Zipping By to Say HI!

Hey y'all!

I am wearing a tee shirt from 

the USPS.

Who knew they sold swag, puzzles and gifts?

Not just stamps!

Well, I do now!!!!

The fabulous afghan is a gift from

our wonderful next door neighbor 

who continues to awe us with her 

purr-fectly amazing handiwork.

Speaking of artists,

you need to check out Michael Fraser Bridges' 

works on his Instagram page

@Michaelbridges

I just bought this gorgeous octopus dish he made!

The candy is a gift from the young neighbor artist 

who gave us these joke Valentines

and made us this drawing:

I have very mixed feelings about Valentine's Day.

I love love. 

But I do not love marketing based love. 

(Even though I did buy this Snoopy/Peanuts towel

from Pottery Barn because of an Instagram ad...)

The pretty heart was made by the crocheting machine neighbor!

Thank you to the neighbor who gave us candy and 

delivered my bags of Valentines, poems, and snowflake crafts

to the neighborhood families.

A Phamily member made these embroidered masterpieces.

I BOUGHT THEM!

The two of us giggled thinking about WHO would pay

$400+ dollars for a pair of 

embroidered jeans?

No.

I told my friend I am going to see if her works

can go on the back pockets of the 

Swoveralls I embellished. 

I call them my Pandemic Pants. 

I love to send letters.

I love to get letters.

Thanks for the mail 

some of you have blessed me with. 

I love giving gifts.

I love getting gifts.

Thank you to those of you who have given me gifts.

Today is an election day here.

Quite the competitive mayoral race going on!

This t-shirt was a gift to me from one of the youth group kids I know. 

Thank you T!

Here's a pic of some BRAVE teens

participating in a talent show.

This past weekend my friend and I 

went to see the show at my former HS.

What a fantastic night!

Except for the seats 

WHICH I PICKED OUT

not knowing they required my going up some stairs.

I did okay on my crutches...

What was scarier was going down the slanted ramp 

on the snow that had fallen while we were watching the show!

Thankfully we were able to use my temporary handicapped placard.

I told most of my buddies about my first outing since 1/25 on 2/20.

I got new x-rays  that day. 

My fracture had healed enough 

so that I was given permission 

to put some weight on my injured leg.

It was like standing on a bee hive!

My foot was freaking out.

And my calf was so sore. Solid and achy.

I'm doing a little better now after a week.

After the diagnosis we went to Trader Joe's and

the McDonald's drive thru.

It's been proven that daffodils and hash browns 

are VERY therapeutic. Look it up. 

My bed was my world for the beginning of February.

I pretty much rested on a twin bed set up in our living room.

It is a lovely setting. 

But I am looking forward to getting back upstairs

and having my home back to its normal set up. 

Just not yet.

I need solid sleep so these bones and muscles can heal.

And going up and down the stairs is 

EXHAUSTING.

At the beginning of the month I used a walker and 

carefully vacuumed by leaning against walls and furniture. 

Yesterday I was able to stand 

ON BOTH LEGS

and carefully and  s l o w l y 

clean four rooms downstairs.

It "only" took eight hours!

I've been using Instagram 

to show folks my appreciation,

to be goofy and connect. 

It is still really hard to ask for help. 

Here's a photo of my husband giving me socks.

My feet were cold.

I was far away from a pair of socks.

He did not want to touch them.

So he used the grabber our daughter bought me.

Silly. 

On 2/23 

after getting a good report 

from the orthopedic doctor 

we went to a hotelso I could take a SHOWER.

My first since 1/19!

It felt heavenly. 

We had a delicious dinner and breakfast.

We cannot live by BREAD alone. 

Which is why we are so thankful for friends who brought us food 

while I've been hurt and unable to drive.

I got to celebrate someone's birthday with her!

And she brought yummy pastries!

We had delicious Bhoomi delivered to our home.

This restaurant comes to the Food Truck Thursdays near us.

Sooooooo yuummy!

I continue to be super excited about Kenny Loggins coming

to Ravinia this summer. 

Here I am with him in 2012.

He autographed the crop top I bought

at the concert where

HE WINKED AT ME.

He did.

Read his autobiography.

He says he would pick out 

a girl in the crowd 

and wink at her.

And he did - at ME in the 80's at Poplar Creek.

Ask my girlfriends!!!

I joined his Fan Club this month.

I was hoping to score some Meet and Greet tixs.

This popped up after I hit the PAY button.

Saaaaaad. 

But the blog is really fun to read!

And exclusive. Oo la la. 

As usual shows, books, podcasts and music have incited joy for me. 

Here's pics of the ways I've been enriched and entertained this month.

Great lyrics:

Chicago is going to be really rockin' on August 9th.

Both The Boss and The Boss Lady will be in town!

I love Cat Stevens' works. 

I did not know about his deportation!

I did not know he renamed himself.

I am glad he is welcome back here in the U.S. 

and I'm impressed with his charitable works.

Cat Stevens' famous song is now a picture book.

And, although it's expensive, there's an audio version.

26 years ago I was in a doctoral program at 

THE Ohio State University.

(OH-)

I was going to base my doctorate on the connection 

between singing and early literacy.

It wasn't going to be earth shattering, 

but is sure was going to be fun doing the 

qualitative research.

Instead of finishing I did the next thing needing done.

Which included reading and singing to my own three children.

Now I get the joy of reading and singing to my grandchild!!!!

I have nicknamed myself "Kisses" at the moment until the child

figures out a better name. It is so much fun blowing kisses over

a FaceTime call and listening to the cascade of giggles!

Vox Books - Audio Picture Books

I continue to prefer nonfiction materials to fictional.

Although some reality shows do not seem real...

I am looking forward to the award shows even though

I have seen so few of the nomination selections. 

Please be sure and check out The Elephant Whisperers!

I miss this show and wish they would bring it out for streaming!!!

#stateofgracestreaming

I have always loved watching the moon rise 

and being where you can actually see stars.

I read this book with a church group this month.

I highly recommend it - and a night under darkness. 

I used this bookmark. 

It's actually a party invitation 

my parents made for a party

IN 1964!

While we were hosting friends for dinner

I was told the moon was beautiful. 

They all went out to see it. 

All I got was this photo.

(From my husband.)

Like those t-shirts! HAHAHAHA.

Look at the beautiful flowers brought to us that night and the handmade scarf I was given!

I've connected with a few writing groups

and am enjoying the Zoom meetings.  

Trauma-Inspired

by Linda Spellman

has been such a healing journey for me. 

Check it out!

Here's a quote from the book that we all need to remember. 

Here's some more tiny wisdoms.

Listening to Lauren Graham read her book at 

1.50 speed made her sound just like Lorelai Gilmore!

Instagram has given me awareness and some off the cuff entertainment.

This pledge tells kids that the "flirting" kind of bullying is NOT okay

and any educators letting it slide should be held accountable!

Sarah Nilson's artwork at her namesake site and 

@Justfrogetaboutit on Instagram

and Ellie's podcast and her graphic designs 

@astoldby.ellie on Instagram

have kept me smiling this month. 

Some of you lucky folks will be getting some in the mail!

I splurge purchased this item for our grandkid.

Receiving videos of the toys in the tub have been so fun!

Sadly SO MANY people have been killed

by GUNS this month. 

This young man survived the attack at MSU.

I've donated and invite you to donate.

I know there are others in need too -

those in war and earthquake zones -

please help others where and how you are able.

Thank you. 

LINK TO DONATE FOR JOHN HAO

***

Let's talk Hummels.

I gave them as gifts to my bridesmaids.

I broke my mother's collection of them

BECAUSE SHE PUT THEM ON 

THE SHELF OF MY DESK 

WHICH I WOULD OCCASIONALLY
SLAM IN A TEENAGE RAGE

so the little birdies and flowers would break off.

And some of the cherubic children's heads. 

Payback...

Guess who now gets to dust those statues

as well as those from my husband's side of the family?

His side has some Goliath sized figurines that look

SUPER SCARY beside the regular sized ones

so they get shelved other places. 

His family's are chipped too.

None are able to be resold.

Aren't they sweet.?

Here I am in one of the items my mommy gave us recently.

I love it!

Thanks Mom!

My daughter says I can't be an INFP 

Myers Briggs Type 

because I am not introverted.

But I AM introverted!

Like when I am creating the blog, 

or on a walk,

or listening to albums.

The pandemic quarantines and lockdowns weren't hard for me.

I know how to be busy in my head. 

But she's right, I am 

more than 50% extroverted. 

This test was on today's google page. 

I took it. Did you?

It described me perfectly!

So a new writing buddy 

(who actually taught at the Thurber Writing Academy same as me)

told me to keep track of the things y'all have said to me while I am 

recovering from my newest fracture.

(New readers - I fractured my shoulder in 3 places in 2021.)

The Number #1 Comment has been a form of:

"YOU NEED TO BE COVERED IN BUBBLE WRAP!!!!"

So I'm working on gathering enough.

(Thus the online over shopping...)

(Sticker art by Janet Hill.)

Susan Branch came to Illinois recently 

for a book tour but I was unable to attend.

Sooooooo, I had fun buying the new book

and a few goodies at her website store.

Here's a photo of a calendar my girlfriend  

bought me years ago that Susan had autographed 

on my birthdate! 7/27 

I miss posting photos on the app Mission:Pic (now gone).

But for Lent I am participating in the #rethinkchurch challenge

of posting a themed photo a day. 

I love it.

I know other people I've never met

must be surprised when I heart

their photos on Instagram!

I also bought some earrings online from a friend of a friend

at Trends and Truth Designs. (Look on Facebook.)

Look! A little peace dove and a letter!

All tiny handiwork done in polymer clay!

So much talent!

I am still not done wearing the HUGE collection of earrings 

my BFF gave me for my 60th birthday.

Clouds and mermaid tails were both worn this month!

I can't drive yet.

But so far my husband has taken me to Crate & Barrel 

and Heritage Trail Mall 

"for PT"

hahahahaha.

Hey, both places have nice smooth, flat, wide open walkways 

for me and my crutches.

One crutch did fall though.

Thankfully it didn't break the Murano glass glasses.

Phew.

Well, that's all I've got to share.

Thanks for zipping on over here to say HI to me too. 

(Sweet doggy scarf from the sweet next door neighbor!)

I'll keep trying to do good things for 

my brain and body and the world 

and I hope you will do the same.

I'm still holding out hope to travel soon.

I guess I'll just have to take things

ONE STEP AT A TIME.

Ugh.

Grateful tho,

Jen Pen

PEACE BE WITH YOU!