Remember someone you loved

When I saw the kit for the Heart Basket pictured above, I just had to give basket making a try. Over the years I have crafted hundreds of things – from quilts to jewelry - and have had no trouble selling or giving them away.

But this basket ain’t going anywhere. I take it out just once a year. Can you guess which holiday I commemorate? Yep, it’s my Valentines Day Basket.

This year I am doing something different with my sweet basket. Instead of filling it with candy, it will have just a slip of paper. On it will be the name of a loved one I have lost all contact with. For 2026 it will be Susan Roller. She was my college best friend, and I remember her joy for life, her talent and her beauty. 

Happy Valentine's Day Susan.

 

ebay vs. Marketplace

I currently have 3 items for sale on ebay and 4 on Facebook Marketplace. Both sites drive me bonkers. However, I seem to have a short memory, because when I sell an item from either site, I seem to forget all the hassle I went through to make the sale.

There are similarities. For both I need to take a photo and write up a description for the listing. But that’s where it ends. Let's compare.

Marketplace

PROS

1. No shipping.

2. No commission. 

3. Get paid in cash.

CONS

1. The endless messaging from perspective buyers.

2. The bargaining – sometimes it’s just $5 but often it’s ridiculously higher.

3. The countless no shows – last guy said he would be here at noon. Then he revised it to 2. Then 3. Then 4. Then he never showed up!

ebay

PROS

1. I can charge more $.

2. No endless bargaining.

CONS

1. I have to pay a commission to ebay.

2. I have to pack the item for shipping, which means I also need to purchase shipping supplies.

3. I have to drive to the post office – granted it’s just a mile, but even so.

4. Frequent extra shipping costs - because I usually or rather often underestimate the cost to mail.

Not even close. Hands down, Facebook Marketplace for the win.

 

They Made It!

I’ve always had an affinity with peace. That’s why my one and only email has always been peacenpassion@yahoo.com. When I heard about the 19 Buddhist monks and their rescue dog, Aloka, walking from Fort Worth Texas to Washington, D.C. I was impressed but not surprised. Buddhist Monks are known for devoting their lives to peace and compassion. In these trying times we need more monks, not ice agents.

What a week – Bad Bunny and his message of Love and the Buddhist monks with their message of peace. Mr. Rodgers said it best – look for the helpers. 

Extraordinary people are all around us.

 

No Explanation Needed

Pre-covid I usually went to the gym 3 times a week - Monday, Wednesday and Friday. And, because Trader Joe’s was just steps away in the same shopping mall, I would do all my shopping during the week.

Then Covid hit. No more gym and no more Trader Joe’s. Originally, we used Instacart, but after a few months Trader Joe’s opened from 8-9 AM for senior shoppers. Armed with a weekly shopping list, rubber gloves and masks, we were usually the first in store and first finished with our shopping.

Over the years, even though the threat of covid had vastly diminished, we continued our once-a-week shopping trip. We chose Sunday as our shopping day and as before, we were usually the first in store and the first finished with our shopping. It was just a habit, not a necessity.

I didn’t think much about our routine until recently. Although I was no longer a gym rat, I was now out and about several times a week and was shopping not only at Trader Joe’s, but Sprouts, Ralphs and even Whole Foods.

Then a miracle happened. This past Sunday I awoke to see the heavens open, and I heard the angels sing. I finally realized that we didn’t need to shop anymore on Sundays. My trips during the week gave us a full fridge and pantry. Sundays are now officially Pajama Day. 

Amen.

 

TOGETHER

I have always been politically active. It’s just who I am. As much a part of me as my curly hair and my love of crafting. Fighting for the oppressed feels as natural as breathing.

Since April I have been attending the once-a-week Woodland Hills Indivisible protests and I am proud to call myself one of the regulars. I bring signs, wear protest T-shirts and make bracelets to give away.

I have made literally hundreds of bracelets and currently have over 100 in my stockpile.

Last week I handed out Nurses are Heroes to honor Alex Pretti and my husband, who was a nurse for 25 years. This week's bracelets are finished and ready for Saturday - Abolish Ice.

My hope is that everyone who wears one of my bracelets looks at their wrist and knows that they are not alone. We WILL make this world a better place for ALL of us.

 

15 Minutes

When I was single, more than once, I had an unexpected guest knock on my door when my apartment was a mess. I remember when I literally hid a sink full of dirty dishes in the oven. That experience kind of broke me and though embarrassed, I admitted my disgraceful act to a workmate.

He didn’t make me feel bad, instead he kindly shared his 15 minute rule. The idea was to make his home presentable for visitors in just 15 minutes. I laughed and figured I could never do it, but I made the decision to try.

It didn’t happen overnight, but eventually it did happen. Just last week, we had a friend call and say he was in the area and wanted to stop by. We actually had a 30 minute warning, but it only took us 15 minutes to get the house in shipshape - not spotless, but tidy. Fluff the pillows in the living room, clear the dining room table and I even had time to change clothes and dab on some lip gloss. All this and no dirty dishes hiding in the oven.

After writing the above, I was kind of curious as to what the internet claims one could accomplish in 15 minutes. Believe it or not, there are actually books, videos and countless articles devoted to what could be done in 15 minutes. One of my favorites has to be - clean out your makeup bag. Obviously, that was written by a man.

But I am proof that a small burst of effort can change your life. Sorry, but you'll have to excuse me now because I have to take a 15 minute nap!

   

 

911

I buy a lot from Amazon. And yes, I feel guilty admitting this in public. It started during Covid, but as the years passed it not only continued, it increased. It’s just so easy – click, click, and a few days later it’s at my doorstep.

Because I order a lot, I also return a lot. And, with Amazon Fresh being just 1.6 miles from our house, it’s easy peasy. But then last week everything changed.

Fresh is gone! Disappeared without any warning. Vanished. Forever.

I asked Yahoo what I should do and AI responded:

Calling the police is advisable if something has disappeared and you suspect it may be stolen or if there is a risk involved.