My Covid Experience

 I listen to friends talk about their covid experience. Most talk about the isolation, fear, and depression.

My personal experience was highlighted by hospital outdoor covid tests in my car in the cold and rain.

I spent hours at home making French knots on hats, reading, and sleeping. Oh, I also had both my knees replaced during the pandemic. There was a lot of pain, physical therapy, and drugs. One good note, because of Covid, I had a large single room at the hospital for one night after each surgery. My covid experience had using an antique walker, crutches, and falling in love with my rented ice machine. It was true love between me and the machine that I used for a month at home after each operation. The quiet of our house was soothing, and my husband turned out to be a wonderful nurse. My recovery was long, and at times very challenging. My surgeon was fabulous, and coached me through each surgery.

Home was a healing place for me. I smuggled into the coach and felt the warmth of my home. Home is where the heart should be. 

Keeping my mind Coureous

I have a very active and curious mind. Sometimes, I use my 5 year old mind to see another side of the my young and creative self.

Today, I heard a loud knock on the window. From the loud sound, I thought a hawk crashed into my window. Turned out to be a young robin. He was lying on his back with his yellow feet up into the air.

I gently turned him over, and watched him breathing very heavily. I got a shoe box and and very gently put him in the box. I gave him a soft petting between his wings to let him know everything would be ok. Glenn advised me to bring the bird and box inside to let it warm up. We put a box onto of the shoe box. Our indoor cat Becky, knew something was up and she wanted a part of it. So, the box was moved up to the console table. After about a hour, I took him and place the box with the bird on our front desk. The next I I check, he was gone. The box had tiny soft feathers in it. I was so happy that I was able to save him. I do hope he comes back in the warm spring and stops by to say hello.

 

March 14 2023

First major snow storm N'EASTERNER is going on out my window.

Water, Ice. Wind, and of course Snow.

Sitting at my desk and watching weather. I love watching weather.  Love watching the clouds expend, disappear, change colors, and flying away into the the atmosphere. 

I have been cleaning out old books, tie die hair wraps, old frames, older scarfs, etc, etc, and etc.

This unpaid job is a lot of work. We filled over two large liquor store boxes with books.

Pictures, what do you do with thousands of pictures. I did throw out some baby picture unknow subjects, I put the majority of pictures (old) are in books. But not all, So, I filled an old "interoffice Envelope"  are really fabulous folders to put paper into. Not the really icky, dirty ones... only the ones with a good life in  them.

Bob Marley is singing and giving me a relaxing mood during this internment.

The beat rocks me slowly, slows me down. 

Life was at a slower pace. People worked hard, strenuous  and long hours. But news was slow also.  Think of it? A world without cell phones, telephones, fast foods and oh yes, cars, planes, and space ships.

I am definitely a 20th century woman. I loved the times, experiences and the fucking adventures.

 

March 2, 2023...Cold/Rain/Snow Winter Drags On

Home bound for most of this season. Avoiding crowds, wearing masks in risky places, and not being social.

I am a quiet inward introvert who talks to strangers, little children and dogs. I don't like very many group activities. I hate card games. I avoid receptions. I am happiest outside walking with one person. 

Winter is my quiet time. This winter we have had summer, spring and artic weather. Cold one day, and 60 degrees the next day. Strong winds knocking down old trees, and blowing snow drifts. 

I am happy alone with my thoughts. I love to write, walk with my camera, and look at art in museums.

A Cool Day for A Mediation Walk

 There was a cool breeze, but no snow. Mid February and no snow on the ground. The good news is that there is also no ice. No dangerous conditions to walk down my street to the marsh. The vastness of the marsh and the Little River is a powerful tool to relax, breathe and be in nature. 

Quiet this time of year. Few birds, one red squirrel and one loud raven alarming all the Blue Jays in the Universe to "Be Alert For Danger Right Now."

I spot at White River's Bridge. The tide is running low. I am alone. It is quiet.

I love living near a marsh. I have learned to live with ticks, mosquitos, and hunters. I still get angry at the people who don't respect the area. The dump out their cigarettes', beer bottles and Dunkin Coffee Cups.

I want to put up a sign "THIS IS NATURE...NOT YOUR WASTE BASKET." "TAKE YOU JUNK HOME WITH YOU" or "WOULD YOU JUNK UP YOUR BACKYARD?"

But I don't make signs, the signs would junk up the marsh. So, I try to remember to bring a bag, and pick up their mess. 

 

 

The Winter the Snow forget to come

 The cold winds are blowing hard, but we have a fraction of the snow that we normally receive.

Our mostly fern grass is coloring the yard into a brilliant shade of Irish green. The pond across the street is starting to show unfrozen water waves. The sun is warm. This world is going wacky.

Serve storms are the norm now. Strange weather patterns appear in the sky more often than not.

The birds have been quiet. Heard only one quick owl call all winter. A fox spent the afternoon visiting our yard. 

Nothing feels right about the weather now. My herb garden has been uncovered most of the winter. The usual snow is not protecting the plants from the gale winds. I worry that more plants will die.

Framed View from the Portland MA Art Museum

 

I am an artist. I guess you could say  that I have been an artist all my conscious life.  It is too bad that I finally realized this tendency. I always  knew that I did not fit in with school chums, sometimes teachers, and myself. Growing up in Springfield was a lonely time for me. I was socially a misfit. I grow to enjoy my time with my self. It really was not a bad thought. My creativity always reached out to me when I needed solitude. My new bedroom over looked the back yard grass and a hill and walkway to the next terraced street. I watched birds, rode my bike, climbed the "Mt. Evert of Springfield. 

The time in Springfield was a happy time and a very sad time for me. Long, log story, I can not go bad and think about it. It is not part of my history. I washed it away a very long time ago.

I always took pictures. Cameras came and upgrades came along, but I still loved being behind the camera.

And yes, I love taking pictures of myself . I don't like to call it a selfie. I don't like the way that sounds. It sounds selfish, self centered,  and uncaring. 

Don't get me wrong, I am a very caring person. I also have boundaries, my loves, and my likes in my heart. That is where that stuff should be. It should be warm and calm in my heart. 

I am an artist. No one can stop me if I believe those words. New Years resolution 2023...believe in yourself, love yourself and be kind to your body and of course, your mind. 

Don't say crude words. Don't Gossip. Be kind. Be Helpful to Others.