My fish didn’t complain, but I have neglected them since Mother Nature fried so many of our things. I finally took the time today to vacuum their aquarium, put in fresh scenery, and nice fresh water.
The largest goldfish is almost too large to swim through the barrels, but the other three do it regularly.
Things will settle a bit more, but the fish definitely have a new lease on life today.
Filed under Amazing Animals, Family, Housekeeping - Maintenance
Adilya Rangga-CRMY Pictures 2014 via RJ Bennett – LinkedIn
ZietsPhotography via RJ Bennett – LinkedIn
Filed under Amazing Animals, Awe-Inspiring Photography, R.J. Bennett
Jeff Jett – LinkedIn
Am I excited about my new clothes washer? You’d better believe I am!!!!
Since Mother Nature fried a LOT of our stuff about 3 weeks ago, including our clothes washer, I’ve been washing clothes in our kitchen sink. I almost looked online to see if I could find the old washing boards people used to use. Needless to say, we have a LOT of laundry that is waiting for attention.
The washer was delivered this morning by two really nice men. They had a big truck (but not a semi). They BACKED it up the driveway! Our driveway is steep. It is 650+ feet from the road to our house. And they managed to BACK the truck up to the top. The first thing I said was that I was so impressed with their driving.
They took the old washer and pedestal out. Then they told us that they couldn’t install the washer because we wanted to use the old pedestal.
SO – They brought the pedestal back inside, then brought the new washer in, and went over with my husband what we would need to do to install it.
We had to lay the new washer down on its side. (The big dog bed was right there, so that made a good cushion.) We then screwed the old pedestal onto the new washer with much gnashing of teeth and a few bad words. We then managed to stand up the washer on the old pedestal, then move it carefully toward the place it would live. My husband took the ‘moving bolt thingies” out of the back of the washer, attached the power cord and the water hoses. We jockeyed it back and forth a little at a time, until it was in the right place.
We threw in all the towels that were used in the getting-rid-of-the-old and installing-the-new, threw in some soap and turned it on. It actually has a special cycle for towels! It hummed a bit. We re-read the manual. We were supposed to HOLD the start button down longer. It hummed again. Then my husband said more bad words because he figured out he forgot to turn on the water.
We turned the machine off, jockeyed it out far enough so he could turn on the water, then jockeyed it back into place.
Finally we had to put the drawer back in the pedestal. (That screws into place on runners.) The inside of the drawer was disgraceful. (did I mention that I’m an awful housekeeper?) so I got a wet cloth, mopped it out, dried it and then put stuff back in. (I actually like the pedestals because of the height they add to the front loading washer and dryer, rather than because of any storage, so the drawer probably hadn’t been opened since we got the set in 2005….)
The washer is now running happily, about half way finished with the towels. I have about a hundred (more or less) loads left to do – gathered over the past three weeks – so guess what I’ll be doing over the next few days!
I am truly delighted to have a washer going again. I’ve become spoiled and I really missed it.
It will be GREAT when all is clean again!
YAHOO!
Filed under Challenges, Changes, Housekeeping - Maintenance, I'm a slob
ThoughtCo
I’m finishing up re-reading a favorite book of mine by Nora Roberts called, Three Fates. Even though I’ve read it once, quite awhile ago, I still have trouble putting it down and getting anything else done. :0)
Her latest book in the “In Death” series is coming out in paperback at the end of this month. I’ve pre-ordered it. It’s called, Connections in Death. I really love this series. The main character, Eve Dallas, is a police detective. She’s gutsy and strong, even though she has her quirks. The characters that make up her world are fascinating. I love living in her world for awhile.
As soon as I finish my current book, I’ll re-read the whole 47-book series in preparation for adding the 48th. I’m not sure I can read 47 books before I receive the next one, but the situation makes me feel rich in wonderful books just waiting for me!
I feel the same way when I’m re-reading the books of Robert B. Parker, or Lee Child, or many other incredibly talented authors. How lucky I am!
Jeff Jett – LinkedIn
Jeff Jett – LinkedIn
*These photos are taken by talented photographers in an effort to preserve wildlife and their habitats.
iStockPhoto
We go bowling every Monday (mostly) with long-time good friends.
I’ve heard the adage, “Practice makes perfect.” Whoever said that has not seen us bowl. We can’t even say we have ‘averages.’ Each Monday is an entirely new “bowl game” ( :0) ) with each of us being ‘on,’ ‘off,’ or somewhere in the middle. I’ve missed getting 100. I’ve bowled a 211. Sometimes I look like I know what I’m doing, picking up spares. Sometimes I would do better standing in the lane on either side of ours and throwing the ball like a baseball. (Assuming I COULD…) There is no rhyme, reason, or consistency in this pretty nice group of people.
We always go to Braum’s Ice Cream after we bowl. The ice cream may be for celebration of a good job that night, or commiseration that we embarrassed ourselves once again. We are all trying to lose the lard, so the ice cream is a really special treat. I look forward to my ‘one-scoop-of-chocolate-in-a-cup’ all day Mondays and plan the rest of my eating around that, since that one scoop is 16 carbs and I try to stay at 20 or under daily.
My sister-in-law, Mary Lou, got to the crux of it in an email Tuesday. “It’s really all about the ice cream, anyway.”
Filed under Attitude, exercise, Friendship
Good news and iffy news from the garden today.
GOOD NEWS – more ripe tomatoes and it looks like lots more to come. The radishes and sweet red onions seem to be doing fine.
IFFY NEWS – I have a lot of ‘greenery’ and blossoms from my zucchini and cantaloupe plants, but the actual veggies and fruits are looking wimpy. In three days of my concentrating on other parts of the yard, the weeds are trying to take over. The heat index is 105 today, so I’ll have to wait until dusk to do anything out there. I’ll weed as much as I can and then put some extra fertilizer over things and see what, if anything, happens.
I absolutely LOVE trying to grow veggies and fruit. I have a wonderful set up, with chest-high wooden 4′ x 4′ planters filled with Mel’s Mix (peat moss, vermiculite, and several kinds of compost) and an irrigation system for consistent watering. I have unlimited hope and enthusiasm, but little expertise, though I’m reading and learning what I’m supposed to be doing on a regular basis. Thus far, the list of things NOT to do again is growing much faster than the successes, but my motivation is still strong.
Each lunch and each dinner features fresh, ripe tomatoes from our own garden. I ‘spiralized’ (made spaghetti-like stuff with the aid of my kitchen gadget) from one pregnant-looking zucchini from our own garden and my husband pronounced it ‘yummy.’ Next year I plan to grow yellow squash, too. We’re spiralizing that, too, and my husband is shocked that he enjoys both of these. He did say, though, that he’ll TRY some as a substitute for actual pasta, but doesn’t hold high hopes for the idea yet. I’m hoping I can convince him. :0)
Amber
Sweet Amber is healing from her ‘adventure’ (whatever it was) recently.
I am leading to her being clipped by a car or truck, or being kicked by a cow. She had a deep skinned place on her head (you can see the scab has come off and pink skin is there), Her left eye was badly irritated with a red rim around it and a scab on the outer corner, skinned places on both front legs, and she was limping badly.
She is MUCH better now. All the skinned areas are healing. We’re not sure if she will grow hair on the place on her head or not. She is still ‘favoring’ the left back leg, but not limping badly. She is able to do one of her favorite things, jump up into the back seat of the truck to GO!
She is again very responsive, wanting to be wherever we are. We are very lucky. She was pretty badly hurt. We’re HOPING that she has learned a lesson and will not do WHATEVER IT WAS again!
Filed under Amazing Animals, Family
Bethany Kerr Commissioned Pet Portrait
BethanyKerrFineArt on Etsy
BethanyKerrFineArt on Etsy
BethanyKerrFineArt on Etsy
Filed under Bethany Kerr, drawings, Watercolors I Love
Jeff Jett
Jeff Jett is an animal lover, doing what he can to help preserve wild animals and their habitats. To this end, he posts the most wonderful photographs on LinkedIn, taken by talented folks all over the world, who share his interest, and we are all richer for it.
Jeff Jett
I simply melt when I see the photos these talented photographers take. I have no idea how they get these. You can’t just ask for a pose and say, “Say Cheese!” I guess. :0)
Jeff Jett
Jeff Jett
Jeff Jett
Thanks to all the talented photographers who gave us these photos. I wish I could credit each of them. I only see one credit (in the photo above) but I cannot read it. Sorry. Maybe it’s enough that we react, appreciate, and enjoy.
I have read that turquoise is THE color this summer. That led to these note cards using turquoise as the starting color on each of the note cards and envelope flaps and then color blocks to compliment the turquoise. I did the color blocks with pastels, then used black pens to outline the blocks.
Since I love texture, I sprayed grey webbing spray to add a 3-D interest.
Finally, I used crystal glitter glue to wash both the cards and envelope flaps to add a quiet sparkle or glitz.
There are 5 different designs in the set of note cards with correspondingly painted envelopes.
The 5″ x 7″ cards are blank on the inside for your message. These can be used for any occasion at work or at home. Just add your message and send it.
Your set would be similar, but color blocks, shapes, and colors, other than turquoise, will be different.
This is the back of each card.
Your cards will arrive in a nice gift box with a transparent lid, tied with a ribbon or tie – suitable for gift-giving.
These are all the envelopes.
Personalization of your first name or initials on each card and envelope flap free of charge.
See this set and others at ArtworthyNoteCards on Etsy.
Filed under Uncategorized
R.J. Bennett – LinkedIn
Filed under Amazing Animals, Awe-Inspiring Photography, R.J. Bennett
Brooke Hampton via Chrissie Anderson Peters
Filed under collections, Favorite Quotes
Steemit
I have just finished about an hour and a half of weed whacking in the yard this morning. I have probably one more session of weed whacking and then the leaf blower to clean off the sidewalks and garage pad before I’m finished.
My husband mowed the lawn yesterday, so the grass looks good. All the edges around everything were ragged, though, so I decided to get outside early this morning and see if I could clean things up.
With the heat index, it’s ONLY 95 right now. Since the index is supposed to get to 105 this afternoon, I decided it was best to get out there while it was COOL. :0)
The new-to-us riding mower we got recently from a wonderful friend and neighbor does a really good job. When the civilized part of our yard is freshly mowed, weed whacked and blown, we actually look pretty good!
With all the yard work this morning and bowling with good friends tonight, I’m not even going to feel guilty about not ‘exercising’ today. I’ve learned that the work I do uses different muscles than the ones used for more traditional ‘exercises,’ but when I’ve worked and played this much in a day, I’ll call it good enough.
I was on my way from the living room into the dining area this morning when the view out the back door made me stop and go get my camera. I love the way the clouds form a loose ‘rope’ between the ridge lines sometimes. Almost immediately after I took this picture, the ‘rope’ started to spread out, making a generalized fog that later burned off. But for a short moment, it was magical.
Filed under Mother Nature
Jeff Jett – LinkedIn
sayingimges.com
I rewarded myself for prevailing over my technology challenge this morning by spending some time in my art room. I’ve spent part of three afternoons up there and it really does my heart good. When I’m playing up there with my favorite music playing, all the stuff that is bothering me goes away. My heart and mind rest and I can simply enjoy playing in the paint trying to make the images rattling around in my head come out on the piece I’m working on.
The last three days I’ve been making a new set of note cards. I finished them today. They are drying.
Tomorrow I’ll take pictures, share them with you, and then list them on my new Etsy site, ArtworthyNoteCards.
via Jackie Lyons
I have to tell you I’m patting myself on the head right now. Why?
Usually technology does a great job of kicking me in the rear – to the point it’s difficult to sit at times. Today I received an email from the 16-year-old boy for whom we will serve as host parents for the next school year starting in August. He’s from Italy and he plays soccer. :0)
The email said he wanted to chat via Whatsapp and gave his number.
After panicking, I managed to find Whatsapp in the Apps Store on my phone and installed it. Then I tried to add Alessandro to my contacts there. No way, Jose’ over and over again. Finally, I emailed him asking if he could send me an invitation, since I wasn’t having any luck on this end. We juggled quite awhile and finally connected! We chatted awhile for the very first time. He sounds like a really nice guy and I’m looking forward to meeting him in person.
Meanwhile, I was able to assure him that Greenwood High School does, in fact, have a soccer team and that they would be happy to give him a chance to be on it. I think that was his most important concern.
I finally managed, after messing around with my regular contacts list on my computer, to edit his information correctly, so now we are truly connected. I made sure he knows that he can contact us any time with questions or concerns – and so – our adventure begins!
It’s good to know that I met the challenge and prevailed. I ain’t dead yet!
Filed under Challenges, Family
After we got back from relocating the raccoon this morning, I went to check on the tomatoes and the garden. I harvested these from the larger planter – the plants I thought were going to croak earlier because the leaves were turning yellow and falling off. These plants still don’t look ‘healthy,’ but they are producing delicious tomatoes. The nook planter beside the house has only two plants in it and they are HUGE, green, and leafy. I’ve only gotten two ripe tomatoes so far. There are lots of green ones, though, and lots of blossoms. There might be a lesson here somewhere, if I can just figure out what it is. I would appreciate some opinions from people who know what they are doing in the garden.
In the larger square foot garden, I couldn’t do much because the irrigation system was going. I have large, leafy-looking zucchini plants now with large yellow flowers and a few actual zucchini! I harvested one pregnant-looking one so far. I have several now that might get large enough to harvest.
I also have the cantaloupe plants whose arms are spilling out over everything with lots of blossoms. There is one small cantaloupe that I have supported by a plastic round thingie with legs and holes in it. I have no clue whether we’ll actually get anything worth eating, but it’s great fun to watch the progress. \
The onions are expanding, even though their tops were so damaged in several storms I elected to cut them off.
I need to do some weeding out there and then I’ll take pics to share.
Filed under Gardening, Healthy Eating, Square Foot Gardening - Raised Beds
Wikipedia
Last night we set the humane trap again, having been cleaned completely out of sunflower seeds for several days in a row that are SUPPOSED to be shared by birds, squirrels, AND an occasional raccoon. This morning a BIG one, maybe the daddy of the pack, was in the trap, calmly waiting for us.
As we always try to do – unless the raccoon is hissing and spitting and trying to bite us – we fed our animals and then put the trap in the back of the truck. We travel about 5 miles away from the house and let them go in a small creek that runs under the road. I like to think they all meet again to enjoy the rest of their lives together.
This morning the trip to relocate the raccoon was a bit more eventful than usual.
On the way out to the little creek we saw three deer beside the road. They were on my husband’s side of the car, but I think they were close enough he could have reached out and touched one of them as we slowly went by.
Alice McDowell
Further down the twisty, turn-y road there was a bull in the middle of it!
Pixabay
We slowed and watched him as he gradually moved a bit to one side. We went VERY slowly around him. He didn’t move a muscle. I don’t know about my husband, but “I” was holding my breath.
Further down was one cow, munching grass right beside the road.
Motion Array
Finally, another raccoon raced across the road in front of our truck.
Shutterstock
We let our raccoon out. He went right out of the trap and down into the creek. (It MAY be that he’s been through this before?)
We came home, hosed off the porch, and will re-bait the trap tonight to see if there are more.
Filed under Arkansas, Challenges
Jeff Jett – LinkedIn
Filed under Amazing Animals, Awe-Inspiring Photography
Filed under Bethany Kerr, Watercolors I Love
This is my newest hand-painted note card set on Etsy. It’s called, “Rainbow Connection.” There are 5 different designs in a set with correspondingly painted envelope flaps (shown below.) They are painted on 5.5″ x 4″ heavy card stock, blank on the inside for your message.
These can be personalized for you at no extra charge. Just tell me a first name or initials when you order and I’ll add them to each note card and each envelope flap. They are painted with pastels for the background and then acrylic paint for the white flowers. There is a slight e-D effect with the paint.
The back of each card shows the name of my shop on Etsy and my name.
You can find these and others in my Etsy shop, ArtworthyNoteCards
Filed under Uncategorized
Josh Billings via Kelly Mizell – LinkedIn
Filed under Attitude, empowerment, Encouragement
Attitude of Gratitude via 2 Star Art
After a pretty long, awful day yesterday, my husband and I are doing a bit of resting today.
I’ve been up in my art room playing, and am about to go back up in a minute. I hope to be able to share what I’ve been working on with you.
Filed under Attitude, Encouragement
Jeff Jett – LinkedIn
Remembering today all the brave men and women who have sacrificed and ARE sacrificing so that we can celebrate Independence Day.
My husband and I will grill steaks out tonight and then hopefully sit on our deck, drinks in hand, and enjoy the fireworks display of a neighbor who lives down in the valley behind our house.
Happy Independence Day, everyone!
Filed under holidays
I have promised my husband that in my next life, I will do everything I can to be –
AN ELECTRONICS EXPERT – defencecareers.mil,nz
STRONG AND MUSCULAR – so I can help haul things more easily.
A PHYSICS EXPERT – so I can grasp what we’re trying to do more easily – forensisgroup.com
AND –
TALLER – so I don’t have to stand on a ladder to reach everything!
He kindly says he loves me just the way I am – but tell that to me when I’m red-faced, sweating, plus huffing and puffing after helping him bring the new TV out of the truck,
We did it, and he’s working with adding updates and programming so we might be able to watch TV for the first time in three weeks or so since we were hit by lightning!
If we can get it working properly, it’ll be a really nice gift for the 4th of July.
THEN we can worry about whether the DVR, DVD player, and movie storage system are still working….
Filed under Challenges, Mother Nature
Svetlana Milenkovic – LinkedIn
Inna Kashkovar – LinkedIn
Lake Degray – Matt Cook – AR Sunrises and Sunsets via Cindy Basnett Thurman
Mehmet Tayfun Dur – LinkedIn
Ocean Painting – “Sailors Dreamworld” – Steve K – via Yucel Ulusoy – LinkedIn
Stephen McGuinness – Hunstanton – Norfolk – Sunset
Svetlana Milenkovic – Linkedin
Mary Avlos Dailey
“Purple Petunias” – Paul Militaru Photography
“Yellow Rose” – Paul Militaru Photography
TOling via Ar Al Ibrahim – LinkedIn
“Roses and Rain” – Charles Haskins, LinkedIn
Bearded Iris – “Great Expectations”
creativeartworksblog 