TREASURE HUNT TUESDAY

I know, I know it is Wednesday.  And how do I know that?  Because, thank goodness, it tells me so on the upper corner of my computer.  Otherwise I wouldn't have a clue.

So, Treasure Hunt Tuesday was coined by a former neighbor of mine from Nooksack.  The local thrift store, Second Chance, opens it's doors on Tuesdays after decorating the store on Mondays.

Well, they used to.  Many of us have made Tuesday mornings a social event.  I'm always looking for this and that and doo dahs, but the best is seeing friends and getting hugs.  Hugs need to last for 20 seconds to be effective in love, relieving stress, and well-being.  I always came away refreshed and feeling loved.

Here are a few of the doo dahs I have acquired there and am awaiting the inspiration to incorporate them into something awesome.  Sometimes I have these things around for years before the spirit moves me.

So, here I sit, eating my favorite breakfast:  2 poached duck eggs on a bed of sautéed vegetables.

And, of course, coffee in my Cougar Cup.

Planning my busy day ahead, ahem.

Yesterday I went to my friend's place to see her garden.  It is so gorgeous.  I like to joke about visiting my garden there, because I gave her so many of my perennials when I left the farm.  She also has about a 1/2 acre garden for flowers and veges.  She gave me this flat of starts that she didn't need.  My Sweet Peas are doing well, but I don't have as many as I would like and it is too late to start them by seed.

So, today I will plant these.  Yesterday I planted zucchini and spaghetti squash and will train them to climb on my bed springs.  I'm only allowed pot gardens since I rent.  My back deck is prime territory, and I will share more of it later.

Listening to Dixie Chicks on Pandora this morning.

Keep singing and dancing.  Good for the soul.

FELTING SNAFUS

This is my favorite coffee cup these days.  Things just go better with a good cuppa.  I'm drinking a lot, but mostly decaf, so I don't feel too guilty.

I bought this piece of felt at an estate sale and thought I could use it for some projects, as long as I touched up the felting.  So here it is, in the well, ready to start felting.  Sadly, it is not made of 100% protein fiber, and all my work was to no avail.  It will become a very big needle felting project.

Not to be dismayed, I made three 12x12" pieces and will probably make more today.  I have a great project in mind for these.

Bah!

It has rained, and rained, and rained.  My spirits have been lifted by the recent warm, sunny weather, and down they slid with the rain.

I really like this.  I have a large piece of felt that I need to work on, and I think I will use this as inspiration.  This will be a long project.

I have been reading that men don't like to wear masks because it makes them appear weak.  Hmmm, that is probably why the 45th doesn't wear one.  So any hoo, this is my son, Michael, ready to head to the grocery store.  He is the only one in his family that goes shopping.  My friend made the mask and he really likes it.  He is not weak, nor does he worry about appearing so.

This is my new wind chime that I made from doo dahs and this and thats.  I like to string beads and hang them in my tree.  I was inspired by the spirit garden in A LITTLE CHAOS.  If you haven't seen that movie, do.  It's wonderful.

So, what shall I do today?  I am withdrawing from a drug I have taken for 8 years, and it is not a pleasant experience.  The fatigue is overpowering, and the pain intense.  And, I don't get much sleep, accompanied by anxiety.  Research has shown me that this could go on for another two weeks or months.  It's hard enough to keep a positive attitude during these COVID times, but if I can keep busy, I will survive!!

THERE'S A SMELL IN THE AIR

I was a bit groggy when I woke up this morning.  So groggy that I placed my coffee cup upside down on the Keurig.  This is how I get my house cleaned.  Accidents lead to work.

These are the flowers that I collected for Mother's day,  including the carnation brought to me by the Instacart delivery woman.  Below are the remaining Alliums from my back deck.  The honey bees love them.

It is the time to battle the Yellow Jacket.  I have discovered from a friend that they are terrified of wasps, and will avoid them.  So, I have knitted a fake wasp nest and will hang it beneath my eaves on the back deck.  It's not really the right color, so I consider it the sampler.  I will be receiving a mushroom colored yarn to make more.  Can you believe that?  I had to order yarn.

We have gone from several days of warm (HOT) weather, to dark grey rainy days.  You would think I have lived here long enough, but I always have to remind myself that I am in farm country when I go around trying to find where "that smell" is coming from.  It's pretty ripe today as the farmers have been spreading the manure the last few days.  I call it "Dairy Air".

So many of you know that I am on dating sites in my constant endeavor to find my last love.

It is very interesting, entertaining, and frustrating.  You must be on your toes to detect the scammers.  I don't take any chances, and it is almost impossible to meet up with someone in person these days. 

Today I read a profile and I want to share what he said about love at our age:

Mature love is not an emotion, but rather an act of will, upon which the emotion of Joy grows.

I  was touched, and wrote to him immediately.

My order is in with Costco and they will be delivering later this afternoon.  Really, my house is so stocked up.  I made a commitment to a plant based diet two weeks ago and I depend on fresh vegetables.

My egg lady will be delivering me two dozen duck eggs today.  Life is good.

I started my day with MSNBC , but quickly changed to Mozart on Pandora.  Now it is B.B. King to add some energy.

Blessings to ALL.

Keep your chins up.

Find something positive to celebrate.

WELLNESS DURING THE CORONA VIRUS.

On March 18, 2020, I started a journal, keeping track of my emotions and needs during home lockdown.  I reviewed it today, and it is so depressing.  So, I have decided to re-activate my blog and keep track of my "happenings" here.

I began my self imposed "lock down" on March 2, earlier than most.  I can still see the expression on a friend's face when I told her she could not come in my house.  It was a sad day, and remains so.

She will drop by occasionally and we will converse through my kitchen window.  With the nicer weather, we have found that visiting outdoors, practicing social distancing, is a great solution to the "lonelies".

 

This is my favorite magazine.  It is the work of an organic farmer from the Moscow, Idaho area.  Since I recently embraced a plant based diet, this magazine is very helpful withe wonderful recipes and gardening ideas.  This issue, under the Health and Wellness News, contains an article on how social connections enhance physical health.  To quote:  "Social relationships are adaptive and crucial for survival".  We must find ways to interact, whether it be in person, a cow's length away from  one another, phone calls to loved ones, and facetime on the phone.  That reminds me I must facetime my Grandson and his dog.

Have a wonderful day and be possitive.

Flower

This is Flower, a rescue dog belonging to my oldest and bestest friend, Kris.

She got Flower at the Shelton City Dog Shelter, where she had to enter her name in a drawing to get her.  Kris visited Flower every day, and by the time of the drawing, it seems they were destined to be together.

To me, Flower seemed to be the perfect dog for Kris.  Please forgive me, Kris, but she even resembled you in some ways.  You know they say that people get dogs that look like them.

This picture was taken on a day that Flower was running around and around a big fir tree in order to get that dang squirrel.  She appeared at the front door looking like a Thanksgiving Day centerpiece, all decked out with fir branches and cones.

Flower's special gift was the ability to detect breast cancer.  Kris has a friend that Flower had gotten very personal with.  Every time she saw her, she would nuzzle both of her boobs.  Turns out this friend had cancer in both breasts.

Several years later, she started nuzzling Kris' left breast.  Kris remembered what had happened when Flower did that to her friend, so she made a doctor's appointment.  Sure enough, Kris had a small tumor.  After surgery, radiation, acupuncture and all the other things they recommend for those healing, Kris is in great health with a very small percentage for it re-occurring.

Thanks to Flower.

Sadly, Flower died shortly after Kris's surgery.

I always loved that dog, but especially because she was instrumental in saving my friends' life.

Hip Replacement and Weight Loss

I recently found out that I have to have a total hip replacement.  I'm really looking forward to it because I want to be mobile again.  I saw my surgeon on Tuesday, and let me tell you, he is drop dead gorgeous.  Young, of course, since everyone is young these days.  He looks a lot like Sheldon Cooper, but without the pinched look.  

Anyhow, he says I have to lose 30 pounds before the surgery.  I've already lost 30 pounds this year, but I want to do this quickly since I want to get this done soon.

I researched crash diets for surgery and found the Grapefruit Diet.  A bunch of us at work, back in my previous life, went on this many years ago.  I lost 20 pounds in two weeks!!!

I am hoping for the same success this time.

To help me along and to keep me on program, I am using a tool I used on my kids when they were young and it was December.

Oh, my gosh, on December 1st, they turned into little monsters.  My husband and I would look at each other and say "Where did our boys go?"

For several years, I would have them make a paper chain in green and red paper.  It consisted of 25 links.  Each boy was assigned a color, and each day, one link would be removed by the respective child.  This was amazingly effective.  It allowed them to see how long they had to wait.

Yesterday I made a chain for me consisting of 29 links, since I have already lost one pound.  I didn't have any nice paper on hand so I had to use tablet papers.

So, I am hoping to complete this by Christmas.  It would be the best of presents for me and my family.

Anyone want to join me?