They keep on coming, these amazing zinnias. There are more buds that should open in the next couple of days. We are going to have about three days with warmer temperatures and then it will turn colder and, as I scan the weather forecast, below freezing temps at night next week. You know what that means…I bring in the plants for the night until the time comes when I give up the fight. But that won’t be for a few weeks.
Another one:
I did bring the in Boston fern for the winter. My other overwintered plant – the geranium – will head inside in a few days. I’ve had both of these babies for several years and they seem to be thriving.
I’m reading Richard Osman’s newest – The Last Devil to Die – and I’m enjoying it immensely. I’m working the jigsaw puzzle and it will be done in a couple of days. The next one up is from the same manufacturer, The World of Frankenstein.
Books and puzzles keep me sane in a world gone mad.
I’m going to mow the lilac side of the lawn today, if only to get some exercise. It’s not that big, so it won’t exhaust me. Don raked up a huge amount of catalpa leaves on Monday – catalpa leaves are quite large. All that wind over the weekend brought down a ton of leaves.
The event I’m attending is actually called Wonderland of Play – it’s in partnership with BlytheCon this year, but it’s not called that. WOP is run by a woman named Jen who lives about an hour south of me. She’s been an entrepreneur in the world of handmade designs and toys and vintage things for a long time. Her partners are two women who have shops in Brugge, Belgium. All of them are Blythe lovers. WOP took place in Brugge last year, it’s in NY/NJ this year, and it will take place in Brugge again in 2024. BlytheCon will be a separate event next year in Las Vegas.
I’m looking forward to it, but also dreading it. I am a true introvert and this kind of event takes its toll on me. I’ll be ‘on’ that day and then I’ll have to retreat for a couple of days. Lots of people, lots of visual stimulation, lots of driving, etc. I’ll also be one of the oldest people there. I miss the days when I wasn’t the oldest person in the room. That’s been the case with nearly every play I’ve coached in last few years, as well. I am a gray-haired older woman to all these people even though that’s not how I feel inside. Inside, I feel younger and thinner and fascinating.
Ah well!
Stay safe.
Happy Wednesday.
the details of those flowers (like the ring of tiniest golden daisies holding together all those brilliant hot-pink petals in the first photo) are beautiful, incredible!
while much of american society sadly and in general doesn’t recognize it in older people, you, dear claudia, and dear everyone else are just like those flowers … full of colors and details that make you interesting, beautiful, incredible.
kathy
Thank you so much for your kind words, Kathy.
Stay safe.
xoxo
Spectacular zinnias!
You’re reminding me of one of my favorite quotes (to paraphrase Kahlil Gibran), To measure you by the color of your hair is to reckon the power of the ocean by the frailty of its foam.
That’s a great quote. But it’s not so much the color of my hair as just plain feeling old on occasion.
Much love to you. How is Fred doing?
Stay safe.
So far so good. He’s on the second week of a chemo pill he’s taken before. That goes on for a total of five weeks, then starts on infusions of a new drug for up to two years. They’ll gradually increase the dose of the infusions and try to decide what is the best dosage. Fingers crossed.
Fingers crossed for sure. Hang in there, Shanna.
xoxo
I see you as an intelligent, creative, fascinating, interesting and a young looking lovely woman!
You look like someone from beautiful Paris.
Safe drive and Take Care,
Kaye
Aw, you’re so kind, Kaye. I don’t feel that way but I very much appreciate your sweet comment.
Stay safe, my friend.
“I am a gray-haired older woman to all these people even though that’s not how I feel inside. Inside, I feel younger and thinner and fascinating.”
Amen, sister!
You just described EXACTLY how I feel!
I look in the mirror and say, “Is this me?” Really? “This is what I look like?”
(I somewhat refuse to own that!)
Come to think of it, I think what I just quoted as me-talking-to-me is a line straight out of the movie, “It’s Complicated” with Meryl Streep. She looks at herself in the bathroom mirror with a sort of shock. Of course she was high at the time! (The character, not Meryl.)
Thanks, Vicki.
It’s very hard for me to accept, that’s for sure.
Stay safe.
One may not always be thinner, and it’s impossible physically to be younger, but one’s capacity to be an enduringly fascinating person doesn’t dim or fade. You’ve done a spectacular job remaining fascinating., Claudia. Just ask Don…
Oh bless you, Wendy. Thank you for that.
Stay safe.
And you are younger, thinner annd fascinating because who you are is what’s inside. Lovely zinnias. It’s been quite mild here today just two months till Christmas. Yikes! Hugs, Elaine
Thanks so much, Elaine.
Stay safe.
I’m the same way, Claudia – an introvert who needs lots of quiet time. My mom had a couple of strokes last week. They expect her to recover, but she’s in a rehab facility now and people come in all day to introduce themselves and explain things. Not only is it a lot of information, but it’s a lot of socializing. When I get home at the end of the day, all I want to do is veg out!
aw, jenny …
so sorry about your mother’s health trouble, but glad that help is available (even if it is exhausting and overwhelming at times).
it sounds like you are being a great advocate for your mother. hope you get enough sleep and time to do things that are helpful and relaxing to you, too.
i will keep praying for your mother and you.
sending hugs (if okay),
kathy
Thank you so much, Kathy!
I’m sorry to hear about your mom, Jenny, but encouraged by her prognosis. This must be extremely stressful for you and a source of worry. Sending love and prayers for your mom’s recovery and strength for you.
Stay safe.
Um hm, missy. Let me tell you this straight up. Younger ain’t all it’s cracked up to be. Younger is often stupid (and I mean seriously stupid). And boring! You get to grow old if you’re lucky. I personally like the invisibility that comes from being an older woman. I get to observe more because people don’t even notice I’m there. Far as I’m concerned, those observations give me an edge. And to people who love and know me, I am far from invisibIe. Thinner ain’t all it’s cracked up to be either. Look at all those people with scraggly necks and bony hands and flat bums. Sure, they’re thin, but they have no shape, no softness. That softness and those curves are womanly. Embrace them. Gray hair is awesome too! In fact, it’s downright gorgeous. We are every bit as worthy of spending time on ourselves as we were in our early 20s — it’s just that many of us don’t. I think that’s a shame. Oh, and one last thing? You ARE fascinating. There are a lot of us who think so, too. Claudia on a roll is great! I just wish we were all sitting around the fireplace, sipping a glass of wine, and letting it rip. But since we can’t, we have this. The civil discussion of varying viewpoints is interesting, and exposure to others’ ideas is enlightening and stimulating. Boors not invited. I hope you enjoy your convention and come back brimming with new ideas and a potential new friend or two. How exciting!
Thanks so much for your kind words, Elizabeth. Bless you.
Stay safe.
I think I’ll make a little sign and hang it in my laundry room!
” Inside, I feel younger and thinner and fascinating.”
….. Claudia
You are the best, Lottie!
Stay safe.
Thank you, I appreciate your prayers!
I had to laugh when you wrote you’d be the oldest person in the room. It’s the same with me. (Although sometimes — at an event — I look at all the gray hair and think “what will happen to this when these people die?”
Don’t know when I’ll be reading the Osmun but I am looking forward to it and glad that it is holding up — I love those characters!
It’s his best yet!
Stay safe, Jeanie.
Forget about being self-conscious about your age just go and enjoy yourself at the WOP event. With all those Blythe goodies on display nobody will be looking at you! I’m sure it will be exhausting though ;)
You’re right. They’ll be looking at all the wonderful and expensive Blythe creations!
Stay safe, Deborah.
I guess it is a good thing that you still feel like a younger person. I feel younger inside too most days. It would be sad to feel old. Sometimes I have to remind myself that the older people I see every day were once young and are still the same person just with wrinkles and gray hair. You should see them dance at the clubhouse and do lots of work. One woman runs the little restaurant here and caters large dinners. She is energetic on the dance floor and looks great at 86. I wish I had her energy.
Enjoy our event and enjoy relaxing afterwards.
The flowers are stunning.
I hope that I have that kind of energy at 86!
Stay safe, Kay.