Don is playing his guitar quietly in the living room while I write this in the den. It’s rather nice to hear a gentle accompaniment while I write.
The email version of yesterday’s post just went out – 24 hours after I published it. I will reiterate: don’t rely on the email any longer. Soon, because Google is purposely neglecting it, it will fail altogether. I can always tell when it hasn’t gone out because comments greatly decrease. And it’s not that I care about comments or want you to feel any pressure about commenting – I don’t – it’s just a reliable indicator that many of you are still relying on the email. I issue these period warnings because, trust me, the service will eventually stop.
End of Public Service Announcement.
My anxiety is back, full throttle, so I’m trying to keep busy. There’s a lot going on right now with family and friends. Lots of worries. So I started another puzzle yesterday and that helped. I played with my dolls.
Pippa and Mei discussing artwork for the house.
Clearly, Mei has an opinion.
Pip took off her shoes and got down to business.
We watched our favorite night of television last night: Around the World in Eighty Days and All Creatures Great and Small on PBS. And we ate Chinese takeout.
That’s about it, my friends. I have some things to take care of today and I want to get back to my book, which is brilliantly written. (Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr.)
Stay safe.
Happy Monday.
Ellen D. says
I enjoyed those shows on PBS also. I just finished another good book “Keeper of Lost Things” by Ruth Hogan – one of those “read all day and even stay up late to finish”! It was such a nice story that was so different from the mysteries I usually read.
Hope your worries clear up!
Claudia says
I hope so, too, but I think they won’t go away for a while.
Stay safe, Ellen.
Donnamae says
Aren’t those two shows terrific? Such a pleasure to watch. We have the latest episodes recorded, because we had to watch the football playoffs last night….and what a game it was. Football at its best.
We got snow yesterday and today, and will plunge back into the deep freeze for a couple of days….here we go again.
I am sorry to hear your anxiety is back….enjoy your distractions! ;)
Claudia says
My distractions helped me quite a bit today. Thanks, Donnamae.
Stay safe.
Dee+Dee says
Sorry to hear of your anxiety and hope you find peace of mind soon. The Girls are definitely a good distraction.
The second series of All Creatures shown last Autumn is just as good as the first one. I watched the first episode of Around the World at Christmas time and must go back to it.
I have been watching Sky TV on a few weeks temporary subscription and binge watching recommended series such as Mare of Easttown with Kate Winslet. I have found the third series of Babylon Berlin which used to be on Netflix and second series of My Brilliant Friend.
I’ll be a real couch potato by Spring!😀
Happy Monday
Claudia says
I LOVE Babylon Berlin. Have you heard anything over there about a fourth season? I’ve got my fingers crossed.
Stay safe, Dee Dee.
kathy in iowa says
sorry that people you love are having troubles and that you have anxiety. will be praying for you all.
and i hope you can enjoy don’s music, blythely things, more good reading, tv shows and being home.
kathy
Claudia says
Thanks, Kathy. I hope your day goes well!
Stay safe.
Caroline says
Hi, Claudia, Just got three of your blog posts today, so was very glad you wrote why I wasn’t getting them. Feel like I want to comment on so much, but I’ll just say I love the new outfit and pics of the girls and Imogen. Her new outfit is beautiful and she looks adorable! Suggested CCL for a book group, but they took a pass bec of length. Just finishing up The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles, so I think I can tackle CCL soon.
Sorry you’re feeling stressed; impressed you deal with it so positively and well. Just so you know, I really enjoy reading about life at the cottage in the country. So many times you settle me down and bring a new kind of joy into my sometimes stressful life. Thank you.
Caroline
P.S.: I’ve been wondering when this cold weather was ever going to let up, too. We’ve been having below zero temps off and on for weeks now. Turns out, it’s “normal” for our area — upstate NY. Who knew? Not me!!!!
Claudia says
I’ve got Lincoln Highway in my pile here in the den.
Thank you for your kind words – they mean a great deal!
If this is ‘normal’ I’ll take a pass, Caroline!
Stay safe.
jeanie says
Sunday is my favorite TV night of the week! Loving them both.
Frigid here, too, and snow. Not tons, but enough to be — well — snowy!
Hang in there. This, too, will pass. When — I don’t know. But it will.
Claudia says
Thanks so much, Jeanie.
Stay safe, my friend.
Did you get to see Jerry?
ChrisK in WI says
We had a snowy morning, but only about an inch or so. Still so very cold. Wed AM temps are forecast to be-16 real temp w/ -30 wind chills. ugh.
My daughter is reading CCL also and is just loving every page. Sometime it would be fun to hear what everyone is/ has been reading this loonngg January! It is what keeps me going.
The anxiety here is high, too. Hubs is POA for Healthcare & Finances for his 88 year old sister. She can no longer live on her own & she is not happy nor compliant. She is in a NH right now following a 5 day hospital stay. Decisions are being made this week. We are so lucky she can afford what will likely be 6 figures annual care for the Memory Care unit, but it doesn’t make it one iota easier. So very very much to do lies ahead. Getting old truly sucks, & the Healthcare system in the good old US has soooooo many faults & cracks. The hoops are endless.
Stay warm & take care.
Claudia says
Oh, thanks for reminding me! I’ll do a post about that this week.
Oh, that’s so much for you to deal with! It’s never easy, whether you have funds or not. Thinking of you and your husband and his sister.
Stay safe.
kathy in iowa says
hej, chris …
sorry for those difficult things you all have to deal with. will be praying for you all.
agree with you about the health care system here.
what are you reading now?
i am just starting the “little house on the prairie” books. i’ve long wanted to re-read them and my family gave me the set for Christmas. :) i will read them in chronological order, but maybe starting with “the long winter” would put our weather (and my crabby attitude about it) into perspective …?!?
kathy in iowa
Jen says
We are enjoying the same shows on PBS as well. We are experiencing anxiety as well, one of our grandchildren was diagnosed with Covid today and he has a heart condition, he’s only 9 years old.
kathy in iowa says
i will be praying for your grandson, you and the rest of your family!
stay safe and well.
kathy
Jen says
Thank you, Kathy
Claudia says
Oh, Jen! Thinking of you and your family and your grandson. Sending healing thoughts and prayers.
Please keep us informed, if you can.
Stay safe.
Deb in Phoenix says
I was wondering why I was not getting emails. So sorry to hear your anxiety is in high gear. When mine is high I try to keep busy too. Sometimes it works and sometimes not. Get a lot of rest and music is the great healer. Take care!
Claudia says
Thanks so much, Deb.
Stay safe.