I’m always happy when autumn/fall finally settles in, taking away the stiflingly hot summer temperatures and humidity that sap my strength and burn up my plants.
The wonderfully cool breezes make me rush to open front and back doors so the house can be aired out, the air conditioning turned off, bringing the outside in.
Unless it’s raining, my energy increases and I come to life again, enjoying working in the yard, cleaning things up for the winter, even enjoying all the leaves to gather.
My big project this autumn is plotting to grind up the leaves to HEAVILY mulch my elephant ear plants once I have to cut the leaves off. Last year I dug them up, put them in our garage in peat moss, as directed. That was a dismal failure, causing me to have to order new plants. This year I’m hoping that I can put a heavy enough mulch in the planter that the ears will happily go through our winter and bloom again in the spring.
Meanwhile, I’ll look forward to fires in the fireplace when we’re cozily in for the evening, coffee, or maybe hot chocolate, music or a good book, maybe an art project.
I love this beautiful season.
Filed under Seasons
“Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen.” ~ Orhan Pamuk
“Everything I know I learned from dogs.” – Nora Roberts
“Dogs’ lives are too short. Their only fault, really.” – Agnes Sligh Turnbull
“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” – Roger Caras
“Some of my best leading men have been dogs and horses.” – Elizabeth Taylor
Filed under Amazing Animals, Favorite Quotes
I haven’t ordered these yet, but managed to get another pound off.
Filed under DIET!, Funny Signs - Humor
Filed under Awe-Inspiring Photography, Dick van Duijn
I love this work not only because of her obvious talent and skill, but because of the poses. Totally unique and fascinating.
Filed under Beth Cavener Stichter, sculpture
Embroidery – Dani Ives – Hidreley – BoredPanda.com
Filed under Embroidery/Sewing Art, Felted Wool Art
Today is the day for October’s massage. My body is almost smiling in anticipation.
Even with my old lady yoga stretching, my body won’t really relax until Lynn Moody 479-629-7601 uses her magic hands and arms to find all the knots I’ve built up since last time. She finds the ones I can feel and even those I can’t.
I’ll drink lots of water the rest of the day and won’t be shy about taking a nap this afternoon if the sleepies visit.
I hope that you are either enjoying regular massages or will look at it as a great way to take care of yourself. In our world now, we need all the help we can get.
Filed under taking care of yourself
One of my best go-to survival skills, second only to a good, slightly wacky sense of humor, is the question, “What’s the worst that could happen?”
I do this particularly when an idea gives me pause, scares me a bit, or a lot. It’s a healthy change of perspective that helps me assess more rationally, rather than solely on emotion.
I change my perspective, weighing possible paths, I then come up with what I think is the best course of action. Then I ask, “What’s the worst thing that could happen?” If I can handle that worst outcome, I give myself the green light. Works for me. What is a go-to survival skill for you?
Filed under Attitude, perspective
Kids & Animals – Hidreley – boredpanda.com
Filed under Animals and Kids, Awe-Inspiring Photography
Yesterday on the way home from our errands, a white-tailed doe jumped across the road in front of our truck. She was absolutely beautiful. Amber was in the back seat – one of her favorite places, but Amber didn’t see her. This gives you an idea –
I worked an hour and a half on side 2 of “Wonder Wart-Hog” yesterday. Right now he looks like a big green blob with a head. Hopefully, I can get that to change. :0) This is the front –
It rained while I was working on the mailbox decoration in the shop. We’re supposed to get more rain today, tomorrow, and Friday. We may need a boat! All this rain is bringing cooler temperatures, though, and for that I’m grateful. We have our doors open to get a nice breeze through the house.
I’m tearing my hair out trying to find a replacement for our phone carrier. We changed the credit card used to make our automatic payments. We got a late notice. I called and they told me, “It takes 6 to 8 WEEKS for our system to recognize a change like that.” I’m still having trouble believing that. Anyway, I asked them to take us off the family plan and the unlimited everything we’re on. Only one of our phones is smart and we basically use our phones for emergencies and some texting. After spending almost an hour on the phone with them, they told me the plan we’re on is the cheapest they have. Since we’re seeing ads for half the price, I’m trying to research the question.
My scales confirmed that I am past the 30-pounds-off mark now and have begun to make progress toward the next goal. :0)
Have a wonderful Wednesday.
Dick van Duijn Photography – article by Sara Barnes – mymodernmet.com
Filed under Amazing Animals, Dick van Duijn
Dani Ives – Wool Embroidery – Hidreley – BoredPanda.com
Filed under Embroidery/Sewing Art
Filed under paper art
Kids & Animals – Hidreley – BoredPanda.com
Filed under Animals and Kids, Awe-Inspiring Photography
As of this morning I have reached my first weight goal- to regain the 30-pounds-off mark! Can you see the balloons, streamers, confetti? Can you hear the horns? :0)
My next goal will be 5 more pounds down. This sounds doable – thanks to Maria – who suggested I break down my goals into doable chunks, rather than looking at the entirety.
Onward and Downward!
Filed under DIET!, motivators, quality of life
Last night we went to bed about 12:30 am and the wind was gusty and there was lightning. I didn’t hear it rain, but severe weather was possible overnight into this morning.
We awoke to 60 degrees F. and bright sunshine.
I took a walk around the yard to see if there was damage. We lost a couple of leaves on my elephant ear plants and there were leaves all over the civilized part of the yard around the house and our driveway, but I didn’t find any damage yet.
I did find several things that brought my spirits up –
There’s a bird’s nest in the tulip tree!
Filed under Gardening, Mother Nature
Matt Dixon – Robot Art – mattdixon.co.uk
Filed under Matt Dixon - Robot Art
Filed under sculpture
Shelly Hawley-Yan embroiders these beautiful animals, then makes ACEO prints so that you can collect her work.
ACEO stands for Art Card Editions and Originals which are great collectible art pieces. An affordable way to collect miniature art by your favorite artists. The one rule for ACEOs is that they must be 2.5×3. 5 inches, the size of a standard trading or baseball card. Colors may vary depending on monitor settings.
I like ACEO cards, but my jaw dropped when I saw what she was doing to create the work for them. I want to TOUCH these – very carefully – while I try not to drool. I’ve never seen anything like this before and wanted to share her exquisite work with you.
Shelly Hawley-Yan – OnDragonWingsStudio – etsy.com
My husband came out to the shop while I was working on the Wonder Wart-Hog mailbox decoration.
After looking at it for some time, he said, “Pretty good.” (high praise from him. )
So I’ll let it dry the rest of the day, then turn it over tomorrow to start side 2.
Whew!
It’s a gorgeous day today. Sunshine and 72! I’m enjoying it now because we’re supposed to get severe storms from about midnight through 4am tomorrow. Hang on to your hats!
I’m heading out to our shop as soon as I finish talking with you. I’m going to try to finish side 1 of the Wonder Wart-Hog mailbox decoration. I don’t know if it will pass muster with my husband, and this is one of his favorite comic book characters. I’ll just do the best I can and then take him out to the shop later to see if I should keep going or if I should get the paint off, mark it again, and start over. Time will tell.
I’m not sure what else is on tap today. I should probably do some house cleaning –
The above is SO true for me. Out to the shop!
Filed under Tattoos!, Thoughts on a ________
Filed under Creative Planters, Gardening
Filed under paintings I love
creativeartworksblog 