#2969 three things: a week later, coming home, and the end of my concert season

THREE THINGS

1. One week later. T had surgery on the herniated disc a week ago yesterday, so today marks one week since he has been home. He is doing a good job managing the pain, and I see him moving around better every day and doing the little exercises the doctor told him to do at home. He'll start outpatient physical therapy after the follow-up appointment with the surgeon. That appointment is scheduled for Sept. 4. Tonight we will take the bandage off his back. I feel a morbid curiosity about it. 

2. MT is coming home. Yesterday, Aug 20, 39 days from when he started walking from Denver, MT reached Durango, CO. He said he is happy he did it and happy to be done with it, too, and that he is looking forward to coming home. He has been away from home so much this year that I kind of worry about him being bored and unhappy. I think he'll be fine for a month or so, and then? Hopefully he will be content. I am looking forward to his being home. I haven't minded his not being here except for the past week or so. That whole business with T was stressful and maybe it would have been nice to have MT around for moral support. However, MT was on the trail and I took care of stuff as best I could, so that's that. I am really happy for MT and proud of him for completing the hike. 483 miles walked in 39 days is no small thing. Good for him!

3. My RBG concert season is over. Last week I was scheduled to work a concert on Wednesday, the day of T's surgery, so obviously I let the volunteer office know I wouldn't be able to work. I had the last show on my schedule this coming Monday, the 25th, but I backed out of that one, too. I wasn't sure when MT was going to be home, and I don't like to leave T alone for too long. It all works out because MT will be home on Saturday or maybe Sunday, and I'll be glad to stay home Monday night to hang out with him and hear some new stories and look at his photos. I worked 10 shows this year, and I think that's a good number. It's the number I had in mind at the start of the concert season. I've already achieved my goal of getting 101 volunteer hours this summer. I still have a few shifts left to work, but I'm ready to wind down. 

 

#2966 3 things: Mac, MT update, '80s music

 

1. Mac, my black dog, wasn't feeling well this morning. There was puke and poop on the floor, and I knew she did it because she looked guilty and miserable. Her ears normally point up and she holds her tail high, like a husky, but today her ears were flat and her tail was low and tucked. Her eyes were sad and kind of unfocused, and she wobbled and swayed when she was standing. The biggest thing that made me feel worried was that she didn't eat her breakfast at all. She wouldn't even eat a kibble from my hand. I thought I might have to take her to the emergency vet so I stayed home to keep an eye on her. She was quiet and subdued all day and followed me around the house, always laying near me. She didn't want to be petted, necessarily, but she wanted to be close. I'm happy to say that she ate her dinner and played outside a little this evening. She's still quiet and sleeping a lot, and I think that is okay. Hopefully she will be back to normal tomorrow. Mac does have an appointment with the vet on Monday to get her shots, so I'll mention that she didn't seem to feel well today.

2. MT is on day 26 of his Colorado Trail through-hike. He messaged me tonight that he is at mile 310, and camping with a couple of people. On Tuesday he sent a message from mile 288 and he seemed down, lonely and homesick. He seems to be okay again now. He did tell me that when he was hiking yesterday, he heard a helicopter overhead, which was unusual, and then he came upon three forest rangers who were monitoring a nearby fire. MT said he didn't see or smell the fire at all. The thing that's cool is that at mile 310, he has travelled further than he has left to go. The end isn't quite in sight, but it is closer than the beginning of the trail. Amazing!

3. '80s music just hits the spot sometimes for me, and last night I got a belly full of fun '80s music at Red Butte Garden. The concert was called "I Want My '80s" and four bands played: Paul Young, Wang Chung, John Waite, and Rick Springfield. My favorite of the four was Wang Chung. They sounded great, and I knew every one of the six songs they played. They just had a 30 minute set and it was tight and fantastic. Rick Springfield was my second favorite. He was fun. He kept mentioning the elevation and seemed to be having a hard time catching his breath. The crowd happily filled in when he wasn't singing. A funny part of the show, to me, was a singing contest between the under 55 fans and the 56 and over fans. (LOL) 56 and over won resoundingly. We were LOUD and there were probably more of us, to be honest. Hahaha  It was all totally rad!

 

# 2964 three things I'm looking forward to in August

 It's time to turn the calendar page, and here are three things I'm looking forward to in August.

1. Lots of live music!  August is my busiest concert month at Red Butte Garden. I'm scheduled to work at five shows: Rick Springfield, Michael Franti, My Morning Jacket, ZZ Top, and Keb'Mo' with Shawn Colvin. There were supposed to be six shows, but Ray LaMontagne rescheduled his show for next year. In addition, I am going to see Chris Stapleton perform at Utah First FCU Amphitheater (formerly USANA Amphitheater). 

2. Trip prep! I know August is going to rush by and the trip to Central Europe will be here before I know it. August is the time to get my clothing and shoes selected, gather some art supplies, make sure all the documents are in order, and research is done. 

3. MT will come home. At least I hope he'll be back in August. When we were talking the other day, we thought he had a good chance to get home by the end of the month. He's gone about 210 miles as of today, and he's been on the trail for 19 days. If it takes another 20 days to go the next 210 miles, then he would have a week to travel the last 80 or so miles. It could happen. My wish is that he is home by Sept 4 at the latest, because I leave on the 5th, and I'd like to see him before I go on my trip.

BONUS THING:

*Harley got a clean bill of health from the vet. She did have a UTI, but I treated it at home with  cranberry-infused doggie urinary tract supplement chews I purchased on Amazon. Harley likes the chews, and it seems to have worked. YAY!

#2954 it's been a busy week

When my alarm went off this morning, I was sure it was Monday. I mean, I was SURE of it. I laid there for a minute, thinking of all the things I didn't do and wondering how the weekend passed by so quickly. I bet it was a good minute or two before my brain finally woke all the way up to realize it was really Sunday. It was so weird, though!

In my defense, I had a busy week. On Monday I had the best pre-work morning I've probably ever had. I was up and moving around early. I played with the dogs, including going for a walk, I had time to sit on the deck and play around in my sketchbook, I had time to read and have coffee and even have a little something to eat - all of that before I logged in on my computer at 8:30 am. It just put me the the BEST mood to start the day.

On Tuesday I got a merit increase at work, which is always nice. I went to Trader Joe's for the first time in awhile. MT came home that night, and I got to talk to Lizzie.

Dutch Bros coffee had a bonus sticker drop on Wednesday, so I got coffee and a sticker before work. That night, MT and I went to see Don Felder, Kevin Cronin, and Styx in concert. The wife of one of my co-workers works at the big amphitheater where these guys were performing, and MT and I were able to get on the friends and family list. We had great seats, and we had a really good time. The albums Paradise Theater (Styx) and High Infidelity (REO Speedwagon/Kevin Cronin) came out in 1981, so my inner 15 year old was in heaven! I'd seen Styx before - in 1981 - but I hadn't seen REO. (I had tickets to the show, but Kevin Cronin broke his leg and the show was cancelled back then). On Wednesday night, Kevin was fine and put on a good show. He played all the songs from High Infidelity start to end. I loved it! I haven't listened to Styx or REO for years, yet every word from every song popped right into my head and right out my mouth. And Don Felder? Well, he was in the Eagles, so he played 35 minutes of Eagles songs, and it was great! So fun!

Thursday I was pretty tired, but I powered through the work day, then went up to Red Butte Garden and Arboretum (RBGA) to volunteer at a concert by St. Paul and the Broken Bones. Yeah, I hadn't heard of them, but I listened to their Essentials on Apple Music to get a feel for the music. I'm happy to report that they were even better live than recorded. The lead singer has a great voice, going into a falsetto that is really effective in their music. There is a horn section, too, and they were jamming. The musical style is sort of bluesy R & B with a hit of funk. It was a good show.

Friday I was straight tuckered out, so I just came home after work. T and I ordered food from Wing Stop and watched game 4 of the NBA Finals. I got to talk to my mom that night, too, which is always makes me happy. 

Yesterday I puttered around the house in the morning doing chores, then went to RBGA to record blooms in the Children's Garden. It was hot. I melted a little. When I got home, I took T to work, then took a nice cool shower before settling down on the couch to finally finish the series The Residence on Netflix. There were only eight episodes but it took me awhile to get through it. I liked it. The detective, Cordelia Cupp, played by Uzo Aduba, was fantastic. 

So now here we are on Sunday evening. I went to RBGA for my regular docent shift. It was hot. I stopped at the grocery store for a couple of things, came home and had lunch, then had to take a little snoozle. I'm doing laundry; I'm working on my new planner for the year, and fixing to do some art, too. I think I might take myself out on the deck and sip a beer while I watch the birdies at the feeders and the dogs frolic. Last weekend I planted some flowers in pots for the deck, and they are all doing well!

Let's see...what's going on next week? On Tuesday, MT and I will go see Drive-by Truckers at RBGA. That was the show I chose for my volunteer benefit. (If you give 100 hours of volunteer time in a season, you get a pair of tickets to a concert). Jill the Artist is having a workshop on Wednesday that I would like to attend. It's on Zoom. Thursday at work we will have Dip Day. On Saturday, we will go to Pocatello to attend my in-law's 50th wedding anniversary soiree, and on Sunday, I am volunteering at a concert in the evening. I gave up my docent spot on Sunday because I'll need to take care of some stuff at home that day since we'll be out on Saturday. Plus, there's work, of course. 

I can't sign off without acknowledging that it is Father's Day. I miss my dad every day. He was a good man and a good dad.

That's all for now. Have a great week! Stay cool! Stay hydrated.

#2952 a whole lot of Garden time

 

Those first five months slipped by pretty quickly, didn't they? Here we are in June already! These last four days in particular have been full.

My concert season at Red Butte Garden started on Thursday the 29th. I worked at the recycle station for the Trampled by Turtles concert. They are an RBG staple, a bluegrass band that puts on a good show. It was the first time I'd seen/heard them, and I thought it was fun. It was a long day for me, though, because I worked in the office and went straight to the venue from work, so I didn't get home until late. 

Friday morning I was in slow motion, but got my groove back in the afternoon. After work that night  I went to RBG to record blooms in the Children's Garden. It always amazes me how the garden changes week to week. Last time I recorded blooms, on the 23rd, it took me about 90 minutes or so to go all through the CG. This Friday, it took well over two hours to record all the blooms. I enjoy going there in the evenings. The light is so pretty, it's a bit cooler, and there are fewer people, too. 

Guess where I went on Saturday? Yep, back up to the Garden! My sister-in-law Janet was in town to pick up her bestie Tracy from the who came to visit from Austin, TX. Those two have been friends since first grade. I think that's remarkable and awesome. They wanted to go to RBG, and I was happy to show them around. We covered every inch of the cultivated garden that we could. It was a hot day, too, with temps in the upper 80s/low 90s. It was fun to experience the Garden through the eyes of people who had never been there. They each took so many photos! We spent a good couple of hours walking around, then we went to Hog Wallow Pub to have a drink and a snack before they headed to Pocatello.

Saturday night MT, T, and I went to 'Bout Time Pub to watch Game 6 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals. The game was close while we were there, but the Indiana Pacers wound up clobbering the New York Knicks to wrap up the series and advance to the Finals where they will play the Oklahoma City Thunder. I don't have a lot of passion for either team; what I do like is that these two teams are not the same old teams that are always in the Finals. I think that's good for the sport.

Today is Sunday, so of course I was back up at the Garden this morning for my regular docent shift. It was so hot today! It was already in the upper 70s at 9:30 this morning, and in the low 90s when I left at 1:00. The air was dry and still  There weren't many guests there today, either, so it felt kind of slow. A fun thing I'll mention is that the Garden is closed tomorrow and Tuesday because Antiques Roadshow will be filming an episode at Red Butte Garden! The concert crews were already working on getting areas set up all around the Garden. RBG volunteers won't be used but PBS Utah volunteers will be working, and my friend Liz is one of those volunteers. She said she is excited to be part of it. 

When I got home I took a shower to cool off, made some tacos, and I've been sitting here at my desk messing around with the bookkeeping, my planner, and doing a little art. In May I didn't make much art, I'm sorry to say. This month I will be more intentional about taking the time to be creative.

This morning I was listening to something and one of the messages was that there isn't really any balance in the day-to-day activities as much as there is balancing. Every day is a bit different, and balancing what needs to be done with what I'd like to get done is what is at issue. I feel like in May the balance was way more to the what-needs-to-be-done side with a healthy dose of straight-up time wasting (I played a lot of games on my phone.) I need to keep in mind the question, "Is what I'm doing right now an example of how I want to spend my time?"  It's just that playing games on my beloved iPhone is so mind-numbing and easy, and sometimes I need that, too.

Looking forward to this first week of June, I've got some stuff coming up. I've got a dentist appointment on Wednesday. Thursday is my birthday. I'll likely record blooms on Friday. Saturday I'd like to stay home and relax because Sunday I have a double shift at the Garden. That morning I will docent, then that evening I will do cleanup at a concert. The artist is Ryan Bingham. He is the singing cowboy on the show Yellowstone.

Here's hoping you have a week of fun and successful balancing. I will leave you with this pic I took at the Garden this morning. The pots in the Courtyard have been changed since last week and now we have succulents. It will be fun to see how they grow during the summer.

#2939 what I've been up to

As I look back on this past week, what I think about the most is that I was willing to give myself some grace and recognize that when my body felt like it needed to rest, that's what I did. It seems that I often want to go to bed around 8:30 pm, but then I scoff and tell myself it's too early for bed. On  Monday, I didn't scoff. I went to bed! I had to set an alarm so I could pick T up from work. I was able to get back to sleep pretty quickly when we got home, and I felt good on Tuesday. 

Not every day went like that, of course.

On Wednesday, I went to see Beautiful: The Carole King Musical at Pioneer Theater Company here in SLC. The theater is on the campus of the University of Utah, so I was a bit concerned about the parking situation, but it ended up not being a problem at all. The theater provides free parking in a lot within steps of the venue. Parking was also easy due to the fact that the performance was a dress rehearsal of the play which opened to the public on Friday night. I really liked being in the smaller audience. I had an excellent seat in the fourth row near center stage and the show was great. Carole King's music is so familiar - I remember listening to Tapestry when I was a kid because my mom had the album. It's amazing how many well-known hits Carole King wrote. 

Friday was Valentine's Day. MT came back from Pocatello for the weekend. He and I went out for dinner to our favorite neighborhood pub, Copper Creek. I think it was the first time we've been out for dinner on Valentine's Day in years. Usually we just have a nice dinner at home. We watched a cute, easy movie when we got home - La Dolce Villa on Netflix. 

Yesterday I went to get my hairs cut. It had been about three months since my last visit with Lanna, and the hairs needed some attention. She just trimmed and shaped and snipped some life back into the curls. It feels good.

feeling sassy

MT went back to Pocatello this morning. He witnessed a bad accident right in front of him on the freeway near the Idaho border. A pick-up ran into the back of a semi and the semi dragged the truck along until it came loose. MT actually pulled the driver out of the pick-up with a highway patrol officer standing by. MT said the roads were wet, and it wasn't snowing hard, just flurries, but the pick-up was following the semi too close and there was a wreck up ahead, so when the semi slowed down, the guy in the pick-up did not. MT said the guy in the truck was alive but badly injured. So scary!!

This afternoon, I met my Red Butte Garden friends Wendy and Tracy for lunch at a restaurant in Sugarhouse called The Dodo. Wendy and Tracy each drive a tram and give complimentary tours on Sundays, and I am the docent. I love these two people. They are both kind and good, and I feel fortunate to get to hang out with them. We've met for lunch a couple of times this winter, and both times have been fun.

Since I'd never been to this restaurant before, I did a bit of research. The place is known for their desserts, so I knew I wanted to have some Toll House pie. I got a cup of one of their soups of the day, chipotle chorizo potato, which came with a very delicious roll. 

chipotle chorizo potato soup and a roll

The soup was really good, very flavorful, and just the right portion for me. I don't usually eat a lot of soup. It's not that I don't like it, necessarily, but it just doesn't hit the spot for me. In this case, though, it was perfect choice because holy gumballs, that slice of Toll House pie...

Toll House pie with whipped cream and chocolate chips

This slab of a warm chocolate chip cookie on a flaky, tender pie cruse was so very good! I didn't finish it all, so I brought it home and I've been nibbling on it this evening. The cookie was buttery and tender with a good amount of chocolate chips and walnuts. I'd absolutely have it again, and I don't know that I would share; MT would have to get his own slice. Wendy had the banana cream cheese pie with warm, homemade caramel topping, and she thought it was outstanding. Tracy didn't have dessert; he said he had a big breakfast and he had soup and a sandwich, so he was full. I did offer him a bite of mine, but he didn't take me up on it.

When I got home I decided to watch a movie, so I settled in for Bridget Jones: Mad about the Boy. I'm not ashamed to tell you it made me cry a few times. My dog Mac is a sympathetic creature, and when I cry, she is the dog who comes to comfort me. She snuggled next to me and put her head on my lap. Sweet girl.

Tomorrow is a holiday, President's Day, so I don't have to work. HOORAY! Harley has an appointment at the vet at noon. I will have to give her a doggie downer at breakfast so she won't be as hyper at the appointment. She is the most mellow dog at home, but she sort of goes a little bonkers when we are around people. She gets really excited and it's hard for the vet to examine her. I give her a mild sedative - prescribed by that vet! - and it helps her and all of the humans. 

I work on Tuesday and Wednesday, then Wednesday night I will fly to Long Beach to spend a few days with Mom and Lizzie. I'm looking forward to seeing them!

So there is a recap of the best parts of the week. Now I'll finish up a wee art project and get ready for bed.

xo

#2937 three things: night guard, Grammys, WTF

 

Oops...I missed writing a time or two. Happy February! I hope it goes by a little quicker than January. I felt like there were eleventy-hundred days in January. Let's get to it, shall we?

1. I need a night guard. I went to the dentist today and the hygienist told me that it looks like I'm grinding my teeth at night because some of them are worn down. She asked if I have jaw pain in the mornings. I don't, but I do frequently have headaches and my neck and shoulders are sore, which can also be signs of teeth grinding. A custom-fitted night guard is expensive, but my insurance does pay for half of it.  The hygienist did say that Botox injections are another option, but that is more expensive and you have to get them every four to six months. I think the guard will last for awhile, so I think I will go ahead and get it. Not having headaches when I wake up and getting better sleep would be swell.

2. The Grammy Awards. I missed writing on Sunday because I watched the Grammy Awards, aka the LA Fire Relief telethon. I actually didn't mind the request for donations, and I liked the commercials about the local businesses affected by the fires. As far as the performances, I think my favorite was the "California Dreaming" duet by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. (Side note: please put out another album soon, Bruno!) My least favorite part of the show was the reaction by Beyoncé when she won Best Country Album. It seemed phony to me. 

3. WTF is happening? It's been less than 30 days since Trump moved back into the White House, and he seems pretty intent on tearing down a whole bunch of stuff. From the tariff announcements and subsequent walk-backs to dismantling the federal workforce (except for the military), to saying that the U.S. will buy Greenland, that Canada should be the 51st state, and that the U.S. will take control of Gaza, every day brings something new to ponder. And WTF is Elon Musk doing there? Why is he getting so much government information and how is this going to end? It all feels very weird and yucky. I am trying to keep an open mind, I really am, and maybe things will all work out, but I'm uncomfortable.

Dog bless us, everyone. 

#2935 three things to look forward to

3 wonky chickens

 I know the chickens are a little wonky, but I sort of love them. I drew them with my left hand. When the combs and beaks were painted, I felt like they needed something else, so I spattered paint droplets. I think they sum up my mood. January has been a long month. It's the 22nd, but it feels like the 52nd. Why is that? For me, I think it is because I didn't have many things I was looking forward to. It's best to describe it in rhyme:

Having nothing to look forward to
Left me feeling sad and blue
I said to myself, "This will not do!"
That's when I began dreaming, planning and buying
Low-spend January? Yeah, I stopped trying
But now I have plans that are way appetizing!

1. Chris Stapleton concert! I really like Chris Stapleton's music, and when I heard he was coming back to SLC this summer, I wanted to go. He'll be here in mid-August, but MT will still be out on the Colorado Trail, so I figured I wouldn't go. Plus, the seats were super expensive. But then, Stapleton added a second show on 16 August and the tickets were on pre-sale today. I had the code, so I decided to see if I could get a ticket for a reasonable price, and I did! The ticket was under $100 (for a seat, not the lawn), but of course Ticketmaster/LiveNation tacked on a 30% charge, so it came to around $130. I've paid more for concert tickets, so I'm ok. And yeah, I'll go by myself and I'm ok with that too! Yay live music!

2. A visit with Mama and Lizzie! One of my priorities this year is to see my sweet lil mamacita at least four times this year. I had a little time today, so I took a look at the calendar and planned my visits. Other years I have just figured it out as I went along, then something almost always came up and I missed out on a trip or two. I don't want that to happen this year, so I have plans to go in February, May, July, and December. Yes, it's a long time between July and December, but there's a reason for the wait. Anyway, I booked my first quarter visit today: I'll be going to southern California in mid-February. Yay to warm temps and my women-folk in February!

3. A river cruise!  SQEEEE! Lizzie and I will be sailing down the Danube in September and visiting the big three capitals of Central Europe: Budapest, Vienna, and Prague. The cruise is booked, and we are currently finalizing flights and hotels for before and after the cruise. Now, I realize this vacation is eight months away, and it is my intention to not talk about it again until at least mid-June. That doesn't mean it is not on my mind and that I am not gathering information about any of the stops we will be making. I just won't talk about them to anyone but my private journal LOL. I probably drove Lizzie nuts when I was sending her all sorts of stuff about Italy for months before we left on that trip. I'll try to show a bit more restraint on this one, but I am pretty f**king excited about it!

I hope you have things to look forward to as well!

xo

#2913 three things: oh deer, triple shot, back-to-back musical nights

 Happy Sunday and happy September! The 'ber months are here, and I'm ready for them. I don't usually write a three things post on Sunday, but these three things summarize the week that was, so here we go.

1. Oh deer. MT was driving home from Pocatello on Monday night and a deer jumped out and ran into the truck. The deer was not found by the highway patrol, but we can only assume it did not survive the impact. The passenger side headlight was completely removed from the truck, and the whole passenger side is dented and scraped and the doors cannot be opened. MT is fine, although he was mightily shaken up by the event. He is sad for the deer and sad about his beautiful beloved truck. It is drivable, so he made it home safely, even though he was a cyclops (one headlight.) Insurance will pay the $7,500 repair bill, and our portion of that payment is...$100. Whew! Apparently being hit by a deer is covered by comprehensive insurance, so we just have to pay the deductible. Here are a couple of pics of the damage:

2. Triple shot. I've been thinking about getting a new coffee maker for a few weeks. I figured I'd do it when I returned from Italy, but my subconscious had other ideas, and when I was washing my coffee pot on Monday, I accidentally cracked the pot on my sink, rendering it unusable. My coffee maker is duo, meaning I can brew a pot of coffee and it has  Keurig, too, so I was not completely out of coffee-making options. I could have waited and just used the Keurig, but that's not my style, so I went over to Target with a gift card I'd received and purchased a moka pot.

This is the 3-cup size, and it is small and cute. It's also heavy duty. I can't crack this one because it is made of steel. Did you know that a coffee in Italy is espresso? American-style coffee is a drip situation, way more water than coffee. What I'm trying to say is that the 1 cup in the moka pot refers to 1.5 oz of espresso, which is a shot of espresso. Three cups from the moka pot is a triple shot of espresso. 

I didn't actually put all of that information together when I made a pot of coffee on Wednesday morning with my shiny new moka pot. I was delighted by the bubbling up of the coffee and lovely aroma that floated through my kitchen. I poured the whole three cups into my big American mug, and it only filled the mug about halfway. I added milk and sugar and took the coffee outside to the deck. It's a simple pleasure. I took a sip and said out loud, "Whoa you taste good!" I took another sip and my eyes popped open and I felt alive and alert. I slurped down the rest of the coffee and felt great all morning. I didn't even miss having a second cup, which I usually do when I make a big pot of coffee. 

When I am in Italy, I will be looking for a small, espresso sized cup to bring home as a souvenir and from which I will enjoy my espresso. And I might not have the whole three shots at the same time again. However, I'll be using the moka pot again tomorrow, so we'll see.

3. Back-to-back musical nights. I volunteered to work at two concerts last week, one on Tuesday, and the other on Wednesday. I try to manage my schedule so I don't have back to back shows because too many late nights aren't good for me, but I didn't realize the date of the second show when I offered to work that night, plus I really wanted to see the artist.

Tuesday night I saw the band Pink Martini.  I didn't know anything about them, but I like their name. It turns out, I really like their music, too. They are more like an orchestra than a band, and the singer, China Forbes, has a gorgeous voice. It's like cocktail party music. Plus, the songs are performed in a variety of languages. On Tuesday, there were songs in English, French, Turkish, Portuguese, Spanish, Italia, Korean, and Japanese. I really loved it. At the end of the night, they encouraged the audience to form a conga line, and they did, and it was a spectacle. I had a good time, even though I did not join the conga line.

On Wednesday night, I heard Lukas Nelson. I say I heard him because I didn't actually see him. I was working the west side recycling station, and the view of the stage is non-existent. I did take a few minutes to try to get a look at the stage, but everyone was standing up, so I couldn't really get a good look, although I can say that I did see him on stage for a minute. Yes, he is Willie Nelson's son, and yes, he does sound a lot like his father. He also has a much bigger vocal range than Willie, including a spine-tingling falsetto. He was really good and I enjoyed the music very much. 

Have a great week!

 

#2912 10 day wrap-up

I mean...I don't know where the time goes! I wrote here on the 14th and today is the 25th . What the heck have I been up to these past 10 days? I have to consult my planner because I haven't even been writing in my journal. I miss it. Anyway, let's catch up, shall we?

MT got home from his trip to Missouri on the 14th. Technically it was on the 15th because it was after midnight. I don't think he moved around very much on the 15th. It's a long drive to come straight through, but that's what they did. The 15th was our 31st wedding anniversary, so it was cool that he got home so we could hang out together. He sent me a sinfully beautiful (and expensive, I found out) bouquet of flowers, delivered to my office. I think he was trying to pick up style points with my coworkers. LOL

On Friday the 16th, we went to RBG to see Fitz and the Tantrums and O.A.R. in concert. I had to work on the clean up crew, so we got to enjoy the whole concert together, then he waited in the truck while I picked up garbage. MT hadn't seen either of those bands before, and he especially liked Fitz and the Tantrums. Both bands are great, and it was a fun show.

Saturday 17 August was a dark and stormy day. MT and I went to Cabela's so I could buy some trail shoes - I had a gift card there. I didn't care for the store, but I really like the shoes! The two of us had a late lunch/early dinner at The Pie in Midvale. Such good pizza!

Sunday 18 August was a big Garden day. I worked the docent shift, came home, had a bite to eat and a quick nap, then went back to RBG to work in the bike valet station for the Beach Boys show. We have had some big storms this month (monsoon season) and that night was no exception. I was under a canopy watching the storm roll across the Wasatch Front, complete with lightning and thunder. It rained hard to go along with the lightning, too. The gate time for the show was pushed back one hour because the authorities don't want people in the venue when there is lightning. Most people just stood there in line under their umbrellas. When the rain ended, the wind kicked up and it was gusty and kind of awful. By the time the Beach Boys came out around 8pm, the weather had calmed down a bit and then it was fine. I didn't stay for the whole show because I was kind of cold and tired. And no, there weren't many bikes being stored with us. 

I didn't have any concert duties this past week, and I spent my evenings puttering around the house, not doing too much. I've been learning Italian, French, and Spanish with the Duolingo app. I've got a 165 day streak going as of today, so I make sure I have time for that practice every night. 

That's really pretty much it for home. Other than that, I'm working and constantly thinking about the upcoming trip to Italy. Only 49 days away now!

I've got a lot coming up this week. it is the last week of the month, so work will be very busy. In addition, I have back-to-back concerts on Tuesday and Wednesday. Both shows are artists I haven't seen before. Tuesday night is Pink Martini, and Wednesday night Lukas Nelson. College football season starts on Thursday; the Utes will play Southern Utah that night. MT is planning to go on a backpacking trip over the long weekend to the Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho. There is a fire in the area, so he is being thoughtful about where he will go. I'm looking forward to staying home and watching the first part of Season 4 of Emily in Paris.

Have a great week!

#2911 three things; home alone, sleep, and live music

It's been 10 days since I wrote here, so here are three things that defined last week.

 1. Home alone. MT and his brother Kelly spent the past 10 days in Columbia, Missouri. They went there to freshen up a rental property we have there. They thought the work would take a couple of weeks, but by putting in some long hours, they were able to finish it up quickly. They drove straight through yesterday (Tuesday) and arrived here around 12:30 am. It's a 17.5 hour drive.  I guess they were eager to get home! I'm glad MT is back. I didn't mind his absence the first couple days of the week, but then I was ready for him to come home. It's not that I was lonely, but I like having him around. That's what happens after 30 plus years together, I suppose. (Our 31st wedding anniversary is tomorrow!)

2. Sleep. Since I was home alone, I was on family Lyft duty for taking T to and from work. He only had a couple of shifts at FedEx, so it was fine. On Friday and Saturday, he and Jordyn worked at the Das Energy festival at Salt Air. I was thankful Jordyn worked there, too, so they rode together and I didn't have to deal with the festival traffic. Friday night I was so tired, and it was so quiet that I wound up going to bed by 9pm, and I was asleep with ten minutes. I know that T and Jordyn got home around 2:30 am, but only because the dogs went to greet them and I was joggled by Harley jumping off the bed. I went right back to sleep, and the doggos let me be until nearly 8am. I felt so good on Saturday! I like sleeping. 

3. Musical bookends. On Monday the 5th, I had a volunteer assignment at the Stray Cats concert at RBG. Their songs kind of all sound the same, but it's a good same-ness. That rockabilly style is energetic and fun. They sounded great, and it is amazing what a bunch of joyful noise three dudes can make. The crowd was totally into it, dancing and singing the night away. Here's a pic I took:

On Sunday the 11th, I was back at RBG to see Gary Clark, Jr. I think this was the fifth or sixth time I've seen Gary. I really like his music. I was a guest that night because this was the show I chose for my benefit tix for volunteering over 100 hours last year. I had two tickets, but T didn't want to come with me since he was hanging out with Jordyn, and of course, MT was in Missouri. I didn't mind. I go to shows at RBG all the time by myself. This time I packed a couple of beers and some snacks and felt glad I wouldn't have to get my cleanup gear ready during the encore.

Not a bad way to start and end the week, eh, listening to live music outdoors in the summer? I am so fortunate to have these experiences each year. 

I hope your week is going well. It is already the middle of August, can you believe that? The summer has flashed by. I'm looking forward to the autumn for many reasons, so I'm certainly not complaining!

#2909 Park City weekend

Last weekend (July 13 and 14), I was in Park City for our inaugural Park City weekend. I actually don't know if it will be a yearly thing, but it could be. Park City is only about 30 minutes from our house, but it feels like a different world. Why? It's in the mountains, so the air is cooler, usually by at least 10 degrees in the summer, the air is clearer, and it's touristic. Main Street is pretty charming. Regular people live in Park City, but it's kinda bougie up there. 

We got up there around 11pm on Friday night. Marty's brother Kevin and his wife Janet joined us. We rented a two bedroom, two bath condo from Moose Management, a local vacation rental company. (Marty has done work for the owners of the company.) The condo was in the Snyderville area which is just off the I-80 freeway and about 10 minutes or so from Park City proper. We were very close to the outlet malls and could easily see the Olympic ski jump venue. 

The condo was nice enough: a ground floor unit with a little patio where we stored our bicycles. There was also a grill on the patio. The condos had tennis courts and a swimming pool, neither of which we used. The bed was quite comfortable, and I liked the place just fine except it felt kind of cave-ish. Apartments, amIright?

On Saturday we all slept in a little, then headed over to the Redstone complex to get breakfast and to pick up some groceries. After that, we went back to the condo and had what I called a chat and chill session, which was nice. In the afternoon, we went to the outlet mall for some retail therapy. I bought a couple of things at Eddie Bauer, some shoes at the Skechers store, and a pair of linen pants at Old Navy that I pretty much want to wear every day.

That night, we went to Deer Valley to see Jason Isbell in concert. He was fantastic, as usual. I'd never been to the Deer Valley Amphitheater, and it is nice. You bring in your chairs and your food. You have to buy alcoholic drinks there, which is a bummer. We sat near the top of the venue, so we couldn't see the band at all, but there were two big screens, so that was nice. The scenery was nice.

a bit overcast on Saturday night

Janet, Kevin, me, and MT

On Sunday, I woke up not feeling great. My allergies were in high gear, and I was sneezing and coughing a lot. My eyes were itchy and watery. The other three people went for a bike ride, but I chose to stay at the condo where I spent time painting, writing, and reading. I do like to ride my bike, but I just had no energy that day. They had fun, though.

In the afternoon we went into Park City and had lunch at The Spur, then walked around a little so Janet could get some souvenirs. You better believe I found a cute sticker!

In the evening, we went back to Deer Valley, this time to see Ziggy Marley. That was a fun show! He isn't much of a talker, but he played and sang for a couple hours. Most folks stood up and danced through the whole show. The day was much more clear and warm. I had a couple of glasses of crappy wine, but the music was great. Mother Nature treated us to a pretty sunset.

we are adorable

Thank you, Mother Nature!

We spent Sunday night at the condo, then MT and I got up early to head down the mountain back to the valley so we could go to work. I was lucky to be working from home that day, and I logged on by 8am. The dogs were happy to see us! (And maybe T, too?) 

I'm glad we got to spend the weekend with Kevin and Janet. I'm always happy to get away with MT when we can. Good times!

#2907 for love of stickers

This morning I was scrolling through Facebook, and I came across a post from the Salt Lake Tribune about something called StickerCon. I was intrigued. Several years ago, I started using stickers in my journal (I'm pretty sure Susannah Conway got me started.) Since then, I've become slightly sticker-crazy. I see them everywhere, and I want to add them to my collection. I now have lots, and I mean lots of stickers. I put them on my insulated water holders, in my journal, in my planner, and in and on my work notebook. I give them to friends, to my sister, and I even put some in a small bowl on my desk in the office for folks to go through. 

After my docent shift at Red Butte Garden this afternoon, I decided to swing by Copperhive Vintage to check out the sticker fest. It turns out that the store is next door to one of my favorite French bakeries in town, Delice. Sadly, Delice is closed on Sunday, so I couldn't partake of their goodness, but Sticker Con made up for it! The whole thing was kind of amazing! On the sidewalk in front of the store was about five or six tables of local artists selling their stickers. Inside the store, there were more stickers, and out in the parking lot, another dozen or so tents chock-full of artists and stickers! 

The variety was impressive. There was queer-based art, drug art, cute art, funky art, nature art, funny art, art based on lettering, and tattoo artists that had made their art into stickers for reference and booking. I really kind of wanted to buy something from each of them, but I didn't. That certainly doesn't mean I walked away empty handed, though.

I'm glad I went to check it out. It was fun to see other people geeking out on stickers and to talk to some of the artists. 

The upcoming week will be full of music. On Wednesday, I'll volunteer at the Lyle Lovett concert at Red Butte Garden. I've seen Lyle once before at RBG, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the show, so I'm looking forward to hearing him again. This weekend, MT and I will have "Park City weekend." We have an Airbnb for three nights, and tickets to two shows at Deer Valley. I haven't been to a show there before. The venue is bigger than RBG, but it's kind of the same premise: bring your own chair, food, and drink. Kevin and Janet will be joining us. During the day, we will likely take walks. There's a pool at the condo unit where the Airbnb is, so there may be some pool time for me if they want to do a big hike. It is supposed to be hot in the valley over the weekend, so hopefully we will enjoy slightly cooler temperatures up in the mountains. I'm looking forward to all of it!

Have a great week! 

#2904 three things: June concerts at RBG

 

I volunteered at three concerts in June at Red Butte Garden in June. Let's recap!

1. Burning Spear is an OG roots reggae band from Jamaica. This was the first show of the year at the Garden. I worked east side recycling, so I had a nice view of the stage and excellent people-watching opportunities. The weather was nice, people were happy to be outside listening to live music again, and there were marijuana-scented good vibes throughout the amphitheater. Here is a pic I took of Red Butte Mountain during the golden hour.

the golden hour during the Burning Spear show

2. KALEO is a bluesy rock band from Austin, TX by way of Iceland. This is one of the shows that MT really wanted to see this summer. It was the second time I have seen the band at RBG. I was on the volunteer roster for clean-up, so we bought one ticket for the show, since I get to go to the shows that I'm working anyway. We brought chairs and a picnic and enjoyed the show. After, MT packed everything back to the truck and waited while I helped clean up the venue. It worked out well. 

When we left home for the show, it was very windy and cold. We were dressed in layers and long pants. I also had my long winter coat in case it rained. It did not rain, but I'm glad I had the coat because it made an excellent blanket for my legs.  Although it didn't really warm up, the winds died down and it turned out to be a pleasant enough evening. One of the bonuses of the cooler weather was that the crowd thinned out early and there wasn't a lot of garbage to pick up. 

Here are a couple of pics from that night:

our view of the stage at the KALEO show

It was a bit cold that night

3. Mat Kearney is a singer-songwriter with a sweet voice and a fun personality. This is the second time I've seen him at RBG. I think he is a very good performer. His albums are nice, but he shines in concert. One of my favorite things about him is the mash-ups that he does. He plays one of his songs, then mashes in a cover with his own spin on it. For example, he did one of his songs, "Money" and mashed in "Bust a Move." It was fun. 

My volunteer assignment that night was west side recycling. I was originally scheduled to do clean up, but the volunteer coordinator called to see if I could fill in on recycling since someone had to back out. No problem. Recycling is good because it is a longer shift, so more volunteer hours rack up. West side recycling is busier than east side because the venue exits are on the west side as well as concessions and merch, so lots more people pass by. You also can't see the stage well unless you leave the bins to go get a look at the stage. It is okay to do that, and at any rate, you can hear the music perfectly well anyway. 

It was a lovely evening, temperature-wise. There was a full moon playing hide and seek with me through the clouds. 

I left the bins for a look at Mat Kearney on stage

full moon peaking through the clouds

I had two shows on my RBG schedule in July, one of which is just a stand-by.  I had to back out of the show I had since we bought tickets to see a couple of concerts in Park City that same weekend. I'm hopeful that a volunteer opportunity comes up that I can get in on, though.

#2903 songs on repeat

 I am jamming out with some summer music, and I want to let you know what I'm listening to on repeat these days. Here are my top three, plus a couple of bonus tracks:

3. Too Sweet - Hozier  OOH that bass line throughout the song just gets me going! I also really like the way the song just ends. Boom. Done. 

2. A Bar Song (Tipsy) - Shaboozey This little tune is an ear worm with a damn catchy hook. Just sing along and do a little shimmy shake. Good stuff. Also, his name is fun to say.

1. MILLION DOLLAR BABY - Tommy Richman  I love a little funk, and this song does it for me. I have listened to it over and over on repeat on my way to the office some days. Go ahead, wriggle around and dance your face off. You need this! 

PS I don't love the video, but I'm dancing around anyway, so I don't really watch it.

BONUS TRACKS

I also can't get enough of these two songs:

I Had Some Help - Post Malone feat Morgan Wallen

Not Like Us - Kendrick Lamar

PS...All of these songs are by men. Last summer, I think all my fav songs were by women. 

#2861 weekend wrap-up

This weekend has been unexpectedly splendid. Let me tell you about it.

I worked in the office on Friday. It is truly my favorite day in the office because it is quiet and mellow. The end of summer rush is on, so there is a boatload of work to be done. All you can hear most of the time is the clickety-clack of fingers flying across keyboards. When I got home from work, MT and I went out for dinner to a local Mexican restaurant. I hadn't been there for awhile and it tasted really good. I was full when we left, and when we got back home, I laid on my bed to play games on my phone and fell asleep. I have an alarm to remind me to call my mom on Friday night, so when the alarm sounded, I woke up and called her, but I was so tired that she kindly told me to get off the phone and go to bed. That was 8:30 pm. ((sigh)) I am so wiped out on Friday night! I might have to suggest to Mom that we change our phone date. 

```

On Saturday morning, I was up at my normal weekend time, around 7:00. MT's truck needed new tires and brakes, so we took it to the shop. MT cleaned the house while I did the bookkeeping. I had to take a break to get breakfast: coffee from Dutch Bros and malasadas from a home bakery business near my house. Fortified, I finished up the bookkeeping, then went into my room to putter around and watch Utah football. They were playing UCLA, and Utah won! YAY!! 

The highlight of Saturday was that MT and I got to see Sting in concert. I love Sting, and I have since I was 14 years old. I loved The Police, and I love Sting's solo music. I've seen him in concert maybe a dozen times. When the show was announced here in Salt Lake, I thought about going, but the tickets were expensive and I made the decision not to go. Here's the good part, though. One of my co-workers offered me tickets to the show courtesy of the concert promoter. How cool is that?! We had nice seats, and we enjoyed the hell out of the show. 

You know, Sting is 71, and he's still dang sexy to me. He is fit and handsome, and only the size of his shirt bothers me - he is a fan of wearing a SMedium, which I suppose emphasizes his slim physique and his muscle-y arms, but still cracks me up.

STING!

Rockin' the SMedium t-shirt

Sting (on the right) singing "King of Pain" with his son Joe

My pretty friend Tab and (ugh) me

Can I just defend the look on my face in the pic with Tab? I had to use the flash, and I always have my eyes shut or partially shut in flash photos. I made it a point to open my eyes, and I just end up looking like a total goober. 

Yes, the t-shirt was $60, which might be why MT is looking at me like I'm a nut

 MT and I had a great time singing and dancing. Well, I danced and MT swayed.  I knew all the words to all the songs except three. Those were newer songs from a newer album that I didn't even know he'd released. He did Police songs, too, and man, it was great. He still sounds good. He has re-recorded and re-stylized most of his songs to suit his older voice. He doesn't really get into those high notes like he used to, so I appreciate that he is self-aware enough to recognize that he doesn't sound like he once did, and talented enough that he can re-work the songs to continue to perform and please the audience.

~~~

Today is the last Sunday of September, and that means it was my final docent shift of the year at Red Butte Garden. I enjoy the docent shift. The two other people I work with, Tracy and Wendy, are fantastic people that I am happy to spend several hours with on Sunday mornings. At the end of our shift today, we hugged each other, and then had a group hug. So sweet! 

When I got home this afternoon, I had a bite to eat, then I had to take a nap. It was short, but it was good. In the evening, MT's mom, dad, brother and sister-in-law came to town. My MIL is having surgery tomorrow, so Kelly and Denise (MT's brother and his wife) brought Linda and Jake to town. Jake will stay with us while Linda is in the hospital for a couple of days. We are counting on everything going smoothly, and we'd welcome your kind thoughts and good vibes.  

The six of us went out for dinner, then sat around chatting a bit and petting the dogs. The doggos were thrilled to have new people to play with and get skritches from. 

~~~

I made some art tonight. The group I'm in gets two prompts a week, one on Sunday night that is due on Thursday, and one of Thursday night that is due on Sunday. The prompt due on Thursday had to include three elements: clock, bottle, and star. Here's what I came up with:

I felt like Time in a Bottle was already done, so I wanted to think of alternative ways to use the prompt words. I know it is silly and child-like. It made me laugh, and the group seemed to like it too.

The prompt due today was a painting of a woman that had been turned upside down:

this is the original I drew from

The instruction was to draw her like this, upside down, then turn the piece right side up and write a little story about her. The story must include her name, occupation, desire, conflict, quirks, and a journal entry.  Here's mine:

Starla is unemployed, but dreams of being a trapeze performer in the circus. People often don't see her beauty and grace because of her size. She can make a song out of any conversation, and she has a passion of ribbon gymnastics. In her journal, she writes, "Dear Diary: Tomorrow I will try again."

Here are a couple of other little things I did this week:

This is a single line sketch of some potted plants in the Courtyard Garden at RBG. It's messy and I kind of love it. I'm debating putting a bit of color to it.

I painted this cup of coffee free-hand, no drawing, just paint, during a creativity workshop this week. I like the way the cup turned out. 

This week, I am looking forward to having the stitches removed from my chest. That will happen on Wednesday. That's pretty much all I have on my calendar at the moment. I'm getting into the autumn mode; my brain and body are ready to slow down and shift gears to a bit of quiet and calm.  

How you doin? 

xo

#2860 3 things: EWF, a little magic, and a sad farewell

 

1. Happy Earth Wind and Fire Day! Do you remember / the 21st night of September?   I hope you took a minute today to wiggle your rump to the funky beat of the classic Earth Wind and Fire song, September. I did, and I invited my co-workers to join me. A couple of the women hopped out of their chairs and started to boogie. A couple of others raised their arms and swayed while singing along. The other two looked bemused. That's okay, though. It was fun for me. 

My favorite 21st of September memory happened at the Outer Banks. I came into the great room of the big ol' house we'd rented playing the song on my iPhone and dancing around a little. Most of the people in the room didn't know what the heck was going on. That's okay, though. I had fun.

2. A little garden magic. I went to Red Butte Garden this evening to record blooms. The weather was overcast and gloomy all day. It rained off and on. When I got up there around 5:30, it had stopped raining, but it was still cloudy and kind of cold. There was a wedding reception happening in the Orangerie, and the music was supplied by a lone violin player.  It was amazing to walk through the Garden tonight. The air was crisp and cool. The smell was clean and still slightly sweet from the rain earlier in the day. I could smell the dirt, the pine trees, and the plants that released more of their scent because of the water. The music from the violin floated up from the Orangerie to the Children's Garden where I walked around looking at flowers, making for an idyllic and dreamy scenario. I saw bunnies and squirrels moving through the bushes. Even when it started to rain, it was so gentle, I barely knew I was getting wet. As the rain got a little heavier, I made my way back down to the visitor center, making a voice note of the flowers I saw along the way so I could record them when I was inside the building. 

I don't know if there has been a time when I have gone to the Garden and not been delighted and satisfied in my soul. It certainly happened tonight.

3. RIP Aunt Bettie. ((sigh)) My aunt Bettie passed away peacefully surrounded by her husband, children, and grandchildren on Friday night. She'd been in the hospital since mid-July because she'd tripped and broken her femur right after MT and I left Dixon. When we saw her in August, she was in a convalescent facility, and though she was happy to see us - her eyes lit up and she laughed and chatted like always - I could see that she was hurting. She had more medical concerns than that broken femur, and by last week, her body was shutting down and she didn't want to be in pain anymore. I hope she can rest easy now. 

I would not have ever expected to lose my uncle and my aunt (they were brother and sister) within a couple of months of each other. It's been hard to grasp for me. I have cried for both of them, but in some ways, I don't feel like I have truly grieved or fully comprehended the loss, even though I am sort of smack in the middle of the business of the deaths. Maybe that is why I'm still kind of numb about it all. Or maybe I just don't let myself dwell on it all too much or I'd start crying and not stop for three days. I'm thankful I have medication to even out my anxieties and manage the low-level depression to which I am prone. It's been a hard summer. 

I need all the good vibes Earth Wind and Fire and Red Butte Garden have to give. I'd appreciate your kind thoughts, too.

xo

#2859 mid-month wrap-up

Writing here is always on my mind, but sometimes sitting down to actually write is more than I can take on, I guess. Let's see if I can recap the first half of the month. By the way...can you believe that September is already half over? 

I finished up my concert volunteer season with back-to-back shows by Fitz and the Tantrums on Sunday the 10th, and Buddy Guy on Monday the 11th. I am glad to be done with concerts. I am happy them when they start, and I am happy when they are over. I have one week left of my docent responsibilities. Bloom recording will likely be complete by mid-October. There are still some plants blooming, but the flowers are definitely tapering off. I still love to go up there at this time of year. The light is so mellow, and the temperatures have been mild. It's warm, but not too hot, and it cools down so nicely after sunset. I love fall here. Here are some photos:

Leopard Lily

Asters

Joe Pye Weed in front of the water pavilion

Obedient plant

This tree tells me fall is on the way

The big thing for my personal health was that I had a spot of skin cancer on my chest. I had a biopsy, at it was revealed to be a basal cell carcinoma. The darn thing had burrowed in and spread out a bit, so I had it excised out on Friday. I've got about a three inch slice in my chest, closed up by 10 or 11 stitches. The doctor is pretty sure he got all of it, though, so that's good. The stitches will come out on the 27th. The site has been pretty sore this weekend. There's some bruising, too, so it's been tender. In the next few months, I will go back to the dermatologist for a full body examination. I'm pretty sure there are more skin cancer spots. That one on my chest has been around for a long time. I'm glad to be done with it, even though I'll have a nifty scar to remember it by. (I'm not going to share the photos.)

Work is still busy, but feels like it is easing up just a little. I have a sweet home office set-up that make my work-from-home days extra groovy. 

T and his girlfriend celebrated one year together yesterday!

MT is painting the kitchen cabinets. We've talked about painting them white for years, and he decided to go for it over the past couple of weekends. He's doing a great job, and even though only the primer layer is on, it already looks so different and so much brighter! I think he's going to re-do the countertops and the backsplash eventually, too. He's pretty handy to have around. I'll take a photo when it's all done. 

There has been other stuff going on, too, of course, but I'm not really ready to talk about that yet. 

I've been doing a little bit of art. It's been on the back-burner, along with writing. I miss doing both. Take a look:

a wee sketch of birds on a fence

Abstract of storm clouds over the sea and a beach plus rain (the purple part)

The prompt was pink, parachute, potted plant. I continued the alliteration.

That's all I've got for tonight! Take care of yourselves. Wear sunscreen and a hat.

xoxo