Monthly Archives: July 2022

July 21, 2022 · 9:23 am

Good Thursday 7-21-2022

Petr Vaclavek – Zazzle.com

I have a nice book. We certainly have the heat (105 F. today with a heat index of 110+). All I’m missing is the beach!

Salvasomo

I even have a photo of beautiful sandpipers!

sayingimages.com

Thankfully, we have good air conditioning and only go out if we choose to.

Yesterday was a wonderful afternoon. We ate our lunch and relaxed a bit after errands. I did an early session of yoga, since the wonderful bug spraying guy was coming at 5:30. I then went up and played in my art room, making good progress on the presents I’m making for friends. I finished up there and was coming down, meeting my husband on the stairs. He was coming up to tell me the buy spraying guy was here. He does such a good job for us, although he won’t spray for elephants…

iStock

I had a very unusual thing happen. I ordered some new tops recently. (That isn’t unusual, but the result was.) I tried one of them on this morning and they were WAAY TOOO LARGE! This IS unusual! We will take them to the UPS Store today or tomorrow so that I can obtain a refund and then I’ll reorder, ordering two sizes smaller. (I have the feeling this brand runs really large, but it feels really good to have something be too large for me to wear. :0)

I hope you have a terrific Thursday.

Leave a comment

Filed under acorn art, Delightful Surprises, Mother Nature, Thoughts on a ________

Tagged as , , ,

July 20, 2022 · 3:52 pm

Beautiful Wood Art

Alexander-Grabovetskiy
ArtRanked
Facebook-DivaPictures
Pinterest
Rachel Walker-Hook-chessie-goes-wild-art
WoodBurnCorner

Leave a comment

Filed under When Wood Comes Alive

Tagged as ,

July 20, 2022 · 3:45 pm

Trying to Form Habit

Lucia Hefferman

I’m TRYING to form a new habit of doing a yoga session every day. My body has informed me that I NEED to do this or I stiffen up and get and stay sore. Even with that ‘proof,’ I find myself making excuses.

Today is DAY 5 of doing my renewed daily practice. I just looked up forming a habit. I’ve found – “It can take anywhere from 18 to 254 days for a person to form a new habit and an average of 66 days for a new behavior to become automatic.” This sounds intimidating, so I’ll just do it one day at a time – giving myself one sparkly star on my desk calendar each day, and see what happens.

Lucia Hefferman

My husband is trying to be supportive, though he was under his throw in his recliner, drinking a sugar-free soda, eating an oatmeal-raisin cookie and had a bag of Fritos to dive into next, while watching me.

I’m pouring over the Big Yoga book by Meera Patricia Kerr, finding several poses I’m trying to add to the practice. It takes me awhile to absorb a pose if it has several parts, so progress there is slow.

Lucia Hefferman

I’m proud of myself that I finished my practice well before our bug spraying man is due here today. :0)

Leave a comment

Filed under exercise

Tagged as , , ,

July 20, 2022 · 9:33 am

Glorious Sight

horseandman.com

Leave a comment

Filed under Awe-Inspiring Photography

Tagged as ,

July 20, 2022 · 9:31 am

More Marjansart

Marjansart

Leave a comment

Filed under paintings I love

Tagged as , ,

July 20, 2022 · 9:26 am

Wednesday Hug

wattpad.com

Leave a comment

Filed under Amazing Animals, Awe-Inspiring Photography, love

Tagged as , , ,

July 20, 2022 · 9:23 am

Quiet Wednesday 7-20-2022

Snack Time-Christina Bass-betterphoto.com
IndiaMART

I’m starting to see some good differences on the scales finally. That has been lower on my list since we changed from low-carb to the Mediterranean eating plan recently after my system got out of whack and I had to focus on getting my health back and eating differently. All is good now and I can focus on only stuffing GOOD things in my face (using moderation), doing my yoga practice daily (4 sparkly stars in a row on my desk calendar now), drinking lots of water (trying to drink 3 bottles of water daily), and generally trying to stay out of trouble. :0)

BugGuide.net

Yesterday was ‘bug day’ around here. I’ve been annoyed by gnats flying around me lately. Yesterday I was working at the computer and a WASP landed on my leg! I leaped up, got the fly swatter, and the NEXT time he was in the area, I beat him to a pulp before disposing of his corpse. :0) I noticed something on the floor just under the buffet in the dining area. When I leaned down to see what it was, I found a scorpion! It was a DEAD scorpion, but one can’t be dead enough for me. I picked him up with the forceps we keep on hand (fearing he might be playing possum) and disposed of him, too. I then called Tri-Hill Pest Control in Fort Smith and our good tech will come out late this afternoon to spray inside and out.

iStock

Today we actually have a CHANCE of rain! We MIGHT get an isolated shower or two! I have all appendages crossed, since it’s ALSO supposed to get to an all-too-hot temperature with a heat index of 111 this afternoon. If we get the rain, you can be sure I’ll take the time to go out and dance in it.

Tenor

We’re going to leave in a bit to get our mail and replenish our food supply at the local grocery. My husband tried a new Healthy Choice frozen dinner last night, “Pineapple Chicken,” and he wants to get more. He has also requested another ‘tuna casserole’ (with extra veggies) that I made recently. I’m also trying several different salmon recipes.

I hope that your Wednesday is a satisfying one.

Leave a comment

Filed under .gifs I Love, DIET!, Mediterranean Eating Plan + Recipes, Mother Nature, Thoughts on a ________

Tagged as , , , ,

July 19, 2022 · 3:39 pm

I Love Iridescent Raku

RAAQUU
Raku Art
Raku-Pottery-by-Rick-Lowenkamp
Unknown

3 Comments

Filed under Clay Art, Iridescent Raku

Tagged as ,

July 19, 2022 · 3:34 pm

It’s Just TOO Many TOO’s

Unkleaboki

It’s hard to keep up with all the Heat Advisories, Excessive Heat Warnings, Red Flag Alerts, Burn Bans, etc. around here. We’re under all of them today. It’s an actual temperature of 105. Who knows what the heat index is. All I know is that it’s just TOO everything and I’m really grateful I can stay in the air conditioning. I got out and checked our tomatoes and took the trash down to the bottom of the driveway, but otherwise, I’m IN.

My husband drove down to get the mail a few minutes ago and said the trash was still down there. I’m really HOPING the good trash people come and take it away. With our luck, it’s too hot for their trucks, too…

I’m going to go for sparkly star #4 for my yoga session. I hope you’re staying cool.

Leave a comment

Filed under Mother Nature

Tagged as , , , , , ,

Image

Care

Leave a comment

July 19, 2022 · 10:45 am
July 19, 2022 · 10:43 am

Mary Philpott Ceramics

Raucus Raven
Recumbent Fox
Red Deer in the Wood
Red Hare Sitting
Winter Doe

Mary Philpott Ceramics

Leave a comment

Filed under ceramics, Mary Philpott Ceramics

Tagged as ,

July 19, 2022 · 10:35 am

Tuesday 7-19-2022

Gustavo Velaon – Twitter.com

Today we woke up to our dog, Amber, going nuts in the utility room where she sleeps. My husband went downstairs first, letting her out. The barking increased. I thought we had finally trapped raccoon #8. It turned out to be a squirrel, who probably was trapped this morning, since they are early risers. We’ve never caught one before. Instead of letting it out and getting on with business, my husband decided to sit on the deck watching the squirrel and listening to Amber go nuts. The barking makes me crazy, so I asked my husband if he was going to let the squirrel out. He just said, “In awhile.”

I did the morning chores as quickly as I could because the noise was really getting on my nerves. When I finished, I came into the office, as far away from the barking as I could get. Finally it stopped. Amber came in panting like a fiend and drinking water. My husband left me alone for awhile – smart man! – and then brought me a cup of coffee. I’m giving both of them a wide berth this morning, still teed off that the morning started so unpleasantly.

I took our two weeks worth of trash down to the bottom of our driveway, so I’m sure it’s out there early enough – just not sure they’ll take all of it. Fingers crossed.

The heat index will be 105 today. It’ll be the same, with little or no rain, until further notice, the weather people say. We’re under a burn ban and actually had a wildfire north of us recently. Happily, it was controlled before it burned any houses and no one was hurt. We’ve had heat waves before, but usually in August. It’s disconcerting that the heat is so relentless early this year. It will be amazing if anything lives, even with our irrigation systems working now.

I’m hoping for a nice, quiet afternoon. I wish the same for YOU. :0)

Leave a comment

Filed under Thoughts on a ________

Tagged as , ,

July 19, 2022 · 10:04 am

“Normal” is SUCH a Beautiful Word

Thyroid

“Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland situated at the base of the front of your neck, just below your Adam’s apple. Hormones produced by the thyroid gland — triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) — have an enormous impact on your health, affecting all aspects of your metabolism.” -Mayo Clinic

The above is an enormous understatement. Your thyroid controls almost everything. If it makes too little hormone, you have bad problems. Too MUCH, more problems. If it goes completely out of whack, like mine did several years ago, you’re almost incapacitated. Mine was GUSHING hormone and I had the choice of radiation or surgery. I had mine radiated and I have NO thyroid now. I take a medicine that takes the place of my thyroid, supplying the hormone to regulate everything. Tests are needed, plus monitoring, to make sure the dosage stays right.

When it gets out of whack again, it takes WEEKS – if not more – to find the proper dosage. The complicating factor is your brain, which decides how it FEELS about the amount of hormone it’s receiving. It’s different for everyone, and the dosage doesn’t STAY good forever. (It took a full year of tests every 8 weeks and changes in dosage to find the proper starting one for me at the beginning.)

8 weeks ago I went in for my routine doctor appointment. I always get a blood test several days before so we have results to look at. Normal thyroid (TSH test) is 0.40-4.50. Mine was 22.89!!!!! Our doc looked at the meds I was taking and spotted two new things that were over-the-counter medicines I was taking trying to get my digestion working right again. She thought these two meds might be nullifying my thyroid med. She suggested I take the thyroid med first thing – no food or drink other than water for at least an hour afterwards. I have done that for 8 weeks and then had a follow-up test yesterday. I’m so thankful that I have such a smart doctor. She was right about what was causing my problem. Yesterday’s test showed my level “normal” at 0.55. My bad symptoms are gone now. I’m really relieved.

Southwest Physical Therapy

Leave a comment

Filed under taking care of yourself

Tagged as , ,

July 18, 2022 · 6:02 pm

Nice Afternoon

Gfycat

I’ve had a very nice afternoon.

I turned on the a/c upstairs – it’s 104 F. actual temperature – who knows what the heat index is – and painted for a couple of hours this afternoon. Things are definitely coming together on the Christmas gifts I’m painting. I listened to some of my favorite music while I painted and had a great time.

Reviewed

I came downstairs and was going to read, but ended up asleep in my recliner with the book on top of me. :0) I feel much more rested now.

Tenor

Then it was about 5:00 and I hadn’t done my yoga practice for the day, so I did that, and earned my sparkly star on my calendar.

Now I’m enjoying time on my computer and will soon fix dinner for us.

NICE afternoon.

Leave a comment

Filed under exercise, playing in my art room, Reading is FUNdamental

Tagged as , , ,

July 18, 2022 · 12:16 pm

Delectable Driftwood Art

horseandman.com
modishstore.com

modishstore.com
modishstore.com

modishstore.com

Leave a comment

Filed under Driftwood Art, When Wood Comes Alive

Tagged as ,

July 18, 2022 · 12:11 pm

Carola Van Dyke Textile Animals

Carola Van Dyke Textiles

1 Comment

Filed under Carola Van Dyke Textiles, Embroidery/Sewing Art

Tagged as ,

July 18, 2022 · 12:05 pm

Big Dog Love 8

Pablo Valdivia – Buzzfeed

Leave a comment

Filed under Amazing Animals, love

Tagged as ,

July 18, 2022 · 12:02 pm

Monday 7-18-2022

rajiv weli-flickr.com

I’m late getting to the blog today. I got a blood test first thing this morning (after having to wait a LONG time at the clinic) and then celebrated it being over with a fabulous breakfast at The Dari. We’re home now for the rest of the day, trying to catch up with our various activities.

I hope that you are having a good Monday. We are ‘in-the-frying-pan’ as usual here in summer, very thankful that we can live through it spoiled by good a/c. I’ll wait to check on tomatoes until this evening before the sun goes down or tomorrow morning.

Giphy

I ALMOST didn’t do yoga yesterday. Things got busy and I missed my normal time. I finally ended up doing my session at around 9pm last night, so I did get my sparkly star on my desk calendar. I’m hoping to get to my yoga in the late afternoon, as usual, today. My body is beginning to respond to my renewed efforts on yoga practice. It still takes me awhile, just lying on my back on the mat, for my back to calm down, but yesterday it was a bit quicker. Each day I’ll get a little looser.

Other things for the day are gathering trash for the week to ADD to the trash that didn’t go out LAST week – thanks to my husband trying to avoid it ‘going-out-too-early.’ I just hope the trash people take it all tomorrow. I’ll also play in my art room.

Dog’s Best Life

At the beginning of last week I vacuumed up an entire dog’s worth of hair from our tiled areas on the first floor. Yesterday I vacuumed the carpeted areas of the first floor, sucking up ANOTHER entire dog! And yet Amber still has a full, lush coat of healthy-looking hair….

Enjoy your Monday. Stay safe and cool.

Leave a comment

Filed under .gifs I Love, Thoughts on a ________

Tagged as , , ,

July 17, 2022 · 8:11 pm

Favorite Female Singer

Theoni Marks on The Voice

Theoni Marks and Lachie Gill

I listen to both of these over and over. They are both so talented and just fill my heart when they sing. I hope that both of them are very successful.

Leave a comment

Filed under music, video

Tagged as , , , ,

July 17, 2022 · 10:37 am

Joey Richardson Turned Wood Art

A Touch of Yellow
Coalesce
Estimate
Kindred
Qest
The Marriage

Joey Ricardson – Turned Wood Art

Leave a comment

Filed under Joey Richardson Turned Wood Art, When Wood Comes Alive

Tagged as , ,

July 17, 2022 · 10:17 am

FUN

Randy Pausch – acolorfuljourney.com

I’ve been having a wonderful time for several weeks now, making Christmas presents for my friends. I got the idea for the theme of the presents several months ago, and ideas have been rattling around in my brain ever since.

I finally ordered the materials I needed and began to play as soon as they arrived. I looked on the net for some reference pictures for some of my ideas, and then began drawing my ideas with pencil. There are two sides to each present and 8 friends, so there was a lot of drawing.

I’ve been painting for about three weeks now, having a truly wonderful time in my art room. I’m not in any hurry. My goal is to make some progress on the project each day, but enjoying every minute of the process. I’m about to finish ‘Side 1″ of the 8 presents.

Making time to have FUN each day is important to your soul, your sense of worth, your outlook. It’s a buffer against whatever challenges with which you are dealing, replenishing strength and resilience you’ll need. A time for JOY gives you peace of mind, if only for a little while each day – a coping mechanism that is priceless.

I used to put time in my art room, time for reading, listening to music, playing in my garden or yard, writing this blog on my to-do list WHEN I COULD MAKE THE TIME – if possible when my work and other obligations are under control. Now I consciously make time to at least ONE of the things I love on a daily basis. I feel stronger, happier, and more alive since I switched my priorities.

NOTE: I have to admit (shhhhh!) I felt guilty when my husband came in for batteries for his remote for the TV this morning and had Amber hair all over the front of his shirt from getting down on the carpet to work in the area under the TV in the entertainment center. Looks like I should make time to vacuum the first floor carpet today…. :0)

Leave a comment

Filed under Attitude, building good habits, Changes, Childlike Fun, Encouragement, fun, fun in my art room, playing in my art room

Tagged as , ,

July 17, 2022 · 9:56 am

Fiona Tunnicliffe Pottery

Fiona Tunnicliffe Pottery

Leave a comment

Filed under Clay Art, Fiona Tunnicliffe Pottery

Tagged as , ,

July 17, 2022 · 9:50 am

Today’s Harvest 7-17-2022

We had a nice harvest this morning, with more coming soon. The weather has started affecting the quality of the tomatoes with some breaks in the skin, a couple of bad spots, etc., but they still taste absolutely wonderful and we’re spoiled beyond redemption, shamelessly devouring some for both lunch and dinner daily while we can. :0)

Tenor

Tonight we’ll enjoy a “Main Meal Salad” (chef type salad) with added chicken from Lunch Bunch, so we’re having a nice, healthy day.

Leave a comment

Filed under Gardening, Healthy Eating, Mediterranean Eating Plan + Recipes, Square Foot Gardening - Raised Beds

Tagged as , , ,

July 17, 2022 · 9:41 am

Repairs

123RF.com

We’re having a sudden siege of things needing our attention.

Yesterday my husband had to repair the humane trap we use for catching and relocating raccoons who are decimating our birdseed supply. The raccoon not only managed to get out of the trap, but tore out a huge part of the side of the trap in the process. My husband was able to repair it, but it may or may not actually be workable now, due to the extent of the repairs needed.

While the raccoon was ‘visiting’ (and NOT being caught) he trashed our bird feeder, as well. It’s a wooden feeder with plexiglass sides and then some metal on each end to hold suet. The only part still hanging was the ‘roof’. The rest was lying in pieces on the ground. I went to check on my husband in the shop and found him trying to hold several pieces together while getting new screws in through the bottom. I helped him with that and the feeder is now hanging again (minus one of the suet holders that was demolished beyond repair), but empty, until we catch raccoon #8. I suggested to my husband that we might fill the feeder, let the birds enjoy it during the day, and then bring it in nightly onto the porch. He sneered at me, so that’s a discussion we’ll maybe repeat another day…

When we finished morning chores, my husband went to turn on the TV. For some reason, it didn’t want to cooperate, so he spent 20 minutes “messing-with-it,” unplugging and plugging it in again (I WISH I could do that with my BRAIN), changing his remote control batteries, etc. I was in the office, having finally learned to leave him alone while he’s trying to figure out what is wrong. I heard the TV sound, so went in to check. He was calmly watching TV as if there had been no problem. I got only vague answers, so I left him to it, but it looks like ‘messing with it’ worked.

Hopefully, we won’t run into anything else that needs help today.

Leave a comment

Filed under Housekeeping - Maintenance

Tagged as , , ,

July 17, 2022 · 9:12 am

1st Gold Star in Awhile

Clipart Library

I FINALLY got off my duff and did a good, long yoga session – including some of my new poses from Big Yoga by Meera Patricia Kerr yesterday afternoon. I put a nice, sparkly star on my desk calendar to commemorate ‘the occasion,’ hoping that will motivate me to do it again TODAY.

Giphy

This amazing lady is NOT me, but I love her ability plus the ‘family’ nature of her exercise. :0)

I felt a lot better when I finished my practice AND I noticed later on in the evening I wasn’t feeling so creaky when getting out of my recliner.

May the star yesterday be the start of a whole calendar FILLED with them!

Leave a comment

Filed under .gifs I Love, exercise

Tagged as , , , ,

July 16, 2022 · 9:20 am

Artists and Their Work

Alvin-Tan-Teck-Heng

Dan-Fogelberg
Kelly-Garrett-Rathbone
Joseph Sheppard

Article in VeniceClayArtists.com

Leave a comment

Filed under Art Around the World

Tagged as

July 16, 2022 · 9:15 am

Not Alone!

zazzle.com

Leave a comment

Filed under Funny Signs - Humor

Tagged as , ,

July 16, 2022 · 9:13 am

Canvas

lovethispic.com

It’s in your hands most of the time. Sure, things happen suddenly that swamp us, but most of the time we can choose how we view and live life.

I made a promise to myself awhile back, to include some joy in every day, no matter what else is happening. My happiness comes from within ME. It’s up to ME to splash some paint around.

Leave a comment

Filed under Attitude, Encouragement, happy

Tagged as , , , , ,

July 16, 2022 · 9:06 am

More Iridescent Raku

Gary Johnson
Greg Daly
Keri-Fischer-Still-Dreaming
Brent-Skinner
Miry Clay Pottery

Leave a comment

Filed under ceramics, Clay Art, Iridescent Raku

Tagged as , , ,

July 16, 2022 · 8:46 am

Saturday

We’re moving a bit slowly this morning. Amber woke us up three separate times barking last night. When we got up this morning, the humane trap we set for raccoon #8 was empty, the door shut, and the side busted out. So we have no raccoon and a trap that my husband MAY or MAY NOT be able to repair. We still have a raccoon eating our seed and can’t fill up the bird feeders. UGH.

The weather forecast for the next 10 days fits right in with the above. Above 100 degrees – not even THINKING about the heat index – for 9 of the next 10 days. (Only 98 tomorrow). Heat advisories and excessive heat warnings every day.

Tenor

On the good side, I have some coffee. When I am finally fully awake, I have a good book to read, I can play up in my art room, I can take a nap if I need to later, I can write on my blog, we have air conditioning, and I can exercise where it’s cool. Not much to complain about after all…

Leave a comment

Filed under Thoughts on a ________

Tagged as , , ,

July 16, 2022 · 8:23 am

Big Dog Love 7

Pablo Valdivia – Buzzfeed

Leave a comment

Filed under Amazing Animals, love

Tagged as , ,