An older photo of the kitchen in progress just to remind you I am still waiting for the replacement wallpaper – this seller is so SLOW! Again, a tracking number has been issued but nothing has happened since. And that was 5 days ago. I always suspect she hasn’t dropped it off at the post office yet. I’m trying to stay calm, but it occasionally drives me nuts. I can’t do anything until that arrives. I also can’t do anything until I decide on the hallway wallpaper and I can’t figure out what I want. Since I will be papering 3 floors, I don’t want a wallpaper that’s too expensive.

I can’t seem to make a decision.

But, that 3-D printed “mini Stella”  that I commissioned has been shipped to me and should arrive on Monday! I can’t wait to see it in the kitchen.

So, I’m just in waiting mode. I’ve done a lot of work outside this week, but the grass hasn’t grown enough to mow yet – it’s very dry here. I painted Don’s birthday present, which took about 4 days from start to finish. And now, I’m out of things to do!

I’m attempting to read Maggie O’Farrell’s newest book, Land. As per usual lately, my attention is scattered. But I’m going to make myself sit down and read a chunk of it today.

And vacuum.

That’s it. That’s all I’ve got for you today.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

I love this man.

He’s truly the best man I know. He continually strives to be a better person – that’s who he is. He had a very, very hard childhood; his parents split up, his mother was very troubled, they moved constantly, lived on food stamps. It’s amazing to me that both Don and his brother turned out to be such good people.

He is wildly funny, incredibly talented, both as an actor and as a singer-songwriter. He is kind, compassionate, loving, generous, principled. His example inspires me to be ‘better.’ I learn from him every day.

He didn’t have a blueprint for a good marriage and his first two marriages failed. I was fearful of any kind of commitment. That this marriage works is a testament to our mutual vow to stop repeating destructive patterns, to do it right.

He is as honest as the day is long.

As part of his recovery program of well over 45 years, he helps others. He has been a mentor and guide to many people over the years. I’ve witnessed it on a daily basis.

He is the light of my life and I am eternally grateful that I met him, that I took the leap that terrified me but did it anyway, because the life I live now with him at my side was worth it. It means everything to me.

Happy Birthday, sweetheart. I love you forever.

______________________

Joe has had the breathing tubes removed and can use his voice a bit. He’s very, very tired. He’s under very careful supervision, is getting a lot of tests, and has already had a session of occupational therapy. Recovery will be slow, but so far, so good. We are all so thankful.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

It has a life of its own this year.

The weekend was spent working on a painting for Don. I threw one out. The second stab at this is not going well. Sometimes I think that the stretch where I painted all of the Roseville Pottery was a fluke. For that brief time, I had it. But since then, every time I’ve tried painting in oils, it’s been a struggle and I’ve usually tossed whatever I was working on.

I’m on hold with the dollhouse until I get the wallpaper and, you guessed it, she hasn’t shipped it yet. I painted the walls and ceilings in the hallways in preparation for wallpapering, but I have to find a pattern I like.

And, of course, the ongoing attempts to find out something about Joe’s status. Thank goodness for the two women that I am communicating with on a separate text chain. We share our frustration and can freely vent about the lack of communication. I wrote Carmel, who is our contact, yesterday asking for more information and tried to explain that having no updates since last Tuesday had become very upsetting for many of us. We just want basic info: is he conscious? is he still on the ECMO machine? how has the hospital classified his condition? I was very polite and expressed my gratitude that she is there for him, by the way.

Anyway, just after I wrote Carmel, we did have an update. He had surgery to remove the ECMO machine, but he’s still on breathing support and she promised to update us when he woke from the anesthesia. That was mid-day yesterday and…we have heard nothing since then.

Then we got chided by the other woman who is there for “bombarding” them with questions. Well, maybe if you communicated more often, that wouldn’t be an issue.

There’s a lot more I could say, but I’ll stop there.

Thank heavens for Don, who lets me talk all of this out, who cares about Joe, and agrees that the lack of communication has been maddening. I also called the hospital, but legally, all they could say was that he was in the critical cardiac care unit.

So that’s where we are.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.