Hello book friends! I thought I would post this great chalk art picture because it kind of said 'June and summer!' to me. I took this last fall at the Kerrville Chalk Festival, which I wrote about here. I had such a good time at that festival and hope to get to attend again. This year? Who knows? However, I'm certain that it will come around again when the time is right.
I don't have much to tell other than to relate that another week has gone by. You knew that, right? Ha! I did get my haircut last Saturday and it went very well. Masks were worn by both of us. She didn't even need to shampoo my hair as I had just done that. She sprayed it with water, cut it short (very short at my request), did not blow it dry, we chatted a little, I paid and made an appointment for 4 weeks from now, and I went home. It was lovely.
Otherwise, I've been continuing my walking and yoga. I've actually improved my 'time per mile' quite a bit. Didn't really try to do that, but it's a nice benefit from walking every single day. I'm usually pretty drenched in sweat by the time I get home, even on the cooler mornings. I did notice that my rec center is open by appointment for use of the walking track and workout equipment. It just became available this week. I won't be going in quite yet, but I might consider it as summer advances. What I can't conceive is walking/jogging with a mask on - I'll have to think about that. Maybe early mornings outside would be OK even if they are muggy and warm.
Our mystery book group is going virtual for now or we'll be attempting to do that in upcoming days. We're having a trial run this week to see how it goes and then will do a discussion of Where The Crawdads Sing the next week. As the host, I'm a little nervous about it, but my husband will be around to help me if I need him. Quite a few of the group have indicated that they will try to attend (we're doing invitation only). I've attended the afternoon book group that I'm part of virtually and it went well. It's not the same as sitting in a circle and sharing, but it's about the best we can do right now. Who knows when libraries will be allowing meetings again?
Hope everyone is doing well and has a good weekend. Take care!
I'm amazed at what artists can do with chalk! I have a friend who always enters chalk art contests in Utah and the pictures she posts of her creations are phenomenal. I'd love to see it in real life.
ReplyDeleteWe've been doing our book club meetings on Zoom. It's not the same, but it works. I'd rather do a virtual meeting than no meeting.
Glad you're doing well, Kay! I got my hair cut and colored this week and it feels so good to be rid of my COVID hair. My stylist is a good friend of mine and does hair in a home salon. We didn't wear masks, but I was the only customer in there and my friend was really careful about wiping everything down. I felt totally safe being there :) I don't know how I'd feel in a regular salon, though ...
Susan, I do understand being delighted with your hair after such a long wait for styling. Sigh. It just made my day. Yes, that chalk festival was so much fun and I was fascinated with the artists and what they could create. I could have stood and watched for hours.
DeleteYes, May is nearly gone and June is almost here. The days in between are kind of long. This is really no different than how I felt pre-pandemic. Ha. Our weather skipped spring and went to summer although today it's super gloomy. Nice! Still warm though. The pup misses her sunlight though.
ReplyDeleteMy hair appt was rescheduled for June and I could care less. My hair is pretty long but I trimmed the layers myself and appear presentable. LOL.
All this unrest in the nation right now has me antsy. I am not watching the news but I can't avoid social media since I need it for work and trouble is about to break out big time.
Ti, I think some are fine with not having hair styling and some not. Those of you with longer hair are faring better I think. Hope you and yours have a nice weekend and just stay away from the social media if you can. It's not relaxing at all...
DeleteLove that chalk art! And yay for haircuts and morning walks. I wish the summer would stay cool and not heat up to unbearable temps, but oh well. In winter I always wish it was warmer, so I don't think I'm ever satisfied. ;D
ReplyDeleteLark, I think we're all a little unsatisfied about the weather, right? However, I'm going to try to be more tolerant of the summer this year. I'll just have to get out right after sunrise to do my walking, which is OK because that's when the birds are singing.
DeleteThere are some very creative chalk artists around and, it really seems more popular around town since the pandemic. Our hair salons opened this week and although I haven't been to a salon in 3 months, I'm waiting until July to see how the stats go around here.
ReplyDeleteI've been dealing with a painful knee issue since mothers day and finally after x-rays, a diagnosis of patellofemoral osteoarthritis, and meds that didn't work, I got a cortisone shot this week but, still in pain - to be continued. I miss my walking and yoga.
Enjoy the weekend Kay.
Diane, I am so sorry about your knee problems. Hope you can get some relief before long. Yes, the chalk art is popular with the kids in our neighborhood, but then the rain comes and washes it away. I hope to be able to go to the festival again at some point.
DeleteChalk art makes us smile, doesn't it. From the professional artist to the amateur, the color and effort is a gift!
ReplyDeleteWell, any art I would create with chalk wouldn't be very 'arty', but some are so very talented. Hope to be able to go to the festival again one day.
DeleteGlad you're doing ok, Kay. Our hairdressers are not open yet so I'm getting to look like Shaggy from Scooby-Doo. LOL I'll have to take the scissors to my fringe if they don't open soon. Or get a hairband... haven't worn one of those since I was 12.
ReplyDeleteA hairband - you made me laugh. I wore those too. Very attractive - ha! I will say that I was so pleased after she was finished. Doesn't take much to make me happy these days. LOL
DeleteThat's a fantastic chalk art! Hope you enjoy "Where the Crawdads Sing" and that the virtual book group goes well. :)
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying Where The Crawdads Sing and think the discussion will be interesting. However, as this is a mystery group, it's not at all a typical mystery - not at all. I'll be curious if everyone liked it. I'm suspecting not.
DeleteI love that chalk art too, Vicki. That festival was fun and I hope to be able to go again one day. I think our discussion of Where The Crawdads Sing will be good, though it is definitely not a traditional mystery of any sort. And this is for a mystery group. Ha!
ReplyDeleteOur chalk painting event in Santa Barbara was always on Memorial Day weekend and it was canceled. Disappointing but not the kind of event that could have worked safely in the current situation. They did sponsor some artists to do paintings and post them online, and that was nice for the artists, as I am sure they were very disappointed.
ReplyDeleteWe did hear from our stylist that she was not ready to start working again yet, but would let us know. We will see if my comfort level will be OK with when she decides to start cutting again, and what kind of preventative methods they will be using, as she works in a shop with other stylists.
It is amazing that it is almost June.
Yes, I think part of my comfort with my stylist is that she's a one-woman shop. Just me and the stylist. It worked very well. Sorry that your chalk event was cancelled. Maybe next year.
DeleteThat's an amazing work of art! I have a girlfriend who is a very good artist and she has participated in chalk events in Kansas City. I'm always so impressed, especially of those with such 3D effects!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you were able to get a haircut. Mine can grow longer and Rod's can grow wider. :)
We've had two book club meetings via Zoom and they have worked out well. Not as good as F2F, but certainly not impossible. Of course, we've only had 9-12 members, which helps. So far, I haven't had to mute anyone. ;) It is tempting, though, to mute everyone and have one person speak at a time (raising hands when ready to chime in). It will be interesting to see how long this type of meeting lasts. Our county was just denied Phase 2, so we're still staying home and social distancing.
Stay safe!
Yes, looking forward to our 'trial' book group meeting tomorrow evening. We may have around 18 or so. I do want to cover some things like 'one person at a time' and making sure they know how to mute themselves. We'll work out the kinks and let those who haven't done virtual meetings see how they like it. Then we'll try a real discussion. I don't think the Austin library is going to be open for regular meetings for months to come.
DeleteOne bit of advice - for folks who haven't used Zoom with large groups, they may not know that their screen will only show 9 participants if they're using an iPad in Gallery View. Everyone also needs to know how to switch from Speaker View to Gallery View. Trying to explain this at the beginning of a meeting can lead to a little frustration on the moderator's part. ;)
DeleteWhen will we get to go back out as we used to. Ah I dream of when that time comes. Glad you at least enjoyed your time at the salon and felt somewhat more normal! I so need a haircut but I will have to wait for a while longer. Good luck with the book group meeting. My group is very hesitant to use zoom so we're only doing conference calls which is really not as fun but I guess it's something.
ReplyDeleteWe'll see how the meeting goes. I can see how a conference call would be a little tough.
DeleteYour post makes me feel like something is normal. I haven't gone for a haircut yet and am okay with it for now but I know I'm going to want to be back soon. Maybe this is a good time to grow it out, we'll see. Never been a fan of long hair.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of zoom yoga - I haven't yet tried it out but maybe one of these days.
Oh, and meant to write - that chalk picture is gorgeous!! Thank you for sharing that.
DeleteI guess we're all having to try out all kinds of things virtually. Different to be sure, but at least we have that capability, right?
DeleteA haircut & color would be nice. I haven't been since February but I'm thinking about making an appointment. Good luck with your virtual book discussion ... I think it should go great and with Crawdads you'll have an enjoyable chat with that group. That book has stayed with me ...
ReplyDeleteYes, I think that there will be a lot to talk about with the Crawdad book. I'm curious what others will say. Have a good week!
DeleteI am ready for the virtual meeting! We are doing weekly team meeting at work virtually, exercise class and several course virtually so I am confident it will be good.
ReplyDeleteI think we did OK with it, right? Looking forward to the next one and hearing what others thought about that Crawdad book.
DeleteWe were at Disney World in February and it was their Art Festival and the chalk art was AMAZING. We normally don't travel much in the summer but while I'm okay not leaving the house for the most part the travel bug keeps appearing. I want to go somewhere but I'm going to wait for awhile!
ReplyDeleteYes, I understand that. How fun to get to be at Disney with an art festival. We were there one year during the Halloween decorations. Fun!
DeleteYour walking success is inspiring me to get back to my own daily walking, Kay. I’m glad you are doing well. Our county has been slow to reopen, and we just entered Phase 1. I was actually able to get my hair cut yesterday, which was so needed! I’ve been meeting with my brothers and their wives on Zoom every Wednesday afternoon. It’s been so much fun! We are adjusting to this new way of being together. Stay well!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Robin! It's amazing to me what a lift it was to just get my hair trimmed. And today I went to the rec center and walked on the track there. Had to make a reservation and there are lots of rules, but it was cool and very, very nice.
DeleteOur library started doing curbside pickup June 1 and will be doing a limited opening sometime in July. I just cancelled our 3 Friends board meeting in a row instead of doing Zoom. My book group has been doing Zoom and it's nice, but, you're right, not the same as sitting in a circle and talking. My hair is ridiculous right now, but because it's long I can just throw it up in a ponytail and forget about it. I love chalk art.
ReplyDeleteYes, the Austin library has been much slower at progressing through stages. The other small libraries in surrounding communities are being careful and safe, but they only have one location to deal with as opposed to multiple branches and a very large central library. I was so happy about my haircut. Just little things...
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