GETTING ON THE TRACK

 Fio had a lovely surprise this evening: SonL had hauled out Fiorella's fake family Christmas tree and he, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter were working on it for the first time, so what could your girl do but join in happily?

By the way, Fio is going great guns with the Word Search Puzzle Book. Try it, you'll like it...or maybe not. 

Your girl still has her "Kamala" picture plastered to the door of her salon. After all, you never know what might happen for the best........

As you know...or don't, Fio's left eye does not work well, so if you hear something about a way to remedy it, let her know. 

Take care and Merry Christmas!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas, Christmas, Christmas

 Your girl is preparing for Christmas, which in her world means DECORATING with anything that she can find, like Kleenex boxes, paper decor on the doors (if she can get away with it), and searching out her musical compositions when when Husband was still with us. It's odd: he was the more musical of us, even with our house, but Fio was the one who could compose. Hmmm, wonder if your girl could do it again! 

She will decorate some of her windows, of course, but her current family doesn't go to church anymore, as far as Fio knows, and she doesn't drive anymore herself. Hmmm...maybe times have changed and Fiorella's left eye can be fixed!

Am now working feverishly on a "WORD SEARCH" puzzle book which is both fun and irritating. Try it, you'll like it, Fio errr, thinks.....

"You're a good dog," Fiorella says to George, the white and black cat that seems to favor her. It's very comforting since the only dogs around are pugs that still haven't been housebroken. Your girl would prefer a bigger dog, already trained. 

My Christmas cards will, as usual, get out later this year.....sorry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saddle the Horses!

 Fiorella is now working on her Christmas show....TA DA!

She's pulled out all she can to make her holiday jolly and is going to do her best to put some of her Christmas songs in shape. Don't wince: they were written by Fio about wenty years beforehand in a composition class and your girl got a very high grade for it. Now that she's found pages again, she wants to share them with the multitude!

 

UP, UP, AND AWAY! 

UPWORD AND UPWORD!

 Guess what your girl has been fooling around with recently...a WORD SEARCH Puzzle Book that tests  her on putting together games with words of various books. Try it! At first, you'll hate it, then you'll find it is challenging enough to spend a whole afternoon playing with it!

Hmm..., what is going on? SonL has been on the phone a long time....and now, he and his wife and child have gone off, probably to the other side of the family 😊

Wow! Your Fiorella has been getting and better with the "World Search!' She can do two a day now! 

Isn't it great that we Texans, who've had to spend far too much in a burning summer, are enjoying a REAL winter now? 

(Maybe, just maybe, we'll get some snow too!) Again, Fio's British friends have reminded your girl whom she really is. THANK YOU!)

ONWARD AND UPWARD!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FIORELLA ON THE REBOUND

 Fiorella's Christmas present was early this year....a telephone call from a British minister and his wife whom your girl came close to while they were in Texas. We had a great time and, when it was time for them to return home, they set up a phone that allowed us---my pal and your girl--to stay in touch across the waves. But, alas, the system failed in about a year...... UNTIL....Fio carelessly picked up the ringing phone in the hallway AND IT WAS MY BRITISH FRIEND! 

It was WONDERFUL to talk about what's going on in my friend's world, and even more wonderful to hear her voice again! 

By the way, it's actually getting cold and colder in Central Texas--what a relief to the heat that we've been suffering from under for the sun, but (sigh) we'll probably get it again, come summer..... this sun, it is a curious thing.....

It's time for Fiorella's homemade  Christmas cards to lift their heads!

 

 

Back Again!

Yes, your girl is still alive, and winter is upon us. Fio had a little fall---a skinned knee while she was walking the mail up the hill and limping down again. SonL rushed her to the hospital and they stayed for quite a well, but all is well. 

Christmas is in the air, and Fiorella hasn't even started with gifts: not that there are so many. 

What your girl is trying to do is put together an inside design, mainly with crepe paper. Maybe she'll be able to make patterns with red and green inside the house that way. (Wouldn't it be great !)

Of course, snow never is for certain in Central Texas, so we might just end up with a nasty, nasty pile of slush. But who knows? Maybe we'll have a lovely, sun shiny that will get crusty, then smooth (or is it vice versa?)

See you tomorrow!

UPHILL, BUT MOVIN' ALONG......

 The weather isn't any better than yesterday except that the weather is warmer, your girl is returning her Mom's mink to the rack, and Fio walked further in the cul-de-sac. (Also, the trash bag is stuffed, so Fiorella can't empty it until the second one comes along.)

By the way, Fio is dressed in knee-length maroon shorts, a pink top, and blue swede shoes--if anyone remembers that song!

Why is your girl telling you what she is wearing? Because she doesn't have much else to do, but she'll pick up speed later....she hopes.

Fiorella is very lucky to have a long-time maid who helps her with shopping plus, because her driving days are over.

Looking at all the messages that Fio has taped to her bedroom wall, your girl is quite pleased with herself. She has a picture of almost every dog she has had--and of her late husband too!😊

 

 

 

Later

 Will see you tomorrow, the 30th. Need to think things out.

Small Stuff

 Whoopee!!! FEORELLA, woke up, noted that it was cold, cold, cold outside, searched for the mink coat that your girl had given to Mother for her birthday long long ago, then walked half of the way to the  cul-de-sac and back. What's next? A SNOW MAN?

Fio hopes so! She has good memories of Ohio!

 

MOVING ALONG, HOPE FULLY!

 Here is your girl, pondering the shirt that she chose to wear for the day---one of her her father's high school sport shirts, Osceola Mills,which was the name of his home town and, of course, of the teams he played in. Now your Fio wears it proudly, although she has no talent for sport. Fiorella was born to her mother's games, and they have also served her well.

Oops, just got a call from a physical therapist about a health call tomorrow. Assuming it is legit, Son and wife will be back at the house by then. Meanwhile,  George, the big white semi-spotted cat, has established itself as your girl's guardian. MRRRROOOOOOWWWWWWWWW!

Fio is slowly cleaning up her bedroom and art salon. We'll see what happens. Christmas is usually her best time of year.

😋

 

NOT MUCH TO SAY

Hello, hello, hello! 

Your girl has had her problems over the past couple of days, but at least she got her computer working again, or rather, her son did. Also, she has gotten all her pill bottles in shape and FOUND the house key that she had thought gone forever. Don't laugh, but it had been in the pocket of one of her sets of shorts the whole time. Somehow, Son L's little pugs must be trained to relieve themselves outside, not in Fio's bedroom!

 Did Fiorella tell you that she still has all her "Kamala pictures" on her wall? Just in case, just in case.....

 

 

 

 

WHAT IF?

Fiorella has been gazing at her bedroom wall and wondering which ones she should save for her grandchildren and which she should donate to eternity....

Now that you're through laughing, let's get down to business. Our Fio is eighty-three years old (heading for one hundred). Don't laugh: her father, who was born in 1914, waited till 2009 to die.

Ooops.... Christmas lights are being talked about going up all around Fio, which means she has to grab her purse and dig out the cash for the her share of the decorations. For her own self, she usually cuts out fake Mistletoe for inside the windows that she has just put together.

But wait, it's not even Christmastide yet! Maybe the jolly old elf will visit Fiorella with good will, wave a wand, and take away all of Fioe's problems away.

 Perhaps......

 

WHY DID MY HUSBAND HAVE TO DIE?

 Fiorella has been working on her bedroom for the last couple of days, rearranging the "prittys"and making sure all her pills are looking good. She walked the local cul-de-sac twice today too with, as usual, nobody else. Hummm....do you think the thing was built just for looks?

 Dang! It took two and a half days for Fio to get her laundry done this week....that Fio, Son L, and Your's truly were all ganged up for service on one machine.WHOOPEEEEEE!

Your girl is still upset about KAMALA's loss and disgusted by TRUMP, whatever, but we have to go on.

OOOPS! Fio just realized that her silver wristwatch has stopped running and joined the gold one that her daughter gave her about five years back. Then there's a third gold one that started it all.....

Things would have been so much better if my husband hadn't died.

 

YES, FIORELLA IS HUNGRY!

 Your girl has been working on her bedroom and salon, trying to take care of her pills in the first and moaning about the other about her not having had a friend in FIVE YEARS!  There are houses all around her. but they are of the same general build, house after house. Each one has the same backyard, side word, and driveway, and no one can look in anybody else's window to wave. Fio feels like she's in prison!

Fiorella does her best to walk the cul-de-sac every day, but she's pretty much the only person on the track.  How do you get to know our your neighbor if you can't identify their his house and walk by it every now and then? Even before the heat wave, the situation has been like this sometimes.....

Fio is working on her bedroom now, mostly on her chest of drawers--of which she has a fair number, if you care to know. 

WHEN WILL SON L AND HIS FAMILY RETURN WITH THE FOOD! Grammy is HUNGRY!

FIO FORGOT TO publish YEASTERDAY'S "publish."

 

 

 

NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN!

 AHAH! Fiorella has contact again!

What has your girl been doing lately, you ask. Well, she's been trying to get her bedroom and art salon in  in shape.....or has she already said this.  She's also mulling around the idea of obtaining a dog of her own, maybe a medium-sized one, that won't scare off the smallsters that now reign over the house.

The weather in our part of the country has settled into an almost pleasant morning breeze, and Fiorella is hoping it stays that way....or even produces some kind of light Thanksgiving snow.

Oh, did your girl tell you that Son L found one of her sky blue shoes that had been missing for a week.....and he washed it up for her too!

 Just so you know,  A FUTURE FOR AMERICANS is still on Fio's inside door and is going to stay there. FIORELLA RIDES AGAIN, AND SO WILL KAMALA!

 

GETTING UP SPEED!

 Fiorella has survived the loss of Kamala, but doesn't know if the country will. After all, Trump nearly destroyed it last time around. But somehow, we will follow through! 

In the meantime, your girl is wiping her tears, clinging to her computer, and still trying to find her missing Blue Shade Shoe. (Right now, she's wearing an old flappy pair without any strings on it that not even Son's tiny inside dogs will touch.)

 Fiorella has been pretty much alone today, and one can watch just so many Fletcher shows without wanting to scream!!!!!!!!

Whoopy! Son has found your girl's missing blue-swede shoe! Hip, hip, hooray! Fio LOVES these shoes! 

Now, what Fio is searching out is FRIENDS.....WALKING, TALKING, FRIENDS! 

Or maybe Fiorella will post some of her poems or stories or adventures!

 

 

 

YES, FIORELLA IS STILL ALIVE, BUT A BIT DAMAGED

 Hello! Sorry to be gone so long, but Fiorella watched all she could during the great drama, and is still gnashing her teeth about Trump having received the crown. But will he able to keep it! up? Or will one of those mysterious bullets that attack him but never quite harm him continue to protect him?

Fio's guess is no, that Camala will win the final game!

Not Much To Say

 The "after Halloween" has also been a loser. Fio has been in her room almost all day going through lost leftovers that had been pushed under her bed in times past, and, of course, your girl couldn't help pulling them out: baby clothes, long black stockings, socks, etc.

But it's over now, and our winter has started: the temperature is actually dark and COLD! Hmmm....did Fiorella make a mistake when she threw out some of those old sheets--which she didn't even remember existed?

Praying, praying, praying that Kamala will be our next president, not just because she's the better candidate, but because your girl remembers how awful Trump was when he ran the nation. (Also, he's a little too cozy with Putin to suit Fiorella!)

 

 

A DISAPOINTMENT!

 Here's your girl, sitting in a chair and waiting for the children to come by. The rest of the family is off somewhere, probably at the school, while Fio waits for children hungry for chocolate.

No Tricks and Treaters so far, and it's early yet, but Fio is wondering. why anyone would set up shop before the sun has set. But your girl has  promised to take care of stuffing the faces of the neighborhood children, so she she'll continue done the road.     

Excuse your Fio so she can put a sign in the front yard advertising Halloween. Surely that will draw in the local ghosts and werewolves! If not, how about the special boxes that your girl's daughter-in-law packed before she left....ghosts and everything the else.

Please excuse Fiorella as she goes to the front door for the one hundredth time and checks out the front porch. 

It's two hours later, and your girl has retired to her bedroom. Is Halloween going out of stile?

YESTERDAY

 WE VOTED, ALL THREE OF US, Son L, his wife. and Fiorella, and now, your girl is praying and  hopes you are too....for Kamala Harris!

Meanwhile, in the real world, Fio is trying to put her pills together again and prepare for Halloween night, whenever the dang time is! 

 

 

 

 

TRUMP! NEVER AGAIN!

 Your girl is praying, praying, praying for Kamala to beat the dickens out of Trump. After all, he's had his chance, and now it's her chance....and the country's. Besides, Trump was just AWFUL when he had control of the country, and we don't want his shenanigan's again---especially with what seems to be boiling hot with Russia and China.

Maybe those scientists on the moon will end up being the only thing left of Earth if things keep going on the way they are. How can we get people to stop trying to dominate each other? Has this happened in earlier times with other planets? We'll kill off each other

Change-of-subject: Wow! The trees beside your girl's side windows are waving back are forth like they're beating up chocolate pudding. If so, Fiorella wants to be first in line.....YUM!

 Speaking of, Son L has been very nice about cooking salmon for her on a regular basis. Again .....YUM!

Has Fio ever told you that she did DEBATE when she was in Junior High  and was quite good at it, but, to the anger of the teacher, she dropped out of it for languages.

SELF PITY

 Hello, hello! Fiorella is sitting down beside George, the beautiful-black-and-white male cat, and he seems to enjoy your girl's company.... so much that he has edged his head in between the computer and her knee.

Fio has had a semi-nice day: she talked on the phone with her daughter, who lives nearby, then tried to reach her older son.  Fiorella has to find someone to talk to and something to do!!! Her life is worth more than talking on the phone and making friends out of male cats!

Yours truly was off to H-E-B with her driver around mid afternoon, and then, when Fio got home, she thought she'd lost her key to get in the house. But thank goodness, she found it in the bottom of her purse.

Your girl is sad, and she wishes something nice would happen to her, like getting some new clothes, or a big dog, or discovering some old friends or new ones. Or maybe even find a doctor who has found out how to cure mine and my brother's partial blindness,  PLEASE, GOD!

 

 

 

 

 

 

MORE INFO (NOT SURE IF THIS GOT TO YOU YESTERDAY SO I ADDED ON>)

 CRAP! Your girl has had to switch to a new tablet to satisfy her new doctor, and she doesn't know where anything is or should be. CRAPPER JACK!

You should see Fio--in her orange shirt-orange of course. Yes, Fiorella is a Texas Longhorn through and through, and it was a big leap for the girl from Waco....all the way through from  to PhD. They even wanted to give her a job in the department, but she refused--one of the most stupid things she's ever done, as she later learned....jobs don't grow on trees. 

Fio took an afternoon walk down to to the corner though so she could show off her pink hat and purple cane that she has to use from time to time because of of her left eye--- which is also why she can't drive.

Now for Halloween! Your girl has taken all her Halloween material hanging around from the past and re-used it for paper pumpkins, then decorated them into paper witches and glued the ladies onto everything appropriate .

 

Fiorella's word for the day is the same as yesterday : ELECT KAMALA HARRIS!!!

Pompkins Galore!

 Hey, hey, hey! Fio had been busy decorating the leftovers in the house--or at least the things she can get hold of. She took care of the front door first with leftovers from last year too (bats, pumpkins, then added on some things to the inside of the house.)

Hey, did you know that CHINA is closing in on RUSSIA? This may be interesting! Fio hadn't heart about this before. Wonder if we could dump them all in Trump's bag and hang them high?

That's all for today, and it probably didn't make much sense, but it didn't make sense to your girl either😁😁😁😁

From Lunch to Murder

 Daughter took Fio out to lunch (WHOOPEE!) and then your girl came back to the house and snoozed in satisfaction. If only Daughter could do this every day😀.

Surprise, surprise! THE WEATHER WAS GREAT TODAY! Your girl walked her usual path and didn't have to stop for huffs and puffs along the way. Hope it will stay like this 😋.

Fiorella added some more Halloween decorations (paper pumpkins) to the front door and her front windows. Inside, she has made a paper pumpkin parade down the hall. Her witches are yet to come 😠.

 Your girl is considering writing a murder mystery a la Fletcher.....not that she's had any experience....or has she😠😆?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Somewhere over the rainbow....

 Right now, your girl is working on fake pumpkins for the upcoming celebration. She's at her own home today, but will be at her daughter's tomorrow, much to her delight. 😊😊😊

Maybe Fio will find her glasses in the meantime, but if not, she will have to squint a lot. There's also a pair of glasses from way back--maybe her first ones--with one of its sides missing, but they work!

          Where are all the friends your girl used to have? They can't ALL have bitten the dust!

         (Thanks to Friend Paula, who DID did pop in!) 

Love, love, love, to all:

 Fiorella

 

HELP, HELP, HELP!

 PLEASE VOTE FOR OUR GIRL KAMALA! Don't let You Know Who get us messed up again. Remember how he was actually having people KILLED when he was trying to stay in the White House, and remember what a great admirer of Putin he is. (Why is the computer giving me a cross-OUT?)

*************************************************************************************

 Dang! I've lost my watch, the only one that is running! It's silver. Let me know if you see it.....

*************************************************************************************

Fio has been working on decorating the in-side and outside of the house most of the day, as you probably were. After pawing through last year's jumbles, your girl was able to put together a rather clever outside decoration for the front dour, then start adding black and orange at the front, then move back and forth to add item after item. Tomorrow your girl will probably finish off the scene with a couple of witches ---smiling, of course.

************************************************************************************

The neighborhood Fiorella lives in usually celebrates Halloween in a more adult way--the grown up men can be quite rowdy. Fio liked it better when only a group of children from the neighborhood begged and everyone knew everyone else. (Sorry to be so repetitive, but it's my personal peeve.)

************************************************************************************

Your girl has been doing a lot of thinking between the above and bedtime. SHE HAS TO BECOME MORE ACTIVE, but to be so, she has to get a GET A DRIVER! WHERE DOES SHE GET IT???

**************************************************************************************

OFF-BEAT POETRY

 BITS AND PIECES

Through the years, through the years,

How have I collected so many tears 

And held them tight

Until they find another name

It happened before, it will happen again

I've stood here before

On the brink of death--

Not mine so far

But my time will come....

 

Your girl has been going through her bedroom all day, trying to find her glasses, which have still alluded her. At the same time, she's striking, as best she can, to crush some tiny, tiny little black bugs that have appeared in the house over the last couple of days.  Guess Fio will have to inform son-in-laws wife, then see what happens.

On the bright side, the weather today was FANTASTIC, the best we have had since since our burning summer. ( Fiorella took TWO walks instead one!)

In case you didn't know, your girl is all for KAMALA!  T was a horrible president!!!!

 

 

MY OPINION

 About that bag of miniature pumpkins that Fiorella brought back to the house, today is the time she'll be taking them out of their bags and lining them up along the edge of the entryway. Your girl is holding her breath that Daughter-in Law will enjoy them too....and perhaps add some more "punkets"😊😊😊😊!!

You should see what your girl is wearing today: a very yellow shirt, a pair of orange shorts, and ''blue suede shoes".....all for whomever remembers the song.😊

 Fio bought a big, beautiful salmon at HEB yesterday and she's hoping he will cook some of it for her later today....YUM!

 ...puff, puff, puff--just got back from the communal mail box about three blocks away, which is usually just a hop, skip, and jump, but not today, when Fio has had to whirl around her rooms and try to find the message from the government which she THINKS she answered yesterday.  

Changing back to Halloween, it seems to your girl that the Halloween celebration is more for the adults now, instead of the cute door-to-door celebrations.......

 

 

 

PREP FOR HALLOWEEN

 

 Sorry about not not keeping up to date, but it was THE COMPUTER'S FAULT, and now all is well. Your girl has even walked her semi-daily trip to the post office--and encountered a real runner along the way. Yes, you heard Fio--a tall, slender, young woman who was actually running in this weather!

And then, there's Halloween coming around the bend. Your girl has fond memories of laughter, friendly faces, and nice bags of candy that my parents checked over before we were allowed to eat them, but now, it seams that the adults run the show and can be scary and a bit ribald. Sad.......

 Hey, hey! Fio just put joy in the heart of the next-door-neighbor girl whose class is selling chocolate bars. Your girl also got a glimpse of their family's inside room, which was just about like Fio's. DANG!

Friends, Fiorella wishes she had more to write about than her "yours truly," but this is her life and she is BOARD. BOARD, BOARD! 

PS: DID YOUR GIRL TELL YOU THAT SHE HAS ABOUT TWENTY SMALL PUMPKINS TO DECORATE THE HALLWAY OF THE HOUSE?

 

 

 

CONFESSION

Whoopee! Fiorella has cleared out two wooden boxes at the foot of her bed! Next comes the mess on top of her bureau, which all her meds and what-nots reside. Actually, your girl would like to have a nice nice little house and share it with another lady WHO DRIVES AND COOKS!

Fio is still not happy about the cute little doggies that share her current domicile. They wet her carpet again.😖

If it sounds like Fiorella doesn't have too much to say, you're correct because your girl has no activity or friends. 

How in the world does a girl like her get wrapped up like this? It's because she is one-quarter blind and thus can't drive. Also, the homes in her neighborhood are designed in such a way that every house is very separate and thus the owners don't know their neighbors as well as in more typical types.

Whatever, Fiorella will continue on, and she hopes you will too.😁

 

 

This and That......

 Whoopsie! The code computer finally let your girl in. Is she the only person in the world that has trouble getting it to obey her?

You should see what Fio has on today: darkish-blue knee shorts, blue shoes, and a white shirt blazing the name of her late father's Pennsylvania high school.  Yep, Dad was many an Osceola's girl's dream, but he married a sweetie from Ohio.😊

SonL kindly cooked some salmon for your girl this evening. (Fio's parents lived near tainted waters so they never ever ate ANY kind of fish.)

 Yes, Fiorella does try to walk her area's path from time to time, but as far as she can tell, she's the only one....except for the delivery drivers.

By the way, did you know that the TV screen can fail in the middle of just what you wanted to see? It happened to Fio, and luckily, SonL knew how to fix it (but your girl waited two days to approach him.)

 

 l

 

 

 

 

.

 

JUST STUFF with a FEW PUMPKINS

 It's Fiorella's older son's birthday today so she called to give him a nice mother-son greeting......but he was enjoying some time with his pals so your girl talked with his wife. (He'll get the check anyway.)😊

Hey, hey! The pumpkins have been rolled into town, and Fio can't wait to get started on her Halloween decorations. She usually lines the front of the house house with pumpkins as small as she can get them, and cuts out witches and cats to decorate the inner hall. Join her, it's fun! (ER...has Fiorella already told you all of this?)

Oh, how about SonL gathering up all Fio's plastic blue cups and disposing of them because he thought they were dirty? His substitute? A larger, heavier plastic cup for your girl. Sorry, Son, but Mom has a better idea: she bought another bag of the blue cups and is writing her name on them so no one else will contaminate them.

In case you don't know, Fiorella (like her mother before her) has lost a fair amount of vision in her left eye and therefore, dang it, cannot drive!

 Hey! My hair is almost to my waist and mostly still brown😊. How long is yours?

 

 

 

 

FROM DREAM TO JESSICA TO THE POSTOFFICE TO PLASTIC CUPS TO LAMPS

 It seems that all Fio can do today is sleep, despite the fact that she also slept and slept and slept yesterday. Maybe it's the dream that she had toward the morning----a true dream about one of her collage teachers long, long, ago trying to get too familiar with her on the class's last day (outside in a park). Alcohol was involved, of course ---on his side, not your girl's.

 DANG IT! Fiorella often lolls herself to sleep at night by fixing the remote very low and adding never-ending Jessica Fletcher to it, but last night nothing worked. Is the whole world coming to the end?😕

Your girl just came in from another walk to the neighborhood post office to donate a hundred dollars to the Kamala Harris fund. This will probably be the last one.

SonL wants Fio to stop using those plastic cups in several colors that are so useful, but Fio needs more information before she dumps them.

Santa Claus, it's early, but Fiorella wants those two beautiful lamps on the sides of her bed to be fixed for use.

NEWS FOR THE DAY

 Fio received more than ten envelopes from various good will groups today (which is actually a little less  than usual) but only responded to the one that came from the Harris Victory Fund, which your girl is sure she'll hear more from in the future. What about you? 

Actually, Fiorella likes working on causes--worthwhile ones, of course--and saving the the United States from Donald Trump is the number one available right now. The man should have been in prison years ago--and Fio is glad that a WOMAN is the person who will be going to be finish him off!

Your girl is restless. She's been breaking the dead branches off the hedge in the front yard to give SonL a hint that it needs trimming, but so far, no good.

Hey, hey! Your girl walked down to the community mail box and back in the afternoon sun three times yesterday....and she's still alive!

What Fiorella would really like to have is her own big dog, like a Mastiff or Weimaraner......but SonL prefers small ones.

 

 

HELLO, HELLO! ARE YOU STILL WITH ME?

 Hello, hello! Fio started the day with a really cute outfit: Halloween color shorts and a yellow top. Unfortunately, she doesn't have any Halloween shoes and had to substituted her beige ones, but there just aren't any orange shoes in her wardrobe.😁

 Your girl watched the debate late night, and, as always, there's still NO WAY she would ever vote for someone like Trump..... or his followers!

OK, Fio has to admit that simply drinking a lot of water can take care of her flegm  like magic. SonL was the one who keyed Fiorella onto it.

Guess who took a walk up to the mail box THREE times today? It's just about five blocks away, but in the sun, every step is a mile. Your girl always stops under the trees and puffs as needed.

Fiorella is hoping that she will get a dog sometime😃......a big one she can love and train.

 

 

 

YIKES, Fiorella didn't finish off this story, then didn't finish even publish it!

 Yes, Fiorella is wearing an ORANGE sweat-shirt today. After all, she's a product of the University of Texas! And she almost became a teacher there too, as Fio's has told you, but she was tired of academics and wanted have some fun and be a mother.

Okay, Your girl will admit it: she messed up a check that she was signing. It had made a journey back and forth in another state and finally SonL was kind enough to finish it off for your girl.

Tried to visit with SonK and his wife by phone the other day, but couldn't reach him or his wife. Will try again, of course. That's what mother's do.😁

 

I think this was yesterday...                                                           

 

OOPS, ALMOST DIDN'T POST!

 

Fio lulls herself to bed every night with Jessica Fletcher--in her own bedroom, of course. It isn't that she thinks Jessica's, show is so great, but that it's the only one that she doesn't have to switch off herself because she's asleep long before the show does.

Your girl has found out that her phlegm can be treated by staying hydrated, with a humidifier, and using some over-the-count decongestants. Gargling salt water will also help. WAHOO!

By the way, Fiorella is dressed up really nice today--dark blue shorts, a mixed color top, her blue suede shoes, and, to top it all off along, a silver watch on her arm. (She's got  a silver drop bouncing on her bosom. TA-DA!)😊

Hmm.. Son and his wife are running late. Did something happen come up in your darling's classroom today? Nope, here they are, down the lane. No big news except that it's tax time and SonL is going crazy working on your girl's returns.

 

 

 

 

EXCUSES, EXCUSES!

 I just can't write a poem tonight

My brain is ready for sleep--

So look me up tomorrow morn

And I'll give you a clever treat

 

Forgive me, friends, I lost my way

And crumbled up my plan

So you'll have to wait till tomorrow 

That is, if you can 👰😢😢

BITS AND PIECES AGAIN

 Hello, hello! 

OOPS! A traveling nurse is coming to check your girl's blood tomorrow, and Fio ran out of one of her required pills yesterday. Thus your girl is trying to get SonL to drive to the always-available Walgreens and pick up of the needed pills, which doesn't look like he'll be able to do it. Pray for Fiorella!

Fio shuffled through yet another bag of her past and realized that that's her mother's beautiful oriental rugs have disappeared.  Hope they didn't get tossed into the trash can. Those rugs are not just gorgeous, but also expensive!

In case you are wondering what your girl looks like, she has the traditional "five two, eyes of blue," and also holds a fair number of college degrees which she enjoyed, but didn't follow up on (SIGH...)

P.S. Don't let yourself get phlegm. It's no fun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

BITS AND PIECES (GARGLE)!

 DANG! Fiorella has mixed up three of her bills, and she only has two envelopes. Ah, well, she'll learn which is what next month. 😓😐

 To all who know Fio---yes, she has let her hair grow L O N G. Her mother would  have objected, of course, because she thought looked "foreign," as your girl has explained to you before. 

Fio is really getting tired of being fenced in by the hot weather and not being able to drive. If only someone would come up with a cure for your girl's left eye....or find her a handsome gentleman to tote her around. (Send your grandfathers her way!)

Fiorella would really like to be outside handing out campaign material for our girl Kamala and saying nasty things about Trump. 😁

By the way, Fio may have "flem" but she has no way finding out. Will keep you posted.

 

 

 

Bit BY BIT.....

 Oops, almost forgot!

Clean up bedroom time! Fio has been working on her bureau most of the day, and tomorrow she'll concentrate on her various drawers. Then, maybe, she'll redo the plastered designs that she put on the walls when she first landed here.

Oh, Lordie, your girl tried to sing and she sounded like a crow, but after all, DOESN'T ANYONE SING AROUND HERE? Fio has yet to hear even a single Christmas jingle as long as she's lived here!

Fio is hoping one of her presents will be getting the two large, beautiful lamps on either side of her bed fixed so that she can use them for more than decoration. (HINT, HINT, Son)😋

 Your girl has decided to try to get hold of a doctor who treats flem which is driving Fiorella crazy. The problem will be transportation, as usual.  She also wants to get another face-lift. She backed out on the one she had about ten years ago and only went half-way. (Don't tell anyone.)

 

Hear and There

 Fio took her favored cul-de-sac walk just before noon today....but, well, it wasn't quite complete. She cut  through the shaded lawns of a couple of houses to breath and promised herself that she'll sing her walking song (Lavenders Blue, Dilly, Dilly, etc.) the next time around.  Fiorella is probably repeating herself, but in this weather, there's not much to say.

One thing your girl will say again and again is that TRUMP is a FRUMP!

Hey, hey, hey! Fiorella went over to Walgreens today and got her Covid shot. HAVE YOU GOTTEN YOURS? (It's quick and doesn't hurt 😀😁)

Next on the list should be to to fix Fio's beautiful bedroom lamps, which won't turn on, no matter what😖GRRRRRRR!

And, of course, she would like to have a friend.

 

 

 

 

THIS AND THAT

What a day so far! Your girl started out by tripping on edge of the breakfast table (band-aide needed), then clunked into her "salon," and crashed into her too huge collection of art supplies. Right now, she is trying to stay restrained in her room and not cause herself any more damage😊.

Hmmmm....what does one do when you're supposed to stay still and be careful? TELEVISION!

As far as Fio can tell, females are dominating the scene, and Trump is making a fool out of himself, which is how your girl hopes the rest of the country is seeing him! (Can you imagine what it would be for him and Putin to get together?) 

SonL, wife, and daughter have driven off to visit the other side of thei family for a visit so Fio and George (the beautiful big white cat that loves your girl) will be alone for the rest of the evening. Wouldn't it be great if Fiorella had some one to come visit her? WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT IF SHE  HAD A FRIEND  SHE COULD TALK TO REGULARLY? WOULDN'T BE GREAT IF SHE COULD STILL DRIVE?

 

EVERYTHING

 WOW! Fio missed yesterday because she was moving her "salon" around, and then her computer betrayed her, again, but SonL was able to fix it today, thank goodness!

Fiorella is a lonely person. She wishes so much for a friend. Nobody is on the street today because of the horrible hot weather, but no one is ever outside anyway--your girl lives in a carefully planned, very exclusive project house where no one can see anyone else unless they go out into the front yard. (The children are made safe by one front door and one back door.)

This is hard for a woman like me to deal with. Fio's family lived in a very nice house on a hill when they-were in Ohio, and then, when they moved to Texas, to a nice neighborhood with just the right number of friends. And when she was married, Fio and her husband moved around, but her favorite house was the last one: a two-story house your girl designed--15 acres of it. Now you know all....

Who knows what will come next?

 

WHAT'S GOING ON AND NOT

Fiorella was going through her wardrobe recently and realized that she hasn't bought a new dress or even shorts since she settled back in Austin again. Now, it's not that she needs new clothes because, of course. She doesn't  go any where, but she'd sure like to givef them a try!

As Fio pushes button on her machine, Granddaughter sings in the hallway. Yes, she has inherited Fio's talent along with loads of musical talent from the other side of her family. Your girl, though, cannot help but tearing up when she thinks of how she and her girlfriends serenaded designated houses.

OMG, Fio has skipped over to Christmas when we're not even to Halloween!

 Last year, SonL thought the the neighborhood walk would be too much for her, but Fiorella walked the whole thing. It may be harder this time, though, because your girl isn't in as much shape as last year. BLAME IT ON THE WEATHER! No one in our neck of the woods has been  outside as much as usual

It's very hard for Fiorella to continue on without a friend. Would one of you out there send a nice playmate your girl's way?

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                   

OOPS! DIDN'T FINISH OFF YESTERDAY'S MESSAGE!

YESTERDAY:

 Fiorella is a generous sort of person, but it's getting ridiculous when change from nickles-on-up are included in the envelopes as incitement to contribute more!

 Your girl went out walking today, but only for a half of the cul-de-sac (puff, puff, gag, gag, gag.)  Fio has been looking at the map she put up in the hall and is of dreaming of Alaska, but then, who isn't? (Except you, Paula!)

 

TODAY: 

Fio is so board that she went through her checks, then wondered if she should send another another check on  two to Kamala.

Son is going to cook a salmon for your girl this evening.  It's odd--Fiorella's parents NEVER ate fish, and salmon is one of their daughter's favorite foods now. (Her late husband introduced her to it.....and a few other things😊.)

THAT'S ALL FIO CAN THINK TO SAY. Life isn't very interesting in her world....but eventually.  Fiorella will make it so.........

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Desperate!

Yes, Fiorella took a walk today--not the complete cul de sac like before the climate change struck--but a proud halfway (because she was able to walk the path at all!)

Your girl has two big, round, lovely, silver lamps in her bedroom that would be much more useful if your girl could track down some matching lamps for them.

Fio is wondering if she too could be on TV again if she'd stayed with her Waco High debate class. Don't laugh: she beat out all the other girls in her age range, then dropped debate and signed up for music.

Fiorella begs your pardin for continually dosing you with her life's story, but she's pretty much boxed in and doesn't get out very much. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!,

 

 

 

 

 

Olden Times

 Fio is still happy, happy, happy about Kamala's performance and hopes she has more up her sleeve. 

Your girl also wants to let everyone know that Paul Bolton, Fiorella's father-in-law, made sure that when Johnson became President, he shook Fio's hand along with the rest of the family's.

Oh, and Fio is pretty sure Mrs. Johnson came to her wedding ....and that sort of scared Fiorella's mother.

Did your girl a ever tell you that she was a debate champion?

                         Ah, olden days, never to be seen again.

 

 

 

Nothing to Talk About

 Fio thought it was pathetic when Trump, toward the end of the debate with the delightful Kamala Harris, started naming various of his important connections, like, well...er...his pal, Vladimir Putin.😝

Nothing more to say except HURRAY!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOPING!

 SonL drove Fio to her doctor's office to get her blood checked, feeding her along the way.

Later in the day, he cooked some delicious salmon for supper for your girl's supper.

 Right now, your girl is waiting for the television battle between Harris and Trump. 

Need Fiorella say more?

HARRIS! HARRIS! HARRIS! HARRIS!H

Movin' On

 Whoopee! Fiorella was able to able to take her (minor) cul-de-sac walk this morning with only a bit of a twinge, which means she'll be able to cover the whole course sooner rather than later.😛

Whahoo! Fio is betting on Kamala Harres, and hopes you are too. (By now you know that your girl absolutely ABHORS Trump.) 😡

OOPS! Something just dropped from the side of Fiorella's overloaded bed (which she is lying on) and she thinks it was one of her paintings. 😞

Saved by the bell: it was a Kleenex box.  😏😋😊😊😊😊😊😊

Some of your girl's languages have been popping out lately and she's both happy and distressed.😁

 

 

AN OLDIE

 Fio had a bad time today so she's gonna entertain you with this little gem she wrote a while back😋

                                                                   Diet

Once upon a time there was a slender young woman, a good woman, who was married to the man of her dreams. Her best friend was fat and unmarried.

"If you lost some weight, your true nature would be revealed and you would be able to attract a husband as wonderful as mine," the slender young woman said. "I will help you." 

So, with the encouragement of her friend, the fat woman dieted away one hundred pounds to become a devastating beauty. She was so devastating, in fact, that she was able to seduce her friend's husband.

"How could you do this to me?" the slender young woman complained to her formerly fat friend. "I have always been a good friend to you, and I was the one who helped you diet to reveal your true nature."

"Yes," the woman smiled sweetly, "but my true nature is evil."

                                                                                                  

From Toilet to Austronauts to Teachers to Trump

 It's getting a better day to day for Fiorella...except that the front toilet is stopped up. Your girl tried plunging it, but it still didn't work so Son L took over and discovered that the bowl was damaged

Surprise! It never dawned on Fio that a toilet could damage itself. But, as luck would have it, this house has three toilets----and your girl figured out how to unlock the "for-visitors-only" one when the rest of the family was out on a jaunt..😉😊😃

Those astronauts....Fiorella hopes everything will go well with them. Of so, Fio would like to hitch a ride the next time around. 

😊Your girl has received a letter addressed to her and her late husband as "MR." and "DR." apparently assuming her husband was the male. Sorry, Texas Retired Teachers, but Fiorella is a female.

Trump---he's going down, and what will anger him the most is that his conqueror will not only be a woman, but a woman of many cultures.

 

 

 

 

. 

 

Again, Not Much to Say Today

 Wahooh! Now that Fio is on the mend, she took a VERY SHORT walk up to the mailbox at noon today and survived! Her next self-assignment will be to find out the name of the young girl who helped her up when she bit the dust-----and compliment her to her parents.

Your girl has decided to talk to Son L and his wife about her doing some cooking for herself. 

Has Fiorella ever told you that every night, she sleeps with a big, black and white Panda that she bought when she first came back to Austin? His name is JoJo, he has a nice smile, and is very comforting. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 e

THINKING THINGS OVER

 Fio has just now mailed her envelope off to the International Fellowship of Christian and Jews, but she now wonders if it's the second one, which doesn't really matter because Mr. and Mrs. Paule were virturaly second parents to your girl.

Oops! George, the handsome white cat, is sitting on Fio's bed, purring as if your girl is a queen, which is just fine with your Fio, but Fiorella knows that he'll be into the kitchen lickety-split if a cat food can is opened. (Dogs are a little more mannerly, but it depends on what food is being offered.)

Your girl was wearing a University top today: orange and white. Not that Fio was ever a football fan, but back then, but it was the only way to pick up a prospective husband back then--which Fio did.💗 

 Strangely, Fiorella accidentally married into a prominent Austin family, which made things easier in some ways but harder in others. Initially, she was told that Fio was not the sort of girl the family expected their son to marry. (but never the less, they gradually accepted your girl.... and even became somewhat proud of her!)

Fio would like to tell you that, from then on, everything was Humpty Dumpty, but it was not to be. The whole family fell apart, even Fiorella, when an unknown, lone teenager climbed to the top of the college tower and started shooting, killing the family's pride and joy, who had just graduated from high school. And no one in the family has ever really recovered....including Fiorella.

 

 

 

 

NOT MUCH TO SAY, HOPE YOUR DAY WAS MORE INTERESTING

     Fio is recovering well from the trip-over, but she is still a little wobbly when she goes around a corner--which is why she never made it in Girl's Athletics.

      Looking outside her window, Fiorella can see the trees swaying like the wor1d is coming to the end--hmm, could your girl write a story about it? 

      WOW! The storm is going strong now and the lights are fluttering! See you tomorrow--maybe!

       

     

      

THIS AND THAT

 Fio took a tumble yesterday and her knees are aching. No real damage though, because she had taken a couple of tumbles a while back and gotten herself fitted with metal knees tucked into her knees. On the other hand though, it was embarrassing to fall down in the middle of the street.

Luckily, a nice teenager from across the street rushed to your girl's rescue and Son L appeared on the scene to help your girl back to the house. Will this stop Fiorella from taking her daily walk? OF COURSE NOT!

Have you gotten your covid shot yet? Yes, it's going around again, and Fio needs to start talking to Son L about it. He survived it last year shot-less, but Fio is a bit more fragile.

While her family was off visiting their god-daughter's family, Fiorella straitened out the pill bottles in her bedroom, which was quite a trial because The Powers That Be had made a mistake in passing them out  and your girl did not get her daily major pill for about three weeks. But now, all is well because Fio managed to get the phone numbers of a couple of nurses she had liked ....and called the them. (Wicked laughter and big smile.)

Your girl wants to start painting again, but she can't find her palate 😞.

 

THIS AND THAT

 Fiorella's newspaper didn't show up on the lawn today, much to your girl's sorrow.  Yes, Fio is a newspaper fanatic--you can blame it on her mother, who had a minor in  the subject and passed it on to her daughter, who had a great time writing for various newspapers and some magazines.

Did you know that Fio has also had two books (romances) published. Hmmm, maybe she could write a story about a widow......

Regarding politics, your girl doesn't know which she's happiest about: a woman becoming President or Trump being ground into the gutter. 

Hooray, hooray! Son L was able to not only fix Fio's glasses, but he also repaired her cute little bedside clock, which the cat had knocked off the shelf.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Poem that Lost a Rhyme

Fio is calling it a day 

Because she cannot think

Of anything else to say

 

At least this poem is new

The best that she can do

Seen only once-- by you

 

 

THIS IS ABOUT FEELING "DIFFERENT" (which Fio has been since she was a child)

Fiorella is going to soak you with some of her poetry today:

                     Alien

I was born on Venus, maybe Mars

Where people see with different eyes

Where all the stars are different stars

Where the all skies are different skies

My outside, yes, it is the same, 

I've passed for years as human born

And answered to a human name

And tried to live in human form

The difference is in my brain

In how I think and feel and see

In how my heart absorbs the pain

Of my peculiarity

'

Alone, alone, all, all, alone

I scream aloud and no one hears--

 Because I use an alien voice

And you have only human ears

July 18, 1993

SEARCHING FOR A HERO (AGAIN)

If Fiorella could still drive, she'd visit her friends all over town, go shopping frequently, join a couple of good organizations, go to church, and buy a big, big dog so she could have something to love. 

Has Fio told you that her hair is now almost down to her waist? Her mother wouldn't approve, but your girl loves it, swish, swish!

Wouldn't it be great if Fiorella could make contact with another lonely painter? We could comfort and reassure each other......as well as have a good time.

Fio used to be a member of a romance-writing group and she's had two💗 books published, but she doesn't think she can come up with one out of thin air

So ifyou have any leftover heroes, please call.

WHEN WILL THIS HEAT STORM BE OVER?

 Sorry to skip a day, but Fio will blame it on the weather, which seems to get hotter and hotter every day. Meanwhile, George (the glorious white cat) is sprawling in your girl's lap--at his own convenience, of course.

Fiorella is voting for Kamala, and hopes you are too.😊

AAAAACK!  One of Son's little pug dogs is washing your girl's ankles up to her knees right now, which is not appreciated....and neither is it appreciated when one (or both) of the cuties use them as a toilet.

This may be a dumb question, but Fio has just realized that the United States has a unique way to run a nation: by changing around the people in control. Are we the only countries that do this?

                POEM

      Fiorella prays for a friend or two,

      Someone who has a car

      And will take her where she needs to go

       But not too far 😊

     

     

    

 

When will this horrible heat storm be over? 

 

MORE and LESS

Son and his family have gone off for the day and Fio is holding down the house, probably till evening, and she is also board, board, board. To make it worse, as you know, the neighborhood we live in is very tight and your girl has no friends, which leaves her watching TV most of the day. (And the hot weather makes it even worse.)

Meanwhile, Fio is watching Doc Martin, which is still as much fun as it was the first time Ellen Paule and your girl watched it in Waco, Texas, lo, these many years ago.

Fio has thought about visiting Waco and checking out her childhood home, but she doubts from what she has heard that she wouldn't be able to identify anything. Her Junior High has probably been demolished, and she bets that the the High School has also bit the dust. 

You may wonder why your girl doesn't say something about her own college, University of Texas, but the last time she and a fellow PhD tried to get past the bars, it was no/go. 

Hip, hip hurray! Fio has finally gotten the name of the person who can supply Busperone, my favorite pill. Now if your girl can get hold of it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KAMALA FOR PRESIDENT!

 At last, Fiorella has gotten her paints in order, scrubbed off the remnant of an ill-thought-out check of her older paints, and gathered a fair amount of newspaper to cover the floor in case your girl knocks over the water dish. Yes, Fio is a traditional painter, no modernism involved.

Was thinking of Waco High and wondering if it still exists....and who. Wouldn't it be great to get together, however briefly? 

By the way, in case you're wondering, Fiorella is swooning about the idea of a female President and she's bet money on her. If England can have an Elizabeth, we can have a Kamala!

Anyone who knows Fio knows she despises Trump....and that she  thinks he stole the presidency from Hillary Clinton, and will try to do the same for Kamala, so do your best to spread the good word.

Good night, sleep tight 😊

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JUST PASSING BY.....

 Fiorella bought a nice slab of salmon at H-E-B and Son offered to cooked it for her. Translation: he doesn't like your girl to use the stove, etc.,,, although Fio did most of the family cooking when he was a child and afterwords, but when Son and his family set up, things changed. Two women in the house can be difficult.

Did Fio tell you that the fingernail on her right hand is more than inch long? And to think: when your girl was a child and upward, she bit her nails as far down as she could!

"Are you ever going to write again," you ask me? Sadly, Fio has to say she doesn't know. She'd have to find a group of authors and would-be authors for inspiration, and then there's the transportation problem.

That's all for now....

 

 

 

ALL FIO CAN COME UP WITH RIGHT NOW....

Fiorella found her missing orange paint brush, but now, she's having to wash out a pair of reddish short-shorts that, one-way-or another, got tossed in with some blue ones. Luckily. the reddish shorts took over. Ah, the mysterious doings of your girl😃!

Oops, almost forgot that Fio needs a pallet, but she can make one out of cardboard if she can't locate one  in her "extras" boxes. 😊

GRRRRRRR!Your girl grew up in Texas and we NEVER had continues weather like this before! It makes Fiorella wonder if we're being attacked by creatures from another planet! (Remember the eclipse!)

 What Fio also wants to do is gather up some friends who are still driving and are willing to take her to places like stores that have nice clothes and perhaps some shoes. And she'd also like to get her hair set if possible. But most of all, your girl needs people to talk with.  😊 

Did you know that as soon as Fiorella got her diploma, the head of the Linguistics Department called her into his office and offered her a job? AND SHE REFUSED IT BECAUSE SHE  WANTED TIME OFF FROM SCHOOL?

 

 

 

 

 

 

care, dare, fair, hear, rare, mare, pair, stare, share,wear. where, ware, share

 

 

 

 

 

ONWARD AND UPWARD! (A little nervous because she thought she had lost her

Fio's two favorite meds are used. up. Her favorite is Bosperone, which at this time, is a no-go. DARN!

Hurray! Your Fiorella is finally going to start painting again, despite the fact that she has lost the "orange" out of her brand new set of paints, the one she hired a driver to drive an hour to find, but luckily, blue and yellow can produce orange.

In case you're wondering, first of all, your girl is going to make a do over painting of a picture of her childhood home in Ohio. Then, of course, she will start looking around for other subjects. (Her method is to get a sketch or photo, then fill in everything else.)

Eventually, Fiorella will flash some of her pictures on FaceBook (which she used to do when her husband was still with her).  

WISH YOUR GIRL WELL!

 

 

 

 

 

DREAMING, DREAMING, DREAMING

 Hip, hip, hooray, because Paula P. visited Fio today, drove her around to fading memories and talked and talked and talked about the old and the new. If ONLY they lived in the same city!

_____________________-

There was a really funny experience in our yester-year experience. The server, just like they used to do back in Fio's college days, couldn't understand that all Fiorella wanted was a plain Coke and burger. NO EXTRAS, PLEASE!

---------------------------------

Changing the subject, your girl wants to pick up some different clothes and a different style. Any suggestions? Her faithful sewing machine hasn't shown it's nose for probably about five years, and Fio would like to give it another go-round.

________________________

Fiorella is drained dry so she'll try to do better tomorrow💗💗

CLIMBING THE LADDER AGAIN

 Whatever gain Fio achieved in the cul-de-sac yesterday, she lost today....and there's more to come. Those of your girl's friends who have been following her, write all this down so you can make a horror story out of it. And don't forget that COVID is swimming around again!

How many of you are still wearing college shirts at home? Your girl Fiorella is frequently thus attired and she's still proud of her University of Texas degrees...... although she doesn't give a darn about football.

Son L and his brood have gone out for supper, and Fio hopes that means they'll be bringing a nice  hamburger (or a salmon 😋) back for her. (Your girl's larder is somewhat lacking.)

Hey! Remember when Fio got a half face-lift about ten years ago? Well, now she wants to get her forehead fixed....and maybe a touch-up for a few other things......😁

Fiorella has to admit that she hasn't started painting on her new sew of paints. Strangely, they sort of scaring her. What if she's lost her touch 😓?????

TIME MARCHES ON!

Sorry for running short for two days, but there isn't much news when one is cooped up inside because it's it's too hot outside. Your girl made it today though--most of the cul-de-sac and back😊. Maybe by Halloween we'll all be able to trod the streets without our shoes catching fire!

 The most exciting thing during the lull was when George, the big, beautiful cat, disappeared. Everyone was looking for him everywhere until--suddenly--Fiorella heard scrabbling in her clothes closet and  a wild-eyed white cat whipped out of her room and down the hall, then didn't show till suppertime.

Yippie! Fio has a world map that she's going to slap on her wall: DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS! Not that she's going to join the corps, but now she'll know where every country, large and small.

When Fiorella was a child in Texas, she and her friends often played outside n the sun, but their mothers called them inside for Cool Ade if the day got too hot. God, couldn't you have just a little bit of rain for your children?

 

 

 

 

FIORELLA, QUIT TALKING ABOUT YOUR TALENTS AND PROVE THEM!

 Fiorella is determined to get get going again, but she hasn't started dipping her new brushes in her palate yet because she's a little nervous and this will be her first new painting in two or three years. But HECK! She'd been the queen of the crayon from kindergarten on up, and it's a talent, something that sticks with you....she hopes!

Another thing your girl wants to do is get some new, stylish clothes, especially dresses. (Help,  please!) And yet another thing Fiorella wants to do is get in touch to some of the her cousins in Ohio and Lord knows where else.

About the horrible weather, Fio still thinks that it's related to the the Eclipse and all the junk (and people) we've tossed  up into space.

 Get your Covid shot! It's going around again!

 

 

 

 

 

ON THE UPSWING

 The worst thing about the weather isn't the heat, but that you have to stay inside as much as you can, like you're in jail. Your girl bets that even the swimming pools are sweating!

And yes, Fio learned to swim in the YWCA....with the Jewish girls, of course. Remember that Fiorella told you that they--or rather their mothers--took pity on the tall Lutheran girl and gave her a ride along with their girls. (May God forever bless Eve Paule.)

Strangely, even though she liked swimming, Fio never asked Husband to put a pool in any of the houses they lived in, although they ended up with three bouncing children. 

Hip, hip, hurray! Fio's former maid, who now takes her to H-E-B and other places, drove her all the way across the city so she could buy what had once been called "Grumbacher," Fiorella's favorite paint for smaller pictures. Yep, your girl is edging back into the the game again.

Dang it! Son L was going to toast Fiorella some salmon (YUM!) for supper, but it hadn't thawed and Fio will have to wait till tomorrow😕

MOVING UPWORD

 Have been watching Trump on the TV today and can't believing people ever voted for him in the first place, must less that some of them will vote for him again. If nothing else, his palling around with Stalin and other dictators should be a warning!

Ahh! George, the family cat has just landed in Fio's lap. He's beautiful--white with a smooth, black-ringed tail and a black crown. George is a sweetheart and usually comes to your girl's room during the day and on and off at night.

This hot weather is driving Fio crazy, as she, and probably the whole world, is grinding their teeth at! It's especially hard for Fiorella because she can't walk her cul-de-sac as much as she'd like, as she's probably said before.

On the side, your girl has broken her glasses--or at least the left side one--which doesn't matter too much because she's half-blind in that lens anyway. (The one-side blindness is from Fio's mother. Brother has it too.)

 

 

 

    

MOVING UP THE LINE

 Fiorella has spent two hours trying to come up with something interesting about her for you, but hasn't come up with anything except that she really likes hamburgers--without any "juice" on them, of course. But then, as anyone who knows her will tell you, she is very picky about her food (probably because she didn't have much choice during her WWT childhood).

 The problem is that Fio has always been very active, but now, because she doesn't have transportation, she can't participate in anything, as she has said so many times.

By the way, if she ever CAN get transportation, one of the first thing she will do is finish off the half face lift she had a while back. Now you know all!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EARLIER TIMES

 Son K cooked Fio a a good piece of salmon for supper today

And earlier, Son K had sent her a bushel of lovely flowers 

No rhyme, just love, and remembrances

From sweet and earlier times

DOWN, DOWN, DOWN

 Nothing to say today. Fio's life is dull, dull, dull. That's what happens when you can't drive any more and you don't have any local friends. (And the whether doesn't help.)

 

 

 

 

FORGIVE ME!

 OH MY GOD I WROTE THREE MESSAGES  and lost them all! They all showed up on the last page.

MOVING ON-------

 Fio's day started and is ending with STRAWBERRIES, sweet, sweet, strawberries at breakfast and at even tide, but tomorrow will be another story. Son L wants Fiorella to call someone out of state to make sure our land interest still holds. Yep, your girl and company may have luck....or may not.

Fio is also ending her day by being alone: his wife's family has him for the evening. (Your girl is not invited.)

________________________________________________________________________________

How about Fiorella getting her Grumbacher remains together, painting some NEW pictures, and displaying them? Children and dogs? 

In the meantime, Fio may plan for Christmas decorations--like the cardboard ones she made, decorated, and fastened along the inside of her side of her bedroom, on the inside of the entryway, and along the hallway.

Oops, almost forgot about Halloween and Thanksgiving, but Fio will give them her loving attention too--Grumbacher and all!

 

 

 

 

NOT THE BEST, BUT I'M ALIVE

 Your girl is flailing around (as usual) trying to find a pair for one of her pairs of glasses because she's lost the other pair. Got it?

Now, both of the pairs are wearable--if you grab the roll or takeoff with them, but Fiorella would much rather get both of the pairs be in top shape--and with no missing objects, like perhaps, the  frame. 😊

Oh, and has Fio told you that one of the sets is purple plastic (from times long ago), and the other is some sort of light metal (from God knows what?)?

OH, OH--Fiorella is working with Scotch Tape now......unless you can send  her a pattern to rescue her.

DON'T WORRY IF THIS  MAKES NO SENSE--NEITHER DOES FIORELLA!

NOT MUCH TO SAY

 Thank you, God! Fiorella has found one of her lost pairs of reading glasses! Now to pray for the other one.....

Son L's slobbering pugs joined your girl on the couch this evening and licked her like crazy. Does this mean they like her or they are testing her out as a future food source? 

Obviously, her day has been dull, dull, dull. Will try better tomorrow😕

 

 

GOOD AND BAD, BUT FIO WILL GO ALONG!

 WOW! Son L took over Fio's computer for a while, and it's working better than ever! THANK YOU!

The sun is shining hard, the trees are waving around like maniacs, and there is not a soul outside. Texas is just not used to this kind of weather. (In the Ohio of her youth, her mother would have bundled her up in thick clothes and sent her out to play.) 

Yeah! Fio settled down to pay with Son L's pug dogs, called older son (and his wife) who live in Minnesota, and had a nice talk, and, in a few minutes, will be sitting down at the table for supper: salmon, her favorite😛 

LATER; The salmon was fabulous, of course, but, Fiorella always wants MORE of it! (Please write that down for when you invite her for dinner.)

Don't tell anyone, but Fio broke one side of her glasses. Luckily, it doesn't matter because she put Scotch Tape on the damaged area, her "bad" side.

 

 

 

I CANNOT LIVE BY BLOUD DRAWS ALONE!

 OH YEIKS, or however it is spelled--Fiorella has lost the little card that the doctor gave your girl for her next visit-- and when she got home. Fio looked in the car and all over her room and couldn't find it.. Looks like she'll have to call up Doctor's number and plead for mercy. (If you want to know, it's a blood draw about once a month, often with George, the inquisitive cat, looking on.)

The trees outside my window are swishing roughly back and forth, but every now and then they use  their manners. Should Fio risk it? (Surprise douses are not unknown.)

That's all I have right now: check me later.

 

OOPS, I didn't publish!

 

 

THIS AND THAT

After her husband died, Fiorella thought she could reach back up to her former standard of performance, but she hasn't because he was so much a part of her life: transportation, communication, discussion,  protection, excitement, comfort, laughter, teasing, sweetness, excitement, and many more that you still have. Enjoy them.

OK, Fio will admit that she just looked up one of her high school heart throbs to see if he's still alive ....and maybe single.

Your girl has moved foreword a little further in her quest to re-do the painting of the Ohio house she started out on a couple of years ago. She doesn't have all the colors she needs, but maybe she can pick some up at the local store when her grocery driver comes around.

Remember when your girl got her knees replaced one at a time a while back? Well, all is well except that she still has some nasty sploches on both knees, but everything gets better every day. Ahh, modern medicine!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rum, Povid, George, Glasses

 Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum! Not that your girl has ever drunk rum, but she 's feeling good, good, good! Searching through her monumental belongings in her draw, study, salon (what ever you want to call it) she found some of her long-lost Grumbacher oil colors and decided to get them ready for her to give herself a try. She'll have to build up her other brushes and get a nice cupboard before she can go on display, but it's a start, and Mrs. Fischer, her beloved teacher, would be proud of her.....hopefully.

Now, when Fio was younger (pre covid), we artist types gathered in clumps under nice trees to show off our wares, but sadly, those days are gone, which means your girl has no way to advertise. Hmm....gotta figure how to get around that. Must add that Fiorella got the shots and was never sick....as far as she knows.

George, the black-and-mostly white cat in residence, is a joy, especially when he sneaks up on your girl's bed and licks her nose. Fio girl has read that means that George  considers Fiorella to be one of her family. (And yes, G is an inside cat). 

Bad news: Fiorella has broken half of one of her pares of glasses, but not the one she really sees with, thank God!!

 

 

 

Yesterday + Today

 YEAH! Son L worked on Fio's computer and FIXED IT--and for a whole hour, she read pages after pages of anti-Trump propaganda, just what she likes to see! How does the heck does Trump think he can get anywhere near the White House when he's in prison? Fiorella is excited about Kamala too! Of course, (England had a female leader long before we did, but we are a younger country. 😊 )

In the meantime, Fio has got to force herself to get some good paints and start looking for some interesting subjects....maybe in the front yard. Yes, she knows she's said that before, but sooner or later, she'1l secomb.

This is one of the days that your girl really misses her late husband.😞

Where, oh where will she go? And how? She's half blind, can't drive, and has no friends in the area.

Oh, and she also wants a nice, big type dog, like a Mastiff or a Weimeraner.💗

PROBLEM

 OK, Fio admits that she doesn't know what she's doing on her computer, but she's hoping Son L will be able to fix it. PRAY FOR FIORELLA!

In the mean time, your girl is sweating like a pig, just like you probably are.....

PAYBACK

 

 WHAH HOO! Hillary Clinton will get her well-deserved recognition at last!

Remember when Donald Trump used every nasty trick in the book to beat her by just a few points? (And your girl is sure those were fake too.)

      Well, now, Donald is going to get what he needs--a total wash-out under Kamala Harris, who, because, of what she knows about Donald from Hillary, will keep her armor on! 

        

PLEASE! NOT TRUMP AGAIN!

 Looking through her old Fio books--2018 to be exact--your girl discovered a poem that is is so, so meaningful for today. Here goes:

There'll be dancing in the street

When Trump is gone

Dancing in the street

And dancing on the lawn

Dancing at dusk

And dancing at dawn

Glad to see the last

Of Putin's pawn 

 

         Here's another one, called "Sorrowfully"

I thought that I would never see

A president as dumb as he

Putin's hand is his hand, Putin's ring in his nose--

He shall have riots wherever he goes

          Prediction

Humpty Dumpty has bet on a wall

Humpty Dumpty will have a great fall

And all the king's horses, all the king's men

Will refuse to put Humpty together again

 

 

UP AND AT'M!

 Remember what your girl has said: if Trump becomes president, he will continue to make friends with Putin, allowing him to take over the Ukrain, then move into Alaska and continue henceforth. Think about it! WORLD WAR THREE!

************************************************************************************ Fiorella may have to get a new computer. Her old faithful is blocking out the "G" information. You know, the pages that explain everything to someone after submits something ridiculous (usually something praising Trump).

************************************************************************************

Did Fio tell you that she's planning to pick up her brushes and start painting again? She's going to start a bit shyly because, as she's said, she hasn't wielded the brush for a while.

************************************************************************************

 

 

 

 

Computers don't last forever----

 I think I'm going to have to get a new computer. Stay tuned if you can.

Sketching?

 Fio is thinking about taking up painting again, her first talent. But where will she get the subjects? We'll see, we'll see.

NOT MUCH TO SAY

 Hello, hello..... Fiorella still don't have anything to say except to whine about about the weather and that she's alone again. She'll probably try to find her pallet and work on some of her unfinished paintings. Wish her well.

 

NOT MUCH TO SAY SO I'LL WHINE

 Fiorella's computer is acting up so she may be in-and-out from time to time. Maybe your girl should switch back to painting again. But who would she paint for? The settlement she lives in is vary tight, and Fio doesn't know them and they don't know her. Oh, for the days when your girl could join in the local artist group and sell her paintings under a tree. Well, covid took care of that.....

Fiorella needs to get out of the house and she needs to make friends. HELP!

 

 

POLLITICS AGAIN

 Fiorella had a nice day. The little girls next dour had spread spread a couple of tables out in their yard, and the kids had a nice time sipping Coke and running around together. (No one mentioned Trump.)

Did Fio tell you that yesterday one of her across-the-street neighbors actually talked to her? Baby steps, baby steps!

By the way, your girl was celebrating her birthday yesterday---the same day that  Trump almost bit the dust, but Fio will let God take care of that.

If Fio has sounded somewhat rattled for the last couple of days, it's because she is. There are just a lot of things that she doesn't like dragging up again... like people that she has had a relationship to getting killed.

******************

HAPPY NOTE:

It's your girl's birthday again!

 

 

Truth

 Lazy Morning

Sometimes Fio scrapes the surface

Sometimes she digs deep

Sometimes all she wants to do

Is stay in bed and sleep

 

Let my green mind fallow me

To everything I hear and see

And let me be a part of Thee

In perfect natural harmony

Party On!

I swear to you it's true,

You know I wouldn't lie--

Cookies, cake, and ice cream, 

Chocolate icebox pie-- 

No matter what or the amount,

Birthday  calories do not count!

So many pains I carry within,

So many tears of sorrow--

All my dreams of yesterday

Are nightmares of tomorrow 

************************

************************

 

 

Tit and Tat and JOE BIDEN!

 Fiorella has decided to pull herself together and charge into the world again.....but is the world ready for her? It's the transportation problem all over again, but your girl will find a way. She's been sorting through the boxes in her salon for inspiration and even pulled down the contents of a forgotten closet. Wahoo! 

By the way, those who know Fio might be interested to learn that her hair is now almost down to her waist...and yes, that is a rebellion  against her mother, who considered long hair to be "foreign" and thus low class. (Does your girl have a gypsy in her soul?)

One thing nice about aging is that Fiorella has collected a lot of good jewelry in the process. Now, if she just had places to wear it!

Fio is hanging on to Joe Biden, no matter what. He's done a good job and has plenty of helpers who can help him if needed. The one we have to worry about is Trump! He'd sell us out to Russia (and China) in a minute!

Sleep well!

 

 

 

 

 

POETRY AND BIDEN!

 L'envoi to "Blind"

     In the theater of the mind

     The unremitting reels unwind

      Horrors ceaselessly replay,    

      Obscuring now for yesterday....

In the theater of the mind,

Eyes that see too much go blind.... 

 

Yes, Fiorella has started cleaning out her wallboards, the ones she slapped up in her bedroom when she first moved in, and maybe she will try to trace down some of her old palls--or perhaps they'll trace down her.

Yes, Fiorella still supports BIDEN, BIDEN, BIDEN! He has done a good job so far, and we need him to battle Trump!

  

UP AND UP!

 Not much to say today, but I'll read you a very meaningful poem of mine again:

Flying High

   I cannot write a merry poem this year

Too much has happened in my life--

Uprooted from a home that I held dear

And now a widow, who was once a wife 

     Change is not my forte, my options few--

A clock cannot run backwards, nor can I,

Thus I must gird myself and start anew

To see how high my warming kite can fly

   Too late, they say--your day is almost done

Pu down your kite and rest yourself awhile--

Go take a break from shining in the sun--

Enjoy yourself before your final mile, 

   And as they lecture, I slip quiet by

   And launch my kite into the eager sky

 

 

THIS AND THAT AND NOT MUCH TO SAY

 By the way, has Fio told you that she's supporting Biden no matter what, especially because she thinks Trump is the devil himself!!!!! 

Your girl has been checking her art salon lately, trying to dig up what she can make use of, but the real problem will be gathering the artists, especially the ones like Fio, who doesn't drive. 

The big, fat, black and white (mostly white) cat that rules the house is quite receptive to Fio. Sigh...., if only it was a dog. Yes, Fiorella prefers canines. Cats just don't "stick around much any more...... '

That's all for it is to day, unless we suddenly have a nice sweet shower followed by delicate sunshine. Ah, if only.......

       

 

\

 

 

Bit by Bit

 Congratulate your girl! She's been taking her pink pill (warfarin) without failing for almost a whole year!

Has Fiorella told you that she wants to get into painting again? Now she has to gather the materials, which is hard to do because she lives a fair distance to an appropriate store. To those who want to know, your girl will be using "Landscape,"and she hopes to get some help from Son L, who is also a painter.

The first thing  our girl wants to paint is a picture of the Ohio house that she spent her first seven years six in. ( The rest of her painting was in Texas.)

PS: If you want to know, Fio's favorite fruit is strawberries, YUM!

 

 

 

 

Yoohoo!

 What should I say

About today

 Except to bellow,

 Hello, hello

And toodleedoodleedoo

 How are you?

 And vote for Biden

He's a high-riden

   While Trump

    Is a lump 

    Which nobody can deny

_____________________

Not my best poem, but I'll try to do better

     

 

 

Lost and Found

 Hello, hello! Guess what?  While Fio was going through her leftovers this afternoon, she discovered that she has packed loads and loads of leftovers into her studio closet! Now what in the world had she saved them for? Never mind mind: she can always use good fabric.

Speaking of.....has Fiorella started on any of the paintings she pulled out of storage new the painting? No, not yet, but she did manage to get all her colors of cloth together. Or did she tell you about that yesterday?

Actually, there were a lot more things than the paints in the closet. Your girl had forgotten that, lo these many years ago, she had used the former as a close hamper.

There's a sewing machine in the closet too, or did Fio tell you that yesterday?

 

 

HERE AND THERE

 Hello, there! Your Fio is currently propped on her bed, considering the universe, and figuring out how she's going to pop back into the local painters group....if there is one. But before that, she has to check out the remains of her paints. There isn't any problem with her brushes. She has it least fifty of all types, shapes, and sizes. 

Something Fiorella wants to know: why did the heat wave attack us so so suddenly? Fio doesn't remember any dire warnings, and here we are with the sun burning us all up! No more walks in the cul-de sac for Fio!

SHHHHHH....Fiorella is gathering some childhood photos to send to son K sooner rather than later.

Changing the subject: no matter what, Fio is sticking with Biden and is totally against Trump!

 

 

NOT THE BEST.......

 Fio decided to start painting again, pulled out all her brushes, then located her paints...and discovered that the only ones left she had were oil colors, which she had stopped using at least ten years ago. Oh well, there's a place in town that sells acrylic, but she will have to get a driver, which may be difficult. Ah, the tortures of not being able to drive anymore 😢

The other torture is, of course, the continuing heat. Why weren't we better warned about it? And to change the subject, what in the world happened to our president? Surely he could have been better prepared. But no matter what, your girl will NEVER vote for Trump.

 What next? Will our planet explode? Not before your girl gets a few more paintings to her name, she hopes!

That's all for today. Best wishes to all.

 

 

NO TITLE

 Yes, Fio is going crazy, crazy. crazy because there is nothing for her to do and she can't walk around more than ten minutes a day. WHERE DID THIS HUMIDITY COME FROM and HOW CAN SHE GET AWAY FROM IT? 

Your girl been hiding in her bedroom for the most part, watching and re-watching old TV movies, which run out quick. Luckily. the house is air-conditined to the hilt because Fiorella is one of pale skin and bad temper.

THIS IS MESSAGE FROM A WHILE AGO THAT FIO FORGOT TO POST.

(There's a misspelling too....)

NO MY TEA...........

 Fiorella don't know about you, but she is still out of her mind with the weather!  Son L said it will come back to "normal" in about a month or so, but Fiorella was born in Ohio, and she needs a breeze or two sooner ruffling her hair than that! 

Which brings up another problem: what if our air conditioning or television gives out? (Your girl is already half crazy about having to watch "Murder, She Rote" every time she turns around.)

That's all, unless Fio finds something else to complain about.........

 

Grumpy Again.......

 Fio went through all her belongings today and was shocked at the things she'd forgotten about--like all her art stuff, that she used to live by. She had even forgotten about the multitude of paints that she used for holidays! And the saddest thing is that it happened bit by bit, and now your girl doesn't know if she can rescue the leftovers.

The brushes are in great shape and there are a lot of paintings lying around, but no NEW ones.....and no new customers either. Fiorella just doesn't live in an area that is interested in paintings. Their children aren't old enough yet.

SOOOOOO..... your girl has a fairly good collection on red and green paper for Christmas, but that's it.

Correction: There's a whisper of decoration between Halloween and Easter .

SO WHAT IS FIORELLA GOING TO DO WITH ALL HER HAND-MADE PRETTIES?