Notes from a survivor

In celebration ofthe guy from Florida shutting down his blog due to lack of readership, I'm posting today. Was it because no one is really interested in what he has to say or is it because his ardent followers are barely literate? Hmmmm, who's to say. Anyway. I've survived the last several months by being cautious, wearing a mask in public, avoiding crowds, and enjoying a nice quiet life in my own yard. Seems the blogger has changed since last time I was here. Hopefuly all my fabulous stories and photos are still here fo everyone to enjoy. I did get vaccinated. Any smart person would. I decided to follow the science and do my part towards a community effort to combat this disease, the same way my parents did to combat polio in the 60's. The same way parents do when we have our children vaccinated from measles, rubella, mumps, chicken pox, etc. I don't get the anti vaxer movement. Enough of that. My garden is beautiful and bountiful so far. With all the sunny spots I have now, I've expanded the veggie garden. So many tomato plants. Can't wait till they are ripe. I've eaten all the lettuce and spring onions already. Had a lovely meal with collards and kale today. After the crazy snowstorm in February, the ornamental plants have done very well. Lots of blooms from bulbs. Jonquils. lilies, may apples, etc. have bloomed like never before. Plus cool temps and rain have stayed around for longer than usual. Hydrangeas are still looking good into this second day of June and blooming like nobody's business. I have enjoyed these many months at home and do not look forward to leaving any time soon.

Time flies when your nose is on the grindstone

 So, today I decided to look at my blog and found a whole new regime installed by the google. I was surprised the last post was in April!! Maybe not too surprised. Everyday is Blursday here, although I do know when Saturday rolls around because my sweet baby visits for the day. All those other days are spent in my veggie garden, sewing room, kitchen, or in front of the tube, watching as much left wing liberal news, fix it and cooking shows as I feel necessary. 

The really big excitement around the neighborhood this summer was the Cooper's (I think) hawk and mate flying around protecting their nest. Several days ago, the babies left the nest and all is quiet in the mornings now. Of course, we still have the owls all night. This is going on in a very urban area of Memphis. 

  Thanks to zoom, I have been able to participate with the peeps at Memphis Sewing Guild and Tennessee Craft-Southwest. At MSG, we've started having programs again. Maybe not as much fun as in person gathering, but it'll have to do for now. I love seeing everyone and what they are doing. 

TNCraft-SW has been able to put together some gallery shows in town. Big thanks to all who put in the hard work to pull it together and provide the artists with venues for our work. 

Someday, things will be different again, for better or worse. I'll be glad for the break I've had from a daily grind and having had the time to spend as I wish. 

These crazy days

It's all been different lately, hasn't it? The upside is the free time made available to many of us. My yard has occupied the majority of my time. Sewing masks for friends and worthwhile causes has filled a few hours, too. I was never one for going out and being the social butterfly, so I've been perfectly happy staying in the confines of my property these last several days. Of course, I miss hanging out with the gal pals, but thank the lord baby jesus, we have group texting.
Too bad we have that idiot in the White House on tv every day blathering his nonsense.

May apple

This is one of the many things in my yard that brings me some joy in these dreary days.

Crazy days

Isn’t this a strange time to be alive? This self enforced quarantine has been something of a blessing for those of us who like a lot of down time. I’m perfectly happy at home taking care of things that need to be done here. Getting some yard work accomplished. Laundry is all caught up. Still haven’t cleaned house like I should have, but that’s going to get done regardless....although the kitchen is looking good. Been cooking and eating, which might be good or bad. If the weather clears up I can get out for a walk to burn up the carbs I’ve been consuming.
  My yard has been a welcome diversion these days. So many flowers. The lush greenery of spring. Makes me glad I’ve turned the yard into a crazy mish mash of plants. I spent the better part of yesterday pulling weeds and planting a small garden with lettuce and edibles that might come up or not. The ornamentals are lovely. Daffodils and may apples. Columbine ready to bloom any day now. Some of the hostas are poking up from the dirt too. As soon as I figure out to post photos from this device I’ll do so. I bought a chrome book and am learning that operating system...slowly...so maybe it will be easier to post from that if I can get Dropbox to cooperate. Fingers crossed.
  To anyone who reads this, I hope you are safe and staying healthy.  Fingers crossed for you and your family. Strange times.

So far,so good

The show at Buckman Center was a raging success as far as I'm concerned. We had a wonderful turnout at the reception and all the artwork was hung on the walls by somebody with exceptionally intuitive vision. It looked so cohesive, even though it was created by two artists, working in different media, and we got lots of positive responses. Some of the people at the reception went back a second time. That is so validating in my opinion.
  Plus, one of Memphis' well known artists bought a wall hanging, and much to my surprise. a couple of my photographs sold!! I had put them in the show mainly as reference to the inspiration for my fiber art works.
 Spring is making inroads here. The yard is coming alive, despite some damage from the local utility company's tree trimmers. After they had been in my yard, it looked like Godzilla had strolled through.
The gazing ball I've had for 23 years was smashed. I'm very angry and have not had a response to my call to tree company. Ugh.....
  Anyway....life goes on...I'm making sure my little great grandson gets the loving care and attention he needs and deserves. He is just so fucking adorable.

How life got in the way of blogging

Wow! I didn't realize how long it's been since I was last here until I got here. So much has happened- good and bad- this past year, I don't know where to start.
 My house improvements have all been good. The basement is finally drying out after decades of water leaking in. A major improvement was done on my screened in front porch. Once upon a time, in my old life, it was home to a dozen or so cats. Now, it is refreshed with new screens, paint (the ceiling is light blue and the swing is now white), and bright clean covers for the furniture. Plus a rug from the sale bin at Ikea.
  My love life, such as it was, is on hiatus. My choice and I'm happy for it.
  This past summer, I was awarded temporary custody of my sweet great grand son. He's living with his daddy now, since the first part of December, but he's here nearly every afternoon while daddy is at work. It was quite an adjustment, I must say, having a little one around. Jerry, the lone cat here, has been infinitely patient with being mauled and pulled at, with only an occasional hiss to express her displeasure. As much work as it is to have a baby around the house, it's also been fun to watch him grow into a sweet toddler.
  Now that these pesky holidays are past-whew-I can start to focus on getting my yard back in order for spring planting. Some trees were taken down before the roof project, then the one big tree that I left, developed a crack and was endangering my neighbor's house. So it went, too. Now there's a LOT of sun in that part of the yard and raised beds are going in to grow veggies. I've never had too much success with edibles since I had so much shade, so it should be fun to see what happens.
   This month, January 17th, my friend Frederique and I are having an exhibit of some of our artworks, that were inspired by visits to beaches. I'll try to post photos of the event. 
  Maybe I can find time to update this blog on a more regular basis, because I know all you followers out there were wondering what was going on with my wonderfully boring life!!!