July 2 - Massachusetts

What an excellent day I had today! My best friend came over, and we visited for hours! I have not seen her since before I left for Maine. It was sooo good to chat and get caught up :)

After some talk today, my friend opened the box marked "mix & match" - which I have (admittedly) put off for some time. Found just that inside. Living room decor. A random, but most welcome, missing book. My kitchen towels! Good grief I have tons of them...enough to outfit a small town. Etc. Well - she offered, I dared her, and it went from there!

After over 2 months of not being able to pick up a brush, I could not resist the siren song of my paints any longer. They were calling (loudly). Last week I painted my house plaque. I have a set of large concrete yard ornaments I kept from my grandmother; a "Dutch" boy and girl. They weigh a ton! And are badly in need of repainting. A friend of mine lugged one in for me, and I am working on it. The paint needs to cure for 3-4 days before being outside again.

Although I cannot work on canvases - my studio is not fit to work in yet - I was able to paint something. Makes me very happy!

I twisted my ankle Friday afternoon which precluded me from doing much this weekend. It is quite painful.

It was so good to see my friend today! It really made my weekend. Painting was the icing on the cake.

Yes, it was a very good weekend indeed :) Best friends are jewels; better than gold. Rare and highly cherished.

My heart and soul are overflowing with happiness and joy tonight :) These are the moments you hold close. Keep them tight, because they come in handy when times get rough. Light and goodness... they really do hold the world together.

 June 29 - Massachusetts

Been a busy week! Most of my books are put away except my reference books. Aside from all the "missings"...I do, however, have a lot of books with which I can now sit down and actually READ :) That makes me happy!

I got a replacement TV this week. My living room TV got severely damaged at some point (I do not think I have mentioned that). The TV was fairly new, and ended up with a deep scratch right across the middle which destroyed all the pixels. It was totally ruined. After conferring with my insurance company, they agreed to replace it. Got a new one delivered this week.

I also culled through my albums. The 33 1/3 kind you listen to with a quality phonograph. Which I do have (actually two). I only kept the ones I really want to listen to now. I am done with Anthrax, Iron Maiden, ELP & Led Zepplin. That was then; this is now.

Kept the obscure and the classics that still resonate: Joan Baez, Crosby Stills & Nash, Steve Forbert, Moody Blues, Simon & Garfunkel. And of course, ALL my Dylan!

That was a project I had put it off as it was rather intense, but am glad now it is done. For inquiring minds, yes - they are sorted alphabetically by singer/group. And (of course) in order of album release for those with more than one :) You would not expect anything less of me!

Tomorrow I need to do a bit of housekeeping. My BFF is coming over Sunday, and we have not seen each other in months. Not since before I went to Maine last winter. I am really looking forward to seeing her and spending time chatting! I have planned some upscale-type apps.

Wish I was traveling this summer, but circumstances curtail it. I will visit my sister and her S.O. in Maine and have a short trip planned at the end of summer, but that is about it for this year. Leaves more for next!

There is one more place I really must go, and the threads are working through my mind. I also would not mind revisiting parts of Canada. That was such an amazing trip!

Stay tuned my friends!

June 25 - Massachusetts

Hard to believe it is almost the end of June already! Fourth of July is the week after this!

Had a busy week with  errands and appointments. Got a much-needed haircut Friday. I cannot say enough good things about Sara, the lady who cuts my hair at Owen Jacobs salon. She is awesome! It always lifts my spirits :)

Between appointments & errands I did not have as much time as I wanted to deal with things here at home.

The book thing really did throw me for quite a loop. Previously I had 9 full bookcases. I now have 3 (and 1 small one in the bedroom). Quite an adjustment. Had to order one more for the living room for books that were in my previous bedroom and survived unscathed.

I did continue this week & have pretty much reached the end. Made a list of my missing favorites. They will take some time to replace. Still cursing the previous downstairs people as I go along. It is so hard to forgive what they did and caused, knowing what they did and mostly did not do.

On the up-side (there always is one, at least in my world)...

I do have new flowers blooming in my yard! THAT makes me happy! The teacup roses are in full bloom. I also have clusters of miniature sunflowers, and a lot of day lillies! And more :) Take a look! Stay tuned, folks. The next few weeks will be hectic! :)

Miniature sunflowers

Daisies

 

Not sure what these are, but they're pretty

Daylillies

Think these may be primroses!