Ben Fraser – 1000+ images About Old Age
Filed under Attitude, Favorite Pictures
“Aquamarine Hyacinth” – Paul Militaru Photography
Filed under Mother Nature, Paul Militaru Photography
This is the first time we’ve had all six raised bed square foot garden boxes in our garden! We have SIX 4′ x 4′ x 8″ boxes on legs connected by an irrigation system so that we can water everything on a timer. Each box has a sprinkler in the center. The timer is between the house and the garden, and we can either just turn it on to water manually, or use the timer so that all gets watered for a specific amount of time daily.
We have fencing plus chicken wire around the garden to keep critters out. The pink tape is to keep deer from running into the fencing at night. We can put bird netting and shade fabric over the top of the garden, if needed.
I found SPINACH plants! Hooray!!!!!!!
These are romaine lettuce plants.
This is red leaf lettuce.
Georgia sweet onions.
Cauliflower.
Broccoli.
I have moved some of my window sill plants to the back porch in preparation for moving them out to the garden. I have some celery plants and some spaghetti squash plants. My spinach seeds have tiny sprouts on the window sill now. I may have some more spaghetti squash plants.
I’ll probably get more plants tomorrow. I want the local co-op guy to REALLY know how much I appreciate his getting spinach plants this year.
We have some issues with water pressure right now on the irrigation system. After messing with things for quite awhile this afternoon, we think we must have a hose blowout somewhere between the well house and the garden, but we were too tired to tackle the problem today. Tomorrow is another day…
Filed under Arkansas, Challenges, Changes, DIET!, Gardening, Greenwood, Healthy Eating, Square Foot Gardening - Raised Beds
Marcus Tullius Cicero via Om Times Magazine via Cathy Ruggiero
I’ve told you about some of the books I’ve been reading lately – ones about the White House written by people who worked as support staff for a gazillion years. It’s very interesting to me to get impressions of our presidents, first ladies, and their families, plus what was happening while they were in the White House by people who were loyal to the country and the ‘house,’ rather than one party or another, having to change with each new administration. I’m on my third one now.
I’m also into Nora Roberts – writing as J.D. Robb – in her series of “In Death” books. I have avoided them for years because when I really like an author, I don’t usually enjoy the things they do to ‘cleanse their palate’ before they write another of their more usual style books. I was told by a good friend that this series was one of her favorites, so I bought a used book from Amazon – the first in the series. Now I’m on #4 and hooked. The main character is a strong female detective who impresses me with her character and tenaciousness, as well as her guts.
I told you recently about an author new to me, Douglas E. Richards. He wrote The Cure, and I almost couldn’t put it down. All I can suggest is that you don’t start it late at night if you want to get to sleep any time soon. Since reading that one, my husband told me that he had several of Richards books on his Kindle. Since we have a sharing set up, I was able to ‘deliver’ the other books my husband had to my Kindle Fire. It makes me feel rich to know they’re waiting for me. :0)
Today I’m going to get more plants to put in our garden! I told you recently that we had finished converting our square foot garden into a RAISED BED square foot garden. This was a LOT of work for these old folks, but well worth the struggle. I now have SIX 4’x4′ x 8″ deep boxes on legs, like tables, about my chest height, filled with Mel’s Mix now and marked with string to make the squares. The only thing planted right now is some Georgia Sweet onion sets.
I’m going to get a good number of plants today, since it looks like our area in Arkansas MAY be free from more hard freezes (although the average last frosts aren’t over, according to the books, until April 10th.). I’m going to risk it and get some plants into the ground.
The main thing I want to grow is as many kinds of lettuce and similar plants as I can. I love to go out and cut leaves for our salads at lunch or in the evening. I’ll also be looking for spinach plants, although I usually have trouble finding those. I’ve started some seed on my window sill, but I don’t know if I’ll be successful.
I have celery and spaghetti squash plants I started inside that I’ll transfer to the garden after they’ve spent a few days on the back porch getting used to the outside temperatures. I’ll be looking for broccoli and cauliflower, and I’ll be starting radishes. That’ll be a good start. I’ll take pics to share with you as things come together.
“If you have a Garden and a Library, you have everything you need.”
Public Domain Vintage Photo – Anita Opper – Zen to Zany
Filed under Attitude, Favorite Quotes, Grin for the Day
“Yellow Begonia” – Paul Militaru Photography
Filed under Mother Nature, Paul Militaru Photography
Recharge your Mind via Cathy Ruggiero
I love this – both the picture and the suggestion.
I have found lately that learning new things makes me feel empowered. And I LOVE that feeling! :0)
Sticking your neck out, trying something outside your usual bailiwick, widens your world, including new possibilities. And when you’ve added a new skill to your toolbox, you’re also adding confidence. And THAT makes you want to reach out more…
Start the cycle. TODAY. You’ll find yourself smiling, brimming over with happiness!
Filed under Acting Like a Grownup, Attitude, Challenges, Changes, Encouragement
“Spring 3” – Paul Militaru Photography
Filed under Mother Nature, Paul Militaru Photography
Right now there is a pretty stiff wind, dark clouds, etc., but nothing severe. Forecast for this afternoon and tonight, though, is severe weather – again – with damaging winds, rain, possible tornadoes, and flying hair balls. This is our usual weather for April, and then through the hot, hot summer – NOT March.
**MONDAY IS A WEATHER ALERT DAY**
Pet Pals Dog Training
We called our friends, cancelling the usual Monday bowling. We don’t need to be 45 minutes away from home in a large, warehouse-type building with the truck out in the weather, hoping nothing bad happens. I would be much happier in our home, with our animals around us, hoping nothing bad happens. :0)
Our dogs and cats are pretty oblivious to the weather, thankfully. Our sweet pit bull, Bambi, is old and deaf. He doesn’t even hear LOUD thunder. Our schnauzer/cocker spaniel cross, Molly, is her usual happy self, even if we have loud cracks. The cats sleep through everything. I’M the one whose nerves are on end with lots of wind noises, loud cracks and big booms of thunder. I tie up our wind chimes because they drive me nuts in weather like this.
We still have a shutter that blew down during the last severe thunderstorm. We’ve fixed the rest of the minor things that happened, but it has been too windy for my husband to be up on a two-story ladder, trying to keep balanced while trying to put the shutter up again. We think we’ll have to use liquid nails this time because there isn’t much in the brick to “screw-into” anymore. I tried to get my husband to agree that we would hire someone to do this, to no avail. We may have more than the one shutter after tonight…
It’s another good day to stay home and be thankful for our warm, dry house.
If you’re having iffy weather where you are, stay warm and safe.
Filed under Arkansas, Challenges, Mother Nature
Recharge Your Mind Via Cathy Ruggiero
Filed under Attitude, Encouragement, Favorite Quotes
“Chief Red Wing – Don Marco
Mr. Crayola
Don Marco, the Master Crayola Artist
Don Marco was born in Northern Minnesota in the late 1920’s. His interest in art was evident even before starting school. As a young adult in the Army Air Corp, he began his life’s career in Air Traffic Control, which continued until his retirement from Honolulu International Airport in 1973. Much of his spare time was spent as a professional artist.
Before retirement, Don started developing a technique to create fine art, using Crayola Crayons. Shortly after retiring, he published his first print. Living in Southern California, his work was in demand, including commissions from Burt Reynolds and a one-man show at his Dinner Theater in Florida …
It’s hard to imagine these are done with crayons!
Christ – Don Marco
Clint Eastwood – Don Marco
John Wayne – Don Marco
“Eagle” – Don Marco
Filed under Creativity
I Love Reading Books via Cathy Ruggiero
Since we’re having a rainy, raw day here, I’m feeling very lucky to have a warm, dry house and a good book to read!
I started reading Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies, by J.B. West and Mary Lynn Kotz.
It covers a behind the scenes look at some of our first ladies, from Eleanor Roosevelt through Ladybird Johnson from the standpoint of the Chief Usher at the White House for about 30 years. I’m finding it educational and extremely interesting. I have to admit my ignorance at not even knowing the White House HAD a chief usher, or his duties. Getting his reactions to what was happening in history, and the daily work in the White House during this period really gives you a different perspective on what you thought you knew, plus insights you didn’t have before. I highly recommend this book.
I told you that during a severe thunderstorm last week, one of our dining area windows we didn’t latch blew open, carrying half of my plants and other goodies off the window sill and onto the floor, all in a heap.
I have re-potted what I could and planted more.
Two celery plants: the one on the left was undisturbed. I re-potted the one on the right with fingers crossed.
Three more celery plants.
The large leafed plant is a spaghetti squash that was dashed to the floor. I think it MIGHT live! The other plants here are celery plants.
This is a long-lived plant that I started years ago. Happily, it was just to the left of the window that blew open.
One of my dear friends gave me this orchid a couple of years ago. It was looking sad, and suddenly it had these two blooms!
A newly started group of spaghetti squash. No action yet.
A newly planted bunch of spinach seeds. No action yet here, either.
I’m hoping I can transfer some of these plants to the garden mid month. I’ve never had celery grow before, so I’m excited to see if I can actually do it. The spaghetti squash is an entirely new try, too. I saved the seeds from the squash I bought from the store.
I haven’t found ANY spinach plants locally, so I’m especially eager for the new seeds to do well. I was really sad when the ones I had growing were thrown onto the floor. They were about 2 inches high. Fingers crossed!
Filed under Gardening, Square Foot Gardening - Raised Beds
I brought these in today. We have deep purple twice-blooming iris and daffodils blooming in the yard right now. Every time I come into the kitchen, my spirits lift.
Spring is such a wonderful time of the year with the return of beloved flowers that bloom year after year, bringing hope for a new birth of all living things.
Soon these will be gone, but other sprouts are up, promising more beauty to come.
Filed under Arkansas, Gardening, Mother Nature
Funderland Amusement Park
I just spent an hour and a half mixing batch after batch of Mel’s Mix and trying to get my raised bed planters topped off so they’re ready for planting.
The thing is, when we finished putting up the last planter, I filled all three new ones with Mel’s Mix. Now, when I’m getting ready to plant, the mix is down by a good 3 to 4 inches!
I wouldn’t gritch if piles of dirty clothes or dishes did the same thing… Or stacks of magazines, waste baskets, or piles of bills… if YOU know what happened to all the Mel’s Mix, I’d appreciate it if you would let me know!
I use a big trash basket to mix the components of Mel’s Mix (2 parts peat moss, 2 parts vermiculite, and 1 part each mushroom compost, barnyard compost, and cotton burr compost. Occasionally I mix in compost I’ve made from our yard and food scraps. Then I carefully drag the trash can over to the garden and even more carefully lift up the trash can and distribute it on the raised bed box. Then I move the mix around, delighting in the joy of playing in the dirt until I pronounce it done, and then repeat the process. After an hour and a half of this, I’m taking a rest.
Also in the mix of my day is working on a mosaic on a glass bowl in the shop. I do it one narrow band at a time, carefully propping the bowl between a bottle of water and a scotch tape dispenser to keep it from rolling. If I do too many tiles, the slope of the glass causes the tiles to quietly slide down, coming to rest in a spot I didn’t intend. I’m taking my time, doing one ‘row’ a day until the bowl is covered. Then I can do the grouting all at once. I’ll share some pictures of it when I get the tiles all glued on.
In my art room I’m working on some presents I’m making for next Christmas. I know it’s a bit early to be thinking about NEXT Christmas, but I’ve always bought things I like for people when I find them regardless of the time of year. Particularly when I’m trying to MAKE something, I want to do it when I’m excited about the project. :0)
My sweet husband is in the shop, slaving away to get our new used riding lawnmower ready to be used. As he works, he’s finding more things that need his attention. (We’re discovering that, although the guy who sold us the mower told us about the leaking tire, he got creative about the things that were ‘new’ on the thing; the air filter, for example.) My husband just bought what he thought was a spare filter, discovering that the filter that was on it was in the worst condition he’s ever seen. It starts well, though, and my husband likes the way the mower is laid out. It’s not nearly as difficult as some designs to work on. He found a manual online that shows him good exploded diagrams so he can see what parts are there, and it makes sense to HIM about how to do what it needs.
He bought a new mini-tire changing tool because the tire we bought is too small for the one we have. Even after he made a stand to bolt it to the floor in the shop, it took both of us to get the old tire off and the new tire on the wheel. It turns out that tubeless tires are difficult to get onto the wheel with a good seal so they don’t leak.
It’s time for lunch. I’m going to go out to the shop, roust my husband, and then figure out what’s up for the rest of the day.
Filed under Gardening, Square Foot Gardening - Raised Beds
“Lavender” – Paul Militaru Photography
Filed under Mother Nature, Paul Militaru Photography
Polyvore
“Sarcasm is “a sharp, bitter, or cutting expression or remark; a bitter gibe or taunt“.[1][2] Sarcasm may employ ambivalence,[3] although sarcasm is not necessarily ironic.[4] “The distinctive quality of sarcasm is present in the spoken word and manifested chiefly by vocal inflections”.[5] The sarcastic content of a statement will be dependent upon the context in which it appears.[6] “
~ Wikipedia
Many times sarcasm is defined as a bad thing – cruel words spoken in order to hurt someone else.
I was raised with sarcasm, though, and I love it. It can be a really witty form of humor, laughing at one’s self, breaking tension, lightening up an unfortunate situation.
My father was a master at sarcasm. He used it, and other forms of humor, as a defense mechanism. He fell off a horse when he was 3 years old, breaking his arm in several places. Back then, they didn’t know nearly as much about setting bones, particularly growing bones, so my dad ended up with one arm shorter than the other and his hand curled up, almost useless. Kids at school were vicious. He answered by making them laugh. They learned to ignore his arm and accepted him because he was fun to have in the group.
Some people are completely unaware of sarcasm. When it is used, you can look at faces and see instantly if they ‘get’ it or if their hair is blowing in the wind as the joke goes over their heads. My dad raised us with sarcasm, puns, practical jokes, word jokes, and funny stories. They bubbled up out of him, overflowing onto all around him. He saw the world differently and those around him either kept up or missed out. It was a funny, rich world he carried with him. When he died, he wrote us a note, saying, “Remember me laughing.”
Example – I got dressed to go out as a teenager, coming out into the living room to wait for my date. My dad said, “Nice dress!” Our eyes met. I looked down, saw what I was wearing from his point of view, and went back to my bedroom to change. The next time I came out he said, “You look nice, Lin.” (A real compliment.)
I find sarcasm bubbling up, myself – sometimes at inappropriate times. Sometimes I squash my thoughts, though those who know me well know NOT to meet my eyes at these times, lest I bust a gut laughing when I absolutely shouldn’t….
Filed under Grin for the Day
1000+ Funny Quotes on Pinterest
Many of the most wonderful memories I have are of things I did spontaneously. Sometimes I was even reluctant, with my first reaction being, ‘no.’ I like to plan – to know what’s happening in advance – to prepare – and even to be proactive. So it really goes against the grain to throw caution to the wind and just DO IT.
I see this as something I need to work on, since I realize I would have missed out on some truly great things. Now I push myself to get outside my comfort zone – albeit rarely and slowly. My world expands and I wonder WHY I didn’t try this before. Even if I decide I never want to do THAT again, at least I tried it.
I’ve seen many of my friend’s worlds get smaller and smaller. They become more and more cautious. They go out less. They try nothing new. It seems they prefer to live in their own little world in the past. Memories are wonderful, but I hurt for them, and I hurt for my tendency to think about doing the same. We need to be creating NEW memories.
I am challenging myself to do something I haven’t tried before every once in a while. I started doing yoga for the first time a few months ago. Now I regret that I haven’t been doing it for years. It has added a richness to my life – added goals I didn’t have before – challenges me to work at getting better every day.
I love this sign –
Lisa Bearnes Richey
Having tried yoga when I was intimidated and seeing how MUCH t it is helping me, it encourages me to reach out to other things I don’t want to miss. I hope that you are getting outside your comfort zone – even slowly – to renew your lease on life, too.
“End of the Day” – Don Marco
“Apache” – Don Marco
Mr. Crayola
Don Marco, the Master Crayola Artist
Don Marco was born in Northern Minnesota in the late 1920’s. His interest in art was evident even before starting school. As a young adult in the Army Air Corp, he began his life’s career in Air Traffic Control, which continued until his retirement from Honolulu International Airport in 1973. Much of his spare time was spent as a professional artist.
Before retirement, Don started developing a technique to create fine art, using Crayola Crayons. Shortly after retiring, he published his first print. Living in Southern California, his work was in demand, including commissions from Burt Reynolds and a one-man show at his Dinner Theater in Florida …
It’s hard to imagine these are done with crayons!
“Bear Bull” – Don Marco
“Black Eagle” – Don Marco
“Catch of the Day” – Don Marco
Filed under Creativity
Yoga Cat Pinterest
I’ve been having lower back pain the last few days – due probably to old age, rather than having strained it in any way.
This afternoon I decided I would do a session of yoga for my lower back and then a ‘flow’ to see if they would help. I was in the middle of my practice, doing deep, conscious breathing while trying to press my lower back into the floor, when all of a sudden my dog decided to step over me to get to his bed.
This doesn’t sound like much except our pit bull, Bambi, weighs about 80 lbs now and is a clutz in the first order of magnitude. I realized vaguely what was happening and put my arms up to defend myself, causing his foot to GRAZE the outer edge of my right eye, rather than stepping directly ON it. Needless to say, even grazing my eye hurt like the devil.
My husband was in his chair watching the whole thing, eating Doritos, seemingly oblivious.
I rolled over, getting up as fast as this old lady could – especially with back pain,-and limped to the bathroom to see how bad my eye was. I really lucked out. The outer edge of my eye socket is pretty sore to the touch, and I may end up with a bit of a shiner, but that seems to be the extent of it. I made an ice pack and held that on it for a bit, and then took some Ibuprofen. My husband finally asked me if I was all right. HE’s still all right, too. I’ve decided that if I DO get a shiner, I’ll suggest my husband was the cause of it….
Bambi, who is old and deaf, never realized anything happened and is happily snoring on his dog bed. I decided that I would be unable to relax enough to continue my exercise today, so I’ll try it again tomorrow.
I have learned yet another good lesson of doing yoga – make sure the animals are all in the office behind the gate before I start!
Filed under exercise
Walt Disney via GrowingBolder.com via Cathy Ruggiero
Filed under Attitude, Favorite Quotes
KnowledgeOverflow
Yesterday was a whirlwind of activity – we left the house before 10am and didn’t return until after 5pm. We were doing regular errands and then a bunch of add-ons that weren’t planned. My day was gone before it started!
Today we have Lunch Bunch with our long-time friends, a trip to the post office and then NOTHING!
I’m going to spend the afternoon and evening catching up on all the stuff I didn’t get to do yesterday, resting, or both.
HOORAY!
Filed under Attitude
“Navajo Meeting” – Don Marco, Mr. Crayola
Mr. Crayola
Don Marco, the Master Crayola Artist
Don Marco was born in Northern Minnesota in the late 1920’s. His interest in art was evident even before starting school. As a young adult in the Army Air Corp, he began his life’s career in Air Traffic Control, which continued until his retirement from Honolulu International Airport in 1973. Much of his spare time was spent as a professional artist.
Before retirement, Don started developing a technique to create fine art, using Crayola Crayons. Shortly after retiring, he published his first print. Living in Southern California, his work was in demand, including commissions from Burt Reynolds and a one-man show at his Dinner Theater in Florida …
It’s hard to imagine these are done with crayons!
“Mountain Man” – Don Marco, Mr. Crayola
“James Arness” – Don Marco, Mr. Crayola
“High Country Morning” – Don Marco, Mr. Crayola
“Geronimo” – Don Marco, Mr. Crayola
Filed under Creativity
I loved the Pepe Le Pew cartoons, and particularly when his ‘girlfriend cat – Penelope’ was included. I still smile when I see them. This is the back of the mailbox decoration. I tried to blend the horizontal support bar into the figures.
Here is the front of the piece. I hope people smile as they pass our driveway.
Filed under Lewis Art, Lewis Mailbox Decorations
Protocol Online
We lucked out, not having much damage from really bad thunderstorms here early this morning.
I was afraid we would have lots of limbs/trees in the driveway, possible roof damage on the house or shop, damage or the whole roof blown off the deck, etc.
Happily enough, our damage was minor.
We had to go back up to the house to wash our hands before we could go do our errands. We saw a couple of downed large trees on the way to town, plus a basketball set up that was blown across a yard, but that’s all the damage we saw.
We feel lucky to have had so little problem from a large storm.
Filed under Mother Nature
creativeartworksblog 