Yesterday I finished knitting a poncho, for myself. I knit one for a friend in Delaware in December and I liked it so much that I made one for myself. Looks like there is enough yarn left-over to knit a hat. YAY.
Photo: I label everything that I make now. It feels wonderful to complete a project.
Yesterday I also went to the DR, walked 2 miles and had left overs for dinner. It felt like a long day, but it sped by. I know that is a contradiction, but it makes sense.
Larry is in Dallas working and the house is very still. It is times like this that I miss having a dog. They make the best, sweet noises.
Photo: In Progress
The easel is looming over me, begging for attention. Today might be the day…..but……I just brought all of the ingredients out to make cookie dough for the freezer.
Photo: Ingredients
I do not manage my time very well right now. Sooooo…. I think that I will do everything.
I have been painting rocks for as long as I can remember. As a Senior in high school, {1972} I painted a rock for my all-time-favorite teacher. Mr Keating was my ART teacher. After moving every 2 years as a family and going to three high schools, getting to know teachers was difficult. Mr Keating and I became friends immediately. Mr Keating died during my senior year in high school. Upon his death, I was given the rock I painted him, back. I still have it.
Photo: Matilda’s 1/2 birthday rock
The rock above came from the Dallas Zoo on Tuesday. I painted it yesterday and started varnishing it today. Matilda’s unbirthday is this Sunday!
In the back garden, the landscape is littered with painted river rocks. My absolute favorite thing to do is paint them with Celtic designs. {They are huge rocks}
It is raining outside this morning. I had taken my camera and went to look for one of the Celtic rocks. But…it is so wet and I found….
Photo: I painted a basket of flowers on this rock.
Outside the kitchen window, I saw a rock that I painted awhile ago. It is a basket filled with flowers. I think that I painted it for Larry.
Find below, Celtic rocks on the patio. It is raining so badly….even the pansys are frowning.
Photo: River rocks with Celtic designs. I designed the symbols myself and each rock has a quote on the bottom.
I read an interesting article about people who do not use their talents. We all have certain talents. I wish that I was good with numbers or could talk in front of a group of people without puking first. {I taught ART classes/ Floral Design/ knitting/quilting/smocking/ and many other classes for children} for the City Of Plano Parks and Rec Department for many, many, years…I would always be sick before any class I taught}
I wish you a day filled with talent and happy moments.
Wednesday. I have made it to Wednesday. Christmas thank you notes beg to be written and the day is gloomy with fog and drizzle. I hope that Thursday will be better.
Yesterday, on his lunch hour, Larry took me to the Dallas Zoo. We walked for an hour. {with breaks} And took a wonderful lunch break near the giraffes, where we nibbled popcorn and drank a Dr Pepper. {I gave up caffeine awhile ago and now it is a treat to have it} It was a beautiful day and we talked a lot, did not solve any world problems, but we talked about them.
Today I am painting. Matilda invited us to come to her house on Sunday January 19 because it is her 1/2 birthday. We have celebrated this occasion since she was tiny. I am painting her a rock. A paperweight. I found the rock at the zoo yesterday.
Photo: Rock Painting sketch
The sketch is simple and fun. I will post the completed project photo later.
Last Saturday, I had stepped outside onto the porch, and there was a box. We did not hear a delivery man…and found this sweet box on the porch behind Garfield. {Garfield is 3′ tall and is a concrete gnome. He is the Tolbert welcoming committee} Inside the box was a book for me!
I am obsessed with this book and pick it up whenever I am near it. I REALLY NEEDED THIS TODAY~ words to live by~ Hoda Kotb.
Photo: My new obsession.
Reading this book and its interesting contents, gently reminds me that I am OK. I am not the only person in my situation and it is OK to be feeling what I am feeling.
As you can see, Hoda’s book is in my work room. It is a book of support, kindness and quotes! Each day {yes they are dated} Each day has a quote. They are positive reminders, nudges and downright comments on what is going on in your life and the life of the people around you. It is so unlike my devotionals that I am in awe of how the quotes work into my days.
Dear Hoda. Your book was sent to me by a sweet friend and her Mother. Honestly, I have been struggling lately and your book is a bright spot in my morning. {or afternoon if I need to read it again to just smile} I find the quotes instrumental in my daily attitude.
The times in our life, when we are the most vulnerable, I have noticed that the most wonderful friends make themselves known. Hoda, I have to consider you one of these friends now. Thank you for sharing your wisdom.~ Toujours, Robin
So, comes the end of today’s Post. I never know if I will post tomorrow. The blog is one of my favorite things and I dislike how it is “up in the air” right now. Completing goals are difficult right now but Larry says that I am getting better every day! If he says that it is true, it must be, right?
This morning, I read the blog of one of my favorite bloggers. She, like me, blogs on a intimate level, somewhat like a journal. Her subject was marriage. She includes a photo with each entry and her message is personal.
I thought, maybe I should share about my marriage. Larry is my favorite person in the world and sharing would be so easy. But not really.
Because people are so different, marriages are that much more different. The shelves in my work room are facing me right now and hold a photo of my parents on their wedding day. They were married for 47 years when Mother died. Norman, my father, found a woman within one month after mother died. I know that Norman loved Mother on some level, but to forget her within a month? Did he forget her?
Larry and I have been married since 1977. I feel like my life started when I married Larry. {My family story is one of dysfunction and abuse} Larry and I are… get ready for it…soulmates! Sorry, but true. I find myself content, protected and so much in love with this man. Our faith binds us, our spirit encourages us and our love covers all the bases when everything else falls apart.
OK, so it is true. I have not been well. I wake up tired and get more exhausted as the day progresses. My mind gets foggy about a lot of things, but not Larry.
I watch him pay the hospital bills, cook me dinner and protect me as this journey goes on. There is not a Thank You big enough to cover what he has done for me. Being a soulmate gives me the ability to know, in my heart, that one day, I will be able to do the same thing for him.
You can tease me about being so in love with my husband. Somethings are just so wonderful, teasing does not hurt us at all.
In 2012, when I was recovering from breast cancer, I gave myself goals. I started taking yoga classes and wanted to learn chess. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE yoga, but am very picky about my classes. I just cannot take yoga class with 20 year old jazz dance girls. Sorry, but I just cannot keep up. The Senior Center is just to s-l-o-w for me, so I practice here at home and to be honest, it is not that great. I use THE LITTLE BOOK OF YOGA and Restorative Yoga is my favorite. Bottom line is, I still practice yoga {sometimes} and I still play chess.{very badly} But a GOAL is a goal. Right?
Larry, being the creature of habit that he is, on surgery day, (fast forward to October, 2019) he asked me what I would like to do in 5 years when I am cancer free for the second time in my life and of course I shared my goals with him.
The 5 year, cancer free wish is private for now, but I will gladly share my goals with you.
I want to get in shape and continue with the quarter marathon at The Dallas Arboretum. {this current episode has taken a lot out of me but I have already started walking. Three miles on Saturday were do-able, but the fatigue has lasted a few days}
And I want to learn the science of…BREAD MAKING
Photo: My new Wilton loaf pans and bread book that I bought at Half Price Books
I have made bread, pizza dough, rolls, etc. over the years, but I have never studied the science of bread making. I have not started this goal yet. My upper body strength is a bit weak from surgery, but just wait! I will be slapping bread dough around in no time. I bought suggested loaf pans on Amazon and a used book that looked simply wonderful! {what it it about used books that make them so charming?}
Don’t tell Larry, but I am secretly coveting a Lodge cast iron loaf pan. I was thinking that maybe I should learn how to bake bread before I started buying fancy loaf pans.
Wish me luck!
Do you have any good bread making stories? I would LOVE to hear.
It is Sunday and I am dressed for church. While I took my bath and dressed, Larry was busy in the kitchen.
Today, Larry made baked beans. {my mothers recipe} He measured ingredients, chopped veggies and fried bacon, then put everything in the Crock Pot. On low for 6 hours he told me. How wonderful is that?
I have been thinking about my Mother all week. I guess Larry was too.
Photo: Using my Mothers recipe, Larry made baked beans today.
I wish that you could smell the beans….it smells like goodness and love in The Cottage today.
Update: I am good. Fatigued, sick to my tummy at times and to be honest I look a little green. BUT all is well, and prognoses is good.
Larry and I took Matilda shopping yesterday. She is the best medicine ever.
When I was resting they played a game of chess at the Mall Play Room. Guess who won?
Photo: Matilda beat Larry at the giant chess
Have the best day that you can imagine…..life is wonderful.
In the next weeks, I will be posting, intermittently. {yes, because of health reasons and will catch you up on details when all is said and done} Thank you for the kind notes, cards and goodies. Real thank yous will be on the way at a later date.
***
Photo: Matilda, Pa and Robi. Dallas Arboretum. Dec 8, 2019
I bought this VOGUE pattern in 1999. Does that make it vintage?
I have not had much energy lately and sleep each afternoon….but all I can think about is making a full length skirt from this old pattern. So, I dragged Larry to a few fabric shops and I found this amazing wide whale corduroy to make the skirt out of.
Photo: Vintage pattern. I am making the skirt, NOT the top.
Over the next two weeks I have a few events to attend and need to be as comfortable as possible. I will wear this skirt with a black turtleneck and my Kate Spade Rhinestone necklace. { and Burberry accessories}
The skirt does not have side pockets but I am adding them. I am looking forward to filling the pockets with lip gloss, tissues and mints. It will be nice to go out over the holidays in my new casual/formal skirt. Hashtag:letsgetthisradiationoverwith.
I am reading a book about recovering my creative spirit. I try to be creative, in some way, every day….making a skirt counts, doesn’t it?
Have a perfectly creative day.
Love you beyond the moon that will be full on Dec, 12 at 12:12 am. It is called, The Longest Night Moon.
This Monday morning is warm and gloomy. Laundry is swirling and Larry is in his office dealing with things. Work things.
Perhaps I did to much this weekend. I am tired and sore. I am waiting for the insurance company to approve my breast cancer treatments. To be honest, that alone is enough to make a person grumpy.
But we had the BEST weekend…..
On Saturday, The Family met for our traditional Pre-Christmas, Nutcracker outing. It was wonderful. At Lunch, I sat and looked around the table at my beautiful family. I felt amazingly blessed.
Photo: Lunch before the Nutcracker
After lunch, we headed over to the Opera House. Larry and I got stuck in traffic and some how, everyone beat us to the ballet.
Photo: At The Nutcracker. Larry, Lauren, Josh, Matilda, Jamison and Jared.
The ballet this year was wonderful. Look at the smiles.
After the ballet, we said bye to everyone but found Matilda posing in Downtown Dallas.
Photo: Matilda after the ballet. Dallas, Texas
We all said bye again and Larry took me to a little place I love. A sweet young couple we know, own a restaurant on Lower Greenville. I love the wings and pizza there, but most of all I love the energy. It was just what I needed.
We were tired, but…..guess what Sunday was? Larry’s birthday. We had plans to go to the Arboretum. But guess who wanted to surprise her Pa? Yes, Matilda! I must say she surprised him big time.
Photo; Larry and Grinchy Matilda
We were waiting for the gardens to open and while sitting there, a Grinchy Matilda ran up and surprised her Pa. It was priceless.
Photo: Matilda at the Arboretum
I was tired. Really tired. We went and had salads….and then home…. I went to bed. Larry baked cookies, using my mothers recipe and I then, made him a birthday dinner.
Photo: Mini Wellingtons, baked potato and grilled squash. Movie: Home For The Holidays with Holly Hunter and Charles Durning.
Larry had the best weekend ever. It was one for “The Books”… We hope that yours was special too.
The day before surgery, {last Sunday, 7 days ago!} Larry called me to the back door. This amazing creature was sitting on the fence looking at us. Well, ok, he was looking at the little birds drinking at the bird bath AND us.
Larry took this image and look at the claws. We live close enough to a lake to see river otters, heron, gulls, geese ducks, fox and other wild life. Our neighborhood is older, has character and I love what the environment brings to us.
I am at The Cottage and recovering. {it was difficult} I am thankful for today. So many of you have contacted me, wishing me well. I appreciate it more than you will ever know. I adore knowing that I am being thought of in the most wonderful way. My cup runneth over.
It is Cyber Monday, I think perhaps I will hop over to the Macy’s web site and see what they have for a certain someone’s birthday! {Larry’s day is next week!}
