Mug Hunt Season

 Yesiree, it is time to browse around for a holiday and/ or winter mug. 

Over the years, I am proud to report that I have bought more mugs than I have broken. This year, I’m into chipping  instead of breaking it up. Three of my mega mugs, (for multiple marshmallows in hot chocolate [and for hot toddies]), have tiny chips.  I might be able to repair them using ceramic paint. 

By Pfaltzgraff, Holiday Cheer pattern was discontinued in 2007. I think that’s sad because it is a lovely and simple design. There are dishes to match. I was lucky to buy two mugs and a salad plate at a local thrift store. Perfect for munching off my holiday snack tray, a tradition with me since 1975. Wow! That’s will be 50 years this December. 

Tip: Fluid fabric paint. I used it over liquid sew to repair my black puffer coat. The repair shows but isn’t nasty looking.

Processing Before the Canvas

Mt Abe from Addison Vermont

At it again, I’m back to the easel soon with a changed attitude. A few weeks ago I had a cataract removal procedure done on one eye. Light changes, becomes brighter when cataracts are removed. Think filter gone.

No kidding, I grab my underwear out of the drawer, and thought they must have been mingled with something left in the washer (shared laundry room). I look, no, they are really mine. What a nice color.

What about my artwork? How will mixing colors work? 

I don’t know if my paintings will change beyond seeing clearer colors. 

At the Dead Creek visitor center lane, there is an area where you can see the mountains clear of trees in the foreground. I drove too far into those trees for the view I wanted. I have other pictures with the mountain view. The road image, I think it is meant to be a painting. 

Addison Route 17 
 

It’s About Attitude

Do you ever get tired of not feeling well, not free of aches and pains? m

Once, many years ago I had to take a strong pill that I usually always refuse or insist taking no more than 2-3 days. I’m not big on pills, never have been. For the day I took that medication, I was shocked that all my usual aches and pains were gone.

It was that one time I had the opportunity to feel the contrast between my daily 24/7 life versus feeling good. Like tinnitus since early childhood, I became used to aching because it is part of me. 

Humans are fascinating creatures in how we adapt to all sorts of things in life. 

In answer to the question, yes, I do get tired of not feeling well. However, that doesn’t mean I can’t do things well. Life is a lot about attitude.

Blogger YouTube Link Has Porn

Signed into my gmail account

Upper right dots open and select YouTube not only tells me I’m not signed in, the page is full of porn. 

There is one video of young girls cheerleading in a very inappropriate pose. I found no report button

Instead, you are given a Feedback page to submit. 

It is disgusting.

Thoughts About Holiday Decorations

 An idea drifted by this afternoon about how to make the holidays feel cheery-ish instead of sad. 

Decorations.

A themed holiday may be a distraction that creates a sense of control. The project can get one out and about purposely searching for things. Surrounded by one’s accomplishments can be uplifting.  

What if you aren’t into decorating because it reminds you of happier times? Themed holiday decor can replace old reminders with the new one of you making the effort to feeling good. 

First, decide on a style, traditional, one color, plaid, rustic, shiny, nature, steampunk, old West, modern, beaded fruit, candy canes, Santas, musical and so on. 

Second, set a budget and source materials

Lastly, have fun decorating!

November Photograph

 Foraging Squirrels

What Have You Noticed?

Out shopping recently, two things caught my attention. 

Old news update. The size of soup cans has become even smaller. They are hideously small. I’m not going to name brands. Product smaller volumes at the same price or higher is called shrinkflation. I believe if cans are made smaller, then more folks might start making soup from scratch. 

Christmas ornaments at the local Dollar General store this year don’t appear to be as plentiful and varied as last year. There’s plenty of gift wrap paper and gift bags though. I’m thinking importing cheaper ornaments from overseas might be the problem. 

I bought one can of soup and the last 4 bottle brush tree ornaments. As a kid, bottle brush trees fascinated me. 

What changes have you noticed lately? 

Day 47 of Week 46 November 2025

Has this week been interesting for y’all? 

Your day going well? 

Coffee today is much too strong because I used the wrong measuring cup. Pour some out and add hot water is an easy adjustment. Adding International coffee mix, Suisse Mocha, helps as well. 

One afternoon this week was given up to a power nap. Stress for me, and I think many others,  can be as exhausting as a strenuous hike. The issue with naps is that they can take too much of my energy and time away. 

 Have a Stress Free Weekend!

Read about Sir Isaac Newton

Browse hand knit mittens online

Write a funny story

Make a pinecone bunting garland

Have lunch with a friend

Exercise

Bake a squash casserole

Geranium Stem Flower Bud

November Early Snow

Early Snowfall

 

Are Mornings the Funny Time of Day?

Whenever I have a rare surge of fun energy, it happens most often before noon. I searched the Internet for the funniest time of day. There’s always quirky studies done, methinks, because the professionals need to be published, write a thesis and such. (I didn’t search far enough to find any study.)

AI is an especially helpful resource with weird questions. As expected, in general, evenings are more fun due to end of a day’s tension thing. Mornings are not known to have a let us laugh vibe.

Think of the great AM this way. 

It is conformation you lived through the most vulnerable hours of your day, barely dressed, asleep, in the same room of your home, spread out or curled up dreaming. 

Mornings should be a celebration, not a woe is me pit to start the day. 

Journal only funny thoughts you have in the morning. By noon, put that journal away. Keep it separate from other journals. When you have no funny thoughts to write down, then add a note with the date there are no funny thoughts. 

Silly idea? Yes, this is a silly idea. I believe cultivating our inner humor is a healthy. 

November Photograph

Harvest

Building Dreams, Stacking Goals & Self Chat

Some thoughts on how I cope with depression. 

A way of managing boredom, the blahs, a slump, a high tide of meh, is to build dreams. Think of something you would like to do within a real possibility. Research, study and bring yourself as close as you are able to make the dream come true. 

Big as well as small dreams booster hope and confidence. If a dream fizzles, then build another one.

Stacking goals isn’t the same as dreaming. Goals are there to be achieved, a will do vs might happen. Goals require real action effort. They can be anything from not dropping crumbs down your shirt to renewing a registration the day you get the notice in the mail. Organizing things can make life feel easier, less foggy.

Nobody around to talk to, share feelings? Grab a mirror to remind you, you are there for you. Talk to yourself in brain silence or aloud. A nice chat with yourself can be refreshing. 

Having a radio on in the background helps me feel more comfortable in case hearing aids that go through walls malfunction. 🤨 🙄

In all, the diversions are ways of moving away from the sadness. In the cold weather months, a list of enjoyable things to do also helps ease the misery. 

A favorite is to set an alarm for afternoon tea break, a must sit and relax while drinking my tea before it gets cold. Trying out new teas and journaling them is a worthy goal.

 

Sprucing Up Cold Days

 It has happened, on the 

National Weather Service KBTV report, 

there are snowflake symbols! 

As ambient temperatures decrease, the chance of snow in the New England higher elevations is expected. Seeing white on the peaks in the fall is normal. The words snow and November are not unknown to appear together. 

Earth is being Earth, systems moving along as usual. What about our usual? As part of Earth’s biosphere, our weather/emotions can’t be predicted in the way that climate changes are. We, however, can prepare, manage the adjustments each season requires of us.

Out in the wild we seek shelter.  We dust off the thermostat, get out winter clothing, shovels, scrapers, lock deicer, windshield cover, hot chocolate, broth,  brandy, snow tires, emergency storm kits for vehicle and home, reading list, fun projects for indoors and more.

More can include organizing a soup and casserole recipe book. In winter, foods that comfort as well as battle the cold are a worthy focus.

Recipe Book: 

Looseleaf binder

Hole puncher

Colored pens

Sturdy paper

Magazines

Glue

Tape

Title suggestion: Winter Recipes 2025-2026

You can cut out recipes as well as write them down with notes and decorate the page.

Happy Cooking!