Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Light And Love- They're No Joke


I am having a hard time getting out of bed in the morning these days. Never once in my life have I stayed in bed all day that I can remember, unless I was quite ill. I do get up and sometimes that is one of the hardest things I do all day. But this morning, when I finally got out of bed, I looked at the bark cloth I have stretched as a curtain over the lower part of the window over our bed with the sun shining through it and it brought me comfort. The light made the flowers come alive and I felt I could get on with it. My life. 
Sometimes it is the little things but you have to be well enough in spirit to notice and take them in. And when I am, I am grateful for that, too. 
(And thank you, Linda Sue.) 

Glen had a Medicare wellness check with Dr. Zorn today and then he was off to the lake to nail up drywall. Lots and lots of drywall. Or sheetrock, same/same. Yesterday he spent all day long dealing with the vines and trees they cover in the border between our property and the church next door. And that is hard, hard work. Hot work. Insect-biting work. I do not know how the man does it. 
He doesn't need a Medicare wellness check. He could just send in pictures of what he does in a day. 
I wanted to go get my seeds for the fall and winter garden, as I said yesterday. Jessie met me at the nursery where they had a blood mobile set up for people to donate and she did that. Gift cards, a t-shirt, and a Coca-Cola were all rewarded to her! Of course that's not why she did it but it didn't hurt. 

I wandered around a bit while she was getting blood syphoned out of her veins and I did not feel good. In fact, I felt like I was getting blood taken out of my body. Woozy and light-headed. This seems to be a new way my body likes to react to certain emotions and moods. This all started, as it so often does, in my teen years with migraines. Then an ulcer, and so on and so forth and I am constantly almost amused at what the mind-body connection can come up with for me. 
Almost amused. Almost being the key word because what if it's not a body reaction to a mental state but instead, a symptom of oncoming sure death? How does one tell? Is it safe to ignore these probably psychosomatic symptoms or are they NOT psychosomatic and need attention? 
This of course only adds to the anxiety and depression. 
Oh, it's just a circus and I am the biggest clown in the tiny car. 

But as soon as Jessie found me in the building where they sell seeds, I began to feel better immediately so I think we know what I was dealing with. We chitter-chattered about the seeds we wanted to buy, the possible new plants we wanted to try, the goings-on, the silly and the sad. I bought enough seeds for five gardens but this is what I always do. And of course every year I vow to plant less of everything. How many turnip plants does one family of two need? Especially when one of the two doesn't really like turnips that much. But I got my packets of collards and mustards, arugula, kale, carrots, sugar snap peas, and lettuces. I am going to plant chives this year and also rainbow Swiss chard which I mostly grow because when it is backlit by the setting sun it is so beautiful. 

Nurseries are lovely, aren't they? I took a few pictures while Jessie was still getting blood drawn. 


I could enlarge that photo, frame it, hang it, and look at it every day. My favorite colors, all right there. Cozumel blues. And teals. And turquoises. 


This is a jewel orchid and I found it in the greenhouse dedicated to houseplants where one could spend thousands of dollars, if not more. Would you look at the design on those leaves?


I am fairly sure that may be a message from beyond our solar system, engraved into botanical beauty. 
I did not buy one. 
Sigh. 

Oh! Here's a good one!


I was so tempted to buy these seeds. I told Jessie that I would definitely get drunk and plant them if I did. 

We made our purchases, we went to lunch, we talked about childbirth and books and children and husbands. And then we went right down the street to a thrift store where we found many objects of interest. Some hilarious, some practical, some very much what-the-fuckish? We saw a dress that had a skirt made entirely of silk. A printed silk that was beautiful but the bodice (and it was strapless) was the most hideous fake jeweled thing you ever saw. (What-the-fuckish?) I should have bought it just for the silk. The skirt was voluminous and I think an entire dress could have been made from it, or at least another skirt with the horrid giant fake jewels cut off. 
I didn't buy it. Non-buyers remorse?
I did buy some placemats and some napkins. The napkins are gorgeous. They are labled as coming from Sak's Fifth Avenue, obviously never, ever used, and still as ironed and starched as the day they were probably bought for a wedding or anniversary present and then tucked into a drawer. Ten of them. Damask. White. Beautiful. 



And here's the thing- I thought I was going to be paying about twenty-five dollars, if not a bit more, for the placemats and the napkins and I considered that to be a deal. The guy at the counter rang me up and said, "One ninety six." 
My mind could not take in what he meant.
"One hundred and ninety-six dollars?" I asked. 
"No. One dollar and ninety-six cents." 
"But they're marked higher than that!" I said. 
He shrugged. 
"Yeah. Well." 
I still can't believe it. I love old white damask napkins. They are so sturdy, can survive many, many washings, and can be used for things like lining a bowl to receive and cover bread. 

And after all of that, I went to a giant shoe store and bought myself a new pair of walking shoes. The ones I've been wearing were bought online during the Covid lock-down. This says more about how much walking I've been doing in the past five years than it does about anything else, but here we are and I have new shoes in which to walk. 

I had planned on going to Publix but FUCK THAT! I was done. 

Pottery tomorrow. We shall see if the flower bowl made it through firing. I hope so. I would love to paint it for glazing. 

So today turned out to be just fine. Getting out of bed was a good thing to do. 


Now if I only had the life force of those marigolds. 

I believe I will go boil some tofu. 

Love...Ms. Moon




52 comments:

  1. Those napkins are a treasure! I never, ever find good stuff like that at thrift stores.

    I envy your adventures and dates with your daughters. You're all so lucky to have each other.

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    1. Yes! Those napkins were a great find. I am wondering if people mostly don't buy napkins and placemats. Or use them, either. Oh well. More for me.
      I am very, VERY lucky to have my kids so near.

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  2. I got out of bed, too. Not sure it was my best move but here we are. I got some pork canned, vegetables chopped and frozen and a half bushel of pears to can. Then, i read a disturbing news headline. My mood ran right off a cliff. I’m always amazed at how cruel other humans can be. It shocks me and there’s not a fucking thing i can do about it. Bear witness, i guess. It never feels like it’s enough. My youngest grandson turns seven this weekend and is losing his second tooth. I’m trying to keep that front and center while Rome burns. I wish you a good night, Ms. Moon.

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    1. The other morning, after I'd had that bad dream, I was lying in bed, letting myself go through my thoughts to try and figure out why I was having so much trouble getting up and after I'd reviewed some of them, I then thought, "Oh. God. And Trump too."
      I almost crumpled. For a second, I had forgotten. A selfish second.

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  3. I can't believe your thrift store find! What a score! 10 pristine Damask napkins? But.....how could you resist that Jewel Orchid or the Drunken Woman lettuce seeds? LOL
    Susan M

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    1. I would have bought both of those things but I have SO many plants and am not really taking care of them and I sort of like planting mixtures of different lettuce seeds so...

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  4. Love the floral curtain. Is it really bark cloth? I’ve never encountered such pretty prints on that fabric before. Kudos on the linens, I need to go thrifting again soon, you’ve inspired me!

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    1. It IS bark cloth. You can tell from the texture and weight if nothing else. And the vibrant colors, too.
      There is a very real pleasure in finding nice things that someone else has given away, isn't there?

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  5. Sometimes getting out of bed deserves a round of applause. Or a bunch of beautiful napkins. That was a find. I have napkin envy.

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    1. How crazy are those napkins? Usually when I find damask napkins, there are only one or two. This was the motherlode.

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  6. I'm glad you had a goodish day. You got out of bed, visited with your daughter, visited a nursery, and put marigolds in vases, not to mention you got to see that beautiful orchid leaf.
    I'm ok, up and down, a little meh. It's my birthday on Saturday and it is always such a huge disappointment. I sound so selfish but it would be nice if my husband bought a cake that I like, or took me out to a restaurant that I like.
    I think I'm going to go play with some clay.

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    1. Woman! Tell your husband you want a cake and a dinner out! Just do it! You deserve far more than that for your birthday and that is the least you could ask.
      I did do a lot yesterday. In a way. Now I need to put on those new walking shoes and hit the road.

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    2. One hundred percent this! Let him know what you’d like; God knows you’re worth it. Margaret

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  7. Wishing you sweetness. /VT Sarah

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    1. Thank you, Vermont Sarah. You already gave me some sweetness.

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  8. That Cozumel blue at the garden center is the EXACT color of the two front doors at the duplex, the eight shutters on the front windows, and a wooden kitchen chair with the seat covered in a pot of pink begonias and coleus in my front flower garden by the city sidewalk. Everyone LOVES the blues and perfect strangers compliment me on the spindled kitchen chair. I just kept repainting it until the paint no longer held the chair together and then before it collapsed completely, I found another one for $5 at a garage sale. So, I am set for another 6 or7 years. My property is the only place on a street of probably 30 duplexes on our street that looks different and PRETTY. All the rest are plain old black and gray.

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    1. Ana! I would love to see your duplex! Hurray for you for not being a sheeple, for not being afraid of color. For being a bringer of joy to everyone who passes your home.

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  9. NEW damask napkins!! And so cheap. I no longer have any napkins, for years now I have been using throwaway paper ones, or larger size facewashers which wash very well and don't need ironing. And you can dampen them to wipe sticky fingers which can't be done so well with the paper napkins.
    I think you should have bought that silk dress and used the skirt to make something for Maggie.
    I'm going to look for those Drunken Woman lettuce seeds here, my daughter would love them.

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    1. I never iron my napkins. So there's that. I might iron these, but probably not. I just want to bring quality and beauty and utility into the house and even un-ironed, these napkins will offer all of that. I think.
      I really should have bought the dress. It was almost an Oleg Cassini type print. From the wild days of the sixties. VERY bold. Maybe I'll go back. Who knows?
      If you grow any drunken woman lettuces, let me know how they are.

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    2. I ordered two packs of seeds and will share them with my kids, I'm betting the youngest (gather of the twins) will grow the best lettuces.

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  10. I love garden centres too. I was in one just recently and every time I go there I want to throw all my dishes away and buy all new ones from there! Very pricey but so beautiful. They're winding down a bit now because we don't get the good weather that you do, but still a real treat to visit!

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    1. The pots at this nursery are astoundingly expensive. I'm not saying they're not worth it but if I replaced all of what I have my plants in now, we'd be talking thousands and thousands of dollars.

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  11. So much beauty today. Glad you got up and faced it. One-ninety-six? Now THAT’s a Thrift store!

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    1. Indeed! I even told Jessie, "He's cheating the store." I sort of wondered if he had a crush on my daughter, thus giving the old mother such a low price and it also occurred to me that probably not a whole lot of people buy napkins. I don't know.

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    2. I think it’s the former. How could anyone resist Jessie?

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  12. You worry too much about things that in the end you did not have to. So do I. I think it comes from loving your people so much. . I even worry about my dog when I go on holidays. Never feel guilty about staying in bed a little longer sometimes . When I was working I used to get up 5 days a week at 6 am . You have a wonderful family and a beautiful garden. Good wishes

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    1. Hello, Anonymous! Thank you for coming by and commenting.
      I do worry way too much over everything, even things I can't really control the outcome of anyway. I know this. I've always been this way.
      Thank you for your kind words about my family and garden. I appreciate that.

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  13. Those bright blue pots are just gorgeous.
    I had to look up jewel orchid. Beautiful leaves but rather insignificant flowers. I have " moth" orchids......2 flowering at the moment. One of them I saw and bought in Aldi last week.....it was only £7.50 for a double stem orchid. If it had been anywhere else it would have been nearer £25 !! I am hoping that they still have some left tomorrow .

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    1. Yes! Exactly! But you know what? I do love different sorts of leaves! They fascinate me and I've never seen any like these.
      I hope you get some more of those orchids.

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  14. Those Marigolds are life affirming and the damask napkins lovely.I hope you will soon be feeling better.

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  15. I woke up in the middle of the night last night and thought, they should put blue tile on the floor of the lake house, Carribean blue, Cozumel blue.

    I love that lace hanging above the barkcloth.

    I need to get my seeds but first I need to turn the dirt and weed the shit out of another spot.

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    1. I don't think we're going to do tile. I believe that we'll probably opt for some sort of laminate stuff. So much easier to install. You know? And don't tell anyone I said this but I don't want to waste tile that beautiful in a log cabin. Maybe the bathroom. Is that wrong?
      I have a lot to do to get my garden ready to plant, too.

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  16. I'm glad your day got better and better as it went on. Hope today is a good day, too!

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  17. Your window delights me! and the stone by the marigolds, well grounded. I have so many things here that really should be in YOUR house. they are too lovely for me and my dumb house!

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    1. No house that you live in could be dumb. No way, no how. So hush now.
      That's not a stone! It's a very large moon shell. See the little barnacles on it? I can't even remember where I got that shell. I got a few of them. Cozumel? I have illegally brought back shells from there. I am a criminal in several countries.

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  18. I hope you always, always get out of bed, even if you sleep late once in a while. Think of Mel Robbins's trick: 5 - 4 - 3 - 2- 1 - UP. (It works for me.)

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    1. Oh god. I heard an interview with Mel Robbins the other day and how I wish it was that simple- to count backwards instead of forwards to motivate ourselves to do something. I did try it the other day for something and it didn't work. I was no more interested in acting on one than I would have been if I'd counted to five.
      I believe I have an allergic reaction to motivational speakers of all sorts. But obviously, a whole lot of people are buying her books and hiring her to speak.

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  19. Garden Centers can be depended on for a good time and a few (or lots of) purchases. Does anybody ever leave a garden center without a purchase? Nobody I know.
    You got the seeds you wanted and more...why not? Your gardens for two will be outstanding/luscious.
    The greenhouse orchid is most unusual. I joined an orchid society and have met members with their own orchid greenhouses and never saw a leaf like that.
    Nice finds at the thrift store MM. The prices are great.
    I suspect you could transform the ugly silk/jeweled dress into something original all for less than $5.

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    1. You have to get SOMETHING at a garden center. It's the law. I know this.
      I did get a lot of nice seeds. I should save my own seeds but never do. I'm a lazy old woman.
      Ask around and see if anyone in that society knows anything about those orchids. I don't think the flowers are much at all.
      I used to be able to sew a lot better than I can now but I could have at least bought that dress and given it to May to use for the silk. She is so creative and a good seamstress, too.

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  20. Holy cow! You HAVE been busy. I wonder why blue is the default color for glazed pot plants? It's the same here -- pots are either terra cotta or glazed some shade of blue. I guess they look good with greenery.

    That orchid is amazing. I'd love to know what the flower looks like. And how could you leave without the "Drunken Woman" lettuce?!

    Excellent buy on the damask napkins! It doesn't get much better than that.

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    1. They had a big grouping of crimson pots too but they did not appeal to me so much as the blues and teals. I like greens, as well. But Lord, are they expensive!
      I just looked up Drunken Woman lettuce and it sounds great. I should have bought the seeds.
      You're right about the napkins.

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  21. “ I have stretched as a curtain over the lower part of the window over our bed with the sun shining through it and it brought me comfort. The light made the flowers come alive and I felt I could get on with it. My life. ”

    A lovely paragraph

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  22. I got out of bed about an hour and a half ago on your tomorrow. I am hoping that it brings some joys - I know that it brings a metric tonne of work - but one of the joys I have had already is catching up on a few favourite blogs on the last week while I have my tea and toast - I am now onto coffee and the whole "get dressed and face the day" bit. I had commented on the dirt therapy blog last week, but it seems that the ether ate it.

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    1. I'm so sorry that your post disappeared. I swear to you, I check the spam file every morning without fail to see if any real comments got mistakenly sent there.
      You drink tea and then coffee? Hmmm...
      Sounds interesting.

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  23. Damask takes dye beautifully and accentuates the pattern, if you are up for an arty project sometime, or know someone who would give it a try for you.
    Bonnie in Minneapolis

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    1. I used to love to dye things. I haven't done it in a long time though. Thanks for the suggestion. I bet damask does do very well undergoing that process.

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  24. Drunken Woman Lettuce, hilarious, never seen that variety here, I'd have to try it if I saw it, I couldn't resist.

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.