RIP My Best Friend

The store clerk asks how I'm doing today.

Fine, just fine.

The neighbor waves hello and asks about my day.

Good, just good.

My friends call to see how I am feeling.

Great, just great.

They don't realize that today I lost my best friend.
My kindred spirit, the keeper of my secrets, and my unpaid therapist is gone.

I'm not fine.
I'm not good.
I'm not great.

I'm hanging by a thread, processing my grief in waves.

Inside jokes are gone, recounting old memories is gone, and laughing together and crying together is gone.

Who will I call when I need to vent about my trials at work, about my increasingly ludicrous dating life, about the perfect shrimp quiche I baked tonight?

Who will join me in reminiscing about our thin clothes, our fat clothes, our ever increasing gray hair, and our crazy adventures as teenage girls besotted with boys, cars, and makeup?

For 44 years you've been my sidekick, my partner-in-crime, my sounding board. There were ups, there were downs, but there was always reconciliation. 

A large piece of me is now gone, ripped from my heart and transformed into a shadow. Our conversations will now be one-sided as I share my stories with only a memory listening.

Rest in peace my best friend and know that you will be forever missed.

Happy Birthday Sambo!!

Happy 27th Birthday to my Sammy! Hard to believe he's knocking on 30's door!!!

My crafts this week included a gnomie.

And I got tired of seeing my grouping of ceramic birds floating around so decided to glue them together! Stacked them, added E6000 and glue gun, and voila!   Cute dog pile of birds!

And tomorrow is Friday!  Scheduled time to get my hair done so can't wait to be refreshed!!

Happy Valentine's Day

Valentine's was just another day....or so I thought.

Worked like regular, including an hour of OT. Did the dishes, applied a gloss coat to a finished painted vase, took a shower, then sat down for dinner. Finishing up was surprised to hear the doorbell ring. Surprise!  It was Jordan and Candy, who brought me some decadent homemade brownies for Valentine's Day.  Yum!  They were full of Oreos, chocolate chip caramel pecan cookie dough, brownie, peanut butter chips, marshmallows, and cherries!!

We visited for awhile, they left, then Surprise! Sam showed up with flowers and wine in hand! Placed the tulips🌷in my crafted vase, broke open the wine, and drank to Valentine's Day!

I've got the best kids and it was so sweet of them to remember their mom today!!! ❤

Sister, Statue, and Sand

Blessed to have another sibling visit this past weekend.  Sis Julie swung by on Saturday, saw the new pad, and took me to lunch at Applebee's.  Hadn't been there in quite some time; food was good but after she dropped me off to head home, I ended up with bathroom issues which went on for several hours. This may explain why I've not been there of late.  Even had half a burger left that is going to the trashola as I'm not risking that side effect again.

Julie gave me a sweet Valentine card and I gave her a sign I remastered.  Picked it up last year and finally got around to painting it, including quilt squares around the border.

Rest of the weekend was spent cleaning, organizing, and crafting, including sorting out my jewelery which had been lumped into a bag during the move.  Also cleaned out a closet which was beginning to be the catch all for everything.

And crafting, of course.

• Dug a statue head out of the garage and transformed her into a shell goddess for the front window box. Discovered the window box has become my  sand stress reliever as I find myself moving shells, rocks, and glass around in search of the penultimate design.

•  Painted an acrylic pour canvas on Friday; after it dried glued on gold leaf then hung it above the TV.

• Did a pour paint on a vase and waiting for it to dry.

• Freshened up a Beach sign and hung it on the front gate. 

• Submitted my five haikus for the annual haikufest.  The poem organizer contacted me as there weren't enough syllables in a couple of my haikus.  Did you know fire is just one syllable? Maybe for southerners saying "far."  The theme this year was Chinese Zodiac. The following are my best efforts:

      The Zodiac states

      A fire breathing Dragon lives

      Within my shy soul

      Chinese Zodiac

      Surely I'm a fierce Tiger

      Alas, just a Pig 

      He is a Dragon

      Thinks he exhales blazing fire

      It's simply bad breath 

Year of the Tiger

Open your sharp snarl wide and

Swallow Covid whole 

Dragons chase the storm

Ride the mist and churn sea waves 

Fortune on their side

And that's all folks!

Driftwood, Dresser,and Over the Door

Another weekend of crafting and switching up decor!

Visited a thrift store and Goodwill after work on Friday. Decided the living room needed some more coral; was lucky enough to find two Cynthia Rowley pillows that were a perfect fit.

Even though the sun was setting and the rain was pouring, I was on a mission to grab driftwood and branches from Willow Grove. Found some more branches behind my garage then spent Saturday morning spray painting them coral. Wrapped a glass vase with Dollar Tree rope, added glass marbles, the branches, and lights. Love it!!

Saturday night painted a tall piece of driftwood with greenish blue paint then Sunday morning added "Oh Hello" and a life preserver.  Parked it by the front door.

Grabbed an over-the,-door shoe pocket holder on clearance from the going out of business Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Had all my makeup in a three-tier basket in the bathroom, which took up most of the counter space. Set the hanging storage pockets on the back of the bathroom door then transferred and organized makeup. All done, went to close the door and uh oh....door wouldn't close due to the brackets. Ugh. Dug through my craft supplies and found four curved screw hangers.  Installed to the wall, heaved the storage pockets onto the hooks, and my problem was solved.  Makeup organized and much more counter space!

Redecorated my bedroom into more of an oceanic blue style rather than pink.  

Steve visited Sunday. We had breakfast at Stuffys then Jordan and Candy stopped by to visit.  Roped Jordan into helping me move my dresser from the garage to my bedroom.  ,

,

Completed and submitted my five haikus to the annual Haikufest contest.  Let's see what happens!

Crafts, Cake, and Commotion

Work, crafts, family and birthday have kept me a hoppin!

Twin Todd came to visit last Saturday so we could have lunch and celebrate our birthday.  I gifted him a painting of his cabin, which included his almost 18 year old dog Copper. He gifted me a box filled with The Queen of Everything cup, candles, and soap - he knows me too well.

Celebrated birthday on Sunday with kids over for dinner.  First soiree at the house and the decibel level increased substantially.  Received cards, cash, cake and a new zip up sweatshirt.  In the mornings I normally wear an old pink, tattered hoodie so was pleased as punch to receive a new teal sweatshirt from Jordan and Candy.  

On to the crafts!  Performed my beach magic on a vintage wooden potty chair Todd had given me eons ago. Turned put fabulous. 

Also painted a globe lightbulb and placed it in my beach window box.   

Scrubbed the rust away with a Brillo pad from a coffee/tea scale Erin gifted me. 

Received a Home sign for my birthday so painted that last night.  

Tonight painted some more glass tealight globes and dangled them from a fishing pole holder.  

Painted a bunch of shells in shades of blue and slapped some aqua on picture mats.  Grabbed a beach hat along with a woven bag Erin made and hung those to cover the washer/dryer faucet.  Whew!!

 Tonight on-line a mom posted that her son found a painted rock and sure enough it was one of mine that was first hidden in November!

Along with crafts I'm currently working on my poems for the annual Haikufest contest. The theme this year is Chinese New Year and Zodiac. Not an easy topic but plan on finishing the five allowed.  Here's one completed that you may enjoy:

Chinese Zodiac

Surely I'm a fierce Tiger

Alas, just a Pig

And I've got a list of more crafts to begin the weekend!  Wee bit obsessed but there are worse habits out there to be addicted.

Happy February!!!