Creative Artworks September 2016 Contest!

These are cute wooden Halloween pumpkins by Jane Loedding.

 

And this is a wonderful “Boo” Set.

 

September’s prize on Creative Artworks is BOTH of these from Jane Loedding!

To enter the contest, email linda@creativeartworks.cc with

• Your full name
• Your full shipping address
• Your home phone number (optional) – kept in the strictest confidence, never shared with anyone, EVER – and used only if you’re the winner of the contest and I’m unable to reach you via email.

Jane Loedding makes all kinds of hand-painted personalized signs for newborns, children’s rooms, teen’s rooms, pet name plaques, and more. See all of Jane’s work on Creative Artworks!

Winner of the contest will be drawn September 30th and announced the same day.

Best of luck!

Winner of August 2016 Contest on Creative Artworks

“Iris” 5×7 matted print by Sherry Dell’aria McGrath

The August Contest on Creative Artworks was for this beautiful 5×7 matted print called, “Iris” by Sherry Dell’aria McGrath. The lucky winner was SHARON from EAU CLAIRE, WISCONSIN!

See all work by Sherry Dell’aria McGrath on Creative Artworks.

• Original artwork
• Matted prints
• Ceramics

Playing with Your Food – Dolphins

Laufrain Taylor

Chuckles – Take 6

Thanks to email from Bill Lites

Storybook Places – Take 2

Bibury, England, UK via Anguskirk via Marsha Koenig email

Getting the Lard Off – Progress Report?

http://www.reference.com

I didn’t gain any ground this week, but I didn’t lose any ground, either. I’m still at 46 lbs and 22″ off.

Some happy things happened –

• When I got my teeth cleaned yesterday, the ladies in the office, my hygienist, and even the dentist made much of my weight loss since they saw me last, PLUS oohed and ahhed about my ‘sassy’ haircut. They said it really made me look younger and made my eyes show up a lot. Who could have this happen without walking around 3 inches off the ground? :0)
• I have two new low carb cookbooks that sound good. I downloaded both onto my Kindle Fire. My husband actually figured out a way to print one so that it’s easier to use now. I haven’t decided whether the other one is good enough for that or not.

Changes –

• I’m trying to get a new exercise regimen started – today I’ll do walking with annoying Leslie as far as I can go (maybe I’ll get through mile 2) and then I’ll also do upper body strength exercises with weights. Tomorrow I’ll do Leslie (if you’ll pardon the expression) and add LOWER body strength exercises.
• I’m looking forward to doing some slow cooker recipes for dinners. Lately, my life has been so busy that cooking dinner at the end of the day makes me hostile. I’ll work on getting something good going in the crock pot while I’m fresh.

Hopefully, I can quit gaining and losing the same 3 lbs and STAY into a new ‘decade’ on my scales!

 

taolife.com

Wish me luck?

Fall Garden Begun!

It was super hot and muggy here yesterday afternoon (heat index 100 degrees +), but we had found cauliflower and broccoli plants at Sutherlands. I got two 9 packs of each. The picture above shows our new raised bed planters for the fall garden. There are three 4 foot x 4 foot raised planters in a row with sprinklers attached for irrigation. This is a picture of what they looked like when we started.

 

We used really stretchy nylon string to mark the squares, anchoring the string on short screws I put in a 1 foot intervals around the planter edge.

 

 

 

In a square foot garden, broccoli and cauliflower plants are planted one per square foot. You can see the markers in this picture. I was careful to plant broccoli in every other square so no two broccoli plants were planted side by side in either direction. According to Mel, this helps keep diseases down. I’ll take careful pictures of where things were planted in each raised bed so that I plant different kinds of plants in each square next time. This is for crop rotation.

 

The plants I had filled two of the planters. Today I’ll plant some celery I started from ends of stalks bought at the grocery store, putting the ends in water and letting them sprout, plus carrots and radishes. I’m waiting for lettuce and spinach to be available at the co-op or Sutherlands to complete the fall garden.

• Note 1: My moniker “Serial Seed Killer” is still sadly intact.  The broccoli was sprouting, and some of the lettuce. My husband thought the tray needed more sun, so we took it out and put it on the porch. A storm suddenly blew up and blew the top off the tray. We replaced it, but the damage was done. The sweet little sprouts lay dead the next morning. :0(
• Note 2: Even though it took me two sessions to get things planted – due to my getting over-heated and needing to drink water, cool off, and rest after the first session, the raised planters we installed are WONDERFUL. We made sure that I can get in-between each planter easily, so I’m not having to do a balancing act to reach each of the squares. I didn’t have to bend over double or get up and down on my knees over and over to get the planting done!
• Note 3: I harvested a few tomatoes yesterday, but the north side of the garden is almost done – even though we still have a lot of greenery. When things are finished for the year, I’ll carefully pull the plants and we’ll dismantle the planters on the ground, one at a time, replacing them with the remaining three raised bed planters. They are ready to install. We’ll wait until the weather cools off, too, so we’ll have an easier time with the install than we did with the south side.

“Peace of Mind”

“Peace of Mind” – Paul Militaru Photography

“Mallow”

“Mallow” – Paul Militaru Photography

Chuckles – Take 5

Email from Bill Lites

 

Good Morning!

Susan and Brad Whittle-AR Pics-via-Cindy Bassnett Thurman

Storybook Places – Take 1

Bagnone, Italy – unknown photographer. Email from Marsha Koenig

“Red Velvet”

“Red Velvet” – Paul Militaru Photography

Quiet

purpleclover.com

My husband and I just came in from ‘watching the storm come in’ on the deck.

The sky darkened and the wind started to whip the trees and bushes around. Our wind chimes started making a huge racket, so I tied them up with wire tires and came back to the deck.

It was deliciously quiet – the only sounds were thunder and the wind. The temperature had cooled to about 80 and the wind was blowing my hair as I leaned back in my chair, enjoying all my senses, relaxing completely.

Amazingly, the whipping wind didn’t seem to bother the hummingbirds at all!

It rained two or three drops, than the sky started to clear and the wind died down.

I guess that’s what we should expect when the chance of rain is only 20%…

Football Fun

Football Season is upon us!  My husband and I really enjoy watching a close game, where it goes down to the last second to see who the winner is.

Many people devote the whole season to supporting their local teams, their alma maters, etc., watching every game. They might have people over to enjoy the game with them. They might travel to the actual game to enjoy it ‘up close and personal.’ They wear their team’s colors, might have a pennant or two.

I love the way that Robyn Soules of Creative Artworks helps us show our spirit. She has designed sports bracelets, showing the colors and the logos of each of the teams. We can show our loyalty on our wrists!

The bracelets above are samples of the wonderful bracelets Robyn makes. You can order them for any of the teams listed, (scroll down toward the bottom of the page) or – if you don’t see the team you want to support here, you can order one from Robyn at no extra charge!

Custom Order for Sports Bracelet

If she doesn’t have the needed item in stock, please allow approximately 2 weeks for creation and delivery. Each bracelet is only $15.00, with FREE SHIPPING to the contiguous United States. Order for yourself, your co-workers, your friends and family. You’ll have a blast rooting for your favorite team!

Click on one of the links above and let’s get started making your sports bracelet!

How to Pose with Statues – Take 5

 

 

 

 

Thanks to London Media via Bill Lites

Reach Up! Reach Up!

http://www.techtimes.com

I just finished doing about a mile and a half with the “Women of Poundage” DVD with Leslie. (That’s not actually the name of the video, but I call it that, “Walking with Annoying Leslie,” or other less kind names, depending on how hard it is for me to keep up.)

I have proved to myself over the past year that using this video regularly seems to do me a lot of good, once my hips stop screaming so much. I seem to use different muscles doing this than anything else I do.

My husband was in his recliner reading when I went in to exercise. He’s good about letting me put in the DVD and exercise, saying it doesn’t bother him. He usually tries to be supportive, too, saying, “Good on You!” when I leave the office, announcing I’m going to walk with Leslie, annoying or otherwise.

Today he spoke up to say, when I had made it to the Mile 2 part of the DVD, that I wasn’t moving my foot out enough on the taps. I answered him tersely, saying that I was doing well to just be moving at this point. I lasted another 10 minutes or so, but then stopped.

He then repeated his opinion about the tapping. I told him that next time, he could stand in front of the TV and I would stand behind him. We would then do the DVD together, and I would try to match his steps.

I got no answer…

How to Pose with a Statue – Take 4

 

 

 

 

Thanks to London Media via Bill Lites

For Reading Addicts

For Reading Addicts via Cathy Ruggiero

We’re having a super muggy, soul-sucking day here in Arkansas, so I’m not even thinking of being outside more than necessary today.

Happily enough, I found and ordered a new low carb recipe book for my Kindle Fire in my travels on the net. I like it so much that I went back on Amazon to see if I could buy it in paperback; but, alas, it isn’t available as a paperback or a hardback book. I gritched to my husband, who is now looking for a way that I can PRINT out the book from my Kindle!

If he can do that, it would be a lot easier for me to follow the recipes. If not, I’ll just make do. The name of the book is –

Ketogenic Diet: Recipes That Melt Your Tongue by Yiran Z. Heathcote

I’ve been reading through the recipes and have become more excited as I read. He doesn’t require a lot of ingredients I have to order from the net. The recipes seem simple and don’t take a lot of time. They sound delicious. I’ll write about this book again after I’ve tried several of the recipes.

 

“Front and Back”

“Front and Back” – Paul Militaru Photography

Chuckles – Take 4

Email from Bill Lites

Basket Case

25% OFF ALL BASKETS BY LINDA LEWIS ON CREATIVE ARTWORKS!

 

NEW YEAR’S HAND PAINTED BASKET BY LINDA LEWIS

 

HALLOWEEN HAND PAINTED BASKET BY LINDA LEWIS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FREEDOM HAND PAINTED BASKET BY LINDA LEWIS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“As I have discovered by examining my past, I started out as a child. Coincidentally, so did my brother. My mother did not put all her eggs in one basket, so to speak: she gave me a younger brother named Russell, who taught me what was meant by “survival of the fittest.”
Bill Cosby

ST. PATRICK’S DAY HAND PAINTED BASKET BY LINDA LEWIS

“Concentrate your energies, your thoughts and your capital. The wise man puts all his eggs in one basket and watches the basket.”
Andrew Carnegie

 

VALENTINE CANDY HAND PAINTED BASKET BY LINDA LEWIS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
“Even the simplest wicker basket can become priceless when it is loved and cared for through the generations of a family.”
Sister Parish

All of the baskets are one-of-a-kind. The regular price is $40.00. 25% off means you save $10 on each basket, making it $30.00 – PLUS you always get FREE SHIPPING if you live in the contiguous United States.
“Poetry isn’t a profession, it’s a way of life. It’s an empty basket; you put your life into it and make something out of that.”
Mary Oliver

Here is the LINK for the rest of the baskets by Linda Lewis included in this sale.  LINDA’S BASKETS

“Everyone should keep a mental wastepaper basket and the older he grows the more things he will consign to it – torn up to irrecoverable tatters.” Samuel Butler

Please type in 25%OFFSALE in the special comments portion of the shopping cart. (This is on the page after you input your billing and shipping addresses) I will enter your $10 off credit in my shopping cart and will confirm that this has been done when I confirm your order.

These one-of-a-kind, hand-painted baskets are fun for you to use as a part of any holiday decorations, and make great gifts for your friends, co-workers, and relatives.

Order right away for the best selection. HAVE FUN!

SALE ENDS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH

The Problem with a Good Book is….

Grammarly via Cathy Ruggiero

Chuckles – Take 3

Email from Bill Lites

Enjoying Friends

Purple Clover via Cathy Ruggiero

Recently we had the joy of having two of my favorite people over for grilled steak and conversation. I thought, as we were laughing together, how RICH I am in friends. :0)

How to Pose with Statues – Take 3

 

 

 

 

Thanks to London Media, and Bill Lites for his email

“Yellow Gazania”

“Yellow Gazania”- Paul Militaru Photography

“Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium”

My husband taped this for me a couple of nights ago and I’m still feeling good after watching it.

Mr. Mogorium’s Wonder Emporium stars Dustin Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Zach Mills, and Jason Bateman. The actors are perfect for the roles they play.

“Magic flows freely through the walls and toys within the Wonder Emporium. But when Mr. Magorium (Dustin Hoffman), the store’s 243-year-old proprietor, decides to turn the reins over to his manager Molly Mahoney (Natalie Portman), mysterious changes creep over the Emporium. Molly and Henry (Jason Bateman), an accountant, must discover the magic within themselves if they are ever to revive the now-quiet toys.”

This is a delightful movie. A really feel-good, uplifting movie. The only thing that could have been better was that the movie be longer. I have now ordered the DVD so that I can watch it over and over again, whenever I’m feeling a bit down.

I lost myself in their magical world. I would love to be able to visit this toy store and call the people in it my friends.

If this sounds good, try it. Let me know what you think.

FBI Issues Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO) Alert

Photo found on FaceBook and found it to good not to pass on.

 

Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO) is dangerous a chemical that will cause steel corrosion(rust), in large volumes can damage soils, homes and businesses(flooding). When exposed to heat it can cause skin burns. If inhaled it can cause death(drowning).
It is an industrial solvent used in fire retardant materials and can be found in the waste from nuclear power plants.
DHMO contributes to the greenhouse effect. May cause severe burns. Contributes to the erosion of our natural landscape. Accelerates corrosion and rusting of many metals. May cause electrical failures and decreased effectiveness of automobile brakes.

Grin…. It is simply unbelievable the number of people that have swallowed this long time hoax.

Dihydrogen monoxide hoax involves calling water by the unfamiliar chemical name “dihydrogen monoxide” (DHMO), and listing some of water’s effects in an alarming manner, such as the fact that it accelerates corrosion and can cause severe burns. The hoax often calls for dihydrogen monoxide to be regulated, labeled as hazardous, or banned. It illustrates how the lack of scientific literacy and an exaggerated analysis can lead to misplaced fears.
dihydrogen monoxide(DHMO) = H2O = water

The hoax gained renewed popularity in the late 1990s when a 14-year-old student collected anti-DHMO petitions for a science project about gullibility.

Thank You Wikipedia.
Snopes.com DHMO hoax

Put on a smile.
Happy Gardening

*This is a reblog of the Town & Country Gardening Post August 26, 2016.  I subscribed to the Town and Country Gardening blog several years ago and have found is to contain wonderful information and a healthy sense of humor.

______________

This is SUCH a good reminder to read with a skeptical mind, PLUS check our sources. I love the idea of the 14-year-old’s science project – kind of a spin-off of the old game, ‘gossip,’ in a way. There are far too many people who read quickly, hit a like or share button and perpetuate falsehoods. Figuring out what a good source is on the net is a challenging prospect. What I now try to do – unless I’m being lazy – is check several different sources before I believe something.

“Dandelion 2”

“Dandelion 2” – Paul Militaru Photography

Chuckles – Take 2

Email from Bill Lites