Tomorrow will mark Week 2 since my husband fell and broke his collarbone. He is doing so much better. He is getting up and down by himself. He is dressing himself. I have to fight with him to stop him from trying to ‘help’ me in the kitchen. :0) We are both encouraged.
Next week we are each scheduled for much-needed haircuts, so we’ll LOOK a bit better, too!
Even the rain today can’t dampen my mood.
I’m patting myself on the head a bit because I worked on tax prep yesterday, getting a lot of it done. I’ll try to finish today, except for one online thing I can’t print until 2/16, but then I can take everything to Fort Smith and dump it on our wonderful CPA.
Also on the list for today is opening my online spreadsheets for tax deductions for 2024 and entering the information for January. Since I created these spreadsheets and started making a point of entering the data monthly, tax prep isn’t NEAR the headache it used to be.
If I can get this done, the rest of my day will be slothful – one of my favorite things. :0)
I have very mixed thoughts about the month of February.
As you may know, I tried to get a petition going last month to do away with the month entirely. I got a few signatures and high-fives, but didn’t have enough to push the measure through.
February is an awful month for weather in Arkansas. Arkansas doesn’t ‘do’ winter gracefully. It would be wonderful if we could get snow – fluffy, pretty snow – or even a wet snow great for snow people creation, and then move on to Spring. But NOOOOO! Arkansas has an ice storm BEFORE the snow, causing havoc and danger. Since we live on top of a ridge line, and our driveway is steep and on the north side of our property, our place is the last to thaw and clear any time the ice and snow come. My husband paid an awful price for this on the 21st, slipping and falling on the ice at the bottom of our driveway, breaking his collarbone.
Besides the weather, February is a bad month for me personally. A lot of the people who have meant the world to me have died this month, so as I’ve aged, more and more sad memories land here. I’m lucky that GOOD memories exist, too, and that I have had the privilege to share part of the lives of some truly wonderful people.
I do enjoy Valentine’s Day, though I feel guilty that so many men feel OBLIGATED to do something for the day. I much prefer
that people just show their love for each other EVERY day; or
they get their love something small and sweet, maybe give a special hug and good wishes
The best thing I can say about February is that USUALLY there are only 28 days. (Except this year)
Freepik.com
Groundhog Day doesn’t mean anything – we ALWAYS have 6 more weeks of awful stuff before we can think of spring. It has snowed on my birthday in March here, so I don’t feel we’re clear until the middle of March.
So – my idea for the petition to do away with February remains available, if you’re interested….
We slept in our actual bed upstairs last night for only the second time since my husband fell and broke his collarbone on the 21st. We slept amazingly well. I left my husband sleeping, did the morning chores and was working on the computer when I heard the bedroom door. My husband walked carefully down the stairs fully dressed (!)- for the first time since we saw the orthopedic surgeon on the 23rd. He is comfortably reading on his tablet in his recliner in the living room now. :0)
Other issues, such as tax prep and plumbing problems pale in contrast to the fact that 1) my husband FELT like even TRYING to get dressed, and 2) he was able to do it, by himself! The only thing I had to help him with when he came down was the sling. We will concentrate on trying to have a quiet day of healing.
If he continues this improvement, I may be able to entertain thoughts of getting up to my art room for a bit to play with my new wood burning tools. NICE if it happens.
We’re having another beautiful day here in Arkansas on this, the last day of January 2024. I don’t have enough signatures to submit in my attempt to just do away with February, so it starts as usual tomorrow, with even an extra day for leap year thrown into the mix. Ugh.
My husband wanted to try to sleep in our bed last night. I was up with him around 2, and then woke up alone later. He told me he lasted until around 5 and then came down and finished the night in his recliner. We’re getting better.
I have cleared our calendar of everything possible until my husband has had a chance to heal. Doing this takes the pressure off. We can concentrate on just the things we need to do each day. He is getting a bit stronger each day.
I’m encouraging him now to get up and come into the office whenever he wants to, or in the kitchen, moving around to gain strength. The surgeon was cautioning us about getting TOO sedentary, warning us of pneumonia, so I’m trying to get him up several times a day, resting as much as possible, in-between. One day at a time. 10 to 12 weeks recovery time.
Meanwhile, he’s enjoying watching truly awful movies he has taped on TV and reading on his tablet. He is also watching YouTube videos about all kinds of things. :0) We had a short chat with our son this morning. He researched broken bones and sent my husband two supplements that are supposed to help you heal faster and thoroughly.
I hope that the weather is nice wherever you are today and that you’re enjoying this last day of January.
And now we have begun the part in the healing process – after only ONE WEEK since my husband broke his collarbone – where we ‘discuss’ what he SHOULD and SHOULD NOT be doing –
This morning he was trying to get out of his chair to ‘hold the trash bag’ – a heavy, bulky, full leaf bag- while I was gathering the trash. I had just ordered Amber into her “PLACE” to avoid falling over her as she dashed in front of, around, and behind me, to ‘help’ me. Now it was my husband. I stopped what I was doing, gave him the eagle eye, and said, “PLACE!” to HIM, as well. He started to tell me it was ONLY holding the bag, but shut down mid-sentence. I helped him down into the chair, kissed him, and said, “Maybe in another week.”
We both rested better last night. I think we’re finally getting used to either sleeping in our recliners, or – in my case – going back and forth between my recliner and the couch.
I’m still just getting the minimum done around here – helping my husband, minimal cooking and cleaning, and trying to catch up on sleep. You can tell what it’s like around here when I tell you I’m looking forward to driving the trash down to the bottom of the driveway, putting it – and the trash can out for pickup tomorrow – and getting the mail…
I’m HOPEFUL that the temperature will melt the white stuff on our driveway enough today that we can drive our trash down to leave in the can for pickup. Because of the weather, we’re a week behind, plus we’re due for an ice storm tonight-into-tomorrow, and so will be ICED in, as well as SNOWED in, by tomorrow, at least for a day or so until things melt. Ah, winter. It’s 23 degrees F. and the sun is shining brightly right now.
Actually, we’ve come through all this relatively unscathed. We’ve had power, heat, no water pipes busted, and still have food and other supplies. Our animals are doing well and my husband and I haven’t killed each other yet due to being house-bound. He says the road in front of the house is probably fine. That’s good, except that there is still the question of whether we can get back UP our driveway to the house… Fingers are crossed that we can get the gathered trash down there and in the can this afternoon without falling on our heads so that it can be picked up and taken away whenever.
For some unknown reason, I had a series of nightmares last night. That almost NEVER happens. When I told my husband about it this morning, he said next time to wake him up. (This is another of the many reasons I married him almost 55 years ago.)
eBird
Our birds have been flocking around our feeders on the deck. I’m amazed that they can live through weather like this. We saw a roadrunner in the yard yesterday, running in that distinct manner they have, where they stop, tail up, look around, and then flatten out, tail out straight behind as they streak across the yard a bit, then stop again. I could watch one all day. :0)
I hope that you are staying safe and warm wherever you are today.
There might be a bit of light at tunnel’s end today. We’re forecast to get above freezing this afternoon and the sun is shining. Maybe we’ll start to get some melting today.
The schools are closed again, telling me that the streets in Arkansas aren’t much better than our driveway at this point. I’ve had to ask to reschedule a couple of appointments this week. I hate that.
Though I enjoy staying home, it would be NICE to be able to get our mail, take our trash down, keep appointments, drive to town if we wanted to. I’m feeling very lucky, though, that our water pipes are still doing fine, we still have electricity and heat, and we’re doing fine on food for our animals and ourselves. In case you’re interested, I still have the petition asking that the rest of the winter be canceled and that we move right into spring.
Lowe’s
I worked on a pyrography piece in my art room yesterday. I’m still experimenting on which tips to use, but I made some progress on a small sign that has an image and a quote. I’m still at the stage where I have little clue what I’m doing, but my interest is building as something I do actually works. My little ‘thumb and two finger’ gloves are working marginally. The tool heats up enough to use and then my fingers quickly get uncomfortable. I’m trying to learn to modify my technique so I can work longer and not burn myself. It’s fun.
eBaum’s World
I LOVE the way some peoples’ minds work. I snorted when I found this. I want to meet the people who think this way.
I hope you are somewhere safe and warm and that your weather is good, or will get better soon.
Officially, we got about 2 inches of snow. I say, ‘officially,’ because official statistics usually don’t apply to being on top of our ridge line outside of Greenwood, which is outside of Fort Smith, Arkansas.
However much we got, you can no longer see that we HAVE a concrete pad in front of our porch in the front of our house. You can no longer see that we HAVE a driveway at all. The temperature was 1 degree this morning, according to the local weather office. It’s 8 here now with a wind chill. Even if the sun came out and the temperature went above freezing (not expected until at least Wednesday) our driveway will be the last thing in the city to thaw.
(To the left of the woodpile in this photo is the top of our driveway. 650+ feet down the hill is the street. This is on the north side of our property.)
We are very lucky because our water pipes are still good and haven’t burst. We learned the hard way on that the first winter we were here, with the pipes bursting under the utility room bathroom. We had to have the floor dug up, the pipes repaired, etc. Expensive, well-remembered event.
Now we run a steady stream of water in that bathroom sink. We keep the cabinet doors open and have an electric heater that turns itself on if the temperature goes to a certain level. We have two other bathroom sinks in the house that are in jeopardy and do the cabinet doors and running water thing there, too. Our water bill will be astronomical, but much less expensive than burst pipes.
We have an electric heater in the well house that turns itself on, as well. We noticed a lower water pressure this morning. Usually, I wash my hair in the kitchen sink, with our tankless water heater making the water hot toward the end of my wash. Apparently the water pressure was low enough the tankless wasn’t sensing properly. Anyway, I had a really eye-opening hair wash this morning before the water finally started warming up.
I’m very thankful that we have intact water pipes, running water in the house if we want it. We’re warm and dry. I can complain as I refill the bird feeders on the deck, then come back in to the warm and cozy. Since we’re snowed in until further notice, we’re as well off as anyone could be.
I checked on significant people in my life this morning and all are well. Life is good (but I still have the petition here to sign if you want the rest of the winter scrapped and to move right on to spring.)
Our local weather station in Fort Smith is listing 1 degree now, but OUR thermometers are showing 9, so we’re breaking out the swim suits and are preparing to enjoy the balmy weather.
I feel guilty when I whine, so suffice to say this cold is unusual for Arkansas. We’re dripping water so hopefully our water pipes don’t freeze. With snow predicted to start at noon and continue through tomorrow, my articulate comment is “UGH.”
My husband asked if I would make my hamburger casserole, so I’ll do that today. Unbelievably, our dog, Amber, is still shedding at a fantastic rate, so I’ll put vacuuming the tiled areas on the list for today, as well.
I’m planning to spend part of the day in my art room, experimenting and scheming, if not actually trying to produce something with my new wood-burning (pyrography) tools.
Another thing I was forced to notice, since we’re running water in the bathrooms and keeping the cabinet doors open, is that I need to clean out the under-the-cabinet areas in the two half-baths on our first floor. They are embarrassingly jammed full of ‘stuff’ that I’ve been ignoring for far too long. With the doors open, I can’t ignore them now, so that will go on the list for today, too.
I hope that wherever you are today, you are safe and warm, doing something fun with your day.
Whew! It’s supposed to get above freezing this afternoon, so we’ll hopefully be able to get down our driveway to pick up two days worth of mail and scoot to the local grocery store for goodies before we get snowed in again.
The forecast is for snow starting tomorrow about noon and continuing through Tuesday morning accompanied by bitter cold temperatures for Arkansas throughout the week. The weather people sound really sure this time. With our driveway, we may be snowed in throughout all of next week. We’ll see.
I don’t mind being ‘snowed in’ so much as no one being able to get up here if we need help. The UPS and Fedex people leave our packages at the bottom of our driveway when it’s CLEAR. Emergency vehicles of any kind wouldn’t have a chance.
I have two people who have kindly offered to sign the petition I started to do away with the rest of this winter and move straight into spring. The petition is here, waiting for more signatures. I don’t know how many we would need in order for something to HAPPEN, but I’m ready. :0)
We’re having a quiet day today. I’m hoping to spend time in my art room, playing with my wood burning stuff. I bought two light wood stains and some varnish yesterday in preparation for trying more tips and techniques. Because I have a stubborn streak, I’m sticking to doing things by hand, rather than the laser art I’m seeing on Etsy. There are people offering all kinds of really nice stuff – personalized photos in wood for example – but I’ve always been drawn to things that are handmade, one at a time, each one different.
We’re having a beautiful morning and a really nice day so far. I say, “so far” because the weather folks are telling us all this beauty will end this evening. We’re in for everything, including flying hairballs, starting tonight into tomorrow, with pipe-bursting temperatures following possible severe weather…. Oh, GREAT.
Before I allow myself to play in my art room, my ‘have-to’s are bill paying and checkbook balancing, plus filing and clearing off my desk. Hopefully, I can get that done this morning. Exciting plans, huh. :0)
I wish you a really nice day, and the hope that the weather people’s scary predictions will prove untrue, and that we can just relax.
We got our morning stuff done (gathering and putting trash at the bottom of the driveway for pick up tomorrow, getting mail, replenishing groceries in CASE the weather folks are right about snow tomorrow) are back home now with things put away. We got drenched several times. It seemed to ME that Mother Nature was laughing her head off at us, in that every time we got out of the car, the rain “turned on” – coming down in a whoosh – and then stopped when we were inside, over and over. Anyhow, her reason for the giggles is over now. We’re in for the rest of the day now.
I listed the 7 pairs of wood-burned wooden earrings I made recently on Etsy yesterday. Some are just wood burned. Others are also painted. I’m going to play in my art room this afternoon (I think) and see what else I can come up with. I’m enjoying trying to get the feel of the tool, learning what the different tips can do, and experimenting with creating designs.
Right now I’m fighting on the phone about a messed-up order. Hope your day is now going better than mine. :0)
I wood-burned these earrings yesterday. I’m adding the hardware and adding them to HandmadeHavenByLinda on Etsy today. Then I’m going to watch another video and put my efforts in another direction. From looking at the Etsy site, it looks like most people are doing laser wood-burning, rather than anything by hand. Maybe I should be getting a “message” from this…. :0)
It’s supposed to be an amazing day, weather-wise. 57 degrees for a high this afternoon. Woo HOOOO! I LOVE IT! I’m hoping we JUST get rain tomorrow and Tuesday, when we’re due at the dentist. Fingers remain crossed.
“What a difference a day made, twenty four little hours Brought the sun and the flowers where there use to be rain” (and snow!) ~ song by Jamie Cullum
skiresort.info
We are no longer snowed in! The temperature came up to the low 40s by mid afternoon and turned our ski slope back into our regular steep driveway. Hooraaaaaaay! The next bad weather is forecast for Monday (heavy rain) and then Tuesday morning (when we’re supposed to be driving to Ft. Smith for our dental cleaning appointment) “snow showers will move in for Tuesday. Current accumulation estimates are between 1 to 2 inches of snow by Tuesday evening…..” I hope we can get to the dentist and back up to the house before it gives us a problem.
Pinterest
I did my yoga stretches like a good girl yesterday, put the third star on my calendar for the week, and felt some of the positions were getting a bit easier. I keep reminding myself that Cat Kabira, the wonderful lady in Gentle Yoga DVD series, said that stretching TOWARD the position and breathing into it were as beneficial for us as actually touching the floor when we tried to touch our toes, or…. I actually felt I was making some progress yesterday!
Alamy
SMALL RANT/PET PEEVE – I was trying to come up with Cat’s name on the previous paragraph and my mind was producing a blank, so I tried to look it up. I found “Yoga for the Elderly” or something similar and immediately bristled. I don’t CARE if that DVD is the best thing on the planet. I wouldn’t buy it because of its name. GRRRRR! Same thing as a local clothes store here called “Heifer Boutique.” I’ve probably lost my sense of humor, but even if all the clothes in there fit me like a glove and made me look like Julia Roberts, I wouldn’t go in there. I don’t WANT to buy clothes from a place of that name! END OF RANT.
Lowe’s
I’m going to try to wood burn some wooden earrings in my art room today. I still don’t have a clue what I’m doing, but I’m ready to see if I can make something I like. Wish me luck?
Women’s Health
Shout-out – Michael Remillard, our treasured hair stylist ( 479-357-9305) who is celebrating a birthday today.
We don’t have a large accumulation of snow, but you can’t see where our driveway begins or ends and we’re snowed in. It’s 35 and quite windy. I called, texted, and sent carrier pigeons to let our Lunch Buddies know we couldn’t get there today.
O’Connor Dental Care
The thing I’m most worried about now is our dental appointments Tuesday. They emailed my husband and texted me yesterday, and we both confirmed we were planning to be there Tuesday. Now this. With the forecast for more snow showers, I’m not sure what to do. The dentist charges $150 if you don’t cancel 3 days before. They don’t work today, Sat, or Sun. I have texted them about the problem and we’ll just have to see what happens. We can’t afford to pay for services NOT rendered, but I realize the dentist suffers losses when his patients don’t show up or give him a chance to schedule someone else in our place. Did I tell you I’m not fond of winter?
I just finished getting the makings of beef stew in the crock pot for tonight. We are safe and warm on top of our ridge line, so I have no complaints. Nothing excited planned for the day. Our local schools are open, so the streets must be reasonable, although we can’t get down to the street in front of the house. Maybe it will warm up, or rain will take the snow away….
123RF.com
Laundry, wood-burning, reading, listening to music – NICE day.
It’s wonderful to see my husband excited about getting set up to do something different. He has ordered two kinds of wire for the new MIG welder – one to be used with gas, and the other with electric. We’re going to get CO2 for it at the welding supply place today. He’s watching YouTube videos and dreaming. :0)
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He is also encouraging MY efforts on my new wood burning tool. I’m experimenting with a large piece of scrap wood, trying to use the different nibs, figuring out what to do with them. Jannie at BurnSavvy.com is helping give me confidence to keep experimenting. Here is my latest effort –
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Yesterday was Day Two of doing my old lady yoga stretches. As I expected, it was harder than Day One, dealing with a combination of the mess I am now PLUS my body yelling about the stretches the day before. I went ahead and did the best I could, expecting that TODAY may be a bit easier.
My husband still lives, even after coming in while I was doing my yoga. I was sitting on my mat, legs together stretched out in front of me. I was bent over as far as I could reach, stretching my back deeply, reaching for my toes. My husband asked, “When do you start stretching?” GRRRRRRR! :0(
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I was encouraged by some stats on my blog this morning. I got curious to see how the traffic to my blog had changed since I started it. In 2019 I had 56,306 visitors to CreativeArtworksBlog. In 2023 I had 437,808. That’s really nice. :0)
I put a star on my desk calendar yesterday because I FINALLY did my half hour or so practice of yoga stretches yesterday for the first time in a long time.
My head is so hard that I have to keep proving to myself that I NEED to do these stretches. If I don’t, for some reason I tend to “pull everything in”, hunching my shoulders, compressing all my muscles, trying to make myself into a big ball, I guess. I’m not aware of it while I’m doing it, but the result is lots of stiffness and soreness and feeling-old-ness.
It was difficult yesterday. Every time I started to stretch in any direction, I would get a cramp, having to breathe through it and try to work it out calmly. Then I would continue to stretch as carefully as I could, into the pose. Hopefully it will be a bit easier each day until my body doesn’t think it’s being ‘attacked.’ I’ll try for another star today. :0)
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First attempts with the new wood-burning tool. I’m working my way through all the different nibs, trying to see what each will do, trying to get a feel for what I’m doing. I’m also watching the wonderfully talented lady on YouTube who patiently guides everyone through their first efforts, making you feel that it’s possible you won’t feel so awkward and clumsy if you continue to practice. I’m having a good time now and haven’t burned myself or anything else besides the wood yet. :0)
Today I’m planning to put on my ‘responsible adult’ hat and try to catch up on my computer financial spreadsheets. Several years ago I started these, trying to keep up with our tax records monthly. It really helped. I’ve gotten behind lately, so I’ll try to get November done today, and hopefully go right into December when I finish that.
I hope you’re having a safe, warm, and dry Wednesday.
I just recently found this artist on X (formerly Twitter). I think he’s wonderful.
This is more of his work. I wish him a great 2024 and much success.
We are having a quiet day, and we’re about to fix some lunch. We just gathered our trash and drove it down to the bottom of our driveway for pickup tomorrow. We got our mail and came back up, thoroughly chilled. It’s supposedly 40 outside right now, but it seems much colder. A great day to stay inside.
I’m going to do two things this afternoon –
Thing One – do more experimenting with my wood-burning tool. I’m changing the nib on the tool each time so I can get a feel of what each one does. It’s exciting to be doing something completely new.
Thing Two – I’m going to do at least 30 minutes yoga stretching. Yes. REALLY. I know I often intend to do it, but don’t actually get down on the floor with the mat and DO it. Today I will. REALLY. (I have an encouragement thing going with a much-loved friend. SHE is going to peddle on her exercise thing and I am going to do my yoga stretches. We’ve both been making excuses and are trying to do better.)
“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re Doing Something.” ~ Neil Gaiman, British author
Gathered
I spent some time in my art room yesterday experimenting with my new wood burning tool. I WISH I could do what you see above. So far, MY stuff compares reasonably well with a 4-year-old with crayons, but the images wouldn’t make it to the fridge door, even if you loved me. :0)
Happily, I found a wonderful source of help. A wonderful lady name Jannie Lisonbee has recorded YouTube videos on pyrography that I’m just starting to watch. I watched one yesterday of the 7 things she wished she had known before she started. She also has a website called Burn Savvy.com that shows various nibs and what they’re used for – just what I was looking for! I just signed up for her newsletter and emails. I feel like I won the lottery – well, ALMOST….
Our backyard neighbors didn’t feel obligated to put on a fireworks show to entertain the Lewises at midnight, so we just hugged each other, said “Happy New Year” and went to bed around 12:30.
Today is cool and crisp, nice and sunny.
My husband’s Christmas present was a MIG wire welder. He’s enjoying playing with it, buying stuff to use with it, reading about it in the manual that came with it, and online. He wants to set it up for gas AND electric. He’s found some videos on people making things with it, and so is in “Hog Heaven.”
MY present was my wood-burning tool, and then I ordered some replacement kitchen knives. They are ceramic and called, “Kyocera.” I truly love them and use what I have every day. I’ve had the set for several years, but, sadly, I chipped two. I’m still using them, but I decided that I would really enjoy having ones that weren’t chipped.
My only New Year’s Resolution is to try to give myself a break. One thing in particular is my new ‘habit’ of hitting the backs of my hands on things, causing large bruises. (I’ve TRIED telling my friends that my husband is abusing me, but they don’t believe it. They know I’m just a clutz.) I don’t know I’ve done it until AFTER I’ve clobbered one hand (or both) again. It would be nice to be bruise-free at least every once in a while. :0)
This Calvin & Hobbes piece we made will go up on our mailbox today or tomorrow.
My day is almost gone already! As you can see, I got my hair cut this morning. My husband went with me because he wanted to go to Walmart after. By the time we got home it was almost 1pm.
We ate lunch and took naps (have I told you how much I love having a humongous heat pad in my recliner and being able to sandwich myself between that and my throw or my new quilt and just let myself go?)
It’s a beautiful day today – sunny and 55 degrees right now, although it was really chilly when we left for errands. Our driveway detectors kept going off, but only one of them, over and over, indicating probably an animal, rather than a vehicle. I went out to check and it was several deer! One turned, looked at me for several seconds, then flashed his white tail at me and leaped to the other side of the driveway into the woods. Beautiful!
And now the afternoon is half gone and I’m writing my first blog post of the day!
This is my wood-working set up. I have the Dremel on one side and the wood-burning tool (which basically looks like a soldering iron with some fancy tips) on the other and the experiment scrap board in-between.
I FINALLY got up there yesterday and played with the wood-burning tool a bit. I used some stencils so I would have something to work on. I’m going to find some YouTube videos to watch that I hope will give me a good idea of which tips do what. Meanwhile, I quickly decided that I needed a ‘holder’ for the hot tool. You put it down for various reasons, and I want to be as safe as possible. I came downstairs to see what I could order from Amazon and my husband gave me an extra soldering iron he wasn’t using that will be perfect for my needs. Here it is –
I’m going to see what I can get done otherwise so I can experiment some more in my art room. I’m getting over being intimidated, since I’ve soldered for a long time and didn’t realize how similar the tools are. Making ‘designs’ with it is totally different than soldering, but the feelings of total inadequacy are gone now and I can concentrate on seeing what I can do with it.
I finished getting my Etsy offerings labeled and back on clean shelves. I added the rest of my memory boxes to the site. It’s interesting that this is a work in progress. I’m trying to improve the site, add new things, improve the traffic to the site, and more. It’s a lot of work, but worth it. A customer left a nice review recently and I’m still walking a bit above the ground. :0)
I hope that you’ve either been more productive than I have today or that you’re enjoying yourself immensely.
I’m hoping that someone will show up for Lunch Bunch today. No one has called or texted, saying they won’t be there, so we’ll go and hope for the best. Getting older is sometimes the pits. It’s harder to keep on top of things, remember what day it is and what that means for your plans for the day, remember details, remember to check or use your phone, set timers so you don’t lose track of time doing something else, feeling creaky some mornings, and more.
Lunch Bunch as been celebrated for over 25 years now. The challenges above brought into question whether we would continue trying to meet once a week. We agreed we wanted to try to continue. Here’s hoping someone will be there today.
I have an overflowing set of shelves devoted to things I have listed for sale in my Etsy shop, HandmadeHavenByLinda. This afternoon I’m going to try to reorganize the shelves so that I can find things more quickly. I also want to consolidate space so that I can add some things to the site.
I received the latest paperback J.D. Robb In Death series book two days ago. I finished reading it last night. I’ll have to wait 6 months to a year before the new one, Random in Death – which comes out in hard back in January, will be offered in paperback. I may experience withdrawal. :0)
Spacecraft
I received the two sizes of thin rectangular wooden pieces I ordered to use with my wood burning tool, so I have officially run out of excuses not to go up to my art room and get started. I’m still fighting feelings of intimidation, but am finally getting to the point I feel ridiculous. When I start laughing at myself, it’s time to go try to learn something new.
I hope that this is a good day for you, that you stay warm and dry, and that you inject some fun into your day.
My hopes have been dashed once again because I didn’t win the lottery last night. I could have figured out a lot of good things to do with whatever would be left of the $700 million prize after taxes….
We’re leaving to go for my husband’s haircut and to get the mail in a minute. That’s the excitement for the day. Be still, my beating heart. :0)
Actually, I AM thinking seriously of trying to overcome my intimidation over experimenting with wood-burning. All is set up upstairs. My drafting table is cleaned off. My protection gear is right there. Some wood scrap is ready, plus some blank plaques we made a long time ago. I’m supposed to get some thin wood rectangles in two sizes today, I think. I’m out of excuses, so….
I received the latest paperback in the J.D. Robb In Death series yesterday and dove right in. It’s like coming home. I finished re-reading all 56 books in the series just recently in preparation for the new addition. Then, when I finish, I’ll probably have to wait 6 months to a year for the newest – that is released in hard back in January – to be released in paperback. Did I tell you that I love this series? :0)
We did NOT get ‘rain and snow showers’ over the past two days, and for that I’m very grateful. I would be happy with ONE pretty snow that leaves immediately and call that a great winter.
We are home from running errands, since we did NOT get the rain and snow showers that were forecast. We used the opportunity to get the mail, drag our trash can back up where it lives, buy $10 worth of lottery tickets (:0) and replenish our groceries. We’re about to eat some lunch.
We have discovered a wonderful thing at the grocery deli. They call them ‘bowls.’ There’s a mashed potato bowl and a mac and cheese bowl. Both are topped with chicken tenders and cheese. My husband prefers the mashed potatoes and I prefer the mac and cheese. We brought those home to enjoy.
The sun is shining right now, though there is still an impressive bank of clouds. I don’t who will be correct in the weather forecasting wars. I really hope my computer, which didn’t mention any precipitation at all, is the one who’s right.
I hope you’re having a wonderful day. I’ll write more later.
I’m having a hard time getting my act together this morning. I have no excuse. I sat down at my computer with a cup of coffee and POOF! the morning is almost completely gone and I haven’t written a thing on the blog yet!
I’m trying to remember that our trash day has been delayed one day due to the holiday and that we’re supposed to gather trash TODAY and put it at the bottom of our driveway for pickup tomorrow.
I’m delighted that the weather forecast changed. We did NOT get the snow showers predicted for last night. Now they are predicted for TONIGHT. The sun is shining brightly and it looks beautiful outside. I’m hoping it will get warm enough in the afternoons today and tomorrow that any snow showers will melt away and be a fond memory almost immediately.
I hope you had a nice Christmas. Some compassionate people wrote beautiful thoughts remembering that there are lots of people who have a hard time during holidays. I hope they made it through and that the coming year is a better one for them. We’re all in this together.
It’s rainy here today. I’m glad to say that because the temperature is a balmy 61, so it’s JUST rain. Starting tomorrow our highs will be in the 40s or maybe to 50, but the lows will be below freezing. I’m really trying to get ready, but I DON’T want it.
I’m trying to avoid or ignore a lot these days. Thankfully, I have a lot to help me –
I find things for, and write my blog
I listen to lots of music
I read a lot
I play in my art room
I try to learn new things, like the glass etching lately and the coming (I hope) work with wood with my Dremel tool and my new wood-burning tool.
I do crossword puzzles on the computer
I work outside when Mother Nature is feeling cooperative
I watch demonstrations on YouTube
I find and try new recipes
I dream about my next garden
I play with our animals
I sleep in my recliner with our cat in my lap
I try to keep Amber (our 95 pound yellow lab) OFF of my lap!
This should be my new photo now. I avoid what I can, stick my head in the sand or ignore things, all in a probably impossible attempt to retain what is left of my sanity. “The world is too much with us…” ~ William Wordsworth.
May today and tomorrow remind us how much we have and how important it is to cherish those we love and do what we can to make things better.
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance - aka “Lunch Bunch”
We plan to have a gift exchange today at Lunch Bunch. I’ve told you that it’s iffy as to whether we continue to try to meet or not, due to health and other issues. That’s really hard after over 25 years, so this will be a bittersweet gathering today. I’m hoping to get some pics on my phone. Right now it’s drizzly, but not actively raining. I hope that will hold until we get home from errands after lunch.
I finally got my drafting table cleaned off yesterday and have it set up now so I can start experimenting with my Dremel and my new wood-burning tool. I have a big piece of scrap wood to play with, my protection gear, and lots of space. I found some wooden plaques my husband and I cut out years ago just waiting. I also have wooden earring blanks, plus I ordered some thin rectangular pieces of wood on which I hope to do signs and wall art. All I need to do now is 1) find the time, and 2) overcome feeling intimidated.
I got really NICE feedback yesterday from a lady who bought a painted vase for her mom for Christmas. I’m walking about 3 inches above the ground from her kind words. :0)
After looking at the weather forecast for the next 10 days, it looks like Mother Nature is planning to officially change to winter, too. The highs will be in the 40s and the lows in the 20s – quite a change. Time to break out the heavier clothes!
My guy, Huntley, won on The Voice!!!! My personal favorite of his music so far is his blind audition, “She Talks to Angels.” I’m thrilled for him. I hope he has a long and happy career.
Tofros.com – Pexels
I’m going to hopefully deliver two gifts to friends today, catching up with how they’re doing for a few minutes. Life gets in the way of checking in and spending time the way I would like, so the times together are even more precious.
I was a good girl yesterday, doing the vacuuming and the laundry. Today I’m planning to continue trying to clean off my drafting table in my art room. Every time I even THINK about getting up there, something else comes up and snafus my efforts.
I hope you are feeling great, and have a productive, happy day today.
“Tuesday, Tuesday” just doesn’t have the cache’ of “Monday, Monday” by the Mamas & the Papas, does it.
My husband told me this morning that when he went out to feed Abby, our cat, in the garage this morning, a black cat went running out. So now we have a cat who is probably eating OUR cat’s food, plus a possum, who is eating at least what he can get of the bird seed we keep in there…. We tried closing up the cat door, and our cat expressed her displeasure by leaving ‘treasures’ all over the garage floor, so that is not an option. A continuing challenge…
The only excitement around here today is that my husband has an eye exam. Otherwise, I’m still trying to get my drafting table in the art room cleared off so I can experiment with my Dremel and a new wood burning tool.
The days are whizzing past my head, particularly lately, so I seem to only be getting the most pressing things done. Today it’s laundry, plus vacuuming the first floor tiles (pantry, kitchen, dining area, utility room, and two half-baths.)
I finally received my protection stuff – goggles, finger protectors, and a mask – yesterday. I’ll work on clearing off my drafting table so I can get set up for experimenting with my new Dremel etcher and my new wood burning tool!
In the meantime, I’ve sold several things from my Etsy site in the past week or so. (I’ve been doing a total rework of my site, trying to make it look as nice as I can, changing my pricing, rearranging my items, adding more, etc.) I don’t know if it’s just coincidence or if more people are able to find my site. Whatever it is, it’s a lot of fun to be filling sales. :0)
I feel as if I just woke up, but the morning is half gone already! I’ll stop with the computer stuff after this for awhile, get our errands and chores for the day done, and then come back.
I don’t know who the artist is, but I think this elephant is wonderful.
Lunch Bunch was fun yesterday. Kay and Bud were there, plus their neighbor, Cheryl. We had a good time. I reminded Kay about our gift exchange next Friday, but she acted as though we hadn’t already talked about it and agreed. Our waitress asked me as we left. I told her that I had reminded Kay and would remind Patty and Linda at the first of the week, but that I wasn’t sure of anything anymore…
I didn’t receive my wood burning tool protection stuff I ordered yesterday. Maybe today.
‘Something’ other than birds has been eating our birdseed lately. Last night we caught a possum inside the garage in our humane cage. My husband will take care of this later. This is one thing I’m happy I don’t have to do. We relocate raccoons, but not possums.
Women’s Health
Shout-Out to Marsha, MaryLou, and Bill who are all on the wrong side of Mother Nature’s temper this weekend. I hope you all come through the coming bad weather healthy and happy.
Shout-Out to Cathy, who has health issues she is handling with much more grace than I would. I wish you lots of good rest, feeling better, and good results.
We’re scheduled to meet our friends for Lunch Bunch today. I’m really hoping we have people show up. If not, we’ll eat somewhere and then do our grocery shopping before the rain is supposed to start this afternoon. We’re in for a couple rainy days if the forecast is correct.
I’m supposed to get the wood burning equipment I ordered today in the mail. I got the tool yesterday, and I’m supposed to get the goggles, mask, and finger protectors today. I’ll at least work on clearing up my drafting table today in preparation for trying to use both the Dremel etcher and the wood burning tool very soon. It looks a bit like a bomb exploded after my work on the glassware lately.
My hair is blowing time is moving so fast! We just started December and it’s half over. I struggle to believe it. I remember counting the days until Christmas as a child and it seemed the day would NEVER come.
I have really happy memories of Christmases past. One particular memory this morning is our family walking to a neighbor’s house singing Christmas carols. (Our neighborhood was two mile-long streets in Tulsa with each house on an acre and a half – 24th Street and 25th Place between Sheridan and Memorial for those of you who might be familiar with Tulsa, Oklahoma.) We would ask the people who came to the door to join us, and would then all walk to the next house, singing. By the time we finished, frozen and smiling, we had quite a group of people. We would gather at our house for hot chocolate for those who wanted it, and alcohol for the adults who wanted, all warming up around our fireplace in the living room. Happy times.
creativeartworksblog 