Forbidden topic?

 Yesterday David and I had a long talk about our future, and what  that might look like if one of us were alone. It was maybe a long time coming, and I felt much relieved afterward.  Part of the impetus for this was my promise to Amber that I would write up some sort of plan for disposing of my studio.  I did this over the weekend, and wanted to send both Loren and Amber a copy.  I know it has no legally binding effect on anything, but was more suggestions of what resources might be available to either donate or sell, all of my "stuff".  I didn't want to send something like this "blind" so phoned Amber, to warn her that it was coming.  We talked for over an hour. The best conversation we've had in years. We shared quite a lot of our lives over the past few years--our worries and concerns as well as joys.  As a result of both of these conversations, I was emotionally exhausted for the rest of the day, and finished the day with a good shot of brandy.  Unfortunately I wasn't able to get in touch with Loren by phone, so I'm not sure what sort of reaction might come from that direction.  I can't tell you how relieved, and pleased I am that all of this happened.  Of course, now David and I have to set up some sort of action plan for our future.  That might turn out to be a more challenging task.

Every day the almost the same

It's getting harder to tell the days apart.  Every morning I have to check the calendar for the date, when writing  my Morning Pages.  Thank Goodness I have my BuJo to keep me on track with my life. I had to start a new weekly section this morning.  Usually I have it all prepared by Sunday afternoon, for the following week, but not today. Since I start a new one every week, it's easy to make changes as I smooth out the rough bits, and find out what is really important enough to be given its own line, in the gridded section. This week's major adjustment was to accept the reality that I need two facing pages per week to get everything in.

We haven't left the house since  Friday morning, when we made a quick trip to the library, only stopping at Starbuck's on our way home.  Today, or maybe tomorrow, I have a prescription to pick up at Walmart.  I'll wait to see if there is a book waiting for me at the library before deciding which day, as I don't want to make any more trips outside than necessary.   Really though, we spend far too  much time just watching the bunnies at the bird feeder.

I was very apprehensive about the two hour Zoom meeting of my sketching group, yesterday.  Sketching remains my biggest challenge, and I'm still trying to decide if I want to accept the challenge or just give it up for ever. They had a lady posing for us, just head shots.  They set a specific time for each pose, starting with one minute, then another minute, a three minute and finally a 5 minute pose.  I gave up after the third pose, as I just couldn't sketch fast enough to accomplish anything.  Before the meeting, they had given us 5 pictures to use as prompts, if we needed them, and I spent the rest of the meeting working on one of those pictures.  I like it, even if they were disappointed that I didn't go further.

Last night we waited until after the Super Bowl, to watch a new drama that had been advertised. It is called "The Equalizer", and is loosely based on the same premise as that old tv show with the same name, that I watched religiously.  This old show involved a man who would even the score against bad guys who were adversely affecting an innocent "little" guy,  He often used a detailed and complex "con game' to accomplish the task.  This one does away with the con game and uses guns.  I'll watch it a few more times, just to see if it remains interesting.  More of this type of show, these days, is a 'soap opera', making it so complex that, if you don't see the first show, and then others in the right order, you loose track completely of what's going on and may as well just watch the news.

Well, David is now up, we've both had breakfast, the dishwasher is on, and it's time to watch The View, although with Trump still around that's a bit of a "soap opera" too.

Snow and more snow...

 This is our weather picture right now and I gladly take the snow and NOT your cold, burrrr temps. I just checked my 14 day forecast and if I read it right it appears we may miss those low low temps you are experiencing - I shall cross my fingers.  Besides Pati, it is too late for your suggestion to hold off on the heating of the greenhouse - it was done that day I mentioned it, and it is holding a temp of around 52 F right now and the snow and ice is melting from the roof and down the door. It is one sheet of solid ice so I may have to chip away at it to get in today. Harry has some parsley planted here in the house that has sprouted already and that I have to move into the greenhouse.  I hear the snow plough going past our place now so I'll have to get out in a bit to clear the driveway. yesterday i was at Foodland and the snow squalls came up with a vengeance while in the store. everyone was pointing outside with astonishment as you could not see at all and it looked like a white sheet had been placed over the windows. Once out it was very hard to manoever so i was inching my way home down the back road ( away from the highway) until I finally reached our street and at that time for some reason it cleared and i was able to pull into the driveway without trouble. The whole day was the same - alternating with squalls and then clear and then sometime a bit of sun.

Not doing too much around here besides the usual daily chores and a few trips to Pharmacy, Post office and Foodland. I wore a double mask yesterday to try it. A blue surgical mask with one of my fabric masks over top of it, and it felt OK. They are suggesting now that the single fabric masks may not be enough. What are you folks doing?

We ordered some things from Amazon quite awhile back that never arrived. I called Amazon and they were only too happy to refund the money with  a response that "things get lost". I know that shipments are being delayed so I expect perhaps these items really did get lost in the shuffle. maybe they will appear yet?  We have two more orders still pending so hope they might come but if not I guess i call Amazon again.

Hope all is well with you folks. I like to read your messages and see what you are up to. Driving to the parking lot to have a face to face visit in your car with Gail is quite a neat way to do it Pati - you must see others doing the same thing? 

Take care and be safe and keep warm.

Out--but not for long. B-r-r-r-r-!

 As I mentioned last time, just keeping on carrying on. Our only excitement was a trip to the library this morning, and home again with a cup of coffee in hand.  Thank Goodness for the drive-thru.  It's cold and going to get colder, night time temps of -40, and even -57 with wind chills.  (Maybe wait a couple of weeks for the green house.)  Another afternoon spent on line with the Geek Squad.  I think the mysterious "BMustafa" name on our account is finally gone for good, and I'm hoping that my problems with downloading pictures is fixed.  I'll be checking that out after I finish this.  Then he did another virus scan for us, just in case.  Mine took 2 hours 40 minutes and David's is now at 3 hours 51 minutes and still going strong.  I don't know if I mentioned getting a small cut on my right index finger-very close to the end, on the pulp.  That has got to be the most annoying thing.  I try to favour it, but it still gets used and still hurts as a result.  No hand sewing since Monday, although I did try a bit this morning, and was forced to stop.  In my complaining to Gail, I had to try to explain EPP to her.  I ended up sending her a link to one of the Tula Pink videos on how to do the work.  I gave her a minute mark to a very short section so she could get the idea.  Well, she is watching it from the beginning, and expressing both amazement and amusement about how a person so could get so deeply involved in something like that.  She is quite fascinated with both the process and the woman.  Whatever makes her laugh.

Very little accomplished in the studio today, what with going out and then spending a couple of hours with Geek Squad.  Tomorrow I hope to do some more fabric painting.  I'm just about out of Prepared For Dyeing (PFD) fabric, and will have to think about getting more. I'm finding it so much better for both painting and dyeing, as well as being an excellent background for quilted pieces.  The thread is a little larger ( ?fluffier without sizing?) and denser.  I quite like working on it, and it's no more expensive than the regular Kona cotton I use.  I have to drive across town for it, but then I would have to go to the same place if I chose regular Kona cotton, anyway. I've been working on the action plan I developed and have pretty well decided on what pieces I will take, only two of which I have yet to make.  LOL  So best get busy.

Not out for coffee but....

 ....out of wine! So yesterday I went to the LCBO and bought another cardboard box haha! It suits my needs so no need to be extravagant right?

Time drags as you say but my time from morning to night is chock full of do this and do that whether it be for the animals or for the people occupying this house. There are three live little baby birds growing quickly in the one cage and will soon be big enough for the Mother to introduce to the bigger cage vs the nesting cage. I am watching closely every day for any signs that I may have to intervene, but so far all is well..

I am taking time to play my violin each day as much as possible but I have had to go back to the beginning and relearn what has been forgotten these last 10 years. It will all come back I am sure as even now I am noticing a big difference in my performance. However my fingers and limbs are not as subtle as once were and damn those violin strings when the fingers will not cooperate. Good thing I do not have a concert to give anytime soon. But Pati you have your Show to consider for May and I am hoping against hope that it will occur. Any word on that? In meantime you are preparing and doing some nice work in the Studio. That is nice to hear and see when the pictures come through.

 I thought we might be getting into Spring ( I hoped that is...) but just looking at the long range, and observing the forecast for you folks there in Wpg and surrounds, I realize that those horrible low cold temps are coming my way again.  Harry wants me to hook up the heaters for the greenhouse and I have been procrastinating but I expect I shall have to get off my butt and proceed sooner than later. Not a chore I prefer haha!

Hope all is well there. Take care for now...

Out for Coffee.

 Something I used to do often, and miss terribly.  Today Gail and I arranged to meet for coffee, again at Michael's, where we sit in the parking lot and talk from our cars. However, we were both a little early and met in the Michael's store, face to face ( as much as a face mask allows that to happen).  I went in to look at artists' mediums, but ended up finding the quality markers needed for my current workshop--the ones that I couldn't find before the workshop started.  After leaving the store we got our coffee and sat in our cars talking for almost an hour.  Then, it was home, where David helped me staple my latest piece to a wrapped canvas ( see other blog). Earlier today, I watched the latest instructional video from my workshop.  She releases one every Tuesday morning.  I found this one more interesting than the previous ones, and very much want to try out the ideas she gave me, and for this, those markers will come in handy. 

Even so, time is starting to drag, and we are getting on each others nerves a little more.  But we both seem to realize why this is happening.  Thank Goodness!  I think we've had enough of this.  At our age we don't have much time left and would very much prefer to spend it in other ways.  I'm so much looking forward to summer, and the opportunity to get outside, even if just into the yard.

But there is nothing to be gained from complaining, so I guess we just keep carrying on.  Than Goodness for wine. 

Remembering

 Cathy, I hope the memories are good ones.  So often, when I have a memory, it is of something stupid I did, or of having hurt someone else, is some way, unintentionally.  I know that this is very common in old age, and sometimes I wonder "why me?"  Why can't I have more memories of good times? But then that makes the good memories more valued when they do come. I hope most of your are good. Now, something to worry about is if you have the same memory over and over again, and keep telling people about it. That is truly a symptom of "old age" But you don't have to worry about that for 4 more years.