There are little snow showers going on now. Very pretty! We scanned the weather forecast this morning and were alarmed to see a prediction for 5 – 8 inches of snow on Tuesday.
Ummm…no thank you. That would put us close to a total of 40 inches on the ground. I’m hoping this ominous forecast changes.
I filled in the proscenium arch and the boxes on either side yesterday. I’m quite pleased. The red stage curtain is next and that will be a bit more difficult, simply because there is so much red and variations of red. The stage set won’t be as hard. But the hardest will be all the squiggles that symbolize the orchestra.
I’ll be tackling that last.
Two more puzzles arrived yesterday morning:
These are made by Cavallini & Co., a company that makes all sorts of beautiful paper goods. I purchased these through the Victorian Trading Company web site.
I haven’t much felt like working on the dollhouse lately, partly because I’m into the puzzles, but also because I’m just in one of those brief phases where I feel uninspired. I’ll get back to it. I do love sitting at the kitchen table and working on the puzzle while Don is noodling around with his guitar or recording music. We share the same space but we’re each doing our thing, yet we can have a conversation.
I think what I love about doing the puzzles – and understand, I was not at all into them before last year – is that they require a kind of concentration which is almost zen-like. It’s very akin to the concentration I feel when working on a crossword puzzle. I can shut the world out and focus entirely on shapes, sizes, colors, words. I can step away feeling I’ve done all I can and come back later and immediately see where that troublesome piece should go. It’s creative, it’s satisfying, and I love nothing more than figuring something out – how it works, how it goes together. That’s why I’m good at assembling furniture, putting things together. That would drive Don nuts, I think. He’s never expressed a desire to contribute to any of my puzzles, nor would he. Also – he knows me very well. I like to figure it out all by myself. Some words that describe me: independent and stubborn. And let’s throw in patient, but only in the case of puzzles and dollhouses. I can be very impatient about other things. But, I have finally learned to ask for help if I need it – not with puzzles, but with bigger things, for sure.
Anyway, it’s an escape. And a very satisfying one.
I ordered The Shell Seekers and it should be arriving tomorrow. In the meantime, I have to get back to Mrs. Tim.
I won’t talk about our frustration with NY’s COVID vaccination rollout. Just know that we curse a lot. And I’m not watching the Impeachment trial. I get caught up each morning and I know what’s going on. As Hillary Clinton said – and I’m paraphrasing a lot – if there isn’t a conviction it won’t be for lack of evidence, etc., it will be because a segment of the jury is made up of co-conspirators.
Yep.
Stay safe.
Happy Thursday.
I keep hoping that some will be swayed by the clear evidence being presented but the reports seem to discourage that hope. “Co-conspirators” – wonder if that will be proved one day (still hoping)!
I sure hope so. I’d love nothing more than to see them indicted for conspiring to overthrow the government.
Stay safe, Ellen.
I wasn’t a big “puzzler” before Covid either but have discovered it’s one thing that has kept me grounded all year. Enjoy your new ones – they look challenging!
X Chy
Me too. Thank goodness for puzzles!
Stay safe, Chy.
We got more snow last night.. The sun is out and it is freezing here. Furnace kicked out and waiting for repairman. Bundled up and on my third cup of coffee. Don’t get discouraged about the vaccine. There will be many more openings now that the drug stores and supermarket chains come on board. I got my first shot Monday at Walgreens ….quick and efficient. I went on the New York state site and everything is always booked. Register at your local drugstore. I think you will get them sooner.. I am wistfully looking at your beautiful stove from your last post. What a work of art. A real treasure. II see a truck pulling into the driveway. It is our masked repairman. Thank heavens. Looking forward to some heat. The simple things. Have a good day.
We got a bit more as well – just a dusting overnight.
We’re already registered at Walgreens. Nothing available.
Glad your repairman came!
Stay safe, Maria.
I haven’t been listening to the trial either. I manage to get clips from different sources, and that keeps me caught up. Yesterday I spent a delightful afternoon getting caught up on All Creatures Great and Small. Small town life, animals, serene pastoral views, and interesting characters. Did I mention is was delightful?
We are to get another inch or two of snow…and the polar vortex continues to sink into our state..,and beyond. It’s been quite the winter….and I’m sure like me, you are ready for it to end. Come on Spring! ;)
It is delightful. We watch it every Sunday!
Oh, boy, am I ready for Spring!
Stay safe, Donna
You described exactly how I feel about jigsaw puzzles. We have done MANY jigsaw puzzles during this quarantine and I truly believe they have saved our sanity.
Hopefully you and Don will be able to get your vaccine real soon. I can’t tell you the feeling of relieve I felt when we got our first one. Like a weight was lifted from my shoulders. We won’t get our second one until March. My sister received her first one the same day we got ours so I invited her over and we had a little celebration dinner together. (we have been spending time together during the quarantine). We know we will still be wearing masks for some time to come but it’s such a relieve to know we have some protection from this horrible virus.
Stay safe and my fingers are crossed that you and Don will get to experience the same feelings we felt when you’re able to get your first vaccine.
xoxo
It sure seems like it will be a long time until we experience that feeling, Cathy!
We keep checking. And nothing.
Glad you got yours.
Stay safe!
I love working puzzles-just since retired from teaching…I am in the midst of getting ready to move now. I leave the house once every two weeks to pick up groceries…this week had to get my second injection-thankfully…sat in car in the cold to get four tires…then oil change needed…for the drive 1000 miles to south…people were not wearing masks there, so I had to walk around in ice and snow…ludicrous…took taxes as I don’t have the inclination this year…they are finished and ready to pay…will pick up…remain in apartment for another week and then food…feeling poorly after being out in the elements but teaching the five kiddos today will help that I am hoping…am still masking, distancing, and isolating soon until I move…than continue as much as possible despite vaccinations…
Prayers for you and Don and all that snow…I lived in a climate with deep snow from October to April for ten years and was glad to get out of it…but you seem to deal better than I did…take care…keep writing…work your puzzles…good for stress and the brain-and of course anxiety…I am not watching the trial at all…take care dear girl.
We have to get an oil change, too. We’re overdue. Don is going to take the car in to a local place next week. We tried to pick a day where it wouldn’t be too cold, or be snowing, so Don can walk around outside if he wants to.
Stay safe, Brenda.
hope that forecast changes and you don’t get more snow. you sure don’t need it now!
might don feel about snow removal like you do about working on jigsaw puzzles (i like this so i want to do it myself) …? either way, i can relate to that attitude. :)
the current puzzle, by the way, looks great (and not just because that french-y blue is one of my very favorite colors). the new puzzles look fun, too.
i got to hear don’s latest song, “red to red”! love the music and clever lyrics and he has such a wonderful voice. thanks to don and you for sharing it!
i hope the trial emphasizes things beyond the “fight” phrase used by now-thankfully-ex-pino (still ino). things like the timing of his tweet about pence not having courage shortly after he heard them yelling “hang mike pence” while in the capitol, that it took over three hours of violence before he sent out that worthless and disgusting “i love you and you’re very special people” video. the timing of him and his family at that watch party (all set up with snacks and drinks and his son’s girlfriend “dancing” for the camera-person), seeing what was happening at the capitol. the video of insurrectionists inside the capitol that were repeating his words as he was saying them and taking his cues. how long it took before he called for help …
here, per doctor’s order, i am home quarantining for two weeks. had an extended and close “direct exposure” to someone having an emergency on tuesday, then found out yesterday of one being sick. my boss is mad (she didn’t reply to my text message last night or phone call this morning except to text one word today to my request for confirmation that she got my message). i understand … being short-staffed with short notice isn’t easy, but that’s the way it is with this virus. i want to yell at her “it’s called personal and social responsibility!” ugh.
related … our governor admitted she did not talk with health department officials before lifting the mask mandate and no longer requiring capacity limits or social distancing at restaurants, grocery stores, bars, etc. or anywhere else … despite iowa being 47th in the country for vaccine supplies being available and shots being administered. i spoke with someone at the county health department earlier this week and she said they need 40,000 vaccines at a time, but have received only 1,200. ugh again.
hope you stay safe and have a good day.
kathy in iowa
Your boss seems to forget that you got COVID from exposure to your fellow employees. Of course you have to quarantine after additional exposure due to your job.
Your governor, too. I’d like to have a chat with both your boss and the governor! Willful ignorance and clearly not willing to face reality.
Stay home and quarantine, Kathy. Stay safe!
i agree. and will do. thanks, claudia.
be safe and well, too!
kathy in iowa
I love the puzzles you keep finding. So pretty. I’m doing more collage and mixed media art and its been a good creative outlet. Just taking it day by day and hoping to get the vaccine soon.
Exactly. That’s all we can do, right. Stay sane, stay creative….and wait.
Stay safe, Linda.
It’s funny, independent and stubborn are two words that describe me too (especially the stubborn!), but I don’t like puzzles. Nor do I like putting together furniture. Brian does that. I take one look at the instructions and graphics and it may as well be in a foreign language. I also could not do all that painstakingly detailed work on dollhouses that you do, too. I’m way too antsy and impatient. Maybe that’s one reason I like cooking so much…I am moving and chopping and mixing and creating. Good thing we are all different and have different talents!
Meant to ask you with all the reading you do…does your local library offer “grab and go” services right now? You just reserve the book online and they check it out for you and then you make an appt to pick it up. That’s what we’ve been doing with our books. One of our libraries is now open again for browsing (things are opening back up here in IL), but we haven’t done that yet. Anyway, I think you will love The Shell Seekers.
Absolutely. Variety is the spice of life!
I don’t know whether our library has that yet. Our local library is very small so most books would have to be ordered from other branch libraries. Too much handling, I think. I’m not ready to go that route yet.
Stay safe, Melanie!
Hi Claudia. I did the wildflower puzzle a few weeks ago and found it challenging. I also never did puzzles before Covid, but find time flies when I am working on one.
I hope you don’t get any more snow next week!
I hope so, too. This has been a February for the record books and we still have more than half of the month yet to go!
Stay safe, Connie.
I get my second vaccine dose next week. It took a lot of effort on multiple sites. Hopefully New York will get moving faster. The Walmart’s and CVS’s are starting to get them here.
Puzzles are relaxing. It had been decades since I did one. The problem is that I can’t stop once I start.
Smart decision staying away from 24 hours of impeachment. I just can’t handle it.
Yes, we’ve registered at Walgreen’s and keep checking our local supermarket pharmacy. Nothing.
Stay safe, Kay!
Hi Claudia – Have you been on Thejigsawpuzzle.com – they have thousands of puzzles in all subjects and# of puzzle pieces – no charge and no storage after It takes about 20 minutes do
a 100 piece puzzle – I hope you give it a try.
The site looks dodgy…It said it was for sale. Maybe the link is incorrect?
But if it involves doing it on the screen, I’ll pass. I like the actual pieces in my hands!
Stay safe.
Try with “s” at end of word puzzle – TheJigsawPuzzles.com It’s a safe site per McAfee and Avast – I’ve used site daily for about 8 months now – they have daily puzzle as well as various categories and keep track of those puzzles solved.
xo
I am the crazy one here, I guess, as I have been watching the trial the past few days. I can’t stop… maybe when I start to hear the ridiculousness tomorrow, from the weird legal team, I will happily turn it off.
That wildflower puzzle looks beautiful, but all that white!!! Wow! But I am sure that is something you are looking forward to as a challenge, so I hope you will enjoy. Can’t wait to see that one completed. take care.
hej, chris k in wisconsin!
i will be watching the trial tomorrow, too. i want to see what his lawyers present, after reading somewhere that many people (including several republicans) were critical of his lawyers’ opening statements.
happy for you getting vaccines. hope all’s well for you and your family.
stay well and warm!
kathy in iowa
I can’t watch it. Trump has been living rent-free in my head for 5 years of my life and I just can’t go there anymore.
Stay safe, Chris.
I too have been watching the senate trial for my sins. The case for impeachment has been masterfully made, yet the Republicans remain shamelessly impervious. You have to wonder just what is wrong with these soulless creatures.
They’re rotten to the core. Not all of them, but surely most of them are.
Stay safe, Deborah!
I’m thinking about you and Don today as the Senate Republicans acquit our fearless ex-leader, leaving him free to continue to spew seditious lies and direct more violence. I can’t believe they won’t admit they were as much in danger as anyone in the building that day. The mob was not asking for party affiliation identification, and in fact, wanted to hang the second most senior person in the party. The level of stupidity is irritating. I should have planned in advance of this foregone conclusion to have some kind of refuge today, but I didn’t. I hope that you and Don have constructed a bolster for the emotions of today. Sending love and thanks for your work during the campaign for decency. XO
We’re not watching. We already know what the verdict will be.
Stay safe, Nora.