The coneflowers are emerging – most of them still green, but here and there, the petals are turning purple. Since they self-seed, I have more and more every year. This year, especially, I see the increase. Since – to me – they are one of those quintessential cottage garden flowers, I’m fine with that.’
And my new clematis, which I planted in the bed under the living room window has produced a lovely flower.
Well, I never got around to painting yesterday because the technician from our security company never showed up. We had a window from 12 – 4 so I decided not to paint because I didn’t want to be disrupted by his arrival. But, in the end, he was delayed and after waiting until 4:30, we called to ask them about the delay, so I could have painted, darn it! Obviously, the technician had run over in his appointments, but then they wanted us to have yet another window from 5 – 8 and Don said no. So it will be next Friday instead. This, by the way, is for some sort of upgrade they want to do (in the middle of a pandemic no less) not for anything we requested. So I get a bit peeved when our time is wasted.
Anyway. I’m going to paint today.
I did a lot of weeding yesterday, lots of laundry, made some phone calls that I’d been putting off, paid some bills – so I accomplished a lot. Painting today will be my reward.
One of Don’s birthday presents was a very modestly priced bass guitar. (He asked for one.)
I have to say I think it’s so cool that a 70 year old guy got a bass guitar for his birthday. Don just gets cooler every year.
We are now at 8 guitars, two ukuleles, a mandolin, two desks, two additional work surfaces, a dollhouse, a dollhouse kit, two file cabinets, a china cabinet, a big old chair from the 40s, a plant stand, an old bench, a cart full of paints, and a French cabinet – all in the office/studio. It’s somewhat artfully arranged, but let’s face it, it’s packed.
Stay safe.
Happy Saturday.
kathy in iowa says
too bad about the delay and that you had to be the ones making the call when they didn’t arrive as scheduled for something they want to do. better luck next week.
i think the office/studio sounds lovely … full of opportunities, supplies and talents … a good place to be!
after work, i went to a baseball game with my father and sister … farm team for the chicago cubs is here. good game, very overwhelming to be around so many people and the darkest, most beautiful rain clouds i’ve ever seen (started raining about 45 minutes after the game ended).
being gone 16-hours yesterday, i am grateful today is saturday. going to spend a lot of it with members of my family, go for a ride and walk together. also hope to knit and will probably take an unintended but necessary nap. all good and easy things.
hope you get to paint today and take it easy, too. happy, safe saturday!
kathy in iowa
Claudia says
I seem to be taking a lot of naps lately!
Stay safe, Kathy.
LInda says
Glad that Don received the present he wanted. I am trying to convince my husband to buy the Dulcimer that the has hinted that he would like. He doesn’t want that to spend the money but I am going to override his thinking. It will be enjoyable for him.
Claudia says
I have a dulcimer, Linda. Yes, he should buy one!
Stay safe.
Donnamae says
I hate when you are given a ‘window’….it never seems to work out. Hopefully you will get to paint today. Sounds like you took care of all the chores yesterday. Your flowers are sure pretty. Is that a later blooming clematis?
Your previous pictures of the office don’t look as cluttered as the list of things you have in there would suggest…lol. So, I’m going to add ‘talent for spatial arrangement’ to your list. Glad Don liked his new guitar.
We will be spending the day with our good friends…yay. Some return to normalcy is much welcome. Enjoy your day! ;)
Marilyn Schmuker says
The clematis is stunning. My granddaughter and I are having a quiet rainy day while her mom is at work. She had an ER follow-up visit yesterday with her Dr at the office that originally wouldn’t see her with a fever. The ER Dr called her Dr and wanted her seen. So…she had more labwork, this time looking for west nile, and lyme disease. I know you and Don have experience with lyme disease. As far as we know she wasn’t bitten by a tick, and no rash, but it’s possible. They were up north, went to Mackinac Island a few days before she got sick so the Dr was thinking of anything that she might have been exposed to. She also consulted with an infectious disease Dr. So, I feel like this is finally being taken seriously. In the meantime she continues to have a fever and headache.
It will be 2 weeks of misery on Monday.
I see small improvements but overall still quite ill.
Hopefully, Monday we will have some more test results back.
Martha (in SF) says
Your dear granddaughter, such a time. Keep pushing for answers. Is an immunologist looking at lab work?
Reminds me when I took my daughter endlessly to doctors when seemingly having a mild cold, but vomiting everything every night. Finally one stopped to think – it was whooping cough. Took her 5-6 months to recover. Now all kids get a tetanus booster by age 12.
Barbara says
There’s a tick born disease called babesiosis. It can be caused by a tick that is so tiny you see neither the tick nor the bite. It is not as common as Lyme Disease and seems more difficult to diagnose. Apparently I had it for months, seen at two different hospitals, primary care , before it barely showed up in bloodwork results four months later. Our vet also told us this had been the worst year in the Northeast and probably every where for tick born diseases. Ask the doctors about it.
Marilyn Schmuker says
Thank you Barbara. She has another visit Monday so we will ask.
Barbara says
I wish you the best and hope she improves soon.
kathy in iowa says
what an ordeal! i continue to pray for your granddaughter and everyone else.
remember to take good care of yourself, too.
kathy in iowa
Marilyn Schmuker says
Thanks Kathy. Your prayers are appreciated.
Claudia says
I’m so sorry this illness is hanging on and that you’re still not quite sure what it is.
Yes, we’ve had Lyme. Don has had it four times. He felt very achy, ran a high fever, all of his bones and joints ached. But once antibiotics were started, he felt better rather quickly. Of course, it impacts people differently.
We’re praying for her, Marilyn.
Claudia says
I don’t know if it’s later blooming. I just planted it in the spring. We’ll see next year.
Stay safe, Donna.
jan says
We did an hour and a half drive to an appointment at the base for paperwork. (New IDs) When we got there, they said the computer was down and they couldn’t do it. Another hour and a half home in record heat and nothing accomplished. Ugh. Others weren’t too pleased either.
Claudia says
So maddening! I’m so sorry!
Stay safe, Jan.
Martha (in SF) says
Your packed but fun space sounds ideal for you both at any given moment.
Hope you have found your ‘painting zone’ again and Don is enjoying strumming on his new guitar.
XO
Claudia says
Sort of found my zone but it’s very hot and humid here and I only have a short window of time in which to work.
Stay safe, Martha.
Brendab says
I know some of you read Elly Griffiths
Read the one out this year on IPad Kindle for Netgalley for review. Glad husband had great birthday.
Linda Mackean says
I hate wasted time waiting for someone especially when they don’t show up….grrr. Enjoy your painting today. Love that Don got a new guitar! Hugs!
Claudia says
So annoying, right?
Stay safe, Linda.
Regula says
As long as “things” make you happy, it doesn’t matter that the room is packed.
All the best!
Regula
Claudia says
Good point, Regula!
Stay safe.
jeanie says
I hope you got a lot of painting done yesterday, having missed a day! It sounds like Don will get plenty of use from his birthday gift! Happy week to you both!
Claudia says
Jeanie, you might be my only reader who would understand this. I was reading Don’s birthday greetings on FB and there was one from Larry Guittard, aka Laurence Guittard, the original Count Carl Magnus in A Little Night Music. I had a huge crush on him and on his gorgeous singing voice. I ran into the other room and asked D how he knew him! I mean, we’ve been together 27 years and this is the first I’ve heard of it.
Years ago, they did Shrew at the Old Globe. Larry was Petruchio. Apparently, they’ve stayed in touch. Go figure!
Stay safe.