A Walk in the Park - Ice and Mud

It’s been a while since we walked in the neighborhood park. It’s been too rainy and ugly. Whenever it’s really bad, we walk in the car garage of the condo building, or the neighborhood sidewalks if it’s cold but not raining. Last time the park was quite icy from the leftover snowstorm before Christmas. Now, the snow and ice starting to melt and the dirt paths turned to mud on one of the main stretches. Well, we ran in to both - we slid our way across the ice last week and this morning walked through the mud. We should just avoid that area because there are enough paved paths to reach our two mile goal. Walking to and from the park adds to the steps. I’m always on the lookout for birds and other creatures. The cardinals just don’t sit still long enough. The crows were cawing and we could see why - the falcon or hawk was stirring nearby. There were some interesting fungus or mushrooms or whatever you call them all about. They looked like steps on the side of the tree. We used to walk in the mall on bad weather days. It really is much more interesting outside. Sometime this week we will take a ride in to DC for our old time walks. Talk about a change in scenery!

Balducci’s Christmas Dinner

As with a lot of people, this year was not the usual for us. We always visit our son and his family for Christmas in central Virginia. It’s a four hour drive, we stay for two days, and come home. So they told us not to get anything for Christmas dinner this year; rather, they would be sending it to us via Balducci’s. The large box arrived on our doorstep on December 23. There was a huge turkey breast, bacon wrapped meatball appetizers, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green beans, cranberry, rolls, and a whole apple pie - probably enough to serve 6 people. So we went ahead and cooked the turkey that afternoon, and sorted the other items for our first crack at the several days of meals in front of us. It was really good! The refrigerator was stuffed with the food and the leftovers. I cut the turkey down to small pieces and froze a bit of it for soup later on. So we had the same meal for two more evenings - except I prefer cold turkey sandwiches after the first dinner. Last night we had turkey soup, and there is still plenty left for another batch in the future. The next time we’ll use noodles instead of potatoes. So it was the gift that kept on giving. And it was delicious! But I think we would have preferred the annual fete - like everyone else. We thought of our family with every bite. 

52Frames - The Year 2020

I’m not a photographer, but I love taking photos. My only camera is my iPhone and I use it every day for this blog and to capture whatever happens to come my way. A friend told me about 52Frames, and I’ve been participating for six weeks. The idea is to read about the week’s challenge, take a photo that week, upload it, and comment about other people’s work. It’s a great diversion. This week’s challenge is the year 2020. My husband is a great advisor and insisted a picture of the National Mall made the most sense. I didn’t agree but usually end up posting whatever he prefers. I told him it looked more like a snapshot than a serious photographer’s effort. I thought my foggy glasses said it all - “I can’t see clearly now” being the title. The empty Supreme Court - essential workers only - and the empty Capitol building - never here anyway, were other ideas. Then there was the usual hand sanitizer and more foggy glasses. The four walls of our living room and my husband and my reflection - indicating it was good to have a partner more than ever this year - were two other ideas. I still think the foggy glasses tells the whole story. But an even longer story was told using the Washington monument with a bit of light - with a title “the grass has never been greener - no one is here.” You can think of a million reasons why it works from isolation, storm clouds, light at the end of the tunnel, etc. It requires too much explanation. My husband loved it. I didn’t. What do you think?! Oops - forgot my husband’s home haircuts! 

Merry Christmas

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

A Thoughtful Gesture, A Christmas Poem

Yesterday a large envelope arrived in the mail. The return address was from someone I knew at work before we moved to DC. I do recall she asked for my address soon after my mom passed away in February saying something about sending a note to remember her. Well, that is what arrived in the mail yesterday. Apparently someone had sent her a poem following her father’s death and the words brought comfort to a grieving daughter during the holiday season. It was a very thoughtful and kind gesture, especially since it was so unexpected. Enclosed was a hard copy of the poem with my mom’s photo - the same photo used in her obituary - and two additional copies to share with my brother and sister. I didn’t read it right away but waited for later in the day. I think about my mom every all the time and wonder how other people react to their loss. Everyone goes through it - which is one of the reasons that makes it tolerable. I don’t particularly care for holidays and this year it’s worse because we don’t have the routine diversions. But I really appreciate the kind gesture. Thanks Shirley. 

Remembering My Parents

We’ve done it every year. But this is the first time we did not travel to Florida for my birthday or for Christmas. Both happen to fall in December. It’s obvious why we wouldn’t travel this year, but there is another reason. My mom passed away in February and that was the last trip we took. She is buried next to my dad at Florida National Cemetery. Since both of my parents were Veterans, they each have their own place. Since we always drove home, we have stopped at the cemetery in Bushnell since 2015 to visit Dad, which is about 90 minutes from our house. Depending on the time of the year we put flowers or a Christmas wreath on the grave. Since we can’t be there this year we had a florist in the area lay a Christmas wreath between the grave stones and requested a photo. I’m not sure when we will ever go back to Florida. My sister is handling all the affairs and the house was given to the neighbors who took such good care of mom over the last many years. This is the first Christmas without both of my parents. It’s a very strange feeling since they were a part of my life for such a long time. I keep thinking everyone else goes through it. But it’s hard to move on especially since the usual diversions don't apply. I suppose life goes on whether we like it or not. But I couldn’t, or wouldn’t forget them. 

A Tiny Fish Tale Children’s Book

My first children’s book “A Tiny Fish Tale” was published about eight years ago. It was about a Betta fish called GW, short for George Washington. Aside from writing the story, I painted all the illustrations using my iPad. It was first available as a StoryChimes app through the iTunes Store and sold for ninety-nine cents! But the app didn’t include my illustrations and was never updated. It can’t be viewed on the latest operating system. So I dug out an old iPhone and took some photos of the app pages, and listened to the tale. Since that time I self published the book on Amazon using my paintings, and it is available as a Kindle download, or as a hard copy children’s book. Since then two other books were written and illustrated. “The Four Promises” and “My Trip to Washington DC” both were about my grandsons - one who lived in Washington, DC and the other in California. When I look back at how it all happened it surprises me. I always liked to draw since I can remember. I was an editor of our high school newspaper and contemplated a career in journalism. Neither of those options came to fruition. I opted for nursing instead just to ensure I could find a job. The writing and the art were always helpful during my career wherever it took me. Now I spend a lot of time doing both.