Don decided that his glass paperweight needed to be a part of this grouping.

I’m okay with it.

Oh, friends, I don’t have much to share these days. I find myself without a whole lot of energy or things to talk about. Winter is always tough for me, but when you add in the pandemic and being homebound…well, I’ll admit it. It’s getting to me.

We aren’t going inside stores now. It’s just too dangerous as the numbers spike and we learn of troublesome variants. We’re unable to get the vaccine at the moment. There just isn’t enough of it around here and people who are at high risk are the priority. So we have no idea when we’ll have the opportunity to be vaccinated.

And, starting this afternoon, we’re headed into a deep freeze for the next three days, with temps in the single digits and wind chills sending them into below zero territory. It’s going to be extremely cold and windy this weekend. More snow coming on Monday and Tuesday in the form of a winter storm.

Both Don and I are having a hard time at the moment, though our nature is to be positive, so I’m sure we’ll get there eventually.

The sun is shining, so that’s a positive.

Anyway, we’re fine. We know exactly what to do to change our collective mood. But I also believe in letting myself feel what I’m feeling. It’s real and totally understandable given our situation.

I’m going to force myself to do a little work on the dollhouse this morning, right after I finish this post. But first, some oatmeal.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

From yesterday morning. The sunlight and shadow on the pew was so lovely.

Very, very, very cold here today and it looks like it will be that way throughout the week. As so often happens in really cold weather – at least here – the sun is shining brightly. We may not want to be outside, but we do have sunny skies.

I’m trying my best to stay away from the news, only checking in once a day. I need to let go for a while. I imagine we all feel that way. I need calm. A good and incredibly competent man is now at the helm and I trust him. Isn’t that refreshing? It’s been hard for me to read for any length of time, though I have been. But I want to return to big chunks of time spent reading. Today, as I sit here, the sun is bathing the kitchen with its warmth and Don is upstairs getting ready to record a song. A good Sunday.

We’ve officially named the former office/studio The Studio. That’s really what it is now. I work on my miniatures. Don records his songs. It’s our creative space. Don also records downstairs in the living room. His recording studio is nicely portable. We start each day checking in on who needs the studio that day and when. All good.

I’m still reading Cruel Acts  by Jane Casey. Once I’ve finished, I’ll start Winter Solstice. We’re watching a great series on Netflix, Call My Agent. It’s from France so there are subtitles, but it’s wonderfully done. Rick and Doug recommended it to us.

Today? I’m not sure. Reading. Watering the houseplants. Washing the sheets. Dusting.

I hope everyone is feeling some peace this week. You deserve it.

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

I slept well last night. I even slept in.

That’s what happens when goodness, competence, compassion, integrity, and honor come back to the White House.

What an extraordinary day.

We were glued to the television for the whole thing, only taking a break for a bit in the afternoon. I’m too overwhelmed with joy and peace this morning to address everything I loved about the inauguration. I can’t get my brain around it all and I’m in a blissful state this morning that doesn’t include a lot of clarity, just happiness.

I will say that I am so grateful that the Arts are back in the White House. The brilliant young poet Amanda Gorman knocked my socks off. She is a national treasure. The previous occupant of the White House didn’t read, didn’t listen to music, didn’t care about music, dance, theater, film, poetry. He was bereft of joy. To engage with the Arts, you have to be willing to be transported, to be challenged, to think, to ponder, to transform, to expand. Thankfully, the Biden White House has restored what was missing.

I’ve spent my entire life in the Arts. I grew up around artists who were expansive and smart and witty and willing to learn. My life has been blessed by my relationships forged from the community of theater artists, as has Don’s. We miss that right now, of course, as there is no work for us. But we are buoyed by our memories of the joy that comes from working together to create something. Those fellow artists become family and remain so long after we’ve parted ways. We have been talking about this very thing lately – how fortunate we are to have known and worked extraordinary artists, and how much we miss working in a collaborative and exciting way.

It’s enormously important to have validation of the Arts coming from the White House. Especially now, when so many are out of work.

That’s what struck me this morning.

So many wrongs that are already being addressed via Executive Order. Thank God.

For now, for today, I just want to bask in the glow of yesterday. I bet you do, too.

It finally happened. The despot is gone. Long live decency.

Here’s a puzzle update. I should finish it today.

Enjoy this day, my friends. We’re in good hands.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.