Monthly Archives: November 2021
Virtual “Visit” with Matt Dixon
Filed under Matt Dixon - Robot Art
I Hope You Can Feel the Love
T Tolis: “To love is nothing. To be loved is something. But to love and be loved, that’s everything!”
Filed under love
You’ve GOT to Laugh…
Filed under Funny Signs - Humor
Stunning Gourd Art
Filed under Gorgeous Gourd Art, Gorgeous Gourds
A Basket for Every Tisket
Although no one seems to know what a “tisket” or a “tasket” IS – with the exception, possibly, of Chick Webb, who wrote the song that Ella Fitzgerald made famous, it is my personal opinion that there will never be too many baskets. :0)
As I told Susy the other day, when she was kind enough to send in a comment, I now celebrate when I find a wonderful one at a yard or garage sale – nothing nearly as great as the pictures of these I share with you here.
Filed under Beautiful Baskets
Celebrating the Sassy Shoebill
Filed under Amazing Animals, Awe-Inspiring Photography
Drool-worthy Boxes
Filed under Beautiful Boxes
Random Thoughts on a Monday 11-15-2021
I love this picture. I’m thinking of replacing mine on the blog with this cute little guy. :0)
Other than feeling older than dirt and weighing more than I would like, things are good here. Our weather may warm up and be nice enough that I can work on painting the greeter robot at the bottom of the driveway. He is ready for me to mask parts and get started re-painting.
First, though we have lots on our plate. We want to change the decoration on our mailbox as we go out to do errands today. We will put up Sylvester and Tweetie Pie.
We have a doctor appointment, grocery shopping, and other errands to run this afternoon. When we get back, I’m hoping to work on the robot. If the weather people are correct this time, I’ll have this afternoon and tomorrow afternoon to try to get him refurbished.
Happy Monday!
Filed under Lewis Mailbox Decorations, Thoughts on a ________
Indulgence
Tonight we’re heating up a frozen meal we bought at Real Food in Greenwood. These are meals made by a lady who is an eater’s dream. They are good for us in that there are no preservatives, no additives with unpronounceable names, reasonable portions, and a moderate amount of salt, sugar, etc. We eat these a lot, but tonight we’re trying something a bit different.
We bought a container of ‘meatballs,’ rather than a regular dinner for one. We will heat this, find out how many servings we have, and go from there. I will fix a veggie to go with it, and we will indulge in some green grapes.
I say, ‘indulge,’ because my husband is a Type II diabetic (although he won’t be labeled this – he says he has a ‘sugar problem.’) We try to avoid sugar as much as possible. The grapes this year, though, are absolutely incredible. We feel that, since life is short anyway, we should enjoy something on the ‘avoid’ list if it is really good.
So tonight we splurge, enjoying each and every grape!
Filed under DIET!, taking care of yourself
Have You Seen My Squirrel Today?
Filed under Amazing Animals, Awe-Inspiring Photography
Wishy-Washy?
When I’m standing in the middle of a decision, not sure of which direction to take, a picture of my mom comes into my head. She always used to say, “Do any reasonable thing quickly, rather than reaching hesitantly for the ideal.”
Decisions are difficult. It doesn’t seem to always matter the importance of it or its outcome. When my dear friend and former colleague and I ran our own reading clinic years ago, we used to spend countless silly minutes trying to figure out where to go for lunch. We would go through the same questions – “What are you hungry for?” “What sounds good?” Finally, we would say, “Where do you NOT want to go?” and see if we could come to a decision that way.
I got really tired of trying to figure out what to cook for dinner. I didn’t mind COOKING it so much as the constant pressure to try to figure out something that would please, wouldn’t take a lot of time or effort – as I had always worked a full day before having to do it – provide a reasonable variety, etc. I used to ask my husband what he was hungry for while trying to make a grocery list. He would always say, “Whatever you cook is good.” And while that was nice in its way, it wasn’t helpful.
Decisions that involve things where consequences matter are much more difficult, of course. Sometimes even agonizing, when all of the avenues are distasteful, painful, or scary. Whenever I’m faced with one of these, I consider each avenue, then ask myself, “If I do this, what’s the worst that could happen?” If I find one in which I can handle the answer to that, I have my avenue.
Filed under Challenges, Changes, taking care of yourself
“A Tisket, a Basket…”
Besides boxes, baskets are another thing I try to ONLY drool over online, and NOT in actual stores where it’s possible to purchase them. I don’t know what it is that draws me so strongly to them, but it’s been the same all my life. My third ‘vice’ is office supplies. I have to make myself check supplies before I even THINK about getting more… :0)
People are so creative when it comes to creating baskets. The shapes, sizes, colors and other materials used seems to be endless.
I can immediately think of what I would put into a basket I find. The uses are both practical AND decorative.
Filed under Beautiful Baskets
Taylor Manoles Art
Filed under paintings I love, Taylor Morales Art
Immortality?
“Trigger” was ridden by Rogers in every one of his motion pictures, finding his own fame in the process. After Trigger died at age 33, his hide was stretched over a plaster likeness and put on display, also reared on two legs, inside the museum. He was mounted, then, not stuffed.
I bring this up because, when my husband and I talk of end of life issues, my husband always says he wants me to have HIM ‘stuffed like Trigger and mounted in the living room.’ That would be a form of immortality – I guess – a way to feel as if your life had made a difference to someone.
Some people will be remembered by some special talent – their singing, dancing, writing, creating, building, teaching, entertaining….
Most of us won’t do anything so wonderful that we’ll be remembered by the world for something we have contributed, but that’s okay. If we are remembered from time to time by someone we touched in some way, that’s immortality too.
I think of all the people who have made my life wonderful – my family, my friends, strangers who have taken the time to be extra kind, people I’ve never met, but who have made my heart sing with joy through their talent, who have made me laugh so hard I have trouble catching my breath.
Little means more than living on in someone’s memory and heart.
Filed under aging, quality of life
“Gingerbread Cookie” Wooden Ornaments
These are one-of-a-kind, hand-painted wooden ornaments. They are made to look like ‘gingerbread cookies’ decorated with icing. The back of each ornament is personalizable with a name and date. This is a fun, affordable way to make your Christmas more personal this year to put on your own tree or to give as gifts. You can see more information about these HERE.
Terrific Topiary
It’s probably strange, but I really don’t like yards or gardens where the bushes have all been rounded carefully like balls or cones, but I LOVE it when the greenery is made to look like animals or people. I guess the process then moves – in my weird mind – from manipulation and control and rigidness to creativity – making me smile or laugh. The creation above is my favorite of all time, so far. I think it’s magnificent.
I can’t imagine seeing this and not smiling or laughing in delight.
Sweet!
Pill?
Good morning. It’s sunny, but only 33 degrees F. out there this morning. This abrupt turn toward winter causes me to want to burrow in, stay under my throw in my recliner in the living room, watching TV or a movie, reading, or zonking out for awhile.
All of my good intentions are deferred, my focus on staying warm, cuddling with my husband and our animals, drinking coffee.
According to the weather folks, it’s supposed to warm up mid week. I’ll plan to try to get out and get the greeting robot at the bottom of our driveway repainted then.
I hope that you have a fun weekend planned.
Oh, WOW!
Filed under Gorgeous Gourd Art, Gorgeous Gourds
I’m a Box Freak
I’m such a box freak that I now ONLY look at them on the net and drool. I can justify the use of a box for so many reasons one might call me a ‘box justification expert.’
All styles, shapes, and decorations call to me for different reasons. The fact that my funds are limited is probably the only reason I’m not buried alive in them in our home. :0)
I even have one upstairs in my art room that we found in the attic at my husband’s parents’ home. It is crumbling on the top, so I’m very careful when I open it. It has no value, except to me, and it’s one of my favorites.
The best ones have a small key needed to open them, allowing you to keep treasures inside.
I’m too addicted to be saved at this point. It’s a good thing that finding these on the net almost solves my desire to acquire ‘just one more….’
Filed under Beautiful Boxes
Cold, Wet, and Blustery
One of the first things my husband and I did on waking this morning was to congratulate each other on doing our grocery shopping yesterday while the weather was nice. This morning we have 45 degrees F., rain, gloom, and blustery winds.
We will meet our friends for Lunch Bunch, but we won’t do anything else outside.
Cliff Harden, of Safe Elite Transformations 479-849-0520 safeelitetransformations@gmail.com called and then came to look at my porch yesterday afternoon. He made us a new ceiling, repaired damage, and then repainted our porch last year. One trim board had fallen down and needs to be reinstalled.
After I got a wonderful hug and he looked at the porch, he said he would be here sometime next week to fix it. When we met, I was his first customer after he used the pandemic lock-down to get his builder’s license and start his company after working for others for several years. Now he has three full crews working for him and is scrambling to keep up with the business. When you’re good, you stay busy. :0)
We got our Covid booster shots Wednesday. My husband and I are in the high-risk group. Even though my husband tends to think everything is a conspiracy, he agreed to the shots, and finally to the booster. Thankfully, neither of us had a bad reaction to the booster. Our son, who lives in Thailand, is in the group that has had bad reactions with heart problems. He is healthy, so has decided not to get the shots or be tested. Since our government has now decided that you MUST have been vaccinated or present a negative test in order to fly, he won’t be able to come home for any reason until the order is changed. We will be on our own until the world rights itself again.
I finished the re-painting of the back of Wonder Wart-Hog. We will hang up the mailbox decoration with the others in the shop now. Monday, weather permitting, we are planning to put up Sylvester and Tweetie Pie.
I have the paint, tape, and stepping stool ready to start the refurbishment of the greeter robot at the bottom of the driveway when the weather permits.
Since our weather is so unfriendly today, after Lunch Bunch I will clean a few things and then do a combination of playing in my art room, reading, and listening to YouTube compilations of “The Voice” auditions. All that talent just fills my heart and makes me feel good about the world!
Happy Friday!
Living Your Life
Filed under Attitude, Encouragement
Fix for Matt Dixon Art Addiction
Filed under Matt Dixon - Robot Art
More Lucy Wilson Art
Filed under drawings, Lucy Wilson
creativeartworksblog 