protect the material from the rain. All in one day. I only saw 3 men. Today there is a crew putting down whatever the new stuff will be. I know it will look great, but I really liked the old, worn, broken stonework…

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Brian just texted me that there was a parcel outside my door. He had encouraged me to find some books at an online book store. I chose two Nora Roberts books I’ve probably read, but didn’t recognize, plus a book called, “Just Draw It!” The Dynamic Drawing Course for Anyone with a Pencil and Paper.

Wheee! I need all the help I can get, so I’m thrilled to get this one. Added bonus – the books were wrapped in bubble wrap, so guess what this old lady will enjoy doing this evening…

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June 5, 2026 · 12:30 am

Friday 6-5-2026

Mr. Natural – @neilmathestonb66.bsky.social – Diane Leonard

I’m in awe of the person who painted this. The light here is magnificent, just glowing – through the air, bouncing off the girls’ clothing, showing in the reflection in the water!

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I’m just back from my massage, feeling loose as a goose and smiling. Khun Weaw, my massage therapist, is getting better and better at zeroing in on different ways to reach the areas where I tense up the most – and then fixing them for me. There is no way to thank her enough.

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Brian and I are at my place, doing this and that until it’s time for us to get out of the way so Khun Nong’s sister can clean my place. I’m hoping that I can write the posts I have planned before we need to vacate.

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My new puzzle “Beach Cats” was delivered yesterday, so I told Brian I had finished the “Rooster Runway” puzzle. He took a picture of it and sent it off yesterday for a glass print to be made. We haven’t received the glass print of the Cheetah yet, so he’s looking down his nose at me, saying I picked a puzzle that was too easy and didn’t take me long enough. It’s true – the Rooster one went fast, but I choose based on the picture and how I’ll feel while I’m trying to put it together, so Brian will just have to “deal.” (Actually, he’s being wonderful about my new past time.)

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Brian has decided that we should have a “snack” on Fridays when we’re both here at my place before going to the cafe. He usually orders it from the same place – the place that makes the to-die-for ‘creme brulee’s or whatever they are that we love and we are enjoying a lemonade with that. Today we opened the delivery bag to find this nice note and the sweet little drawstring bag as a ‘thank you.’ Isn’t that amazing?

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Rebecca Verastigui

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June 3, 2026 · 10:54 pm

Thursday 6-4-2026

Tenor

Shout-Out to my SIL who is having a birthday. (I’m celebrating today because it’s the 4th here, but she won’t be celebrating until tomorrow because of the time difference. Please join me in wishing ML a very happy celebration whenever she has it!!!! 🥳

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Adobe Stock

I’m not really feeling THAT bad, I AM having to stick close to my place again today, drinking lots of fluids plus Gatorade, taking meds, eating very carefully with Brian, and getting lots of naps off and on. I wish we knew what it was we ate, but we don’t. We have a HINT that it MIGHT have been a chicken and rice and sauce dish that was really good…

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This is the latest painted sketch I finished yesterday.

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I’m working on two sketches now – one of a woman caressing a cat, and the other – hopefully – a more successful sketch of the elegant woman in the flowing dress. We’ll see. Fingers crossed. 🤞

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Meanwhile, I’m using whatever energy I have to try to get ready for my housekeeper’s sister to come clean tomorrow – I’ve changed the sheets, gotten out fresh towels, gathered trash.

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Spiritual Sundays

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May 29, 2026 · 9:00 pm

Saturday 5-30-2026

Helen Alexander – @bawley.bsky.social

Isn’t he magnificent? I love this photo!

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Brian wasn’t feeling well this morning, so we didn’t go to the gym. Just as well – not that he wasn’t feeling well – but we had a pretty large storm just as we would have been outside trying to get to the gym. With the way it was pouring, with lots of close lightning and thunder, it would have been hard to collect ourselves to concentrate on walking on the treadmill when we got there.

The rain has stopped, so I have some laundry out drying (I hope) on my drying rack on my tiny balcony. We are planning to go visit Harvey at the nursing home this morning, if Brian’s stomach feels settled. He’ll let me know in a while if he wants to go and when.

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Happily enough, my windows were wonderful! No leaks! This definitely would have been a “bucket and towel brigade” night and morning. Brian is going to check some ‘channels’ the builders installed on the outside of the building around each of the condos to make sure they are running freely and taking care of any excess water. (He used a straw on one of his, blowing some debris out of one of his channels this morning.) I will watch carefully to see where mine are.

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Here is my latest painted sketch. I’m not happy with this. Because of my meager drawing skills, I have very little idea of perspective. In my mind’s eye, she is taller, quite slim, with the gauzy dress and hat billowing in the breeze as she walks past.

The thing that caught my eye in particular, other than her elegance in the middle of all the activity on the street, was that she was on her cell phone. The juxtaposition of the “Gone With the Wind” type dress and hat with the modern cell phone intrigued me.

I will probably try this again, trying to figure out a different way to do her justice.

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I also sketched out 4 thank you cards. I have them base painted now, along with another larger sketch, but I need to finish the details.

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May 29, 2026 · 12:26 am

Friday 5-29-2026

Mike Saunders – @hardwaterhacker.bsky.social

I love this place. My husband and I used to ‘judge’ whether or not we would like to live somewhere by ‘whether Fedex probably delivered or not.’ Noooo – I don’t think this would be practical, but I DO love it.

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This is my latest painted sketch – “The Ice Cream Man – Thai Style.” Hearing the music played when he came down the street brought back some wonderful memories. Back in the Dark Ages when I was a kid, we would hear it and run like nuts all over the house, trying to gather enough money to buy what we loved. Then we would run out of our doors to meet him. We lived in a neighborhood in Tulsa, OK then, where there were two mile-long parallel streets, each with a house in the middle of an acre-and-a-quarter piece of land. You could see the kids running out, exactly as I was, all with happy faces in anticipation.

THIS ice cream man does not have kids running to greet him. He is traveling the super busy streets of Chiang Mai, with what to MY eyes is traffic that would challenge the most experienced driver. Kids are taught at an early age to not dart out into the street. There WERE 6 to 10 ladies who worked at a nail salon across the way who did rush out to meet him, money in hand. He stopped, apparently knowing this was a good stop on his regular route. All looked happy.

My son says the people who come by selling veggies (I haven’t seen one of these yet) have a “squawking-rubber-duckie-or-chicken” noise that is equally distinctive…

I will try to finish the elegant lady sketch when we go to the cafe in a few minutes. I’ll share that probably tomorrow.

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On Fridays now, with Khun Nong’s sister taking her place as our housekeeper, our timetable is different than it used to be. When I come back from massage, Brian is here working, because the housekeeper is at his place.

He surprised me with ordering a to-die-for cream brulee treat and some lemonade for us. They surprised HIM with an extra one as a thank you for being a good customer! It is so wonderful to be able to splurge like this every once in a while without blowing my whole diet. My numbers are still good and my weight is holding steady, so I can indulge without guilt. Hooray!

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The “Bucket and Towel Brigade” seems to be pretty much retired! We had some hard rain last night that would have triggered a much of the night vigil with towel wringing into the bucket and rolling the towels back up to catch as much water as possible as it leaked in onto the the window sills, down the walls and onto the floor. Last night I got up, checked, and then went back to bed. I checked again first thing this morning, saw there was not a drop of water anywhere, and texted Brian. Maybe THIS rainy season we’ll be able to see that it’s raining, smile, and enjoy the fact we’re inside and dry. :0)

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May 27, 2026 · 10:02 pm

Thursday 5-28-2026

Figures in Light Photography – @figuresinlight.bsky.social

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I did MUCH better at the gym this morning. I’m feeling much stronger and steadier today. Hooray!! Brian and I shared a really nice breakfast of our breakfast burrito plus a small bowl of assorted fruit (canteloupe, watermelon, and the same yellow roundish fruit with a big seed in the middle that we ate yesterday.)

Brian figured out what the fruit is and sent me a video on the processing of what is called, “Jackfruit.”

I showed you a picture recently of some humongous things hanging from a tree at the nursing home.

This is Jackfruit

I hope this plays for you. I think it’s amazing.

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I have been changing my sheets, putting out fresh towels, gathering trash, etc. to get ready for Khun Nong’s sister to come clean tomorrow. We are going with the flow on timing – just making sure we are out of her way – as we are very grateful that we are not just ‘having to do without’ while Khun Nong is on extended holiday. I am almost ready now.

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I had a great time at the cafe yesterday, starting out at a side table and then moving up to ‘my’ spot when the other people left, so I had the best of both worlds. I spent much of the time I was there yesterday finishing up the sketches I showed you yesterday and doing the sketch of “The Ice Cream Man” – Thai Style. I have the base painting done and will see if I can finish up the details at the cafe this afternoon.

I also dreamed about the lady in the big hat and dress that I would like to try to draw next. This is totally in my head. I don’t have a reference picture. I don’t have anything but my awe of her elegance bouncing around in my head. I’ll see what I can do.

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I’ve been having fun discovering things for the blog I think you’ll enjoy. I appreciate your feedback on what you like and would rather not see much more of, please.

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May 26, 2026 · 9:37 pm

Wednesday 5-27-2026

In Otter News 

@inotternews on Substack

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Freepik

I did pretty well at the gym this morning, though I’m still feeling weak. It’s frustrating to be at such a low point after only having a cold and cough and runny nose – something I would have thrown off without a problem not long ago. I’m trying to be thankful that I DID throw it off and can now walk a mile again!

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Eating Thai Food

Brian and I had a really good breakfast this morning of “joke” – rice porridge with chicken chunks, a bit of egg, and nice seasonings, plus some pieces of assorted fruit. Really delicious!!

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I have my laundry out on the balcony. We’re having an interesting combination weather-wise lately, where we have really strong sun followed by a rain, followed by bright sun again – and maybe a repeat. I keep an eye out for rain so I can grab the stuff off my balcony…

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I have two ideas rattling around in this poor old brain on sketches I want to try. One is a Thai street ice cream vendor. The other is a glamorous woman all dressed up, walking down the street. Maybe I’ll get started on them today.

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“When you start giving, instead of getting, you make a difference. You can always give a warm smile, a sincere hello, a positive vibe… your attention, your time, your love, and kindness to those around you.”
― Roy T. Bennett

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May 26, 2026 · 4:44 am

Tuesday, 5-26-2026

Chong Lip Mun – @worldwildlife.bsky.social

Another beautiful bird that begs to be painted.

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I’ve had a busy day. We went to the gym this morning. I walked my mile more easily today, though it still seemed “long.” I’m hoping my strength is building each day. I’m still feeling more comfortable holding on to the handle bars of the treadmill.

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We went to see Harvey after breakfast. He knew who we were, and showed it by kissing my hand as I hugged his head and kissed him. That’s where making sense ended, though. He broke my heart at one point telling us he ‘wanted to come home,’ but didn’t know where that was…

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After we got back from visiting Harvey, we went to the cafe. I finished three more sketches –

This is my interpretation of the Chiang Mai lottery. Young and old line up side by side under umbrellas to protect from sun or rain while they sit there all day selling chances to win the lottery. Some, like the man shown here, wear them as sign boards around their necks. I’m not sure of all the details, but it’s a huge business here. In this sketch, they have set up in front of some stores. You will also see a whole line of them on the sides of the roads. Some look like kids. Some look older than I am – if you can imagine that. I have noticed some ‘redemption’ places, where you can redeem your winning tickets for all kinds of merchandise…

Brian has said that Thai people delight in betting on EVERYTHING here. If it will rain – how much rain we’ll get – whether the turtle crossing the street will make it across alive – how fast the squirrel will cross from one spot to another using the wires above for ‘roads,’ …..

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I’m going to try to draw the Chiang Mai version of the ice cream man as one of my next sketches. I have wonderful memories of hearing the distinctive music of the ice cream man driving down the road in his truck and kids coming running out of their houses after having moved heaven and earth to get enough money to buy something. It’s much the same here, except the look is quite unique.

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I hope that you have had a good Memorial Day weekend surrounded by love while honoring those who have sacrificed everything for us.

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“Nothing shakes the smiling heart.”
― Santosh Kalwar, I Am Dead Man Alive

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May 24, 2026 · 11:57 pm

Monday 5-25-2026

Luckas Gojda – stock.adobe.com

We have few family times where everyone can relax, have fun, laugh and play, hug, reminisce, and enjoy a great cookout where all are almost in a coma from overdoing by the end of the weekend.

This is a beautiful thing, but it shouldn’t overshadow the reason for Memorial Day – honoring all who served, plus their families – who have given so much to our country. Take a few moments, shut your eyes, and feel their presence.

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Brian and I got to the gym this morning! It’s been over a week since I actually walked on the treadmill. The power was on, but the door issue – with the key-card-door being unlocked, remained. I hope that no damage is done before the owners can fix this. My time on the treadmill seemed to go slowly. I guess that’s because I’m still pretty weak. But I did walk my mile, so that’s a good thing.

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We shared a good breakfast – “breakfast burrito”, but this one sliced chicken, avocado, salad and dressing wrapped in a flour tortilla. GOOOOD!

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These are my latest painted sketches.

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I’m going to go to the cafe this afternoon. I’m toying with the idea of trying to do a “Thai Street Scene” showing the lottery…

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May 23, 2026 · 10:29 pm

Sunday, 5-24-2026

Stacey Rich Bergman – @worldwildlife.bsky.social

Calls out to you to try to paint it, doesn’t it?

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Okay! Drum rolls! The long-awaited painted sketches are ready to share! (Okay, so I know the only person ‘long-awaiting’ here is ME, but I’m going to share anyway. 😜😁😜)

Latest painted sketches.

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I opted out of the gym this morning. I got dressed and ready, then felt weak and wonky, so texted Brian and slept another hour before getting up, undressed, showered, and dressed again for the rest of the day. At breakfast, Brian told me the power was on at the gym, but the door was open. This is a key card open type door, so it stays locked between customers. Brian went in and checked all around, then did his normal work on the treadmill and made sure the door was shut and locked when he left. It’s a mystery…

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This is a lemonade we ordered at the cafe yesterday. Not only does the lady server include two napkins so my hands don’t get wet and ruin my sketchbook, you can actually see the knot she ties in one of the napkins so it stays on the glass securely.

She also helped me move my carrier, art bag, art supplies, hoodie, pillow I put in the chair, and the partial drink I still had at that point!

We will probably go there this afternoon. Since she is almost always there, I’m going to take the picture above on my phone and the thank you card I painted to give her.

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I hope you’re having a nice Memorial Day Weekend. One of the nicest things about the town of Greenwood, Arkansas, was that it was people-oriented; the young, the old, the veterans, the students, the sports – anything having to do with the people was celebrated with parks, parades, bands playing, bean feeds – you name it. Here is a picture of the Veterans Memorial Park in the midde of the Square decorated to honor the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform plus their families.

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I hope this is a quiet, beautiful time for you and your family.

“What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life’s pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.”
― Joseph Addison

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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 22, 2026 · 4:53 am

Friday 5-22-2026

Vecteezy

We went to the gym, then I had my massage, and then we went to the cafe while our places were being cleaned. I have had a good day.

I should have some sketches to share with you tomorrow.

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a
listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all
of which have the potential to turn a life around.”
― Leo F. Buscaglia

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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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