I was going to start this post talking about my Sunday lie-in, because my bedside clock says it's 7:45 a.m. and I never sleep that late. But then I realized British Summer Time ended this morning, so the clocks jumped back and it's actually 6:45. A trick of the universe to make me feel slightly less lazy!
Yesterday was a day of domesticity -- three loads of laundry (I had to catch up!), vacuuming, that kind of thing. I know I said I was going to read "Bleak House," and I honestly tried right after lunch, but I could barely keep my eyes open and my mind wasn't on the book. I'll try again today, maybe when I'm not in a post-prandial haze.
Oh, and I got something fun in the mail from blogger Ellen!
No, not taco shells. It was a slim envelope containing two flat pieces of cardboard, which happened to have been taken from an Old El Paso box, taped together. Tucked between them were these:
If you read Ellen's blog, you'll recognize these as crocheted and starched snowflakes made by her sister, Pam. Ellen kindly offered them to blogland pals in a recent post, so I spoke up and she mailed me two. (Looks like the two on the far right in the photo she posted to her own blog.) Thanks, Ellen!
Getting these in the mail prompted another bout of housecleaning. I hung them in a living room window, and I was going to take a photo for the blog, but the glass was filthy -- because, you'll recall, Mr. Russia power-washed the upstairs terrace not long ago. All the dirt and debris from there came raining down on our patio, and the windows looked like someone had held a monster truck rally in our garden.
So I went out with a squeegee and the garden hose and wiped and rinsed all the exterior glass around the patio (some of it, out of reach behind the plants, I just sprayed from afar). It all looks much better now, but the task made me grumpy. (Or, in Russian, сердитый -- pronounced "serdityy.")
To help relax I had a massage in the afternoon. I went to the Thai place on the high street and once again had a very good massage experience, though it was deep-tissue and occasionally it hurt. I always have to tell masseurs to go easy on my calves -- my calf muscles don't like fingers digging into them. She even massaged my jaw muscles, which I also could have done without. But seriously, overall, she did a great job.
(Top photo: Nicole the Nicotiana is still blooming away!)
The lovely lady who used to be my main massage go-to until she left the place to have a baby (we‘re still friends) gave me such snowflakes for Christmas some years ago, and I put them on my Christmas tree. It‘ll soon be time to dig all that out!
ReplyDeleteThose snowflakes are very pretty but I hope they don't encourage any real ones to fall!
ReplyDeleteThe snowflakes were a nice gift. I prefer a male masseur, just so that my imagination keeps fit.
ReplyDeleteThai deep tissue massage is very effective
ReplyDeleteWhat a thoughtful mail call! And they are lovely! I'm having a horrid time adjusting to the jet lag. How do you do it when you visit home? I've been trying to go to bed at "normal" time (11ish, give or take) but am waking at 2:45 and usually not able to get back to sleep. I suppose it gives me more time to deal with the return chaos and bug prep but after a bit, I'm zonked to the max! I was there long enough to fully adjust and now... still, wouldn't trade a second! But if you have any tips, do share!
ReplyDeleteLove the snowflakes and I know the feeling of ... now I must clean the windows and then clean the ... and then do the ...
ReplyDeleteI don't know enough Russian, beyond thank you, to curse out a lousy neighbor who washes his dirt down onto you! What a nerve.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad Pam's snowflakes have a good new home.
I have Pam Flakes too! I didn't post them because I'm giving some of them as gifts & didn't want to spoil the surprise.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I love about Blogs - it's like having penpals all over the world that we make connections with. Sweet snowflakes that will always remind you of Ellen in Texas! (Not to be confused with Ellen D. in Illinois). ;)
ReplyDeleteAww... what pretty snowflakes. And how kind of Ellen to pass on her sister's delicate work.
ReplyDeleteI am telling you, Steve- let Bleak House go! I just had a stern talk with myself about feeling that I must listen to every episode of a favorite podcast. It's ridiculous! You'd think you and I were schooled by the nuns in The Blues Brothers.
Massage can be so healing. Glad you got one.
Give me a head massage anyday
ReplyDeleteOh with the feet thrown in
Washing windows is a hard job but it looks great after you're finished.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad they arrived and they look great in your window! I'm reading a book now that just hasn't grabbed me yet so it's slow going.
ReplyDeleteOccasionally we have taco night in our household but we go for the Old El Paso ones with the flat bottoms which ingeniously make them much easier to fill with ingredients without tipping over and spilling everything out on the plate.
ReplyDeleteOur kitchen window, the one where I take pictures of the rabbits, is needs cleaning. Unfortunately, it's over a window well, so access is difficult. In the spring we're going to have to get out the sponge and squeegee on a pole and clean it. There's no point now with us leaving and winter on the way.
ReplyDeleteA massage sounds like a nice idea. I haven't had one in ages. The snowflakes are very pretty. What a nice gift and just in time for the holiday season.
ReplyDeleteThe only massage I ever got didn't feel as good as I imagined it would. Unfortunately I have some issues that don't go well with being touched.
ReplyDeleteAfter an iffy start, I'm over half way through Angle of Repose and really enjoying it. I hope you spent some happy time with Bleak House today!
Those snowflakes are beautiful. I once had my gutters cleaned and most of the crap ended up on my windows and the sides of my house. So the next time I specified FIRMLY that I didn't want that to happen. You don't have much control over the Russians so I understand your frustration! Deep tissue massages hurt a lot. I prefer the relaxation kind.
ReplyDeleteThose are lovely snowflakes from Ellen and hand made by her sister Pam. I think this craft is called tatting. A relative was quite skilled at tatting. She made lacy looking tablecloths; imagine many stars linked together.
ReplyDeleteMassage is always great for overall health and wellbeing. You found a good spa.
The snowflakes are beautiful. I had a quick look at Ellen's and it's nice there. On my one window, the security screen makes it impossible to clean the outside so I only clean the inside where the cat sleeps against it.
ReplyDelete