Monthly Archives: January 2019

Detente in the Dining Area

Abby and Smoke are wonderful cats, but they aren’t really great friends. At best, they disdainfully tolerate each other. Most often, one is in the house and the other out – then they exchange places. One or both of them regularly take over the huge dog beds -at opposite ends – daring the doggies to get even close.

I was really surprised today to see them actually sharing the same small cat bed in the dining area! I think the biggest thing was that the bed was lying in a shaft of sunlight and it was warm.

It’s a bit of a struggle in this household to keep everyone’s noses in joint. The cats are jealous of each other, plus the dogs, and vice versa. We spent a LOT of time making sure that everyone eats at the same time, has plenty of water, go in an out pretty much at will, plus get at least her share of love from each of us on a daily basis.

It was really nice – and much appreciated – to see detente in the dining area.

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Reading is a Joy and a Pathway

Jeff Jett – LinkedIn

 

Dr. Seuss – Practicing Normal – Pinterest

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Filed under Amazing Animals, Awe-Inspiring Photography, Jeff Jett Photography, quality of life, Reading is FUNdamental

Children and Animals

Jeff Jett – LinkedIn

 

 

Jeff Jett – LinkedIn

 

 

Jeff Jett – LinkedIn

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Yo-Yo Weather

Ciker

Our weather is driving me nuts. It’s a wonder EVERYONE isn’t down with a cold.

Yesterday afternoon and evening it was really cold and we were supposed to get snow. We lucked out and didn’t get it, but we needed to drip water from a couple of our sinks to be sure the pipes wouldn’t freeze, with a low of 18 degrees F.

Today the high is supposed to be in the 50’s!  The sun is shining and it’s beautiful outside. We used this wonderful lull in our weather to fill up bird feeders on the deck. The birds were appreciative. :0)

Monday we’re supposed to get rain/ice/snow again….

We’re trying to dress in layers because no matter what you choose, you’re either too warm or too cool to be comfortable. Our doggies don’t seem to mind the cold-one-day-with-snow-on-the-ground and then almost t-shirt weather the next. I had to deal with the carcass of an armadillo they found and brought into the front yard to chew on yesterday. I gingerly picked it up – and it was the biggest armadillo I’ve personally ever seen – doubled bagged it and put it in the trash, then double-bagged the large trash bag… I have this illusion that our doggies are so SWEET and FUN-LOVING and AFFECTIONATE. It hurts my heart a bit when they stomp on those illusions a bit chewing on a stinky armadillo or deer skull… UGH.

Anthony J. D’Angelo

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Filed under Amazing Animals, Family, Mother Nature, Seasons

YIPPEEEEEE!

Can Stock Photo

Can you see me dancing around the room?

I FINISHED my part of the tax prep! Now the envelopes of organized information wait for us to add our stuff from Schwab to it and then we can dump it onto our wonderful CPA. YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

I just finished renaming the spreadsheet I created to open them for 2019 records. My GOAL is to update things once a month, adding the needed information, then filing the paper records according to deduction categories, rather than months. I think – if I can keep it up – this will save me a lot of time, effort, and tension next year.

Now I’m going to celebrate with a cup of coffee, at least one animals in my lap, and a good conversation with my husband.

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Filed under Acting Like a Grownup, Cause for Celebration, Challenges

Roadrunner

When we were sitting at our dining room table this morning, we suddenly noticed a road runner sitting in a ‘shovel bird’ feeder we made and have attached to the deck railing! I ran to get a camera, as it and my phone were both in the office. I was 10 seconds too late. By the time I got back, the road runner had moved to the side railing and by the time I got my camera ready, he had jumped off into the grass.

Here you can see the shovel bird where the road runner was sitting in the shovel part. I wish I could have captured the moment for you.

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Owls are Incredible

“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, Seduction

Elena (Livia) D. – LinkedIn

 

Jeff Jett – LinkedIn

 

Jeff Jett – LinkedIn

 

Jeff Jett – LinkedIn

 

Jeff Jett – LinkedIn

 

RJ Bennett – LinkedIn

 

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Friday’s Reorganization Project

We use Pyrex bowls on a daily basis to eat out of, store food in, etc. We made the mistake of stacking them neatly, only to find that they stuck together. We had to devise a way to get them apart without breaking one or both of the stuck bowls – which worked intermittently. We started stacking them in the messy fashion you see above in order to keep them from sticking together.  We put all the lids together, but you try to pull one out and usually end up with a handful, or some falling onto the floor…

I recently bought a book called, “The REALSIMPLE Method to Organizing Every Room and How to Keep it That Way” by the makers of RealSimple magazine.

As with any suggestions, some would be NICE but aren’t workable in a given situation. I did come across a good suggestion for our Pyrex bowl storage problem! They suggested we put the lids on the bowls and THEN stack them. DUH! I was hitting my head wondering why “I” didn’t think of this. I just implemented the suggestion –

My husband, who is nice enough to help me fill the dishwasher, empty it, and put things away again, might not agree this is a good solution, but I’ll ask him to TRY it with me. It certainly LOOKS better, doesn’t it?

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Filed under Housekeeping - Maintenance, I'm a slob, Organizing/DeCluttering

Double Dose of CUTE

Jeff Jett – LinkedIn

 

 

Jeff Jett – LinkedIn

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The Amazing Joe Bailey

Joe Bailey Sculpture – LinkedIn

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Jessica Anlauf Art

Jessica Anlauf – Pet Portraits – LinkedIn

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Massage, Fish, and Tax Prep, Oh My!

Groupon

My day started super-nicely with a massage by my massage therapist, Lynn Moody. She’s absolutely the best. She tackles an old lady with lots of aches and creaky bones and I emerge smiling and relaxed. I just wish I could afford to have massages more often!

My Aquarium Club

My poor fish are swimming around in cloudy water, so on my list, as soon as I finish this post, is to go vacuum out their tank, change the decor, and get them back into a clean, fresh tank.

Get It Back Campaign

Most of the rest of the day will be spent continuing our tax preparation. I’m making good progress. Today is medical stuff and extraneous things, and then I’ll be on the finish line, adding my information to the booklet our CPA provides. I’m hoping I’ll be finished with everything, waiting on our info from Schwab, by the end of the week.

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Filed under Acting Like a Grownup, Amazing Animals, Challenges, Family, taking care of yourself

Still Slogging

Jeff Jett – LinkedIn

I love this photo. Somehow it shows acceptance with spirit still in there somewhere – the way I’m feeling right now.

I’m about halfway finished with our tax prep for the year now. I made a spreadsheet with all pertinent charges listed and categorized. It took me three days. An epiphany occurred yesterday where I figured out that if I record this stuff on a spreadsheet on a monthly basis, it won’t be so much work! (Yeah, I learn slowly on some things.) I sorted it by three columns so the records are in good categories and can be referred to easily.

Today I’ll make an office deductions spreadsheet and business spreadsheet. Then I’m almost home free.

I hope you’re having a good day, too,  in your part of the world.

 

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Filed under Acting Like a Grownup, Attitude, Challenges, character-building exercises

Grateful It’s RAIN

Jeff Jett – LinkedIn

It’s gray today, windy, and cool. The drizzle we’re having now is supposed to turn to a big rain later today and tonight-into-tomorrow with another cold front coming through.

I’m grateful it’s rain today because it will finally get the rest of the snow off our steep driveway. We’re able to get down – and up again – due to our truck and our good snow tires, but delivery people probably wouldn’t try it and I don’t blame them. If we get flurries again tomorrow as is forecast, at least it’ll be a fresh start!

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Joe Bailey Art – Address Plaque

Joe Bailey Art – LinkedIn

I used to make address plaques. My husband and I cut several shapes from wood, sanded and painted them with several base coats. I would then paint a design on them and list them for sale. People who ordered them told me the house number which I added to the plaque, sprayed it with several coats of polyurethane for protection and mailed it to its new owners.

This address plaque by Joe Bailey brings this to an impossible level. To say it’s an art form just isn’t enough, is it?  I can’t say enough about his talent.

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Families

RJ Bennett – LinkedIn

 

RJ Bennett – LinkedIn

 

Sanjay K Daya – LinkedIn

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Dog Bed

Years ago we bought two huge dog beds (42″ x 50″) so that our pit bull, Bambi, and our cocker-spaniel/schnauzer cross, Molly, could spread out in comfort. It was also good for teaching the word “PLACE!” when we needed them to calm down and stay in one place for a bit. Now Bambi is gone and Amber (above)  enjoys the bed with Molly. (below)

As you can also see by the pictures above, the problem with best-laid plans is that many times things work out differently.

In the office with me were Molly in one bed that lives between my desk and some shelves, and Amber, using what is supposed to be the cat bed. I saw the reason why when I passed through our living room. This is one of the dog beds. The cats had taken it over and were daring the dogs to try to share it.  Since you saw the pics of Molly and Amber above, you know who won….

 

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Your CUTE for the Day – 1-21-2019

Jeff Jett – LinkedIn

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Positive or Negative?

SayingImages.com

I truly believe that happiness comes from inside you.

Of course, it never hurts to win the lottery, but your attitude about what is happening colors everything you feel, say, and do.

When I find that I have my nose out of joint, I look around, looking to blame something or someone for my bad mood. A lot of times I feel justified for a bit, stewing and fueling my anger, frustration, hurt feelings, and more.

If I think ‘something‘ is at the root of my problem, I try to quit griping internally and do everything I can to change the situation. (I have more luck with this at some times, than others.)  When my attitude is due to ‘someone,’ I try to explain my feelings when I’m calmer in an effort to get them to understand and talk about things we can do differently.

I have more trouble with things involving ‘someone‘ than ‘something,’ because, after I examine the situation, I find I need to change MYSELF, rather than trying to get the someONE to change. I look at the larger picture and have to admit that at least 50% of the ‘problem’ is me.

SO – I can choose to keep my nose out of joint or decide to adapt, looking at things from a more positive point of view.

Developing and nurturing a positive attitude is a much healthier, happier way to live.

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Filed under Acting Like a Grownup, Attitude, Encouragement

Bethany Kerr Drawings

Bethany Kerr

This are drawings Bethany Kerr did of her children in 2016.  Her talent knows no bounds.

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Baby Elephants Playing

This wonderful series of photos of baby elephants playing was posted by RJ Bennett on LinkedIn. The photographer was Alin Widow. They were taken at Kuger National Park. Credits also to Caters News Agency.


 

 

 

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Character-Building Exercise

Mindfulness Training

I have probably indicated that I HATE preparing our stuff for taxes each year. I have probably also admitted that I excel at procrastination – championship level, I might add – modestly, of course. :0)

Today is the day –

I have run out of even the most feeble excuses for not at least making the first pass at our stuff.

Our office is beginning to look as if a bomb exploded in here.

STEP 1 – I have gone through the ‘helpful packet’ our CPA provides. So I feel a BIT better about myself at the moment.

STEP 2 – I’m now slogging through our monthly receipts, grouping them according to categories. I’ve made it through 3 months so far.

__________________

STEP 3 – is going through our credit card and bank statements for pertinent information.

STEP 4 – is totalling the various categories.

STEP 5 – is putting the receipts where they belong in the ‘helpful packet’

STEP 6 – is waiting until we get our official Schwab statement – the thing that is the most important and always takes the longest to receive.

STEP 7 – is bagging it all up and driving to Fort Smith to dump it on our wonderful CPA.

 

My goal is to be finished with Steps 1-5 by the end of this month or before. I’m going to take a break now, but will return to do another session this afternoon after we eat some lunch.

Did I happen to mention I HATE tax prep?  UGH!

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Filed under Attitude, Challenges, character-building exercises

Decluttering

Oldtimers via Stephanie Youmans Wilson

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Filed under Favorite Quotes, Funny Signs - Humor, Organizing/DeCluttering

Art in the Snow

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Shoebill Stork

RJ Bennett – LinkedIn

 

RJ Bennett – LinkedIn

The shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) also known as whalehead, is a very large stork-like bird. It derives its name from its enormous shoe-shaped bill. It has a somewhat stork-like overall form and has previously been classified with the storks in the order Ciconiiformes based on this morphology. However, genetic evidence places it with the Pelecaniformes. The adult is mainly grey while the juveniles are browner. It lives in tropical east Africa in large swamps from Sudan to Zambia.[2] ~ Wikipedia

Hayden’s Animal Facts

 

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Your CUTE for the Day from Jeff Jett

Jeff Jett – LinkedIn

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“Glen”

“Glen” – Niki Firmin Pet Portraits

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Art from Found Things – Take 32

emptykingdom.com – Natsumi Tomita

 

Natsumi Tomita

 

Pinterest

 

Toxel.com

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“Seen Among the Trees”

“Seen Among the Trees” – Paul Militaru Photography

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More Images from Rachealgrace Adams

KG Photography via Rachealgrace Adams

 

Rachealgrace Adams

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Miracles

Power of Positivity via CathyRuggiero

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