Zoe and I thank you for all your lovely comments yesterday. I had tears in my eyes more than a few times.
Thank you for your support, for your kindness, and thank you for being here. Bless you.
So, we’ve decided the new schedule. I will post on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. The weekend day may change – I’ll wait to see how the whole thing feels. I’m sure it will take me a while to get used to it, so for now, I will ‘schedule’ the post in my planner.
Some breathing space is much appreciated. I’ve been suffering from anxiety again after a nice long break from that little monster. I know it will go away eventually. But in the meantime, I’m going to get out my oil paints and see if I can get my mojo back.
I pulled out my pottery paintings the other day and took a photo of them. I’m proud of them.
Still haven’t framed them!
I just need to play with paints for a bit and see where that takes me.
Stay safe.
Happy Sunday,
And so you should be proud of your paintings. They’re lovely. Zoe looks like she is saying “come here, I have a secret to share, here’s Claudia’s new blogging schedule”. It’s a good schedule. It will give you a few days breathing room. I’ve dealt with anxiety so I have an idea what you’re going through. Mine got so bad that I couldn’t leave the house alone. Thankfully my husband and I both worked downtown so we could travel together. I’m here to say it does get better. Much better. Hugs, Elaine
Yes, thank you. It leaves me for months, and then it’s back. But I’m hanging in there, Elaine.
Stay safe.
Good morning, Claudia. Cutest Blythe doll photo EVER!! I’m glad you’re choosing a schedule that’ll work better for you. It’s rare to know of someone who blogs every single day. You are always there, like a really precious friend. Yet, as you wrote, it has to be difficult to think of things to say every single day. I hope this new schedule gives you relaxation and inspiration. Even four days of blogging a week is rare! So thank you, dear Claudia, for being there when you can.
And thank you for being such a loyal reader, Jenny.
Stay safe.
P.S. Your oil paintings are lovely!!
Thank you!
It all sounds good to me!
Thanks, Vicki!
Stay safe.
Claudia, I hope your new schedule lessens the load a bit. I can imagine all that goes into a blog, aside from the actual ideas and words. Breathing room is important, though….. it’s similar to when flight attendants tell parents to get their own air masks on, in an emergency, before they attend to their children….we have to be available to ourselves in order to be available to others. Thanks for your new schedule! Your paintings are great!
Thank you for your kind words, Barrie.
Stay safe.
When we make decisions, we don’t have to stick with them for ever. It was a good thing to blog every day, but now a new area has started. Good luck with all you do! Regula
Wise words, Regula! Thank you.
Stay safe.
I’m so glad you’ll continue, even on a smaller schedule. Personally, I love to read your blog each day ~ your experiences are real life. Thank you for sharing your life with Don and your dollies!
X Chy
Thank you for being here, Chy!
Stay safe.
as long as that’s a good schedule for you! that’s what i want for you. safe to say we all do. so am glad you are cutting back, just as with plants. you take good care of them. am glad you are taking good care of yourself, too.
sorry to hear anxiety has returned. hope having less pressure and more “free” time will be helpful. i will keep praying for you.
seeing your paintings again and all together is a reminder of how talented you are in yet another area. glad if you enjoy the process and the outcomes … they are beautiful!
happy, safe sunday to you, don and everyone else here.
kathy
Thank you for your prayers, Kathy.
Stay safe.
You always want what is best for those whom you consider friends and I want that for you. So if your new schedule works for you I think it is terrific.
Your paintings are lovely you are a very talented/creative person in so many areas.
Take Care.
Kaye
Thank you, Kaye. Your support means a great deal to me.
Stay safe.
I support however many days you are able to post. If ever you feel that the new schedule is too much, what about posting 1x per week? I would just really hate to see you leave forever. I don’t comment much, but I read and enjoy your posts every day. Occasionally I miss a day, but catch up the next. I heard an interview of actor Richard E. Grant on Fresh Air the other night. His wife, Joan Washington, passed within the last couple of years. She was an apparently well known dialect coach. After the interview, the first thing I thought was I wish I could call my friend Claudia and talk to her about the interview. The memoir he has written is called A Pocketfull of Happiness. You are probably already aware of this but I mention it just in case. Anyway, just want to say that so many of us who don’t know you think of you as a friend and want you to take care of yourself. From your friend you’ve never met, Chris
Yes, I’ve followed Grant on Instagram for quite a long time and I know of his wife’s work and her passing. He’s such a sensitive, wonderful person and I’ve watched a few videos that he took of his wife. She was charming.
Thank you, Chris.
Stay safe.
Just a thought for all of us. On the days Claudia doesn’t post, we can read some of her archived posts. Lots of treasures there. Ask me how I know. Yes, a while back when I first discovered Claudia’s blog, I read every one of the archived posts. It was sort of like reading a book you didn’t want to end. So thanks, Claudia, for sharing 15 years of happenings in your life. Hugs, Elaine
hej, elaine.
good tip that i will second! not long after somehow kindly being led here several years ago, i did the same thing … started at the beginning and read every post claudia wrote. took a long time (she’s been so generous), but it was nice … getting to know a new friend and wonderful person. same with everyone else who adds via comments.
:)
hope all is well for you and your loves.
kathy
xoxo
I forgot that you did that, Elaine! Yes, that’s a good idea!
Thank you.
Stay safe.
Your mental health is your first priority, Claudia. I’ll be reading for your blog on your scheduled days. Since they come through a blog feed for me, I won’t miss any of them. Stay well and rediscover your painting again.
Thank you, dear Wendy.
Stay safe.
I can understand, Claudia. It must be a quite a lot of work to maintain a blog every day. And add to that now Don and yourself are not working at a steady job for topics. I do enjoy your posts when you are at home. I have anxiety also. It has never really left me and I have had it for years. It can be debilitating and I have learned with counselling to manage.
To a new chapter for you.
Marion
Yes, it can be quite debilitating! I often grab Don and ask him to rub my back because that helps calm me down.
Thanks, Marion.
Stay safe.
Sounds like a good schedule and you can always refine it if it isn’t working. Your wonderful paintings should certainly be framed some day. I had no idea you had so many. They will look stunning arranged on a wall.
Take care,
Kay
But what wall? That’s the question. We don’t have a lot of wall space available. But yes, I would love to hang them together – to make a sort of statement.
Stay safe, Kay.
Your paintings are beautiful! I have to say I am amazed at your talents! Not only the paintings but also your photography and the remodeling of the dollhouses. And your acting in Spoiler Alert- just wonderful! Though I don’t comment often, please know that I’ve enjoyed your blog immensely for years now and will continue to do so. It’s time to pull back some and enjoy that lovely home of yours. My best to you and Don.
Thank you for your kind words, Cindy.
I’m clearly an ‘artistic type!’
Stay safe.
dear Claudia/Don — Have always enjoyed your writings/subjects/art etc. Hopeful a different schedule will be better for you — guess you can change it again if does not work out — I, for one, would happily read if it was once a week if that was all that was available, LOL. Your writing is so good, clear, to the point and up to date, which makes connecting/enjoying easy to understand. Your paintings are wonderful — need a display wall. Have you always painted or is it something you discovered recently? Having zero ability just makes me appreciate the work of others. stay safe
I just discovered it a couple of years ago. My dad was a painter and he painted in oils (I have his paint box) and my brother and sister had artistic ability. I always figured I was the one who acted and worked in the theater and that those abilities belonged to them. A couple of years ago, I had an urging – over several months – to try painting. I finally gave in and tried it.
Thanks so much, Linda.
Stay safe.
Hugs Claudia – I have loved every time you post and I will be reading each day that you post and taking 4 a week will give you time.
Joy
Thank you so much, Joy!
Your support means a great deal.
Hi!
What do you think of David Byrne’s musical on Broadway : “Here Lies Love?”
I really don’t know anything about it. Most of us who work in the theater can’t afford to go see a Broadway show. We sure can’t. After a lifetime of working in the theater, of being gone every evening, of watching thousands of rehearsals and performances as part of my job, frankly, the last thing I want to do in my free time is go to the theater.
Thanks, Linda.
Stay safe.
I’m glad you’ve found a schedule that will work and take a little time for you. It’s well deserved and I think sorely needed from all you say. As for the paintings — well, they are simply marvelous, each and every one!
Just a beginner, Jeanie! But I’m going to give myself permission to experiment and play with paint.
Stay safe.