jigsaw puzzles — Page 21

Sunday Update

February 27, 2022 at 9:08 am by Claudia

Thanks for your well wishes for Don. He is in pain, but he’s sure he didn’t break anything. If this goes on much longer, he’ll have it checked out. We’ve been icing, etc. I’m taking care of him. But keep him in your prayers, okay?

I went over to our neighbors’ property yesterday to try to shovel their driveway. Unfortunately, the snow is like a block of ice, so I had to chop at it with the shovel and then clear some of it in layers as best I could. They have a long curved driveway. Sadly, I didn’t get too far. It was too hard on my back and my neck. I managed to clear enough so they could at least pull in off the road.

Then I texted Laura and explained what was going on – Don’s injury, my back – and she immediately responded with sympathy and a “Don’t worry! We’ll take care of it!” We have good neighbors.

I finished this yesterday. It was extremely difficult and a real challenge. I loved it. This isn’t the best photo, but it’s beautifully designed.

And, amazingly, a Blythe outfit that went missing in the post arrived yesterday. It came from Russia and arrived in the US in November, where it sat on a barge for a long time and we gave up hope. Then it showed up in Chicago, where it also sat for almost 2 months. But it dropped off the radar again, so Olga refunded my money. This past week, she wrote me saying it looked like it had resurfaced again. Go figure! This time, the delay had nothing to do with Russia but with the USPS. It took 103 days to get here.

Maeve is today’s model:

This is as close to a cat as Maeve will get since Mom is allergic. Olga – pippydolls on IG – makes beautiful clothes. And she has been such a great communicator during all of this. We became friends.

Today, we’re laying low here at the cottage. With all the melting and then temps plunging down to single digits at night, it’s slippery out there. But it’s going to reach 45 today, so once that happens, I’ll venture out to put out the trash, etc. I won’t let Don do it.

The egg cups arrived safe and sound. Country Living did a great job of packing and protecting them. They’re back home in the cubby and on the shelves.

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

Two-Two-Two-Two

February 22, 2022 at 9:35 am by Claudia

Finished.

I started a new one, but didn’t get very far! The border is all in the same pattern and it’s hard to figure out what piece goes where. It’s a handful.

This morning, I heard several different birds singing in the vicinity of the porch. It’s so heartening to hear birdsong at this point in the winter. I heard the Carolina Wren singing before I opened the blinds and I couldn’t find it anywhere on the porch. Later, I heard it again and I peeked through the blinds that face the big maple tree and there were two Carolina Wrens going in the the trailer/nest! Whoo hoo! They’re definitely checking out available real estate. I ran to tell Don and then I looked out at the trailer from the living room, but they’d disappeared.

I wonder if they’re completely different birds than the couple who inhabited the nest last year? Or are they the same mom and pop?

Even though it’s winter, they clearly know something is about to change.

That being said, we’re due for 5 – 8 inches of snow on Friday and I can’t tell you how depressed that makes me. My only comfort is that it will melt during the following week. But it will take a while and right now we have no snow on the ground. Dang it!

Don has started a YouTube channel where he does what he calls his ‘Car Concerts.’ So far he’s posted five songs and I think he’ll post another five today. He used to post them on Facebook, but he likes this idea better. If you’re interested in hearing my talented husband sing some of his songs, you can find him here. (He likes the acoustics of the car.)

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

Puzzling and Reading

February 19, 2022 at 9:33 am by Claudia

The World of Dracula puzzle in progress. I did some work on it yesterday, while sitting on a big fat cushion. These are such fun puzzles – they come with a large photo of the completed puzzle and on the back there is a key to all the characters; who they are and where they occur in the novel. The same thing with the Shakespeare, Dickens, and Austen puzzles. They’re really beautifully made. Next up will be World Mythology. I think I’ll have worked through all of them when I finish that one.

I’m also just about to finish Slow Horses by Mick Herron. What a fantastic novel – Herron writes about the world of spies; MI5, etc., but with a decidedly modern spin and more than a touch of humor and cynicism. I caved and ordered the next one in the series, because once I find a series that’s already been published in paperback, I’m all in. I noticed that there’s a new television series based on Slow Horses – I think it might be airing on Apple TV? But I won’t watch it. You know my rule: Once I have the characters fully created in my imagination, I won’t watch anything that might mess with that – including the future Louise Penny series. Nope. I’m very protective of the inner world that a good novel/series can create in my mind. Anyway, I recommend Slow Horses. It’s so well written. I like the way Herron’s mind works.

What else? More wind today. Sigh. Maybe some snow next Saturday. Right now, all of the snow has melted around here and, in my mind, that means that no more snow should fall.

Even though it’s only February.

But Mother Nature doesn’t care about my demands and doesn’t care if I’m getting itchy for Spring.

We’ll miss the Olympics but we’re also ready to get back on a regular schedule. We’ve been staying up late quite often to watch the results.

Okay my friends. I have to answer your comments from yesterday.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Sunday Update

Two-Two-Two-Two

Puzzling and Reading

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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