Category Archives: Thoughts on a ________

October 10, 2023 · 9:07 am

Tuesday 10-10-2023

facebook.com

We’re having a pretty morning here, 59 and sunny, with a high of 86 predicted for this afternoon. This old lady is still having to baby her back with Tylenol, a heating pad in my chair, and yoga stretching in the afternoons after pulling weeds over the weekend. Getting old is the pits.

Christmas Cards Made-to-Order Hand-Painted – Pkg of 6 cards – “O Christmas Tree 2” – HandmadeHavenByLinda on Etsy $38.00 with FREE SHIPPING to the contiguous U.S. – This is DAY 2 of the Etsy-wide sale to kick off the holidays, where you get $10 off when you spend $40. You can do this over and over through tomorrow and save the $10 each time.

Wall Here

I’m finally getting used to my ‘intermittent fasting’ from 8pm till noon the next day. I’m watching my portions at lunch and dinner and snacking very carefully in-between. I’m doing my yoga stretching each afternoon and working outside (when my body isn’t yelling at me) and generally trying to move more. My eyeballs are floating because I’m trying to drink a glass of water in-between cups of coffee. I’m eating more fiber, fruit, and veggies. It’s all beginning to come together and my stomach isn’t thinking that my throat has been cut. I’m not feeling as if I’m starving to death anymore. Hoping that all this results in the scales becoming less snarky. It would be really lovely for the scales to say something like, “Way to go,” “You go, girl!” “Making progress!” or something similar….

I’m having one of those days where I had to look at my watch to figure out what day it is. Hopefully, I’ll get my head on straight and will have a reasonably productive day. I wish YOU a wonderful one. :0)

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October 9, 2023 · 9:23 am

Columbus Day 10-9-2023

Medina County Veterans Service

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Women’s Health

Shout-out to Cathy, who is having a scan today that hopefully will point the way to feeling good again.

Women’s Health

Shout-out to Carla, who is trying, with her son, to get a car ready for a race this month!

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Today is the first day of the 3-day special sale at Etsy, where you get $10 off your purchase of $40 or more anywhere on Etsy. You can use the code provided as many times as you want today through Wednesday. Great opportunity to buy things for the holidays.

Notecard package – 5 different hand painted designs on note cards and envelopes – “Thumbelina” – $19.95 with FREE SHIPPING to the contiguous U.S. HandmadeHavenByLinda on Etsy

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Erika Kocsi Watercolors – @kocsi_erika on X

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October 8, 2023 · 1:14 pm

This and That

The Irish Times

I just LOVE this guy. He’s so ugly he’s beautiful. :0)

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Plaque – Heart-Shaped Solid Wood – “Love” – $41.99 – ready to hang – 10″ wide x 9″ tall. FREE SHIPPING to the contiguous U.S. HandmadeHavenbyLinda on Etsy – Etsy is having a special sale starting tomorrow, October 9th and running through Wednesday, October 11th, where you’ll save $10 when your purchase is $40 or more – automatically. And you can do this over and over for the 3 days. GREAT time to get things for the holidays. Sale is website-wide.

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pexels

I’m about to go do a session of slow, stretching, relaxing yoga to see if I can get my poor body to stop complaining. I’ll plan to do one session now, and another right before dinner. It would be fun if Amber wanted to practice with me, but if she notices I’m down on the floor, she usually wants to come snuffle me, and then try to SIT on me…

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I hope you’re having a great Sunday.

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October 6, 2023 · 9:13 am

Happy Fall, Y’All!

ASA Builders Supply

I know ‘autumn’ began on the 23rd of September, but since Arkansas has been experiencing record-breaking heat for the month, it really didn’t SEEM like it. Just an abstract ‘wished-for’ concept.

Recently we got rain and a cool front that appreciably lessened the high temperatures. This afternoon we’re due for another cool front (without the rain this time) that will take the temperatures down even farther. HOORAY! The high will be in the low 80s today and I think in the high 60s tomorrow. Woo HOOOO! It’ll be NICE when I’m trying to work outside. I can’t wait!!

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SeniorGif.com

We have Lunch Bunch today. No one has contacted me yet, so I’m hopeful that SOMEONE will be there to eat with us. If not, we’ll just enjoy some lunch and do our errands.

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Makoto Shinkai Potato – Tenor

I’m planning to do a couple of weeding sessions on the area to the side of our shop and in front of our garden this afternoon. I’m making progress, but it’s slow.

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Delish

I’ll also get the makings of chili in the crock pot when we get back from Lunch Bunch. Not sure what else is in store, but I hope the weather where you are is nice and that you have a wonderful Friday.

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October 5, 2023 · 9:46 am

Thursday 10-5-2023

Crocheted By Ana – Etsy UK

This little girl and her costume simply melted me into a puddle.

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TIME for Kids

It rained here, but not until last night. The forecasts, depending on which ones you chose, said the rain would begin at 8am yesterday morning, or noon, or after sunset. The after-sunset group won the forecast battle, but the thunderstorms they were talking about didn’t materialize here. The temperature decreased and we got some civilized rain with a few rumblings. NICE. It’s 69 here now, and is due to get to 81 this afternoon. This is a nice relief after all the super-hot-for-September-and-October weather we’ve been having. We’ve been breaking records daily and I’m glad to stop.

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@Britton65Sam on X – hahahahahahahaahah

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iStock-TanglewoodMoms

I’m going to try to get up to my art room today to see what havoc I can wreak. I finally have a day where it’s too wet to work outside and I just finished vacuuming the first floor tiles, so maybe I can play a bit. :0)

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I hope you have a fun Thursday.

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October 4, 2023 · 10:39 am

Wednesday 10-4-2023

We just got our mail and put up this mailbox decoration of Catbert, the evil HR director in the Dilbert cartoon series. I was planning to put up our Jack-0-Lantern, but my husband wanted this one. I forgot to take my phone, so I’ll have to get a pic of the front the next time we go out.

Unsplash

We’re due for some heavy thunderstorms today and tomorrow along with cool fronts that will take the highs into the 70s and 80s. The rain is supposed to start around noon. I’M READY! Woo HOOOO!

Amber is acting much more like herself now, although she is still over-exuberant at times. I went out with her this morning, just planning to walk around with her a bit. I didn’t put her on her leash. She immediately went to a spot in the yard, put her nose down, held the pose a few seconds, then started digging furiously, having probably found a mole, vole, or other ‘ole.’ I stopped her quickly and brought her back in. She seems to be healing well now. She is still on antibiotics and eye cream and I’m washing her wounds carefully with soap and water daily.

“No Rain, no flowers” 8×10 Hand-Painted Inspirational Sign on hard board – $16.95 with FREE SHIPPING to the contiguous U.S. – HandmadeHavenByLinda on Etsy

I hope this Wednesday is a good one for you.

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October 3, 2023 · 9:18 am

Tuesday Thoughts 10-3-2023

We’ll get our Jack-o-Lantern mailbox decoration up this week. We have my husband’s haircut and a couple of errands, but otherwise, a quiet day.

We took Amber back to the vet yesterday. If the cone was OFF, she messed with the stitches on her arm. If it was ON, it aggravated the mass in her neck. Her neck started to bleed pretty heavily yesterday and the stitches on her arm were in shreds. The vet looked her over, decided she was healing well. The blood was draining from the abscess in her neck. End result – the cone is OFF. She is free to kick and chew whatever parts she wants. The draining has stopped for now. We are still giving her antibiotics, applying eye cream, and cleaning the wounds daily.

Unsplash

I’m doing several weeding sessions each day, trying to clear the area to the side of the shop that is between our house and the garden. There are a gazillion or so ‘weed trees’ that are too much for the weed whacker. I’m pulling them out, 15 minutes or so at a time, until I get to the place I can cut the rest down with the weed eater. When I finish THAT, my plan is to spray the whole area with KillzAll. There is no reason for grass or weeds there. There is some gravel underneath. So this is a multi-layer project I’ll do a bit at a time.

We’re supposed to get a cool front and rain tomorrow and Thursday, so I’ll redouble my efforts on the weed trees today.

I hope that you have a really nice day.

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October 1, 2023 · 10:02 am

One Thing Leads to Another

Our driveway detector went off while I was at the computer. We have TWO detectors. When one goes off, it’s probably a deer in the driveway or another critter. When one goes off followed quickly by the second, a vehicle is on its way up.

I got up to see if it was, in fact, a deer because the last few mornings, I’ve been treated to quite a view of them. Some run right off, but other stop and stare at me as I’m staring at them. It’s wonderful.

This morning I didn’t see anything, but on the way back to the house, noticed my elephant ears needed a bit of cleaning up. I took these pics –

It’s still a bit misty this morning, but this group of elephant ears is blooming the best I can remember. The leaves are way taller than I am. That’s really appreciated this year because my garden was essentially a bust due to the wonky weather we had. It’s good to know that some things really enjoy the highs and lows we’ve had, the storms, etc., and thrive anyway.

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September 28, 2023 · 9:04 am

Thursday 9-28-2023

After about 15 minutes in the new soft neck-pillow-type cone that she liked much better, Amber was able to get to the stitches in her arm and pulled one out, so she is back in the stiff plastic and will have to learn to live with it until she is healed. This morning she’s kind of ‘resigned’ to it. I don’t feel bad – much. I tried to do a good thing for her and she rewarded me by doing the one thing she shouldn’t. Her good healing is much more important than her temporary comfort to me. She is asleep on the floor beside me as I type now.

I am more than ready for my massage this morning. I leave in about half an hour. I’m hoping Lynn can work a miracle once again and get me to be able to relax. I feel like a tight pretzel right now.

sent by my friend Marsha

Have a great day!

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September 27, 2023 · 10:52 am

Wednesday 9-27-2023

myimagine.space

I’m about to drive down to get our mail. I just got notification that the soft neck-pillow-type soft dog cone I ordered for Amber is in our mailbox! I’m really glad, in that ‘I’ might live through this, too! Amber ran into me just right with the plastic cone this morning. It’s amazing how much it hurt, and I have an impressive bruise on my thigh now.

Amber is getting better daily. We have an appointment for follow-up on October 11th, where we’ll reassess everything, but I’m hopeful the worst is behind us.

We have no big plans for the day. Our weather is nice. We have the doors open and the ceiling fans on. NICE!

Enjoy your day!

UPDATE –

Amber with the soft, neck-pillow type cone. She seems MUCH happier, and so are we!

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September 24, 2023 · 10:03 am

Sunday Thoughts 9-24-2023

Ales Krivec – Unsplash

The view out our back door looks much like this today. 75 degrees with 91% humidity. UGH. The valley has ‘cotton’ threaded through the valleys. Surreal. The weather folks can’t decide if we’ll get rain or not. Their wise forecast is ‘Maybe.’ :0)

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The steroid shot and eye cream the vet gave Amber yesterday allowed her to calm down and sleep well. She ate with appetite and was her usual barky-take-the-world-by-storm self as I let her out this morning. She was 97 lbs at the vet’s office yesterday, and almost pulled my husband down while we were trying to get her into the office and then into a room to be seen.

We take her tomorrow morning 1st thing for the surgery to remove the knot from her leg and the fine needle aspiration of the lump in her neck. We’ll deal with the diagnosis when it comes in. The big thing RIGHT NOW is to remember to put her food bowl somewhere weird tonight after dinner so that my husband doesn’t feed her automatically in the morning before he’s fully awake. I’ll also try to get him to wear his sneakers, rather than his sandals, so that he has a bit of traction on dealing with Amber at the vet’s.

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I made a bit of progress yesterday on the glassware I’m trying to etch for my friends. Soon I’ll try to figure out more details. I’m doing the free-form etching now, and of course it looks very different from the cream-with-stencils part I’ve already done. I’m trying to decide if I want to leave the cream etching as it is or try to outline the designs with the engraving pen. Then there’s the question of whether to leave them as they are at that point or use some glass paint on them. So many decisions on a project I don’t know will ‘work…’

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Women’s Health

Shout-out to Cathy, who has finished her radiation and chemo! She sees her doc Wednesday, and meanwhile is resting and trying to eat well and regain strength. Sending lots of gentle, heartfelt hugs your way today, Girl!

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Champagne Flutes “Copper Flowers” One-of-a-kind, hand-painted pair – $41.99 with FREE SHIPPING to the contiguous U.S. HandmadeHavenByLinda on Etsy

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And in the “Awwww – Isn’t she cute” category –

I made the first biscuits of my life yesterday! I used a recipe I found on YouTube, threw caution and intimidation to the winds and tried it. The best part is that my husband said, “These are good. I want to eat a couple tomorrow with butter and jelly.” They LOOKED right. They were edible. I DID IT! I know it isn’t cute anymore that I’ve found something ELSE I’ve never done and might suck at, but I’m patting myself on the back this morning as I type this. Can you see me grinning?

BoredPanda.com

Happy Sunday!

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September 22, 2023 · 9:22 am

Puppy vs Rain

Pinterest

We’ll have a rainy drive to Lunch Bunch this morning. I haven’t heard from anybody, but these days that doesn’t mean anything.

Gif-King

I would text, but only one of my friends HAS a text ability. I would call, but no one answers their phone anymore. I would leave a message, but one has a message saying their box is full and the other says she doesn’t get the message… Getting old has its challenges. We’ll see if anyone else is there, getting our lunch before coming home.

Britannica

My sloth imitation is getting super-good lately. My nails aren’t nearly as long, but I have the laziness down pat. :0) Yesterday I DID vacuum the first floor tiles, but only because the white hairballs were grabbing at our legs as we walked by. I’m doing laundry this morning, but for some reason my get-up-and-go has gotten up and gone.

I AM doing some etching on the gift glassware – a bit each day. I’m really not sure I’ll end up with something I want to give my friends or not.

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September 21, 2023 · 10:34 am

Thursday 9-21-2023

brendapokornymosaics.com

Isn’t this stunning?

For some reason, I have to keep checking my watch to confirm what day it is. It seems like Saturday. I don’t know why.

Frontier Waste Solutions

When it IS Saturday, we have a ‘date’ with some dumpsters at the Sebastian County Road Department, where we can take the stuff we’ve been wanting to get rid of (with some restrictions, of course) between 7am and 2pm. HOORAY!

We’re having a beautiful day today, sunny and 76 degrees.

These light-weight hand-painted wooden teardrop-shaped 2″ dangle earrings will help you celebrate fall in comfort and style. $13.85 with FREE SHIPPING to the contiguous U.S. HandmadeHavenByLinda on Etsy

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September 20, 2023 · 10:49 am

Rainy Wednesday 9-20-2023

“Frog Rain” –Displate-prints on metal

My computer says it’s 68 right now, but our thermometers say, “60”. Whatever the temperature, it feels a bit cool and is rainy. We’re grateful to have a warm, dry house and no have-to errands today.

I just added two new signs I painted to my Etsy site –

I’m working very slowly and carefully, trying to add my own free-form engraving/etching to the glassware I put chemical etching designs on for my friends. I have no idea if this will turn out well enough for me to give to them, or I’ll end up pitching them and starting something else. I’m having a good time trying, though it’s a bit stressful and I’m having to do just a little bit at a time.

I hope that this rainy Wednesday is a nice one for you and that you are able to find something enjoyable to do with at least part of the day.

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September 19, 2023 · 9:36 am

Tuesday 9-19-2023

Amigurumi Rat-cottontailandwhiskers.com

I’m going to check out more of this company’s stuff and I’ll share it with you. I’m not big on ‘rats,’ but this one made my heart melt.

Today is the wonderful day that we’re going to drive over the new bridge on the ‘old’ shorter way to town. I’ll try to stop and get some pictures to share with you. I think we only get to enjoy this for a couple of months because the paper said they were starting the bypass in November, and the route we take to town goes through the main intersection they will be tearing up.

Play Kettering

I finally got time in my art room yesterday. I started doing some etching on the glassware I’m trying to do for my friends, plus I started two new signs. I plan to do more up there today.

I’ll see if there is a quick project I can do outside, too. Starting this evening, we’re supposed to have a rainy week, so it looks like time outside will be limited.

I hope that you are able to make this a good day.

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September 18, 2023 · 9:50 am

It’s Monday Again 9-18-2023

Pinterest

I love the color of this one, plus the 3-D-ness of it. The creative use of paper adds texture, too. Just love it.

It’s deliciously cool here this morning. It’s supposed to get a bit warm this afternoon and then we have good chances for rain the rest of the week. I’ll take it! My husband mowed the lawn, so it looks like someone cares at the Lewis place. I may do some weed whacking later today to trim up what he did.

I was remarkably lazy yesterday – even for me. I didn’t do anything on my list. I enjoyed reading and listening to music, writing blog posts, and looking for new, interesting stuff to share. I posted that beautiful video by Mark Gray yesterday, showing the water and waves at eye level, with the wonderful sound. I must have enjoyed that 10 times during the day.

We’ll gather our trash and take it down in a bit, get our mail. I don’t know if we’ll go to town or not. Can you tell my laziness has spilled into today? :0) As much as I love being able to point to something and think, “I did that today,” I’m beginning to love getting comfortable, stretching out, and doing nothing every once in a while. I think that’s equally good for my peace of mind these days.

Homes Alive Pets Blog

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September 17, 2023 · 10:22 am

Sunday 9-17-2023

Demented Stitches on Etsy

I’m feeling pretty good about the state of the yard, though that project is never ‘finished.’ There is nothing out there screaming loudly at me now, so I might spend part of the afternoon in my art room today without guilt.

The Hillybilly Kitchen on YouTube

There’s another bread recipe for sloths like me (:0) ) that I would like to try…

The price of the #56 (Encore in Death) paperback finally got reasonable enough for me, so I bought it. According to Amazon, it might actually be sitting in my mailbox right now. I have preordered Payback in Death, the paperback of it due to be released in December of this year. #58 – Random in Death will be out in hardback in January of 2024. Because of all this happy news, I’m re-reading the series, fully immersed in Eve Dallas’ world of murder, wonderful characters with complex relationships, courage and more. I’m re-reading Loyalty in Death, #9, right now.

Tenor

Our weather has been so beautiful lately it’s hard to believe. I’m really soaking it up, trying to get outside to at least smile at it, if not work out there. Today it’s supposed to get to 89, but very low humidity, so it’s essentially perfect. Can’t celebrate enough!

Happy day to you!

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September 16, 2023 · 9:24 am

Good Morning! 9-16-2023

Mark Gray – @GrayMarker99 on X

I had to discipline myself in order not to drool all over this exquisite, gloriously purple photograph by Mark Gray. I think he said these flowers were ‘lupines.’ I’ll have to research to see if I can get some here and try to grow them. I think they’re spectacular. :0)

I hope you’re having a nice morning. It’s wonderful here, cloudy and 69 right now. We’re supposed to have a high this afternoon of 84 with low humidity. It’s like we’ve gone to a different planet. I LOVE IT !

I got started cleaning out the deck planters yesterday afternoon. There are 11 planters out there, I think. I have the 4 larger ones left to do today. I’ll share pics if I finish.

Lunch Bunch was fun yesterday, although it was just Bud, Kay, my husband and me. Bud is the newest addition to Lunch Bunch. He’s Kay’s husband, and until recently has worked every day. This might not sound unusual, but he’s in his mid 80’s, I think, and he still runs a backhoe and other really big equipment, a dying art. He is finally just working as backup when they can’t get other skilled people. I’m delighted, because I’ve gotten a chance to get to know him a bit. He has a really great sense of humor and regularly has me exploding with laughter as he surprises me once again, eyes twinkling.

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September 15, 2023 · 9:58 am

Friday 9-15-2023

University of Westminster

“Rosh Hashanah, meaning “head of the year” in Hebrew, is the celebration of the Jewish New Year. During Rosh Hashanah, Jewish people around the world ask God for forgiveness for mistakes they’ve made over the past year and remind themselves not to repeat those mistakes in the coming year.”

I wish you a happy and safe new year.

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@PaulMillerArt On X – I thought this was a photo when I first saw it. An excellent photo. And then I discovered it WASN’T a photo! I think this is truly amazing art work. I will look to see if I can find and show you more.

USAGIF.com

We leave for Lunch Bunch in a bit. I’m hoping that Kay and Bud’s daughter, LaDonna, will be visiting from Albuquerque. She’s always busily doing something new, so it’s really interesting to talk with her. We don’t have any errands today, except for getting our mail. My husband will probably insist that we visit our nearly-finished new bridge so that he can gripe that it’s not open yet. :0)

The weather is supposed to be nice, so I might work outside this afternoon. I haven’t been able to get upstairs to play in my art room this week. Something else has come up each day, sucking the time out of the day, so it would be great if I could get up there. We’ll see.

Wall Hanging – 9×12 “I’m Ready” – “Living with Gusto” Sign Series – $17.95 with FREE SHIPPING to the contiguous U.S.

HandmadeHavenbyLinda on Etsy

I hope you’re having a happy day.

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September 14, 2023 · 9:40 am

Thursday 9-14-2023

YouTube.com

I would LOVE to have this in my yard. If we DID try to do something like this, it would have to be created as a stand-alone wooden piece of art. We don’t have a fence at all. It’s wonderful, though, isn’t it?

Women’s Health

Shout-out to Cathy – and others who need it today –

As I type, it’s rainy and 67 degrees. I don’t know whether things will dry out enough for me to weed today or not.

Since I can use as much motivation to lose the lard as I can amass, I dug out an old NutriSystem bear I earned years ago in order to mark my newest efforts. I’m monitoring my eating (watching it like a hawk), not eating between meals and being mindful to get some kind of exercise in daily, drinking glasses of water between cups of coffee and weighing each morning to keep my goal in the forefront of my mind (wherever that is :0) ) I’m hoping it will continue to all work together to steadily shed my excess lardage over time. I don’t really care how long it takes, as long as I’m moving toward my goal in a mindful way. I’m down 11.4 lbs as of this morning. My next ‘eye-on-the-prize’ goal is 15 lbs, and I can look forward to digging out another bear eventually.

The Gardner School

If it turns out to be too wet outside to weed, I’ll plan on spending time upstairs in my art room.

I hope you have a nice day planned, or that you get some happy surprises that make you grin from ear to ear today.

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September 13, 2023 · 2:52 pm

More Thoughts Now I’m Awake

@TaoGardening on X

I’m drooling over these flowers and photo. Exquisite!

We had a good trip to town, although my husband was kind of oblivious to a lot of what was going on around him. As is usual, when I want a quick trip to Walmart, he’s in the mood to dawdle, looking at TVs we’re not going to buy, albums and DVDs he looks carefully at (every week) and then decides they’re too expensive, etc. We did manage to help a man whose car wouldn’t start in the parking lot before we left. He just needed a battery charger boost, so it was easy.

On the way home he turned into Sonic. Apparently, he hasn’t noticed that I’m watching every bite, not eating anything in-between meals or before bed, and was surprised that I didn’t ‘want’ a chocolate shake. (I’m down 11 pounds even as of this morning). Anyway, I gnashed my teeth a bit while he got a large banana shake that he’s not supposed to have due to his diabetes.

The barricades were still up on the road that goes to town, but he was adamant that they HAD to be finished with the bridge. When we got there, it was like it was the last time we checked – looking pretty finished, but barricades still up and big equipment still there. He was beyond aggravated.

Old Mission Gazette

The past two or three days our driveway detector toward the bottom of the drive keeps going off over and over. It means that it ISN’T a vehicle, but we haven’t been sure what it IS. I actually saw two or three deer when I went outside last evening, and again this morning. They were just standing in the driveway and looked at me as if I were the interloper. (I guess I AM, from their point of view.)

It occurred to me when I was more awake that – regarding my husband’s prescription –

  • Our local Walgreens has shut down its pharmacy
  • we would have to drive to Ft. Smith to get refills.
  • I have now written our doctor, asking her to send the prescription to Humana so that it can be automatically mailed to us, so hopefully this is another challenge solved.

I’m getting ready to go out and tackle some of the weeds in the trio of brick planters across the yard. Pics later.

Hope you’re having a good day.

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September 13, 2023 · 9:25 am

Hump Day 9-13-2023

@Ariaa Jaeger on X

We’re enjoying a cool front from Canada for a few days and I’m really happy about it. We got a good rain yesterday. It’s really nice and 69 right now, with a high of 82 forecast. I’LL TAKE IT! :0)

We’re leaving in a bit for some errands. The rest of the day is free, I think.

Wow. I feel as if I just went through a time-warp. I called the number of our local pharmacy to renew a prescription for my husband. I got Walgreens, instead. I thought I had gone nuts and dialed the wrong number. It went through to Walgreens again. The lady said our pharmacist was retiring and had sent our prescriptions to Walgreens. The end result is that I will get a text on my phone when the new prescription is ready. I’m not awake enough for changes like this.

Today’s outside project is weeding our trio of brick planters that run between our front yard and our driveway. I’ll tackle that when we get home.

I hope you have a happy Wednesday.

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September 12, 2023 · 9:53 am

Tuesday Thoughts 9-12-2023

Women’s Health

Shout-out to Cathy, who MAY be undergoing her last week of radiation and chemo! Decisions to be made, but fingers crossed that the very best treatment for you will be decided. My heart is with you today, Cathy.

Empowered Parents

My computer says it’s 67 degrees this morning! The high is supposed to be 77 this afternoon and it’s raining! Woo HOOOO! We have the doors open and the ceiling fans on, airing things out and enjoying the deliciously cool breeze. I love it. :0)

Giphy

PLUS – since it’s raining, I’ll plan to do a session of yoga this afternoon – rather than weeding more flower planters – as my exercise for the day.

I think I told you I was having trouble getting meds for our dog, Amber, online, due to a new requirement that the online store contact your vet to okay the prescription. I wrote to our vet, explaining that we are on a fixed income and need to watch our pennies, and that I wanted to do what was right for Amber, but couldn’t afford to pay $40 more for the prescription. My vet’s office has now offered to match the online price for us. There are still good people in the world. :0)

Cooking at Pam’s Place –

I tried this yesterday afternoon. No yeast, no kneading, no rise time. And it was good! Even my husband said, “This is pretty good” – a HUGE compliment. I’m going to use some of it tonight to make us some grilled cheese and ham sandwiches and we’ll have some soup with it. YUM! A real “celebrate the rain and cool” dinner!

Enjoy your Tuesday.

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September 11, 2023 · 9:45 am

Other Thoughts on Monday 9-11-2023

Phyllis Harris

I love Phyllis Harris’ work. She has several books and coloring books on Amazon. :0)

STUPID MOVE OF THE DAY –

I won this contest hands down (pun intended) yesterday. I needed to open a box of baking soda in order to pour it into an over-center container I use. I was using the scissors to open the top more and ‘suddenly’ the handles of the scissors snapped shut, pinching my hand just below my thumb. It happened really fast, hurt like crazy, and had me bleeding all over the place. Thankfully, I was in the kitchen where it could be wiped up, band-aids found, etc. I only have a little bruise today. It isn’t even very sore. The intense feeling of stupidity remains.

My outdoor to-do list for today is 4 planters around our garage pad. (There are two small ones and two regular-sized brick ones. ) If I can get them done, I’ll post pics later.

Nursery World

If I finish those, I’ll try to get to my art room this afternoon. I’m still practicing with the pen type engraver. It’s a good thing I have a lot of practice time. The jury is still out on whether I can actually do well enough to create the Christmas presents of etched glass I’m envisioning. I’m also having a great time producing some signs with sayings I like.

Attitude Sign – 6×8 Hand-Painted Sign on Hardboard – “Attitude” – $14.99 with FREE SHIPPING to the contiguous U.S. HandmadeHavenByLinda on Etsy

Enjoy your day!

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September 10, 2023 · 11:07 am

Sunny Sunday 9-10-2023

junerollins.wordpress.com

I hope you’re enjoying your day.

It’s sunny and 74 here right now. Since our weather is forecast to be much more civilized in the coming week, I’m going to try to get something done outside each day. This will be good for the yard AND my trying to move more. Today’s project is pulling out the dead tomato plants and cleaning up the planters.

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Challenges –

THING ONE– We have Humana. I got a letter saying that since they were having trouble contacting me, they had cancelled my auto-renew authorizations on meds. ARRRRGH. The whole point of auto-renew is that they shouldn’t HAVE to contact you! ARRRGH again. I tried to solve this online, but it wasn’t working. I got on my phone, installed their app, and tried again. This went through fine, but I really don’t like having a lot on my phone…

THING TWO – I purchased a year’s worth of heartworm preventive medicine for Amber last week. I had to give my vet’s info. I did that. I got a call later in the week that said my vet’s office said they wanted me to go through them. That meant my purchase was cancelled. Since we had used the last pill, we went and bought 6 months worth at the vet. I’ve just written them an email telling them that I could save $40 on the 12 month supply online, explaining that we are on a fixed income and need to watch our money carefully, asking him to reconsider. We’ll see.

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I’m going to jump outside now and see if I can do some good on the tomato plants. I’ll be back later.

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September 9, 2023 · 9:14 am

Saturday 9-9-2023

Healthline

I’m leaving in half an hour to get a haircut and run a couple of errands. Otherwise, we’re expecting a quiet day around here. The weather is nice right now. It’ll be hot today and tomorrow, but then the highs are supposed to be in the 80s. Can you believe it? I am sooooo ready!

Britannica

I’ve been a sloth the last couple of days – playing on the computer, reading, relaxing, napping. My to-do list isn’t getting any shorter, but I’m feeling better. :0)

Pikes Peak Artist Collective

I might get energized to spend some time in my art room this afternoon.

My husband said the asphalt has been poured/laid on the new bridge between us and town. They still need to finish up details, take away the huge concrete blocks they used to block the road, the barricades, signs, equipment, plus do something, I guess, about the detour road they made for their vehicles, but soon the barricades at the end of our road should come down – showing we can travel our old, normal route to town soon. That will be really nice!

Make this a great Saturday!

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September 8, 2023 · 9:13 am

Rainy Friday Morning 9-8-2023

Wallpaper Flare

As I type, it’s raining! Real raindrops falling from the sky. I think it will stop before we need to leave for Lunch Bunch and errands, but I’ll just get into the mood to enjoy being drowned if it doesn’t. :0)

6×6 – Living with Gusto Series – “Chance to Fly” – $12.99 with FREE SHIPPING to contiguous U.S. HandmadeHavenByLinda On Etsy

I’m practicing every day, trying to get the feel of my new engraving pen. It’s a good thing that Christmas is still several months away. I’ll need a lot of practice…

I hope that you have a safe enjoyable day.

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September 7, 2023 · 11:27 am

Thursday 9-7-2023

The Dalbo Dog-@Dalbodog on X

This picture makes me smile EVERY. TIME. I. SEE. IT. :0)

NEW THING –

6X6 Hand-Painted Affirmation/Encouragement Sign

$12.99 with FREE SHIPPING to the contiguous U.S.

HandmadeHavenByLinda on Etsy

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I spent some time yesterday playing with my new engraver. It seems very sensitive to me. As a beginner, I’m finding it challenging to press down on the pen hard enough to make a solid line, but not TOO hard so it stops. Seems a bit hair trigger to me, reacting to my bumbling. I’m glad I have time and scrap glass on which to practice until my technique improves.

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We have a quiet day today – a very welcome thing. I hope that things are good with you in your day today, too.

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September 6, 2023 · 9:45 am

Thoughts on a Wednesday 9-6-2023

Michael Tamoszus Art

I find it difficult to talk about this piece. It’s hard to believe it’s made of WOOD. It’s even harder to think about it being done with a chainsaw! Let’s just be happy that Michael Tamoszus created it. I am sitting here looking at the details over and over. I’m beyond impressed.

Mom.com

I had fun in my art room yesterday. I finished three pieces that I’ll add to my Etsy site today, plus I started experimenting with the new engraver I received that I’m hoping I can use on the glassware presents I’m making for my friends this year for Christmas.

Paul Felix – Pixels

So far, I’m glad I have a lot of extra jars on which I can practice. The engraving pen requires a super-light touch. If you push too hard, it simply stops. I’ll keep practicing until I hopefully get a good ‘feel’ for the pressure needed to control the etching. It would take years – if not forever – to get ‘good.’ I’m just hoping to get passable so I can create something I hope my friends will enjoy.

Jim Wheaton

Today would have been my dad’s 104th birthday. He was born on Labor Day in 1919. I’m honored to have shared part of his life. He gave me two great gifts –

  • he told my class he was proud of me when I was getting my Master’s Degree as a Reading Specialist from the University of Tulsa. He was my guest speaker on my project of teaching kids to intelligently look at advertisements. (My dad was a ‘personality’ in Tulsa from his radio advertising, in which he used humor to sell the products he represented.) The radio people still play his commercials from time to time because he was so unique. This was the first and only time he said this and it meant a lot to me.
  • He taught me to stand back and try to see the humor in any given situation. This has long been one of my survival skills, allowing me to see things from a different perspective, diffuse explosive situations, and more. Plus, I just am able to enjoy every day more when I can laugh at myself.

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September 5, 2023 · 11:16 am

Ugh

Bright Side

Getting rained on for the 5 minutes it rained yesterday turned out to be a blessing. We redoubled our efforts to get our yard work done. I got the back rock bed weeded and my husband sprayed around the deck with KillzAll weed killer.

I say it was a blessing because we’re under a heat advisory again today, with ‘feels like’ temperature of 108 this afternoon. Since my comfort zone stops in the high 80’s, this is uncivilized, in my opinion. If it hadn’t rained, we might have been more lackadaisical about getting our work done outside. Since we were teed off when we came in the house dripping yesterday, this is definitely a case of time bringing better perspective. :0)

Raising Children Network

I also got our first floor carpeting vacuumed yesterday, so I’m giving myself permission to play in my art room after lunch. I have three things in various stages of completion, plus I want to try out my new engraver on a scrap glass jar to see what I’m able to do with it. :0)

Women’s Health

Shout – Out to Cathy, who is in Week 6 of her chemo and radiation treatment. Sending her a gentle hug and lots of love and wishing her the very best there is in this world. Love you bunches.

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September 3, 2023 · 9:51 am

Pretty Sunday 9-3-2-23

Lensball-https-digital-photography-school.com

It’s 80 and sunny this morning. It’s supposed to be in the 90s – but no excessive heat warnings, flying hair balls, or anything else, so I can’t complain. I WILL be happy when the weather is more fall-like, though. :0)

The only chore I’m recognizing today is vacuuming – and that only because there is already a whole dog’s worth of hair trying to grab you by the ankles as you walk by. My husband is taking a nap now, though, so it’ll need to wait until later in the day.

I’m planning to head up to my art room soon. I didn’t get there yesterday because of the chili making, changing the sheets on the bed, and doing 4 loads of laundry. By the time I finished these, I was pooped and no longer in the mood to play. I have three things started upstairs, though, so hopefully I can make some progress.

Do you have plans for Labor Day? Are you traveling for a last vacation or to see relatives? Cooking out? Watching sports on TV? I hope you’re having time away from work and enjoying the long weekend.

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