High heat and humidity, plus a heavy layer of smoke from the wildfires in Canada is making the air quality around here quite harmful. So we’ve been staying inside. I run outside to water wearing goggles and a mask. My chronic respiratory issues are definitely impacted by this. One more day of smoke – I think – and it should get better. It’s very hard to deal with but nothing compared to what Canada is experiencing. I pray for everyone there, every living thing. I can’t bear to think about the animals who are trapped. And the First Nations members who have lost entire communities. Please, please, universe – let there be some relief today.

Rowan when she first arrived. I finally found room for her on one of the shelves, but it required some reassigned seating.

Late yesterday afternoon, I started laying the floor in the entrance hallway. Today, I’ll finish it. Messy, fussy work, which ends with glue and stain all over my fingers.

I have to read a lot over the next couple of days as Land  will be due at the library. It is an exquisite piece of writing. Maggie O’Farrell is one of my favorites.

That’s it for today.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

A package arrived in the mail yesterday. You better believe I’d been tracking it. It came all the way from Israel to my door in exactly a week. (I’ve spent lots of time attempting pictures, but the light is a bit of a pain right now.)

From Dragonfly Blythe:

I’d like to introduce you to Rowan.

She has dark auburn hair and, as you can tell, the way the color registers varies.

She has freckles (I’m using Ola’s photo.)

Photo credit: DragonflyBlythe

I don’t know how Ola got this level of detail, but God bless her!

If you remember, I had a commission set up with Ola. She was going to create a girl for me. (And that may still happen.) But over a week ago, on a Saturday, she posted a photo saying “In progress.” A girl with curly auburn hair and freckles. My heart started to beat faster. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. I messaged Ola and asked if she was available. Thankfully, Ola was online and responded: Do you want her? You can have her. Yes! Yes! I asked if the hair color was as indicated in the photo and she said “exactly the same.” I paid for her, Ola’s husband took the package to the post office a week ago Tuesday, and she arrived here very quickly.

You know I wanted a redhead Dragonfly Blythe. I was frustrated more than once when someone on my feed was selling a redhead – they wouldn’t ship to the US, someone else got there right before me. In one case, I had been promised a girl whenever the owner decided to sell, but that fell through because she had purchased her from someone who had inflated the price and she wanted to recoup that cost and I wouldn’t overpay. I know what Ola charges, in fact, she makes it crystal clear on her IG account. She has set prices. Anyway, I started to think I’d never get one.

Then Ola announced she was coming back and here we are.

Her eyebrows are incredible. She has faint veins on her forehead. Ola is an incredible artist. And the freckles are perfection. Some customizers make them too big, almost like a caricature. But these are perfect.

Can you tell I’m thrilled?

I am blessed with a dream come true.

Now I have to reconfigure the shelves as I am out of room!

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

In the meantime, I have to pack up a big Etsy order of some dishes I was selling. I was so surprised when someone purchased them! They’ve been listed for about 3 years. Four of each: butter plates, saucers, teacups, dinner plates, and bowls. So I had to go out yesterday and buy packing supplies because I had nothing on hand. Add to that the box I’m going to have to buy and my profit margin is quickly shrinking. I noticed a small chip on the inner rim of a teacup and I messaged the buyer with a picture asking if he still wanted it. Yes, he said, it was his mother’s wedding pattern and the original set was lost. He has been searching for replacement pieces. That made me smile. So, even though, my head was saying “Maybe you should cancel the order” my heart said “I’m so happy to help replace his mom’s china.”

Third floor hallway wallpapering complete. I just finished a little section this morning.

I’m not sure about the big buffet (is that what it’s called?) Will it stay yellow? I have to wait to see what the wood floor looks like.

And…I heard from Joe! I sent him a text yesterday morning saying “I love you” and he answered me in the afternoon. I can’t tell you how happy that made me! He hopes he’s moving to rehab the first of the week. He said he’s still very weak and they are dealing with many complications from the “life saving equipment” (sarcastic, that’s my Joe) – in other words, ECMO. He is working hard, he said, and he loves me.

Bless his heart. I can’t imaging how hard this all is. I reminded him that ‘slow and steady wins the race.’ But, my heavens, his heart stopped. He was on an ECMO machine for five days.

If you’re so inclined, keep those prayers coming.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.