Goodwill Librarian via Cathy Ruggiero
I’m reading The Whisperer by John Grisham.
As usual, it grabs me on the first page and then I spent the new few days trying to get SOMETHING done besides reading it. I love falling into a world totally unlike mine with complex, engaging characters dealing with something compelling. If you need anything today, I’ll be sitting in my chair, coffee on the table on my warmer, reading. :0)
Filed under Hobbies, quality of life, Reading is FUNdamental
Nanea Hoffman – SweatpantsandCoffee – via Lisa Bearnes Richey
Filed under Encouragement, Favorite Quotes
Filed under Creativity, Gorgeous Glass
Corey Ford via email from Bill Lites
Filed under Amazing Animals, Favorite Quotes, Friendship
Our pets play “musical dog bed” as we used to play “musical chairs.”
The dog bed is technically Molly’s.
Molly-June2018
This is a small bed. Molly is about 25 lbs. She is a Cocker Spaniel/Schnauzer cross. She often gets run over or chewed on by our 93 lb Yellow Lab Retriever, Amber, and needs a break.
I just took this picture of Abby, one of two cats who love this dog bed, too. Abby takes great joy in spreading out as much as possible so that neither Smoke, our second cat, nor Molly, can share.
Earlier today, Amber decided that SHE wanted to get into the bed, but was only able to manage her back half.
After working at it quite a bit, she was finally able to get most of her into the bed. The picture doesn’t show it, but Abby sat a few feet away, watching, and Molly spread out on the bare floor next to my computer chair.
Filed under Amazing Animals, Family
“The Soothing Calm of the Water” – Paul Militaru Photography
Filed under Paul Militaru Photography
“Granny” (commission) charcoal on Gessoed Board 24″ x 18″
Filed under Creativity, drawings
“Gravity Quilt” – custom machine quilting by Natalia Bonner -www.pieceandquilt.com
quiltsonbastings.blogspot.com
sampaquiltaquilts.blogpot.com
Filed under Creativity, Embroidery/Sewing Art
“Railing of the Bridge” – Paul Militaru Photography
Filed under Paul Militaru Photography
I did two sessions of weeding in the trio of 8′ long brick planters that are between our front yard and our driveway today. I thought I would take advantage of the cooler temperature and overcast sky to do some good outside. Of course, the MINUTE I walked out there, the sun came out in full force…
I came in dripping twice, and then called it a day. I’ll try to do more tomorrow. I wanted to share some nice flowers that are blooming now, though. This is a burgundy lily. It’s all one bloom and knocks our socks off each year when it blooms.
This is impatiens on the front porch.
Pink phlox.
Deep pink phlox
My goldfish seem happier with the new filter. Even though the filter itself is smaller, the design of the pump with a tube basically sucking the water through the pump seems to be working well.
The fish didn’t actually SAY anything, but they’re swimming around with great enthusiasm. Can fish smile?
Filed under Amazing Animals, Family, Housekeeping - Maintenance
Jean Little – via email from Bill Lites
Filed under Amazing Animals, Family
Guardians Of Time-Manfred Kielnhofer-www.lightart-biennale.com
Filed under Creativity, sculpture
“Flowers of Wild Chestnut 1” – Paul Militaru Photography
Filed under Paul Militaru Photography
Iron Man Robot
Our wind and rain yesterday evening was impressive – hard rain and gusty winds. My husband waited out the storm in the shop. Our electricity flickered twice, but came on again quickly enough that our generator wasn’t triggered.
When the rain finally let up, my husband used the opportunity to burn all the trash that had been piling up in the shop, able to finally burn it safely.
When we drove down the driveway to go to town this morning, our robot beside the driveway (over 6 feet tall, weighing 250 pounds) was leaning into the trees. When this happened the last time, he went completely off the driveway and was head down halfway down the slope of the yard. We had to use a winch and my husband’s smarts to laboriously get him into position again. At that time, we arranged for a SECOND length of chain to be attached to his neck. The original went around his neck and was around the iron gateway post you see behind him. The second one is around his neck and goes around the tree down the driveway in front of him. The two together kept him mostly upright, just leaning into the trees. We were able to easily bring him to an upright position again. It’s an impressive wind, though, that blows him over!
No other consequences from the storm, thank goodness. Everything got a really good amount of water. All the plants are saying, “Ahhhh!” as we walk around the yard.
Since it’s still a bit cooler, I’m going to use the opportunity to try to get our trio of brick flower planters that run between our front yard and our driveway under better control. I’m hoping not to get bitten and/or stung, having sprayed everything with a good bug spray last week called, “EIGHT,” that’s supposed to kill the bugs, but not harm the plants, our animals, or us.
Have a fun day!
Filed under Arkansas, Greenwood, Mother Nature
I recently discovered Suzanne Starr’s fine work and wanted to share some of it with you. Her website is Suzanne Starr Art
“4H Champions” 48″ x 36″ Graphite on Clayboard – Winner Line/Shape Award 2018, The American Artists Professional League “Celebrating the Spirit of America” Recently Exhibited at Mystic Art Museum, Mystic CT
“Catch of the Day” – 18″ x 24″ – Graphite on Gessoed Board -CT Women Artists Members Show, New Britain Art League, New Britain CT
Filed under Creativity, drawings
“Two for Eternity” – Paul Militaru Photography
Filed under Paul Militaru Photography
We order lots of things online, but we don’t usually get such an interesting combination in one delivery. Today the Fedex guy delivered 9mm ammunition and a replacement pump for our clothes washer. Amber greeted him in the driveway having just gotten out of her pool. She jumped into the truck with him, making him laugh, even though she was dripping copiously.
We got a really good deal on 1000 rounds of 9mm ammo.
We didn’t get a great deal on the replacement clothes washer pump, but we needed it. Our washer has been sending us terse messages for the past couple of weeks saying it was unhappy. We got an “F02” which meant we should check the drain hose to see if were kinked or clogged, and a “SUD” which indicated that there were still suds in the rinse water.
We made sure the hose was fine. I figured out how to go ahead and use the washer, bypassing the error messages until the new pump arrived. It was delivered this morning, so when we got home from Lunch Bunch, we tackled replacing the pump. My husband found a video online that showed him at least the idea of what was required and how to attack it. In half an hour, he had the old pump off and the new pump on.
The old pump had a long screw and a penny in there which my husband thinks caused the clog to form. We don’t know when that happened, but the washer and dryer combo are 13 years old. We really don’t know how the washer was able to function at ALL with as much ‘stuff’ as it had in it. The washer is running happily now, free of clogs. It’s GOOD to have a husband who is good at diagnosing and fixing things.
Now I won’t have to shoot him with my new ammo! :0)
Filed under Housekeeping - Maintenance, Lewis projects
Jaume Pleansaat Yorkshire Sculpture Park-guttae.blogspot.com
Filed under Creativity, sculpture
“Gingerbread Village Quilt”-www.pieceandquilt.com
Filed under Creativity, Embroidery/Sewing Art
Facebook.com/ForTheLoveoftheDog via email from Bill Lites
Filed under Amazing Animals, Favorite Quotes
I was hoping to be able to report wonderful progress to you, but to be honest, I’m a bit bummed out.
I’ve lost a bit over 11 pounds via Nutrisystem thus far. Since my lardiest – almost 24 lbs. I’ve been ‘good,’ so my explanation is that when you’re old, it takes longer to lose the lard. I’m encouraged by the fact that I’m still making progress, but the slowness is getting to me a bit. I wish the Nutrisystem website had a ‘search,’ so that I could find the article about plateaus again. If I can’t find it, I’ll go back onto chat to see if someone can guide me.
I have found that measuring yourself is an art. I’m following their guidelines and trying to be as careful as possible, but from one week to the next, you would think that the numbers would be close. My accuracy apparently needs some work. My best guess is that I’ve lost a bit over 13 inches via Nutrisystem – almost 30 inches from my lardiest.
Even though I couldn’t swear what my actual numbers ARE, the difference is nice. My clothes are looser, and I’ve gone down a size or two in some cases. I’m moving a lot each day – some days on the official exercises, other days working my heart out in the garden or hauling things around or cleaning. I’m drinking my 64 oz of water each day.
Even though I’m a bit disappointed, my husband and I are doing good things for ourselves. I’m feeling more energetic, needing fewer naps. Each day I feel I’m doing a bit better, and that’s a good feeling. I’m doing what I can to keep serious health issues from my door.
taolife.com
Filed under Challenges, DIET!, exercise, getting the lard off, taking care of yourself
“Colorful Umbrellas” – Paul Militaru Photography
Filed under Paul Militaru Photography
This is Smoke, keeping my husband company while he works at the computer. She calmly jumps from the floor to my husband’s lap. If he’s accommodating, she settles down right there. If not, she then walks across the keyboard, creating some havoc, to find a comfortable spot to take a nap.
She certainly knows how to relax.
Filed under Amazing Animals, Family
One of the many challenges we’ve had with our SWEET 15-month-old, 93-pound Yellow Labrador Retriever PUPPY, Amber, is that to say ‘she is a water dog’ is one of the biggest understatements out there. When I scrubbed out her kiddie pool a couple of days ago and was refilling it, she wouldn’t even wait for the water to start filling the pool before she was in and out, barking at the spray head on the hose and playing in the water.
This love of playing in the water translates INSIDE, as well, to our aggravation. We try to have water bowls readily available inside and outside for our dogs and cats. Everyone ELSE just goes over and quietly drinks from the large plastic bowl we had. Since Amber delights in putting a paw or two in the bowl and happily spreading the water all over the floor, we switched from the plastic bowl to a large untippable stainless steel bowl. She doesn’t dump it, but manages to splash the water everywhere on a regular basis.
Today we got a new set up we ordered, hoping to solve the problem. This is a food and water bowls combo. The bowls fit into the table-like top, and the top fits onto legs. The table and legs are made of heavy-duty plastic. Since we know our dog well, we found a stud in the wall and screwed the whole thing into the stud. This is a super-sturdy set-up.
We tested it with Molly, our 25-pound, elderly Cocker Spaniel/Schnauzer cross, to make sure she can reach the water. She doesn’t like it much yet, but she is able to reach the water and drink.
Amber looked at it, wagged her tail, and went to do other dogly things.
I just checked, and there was water on the floor. So Amber went back sneakily – when we were otherwise occupied – and managed to splash water out. There is still some water for thirsty dogs and cats to drink, however, and the assembly is still in one piece, still firmly anchored. So we’ve made the problem a bit better, but now need to look for something to go under this to catch as much of the water as possible…
Filed under Amazing Animals, Family
creativeartworksblog 