RJ Bennett – LinkedIn
RJ Bennett – LinkedIn
Polyushko Sergey via Jeff Jett – LinkedIn
Bence Mate – Hungary via Paul Stolle – LinkedIn
*There are many talented photographers taking pictures to die for. Some are signed. Some are not. All are shared by people who care about our wildlife and their habitats.
Yoko Yamamoto – Ballpen Owls – behance.net – linkedin
saroshngp – via- Sonja A. – linkedin
RJ Bennett – LinkedIn
Jeff Jett – LinkedIn
RJ Bennett – LinkedIn
RJ Bennett – LinkedIn
RJ Bennett – LinkedIn
RJ Bennett – LinkedIn
RJ Bennett – LinkedIn
“Eating on Ice” – Paul Militaru Photography
“Looking for a Partner” – Paul Militaru Photography
Rebel Circus via Passionate Penny Pincher via Stephanie Youmans Wilson
Filed under Funny Signs - Humor
Thinking People via Melissa Eastman
I’ve been splurging – re-reading my collection of the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. There are 25 books in the series so far, 24 in paperback. I’m on #23, smiling all the way through it.
I love this series because the characters are seriously flawed and – if not lovable – are likable, and very amusing. On re-reading, I sometimes laugh out loud, but not as often as I did the first time. The writing is so good, though, I snort, or at least smirk, through much of them. The wacky characters get into totally bizarre situations. Sharing the situations with them, and seeing how they get through them, and the consequences, is a joy. I don’t really want to BE in their world, but I love sharing it from a bit of a distance.
Janet has # 25 in hard back now, and, of course, it’s a best seller. I’m not sure when the paperback will be available, but I’m looking forward to being able to add it to my collection.
Filed under Favorite Authors & Books, Hobbies, Reading is FUNdamental
This is a nice view out our back door last fall. We live on top of a ridge line outside the city limits of Greenwood, Arkansas. We have about 8 acres, but we can pretend we own all we can see from the top of our hill. :0)
This is the view this morning –
Really thick fog making the view look surreal!
You can barely discern one of the ridge lines and you can’t see the valley at all! This is the thing fantasies are made of!
Filed under Mother Nature, Views
The brick-lined rectangular slab on the right used to be a planter. We built it several years ago, along with 13 others, and all of a sudden it wasn’t happy, its sides bowing out a bit. One other planter just like it at the opposite end of the house needs to come down, too.
We weren’t planning to do anything about this until the spring. :0(
My husband decided he would dig out one of the hydrangea bushes in it, and the whole front of the planter collapsed, forcing us to get things to a reasonable point before our winter got serious. We lucked out, getting a few days of spring-like weather, so we knocked down the other bricks, hauled them to behind the well house where we stacked them up, dug out the potting soil and put it on the tarp to the left of the photo. We spent part of several days demolishing the planter. We’re a bit long-in-the-tooth now and sledge-hammering, shoveling, and hauling bricks tires us out pretty quickly.
We got to the bottom layer of bricks, but no matter what we used, they wouldn’t budge. This means we’ll do the brick laying to rebuild the planter ourselves, since no pro would touch it. We wrapped up the potting soil in the tarp, got another one to put on the top and held it down with bricks – to save as much of the potting soil as we can. Just in time, since the rains came and now we have the smallest rectangular ‘lake’ in the world – the bricks holding the water in on top of the concrete slab.
We bought replacement bricks several months back, so when the weather is cooperative and warm enough for the mortar to set well, we’ll try to demolish the other wounded planter and then get busy with the rebuilding. Since we’re now seriously heading into winter, this will probably be it on the planter project until the spring.
Filed under Gardening, Housekeeping - Maintenance, Lewis projects
Jeff Jett – LinkedIn
Jeff Jett – LinkedIn
Jeff Jett – LinkedIn
Jeff Jett – LinkedIn
Jeff Jett – LinkedIn
Filed under Amazing Animals, motherhood
Catherine Lee – LinkedIn
Catherine Lee – LinkedIn
Catherine Lee – LinkedIn
These photos are taken by lots of talented photographers in an effort to bring awareness of endangered species and the part humans play in making sure they live on.
Filed under Amazing Animals, Awe-Inspiring Photography, Catherine Lee
I Stole This from Another Page via Cindy Basnett Thurman
Filed under Attitude, Funny Signs - Humor
RJ Bennett – LinkedIn
Catherine Lee – LinkedIn
RJ Bennett – LinkedIn
Filed under Amazing Animals
123RF.com
I told you that I was very happy with the carpet cleaning company, ChemDry, in another post.
I went to their website yesterday and left a good review, thinking it might help them reach more people.
This morning I called the office, told the lady my name, and reminded her that I had my carpet cleaned yesterday afternoon. She said, “Yes, is there a problem?”
I went on to tell her that I couldn’t be happier with the job that Alex and Sao (spelling?) did. That they were careful, courteous, and professional. I also thanked HER for being so nice on the phone, and being so good at her job.
There were a couple of seconds of silence. She finally said, “I’m speechless. This is so nice.”
It reminded me how important it is to let people know when they do a good job, thanking them personally, and in any way you can think of to show others you’re happy with them.
I told her that she was so courteous and the company did such a good job that they stood out – particularly in this day and age where you feel like a number, or a necessary irritant in someone’s day. How NICE it is that someone calls you when they will be delayed, when the bill is what they SAID it would be, that they are super careful not to make a mess or hurt anything.
It was obvious that she was thrilled and that I had given her a much-needed boost.
After I got off the phone, I made a mental note to myself to be more conscientious in my efforts to say THANK YOU. I always try to be kind, but it only takes a few minutes to shake the workers’ hands and THANK them for a job well done. It only takes a few minutes to call and THANK the lady who is so nice and helpful when you call. It only takes a few minutes to let others know you’ve found a company worth your business.
Good job, ChemDry – and THANK YOU!
Jeff Jett – LinkedIn
“Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods. Cats have never forgotten this.” ~ Anon.
Catherine Lee – LinkedIn
“As every cat owner knows, nobody owns a cat.” ~ Ellen Perry Berkeley
Catherine Lee – LinkedIn
“I have studied many philosophers and many cats. The wisdom of cats is infinitely superior.” ~ Hippolyte Taine
Catherine Lee – LinkedIn
“Some people say that cats are sneaky, evil, and cruel. True, and they have many other fine qualities as well.” ~ Missy Dizick
Esma CETIN – LinkedIn
“As anyone who has ever been around a cat for any length of time well knows, cats have enormous patience with the limitations of the human kind.” ~ Cleveland Amory
Jeff Jett – LinkedIn
“Cats always seem so very wise, when staring with their half-closed eyes. Can they be thinking, “I’ll be nice, and maybe she will feed me twice?” ~ Bette Midler
Jeff Jett – LinkedIn
“Way down deep, we’re all motivated by the same urges. Cats have the courage to live by them.” –Jim Davis (Garfield creator)
Jeff Jett – LinkedIn
“My husband said it was him or the cat… I miss him sometimes.” ~ Anon.
THING ONE –
“Snapdragon – 1” – Paul Militaru Photography
THING TWO –
Painting by Alina Ciuciu – LinkedIn
YouTube
I’m feeling sassy this morning because my first floor carpet is CLEAN for the first time in several years!
I’ve vacuumed and spot-cleaned, when necessary, to the point the only CLEAN spots – where we used RESOLVE – showed up horribly. I had put off using a professional carpet cleaning service because I’m a slob, but I don’t like to advertise the fact any more than I must. It’s depressing, though, to be doing all you can and for the carpet to still look grungy when you finish.
I finally called a company called, ChemDry. They serve the Crawford and Sebastian County area in Arkansas. They use a method that uses a lot less water and chemicals that are safe for kids and pets – a really important thing to me. I lucked out. I called one day and they were due to be in our area the next day so I got an appointment for 1:30 in the afternoon yesterday!
1:30 came and went, but then we got a phone call from the cleaning guy. He said they were running an hour late. I said, “Fine,” and we waited. They came right at 2:30. I showed them what we wanted done and they both listened carefully. They were very careful moving their equipment in and out, (a real challenge with dog gates in each doorway), very courteous, and total professionals. At one point they had me come in to look before they were finished. There was a clear line between where they had cleaned and what was left to be done. Very impressive!
Alex also told me about a product to use on spots on the carpet that is better than Resolve. It’s called Benefect Decon 30. It comes in a gallon jug. You pour some on the spot. Let it dry. If there is any ring, you wipe with a damp cloth. I ordered some on Amazon yesterday afternoon.
It took them approximately two hours to do our living room, office, and foyer. The only ones a bit frustrated at the activity were our dogs, who were out on the back porch. After the guys had gotten a good start, I went out and sat on the porch with our doggies, who welcomed me as if it had been YEARS since we had last seen each other, and then calmed down. I again left them after spending about an hour out there. We enjoyed it because it was a beautiful, unusually warm day for Arkansas in January, and I saw THREE PAIRS of cardinals in the evergreen trees in one side of our back yard!
I left a good review on their website and am trying this morning to call and talk to the nice lady who schedules appointments. I have put their name and phone number in my contacts list and will call them again. They also clean tile and grout!
As I’m moving small stuff back in place, I’m SMILING at my carpet!!!
Catherine Lee – LinkedIn
Marybeth Bruchwalski – AR Sunrises and Sunsets via Cindy Basnett Thurman
Nature via Cathy Ruggiero
Svetlana Milenkovic – LinkedIn
Wim Beunderman – LinkedIn
Catherine Lee – LinkedIn
Catherine Lee – LinkedIn
Catherine Lee – LinkedIn
Filed under Awe-Inspiring Photography, Catherine Lee
Zen to Zany via Cathy Ruggiero
Filed under anticipation, Attitude, Childlike Fun, Encouragement
Yale Medicine
We have carpet cleaning people coming at 1:30 today to clean the carpet in our living room, office, and foyer on the first floor.
I’ve been moving the small stuff, but my husband insists he doesn’t want them to move anything except our chairs, as far as furniture is concerned.
Even with all the purging I’ve been doing over the past year, I’m amazed at how much STUFF we have on the floors!
I’m almost ready for them now. I vacuumed yesterday, but I know they’ll find a huge amount of dust, hair balls, and maybe even pencils, pens, cat toys, etc. under the heavy chairs. I’m hoping that they have really powerful vacuum cleaners when they come.
I chose a company called ChemDry because they don’t use nearly as much water. Their chemicals are safe for kids and pets (our two doggies and two cats will thank them for that. Our four fish are up on the divider between the kitchen and the dining area, so they don’t say much one way or the other.) The carpet is supposed to be dry in 2 hours.
In the office, things are pretty unmovable, so we’ll just ask them to clean the areas that they can get to, moving only our chairs. We have huge metal file cabinets, my old desk, shelving, roll-around carpet pads, etc. If they can just make the areas they can get to cleaner, we’ll be happy.
The foyer is fairly clear of stuff. We’ll put the dogs out on the back porch. I’ve already moved their huge bed out there (along with a gazillion little things that were on the floors). My husband and I will probably stay in the dining area, reading books, while they work.
I feel the same way today that I do when someone replaces an appliance, and years worth of YUCK are under and behind them. I feel SURE that every other housekeeper in the world gets under and behind everything with a toothbrush, leaving the areas pristine. I’m a slob, finding all kinds of things I would rather do than clean house.
I’m still trying to get up into my art room and play, but I tend to zone out when I’m up there, so it won’t be this afternoon.
All appendages – plus my eyes – are crossed that – once they get over how dirty our carpet is – they will be able to do a good job for us.
Filed under Housekeeping - Maintenance, I'm a slob
SayingImages.com
My husband and I were raking rocks, picking up tools, hauling bricks, and wrapping up the potting soil for the planter we had to demolish. My husband’s hearing is a bit challenged (I guess mine probably is, too), but I asked him, while he was raking rocks, if I should start gathering the tools. He gave me an exasperated look, stopped raking rocks, and started pitching tools into the wheelbarrow. I helped him finish that, hauled off some bricks, put away the tools, and came back and helped with the rock raking. We put some bricks on top of the tarp filled with soil and agreed that we would need to get a smaller tarp tomorrow to cover up the soil better.
While we were taking some pry bars back out to the shop, I apologized that I had made him angry. He finally said, “You wanted me to help raking rocks. THEN you decided to haul the bricks off instead of raking with me. THEN you wanted me to stop what I was doing and pick up tools.”
The fact that he was out there raking rocks and helping to get to a good stopping place on the planter meant more to me than the fact he got angry with me because he won’t admit he needs his hearing checked. I DO value our relationship, and it IS more important than my ego or who was right or wrong.
Filed under Family, Lewis projects
Shutterstock
I’m frustrated because it’s already Tuesday afternoon and my exercise plans are blown for the week.
I told you that I was going to do some combination of DANCING exercise video, WALKING exercise video, the elliptical trainer, Wii Fit Plus, and yoga during Monday through Friday to try to keep moving, give myself a lot of variety, and try to increase my health and mobility.
THEN, our brick planter collapsed, sending brick everywhere.
We KNEW that this planter we built years ago and one other (both 8 feet long and a foot wide in front of our home at either end) were failing and would need to be replaced. We just didn’t plan on it right NOW. We figure the mortar we used was bad, since the other 12 planters we built are doing fine.
Once it collapsed, there was nothing to do but demolish the planter, haul the bricks over to a storage place behind the well house, shovel out the potting soil, and prep the area to rebuild it.
We’ve spent part of two days on it so far. We got down to the concrete slab we poured and the bottom round of bricks. We tried with a sledge hammer, pic-ax, and other tools to loosen the bottom round of bricks, but they wouldn’t budge. We have now decided to prep the area, raking rocks out of the way, wrapping up the potting soil in a tarp, and will re-brick the planter ourselves when the weather and temperature are good.
I’m about to go out and rake rocks. I’m not sure yet, whether we’ll go ahead and demolish the other planter or just hope it stays in one piece until spring.
I’m frustrated because I know this kind of activity doesn’t really take the place of official exercises. I can do a lot around the house or yard and not activate all the muscles that need it. Even raking rocks, wrapping up soil, sweeping, etc., isn’t the same as one of my more official avenues of exercise.
Tomorrow a carpet cleaning company is coming to clean our living room, office, and foyer. I’ll be relocating small stuff all morning in preparation for their work. Then, when the carpet is dry, we’ll be putting things back. A lot of labor, but –
I’ll just go with the flow and start my ‘official’ exercises NEXT week…
Filed under exercise, Housekeeping - Maintenance, Lewis projects
Catherine Lee – LinkedIn
Jim Zuckerman – LinkedIn
Edward Aldrich – American Artist- via Elena (Livia) D. – LinkedIn
Jim Zuckerman – LinkedIn
RJ Bennett – LinkedIn
RJ Bennett – LinkedIn
RJ Bennett – LinkedIn
RJ Bennett – LinkedIn
RJ Bennett – LinkedIn
*A lot of talented people have gathered together to try to save endangered species. There are many talented photographers involved in these postings.
Joe Bailey Sculpture & Design
Joe Bailey is a very talented artist, creating wonderful sculptures and drawings. I’ve shown you some of his sculptures before on the blog. He has a website called, Joe Bailey Sculpture & Design where he features ‘Anham Hall Asylum’ sculptures and drawings. He describes this as, “A new, dark and haunting (but fun!) project that I’m working on featuring the sinister goings on at Anham Hall Asylum (Animal Asylum) ….welcome to the funny farm! :-)”
Click on this link to find some amazing work. Joe Bailey Sculpture & Design.
Filed under Joe Bailey Art, sculpture
Bubonik
We tried to go back out to work on finishing demolishing the brick planter after a late lunch, but weren’t making much progress. We decided to call it a day and hit it again tomorrow.
Filed under Housekeeping - Maintenance, Lewis projects
WLOX.com
This picture gives you a BIT of an idea of what we’ve been doing since yesterday afternoon.
My husband went out to see if he might be able to dig a hydrangea out of one of two brick planters that are suddenly falling apart in front of our home. (We think the mortar we used must have been bad.) We built 12 others that are doing fine.
He just started to use a shovel – and part of the whole front of the planter came down with a crash. I was planning to go to my art room to play, and suddenly we were going to the local hardware store for two tarps for the “demolishing-the-planter” project.
We spread one tarp out and held it down with some of the bricks that had fallen off the planter. We spent an hour and a half yesterday trying to dig the big hydrangea out of one end of the planter. My husband dug and cut and I threw bricks into the wheelbarrow and carted them off behind our well house and then stacked them up. We FINALLY got the huge ball and roots of the hydrangea to let go and then spent 10 minutes with both of us working together trying to roll the ball off the end of the civilized portion of our front yard. (The rest is woods.) We called it a day right before dark.
Today we did errands, came home and had our Nutrisystem mid-morning snack. I came in to work on the computer and suddenly noticed things were quiet. (I had again been planning to go upstairs and play in my art room.)
________________
I looked around and discovered my husband had gone outside to tackle the planter again. I grabbed some gloves and went out to help.
We had another hydrangea, and I suggested we use a pick-ax to break it apart a little at a time. That seemed to work much better. My husband wielded the heavy pick-ax, then I shoveled up the dirt and threw it onto the pile on the tarp. This allowed each of us a bit of time to rest between periods of exertion.
We now have most of the potting soil on the tarp. We’re taking a break, drinking water, and relaxing a bit.
We’ll go back out and see if we can remove the rest of the bricks and then do an extensive clean up. We want to leave the concrete slab as clean as possible, raking the decorative rocks away from the edges of the slab. We’ll use a leaf blower to try to get the remaining soil out of the rocks. We’ll wrap up the tarp, putting bricks on top to keep the soil intact as much as possible.
We have another planter to do, but I’m not sure we’ll get to that one now. We have already purchased a pallet (or whatever you call it) of bricks to use to rebuild the planters. If we can find an expert to do it that we can afford, we’ll do it. If not, we’ll get busy mixing mortar in the spring…
Maybe TOMORROW I can play.
Filed under Housekeeping - Maintenance, Lewis projects
Daryl Roy – LinkedIn
Smiling and laughing are contagious. I’ve seen videos where someone on a bus will start to laugh and all around him start laughing, too, even though they have no clue what is funny. I’ve seen faces of seeming bitter old people break out in a truly wonderful smile when someone smiles at THEM.
I’ve been in a sad state of mind and DECIDED I would smile at people (and animals) wherever I saw them. Not only did most smile back at me, MY spirits were raised, as well!
I have decided that attitude is all in life. You can’t control much of what happens to you and around you. You CAN control your reaction to it. I’m not saying I think one should go around with a silly grin on your face regardless of what is happening around you. I AM saying that many times you can CHOOSE which part of an event you’re reacting to.
Two examples –
What I am choosing to react to is how lucky I am to have known her. How proud I was of her creative spirit and lust for life. I can celebrate her life.
I spent a couple of days on the verge of tears. (I’m tearing up NOW as I type.) I already miss him and his exquisite hugs so badly it hurts. I can choose to dwell on the fact that he’s gone. I can feel sorry for myself that he lives half way across the world. I can be depressed that it might be several years before he comes to visit again.
What I am choosing to do is to be grateful we have such a wonderful son – proud of the kind, caring man he is. I’m happy that he loves us not only as his parents, but as people he enjoys spending time with. He has gone to great lengths to set up a secure chat program so we can talk several times a day. (We’ve already spoken to him three times today.) He also set up a conference call program – like Skype – but infinitely better, where we can talk and see each other real-time when we’re all up and functional at the same time. (There is 12 hours difference between us.) I can remember every moment of our visit, laughing, teasing each other, having some serious talks, and the wonderful hugs.
I choose to look at the positive side of things as much as I am able. I want to concentrate on the NOW – the sounds, smells, feelings, people, pets, ideas. How lucky I am to be alive.
I want to “be so happy that when others look at me, they become happy, too.”
Filed under Attitude, Challenges, Encouragement
creativeartworksblog 