Fight For The Things You Care About.

I have absolutely no idea why I decided to add Paint-by-Number to my 79^th year “FUN” list. I do have a very dim memory of completing a horse’s head Paint-by-Number kit when I was a teen. But since I have no relationship with horses, perhaps it was a gift?

Once I placed Paint-by-Number on my list, I immediately knew who I wanted to paint. My hero, Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Every night after dinner, I would tell Alexa to play some classical music, sit at the dining room table and paint. Immediately all my cares and woes floated away. Scientists agree because according to an article I read, “This artsey hobby helps reduce stress and anixiety.”  When I finished, I framed it and added it to my RBG shrine. Next up Frida Kahlo.

 

My Fashionable Mother

During the 1950’s a pearl necklace was an essential fashion accessory. I remember how excited my mother was the day she brought home her necklace. Apparently, there is a “tooth test” for real cultured pearls and I recall my mother rubbing the necklace against her teeth. Real pearls feel gritty as opposed to fake ones which are smooth. She let me try the tooth test, but what I recall most of that day is how we giggled together.

After she passed, I found the pearl necklace in pieces and vowed to one day have them restrung. Twenty-nine years had passed, and the pearls still sat in my jewelry box. It was time to relive that memory, so I had a necklace, and a pair of earrings made. When I wear them, I remember to giggle.

 

Recreating a Childhood Dream

It is a memory so vivid; I can close my eyes and feel the joy. The backdrop – my bedroom - and on the bed, a pile of Cherry Ames and Nancy Drew library books. I am in 7^th grade and I was about to live out a long-held fantasy. Finish the last page of a book, close it, pick a new book from a pile on my bed, open to page 1 and start reading.    

Fast forward. Today was the day. At age 78 I am recreating that moment again. My pile is a mix of Kindle, hard and soft cover books. Although I am clearly not a 12-year-old, reliving the memory is still just as sweet. I feel the joy.

RESTARTING THE BLOG

Meant to post this on December 17, 2024. A bit late, but still relevant. I guess I should start at the beginning…several years ago I began a birthday tradition. Not a resolution, but a goal to spend the year completing at least one “FUN” project. The past year, for my 78th birthday, my “FUN” project was to write 78 haikus. CHECK! Perfecting the art of crepe making. CHECK! 

Now that I am starting my 79th rotation around of the sun, the theme is Strong Women and my new projects are:

1. Restart my Blog – CHECK!

2. Paint-by-Numbers

3. Read, read, read

Grab some popcorn, sit back and enjoy the show.

The Changing of the Guards

A major complaint folks have about living in Southern California is the lack of seasons.  It’s definitely winter here -December 2^nd – but you would never know if you took a stroll through my garden.  Roses, gardenias and daisies are abloom, and the although the apricot tree leaves have changed color and are dropping like a sunshine snowfall, the high today was 79 degrees, definitely short sleeve & flip - flop weather.   

Having lived here for 45 years I have learned to recognize the changing seasons, not by the temperature, but by the fruit selection at Trader Jo’s. Good-by juicy peaches and hello tart apples. Growing up in Jersey I have wonderful memories of winter and the way it’s supposed to be: snowmen, hot chocolate, and wool clothes faintly smelling of sickly-sweet moth balls.  

I need my winter. So, despite the fact that I can wear my Old Navy cotton pj’s all year long, I have a long standing tradition of replacing my summer pj’s with my flannel pj’s. Only then can I say that winter has arrived.

Notice the rose on top of the pile of flannels? Just picked that from my garden. 

Lipstick on a Pig

A real honest to goodness laundry room. Never had one. Never had the fun of decorating a laundry room with adorable signs and labeled baskets. Poor me, I know.  Our Washer/Dryer is relegated to the garage and although I love our house, I have always hated the dark and dingy cave where our Kenmore duo resides.

On my To Do One Day wish list was to make the spooky W/D corner a little less frightening. So, in honor of Halloween, last week I tackled this scary corner.

I agree with the porcine proverb, “If you put lipstick on a pig, it’s still a pig.” so I wasn’t expecting miracles. However, what I wanted to do, build walls around the monstrous water heater, was not possible with my very small budget. Determined to tackle this eyesore I went to where the experts hang out – Pinterest – and found some budget friendly ideas to hide the scary water heater. Well, actually there weren’t many options, just two – a folding screen or fabric from a curtain rod.

As you can see in the above After photo (sorry not to post a Before photo but trust me, it would have frightened the bejesus out of you!)  I went with a lightweight screen with a NYC scene.  And, I was able to hang up a NYC sign.  It’s not the laundry room of my dreams but this piggy is wearing bright red lipstick and if I do say myself, it looks fabulous!!

 

Day Two

I love the husband but he does have a few foibles. One thing that drives me certifiably nuts is that more often than not, he doesn’t notice things I change in the house. I usually play a “hot and cold” game with him by telling him that something is different and have him try and guess what I changed. I would say his success rate is somewhere about 50%.

After a major remodel the husband’s bathroom is done, except for a few minor accessories. Last month I purchased a small succulent from Trader Jo’s that was perfect on the husband’s counter top but alas, it (the plant, not the counter top) died a slow painful death and I had been searching for something that could take its place.

I normally don’t like plastic cactus plants but my sister has one that she purchased from Amazon Prime and it fooled me, so I took a chance and ordered one for the husband’s bathroom. I am thrilled how realistic it looks and best of all, nothing can kill it. So, two days ago I placed it on the husband’s counter top. My thought was that if he liked the cactus I would add a favorite photo of his in a rustic frame to balance out the counter.

Does he like it you ask???? Well, TWO days have passed and he hasn’t noticed there is a new occupant in his bathroom. How is that even possible? And in case you’re wondering, no, I am not going to tell him about the cactus. Just going to wait and see how long it takes him to notice. My guess, it will be another 2 days.

Question – does your significant other notice changes you make?