The painting...

 Yes, there is a tale of the painting.. I fell in love with it while looking at the website for this store... it's a junk store with lots of fun stuff in there... most of it is at retail prices, so it's hard to judge if you really should buy it or not, so you better LOVE it before you buy it.  Ya know?  So... I fell in love with this painting when I first saw it here:

It was not the featured item in the shot, but I spied it in the back... along with the one of the far right... but after looking at the far right I have something similar to that already in prints in my office now... that are along that same theme.  So, I sort of already had it in my mind that I wanted that painting AND a wash stand.

And so, it came home with me... 

BUT as I was taking it out I noted a bad repair on the back where the actual repair was peeling off.  In fact there were TWO repairs to this canvas

I didn't take pictures because I was ILL about it... really - to have bought it and not looked closely enough at it... then I had to sit myself down and tell myself that it was really a painting you LIKED... which is rare... and one that you really didn't pay all that much for... and you KNEW it had issues with the frame... so let's just see what we have to do to repair the actual painting too... because you KNOW this happens, you have watched a few documentaries on painting repairs... so, let's just try this!

First repair didn't go so well, we tried it IN the frame... yeah... no... the white repair at the bottom of that black one is one of the original repairs... it was still holding and looked good

I probably put too large a piece of canvas on there as well and discovered I should have used untreated canvas, not one cut off a literal canvas from the craft store.  Ooops.  but I did use Gesso to do the repair and glue it all together...

The result was a bit of a hot mess and a notable white "ring" inside of the repair where the gesso had soaked into the fibers.  Well, crap... and it was a bit bowed around the repair, which you can't see....

So, take #2.  remove the painting from the frame... and put it on a flat surface - the carpet is a sturdy carpet and there is something between the painting surface and the carpet to keep everything in order.

AND we weighted it and wet the canvas first to get it to dry more taunt in the frame...   It worked like a CHARM!  Flat surface to work with... now to get that color adjusted in the patching.

My repair... I should be ashamed of myself for getting so much gesso onto the front of the painting... but hey, you live and learn, don't you?  yep!  you can see the other repair in the lower right of this shot as well...

close up of that repair - obviously someone knew what they were doing on that one!!

another small hole in the canvas that I am NOT messing with!

AND THE REVEAL!!!  

It's a tad noticeable up close... like REALLY close... there is a bit more bright green in there where it should be more muted...but honestly if I wasn't pointing it out, I'm not sure anyone would notice...

further back....

I even dabbed on a bit of darker paint where you could see some canvas on the other repair..

AND from a distance I don't think anyone will be the wiser, do you????

And she’s back in the frame!

Random pictures that I just uploaded

Part of our Christmas package from the neighbor at Christmas included some New Years good luck marzipan pigs.  They were sure cute, tasted HORRID, but cute!!  ha!

Random photo from the grocery store... franks in jars... no plastic packages here folks, just jars and jars of franks!

Random sunset pictures... it was so pretty and this may have been when we had a bit of the Saharan desert in the air here... that was fun... the clouds during mid day reminded me of tornado clouds...yellow tinge.. but I'll be darned if I could get a good picture of it!

Snowing in the sunshine...

 My plants at work... that green potted one on the left reaches all the way to the window :)  LOVE my plants.  The BIG peace lily under the SUU flag is something like 15 years or 16 years old now.. she is HUGE!!!  the ones on the table to the right are now back in my window now that they won't get frostbite sitting up there :)

These photos are so out of order... but this is outside of the antique store that I finally got to go to recently... Antikissimo... it's more of a junk store, but fun... I bought this painting...

AND noted the hole in it that had a very poor mend to it... so I went on a tangent looking for how to fix it properly...  The frame spoke to me, the painting itself spoke to me... so I had to have it.  hole and all... although stupid me, if I had seen the horrible patch I would have negotiated more on it.

Love the lichens on the apple trees

This was the other purchase - a very antiqued wash stand with a blue bowl.  I do like it... it is now holding my plant on the third floor... and I have trimmed this plant a bit more too... there are no longer tendrils going down to the 2nd floor.

Here is the painting out of the light... it's pretty "dark" because it is a stormy day... but really, i like it... I mended the lower left corner of the frame where a few pieces came off and fixed some loose areas as well... I had all the pieces, just needed to glue them.

So, it's still a work in progress, but it's getting there...and regretfully the hole you CANT see here.. is more noticeable after the mend... but I now I have some oils to really resolve the issues that are there... I'll see if I can find a more recent picture of the poor hole...

Flowers I purchased at Real a few weeks ago and plopped in the ground. they are quite happy!

Easter Eggs I ordered and received from a gal on line as they don't have Markets this year - thanks COVID!

AND I went to Lisa's antiques and collectables as well this year...

I finally went and found this cute card press - Butch thinks it's a reproduction... I don't care, I love it.  I think I want to use it as a flower press for smaller flowers.

My Easter "tree" with a few of my eggs up there...

Plans to use this for Christmas... they are wooden strap on skates.  These will go on the sled for my porch for decorations.

Updates in restrictions

 Well Feb came and went without an ease in restrictions. It’s now March 1. We are extended to March 28th. Do you see a trend here?  My first typing was 38th. Which sadly seems appropriate. What is open now?

All places require KN95 (medical grade) masks. I bought a 50 pack recently as they are disposable. 

Open: 

Grocery markets 

Flower stores 

Book stores

Garden centers

Tattoo shops

Nail parlors 

Massage salons (now tell me why NORMAL freaking retail can’t be open????)

You can now meet up to 5 people from two households - not counting kids under 14, because we KNOW they aren’t little typhoid Mary’s at less than age 14  (insert eye roll). Am I over this?  YOU BETCHA. 

Updates

What I forgot to mention was that lockdowns were extended through Feb 18th.  Yeah, thrilled... not

So we continue to do what we have done since September... absolutely NOTHING

It's snowed a lot this winter.. so that's been ad adventure in getting to work.... the one blessing is that telework being so prevalent it's been easy to just stay home and watch it snow.  Yay for telework!!

Early morning and night... it snowed all day long... COLD and slick!!!

The next morning you can see the actual flakes still out there and it sparkles and I wish I could capture it in photos... really - it was gorgeous!!

Yes, you are reading that correctly at almost 4" and this is the next morning... this is in a protected area - you can see the drifts on the far right of the photo below... it was blowing and snowy all night... 

I have to admit it looks great when you KNOW you don't have to go out in it... I worked from home on Thursday and Friday.

THIS is the only other joy we have... truck food from the base... and when they have Korean trucks on base I make sure to take some home for dinner - YUMMY!!

Spicy pork is the best...

What have we been doing?

Watching it snow! 

It was actually snowing and melting on the windows. 

How it started in the beginning of the day

How it ended yes melted off for the most part 

Then it snowed again!

And again!

And some more 

The neighbors made a snow dog. Look by the lamp near the top!

And that’s just about all I have done all weekend. I I finally get some stuff done on the filing cabinets that I wanted to do but procrastinated on. 

There is one that is dead so I moved all the files o could to the bottom of the broken one. Now it won’t close. Sigh :(

But they’re moved. Not ideal but moved. Then I worked on my bedroom and cleaned out some garbage that needed to get taken care of. I finished with tossing some pajamas that I. Have never been in love with. They are ok but I have more coming in the mail this week so I’m good with letting one go as MOST of my jammies are over 10 years old. Yikes. Talk about not changing a lot, eh?

That and tossing a ice team scoop. Yeah. Big cleaning mode. Hahahaha!!

I’m in a group for cleaning. I have done this one a few times. It’s helpful to clean out clutter. So. I did the laundry. Just rearranged things to their correct homes. Then moved to kitchen and office (this the filing cabinet).

Restrictions

donnasworddoodles.blogspot.com

The state government of Baden-Württemberg introduced new restrictions on movement which went into effect on December 12 and impact the USAG Stuttgart community. Click here for a pdf summary of the B-W Lockdown from Dec 16 to Jan 10 explained.

 

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Lockdown in Baden-Württemberg from December 16 to January 10

Contact restrictions
Maximum of five individuals from up to two households. Children up to and including the age of 14 are not counted.

Going out restrictions | Curfews
Through at least the next four weeks, you must have a compelling reason to leave your home.

At night (8pm to 5am):

• To engage in occupational activities. (carry your U.S. Forces ID card at all times)
• Use of medical and veterinary services
• Taking care of animals, such as walking your dog
• Accompanying individuals in need of support and minors, custody and contact rights.
• Accompanying persons who require assistance (children, the elderly, or sick)
• Attending family gatherings from December 24-26.
• Attending religious services

During the day (5am to 8pm) in addition to the above:

• Going to school, childcare centers, and extracurricular activities
• Visiting retail establishments for essential items
• Making use of essential services
• Sport and exercise in the fresh air exclusively on your own, with members of your own household, or with one other individual not living in the same household (still not to exceed five people).
• Meeting up to five people from a maximum of two households, not counting children 14 or younger

Police are enforcing the regulations and, if stopped, you must be prepared to explain where you are going and when you will return home.

Alcohol Ban
The public consumption of alcohol drinks is banned statewide from December 16 through January 10, superseding the ban previously instituted in Stuttgart.

Exceptions for Christmas, December 24-26

• Visits between close friends and acquaintances are limited to a maximum of five people from no more than two households. Children up to and including 14 years old do not count toward this limit.
• One household plus another four individuals “from the closest family circle,” such as relatives “in a straight line” (e.g., grandparents), spouses, and siblings. Children up to and including 14 years old do not count toward this limit.

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, December 31-Jan 1

• No exceptions for restrictions on contact and going out. Staying overnight with private individuals is possible.
• No sales of fireworks allowed.
• No accumulation and no ignition of fireworks in public spaces.

Closure of most local economy Retail Stores (December 16-January 10)

• Masks should now be worn not only inside stores and malls, but also within their parking lots

Locally, the following types of stores will remain openduring the day.

• Grocery stores
• Weekly markets for food
• Pharmacies, health food stores, medical supply stores, and drugstores
• Gas stations, car repair shops, and bicycle repair shops
• Banks and post offices
• Dry cleaners and launderettes
• Pet supply stores
• Christmas tree sales
• Restaurants may offer take-out and delivery service only

On post Retail Services

• AAFES food trucks – Visit the Exchange’s Facebook page to find truck times and locations.
• AAFES Main Exchange (PX), shoppettes, and gas stations remain open with existing COVID mitigation strategies in place.
• Barbershops and beauty shops are currently closed (December 16-January 10th).
• Commissaries remain open with existing COVID mitigation strategies in place.
• Family & MWR Facilities – Visit the FMWR website for current services and hours and like their Facebook pagefor the latest updates.
• Postal Hours Click here for Holiday Postal Hours.