Early morning shot of the porch. Nothing new here in terms of plants; I love my design plan and tend to stick with it every year. Impatiens are inexpensive and I love the calibrachoa in the vintage plant stand and the planter. They’re dependable. I know they’ll last all season long. I can’t afford to replace the contents of hanging pots or any pots as the season changes into summer, so I stick with my ‘dependables.’
Well. Yesterday was stressful for yours truly. I started the set up of my new laptop. Unfortunately, I couldn’t add the data from my backup because my rather old device doesn’t have the right connections to fit the newest Apple technology. That was frustrating. I’ve written to the maker to ask what kind of adapter I should use because I don’t want to drive all the way to the Apple Store (an hour from our house) if I don’t have to. So. I set it up without the addition of my ‘stuff.’ But it took me all day long. I had to find a way to reload my photo editing software. I had to find and sign into sites that I use a lot. I couldn’t remember the name of the font I use for the watermarks on these photos. There were just so many things to search for and find and set up – like the photo editing software. But I can use it now, as I am doing for this post. And a couple of hours later, the name of the font came to me and I found out how to add it to the software. But, EVERYTHING involved research.
Two things I am dealing with: First, the thought that keeps creeping into my brain – maybe I should just start fresh and not add the information from the backup. I remember when Don’s phone was stolen in Paris and he hadn’t backed it up. When he got the new phone, it was a blank state. And he liked that. Same thing when we were cleaning out the shed; I just dumped things. It felt freeing. I’ll see how I feel about this as the week goes on. As far as photos go, the ones I love the most are here on the blog, so I could pull them off the page and add them to photos on this laptop.
Second: I was depressed at the end of the day because anything like this – a stressful process – is much harder for me these days. Not to figure out, I can do that. It’s the stress of it that stays with me, exhausts me, and it takes me a long time to recover from it. One of the signs that I’m getting older. I simply don’t handle stress as well as I did. Don and I had a long talk about it last night. I feel older these days. It takes me longer to recover from those outdoor tasks, as well. He feels the same way.
I just sighed as I wrote this.
Anyway, back to the laptop. It’s much lighter than my circa 2015 laptop. And there is a bar at the top of the keyboard that lights up and has information or tools for whatever current task you’re doing. Right now, as I write this, it’s giving me word choices like an iPad or iPhone does. That is great! Just yesterday, when I was writing the post on my iPad, I was thinking how handy it was to have that option and it was too bad it wasn’t available on Apple computers. Well, it is. There are fewer ports on the sides of the laptop and they are all the same kind of opening. So I thank Wendy for the hint about buying a dongle, a device that has other ports which you can plug into the computer. They’re very inexpensive and I was able to get one from Amazon within a day. So I was able to transfer these photos from my big girl cameras, because there is no more slot for SD cards. 📸 See? Not that I’ll do it a lot, but there’s the camera icon that popped up on my toolbar.
Thankfully, I’m able to write more in a post with the laptop now available. It’s just plain difficult to write a long post when I’m pecking at the iPad on screen keyboard.
This morning I watched a bunny, a chipmunk, and the daddy robin conducting their business right outside my door. Oh, and a catbird taking a bath in the birdbath. Yesterday, some finches took a bath.
Mere sent me photos and video from the graduation. My nephew looked so happy, as did my sister.
Stay safe.
Happy Sunday.
I love the photo of your porch, it’s so inviting…and your flower choice is perfect!
I really admire you for your technical ability! Just reading all that you did with your new laptop was stressful for me! I’m glad the new laptop has welcome upgrades!
Enjoy your porch!
Thank you, Barrie.
Stay safe.
Claudia, you speak for many of us, I am daunted by new technology. Navigating it has become more difficult, but you preserved and did it! I love the flowers and design on the front porch, classic, simple, pretty and restful on the eye. Repeating the same color scheme and flower type has been my MO for a few years and since they are so expensive it helps. Overwintering my geraniums kept my bottom line down too. Thank you for the inspiration!
I have one geranium and I overwinter it, too.
Thanks, Sherry.
Stay safe.
you’ve made a lot of progress with your new laptop! :) i know there are lots of other things that can be done with a laptop, but thank you for taking all the time, doing so much research, etc. so you can (as you choose) share parts of your life with us here.
i don’t really know what to say about your feeling older … because i feel it, too. for me it started when i was 62 and my back broke (those four compression fractures due to osteoporosis … please, everyone, get your bone density checked!). those fractures have healed, but one is defined as medically “unstable” for not being in alignment and so my ability to physically move is quite limited. that makes me sad, angry and feel physically vulnerable and old. i try not to hate things, but i hate that. sorry for my negativity (it’s real, but don’t like it either). anyway, i relate to what you said about feeling older and wish you didn’t feel that way because it’s not fun … but we honor those feelings, take breaks when we need to and just keep going, right?!? :)
glad the graduation ceremony went well and you have some photos to bring smiles.
as for getting the same flowers as in the past, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”!
hope you and don are enjoying your second cups of coffee on that very pretty porch right now.
sending hugs, saying prayers …
kathy
Thanks so much, Kathy.
Stay safe.
Oh boy! I’m right there with you on the stress. I don’t handle it as well either. I get frustrated more easily and I can relate to not being able to think of the font name. I do like the idea of a clean slate. I guess it depends on how much you really need the “stuff” you would put back.
The physical work is getting harder for me too…or takes me longer to recover. I try to remember that my troubles are small compared to several people I know dealing with cancer, or your friend Adrian.
Your porch is charming. I buy the same flowers each year too. Lots of impatiens…they never fail me. And two hanging fushias on my porch.
I was thinking about Meredith the other day. I miss her blog and hope she is doing well.
Enjoy some porch time today.
Take care
I hope she can get back to it someday, but it will have to be when she’s not under so much stress. This divorce is being made difficult by her soon-to-be-ex, who has a lot of problems. (I’m being kind.)
Stay safe, Marilyn.
Hope Meredith still finds comfort in her knitting and crocheting.
Hugs, Elaine
xo
It’s complicated to set up a new device and I applaud your “can-do” spirit, Claudia, for figuring it out! :)
Thank you, Ellen.
Stay safe.
I couldn’t live without my dongal — my (relatively) new computer has only two usb spots and I use them for my wireless mouse and keyboard. And, of course, no slot for photo cards. I do miss the CD player but not THAT much! I’m so glad you are settled in on the new computer. Setting one of those up is beyond me– I always need to go for help. So well done!
Rick and I had that conversation on feeling old, too. Well, me, mostly. He’s four years younger than I and there’s definitely a difference. (That said, he’s had more head injuries than me so maybe we’re even.) I felt it even more after Cleveland where after only five hours of walking the museum, I almost couldn’t walk anymore and wondered “how can I do three weeks in England in the fall if I can’t do five hours in a museum?” I still haven’t figured that out. I just double up on my PT exercises and hope.
I miss the CD player, too. I used to record tracks for my playlist from my CDs.
Stay safe, Jeanie.
I love your porch, too, and can concur with your decision to keep it the same each season. I find that I’m that way with the beach shack, too. No desire to rearrange, add to, or change it up. The days and years go by so fast it seems like we just did it all anyway!
Yes. I’m too old to dream up new pots and flowers every year!
Stay safe, Shanna.
Your porch looks lovely…the perfect place to sit and muse. I have a recipe for my pots and containers, too. It’s just easier that way…and keeps the temptations down to buy something new.
Technology and stress seem to go hand in hand for me. I can manage an iPhone or iPad…but a laptop? No way. Never could navigate with a mouse.
I can’t imagine even attempting all that you did. Kudos for figuring it all out.
It does take me extra recovery time, too…and my older friends tell me that’s to be expected. I don’t like it! But, I find if I’m active everyday, it is easier for me, and not so taxing on my body.
Glad everything went smoothly for your nephews graduation and you have a video. Enjoy your day! ;)
Apple laptops have a trackpad, not a mouse. Much easier.
I don’t like the extra recovery time either, I find it very frustrating.
Stay safe.
I must be trackpad challenged…cuz, it’s not easier for me lol! ;)
xoxo
Your porch is lovely, Claudia. Always a learning curve with new technology. I think you’re doing very well, indeed, to have things up and running. Growing old is not for wusses! Inside I don’t feel old, maybe 39, lol. Outside, well, that’s a horse of a different colour. When I was a child, that phrase always made me laugh. I wanted to see a horse of a different colour. Here’s an idea. Let’s all count our age in celius. That would make you 21! Stay safe. Hugs, Elaine
Ha! I can’t even figure out celsius!
Thanks, Elaine.
Stay safe.
Pleased the dongle works for you, Claudia. My daughter told me to buy one when I got my MacBook a couple of years ago. Why all these input changes? I understand some changes in format, like 8-track tape to CDs , because of the amount of content it can hold, but different ports? Speed?
Anyway, you came through in the end. Although, I agree with you about being able to do something, fast or slow, but sometimes feeling exhausted afterwards. The “leave me alone!” Kind of exhaustion.
I’m excited that last year I had one lizard in my backyard and now there seems to be three!
And Happy Mothers Day to you and all your readers. I know it’s just one day and every day should be Mother’s Day…Mom, the original Wonder Woman.
The port size is probably because of speed. But it is a pain in the tush because we have to buy even more accessories because of it.
Love that you have more lizards, Wendy!
Stay safe.
I’m with you with the feeling more easily stressed and just older these days. Things are just harder, more complicated than even a decade ago. I try not to let it get to me because I remember how my dad used to fly off the handle right away and I did inherit his temper.
Your porch is so inviting. I tend not to put too many plants on ours because I worry they don’t get enough sunlight. I do love how on yours you can sit surrounded by flowers. We got to the nursery yesterday and it was absolute bedlam. I felt lucky to find my usual picks and that we only had to stand in line to pay for half an hour.
Take care,
K.
That’s why I plant impatiens, Kay. They love the shade, so they do very well on our shady porch. Try it!
Stay safe.
I will for sure if I can find some. The beautiful flowers in your antique metal planter don’t resemble the impatiens they sell around here.
K.
Those aren’t impatiens. They’re calibrachoa. The impatiens are in the other pots.
Claudia,
Just looking at your porch relaxes me. I’m glad you have such a place to help de-stress.
I am, too. I waited a long time for a porch (it was one of the reason that we decided to purchase this house) and I love it out there.
Stay safe, Susan.
Hi Claudia, I am still trying to navigate life like everyone is. Things do take me longer and so does finding words! It is frustrating not remembering something and I am so out of shape, it’s sad,……..BUT I have a reason. I will find out in a day or two if I need surgery of my right rotator cuff. It is so painful right now! It is crappy getting old. Then just last week I lost one of my very best FB friends. He was only 70 and had a heart attack. He did have some heart issues and they finally took him. Jennifer, his wife, is lost. They live in Knoxville, TN and I have been toying with the fact if I should go see her for a couple days. She keeps saying “I can’t do this😰”. She has her Golden Annie who is her lifesaver right now and a son who lives close. Other than that she is pretty alone. I would be freaking out too. I remember when 70 was old! Not now though.so you guys take good care of yourself just like we are trying to do. I have a feeling we would have a lot in common. Take care!
Deb
I’m so sorry about your shoulder and the sudden loss of your friend, Deb. Don just found out his close friend from high school died a week ago. He’s pretty down about it. I’ve been hearing from a lot of people about rotator cuff problems. Take care of yourself, my friend.
Stay safe.