Monthly Archives: December 2020
George Wheelhouse Photos 2
Filed under Awe-Inspiring Photography, George Wheelhouse
Di-et-Attitude
My husband and I have decided that life is too short to feel guilty all the time. During the holidays, plus the change of weather, plus this awful pandemic, plus – we will finish out 2020 stuffing our faces. Well, not really, but not raking ourselves over the coals, either, when we overindulge.
We got lots of goodies from friends. We are going to enjoy some of them. We are freezing some for later, enjoying some now, and enjoying some comfort foods.
We are now – finally – into a lifestyle of eating good food, watching our portions, foregoing lots of things, such as sugar, bread, starches, excess carbs, etc. I am trying to exercise on a daily basis, and move more in general. We want to lose the lard, become more flexible, improve strength and balance, and improve the numbers on our quarterly or every-six-month routine monitoring blood tests.
BUT – for a little while – we are allowing the kid in us to come out and play, enjoying the ‘season’, smiling as we enjoy the lovely things that aren’t so great for our health, but make life much more worth living for a few days each year.
May we all be much healthier in 2021, eventually free from worry about the virus.
Stay safe and well.
Filed under DIET!, exercise, Healthy Eating, holidays
Happy 1st Day of Winter!
As it happens, we are having a lovely day today – sunny with highs in the 60’s today. :0) I’m planning to at LEAST walk around in our yard today, telling Mother Nature what a great day she produced, if not do some actual work out there.
USPS emailed me this morning that two packages I mailed recently are out for delivery. I really enjoy making things and sending them to people, no matter what time of the year. I love reminding people that they mean so much to me.
Amber thinks she is a lapdog. She weighs around 95 lbs. She comes up to my chair in our office with a gleam in her eye. She stuffs her wet nose under my arm as I type. I look at her, stop and pet her, speak to her, maybe kiss her on the head, and then go back to typing.
The next thing I know, as reliable as clockwork, the front half of Amber is up in my chair with me. I have the bruises on my legs to prove it! I have to stop everything and watch out, being very careful. She whips her head around, trying to be everywhere at once. If I don’t watch out, she clocks me in the face with her head. We love, with me laughing every morning before she will back off and climb down. We usually do this 5 or 6 times each morning.
I found the picture below on BoredPanda and wanted to share it with you. Amber isn’t THIS large, but you can certainly share the feeling.
Have a wonderful first day of winter!
Laborious Aquarium Clean-Out
What is usually a 30 minute job turned into at least a two-HOUR job this morning and afternoon. I was putting together the aquarium after cleaning and ran into a problem with the filter. The motor wasn’t running when I plugged it in. I played with it, my muttering becoming more and more colorful as nothing worked. I finally asked my husband to come look at it.
He looked at things, tested it, and decided it was dead. I found one of our old filters and installed it so that the sweet fish wouldn’t croak while we waited for a replacement. My husband continued to look at the one that wasn’t working, and decided it was working again. I changed things out, only to find out the motor died. We did this two more times. Finally, he took the filter apart as far as he could and found a part he thought had been jammed. I changed the filters out for the fourth time and it worked. I told my husband I would fix lunch and leave the new filter running and see if it quit again.
I came back after lunch and it was still working. I then proceeded to clean up the kitchen – which is always a mess after aquarium cleaning – PLUS now from the lunch fixing. I have just now finished cleaning up and leaving the dishwasher running.
All this for two goldfish who never say a word, show any affection, do tricks, or perform any service. They DID get into the far right corner of the tank and wriggle their little bodies, opening and closing their mouths as they looked at me. I broke down and put a bit more food in the tank.
Filed under Challenges, Family, Housekeeping - Maintenance
Thoughts on a Sunday 12-20-2020
I love this. It shows a great sense of humor. I’m still smiling. Thanks to the creator of it. :0)
When we started up our driveway yesterday, there were two white-tailed deer! We stopped and watched as they looked at us briefly and then crossed the driveway to disappear into the trees to the west of our property. Beautiful sight.
We had a really special Lunch Bunch on Friday with our friends. Since Christmas is next Friday, we exchanged gifts. We have been meeting at The Pizza Barn every Friday for over 17 years now, and this is more of a family gathering than simply really good friends. The two waitresses, Susan and Mikey, are a definite part of our family and we exchange gifts with them, too. My husband kept us all entertained by opening all of his food goodies, sampling each one (while waiting for his lunch order to be delivered) and then stashing them in a humongous gift bag, being quite territorial about his presents. The way the holidays fall this year, we won’t meet NEXT Friday or the NEXT – and will have to wait until Jan. 8th to meet again.
Otherwise, that is our Christmas this year. Our son is in Thailand, and I’m hoping that we can arrange a video chat either on Christmas day or that weekend sometime. There is 12 hours time difference, so it’s a bit of a challenge to find a time we’re all up and functional, but we’ll manage. I am grateful that we are all pretty healthy right now. I am thankful for a quiet holiday.
Today’s project is cleaning the aquarium. I will see if I can find something festive to put in their tank for the holidays.
Have a wonderful Sunday!
George Wheelhouse Photos
Filed under Awe-Inspiring Photography, George Wheelhouse
Weight Loss Motivation
Filed under DIET!, getting the lard off, taking care of yourself
Beautiful Rooms!
This article on BoredPanda.com took my breath away, so I’ll be sharing pictures of some of the beautiful rooms these two people gathered. I’m collecting things that bring up my spirits these days. I hope they help YOU, too. :0)
Filed under Dreams
Saturday in the Rain
Today is a wonderful day to stay inside, warm and dry.
First, we need to get our mail and then mail some things at the post office. THEN we’ll enjoy the rest of the day inside. :0)
I will try to find the time and energy to get up to my art room today. It’s been awhile, and ideas are starting to rattle around in my brain on things I would like to try. That idea fights with things I am passing that definitely need my attention today, so I’m not sure which will win out.
I hope that YOU are having a nice Saturday, doing something fun.
Hooooraaaaaaay!
I told you yesterday that I spent the morning installing the newest version of Windows, then Start 10, then made a new System Image to use in case of catastrophic failure, then backed up my data. I am one of the least technical people I know so this was stressful, but necessary.
The result of all that – other that I’m grateful it’s done – is that the folder in which I have gathered images for the blog and elsewhere only showed an ‘icon’ image, NOT the picture. It showed the name of the picture, but not the image. This is really frustrating, irritating, and down right unacceptable. I know better than to ask my husband about it, so I have been fighting with it off and on the rest of the day yesterday and then about an hour just now. I kept at it, and then FINALLY hit an option button that restored the images. Whew!
I’m feeling a bit triumphant, a bit empowered, but mostly grateful and relieved.
Filed under Challenges
Arrrrgh!
My whole day thus far has been spent trying to get my computer updated.
I updated to the newest version of Windows, and then made a system disk, just in case my computer crashes with no warning. That took from 9:00 this morning until about 20 minutes ago. I was beginning to think I would die of old age before it finally finished.
I am not a computer or technical person. It’s all magic to me. I love my computer when it’s working and am ready to toss it out the window when it isn’t. Happily, it seems to be working okay now, except for a folder of images I’ve gathered for my blogs. They have names under an icon for a picture, all looking the same. Arrrrgh!
SO. I will limp along, hoping that if I can’t figure out what to do to fix it, it will miraculously heal by itself. (One can HOPE…)
On a happier note, our weather is nice now, although it’s still a bit brisk outside. There is lots of glorious sunshine and the temperature is now 46! We will probably get rain Saturday, but no more forecasts of snow/sleet, and flying hairballs in the near future. I’ll take it. :0)
We will celebrate Christmas with the Lunch Bunch tomorrow, exchanging gifts, eating, laughing, and catching up. The next Friday is Christmas, and the following Friday is New Year’s Day, so we probably won’t meet again until January 8th. We’ll have to make it last.
I hope that your Thursday is an enjoyable one.
Filed under Challenges, Friendship, Seasons, Thoughts on a ________
Extraordinary Embroidery 3
Filed under Embroidery/Sewing Art
Exercise?
“Exercise” –
ekser,siz – verb
a verb, believed to be a myth
I love this picture. I’m still smiling. :0)
My elliptical trainer is in our garage. It’s the only place we could put it where it would not be on carpet and wouldn’t take up too much room. Therefore, the outside temperature affects my willingness to use it. Most of the year, this is not a problem. My husband mounted a nice box fan on the wall in front of the elliptical. I can turn it on all spring, summer, and fall to make it more comfortable to be out there. I have a problem when it gets too cold in the winter.
Right now it is 27 outside. Even with the effort on the elliptical, I freeze. I use that as an excuse not to do it. That works for today, and possibly tomorrow, but my excuse won’t be good when it warms into the 40s and 50s by the end of the week.
I AM doing my super gentle yoga for old broads daily, though, and that is truly helpful. Without it, I tend to fold up like a tent. I notice this in particular when I have monthly massages. My therapist spends a lot of time pulling on arms, legs, and head, trying to ‘pull my head out of my rear’ (if you’ll pardon the expression) because I tend to implode. Right now I’m not getting my massages because my therapist is recovering from surgery. I’m hopeful we will be able to resume in February or March, when she is feeling sassy again.
My yoga is not the ‘fold-yourself-into-a-pretzel-or-paper-airplane’ type. It’s good, quiet, long, gradual stretches that make my body say, ‘ahhhhhhhh!’ when I finally am able to relax into each pose. I move into it as far as I can, then just BREATHE. I can FEEL my body giving a bit at a time, stretching more and more. I started my practice a few years ago, when I was 71. I’ll be 74 in March, and I’m hopeful I can continue this the rest of my life. I want to get and stay as flexible as I can. It also helps with my back, plus my balance.
I am trying to do some walking, but again, the weather is a factor. I’m not desperate enough to get out my “Walking-with-annoying-Leslie’ DVD yet, but it may come to that as winter sneaks in.
I hope you’re trying to take care of yourself, too.
Filed under exercise, taking care of yourself
More ‘Impossible’ Embroidery
Filed under Embroidery/Sewing Art
Stupidity
I love this. :0)
I’m doing my part in trying combat my OWN stupidity by reading almost a book a day, rereading my collection of In Death books by J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts) before I receive the newest addition in paperback at the end of this month, # 51 Shadows in Death.
I’m on book # 16 right now, enjoying Eve Dallas’ world in the future of trying to put the bad guys away. Her world is gritty, and parts of it are heart-wrenching, but her incredible strength, determination, and courage bring her through. I also feel I know all the people around her.
This is probably a flaw in me, but one I enjoy – that I can reread and gather details I don’t remember. I remember the main thrust of each book, but I notice things I may have skipped over, or not appreciated as much as I would like, before. I do the same things with favorite movies. :0)
My book collection has helped me weather the pandemic, feeling as if I’ve visited old friends. I’m making myself go through my collection, culling out books I probably won’t read again. I’m listing them on Amazon for resale, and we go to the post office almost every day to mail a sale to a person I hope will enjoy the book. I’m down to a small shelf of books to sell now, so very soon I’ll make myself tackle another area of books in the house.
I hope that you are enjoying favorite books as we continue to try to stay safe and well.
Filed under Reading is FUNdamental
Last Photo of Fall in Arkansas
Filed under Favorite Pictures, Seasons
Thoughts on a Tuesday 12-15-2020
Yesterday turned out to be my favorite kind of snow – except not enough to build a snowman. The worst place we drove was our driveway, and even that wasn’t bad, though we may rethink our decision not to put on our snow tires. The streets were almost dry, though the world looked like a winter wonderland. The sun was shining brightly; the air was crisp and clean. Just gorgeous!
Today is not as nice. It’s 28 degrees with a bit of wind. Of course, my husband decided it was the perfect day to stand outside at an auction. He is there now, hoping to grab some goodies. I am hoping – but not really expecting – that he remembered to put the two bags of trash out at the bottom of the driveway. If he didn’t, my next hope is that we haven’t missed the trash people when he gets back.
Our excitement for the day – other than the trash :0) – is a routine appointment with our primary doctor. (Be still, my heart.) Actually, I’m hoping that my blood work showed I need a change in my thyroid hormone dosage. I’ve felt as energetic as a slug lately.
My project for the day is November bookkeeping. I’m only half a month behind, which is pretty good for me, the champion procrastinator.
I hope that your Tuesday is shaping up to be a good one for you, too.
Take care and stay safe.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Breathtaking Embroidery 2
I’m in awe. The ‘3-d-ness’ of these is spectacular (not to mention impossible.) :0)
Filed under Embroidery/Sewing Art
Embroidery That Blows My Mind
Filed under Embroidery/Sewing Art
Pretty Snow
This is ALMOST my favorite kind of snow. We had flakes that kept getting larger and larger as time passed. We ended up getting about 3 inches, I think. It fell softly, coating each branch of our trees so that they were outlined, almost as if they were painted by some careful hand.
My favorite kind of snow is just like this, except that it’s perfect for making snow critters and then GONE off streets and driveways by the end of the day. We are snowed in today, since we haven’t put snow tires on our truck yet and our driveway is over 650 feet long and STEEP. We can just admire the beauty and stay home.
I’m trying to convince my husband that we’re a bit ‘long-in-the-tooth’ to change from regular tires to the snow tires ourselves, but he won’t listen. If our driveway isn’t clear by tomorrow, we will probably start our day changing tires in the shop before our doctor’s appointment and other errands.
We have bright sunshine right now, so maybe I’ll catch a break.
It is LOVELY.
Filed under Mother Nature, Seasons
Dead Eye
I finally saw some progress on my scales this morning. My husband and I have been eating well, enjoying individual frozen meals from Real Food and Stu’s Clean Cookin‘ in Greenwood.
The problem is that we’ve been enjoying too much OTHER food that isn’t so good for us. The pandemic is our latest excuse, but the real problem is us.
I have decided – once again – to be responsible for my OWN eating, letting my husband stuff his face with ‘sticky buns’ – his latest indulgence, while I drink more water, eat some raw veggies with Ranch dressing as a dip, and hopefully continue to see results on the scales. The fact that HE is also seeing results is maddening – but I’m too old too whine and pout – MUCH…
I will concentrate on doing my elliptical trainer this morning, my yoga this afternoon, eating my raw veggies and drinking water, and looking forward to the scales being impressed with my efforts.
Please wish me luck.
Filed under Challenges, DIET!, exercise, getting the lard off, taking care of yourself
Breathtaking Drawings
Filed under drawings
Brrrr!
It’s cold and wet here today – and the first day of winter isn’t until next week! The forecast is for rain/sleet/snow and flying hairballs all day today and overnight. It has been pretty warm here in the afternoons, so I’m hoping that it will just end up being a cold rain, as far as the streets are concerned. We plan to say in, being grateful we have a warm, dry home.
My elliptical trainer is in the garage. It will be cold, but it will be dry, so I’ll be heading out there in a few minutes to get my rear in gear.
My back started to hurt a couple of days ago, so I’ll also plan to do a session of yoga stretches this afternoon to see if I can stretch things out.
I hope that YOU are having a great Sunday, too!
Filed under exercise, Mother Nature
Long Distance Celebration
Our son is 42 today. He lives in Thailand and there is 12 hours time difference, so I sent him birthday wishes last night before I went to bed and then chatted with him real-time this morning. (He was up late trying to finish up a computer project for a client.)
Brian is our only living child. (Our daughter, Jade, died at two months old due to SIDS.) We feel very lucky that Brian is such a good communicator. I can almost forget that he is across the world from us. He set up a secure chat program so that we can communicate on almost a daily basis. We send pictures and videos, leave messages, chat real-time, etc. We communicate more than some people do with their kids who live in the same city.
I miss two things since he lives so far away:
THING ONE – His truly amazing sense of humor. He gets into it, making me laugh, adding to it with gestures, and finally getting up, adding more and more until I’m laughing so hard my stomach hurts. I have to beg him to stop and then rest awhile. :0)
THING TWO – He gives the best hugs in the world. He doesn’t give just a one-armed hug with a quick pat. He envelopes me, hugging me really tightly – asking me to hug him tighter – and really squeezes. We create so much love it makes me cry.
Happy, happy birthday to Brian – a man who is better than his parents ever thought of being – who makes us proud of the kind, caring person he is.
Weighty Exchange
Filed under DIET!, Funny Signs - Humor, getting the lard off
More Fabulous Pencil Drawings
Filed under Decorating Ideas, drawings
creativeartworksblog 