Jonas Grinevicius and Viktorija Osikaite – “Cats 1st Christmas” – BoredPanda.com
Category Archives: holidays
Christmas Decorations 3
Jennifer Fishkind – Princess Pinky Girl – Pinterest
Oops! – Pinterest
Prasad Kumar – Pinterest
Purrfect Stitchers – Pinterest
Rhonda Payne – Pinterest
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Christmas Decorations I Love 2
Honey Pi – Pinterest
Christmas Birdbath – Mary Donkers Ropp – Pinterest
Mustard Seed Interiors
Sentimental Decor – Etsy
Tyler Interiors – Etsy
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Christmas for Sunny
“Angels on treetops and tinsel so shiny, Porcelain Santas and Reindeer quite tiny – Low-hanging ornaments, Popcorn on Strings… Say your goodbyes to your favorite things.” ~ “Christmas Tree” – Sandy Humphries – Pinterest
If you’ll look very closely down from the bow on the tree, you will see the prime ‘ornament’ on my good friend Carla’s son’s Christmas tree this year…
Meet Sunny. She decided to take up residence in the tree. The wise owners then took down the breakable ornaments in deference to Sunny. Isn’t she beautiful?
As you can see, she has made herself quite comfortable.
Here’s looking at YOU, Human! Meowy Christmas!!!
“May your Christmas tree survive its annual battle with your cat.” ~ Jane
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Christmas Decorations I Love
Lisa Edmonds – Pinterest
Decor Sprout
Outlook
Snowflake Lace Ornament – Etsy
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Cats 1st Christmas 2
Photos supplied by Jonas Grinevicius and Viktoija Osikaite – “Cats First Christmas” – BoredPanda.com
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Cats First Christmas
These cute photos were supplied by Jonas Grinevicius and Vikorija Osikaite via their article, “Cats 1st Christmas” on BoredPanda.com
I well remember one of our cats diving into the middle of our newly decorated tree, bringing the whole thing down onto the living room floor. After that, I only used ornaments that wouldn’t break…
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Thursday Thoughts 11-27-2025
Tenor
I had a very happy surprise yesterday. I told you a while back that Harvey and I were ‘adopted’ as honorary grandparents by a family who is friends with Brian. Now they have become friends of mine, as well, and I’m grateful to them for making us feel welcome. Brian and I got an invitation to share Thanksgiving dinner with them this evening! I couldn’t be happier.
My ‘grandson’ is 4 now and his sister turned 1 recently. I’m taking him a painted sketch, since he is really into dinosaurs –
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This is one of my new windows installed yesterday. The frames on all the windows are white, so they open up the view to the outside even more. 4 of my windows are now openable, with screens! I’m going to wait until the middle of the day Saturday to have the ‘great open up’ ceremony, giving the outside seal another 48 hours – but then I’m going to open up all my “openables,” (if you’ll pardon the expression) letting lots of fresh air in! I don’t mind it at all that the ‘bucket and towel brigade’ gets to retire now, too.
I’m getting hopelessly spoiled. I now can go out my door and come in again just with a turn of the knob or insertion of my key – just like a REAL door! -AND I now have brand new windows that look great, are openable with screens, and don’t leak. Can you see me grinning from ear to ear? 😁 Talk about having a LOT for which to be thankful!
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Chicago Parent
I finished sketching my group of 25 Christmas cards yesterday, so I’m going to start painting them today. My research shows that a LOT of Christmas celebrations here start around the 19th, so I’m going to try to have these ready and in my carrier to start giving as I run into people around that time. I’ll need to get my paintbrush hot! 🎨
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If you’re traveling to be with family, I hope you have a smooth, safe trip. If you’re already there, I hope you’re giving and getting lots of hugs. Soak up the love and good memories of this holiday and hold them tightly in your heart.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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Happy Thanksgiving 2025
Many of you will be traveling this holiday, so you won’t be home. I didn’t want to miss the chance to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.
This was one of our mailbox decorations we made using the CNC set up in the shop with its computer-guided torch we could use to cut out the design, attach it to the bar that we used to attach it to the mailbox.
I hope that you will be surrounded with relatives, friends, food, laughter and lots of love this holiday, remembering how special it is that you can arrange to be together like this. I wish you safe travel.
This is a sketch and painting I did yesterday. He would like to be invited to the festivities, but as a GUEST, not the main part of the MEAL….
“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” ~ Marcel Proust
Be safe. Be happy. Be thankful. Be joyful.
Tenor
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Almost Thanksgiving 2025
This is one of the mailbox decorations my husband and I made.
And this is one of the metal critters in our yard we made out of an old propane tank and scrap metal in Arkansas.
Thanksgiving quotes include the famous line, “Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings,” by William Arthur Ward, and John F. Kennedy’s advice to “find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.”
I am filled with gratitude these days, and so take the quote by William Arthur Ward to heart. Each night I take 5 minutes. I get into a comfortable sitting position with my feet on the floor. I concentrate on something that makes me feel grateful. Two things that I concentrate on lately is (1) a photo I took of Brian kissing Harvey’s head before leaving the nursing home, and (2) the feeling I get when Brian hugs me or kisses my head. That’s it. Usually I end up in tears as the gratitude fills me up and spills over. Just 5 minutes and I’m calm, thankful, and full of gratitude.
Second, I am trying to show people how very much I value them. I tell my good friends how much they mean to me and how much I love them. I thank Brian, and tell him I appreciate him taking such good care of me. I have made some ‘thank you’ cards I will take to my massage Friday to let the two ladies there know how much they are changing my life and how much I appreciate that. I’m painting individual Christmas cards for the people here in my new country who make a difference in my life on a daily basis. I want them to know I don’t take them for granted and realize how they go out of their way to make me feel welcome.
Thanksgiving is EVERY day – not just one Thursday in November. We gather the family, have a special dinner, enjoy being together – but that should just be the beginning. How amazing our lives are and how much we have for which to be thankful!
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Veterans Day 2025
Adobe Stock
We can never thank our veterans enough for all the sacrifices they and their families have made.
We used to live in Greenwood, Arkansas, a community of about 9,700 people. In the center of the ‘square’ is Greenwood Memorial Park where lots of events are held each year. On Veterans Day, U.S. Flags are placed behind the stones of veterans who served us, bought by their families to honor them.
I wanted to get a stone for my husband, Harvey, because he served 4 years in the Marine Corps. He refused, saying he wasn’t in an active fight (although he was on ships offshore several really hot spots ready to go ashore if ordered), but he didn’t consider that enough to warrant a stone.
Memorial Park looks so pretty for this day we honor our Veterans. Assemblies at the schools honor our men and women in uniform. Local veterans attend these assemblies, allowing us to thank them in person with lumps in our throats. A parade goes down Main Street, around the square, and back up to the high school. Bands play and crowds cheer. It’s a beautiful thing to watch.
Veterans Day from Thailand seems weird to me. It’s the first one where I haven’t been in the U.S. to participate. I even had to remember when to write this post so that it would arrive on Veterans Day in the U.S., rather than November 12th, as it is in Thailand now.
We visit my personal hero tomorrow in the nursing home. I don’t know how alert he will be. I would like to be able to talk with him about his service. He joined the Marines when he was 17 and I was 14. We dated on all his ‘leaves’ for the 4 years, letters flying back and forth as fast as we could write and send them. (No texting or social media accounts back in the Stone Age.)
Even the mailman got into the act. If he saw there was a letter from Harvey for me, he would break the rules and put the red flag up on the mailbox because he knew I would be in the house, face plastered to the window, watching him. If the red flag came up, I would dash out of the house, running to retrieve the mail, smiling like an idiot. We would smile at each other, he would tip his hat and drive off.
Harvey won a medal for his sharp shooting in the Marines. He was proud of his service, but always downplayed it in honor of the ‘real veterans.’
We both honor the ‘real veterans’ today.
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Halloween 2025
I found out that Halloween is known as the “Ghost Festival.” People dress up and prowl the streets, but I don’t know if kids trick or treat.
Meanwhile, I have found some cute children’s costumes and neat Jack-o-Lanterns I want to share with you. 😀
“Cherry Cupcake” – Today’s Parent
“Cow” – Today’s Parent
“Cowgirl” – Today’s Parent
Hope you have a great Halloween this year!
Halloween Memories
Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays.
Back in ‘days of yore” (1492 when I was young) we trick-or-treated. I got together with my friends and we walked down to the neighborhood close to us where the houses were closer together and people were wonderful about turning their porch lights on to show you were welcome to come knock on the door.
We didn’t have our parents with us. We roamed for a couple of hours, going from welcoming house to the next until our containers were absolutely groaning from the weight of all the goodies we loved and we were finally tired from all the walking. We made our way home again where we dumped out our goodies on our beds and dove in to eat at least a couple of things before our parents announced it was time for bed.
Back in the ‘olden days’ parents didn’t have to worry about their children getting hurt or abducted. They just said, “have a great time” and got ready to answer their own doors for visitors.
Now parents either go with their children from house to house holding their hands or follow the kids in their cars. OR they arrange parties in their homes or go to community parties overseen by trusted adults.
Gone are the days of spending pennies on a costume, gathering your friends, shrieking in delight when you got good things or were “scared” by someone in a frightening mask. All you needed was a flashlight, a big container for goodies, and your friends…
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Labor Day 2025
Patrick Byrne
Labor Day “honors the contributions of labor movements that fought for better working conditions, fair wages, and reasonable hours. The holiday was born out of a time of immense industrial change and often-harsh working environments in the late 19th century.”
As with a lot of holidays in the United States, people lose sight of the meaning of the holiday – just enjoy having the day off from work, a day to play, have a gathering with good food, games, and more. Children who have started school for the year cheer about a day off.
Labor Day weekend has become larger and larger over the years, with parades, craft fairs, organized sports games, concerts, and more.
Whatever your form of celebration, I hope that you have enjoyed a fabulous weekend and that you will enjoy your Monday off.
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A personal memory – My dad loved to say that he thought it was quite ‘appropriate’ that he was actually born on Labor Day, September 6th, 1918.
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July 4th 2025
Village of Rochester, Racine County, Wisconsin
I’m told that some people may set off fireworks this evening somewhere around Chiang Mai, though there isn’t an organized event. I guess there might be enough expatriates here. It would be wonderful to see.
TikTok
OC Fireworks
My dad’s favorite holiday was the 4th of July. We made it an all day event at our house with ‘snakes’ and a ladyfinger or two, but we always went to the swimming club my parents belonged to in order to cook outside, swim, and see their fireworks display.
One year my dad developed cataracts in both eyes. The doctors said they had to get ‘bad’ enough for them to operate on one at a time, but that 4th of July, my dad was almost completely blind. He had given up reading, TV, becoming really depressed about the upcoming holiday. He COULD see lights, but decided he wouldn’t ask Harvey and me to drive my mom and him to the club.
Harvey spent the day out doing errands. He came home with a humongous grocery sack full of fireworks, plus snakes and a whole group of ladyfingers tied together. We brought cookout stuff, which my parents expected.
When we finished dinner Harvey suggested we sit out on the back patio. My dad reluctantly joined us, but it was obvious that his heart wasn’t in it.
Harvey brought out the snakes first. My dad’s face nearly cracked open when he ‘saw’ what Harvey had brought. He got down low, sitting on the concrete, so he could see the snakes as they were lit and grew, curling all over the patio. He was like a kid at Christmas.
Harvey brought out the ladyfingers and my dad hugged him. He asked Harvey to light the end so that the whole group of ladyfingers went off one after the other.
And finally, the sky grew dark. My dad had gotten quiet, wishing he could see fireworks.
Harvey spent the rest of the evening setting off one firework after another in our back yard – safely – but close enough my dad had the best row in the house actually being able to SEE each one. He thanked Harvey over and over for providing the “best 4th of July EVER!”
I brought out a towel and a beer for Harvey, who had been working so hard he was wringing wet and thirsty.
If I hadn’t already loved my husband as much as humanly possible before this, this would have proved to me that my husband was a ‘keeper.’ 🤗
Happy Independence Day!
Father’s Day 2025
My dad carved these sweet doggies for my mom. I would love these simply for that, but the remarkable thing is that my dad only had the use of one hand. He fell off a horse when he was three. Back then (1920’s) they didn’t know much about setting young children’s broken bones and hands, so he was left with a much shorter left arm than right and useless left hand.
He overcame being bullied at school because of his sense of humor. The other kids found it difficult to bully him and laugh at his jokes at the same time, so the bullying stopped. His sense of humor was one of his strengths thoroughout his life. (When he died, he left a note that said, “Remember me laughing.”)
He started a one-man radio advertising agency in Tulsa, OK and not only provided a living for his family, but garnered awards from the advertisers professional group in Tulsa for a lifetime of achievement.
When he asked my mom to marry him, he gave her this ring he carved.
I have shown you this recently. It’s one of the few oil paintings he did. I loved a set of three landscapes he did – 3 small paintings of some evergreens – framed in the same way. He also did these ‘portrait/personality’ paintings of my brother and me. Brian had an image of this reproduced on glass and it’s sitting on my mantel in my new condo. So my dad lives on in my heart and he is now in Thailand with me.
Celebrate your dad this Father’s Day today – and EVERY day!
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New Year’s Day 2025!
I hope that 2025 is a fabulous year for you, full of all the good things there are.
We had a quiet celebration here. I was hoping our backyard neighbors might shoot off some fireworks, but it was too cold, even for them this year. I’m glad they stayed warm.
My to-do list is long today, but I’m still yawning and drinking coffee, trying to fully wake up. Our weather is definitely turning toward winter now, with freezing almost every morning and the ‘highs’ gradually getting lower each week. I really wish I could just LOOK at pretty snow pictures, photos of creative snow people and animals folks have made, watch videos of snowball fights, snow angels, and more – rather than to. actually. be. IN. it.
My aim for the day is to clean off my drafting table in my art room in preparation for whatever comes next as a project. I almost need a bulldozer right now, but hope I can make good progress if I can just get up there.
I’m on strike as far as cooking today. We’ll have our regular low carb lunch and hot dogs for dinner. YEA!
Have a wonderful day. I hope that you’re off for the day from work and that you find fun ways to spend your day. Happy 2025!
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Sloth-ing
If only I looked this criminally cute when I relaxed! The best I can do is burrow down into my recliner, my heat pad under me and my throw above me, making kind of a ‘Linda Sandwich.’ I try to do this a couple of times a week – a rare, but much appreciated pleasure!
In typical Arkansas fashion, we went from spring yesterday to winter this morning. The skies are really cloudy and grim-looking. The temperature isn’t that bad, but there is a strong wind that blows right through you. I had my coat, but I should have worn a cap and gloves. It feels COLD!!! Very thankful today for a warm, dry house.
I’m going to make one of our favorite recipes from Suzanne Ryan’s book, “Simply Keto,” called, “Sausage, Egg & Cheese Breakfast Bake”. We like it for dinner, and I throw in a veggie, like broccoli or spinach. It’s a nice comfort food for a cold night.
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I’m feeling really slothful this afternoon. I have a lot of things I could, or should, be doing, but I’m ignoring them, at least for now. It’s New Year’s Eve. I’m hoping to see fireworks in the valley behind our house tonight, ringing in a brand new year with bright colors, noise and happy displays, and hope.
Happy New Year’s Eve!
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Christmas 2024
We’re having a quiet Christmas, just my husband and I, this year. It’s warmer today, 49 degrees as I type this, but it’s still gray and gloomy-looking. A great day to stay in, relax in our recliners, maybe have a snooze. :0)
Our son and I had a conference call this morning, and it was the best gift ever. I love seeing him smile and laugh, catching up on what he’s doing, planning, and more. I got everything except one of his good, strong hugs. I’m still smiling.
One of the best Christmases ever when my brother and I were growing up was the one when my parents got each of us a 3-speed English racing bike. The controls were in the handles. One grip was the brakes. The other was the gear shift. They were light-weight, sleek, pretty, and fast. We were both in Heaven.
Back in 1492 when we were young (:0) we had freedom that kids can’t enjoy now. We lived in an area of Tulsa, OK where there were two parallel streets a mile long, called Johannson Acres. Each house was on an acre and a quarter lot. My friend was down the road from us, and I immediately leaped on my new bike and sped off to see my best friend, Ann Bulloch. I practically lived at her house. Her mom was the ‘perfect’ mom, always with a fresh batch of cookies, or offers to share a meal, spend the night, start a summer business in her yard, and more. They oohed an ahhed over my new transportation.
I loved the bike, racing all over the place in complete freedom. A wonderful memory of a very special Christmas for us.
Enjoy your celebrations today. Take time to give everyone a special hug. There is nothing more important than family. Merry Christmas, and may 2025 be a wonderful year for you.
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Christmas Eve 2024
Happy Christmas Eve! I hope you are up to your ears in love and laughter today – Smiles and hugs – Food you might not be supposed to be eating delighting your mouth. Enjoy every minute of this day.
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Here in Arkansas, I’m trying to wake up. It’s dark and rainy outside, which isn’t helping. I’m glugging coffee, and that should. It’s 48 degrees, so I don’t think we’re in for anything severe, just making it a really great day to crawl under my throw in my recliner and catch some z’s. My husband is sleeping in this morning and Amber and Monster Cat are going up and down the stairs, trying to make enough noise outside his door to wake him up. Even though all the morning chores are done and both have had breakfast, their day doesn’t officially start until he is up and functioning. :0)
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I saw two good friends yesterday afternoon. I hadn’t seen either of them in the longest time and it was truly wonderful to hug their necks and take a bit of time to catch up. Thankfully, both are doing well. They both seemed to like the personalized bookmarks I made for them. Friends are one of the true joys in life. You can never tell them how much they mean to you. Even though I can’t visit often, I’ve made a promise to myself that I will text them on a regular basis going forward. AND my husband was fine when I got home.
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Enjoy your day, cherish the memories you’re making. Make today super special.
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Monday 12-23-2024
I’m hoping to be able to visit with a couple of friends quickly this afternoon and take them the presents I made for them, hug their necks tightly, and catch up. I don’t leave my husband for long these days, as he thinks he’s 20 and may end up on the roof… :0)
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I’m having a really good time in my art room. I’m trying to do a wood-burned and painted picture of a kingfisher. I still have no real clue what I’m doing, but it’s fun to try the different tips on my wood burning tools, experiment with shading, and more. Fingers crossed it turns out okay.
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Yesterday I cut down the remnants of my elephant ear plants.
They did really well this year, but Mother Nature thumbed her nose at them and froze them where they stood. I spent quite a while cutting down the sad, frozen remains and carting them off. I have tried digging up and storing the bulbs in the garage over the winter, but that was a disaster. So I put styrofoam faucet covers we didn’t need over the bulbs, then put rocks on top of those. Finally, I stuffed as many leaves as I could get into the planter, hoping that will get the sweet plants to survive the winter and grow again in the spring. All appendages are crossed – including my eyes – that this works.
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One of the many things for which I am thankful this year is that I can write this blog, communicating with wonderful people, sharing things I hope you’ll like, hoping to make you snort, smirk, or smile from time to time. Thank you for reading, liking, commenting, and becoming friends.
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Make this a great day. If you’ve already celebrated, pat yourself on the head for a job well done. If you’re dashing around like a fiend desperately trying to cram in as much stuff as you can in the remaining time, BREATHE. The celebration is about enjoying those you love, remembering what is important, cherishing life and all you have.
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Sunday 12-22-2025
We just had to chase a bird out of the house (after grabbing Monster Cat and putting her into the bathroom and putting Amber behind the gate to the living room.) It took us quite a while, with lots of hand-waving and towels, and fly swatters, going from the pantry to the kitchen, to the dining area, and the utility room over and over, but we did it. I’m still huffing and puffing a bit. The bird is fine, and is back outside. WE are both intact and unhurt. Monster Cat and Amber are with us again, and all hopefully will calm down. NOT a great way to start a morning!
Monster Cat has decided to take advantage of the morning’s excitement, now hiding-in-wait for me to walk past, and then leaping out and wrapping her arms, claws out, around my leg. It’s a very good thing I’m wearing jeans…
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It never did warm up much yesterday, but it’s supposed to get into the low 50’s today. Hooray! I’ll plan to get outside, cut down and mulch a few things in the yard, and try again to get the light bulb camera on the front porch to work.
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I started a new piece in my art room yesterday. This time I’m trying to wood burn a kingfisher. It’s a wonderful escape to go up there, turn on some of my favorite music, and lose myself in the joy of trying to use the wood-burning tool. I got the design onto the wood yesterday. Now I’m doing the wood burning, and then I’ll paint. Such a fun time!
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I hope you have a list of things you can do to bring yourself joy. I’m lucky because I have a whole host of things that allow me to ‘escape’ from the present world and fully relax for a bit.
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I hope your Christmas plans are shaping up. Don’t be afraid to ask those around you for help. This is a family time. Responsibility should be shared as much as possible, from the planning, the decorating, the wrapping of gifts, the shopping for food, the cooking, and the clean up. When you share the work, the joy explodes. BREATHE.
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Thanksgiving 2024
I hope you’re up to your eyeballs in love today – knee-deep in family and friends sharing a beautiful time and delicious food.
If you’ve read my blog for a while, you know that our son lives across the world from us. He chose his location very carefully and is very happy. He left us a message on the chat program this morning –
He said, “Happy Thanksgiving, guys. I’m very thankful for all the love and energy and patience and support you have given me and still give me.” It just doesn’t get nicer than that. :0)
We’re having a quiet celebration here, just my husband and me. I’ll cook a turkey breast. Otherwise we’ve pared things down to our favorites – the ones we look forward to all year – cranberry jelly and deviled eggs. We’ll have salad, too.
It’s the coolest day we’ve had in quite a while. The low was 29 and the high will only be 49. With the wind, it will seem quite chilly. BRRRRR!
I’m thankful for so many things –
- because I’m losing some of my lard and keeping what’s left moving – my health is improving. I’m getting stronger, more flexible, and able to do what I need to do more easily.
- My husband is still with me to share our lives. He just turned 81 and is definitely old and ornery. Stubborn and always right. Self-centered and set in his ways. He says that I am “mean as a snake.” We’ve loved each other for 63 years now. We’ve been married for 55. We have a good start now.
- So far we can cover expenses, and that’s a big relief. I hope this continues.
- Thankful to be close to our son in all but geography. We talk almost daily. I’m so proud of the man he is and how he’s living his life. My husband keeps telling him he wants ‘Rug Rats,’ but I think it would be good if he got married first, finding a good source for the love inside.
- Thankful for two quirky pets – Amber, a 95-pound yellow lab, and Monster Cat (aka Jet), a black cat with a personality that grows daily. Both keep us on our toes while filling us with laughter and joy.
- Thankful to be able to write this blog. Finding and sharing things I think are wonderful with you is a big part of my life. Feedback from people who take the time to read it makes my day. Thankful to be able to talk to YOU.
- Thankful to be able to create stuff in my art room and post it in my Etsy shop. Even more thankful when someone likes something I’ve done and buys it. There is no greater compliment.
So, a very Happy Thanksgiving.
“What we’re really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets. I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving?” —Erma Bombeck
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Veterans Day 2024
“The holiday is meant to honor those who have died in the country’s service and thank those who have served. Originally known as Armistice Day, it was proclaimed in 1919 by President Woodrow Wilson and became a legal federal holiday in 1938.”
My husband served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1961-1965. He was on ships offshore in all the hot spots around the world during that time – most notably the Cuban Missile Crisis – but thankfully never had to face combat. He is funny about it, though. If he wears his vest that has Marine Corps patches on it, and people thank him for his service, he is embarrassed. He doesn’t think he deserves the thanks because he never actually ‘fought’ like ‘real veterans’ did. I heartily disagree, but he won’t hear me on this.
In the middle of the square in Greenwood, Arkansas is Memorial Park. It’s the center of many happy events during the year. One of the most impressive, however, is Veterans Day, where U.S. Flags are placed by the memorial ‘stones’ placed by families of veterans in our town. I wanted to get one for my husband, but again – he won’t hear of it. You can’t really see them in this photo, but there are half-size statues of service men from the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Marines standing guard around the clock tower in the middle of the park.
There will be a parade today.
To people who have served or are serving now – THANK YOU for your service. THANK YOU for being willing to put everything on the line for our country and its people. THANK YOU for the sacrifice of your family. We honor you today – and every day.
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Christmas in September
I’ve been having a blast wood-burning and painting wood slices for Christmas ornaments.
They’re 3.25″ in diameter and .5″ thick. They have a red and white attached string for hanging on the tree.
On the back, they have places for personalization – one line for the year and a second for a first name to create a keepsake.
The wood-burning is done first. Then the several steps in painting. After one is ordered, I’ll personalize it and then protect it with several layers of polyurethane spray.
Each is a one-of-a-kind design. My parents gave my brother and me a Christmas ornament that was personalized each year, letting us add it to our tree. When we were grown, they presented us with a box of ‘OUR’ ornaments as a housewarming present, to decorate our tree and start a new tradition.
We are saving our son’s box, since he lives halfway across the world and travels light. When he joins us for the holiday, though, we decorate the tree together, reminiscing about Christmases past as we take out each of his decorations.
I hope that you are surrounded by those you love at Christmas this year. HandmadeHavenByLinda on Etsy
Labor Day 2024
I just read about strikes by hotel workers at vacation destinations around the country for Labor Day. After reading several articles, the issue seems to be a complicated one, and I’m certainly not in a position to judge.
My husband wants to go to our local grocery store this morning, so we’ll do that, hoping it’s open. We have no plans otherwise.
I hope to finish adding pics to my Etsy site today and then will experiment with whether I can make other changes. I think I’m almost to the finishing point on my ‘cat’ wood burned sign, too. I’ll post a pic when it’s done.
Our weather is cooler and less humid today – an extremely welcome change. I might actually spend some time outside today!
I hope that you are enjoying a wonderful family and friend time today filled with fun things and lots and lots of love.
Filed under holidays, Thoughts on a ________
Sunday 9-1-2024
It’s quite rainy-looking outside right now. We may get rain around 2pm today. I say, “MAY” because we were due for some yesterday, but only got very overcast skies for a time and some thunder, but no rain. It would be good if it comes. Update – now the sun has come out…
I hope you’re in the middle of a family-and-friends weekend celebration of Labor Day. We’re having a quiet one, and hopefully will talk with our son on either the chat program or the conference call today or tomorrow.
I just asked my husband if he “missed getting the memo.” I went to the bathroom and was joined by Amber, our 95-pound yellow lab, and Monster Cat (aka Jet). Both were playing and stretching, rubbing up against me over and over, making it a bit difficult to finish what I had gone in there for, since it’s a small space. I really don’t think we could have fit my husband IN there, if he HAD gotten the memo. I love my animals, but a bit less companionship at that time would be nice.
I’m about half finished with my project of editing the items on my Etsy site. They want me to add more pics for a lot of my items, so I’m doing that. I’m all for making changes that might give my stuff more exposure. I’m also continuing work on my two newest wood-burned pieces – ‘cat’ and ‘dog’ signs with pegs for leashes, etc. I’m trying some new techniques, having a great time.
Have a blast with those you love!
Filed under holidays, Thoughts on a ________
Int’l Dog Day 8-26-2024
Katarina Avendano and Yaa Bofah – Good Housekeeping
Filed under Amazing Animals, holidays
4th of July 2024
Happy Independence Day! I hope you have a wonderful day with family and friends.
We’re having a quiet celebration here. Due to the excessive heat warning and then the threat of thunderstorms later this evening and into the overnight, we’ll cook our cheeseburgers inside. We still hope our wonderful neighbors down in the valley behind our house will give us a beautiful show as they make their own festivities.
I just went out to gather ripe tomatoes. We didn’t have many, though the plants themselves are still looking okay. The minute I walked out, sweat started spurting out on my forehead. And that’s at 9am, BEFORE the excessive heat warning that starts around noon and lasts until around 9pm this evening! I’m hoping that if we can get past all the dangerous heat, the tomato plants will be happier and more tomatoes will ripen. The suckers I started inside are still not perky, but they’re still alive at this point. One day at a time on this experiment. I’m hoping to move the survivors to the garden planter mid July.
Although in OUR eyes, our driveway is a delight to behold now – after scraping and shaping and spreading of good gravel that is used on the roads around here, plus the huge trimming of branches that were threatening to grow together across the driveway and make it impossible for us to drive down – some people are still having some traction problems.
Yesterday I drove down to get a package that UPS had ‘delivered’ – putting it on the ground behind the trash can that lives in a spot almost at the bottom. I had noticed someone had trouble the day before, leaving a hole in the driveway gravel where a tire spun. I put the smaller shovel we have in the truck and took a few minutes to pull the gravel back into the hole as best I could, given my strength and the heat. I did a reasonable job.
Michael Remillard, of Tangles Hair Studio in Greenwood, performed a miracle once again, transforming this women who looked like a gone-to-seed dandelion into ‘someone-who-had-a-plan.’ We enjoyed visiting and catching up, and it was time for lunch by the time I returned home. I got our mail and dragged the trash can back up to where it lives to the side of the driveway.
This morning my husband was in his recliner in the living room when I came downstairs. He had already been out working in the shop on the drink holder he’s making for me on the lathe. I again thanked him for thinking that this would be a good thing to help protect my cold drinks from Jet, our cat, but more than that – I thanked him for doing a ‘doable’ chunk on the project, which is quite labor-intensive, AND coming in before it got too hot in the shop. I don’t care if it takes him a year to make it. I just don’t want him to risk a heat stroke.
Shout Out to ML, my SIL, who suggested a squirt bottle of water as added ‘Jet control.’ This, and my rolled-up newspaper, are gentle attention-getters for the cat, and she hasn’t bitten me or sampled a drink on my table in a couple of days now. :0)
I’m down 31.2 pounds as of this morning, so I seem to have found a workable combination for my ‘losing-of-the-lard’ project. Tonight we’ll celebrate the 4th with cheeseburgers – with bun for my husband, chips and baked beans; Mission Net Zero Carb tortillas and no beans or chips for me; deviled eggs and some ripe tomatoes for both of us.
Enjoy your holiday!
Filed under holidays, Thoughts on a ________
Father’s Day 2024
Happy Father’s Day! Being a good dad is a hugely challenging, rewarding role. I hope you are swamped today (if not every day) with love and appreciation for your efforts.
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I suddenly had an idea for greeting/note cards and spent part of the afternoon and evening working on them. I’m making cartoony-looking ‘birds’ made from a feather, featuring a quote about birds. The inside of the cards will be blank so people can write what they want for any occasion. It’s been awhile since I wanted to do anything with my art, so it’s nice to be able to focus on something so much fun.
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I’m determined to finish spraying with KillzAll today, and I’ll get outside very soon, before the temperature-with-heat-index becomes lethal. It really doesn’t take long for me to get over-heated these days, so I have to be extra careful. I’ll dash outside in a minute and see what I can get accomplished.
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Enjoy your Sunday.
Filed under holidays
D-Day Anniversary – Thursday 6-6-2024
“With a small window of opportunity in the weather, Eisenhower decided to go—D-Day would be June 6, 1944. Paratroopers began landing after midnight, followed by a massive naval and aerial bombardment at 6:30 a.m. American forces faced severe resistance at Omaha and Utah Beaches.”
“The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, ended the debate over American intervention in both the Pacific and European theaters of World War II. The day after the attack, Congress declared war on Imperial Japan with only a single dissenting vote.”
Filed under holidays
creativeartworksblog 