Monthly Archives: August 2017

August 17, 2017 · 12:36 pm

Eclipse Monday

The Tennessean

My husband says, “pfffft” about the solar eclipse coming Monday. I’m like a child waiting for Christmas. Since we don’t even use the same SALT, this is not surprising.

I started making noises about wanting to be sure I saw it last week. We didn’t start looking for eclipse glasses until this morning. We’ve just come back from looking everywhere in Greenwood, calling several places in Fort Smith, and looking at Amazon online. Except for extremely expensive ones, everyone is sold out. :0(

I was really upset at myself for not thinking ahead, and upset with the world in general that I couldn’t make up for it. My husband suggested that we look for the glass inserts you put in welder’s helmets, since they come in #14 shade, the shade that is safe for viewing the eclipse. Even THOSE were sold out!

We went out to the shop and found a shade # 13 in one of my husband’s welding helmets. We came back in and Googled to see if using the #13 glass would be safe. YIPPPEEEEEEEE! We found several articles saying the #13 welding helmet glass would be fine. Just to be ultra safe, I’ll wear my sunglasses AND the welding helmet when I watch the eclipse.

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August 17, 2017 · 10:28 am

Perfect Metaphor

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August 17, 2017 · 10:26 am

Figural Lace Sculptures Attached to Found Wood – Take 2

Figural Lace Sculptures Attached to Found Wood by Agnes Herczeg

Kate Sierzputowski on August 14, 2017- Colossal

 

“Hungarian artist Agnes Herczeg creates figural lace works of female forms, capturing figures in moments of contemplation or work. In one piece the subject stands at a loom, appearing to weave herself from the included fibers. In each of her works Herczeg uses all natural materials, incorporating small pieces of wood or other found materials to serve as a sculpture’s bed frame, hair accessory, floating vessel, or small shelf.”

 

“Herczeg studied textile conservation at the Hungarian University of Fine Arts, and over the years has gathered several methods of embroidery and lace-making to use in her work such as needle lace, pillow lace, macramé, and more. You can purchase her lace sculptures directly from her website, both attached to found natural objects and as individual lace works.”

 

 

Thanks again to Kate Sierzputowski from Colossal for this article.

 

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August 17, 2017 · 10:12 am

Water

“Amazing Landscape of August” – Paul Militaru Photography

 

“Delicate Sound of Stream” – Paul Militaru Photography

 

 

“Waltz of the Swan” – Paul Militaru Photography

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August 17, 2017 · 10:08 am

Hope

Sheryl Crow via Lisa Bearnes Richey

 

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August 17, 2017 · 10:05 am

“Tulips” Extra-Large Hand-Painted Tote Bag

“Tulips” Extra-Large Hand-Painted Tote Bag

 

18″ wide x 12″ tall x 5″ deep, with open gusset in the bottom. Hand-painted with fabric paint, signed and dated, then sprayed with several layers of Scotchgard to prevent stains. Hand wash. “Fish” and “Puffed Quilt” designs also available in this item on ArtFire. Free Shipping to the contiguous U.S.

See other totes and hand-painted purses by Linda Lewis

See all work by Linda Lewis on ArtFire

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August 16, 2017 · 4:48 pm

Really?

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I might have to try this once….

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August 16, 2017 · 4:45 pm

Reading to Children

Title Wave via Cathy Ruggiero

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August 16, 2017 · 4:38 pm

Figural Lace Sculptures Attached to Found Wood – Take 1

Agnes Herczegby  – Artist by Kate Sierzputowski on August 14, 2017- Colossal

 

“Hungarian artist Agnes Herczeg creates figural lace works of female forms, capturing figures in moments of contemplation or work. In one piece the subject stands at a loom, appearing to weave herself from the included fibers. In each of her works Herczeg uses all natural materials, incorporating small pieces of wood or other found materials to serve as a sculpture’s bed frame, hair accessory, floating vessel, or small shelf.”

 

“Herczeg studied textile conservation at the Hungarian University of Fine Arts, and over the years has gathered several methods of embroidery and lace-making to use in her work such as needle lace, pillow lace, macramé, and more. You can purchase her lace sculptures directly from her website, both attached to found natural objects and as individual lace works.”

 

Thanks again to Kate Sierzputowski for her article on Colossal.

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August 16, 2017 · 4:30 pm

“Yoging” – Day 11

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I just did the session on my yoga DVD devoted to spinal health. This is day 11 of what my husband says is my time to ‘yoge.’ Today he was in the living room when I wanted to do my session, so I put puppy Amber out on the back porch, set up my mat and props, and put in the DVD.

At one point, the teacher Cat Kabira, asks you to sit back on your knees. This is one of the many areas where I’ve stiffened up over the years and I simply can’t do it. I kneel, sit down  v – e – r y  slowly, going as far as I can go and then breathe into it. My husband helpfully pointed out I wasn’t sitting up as straight at Cat. I glared at him and then ignored him, continuing to breathe.

When I finished the lesson, I explained to him that there are several areas in my body that aren’t nearly as limber as they used to be. I used to routinely sit comfortably on my butt with my knees bent and my feet out to each side. There is no way in the world I could do this today without my knees blowing out. I explained that I move to where I really start to feel it and then try to breathe into the stiffness, hoping that in time my muscles will loosen. My back is a mass of tight muscles. I told him that when I started this, I could not lie down on my back and relax without a bunch of cramping for a minute or two. I also have really stiff muscles above my arm pits when I’m lying on my back with my arms out to each side and moved up as far as I can and still have them lie flat on the floor.

And so it goes. Each day I’m doing a yoga lesson, and each day I’m giving my body the gift of time and attention after YEARS of ignoring any possible problems. Each day I’m feeling a little bitty bit looser. A scary thing – and bit motivation – is that my mom died at 72 – two years older than I am now – and she was really ‘old and frail.’  Since I have a LOT I want to do, I want to try to help my body be as strong and flexible as possible for as long as I am able.

I’m really happy I found the “Gentle Yoga” DVD set from Sixtyandme.com. Practicing each day – ‘yoging’ – will keep me onery and thinking about another project for years to come!

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August 16, 2017 · 12:36 pm

Happy Hump Day

National News and Pictures via Inspire Fusion

This is the rainiest August my husband and I remember, and we’ve lived here 30 years. My husband’s favorite grass is brown and crunchy because that means we don’t have to mow. No such luck this summer. We went right out and mowed this morning before the rain started. We’re due to have “scattered heavy downpours” through the rest of the week. I’m planning to try to get some weeding and pruning done in my flower planters between ‘scattereds.’

I just got home from a haircut and errands, but I wanted to say, “Hi” before fixing lunch. I hope you’re having a wonderful Wednesday.

 

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August 15, 2017 · 4:53 pm

Bubbles

ThisHappyMom.com

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August 15, 2017 · 4:50 pm

I’m Not Sure I Bend That Way…

Ground Zero Web

I just finished doing the “Lower Back” session on my “Gentle Yoga” DVD set by Sixtyandme.com. This is the 2nd time I’ve done this one since I got back in the saddle of eating RIGHT low carb and doing daily yoga again, and I have to admit it was a bit easier this time than last week.

That said, I seem to have spent YEARS stiffening up. I particularly notice that my arms and shoulders are stiff. It is very uncomfortable for me to lie on my back, lift my arms to about shoulder height or higher, and just lie there. I really feel an uncomfortable pulling telling me that people aren’t meant to open up that much. That’s MY problem, though, because clearly that shouldn’t be a problem. So each day, when we’re doing the final relaxation pose, I purposely put my arms in this position and concentrate on breathing into the tension I feel. I don’t know how long it will take for me to loosen up, but it’ll be worth whatever time that is.

I also find I cannot SIT on my feet from a bent knee position. The front of my thighs really scream. SO – after my relaxation, I get into that position for just a few seconds, hopefully longer each day, breathing into it.

I’m determined to get my body to loosen up. Each day I feel that I’m doing good things for my body. I used stupid excuses of what else I needed to do for a couple of months and lost ground, but I’ll get it back. As each pound leaves and each inch goes, I feel more and more confident that my lifestyle is the right one for me.

TaoLife.com

 

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August 15, 2017 · 10:44 am

Not a Word Was Spoken – Take 6

 

 

 

 

Thanks to my friend, Marsha Koenig, for her email.

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August 15, 2017 · 10:24 am

Button Art – Take 18

scottie dog collage art in buttons-thefuchsiashoe on etsy

 

 

mixed media and button art-pinterest

 

 

owl – pinterest

 

 

Panda – Pinterest

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August 15, 2017 · 10:17 am

White

“Chamomile” – Paul Militaru Photography

 

 

“White and Pink Waterlily” – Paul Militaru Photography

 

 

“White Dahlia” – Paul Militaru Photography

 

 

“White Flowers of Shrub” – Paul Militaru Photography

 

 

“White Ornamental Flowers” – Paul Militaru Photography

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August 15, 2017 · 10:12 am

“Aquarium” Hand-Painted Apron

 

Seawater aquarium fish adorn this one-of-a-kind hand-painted apron by Linda Lewis. Two layered apron – a smaller apron is sewn onto the top of this apron, then decorated with buttons and outlining paint. 26″ long and 19″ wide. 50% cotton, 50% polyester canvas. Treated with Scotchgard to prevent stains. Hand wash and dry flat. Iron on wrong side.

See all apron designs available

See other items by Linda Lewis on Artfire

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August 14, 2017 · 12:21 pm

Don’t

Journey to Happiness via Cathy Ruggiero

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August 14, 2017 · 11:13 am

Mountains

“Bucegi Mountains” – Paul Militaru Photography

 

“On Mountain Paths” – Paul Militaru Photography

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August 14, 2017 · 11:10 am

Not a Word Was Spoken – Take 5

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Marsha Koenig for her email.

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August 14, 2017 · 11:03 am

“Antique Raised Metallic Floral”

 

One-of-a-kind pair of flutes first frosted by hand with a sand blaster, hand-painted, then placed in the oven to make the paint permanent. Initialed and dated. “Antique Raised Metallic Floral”. You can FEEL the design on these flutes!

Please use the link above if you would like to purchase these. If the link doesn’t work for you, here is the URL to the item on ArtFire –

https://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/lindalewis/142835/flutes_-_hand-_painted_-_pair/fine_art/glass/glassware/flute

If you would like to see more of my work on ArtFire, here is a link to my page –

https://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/home/LindaLewis

 

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August 14, 2017 · 10:47 am

Button Art – Take 17

“Beagle with Leash” – CherCreations.etsy.com

 

 

BellePapiers.etsy.com

 

 

Horse – Pinterest

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August 14, 2017 · 10:19 am

Eating and Chewing

Eating and chewing. Chewing and Eating, Our lab puppy, Amber, lives for these two things. She would LIKE to have US for chew toys, too, but we’re discouraging that. We have to watch her like a hawk, catching her when she makes it through to the stuffing or the squeaker, and trying to eat those. I won’t buy any more toys with a lot of stuffing, but the squeakers are a particular joy in life to her, so those will continue. You can see a favorite hollow plastic bone in this picture. One end is fine, but the other end has collapsed, having a tear in it. She hasn’t been able to pull bits off yet, so it will remain in the toy box (at least some of the time.) *

 

This is a plastic ball with small plastic soft nubs sticking out all over it. It has a squeaker and Amber loves it. She WANTS to play tug of war with everything. She is slowly figuring out that, if she wants us to participate, she has to give us the toy first. It’s more fun when we throw it. So even though she wants to pull and tug, she’s starting to actually give us the ball (or other toy) occasionally.

 

She likes playing with several toys at once. I have a toy box in the corner of the office where at least once a day I throw all the toys. If she’s inside, that lasts approximately a minute. We’re learning to watch where we step. Here she’s chewing on the softer bone while keeping the harder KONG bone in reserve….

She’s spending more and more time inside with us. She really likes being with her people. She’ll happily stay in the office with us, or stay in her PLACE on the big dog bed in the living room, as long as both of us are there. We don’t have to be interacting with her – just there.

The other animals are becoming more resigned to the onslaught of Amber at least a couple of times per day. Thankfully, her exuberant behavior doesn’t last quite as long these days, so our family is beginning to meld.

*While I was typing, she started pulling off bits of the orange bone. I don’t THINK she ate any of them from the number of pieces on the floor. That toy is now history, but it lasted about 3 months – a record for a new toy for Amber.

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August 13, 2017 · 11:41 am

Arresting Faces – Take 5

Arresting Portraits by Jonathan Rosserby Christopher Jobson

 

 

 

Vita Kan

 

 

 

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August 13, 2017 · 11:18 am

Inside Day

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Yesterday we worked in the yard and did the grocery shopping a day early so we wouldn’t have to get out in the rain today. I’m happy we’re getting the rain – in fact, I’ve been walking around in it this morning. But I like to do that when it’s MY choice, NOT while I’m trying to get groceries in the car, return carts, etc.

I also love it when I’ve mowed the grass, gotten lots of weed whacking done, some weeding, etc. before the rain starts. THEN I can smile at the rain, curl up with a book and enjoy the day – doing inside have-to’s in-between chapters. :0)

I’m reading Book # 35 in the “In Death” series by J.D. Robb aka Nora Roberts. I ordered the last of the available ones yesterday – a thing that gave me a bit of a pang since I’m almost caught up with all she’s written in the series and will have to grow up a bit when I have to wait for the next one to be available.

I’ve had a productive morning so far, taking care of animals, starting the first of several loads of wash, changing the sheets on our bed, starting a roast in the crock pot for dinner, and more. I’ll continue to check off more jobs that have been waiting on me ‘inside,’ while I was giving ‘outside’ stuff priority.

When I went out on the back porch to get Amber to go for our first walk of the day, we were having a pretty good storm. I didn’t much like having to grab the umbrella, trying to keep a rein on the puppy as she did her usual mad dash for the spots she likes to take care of business. AND, of course, we had to stop while she got treats, being a food-driven dog.  It was then a challenge to get her BACK on the porch, put the umbrella up high where she won’t eat it, and get back inside to make her breakfast. Whew!

I’ve had to put her back on the porch for a while, due to hyperactivity around Molly, the old while dog, and Abby, the old fat cat. While I was trying to get her under control, there was much hissing and spitting from Abby and Molly was trying her best to become invisible and go to a different planet. I’ll bring Amber back in soon, giving the animals another chance to ‘visit’ when Amber is hopefully more calm.

I hope the weather is pleasant where you are today, and that you’re enjoying a great Sunday.

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August 13, 2017 · 11:01 am

Not a Word was Spoken – Take 4

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Marsha Koenig for the email.

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August 13, 2017 · 10:32 am

“Light Among the Trees”

“Light Among the Trees” – Paul Militaru Photography

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August 13, 2017 · 10:30 am

Star Reflections #1 Stained Glass Piece

 

7.25″ in diameter. One-of-a-kind stained glass piece by Linda and Harvey Lewis. Glass pieces are cut by hand, ground, foiled, and soldered. Came is affixed to finish the outer edge nicely. Center is striated orange glass. “Star” is striated orange and striated green glass. Background is a nice striated purple. Design by George Rough. Hole drilled for hanging with fishing line in a window. You can also hang it on the wall, affix it to a cabinet, or set it on a table with a table easel.

Please use the link above if you would like to purchase this one-of-a-kind stained glass piece. If the link doesn’t work for you, here is the URL to copy and paste into your browser –

https://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/lindalewis/142812/star_reflections__1_stained_glass_piece/fine_art/glass/stained_glass

See all my work on ArtFire

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Image

Yesterday’s Harvest

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August 12, 2017 · 5:55 pm
August 12, 2017 · 5:28 pm

Fast Fish

I have decided that it’s almost impossible for me to get pictures of my aquarium AND the fish so you can see both well. My sister-in-law, Mary Lou, mentioned the fish today and wanted to see more pics.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the best I could do, Mary Lou!

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August 12, 2017 · 11:06 am

Not a Word Was Spoken – Take 4

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Marsha Koenig for her email.

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