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You are here: Home / Archives for jigsaw puzzles

Catalpa Blossoms and a Puzzle

June 7, 2024 at 8:09 am by Claudia

We had a huge storm yesterday afternoon, which sent some of these blooms down to the ground, but thankfully, there are still lots of flowers on the catalpa tree.

What a wild storm – rain and wind and a crazy intensity. It lasted about 30 minutes.

Here’s Maeve examining a catalpa blossom. She was quite taken by the size of the flowers.

I finished the puzzle:

It’s another Mucha and it’s called Reverie (Dream.)

I have run out of Mucha puzzles as I’ve done all of them, Sigh. So I ordered a Klimt and that should be arriving today.

We are now attempting to live without a microwave. I’ve never cared for the look of them and we were using the smallest and least instrusive one we could find, but it started to rust inside and then it misbehaved and smelled funny and we felt it was no longer safe. We really only use it rewarm coffee and make oatmeal, both of which we can do with Stella, so we added it to our pile of crap that needs to go to the bigger dump in the next town and we are now microwave-free. And we have more counter space, which we love.

I’m headed into the last section of The English Girl. by Daniel Silva. I’m not sure what I’ll read next. I have three books on hold in our library system that are being released this month but it usually takes a while to get them.

After so much groundhog activity last summer – remember all of the babies? – we have seen one groundhog a few times. Once, near the house, and once by the shed. And another time scampering across the back forty. That’s it. Maybe they had enough of life on this property and needed to move elsewhere. We do see bunnies and birds and chipmunks – and deer, of course. I loved those groundhog babies, but wrangling them all day long was a bit of a pain.

Okay.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Filed Under: Blythe dolls, flowers, jigsaw puzzles 12 Comments

Life, Lately

May 29, 2024 at 9:39 am by Claudia

It’s been just plain crazy around here over the past few weeks. An ant invasion, poison ivy, my hand injury and now, 1) Don’s shoulder is bothering him and very painful, so I’m doing my best to help him out, 2) after bringing home his car and using it over the weekend for 2 gigs, one of which was many miles away, with no trouble at all, the drive indicator is blinking, indicating trouble with the transmission or problems with the computer, 3) the internet has been out off and on all morning, so I’m going to try to grab some ‘on’ time to post this, 4) in the next week, I have to pay the fee to keep this blog going for one more year, and it’s higher than ever.

We have put out a lot of money for car repairs lately and we don’t have much more money on hand. So, we’re praying and trying to stay positive. But it isn’t always easy. Yesterday I was in a panic mode. Today, I’m calmer.

But I’m definitely feeling overwhelmed.

The clematis blooms, which normally face the street, are showing themselves on the porch, as well. I love that. A little peek-a-boo surprise.

Another Mucha puzzle completed. I worked a lot on it yesterday because I was trying to keep my worry from taking over, so I gave myself a task. If you don’t know French, these are the names for the seasons: winter, spring, summer, and autumn.

No puzzles on tap at the moment.

Mabel on the porch. I wasn’t connecting with her lately and I realized it was because the dress she was wearing didn’t work for her. So I changed the dress and she’s looking sassy again.

I’ve finished the latest Anthony Horowitz and now I’m reading The English Girl  by Daniel Silva, which I suspect I may have already read. We’ll see. If I have, I’ll still finish it, but I’ll also know that I’m all caught up. He has a new book in this series coming out this summer. I really enjoy the Anthony Horowitz mysteries, however, they’re so cleverly conceived that I sometimes feel distanced from the story, if that makes sense. That’s okay. I admire his skill and his ability to juggle a complex plot.

As far as what I have on my hold list at the library; the newest Sarah Perry, Enlightenment, which comes out in June, the newest James Lee Burke, Clete, which also comes out in June, and then the newest Silva, A Death in Cornwall, which will be published in July. I’ve got to pad that list even more by researching upcoming new books by favorite authors. Never want to run out of reading material!

Maybe it’s time to get out the oil paints?

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

 

Filed Under: Blythe dolls, books, jigsaw puzzles, reading 34 Comments

Puzzle Solving and Some Critters

May 13, 2024 at 8:54 am by Claudia

Finished puzzle:

By the artist Alphonse Mucha – “Zodiac.” I love, love his work and it was a joy to solve this puzzle.

Entirely with my left hand, by the way!

It’s getting much better.

It was both a rainy and a sunny weekend. Don mowed on Saturday and I did some pruning and weeding outside. Yesterday, it rained. Today is going to be sunny and then more rain for Tuesday and Wednesday. Wednesday is the day we go into the city to see the play. Fortunately, the theater is only a few blocks from the bus terminal – that works out well!

Over the weekend, we observed this year’s bunnies, a groundhog, a deer on the front lawn, lots of birds, and two beautiful mourning doves who stopped for a while on the birdbath. Oh, and a squirrel drinking out of the birdbath, which I’ve now seen three times this spring. I’ve never witnessed that before in all the years we’ve lived here. Is it the same squirrel every time?

And robins are building a nest in the burning bush. They built one there last year, as well. Welcome, little robins! I suppose I will be scolded every time I try to weed the big garden bed. Oh, boy.

I finished the book I was reading, so we stopped at the library to pick up the two books that I had on hold. They are The Instruments of Darkness  by John Connolly (a favorite author) and Close to Death  by Anthony Horowitz, another favorite author. I’ve already started the Connolly. Connolly writes detective novels unlike any others I know of, as they  have a supernatural element, as well.

Just saw a chipmunk on the porch railing, chowing down on some sort of snack. Adorable.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Filed Under: jigsaw puzzles 17 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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