Sent by my good friend, Carol.
Women’s Health
Shout-Out to my good friend, Cathy, who starts a treatment of chemo and radiation today that runs through September 13th.
I would appreciate it very much if you would join me in trying to send her –
You’ll be in our thoughts, Sweet Cathy. You can do this.
Filed under Friendship
Note Cards – “Purple Glory” – Package of 5 Different One-of-a-Kind Hand-Painted Note Cards and Envelopes. Each note card is blank on the inside for your message. The cards measure 4-1/4″ x 6″. $19.95 with FREE SHIPPING to the contiguous U.S.
Questions: lindawlewis1@gmail.com
Link to notecards on HandmadeHavenByLinda on Etsy
Filed under HandmadeHavenByLinda on Etsy, Lewis Art
lolcuteanimals.tumblr.com
Pinterest.gif
I’m feeling good that I finished weeding the rock beds along the front and back of the house yesterday. I also sprayed Killzall (a product recommended to me by my good friend Cathy) to try to keep the weeds from sprouting right up again.
I’m planning to mix up another 2-gallon container and start making my way around the house spraying the areas my husband can’t get to when he mows. I’m stiff and sore from my efforts over the past two days, so this is all I’ll do outside today and then try to get in a session of ‘old-lady-yoga-stretching’ this afternoon.
Our heat index for the next several days is all the way up to 115. (Only 105 today). I shouldn’t gripe – the actual temperatures have been like this, and higher, in Phoenix for a LONG time now.
I looked on my weather website the morning and saw this beautiful symbol! If it is to be believed, we have a good chance of rain starting Sunday!!!!!!! This old lady will be outside dancing in it if it’s true. :0)
I hope that you are having nice weather where you are today. If not, I hope that you can protect yourself from whatever excess you’re enduring from Mother Nature.
Enjoy your day.
Filed under Mother Nature
It took 3 sessions today to finish, but it’s done. The rock garden beds in the front and the back of the house are weed-free. The final step was to mix up some KillZall to hose over the rocks in order to try to prevent a quick resurgence of weeds.
The heat index is 106 today, so it’s nice and toasty out there. It didn’t take long at all for me to feel like I was frying like a piece of bacon, so I did 20 minute sessions for the most part.
It feels good to have finished that. I’ll mix up more KillZall to spray around the yard tomorrow so that my husband has an easier time mowing. He has a riding mower, but it’s not one of the fancy ones that you can turn on a dime, so there are many places in the yard he can’t get up close to. If I can do a good job with the weed killer, it should make his job easier and quicker.
I hope you’ve had a good day.
Filed under Gardening
Vince, the Sign Guy – Indian Hills
Filed under Funny Signs - Humor, Indian Hills Signs, punny
Filed under acorn art, Petr Vaclavek - Dubanci.cz
Emma Bloor-@EmmaBloorBooks on Twitter
I WANT this sweet owl. What a beauty! With my luck, he has a terrible temper and hates old ladies, biting chunks out of them before they realize what’s happening….
olallie-daylily garden
Yesterday I weeded the front rock bed and half of the back. Today I’m hoping to finish the project and then spray with KillzAll to hopefully prevent a quick resurgence of the weeds.
The weather people are continuing to predict that ‘It’s GOING to get hot.’ Hahahahahahah The heat index is supposed to be 105 today and more impressive the next several days, so I’m just trying to get what I need to done in short sessions and not worry about it.
I hope you’re having a fun weekend, staying cool and hydrated. I’m going outside to play in the weeds now. :0)
Filed under Gardening
Article by Hidreley – BoredPanda.com
Filed under Driftwood Art, When Wood Comes Alive
Go Beyond
We have some of these, but mostly it’s ones that spread their arms far and wide, trying to cover the top of the rock beds. The soil is dry and hard right now, but I don’t want a muddy mess, either, trying to get the weeds out.
Olallie Daylily Garden
THESE above are mostly what has taken over our rock gardens. They’ve done a GREAT job of spreading their arms and now are almost covering the rocks.
I have found the best way for ME to get them out is to get down on my hands and knees, using some nice foam knee pads, covering my hands with weeding gloves that are thin and allow me to root around and find the roots of the spreading weeds, and then pull them out. I’m wearing a sweat band, sunglasses, bug repellent, and a hat (that keeps falling off.) I have some EIGHT handy in case I undercover a swarm of ants with my weed pulling, and I’ll spray the whole bed with KILLZALL when the weeds are out.
I’ve just finished the first session of the day – just 20 minutes. I’ll do some serious resting and drink a glass of cool water before I head out again.
I would like to finish the rock beds in the back and the front by the end of the weekend. Since the sun is trying to fry me like an egg, this means LOTS of short sessions with LOTS of resting and water in-between. I’ll get exercise just by going out and coming in again so many times, and the heat ensures I drink more of the water that I should be doing on a daily basis. :0)
Filed under Gardening, Housekeeping - Maintenance
ArtInspiration on Twitter-Himson
I just LOVE the happiness radiating from this sweet young girl. The painting makes me smile each time I see it.
It surprised me this morning to see that the weather people on the 5News website have a sense of humor. Temperatures have been at or above 100 and will be basically all of next week. They describe the weather today as, “A heatwave is set to BEGIN (all caps mine) heading into the weekend.” I actually snorted when I read it. :0)
I’m planning to try to get the rock beds that run across the front and back of the house weeded today. My husband just sprays to kill the weeds, but that doesn’t make them actually go away. We end up with ugly dead weeds, instead of livelier green ones – not much of an improvement in my eyes. So I’ll do short sessions, trying to stay out of the direct sun, and see if I can get the job done. If I do, THEN I’ll hose the areas down with weed killer to try to prevent a regrowth of the weeds.
A new project will start soon – We created a critter we called, “When Pigs Fly” and hung it up high with a line from a branch over the driveway several years ago.
The problem is that after several years a storm brought not only the pig down, but also the branch from which he was hung. We plan to refurbish the pig – thoroughly cleaning him and then repainting him. My husband was talking about trying to hang him up on another branch. He weighs about 75 lbs, and I REALLY don’t want my husband up on a ladder trying to tie the line to the tree branch and then tying the pig to the other end of the line and trying to pull it up.
I told him I loved the idea of securing the pig’s feet to one of the huge boulders to one side of our driveway – like he was getting ready to take off and fly. His wings are out from his body so this could look good.
(We did the same type of ‘securing’ of this “Guard Dog” to a boulder on the other side of the driveway from where we would secure the flying pig.)
My husband looks like he might go for that idea. I’ll try to work on the pig in the mornings – when I can make the time – when I can turn a fan directly on me and do a bit of the refurbishment each day.
Mini-Purse – Canvas Hand-Painted with long Cord Strap – “Purple and White Delight” – 5″ x 7″ with a zipper to secure your valuables. It is large enough to carry your cellphone plus valuables. The long cord allows you to wear it cross body, hang it on your shoulder, or tie it to your belt. $17.95 with FREE SHIPPING to the contiguous U.S.
Questions – lindawlewis1@gmail.com
Link to purse – HandmadeHavenByLinda on Etsy.
I hope you have a fun Saturday.
Sent to me by my friend, Carol.
Actually, this is looking better to me today, with our endless ‘heat advisories.’
I’m trying a new recipe for tonight. It’s a crock pot chicken recipe. I started it when we got home from Lunch Bunch and errands. It’s easy, and I’m hoping it tastes as good as it sounds. I’ll give you a review tomorrow.
BoredPanda.com
This is the way I feel after doing errands, then helping my husband carry filled gas cans from the bed of the truck out to the shop for the mower. I have no idea what the heat index is, but it certainly saps my strength. I’ll rest a bit and see if my motivation to accomplish something today kicks in.
I hope you’re staying cool and hydrated.
Filed under DIET!, Recipes - Crock Pot
advocate-art.com
chasingrainbowsforever.tumblr.com
email.t-online.de (I think this says, Kaye Parmenter)
JenBuckleyArt-etsy
mail02.orange.fr.
Veronique Piaser-Moyen-artmajeur.com
Filed under Watercolors I Love
We actually don’t have “Hot Man” on the mailbox because it has been TOO HOT for us to make the effort. AND the forecast is for “Hotter temperatures the next 10 days.” The website shows 100+ for nine of the next ten days and little to no chance for rain. My husband is hopeful that the grass will become his favorite ‘brown and crunchy’ so he won’t have to mow. I can’t blame him. I’m more than grateful our a/c is functional.
We haven’t changed the mailbox decoration in some time, basically due to laziness and having other priorities. Since school will be starting here in August, I talked to my husband about it. We agreed that we’ll change from
“Sylvester and Tweetie Pie”
to
“Yosemite Sam”
just in case the school bus kids (or someone else) watches what we put up.
We have a totally different traffic pattern in front of our house now with the bridge between us and town being rebuilt, so it will be interesting to see if we get any comments. (Oh, update on the bridge – we drove down to the site yesterday. They have finished two of the three supports needed for the bridge. Things have gone slower than the workers would like because the sporadic heavy rains we’ve been having fill the area with water that has to be pumped out in order to proceed. )
Journal – “Ship’s Wheel” Spiral Bound Hard Cover Hand-Painted with 3D Wooden Wheel – 5-1/2 x 7 hard cover spiral bound journal. 10 manila ‘envelope’ pockets inside. $17.99 with FREE SHIPPING to the contiguous U.S. Questions: lindawlewis1@gmail.com Link to item on HandmadeHavenByLinda
We’re leaving soon to get our mail, see if anyone else is there for Lunch Bunch, and shop for a few groceries before coming home.
I hope this day is a good one for you.
“Giant Panda,” Anne F. Zick & Joyce Freehill, 2014 AQS, photo by Quilt Inspiration
“Desert Entertainer” by Barbara McKie, 2014 AQS, photo by Quilt Inspiration
“Nemesis III” by Cindy Henneke, 2013 Houston IQF, photo by Quilt Inspiration
Filed under Embroidery/Sewing Art, quilts
dumpaday.com
WEATHER –
It’s hot. We’re under our daily ‘intense heat warning’ designation. We’re just concentrating on getting outside either fairly early in the morning or just before sun sets, spraying ourselves with lots of mosquito repellent before venturing out.
TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF –
Lynn Moody gets my vote as the best massage therapist ever. If you’re in the Greenwood/Ft.Smith/Hackett or surrounding area, give Lynn a call at 479-629-7601 and see if she can schedule an appointment. She really listens each time I come, makes my concerns a priority, finds places I didn’t even know were sore and fixes them, and leaves me feeling relaxed and relieved. We also share hugs because we’ve become FRIENDS over the years, as well, and truly care about each other. Absolutely priceless.
HANDMADEHAVENBYLINDA ON ETSY –
Tote – “Block Quilt” Hand-Painted, One of a Kind – Orange, Rose, Blue, Yellow, Green and white blocks decorate BOTH SIDES of this 13″ x 13″ x 4″ gusset-bottom tote. Really happy, colorful tote is accented with raised white decorative border reminiscent of Hostess Cupcakes. YUM! $19.99 with FREE SHIPPING to the contiguous U.S. Contact me at lindawlewis1@gmail.com with questions. Click on the link to take you to the tote on my website.
VICIOUS SCALES –
I must be ingesting lead lately – My scales are staying where they have been or showing I weigh MORE. All this is while I’m trying to
It’s demoralizing, but I’m firm in my resolve to ‘keep-on-keepin’-on’ and that soon I’ll show some good news on the scale or with the measuring tape. Maybe my clothes will get a bit looser. Stranger things have happened…
Enjoy your Thursday. As soon as I write a couple more posts for the blog, fold the laundry and put it away, I see a nap in my future. :0)
Giphy
I’m leaving in just a minute to get my monthly massage. My mind and body are more than ready.
I’ll catch up to you when I get back.
Filed under taking care of yourself
Filed under Davydov Wood Carving, When Wood Comes Alive
Work + Money
HEAT ADVISORY –
We’re under an ‘intense heat advisory’ for the rest of the week. It’s typical for Arkansas to be hot in the summer, but as I age I handle it with less grace each year. My tolerable range of heat has narrowed to the point I have to laugh. Thank goodness for heat and air conditioning and the freedom to avoid being out in most of whatever weather we’re having.
TOMATOES –
I’ve decided to simply work on cleaning up my tomato plants, rather than pulling them out at this point to see if they produce any more reasonable-sized tomatoes. Mother Nature has been in a snit this year, providing some of the worst veggie-growing sun/water/temperature/storm combinations we’ve had in the over 36 years we’ve lived here. I thought maybe it was just me, but my friends’ Kay and Bud have been having successful veggie gardens for years and years and their efforts produced nothing this year. BAH. HUMBUG. :0(
EXERCISE –
I’ve decided to count the stress of dealing with the challenges my husband is presenting as my cardio for the day. If he DOESN’T cause my heart to stutter, stop and start again with one of his sneaky projects, I make it up with my yoga practice. Yard work in the heat rounds out my exercise routine these days, with short sessions, drinking water, and resting in-between.
Dental Economics
I’M DUMB! –
I am feeling SUPER embarrassed today after pulling a really DUMB stunt last night. I cooked dinner and was serving the hamburger patties from the skillet. My husband was being helpful and rinsing stuff and putting things in the dishwasher as I served. “Somehow” I got distracted.
We ate and then I went into the office. My husband came in and asked if I meant to leave the burner on on the stove. GULP. NO!!!!!!!! It had been left on for at least an hour, burning propane. At LEAST there wasn’t a pot or skillet on the burner, but that’s the best I can say. I’ve never done that before.
Every 20 years or so I lock my keys in the car. I’m HOPING that this is one of the things I can say that about – assuming I can say ANYTHING in another 20 years…..
LOOK WHAT I DID –
Earrings – Stud/Post – “Midnight” Layered Wooden Hand Painted, Light Weight, One of a Kind $13.95 with FREE SHIPPING to the contiguous U.S.
Contact me at lindawlewis1 with questions. Click this link to go to HandmadeHavenByLinda to purchase.
I wish you a wonderful Wednesday.
WallingfordSign.com – Chevron Gas Station – Seattle
Sabantha – fineartamerica.com
Spaziergang Bei Nebel – redbubble.com
Stand Tall – Rae Andrews
jensawesomeworld.tumblr.com – Raindrops and Roses – pinterest.com-jen_luff
Filed under Watercolors I Love
Bouncy Mustard
If you’re a parent, grandparent or teacher, you know that ‘quiet’ may not be a good thing.
I had that feeling right after breakfast this morning. I sat down at the computer with my cup of coffee, but my husband didn’t come into the office. I couldn’t hear the TV, either. That, in and of itself, wasn’t worrisome, but I got up and checked and his chair was empty. The dog was out, too. Ominous.
I looked out at the shop and my heart stopped. The tall ladder was propped against the side of the shop with the people door open. I tried to walk calmly out there, but I was scanning the shop roof as I walked. I didn’t see him up there.
I found him in the shop, getting ready to come out. My heart started beating again, but he wasn’t finished. We got a new whirligig for the deck lately and my husband had attached it to the railing. He decided that he wanted to move it from there and hang it from the wood that ran around the outside of the deck roof; hence, the ladder.
I carried the Makita and the screws. He carried the ladder. I held it steady while he went up, handed him the Makita when he had the end of the whirligig where he wanted it, climbed the ladder behind him to put the screw on the end of the Makita. He ALMOST got it to work, but the screw fell into the grass never to be found again. We did it again, and this time, it worked. He added one more screw on the other side of the hanging thingie and handed me the Makita. I held the ladder steady while he came back down. We took things back to the shop and he said, “That’s it for me for the day.”
As we walked back to the shop, he told me the project went much easier because I was out there. I quietly mentioned that it would be good if he let me know what he wanted to do before he went out there, so that I could help. He said, “I thought I could do it.” I smiled and said, “Do you want me to put that on your tombstone?”
Filed under aging, Challenges
I just gathered these, plus a bunch of cherry-tomato-sized tomatoes from the two planters. I think this is probably the last harvest, as the vines are looking tired and the tomatoes are small or spoiled on the vines. I’ll probably start pulling them out and cleaning up today.
Meanwhile, I’ll have a nice gift to take to Michael, our hairdresser, soon, and we have a few left that are hopefully not ‘mealy’ as my husband said of the earlier ones.
This has been a disappointing year for tomatoes. Tomatoes like a warmer temperature that doesn’t fluctuate a bunch, lots of sun – but not the intensity that fries them on the vine, and a steady amount of water. We’ve had none of these things this season, so it’s really amazing we got to enjoy any tomatoes at all.
Filed under Gardening, Square Foot Gardening - Raised Beds
I stumbled upon what is coming to be a favorite dinner.
I wanted to find a healthier way to cook the chicken strips we like.
I decided I would bake them, but didn’t have any Shake-n-Bake for Chicken. I didn’t have any regular flour, either, since that’s one of the things we don’t stock anymore. I DID have some Shake-n-Bake for Pork, though, and I decided to use that.
It actually had much more flavor that the bake for chicken and we really like it. My husband even requests it now.
Cut boneless chicken breasts lengthwise. (One breast makes 4 or more strips for us.) Coat with a thin coat of the Shake-n -Bake and place on a baking sheet. 30 minutes in a 400 degree oven and they are ready to serve with a salad or veggies. YUM. (Two strips is a serving. I freeze the leftovers for another meal.)
Filed under DIET!, Funny Signs - Humor, Trying New Recipes
Hidreley – Boredpanda.com
Filed under Driftwood Art, When Wood Comes Alive
creativeartworksblog 