Feeling It!

PictureQuotes.com via THEMETAPICTURE.COM

One of my favorite things these days while we’re home so much more due to COVID-19 is listening to some of my favorite tunes on YouTube. I have kind of a mini-concert centering on the best songs of one of my favorite artists, or create my own concert, switching from one wonderful song to another from multiple artists. It really lifts my spirits.

I have long thought that music is a kind of magic.

No words are needed – languages aren’t important – age and gender are not important factors – when we hear music, it speaks to us. It fills us up, affects us emotionally, transports us to another part of our life, makes current troubles fade into the background for awhile. It makes us relax, or want to leap up and dance. It makes us nostalgic or brings huge grins to our faces. Years fall off. Aches and pains are soothed or even forgotten.

I absolutely LOVE putting on my earphones while I’m here at the computer, choosing what songs I would like to listen to, and spending the next half hour or so caught up in the treasure of music!

I Love Owls

The Express

“A wise old owl sat on an oak; The more he saw the less he spoke; The less he spoke the more he heard; Why aren’t we like that wise old bird?” ~ Unknown

 

Alan Walker – Getty Images – Discover Wildlife

Owl
Wiser than can be
Seeing great at night
Flying quieter over the sea
Making hope shine bright ~ Unknown

 

BrightSide

“He respects Owl, because you can’t help respecting anybody who can spell TUESDAY, even if he doesn’t spell it right.” A.A. Milne

 

Discovery Place Nature

“Alone and warming his five wits, the white owl in the belfry sits.” Alfred, Lord Tennyson

 

Eagle Mountain Utah News

“I rejoice that there are owls…. They represent the stark twilight and unsatisfied thoughts which all have.” – Henry David Thoreau

 

Earth.com

“I think I’m a tiny bit like Harry ‘cos I’d like to have an owl. Yeah, that’s the tiny bit, actually.” ~ Daniel Radcliffe

 

The Spruce Pets

“The owl,” he was saying, “is one of the most curious creatures. A bird that stays awake when the rest of the world sleeps. They can see in the dark. I find that so interesting, to be mired in reality when the rest of the world is dreaming. What does he see and what does he know that the rest of the world is missing?” ~ M.J. Rose

 

Source Unknown

“Owls seem to have always been a bird that sparks the creative imagination. They have been seen as symbols of victory, wisdom, or solitude. In more recent decades, owls have also been associated with Halloween.” – Rebecca Ludens

 

Source Unknown

“Old being, old thing,
so stout and wise.
You look down from the tree,
Knowing that I am here.

You stare long
You stare hard
And never look away.

You remember don’t you.
Peer at something else and
This spirit you see standing,
May well disappear.”

________________________________________

Two feathery tufts rise off a building
Next to an open park.
Powerful large eyes sight-fully gliding
Over the grass and dark.

These striking yellows gaze,
This view they take.
Dusk has left its haze.
It is good to be awake.

MisbBehaving

Oscar Wilde – keepinspiring.me

Oil Paintings I Love

Amazon.com

 

Anna Sergeeva-Saatchi Art

 

 

“Autumn Woods” – Vernet Christian – Allartclassic

 

 

Leonid Afremov – Punta Allen-Tulum-Mexico

Weird Cravings

123RF.com

And NOOOOOO! I’m NOT pregnant. I’m 73 years old, and even with our modern medicine, I don’t think they can pull THAT off – AND wouldn’t want to!!!!

The thing I really don’t like about cooking is figuring out what to cook.

I was like this when I was young, too. When my friends wanted to go out to eat, we would try to figure out what we were hungry for. THEN we would try a process of elimination, trying to name things we DIDN’T want…

I was trying to figure out what to fix for dinner tonight, deciding I didn’t want to be cooking at 7:30 or 8 when I’m tired. Suddenly, beef stew popped into my head.

This is really weird because I consider beef stew a winter comfort food. The heat index today, after the rain, is supposed to get to 105. We still have doors open, but will close up soon, since the humidity is at 95%.

I love microwaves. I was able to get out a package of stew meat from the freezer, defrost it, and then brown it while getting the rest of the ingredients together in the slow cooker.

Now, dinner prep for tonight is done and the dishwasher is running!  AHHHHH!

Let It Rain

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow via sayingimages.com

Glorious Blanks

Getting wooden earring blanks is like a crap shoot – sometimes you get a product that is exciting and even better than you thought it would be – like these 3-D type earrings above. They are good quality, very smooth, and a little over 1 inch in diameter. I cannot find them again, though I am still searching.

 

In an effort to get larger round earrings for a possible order, I ordered these recently and received them today. They were advertised to be 2″ in diameter. As you can see here, they are actually 1-1/2″ in diameter – not large enough for the possible order. I have now found another source which is advertising 2″ and 3″ in diameter round earrings. I’ve ordered with fingers crossed.

In the meantime, while I was searching for the 2″ in diameter earrings, I found some other interesting things. I haven’t received all I ordered yet, but I’m hopeful I will get some things that are wonderful.

These are 2″ on the longest edge. I like the shape of these and am looking forward to playing with them.

 

This is 1-3/8″ in diameter. I like the two holes. I have tried taking some shapes out to our shop to drill a first or second hole, but it’s difficult to drill a hole without splitting the shape. These will allow me to do some things that might be a lot of fun. I can feel my juices flowing!

Aging

gettinold

Medicine

Eric Swensson – via keepinspiring.me

Birthdays

 

Today there are two people I know having birthdays –

Linda is one of my Lunch Bunch buddies. We celebrated her birthday last Friday, but her actual birthday is today. Happy Birthday, Linda!!!!!!!!

Meade Dennis Adams is the daughter of my beautiful friend/cousin-by-marriage, Murray in Thibodaux, LA.  Happy Birthday, Meade!!!!!!!

 

 

Thoughts on a Monday 6-29-2020

Storyteller Travel

I LOVE the look of humor and character on Shoebill Storks.

We are having a super humid day today. It’s like pea soup outside. The humidity is 92% right now. UGH. That said, at least the sun is not a killer, so I’ve just come in from pruning our roses bushes and cutting things back a bit.  We have a super good chance of rain today. It is cloudy and looks like it could rain any time now.

We are waiting for our plumber to come.  We have a tankless water heater that gives us lots and lots of hot water. We haven’t had to worry about running out for years. Until lately.  You have to have full water pressure to get the hot water, and it takes a bit of time for that to happen. We get it when we first step into the shower upstairs, then halfway through our shower, we get cold water, like we used to have when the tank emptied. My husband thinks we may have to get a new water pressure tank for the well house. Hopefully, we can get what we need to get our wonderful hot showers again soon. Fingers crossed.

I hope that you have a good day.

 

 

 

Persistence Pays – I HOPE

Gardening Know How

My friend Laufrain gave me TWO elephant ear plants last fall. I babied them through the winter in our dining area, since that was a place they would get good sun. I decided to put them on our front porch this spring because they would be out of the worst of the wind we have from time to time, and wouldn’t be in the direct sun on the north side of our house. They did fine there until it got hot.

Today I decided I would relocate them, planting them in one of the brick planters we rebuilt. I laboriously dug a hole and just was getting the first one into the planter when all of a sudden we had a HARD rain. By the time I made it into the garage, I was dripping. I toweled off, got a cup of coffee, and decided I would catch up on email. Like a faucet had been turned off, the rain stopped as suddenly as it started.

I have just come in from planting the second plant. I fertilized and gave them a bit of water. Tonight at 7:30 the irrigation system will water them for 10 minutes. Time will tell if they are happy in the new location. Fingers crossed.  Pictures later.

“Signs, Signs, Everywhere are Signs…”

More Fruits from my art room –

I love making these signs. They are 6″x8″ hard wrapped canvas boards. I have fun with my Unicorn Spit paint, let them dry, spray them with fixative. Let them dry again. Then I print the saying on them. I’m going to take these to Rags & Roses Collective in Greenwood to put in the booth I share with my good friend, Carla.

 

“Attitude”

 

 

“Attitude to Spare”

 

 

“Not Lazy”

 

 

“Sarcasm”

 

 

“Nicer Person”

Heart

PictureQuotes.com

The Art of Patrick Saunders

Patrick Saunders- “Back from the Bazaar”

 

 

Patrick Saunders- landscape – “A Window Onto Bentley’s Backyard”

 

 

Patrick Saunders-pet-portrait- “Kobe”

 

 

Patrick Saunders-portrait-animal- “Awaiting”

See more at Patrick’s website 

Fruits of the Art Room

I had fun in my art room yesterday. I painted this group of post earrings in a floral theme. The earrings are half an inch in diameter.

I will add them to my earrings website EyecatchingEarrings on Etsy, as soon as possible.

Motivation is Funny

Frans Lanting Photography-John Steed via Gitta Newman via Penny Yaffee Krakow

 

During the pandemic my husband and I have gotten lax about our keto eating plan. We are eating mostly that, but OTHER things come home in the grocery bags that “I” didn’t put in the cart. I’ve been cooking healthy, but have little will power when it comes to listening to my husband crunch fritos, Doritos, or potato chips, bagels, no sugar added cookies, etc. I also get cravings for starches – particularly rice. My husband won’t eat any of the substitutes, and usually that is fine. I have mine frozen in portion sizes and can just pull one out – except that I haven’t been. Excuses abound and the pounds gradually return…

On June 22nd we decided to get more serious before things got totally out of hand. Needing something to really get our attention, we ordered the South Beach diet program of prepared meals and eating plan. Our intention is to do this for two months. They include DIY breakfast, lunch and dinner two days per week, so I will still be cooking keto style, but hopefully, we will re-learn portion sizes, good practices, plus hopefully  a recipe or six that we like. I am hoping that at the end of the two months we will be back on track for losing the lard.

Our problem NOW is that because of Covid 19, their staff is cut and they are behind on orders. We ordered on the 22nd and according to their website, our first order has not been shipped yet. I’m hoping the first month’s food will be shipping in the coming week.

A funny thing, though –

Since we made the decision, both of us have eaten more carefully – I guess in preparation for starting the actual program. I’ve lost 3 pounds and my husband has lost more than that. My opinion is ‘whatever works,’ but it’s funny – and GREAT – that the lard is starting to come off again.

Paw Prints

Find Cat Names

Potato Chips

picturequotes.com

I am re-reading book # 28 in the “In Death” series by J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts), “Promises in Death.” This is book 28 of the 51 in the series now. Book 50 comes out in paperback in July. I have ordered it, and am re-reading all the ones that come before before I allow myself to enjoy the newest one, “Golden in Death.” #51 comes out in paperback at the end of December. “Shadows in Death.”

This quote is certainly true for me.  I can’t read just one.

When the world around you is not only challenging, but also scary. the ability to dive into books with characters you love, escaping from all else, is priceless.

Plans to Play

days of the year

I’ve been good, working in the house and out in the yard.

I’ve been sick – so two days were lost and best forgotten.

Today I feel GOOD and I’m officially on strike.

I am going to spend time in my art room today, PLAYING.

 

I received an order of these wooden post/stud earrings yesterday. They are half an inch in diameter with the findings already attached. I’m going to have fun seeing how I can paint these.  The earrings this size I have done previously were flat. I like the fact these are thicker and have a rim. Lots of possibilities here.

I have a couple of tees on which I spilled something and the stains are still showing after washing. (Imagine that!) I’m thinking about how I want to paint them to give them new life.

I have some ideas for small, sassy signs for my booth in Rags & Roses Collective in Greenwood. I can get started on those.

We will have leftover bacon-wrapped hamburger patties, salad, and fresh sliced tomatoes from the garden tonight for dinner, so very little prep work is needed.  Everyone seems calm and happy here.

This is my idea of a perfect day!!!!!

 

Smile

Douglas Horton-keepinspiring.me

More Watercolors I Love

Template.net

 

 

“Watcher” -Colossal Art and Design

Progress in the Garden 6-27-2020

I recently got caught up on weeding our raised-bed, square-foot garden. In this picture, you can see that I have onions in most of this planter box and part of another. I read that the ones which have shot the greenery up and have bloomed are the ones we should eat first, because they won’t dry and store well. I have also read that it doesn’t matter that the others are losing their greenery. They will continue to get larger if I just leave them where they are.

 

 

This is another wide shot of the garden. It’s hard to show you the whole thing at once. What you are looking at is SIX 4’x4’x8″ wooden boxes with drain holes set into metal supports about my chest level. They are tied together with hoses, with a sprinkler in the center of each box, so we can water each day for a specified time. (Later on in the summer, the sun will be so strong that it doesn’t matter how much you try to water, things will simply burn up.) For now the plants are happy.

I have planted zucchini and yellow crookneck squash. I will add some radishes at some point, but I’m keeping things simple this year. The plants have gotten larger, but haven’t shot out vines yet.

It took me two days to get everything weeded and under reasonable control.  You can see the size of the onions.

I also have empty, weeded squares now, where I can plant radish seeds. My two little bitty celery plants are still alive. I have no clue when I am supposed to tie them up (this is supposed to result in the nice celery stalks you get at the grocery store. I’ll see if I can find some information.

I showed you the tomato plants yesterday. We are looking forward to enjoying some sliced tomatoes with our dinner tonight!

Today will be hot and humid. Right now we’re enjoying have the doors open and a nice breeze coming through. Later today, though, we’ll close up, not only because of comfort, but because the dust cloud from the Sahara is due this afternoon and tomorrow.

Tomatoes!

We have two tomato planters. The one above is 8 feet long. The one below is about 4 feet wide. We took the potting soil out and put Mel’s Mix in, converting them both to square foot planters.

 

This is the ‘nook’ planter that is at the back of the house and beside the back porch. It’s a bit more protected that the other planter from the elements. Both took off during the rainy season here, growing really tall and bushy before I had a chance to try to control them a bit. Now I’m just trying to support the branches as well as I can and hope we have some nice tomatoes.

 

You can see we have some green tomatoes of different sizes.

 

Today I found some ripe ones!  I also found that we had blossom end rot, so I added bone meal, food, and some blossom end rot spray to both planters.

 

 

I will try to cut off some dead stuff and neaten things up in a day or two, after the rain will have hopefully made the additives sink into the soil.

 

I’m delighted to show you the first harvest of what I hope will be a great tomato season for us. We will eat one this evening, enjoying every bite! :0)

More Wonderful Watercolors

Artisticaly

 

 

Humid Peach-Artwoonz

 

 

Jan Helton Artworks

Molly’s Food

Molly

I have told you that the vet told us that our sweet Molly has cancer. He helped us clear up the immediate problem she was having with her jaw, got her through a bad period with pain and inflammation pills and antibiotics. This has given her some really happy dog days and we are treasuring each one. Right now she is sleeping, but many times during the day she is barking to go outside, prancing around the yard, barking to come in again, and demanding a treat for doing that. (She’s getting one, too. :0) )

We have always fed her twice a day. She is not hungry first thing in the morning now, ignoring her dish.  She eventually eats what is in the dish, plus is hungry for dinner in the evenings.

We keep her in the office behind a gate to protect her from Amber, our 3-year-old, 95-pound yellow lab, who is jealous of her. We are very careful to make sure that we know where both dogs are before we let anyone outside, or let them in again. Molly’s food and water dishes are in the office, safe from others, until she wants them. At least, that is the PLAN.

Lately our animals are getting sneakier.

My husband got distracted yesterday morning and left the gate to the office open after letting Molly outside. By the time he came in with his cup of coffee, Amber

Amber

had come in and cleaned the dish. I insisted that my husband make her another bowl.

Another time I found one of our cats, Abby, polishing off the food in Molly’s bowl.

Abby

The only one who HASN’T tried to eat Molly’s food (at least that we have SEEN) is Smoke

Smoke

We are redoubling our efforts to protect Molly’s food so that when SHE is ready to eat, it’s there. Constant vigilance is required….

I Love Cats

Leonardo Da Vinci – Jess Peterson Photos – via Etsy

Thoughts on a Friday 6-26-2020

Thrive Global

I’m feeling GOOD this morning. I’ve been eating very carefully since my illness and I think I’m at 100% this morning – no upset – no pain – AHHHHHH!

We have the front and back doors open this morning, bringing in a nice breeze. There is a good chance of rain today, but I’m hoping it will hold off until AFTER we get home from Lunch Bunch with our good friends. This week is the last week we have to eat at a picnic bench in the parking lot. July 1st the restaurant will open in some capacity, so next week we are back to our normal table. (We go early enough that there are usually only the two waitresses there with us, or someone coming in to grab a take-out, so I’m not worried.)  One of our friends is celebrating a birthday today, so it will be extra nice.

I finished weeding my raised bed square foot garden before I got sick, and that is still looking good. The squash plants are looking healthy, though they haven’t shot vines out yet. The little bitty celery plants are still alive. I’m going to check our tomato planters on the other side of the house this afternoon.

I’ve decided that one of the next projects will be pressure washing.

Getty Images

We have two sets of outdoor chairs that are in serious need of a good cleaning. I will also do the deck, back sidewalk, driveway pad, front sidewalk, and front porch. This will probably take several days of work, but it has been a couple or three years since I did it last time, and so is needed.

I’m working on my Important Spreadsheet, getting through the first pass on it yesterday. I need to find answers to questions, and then I’ll finish that up, print copies for several places, send the URL to our son, etc. I will put it on my calendar to check for needed updates in three months, instead of six, next time.

My husband and I decided that we needed more help and motivation on our keto eating plan. Neither of us has built up good willpower and so we have gotten lax lately, gaining several pounds. We decided to do two months of the South Beach Diet

to give us a good push toward getting back on track and losing some lard. We have signed up and are awaiting our first month’s delivery. I’m HOPING that we will be well on the way at the end of the two months. Built into the program is DIY meals, so I will still be using the good keto recipes we like – just reminded of portion size and encouraged to NOT add things we shouldn’t. Fingers crossed this will stop our bad habits and make the scales stop frowning at us.

I am awaiting an order of wooden shapes for earrings. I am in communication with a nice lady who likes these –

 

but would like them 2″ in diameter, instead of 1″, as they are on the website. She also wants them in hot pink and white. I can’t wait to get started! :0)  I also ordered some other shapes, so will dive in and see what other fun I can have.

Feeling better is making me think of spending time in my art room. Hopefully, I can get upstairs today…

Have a wonderful Friday!

 

 

Finger Painting by Iris Scott 4

Iris Scott via Sara Barnes, MyModernMet

 

 

Iris Scott via Sara Barnes, MyModernMet

 

 

Iris Scott via Sara Barnes, MyModernMet

 

 

Iris Scott via Sara Barnes, MyModernMet

Preparation

Shrinking Bunny’s Buns – WordPress.com

I am in the middle of doing a process I suggest everyone do – making a list for your family of important data they would need if you get ill or die. I know, it’s not an upbeat subject, but it’s an important one.

I started this several years ago, when my husband asked, “Where is the _____?”  I now have a spreadsheet that lists all of our information for whoever is left between me and my husband, and for our son, who will be dealing with all the details when the second one is gone.

I have a list of what is in our safe deposit box. I have another for what is in our safe. I have a spreadsheet that lists all our financial information, important people to contact, suggestions on how to get rid of our stuff, death arrangements, account information for utilities, etc.

I have on my calendar to update this every six months. I’m having to make a lot of changes this time, and have a list of questions for which I need to get answers, so I’m changing my updates to quarterly for next time. I was really amazed at how much as changed in the past six months!

One of the things on my to-do list from this time is to see what I need to do to be sure that ALL of our accounts are in BOTH our names. I tried to change some information the other day and they wouldn’t talk to ME. (I was not the account holder – I’m just the one who pays the bills.)

If you are already doing all of this, I applaud your efforts. If you’re not doing ANY of this, you might consider getting started. If you’re like ME – you need to get off your duff and update the information and be sure it goes to the places you need it to be.

 

 

 

 

Laugh

KatrinaMayer.com via Picture Quotes