“Day Seventy-Three” also means seventy-three days without a speck of makeup. Normally, I only wear makeup these days when I’m going out to see friends or work and sometimes when I go out shopping. Since I’m not doing any of these things nowadays and when I shop, I have a mask on – no makeup required.
I took this just after the rain ended on Saturday. It’s so green out there!
Much more work has been done on the puzzle:
As you can see, I’m in the final stretch. This part is the most difficult because it consists of blobs of paint indicating the stones/cobblestones/tiles. Don said to me yesterday “You’ll get it.” And I will. I have another one ready to start after I finish the Van Gogh.
You might remember me saying I went to the post office the other day. I went there to pick up two packages that were waiting for me. They had been sitting there for a while but I’m sure you understand that our very small post office is not conducive to crowd control. Anyway, I waited until yesterday to open them.
The white boxes are furniture kits from the now-defunct House of Miniatures. I have several of these and I can always use more. Plus, there are a few that I’ve not seen before. These are a generous gift from a reader of the blog, Anne. Thank you so, so much, Anne! They will be put to good use.
On the bottom are five 1000-piece puzzles, courtesy of reader Terri. Having already put these together, she asked if I would like her to pass them on to me! YES! Several of them are book covers – for Pulitzer Prize winners, children’s books, C.S. Lewis, etc. That makes me happy! And the other is a New Yorker cover about books. I now have six puzzles at the ready. Thank you so much, Terri. As I wrote her this morning, she’s helping maintain my sanity!
As always, I am humbled by the generosity of my readers. Thank you for being there for me. It means more than I can say.
Today we celebrate Memorial Day; which, to my mind, should be a somewhat solemn occasion. After all, we’re honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice for this country – which serves as a stark contrast to the pictures I’ve seen of people partying on barges and at the beach with no social distance whatsoever. Sacrifice? They don’t seem to understand the meaning of that word. Coupled with the contrast of yesterday’s front page of The New York Times, listing many of the names of those who have lost their lives in the pandemic, while That Man golfed and once again, expressed no regret or sadness or one iota of compassion, it is a sad day indeed.
I hope you find some peace and beauty today.
Stay safe.
Happy Monday.
Agree completely!
Thank you, Mel. Stay safe.
It’s also a holiday today in the UK but for a different reason. It’s called Late Spring Bank Holiday, many years ago it was called Whitsuntide which tied in with the Church calendar.
The New Yorker jigsaw that Terri has sent to you is the same one I completed a few weeks ago, what a coincidence! It’s blobs of colour rather than a defined object but looks great from a distance.
Happy Monday
Once again, I rarely comment but I do read your blog everyday. My brother was a Veteran and he died yesterday from Covid-19. This virus is VERY real to me. We’re sure he caught it in the Care facility where he was sent after a short hospitalization for a pacemaker adjustment. He was gone just 4 days after diagnoses. He didn’t even show any symptoms until Friday and he died early Sunday. I hate this virus.
Blessings,
Betsy
Prayers for you and your family. I keep saying once we have it in our families, we take things so seriously. prayers prayers
So sorry for your loss Betsy! May your brother rest in peace. Offering prayers for you and your family.
Oh, Betsy, I am so very sorry. May you find some comfort in the memories of your brother.
Peace,
Carolyn
Oh Betsy. I am so very sorry. How heartbreaking! I don’t blame you for hating this virus. It took a loved one. I’m sending you my love and my prayers for peace in the face of this devastating loss.
I’m so sorry for your loss Betsey. Keeping you in my prayers.
So very sorry for your loss, Betsy. You have many thoughts and prayers being sent to you and your family.
oh, dear …
betsy, i am so sorry for the loss of your brother. i hope you find peace because he has peace. i hope you find comfort in memories of happy times spent with your brother and in God’s promise of eternal life and can look forward to a happy reunion someday.
i will add you, your brother and the rest of your family to prayers.
with condolences,
kathy in iowa
Oh Betsy…I am so sorry to hear of your loss. My heart goes out to you at this most difficult time. Sending virtual hugs your way. Take care. ;)
I am sorry for your loss, Betsy. I hope memories of happier times will bring comfort to you and your family. Stay safe.
I am so sorry to hear about your brother Betsy
Thinking of you
Siobhan
I was so sorry to read of your brother’s passing. I hate this virus too! I wish you peace and comfort.
Judy
So sorry for your loss. Prayers for peace going forward.
I’m so sorry, Betsy. I wish peace and healing for all of your family. I hope you have many lovely memories of your brother to keep his memory alive.
I hate how much Covid19 has stolen from all of us. I’m sure taking it seriously.
Blessings. And stay safe, yourself.
I love this blog because you are so pragmatic. You are amazing. Love the puzzles.
Thank you, Brenda. Stay safe!
All you said. yes. It is so very sad.
I think so many people get the patriotic holidays confused. You are right. Memorial Day is a somber day for all of those who have died in service. Not quite certain what the fools are “celebrating” in the news features we have seen??? Unreal.
You have some wonderful followers, Claudia, but, of course you know that! They are generous in thought, word, and deed. Amazing!!
I think a lot of people have completely forgotten the reason for the day. It’s an excuse to have a party or fireworks or barbecue, none of which is bad, but none of it – save maybe the fireworks – are appropriate for the day.
I have the best followers!
Stay safe, Chris.
hej, claudia …
what perfect happy mail for you! i am sure you will enjoy it all.
i am guessing by this time of day that you’ve finished the van gogh puzzle. if so or if not, it is beautiful!
so is your lawn and the photo of it. you and don should feel rightfully proud … your hard work has paid off!
agree 100% about the importance of memorial day, the disrespect too many people show by treating this day as only a reason to party and by not keeping a safer social distance ….
i’ve been able to talk (by phone, of course) with members of my family, saw new photos of some of them … including my now seven-weeks-old great-nephew. that helps. my brother and sister-in-law have only been able to see him from a very safe distance, but we pray that (like chris k in wisconsin and her little princess) they’ll be able to hold all four of their grandchildren soon, that we can all get together and hug.
enjoying some off-and-on rain showers today. wish it was more “on” (we need more, plus i love it), but will enjoy what we do get.
hope you all are safe, well.
kathy in iowa
How are you feeling, Kathy? Are you still running a temperature?
xo
it’s been lower for about 48 hours, but still a fever. headache still there, too, but also lessened some and i am very grateful about that. still can’t smell dill pickles. will call my doctor with an update tomorrow. all in all, today’s been much better than last week and i thank God for that. and i pray for people who have it so much worse … who have lost loved ones, jobs, maybe their homes ….
thanks for asking, claudia.
you and don feeling well? hope you two and everyone else are! stay safe!
kathy in iowa
kathy, I am so glad to hear once again that the fever and the headache are declining for you. I hope your brother and SIL will soon hold that baby in their arms. Being new parents and new grandparents during this time has certainly been challenging and quite sad. We won’t get these weeks / months back. None of us will. It has been so hard. We continue to stay home, do grocery pick-up, run groceries for hubs 86 yr old sister, and mask up when we go out. Pretty much what you have been doing, but you had work added in there. Too many people are listening to the idiots who seem to think this is all over now. Unreal. Keep on, kathy. Thoughts & prayers winging their way from Wisconsin!!
It’s good to hear that you’re on the mend, slowly perhaps, but at least on the upswing. Talking with family cheers me up too! Stay the course and be well.
Good news. I know it’s slow going, but I’m glad to hear there is, at least, a lessening of the intensity. We are fine. Thinking of you, my friend.
So sorry for your loss Betsy. Thank You for your brother’s service to his country. May he rest in peace.
Marilyn
Another spectacular day here in SE WI. Memorial Day is so full of memories for me growing up in the fifties and sixties. My dad (A WWII Air Force vet) was very active in the Legion and always in charge Memorial Day ceremonies at the cemetery in my little hometown. My brothers and I put flags on graves and later I marched in the band in the parade to the cemetery. The day was all about the remembering of their sacrifices and not so much about bar-b-ques and what’s on sale.
I chuckled at your “no makeup” comment. I was just telling someone yesterday I haven’t opened my makeup drawer in 3 months. This is the longest I’ve gone without at least mascara my entire adult life.
These are the days we dreamed about all winter. Enjoy your beautiful porch. Hey, have you ever thought of putting a table out there for your puzzles?
Take care.
Kay
I don’t think I’d do that. Too many things blowing in the breeze, ants, etc. Yay to no make-up!
Stay safe, Kay.
Gorgeous photo of your yard! The sun was just right to make the greens shimmer! The packages from readers show just how much you touch people. I’ve never made a big fuss about make up and hair–my hair is fine and wavy and will do what it wants despite years of different stylists, products, and more hair spray than I want to admit. It always went flat and limp. Now I hope that this masked avenger trend sticks around (not hoping that people are ill) because it’s been so freeing–I don’t mess with my hair cuz my mask messes it up, most of my face is covered by fabric, and I wear glasses all the time. Just get up and shower and go! Of course, there’s really no where to go LOL but nevertheless I’ve saved 20 minutes to spend on books, youtube, or listening to oldies with my cats. In some ways, these last few months have shown us how very little we need to be happy, and most of it was was invented more than 50 years ago! Stay safe.
Exactly! Good point, Nora! I concur. Stay safe.
I can relate to the make–up!
Lovely gifts and fun packages too. I think you have hours (and hours and hours!) of enjoyment on the way.
Memorial Day — so many contrasts. Some profoundly sad. I hope yours was peaceful. I have lots to say. I won’t.
Thanks, Jeanie. Stay safe.