Just Energy
I’m planning to prune and weed my veggie boxes and tomatoes today. I hope your weather is such that you can enjoy being outside, too.
Happy Earth Day!
Monthly Archives: April 2023
Rick Stevens Art
Filed under Landscapes I Like
Hahahahahahaha
sun-gazing.com
Yesterday I got up from my computer, intending to go pee and get a cup of coffee.
I got up, got my husband some Tylenol and water, cleaned up the kitchen some, and went back to the office. I started to reach for my coffee, and saw I didn’t have any. I still needed to pee. I got up again.
My husband asked if I could bring him a cold drink. I fixed that, took it to him, then changed the wash to the dryer, peed, and came back. I started looking at things again and reached for my coffee cup….
I FINALLY got some coffee – but really, it was embarrassing by the time things finally clicked and I accomplished my initial task.
deepsthots.tumblr.com
Filed under Challenges
Stuffing My Face
ebaums world
I did well on eating yesterday, plus getting lots of exercise doing 7 total loads of laundry, cleaning up the sheets I used protecting plants from the hail storm, folding them and putting them away for next time. I did the 7th load because my husband had trouble with the bacon cheeseburger I brought him from Lunch Bunch, dumping it on his robe. I finally went to sleep after getting that in the dryer, about 1:30 or so this morning. The problem is that when my husband went to bed, I was ravenous, eating everything except the fridge.
It’s been a bit stressful around here. My husband hurt his back about a week ago. He was pulling on something in the shop and heard a ‘pop’ in his back. He wouldn’t let me take him to a doctor. He’s been using the heat pad (won’t switch off with ice), and taking Tylenol.
After about half an hour of my massage therapist’s expertise Thursday, he spent the first day since he hurt himself pain-free. He is still better than he was, but is having trouble when he has to change position. she said he should get x-rays and probably go to a chiropractor. (Of course, that went in one ear and out the other.)
Last night he came downstairs about 2 a.m. and went to sleep in his chair. About 4 a.m. for some reason his recliner went over backwards, dumping him on the floor. His feet knocked his tray table over. He managed to get the chair back upright and slept the rest of the night.
This morning I picked up the tray table and put it back together again, retrieved all the stuff that fell off of it, etc. Thankfully, the glass that was on the rug was plastic, and was empty at the time everything dumped. He seems to be doing fine right now, but I’m checking on him on a regular basis.
Until we can get his pain and movement under better control, I’m afraid I’m destined to look like the sweet critter at the top of this post. I’ll try again today, and hopefully won’t be still doing laundry at 1 a.m. and will be upstairs with my husband – both of us resting quietly tonight.
Filed under Challenges
Dog Gone!
“Dorky Dogs” – BoredPanda.com – Liucija Adomaite and Justinas Keturka
I just love this photo. For some reason it makes me smile and feel happy.
Our tomato plants and veggie boxes came through the last storm intact, thank goodness. I don’t remember having much hail, except for maybe a small amount of hail you could hardly see or hear, in the past. The last two storms have really gotten our attention.
We watched in amazement as the hail came down storm before last, bouncing all over the yard. It looked like each hail ball bounced up about a foot after it hit initially.
The last storm the sound was so loud I almost had to cover my ears with my hands, and we heard a few loud cracks as big pieces hit. I wouldn’t have been surprised if it broke a window.
I’ll call on Monday to see if our insurance agent will come out and check us out for any damage, but I’ll make sure he knows that we aren’t priority. We can’t see any damage, but we can’t get up on the roof and check things out more closely as we used to.
Today it’s much cooler – the reason for the storms. We’re only supposed to have a high in the low 60’s, rather than the low 80’s we’ve been having. The sun is shining its face off. You’d never know Mother Nature has been so angry.
I spent all day and into the evening washing all the king-sized sheets I used to try to protect the plants. All are in a trash bag now, ready to be stored in the garage for the next storm. I really hope we’re getting to the end of all this. I’ll try not to gripe when the heat settles in for the summer, baking us, with no rain in sight. :0)
I’ll take some time later today to see more closely how the veggie planters are doing. I know I need to do some pruning and weeding – and might be able to bring in some lettuce and spinach leaves!
I hope you’re having a beautiful Saturday.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Vivi K. Crandall Art 3
Filed under animal paintings, Vivi K. Crandall
Good Lunch Bunch
Lunch Bunch was good, even though it was only Kay, Bud, and I. They were talking about their new way of gardening, in buckets, and wanted me to see what they were doing. So we went back to their house after we ate. They showed me a whole series of buckets for growing veggies, plus new roses bushes they had planted along their chain link fence. I was very impressed, and happy for them that they had figured out a way to do what they wanted and make it easier on themselves.
At lunch, Bud told me about a hail storm in 1965 or 66 where a really bad hail storm had killed a bunch of cattle and horses. One man brought a piece of hail to a weigh station. It had melted some during the trip, of course, but it still weighed 11 pounds!!!!! I really can’t imagine that. He also told me about working one day in a shop at a construction site. Suddenly, the garage door was blown in to the point it bowed out into the shop, then it went completely the other way and was gone. He got down on his hands and knees behind some barrels. The top blew off the shop and most of it was destroyed around him. Thankfully, he was JUST scared and wasn’t injured. I’ve lived in “Tornado Alley” most of my life, but (knock on wood) I’ve never actually seen one. I hope that continues.
I brought lunch home to my husband, and caught him up on the news and our friends’ flowers and garden.
Filed under Friendship
Daiga Dimza Art
Tufted Titmouse-Daiga Dimza-Etsy-Duke Jacob Art
Bumblebee-Daiga Dimza-Duke Jacob ART-Etsy
Filed under paintings I love
Today’s Exercise
This gives you an idea of what the threat of hail does around here. My first exercise of the morning was gathering the sheets I had spread on our two tomato planters on one side of the house plus the garden veggie boxes on the other side of our property. The sheets are really a challenge to spread over the plants when the wind is gusting. This morning I used the wheelbarrow to gather the heavy, wet sheets and clothespins.
Six loads of wash, folding the sheets into a trash bag, and then storing them with the clothespins for next time will be my next exercise for the day.
BoredPanda.com – “Dorky Dogs” – Liucija Adomaite and Justinas Keturka
Lastly, I’ll do a session of yoga this afternoon. Since I didn’t get my massage yesterday, my poor old body is telling me I really need to spread out, stretch, and relax into several poses so I don’t creak when I move. :0)
Filed under exercise
Another ‘Morning After’
When this shows up on Twitter later, the censors will probably flag it for ‘inappropriate content’ and I’ll have to again speak to the fact that they should READ the content before deciding it’s questionable. (The last time was ‘Wet Wednesday’ where I was again speaking of storms and rain. :0) )
Tenor.gif
The morning after – The severe weather we were expecting finally showed up yesterday evening. All of a sudden it was like being in the middle of a humongous, rushing waterfall, the hardest rain I can remember seeing, and then we had about 10 minutes or so of large hail. I’ll call our insurance agent later to see if we should be checked, but I’ll tell him that we can’t see any damage and to put us at the bottom of the list on getting to people.
I had spread clothes-pinned sheets over our tomato plants and the veggie boxes before the storms were due, so I had protected things as well as I was able and hoped for the best. I’ve just finished using the wheelbarrow to gather the clothespins and the heavy, wet sheets. Six loads of laundry later, I will fold the sheets up to be used again (though I hope not soon!)
DIY Value Picture
Today is Lunch Bunch. I’m hoping my husband will feel like going with me. I gave him my massage spot yesterday after contacting Lynn Moody, my wonderful massage therapist, to see if she thought she might be able to give him some relief. I’m delighted and relieved to report that she brought him the first almost pain-free day he’s had since he hurt himself. She did tell us that she thought he should get x-rays and see a chiropractor since the pain was in the middle of his lower back. (MAYBE he’ll listen). We’ll never be able to thank her enough.
I hope you have a great Friday.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Massage and Storms
Quotir
Good morning!
We’re due for some possibly severe storms today, starting around noon and lasting throughout the evening. (We’re in Greenwood, which is southeast of Fort Smith on this weather map.) I just read that there will probably be hail again, so as soon as we get back from my husband’s massage, I’ll get the sheets out for the tomato plants and veggie boxes. Covering my plants with sheets, then taking them off, bringing them in, and washing them for next time is becoming my main exercise these days.
Best Accredited Colleges
We’ll leave soon for my husband’s massage. I’m sure hoping Lynn can give him some needed relief from the pain from his back injury. My main concern at the moment is helping him get up on the massage table and off again without too much pain. (He said our dog, Amber, went upstairs and lay down on the floor beside his side of the bed to wait for him to wake up this morning.)
I hope you stay safe from any bad stuff today.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Cookies
Forwarded by my friend Marsha
She and I are trying to encourage each other in our efforts to lose the lard and exercise.
She has lost a pound or two already recently and purchased a peddler that she can use several times a day, rain or shine, to try to build muscle and stamina. Huge kudos!
I, on the other hand, am a dismal failure. I do pretty well, and then my husband, trying to be nice, brings me a dish of ice cream with chocolate syrup. Or, failing that excuse, I decide I’m starving to death mid afternoon and have some pretzels, even after drinking a bottle of water first and waiting to try to curb my hunger. I’ve also been using my meager yard work as a substitute for my yoga practice. Bah. Humbug.
I’m trying to do one day at a time – even one morning at a time. I’ll try to get my act together VERY SOON – if not TODAY…
taolife.com
Filed under DIET!, exercise, taking care of yourself
Checking the Garden 4-19-2023
1st tomato blossom
Spinach and Lettuce
Head Lettuce
Spinach
I’ll try to get out in the next few days and get the weeds under control and the wilted/dead parts pruned, but things are looking good so far.
I think the severe weather is JUST supposed to be wind and rain tomorrow. One can hope.
Filed under Gardening, Square Foot Gardening - Raised Beds
Dan Bullock Art
Filed under Dan Bullock Art, paintings I love
Windy Wednesday 4-19-2023
Cesar’s Way
We’re under a wind advisory today with possibly severe weather tomorrow afternoon and evening. The roller coaster ride continues. I wouldn’t be surprised if it actually rained a bit today, even though it’s not in the forecast. It looks rainy outside.
Yesterday I poured the ‘worm castings tea’ on our tomato plants, plus the lettuce and spinach in the square foot garden.
When I researched how often I should use this, I found “You can’t do it too often. Every few months you add a handful of worm castings to the base of the plant. Every time it rains, or when you water the plant, a tiny bit of worm castings goes down into the soil, and your plant gets a delivery of organic vitamins and minerals. It’s that simple!”
Sprinkling the granules once a month, rather than making and steeping the tea for 24 hours, then laboriously hauling the buckets around, sounds wonderful. Win/win. We’ll see how it goes.
My husband is still suffering from hurting his back. He’s better each day, but improving excruciatingly slowly. I’ve contacted Lynn, my wonderful massage therapist, to see if a massage might help him. She has agreed to see what she can do tomorrow. We’ll see how it goes and hope she is able to give him some relief. Hooray!
Have a nice day.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Devon Rodriguez
Devon Rodriguez is a New York City artist. He offers drawing lessons, and custom portraits. He keeps his skills sharp – and just seems to have fun – sitting on the subway or a train and sketching random people who interest him. When the sketch is finished, he simply goes to the person, says, “Excuse me, Ma’am, I drew you,” handing the person the sketch. When people offer to pay him, he tells them it’s free. Their delight will warm your heart.
There are more of these on YouTube. His website is Devon Rodriguez Art.com Enjoy. Warning: you may become addicted to watching these. :0)
Filed under Devon Rodriguez Art, drawings, video
Pebble Art 3
Filed under Erzsebet Szilajka, Stone/Pebble Art
Jennifer Rudkin Ceramics 4
Filed under ceramics, Clay Art, Jennifer Rudkin Ceramics
Thoughts on Tuesday 4-18-2023
Yesterday I managed to sneak out and take the trash down to the bottom of the driveway and deal with the humongous trash can without incident. My husband listened to my, “I’ll get the mail,” and didn’t even think about the trash. Today I’m hoping that I can do the same, tethering the empty trash can back to the pole. Fingers crossed. His back is getting better, but he’s still in pain and still refusing to see a doctor.
I started ‘garden tea’ yesterday, making a mixture of 1 part worm castings to 3 parts water in two buckets. It was supposed to ‘steep’ 12 to 24 hours, so I’ll pour some of it on the tomatoes and the rest of it on my square foot garden plants this morning. I’m eager to see if I’ll be able to see any difference in my plants this season. I have the two planters of tomatoes and then four of six 4′ x 4′ boxes planted with spinach and head lettuce plants so far.
We’re due for more severe weather on Thursday (oh, GOOD!) – just what we needed. One of my online friends was talking about snow in the Denver area, so that made me feel guilty about griping.
Later this morning I’ll attempt to share a video of an amazing artist I found. His name is Devon Rodriguez. He does sketches of random people on either trains or the subway in New York mainly. When he finishes, he goes to the person and says, “Excuse me, ma’am/sir. I drew you.” He then hands them the sketch – which is stunning. He won’t accept money. It’s free. Online he offers art classes and commissioned work. He just loves to sketch and ‘practices’ his skills this way. I hope I can share one of the videos with you.
Have a wonderful Tuesday.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Pebble Art 2
Filed under Erzsebet Szilajka, Stone/Pebble Art
Life Status:
lemonsandpearls.com
Can you hear me gnashing my teeth from where you are?
It’s still morning and I may be completely bald by the end of the day from tearing my hair out, or hoarse from going outside to yell.
You know my husband ‘pulled on something’ in the shop and heard a ‘pop’ hurting his back. You know he refuses to go to the doctor. I told you in my first post that he INSISTED he accompany me to Walmart yesterday. He ALSO insisted that we stop at the Sonic for a large banana milkshake, though he is a Type II diabetic. (He denies this, saying he has a ‘sugar problem.’)
So – we tested blood sugar and blood pressure this morning as we do twice a week. He was shocked that his blood sugar was 185. He was piously telling me he didn’t eat a ‘sugar ball’ (an apple tart) for TWO days. I pointed out that he had a large banana shake yesterday, and he then had to admit that THAT wasn’t a smart thing to do.
I started gathering trash and had to tell him “NO” firmly when he started to get up to help, pointing out that he was having pain when he walked, got up, or sat down this morning and should be resting all day. He grudgingly said, ‘okay.’
We’ll probably have the same or worse ‘discussion’ later this morning when it’s time to take the trash down. I’m going to try to sneak out and get it done while he’s taking a nap in his chair. I already have the bags of trash in the back of the truck.
This is the same man who was explaining details neglected in the ’60 Minutes’ two segments on Artificial Intelligence last night…
Filed under Challenges
Jennifer Rudkin Ceramics 3
Filed under ceramics, Clay Art, Jennifer Rudkin Ceramics
Nice Monday 4-17-2023
Parade
It’s a beautiful day here. I feel a bit like the aftermath of riding a roller coaster too many times. One day the day will be perfect. The next – huge hail and flying hairballs. Spring is usually volatile, but Mother Nature is taking it a bit too far this year for me.
I got the six king-sized sheets I used to protect the plants washed and folded yesterday. Today I’ll bag them up and take the bag out to the shop again so they’ll be ready for the next time. I’m also gathering trash and taking it down for pickup tomorrow.
I’m going to TRY to be sneaky about it. My husband’s back is still hurting. He INSISTED on going with me to Walmart yesterday. He did okay, but he’s having trouble this morning, so I think it was too much too soon. He really doesn’t need to be hauling trash or trying not to slide when dealing with the huge trash can at the bottom of our driveway.
The exciting day will also include paying bills, filing, and starting my first bath of ‘garden tea’ from the worm castings I got last week. I’m hoping that the plants really love that. I’ve read how to make it online, but I’ll also check the bag itself and go by any instructions I find. I know I have to steep it for 24 to 48 hours, so it’ll be at least mid week before I use it.
I hope that the weather where you are is calm and comfortable and that you have something fun planned today. Enjoy your Monday.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
More Exquisite Pebble Art
Filed under Erzsebet Szilajka, Stone/Pebble Art
Jennifer Rudkin Ceramics 2
Cleo Cat Goldfish
Dragon Chucks
Fox
Horse and Colt
Filed under ceramics, Clay Art, Jennifer Rudkin Ceramics
Oh, Happy Day!
We were due for severe weather with large hail yesterday afternoon through the evening. I debated how best to try to protect my young plants and decided clothes-pinning sheets above and around the plants was best, though if we did, indeed, get baseball-sized hail as one of the forecasts said, nothing would save them.
I found some plastic deep trays in the shop and put them on top of each of the sprinklers in the planter boxes here. Then I spread the sheet and clothes-pinned them around the legs of the box supports.
The plants came through fine. My husband estimated that the hail we received was about 1/2 inch – 5/8 inch. It was making so much noise during the worst of it that we couldn’t hear each other talk. We were standing together with the back door open, looking out through the screened porch. It was pretty impressive.
Above is one of the best head lettuce plants we have. Isn’t it pretty?
And this is one of the best spinach plants. I need to get out and trim off some broken or dead plant parts, plus do a bit of weeding, but I’m SO happy that they came through what could have been devastation just fine.
The tomato plants made it through, too. I wrapped the sheets around the supports and clothes-pinned the sheets as tightly as possible. This is the smaller, square planter. There are four tomato plants here. They should perk up a bit more now that the sheet is off and they can be in the sunshine.
This is the second tomato planter. There are six plants here. I clothes-pinned one king-sized sheet over the whole support system here and then tightened the edges around the bottom as much as I could.
Here’s a close up of one of the tomato plants. I can’t wait until we have ripe tomatoes to cut up for lunches and dinners!
It’ll take quite a bit of the day to get the 6 sheets washed, dried, and stored in the bag in the shop waiting for next time.
creativeartworksblog 