Cyndi's Journal

Women’s History Journal 2020 Cynthia Gonzalez

Jan 6 Epiphany and my birthday (56)

My epiphany for today is that longing for the “good old days” when one gets old is probably a matter of understanding. We look back at a time when everything was clear to us-we understood our surroundings, our technology and our government – and even though it may not have been better, it may not even have been good, we understood what was going on and knew our place in the world. As we get older we tend to slow down as everything around us speeds up; we don’t like change, and everything changes. Then we start to feel like we don’t belong in this world anymore. Which, for a Christian, makes sense.

Jan 7 It’s fun to write twenty-twenty

M.’s going to buy a sewing machine and I’m going to teach her how to use it. An. says to tell her that sewing is for uneducated people; I told him not to insult me like that! Because I love to sew, sometimes, just to be able to make something cool out of scraps of cloth is amazing. I don’t know if he really can’t see the value of it or if he just wants to irritate me – most likely the latter. Of course there aren’t many men who appreciate doilies and decorated pillow cases. 􏰖􏰗􏰘􏰙

Yesterday E. described to me part of the “planetary” sci-fi book collection that she is planning to write eventually. Very cool. Her imagination astounds me.

Jan 8

I like being busy, but I wish I could have a lot to do and not get anxious about it. Maybe I put too much stock in what other people think-most of which is imaginary-instead of just taking my time, organizing myself, and getting things done in an appropriate time frame for me. I need to learn to warn people that things won’t get done right away, because I have a busy, complex life! If I can keep that idea at the top of my brain perhaps I can relax a little bit. And remember tomorrow is always Sunday. 􏰖􏰗􏰘􏰙

I guess some people can’t handle the Whole Truth-so they create a partial truth to cling to so that they can reject Christianity with a clear conscience.

So-how to create art that represents this Whole Truth that guides my life? To pull down some spiritual integrity and spread it around-to stay true to myself and my God-to express love-sometimes this also means to chastise-this is what people reject, mostly.

Jan 9 Saving Leonardo

p. 101 “Biblical truth is so rich and multi-dimensional that it can affirm that is true in every world view, while at the same time critiquing its errors and transcending its limitations. In this way, Christianity makes possible the greatest intellectual and artistic freedom.” Woo hoo!

Jan 10 Saving Leonardo Nancy Pearcey

This book is crazy cool. I can’t believe I’ve never understood before the process that humanity has gone through to get where we are today (philosophically). I’m glad Christianity still holds true! The only worldview that stands up to all the tests. I’m glad Nancy Pearcey put it through all the tests.

Each one of the “isms” is another attempt by the Evil One to usurp the place of the Holy One-by creating false gods, idols and turning people away from Christ. They implode on themselves, one by one, committing logical suicide, but even the temporary status of these false gods is damaging to humanity. On the other hand, we have to go through the struggles in order to grow closer to the Whole Truth.

Jan 13 Finished Saving Leonardo.

I’ll have to read it again. But very encouraging for me! Art for J.’s sake.

Consuelo passed away last night. An. is in Mexico. I don’t know any details yet. I plan to go visit Le.cia tomorrow if she is home. Laura and Armando and kids went on the same flight as An.. I hope and pDR. that they will all take care of each other.

Jan 18 Saturday

An. didn’t call yesterday, so I don’t know yet when he wants to come back. I can’t seem to find a pen that works. I had a bunch of pictures of Consuelo printed out at Walmart and have put them up in the living room. On Tuesday I went to Ukiah and picked up her drawing, so I have that on the wall with my navy blue reboso behind it, and the flowers Angelina gave me for my birthday in front, and pictures around. I particularly like the pictures of Consuelo with her granddaughters – Ana, E. and Giselle – at their graduation party, and the one of her and Michi (great-granddaughter) at the fair on a bench. I did a quick painting of the flowers. I don’t think it’s very good, but I want to practice doing fast paintings so I and get better at it and do some outside. I also started the drawing for a painting of A. and M. this morning. So hard! But worth the effort.

Jan 24 Friday

So A. had surgery yesterday. M. texted me right after to let me know he was doing well-I appreciated that! Lois and I went to lunch so we could catch up on what’s happening with our families. We probably covered about half, but it was a great lunch. We’ve agreed that Sweet T’s brussels sprouts, sweet potato fries and deviled eggs will be our lunch tradition from now on, unless we go to Jhanthong Banbua for Thai, of course.

Miguel and Nena both want copies of Consuelo’s portrait drawing. I am happy about that, but in a dilemma about how to get copies made. An. comes back tomorrow night. Hopefully he’ll call me today.

Jan 24th later

Well -so – now I think I finally figured it out! The next great art movement is “Globalism” and I am going to start it with my portrait of A. and M.. Actually I kind of already did with the painting of Ale’s pot, but now I can really head in that direction. Everything I do can be “global” because we interact with so many cultures all the time. SWEET. I got this by thinking about articles in the Artists Magazine about Regionalism. We are at the opposite end now, Regionalism doesn’t work anymore because you can’t

really go anywhere that is not influenced by other parts of the world now. Embrace it! That is going to be my “thing”. As of now.

Jan 29 “Chef Moi” idea

So we have space for 3 kitchen/dining areas, would have to be in a commercial zone area in order to have multiple kitchens. Would be 3 dif. Sizes – rm for 6-8, rm for 10-15, rm for 20. Atmosphere is key; beautiful ceilings, countertops and furniture, (table chairs shat else?) ambient lighting, and preferably with a nice view and/or great art! All materials would have to be very durable, functional and beautiful. *Ask Gordon Ramsay what the requirements are for a perfect kitchen!

January 31

Yesterday I went to Lou’s house to sign Nancy P’s DAR application and get the check, and we started talking about the post office being not as efficient as it used to be then about the West Appleton Post Office.

My grandfather, DR. Webber Bartlett, and my great-grandfather, Colby Roe Bartlett, and my great-great grandfather, Silas Oren Bartlett, were all postmasters in West Appleton. I knew about my grandfather, but I found out about the other two by looking him up in the National Archives to see what years he held the office. There they were, all three with starting and end dates; and that Silas took over for William (I think) McLain, and that Joyce Sweetland took over for DR. when he retired at the age of 70. Which he always complained about, because he would have kept going. But then in three months they moved the post office to Liberty -consolidated- and Joyce was out of a job, too. Up to that point the mail came straight from Augusta on the way to Belfast, and everyone in the neighborhood had their own little postbox inside the Post Office room of the farmhouse, where they would pick up the mail. At the time of my grandfather’s retirement my uncle, Colby, was responsible for sorting the mail. I am sure he was very good at it-he was always good at details.

Consequently, the Bartlett farm was always a hub of activity and a gathering place for the neighborhood. I can see why Grampa DR. was sorry to have to stop; although long after that time, even until his death at 97, the neighbors would frequently drop in to say hello.

The daily schedule was set around the mail and the milk. Breakfast after milking (about 5 am) dinner at 11:30 am because the mail was delivered at 12, and then supper at 4:30 because the mail (from Belfast?) was delivered at 5. (Ask Dad if this is right and where the mail was coming from/going to). I think for a long time it was dropped at the McLains’ and Grampa went to pick it up. But I’m not sure for how long. Way back when Silas Bartlett took over for William McLain the “highway” ran from Augusta to Belfast through the County Road, which runs past the McLain place and is only a short walk from the Bartlett place. And has a different name now. The mail came by stagecoach. Probably another stage went from Augusta to Camden through Appleton proper and even another to Rockland through Union. After the mail moved to Liberty we had a “RR” (rural route” address. For a long time many of the roads were not labeled; and now the whole system has been revamped and the mail comes to West Appleton from Union, but the address is “West Appleton Road, Appleton, Maine o4862”. Delivered to a mailbox, by car.

Feb 2, Sunday

Yesterday I went on Newspapers.com (for the 7 day free membership :{ )and I found some fun articles about North Appleton and my mom’s family. Searching by location and year seems to work. There aren’t a wide variety of newspapers, but the Bangor Daily Whig and Courier goes back to the early 1800s. I also found a map of Appleton from 1859 with CA Meservey and Wm Meservey on it in West Appleton. So I just need to go back a bit and see if they were there in 1800-1810 or so; probably not.

Feb 4, Tuesday

Yesterday I did some more research about West Appleton, and shred the newspaper clippings with Mom and G.. I started writing bios (only Silas O so far) for people in my family. I think I’ll do everyone that lived in the farmhouse, at least at first, so in case I want to write a “story” sometime I will have the facts correct and can make up the rest. I was thinking of writing from the perspective of my childhood and stories that my grandparents, my father, my mother and my uncles told me. And my own experience there. Could be cool. I could expand on the “Down Home” theme – the story of a house.

Feb 8, Saturday

So today I need to make a decision about continuing as the DAR Registrar or not. I prefer not, but it may be difficult to find someone who can take it on. I would like to help with the position – be on the Volunteer Genealogist committee – but not have the name and mostly not get the emails with new prospective members, and keep track of them. I need to figure out how to explain to the Nominating Committee that it would be better if someone else did the initial contact and a face-to-face meeting with the new prospectives, I don’t know. If I keep the “name” I would still be obligated to get the emails; stay on top of the PM list; and send in applications. I only have so many hours to put into it. There are 38 PMs as of today; two of them have apps submitted. If we keep getting new enquiries all the time there is no way one person can keep up with it. We definitely need a committee.

Feb 10, Monday

Acts and Facts- Gaia – as a substitute for God the Creator – I’m not sure why an evolutionist would substitute one god for another – but I understand that Gaia has been invented as a means of bringing the feminine/nurturing into creation. My thoughts went on a ramble and came up with this – if God is a he, and Jesus (the personification of God) is a he, and the Bride of Christ is the Church, then the Church is a She and is meant to be the nurturing intermediary between Humanity and Christ. It falls to the Church to bring the Children of God closer to their Father. It falls to the Church to ask the Father for help, strength, support and forgiveness. Somehow evolution completely leaves humans out of the equation. It is the Church’s responsibility to seek and find the good in everyone and plead their case before Christ to share the Holy Spirit and educate the Children-to make that everlasting connection and create a Family. The Female is here – it is us – we, not the Earth, are Gaia, in the form of the Church. Why is it so difficult? Because the Church can understand human faults, frequently its members make mistakes and fall into un-Godly practices. The Church is forever evolving, recreating itself, working on creating that relationship with Christ that ultimately brings together humanity as a family. Very tricky. The Holy Spirit has come to the Church to be a guide and a connection to Christ so that the Church can come together as a Bride – a mother – to embrace, nourish, encourage, reprimand, educate, love, sing to, read to, purify, and most of all bring understanding of the Father to the Children. Such an immense task! But worth every effort.

Feb 14 Friday-Valentine’s Day

What I need to find out this weekend:

-Dates for Hawaii

-Hotel?
-Dates for Maine

Vacation and party for newlyweds (Cake!) Feb 16 Sunday

For Oct 15-we need to book a hotel. Don’t know about Maine yet or other vacays. Party in May; see when park is available. (Paula and Bill worked out a partial refund from Vine Hill)

Everybody ate sweet potato cake (my recipe)-it was a big hit with A., not sure about everyone else, but a lot of it disappeared so that’s a good sign. I need to work on a good frosting recipe to go with that cake.

“Sunlight, as I have discovered, is pale blue in tone.” George Hitchcock 1850-1913 He was painted by John Singer Sargent.

List of small works I could do from our yard:

Ivy; succulents; grapes; baby grapes; cherries; blossoms; plums; blossoms; roses; tomatoes; chili peppers; nopales; flowering tree; herbs and herb flowers

From G.’s photographs: Dragonfruit; passionfruit; coconut Feb 20-2/20/2020 That’s almost too many 2’s!

So yesterday we looked on Zillow at the property for sale in Geyserville-3.23 acres with a house and a trailer- for 975,000. This morning I went online and did a mortgage calc- and we could actually afford it! I’m flabbergasted. I would hate to leave this house (sort of) but I would love to leave this neighborhood. And there would be so much space outdoors. Near the train tracks (no train right now) and near the sewage processing plant, which is probably why it hasn’t sold yet. But also close to downtown Geyserville, which is a real plus. So we’ll see.

Feb 24 Monday-J.’s birthday

Mondays have a lot of questions.

Sometimes Tuesdays get answers.

Sometimes Wednesdays get the resto of the answers.

By Thursday usually most of the answers have arrived and I can start to relax.

Feb 25 Tuesday

I need to get/make J. a birthday present. Somehow! So, some answers today, not as many as I hoped for, but we’re making progress.

Feb 26 Wednesday

Last Friday I was working on taxes and I strained a muscle in my hip by taking down the boxes from the high shelf in my office. It still isn’t better. I didn’t have any pain after I went to sleep until I got out of bed, then it all came back. I’ve been exercising quite a lot, I don’t know if that is helping or hurting. I will try to take it easy today, although I still want to walk. I hate to keep taking Advil because it’s probably not very good for my stomach, but I don’t know what else I can do unless I go to Kaiser and they give me something stronger.

Mar 4 Wednesday

Letter to L:

I’m sorry, L, we are just not used to being treated this way. Most of the folks that we have worked for are happy with the work, and if they have an issue at least they are nice about it, and we fix it. Do you treat everyone like this, or are you doing this because they are Mexican? We have going out of our way to accommodate for you but you keep finding reasons to belittle us. If you don’t want to pay for a contract, then don’t hire a contractor. Trying to get us to reduce our fees after all of the reductions that I have made already, at your request, is just outrageous. You have been around for awhile, someone with your experience should know better than to treat people like this.

Mar 14

Well, it’s been a crazy week. And looks like it will be that way for another week or two. The coronavirus has struck (3 confirmed cases in Sonoma County) and everyone is panicking. Costco was running out of toilet paper. Schools are closed for at least the next two wee3ks, and a lot of larger venues have shut down. Even though everyone has been warned to stay out of crowds, Walmart is packed with people trying to stock up on everything that they think will run out.?? A bit over the top I would say. I’ve been getting emails from everywhere, stating all the precautions that they’re taking against the virus.

In the meantime, we are trying to purchase property in Geyserville, and we have been pre-qualified for two humungous loans. The house in Clearlake had an offer that we accepted, but a still waiting to know if we can go into escrow. My head is spinning with numbers and percentages and I’m still trying to get Victor Galvan’s garage plans finished, set up work for Monday, and finish quotes for about three people. We won the bid for a county job, too, but it won’t be ready for another month or more. Wow!

March 18

So the world has been turned upside down and no one is allowed to go anywhere-let me restate that-no one is allowed to get within 6 feet of anyone who doesn’t live in their home. The Coronavirus/Covid-19 pandemic has taken over and even I’m starting to panic-but not entirely about that; mostly about buying property in Geyserville. The sale for Oak Ave. fell through, so we don’t have that to count on (yet). I think that is mostly what is getting to me. And that Coronavirus is keeping people from doing things. This is going to hit Sonoma County hard, there is so much tourism here. We have to “shelter in place” for three weeks. I can see why, but it is very frustrating and anxiety raising. Not that my routine is very different, because I’m at home most of the time anyways, but E. is kind of depressed and anxious, I think, too. So many disasters In such a short time. Please, Lord, deliver us. Grace and peace.

March 20, 2020

Wow I’m tired.

Today is Dad’s 85th birthday. He seemed pretty happy about it; we skyped at 2 with G., and An. showed up for awhile, and that was nice.

I took a check to First American Title in Healdsburg. Everywhere is closed, I had to tell him exactly when I would get there so he could open the front door and take my check. As of today there are 11 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Sonoma County. So far none in Napa, I hope it stays that way. Laura is out of toilet paper and doesn’t know where to find any. And the news is doing a show about what not to flush down the toilet (wipes) and the 4-P’s that are permissible-puke, pee, poop and paper (toilet paper only). This is our daily routine right now.

E. is worried that there are only going to be online classes for the rest of the semester. We’ll see. I hope we get through this without losing anyone else.

March 22, 2020

Crows; quails; doves; mockingbirds; hummingbirds; woodpeckers; finches; blue heron (once or twice); ducks; kestrel?

March 25, Wednesday

Today my allergies are kind of being annoying. But I don’t feel too bad, not as bad as those who have the Covid 19 virus. Just wish it didn’t make me so anxious.

Monday they’re going to test the well on the Geyserville property, and next Friday the septic tanks (there are 2) and An. is going to go do an inspection of the buildings and for pests. I’m not sure exactly when we will find out about the loan approvals, but it should be sometime this week. I hope. I also hope we get a good interest rate. Supposedly they are still very low right now. The stock market started going up a little bit so maybe we will have $ enough to make the first few payments. I haven’t heard anything about Oak, but that will probably have to wait until people are allowed to go out again. Praying that home values won’t drop. But what ever happens, I know that God is leading us in this direction; just have to keep the faith and try not to panic. (Which happens about twice a day at this point.)

March 28, 2020

Day what? Of the stay at home/social distancing; closing all the parks order. Let’s see, we started in Sonoma County a week ago Tuesday, so that would be 12 days, is that right? We actually started on Sunday so that would be 14. So far no one I know personally, that I know of, has gotten sick. There were 50 cases total in Sonoma County as of yesterday, which was only one more than the day before, so that is a good sign. It’s getting bad in San Francisco, though. At least there was (a little bit) of toilet paper at Food Max this morning!

March 30, 2020
Geyserville 9 am
DAR Board 10-12 am (Housecleaning 11 am) Skype 2-4 pm

Chop Nopales 4:30-5 pm Still need to exercise. April 2, 2020

So our 2 weeks is up, and has been extended until May 3rd. I’m not surprised, but could wish it didn’t have to be that way. There is not a great “surge” of coronavirus cases in Sonoma County -Praise God! – but there are many cases in the Bay Area, especially Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, where my kids are. I whish it were possible for them to come live here until it’s done, but I guess that is not going to happen. But K. is trying to get a job in this area, so when that happens it will be great to have them closer. A. and M. are probably going to postpone their Hawaii wedding until next spring, because folks in Japan may not be able to get visas in time to come in October. I don’t know if that affects us much; except for E., Feb/Mar would be a better time for us anyways. But it’s sad for them that they can’t plan on anything yet.

April 17, 2020

It’s been a while since I have had the urge to write. We (E. and I) have been at home for the past week- completely at home, we haven’t even gone to Oliver’s since last Thursday. Now there is a mandate that everyone wear a mask (homemade) when they go into any building that is not their residence. Hopefully they can lift the “stay at home” on May 3rd and just enforce the mask rule. I’d love to be able to go to the park again. And for my kids to visit! By then we should be able to start working on the Geyserville property. The Clearlake house is in process of being sold (yay!) so we will have some cash to start with. Then comes the major task of emptying out this house!

L.G. still has not finished her “accounting”, as far as I know, and I just don’t know what to make of her. I try not to be resentful about it, but it is wearing my patience down to non-existent. I did send a letter to S. and A. (an invoice) but had to send it to the Parktrail address so I hope they get it. I hope they got it yesterday and just send a check. Then I can forget about L. Unless I decide to complain to her supervisor. She keeps saying how she has a lot of experience but she doesn’t follow through with anything.?!?!

April 18, 2020 Saturday

We are in Clearlake today (hopefully for the last time) mowing the grass, cleaning the gutters, and powerwashing so the new owners can move in by the end of next month. Yay!

So while people are dropping like flies all around us (at least outside of Sonoma County) we are still prospering. Praise God! We are truly blessed and I don’t want to ever get in the frame of mind that any of this was our doing. We are and have been blessed by the hand of God since the beginning. Eternally grateful.

April 20, 2020

I had never heard of the 4/20 Pothead celebration before this year, or at least I was not fully aware of it happening. It supposedly has been cancelled and everyone is encouraged to get high online according to the news. Probably in the past they were not allowed to announce it on the news because pot was still illegal.

They have found another symptom of coronavirus in young people. They get spots or bruises on their feet, supposedly they look like chickenpox but only on their feet. Interesting. Some communities are starting antibody testing. I still wonder if by July we will be able (or want) to travel to Maine. Need to check the cost of tickets right now and see if I should cash mine in for cheaper ones. We did a Zoom party with Mom and Dad doing a slide show yesterday, it was cool. My brothers and their kids and my kids and spouses and my sister all showed up. Next month on Mother’s Day we are supposed to do it again.

April 22, 2020

One day closer to closing. More paperwork to fill out. More trouble from liability insurance premiums. Goodness there are a lot of things to pay for, especially during a real estate transaction. We have closing costs, insurance costs, well test reports, septic reports, home inspection fees (thankfully we can do some ourselves since An. is a contractor) and appraisal fees. I hope that is all.

Now I’m waiting for Bob to finish an insurance quote, and for H. to call me about the loans. And R. and C. (real estate agents) to get back to me about the latest request to reduce the cost of the house so we have money to do the septic/sewer hookup.

It will be relaxing to do J’s Spanish lesson at 1. It would be an even bigger relief if L. would finally get us a check. (Later-yay got the check!)

April 24, Friday

Yesterday Em and I made posole. She wanted to learn how, and I had a recipe of sorts from her Tia Elvira, so on Wednesday night we started. Everything went well except that we should have boiled the corn in lime for probably another hour; it took a long time for it to finally “pop” and so we ended up eating dinner after 7 pm. But it was very tasty, as M. would say.

Last negotiation on the Geyserville property-20K down so we can use that towards closing costs. Wendell Castle: “If you move the legs out from under the seat, the legs can become sculpture.” May 6, 2020 Wednesday
The day after Cinco de Mayo-which I’m assuming didn’t get celebrated much this year.

I’m supposed to be keeping track if miracles, large and small, and I have been overwhelmed with them recently. First we are really going to purchase property in Geyserville. That’s a big one I think! An. has had work throughout the pandemic so far, and that’s another big one. I’ve had a chance to work on my drawing and start organizing and packing. K. has interviews in Santa Rosa. And our next-door neighbor has closed his mechanic shop. I don’t know if that is permanent or just for a few days, but it is a nice reprieve from all the noise and pollution. I am glad we don’t have to pick and choose between miracles, it is so great to just keep having more!

May 9, 2020 Saturday

Now I am trying to figure out what “style” a house built in the ‘70s would be. I guess Ranch? I would love to decorate the Geyserville house in some particular way, but I can’t think what was special about 1970’s architecture/interior design. Oh well, I will figure something out I guess. That is if they ever let us

get started! Now the closing date has been moved to the 18th. I was so looking forward to going up there next weekend, but it will just have to wait-again.

At least we are having people ask for work again. Annette wants her bathroom finished, and Steve and Barbara want their pocket doors installed. Still waiting for the EIDL “loan” advance to come through. I wonder if it will. We did get the $2400 stimulus money.

Possibly Mid Century Modern. I’m probably just going to have to go with “vintage farmhouse” and play it by ear.

May 10, 2020 Mother’s Day

I need to start writing poetry again. I can’t believe how long it’s been since I wrote anything substantial. Today I am going through my old “writings” and trying to decide what to keep and what to ditch.

May 12, 2020 Dr. Am. Lee

1) Amylase Bromelaine Lypase before you eat-help fight inflammation, break down grains 2) Probiotics-fight candida and “bad” bacteria
3) Carralluma Fimbriata-reduces appetite/cravings
4) LGCG-Green Tea Extract-reduces bloating and aides digestion

May 13, Wednesday

Yesterday we signed the documents for the first loan. Now we have to decide if we are going to keep it or sell this house. I keep weighing the advantages against the disadvantages and can’t make up my mind, so I guess I’ll just haver to leave it up to An.. It would be good for him to make some of the decisions anyways! Actually most of them we have made together, it hasn’t been too hard to come to an agreement. But this one is tough, because if we sell we would a) no longer have the obligations of the house b) have cash out to work with and c) not have to worry about tenants destroying things. But if we keep it, we would a) have more property b) have a source of income c) be able to sell it in the future possibly for more $. So it will just depend on how much income we could get for it. I emailed Tracy who does property management for SB in Sebastopol and she said she would call me today. So we’ll find out.

May 16, Saturday

Yesterday was a really good day! We signed the closing documents on Thursday, so H. called me to say that everything was ready for us to “take possession” on Monday; then she called Ryan, who called me, to make an appt for this morning to do a final walk-through. And I got in touch with Tracy, the property manager, and she is going to call me this morning to talk about renting the house up there and about renting this house. So we can find out if it would be worth keeping or not. And the person who is purchasing the Oak Ave house found the $2K that she was lacking and is ready to close. Lots of stuff and lots of documents to sign! Oh yes, Bob found a different GL insurance company for us, too. Kind of expensive, but not like the last one.

So today I need to remember to take room measurements for my floor plan. Yesterday I sent in a preliminary application for a permit to do the sewer lateral. Hope that goes ok. I don’t think it will be too hard to get, I just will probably have to do more paperwork.

And talked to A. on Skype because he had a Family Time self-improvement day for work. Next time maybe I’ll go to his office 􏰖􏰗􏰘􏰙

Sonoma County is starting to lift/ease some of the coronavirus restrictions; the parks are open again, and businesses are supposed to self-certify that they can follow the guidelines to reopen. So things will start happening again, bit by bit.

When we arrived at the property in Geyserville and I looked around I was overcome with a profound sense of happiness. The place is amazingly beautiful, even though it needs work. There is a pink rosebush next to the trailer, there is jasmine all around the front of the house, and there is a pomegranate tree (!) to the side by the driveway. Those were my discoveries today. John had planted tomatoes in raised beds, too. There are grapes-I had thought the vines were dead, but they are shooting up, new ones from the stumps, and they already have big clusters of grapes on them. I don’t know what kind they are; we will have to find out. (Napa Gamay) We need to replace three windows and all of the paneling that’s left, and tear out the pressboard flooring, in the mobile home and addition. And get rid of the fluorescents and put in new LED lights. The previous owners are going to move their stuff from the “shed” into the “bunker” so we can start making my art studio and the exercise space. It will be very nice. Hopefully it won’t take long for the sewer permit. Faith, pDR.er, patience.

May 18, Monday
Woo-hoo, time to go start work! May 21, 2020 Thursday

Wow it’s been three days already. Yesterday Pam from Healdsburg sent me a permit application form for the vacation rental! She is going to meet me there on June 1st to look the place over and give some suggestions, and I’m assuming, start the process. I think it will be a great place for vacays.

An. has been working on fixing up the mobile home/addition, which we have decided to call the MFG house. And today I’[m ordering kitchen cabinets, the same Victoria Ivory that we have in our house in Windsor. It may not be our house for long. Although if Ch. and K. decide to live her and pay for the loan, it will be ours and theirs, which would be cool. We need to set up some sort of agreement. I hope they do, in a way.

May 26, 2020 Tuesday

So we spent all weekend working outside-with a few breaks. I thought An. was going to drive E. nuts, but we made it through. She has more patience than I give her credit for. We tied up half of the grapevines and got a 20’x4’ raised bed planted. Along with the tomatoes that John planted before that should be a good crop. Still have to find a place for spinach, carrots and sunflowers.

Diane G. sent me a card with a nice message inside from the organist at her church. I will send her a card, too. It is hard to not be able to see people in person. We are still “restricted” although there are ways to get together if we are careful.

June 6, 2020 Saturday

This entire week has been pretty nuts-politically speaking-there have been protests in every city acR. America and some in other countries-over the murder of George Floyd, an Black man who was killed by

a police officer kneelling on his neck for over 8 minutes. The three officers who were with him have also been charged with aiding and abetting. D.T. has been showing off his autocratic authoritarian fear of the populace and threatening the peaceful protestors (although there was significant looting in the beginning) with military action. He really doesn’t have much sense. Except maybe his goal is to rile everybody up-and then try to blame it on the “liberals”. So far it has been backfiring because the protests have actually gotten less violent over the past few days. There is something different about this time. Possibly because everyone is so tuned in to social media right now, and a lot of Black influencers are using it to get the word out. The interview that Stephen Colbert did with Senator Cory Booker was amazing.

“Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.” Isaac Asimov, quoted by Stephen Colbert June 7, 2020

Tomorrow is Lori’s birthday. I haven’t sent her a birthday card in years, since Facebook. Are cards and letters really a waste of paper now? Dianne sent me a card last week, just to say hello, and I don’t know if I have a card to send to her-or if I packed them all to take to Geyserville-but I want to write back to her. There is something much more personal about a physical letter. The birthday notices on FB are fine, and you get lots more, but still it’s not quite the same. I do appreciate FB for all the people that I have been able to contact again, though.

Today we did Zoom with Mom, G., DR., R. and K./Ch.. A. didn’t quite make it in time, Ed is moving to Arkansas, F. is who knows where as usual, and I don’t know why Sam and Marge didn’t show up. But I hope they will next time.

A. came yesterday to help with my computer which is going to need parts, and he ended up setting up Wo Mic so I can use my phone as a microphone with An.’s computer. He also got me a discount for Microsoft 365, which is cool. Ch. and K. are moving here! They are packing stuff and will hopefully come up sometime this week, maybe tomorrow. I can’t believe how much I miss everybody, even though we have been skyping every week.

June 12, 2020

His morning E. and I went to Trader Joe’s and I spent a lot because I haven’t been there for so long. K. and Ch. came here for two days and brought some stuff, and we had a nice picnic and a walk in Geyserville. Of course we took Luna (our dog) which made it more difficult; but she needs to get used to being there anyways. The parts came for my computer and hopefully A. will be able to fix it tomorrow. Hopefully M. will come, too.

June 21st, Father’s Day

Ch. and K. came yesterday with all of their stuff-or at least, R. got here with all of there stuff- in a UHaul, which was a separate adventure, because all kinds of drama, but they got here in the late afternoon and K. got them all pizza and loaded the living room with boxes. Now we need to get our stuff out! We went up to the property and grilled with our old charcoal grill that An. made. I think I like it better than the gas grill. The chicken was great. J.’s cat climbed up in the walnut tree to sleep up there. J.’s going to try to catch her in a trap, but we’ll see. Cats can be smart about those things. Oh, and we attempted to clean the pool. I hope it will look better tomorrow.

June 29, Monday
Today is the first day of K.’s new job at L3. She is kind of nervous, but looks very professional and I know

she will love it. Ch. says he is her biggest cheerleader. 􏰖􏰗􏰘􏰙

Yesterday I changed our plane tickets to Maine for the 3rd of October. At first I was kind of disappointed, but now that I’ve told my sister and my mother-and the girls are fine with it-I think it will be much better to go in the fall. I have wanted to for years, but before we always had to do summer vacation time.

E. got rescheduled for her driving test for this Thursday, the 2nd. Ch. has been riding with her, which is great; she’s not as nervous with him, and I’m not as nervous-or more like she doesn’t have to put up with me being nervous.

A. has next week off from work so I’m hoping he and M. will stay for a few days at least. We still have to celebrate his birthday and Saturday is the 4th. Possibly we can have a small party in Geyserville. We haven’t really moved yet, but the cabinets are in and the floors are next; the civil engineer is going tomorrow (Max) and the vacation rental property manager (Pam) is going at the same time (10). I don’t know how I managed that, but I guess it will work out since An. will be with one and I’ll be with the other.

Man I surely felt like writing this morning. July 1st, 2020 A new month

Last night we went up to Geyserville (Ch., K. and me) after K. got home from work, her 2nd day at L3, to take An. his dinner and wait for the stars to come out. K. took her camera and got some great shots before the sun went down.

Pam came and helped me finish a list and prioritize things to do to “Jasmine Cottage”, which she thought was a great name, so we’ll be getting started on that in a few days, I hope.

July 30, Thursday, 2020
I can’t believe tomorrow is Friday again.

And we’re still working on the pool. We moved in two weeks ago to the Mobile Home With Addition (MOWADD) or 20650 Geyserville Ave. Which we didn’t know until after I called PG&E to turn on the gas- we thought the whole property was the same address. But we actually have a separate mailbox from the main house, which is now Jasmine Cottage, vacation rental.

I haven’t written anything since before G. went to Maine. And now she’s back in Florida already. They (mostly Ki.) threw her a Not-a-Birthday Party on Saturday (her birthday). She may actually get to go to Maine again when E. and Evelyn and I go in October. I hope so, we hate to miss seeing her. There is a remote chance that A. and M. will go with us, too.

Some curtains that I ordered came today and I’m hoping to them hung tonight! July 31st 2020

200 lbs. I started on the Total Gym again three days ago. I don’t feel like I’m working too hard to lose weight, but I am putting in long hours and I haven’t had time to do any baking, so that may have

something to do with it. But regardless I haven’t broken the 205 mark since the insurance sales fiasco- which was before I started working at the RC-which was about ten years ago. Man. Yep it must be. 3.5 yrs A&O, 1 yr evals, 4.5 yrs RC, 1 yr evals that’s 10 years. Amazing. So, since 2010 then. This time it’s for keeps.

Saturday, August 1st

7:41 am waiting for the tea water to heat up so I can have breakfast. An. went grocery shopping. E. and Luna are still asleep, and the only noise is the traffic. If we can find a way to reduce the traffic noise this place will truly be a paradise. Although I don’t’ want to jinx it! Maybe it’s better for there to be a few obvious flaws. But enjoying a gorgeous sunrise, on a beautiful morning is something I look forward to for the rest of my life. Amazing. Praise God the Creator of all things.

August 5th, Wednesday 2020 G. and Steve’s anniversary

I’m getting the urge to write poetry again because I haven’t been able to draw or paint recently -since it will be awhile before I can do any painting or even sewing because my art studio is not set up yet-maybe I will. Should put time into writing and poetry anyways.

August 12, Wednesday
Let’s see if I have found a pen that will write this time.

So my herb garden boxes, the concrete ones that An. made, are now here. He put them just inside the fence next to the road so that if anyone goes off the road the care will hit them instead of us or our house. Which is a smart idea considering the proximity of the street. So for the past two days I’ve been shoveling dirt. I’m not as sore as I thought I would be.

We’ve tried to have RERA board meetings two times and not enough board members showed up to actually have a meeting. So Zoom may be effective for classes and lectures but I don’t think it works very well for business meetings. At least not the kind we have, which tend to be very verbal.

Robert M. is trying to buy a house that needs a lot of work, and he wants An. to do the work. An. doesn’t want to take the job, but I don’t know how to get Robert to understand that, or to get An. to understand that Robert won’t take no for an answer. I think if he (Robert) calls again I will have him talk to An. directly. I don’t know whether to start another estimate or not (I gave him a rough one already).

August 17th

Who would have thought it would rain in August? Yesterday we were woken at 5 am by the heaviest lightning stormI have ever seen, here at least, and then it rained. It has been so hot we had to leave the cooler on all night. It’s supposed to be really hot again and possibly rain today, then 106 degrees tomorrow. Weather is nuts!

There are some fires south of us, I hope they are not large ones. I also hope this means we will get a rainy season early this year.

Yesterday Le. and Luis came over to swim. It’s nice to have the pool available during this hot weather. Also G., Ed and Mom skyped about doing genealogy/a family tree or list or something that we can share with mom’s sisters and Bill and anyone else who wants it. Ed does My Heritage and I do Ancestry.com;

G. has been creating a Google sheets family tree. So we need to figure out which is best to share. Meanwhile I have been trying to get organized for DAR so I (we) can put a Registrar’s Team together. Meeting on Zoom on Sunday at 2 pm. With at least S. and L., who have been a great help this summer. I hope this works out because it will help the chapter a lot.

August 18, Tuesday

I keep waking up with a headache. Not a bad one, just a little naggy one. I’m not sure if it’s because of the heat or the anxiety or both. Not sure why I’m anxious except that I have been spending a lot of money and that always makes me worry. Also I think I get slightly dehydrated and that contributes to anxiety and headaches. Today is supposed to get up to 106 degrees. Yesterday we had showers (some thunder) throughout the day which was great but unusual for this area.

An. says I can’t pay Le. to be a gardener because she already has a job; but I’m horrible at taking care of plants, so we’re going to have to do something. Of course we should find as many plants as we can that don’t need lots of water.

August 19, Wednesday

Send a letter to the County Board of Supervisors about PRMD inefficiency from the perspective of a client-they seem to be very disorganized. How do you know who is in charge? Plans pass from one person to another, one will tell you something and another will contradict them. A business person (contractor, etc) cannot make a schedule because it is impossible to know how long it will take. Require an engineer but then tell the engineer what he/she has to put in the plan and don’t take the engineer’s advice. Wow.

Today we are supposed to sign the contract for SP’s mobile home work. Then I need to send for the permit for that job (I think) and start when it gets here. An. still needs to go see S and B to get paid for the pocket doors. Saturday we are going to Calistoga, I hope, to look at Marco’s mom’s windows. We need to get back to work!

August 30, 2020

We have the sewer line completed! I ended up helping connect the pipes and filling in the end of the trench. Now just to have the tanks pumped and send in a picture of the hole at the bottom-goodness knows how he is going to make the holes-and we will be finished. So fast after all that waiting. In spite of the fires-Walbridge and Hennessy-LNU Lightning Complex-crazy. We were on “evacuation warning”, but didn’t end up having to evacuate, thankfully. We are in a good spot. Now to put tougher some more chairs for Jasmine Cottage.

September 8, 2020

Yesterday was the hottest day that I have ever experienced, 113 degrees here in Geyserville. Thankfully today is a lot cooler, supposedly it will only get up to 100 (!) but right now, at 10:30, it is still cool. I even had to put on a sweater. We have been spending a lot of time in the pool. It is starting to get algae from the heat, I guess, so I need to figure out how to get rid of it without using the blue green “shock” that turned it all green last time. I hope we will be able to afford pool maintenance in the future.

September 9, 2020 Wednesday

E. says she is going to have lots of first-hand material to draw from when she writes her book about the apocalypse. We are living through unsettling times right now. The skies are filled with smoke from a fire in Mendocino Co. and another one in Oroville. Then there is a layer of clouds and fog on top of that, so it is dark, almost like night, and it’s 9 am. The temperature is 58 degrees. It was 113 degrees on Monday and supposed to be hot on Tuesday and Wednesday next week, but the smoke and fog drove the temps down into the 80s. I don’t know how much of this my nervous system can take.

September 11, 2020

-Nine eleven- the memory has almost been eclipsed by the current crises. How time slips away from us, history slides into the past and becomes memories.

Carina del Valle Schorske-“Thread as an expression of time” so appropriate and something few men will every understand. And nowadays few women, either. I will tat yards of lace, someday.

Writing is like weaving, also, and another expression of time-the passing of time-writing and weaving could happen together. And food, also, just like Agua para Chocolate or Bella Tuscany. But thread makes the most sense figuratively.

September 12, 2020 Saturday

What if I were to paint the pandemic? Or the eerie fog-topped-with-smoke atmosphere? Or my own anxiety about them? And work and trying to do everything right, like all is normal. How would that look on a canvas or a sculpture? Maybe that is why I am drawn to paintings with tiny bits of brightness, because there is a lot of anxiety, sadness, fear and pressure-but there are bright spots. Time with my family, even just on Skype, and the beauty of this place where we live. There are still many things to be excited about but they can be oppressed by the big world-changing events that are unfolding. If I let them. If I forget to pray.

Surveillance-as long as the rules are in your favor, it doesn’t matter who sees what you do or who you are. Human and civil rights-as long as we have those firmly established and present, protect us from Big Brother; but all that could change in the blink of an eye. DO NOT BE AFRAID OF BEING NAKED IN GOD’S EYES.

September 14, 2020 Monday

So, should I make a list of all the things I need to do or of all the things that frustrate me? Maybe I’ll start with the frustrating list here, then make my to-do list somewhere else.

Things that frustrate me:

1)  Phone calls (in general

2)  Phone calls about something I need to do for work (specifically)

3)  Having too much stuff for my space

4)  Needing my art studio to be ready

5)  Trying to handle too many things at once ie: Arches and Oak (work) Jasmine Cottage, putting

things away/organizing assembling furniture, cleaning the pool, DAR stuff, Zoom meetings, RERA, picking vegetables and fruits, cooking, housecleaning, taking E. driving, shopping, looking

up things on the internet, keeping track of the fires, not catching Covid-19. Not to mention the

farmhouse in Maine, I haven’t even done anything about that for ages.
6) My husband’s habit of blaming everything on me, asking me for things at the last minute and

then being mad when I can’t find them, and just generally dumping responsibility on me.. This is very annoying, but perhaps he does it because he has so much responsibility on himself right now that he can’t handle it all. (I hear from friends that this is a very common wifely problem.)

So how do we eliminate some of these responsibilities? Or is that even what needs to happen?

September 15, 2020
It feels great to have that mobile home door ordered. Coming next Tuesday.

I also went to Walmart and spent about $250 and got all kinds of stuff for the Cottage. I still need to get electronics, I’m not sure if I should go to Best Buy or order them. Probably order online and pick up at the store, maybe that would work the best. Only a few things left now for Jasmine Cottage to be ready for visitors.

September 16, 2020
Today the skies are almost clear and I can see the hills again; they are so beautiful.

Michelle C emailed me today, she wants to learn how to do investing online and may end up moving here living in a travel trailer on this property. I think it would be great.

September 29, 2020

It’s just heartbreaking that another fire has ripped through Napa and into Sonoma, destroying homes and wineries and farms again. This is the second fire in Sonoma County this year. It seems like there has to be something we can do about the wildfires, and I don’t mean fight climate change (which would be helpful) but I do mean more ways of keeping the fires from spreading so fast, even when it’s windy, More equipment, more people, more inventive ideas to keep populated areas safe. And keep the smoke down! With all the technology in existence now there has to be a way. Also it should be possible to create a separate group besides the firefighters who could evacuate people while the firefighters actually combat the fire. It’s ridiculous that they are not able to fight the fire until it is so big that it’s impossible to control because they have to be somewhere else getting people out. How about a laser that can put out fires instead of start them? Lol I wonder if that is possible. How about piping in water from New Orleans so we have a wetter winter? Or getting everybody to water more all summer. Even the forests. There has to be something, even if it is building an humungous WALL around the areas next to the WUI!

September 30, 2020 Last day of September

The fog rolled in and helped reduce the fires considerably-yay! PDR.er helps. Dentist appointment with my new dentist, this morning at 9:20. I’m supposed to wait in my car, call in to let them know I am there, and wait for them to call me back to go inside.

AD has a table by Studio Volpe that is this shape-(kind of trapezoidal)-I have never seen a table like that before, I like it. Would be great for anywhere that you need everybody to see the view, or a presenter. Not your boring rectangle.

October 1, 2020 Thursday

The most horrible presidential debate ever happened on Tuesday. Do I really want to write about that? No. Just that I hope next time they will find a way to shut Trump off.

I should start writing poetry and reading it aloud and posting on the internet. I need a good poem about anxiety, how would I describe it. Peaks and valleys, circular thoughts, gray and orange alternate.

October 16, Friday
Wow, so a lot has changed since I wrote last time.

E. passed her road test on Wednesday! So now she can drive. Although A.’s going to need his car back for M., so she won’t have a vehicle for a while. But we’ll work something out. And teach her to drive the Scion.

And the best news of all that I’m not allowed to tell anyone yet is that M. is pregnant! She had a sonogram and showed it to me over Skype yesterday. They are planning to surprise An. on his birthday, which will be great I think. I figure I might be able to tell Lois, since she doesn’t communicate with anyone in my family. It’s funny, I said I was excited, but I am more happy than excited in truth. Which is a good thing, I think.

Today the photographer is coming at 11:30 to do a photo shoot of the Cottage outside. October 24th, 2020 Saturday-again

It’s been a long week, but not a bad one. A. is still trying to figure out a way to get his white car to wherever it is that they live now. I keep forgetting to ask him for his address. I don’t see how he’s going to get anyone to take it down to him without telling them why he needs it. Lol.

Well, our votes are mailed, I should check online to see if they have been counted yet. I hope so. The check I sent to Adan got lost somehow, so I don’t know how reliable the postal service is right now. I sent another one, if that doesn’t get there I’ll have to deliver it personally.

October 25th, Sunday

The “cottage” is almost ready. Tomorrow I will finish cleaning and setting up, at least mostly. Maybe I’ll get a chance to pick up a couple of occasional tables, too. I haven’t looked for antiques shops/second hand stores in Cloverdale, I wonder if there are any. Ukiah must have some, too. Healdsburg does, but they are fairly expensive.

I had a nice text chat with M.. She was feeling good but sleepy. I remember the sleepy part, especially with E.

I’m actually getting a little bit caught up with DAR stuff, too. But I don’t know how much help it’s going to be to have a Registrar’s Team. I still have to review everything, find the final bits and pieces, and print out the applications and all of the supporting documents. Man.

Commented [CG1]:

October 29, 2020

The end of the month is getting close. Halloween is on Saturday; E., Evelyn, K. and Ch. are planning to get together and binge watch Halloween (horror) movies. An. and I will probably stay home and watch Harry Potter or something. I don’t think there will be Trick or Treaters, but it’s hard to tell.

Yesterday Pam came to take pictures of Jasmine Cottage inside, and she will open up the bookings as of November 8. The desk parts came, they sent the whole thing again, so that needs to be put together. She said booth seating might work in the kitchen. I had thought of that before, so I will have to check it out; not sure it will work in that corner.

M. is starting to have “feel better” days, so that is a good sign. 􏰖􏰗􏰘􏰙 November 5th

Last night I actually slept really well. Election day is over, but we don’t have final results yet; Biden is in the lead with 264 electoral votes. Trump is starting lawsuits with a bunch of swing states. I’m still worried about money, but not quite as much. We should get a check from the County pretty soon. It’s really hard not to know when! We haven’t been in this situation for a long time.

I haven’t heard anything from Pam yet, but we are ready to go with the vacation rental. There are always last minute things to do, but it is ready. I hope we can get a few nights booked before the end of the year.

November 7, Friday

Biden just barely passed ahead of Trump in Georgia and Pennsylvania -yay!- I hope he takes Arizona and Nevada, too, and gets far enough ahead that there is no question of who won. Trump is starting lawsuits in all of the states that were close, naturally, wasting taxpayer money? I don’t know where the RNC funds come from exactly; probably donations. But it is looking more and more like he can’t win. Even the Republican party is starting to tell him to shut up-which hasn’t really happened before.

Going to Calistoga to put in windows for Olga this morning. November 7, 2020 Yay Joe Biden is President Elect! November 10, Tuesday

What is it about “getting ahead” that is necessary for us, as humans? I would call it “squirrel-nut syndrome” or something. That need to wake up every morning with a knot in my stomach because I have so much to do and so many people to please. If I could get over the people-pleasing obsession it would be a lot smaller. Trying to please our clients and my husband at the same time is enough to make a person lose their mind. I don’t want this job anymore, but I don’t think ther will be much way to let go of it until he retires. Unless we can find a few more people like Terry to work for. 􏰖􏰗􏰘􏰙

November 29, Sunday The Last Day of Thanksgiving Weekend

We had our first vacation rental guests this weekend! We don’t have a review yet, but they stayed until the end so that’s a good sign. Now I’m thinking about decorating for Christmas.

Covid is spiking again at an alarming rate. Dr. Fauci is probably the most famous person in the country right now. The hospitals are full and over 200,000 people have died from it. M. and A. had to stay home, doctor’s orders, and I don’t know when we’ll be able to see them in person again. Praise God for Skype! (and Silicon Valley, of course)

My mom posted on Facebook that A. and M. are having a baby-and A. and M. saw it-so I had to call her and ask her to delete it. Only 16 people had seen the post so far. M.’s afraid that her friends will find out before she can tell them in a couple of weeks. Japanese tradition-15 weeks. I’m glad they told us, though.

December 3rd, Thursday

Sometimes I wish I could just be a housewife and an artist and a mom without having to be a bookkeeper, estimator, scheduler, materials orderer, tax specialist and DAR Registrar. It ends up being a lot, trying to keep the finances straight and do normal home stuff, too. It’s all good stuff, but it makes my head spin. It’s not that I really want An. to take over any of those things-he has enough on his plate- but it would be great if he would let me hire, if we could afford to, somebody to do at least three parts of my job. We could grow the company if we did that, but it doesn’t seem like that is a goal forhim, so I guess it’s just a matter of waiting for him to retire. Then I won’t have most of that stuff to do and I can focus on painting and DAR. That will be nice. And grandkids.

December 4th, Friday

It’s Friday again and I’m just exhausted. More mentally than physically, sorry to say. I get to a stage where I have a mental block about doing work-although I did enter a bunch of receipts to Quickbooks - and I just do busy work. At least something gets done, I suppose. I need to figure out how to get QB to help me understand how much we are spending in different categories, so I can plan and make a budget, and simplify a bit. At least a bit.

December 8, 2020 Tuesday

Today I started the painting of Consuelo with flowers and by “starting” I mean I did the rest of the contour drawing and put it on a canvas. Tomorrow I will do the underpainting. The paint dries faster on canvas than on gessoboard. I am looking forward to this one.

The story of this painting: One day Consuelo and I were walking around the neighborhood in Windsor and we came to a yard that was bursting with little yellow flowers in green grass. I asked her to stand in front so I could take her picture, and that is where the photo came from that inspired this painting. “Consuelo in Flowers” I think about Gustav Klimt’s paintings of gorgeous women surrounded by gold and jewel-like flowers and I believe that Consuelo deserves the same kind of lovely setting. And she loved flowers.

December 10, 2020 Thursday

This morning I had a lovely chat on Zoom with Lois. We talked about grandkids and Sweden and coronavirus and knitting and painting and E.’s classes and our new property. I hope soon she will be able to come see it. It would be great if my art studio were ready first. Got to keep on pushing for that!

December 22nd

The shortest day of the year is behind us. I’m looking forward to having more daylight. I wish An. could retire from construction and just work on his farm. A few more years. I think he will enjoy that. I’m ready to do art full time! I have been working for one to two hours every morning on drawings and paintings, trying to have enough of them to put on a website. Oh maybe this week or next K. could get some good photos for me, since she is on vacation.

December 28, Monday

I am getting close to finished with “Abuelita enfloreada” (painting of Consuelo in flowers). I need to write up the story of the painting, and for the other two-“Foothills Park” and “Wellhouse”-which I am going to call plein air sketches. I think. I keep wanting to put the final layers of paint on Abuelita, but I have to hold back. My original intent was to do layers of grisaille on the figure and do the background more sketchy abstract, and I’d better stick to that otherwise I won’t know if that will actually work in paintings. Tomorrow I will probably work on the engagement portrait of A. and M.; the first layers of underpainting look really good.

December 29, Tuesday
The year is coming to a close.

Things I would like for my birthday: Oven mitts; poetry by Rilke; better closets; my own art studio and gallery; music; time with my kids; Japanese spoons.

January 6, 2021 (Epiphany and my birthday)
The Trumpeteers stormed the Capitol Building. What a bunch of idiots. Honestly.