I never thought this would happen. My family forgot my birthday. I made my own birthday dinner. Not even any well wishes. Getting old can stink. Going back to bed.

How to save money and eat healthy. A weeks worth of food from misfits market. $127. I love their living lettuce. You harvest what you need and the rest stays fresh for over a week. Roots are attached. Add a little water, it stays alive. No waste.

Just got flowers for our anniversary from my daughter

Something is eating my beautiful endangered monarch butterflies, eating their bodies and leaving their beautiful wings behind. Heartsick.

Checked terms of service. Yes, I am required to provide all that information to prove I am an adult for my location. I’m sorry. That’s scarey stuff to me.

Maybe this old lady is dangerous? Maybe they think I’m radicalized. I’m 74. Live and let live. Treat others with kindness. . Big brother is real. I do threads too. Now waiting for a surprise there.

After what happened on X and now here, I am unnerved. I’ve enjoyed social media for years. Now I feel my privacy is being stripped away and I’m being spied on. For what? Pets, home, and food pictures? An occasional opinion? What next? Is there no safe haven for discussion?

“I wish it had not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “ So do I,” said Gandalf,” and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” JRR Tolkien

Social media is fun….. until it’s not.

Just got restricted for the upteenth time on twitter. It seems using the word d-e-a-d restricts you. I didn’t even wish anyone dead or anything. I was restricted for “ inciting violence.”

I know some think threads is boring. I’m at both. Know what they do over there? They talk to each other. About every day things. I guess that’s boring for some. I like both places for different reasons. Twitter is nuts.

I remember a time on blue sky where people conversed. It wasn’t that long ago. Now I’m seeing lots of posts with little conversation. Of course we have the big dogs who post for clicks and collecting followers. Blue sky was more than that. Little folk, let’s talk and connect.

I try to spread the truth. These times suck. But we will persevere. Trump will die. JD will try but falter despite all his tech backing. Why? None of them understand human nature. Just don’t give into despair. Like all that happens in life, it’s temporary. Stay or learn to be strong.

I remember when I was working on my memories novel . The computer crashed. All gone. Wiped out. Had to start again. What you remember are the best parts of what you created. So you start again, using the best parts. See how this works in real life? We will rebuild using the best parts.

Those who believe it will happen overnight because you want it, isn’t not happening. It took decades to create this mess. It will take decades to repair it. We can. We will. We will not give in to the blue screen of death. We will reboot different but better.

There will always be those who would give more loyalty to a felon, to hatred, to evil. They have always been there. Don’t fall into that trap of anger and bitterness. Rise from the ashes like a phoenix. And believe you can and will.

Remember, good things do happen every day. Usually small so normally you wouldn’t notice. Start noticing. It will give you inner strength to go on. Consider it a part of your self care. Feed the sad parts of your soul with the simplicity of goodness. Create it yourself if you have to.

I cannot say this enough. It’s important to practice care. You will not be strong enough to support, protect, and fight for others in need if you are not strong enough. Mentally and physically. In these times, we especially need to be strong enough to

I come here for intelligent insights on the big things. I go to threads for normalcy on the day to day things. Twitter is wack a doodle shock value tweets for clicks.

Confession: I do not like my granddaughter. Shes been vindictive and manipulative all her life. No empathy for others. Her parents overindulged her so she wouldn’t get upset and throw a tantrum. Steals. Shes starting high school. Fun is just beginning.

Reality: daughters suddenly chatty. Texts galore. Then, wants donations for her classroom. Grandson needs a donation for his fundraiser. I oblige. Silence after that. Nothing. Rinse. Repeat. I’ve given up.

Another painting complete. I did not enjoy this one as it feels forced.

My latest painting is complete. It’s called Beauty Before the Storm.

My latest painting is complete. The title: and a ok feels no pain. And an island never cries.

On August first, the secret service had the water levels raised on the little Miami River so that JD Vance and his family could go boating. Vance was unable to meet with Ohio legislators regarding the big beautiful bill which will affect rural hospitals and manufacturing jobs to go boating

Tonight’s misfits meal. Four cheese ravioli with marinara sauce, fresh organic broccoli. Watermelon for dessert.

The corporation for public broadcasting has announced it will cease operation in the coming months due to budget cuts. They fund NPR and PBS there are no words…..

As Rosanne Roseannadanna once said,” it just goes to show you, it’s always something.”

This morning is a nothing tweet. It’s cleaning day. Like ever Monday. I am working hard to avoid this in a very purposeful way. Another cup of coffee? Yep. Check my phone? Yep.

Just to show, it’s the small things that can bring you joy. My little book room is usually a balmy 85 degrees all summer. My 18 year old fan bit the dust. My new one came today. It even has a port for charging my phone. The cool breeze feels so good.

The old door knob and plate on the front door were made of iron, badly rusted, and no longer operational. We put in new ones today. Aren’t they beautiful for our 100 year old house?

I’ve been trying to downsize my dishes and pretties. My children don’t want them. Thrift stores won’t take them. Everyone is donating moms China and stuff. I saw 125 precious moments at one for 25 cents each. Two weeks later, they are still there. In another week, they’ll get tossed

I’ve been off social media for awhile. A self care thing. Decided to return. First one I opened up, blue sky. I feel better already. Here’s what I made for dinner. Shrimp salad. A great no cook meal for the hot days in July.

Friends, I’ve got a big question. I recently bought an iPad as my phone is getting hard to see. I want to put blue sky on it. Can I find my info on this site so I can add it? Forgot it and never wrote it down. Help!

Today’s JB is finally getting to staining the staircase. The hubby matched the stain with the furniture piece in shows him. It’s coming out darker… of course.

“State of the Union” art piece is complete. Truth that needs to be told. Lots of symbolism within its statement. Sending it out there into social media. Too dark for most. Disturbing.

Here’s something I am noticing. People in my neighborhood are spouting the new “reality.” They protested before but now it’s the exact opposite. Out of fear?

Feeling a little blue. I lost most of my friends when they turned maga. The last friend I have told me no-one likes me. She said people like me until they get to know me. That I’m a loser. She’s gone maga full tilt too. So, in real life, I’m a loser and have no friends. Their loss.

When you have no control of the big things,stop fussing and take control of what you can. I spent the last six weeks restoring our old front door. Scraped layers of paint off, sanded, stained, varnished. My 1920’s farmhouse has a door now true to its time.

Is there a ceasefire? They’re still fighting. Iran says they haven’t been contacted. Israel won’t comment. Is this happening for Donald’s deeply desired Nobel prize so he has one too? Could change again tonight or tomorrow or in two weeks….

“ living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see” Strawberry Fields Forever

I’ve noticed that many prefer my paintings that are pretty, happy, and make them feel good. When I paint a darker truth, they feel very uncomfortable. But we really need to address that truth. If you look closely though, there’s hope in this painting, if we dare to reach for it

I did a little more on my protest painting. It’s making peoples me uncomfortable on Facebook. Can you find all the symbolism? What do you think the dead butterflies mean? The taco with brown mold? Ice ice baby? The frog? Dead roses? The sheet music saying “ I never promised you a rose garden?

Creating a protest painting.

“ what a terrible era in which idiots govern the blind” William Shakespeare

I also took an old beat up bench I had for many years, stripped and sanded it. Put on a fresh coat of paint. Next I make a new cushion for it and waterproof the fabric. Releasing all the worry and frustration regarding the state of our nation positively.

This is what I have been doing instead of doom scrolling on social media. Stripping wood. The staircase is almost done. I am also working on my front door. Then I neutralize the stripper, put on a light stain, varnish, and these projects are done.

Sunday dinner using a variety of items from the misfits market. Turkey slice, mashed potatoes, salad with hard boiled eggs and red peppers. Watermelon

Finally got back to this on a rainy day. Been so busy with other projects. I took a basic four square, slashed the squares and moved parts around. It’s made from my scrap batiks. Beautiful enough for a wall hanging. No walls large enough.

It’s still a work in progress but we finally have our 110 year old porch in shape enough to be able to use it. Repairing the fretwork that goes on top. Steps need repairing. Painting still need to be done.