At this point, 2023 is 1/12^th finished.  January went by at a snail’s pace for me, even though there were so many tasks accomplished:

January saw me write four new short stories – “The Jeweled Slippers,” “The Grand Duke and His Valet,” “Cave Justice,” and “Three Scottish Pearls.”  All are now available on Amazon Kindle for your reading pleasure, as found HERE.

Best Friend and I noticed that our local grocery store hasn’t had fresh carrots in stock for about two weeks now.  In fact, many items are missing from the shelves:  oyster crackers, canned tomatoes, many Oriental cooking ingredients, and contact lens solution is out (I took the last bottle, and finding it there was a surprise).

Also, when Best Friend and I stopped by a department store earlier this week, we noticed the unmistakable strong odor of mothballs in the clothing department.  We speculated that the inventory was sitting on the supply ship for months, hence the mothball odor.  It was a turn off, and we soon left the store and headed to another to continue our shopping.

For the past four months, I have been busy crocheting a crazy quilt afghan with the leftover yarn I have.  I am getting close to finishing it, and since I still have a lot of yarn remaining, I’ll most likely make another afghan, but in a different pattern.  The afghans will come in handy for the chilly, yet ideally short, winter months here at The Oasis at Four Queen Palms.

I am toying with the idea of writing a short home economics book with the idea of smart money saving hints and tips for our time.  I have it formulated in jotted down notes and outlined in my thoughts.  If this idea comes to fruition, I may have it ready by late spring this year.  Stay tuned.

And during January, I read two books by Alice Duer Miller, “The Happiest Time of Their Lives” and “Ladies Must Live.”  Both were written at the turn of the century and were enjoyable to read.  I sprinkled in a current magazine, “Taste of Home,” for good measure.

Now, the calendar turned to February – a month of a Saint Valentine’s Day celebration, preparations for Lent, and a bit of yard work and planting planning.  Although this is a short month, it will be packed with activities, which I will be happy to share with you here.

Here’s to optimistic thoughts and good actions on our part.  The world is becoming darker, and we surely need more light and optimism.

As ever,

Lady Susan Marie Molloy

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