February 2026 Monthly Blog
Photo taken from Flower Magazine, Jan-Feb 2026, p 24.
Happy Monday Folks! I know, I know – many of you are snow and ice bound and are wondering what on earth a photo of flowers is doing on top of the blog. It’s there because I thought the photo looked hopeful. Of course, in Punxsutawney the groundhog was awakened to answer the yearly question of whether it will be an early spring or six more weeks of winter? Well, Punxsutawney Phil made his annual Groundhog Day prediction at Gobbler's Knob, saw his shadow and predicted 6 more weeks of winter. Since this fits right in with the seasonal change to spring, I guess the little guy is able to predict fairly accurately.. In complete contrast, here in southern California we are experiencing the beginning of summer with our weather. My tomato plants are thriving, the lemon tree is filled with fruit, and the nameless bush that I planted last summer is blossoming. I’m watching the plants get bigger and healthier and find it to be a peculiar state of affairs when I turn on the news and see the snow piles east of the Rockies.
It’s only a month since we ambled into 2026. I had made some promises to myself which, for the most part, I immediately forgot to honor. I did not lose weight, and I did not start getting up earlier so that I could exercise after a quick breakfast. I am ashamed of myself and have “re-promised” myself to start doing these things – tomorrow. Tomorrow is an excellent time to do what I don’t feel like doing (Do you remember when you understood that the word tomorrow is definite but also indefinite? What a peculiar concept to teach.). How are all of you doing with your resolutions/ promises?
Speaking of promises, I had also promised myself that I would read several of my Kindle “what made me push the button?” books. I did read, but not several. I got involved with sketching and painting. I wish that I could come up with a schedule that I’d actually follow in which I divided my day so that both would have equal time. It simply doesn’t work. The dryer’s bell will ring, and I get interrupted with the mundane need to do laundry or the news is on and I have to finish watching the “breaking news.” That reminds me, why is every news article “breaking?” Can’t some of it be “evolving?” I guess it sounds more important if it’s breaking. The news is fairly depressing most of the time, so another promise is that I turn on Pandora or Spotify and listen while I’m doing something meaningful. I just started that while I’m writing this.
On another note, I am writing this while facing my self-portrait from 2014. My hair was totally brown and rather well coifed curls. Was I well-coifed for real or did I make that up when I painted me? I can’t remember. Anyway, it’s definitely time to do another. My hair is grey with some white and my eyebrows are thinner and my wrinkles deeper. This will entail going to Blick Art Materials to get a canvas or two. I am stoked about this new project because I got a new electric wheelchair that is narrower, has a good turning radius, and much quieter than the Travel Buggy I had before. This one is a Jazzy. The store’s aisles are wide enough for me to navigate so as soon as I’m able I am starting a new self-portrait. It makes the aging changes rather a positive experience.
Here’s another project that I have to attend to (Oh my, February is busy). I really must get back to writing each day. I was letting myself slide with the writing after I submitted another short story for publication. I had a good time writing it but hadn’t heard anything back from the editors and assumed that it wasn’t accepted. It put me off my writing and now I feel silly that I was acting like a baby about it. This one is in an anthology called Holmes, Rejected available at Barnes and Noble online (ISBN 237-0-024-04178-4). You never know when you put yourself out there to be judged. Sometimes it’s a go and you’re lucky and other times who knows why it’s a “no.” So, Punxsutawney Phil I know how you feel. All of those people groaning after watching you in Gobbler’s Knob weren’t really judging you personally. They just didn’t like the outcome. Try again little groundhog. Next year might be better for you.
Karin Diskin