Haircut

KIND Snacks

I’ve got to leave to get my haircut. My timer says I have 5 minutes.

I don’t know what has been happening lately. I get my hair cut every 5 weeks or so. Lately, my hair seems to be growing faster. Even my hairdresser has noticed.

So, just in time before I can’t see out anymore, Michael will perform miracles and make me look as if I had a plan for my hair again.  I say Michael is a miracle worker because my hair is thin, fine, and doesn’t do ANYTHING good on its own. The way he cuts my hair makes me look civilized, so I can simply wash it and blow it dry daily and be ready to go.

May he work another miracle today!

Squirrel – du – Soleil

Wikipedia

We were quite entertained by a very athletic, agile, hungry squirrel this morning.

As we ate breakfast, he darted around the railing on our deck. He got into the bottle filled with birdseed right outside the window, eating one sunflower seed at a time, getting halfway into the gallon-sized bottle that lies on its side in a special feeder. Then one of us moved and the show was on.

He leaped from the bottle to the railing on one side of the deck ran all the way around the deck, then leaped up onto the side of the porch beside the screen and up onto the top of the deck. He then jumped to our roof and away.

As we continued to eat, he returned over and over, delighting us with a TV-worthy show of agility and creativity on getting to the various places where different kinds of seed, plus suet, hung.

We enjoyed the Squirrel-du-Soleil private showing.

Score!

Last night we went bowling with one of our good friends. Our custom is to go bowling on Monday evenings when the pricing for bowling is more to our liking. We go with friends and then either celebrate or provide solace for how we bowled with ice cream from Braums.

Last night it was celebration for me.

 

I bowled a 193!!!!!! I was especially happy because I did it even with two splits in the game. :0)

The only time I bowled better was when I was in college. I was taking a course to fill out my schedule. I didn’t bowl well the whole semester. Then, for the last class, we had a thing they called, “Midnight Bowl.” That meant that there was a candle on each scoring table and NO lights anywhere else. We had to walk carefully not to fall on our heads. I am a spot bowler, so the fact that I couldn’t see anything really threw me for a loop.

I was forced to just look at the pins and throw the best I could. I scored 211 !!!!!!!!

The 130 I bowled the second game is more my usual speed. Sometimes I struggle to break 100. Since we’re all really erratic, the ice cream afterwards is a lifesaver. :0)

I took a pic of the scoreboard, since I knew no one would believe me unless I had proof. Woo HOOOOO! I enjoyed every minute – particular the three strikes in a row in the last frame. What FUN!

My Favorite Pastimes

Clarity

I spent all afternoon doing one of my two favorite pastimes in all the world – bookkeeping and taxes.

Admittedly, I was WAAAY behind on my bookkeeping for my website, Creative Artworks. I put it off and put it off until it was embarrassing to tackle it yesterday and today. I’ve finally finished it now and will tackle another of the items needed for our tax prep tomorrow.

When I finally emerged from the office, the whole household was asleep. My husband had a towel over his eyes and was snorking quietly looking very comfortable in his recliner. Our pit bull, Bambi, was sprawled out on his bed, his head lolling off the side. Our cocker spaniel/schnauzer cross, Molly, was on her stomach on the carpet, her head down flat and all four legs spread out flat around her. SHE was snorking, too. One of our cats, Smoke, was asleep in her bed under the counter where my computer sits. And finally, our other cat, Abby was spilling out of the cat bed, which was on top of the dog bed. She was completely upside down, looking like she was in a trance.

I was just getting comfortable in my chair in preparation for catching a nap after my labors, when everyone woke up – having received the memo simultaneously that it was time to get up…

 

Life is Short

Getaways Travel – Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner via Stephanie Youmans Wilson

Being an Adult

Lisa Bearnes Richey

The Rest of the Gingerbread Cookie Cards

“Butterfly” and “Fancy Angel”

 

“Two Trees” and “Fancy Snowflake”

 

“Rudolph” and “Peace Dove”

 

“Christmas Bear”, “Candle,” and “Rounded Snowflake.”

I’ve had such a good time working on these custom Christmas cards, even though it’s the wrong time of the year, and I won’t see any sales for quite awhile. Now I’m working on wooden Christmas ornaments in the same theme. I’ll show you pics when they’re finished.

 

Watercolors I Love – Take 12

1000 Images About Watercolor

 

 

A. Dean Crouser

 

 

etsy.com

Los Angeles Zoo Signs – Take 5

Obvious Plant via Evie Zimmerman, Trendingly.com

“Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina”

“Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina – Lisa Bearnes Richey

Custom Christmas Cards – Take 2

As I told you yesterday, I’ve had a lot of fun creating these “Gingerbread Coolies” Custom Christmas cards. I’ll be listed them on Creative Artworks soon, but I wanted to show them to you and see what you think. The design on the left above is “Christmas Bell,” and the one on the right is “Gingerbread Girl.”

 

The one on the top is “Giant Gingerbread Cookie,” and the one on the bottom is “Starburst.” The customer can choose any combination of 8 cards in a package, and then can customize words on the front and on the inside at no extra charge.

 

Since each card is made to order,  customers will need to allow approximately 3 weeks for delivery to be sure I can fill the order in good time. The one on the left is “Angel,” and the one on the right is “Blue Bird.”

 

The one on the left is “Snowman,” and the one on the right is “Christmas Tree.” I can do the same design as you see in the picture or I can customize it further by changing color accents if you like.

 

The design on the left is “Christmas Ornament,” and the one on the right is “Christmas Bird.”

I used cookie cutters for some of the designs, and wooden ornaments for others, painted them the gingerbread cookie brown, and then had fun decorating the cookies! :0)

“Gingerbread Cookies” Custom Christmas Cards

I’m almost finished with the “Gingerbread Cookies” Custom Christmas cards. Here are “Bird House,” and “Christmas Stocking.”

 

Here are “Gingerbread Boy” and “Christmas Mitten.”

 

These are “Christmas Cookie” and “Christmas Bell.”

I’m planning to offer these in packages of  the customer’s choice of 8 cards, any combination of 25 available designs. The cards will be personalized as to words desired on the front and message on the inside of the card at no extra charge. The inside has a good amount of room for a short note that could be continued on the back of the card. The back has “Gingerbread Cookies” stamped with individual letters. Each card is signed and dated.

I’ll show you more of the designs tomorrow.

Happy New Year!

fameimages.com

“Saturday (Jan. 28) marks the beginning of the Chinese Lunar New Year, China’s biggest holiday, which is celebrated throughout the world, including in the U.S. Each year, Chinese people ring in the new year around when the new moon is closest to the beginning of spring, usually sometime between mid-January and late-February. Although China officially uses the international Gregorian calendar, the traditional lunisolar calendar remains a symbol to harken the start of spring.

Each year, the Chinese calendar assigns an animal from a rotating zodiac of 12 animals. The 12 animals cycle through rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. 2016 was the Year of the Monkey. Apart from 2017, the Year of the Rooster includes the years 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005 and 2029.

2017 is a Fire Rooster Year. According to Chinese astrology, each year is associated with one of five elements as well as an animal, including gold (metal), wood, water, fire or Earth. The element, combined with the zodiac animal, set the astrology for the year. This year is a fire year, and so those born in 2017 are Fire Roosters. The last Fire Rooster Year was 1957.”  Source: Time.com

Chieu Luu – CNN

Our son is a traveler who loves to live and work in other countries (plus try to learn their language), so we’ve been introduced to the Chinese New Year when he was living in Chengdu, China; then Shanghai, China; and now Chiang Mai, Thailand. Each year HUGE celebrations are held with people going wherever home is to be with their families. Some shops are only open sporadically, while others are open 24 hours a day.  A wonderful time for optimism and joy!

Measure Your Words

I saw a post today called, “Measure Your Words.” The point of the post was thinking before you speak, realizing that your words have power, etc.

I immediately thought of my mom, though, when I read the title.

 

My mother’s dad would only pay for one year of college, so my mom –  in one year – took all the courses required for graduation from the two-year, Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri,  but one (not available that year) almost graduating. She read voraciously, worked a crossword puzzle and the cryptoquote from the newspaper every day, almost always finishing both.

She could stand up in a meeting and say what was on her mind succinctly and persuasively.  My husband has said he wishes he could do HALF as well as she did with no notes, talking off the cuff, no matter the occasion. I personally die off at the idea of speaking in public. When I do, my lip twitches…

I remember that I could tell how angry she was by how long the words were. If she were miffed, her message was straightforward. The more angry she was, the longer the words got. She had quite an impressive vocabulary, making a point of learning new words all the time, memorizing their meanings and proper pronunciation and usage. She once got up in a meeting, ripping the previous speaker’s words to ribbons, using words that were SO long, many of the people – including the speaker – didn’t realize he had been gutted like a fish.

“Measure your words” brings back lots of memories of growing up with a wonderful role model.  I would give anything to be able to listen to her now – no matter how long her words were. :0)

Oil Paintings I Love – Animals – Take 6

Kyle Buckland – Jenn Counts

 

 

Leanne Wildermuth – Artist by Nature – intricateart.com

 

 

Artist Unknown – Pinterest

“Blue”

“Blue” – Paul Militaru Photography

Valentine’s Day Gift Suggestions

“Be-Mine” Hand Painted Journal by Linda Lewis

 

Be-Mine-Bear” by Debbie Garrett

 

“Romeo-and-Juliet”-Greeting-Card by Jane Daniell

 

 

“Be Mine” tote bag by Linda Lewis

 

 

“Love Garden” Bracelet by Robyn Soules

 

 

“Valentine-Candy”-Hand-Painted Basket by Linda Lewis

 

 

“He-Loves-Me”-Limited-Edition-Print by Jane Daniell

 

 

“I-Luv-U” Card by Linda Lewis

See all of our Valentine’s Day Gift Suggestions on Creative Artworks

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

 

Full, Happy Day

Huffington Post

I’m about to go do upper body strength exercises, but the day is almost gone and I haven’t taken the time to write anything!

I finished the gingerbread Christmas card samples this afternoon. They’re drying. As soon as they’re flattened, I’ll take some pics. I also painted the base brown of the wooden Christmas ornaments this morning. I turned them over and painted the base coat on the back just now. I’m having a really good time with this project. I get in my art room, dancing to my MP3 player and painting my heart out and the time flies. :0)

I also spent a couple of hours on bookkeeping. I can’t TELL you how much I love doing bookkeeping and tax prep.  It’s right up there with scrubbing toilets and washing doggies who have been skunked….

I feel lucky, though, that I can do a ‘have-to,’ and then spend time doing something fun. That’s a real luxury.

I hope you’ve had a good day, too.

Think of me doing the heave-ho on my 5 lb weights – 3 groups of 8 repetitions of six different exercises. Gooooooo – ME! If I’m lucky, I’ll be able to move my arms tomorrow.

clipartkid

 

Relaxxxxx-ing Jaw – Relaxxxxxx-ing Face….

Kirsty Yoga In Marbella

I just finished one session of yoga for “Joint Mobility” and then another session for “Overall Flow” from my “Gentle Yoga” DVD by Sixty & Me.

I feel reallllllly relaxed right now. The amazing thing is that relaxing is still the hardest part of the session for me. I have to really work at it.

Cat, the yoga instructor, is so good. She stresses that whatever you’re able to do is GOOOD. If you’re trying to do the pose, you’re getting the benefit. You don’t HAVE to be able to fold yourself into a paper airplane in order to benefit from the practice.

Each session ends with “Savasana” or relaxing. Cat encourages you to relax, one part of the body at a time. She almost hypnotizes you, with her voice. I’m getting better at being able to relax – recognizing when a part of my body isn’t. I still have to really concentrate, but by the end of the 2nd session, my body feels good. I’m loosening up a bit, able to breathe into the poses better each time.

Relaxxxxxxxxxx – ing jaw

Relaxxxxxxxxxxx – ing face.

Ahhhh…….

 

Getting the Lard Off Progress Report – 1/25/2017

babywallpapersfree.blogspot.com

No more poundage off yet, though my eating after dinner is getting better. I’m now concentrating on drinking a bottle of water after dinner, then eating my anticipated-all-day-orange-dream-bar, then sipping water until bedtime, if still tempted. I’m hoping that if I concentrate on this, I’ll build a habit again…

To date, I’ve lost 21.75 inches and 40 pounds.

The biggest change I have to report is that my exercise routine is getting to be much more to my liking.  I’ve read that your body responds better if you change up what you’re doing.

Now I’m doing yoga three times a week. I’m doing one session for a part of the body, such as ‘legs,’ and then a ‘yoga flow, for a total of an hour.

Two days a week I’m on the elliptical. I’ve found that I’ve lost ground since not doing it in a long time. Yesterday I did 15 minutes and will try to add time each day until I’m back up to half an hour. I’ll also add speed and difficulty as I get better. (You can change it from flat to quite-a-hill, requiring more effort)

Two days a week I’m doing strength exercises with my 5 lb. weights.  Even with the stretches I’ve been doing with the yoga, it’s not the same as working with the weights, so I think this will add a good thing

So, here’s my schedule –

• MONDAY – Yoga (1 body routine plus one flow)
• TUESDAY – Elliptical
• WEDNESDAY – Yoga (1 body routine plus one flow)
• THURSDAY – Strength Exercises (Upper Body)
• FRIDAY – Yoga (1 body routine plus one flow)
• SATURDAY – Elliptical
• SUNDAY – Strength Exercises (Lower Body)

I think this will be a good mix, working my whole body each week, with a different emphasis each day. I’ll report back to you on how it works. Fingers crossed!

 

 

Los Angeles Zoo Signs – Take 4

Obvious Plant via Evie Zimmerman, trendingly.com

“Winter Shelter”

“Winter Shelter” – Paul Militaru Photography

Button Art – Take 13

BellePapiers.com

 

 

pitacoseachadoes.wordpress

 

 

unicomcrossing.wordpress.com

Celery Experiment Continues

This is celery I started two days ago. I cut off the bottoms of celery I bought at the store and put each end in water.

 

These are two other bottoms I showed you a few days ago.

 

These are the same plants today. I put the water glasses on the window sill for a couple of days. Today I put the plants into the soil. The planter is on the window sill. I got to this point before and then the sweet plants croaked. I have no clue if they’ll be happier this time, but I intend to keep trying until I find something that works. Fingers crossed!

The Clearance Sale Continues!

From now until February 15th, I’m running a clearance sale on more of my handcrafted and hand-painted greeting cards. Usually each card is $4.00. For the clearance sale, they’re $2.00 each, plus free shipping!  There is a “Buy Five Cards and Save Even More!” item that allows you a choice of any 5 cards for $8.00 and free shipping.  Series in the sale are “Butterfly Quotes,” “Stained Glass” series, “Cat Quotes,” “Frogs,” “Zen Thoughts,” “Dog Gone!” series, and hand-painted OOAK cards.

 

“Butterfly Quotes Series” – Caterpillar by Linda Lewis

This is a sample of the “Butterfly Quote Series” cards. This one is called, “Caterpillar” and it says, ” “How does one become a butterfly?” she asked. “You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar.”  Can be used as a greeting card or an all occasion note card.  There are  4 different cards in this series.

 

“Stained Glass Birdhouse” Card by Linda Lewis

There are four remaining cards in this series. This one is called “Birdhouse.” It’s blank inside for your message. It’s hand painted with raised silver paint between the colors, like the solder in stained glass.

 

“Purple Flowers and Pastel” Hand Painted Greeting Card by Linda Lewis

This is a sample of the OOAK hand-painted greeting or note cards. It’s 4″ x 5.5″ and blank inside. There are four cards in this series.

 

“Mice” Cat Quotes Card by Linda Lewis

This is a fun series for people who love and appreciate the personalities of cats. This one features a quote by Faith Resnick – “People who hate cats will come back as mice in their next life.”  There are 2 cards available in this series.

 

 

“Leapin'” Frogs card by Linda Lewis

Another series featuring googly eyes. There are two cards remaining in this series.

 

“Cholesterol” – Zen Thoughts Cards by Linda Lewis

These humorous cards speak of a zen frame of mind, where things may not actually be as they seem. This card says, “I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol.”   There are 3 cards in this series.

 

 

Dog Gone! Series – “Goal” by Linda Lewis

The dog quote says, “My goal in life is to be as good a person as my dog already thinks I am..” Source of the quote is unknown.  There are 5 cards in this series available.

Dogs, Cats, Butterflies, Frogs, Floral, Stained Glass, and Zen Thoughts.  A nice variety for use as greeting cards or note cards that will get fun reactions each time you use them. :0)

Sale ends February 15th. Come and visit as soon as possible for the best selection.

 

So Much FUN!

Kenanaonline.com

Yesterday I spent a couple of hours in my art room working on my new idea for Christmas cards. I know – Christmas is over for another year. I should be thinking of things for the summer right now. The ideas won’t let me alone until I have them created, though, so Christmas cards and ornaments it is!

I’m having a lot of fun working on this. The time really flies. Yesterday I did the basic work on 15 different designs for cards. I’ll do the other 10 this afternoon and then start the REAL playing – when I do the accents on the cards.:0)

When the new card line is finished, I’ll show you and will appreciate your feedback.

I hope you’re having a wonderful day, too.

Wonderful Watercolors – Take 11

Finest Pictures Gallery

 

 

Watercolor Paintings by Russian Artists – You Tube

 

 

http://www.etsy.com

Dogs and Cats Can’t Get Along – Take 6

Aelin Saar via Emily Davis, trendingly.com

 

 

Gaston Enria via Emily Davis, trendingly.com

 

 

Peter York 124 via Emily Davis, trendingly.com

 

 

Wolf Dog Blog via Emily Davis, trendingly.com

 

Sleep vs a Good Book

George R.R. Martin via Sarah J. Clemens

Button Art – Take 12

Painted With Buttons

 

 

Pinterest

 

 

Pinterest

Ideas for Valentine’s Day

“He Loves Me” Limited Edition Print by Jane Daniell  

(Please allow approximately 10 days for delivery).

 

 

“Love is a Verb” Wall Art by Jane Loedding

(Allow approximately one week for delivery.)

 

“Love Garden” Bracelet by Robyn Soules

(Allow approximately one week for creation and delivery)

 

“Panda – I Love You” Bear by Debbie Garrett

(Last Day to order Valentine’s Day Bears using Cross stitch is January 30th. Last Day to order other Valentine’s Day Bears is Feb. 3rd.)

 

 

“Heart” or “Rose” Memory Box by Linda Lewis

(Ready to ship)

 

Order today from Creative Artworks! to make this an extra-special Valentine’s Day!