Staycation

It grows late yet I don't want to put this beautiful Pennsylvania late spring day to rest without taking a bit of time to let you know of my deep happiness that family from out west will be here on Friday for a visit. That will end years since a visit was possible. In the spring of 2020, my plans (like so many people's) ended for an extended trip I was to make to see them and many friends in several states. Now they will be here. 

And, following those couple of family weeks, Toby and I will be working a couple more weeks on some blog changes that are sparking our interest. We look forward to sharing them with you. Keoni is back in Houston, and Aidan's window-washing business is taking off. He sent this...

Before we close, I want to go to...

The Art Part...

In Tucson, Paula has been steadily adding to her  Paula Borchardt - Visual Storyteller Substack blog as well as her YouTube Channel. Besides enjoying her art and story-telling, she tells us in her latest posts how she makes art with pencils, paper, ink, and watercolors. Read it and you'll catch her inspiration, too. She also shares with us her beautiful, tiny, work-in-progress ZigZag book...

One of my favorite Tucson spring happenings is the chance to see tiny, fluffball, Gambel's quail chicks scurrying along. Paula has been seeing new hatchlings in her yard and sent this...

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It's time now to close this for today. Toby and I will leave you with this...

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Seen on a wall in our favorite ice cream store...

Be kind.

Spread happiness.

Love with all your heart.

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OAM

"Toby, I did not realize May is Older Americans Month!"

"That's us!!!" He sat up and said, "OAM."

"OAM...hmmm...sounds like meditation."

"How did we miss it for 19 days?"

"I don't know. But, here we are. May 2023, has a theme. It's called 'Aging Unbound'."

"What does that mean?"

"Time to rip old-age stereotypes."

"Tell me about that. Society isn't my strong suit."

"OK, let's see...I guess a story about my toenail might explain that better...

I asked my doctor about a toenail that started growing funny and that I worried some toe fungus was causing it. The doc didn't even examine it. He said, Oh, you'll have to get used to that. Toe fungus is an old-age thing. Later on, at an annual check-up, a different doctor actually examined it. She showed me a way to trim it to get it back to normal growth and assured me that it wasn't a fungus. It was from some small injury in the past. 

...and pretty soon, my toenail grew back to normal."

"Did you get mad?"

"Yeah, kinda."

"Well, let's OAM together...we'll both feel better..."

After a little while went by Toby asked, "Do you feel better?"

"Yup!"

"Please, let's go to the..."

"ART PART"

(He's really gotten into this!)

Paula completed her Tucson Yard Journal for November for us to see...

Check out how Paula made her November Yard Art Journal page...

You can see more of these processes for her art at her YouTube Channel.

And, don't forget new entries are on Paula's Substack Blog: Paula Borchardt - Visual Storyteller

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In Missouri, Susie tried out acrylics...

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In Utah, Kingston has been turning out lots of art...

My Fave.

Then, he made an art wall with his and Grandma Valerie's art.

At school, he and his classmates played their ukulele band for visiting family. Grandma and Grandpa Love were visiting from New Mexico and sent this...

Kingston is top row, second from left. 

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Crackle z-z-z-z-z-t

"Hey, there, Toby! I'm calling in on your hot wire frequency over in the baby goats' stall. You know, the camera Wendy and John put up there. Can you hear me?"

"Omigod! How'd you do this?"

"Aha! Good, we can hear each other. I fiddled around with my phone. You never know what the pixels might do next. All of a sudden, I could hear the goats and chickens and I was pretty sure I heard you when Wendy opened your can of indoor cat food."

"This is a surprise! I'm glad it's not the neighbor's frequency crossing over the hot wire. Wish they'd just play some music instead of all that talk stuff. How come you haven't been here for a while?"

"That's why I was fiddling with my phone. I wanted to see you but the last time I came and walked the path around the farm, I got three ticks attached to me. So, now I'm afraid to go on those walks."

"I miss you. Maybe you could come over sometime, and sketch while I take a nap on your lap."

I couldn't get a clear picture of how I could sketch while Toby napped on my lap. Still, it was a nice invitation so I said, "That's a good thought. Are you outdoors most of these spring days?"

"Yup. A guy has to check out the barn's fence line. There are tasty things out there. Even the bugs taste better."

"Well, I'll see you soon, my friend. For now, it's good to hear your voice."

"Hope I see you soon."

There was a crackle and a z-z-z-z-z-t sound. Then quiet.

From Wendy.

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The Arts Desk:

Be sure to go to Paula Borchardt - Visual Storyteller Substack post How I Fell in Love with Watercolor, and enjoy her images and the story that goes with them. She also sent her latest entry for the Perpetual Journal she keeps of her southwestern observations...

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My sister Susie in Missouri began a watercolor class as mentioned in an earlier post. Here are samples of her renderings...

One of Susie's irises now blooming.

Last Fall's Gingko leaves at Missouri Botanical Garden.

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The Sports Desk:

Our family footballer, Oliver, expanded his sports to include Track and Field. Here he is Hurdle Racing...

Good work, Oliver!!!

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Also, in Missouri, young Lili LOVES her gymnastics class. From her great-grandmother Sandy...

Good job, Lili!!!

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It was fun to visit Carol and Janie in Tucson via our pixilated world...

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Dock Woods campus includes a very large courtyard surrounded on all sides by housing that is connected by windowed hallways. Every late springtime that I've been here, (five! of them) a duck has flown in to hide her clutch of eggs. This late springtime was no different...

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