Long Week

We worked on our kitchen this week. We decided to paint the cabinets ourselves. My husband is a much better painter than I am, so I was the main helper. Unfortunately, he was in a lot of back pain and he finally went to the doctor. He fractured his back while we were having to shift the appliances in order to paint. After finding this out from X-rays and an MRI, he was told not to do anything strenuous and not to lift anything until he heals. So, I was able to put the hardware back on and started to put things back in the kitchen. The kitchen looks much better now.

Original photos by Pat Hensley

2019 First-Class Forever Stamp, Oscar the Grouch

June 1 is Oscar the Grouch Day. If you were around in the 70s, like I was, you would have heard about Oscar the Grouch.

In 2019, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sesame Street, the United States Postal Service released a special set of Forever stamps featuring 16 beloved characters from the show. One of these stamps showcased Oscar the Grouch, the grumpy green Muppet who lives in a trash can. The stamp was designed by art director Derry Noyes using a photograph of Oscar. It was officially released on June 22, 2019, during a ceremony in Detroit, Michigan, as part of the "Sesame Street Road Trip"—a celebration event held in 10 cities across the U.S.

The Oscar the Grouch stamp was part of a pane of 16 stamps, each featuring a different character from Sesame Street, such as Big Bird, Elmo, and Cookie Monster. These stamps were issued as Forever stamps. A total of 62 million of these stamps were printed by Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. The back of the stamp pane displayed special artwork celebrating the show's 50th anniversary.

Oscar the Grouch is a fuzzy green character from the children's TV show Sesame Street. He lives in a trash can and loves everything dirty, messy, and smelly! Unlike most of the friendly characters on the show, Oscar is grumpy and enjoys complaining. But even though he seems mean, Oscar teaches kids that it’s okay to have different feelings and that everyone is unique in their own way. He even has a pet worm named Slimey and lots of strange things in his trash can home.

Oscar was first seen on Sesame Street when the show started in 1969. He was originally orange, but he later became green. He was created by Jim Henson and played by puppeteer Caroll Spinney for many years. Even though Oscar doesn’t like being happy, he’s an important part of Sesame Street because he helps show that people can be different and still be part of a community. He’s grouchy, but deep down, he has a big heart!

References:

• United States Postal Service. (2019). Sesame Street Celebrates 50 Years. https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2019/0522-sesame-street-celebrates-50-years.htm
  
• Mystic Stamp Company. (n.d.). 5394g - 2019 First-Class Forever Stamp - Sesame Street: Oscar the Grouch. https://www.mysticstamp.com/5394g-2019-first-class-forever-stamp-sesame-street-oscar-the-grouch/
• United States Postal Service. (2019). Stamp Services. https://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2019/pb22521/html/info_004.htmUSPS+2USPS+2USPS+2mysticstamp.comUSPS
• Sesame Workshop. (n.d.). Oscar the Grouch. https://www.sesamestreet.org
• Gikow, Louise. Sesame Street: A Celebration - 40 Years of Life on the Street. Black Dog & Leventhal, 2009.

New Roof and Memorial Day Weekend

Sunday was quiet and we relaxed all day.

On Monday, we went to the senior center to walk for an hour and then attend Heather’s exercise class. It felt good to work out! When we got home, we worked in the yard, trimming bushes.. The azaleas needed a good trim after blooming, or they would grow out of control.

On Tuesday morning, the roofing materials were delivered, and the delivery guy was really nice. We stood and chatted for a long time! He has 5 children and they live on a farm. They homeschool all their children. In the evening, I went to my local knitting group, and I always enjoy the time I spend with the.

Wednesday and Thursday involved watching the roofers and the progress of replacing the roof. It was pretty interesting how much the materials and technology have changed over the years. Wednesday brought 5 roofers, and they worked hard for 14 hours! They even brought their microwave! At lunchtime, they were relaxing under a tree and even taking a nap (which was well deserved). On Thursday, only 3 guys worked on the roof.

We left on Thursday around 4 pm to meet our senior center group at Travinia’s for dinner. Luckily, we were able to walk to the restaurant. There were about 17 of us. The food was very good, but the service was meh. We bought cannolis to bring home and have for dessert, but they weren’t as good as the ones we got years ago in Boston. We still had a great time with the group and hope to go out more with them.

On Friday, an elderly man (Mr. James) came to do a magnetized cleaning for nails. I called the project manager to make sure that he was with the company, and he was. We found some small concerns we wanted to discuss during the final inspection, which was around 4:30 pm. We walked around the house with Jonah and showed him the concerns. He fixed most of them, but they will have to come out and repair a screen and clean the siding. He got on the ladder and found about 5 more things they need to seal up when they come out. Overall, I like our new roof! Our Sounds of the Summer concert series started downtown, and I was able to hear the music in my sunroom with the windows closed. 🙂

While the roof was being replaced, I was able to get a lot of knitting done. The noise didn’t bother me. I’m trying to relax more and de-stress so I can get over these shingles faster.

This weekend is Memorial Day weekend, and we won’t do anything special. We tend to stay home and off the roads during holidays because of the crazy drivers.

Original photos by Pat Hensley

Shingles and other…fun

This week started off pretty normal. On Monday, I had my knitting guild meeting, which I attended on Zoom.

 
Tuesday, my hubby finally talked me into going to the doctor about this rash on my arm. It seems like the pain is getting worse, and by Monday night, it was very hot and hurt to touch. So, off to the doctor we go. I thought it might be poison ivy, and hubby thought it was a spider bite. Nope, it is shingles! I didn’t think I had ever had chicken pox, so I couldn’t get the vaccine, and didn’t think I would get shingles. I did have a touch of it somewhere along the line in the past 65 years so here I am with shingles! The doctor says the shingles are due to stress, and I need to find a way to deal with it.

On Wednesday, we went to exercise class and I struggled with some of the exercises, but I think the exercise is good for my stress levels.

Thursday, we went car shopping, not that we need a new car, but we have been thinking about getting a new car with all the safety features. We want another Prius if we get a new car because ours is 11 years old. Of course, we aren’t in a rush, so we are just looking.

On Friday, we went back to exercise class and then ran errands. Hubby mowed the lawn when we got back, and the weather was perfect for that. After lunch, I spent the day knitting. I haven’t been working on my big shawl project because of the pain, but I finished some little projects like 2 charity hats and a washcloth.

On Saturday, we went to an Antique Festival where my hubby found lots of treasures. I saw interesting things but resisted the urge to buy things. We did some car shopping (remember - not ready to buy, just looking) and somehow I lost my hubby’s favorite sunglasses. Luckily, I went on Amazon and ordered him another pair (which helped get me out of the doghouse!). The rest of the day, we watched my great-niece’s softball games online, and I was so glad her team won both of them!

I'm so happy to see all my flowers blooming, and they make me feel happy!

Original photos by Pat Hensley

55¢ Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park stamp (US #5468)

The U.S. Postal Service released a special stamp in 2020 to honor Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park in Florida. This stamp, numbered 5468, is part of the "American Gardens" series, which features ten beautiful gardens from across the United States. The photograph on the stamp, taken by Allen Rokach, shows a lovely walkway lined with pink and white flowers. The stamp was first issued on May 13, 2020, in Winterthur, Delaware, as part of a collection celebrating the beauty of public gardens.​

Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park is located in Tallahassee, Florida. Alfred and Louise Maclay began creating the gardens in 1923, combining native and exotic plants to design a scenic landscape. They wanted the gardens to bloom in winter and early spring, the time they spent there. After Alfred died in 1944, Louise opened the gardens to the public and later donated them to the state in 1953. In 1965, the gardens were renamed to honor Alfred B. Maclay.

Today, the park is known for its beautiful camellias and azaleas, with over 150 types of camellias and more than 60 varieties of azaleas. Visitors can enjoy the colorful blooms, especially in mid-March. The gardens are maintained to look as they did in 1953, offering a glimpse into the past. This special stamp helps share the story and beauty of Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park with people all over the country.

References:
https://www.floridastateparks.org/learn/new-postal-stamp-commemorates-alfred-b-maclay-gardens-state-park
https://www.gcamerica.org/news/get/id/2898 https://www.mysticstamp.com/5468-2020-first-class-forever-stamp-american-gardens-alfred-b-maclay-garden-state-park-fl/