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Flowers, Puzzles, And Some Thoughts

July 13, 2022 at 8:29 am by Claudia

These day lilies just started opening. There would have been ten times more of them but the deer ate the buds before I could spray them. Still, I’m grateful that at least some of them survived.

After all the dire severe thunderstorm warnings and radar pictures that looked increasingly ominous throughout the day, we didn’t get a single drop of rain. And we really need some! This morning was foggy and beautiful and a bunny has been chomping on clover just outside the kitchen door.

The finished Alice’s Wonderland puzzle. I really loved this one. It was a little less complicated than normal because of the way it is designed. Everyone is there; the Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat, Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee, the March Hare, the Mad Hatter. It’s beautifully illustrated.

The puzzles I’ve been working on this year are published by Lawrence King. You can find them on Amazon by searching for his name. I’m a big fan.

Don and I have had several conversations lately about how exhausted we feel. He was speaking to some friends who also feel exhausted. Now, I have terrible allergies and that doesn’t help, but it’s more than that. We both nap in the afternoon lately – something I never did until now. And we’re not sick. We even did a self-test for Covid. Negative.

We think this has to do with everything we’ve been through, and are still going through, over the past 6 years. Trump, a pandemic, mass shootings, the assault on our democracy, a whole chunk of our population believing in conspiracy theories, the war in Ukraine, the loss of Roe v. Wade, a corrupt Supreme Court which has been bought and paid for – I could go on and on. Every day brings some new atrocity or assault. It’s never ending. More strains of Covid to worry about. Our lives have changed dramatically and we fight to keep some semblance of normalcy. But that requires – at least for us – deliberately shutting out the world.  And we cannot do that all of the time. Nor should we.

I think we are suffering from a collective depression and exhaustion. I usually have a ‘can do’ kind of attitude, but some days it’s hard to summon up that energy.

There’s no answer but to do what we are already doing; find time to escape, meditate, spend time in the outdoors, work on things that bring us joy.

Just some thoughts this morning.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

 

Filed Under: flowers, garden, jigsaw puzzles, life 44 Comments

Puzzles, Olivia, & The Hearing

July 12, 2022 at 9:21 am by Claudia

Having so much fun with this one: Alice’s Wonderland. It’s made by the same company that does all of the “World of…” puzzles. They’re always beautifully illustrated and the quality of the pieces is excellent. I may finish today, but then again, with the hearing this afternoon, I may not.

Don’s eye doctor had delayed his original appointment because he was going to be on vacation. It had been rescheduled for the end of this month, but his eye was beginning to bother him, so he called yesterday morning and got an appointment for the afternoon. This time, I drove. I’m glad he got in the same day he called. All is well.

We’re due for some storms this afternoon. “Potentially severe.” Just don’t knock our power out when the hearings are on.

I felt the need to dress a doll this morning. It was Livvy’s turn. (I do keep track of these things.)

I call this “Olivia and the Flowers.”

She really is my comfort doll. I’ve decided that she’ll be by my side today. She can help me with the puzzle.

Just looked at the radar for this afternoon. It looks a bit ominous.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

Filed Under: Blythe dolls, January 6th Committee, jigsaw puzzles, livvy 21 Comments

Flowers and Renewal

July 11, 2022 at 8:38 am by Claudia

The miracle hydrangeas, back from the dead!

I spent hours cutting back most of the dead wood, spurred on by the appearance of tiny little shoots coming out of the ground. I think that I’ve checked on them just about every day since then. And look! They’re tall and the flowers are far bigger than they were in the past. One bloom is over 10 inches across.

I’m so thrilled by this. Thanks to those of you who told me not to give up. I was ready to write it off. Boy, do I need this, to see renewal and regrowth out of seemingly nothing. It’s also so much healthier.

As we were leaving for the grocery store yesterday, I saw this great spangled frittilary on one of the coneflowers. (My favorite butterfly name.)

Just about to fully open.

It’s spectacularly beautiful out there. After an incredibly rainy spring, we’re in our first stretch of several days with no rain. We may get some storms tomorrow. I’ve noticed that both of our rivers are low. It happens every summer.

I started the new puzzle and worked on it quite a bit yesterday as I stayed true to our “Day of Rest” Sunday. The only thing I did outdoors was to get in the car to go to the grocery store with Don, and water all of my plants. The rest of the time was spent quietly.

I even slept in a bit this morning.

FYI, the starting time of the  January 6th Committee hearing tomorrow has been changed to 1 pm EST.

Can’t wait!

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

 

Filed Under: flowers, garden 25 Comments

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Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

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