BoredPanda.com – Adele Davidonyte, Olekansandra Kryryliuk, Karolina Kondrataviciuite
Monthly Archives: May 2026
Sunday 5-31-2026
Duncan Crombie – @theartofweb.com – “Mystical Forest Series”
I love the light and whole FEEL of this painting.
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Newest painted sketch and some thank you cards.
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GETTING THE LARD OFF PROGRESS REPORT – to date, I’m down 94 lbs and almost 92 inches from my heaviest and widest. I’m finally to my goal weight. I’m 5’4″ and shrinking and I this morning I weighed 111. I’m trying to stay in a 3 pound range of 110 now, monitoring my various ‘numbers’, watching my portions, and making changes as needed to stay here.
My biggest challenge is to undo the damage being in the hospital and dying twice a year ago did to me. It’s amazing how much that messes you up. Trust me, you don’t want to do it. I had significant hearing loss with accompanying balance issues plus I have the normal getting older issues of stamina, flexibility, strength, etc. I am working on getting back into my regimen after having the ‘cold from Hell’ for over a week.
Brian and I got to the gym this morning. I walked my mile, but I didn’t feel steady enough to do it without holding on to the handlebars of the treadmill. I will give it a better try tomorrow.
This afternoon I will do my water bottle exercises for the first time in a week. I may do a shortened version, but I WILL get back into my routine!
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I had ‘firsts’ yesterday and today on my art! Yesterday I was sitting at a table on the side of the cafe. All of a sudden there was a tapping on the glass beside me. A muslim woman (I’m assuming that, as she was dressed head to toe in grey dress, head covering, etc.) Her face was not covered, however. She had a huge smile on her face and pointed to the bird I was sketching (above.) She made a thumbs up gesture and smiled again. Then she pointed to her camera. I said ‘yes’ and she took a picture. Made the thumbs up gesture again and left. I walked 3 inches off the ground the rest of the day.
Today I had a long time Internet friend ask me for a favor. He wanted me to make a birthday painting for a friend of his who is getting married. His wife to be is having a birthday on the 3rd, and he asked my friend was who did the drawings he had been shown. Long story short, I just did the base painting on a birthday painting and will finish up details at the cafe this afternoon so I can send it to my friend today. 😁
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Yesterday we visited my husband. He was alert and glad we came. He was drinking the tiny bottle of good-for-the-digestion stuff we bring him. All of a sudden he stopped, looked at me and said, “You’re wonderful.” That’s it. He went back to drinking. And I sat there, having melted into a puddle for seeing my husband for a few seconds. Otherwise, he was mentally back over 40 years ago when we visited a place called Tate Mountain in North Georgia. He wanted his notebook and I gave him a pen. He wanted to try to draw a diagram of the layout of the place. He was quite engrossed. Though his hand shook, we were able to calm the tremors by merely putting our hand over his for a few seconds and he would continue. The finished drawing wasn’t meaningful, and his mumbling about dams and bedrooms didn’t make much sense, but this is the definition of a good visit now.
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Quotefancy
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Acorn Art 2
David M. Bird creates “Becorns” – acorn critters that are very active in our world. He then puts them in situations where he takes exquisite photos, making them transcend being cute “critters” and become works of art. His website is DavidMBird.com
I just can’t say enough about this man’s talent. I wish I could afford to buy a packet of his cards for each of my friends so we could all enjoy his work personally. Fortunately, we can visit his website and see what he is doing!
Filed under David M. Bird "Becorns"
Heed the Signs 5
BoredPanda.com – Adele Davidonyte, Olekansandra Kryryliuk, Karolina Kondrataviciuite
Filed under Funny Signs - Humor
Saturday 5-30-2026
Helen Alexander – @bawley.bsky.social
Isn’t he magnificent? I love this photo!
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Brian wasn’t feeling well this morning, so we didn’t go to the gym. Just as well – not that he wasn’t feeling well – but we had a pretty large storm just as we would have been outside trying to get to the gym. With the way it was pouring, with lots of close lightning and thunder, it would have been hard to collect ourselves to concentrate on walking on the treadmill when we got there.
The rain has stopped, so I have some laundry out drying (I hope) on my drying rack on my tiny balcony. We are planning to go visit Harvey at the nursing home this morning, if Brian’s stomach feels settled. He’ll let me know in a while if he wants to go and when.
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Happily enough, my windows were wonderful! No leaks! This definitely would have been a “bucket and towel brigade” night and morning. Brian is going to check some ‘channels’ the builders installed on the outside of the building around each of the condos to make sure they are running freely and taking care of any excess water. (He used a straw on one of his, blowing some debris out of one of his channels this morning.) I will watch carefully to see where mine are.
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Here is my latest painted sketch. I’m not happy with this. Because of my meager drawing skills, I have very little idea of perspective. In my mind’s eye, she is taller, quite slim, with the gauzy dress and hat billowing in the breeze as she walks past.
The thing that caught my eye in particular, other than her elegance in the middle of all the activity on the street, was that she was on her cell phone. The juxtaposition of the “Gone With the Wind” type dress and hat with the modern cell phone intrigued me.
I will probably try this again, trying to figure out a different way to do her justice.
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I also sketched out 4 thank you cards. I have them base painted now, along with another larger sketch, but I need to finish the details.
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Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Acorn Art
David M. Bird creates “Becorns” – acorn critters that are very active in our world. He then puts them in situations where he takes exquisite photos, making them transcend being cute “critters” and become works of art. His website is DavidMBird.com
Filed under acorn art
In Otter News
I want to introduce you to one of my favorite places on Substack. It’s called,
“In Otter News.”
I check it every day because the person who writes this loves otters, has devoted an entire column to ‘Steve’ an otter with more personality that the entire planet, whose affinity for the pub and those who frequent it gets him into problems sometimes.
Without fail, I come away grinning, snorting, or saying a mental ‘awww.’
As far as I’m concerned, this column is a good reason by itself to join and support Substack. I’ve provided a direct link above so you can check it out yourself. Happy reading!
Filed under Substack
Friday 5-29-2026
Mike Saunders – @hardwaterhacker.bsky.social
I love this place. My husband and I used to ‘judge’ whether or not we would like to live somewhere by ‘whether Fedex probably delivered or not.’ Noooo – I don’t think this would be practical, but I DO love it.
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This is my latest painted sketch – “The Ice Cream Man – Thai Style.” Hearing the music played when he came down the street brought back some wonderful memories. Back in the Dark Ages when I was a kid, we would hear it and run like nuts all over the house, trying to gather enough money to buy what we loved. Then we would run out of our doors to meet him. We lived in a neighborhood in Tulsa, OK then, where there were two mile-long parallel streets, each with a house in the middle of an acre-and-a-quarter piece of land. You could see the kids running out, exactly as I was, all with happy faces in anticipation.
THIS ice cream man does not have kids running to greet him. He is traveling the super busy streets of Chiang Mai, with what to MY eyes is traffic that would challenge the most experienced driver. Kids are taught at an early age to not dart out into the street. There WERE 6 to 10 ladies who worked at a nail salon across the way who did rush out to meet him, money in hand. He stopped, apparently knowing this was a good stop on his regular route. All looked happy.
My son says the people who come by selling veggies (I haven’t seen one of these yet) have a “squawking-rubber-duckie-or-chicken” noise that is equally distinctive…
I will try to finish the elegant lady sketch when we go to the cafe in a few minutes. I’ll share that probably tomorrow.
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On Fridays now, with Khun Nong’s sister taking her place as our housekeeper, our timetable is different than it used to be. When I come back from massage, Brian is here working, because the housekeeper is at his place.
He surprised me with ordering a to-die-for cream brulee treat and some lemonade for us. They surprised HIM with an extra one as a thank you for being a good customer! It is so wonderful to be able to splurge like this every once in a while without blowing my whole diet. My numbers are still good and my weight is holding steady, so I can indulge without guilt. Hooray!
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The “Bucket and Towel Brigade” seems to be pretty much retired! We had some hard rain last night that would have triggered a much of the night vigil with towel wringing into the bucket and rolling the towels back up to catch as much water as possible as it leaked in onto the the window sills, down the walls and onto the floor. Last night I got up, checked, and then went back to bed. I checked again first thing this morning, saw there was not a drop of water anywhere, and texted Brian. Maybe THIS rainy season we’ll be able to see that it’s raining, smile, and enjoy the fact we’re inside and dry. :0)
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Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Drifting on Art 5
Tales by Trees
“The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.”
The Creature Tree Gallery
The Millsion Fly Fishing Magazine – Tony Fredriksson
“A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence.”
— Jim Watkins
Trout-by-Topsail-Driftwood-Fanning Sparks-Instagram
“I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.”
Filed under Driftwood Art
Heed the Signs 4
BoredPanda.com – Adele Davidonyte, Olekansandra Kryryliuk, Karolina Kondrataviciuite
Filed under Funny Signs - Humor
Thursday 5-28-2026
Figures in Light Photography – @figuresinlight.bsky.social
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I did MUCH better at the gym this morning. I’m feeling much stronger and steadier today. Hooray!! Brian and I shared a really nice breakfast of our breakfast burrito plus a small bowl of assorted fruit (canteloupe, watermelon, and the same yellow roundish fruit with a big seed in the middle that we ate yesterday.)
Brian figured out what the fruit is and sent me a video on the processing of what is called, “Jackfruit.”
I showed you a picture recently of some humongous things hanging from a tree at the nursing home.
This is Jackfruit
I hope this plays for you. I think it’s amazing.
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I have been changing my sheets, putting out fresh towels, gathering trash, etc. to get ready for Khun Nong’s sister to come clean tomorrow. We are going with the flow on timing – just making sure we are out of her way – as we are very grateful that we are not just ‘having to do without’ while Khun Nong is on extended holiday. I am almost ready now.
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I had a great time at the cafe yesterday, starting out at a side table and then moving up to ‘my’ spot when the other people left, so I had the best of both worlds. I spent much of the time I was there yesterday finishing up the sketches I showed you yesterday and doing the sketch of “The Ice Cream Man” – Thai Style. I have the base painting done and will see if I can finish up the details at the cafe this afternoon.
I also dreamed about the lady in the big hat and dress that I would like to try to draw next. This is totally in my head. I don’t have a reference picture. I don’t have anything but my awe of her elegance bouncing around in my head. I’ll see what I can do.
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I’ve been having fun discovering things for the blog I think you’ll enjoy. I appreciate your feedback on what you like and would rather not see much more of, please.
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Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Healing Dog Memes
BoredPanda.com – Oleksandra Kyryliuk, Dominyka Proskenaite, Jonas Zvilius.
Filed under CUTE!
Drifting on Art 4
Jocelyne Chartrand
1. “Work hard in silence, let your success be your noise.”
Nagato Iwasaki
2. “If you want something you have never had, you must be willing to do something you have never done.”
Unknown
3. “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
South Beach Bulletin
— Imam Ali
Filed under Driftwood Art
Wednesday 5-27-2026
In Otter News
@inotternews on Substack
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Freepik
I did pretty well at the gym this morning, though I’m still feeling weak. It’s frustrating to be at such a low point after only having a cold and cough and runny nose – something I would have thrown off without a problem not long ago. I’m trying to be thankful that I DID throw it off and can now walk a mile again!
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Eating Thai Food
Brian and I had a really good breakfast this morning of “joke” – rice porridge with chicken chunks, a bit of egg, and nice seasonings, plus some pieces of assorted fruit. Really delicious!!
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I have my laundry out on the balcony. We’re having an interesting combination weather-wise lately, where we have really strong sun followed by a rain, followed by bright sun again – and maybe a repeat. I keep an eye out for rain so I can grab the stuff off my balcony…
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I have two ideas rattling around in this poor old brain on sketches I want to try. One is a Thai street ice cream vendor. The other is a glamorous woman all dressed up, walking down the street. Maybe I’ll get started on them today.
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“When you start giving, instead of getting, you make a difference. You can always give a warm smile, a sincere hello, a positive vibe… your attention, your time, your love, and kindness to those around you.”
― Roy T. Bennett
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Drifting on Art 3
Claudia Strozeski
Making art with driftwood is the process of breathing new life into washed-ashore wood, sculpting shapes carved by the elements.
Cleveland Chophouse
The best quotes on this craft focus on honoring the natural history of the wood, surrendering to its organic forms, and finding beauty in materials shaped by water and time.
Etsy
“When I work with driftwood, I never start with a blank canvas. Each piece of driftwood is already a sculpture, created by the caresses of the waves and wind.” – Debra Bernier
Fun Substance
“Every piece of driftwood tells a story. What some people see as fallen wood, I see as hidden treasure waiting to become something meaningful shaped by nature, time, and story.” – Sabrina, Drifted By Nature
Jeffro Uitto
“I have a profound draw to the sea. Years of camping and beachcombing slowly evolved into a fascination with driftwood. So raw, rustic, and surrounded by ocean history—I feel every driftwood piece has its own story.” – Fleurieu Artist
Filed under Driftwood Art
Heed the Signs 3
BoredPanda.com – Adele Davidonyte, Olekansandra Kryryliuk, Karolina Kondrataviciuite
Filed under Funny Signs - Humor
Tuesday, 5-26-2026
Chong Lip Mun – @worldwildlife.bsky.social
Another beautiful bird that begs to be painted.
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I’ve had a busy day. We went to the gym this morning. I walked my mile more easily today, though it still seemed “long.” I’m hoping my strength is building each day. I’m still feeling more comfortable holding on to the handle bars of the treadmill.
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We went to see Harvey after breakfast. He knew who we were, and showed it by kissing my hand as I hugged his head and kissed him. That’s where making sense ended, though. He broke my heart at one point telling us he ‘wanted to come home,’ but didn’t know where that was…
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After we got back from visiting Harvey, we went to the cafe. I finished three more sketches –
This is my interpretation of the Chiang Mai lottery. Young and old line up side by side under umbrellas to protect from sun or rain while they sit there all day selling chances to win the lottery. Some, like the man shown here, wear them as sign boards around their necks. I’m not sure of all the details, but it’s a huge business here. In this sketch, they have set up in front of some stores. You will also see a whole line of them on the sides of the roads. Some look like kids. Some look older than I am – if you can imagine that. I have noticed some ‘redemption’ places, where you can redeem your winning tickets for all kinds of merchandise…
Brian has said that Thai people delight in betting on EVERYTHING here. If it will rain – how much rain we’ll get – whether the turtle crossing the street will make it across alive – how fast the squirrel will cross from one spot to another using the wires above for ‘roads,’ …..
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I’m going to try to draw the Chiang Mai version of the ice cream man as one of my next sketches. I have wonderful memories of hearing the distinctive music of the ice cream man driving down the road in his truck and kids coming running out of their houses after having moved heaven and earth to get enough money to buy something. It’s much the same here, except the look is quite unique.
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I hope that you have had a good Memorial Day weekend surrounded by love while honoring those who have sacrificed everything for us.
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“Nothing shakes the smiling heart.”
― Santosh Kalwar, I Am Dead Man Alive
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Heed the Signs 2
BoredPanda.com – Adele Davidonyte, Olekansandra Kryryliuk, Karolina Kondrataviciuite
Filed under Funny Signs - Humor
Drifting on Art 2
Dan Kangas
Jotaros Travels – Indonesia – Jogja Karongan Art
Michael Fleming Designs Adrift
Seashell Madness
Filed under Driftwood Art
Monday 5-25-2026
We have few family times where everyone can relax, have fun, laugh and play, hug, reminisce, and enjoy a great cookout where all are almost in a coma from overdoing by the end of the weekend.
This is a beautiful thing, but it shouldn’t overshadow the reason for Memorial Day – honoring all who served, plus their families – who have given so much to our country. Take a few moments, shut your eyes, and feel their presence.
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Brian and I got to the gym this morning! It’s been over a week since I actually walked on the treadmill. The power was on, but the door issue – with the key-card-door being unlocked, remained. I hope that no damage is done before the owners can fix this. My time on the treadmill seemed to go slowly. I guess that’s because I’m still pretty weak. But I did walk my mile, so that’s a good thing.
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We shared a good breakfast – “breakfast burrito”, but this one sliced chicken, avocado, salad and dressing wrapped in a flour tortilla. GOOOOD!
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These are my latest painted sketches.
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I’m going to go to the cafe this afternoon. I’m toying with the idea of trying to do a “Thai Street Scene” showing the lottery…
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Heed the Signs
BoredPanda.com – Adele Davidonyte, Olekansandra Kryryliuk, Karolina Kondrataviciuite
Filed under Funny Signs - Humor
Drifting on Art
Alex Witcombe – Kootenay Mountain Culture
Art Pal – JP Clough
Cottage Life
Cougar – Alex Witcombe – Campbell River Now
Filed under Driftwood Art
Sunday, 5-24-2026
Stacey Rich Bergman – @worldwildlife.bsky.social
Calls out to you to try to paint it, doesn’t it?
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Okay! Drum rolls! The long-awaited painted sketches are ready to share! (Okay, so I know the only person ‘long-awaiting’ here is ME, but I’m going to share anyway. 😜😁😜)
Latest painted sketches.
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I opted out of the gym this morning. I got dressed and ready, then felt weak and wonky, so texted Brian and slept another hour before getting up, undressed, showered, and dressed again for the rest of the day. At breakfast, Brian told me the power was on at the gym, but the door was open. This is a key card open type door, so it stays locked between customers. Brian went in and checked all around, then did his normal work on the treadmill and made sure the door was shut and locked when he left. It’s a mystery…
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This is a lemonade we ordered at the cafe yesterday. Not only does the lady server include two napkins so my hands don’t get wet and ruin my sketchbook, you can actually see the knot she ties in one of the napkins so it stays on the glass securely.
She also helped me move my carrier, art bag, art supplies, hoodie, pillow I put in the chair, and the partial drink I still had at that point!
We will probably go there this afternoon. Since she is almost always there, I’m going to take the picture above on my phone and the thank you card I painted to give her.
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I hope you’re having a nice Memorial Day Weekend. One of the nicest things about the town of Greenwood, Arkansas, was that it was people-oriented; the young, the old, the veterans, the students, the sports – anything having to do with the people was celebrated with parks, parades, bands playing, bean feeds – you name it. Here is a picture of the Veterans Memorial Park in the midde of the Square decorated to honor the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform plus their families.
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I hope this is a quiet, beautiful time for you and your family.
“What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life’s pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.”
― Joseph Addison
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Saturday 5-23-2026
“Huskies” – Anna B – @bornforart.bsky.social
I wouldn’t want to BE out in this, but I think the photograph and the huskies, are amazing.
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The electricity was still off at the gym this morning, so Brian and I walked through the park again – a different route this time. Mostly, I am better from being sick, but both Brian and I are noticing that I’m a bit short of breath. My ears are also clogged up, so my hearing is more muffled than usual. Other than that, this chicken is clucking up a storm.
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I wil have some painted sketches to show you tomorrow. (I know, I said that yesterday.) But it’s TRUE this time. I have some details to finish on SEVERAL sketches. I’ll share a passel of them tomorrow.
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I’m making a bit of progress on tuning my guitar with the use of my computer and then practicing some chords. I have three down now, though my fingertips are still lacking the callouses I need. I’m doing it two or three times a day, though, trying to build them up, so hopefully things will improve soon. The sick frog I sound like is alive and well. I don’t know if that will improve or not. At least I’m giving you the gift of not having to LISTEN…
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We’ll probably go to the cafe this afternoon. We are moving into the rainy season now. It really rained while I was sketching. I was sitting at a side table (someone obviously didn’t REALIZE they had taken MY spot!) The rain was quite peaceful right beside my chair. Quite calming. The last half hour one of the servers came and told me my spot had opened up, so I moved and thanked them profusely.
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I wish you a happy weekend.
“Dance. Smile. Giggle. Marvel. TRUST. HOPE. LOVE. WISH. BELIEVE. Most of all, enjoy every moment of the journey, and appreciate where you are at this moment instead of always focusing on how far you have to go.”
― Mandy Hale, The Single Woman–Life, Love, and a Dash of Sass: Embracing Singleness with Confidence
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Friday 5-22-2026
Vecteezy
We went to the gym, then I had my massage, and then we went to the cafe while our places were being cleaned. I have had a good day.
I should have some sketches to share with you tomorrow.
“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a
listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all
of which have the potential to turn a life around.”
― Leo F. Buscaglia
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Palette Knife Paintings 3
Pixels
Twisted Sifter
YouTube – Surag – Fine Arts
Filed under Palette Knife Art
Thursday 5-21-2026
AOL.com
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I’m late in writing my blog posts today. The day went by in a blur and I’m just now sitting down at my computer.
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We went to the gym this morning for the first time in about a week – since we got sick. We are still coughing a bit, but mostly over the problem now. I felt kind of weak and wonky and so held onto the handle bars as I walked today. I don’t think it matters, as long as I’m doing the walking. I’ll gain steadiness and strength as the week progresses.
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We went to visit Harvey at the nursing home this morning. I took the “Tasmanian Devil” painted sketch I did. Harvey liked it, though he was pretty unresponsive otherwise, he seemed to like the sketch and wanted it on his wall. He was comfortable and calm, so that’s about the best it gets now. My biggest disappointment is that he didn’t remember our cutting out all the cartoon characters out of sheet metal in the shop to make the decorations for the mailbox…
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Brian took pics of the Cheetah and will order a glass print made of the photo for my statement shelf today. I took the puzzle apart after running my hands over it for awhile and boxed it up for someone else to enjoy. I started my new puzzle, the “Runway Roosters” this afternoon. I’m trying to put the border together now.
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We spent time at the cafe. I got my favorite spot by the front window. 😁. I finished two painted sketches and did some more sketches.
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Tomorrow will be a differently timed day than usual.
We will go to the gym. I’ll shower and go for my massage at the usual time. Then my housekeeper may be at my place before I come back from that. If she is, I’ll just close my bedroom door, get dressed for the day, bow, and thank her, and get out of her way. I’ll go to Brian’s and we’ll leave for the cafe for the rest of the time she is cleaning our places.
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“Always find opportunities to make someone smile, and to offer random acts of kindness in everyday life.”
― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Janusz Jurek Street Photos
Timing is all, and especially in photos. These will make you take a second look – maybe more – to try to figure out what is going on…
Community Panda – BoredPanda.com
Filed under Awe-Inspiring Photography
Palette Knife Painting 2
Dreamstime.com
Ellen Crimi -Trent – Art and Design – Facebook
Keene Wilson Fine Art
Filed under Palette Knife Art
creativeartworksblog 