22 October, 2020 - Going Out For a Couple Hours & Your Early Paintings and Crafting

 Dear, Mom -

How are you doing today? Again, we had a pretty nice day. It is definitely getting chilly out as the sun goes down, but the afternoons have been nice for walking. Not that I have really been out in it, as I have been working, but looking out I see how pleasant it is. When I came home from work today, we had Watson, Stella, Elsa, and Rusty (all the dogs of the three house cluster) playing between the two yards. Watson, the puppy, is growing very fast. He is such a cute, fluff ball, but he still has to be put in his place occasionally by his big sister Stella. She really gave him a nip today and he ran crying all the way around Paula’s house. It’s all part of puppies learning.

Stella and Watson playing Tug-O-War with a toy.

As much as Elsa doesn’t really care about other dogs, I think it is good for her to be around dogs playing so she can get used to socializing. She just can’t stop barking when there are dogs running and playing, though. It is part of her breed. She feels like she needs to be in charge and rounding the dogs up as though they are sheep. It gets a bit much after a while because he bark is pretty loud and sometimes high pitched (depending on excitability).

Tonight, I am going to go see a movie at the cinema where I’ve worked for a long time. I will have the balcony all to myself. I will watch a movie about Stevie Nicks performing some of her not-so-well-known songs (some of my favorites). I am looking forward to being out of the house for a couple of hours since I don’t really get to go out and do much. My neighbor Sam will be with me, but we will sit apart from each other by a few seats, as regulation states. I am going to in a bit early so I can chat with Kim. She will be doing the concessions tonight.

This is what I will be watching tonight.

I actually took a break from writing your letter and went to the above concert on film. Oh, Mom. It was like it was the 1980s all over again. I loved Stevie Nicks so much in my younger years that lol those lyrics are still memorized and stored in the back of my mind. Stevie Nicks turns 70 this year and her voice was still as pitch perfect as ever. Maybe even more. And her back up singers were just as perfect. I had such an amazing time. I get to have the poster from the show, as well. I plan on getting it framed. I’m so lucky I got to see this film. I am lucky to have a history with the cinema. So, here I am back from a terrific time out and I will carry on about my day. 

On my walk with Elsa this morning, I came across a tree that I love at this time of year. It is a Strawberry Tree. This tree actually bears fruit that are very sweet and can be used in jams, pastries, fruit yogurts, and even alcoholic beverages. I think the flowers are precious. The are in large clusters and very pretty.

Irish Strawberry Tree blooms

I’m going to watch as this tree progresses through flowers and berries to see if I am able to pick the berries and give them a try. I have come to learn by studying the art of foraging wild plants just how many edible berries or fruits there are that nobody realized are edible. Right there in their own yard. It’s a great hobby to study foraging. You get to learn a lot about plants that you usually may just walk over or by. In a time of need, foraging can come in very handy if you are hungry and need sustenane.

I was noticing in the kitchen yesterday the time period that you did your art that we have handing up. I think these were some of your earliest pieces. It makes me appreciate and love you that much more when I look at your art on our walls. I love your mason jars along with Aunt Jo’s up to the right. Along with our actual Mason jars on the top of the fridge, it’s a lovely collection that always make me think of you and Jo.

Aunt Jo’s Mason Jars watercolor and your Mason jars oil painting

This is another very early painting of yours. The ole coffee grinder and kettle.

This is a memento you made for the Pea Festival. I love looking at your early calligraphy. I’m sure you had the mold and put this in the kiln and fired it yourself.

Kitchen Prayers. I believe this used to hand in Grandma’s kitchen in Salem.

“Bless this little kitchen, Lord

And bless me and I work,

Guide me in my daily chores

That I many never shirk.

May I keep my kitchen cheery

No matter what I cook

That my family, and my guests

Will love its every nook.”

☕️

I will leave you with that. You are always with me throughout the day. As you can see, all I have to do is walk into the kitchen and there you are. You are painting, you are crafting, you are baking. You are always with me, Mom. I love you dearly.

🎨 🖌🍪 Your Daughter, —-Sally Ann🎶🖋❤️