Super Moon August 2023

Certainly not the best pictures. We ended yesterday with a movie, Rescued by Ruby, and taking a look at the Super Moon. According to new hype this was supposed to be the closest the Moon would be to Earth in a very long time.

Did you get to see it?

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If you shop on Amazon, eBay or Zazzle you can use the affiliate links below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you! 

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(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb  

(eBay) https://ebay.us/4IPcOx  

(Zazzle) https://www.zazzle.com/store?rf=238220271190296674   

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Back with more again soon. 

Take care and stay cozy! 

 

Just a Quick Note

The sisters visit continues. Much time spent laughing till crying. Enjoying this so much. 

We are headed out to breakfast soon.

Gotta go for now.

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If you shop on Amazon, eBay or Zazzle you can use the affiliate links below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you! 

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(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb  

(eBay) https://ebay.us/4IPcOx  

(Zazzle) https://www.zazzle.com/store?rf=238220271190296674   

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Back with more again soon. 

Take care and stay cozy! 

 

The Sisters Arrived

By midday both of my sisters were here. All the chatter began and Jim interrupted it to ask if we were ever going to eat dinner. Since I had chicken in the crockpot, all I needed to do to finish up was cook a pot of rice and put together a salad. Tada! Dinner!

After dinner more conversation and a game of 5 Crowns. If you are a card game type of family and you don't have this game, you should change that right away. I'll even help you with that by leaving affiliate links to the card game and some scoring sheets from Amazon if you wish. I will tell you that I always just use paper, but the score sheet idea seems kind of nice.

For the card game go here > https://amzn.to/3Ph9Ope

For the score sheets go here > https://amzn.to/45tKqSW  

Back with more again soon. 

Take care and stay cozy! 

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If you shop on Amazon, eBay or Zazzle you can use the affiliate links below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you! 

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(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb  

(eBay) https://ebay.us/4IPcOx  

(Zazzle) https://www.zazzle.com/store?rf=238220271190296674   

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Dinner Tonight

With the sisters arriving today I am planning a crock pot dinner. I usually do that when I have folks traveling here. The ability to cook and hold a dinner till everyone has arrived and is hungry makes crockpots a great tool for getting dinner on the table.

I am making Creamy Parmesan Chicken Thighs. (<recipe link included if you are curious) This recipe is new to me, and I am hoping it turns out well. My sisters aren't picky but they are good cooks, and I usually am just eating for survival making very simple meals.

Leaving you all for now. Got some last minute things to do. I am hoping to not break my daily streak of posting and will find a few minutes each morning to write a bit of babble.

Back with more again soon. 

Take care and stay cozy! 

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If you shop on Amazon, eBay or Zazzle you can use the affiliate links below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you! 

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(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb  

(eBay) https://ebay.us/4IPcOx  

(Zazzle) https://www.zazzle.com/store?rf=238220271190296674   

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Remembering August 27, 2016

I took this photo from our boat on Jackson Lake inside of Grand Teton National Park. The fire here had started in the backcountry of the park and burned its way to the shores of the lake. I will never forget the heat, the smell and the sounds of the fire moving through the brush and trees. This part of the fire was allowed to burn since it threatened no structures or people. 

This picture shows the same area the next year. It will take a long time for the trees to come back but in the meantime the wildflowers take advantage of the increased direct sunlight. The scars are definitely there amidst the beauty. I always loved going to that part of the lake when we had a boat. Not to be morbid but I have let my kids know it would please me to have my ashes scattered in the water there. That is unless I decide to turn myself into compost which seems like a more carbon neutral kind of thing to do. I dislike the idea of cemeteries and no one goes there anyway.

With my mother's passing it seems to be more important than ever to get my end of life planning done. The goal is to make it easy on those I will be leaving behind after all I am 68 years old now.

Do you think about these things? What planning have you done? 

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If you shop on Amazon, eBay or Zazzle you can use the affiliate links below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you! 

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(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb  

(eBay) https://ebay.us/4IPcOx  

(Zazzle) https://www.zazzle.com/store?rf=238220271190296674   

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Back with more again soon. 

Take care and stay cozy! 

 

National Dog Day August 26th

Today, August 26th, is National Dog Day. The picture here is of our last dog. His name was Patches. Listening with one ear up and one ear down was so typical of him. He was hard to walk, he always pulled, not socialized and only got along with one other dog ever, could play fetch like a pro and could even pick up a basketball. If I didn't make my bed in the morning before leaving for work, I was very likely to find all my bedding waiting for me at the back door when I came home. We all loved him anyway.

When he passed away Jim and I decided no more dogs for us. We wanted to be free of having to find care for a dog if we wanted to travel. At that time, we were living in Arizona and away from family, so it made sense to us. I have been blessed to know a lot of dog enhanced families and I love to visit them. On this day, National Dog Day, I hope you have a dog in your life to scratch behind the ears and see a wagging tail.

Back with more again soon. 

Take care and stay cozy! 

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If you shop on Amazon, eBay or Zazzle you can use the affiliate links below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you! 

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(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb  

(eBay) https://ebay.us/4IPcOx  

(Zazzle) https://www.zazzle.com/store?rf=238220271190296674   

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Threshold Podcast

I started my podcast listening this morning by hearing the latest episode of one of my favorites, Threshold. Today's episode was a bonus that had more information about what was covered in Season 1 which was about the Yellowstone bison herd. This herd is the largest wild bison herd in the world. I learned that a new management plan could be in the works for this herd and that it may limit the amount of animals sent to slaughter. That could be good news for one of the most majestic animals in our country or even the world.

I highly recommend this podcast if you are at all interested in a podcast about people and the planet. Season 1, Oh Give Me a Home, covers the history of the bison in America. Season 2, Cold Comfort, covers the change coming to the Artic region and the people who live there. Season 3, The Refuge, covers the controversy of drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge. Season 4, Time to 1.5, will inform you about the debates, actions and consequences of maintaining less than a 1.5 degree increase in world average temperatures or not. 

If you think you might be interested in this type of podcast, you can find Threshold on all the major podcast apps or go directly to Threshold (thresholdpodcast.org) The website is filled with information about the episodes, including photos and show notes. You can also learn about and find ways to support the nonprofit organization that produces this award-winning reporting.

Do you listen to Threshold already or would you consider adding it to your podcast list? Let me know in the comments. As always, I would love to hear from you and so would the big handsome guy to the left.

Back with more again soon. 

Take care and stay cozy! 

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If you shop on Amazon, eBay or Zazzle you can use the affiliate links below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you! 

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(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb  

(eBay) https://ebay.us/4IPcOx  

(Zazzle) https://www.zazzle.com/store?rf=238220271190296674   

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One Year Ago Today

One year ago today our master bathroom was being redone. We did away with the bathtub and put in a large, bathtub size, tiled shower. We had new cabinet and sink installed and tile on the floor. Instead of a large sheet of mirror we now have a framed mirror over the new sink. New lights were installed too, 3 in the ceiling and 2 wall sconces on either side of the mirror. One of the ceiling lights was put in over the shower. We did not have a light over the tub before and I am so glad we did that.

Using this redesigned space for a year now there is nothing I would change. I suppose that means with the help and guidance of a great contractor we made all the right choices. Now if I could become braver about paint colors on the walls. I have a boring cool white through the whole house. 

I have a confession to make. I had no idea what to write about this morning. I checked on National Day Calendar and found no inspiration, so I went to Google photos and searched for this day, August 24th. This shower project is what I found. Determined to write something here every day and so far I have not missed a day since June 16th, you get to see my shower in progress.

Thanks for reading this far. Do you have a favorite photo or memory for this day? Feel free to leave a comment. I would love to hear from you. If no one is there reading that is okay too. I still have the same goal. To start each day with a bit of writing right here.

Back with more again soon. 

Take care and stay cozy! 

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If you shop on Amazon, eBay or Zazzle you can use the affiliate links below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you! 

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(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb  

(eBay) https://ebay.us/4IPcOx  

(Zazzle) https://www.zazzle.com/store?rf=238220271190296674   

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Invasion by Robin Cook

Author Robin Cook

I have been spending more time reading lately. Part of this is because when I crochet or knit, I am having trouble with my right wrist and up my lower arm becoming painful. I keep hoping rest will fix it, but I am not seeing much improvement yet. Maybe I need to start using the track pad on computers instead of my mouse? Maybe I should get some kind of brace/compression thing? Maybe I should see a doctor about it? The last I don't really want to do because I don't want a doctor telling me I need to completely give up hobbies that bring me such joy. I keep thinking about the old joke...

Patient, "Doctor, it hurts when I do this." Doctor, "Don't do that".

That all brings me to the book I finished yesterday. I read Invasion by Robin Cook. Robin Cook's first bestselling book Coma, published in 1977 set the standard for medical thrillers and medical or legal or political thrillers are always favorites. Since then, he has written more that 30 best sellers.

In this book the theme isn't all medical though. The story is more science fiction. The aliens do come and want to change humans by taking over their minds and bodies with a virus left on Earth long ago and activated to create the invasion that is named by the title of the book, so they quit messing up Earth. Humans, with all their flaws do manage to stop the invasion in the end. I was left wondering which is better a cleaner planet filled with aliens or flawed human continuing to mess things up but able to fully live and love as always. The ending was very abrupt and I would have liked what a lot of authors do and end with a 6 month later kind of last chapter to learn the outcomes.

I have read other books by Robin Cook and they include Contagion, Chromosome 6, Toxin, and Fatal Cure. 

Have you read anything by Robin Cook? Do you have any other medical thriller type authors you like? Please share them in the comments. I'd love to hear from you!

 Back with more again soon. 

Take care and stay cozy! 

All links in this post are affiliates. I could earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. You would earn many thanks from me.

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If you shop on Amazon, eBay or Zazzle you can use the affiliate links below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb  

(eBay) https://ebay.us/4IPcOx  

(Zazzle) https://www.zazzle.com/store?rf=238220271190296674   

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Back with more again soon. 

Take care and stay cozy! 

 

Wishing and Hoping

We've been busy around here. Nothing exciting, just all the regular chores. Jim has added some new plantings in the yards. We have new red bird of paradise bushes in one of the flower beds in the back yard and a new lantana plant in the front by the driveway. We have a new tree to look at outside the kitchen window. The one that was there before was young and did not make it through the extreme heat while we were gone on our 2 week road trip in July. We planted the same type of tree, Bonita Ash. Our landscaper, Max, redid the watering system for the plants in front of the house. We had discovered that in our more that 10 year old system there were leaks that kept the plants from getting what they needed to do well. They should all start doing better now.

I have been working inside to cozy up our guest rooms. We are having company next week. My sisters, both of them, are coming for a short visit. Of course, you want guests to be comfortable. The upstairs bathroom will be checked for fresh towels, toiletries etc. I have some of the menus planned and will be making up my shopping list but not send Jim shopping until later in the week. I want the fresh food to be fresh when they get here.

So, looking at the picture with today's post you may have figured out that this is where I am wishing and hoping I could be. Don't get me wrong, the visit should be great and the disruption of my daily routines for a couple of days will be fine and even fun. I do enjoy the company of my sisters but after that could I just be by the sea, with a book, a cool drink and snacks, the sound of gulls and the water in my ears, dreaming about where that little boat has been and where it will go next?

Do you have a favorite place in your mind or real life that you would like to escape to? Leave a comment and let me know all about it. 

Back with more again soon. 

Take care and stay cozy! 

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If you shop on Amazon, eBay or Zazzle you can use the affiliate links below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you! 

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(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb  

(eBay) https://ebay.us/4IPcOx  

(Zazzle) https://www.zazzle.com/store?rf=238220271190296674   

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The Chemistry of Love by Sariah Wilson

Last night I finished reading The Chemistry of Love by Sariah Wilson. This was something I read on my Kindle. I use the Kindle for reading a bit each night in bed before I go to sleep. I love the luxury of reading in bed and with the Kindle I don't need to have a light on which is good because that would disturb Jim. I always have a real book around for reading during the day too.

So, about Ms. Wilson, this is from her about page on Amazon where all her books are available.

"Sariah Wilson is the USA Today bestselling author of The Chemistry of Love, The Paid Bridesmaid, The Seat Filler, Roommaid, Just a Boyfriend, the Royals of Monterra series, and the #Lovestruck novels. She happens to be madly, passionately in love with her soul mate and is a fervent believer in happily ever afters—which is why she writes romance. She currently lives with her family and various pets in Utah and harbors a lifelong devotion to ice cream. For more information, visit her website at www.sariahwilson.com."

I like the positive thinking of believing in happily ever after. A home life created with family and pets and ice cream sounds like a lovely place to be. 

The Chemistry of Love was the first book I have read by this author. I will be putting others on my Wish List which is very long but I hope to read most of it in time. The story involves misplaced affections, changing to a fairy tale happily ever after. The path between that start and the end was fun to read. Some of the feelings expressed by the two female best friends seemed a bit adolescent rather that the thoughts of college educated female scientists, but I guess I can accept that emotional development and intellect don't advance in all of us at the same time or pace. At least Anna, the main character, eventually gave up her infatuation, I won't call it love, with the bad boy and found the nice brother to fall in love with. This kind of lighthearted story is perfect for bedtime reading and I don't regret a minute spent turning the virtual pages.

I need to let you know the links to the book in this post are affiliate links and I could earn a small commission from qualified purchases, of course, at no cost to you.

So, do you read from a Kindle, real paper books or like me do some of both? Let me know, would love to hear from you!

Back with more again soon. 

Take care and stay cozy! 

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If you shop on Amazon, eBay or Zazzle you can use the affiliate links below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb  

(eBay) https://ebay.us/4IPcOx  

(Zazzle) https://www.zazzle.com/store?rf=238220271190296674   

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Lost Light by Michael Connelly

I finished reading Lost Light by Michael Connelly yesterday afternoon. The main character of this and many other books by Michael Connelly is Harry Bosch. Those of you not into books might know this character from the Amazon Prime series Bosch. Even though I thought that series was very well done, and I read this book seeing the actor who played Harry in my mind as I read, nothing is better than the book. In a book you can get more depth because an author can put all the thinking and feelings in and let you understand so much more. 

In this book Harry Bosch has retired from the Los Angeles Police Department. He has an old unsolved case that he just can't let go. Of course, hero that he is, it does get solved. Michael Connelly wrote a book with a path full of twists and turns, characters likeable and not likeable at all, with complicated lives and feelings that lead to a story that kept me turning pages all day to get to the resolution and end.

Other books I have read by Connelly include...

• Void Moon 
• The Last Coyote
• Angels Flight
• maybe some others I have forgotten.
  

 The links to books in this post are Amazon Affiliate Links. I could earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. You could earn my thanks for reading and clicking.

Have you read any books by Micheal Connelly? Do you have another favorite author you would like to share with me in the comments? I'd love to hear from you!

Back with more again soon. 

Take care and stay cozy! 

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If you shop on Amazon, eBay or Zazzle you can use the affiliate links below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you! 

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(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb  

(eBay) https://ebay.us/4IPcOx  

(Zazzle) https://www.zazzle.com/store?rf=238220271190296674   

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First Jobs

In the old days, by that I mean in the first few years after high school, I poured greenware in a ceramic shop. I still am amused by the idea that I never took an art class in school and my first three jobs were art and crafty ones. I made shadow boxes for exotic butterfly displays, I worked in a Tandy Leather store and learned Western style leather carving and I worked in the ceramic shop. 

The plate you see here wasn't done by me. My boss, the shop owner made it for me as a gift. It has always been on a wall someplace in every home I have had since I married. Is it great art? Not really. It does make me happy to know, however, that someone cared enough to make something just for me. Of course, old hippie that I am, the theme of peace in the world pleases me too. Married to a sailor, I still dream of a world where a warrior class it no longer needed. I know that won't happen, but a girl can dream, right?

Did anyone ever make a gift just for you? Have you kept it? Share in the comments. Would love to hear about any and all relevant things you have to share.

Back with more again soon. 

Take care and stay cozy! 

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If you shop on Amazon, eBay or Zazzle you can use the affiliate links below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you! 

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(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb  

(eBay) https://ebay.us/4IPcOx  

(Zazzle) https://www.zazzle.com/store?rf=238220271190296674   

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Mail Order Catalogs to Online Shopping

The Wards Catalog you see here is from the year I graduated from high school, 1973. It is for sale on eBay and you can check out the listing by clicking on this (affiliate) link. At that time in my life, I probably would have been waiting for it or the Sears catalog to show up at our house. Those catalogs were huge and offered several thousand items for sale. I would have spent days going through it page by page and dreaming about what I could buy.

 I don't remember ever buying much from catalogs, maybe because money earned from babysitting didn't go very far, but I remember dreaming about the lovely wardrobe I could have. The catalog made it easy with all the options of style, size and color laid out in clear photographs for you. It wasn't just clothing either. You could get household goods, fabric, toys, tools and so much more. The fall/winter catalogs were the best with all the holiday items in them! These two companies, Wards and Sears were the Amazon of their day. Gone now, both of them, lost to a changing world and retail environment where some of the best things still come by mail but the paper catalog is gone.

Is there a reason why I am taking this quick browse through those memories this morning? Yes, dear reader, there is. As with most days I sat down with my first cup of coffee and went to the National Day Calendar website and found out that today, August 18th, is Mail Order Catalog Day and I wanted to let you know that. 

My question for you today is this, do you get that same dreamy feeling scrolling all the big sites have to offer like you did when turning from page to page of a very large catalog and maybe marking the things you would like to have?

Back with more again soon. 

Take care and stay cozy! 

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If you shop on Amazon, eBay or Zazzle you can use the affiliate links below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you! 

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(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb  

(eBay) https://ebay.us/4IPcOx  

(Zazzle) https://www.zazzle.com/store?rf=238220271190296674   

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One Social Media

I deleted my accounts on Facebook, Instagram and even Pinterest. The folks I liked to hear from and about weren't on those much and people I would rather not be in contact with were there way too much. My family is fractured, and I accept it.

I kept twitter though. I like all the sharing that happens among authors, photographers, eBay and Etsy sellers of fine vintage or handmade goods and artists that have things to sell on Zazzle, Red Bubble and Fine Art America. I share posts of theirs and they share mine with the followers we each have. It extends our reach. All the sharing is well intentioned and without drama. Sometimes it may even result in a sale. I know that because I have had Etsy sales I can connect to twitter. I do let my lefty Democrat thinking show at rare times, but I try not to be insulting but instead just passing on facts.

I get and give occasional comments from some of those that I share part of my morning with. In sharing what they have to offer I feel like I am putting a bit of good karma into the world. Some of those on twitter amaze me with their talents and some amuse me with their point of view. Some I feel that if we met in real life we would sit over a cup of coffee or tea and chatter for hours like old friends. I hope there are some out there in the X (the social media platform formerly known as Twitter) universe that feel the same about me.

It feels like my days on my last social media are being threatened. I use Tweetdeck as a tool for my sharing and resharing. The notification list I can make, for now, in the old version of Tweetdeck tells me exactly what I need to know about who had reposted, liked or commented on any of the content I put out there. It also tells me when that had happened so I can tell who I need to return reposting favors to since the last time I did it. You can't get that kind of information from the Notification feed on your X home page.

Yesterday I read that going forward you will need to be verified at $8.00 a month for Tweetdeck to be available to use. I do post affiliate links and get a bit, a very small bit from those, but not consistently enough to pay for paying to be verified. Even if I did cough up the money, if forced to use the preview of a new Tweetdeck version, I would be in the same mess I am fearing is the future of using this social media platform. The preview of the new version of Tweetdeck or is it Xdeck, is nothing more than what I can get from my X profile page Notification link. That sucks. I will be so sad if Elon breaks twitter, yes I said twitter and not X, but the further he goes into remaking it the worse it seems to get.

I'll hold on as long as I can and try to learn to use the ever decreasing tools available to me. If I have to let it go I will still be here blogging in my own personal echo chamber. That is unless Google breaks Blogger. Let's not let our thoughts go there considering I still miss Google Reader and the old, personalized Google homepage you could create.

Back with more again soon. 

Take care and stay cozy! 

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If you shop on Amazon, eBay or Zazzle you can use the affiliate links below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb  

(eBay) https://ebay.us/4IPcOx  

(Zazzle) https://www.zazzle.com/store?rf=238220271190296674   

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Rain and Weekends

It only lasted a very few minutes, but we had some rain yesterday afternoon! Our neighborhood seems to be in a very dry bubble. The storms much of the time are all around us but we stay dry. Any time we get some rain it is so enjoyable! We do have a chance of more this weekend. Here's to rain and a weekend of preseason football. Have you made any plans for your weekend yet? I wonder about how others handle weekends when retired. Is the idea of work week and weekend all gone? I know I try to avoid shopping during weekends when the shops would be more crowded by those who are off for those, to them, two precious days.  Anyway take care and happy hump day.

Back with more again soon. 

Take care and stay cozy! 

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If you shop on Amazon, eBay or Zazzle you can use the affiliate links below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb  

(eBay) https://ebay.us/4IPcOx  

(Zazzle) https://www.zazzle.com/store?rf=238220271190296674   

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Jim Cooks, Sometimes

created with Bing Image Creator

Sometimes Jim gets me and sometimes he doesn't. Isn't that the way of most relationships? Not always sunshine and rainbows but that's okay. I asked him on Saturday if he would commit to cooking dinner one night a week. He does the grocery shopping and so I thought it would help him understand the process better if he was doing some meal planning too. This gave me one day a week when I didn't have to think about and spend time preparing dinner. He could do this on any afternoon he wished after he watched his daily Judge Judy show. 

He made dinner on Sunday and last night too and then started to tell me what he has planned for the next few days. The problem is he tends to cook big and then has no plan for the leftovers. I need to help him change this since I hate to throw away food. Not only that, but he missed my point. I didn't want a "break" for a week and then he would quit, I wanted him to cook one day each week. So, this new to him habit is a work in progress and will need gentle, diplomatic nudging from me since, like most adults, he doesn't like being managed.

Getting this habit established will benefit both of us, I hope.

Back with more again soon. 

Take care and stay cozy! 

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If you shop on Amazon, eBay or Zazzle you can use the affiliate links below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb  

(eBay) https://ebay.us/4IPcOx  

(Zazzle) https://www.zazzle.com/store?rf=238220271190296674   

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On a Monday

Created with Bing Image Creator

Building habits can seem like such a simple thing, but sometimes it can be hard to keep routines going. This year all that I built into my day to get things done and stay healthy was tossed aside because of the needs of my mother. I was with her and at her house from mid February to mid June. 

One chore that was easy to keep going, even while caring for mom, was doing my personal laundry on Mondays and since today is Monday that is what I will do once I finish this post. While things are in the washer and dryer I will be catching up on retweets or is it reXing now? Does that make me a multitasker?

Since I've been home, I decided to blog daily. I don't always have grand ideas about what to write and I find myself going between random bits of life like books, making, or what I am watching or like today laundry and the occasional affiliate post. I just wanted this to work as an exercise in finding my own voice now that I am not constrained by the judgments from a very different and opinionated lady and using this blog to make note of my days.  I have been posting daily since June 16th and feeling pretty good about that.

I have also finished 2 weeks of daily yoga. Boy am I out of practice! I do feel better after doing something physical though and so I added this to my morning routine after I spend time on the computer each morning. So, laundry on Monday, blogging, reXing, and yoga fill my mornings and help me feel ready for whatever comes next.

Today I am asking you, do you have morning or evening routines that help frame the passage of time? I have found that without the necessities of kids and school schedules, they are all grown up, or Jim and his jobs, he has retired, I need to create my own systems to keep me from spending all day on the couch reading a book and letting everything else go.

Back with more again soon. 

Take care and stay cozy! 

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If you shop on Amazon, eBay or Zazzle you can use the affiliate links below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you! 

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(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb  

(eBay) https://ebay.us/4IPcOx  

(Zazzle) https://www.zazzle.com/store?rf=238220271190296674   

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Mine Now

As you can see from the small picture with my name on it, I painted this in 1997. At that time, I was part of a group of crafty women that I enjoyed very much. Most but not all of us worked as teacher's aides with the Title 1 program at an elementary school. We rotated the home we met at once a month. I have lost touch with those ladies over the years, and I miss that. 

One of the crafts we did together was tole or folk art painting. A couple of us, including me had scroll saws to cut out the wood we painted. So, I got this pattern from a book, cut and prepared the wood and then painted the design.

I gave this to my mother after it was finished. For all the years after, except on holidays when she had other decorations, it hung at her home just outside the front door. Her porch was shaded and protected from the weather so it has held up very well.

When she passed away, I took it back to bring to my home. It now hangs on my front door. I took these pictures of it at her house 2 years ago today. The house has been sold and it it my understanding that the new family is updating the kitchen, which is needed, before they move in. I hope they build a beautiful life there creating many fond memories like we did.

I want to keep it in good condition so I will need to keep an eye on it. I hope the Arizona heat and sun aren't too damaging to it. What I know so far is that I need a way to anchor it better to my front door. When the wind blows it bangs on the door a bit reacting to the gusts. That should be simple enough.

So my questions today if you choose to comment...

So, do you have anything in your home that comes from the home of a loved one that has passed away? Do you keep it in a place you can see it everyday to bring you comfort? All relevant comment are treasured and very welcome. Or just say hello, I'd love to hear from you.

Back with more again soon. 

Take care and stay cozy! 

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If you shop on Amazon, eBay or Zazzle you can use the affiliate links below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you! 

 

(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb  

(eBay) https://ebay.us/4IPcOx  

(Zazzle) https://www.zazzle.com/store?rf=238220271190296674   

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Cardinals Win!

Preseason football began this week. We spent last night watching a good game between the Denver Broncos at the Arizona Cardinals. At the very end of the game the Cardinals made a touchdown and an extra 2 points to win with a score of 17-18. I don't know that I am really ready for football but here we are. 

Next week our hometown Cardinals play the Kansas City Chiefs. I always like to watch the Chiefs play.

So today, dear reader or dare I hope for readers, what I want to know is if you are a football fan? What teams do you like? Have you written off football as a violent sport that causes harm to too many people? Comments are, as always, welcome if relevant.

Back with more again soon. 

Take care and stay cozy! 

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If you shop on Amazon, eBay or Zazzle you can use the affiliate links below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb  

(eBay) https://ebay.us/4IPcOx  

(Zazzle) https://www.zazzle.com/store?rf=238220271190296674   

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It is my son's birthday. This picture is more than 30 years old and was given as a Mother's Day present during his elementary school years.

He is spending today in a hospital working to get his health under control. Potassium and blood sugar are heading towards more normal ranges but not great yet. He got to eat some real hospital food yesterday after a couple days on a clear diet of broth and juices. Hopefully he will be home soon. Managing the diabetes that he has developed and that runs in my family will be his new challenge. 

In other news around here...

...there is no other news. We are retired and a bit boring. Computer, creating, reading, house chores, meals and a movie after dinner. Each day blending into the next. I am not complaining at all. I rather like when life is a bit boring.

We did watch the movie Barefoot on Prime Video last night. I really enjoyed it and Jim liked the parts he was awake for.

Going to get my second cup of coffee and start retweeting all those folks who have done the same for me in the last 24 hours. Do you follow me on twitter? You could say hello in a comment here on the blog. 

Back with more again soon. 

Take care and stay cozy! 

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If you shop on Amazon, eBay or Zazzle you can use the affiliate links below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb  

(eBay) https://ebay.us/4IPcOx  

(Zazzle) https://www.zazzle.com/store?rf=238220271190296674   

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Someone Else's Life by Lyn Liao Butler

I typically read for a bit in bed before going to sleep using a Kindle. With that device I can read without needing a light on, so I don't bother Jim. I also will read for a little while midday while getting a snack or lunch. I can't imagine my life without books. When I was young in the olden days, as a punishment I didn't get television watching taken away but books instead. This was when my parents wanted me to think about whatever it was I had done instead of going someplace better in a book.

Anyway, I recently finished reading Someone Else's Life (affiliate link) by Lyn Liao Butler. From Amazon's page for this book, it says...

A new life in paradise should have healed her wounds. But for a woman struggling to hold on to her family and her sanity, one stormy night could change everything.

I enjoyed this story but wouldn't put it in a top 10 list. I don't want to put any spoilers here but there was one last surprise at the end concerning the main character's little boy I didn't see coming, however the way the book ended I don't think it mattered or was necessary to the storytelling.

If you are interested, this book is available in all the usual formats on Amazon. What have you read and enjoyed lately? I would love to hear from you.

Back with more again soon. 

Take care and stay cozy! 

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If you shop on Amazon, eBay or Zazzle you can use the affiliate links below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb  

(eBay) https://ebay.us/4IPcOx  

(Zazzle) https://www.zazzle.com/store?rf=238220271190296674   

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New Challenges for My Son

I got some worrying news last night. My son ended up in an emergency room. His blood sugar was sky high. I didn't know it, but he had been having some classic symptoms for diabetes. So, know he knows why he has been feeling so bad and struggling with fatigue and thirst. This has set his life on a new, but manageable path.

He didn't know it, but this runs in our family. Grandmother, aunts, uncles and siblings all have this disease. I have been told I am prediabetic for more than 20 years now. I would love to stay in that stage and avoid all the testing and medicines for as long as I can. 

He was told yesterday that he will be in the hospital a couple days so he can be treated and started on his new regimen. Of course, he is not happy and is facing a life going forward looks much different to him now. He, however, is a smart guy and will figure this out. His wife is a good partner for him and together there is not much they can't do.

So today, no cheery silly post, but rather a bit of serious news that I wanted to make note of here.

Back with more again soon. 

Take care and stay cozy! 

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If you shop on Amazon, eBay or Zazzle you can use the affiliate links below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb  

(eBay) https://ebay.us/4IPcOx  

(Zazzle) https://www.zazzle.com/store?rf=238220271190296674   

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Dean Crouser, Watercolor Artist

Another souvenir from our recent road trip to share with you today. As you can see from the picture we bought a magnet with a watercolor image of an elk. The artist who created the original image is Dean Crouser. We found this at The Center of the West gift shop in Cody, Wyoming. A nice memory for a great day spent exploring the museums there.

I knew of this artist before we bought the magnet. His shop on Etsy was one of the first I ever followed. His shop there is filled with wonderful and lovely scenes of winter, wildlife or florals. In scanning his shop I found a new to me work to favorite. You can see it below. I wish I was sitting there under the Christmas lights with them. What about you?

If you have other places you like to shop better than Etsy, I can help you out with links to other shopping options. First, I want to mention that I have found the art of Dean Crouser in one form or another at nearly all national park gift shops anywhere in the country. My sister bought a cup and saucer set decorated with a hummingbird by this artist as a gift for a friend in the Yellowstone National Park gift shop. So, if you are out and about on a great American summer vacation in our national parks keep your eyes open.

Online shopping options...

Amazon search results for Dean Crouser https://amzn.to/3OnFMyx (affiliate link)

eBay search results for Dean Crouser https://ebay.us/OJYlI1 (affiliate link)

His work can also be found on...

The Art of Dean Crouser on crouserart.com

iCanvas at Dean Crouser - Canvas Prints & Wall Art | iCanvas

Demdaco at Dean Crouser: Bestselling, Watercolor Artist | DEMDACO

Wayfair at Wayfair | Dean Crouser All Wall Art You'll Love in 2023

Thanks for taking the time to read this far. Before you go, a question. Do you have a favorite art style or artist? Share your thoughts in a comment, please.

Back with more again soon. 

Take care and stay cozy! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you shop on Amazon, eBay or Zazzle you can use the affiliate links below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb  

(eBay) https://ebay.us/4IPcOx  

(Zazzle) https://www.zazzle.com/store?rf=238220271190296674   

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Exciting New Beginning

Last night I finished the knitting on the last modified by me, Reynas that I have planned with the yarns I have on hand. Of course, weaving in the ends and blocking are yet to happen but they will soon because those pieces are destined for eBay listings.

So, with Netflix on, I finished the newly released episodes of The Lincoln Lawyer, I started the next pattern in a series of planned projects. I am changing skills this time. This pattern is crocheted rather than knitted. I have crocheted longer than knitted so it is a bit like coming home to a friend. I really do enjoy the rhythm of the hooked stitches being worked and I haven't done much crocheting since I worked on market bags and some potholders.

The pattern this time is Summer Sprigs Lace Scarf by Esther Chandler which is a free download on Ravelry. The scarf starts with a long, an oh so very long, chain, 386+1 stitches. I have single crocheted across the chain and have begun the first patterned row which I think gives the scarf it's sprigs that are in the pattern name. The pattern is written for lace weight yarn but in the projects, I found that someone did it with Summer Nights by Lion Brand Yarn. Searching for patterns made with that yarn is what led me to this lovely pattern. It has over 500 projects recorded on Ravelry and lots more have been made I am sure because like me many yarnies may never get around to recording their projects. I think about it and then never get around to doing that.

So today I leave you with this question. What new beginning has been a part of your life that gave you a sense of excitement and joy? Large or small beginnings, doesn't matter, it is the joy and excitement that I would love for you to share in a comment.

Back with more again soon. 

Take care and stay cozy! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you shop on Amazon, eBay or Zazzle you can use the affiliate links below if you wish. I could earn a bit from qualified purchases and that means more yarn for me and many thanks to you! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Amazon) https://amzn.to/431rKIb  

(eBay) https://ebay.us/4IPcOx  

(Zazzle) https://www.zazzle.com/store?rf=238220271190296674   

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