Daily Notes- Thursday, April 21st. Cool, Sunshine. Trees considering making leaves.

 A little collaged map.  Looks like it would be fun to make.  Have I used this image already?????

I hand sewed three edges on a very thin old nine patch. The no-button edge of an old blue linen shirt.  I keep all the parts I cut off shirts- I like the flat pieces but hate getting rid of the button strips and the collars and yokes.  So, yesterday the button edge got cut into strips and sewn on as a border. Buttons go into a canning jar.  Waste not...want not.

While watching season two episodes of Law and Order.  Lennie and Noth and Hand Sewing.

I'm having hot dogs for lunch today.  Looking forward to it.

Reading.  Finishing up the second or third reading of Agnes and the Hitman.  Next up is a 7 day loan book- The Wedding Crasher.  Got to read fast.  Sometimes the 7 day loan books are great........these are books the library borrows but doesn't purchase.  Meaning they never go into the forever collection.  Not that there seems to be much "forever" going on in the collection these days.  Just saying........ they has a great one- Second First Impressions that I took out so many many times........Teddy.  I miss him.

I'm going to get in the car and go pick up a few books for husband.  He doesn't like the puzzle I bought and he has no books.  Word Search puzzles only hold his interest for so long...... then the tablet beckons.  Which I try very hard to discourage.

I also need to concoct a salad dressing for my Foraged Spinach Leaves.  I could go old School Work Lunch on the dressing which was Balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper.  How I mix it is pretty damn delicious.  So...why not?  I did want Caesar but....no fish here in the house.  There was something I made with Mayo, Ranch Dressing and Cheese.   That could also be good.  But is it warm enough for a cold salad????  I get all "chilly" just considering it.

Daily Notes- Wednesday , April 20. Rained all day yesterday and today the Sun is shining.

 Pickles cartoons strike a bit too close to home these days.  Our recycle container looks like the trash container he's searching.  We tend to lose something once a week...minimum.

Three PODS were being delivered next door while we ate breakfast..... and now two --quite ordinary--older people are carrying boxes into the garage.  My cross the street neighbor said the fine print on the trucks mentioned remedial water damage repair and several other things plus deep cleaning.  

I had to admit that a 104 year old woman and a guy working with handicapped children all day at school- would not be keeping a house really clean.......so deep cleaning and not security cameras. So I've climbed down from my hysterical ranting.  Two old retired people. Here and There.  Everywhere.

Life was pretty exciting for two weeks but now I can see...this street is just so so dull. Perfectly suited to the new retired people.  Quiet.  the Twin Boys are the only bright spot-- 

Tru Green actually arrived (while we were out doing errands yesterday morning) and treated OUR lawn and not a neighbor or someone else living in a house marked 12.  They left the hang tag on the door and notes on lawn care and I saw sprinkled white things on the lawn.  It was un believable.

I purchased Women's Daily Vitamins at the grocery store.  Took the first one today with breakfast.  I haven't had Vitamins since prenatal days.  So exciting....(not)  I also bought a new set of tweezers and tweezed.  I also sewed some cloth.  Nothing amazing.  But it felt good to do it.  Law and Order minus the dog is not really as great as it used to be........... Connie sent size 18 needles for machine sewing jeans and knee patches on daughter's Carhart pants.   Connie is so thoughtful ..how did I get so lucky to have her in my Life???

Daily Notes- April 19th- It's Raining and Cold here in Maine.

 Black and White for this Dark and Windy and Wet Day.   Yesterday was lovely.  We had the door open to change the air here in the house.  It was nice.  I have all the lamps on here in the house.

TruGreen Trudy called and left a message that we would be getting a Lawn Treatment today at 9:30 am. Didn't happen- or it did...only at the wrong house.  Our guy tends to go to the wrong house.  We only know that because the last time he treated a lawn- it was next door and the lawyer who lives there brought the service ticket over to us.  And any treatment would be under last year's contract.  I refuse to send them any more money......I  only got one of the five treatments last season.  But you know all this...

My Walking Buddy from years ago- has something wrong with her foot- she thinks perhaps a broken bone.  She is going to an Orthopedic place today to have her foot checked out. She's a few years older than I am.  

I test high on bone density exams (and I am never comforted by the shock and surprise by the technician doing the testing).  I do eat dairy products every day.  My friend is a vegetarian and I am not sure she eats any dairy.   My husband eats his candy yogurt each day and his back is already curved and he walks with his head down.  He complains of back/spine pain.  I don't think the small daily serving of candy yogurt will make much improvement. He has an exercise ball that he could use to stretch on but he refuses.

I asked him a difficult question yesterday and he became agitated and confused.  I won't do that again.

I finally emptied the dryer and folded the clothes.  Put them away.  Looking forward to Summer Laundry. Linen shirts and lightweight pants.  No socks.

The Octagon trucks are back.  Going on the second week of doing whatever in the house next door. Now I am thinking rewiring the entire house?  They would be doing it in the crawlspace (36 to 48 inches deep)  under the house and it would be quite the JOB.  But if you wanted top internet speed- the house would need rewiring.  I don't think we will EVER know what is happening over there.

Daily Notes- April 18th- the Sun is Shining. Patriot's Day here in New England.

 This Art Piece Frame is extra-ordinary.  The workmanship.  

Today is another day when nothing is open.  Library closed. Post office closed etc....Not sure about the grocery store but we have enough of everything.....I planned ahead-which is so Un-Typical of me these days.

I finished reading the December book (yesterday I said I wouldn't).  And each time I recall some aspect of the story- my eyes flood. Like right now and it's just that sentence and nothing about plot or characters.

There is something there- something I have shoved back and forgotten that this story is bringing back.

I have Agnes and the Hitman right next to me.........I also have a few others on the pile- a much much smaller pile than I started with.  Four or five books.  Sigh.  I also went cloth ferreting up in the Magic Attic.  Haven't mentioned that particular area in quite some Time have I.  The Magic Attic..  

I skipped the closet and went for the storage tubs.  They got inspected and moved closer to the Closet.  A few-- previously selected but left behind items-- are now down here with me.  Tiny folded cloth petals to make a flower.  I would have to really dig to come up with a year when that was something I did.  Cut and fold tiny flower petals. Fifteen or more years in the Past. Out, on top of something.  

I figured if the cloth in that sandwich bag was that insistent...I should pay attention.  Complete the tiny flower.  Perhaps sew it to my sweater.  Where it would look perfectly at home. 

I don't know what I might be making or finishing.  But there is something in the sub conscious mind....ticking away.  Something I have seen, or remembered or just created in my head......something.  It's interesting when this happens.  Not always becoming anything but it's like seeds on fertile soil.  Something grows- and it can be anything at this point.  But there is a seed.  And it's been a long long time since that happened.  I am a different person.  so...I might surprise myself with what comes of this feeling.

Daily Notes and a Very very Happy Easter to all of you!!! Sun is shining here in Maine.

 The art is sitting up on bricks.   I wanted something Bright for the Holiday photo.  This is BRIGHT.

I picked a very very sad book for this week.  Always, In December.  Just typing this has the tears running. I'm going to set it aside.  Unfinished.  Emily Stone is the author.  I am stopping because I can barely start thinking of the characters and plot and tears are running down my face and eyes are swamped. I had to just stop to wipe the snot off my face.  So...reading is impossible.  And it's well written. so.. British.

I might cleanse myself with another reading of Agnes and the Hitman.

Easter.  The Sun is Shining.  There are no wax designed Ukrainian Easter Eggs.  I grew up with them on the Easter Table-we made them the night before and continued making them in our new house far from my grandparents.  With the golden braided egg bread, the sliced ham, the beet horseradish. And the Easter Baskets hidden in the Attic.  My Grandmother's doing.  Once we moved to our own home (far away)- we never had Easter like that again. But we decorated the eggs. Adding wax with each new color.

We also had Potato Pancakes.  I was in charge of frying them.  That must have been something my Mother's family did.  We didn't take the basket of bread, ham and eggs to church to be blessed. Most of the new neighborhood did. 

One April, in Germany, I made little baskets with wood shavings as the nesting stuff.  I blew out the egg from brown German eggs and then drew designs on the clean , washed shell with a black pen and filled in the design with white ink and lots of black ink and left brown spaces.  I put the baskets- three I think- each with three eggs- on the Raffle Table.  We had a Raffle each Women's Club of the Taunus luncheon.  Those simple little baskets were the first items taken.  I have a few eggs left.  

It's hard to remember the woman I was back then...The best edition of Me.....and also the most damaged. I had to dig myself out of depression and sleeping 20 of the 24 hours in each day. No meds.  Just GRIT.

Daily Notes- Saturday, April 16th. Overcast Sky and Rain in the Forecast.

 Another painted, peeled, pasted, painted, peeled etc etc canvas.  In my remembrance of canvas and paste- it (canvas) rips when peeled (dry) and brings up anything under it..  And, as I mentioned yesterday, these canvases are like 3 by 5 feet.  So.. large but here on the screen look like that could be notebook paper sized.

I have never worked on anything other than quilts that large.  I went right to large with cloth. 

I was remembering something, someone and someplace from College in the early moments of morning.  Pretty much felt like I was there......It was pretty real. There was conversation. Something that never happened in real life. It felt good to say things. Like the sentences had been waiting.....I am left wondering if the other person woke up this morning with those words in their head?  If that person is still alive.

Then I got out of bed and folded laundry.  Then brushed my teeth and my hair. In that order.  I made a good bowl of oatmeal this morning.  Got it just right.  And my coffee is pretty much good, also.  And it's been awhile since I could say that.  Coffee has been bitter lately.  I have been sort of bitter lately.

The Surveillance Installers were back next door.  Like a whole week of them parked in the driveway..  Yesterday three company vehicles and a private all black, tinted window sedan.  Nothing today...but it's early.  You know...this is getting to be worrisome. Who, exactly, bought this house?  Who is going to be next door?  Who are the cameras going to be recording?  The Twins skateboarding down the street? Rollerblading in the pouring rain?  Me walking to the end of the driveway to get the morning paper?

I don't like it.

In better news- the pink bulbs are flowering so now I have white, two shades of yellow, pink and two shades of blue in the back garden up against the kitchen dining room wall.  The entire bed is flowering bulbs I scooped out of the dumpster at work (it involved climbing in and out).  And planted. Rescued Bulbs. Best kind.

Daily Notes- Friday, April 15th. sunshine, a bit chilly but NOT Raining!!!!

 These canvases are very large.   And the artist pastes on canvas, paints it and then rips part of it off etc etc.  I sort of enjoyed reading the ripping things off part of the process.  I, at most, peel things off but I like the more active verb- ripping-- so I think I might just do that next time.  And then she pastes a new section of canvas over the ripped or destroyed spaces.  I have yards of canvas in the Guest Room Closet.  Serious Art Supplies live in the Guest Room Closet.  The French Folding Painting Stand.  The Wooden Painting Box with Brushes and tubes of good paint.  The Ordinary Art Supplies are in the Hall Closet by the Front Door.  With my Winter Coat.  With my Rain Coat.

It's Mending (the ripping and painting).  The basic thing about Life and Art. Mending.

I like the idea of the substrate not being solid.  Ripped and pasted.  Those are words I enjoy when making Art. Nothing about my artistic process is gentle or soothing.  It's a fight to the death.

I erase until the paper is gone.  Just a hole where the mistake was. (Deb will ask me to write a short story with those two sentences as the first line).  It would be a dark story.

My breakfast is almost finished.  I still have coffee in my cup and one quarter of my Bosc Pear to eat. I spooned less instant coffee into my mug and it's better (not bitter--ha!!).  I had been adding too much and the bitterness was getting to me.  And with the sweetness of the Pear- a fine combination.

There is a recipe for Bran Bud Brownies on the Bran Bud Box.  I am tempted.  But not sure the bowels can take that sort of punishment.  (another great first line)

I am reading (finished) Summer Heacock's book  "The Awkward Patch to Getting Lucky" which arrived from  Ocean City, New Jersey for my reading enjoyment.  I had no idea we could do that.  Get books from other States.  But...it happened and it wasn't by my request.  Spooky.  There are very funny parts of this book- mostly the "meet cute" in the bakery.  But....the relationship is tedious.  So tedious.  Why the guy keeps showing up is beyond me.  I stopped showing up.

Daily Notes- Thursday April 14th. Rain Again- All the Spring Bulbs are up and flowering.

 Just finished reading Agnes and the Hitman and intend to read it AGAIN today.   I always forget how Hot and Hilarious this book is.  The Guy parts are written by a Guy- a military guy- Bob Mayer..  So...that adds something to the.......good parts.  Agnes cooks breakfast.  And Agnes's house fills with men all of them wanting breakfast.   Notice the red eyeglasses? House also fills with dead bodies.  Agnes has anger management issues..... and you thought you had to worry about the Hitman, didn't you???

So, I got my haircut and the bad, sad news that I have to find a new person to cut my hair.  Nancy has been cutting my hair for so so many years (15?).  This is hard news to deal with.  She is retiring and going to be caring for her 96 year old mother.  Her brother was doing the care--- but he is tired of it.

I bought When Pigs Fly seeded New York Rye Bread after the haircut ( I needed milk).  Pretty damn good.  Last week I had English Toasting Bread.  I had wanted the Cinnamon Raisin but there wasn't any.  I got Bran Buds.  New larger box- more Buds. I got oatmeal.  The Ice cream section has French Ice Cream.  Sicilian Pistashio.  Next time.  I am now wondering what French Ice Cream is like.   I looked but No DOVE bars.  Welcome to Temptation had everyone eating Dove Bars.  I think Bet Me- also had Dove Bars.  Not Maine.   I have eaten French yogurt- high fat content so I imagine same goes for the Ice Cream.

I have procrastinated on some things.  Today might be the day I get that out of the way. Or not.

Daily Notes- Wednesday, April 13th. Overcast with a chance of Rain.

 A self portrait of sorts.   It was fun to do- get out the Neocolor I wax pastels.  I get my wild and out of control hair cut tomorrow.  Big ears and big glasses.

It was interesting how easy this was to do- and no I wasn't looking at a photo or into a mirror.  I guess I did pay attention in college art classes.  Who would have guessed, huh????

Yesterday was a "day off" as Monday we had husband's doctor's appointment and then eye exam.  Back to back.  Then the rest of the day to get over all that "excitement".  I also "cooked" which just means I made a box of Kraft Mac and Cheese.  It was good.  I added green peas to it.

Read an older Jennifer Crusie paperback- "What the Lady Wants" sort of a play on the old Perry Mason series.  Dead body. Private Detective. Who killed him with tons of suspects.   1995.   I sort of went hunting for older Crusie books the last time I was making book requests.  It took awhile for all of them to arrive.  Getting Rid of Bradley was the best one.  So far.  I am still hunting for Strange Bedfellows and Manhunting.  Anyone But You was fun to read.

1995.  It's like the Way Back Machine. Time travel via books.  We moved to Maine at the end of 1991.

Old books.  Old art classes.  Old woman.  I've got clean socks on today.  Coffee is a bit strong.  Oatmeal was good.  I think I slept okay.  I feel rested.  Nothing on the agenda until tomorrow and the haircut. Feels weird to be this ......unattached to calendar items...........I have a book.  I will read.......

Daily Notes- April 12th- It's raining. Wetting down the seeds in the garden.

 A Black and White Day.  Raining.  Chill in the air.  House lights on already.  I'm okay with it as yesterday I was wondering where the watering cans were located as the vegetable seeds George had planted needed water.  Mother Nature arrived to take care of that.  Thank You!!!!

There will be self produced images up top in the next few days- possibly even tomorrow.  I have a few ideas.  I should have grabbed an image of the mending on daughter's gardening work pants.  The knees  of the painted Carharts need work each year.  This year I added cut off rear pockets from a pair of worn out Levi's. Three layers. That should make it thru the Season. 

It was ORIGINAl.  So she liked it.  But I wondered why I have so many chopped up pieces of old Levi's?

I hesitated to write an email to the Gardening Friend who grows tomato seedlings and has shared with me for several years. With COVID and all else...after a significant period of no contact (2 years?)....well, I was worried.  But Allie emailed right back that my timing was excellent and the tomato seedlings were 4 inches tall.  9 or 10 varieties to choose from.  I am okay with whatever she doesn't need for her own tomato boxes. All of them were outstanding choices.  In the Summer when this friend would go away for a few weeks- I would drive over and water and take care of her tomatoes and her herb garden and flowers.  A Fair Change of Services.

And today's overcast and dark skies are so fine....the seeds my gardener/pruner planted needed a drink.  And a soft all day rain is the perfect solution.  It's chilly here in the house.  I tried to finish the book I was reading yesterday but....I gave up and went to bed.  Late but not as late as if I finished it.

I am thinking about rumbling in the sewing room.  Sorting.  Putting a few cloths together.  Cutting some shapes.  Perhaps a House.  Perhaps a Map.   Perhaps a Garden. We'll see.  Perhaps an abstract of just so many bits from the wastebasket?  A puzzle of sorts.

A friend has suggested I take a sentence from a recent post and write a short story with the sentence as the first line.  I am tempted.  Which surprises me.  Yesterday's comment has me making Stanley Tucci's pasta sauce  for lunch today.  The one he cooked with his mother in episode one. CNN.  Find it. Love it. 

Daily Notes- April 11th....A Day Of Doctors.... not me- him.

 Button Earrings.  I'd like to get a bunch of women together to make self portraits.  With their non dominant hand.  Love the button earrings.  I'm thinking of making one later today. Me.

We did do self portraits one day during the Monthly Quilt Meeting.  Glue not thread. Covering it all with colored netting.  I bought all the loud colors.  Some had sparkle.  They were so great- the finished product- especially after they machine quilted them-that I made a special event thing at the next All State quilt show with the portraits.  Was asked to do a class for other groups.  What a thrill........to see those quilters cut loose.

So...big day.  General Annual visit with husband's doctor.  Then the Eye Doctor. I changed my husband over to my Eye Doctor.  So it was a better outcome- other guy likes to do surgery.  Fate...I believe in it- just before we rolled over to the eye doctor  I had a visit with my walking buddy who had the previous eye doctor and is still having vision and eye problems.  Made me feel good about switching husband to new doctor.

I am seeing that I have many days on the desk calendar blank.  I need to do some cut and paste.  Scissors and Glue Stick.  I got a little perennial  for my back garden bed.  I've gotten it before and the deer ate it. Blue flowers.  Zone 3 to 6.  So, should live.  Deer might eat it.

I have lost my tweezers.  They are just gone.  And today at the grocery I didn't buy any.  I forgot.  But the grocery might not have tweezers.  All these years.  First time tossing tweezers......first.

I bought some stuff to make vegetable lo mein.  I had the noodles.  I will be using very large Brussels Sprouts for my "sturdy green vegetable", plus a carrot and some spring onions.  I got new ginger. I don't have mushroom powder.  I don't think this is a thing one buys. Makes with dry mushrooms?  I don't know.

Daily Notes- Sunday, April 10th. No Coat Needed Weather.

 What If.......we could have made maps like this- with colored scraps of paper- in Elementary School back in the 1950's???  Instead of having to make exactly the same thing as the other 39 members of our class?

We were taught to comply.  By the 1960's we had burned the building down, so to speak. 

Ten Years and the Pill.  That's all it took ..... oh, and a War.  And Drugs.  So...a lot changed.

In my tiny World.....college.  We went from stockings and a skirt required for dining in the cafeteria to going down in your pajamas to eat (don't even bother to comb your hair).  From bed checks to make sure we were all in the dorm by 10pm...to walking in and out at all hours....... no one cared where we were.  What we were doing.  1968.  Burn It All Down.

That's what this little World made of colored paper makes me consider. Before and After.

Life changes.  Time changes.  We change.  Was Life in the 50's & 60's more "sameness"?  Other than Elvis. And Rock and Roll.  My little radio playing in the basement while I toiled in servitude and ironed and ironed and ironed.  It felt like I ironed or went to school.  Period.  Oh...I was also solely responsible for washing dishes and if I got home late- not having any supper..  My two brothers?  Never. Never, Never. 

College was actually a get out of jail card. For me.  I just wish I had used the card wisely. Didn't.

Daily Notes- Saturday, April 9th. Cloudy with a significant chance for RAIN.

 A second set of painted paper houses.  Won't be long before I am painting and pasting. Building a little neighborhood.

The street is quiet.  The Twins must be away on vacation.  Spring Break for Elementary School.  I think they go to Florida.  Visit a retirement community.  Grandfather.  Near Disney.  Otherwise they would be racing their electric cars up and down the street.

Outbreaks here in Maine of the new Omicron variant.  Masks no longer mandatory.  Early day visits to grocery and library- everyone is masked.  It's like my little Town is a raft in an Ocean of Possible Infection.

 I read a very strange Crusie book.  Maybe This Time.  Old house, ghosts, ex husband etc. Southern Ohio.  And they just want to get back to the "Big City" of Columbus, Ohio.  Which makes me roll on the floor laughing.  And I think about references to Cleveland...and gosh what a hoot.  What person in their right mind wants to be in Columbus, Ohio??? 40 years ago. But I can fantasize having an ex husband I can just call and say "I need internet, new phone line, two laptops, new stove......NOW" and the stuff arrives the next day.  Fiction.  Easy enough in Fiction.  And of course he sends the perfect stuff. Sigh.  But then he can't do much (or anything) about the murdering ghosts.

So today..another Crusie- Fast Women (the cups with feet and the detectives).  Getting Rid of Bradley was pretty darn wonderful.  The police were called so very many times.......... shots fired, explosions, etc etc. Would have made a very funny Hallmark Movie.  

I have to turn on lights.  Dark in here. 

Daily Notes- Friday, April 8th. Raining. Cold.

 This image is giving me ideas.  Been awhile since I painted paper.  Could make a little village out of construction paper.  Paste or Elmer's.  Hang it on the wall.  I'd skip the strange birds in the sky.

Yesterday, I visited THREE VENUES.  The discount store over the bridge into Red Trump Country (very few masked people) to buy Fig Preserves in glass jars with red and white checked lids. For husband and a new fresh jigsaw puzzle.  He enjoyed the other one.  Very much- so I wanted to get him another.  I also grabbed two large print word search puzzles.  To have in the car. He stays in the car on these trips.

Then the library to pick up two reserved books and return five.  Then to grocery store for orange juice. I also picked up vegetable sushi for myself.  It was fantastic as always.  Japanese guy makes it fresh every day.  Almost everything else in the little cooler has raw fish.  I always check and double and triple check that what I selected was only vegetables.  The green stuff was super super HOT.

I bought unsalted pretzels.  Not a great idea.

Nothing to watch on tv.  No Law and Order.  Hallmark...not interested.  Sports show.  Too much baseball. Watching baseball is tremendously BORING.  Listening to men talk about baseball........kill me now.  I ended up watching the Celtics Basketball game.  Why don't the white guys get a spray tan or something.?? At least wear those stretchy arm and leg coverings. In a dark color.  A tee shirt.  Something to lessen the whiteness.  They look like the walking dead. Way too Larry Bird for my eyes.

Daily Note- Thursday, April 7th. Overcast- Rain is Coming.

 So...I did the "weather".  Going to grocery for orange juice and then pick up book at library. "what I am doing".  Next on list is "what I did yesterday"- which was rake out the dead leaves from the front bed left of the door and porch.  Next is "something I could have done better"- I am thinking it would be making a better lunch.  I had crackers with cheese and then frozen yogurt gelato.  Didn't hit many food groups.  "One thing that brings me joy"-  Nope, there wasn't anything like that yesterday.

So...in a slump.  Started the day remembering something and crying for awhile.  I really hate remembering stuff.  Would be great to remember something that made me happy.

The puzzle is finished.  We are going to buy another one.  Going in a few minutes.  I might be back to tell you about it or I'll tell you tomorrow.  Nothing happening.  Not a good day.

Daily Notes- Wednesday, April 6th--- Sunshine with a side of Frost.

 We may have had this image before.  But...maybe not.  I can see my sweater looking like this in a few more years.  Adding denim cuffs to the ragged sleeve edges is a fresh (to me) idea). And the denim edging along the collar. Patched pockets.  Pockets are always a very good thing to have.  Place for the hankie.

Good Good ideas.

Yesterday worked out okay.  The local property taxes are paid.  I still have to sign and get the income taxes into envelopes.  Etc etc.  I think I have to write a check.  Owe money. Sigh.  Procrastinating. 

At Town Office I got to listen while a very confused old man (much younger than me) was trying to pay for tax tags for his various boats, trailers, cars, trucks and ...I lost track of the other stuff.  The woman taking care of all this was super patient.  I would have just motioned for him to hand over the fist full of paper he was shuffling..... and then shut up.  I would have smiled (unconvincingly).  Customer Service used to be my job...till I got fired.

One of the books I reserved by an author I liked...was about Vampires.  I know women get all excited by Vampires but...not me.  I tried...but it's such bullshit.  Why are Vampires always so very very rich?????  And who thinks shiny red eyes make a 6 foot 8 inch tall ripped guy handsome???? Like the money makes you forget they are Vampires????? Next book was shapeshifters and a woman with two souls.  One character lived in a bowling ball bag.  Just a head...no body.  Author wrote a rom com I loved. I am guessing she only wrote the one.

I moved on to another Crusie book.  Woman gets mugged.  Cop comes to help her- not in uniform (he's a detective) so our girl bashes him in the head.  A couple times. She's got some heavy textbooks in her bag.  He's pretty unhappy about meeting her. Title is Getting Rid of Bradley.  Two Bradleys--- right now one is her freshly divorced husband and the other has stolen money from a bank.  A case of mistaken identity. I've read this before....years ago.  Library bought a fresh new copy of the book- fools me every time..   Better than Vampires. Crusie guys are very exciting.

Daily Notes- Skipped a Day- And almost Skipped another.

 Sorry about that......I got out of my "pattern" and..well, shit happens.  I went out to pay our real estate taxes this morning.  I had to find a new pack of checks- sorting thru the dresser drawer..  Not my best day.  Yesterday was worse.

I AM FINE.  TIRED BUT FINE.

Yesterday, husband said he didn't have his inhaler.  Needed a refill.  I went to grocery/pharmacy and they said it was too soon to refill....I said the inhaler was lost- they said they would call the insurance company etc etc.  I got home and spoke slowly--calm- short sentences.  Small words.  He found the inhaler.  I drove back to pharmacy.  Stopped the insurance call etc. Apologized to everyone.  Welcome to my Future.

That was yesterday morning.  And here it is a day later and almost 5 pm. forgot to post.......

Sigh.  Deep breathing.  Restful breathing.

Law and Order is showing season one, episode 4. HIV/Prostitution Ring.  Been a long long time since I saw any of the early  stuff.  Not a slick. Camera moving around.  Bit queasy.

Dog in the yard- off the path.  Most likely running around and then back to owner.  Pit Bull or Boxer.  Or Mix.  Why they like to mix the two is beyond me.  He looked happy.  Good runner. Don't touch- show no fear.

I am reading older- 1990's- early 2000's- Rom Coms.  A bit more....everything.  Evenly divided between good and meh.  I got another vote for the Corset Diaries at the library checkout.  I was checking out her second book.  Starting it after I press print here.  Perhaps a glass of wine later.  Or a gin and tonic. 

Daily Notes- Sunday April 3rd. Not Stopping!!!!!

 I was reading a few blogs yesterday ....and there is some appliqué being done on  one of them.. (Helen Geglio)  so I was interested in reading more and on Helen's appliqué blog...as I read it came to me that she was appliquéing felt pieces not cotton or linen pieces and that is why they look so darn nice.  Felt.  I am thinking thin felt and not the thick craft kind.  But appliquéd, turn edge felt.

Blowing my mind.  Now to find some. Felt. Old, beaten up thin felt.  Old felt rags.

Helen also buys odd lots of thread and fabric from estate sales.  I like this idea.  Like a surprise box coming to your house - you think you know what you are buying but...you never really know.  I have plenty to work with here at home.  And someday soon I will venture back into the depths of Goodwill. I like buying old linen shirts and blouses.  But I know the best stuff (for me) was bundled up to sell as rags by the pound. The stuff I truly love.  Rags. Torn, Worn, Stained.

Now I need to figure out how to find old beat up, faded felt.  I love a new HUNT......

The book.  The Corset Diaries.  There was romance (Rom).  There was comedy (Com).  There was non stop sex.  I looked up the author's booklist and she does quite a bit in the Vampire Collection.  I couldn't find the book mentioned on the cover of Corset Diaries- Men in Kilts. From experience in reading early romances- Men in Kilts would be quite exciting to read.  But I can't find it in any Maine library. But it's supposed to be wickedly witty.  oh well.  I don't care for the Vampire books but my daughter says they are VERY interesting.  Sigh.  I was wanting Men in Kilts. And A Hard Day's Knight.

Daily Notes- Saturday, April 2nd. Sunshine.

 Another Sunshiny Day here in Maine.  Almost two in a row.  The neighbors next door were here- loading up their cars with things they might want from their Parent's home- now sold.  Wall art was what was being loaded as I walked out to the mailbox.  I am wondering if they will be bringing a dumpster?  A moving van?  Or a House Sale to move the furniture?  

I love this battered chair and the tin bucket of lovely flowers.   This was sort of what I was going for in the Neighborhood Pickle Jar bouquets last Summer.  I used to have roses. Lots of them.  Beetles ate them. So, so many Japanese Beetles.  They ate the raspberry bushes also. Some days the garden was full off shiny black beetles.

I need to change my Desk Calendar.  Finish off the last four blank squares. Perhaps a few more chairs??

Reading the Corset Diaries.  Very amusing. Katie MacAlister.  Role Playing actors in an old Edwardian house.  Upstairs/downstairs. An American playing the rich New York wife of a British Lord.  It's Bawdy in the best possible way.  Another book on the list of "Best RomCom's"

I finished off my yogurt.  Minus fruit (I had none).  I swept the kitchen floor.  I have Washing Machine Pages to write while washing a load of clothing.  Possibly two loads if I change the bed sheets.. I am already thinking why bother????  Daily readership is at a new low.  When should I stop???

Daily Notes- We Made it to April!!!!!! Animals churning up my back lawn!!!!!

 April First.  Sigh. We have had rain and we are now having sunshine.  Good start. No snow.

Library trip to get Jack Reacher books for husband.  He didn't like the other authors I was choosing. Too difficult to read the books? So we backtrack to the ones he's read before. Easier books.

The Library Desk person asked if she could print a copy of the books I have checked out- that pile of RomComs from yesterday..  And she gave me a few suggestions.  Life is Good.  She said the Corset Diaries was GREAT.  So...it's next.

Sports Show not very funny today- usually Friday is a free for all.

So...books to read.  Yesterday I cleaned out the TiVo pile of recorded Law and Order: Criminal Intent and Cooking Shows from Milk Street.  Gives me more "cap space" for new stuff.  Also using up stuff in the fridge.  I got the last of my yogurt ready to eat with soaked Bran Buds but no fruit.  It'll be okay.  Not even raisins.  How did I get to a spot "in Life" where there are no raisins in my cupboard????

Husband went to see the Hearing Aids People and I sent a note with him: to write down what advice they gave him regarding "not being able to hear anything".  Cleaning wax out of his ears was suggested. And brushing off the hearing aids each day.  Keep them clean.  

Shaking my head.  Note is now taped to the cabinet over his coffee maker.  Along with list of old age memory loss topics.  He won't read any of the notes.  April Fool.  Me.