It was a quiet birthday yesterday. That’s what Don wanted. I’m always relieved when that’s the request. I’m not the greatest at big events – too much stress. Of course, as you get older, birthdays become less and less of a big deal. I had the same request for my birthday last November. I just wanted to spend the day with Don.
His present? A pair of jeans with a zipper, not a button fly like he’s been wearing for years. Arthritis makes opening and closing those buttons cumbersome. He found an older pair of zippered Levis that are very worn, discovered that they were still making them, sent me the link with the sizes, and voilà! He’s a happy camper!
I decided to paint his birthday card on Friday. With oil paints. Since I haven’t done that in over a year, I forgot that oil takes a few days to dry. So I had to place it on another piece of paper and make sure he didn’t touch the card.
It’s still drying.
It’s pretty simplistic – a free-hand tribute to our coneflowers.
I imagine a kid could pull this off easily.
But I had fun. And Don loves it because he loves handmade gifts. He’s already planning to frame it, bless him.
Painting it sparked a germ of a desire to paint again, so I’m pondering that impulse. If I do, I’ll have to dismantle the half-done puzzle because the kitchen table is the only space in which I can set up my easel.
By the way, it’s rainy and humid here and our a/c unit in the kitchen is broken. It’s only three years old. Until we can afford a new one, we’re using a box fan in the window – just like I had as a kid. Sigh. What goes round, comes round.
More rain coming today – I think we’ll get thunderstorms.
Don thanks you for all of your lovely messages yesterday – he really loves reading them!
Stay safe.
Happy Sunday.
That is a lovely birthday card. Vassar and I recycle our cards from year to year. Yes birthdays aren’t as big of a deal as they used to be. However I do like to do something a little special around my day.
Sorry about the rain. Every day it rains here but I prefer it to being too dry. But Florida is different. You need sun!
Oh, we’re happy about the rain. We need it!
Stay safe.
glad that don had a nice birthday, spent the day as he wanted and that you did, too. betting that meredith and his brothers made little z’s birthday special, too.
the birthday card you painted is lovely! and of course your sweetheart plans to frame it! :) you two are a great couple and blessed.
hooray for your possible return to painting (especially with oils)! :)
for quite a while my creative energy has been spent elsewhere … mostly working on three children’s books, also some knitting … but earlier this week i returned to painting and i am so glad i did! i always have fun with paint, even if i am less than pleased with the outcome … so i had various favorite loose papers (but not all of it) bound into sketchbooks and a swatchbook … because i plan to keep this going! :) now using water-soluble colored pencils and neocolor 2s as well as traditional watercolor paints. no easel, just painting at/on my desk in a corner of the living room and it’s all good. :)
hope there’s a quick and cheaper-than-you-might-be-thinking solution with the air conditioner. rain would cool the air, at least for a bit, so i hope you do get some rain today.
happy sunday to everyone! stay safe.
kathy
Happy to hear you’ve returned to painting, Kathy!
Stay safe.
Great card…and so nice that Don would like to frame it! Sure wish we’d get some rain here… it’s so dry! We’re only supposed to be watering twice a week, but that really doesn’t help. Have fun with your painting!
Thank you, Barrie.
Stay safe.
The birthday card painting is lovely…I’d frame it too.
Enjoy your Sunday
Thanks, Marilyn!
Stay safe.
I love your card — and I love that Don loves it even more!
You have a/c problems — my fridge light burned out when a transformer blew in our neighborhood. At least I didn’t lose the fridge. I thought it might be the bulb but a new one yielded no better result. So, now it’s a matter of digging deep with a flashlight to get within. A good day to clean the fridge, I think. We’ll have “clean the fridge dinner” — bits and piece of lots of things and hopefully it will make it easier to see through. I need a new, more efficient one but no way I’m doing that right before I head to the lake. I can cope with this one for a week and a couple times home till then. Too expensive and I don’t want to spend it now. First world problems.
It’s always something, though. I don’t want to dish out the money for another a/c unit. You’re wise to hold off since you’re going to the cottage soon.
Stay safe, Jeanie.
Certainly a frame-worthy card, Claudia. You’re a girl of many talents. Sounds like Don had a very happy birthday and you gave him exactly what he wanted as a gift. Maybe your AC could be repaired? It should last more than 3 years. Nice you got rain. Your garden must need it,
Hugs, Elaine
The cost of a repair would be equal to or more than the cost of a new unit.
Stay safe, Elaine.