In the studio

This is where I am, with you, at this very moment. I am at my work table, a very, very old 9 foot long farmer’s table that came out of a barn, just about my favorite piece of furniture ever. It is so massive and so heavy it took 4 guys to get it in here and I am so grateful that I didn’t lose it in the fire. Most of my antique and vintage things, the things so close to my heart, perished that night in the explosive flames, but my beloved work table was saved. It is big enough to have multiple dog beds under it because the pugs like to be very close to me. This is where I start and end my days, where I had coffee with my daughter Rachel this morning, and where I still am at nearly 6 p.m. save trips around the house and out with the dogs. This is my safe haven, I live mostly in this one room, the Cozy Room is next to this one where the pugs and I sleep, but this is where I live. I love it so much, I have never been more comfortable anywhere in my whole life.

And you can see my fire on the computer. I turn on this fireplace app first thing every morning when I sit down here with my coffee after feeding the dogs. I love how it pops and crackles and blazes bright. Sometimes I just close the browser and let the fire fill the screen while I write on my big white notepad which is always beside me, daily lists, notes, things I don’t want to forget, calls to make. Right now I am watching the fire while I write and listening to my favorite album this time of year, I have loved it for over 30 years, I know it by heart, it soothes me like no other music and I have shared the youtube video of the whole album here before. It is George Winston’s “December.”

There is something so peaceful about Sundays to me, and this one started out so sweet. I was in the kitchen about 10 a.m. making coffee after feeding the dogs and giving them their meds and I got a text from Rachel that said, “Up for a little visit this morning?” and I wrote back immediately, “Absolutely!” She came and had coffee with me and we visited for awhile, such a really sweet way to start the day. And when she left I had such fun on amazon looking at Christmas possibilities for my 2 and 5 year old grandsons. I’m going to be talking to my daughter in Chicago about the boys and sent her a list of suggestions to see what she thought. I’ve already shopped for my 18 month old grandbaby in Atlanta, and I have to shop for my darling 13 year old grandson, Rachel’s son, soon! I love looking at things for the little ones. I’ve shopped for my person for this year’s adult gift exchange so I’m almost finished. It is going to be a peaceful, relaxing holiday season.

I had to stop for a minute to rub Delilah’s face and head and ears. My tiny girl pug is my sweetheart and my velcro pug. I don’t move without my little shadow. She will bounce up from a sound sleep if I slide my desk chair back to get up, and she goes where I go, in the kitchen, in the bathroom, outside. I have to laugh, it reminds me of when my kids were little and I always had a toddler or three in the bathroom with me. I can barely go to the bathroom without an audience! Delilah has taken up the gauntlet and comes along now. I say I “live alone” but it’s hard to be too lonely with 3 pugs ever underfoot! I am so grateful for my little babies.

Sunday night is when I feel mellow and grateful for the lovely weekend I’ve just had and turn my thoughts to the week ahead, wondering what it might bring, looking out across the days ahead and checking what appointments need to be dealt with — tomorrow I go to my med management appointment and then to Costco to get meds refilled and groceries and it’s time to get the big 25 pound bag of wild bird seed for the wildlings. I have numerous bird feeders outside the studio windows to my left and love to watch the many, many wild birds as they come and go. Mornings are birdsong and pug snores as my little ones go back to sleep after their breakfast and I start my day. Despite it all life is good. Sundays seem to be a day for reflecting on all that I am grateful for, and there is so much to be grateful for. My dear family, friends near and far, and all the goodness that there still is in the world despite all of the heartache and sadness over the state of the world. I love to watch the work of the charities this time of year that help children and families have a Christmas who otherwise wouldn’t have one. And I think of all the people who left the earth this year, it barely seems possible, one minute someone is there and the next they’re gone. It is a constant reminder to love with your whole heart and being the precious ones still in your life today. And may all beings be blessed.

It’s almost time to feed the pugs their dinner. I just wanted to stop in and spend some time with you. It’s good to see you. I appreciate you so much if you are here, reading, leaving comments, sharing this journey with me. I look at the Live Traffic Feed on the bottom right side of this page and watch it scroll by as people from all over the world visit this page, all over the US, Canada, Ireland, the UK, Sweden, Belgium, Germany and all over Europe, Australia, New Zealand and countries all over the world and I am so grateful for all of you. Tonight my heart is so full of gratitude and love. With my whole heart I am wishing you beautiful, love-filled days ahead, and the peace of the season. God rest ye merry gentleman, and Joy to the world. Another season full of blessings is here…