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You are here: Home / life / Blooms and Puzzles

Blooms and Puzzles

November 15, 2025 at 8:56 am by Claudia

This will be brief because I don’t have a lot to say today!

Thanks so much for all your comments yesterday. I promise to respond to them this morning. Yesterday was rather busy and I didn’t have the time to reply.

I’ve had this geranium for years. I keep it on the porch during spring and summer and move it to the living room over the winter. But, it actually does better indoors. Within a week of bringing it back inside it bloomed. So, my sweet little geranium, you are now an official indoor plant. (It took me way too long to figure this out!)

I’ve started on my puzzle. I took a big break from working on puzzles; not deliberately, but because I was busy doing other things. But, because of that break, I realize how much I missed the calm I feel when I’m solving a puzzle – jigsaw or crossword, by the way. I’ll be working on it later this morning.

Side note from yesterday: I was deliberately doing something silly yesterday and Don said “I have the weirdest wife!”

This was a compliment, by the way.  There is a definite strain of weird in my personality.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

 

Filed Under: life 18 Comments

Comments

  1. kathy in iowa says

    November 15, 2025 at 10:06 am

    i’m happy for you and don, and the geranium. :)

    glad you’re experiencing more calmness for working on puzzles. i enjoy puzzles, too … jigsaw, crossword, jumbles, what i think were once called pub-puzzles, all kinds. here’s something related and “weird” about me: as a kid (maybe i was eight?), i finally figured out a physical puzzle, fitting various hard plastic shapes into an arrow-shaped container (that would hold those pieces). and i was so proud of myself that i documented it like it was historic … after taping the puzzle pieces in place, i signed the masking tape and put the date *and the time* of completion on it, too. and i think it’s probably in one of my boxes in the basement. haha. i sure don’t need any more hobbies, but i might have to get another puzzle like that for relaxation, to let my mind wander.

    was fun reading about people’s Christmas tree/decoration traditions (thanks for asking and sharing). in 45 minutes, i’ll go over to church and pick up four wreaths for my brother and sister-in-law, two nieces, and for here … a tradition that goes back more than thirty years. :)

    for now, a handful of walnuts and a little bit of knitting.

    hope you, don and everyone else have a wonderful weekend (hoping our record-setting 74-degree weather from yesterday reaches you soon). stay safe in every way.

    kathy

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      November 15, 2025 at 2:14 pm

      I don’t see any predictions for that warm a temperature, Kathy.

      I love your story. It is charming and darned adorable.

      Stay safe.

      Reply
  2. Jenny says

    November 15, 2025 at 10:17 am

    Hi Claudia, I hope you’re doing well! As far as the whole real/artificial tree decision goes, I wanted to direct your attention to a charming vlog I watch on YouTube. It’s called “Slow Life Stories – Claudia.” (Her name is Claudia, too.) About a year ago, she posted a beautiful Christmas vlog and gave reasons why buying a real tree is a responsible choice. (This takes place within the first five minutes of the vlog.) It’s really worth a watch if you have the time!
    The title of the specific vlog is “Welcoming DECEMBER | Nostalgic Vibes | Christmas Decorating | Birthday | Bethlehem & Jim Thorpe, PA” and it’s from 11 months ago, according to YouTube.
    I don’t comment a lot, but I love your posts and continue to keep up with you, Don, and your lovely home and hobbies. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      November 15, 2025 at 2:10 pm

      Thank you, Jenny! I will definitely look for it!

      Thanks for being here. Stay safe.

      Reply
  3. Donnamae says

    November 15, 2025 at 10:51 am

    Never thought of a geranium as a houseplant. Kudos to you.

    You can’t leave us hanging like that. Curious to know what made you weird lol?

    Enjoy your day…weird or not! ;)

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      November 15, 2025 at 2:09 pm

      There’s no way I could describe it that would make sense. A little dance and silly faces.

      Stay safe, Donnamae.

      Reply
  4. Wendy T says

    November 15, 2025 at 12:24 pm

    I enjoy “weird” people! My daughters and I feel we’re in the category of “weird”. When one began a relationship, she admonished her sister and me to “ease him into the weird”. Little did she know that he belongs in the same category! We didn’t have to do any easing at all.

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      November 15, 2025 at 2:08 pm

      I love that quote! Perfect!

      Thanks so much, Wendy.

      Stay safe.

      Reply
  5. Elaine (in Toronto) says

    November 16, 2025 at 12:54 am

    Weird is good! My grandmother always had a potted red geranium on her kitchen window sill. She had a green thumb and it always thrived and always in bloom. Enjoy your Sunday. Keep jigsawing! Hugs, Elaine

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      November 17, 2025 at 8:35 am

      Thanks so much, Elaine!

      Stay safe.

      Reply
  6. jeanie says

    November 16, 2025 at 7:28 am

    we all need calm these days. Can’t wait to see how the puzzle goes. My geraniums are inside now too. Two are doing great, two are struggling but hanging in there. Hopefully I can winter them.

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      November 17, 2025 at 8:36 am

      They’re pretty hardy. This ragtag geranium I have has hung in there for, gosh, at least 7 or 8 years.

      Stay safe, Jeanie.

      Reply
  7. Ellen D. says

    November 16, 2025 at 9:27 am

    You inspired me to pick up a puzzle at a sale yesterday – an advent calendar puzzle – a small puzzle for each day in December leading up to Christmas. They will all fit together to make a large puzzle of vintage Christmas card images. Something to start on December 1st!
    thanks, Claudia!

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      November 17, 2025 at 8:37 am

      What a neat idea! Have fun, Ellen.

      Stay safe.

      Reply
  8. kaye says

    November 16, 2025 at 5:02 pm

    I had to get a new computer so I have been off line. Crazy, plus prices have gone up so much because of the puke who is in what is left of the Whitehouse. I hope the end is near. I read something the other day how the USA has been through so many crisis events and survived but it took one puke to bring the country to its knees. (puke my work, they said the name)
    Take Care,
    Kaye

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      November 17, 2025 at 8:37 am

      “Puke” is appropriate, Kaye.

      Stay safe.

      Reply
  9. Deb says

    November 16, 2025 at 8:59 pm

    We are supposed to get days of rain so I was waiting for it to start so I felt more like decorating. It didn’t start yet but I did start decorating. I put up a small village that I have collected over the years. I was exhausted from just doing that! I also hurt my back somehow months ago and it was so painful this morning. I really need to get into the doctor to look at what I did. At this age it doesn’t need to be much! I have been lifting Gracie to get up on our bed since she can’t do it herself anymore so that is not helping it. Bill put the tree up, our fake one. I still have to decorate. I am not one for new technology but I do like that I can change it to the color I want, either multi color or clear, twinkling or not, kind of cool depending on my mood. Glad you got a puzzle because I think you are going to need it. The orange man is going down!
    Take care!

    Reply
    • Claudia says

      November 17, 2025 at 8:38 am

      He is. It’s just a matter of how much time it takes, Deb.

      Take care of your back – believe me, I understand and sympathize with back problems!

      Stay safe.

      Reply
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Welcome!

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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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