Blog

This summer of 2020, we experienced the joy of strong, straight-line winds splitting our huge Sugar Maple and having half of it fall on our house.  Roof, gutters, soffits and deck all had to be repaired.  But due to the COVID-19 quarantines, all the roofers, remodelers, handymen (persons?) were working on projects that stay-at-home people had discovered they wanted done.  It took months to get all the repairs taken care of.

  Our roofing rep, from Tim Newman Roofing (fabulous job they did!) and I got talking and found that his father had worked for Iowa's Department of Natural Resources, as I had here in Ohio.  One thing led to another so I showed him some of my wildlife paintings from my website.  He ended up commissioning me to do three paintings for him, his mother and his father.  Just so he could get them in time for Christmas.  No problem, eh?

Being the professional crastinator that I am, I kept putting off the project thinking I can whip those out in no time.  Early November arrived, and I unknowingly got exposed to the coronavirus.  Four days later I began what became a moderate-to-severe case of COVID, ending up with brief hospital stay November 22 and 23.  Remdesivir and some steroids helped me turn the corner, but the fatigue was rough.  

"I'll start today on my commissions," I'd say.  Two hours later I was back in bed or leaned back in the recliner.  Sleep became a moving target; days and nights merged.  Finally, on December 23, with a lot of grace, I was able to hand the finished pieces over to my client.  Then I settled in for a long winter's nap.