February 26, 2022

• Thoughts at February's End

  Russia invaded Ukraine this week and I know I'm not the only one trying to absorb that fact. Twitter provides some very up to the minute info, even more than traditional news outlets. I recall following some previous battles on that platform, including the Syrian attacks on the Kurds and sometimes it was a little too graphic for a wimp like me.
  For some reason, it seems odd to have a war in a city, but I should know better, since they've always been. That's why, for centuries, walls used to be built around cities. Of course, now walls won't help, with the weapons nowadays. I guess I think we, as a species, ought to have grown out of war. To have evolved enough that we know it's to be condemned and avoided, like slavery or child labor. But it seems that we will never learn, as long as there are greedy and power mad leaders in the world.
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  The swan painting is progressing slowly. At one point it was not working at all, so I put it aside for a week. When I went back to it, I could see what needed to be done and I'm still doing that. I'm working from dark to light, which I don't usually do, so that's been a challenge. For awhile, the birds blended into the grey winter sky, which was frustrating. But now are starting to stand out, as I put more white on them. When I put the black beaks on, that will probably help more. It feels like this painting should not have taken as long as it has, even for me, but I need to just ignore that idea, since there's nothing I can do. No one is timing me anyways and it's more important to do a good job, rather than the speed of completing it.
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  On Feb. 23rd, I celebrated Basil's Adoption Day, marking one year of having him. It doesn't seem that long and at times, it feels as if we are still getting to know each other, though I suppose that's an ongoing process with any pet. I hope he trusts me a little more after all this time. He makes me laugh & has provided so much company as I continue the pandemic isolation. He does things a little differently than the other piggies I've had and that makes me treasure his uniqueness all the more. I hope we still have years of companionship to go.

  • 5:27 pm
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