Nino Chakvetadze-Cupboard
Nino Chakvetadze-Hide and Seek
Filed under drawings, Nino Chakvetadze
Bored Panda
Bored Panda
These are both definitely too cute to actually EAT. I’m amazed at the creativity in the world.
Filed under playing with your food?
LoveThisPic
“Labor Day 2020 will occur on Monday, September 7. Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers and is traditionally observed on the first Monday in September. It was created by the labor movement in the late 19th century and became a federal holiday in 1894.” ~ http://www.history.com
In 1918, my dad was born on Labor Day, September 6th that year. He always said he thought it was ‘appropriate.’ :0)
This Labor Day is a bit sad because so many good people are still out of work due to the pandemic. In addition, we have people who have lost homes, businesses, and jobs due to Mother Nature and the hurricanes and flooding. Hopefully, all this will improve soon. It seems we have already started, though more rapidly would, of course, be better.
We continue to eat our way through our BistroMD eating plan. Last night we both ate a chicken, rice and cheddar casserole with broccoli. It was the best thing we’ve had so far, but neither of us was impressed. We have to accept an order for next week, but we have cancelled the program.
Our yard is looking pretty good now! (for us). My husband got the grass mowed a couple of days ago. The day before yesterday I weed whacked what he couldn’t mow, and yesterday I used the leaf blower to clean up. One would actually think we might be civilized around here! Today I will mix up 2 gallons of EIGHT bug killer and hose down the garden before I try to harvest the rest of the onions. I’ll also spray the trio of brick planters between our driveway area and our yard in preparation for weeding and pruning things there. I do NOT want to get stung/bitten by ants again!
I’m also thinking of checking the co-op in town to see if they have lettuce plants. If they do, I’ll take the tomato plants down in the planter close to the house and plant lettuce there. One year we were lucky, having fresh lettuce into early February!
I will call to find out if the new place in Greenwood called Real Food is open today. I interested in seeing the place, plus possible getting a couple of frozen dinners to try.
I hope that you make this a happy day.
Ronit Baras
I finished the 11th book in “The Rise of the Iliri” series by Auryn Hadley last night.
My main reaction is sadness that it is, indeed, the end of the series. There won’t be any more in this story. I was totally caught up in the world Auryn created, plus the unique characters and their interactions. I love the fact that the main character was a super strong female. Her world was SO different from mine it was a good escape. I’m a go-along to get-along type basically, trying to not upset anyone. The main character, Sal, was the complete opposite, challenging everyone and everything in order to make the world a better place. She was a shining example to everyone around her, bringing out their strengths, as well. Great story.
In the meantime, my husband suggested I read the “Honor Harrington” books by David Weber next. Another strong female character. I started the first book in the series last night.
I hope that YOU have the luxury of diving into the beloved books of a favorite author, or finding new, exciting ones that take your breath away.
Filed under Favorite Authors & Books, Hobbies, Reading is FUNdamental
“Caught Red-Pawed” – Audrius P. – Bored Panda
We have cancelled our BistroMD meal plan. We have to accept one more week’s delivery, but then that’s it.
We tried dinner the first night and then lunch and dinner yesterday – plus my husband had two snacks. He said – after tasting the dinner last night – “Three strikes and they’re out.” We will try to eat our way through the rest of this week’s fares plus next week’s, but this plan is not for us. A sample of our conversation: “What is this veggie?” “I think it’s apple.” “I think it’s squash.” Whatever it is, it’s pretty awful.”
Our new plan (after we try to finish the food we have, AND yet to be delivered), is for me to go back to cooking keto. We will also check out a new place called REAL FOOD that opened up recently in Greenwood. At Lunch Bunch the daughter of one of my friends mentioned the place, saying that their frozen dinners, made fresh each week, were really good, and were good for you. That may give us a nice change from all the cooking from time to time. I will also make a point of cooking so that we have leftovers, so I won’t be spending all my time in the kitchen and cleaning up.
I’m disappointed, but the dinner was so unappetizing last night that I threw mine out, opting for some deli meat, a hard-boiled egg, and a string cheese stick.
There are a few more options we may try, but I’m STARTING to learn that being lazy and trying to avoid cooking might not be the best option long term. We used the South Beach as a kind of ‘reboot’ on our keto efforts. When my husband saw how much time I was in the kitchen, prepping, cooking, and then cleaning up when we had finished the two months of South Beach, he suggested that we try another plan and I – lazy person that I am – caved.
I will concentrate on cooking enough of each keto recipe we love so that we have leftovers for another dinner and maybe a lunch. I will also research how well each one freezes in individual portions.
Filed under DIET!
Simon Brown, U.K. via Laura Staugaitis, Colossal
Simon Brown, U.K. via Laura Staugaitis, Colossal
Simon Brown, U.K. via Laura Staugaitis, Colossal
Simon Brown, U.K. via Laura Staugaitis, Colossal
Filed under Felted Wool Art
Caught Red-Pawed – Audrius P. – Bored Panda
Our BistroMD first week’s food was delivered yesterday afternoon. The package warned of dry ice, but it was all melted. The food seemed to be good and cold, though.
One thing that is different from the other plans we have tried is that they want you to take out the food for the next day, transferring it from the freezer to the fridge to thaw slowly. I do that with meat, chicken, and fish, anyway, but this is the first time we have done it with frozen dinners.
Our first meal was dinner last night. My husband had “Beef Stroganoff” and I had “Broccoli Cheddar Stuffed Chicken.” These are both from the Diabetic Menu, since we are both trying to avoid any added sugar.
We both thought our dinners were OKAY, and certainly better than the South Beach frozen stuff. (We both had really LIKED the “White Bean Chicken Chili” and “Cheeseburger Soup” in tiny bowls from South Beach for lunch and dinner, though, so we don’t want to rush to judgment. We may still be in withdrawal from finishing those.) This is more nutritious than what we have been eating lately, with the veggies being included in the meal, rather than depending on the customer to add good choices as a side. The Beef Stroganoff included mushrooms, and broccoli, with linguini. The Broccoli Cheddar Stuffed Chicken included carrots and a barley salad with spinach, red onions, and slivered almonds.
A drawback, as far as I am concerned, is that they did not have a keto eating plan choice. Since my husband has Type II diabetes, though, and my goal is to simply lose the lard in the most healthy way I can, this is certainly worth a try. It looks like they are arranging the day’s food to be around 1000-1200 calories. I am hopeful these good people can help us lose the lard and eat healthy.
I was able to do my yoga stretching yesterday for the first day since I got bitten/stung by the ants last week, and I’m planning to do that, plus a good amount of yard work today as my exercise.
Filed under DIET!, exercise, Healthy Eating, quality of life, taking care of yourself
Ayn Rand – SayingImages.com
This doesn’t have to mean HUGE changes in your life. It can mean carving out a bit of time for yourself each day. Use it to do something you really enjoy, something that brings you pleasure, brings you peace, makes you smile. If you can’t DO something, you always have your mind and your heart. You can escape for a bit, if you need to – listen to music, read a book, sit in your chair with your eyes closed. Be sure to do something each and every day.
“Learn to value yourself, which means: Fight for your happiness.” ~ Ayn Rand
Filed under Attitude, empowerment, Encouragement, taking care of yourself
Lolly Daskal
I may not live long enough to list my stuff on Amazon Handmade.
This is really a character-building exercise.
I filled out a long, thorough application to list my work. I finally got an email that said I had been approved! In the email there is a box that says, “Register Now.” I clicked it, and was sent to a page that said I needed to upgrade my browser to be acceptable. I did that and restarted my computer. I again clicked on the box and was sent to the same screen.
I then hit an option that said, copy the link URL and put it into a different browser. The URL wasn’t recognized.
I then started reading, and noticed one frustrated account of a person finding that you were only allowed to hit the ‘Register Now’ button one time. So now I have replied to their email, telling them I have upgraded and asking them to send me another email.
We will see…
Filed under Challenges, Changes, character-building exercises
Finksburg, MD–July 9, 2013–“This is a fountain in the garden of artist Sherrill Cooper, who has made sculptures and decorations from found objects. Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun
Filed under Art From Found Things
Simon Brown, U.K.
Simon Brown, U.K.
Simon Brown, U.K.
Simon Brown, U.K.
Filed under Embroidery/Sewing Art, Felted Wool Art
goddesses-cartoon-Pinterest
The sun is shining! We have had so much rain, so many storms, flash flooding, etc., here lately that I had almost forgotten what it was like to enjoy happy sunshine! A welcome sight, indeed.
We will join our friends for Lunch Bunch in half an hour. One of my friends has been in the process of moving, so I’m eager to hear how it went and what she thinks of her new place. Our other friends are usually into an interesting project. It is always a great time for us to catch up with what has been going on, future plans, etc. We are lucky to have been doing this for over 17 years now, through years and years of things to celebrate and things to help each other through. Friendship is priceless.
I am filling up my leaf bags quickly now – one for donations and the other for trash. I’m hoping to fill at least two extra leaf bags of trash each week, and I will systematically go through, room by room, trying to gather things I am no longer using or can do without that someone else might need or enjoy.
We are supposed to get our first week’s delivery of BistroMD today. I’m looking forward to eating our first dinner tonight.
I am finding it difficult to get my work on Amazon Handmade so far. I have been accepted, but when I click on the ‘register’ button in the email they sent, they send me to a screen that says they don’t like the version of Chrome I’m using as a browser. They don’t provide a URL – just a clickable square – so I can’t use another browser. I will try to upgrade my Chrome again after lunch and keep my fingers crossed.
This will be a hopefully quiet day for us. We only have a couple of errands to run, and so will be home to receive our deliveries and try to get organized for the new eating plan.
I hope that this is a good day for you, too.
Filed under DIET!, Friendship, Thoughts on a ________
A.A. Milne – illustrated by E. H. Shepard
“Some people care too much – I think it’s called love.” ~ A. A. Milne
Filed under Favorite Authors & Books, Favorite Quotes
forwarded email
forwarded email
forwarded email
I have a Kindle Fire. I have been enjoying reading “The Rise of the Iliri” series by Auryn Hadley on it.
I really prefer holding a real book in my hands. My FAVORITE is a full-sized hard back book, but we converted to paperbacks years ago, due to space and cost.
I love the FEEL of books. I hold a treasure in my hands. I love to save my favorites to read again. (I realize that this is possible on my Kindle, but – to be honest – I don’t really trust it to not lose its mind, and I don’t like the idea of the cloud holding things I care about.
So, again, I guess I’m a dinosaur, treasuring an idea that is ‘going out of style.’
Getting rid of my collection will one day be someone else’s problem…
Filed under Reading is FUNdamental
Robert-Rauschenberg-Monogram.-Image-via-rauscenbergfoundations.org
Tin Man – Pinterest
Leo Sewell’s “Teddy Bear”, mixed media (photo courtesy of William Benton Museum of Art) via UConnToday
Filed under Art From Found Things
Bored Panda
Good Morning!
We MAY finally be getting a reprieve from the rain and some cooler temperatures soon! I couldn’t be more ready. The humidity is 98% right now, according to the local weather website. It’s like pea soup outside. We still have the doors open, getting what breezes we can. I’m ready for fall.
First thing this morning I cleaned out the aquarium. These two goldfish have the award for messing up their water faster than any other fish on the planet, I think. Even with the new, fancy, three-part filter, the water was terrible this morning. Thankfully, I can change things out in about half an hour now.
The water is now clean enough that when I take a picture of the aquarium, you can also see parts of the kitchen behind it, PLUS the reflection of the dining area window on the other side of the room. :0) I’m trying to teach them to say, “Thank You,” when they get into the sparkling clean tank, but no luck so far. I would even be happy if they did a cartwheel or something, or blew some bubbles at me. They only do THAT when I feed them. The thing I DON’T want them to do is roll over and play dead…
Today I will try to register for my Amazon Handmade account and see what happens. I am hopeful I can get lots of questions answered so I feel I know what I’m doing.
Amazon Handmade
I have started two leaf bags:
Leaf Bag # 1 is for things to donate to the Disabled Vets Thrift Store in Fort Smith.
Leaf Bag # 2 is for trash.
I received an email that we are supposed to receive our first week’s delivery of BistroMD meals tomorrow! We have both chosen the diabetic plan. My husband denies he has Type II diabetes (he says he has a sugar problem). He thinks only people who have to give themselves injections are ‘diabetics.’ Since we are both trying to stay away from any added sugar, we feel this is a good choice for us. I will let you know how it goes.
My ant stings/bites/welts are almost gone now. I have a couple of spots I still need to put anti-itch ointment on, but I’m back to normal, otherwise. If things dry out a bit, the revenge murdering of ants commences tomorrow…
PestWorld.org
Have a happy Thursday!
A.A. Milne, illustrated by E. H. Shepard
“Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” ~ A.A. Milne
Filed under Favorite Quotes, Poohisms
Photo by Fajar Andriyant
I hope that you are having a good morning.
We have two more rainy days before things MAY try to dry out some. We were out doing errands in the rain most of the day yesterday, and may need to do that again today. Our weather has been really different this year. There was a pharmacist who came in while we were waiting. She had on wonderful bright red rain boots that came up almost to her knees. I WANT SOME! :0)
As soon as we start getting dry days, I will hose down my garden with EIGHT bug spray, hopefully murdering thousands of the ants who have made a home there. We live on approximately 8 acres, and I have NO idea why they decide to live in boxes that are several feet off the ground that get watered daily and bothered by me when I’m planting, watering, weeding, or harvesting. I still have their bites/stings from my partial onion harvest the other day, having to use allergy medicine and ointment to live through the welts, discomfort, and intense itching. There will be no mercy.
We should be getting our first week’s worth of BistroMD prepared meals this week. They suggest that you begin the program on a Monday so that you’re in sync with the next week’s delivery schedule, so we plan to do that.
I’m feeling the urge to get rid of things again. It may have been brought on by having to clean everything out of the greenhouse that was ruined by the recent storm, but I’m going with it. I will plan to gather at least a couple of extra leaf bags of trash each week. I will gather things to donate as I can. I’m getting more and more ruthless as I do these ‘sweeps,’ and that’s a very good thing. My husband and I are both savers, and we have lived in our home for over 30 years now, so this is an ongoing, HUGE job. I’m thinking that this time I will start in our bedroom…
Try to make this a beautiful day – whatever the weather.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Amazon Handmade
I received an email yesterday that I was accepted to list my stuff on Amazon Handmade!
I don’t have the first clue on what I am supposed to do to actually DO that, but I’m excited. I’ll read everything I can find and then try to get my work listed.
If I were a gazillionaire, I would hire someone to research possible places to list my stuff, help me find the right prices to each different type of thing I make, and handle all the business/taxes/paperwork involved.
Since I’m a one-person-band, things move a lot more slowly as I swim through the peanut butter of figuring things out, experimenting, and adjusting, over and over.
I truly love to create things that others will hopefully like. The highest compliment is when you find repeat customers who also tell others about what you do.
My research into Amazon Handmade starts today. I will let you know when I figure things out and can show you.
Filed under Uncategorized
Simon Brown, U.K.
Simon Brown, U.K.
Simon Brown, U.K.
Simon Brown, U.K.
Filed under Felted Wool Art
Public Art Ukraine by Sculp Lovers via Elena-LinkedIn
I’m in the middle of Book # 10 in the Rise of the Iliri series by Auryn Hadley.
I’m in awe of her talent. She has created a totally new future world populated by at least three different types of species, only one of which is human. The main character is Sal, the Kaisae of the Iliri.
My husband recommended the series, thinking I might enjoy it. He was kind of surprised that I LOVED it, and have been reading book after book ever since. I think there are only 11 in this series, so I will soon be having withdrawal symptoms.
Thankfully, Hadley is quite a prolific author, and I will try another of her series.
If you enjoy super-strong women characters and are open to totally different culture norms, you might consider trying this series.
Filed under Favorite Authors & Books
Simon Brown, U.K. – via Laura Staugaitis, Colossal
Simon Brown, U.K. – via Laura Staugaitis, Colossal
Simon Brown, U.K. – via Laura Staugaitis, Colossal
Simon Brown, U.K. – via Laura Staugaitis, Colossal
Filed under Felted Wool Art
Cheyne and Eva help us welcome September 2020. This photo is in the Australian Firefighters 2020 fund-raising calendar. (Actually, I have no clue if any of these gorgeous men are firefighters, but they are nice eye-candy, aren’t they? And the animals are so sweet, as well. You can order the 2021 calendar starting October 7th, using the link above, if you are interested.
Quora
Our area is now under a Flash Flood Warning due to all the rain we’ve had – and are still getting – through tomorrow. Thankfully, we live on top of a ridge line. Today that is a good thing. Not so much in lightning storms or tornadoes. :0) We are hoping the rain will stop this afternoon. We went down to take 7 leaf bags of trash from the clean- out of the ruined greenhouse to the bottom of our driveway for pickup this morning when the rain let up a bit. As we were emptying out the truck, the rain came down hard again. We finished putting the bags out and the mailman came by. We were so wet by the time we got back up to the house, we had to change our clothes! It still is almost dark as night outside.
I will do my elliptical trainer and my yoga today, plus regular household chores, and hope we can get out and get our errands done this afternoon. We have the doors open, enjoying the cool breeze and the sound of the rain. A great day for an afternoon nap, too!
Have a pleasant, soothing day.
Filed under exercise, Mother Nature, Thoughts on a ________
creativeartworksblog 