If You are Not Familiar with Stjepan Hauser…

The Photography of Ossi Saarinen

Ossi Saarinen, Finnish photographer via ReturnToNow.net

 

Ossi Saarinen, Finnish photographer via ReturnToNow.net

 

Ossi Saarinen, Finnish photographer via ReturnToNow.net

Newest Earring Collection

 

 

I have two more sets in different colors in the works in my art room, plus a tote bag and a journal. I just love being able to run up the stairs, do a quick session, come down and do something I SHOULD do, and then run back up again when the last thing I did has had a chance to dry…

Thoughts on a Saturday 11-30-2019

Gianni Cino – Sussan Photography – via Penny Yaffe Krakow

I think this is the most wonderful photo of a giraffe I’ve ever seen. I could look at it all day.

It stormed early this morning, with lots of thunder, waking us up. Usually we don’t even know it rained, so this was a more serious storm than usual. No damage that we’ve found so far, and it is finally clearing off – after three straight raw, cold, rainy days. HOORAAAAAY!

I have a keto chili in the crock pot now, ready for us to enjoy tonight, from my Simply Keto book by Suzanne Ryan.  If I manage to get to my goal weight, it will be largely thanks to Suzanne and her delicious recipes that I can enjoy eating on my diet with food that my husband truly enjoys.

via Jennifer Ann Mitchell Carroll

I have almost 45 lbs off and about the same in inches at this point. I’m MUCH better than I was in the past and I feel healthier and more energetic. I look back with relief that I have finally taken the health of my husband and myself seriously, trying to get us – and keep us – as healthy as possible as we age.  I AM taking good steps with our diet and my exercise.

My “PLAN” today is to do my 35 minutes on my elliptical trainer, plus my half hour or so of yoga practice, PLUS not eat anything I’m not supposed to eat – things I have not done in the last few days. As my good friend, Marsha, says, though – “No promises – even between me and me.” 

I WILL get up to my art room this morning as soon as I finish babbling at you and finishing my coffee. The new colors of Unicorn Spit I ordered came yesterday. I have some earrings, a tote, and a journal cover started. (Did I mention I really LOVE to play with this stuff?)

Happy Saturday!

 

Pet Portraits by Niki Firmin

Niki Firmin – Swift

 

Niki Firmin – Jack

I Smirk at Puns – 12

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Secret to a Happy Life

Coffee for All via Michael Remillard and Martha Kirkendall-Ghearing

Thoughts on a Friday 11-29-2019

LoveThisPic

My two friends came over last night to help us celebrate Thanksgiving.

Due to my not paying enough attention, I noticed a label on the cute little turkey breast I was about to cook saying, “Cajun Style.” My husband and I are real wusses when it comes to hot and spicy, so this seemed like a huge problem. My husband went out to get another regular turkey breast while I rubbed off the ‘Cajun’ stuff as much as possible We defrosted the regular one when he returned and cooked both at the same time. I labeled each one carefully so that we could all try the Cajun as well as the regular. We all pronounced the Cajun good! There was a small ‘bite’ after you swallowed, but it was a NICE bite, if that makes sense.  My husband and I are looking forward to lots of turkey sandwiches!

We enjoyed our feast. It was great catching up. We had a lot of good conversation, hugs, and laughter. It had been a long time since I saw Nora, one of my good friends. We agreed to do better in the future. Life is too short and we love each other. My other friend is Carla, with whom I share the booth in the local shop in town. She reminded me that Christmas Honors is coming up, and so we’ll go together on Dec. 4th.

“Christmas Honors” is a  tradition honoring our veterans. People come together to volunteer to attach red bows to wreaths to put on each veteran’s grave in the Veterans Cemetery in Fort Smith.

This will be my third year to do this. There are around 18,000 wreaths on which we will attach red bows. So many people in our area have served our country, and it’s good to be able to do something to honor them.  There is a huge group of people who gather to do this. Lots of laughter and camaraderie as we work.

As I was typing this, I heard a noise coming from the dining area I couldn’t identify. I discovered Amber, our 94-pound yellow lab, licking the aluminum pie plate from last night. I looked at my husband. He had the grace to look a bit guilty. There had been two pieces of pie left last night, and both were now in my husband’s tummy….

I’m looking forward to spending time in my art room today. I’m still enjoying playing with the Unicorn Spit Stain/Glaze. I bought some more colors on the net recently and look forward to expanding my play. :0)

I hope that you are enjoying your Friday.

 

I Smirk for Puns – 11

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Just In Case You Need This Today

Happy Thanksgiving 2019

Element Natural Healing Arts

 

I ran the bulldozer around through the first floor yesterday, so things are looking about as good as they get around here. :0)  I’ll start cooking in a bit, but one of my friends is bringing green bean casserole, and the other is bringing apple pie, so a lot of the work is done. I’m cooking a small turkey breast, stuffing, and making deviled eggs. Wine, coffee, great conversation, hugs, lots of laughter. And for THIS, I am truly thankful.

I visited with our son via our chat program this morning. (He is in Thailand.) We exchanged virtual hugs. He is doing well and is happy. That’s all I really need to know. The details are ‘gravy.’

The only thing NOT fine is our weather. It started raining last night. We’re supposed to have ‘cold, steady rain’ all day today – and through SATURDAY. It’s a good thing I live on top of a ridge line…

“May your stuffing be tasty. May your turkey be plump. May your potatoes and gravy have nary a lump. May your yams be delicious, and your pies take the prize, and may Thanksgiving dinner stay off your thighs.”

_________

I am thankful for YOU, who take the time to read my blog. I look forward to talking with you each day and sharing the things I find with you.

Have a happy day!

 

 

Amazing

Monet The Stained Glass Tabby Cat-Peggy Collins-via Penny Yaffee Krakow

Enough

Myleik Teeler via Cindy Basnett Thurman

Getting Ready for Thanksgiving

iStock

In about 20 minutes, we are going to Lunch Bunch!  This week we’re doing it today, rather than Friday. The Pizza Barn will be open Friday, but not until 3pm, and no salad/pizza/banana pudding bar. 3:00 p.m. is almost dinner time for one of my friends, so we’ll enjoy seeing everyone today.

When we get home, the push will start to get ready for Thanksgiving. It all starts with running the bulldozer…

I’ve told you before that housekeeping is really low on my list of priority activities. When we’re having people over for dinner, I try to get serious about making this place clean enough for others to be comfortable. Dog hair is rampant right now, so I’ve been vacuuming every other day. This is NOT enough for when others come to visit. I’ll scrub bathrooms, vacuum, and do general cleanup of the first floor so that I can concentrate on last minute cleaning and cooking tomorrow.

I hope that you are not having to start with a bulldozer at your home today, and that you have a happy celebration tomorrow.

I Smirk for Puns – 10

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Stunningly Beautiful

Inna Kashkovar – LinkedIn

 

Inna Kashkovar – LinkedIn

I Smirk for Puns – 9

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Bowling and Bonuses

amazon.com

We went bowling last night with our good friends, the Taylors, last night.

It doesn’t matter how well (or how badly) we bowl. We do it for the fun of it, the good exercise, the chance to catch up with our good friends, AND a trip to Braum’s afterwards for a scoop of ice cream.

BONUS # 1 – Last night was especially fun. There was a good-looking young man with 4 kids of varying ages bowling next to us. The children looked to be Asian and were great-looking children. The two boys looked to be in their teens. The girls were younger. As we bowled, I couldn’t help but melt into a puddle at the youngest girl. She had a gorgeous smile that appeared often. I clapped when she got a spare and she lit up like a Christmas tree. She would smile at me when I managed to throw a good ball, too. The man had taught the kids bowling etiquette, so it was a pleasure to be next to them.

After awhile, the man came over to us and said that he wanted us to know that his kids were impressed with our bowling. This was a shock because we really weren’t doing that well, although we had gotten a few strikes, and – more notably – picked up a few difficult spares.  He said the kids were always on their phones. He had taken them to the Grand Canyon, and couldn’t get them to even look out the window at the wonderful sight because they were glued to their devices. But they were impressed with us!

We told him that his kids – two of the four – and his niece and nephew – were beautiful children and we were impressed at how well behaved they were.  They were here for Thanksgiving, and he had taken them bowling to get them out of the house.  :0)  A total pleasure to bowl next to them and talk with them.

BONUS # 2 –  After a joyful trip to Braum’s for ice cream, we took our friends back to their home. They said they had something for us. They went inside and came back out with TWO gorgeous elephant ear plants for us to take home!

Elephant Ear 1

Elephant Ear 2

Laufrain told us to put them in the garage to winter over, but we elected to try to keep them alive in our dining area and then – if successful – we’ll put them on our front porch in the spring so they’ll be protected from too much wind.

Explosion

A Bohemian Seeking Rhapsody

I Smirk for Puns – 8

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The Open House

Rags ‘n Roses Collective

I arrived early to help set up in any way I could. Things started with a bang at 1:00 pm and were still going strong at 5:00 pm at the end. The weather was perfect and we had a LOT of people.

A wonderful man named Mike played a 12-string guitar and sang in the back. I kept wandering back there and listening to another song as many times as I could. He’s a nice, talented man, and I could listen to him for hours.

Santa sat at the front of the shop, patiently having his picture taken again and again with all who wanted to. There was a little girl who simply melted my heart when she was so ecstatic that Santa gave her a present and let her take a picture with him. She danced around and thanked him over and over. It was beautiful.

There was food at various places around the shop. A nice couple handed out samples of their wares. I ate a sample of apple butter and another of some French onion-y type dip. Both were delicious. I also found a chocolate chip cookie that was to die for. I made a serious effort to stay away from both the rest of the time I was there, but 5 hours is a LONG time…

I saw people I hadn’t seen in years. I hugged a bunch of wonderful necks and enjoyed catching up. I met new people, some of whom had booths in the shop. I looked at their booths, they came to the one I share with my friend, Carla. I met a lady who does really nice watercolors. It was NICE.

I did whatever I could to try to help during my time there. Mostly I just wandered around. I answered questions, helped people find things, applauded Mike for another song, picked up trash occasionally, finding a place to sit for a couple of minutes – ahhhh! – before getting up and wandering again.

Joanna, the owner of Rags n’ Roses Collective, was everywhere at once. There were two lines for payment – one for cash only and the other for credit and debit cards. There were still lines, but everyone chatted, seeming not to mind that at all.

It was a wonderful experience.

Our next thing is Ladies Night Out, December 5th, 6 – 8 pm. Rags ‘n Roses Collective, 100 North Main, Greenwood, Arkansas. 

Hope to see you there!

Hahahahahahahaahah!

Purple Clover

Beautiful Photo

Jeff Jett – LinkedIn

Coffee

Coffee for All via Michael Remillard

I Smirk for Puns – 7

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Greenwood City-Wide Holiday Open House!

Rags ‘n Roses Collective

Today from 1:00 ’til 5:00, the city of Greenwood, Arkansas will enjoy a Holiday Open House. Participating shops will be open so that people can enjoy shopping and good times all afternoon, kicking off the holiday season.

I’m lucky enough to be sharing a booth with my good friend, Carla, in a shop called Rags ‘n Roses Collective. The address is 100 North Main Street, right across the street from the Greenwood Cleaners.  Joanna Brandt owns the shop and is a pretty, tireless lady who is seemingly everywhere in the shop at once, helping booth renters and shoppers.

At Rags ‘n Roses Collective, there will be finger food, door prizes, a musician playing guitar/fiddle/mandolin, photos with Santa, conversation, laughter, and – of course – wonderful things you will want to purchase for yourself or people on your gift list.

If you’re in town, come join us!

More from Ocean Series by Bethany Kerr

Bethany Kerr

 

Bethany Kerr

 

Bethany Kerr

The Art of Marina Syntelis

“The Eye” – Marina Syntelis

Thoughts on a Saturday 11-23-2019

Jeff Jett

I love this picture. I want to pet this dog and hug him.

I have finished up some new things using the Unicorn Spit Stain/Glaze and wanted to show them to you.

The Greenwood Arkansas Holiday Open House is tomorrow afternoon from 1 – 5. I’m volunteering to help in Rags & Roses, 100 North Main, the shop where I am sharing a booth with my good friend, Carla, doing whatever I can to make it go as smoothly as possible.  I’m looking forward to meeting people.  There will be food, Santa photos, a musician playing the guitar/fiddle/mandolin, door prizes, and lots of wonderful stuff to consider buying for the holidays. FUN!

I am now looking forward to Thanksgiving. I have asked a dear friend to eat with us.  My husband will be delighted to hear that she is bringing apple pie!  All thoughts of diet are thrown to the winds. We will gleefully chow down, filling our bellies with delicious stuff and enjoying catching up with my good friend I haven’t seen in far too long. :0)

I hope that you are doing something fun today, relaxing, and looking forward to the week ahead.

Beautiful Artwork from Alina Ciuciu

Winter Dream – Alina Ciuciu

 

Joy Of Wondering – Alina Ciuciu

Don’t Bother

Twisted Copper Creations