Puzzle in progress. I can’t remember the name of the puzzle – oh wait, it looks like Autumn in the Neighborhood. It reminds me of Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Philadelphia. Philly was long ago, but in just this kind of weather two years ago, I was walking the streets of Park Slope in Brooklyn. Beautiful. (It was on sale and that’s why I bought it – made by Gallison,)
Don took his banjo to the music store and they cleaned it out with a strong solvent, followed by lemon oil. It helped temporarily, but the peg kept coming loose, and after the solvent smell went away, he could still smell the mustiness.
Yesterday, he visited a wonderful place that sells musical instruments and he bought a banjo. We bought the banjo, technically, because it will be his Christmas present. (I’m getting a doll.) He was literally dancing around the living room at the prospect of owning a brand new banjo. And gosh, is it a beauty!
It’s really beautiful. The sides, which I’ll show you on another day, are made out of beautifully grained wood.
He’s a happy camper. We’ll tie a bow on it and stick it under the tree on Christmas Eve.
Speaking of – ahem – special occasions, my birthday is tomorrow but, since I’m not posting on Tuesday, I’ll mention it today. It’s not a biggie, that was last year, but I know Don will do his best to make the day special. I’m not one for parties or big celebrations, and as I get older, I need my birthdays to be quiet and gently celebratory. I didn’t ask for anything but a puzzle, as I’ve had plenty of Blythe-related treats recently.
Anyway. Happy Birthday to me tomorrow!
I also want to let you know that our beloved Linda lost her mother over the weekend. Linda was a devoted daughter and had recently made the decision to move her mother into Assisted Living. I believe she was 93. We are thinking of you, dear Linda. Sending love in this time of profound loss.
Stay safe.
Happy Monday,
Happy Birthday, Claudia! I hope you have the exact kind of quietly joyous day that you’re comfortable with. Also, I love the image of Don dancing around the room in excitement over his new banjo. That’s fantastic!
Thank you, Jenny!
Stay safe.
Have a wonderful Birthday! I am happy for Don!
Take Care,
Kaye
Happy Birthday, Claudia! Have a wonderful day.
Thank you, Mary.
Stay safe.
Thank you, Kaye.
Stay safe.
Yay good for Don!
Every year you mention your birthday and have never mentioned a party with friends. Quiet is what is you prefer.
It is. I did the party thing years ago and quiet is what I prefer these days.
Stay safe, Linda.
Enjoy your day tomorrow. Finding joy in things keeps us positive and excited about life. Hurrah for banjos and dolls. Happiest of days tomorrow.
Low,
Eileen
Thank you, dear Eileen. Next up: your birthday!
Stay safe.
Happy Birthday! I think you and Don are each others best gift. Wishing you a healthy and happy year ahead…Don, too.
Thank you so much, Barb.
Stay safe.
to claudia …
happy early birthday to you, dear claudia! may you spend every second of it exactly as you want. and may tomorrow be the start of a wonderful year ahead for you and don. for everyone.
happy for don to have a brand new, odor-free banjo! it is beautiful and will bring so much wonderful music and happiness to you both and other people, too. keep playing and keep dancing, dear don!
the puzzle looks fun, too.
…
to linda …
condolences and hugs to you, dear linda. i hope you hold all the happy memories and love between you and your mother top of mind and in your heart and know that God is with you both and the rest of your family, too. look forward to the happy reunion that will happen one day and in the meantime know lots of people care about you. i am one of them.
…
here? today i will finish getting ready for thanksgiving, do a bit of organizing at my apartment and take a walk under a beautiful gray sky and enjoy some wonderfully-cool weather.
another person in my family now has covid … my oldest niece’s husband (who sat next to me for a couple hours at our gathering last monday) … so continuing to watch for symptoms and we will test again today. ugh.
hope everyone stays safe and well and has a good day.
kathy
sorry … pressed post before adding something else i meant to say today …
i will be praying for you, linda, claudia, don, everyone else and your loved ones and keep you in my prayers.
kathy
xo
Cathy, I will be praying for you to stay healthy, as well as your family, especially the ones testing positive for Covid.
thank you very much, dottie! (we’re testing again later today).
hope you and your loves stay well and happy. and enjoy thanksgiving. if you’re into football, may you watch a good game. if not, maybe a parade or the “charlie brown” special?
kathy
Thank you, Kathy.
Stay safe.
Have a wonderful birthday Claudia. Happy, Happy Birthday!!!
Thank you, Tana.
Stay safe.
I am delighted Don got a banjo! Now, I’ll be waiting for a link to hear him…hint hint.
My sincere condolences to Linda. My hope is that her memories of her mom bring her comfort during this difficult time.
And I hope you have a quiet Happy Birthday…with all the Apple pie you can eat! Enjoy your day! ;)
Thank you, Donnamae!
Stay safe.
Happy Birthday, Claudia. I hope you spend it just the way you want to and wish you many happy returns. And how wonderful Don has that beautiful new banjo to serenade you with.
Take care,
Kay
Thank you, Kay.
Stay safe.
Happy early birthday, Claudia. I enjoy banjo music too and there will be hours of enjoyment for you as you listen to a gleeful Don play it. What will Don do with the musty banjo??
Condolences to Linda. Memories and being surrounded by a supportive group certainly help during the early period of grief.
Happy Birthday, Claudia! I wish you many more birthdays to come! I am so sorry that Linda has lost her mother, and I pray for her and her family to feel God’s loving arms wrapped around them in the days ahead. Claudia, you have created a lovely place for us to connect and stay in touch with our friends we have never met. For that I am grateful and I thank you.
Thank you, Dottie.
Stay safe.
Don’t know! I leave that up to him.
Thanks so much, Wendy.
Stay safe.
Happy Birthday Claudia. Enjoy your day.
Thank you, Kay.
Stay safe.
Happy Birthday Claudia! Sounds like you are going to have a wonderful, restful day. I don’t usually celebrate much on my birthdays, but I find the older I am getting ( I year away from the big 7-0) I want to celebrate more.
I guess being on this planet with all it’s beauty, I want to take it all in even more. This past birthday in October, I celebrated almost the whole month! It was definitely one of my best birthdays ever. So Don got a new banjo! What a nice gift! We always have music playing in our house. I am listening to Chris Botti right now, who I could listen to forever. Helps me when I am stressed and needs some down time. Enjoy your day tomorrow! Take care.
I really enjoy chris Botti
Thank you, Deb.
Stay safe.
Happy birthday, Claudia. Perhaps Don will serenade you with a banjo rendition of Happy Birthday tomorrow. Linda, I’m so sorry for the loss of your mom. It’s hard to lose someone who loved you all your life and loved unconditionally. Hugs, Elaine
Thank you, Elaine.
Stay safe.
dear Claudia/Don — hope/wish you the BEST of birthdays and a Happy Thanksgiving to both of you !!! our family gathered Nov 18 b/c all were available that day — super meal that everyone contributed to — so delicious and youngest daughter/family hosted which meant I/Mr did NOT have to clean, ha!! Mr/me have our 53rd anniversary this week which will be very quiet — maybe a McDonald’s coffee to celebrate. Talking about “stuff” — you have not so much — here every closet, drawer is filled, AND we have a barn filled with “c__p” so dilemma is “do we start weeding” out the mess OR do we leave it until we are gone and it will be someone else’s problem — no easy solution here. hope you can celebrate the best way you can. stay safe
Happy Anniversary, Linda! That number is something to celebrate!
And thank you for the birthday wishes!
Stay safe.
Have a wonderful day on your birthday!
Thank you, Denise.
Stay safe.
Happy Birthday Claudia! I hope you have a fantastic day.
So happy for Don being able to get his Christmas present early. It’s beautiful!
Thank you, Denise!
Stay safe.
Happy birthday, Claudia! Enjoy your day! I’m glad Don got his banjo…one that will make sweet music! The autumn puzzle looks really nice…. perfect for this time of year!
Thank you, Barrie.
Stay safe.
Happy early Birthday Claudia! Hope your special day is filled with lots of love, fun and laughter.
I’m sure it will be a great one!
xoxoxo
Thank you, Cathy.
Stay safe.
Happy Birthday, Claudia. Hope you have a wonderful day.
Thank you, Lyn,
Stay safe.
dear Claudia/Don — must make a correction to my earlier message — this week is our #52 anniversary — very bad recall for me — think my brain is too old !!!! stay safe
52 or 53 – so many years together! Bravo!
Thank you Claudia and other readers for your kind words. Losing my Mom has been hard but I also know I was blessed to have her with me so long. Love that Don found a new Banjo. I also want to wish you a very Happy Birthday Claudia. Big Hugs and Much Love!
I am also sorry to learn of the loss of your Mother, Linda. Hope you take comfort remembering the happy times you spent together.
Much love to you, dear Linda.
Stay safe.
Happy Birthday Claudia! Hope you are having a wonderful day with your lovely husband.
Thank you, Dee Dee.
Stay safe.
Happy Birthday, Claudia — and I guess today is the day. At least, that’s what FB told me! I’m so glad that Don got a new banjo. If you two ever get back to Michigan he’ll have to visit Elderly Instruments here. Even when folkies come to perform in Lansing area, they hit Elderly!
Sending loads of love and healing wishes to Linda. Any farewell to a parent is hard but with so many years, the “missing” will be great.
Enjoy your birthday in every way!
Well, Don bought the banjo at a music shop in Beacon NY (just south of us) – the longtime home of Pete Seeger and the owner worked with Pete for years. He won two Grammys! I think Don has found his favorite shop!
Thanks so much, Jeanie.
Stay safe.
Happy birthday, Claudia! So happy to have stumbled upon your blog many years ago! Take care and best wishes! Jen
Thank you, Jen.
Stay safe.