Nobody’s Purrrr-fect
Abby came to live with us February 12, 2011, according to the log my husband keeps on his computer. She was listed as a ‘lap cat’ in an ad in the paper.
She is an inside/outside cat, with a padded ‘cube’ on a ledge of wood we attached to the wall in the garage above an inside woodpile. She sleeps in the cube and eats from a bowl balanced on the woodpile with a water bowl nearby. She has a cat door so she can go outside whenever she wants.
Depending on the weather and her mood, she comes inside the house whenever she can get us to open the door at the proper time. She does meow at the front door when we have the inner door open. Mostly, she uses our routine to time her leaping into the house and then going wherever she wants to perch.
She likes to sit with us, so the ‘lap cat’ description in the paper years ago was accurate, but she doesn’t purr. We’ve had lots of cats over the years, but she is the longest lasting and truly a treasured member of the family. Her lack of purring is her only ‘flaw.’ She has shown us she is happy, but never got the memo on purring.
A weird thing has happened over the past month or so. She was in my lap while I was reading in my recliner. I absently ran my hand down her back and felt a definite buzz. I put my hand back on her and the buzz continued! She was suddenly purring, after 13 years. Since then, she has done it off and on. I’ve only been able to HEAR the purring a couple of times, but it’s a joy to FEEL it.
It’s amazing that she has stayed with us all this time and has just discovered she can purr, or wants to. It’s a really nice gift.
Filed under Family
Rebekah Jenkins Quilling
Filed under 3D-On-Edge-Paper-Art, paper art, quilling, Rebekah Jenkins
More Mosaics
Filed under mosaic
February Thoughts
I have very mixed thoughts about the month of February.
As you may know, I tried to get a petition going last month to do away with the month entirely. I got a few signatures and high-fives, but didn’t have enough to push the measure through.
February is an awful month for weather in Arkansas. Arkansas doesn’t ‘do’ winter gracefully. It would be wonderful if we could get snow – fluffy, pretty snow – or even a wet snow great for snow people creation, and then move on to Spring. But NOOOOO! Arkansas has an ice storm BEFORE the snow, causing havoc and danger. Since we live on top of a ridge line, and our driveway is steep and on the north side of our property, our place is the last to thaw and clear any time the ice and snow come. My husband paid an awful price for this on the 21st, slipping and falling on the ice at the bottom of our driveway, breaking his collarbone.
Besides the weather, February is a bad month for me personally. A lot of the people who have meant the world to me have died this month, so as I’ve aged, more and more sad memories land here. I’m lucky that GOOD memories exist, too, and that I have had the privilege to share part of the lives of some truly wonderful people.
I do enjoy Valentine’s Day, though I feel guilty that so many men feel OBLIGATED to do something for the day. I much prefer
- that people just show their love for each other EVERY day; or
- they get their love something small and sweet, maybe give a special hug and good wishes
The best thing I can say about February is that USUALLY there are only 28 days. (Except this year)
Groundhog Day doesn’t mean anything – we ALWAYS have 6 more weeks of awful stuff before we can think of spring. It has snowed on my birthday in March here, so I don’t feel we’re clear until the middle of March.
So – my idea for the petition to do away with February remains available, if you’re interested….
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Progress!
We slept in our actual bed upstairs last night for only the second time since my husband fell and broke his collarbone on the 21st. We slept amazingly well. I left my husband sleeping, did the morning chores and was working on the computer when I heard the bedroom door. My husband walked carefully down the stairs fully dressed (!)- for the first time since we saw the orthopedic surgeon on the 23rd. He is comfortably reading on his tablet in his recliner in the living room now. :0)
Other issues, such as tax prep and plumbing problems pale in contrast to the fact that 1) my husband FELT like even TRYING to get dressed, and 2) he was able to do it, by himself! The only thing I had to help him with when he came down was the sling. We will concentrate on trying to have a quiet day of healing.
If he continues this improvement, I may be able to entertain thoughts of getting up to my art room for a bit to play with my new wood burning tools. NICE if it happens.
Enjoy your day!
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Venice Clay Artists
David Zinn Therapy
I hope YOU feel better now, too. :0)
Filed under David Zinn - Street Artist, drawings
Thoughts on a Wednesday 1-31-2024
We’re having another beautiful day here in Arkansas on this, the last day of January 2024. I don’t have enough signatures to submit in my attempt to just do away with February, so it starts as usual tomorrow, with even an extra day for leap year thrown into the mix. Ugh.
My husband wanted to try to sleep in our bed last night. I was up with him around 2, and then woke up alone later. He told me he lasted until around 5 and then came down and finished the night in his recliner. We’re getting better.
I have cleared our calendar of everything possible until my husband has had a chance to heal. Doing this takes the pressure off. We can concentrate on just the things we need to do each day. He is getting a bit stronger each day.
I’m encouraging him now to get up and come into the office whenever he wants to, or in the kitchen, moving around to gain strength. The surgeon was cautioning us about getting TOO sedentary, warning us of pneumonia, so I’m trying to get him up several times a day, resting as much as possible, in-between. One day at a time. 10 to 12 weeks recovery time.
Meanwhile, he’s enjoying watching truly awful movies he has taped on TV and reading on his tablet. He is also watching YouTube videos about all kinds of things. :0) We had a short chat with our son this morning. He researched broken bones and sent my husband two supplements that are supposed to help you heal faster and thoroughly.
I hope that the weather is nice wherever you are today and that you’re enjoying this last day of January.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Rebekah Jenkins 3-D Quilling
Besides this being beautiful art, the technique used brings the art of quilling to another level. The more traditional style, which is also beautiful, uses the strips mainly curled up to create the effects, rather than the strips being added on their edges, as Rebekah does. Here’s a nice example –
There is a whole new look achieved by Rebekah when she turns the strips on their edges. I think it’s absolutely amazing.
Rebekah Jenkins Quilling - Article on VisualFlood.com by Leandro Lima
Filed under 3D-On-Edge-Paper-Art, paper art, Rebekah Jenkins
Beautiful Tuesday
Today our weather is absolutely gorgeous. I’m about to go do several errands, and it will be a delight to be outside. It’s 44 right now, and the forecast is for 65 this afternoon. The sun is shining. GORGEOUS!!!!
My husband and I are learning to function on very little sleep at night. We’re lucky to be able to catch cat naps during the day, so things are improving there, as well.
So far, my husband has not tried to do things he shouldn’t, so I’m beginning to think I MIGHT be able to spend some time in my art room this week. I’m going to see if I can find another good video on techniques for wood burning to get the juices flowing. :0)
I hope things are going well for you today.
Filed under Challenges, Mother Nature, taking care of yourself
Precious Pooches
Filed under animal paintings, drawings, Pastels, Peter Hogarth - Artist
Monday 1-29-2024
And now we have begun the part in the healing process – after only ONE WEEK since my husband broke his collarbone – where we ‘discuss’ what he SHOULD and SHOULD NOT be doing –
This morning he was trying to get out of his chair to ‘hold the trash bag’ – a heavy, bulky, full leaf bag- while I was gathering the trash. I had just ordered Amber into her “PLACE” to avoid falling over her as she dashed in front of, around, and behind me, to ‘help’ me. Now it was my husband. I stopped what I was doing, gave him the eagle eye, and said, “PLACE!” to HIM, as well. He started to tell me it was ONLY holding the bag, but shut down mid-sentence. I helped him down into the chair, kissed him, and said, “Maybe in another week.”
We both rested better last night. I think we’re finally getting used to either sleeping in our recliners, or – in my case – going back and forth between my recliner and the couch.
I’m still just getting the minimum done around here – helping my husband, minimal cooking and cleaning, and trying to catch up on sleep. You can tell what it’s like around here when I tell you I’m looking forward to driving the trash down to the bottom of the driveway, putting it – and the trash can out for pickup tomorrow – and getting the mail…
Hope all is well with you.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Bathing Hummingbird!
Urbanartist @Urbanartist2
@jimstep260853
Filed under Blog Repost - Wonderful Posts, video
Impossibly Good
Filed under Beth Robertson Fiddes, water paintings
“Wish You the Best” – Lewis Capaldi
I absolutely love Lewis Capaldi’s voice. It really speaks to me, diving inside and bringing out all kinds of emotion. I think he is one of the best singer/songwriters of our time.
In “I Wish You the Best” he speaks of love.
… I’ll miss knowin’ what you’re thinkin’
And hearin’ how your day has been
Do you think you can tell me everything, darling?
But leave out every part about him
Right now you’re probably by the ocean
While I’m still out here in the rain
With every day that passes by since we’ve spoken
It’s like Glasgow gets further from LA
… Maybe it’s supposed to be this way
… But, oh, my love
I wanna say I miss the green in your eyes
And when I said we could be friends, guess I lied
I wanna say I wish that you never left
Oh, but instead I only wish you the best
I wanna say without you, everything’s wrong
And you were everything I need all along
I wanna say I wish that you never left
Oh, but instead I only wish you the best
… Well, I can’t help but notice
You seem happier than ever now
And I guess that I should tell you I’m sorry
It seems I was the problem somehow
… Maybe I only brought you down
… But, oh, my love
I wanna say I miss the green in your eyes
And when I said we could be friends, guess I lied
I wanna say I wish that you never left
Oh, but instead I only wish you the best
I wanna say without you, everything’s wrong
And you were everything I need all along
I wanna say I wish that you never left
Oh, but instead I only wish you the best
… But, oh, my love
Oh-whoa
Oh, my love
Oh-whoa
… Wish I could say it’s something I really mean
But I want you happy whether not it’s with me
I wanna say I wish that you never left
Oh, but instead I only wish you the best
I wanna say without you, everything’s wrong
And you were everything I need all along
I wanna say I wish that you never left
Oh, but instead I only wish you the best
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: James Ryan Wuihun Ho / Jonathan Percy Starker Saxe / Lewis Marc Capaldi
Wish You The Best lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc
I love the song. I love his voice. The official video that goes with it I think is one of the most beautiful videos I’ve ever seen. Together, they’re really an experience.
Filed under Lewis Capaldi - I Wish You the Best, music, video
Sunday 1-28-2024
Good morning. I need to warn you that you’re reading the words of a zombie, pretty much, since it’s been a week now since I got a regular night’s sleep. A week ago today my husband fell on the ice at the bottom of our driveway, breaking his collar bone.
We catch cat naps as we can, all day and all night, trying to sleep in our recliners. Sleeping well was a challenge before my husband hurt himself because that seems to go with becoming more ‘mature,’ but now we’re pretty much hopeless. We’re just glad for whatever we can get.
Each day is a bit better. He’s now saying he wants to quit wearing the sling. I simply told him I thought that it would slow the healing process and increase his pain, but that he, of course, could do whatever he wants…
Our son researched healing from bone breaks, bought and sent some high doses of Vitamin C and D-3. I’m giving these to my husband morning and night now.
I hope that your Sunday is a nice one.
Filed under Challenges, taking care of yourself
Talent is All Around Us
Soggy Saturday 1-27-2024
I’m so glad we’re dealing with rain, rather than ice or snow.
My husband, who broken his left clavicle on the 21st, is now talking about not wearing his sling after a couple more days. I – having lived with this man for some 54 years now – simply told him it would take longer for healing, but that it was up to him how long he was incapacitated. Meanwhile, I’ll try to contact the orthopedic nurse on our portal to see if I can get some backup.
Our son, who lives across the world from us, bought and sent us two kinds of supplements to help him heal. I’ll start incorporating them into his meds today.
My husband is basically just moving from one room to another on the first floor until further notice. He’s doing that more easily now, plus sneezed and told me it didn’t hurt nearly as bad as previously, so there is definitely progress. We are still trying to sleep in our recliners.
He requested spaghetti, so I’ll make that for tonight.
Filed under Challenges, taking care of yourself
Quilling by Rebeka Jenkins
Rebekah Jenkins 3-D Paper Quilling – Article by Leandro Lima, Visualflood.com
Filed under 3D-On-Edge-Paper-Art, paper art, Rebekah Jenkins
Friday 1-26-2024
I have absolutely NO complaints about our gray, rainy weather. It is NOT ice. It is NOT snow. I can drive up and down our driveway without risking myself or my vehicle. I can do what I need to do. :0)
My husband is getting around better since breaking his collarbone on the 21st. He is at the computer now, watching YouTube videos. He’s a bit better each day, and so far is being careful not to hurt himself further. I’m staying close by, since he only has the use of one hand and arm.
I will make a dash today to get supplies, lunch from the deli (my husband’s request) and our mail. That’s it for ‘out’ today. I called our friends about not being able to come to Lunch Bunch and about my husband’s fall.
I’m grateful we can handle what happened ourselves. In fact, all I need to do so far to keep my husband in line is tell him that I am happy to try to hire someone to help him. :0) MEAN woman….
Filed under Challenges, taking care of yourself
More Gregario Catarino Art
Gregario Catarino Art – @gregcatarino1 on X
Filed under Greg Catarino, paintings I love
Andrii Frolov 6
Andrii Frolov – @ksnsq on X
Filed under Andrii Frolov Art, Oil Paintings I Love
Amber
Amber is worried. She senses something isn’t normal around here, and she is following one of us – and then the other – closely, trying to be everywhere at once.
She cries if I put her on the other side of the dog gate. I only do this when I’m trying to help my husband get out of his chair or back into it, etc. (He broke his collarbone falling on the ice Sunday, January 21st. He doesn’t need surgery and recovery time is approximately 10 to 12 weeks. He is learning how many things he does that affect the muscles in his left shoulder, how much he uses his left hand, and how MUCH it hurts to sneeze, cough, or laugh.)
He insisted he wanted to sleep upstairs in our bed last night. Nothing would convince him to change his mind. We went to bed around midnight. I basically lay there with my eyes closed, but was trying to stay alert to help him if needed. Around 2 am he said I was right (!) :0( and that he couldn’t get comfortable in the bed. He then learned that he uses is left hand to hold onto the stair railing. We slowly and carefully got down the stairs and back into his chair. We basically slept – where we could rest – from 6am to 8.
He is stronger this morning and was able to get out of his recliner carefully by himself. He looks more alert. I’m hoping he will take several naps whenever he is sleepy.
Amber wants to sleep right in front of his chair. We have already made it VERY clear she is NOT considered a lap dog (97 pounds) and that my husband is very happy with her beside him, rather than in his lap right now. If we insist she get in her “place” on her bed across the room, she watches him, alert to any movements. (usually she does this only when he has food, but now it is really concern for him.)
I keep trying to reassure her. I guess in this case, seeing is the only way she will be believing.
Filed under Challenges, taking care of yourself
Hello, There!
Filed under Blog Repost - Wonderful Posts, video
creativeartworksblog 