No excusing necessary. It's just so nice to hear from you once again. So many of my friends on Steemit have left. Which I understand is normal in the sphere of the things of life, but it still stings when someone disappears into the ether. Then again, I've been gone for awhile now too. So who can talk. But there are only a few die-hards from the start that are still around, like Hive account@old-guy-photos, Hive account@blacklux, Hive account@generikat and a few others. Where DO they get the EverReady energies from?

I find it necessary to take a break now and then, as it takes a LOT of time and energy writing and curating and commenting and voting and the like. Need a break now and then, and life certainly can get in the way too. I had major knee surgery this last fall, so sitting around on my chair like a large, immobile can of beets was not an option. I do miss it...and yet and how I'd like to have a piece of cake for every time I watched the sun rise after staying up all night at the keyboard, clacking away like a mad barnyard boid, finishing up a cooking post or some other such, before it is due. Ah, the joy, of the creative process. Yes, I do miss it. So much to say, so little time to sit down at the odd keyboard and write it.

Speaking of birds, thanks for the use of Mr. Chickenscratch. I will see if I can copy it. If not, we can figure something out. It will add a bit of pizaaz and paazzing to my site. Such a grand fellow he is. (I tried to copy it, need to check and see if I can make it smaller, etc. May need to find the original, then again, if you are like me, good luck on that one...( :

Well, I hope to see you back doing your artsy thing on Steemit soon. The site has changed a bit, but is still the place to be, for one like me. Yowza, I'm a poet, and don't even knowit. My feet are size 12, they must be Longfellows" I've been wanting to use that since I heard it when I was about 6 years old. See, Steemit delivers!
Well, cheerios, my friend, I hope this finds you happy and healthy, and being your creative, funny self, and hope to see you about on the site soon. Take care and keep smiling at the world as it goes on by.