I love driftwood art. I particularly love to see the different visions the artists have and create. Vincent Richel creates a ‘frame’ or a ‘scene’ also, with the driftwood, not only the wonderful sculpture itself.
Monthly Archives: May 2023
Thursday Thoughts 5-25-2023
source unknown – there is a credit at the bottom left, but I cannot read it. Sorry.
Yesterday I finished emptying out the broken wooden raised bed square foot gardening planter. Today I’ll use our flat-bottomed shovel and see how much of the Mel’s Mix I can save from the ground under the broken box.
I think I told you that on closer inspection, ANOTHER box is due to fail imminently, so I’ll start emptying that one out, too, and we’ll make new bottoms for both when we can. Luckily, these were the two planters I had not filled with head lettuce and spinach, so no problems there.
I’m hoping to spend at least a couple of sessions outside today – one on the planters and the other on weeding the remaining boxes. The last few days have caused an explosion in weeds and I need to get things under better control.
I’m not sure what the rest of the day will hold.
Have a nice, nice Thursday.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
End of Session 1
4Knines
It’s overcast and only 75 degrees outside – perfect for working, BUT it doesn’t make the work any easier.
I’ve just finished session # 1 (of several planned for today – weather permitting). I took a bunch of the worm castings fertilizer I’m using for the first time this year and spread it on the veggies in my square foot garden boxes. Then I started trying to empty the Mel’s Mix from the veggie box whose bottom finally gave up after several years and fell through, dumping about half of the Mel’s Mix in it on the ground below.
I decided the first thing to do on repairing the box is to get the rest of the Mel’s Mix out. I’m putting it in large trash cans. One half of the plywood sheet that made up the bottom of the box gave out, so I’m emptying the mix from the remaining intact bottom. I got one side emptied. I moved another trash can to the other side for another session later today. It looks like it might take 3 large trash cans to hold all the mix. I’m NOT looking forward to getting the stuff up that’s on the ground. We have a flat-bottomed shovel that should help with that after I’ve finished emptying the rest of the box.
I discovered that we have ANOTHER box that is READY to lose its bottom, so I’ll empty that one out, as well, and we’ll repair both of the boxes at the same time. Luckily, these were the two boxes that I had not planted this year, so we’re not under the gun to get them fixed quickly.
This is a large project for me, so I’m trying to pace myself and not ‘hurt anything’ in the process. :0)
Also, later today, I’ll spread the fertilizer in the tomato planters, but those are on the other side of the house. I’ll do that, and then head out to do session 2 in the garden.
Mark Gray Photography
Mark Gray Photography – @GrayMarker99 on Twitter
Wednesday 5-24-2023
versaversa.tumblr.com
I had a really busy day yesterday – errands in the morning and then working in the yard in the afternoon. With the mowing my husband did and the weed whacking I did, our yard looks very much like someone cares at the moment.
Buzzfeed.com
General Pump
We also finally moved the deck furniture from the back porch out to the deck yesterday. Next on that project will be power washing the deck furniture and then cleaning up the back porch, which is covered in dust, dirt, and pollen.
Corona
Also on the list is to carry the loppers in the truck and gradually try to cut the branches that are hanging down badly on both sides of the driveway, all the way up and down its 650+ foot length. It’s like an eerie tunnel now, and both my husband and I catch ourselves ‘ducking’ as a branch whips across the windshield. :0)
I find myself a bit at loose ends, now that American Idol and The Voice have both wrapped up. My guy, Iam Tongi, won American Idol and I was happy that Gina Miles won The Voice. It’s good that the exposure these talented young people get can propel them to great careers even if they aren’t ‘the winner.’ This is the first time I’ve ever gotten caught up in these two programs. It was nice, although it probably won’t happen again.
Today I’m planning to spread fertilizer on my raised square foot garden veggie planters and my tomato planters. We’re due for intermittent rain today and tomorrow, so I’ll try to make SURE I get outside this morning.
I hope that you’re having a nice morning and that your Wednesday will be an enjoyable one.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
“Common Kindness”
Houston Recovery Center
A surprising thing happened at our routine doctor appointment yesterday.
I noticed that the nice lady who updated our information on the computer in the exam room was an RN. Her name was Bailey and the first thing I noticed was her tennis shoes. They had a really sassy leopard print sole. :0) I had never seen ones like this and I thought they were neat. I mentioned them and she said they were new. I asked her how long she had been working with Dr. Hays and she said 6 months. When I asked her how long she had been an RN, she said since 2020. I told her I was impressed that she got her credentials during that period of time and that she must have a lot of grit and stamina to do all of this during the pandemic.
We finished updating my husband’s info and mine, she asked if it were okay that an intern attend our exam and our doctor came in shortly. When the appointment was over and Bailey brought back our paperwork, she suddenly gave me a quick hug. I must have looked surprised because she said that I was the only one in the six months she’s been here who asked about her background and made her feel special. I gave her a quick hug back and thanked her for HER treatment of US.
This shouldn’t be something that makes us notice. Kindness should be as normal as what USED to be known as “common courtesy.”
Strive to promote ‘common kindness.’
Filed under kindness
“Becorns” 4
Winter Chickadee
Winter Titmouse
Winter Titmouse 2
I can’t say enough about the combination of “becorns” (cute acorn and nature critters that David M. Bird creates,) the situation he makes, and the patience and expertise to get the photo in nature to go with his idea. I think his work is stunningly beautiful.
Filed under acorn art, David M. Bird "Becorns"
Quick ‘Hi’
BoredPanda.com
Just a quick ‘hi,’ for now. We’re leaving to do several errands. I’ll write when I get back. Hope you’re feeling sassy this morning.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Foxy Drawings
Danielle Fisher-Artist-Twitter-@df_artist
Emma Kessed Art on Etsy
Filed under animal paintings
It’s Monday 5-22-2023
“Dorky Dogs” – Liucija Adomaite and Justinas Keturka – BoredPanda.com
My pick for American Idol won last night. (For those of you who don’t watch, it’s Iam Tongi, in the middle.) I saw a video yesterday of Jelly Roll – a new-to-me really powerful singer who has been winning awards lately talking to Joe Rogan on Joe’s podcast about Iam, showing him the original audition. Both men cried. Jelly Roll (“Save Me”) said he had publicly announced that he was going to find whoever was handling contracts with Iam because he wanted ‘in’ on them. Jelly Roll performed on the finale last night, singing a duet with my other favorite contestant, Oliver Steele, so I hope THEY hooked up, as well.
Speaking of Iam’s original audition, he sang “Monsters” by James Blunt. On the finale, James Blunt and Iam sang the song together, barely making it through in one piece. The audience felt the same way.
Pexels
This afternoon we’ll drive our trash down to the bottom of the driveway and get our mail on the way to our routine doctor appointment. Hopefully, there isn’t VERY much about us that is concerning and we can plod off blissfully into the sunset until the next appointment. :0)
My husband mowed the grass yesterday. Now it’s my turn to do my thing and weed whack where he can’t get the riding mower. With all the rain we’ve been getting, there’s a lot for me to do. We’re due for more rain on Wednesday, so I have today and tomorrow to try to get the trimming under control.
I hope that your Monday is a good one.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
“Becorns” 3
Filed under acorn art, David M. Bird "Becorns"
Garden Update 5-21-2023
The super rainy, colder-than-usual weather has brought very mixed results thus far in my garden. In my survey a few minutes ago, the first thing was that I need to do some serious weeding in my veggie garden.
This is one of the head lettuce plants. It’s doing GREAT. I should be able to harvest very soon and give my friends a nice addition to their salads or sandwiches.
The spinach is looking ‘pale,’ not the deep green I think it should. I’m not sure if fertilizing it at this point would do any good, but I’ll try that. I’m also not sure if the paleness will affect the taste. I’ll see what information I can find.
Here’s the large tomato planter. The plants have exploded and there are lots of yellow blossoms showing. At this point, I’m not sure if I can handle the branches much, and may just need to try to contain them a bit, giving them as much support as I can.
This is the second tomato planter. You can barely see the green metal supports at the top of the plants now. I was going to try to tie the branches to the supports, but they have exploded now, so I’ll just try to do what I can to keep the plant inside the boundaries of the planter.
The bad news is that after several years now, one of the wooden bottoms to the veggie planters has given way. We knew it would happen one day, but it’s sad anyway. I hadn’t planted this planter yet, so we can leave it and decide how we’ll tackle making a new bottom for the planter, save as much of the Mel’s Mix as possible, and rebuild it.
Here is the part of the bottom that completely gave way and fell down.
To round out our tour of the yard, here is one of the healthier weeds I encountered. I’m not sure right now if I’ll pull it or celebrate its health…
And finally, here is some clematis that we have growing in a pot behind the large tomato planter. The picture doesn’t show how glorious the color is. It’s a real explosion of dark purple. Makes my heart happy.
Filed under Gardening, Square Foot Gardening - Raised Beds
Hi!
“Dorky Dogs” – BoredPanda.com – Liucija Adomaite and Justinas Keturka
American Idol – ABC
I’m excited because tonight is the finale on American Idol. I don’t usually watch the show, but this season there were two contestants who grabbed my heart. The two men have formed what will be a life-long friendship, starting with wanting to honor their fathers on the show.
One was Oliver Steele, (@oliversteelemusic on YouTube) but he was eliminated from the competition recently. The other is Iam Tongi, a really sweet 18-year-old young man from Hawaii. His voice and style are really distinctive, putting his own spin on whatever he sings. The whole audience explodes each time he sings.
Even without wins, both men have won in life. I expect both to have long, happy careers. Both write their own music. Iam has just dropped a single, “I’ll Be Seeing You” in honor of his dad, who passed recently. Oliver performed an original song, “Too Soon” on American Idol.
I promised you pictures of the garden, and I’ll share them in the next post, as soon as I process the pictures I just took.
Enjoy your Sunday.
Filed under music
“Becorns” 2
I really didn’t think that anyone could create work with sticks and nuts that would measure up to Petr Vaclavek of Dubanci.cz and his “Acorn Elves,” but David M. Bird has filled my heart with “Becorns,” cute little folks who interact with nature, allowing David to showcase not only his creativity in making the characters, but also his nature photography, creating works of art that make you FEEL.
“Glowdrop”
“Hummingbird”
“Monarch”
“Mouse Rider”
Filed under acorn art, David M. Bird "Becorns"
Happy Saturday 5-20-2023
“Dorky Dogs” – Liucija Adomaite and Justinas Keturka – BoredPanda.com
I’m delighted to be able to tell you we made it through some scary weather last night safe and intact (I think). We went from pretty heavy thunderstorms to an alert from my weather thinger that said that GREENWOOD was in the line of a tornado warning. This lasted for about half an hour, then went back to just severe thunderstorms and finally quiet. (I was even worried about the QUIET after the tornado warning.) Anyhow, all is well. It’s a bit overcast this morning, but a nice 62 degrees. WHEW!
Women’s Health
Shout-out to Murray and John, who have now officially relocated from Thibodaux, Louisiana to Fayetteville, Arkansas due to a promotion for John. Be happy! Love you both!!!! :0)
Gfycat.gif
As of May 12th, the U.S. has finally lifted the requirement for Covid vaccine proof in order to fly to the U.S. This means our son can again come see us one day, if he can confirm all the places he has to stop on the way – (and on the way back) – won’t give him any problems. It’s been about 4 years now since we’ve seen him. We’ve been lucky to be able to use a secure chat program, plus a conference call program, to communicate and stay close, but it would be great to actually get to hug his neck again one day.
I will try to get pics of our veggie garden boxes plus our tomatoes to share with you later. The weather has made it a real challenge to get anywhere close, much less actually weed, fertilize, or harvest.
I wish you a Happy Saturday.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Small Victory
Kindle Fire 7 (I think)
I’ve had an epic battle with myself to try to use my Kindle. I really prefer REAL books, rather than electronic, although I have to admit the Kindle fits in my purse much easier than a book, and the light it has is nice. My real preference is hard back books, but those are too expensive and take up too much room on my already stuffed bookshelves.
I’ve been using it recently because I’ve recently re-read all my paperbacks. I have some on pre-order, but I was spending more than I wanted on used paperbacks, and so finally decided to try Kindle Unlimited, since I could try new writers free (for three months) and then it would be $10/month to continue after that. (They have now emailed me that the monthly price will now increase to $12/month, but that’s still less than I’ve been paying for used paperbacks and I’m enjoying trying authors at no cost so far.)
I’ve already run into a problem – too many books on my Kindle for easy access. I can’t tell from looking at my Kindle which books I’ve already read and things were getting clogged up. I got on my computer a few minutes ago and started poking around to see if I could find out how to manage what was on the Kindle.
I poked and poked and finally found a ‘manage content on your devices‘ on Amazon. I’ve spent the last 20 minutes or so deleting the ones I’ve already read after downloading three more books from an author new to me. I guess that new authors allow people to access their work on Kindle Unlimited for a time and then, when the person has decided they like their writing, there are no more free books available. That makes sense, but I’m a bit ticked, to be honest.
I have now deleted everything I’ve read from three different authors and have only new stuff on my ‘device.‘ VICTORY! (A small one, I know, but can you see my hands in the air (virtually, since I need my fingers on the keys to type this) ? :0)
Now I’ll start a list on my computer of the new authors I’ve found, have read all the free stuff from, and want to continue to read in the future sometime. It’s nice to figure out a plan where I can feed my voracious reading habit without putting us in the poor house, plus be able to manage what is on my Kindle, plus not lose track of authors I enjoyed. HOORAY!
Filed under Reading is FUNdamental
“Becorns”
Berkie and Spirit
Cardinal
Feeding Chipmunk
Frog
David M. Bird is a “photographer, toy designer, and illustrator, based in South Kingstown, RI.”
He creates characters from things he finds in nature, then combines them with his real world nature photos that are a feast for the eye and heart, creating beautiful moments. He sells prints of his work in various sizes. I’m fascinated by his talent, sense of humor, and the beauty of his work.
Filed under acorn art, David M. Bird "Becorns"
Friday Thoughts 5-19-2023
Gifer
We have a 90% chance of thunderstorms this morning and another chance for HEAVY thunderstorms with possible severe weather this afternoon and evening. Oh, GOOD.
Today is Lunch Bunch, so I don’t know if anyone else will show up. We’ll probably go, unless it’s pouring when we’re supposed to leave.
Nothing else is happening today that we know of. Just hoping we won’t be blown off the map by Mother Nature, although my friend Marsha sent me a video this morning of Mother Nature acting out. It was really impressive.
Stay safe, warm, and dry.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
creativeartworksblog 