Daily Notes- Thursday, March 12th. Cloudy and 40 degrees.

 Will be awhile before we can set out flowers like these....I'd love a big scoop of a planter...like this.

Not a clue as to what happens today here in the house....I emptied a few more boxes....some really nice expensive craft projects are going to Goodwill.  Basket making supplies.  One for a wine bottle holder.

Daughter asked "when" was this something I wanted to do....I mentioned living in this house for decades. What I wanted 30 (or 40) years ago-- is quite different from what I want now.  What I wanted 50 years ago is even more different from the Life I live now.  Lots of disappointments.  Alongside some really really Wonderful times with friends. And quite a few jobs I adored.......but husband had to keep us moving. 

Now, he's gone and I don't move at all anymore.

Well......Panera's soup with little dumplings was very very good... I will get it again but not right a way.

Not much to watch on TV....and the news (OMG)  so I finished reading How to Walk Away. 

Today's book has been waiting for quite some time...Crusie's  Tell Me Lies....will find out if it's something I can read.....I do not suffer thru a badly written book...gladly....or at all.  

The Attic removals have produced some very fine paper for watercolors....and some very fine ceramic dishes full of watercolor paint was also dragged out of the coat closet.  Quite a few items were purchased in Europe...either during the visits prior to living there or while living there.  Wonderful Things.  Now to discover where the paint brushes are hiding.  We also found a matted and framed watercolor of mine....I hadn't seen in in YEARS....very nice.  Being surprised by the contents of my house...who knew??????

Wednesday, March 11th. Warmer than usual. 44 degrees- no sunshine.

 New York Times Orange Cake.

I have everything in the HOUSE to make this cake....even a food processor.  Where it is..I haven't a clue... Still haven't found the Swedish crystal champagne flutes.  Or the wooden box of silverware.  I did find extra pairs of brown slippers from LLBean...defective and very inexpensive (to employees only).

But none of the "good stuff" is being found.

The frozen stiff paints etc have thawed out...we will find out if they still "'work" when I find my brushes. I have my watercolor brushes but the ones for acrylic paint- a mystery to be solved.

I cleared out a shelf in the hall closet--where we keep coats etc.... Art Supplies...lots of really nice things. so I took some of them out...now to find a new closet to use as a storage area.   So I can USE them. SEE them. REMEMBER I own them.   The order should be Remember, Find, See.. Use...... Really nice stuff.

Listened to PBS- Opera..very dramatic and open air and raining. Pavarotti......various important singers sang... ...I recorded it so I could fast forward thru the talking parts where they ask for money.  I have at least one of his CD's with Rigoletto, La Traviata, and La Boheme.....to listen to.   I might have a second CD.  It was very very nice to just sit and listen and watch it rain.  As I said- I recorded it...so will watch and listen again as soon as I finish my book.... Katherine Center's How to Walk Away.  I've read it several times already in the past few years.

Perhaps daughter can find the Trade Paper copy for me.  Well, I have things to do...sort, wash, dry, put away.  And my coffee to reheat.....drink......finish the book. Sun is NOT shining here in Maine.  

Daily Notes- Yesterday daughter took me to the Library and I walked around in the stacks...

Charlie Moon again.

Walking in the stacks these days...at the Library.... isn't much fun.  And the new book section is VERY thin on books.  I took home a few oldies.  Books I have read before.  I am not feeling enthusiastic about the books I checked out.  I might just read an old cowboy romance by Johanna Lindsey.  From my bookcase.  Or A Knight In Shining Armor...time travel.

The books I refer to were on the Library Discard Trolley years ago.... outside in front of the Library entrance- free books the library no longer wanted....most of my home bookcase of hard covers are from the Library Discard Trolley.  Later they just lined them up on the window sill in the entrance foyer. And then on the lowest, closest to the floor shelf also in the entrance foyer.  Leaning over at 80-- one could tip over and smash one's head in. 

 Reading has become less of a pleasure as my eyes get old, dry and tired. But I keep trying...I keep reading until I have to stop and rest my eyes. Add drops. And watch British Soccer or Law and Order.  Or just sit on the couch with my eyes closed doing absolutely nothing.  Not even sleeping.

Well, today is just getting started and I am already losing interest. I did have a shower and washed my hair...letting it dry itself into whatever waves and curls it wants.  There is an interesting wave dipping past my eyebrow on the right side.  Eventually I will gather it up on top of my head.

I sorted "same family" colored scrap cloth here to my left into sandwich bags.....in case I decide to make something- A SQUARE is what I usually make....Sort of potholder sized....I always hope that I will persevere and make nine.  A larger square.......I don't.  

I ran out of the fabric scraps in  color families here on the ottoman.....I do have quite a bit of  black and white prints......way more than a sandwich bag's worth....that could entertain me today.  Notice I am saying scraps....I have LOADS of folded yardage in EVERY Color and Print....no shortage of fabric....just that right now I am more comfortable with scraps.  And no need for the rotary cutter and the ruler.  Dangerous. I try and stay away from the cutting table....though I do enjoy cutting strips.  I'm 80. Need finger tips.

One of the Amaryllis Bulbs my neighbor Peggy gave Son and I two or three years ago has two flower buds just emerging from the covering leaves.... looks like a very dark red.  Or dark pink.....the other is still stalled out with a small fresh tip of something emerging.  I didn't see anything I liked in the floral department of the grocery...mostly bouquets.  Husband would buy those for me...I have never bought  one for myself.  I tend to like things that I can "keep"....not watch fade and dry up.

 

Daily Notes for Monday, March 9th. Sunshine and 61 but everything covered in 3 feet of snow.

 This is titled the Orange Vase.  Weird.

I have this urge to paint or color or draw....ART....and no idea of what... the library visit was too early.. They are NOT ready to add the 4 digit code to my Library Card. (yet).....the program that it needs hasn't arrived or been installed or tested as yet.  Wow.  The target start up date was ...as the librarian put it- "just a suggestion".   I used the steps up and the elevator down.

Public TV had Sense and Sensibility on last night....also on another date- (which I set the TiVo to record). I like S&S much better than Pride Etc.   The camera work is very old style......close ups of faces expressing emotions etc.   There was the usual "begging" for cash that Public TV does.  It's pretty much all the time now.

So...60 degrees....NICE...very very nice.  It will take the 2 to 3 feet deep piles of snow (turning to ice) some time to melt.  Overnight..the melt will freeze if temps get low...it is Maine.

I have books to order....hopefully something interest will happen by tomorrow- or not.