Dreaming…

memes.com – wattpad

I don’t understand people who ‘adulterate’ their food and drink. Like putting weird flavors in their coffee. I want PURE coffee. I don’t want flavors. I don’t want fancy. I just want black coffee, and lots of it, at all hours of the day.

I feel the same about chocolate. I don’t want people messing with mine. I have no interest in fancy boxes of chocolate. I don’t want fillings, toppings, dark chocolate, etc. I want milk chocolate. PURE milk chocolate. Like Hershey’s kisses. Just perfect.

As much as I love chocolate, though, my diet downfalls are two: THING ONE – salty, like chips. THING TWO – white, like rice or pasta. I could actually give up desserts forever, including chocolate, without a backward glance. I essentially HAVE. Every other year or so I get myself a bag of Hershey’s kisses and put them in the freezer. Then I take out two at a time and enjoy them.

I would rather have REAL food rather than try to eat the things dieters are supposed to substitute for the good stuff, like cauliflower when you want rice, or zoodles when you want noodles. I DO this stuff, but it makes me hostile.

My dream would be a switch in my brain that makes me wish for nice fresh salads, fish, and veggies. That same switch would have a setting that said, “FULL” soon after I started eating, making me feel full, saving the rest for later or another day. The switch might even make me FORGET to eat, having to remind myself to refuel…

If you’re going to dream, do a GREAT JOB OF IT!!!!!!!

Unsplash – dennisvdw-Getty Images – iStockphotos

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Sleepy Saturday 1-21-2023

Pixabay

Amber woke us, barking at around 2a.m. Apparently, there was a ‘critter’ in the garage. We talked about it and decided to wait it out, seeing if she would stop. It seemed like forever, but finally she did and we went back to sleep.

My husband started talking to me next. Since I sleep with my head buried in my pillow, I had to sit up to hear what he was saying. He was angry, telling me to ‘stop throwing water on him.’ I questioned him a bit more, finally deciding that he was dreaming and talking in his sleep. I woke him, then tried to go back to sleep.

There was some kind of cold draft, channeling cold air in a steady stream under the covers. I kept changing positions, sides, and covers, trying to get it to stop, but couldn’t. At that point, I got up and went downstairs to read.

I jumped a foot straight up in the air and would have screamed if any sound would come out when I sensed someone suddenly beside me. My husband realized I was downstairs and decided he would join me. I discussed the fact that speaking to me would have been a good thing, rather than simply appearing there in the middle of the night.

We discussed his dream. Apparently, I had been throwing water on him from the dog’s water dish. There was no ‘why’ – or how I was supposed to be doing that when we were upstairs and the dog’s water dish is downstairs. He had the good grace to look a bit sheepish at that point and smile. We went back upstairs about 4.

I’m sitting here typing, with a cup of coffee that I hope will get me started for the day. May your day be better than mine.

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Re-Visiting the Art of Saverio Scoleri

It’s been a long time since I’ve shared Saverio Scoleri’s portraits. I found it when I was a member of LinkedIn. Since it’s been awhile, I thought I would share my awe in his work with you again.

The Art of Saverio Scoleri

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Nastia Calaca Ceramic Art 2

Nastia Calaca Ceramic Art

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Paper Collage by Philwood vonStillwater 2

Philwood vonStillwater – Lodi CA

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It’s Friday! 1-20-2023

Apyr

It’s freezing right now, but it’s sunny, and supposed to get to 51 this afternoon, so I have no complaints. It’s also “Lunch Bunch Day,” a chance to visit with my good friends. Kay called, and she’s feeling better, and thought last night that she would be there today. I haven’t heard from anyone else, so I’m hoping we’ll have a full contingent. It’s been 3 weeks since we enjoyed seeing each other.

I’m also planning to do my walking video and do my yoga this afternoon. I’ve stuttered on doing them every day since my arm was hurting, but now, since it’s getting better slowly, I’m going to try to do them daily. Lynn, my wonderful friend/massage therapist and I bonded even more yesterday when we told each other that we resented the fact we weren’t flooded with endorphins and balloons when we exercised, the way some people are. They say, “OOH, I feel so GOOD after I exercise!” Well, WE say, “Bah. Humbug” to that. We just pat ourselves on the head for doing what we know is good for us and go on. I was SO pleased to find someone else who felt the same. I really thought I was the only one. :0)

I hope you have an enjoyable day.

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Ahhhhhhh!

Quasarphoto-Getty Images-iStockphoto-Thinkstock Photos

I’m home from my massage. Lynn Moody, my miracle worker, really gave me a deluxe massage today, zeroing in on my arm, too. I almost came up off the table when she first started, but she really got the blood moving. She suggested I continue the muscle gel for pain and also heat. I feel MUCH better right now. I just finished drinking a bottle of water and will use the heat after lunch.

I’m so lucky to have Lynn to take care of me. Ahhhhhh!

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Therapeutic Thursday

Daily Paws

I’m leaving in about half an hour to go to my monthly massage, and my body has been looking forward to it. I’m hoping that Lynn can do her magic on my remaining sore areas that mysteriously showed up a couple of weeks ago and make them go away. My soreness has messed up my exercising – some days I don’t do any and other days I push through, thinking it will help. I’m ready for some relief. It would be great to do my walking video and my yoga this afternoon without pain.

A cold front came through overnight and we’re having more typical winter weather for Arkansas for January today. It’s 37 now with a high of 51 expected this afternoon. My husband requested that we have chili mac tonight for dinner, so that’s what we’re doing. :0)

I’m enjoying Memory in Death by J.D. Robb/Nora Roberts now. It’s #22 in the series. I’m really enjoying revisiting the world of Lieutenant Eve Dallas in 2059. #55 – Desperation in Death – in paperback is waiting for me to enjoy when I finish the re-read. Then I’ll have to wait awhile to get the latest – Encore in Death which only comes out in hardback next month. I’m hopeful it will be available in paperback by the end of 2023.

Enjoy your day.

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Questions

laughteristhebestmed-litbm1

I actually have to check my watch to see what day it is. THEN I check a calendar to see if anything is written there. THEN I see what the weather is doing and the forecast. THEN I check my ‘to do’ list. THEN I check with my husband. This last is the deciding factor.

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Filed under Challenges, Changes, Cherishing the Quiet Day, Funny Signs - Humor

Jennifer Gennari Art 2

Dragon

Drove

Evening Ride

Fawn

Jennifer Gennari

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Sculpture I Love

artistescontemporains.org

beattitudesgift.com

hayneedle.com

Toby Megaw – Knysna Fine Art

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Paper Collage by Philwood vonStillwater

Created from pieces of paper from magazines.

Philwood vonStillwater – Lodi CA

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Wednesday 1-18-2023

“I’m at that age where my mind still thinks I’m 29; my humor suggests I’m 12 while my body mostly keeps asking if I’m sure I’m not dead yet.”

stanzi11 – Getty Images – iStockphoto

It’s a rainy morning here. Ever since I wrote a post called, “Wet Wednesday,” and Twitter put a warning label on it, thinking it was pornographic, I’ve found myself almost TRYING to think of titles that might garner a warning. They also warned readers about “Horn Tooting”. My responses to them DID result in their taking the warnings off, and I DID suggest that they might READ the posts before warning people about them. hahahahahahaahahahha :0)

I’ve been trying to be quiet because my husband is sleeping in this morning. I waited to let Amber out because it seems that she is unable to go outside without barking loudly to announce her presence to the world. I finally couldn’t put it off any longer and let her out. Amazingly, my husband is still sleeping. The “rainy-ness” of the morning and our ability to shut out the light upstairs make this a really good day to sleep. (He just got up.)

We don’t have any big plans for the day – mainly staying warm and dry. I wish you a happy, fulfilling day.

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Making a Bit of Headway

  1. My husband suggested that we might leave our 96-gallon trash can toward the bottom of the driveway, putting our bags of trash in the back of the truck as we have always done and putting them into the can and wheeling the can down to the street before pickup each week. Right before lunch we drove down to get the can. We wheeled it up to ‘behind the robot’ and I used a LONG bungie cord to secure it to the welded edge of a pole so it shouldn’t blow away in the gusty winds we sometimes have.
  2. Since we’ve had some washing rains lately, my husband put a flat-bottomed shovel in the back of the truck so we could move some of the gravel ‘chat’ off the street and back onto the driveway. We discovered that a little of THAT activity goes a long, long way. We took turns, and it was really hard going, using the shovel to break up the chat and then move it onto the driveway. We lasted about half an hour before pooping out. This will take SEVERAL sessions when the weather is cooperative to complete.
  3. We inadvertently paid Hot Rod Magazine twice answering renewal notices. Last month we got TWO copies of the same magazine. I asked my husband to see what he could do. I discovered today, when we got yet another notice that our subscription was about to end, that he had done nothing. Thankfully, he still had the two magazines. I got online and contacted their customer service people via the ‘leave a message’ thingie on their website. I gave all the info on the two subscriptions, as them to merge the two into one so he got only one copy each month, email him with a new subscription expiration date, and STOP sending us more notices to pay our bill. I thought it might be like throwing a bottle in the ocean, but he just told me he got an email from them saying they are ‘looking into it!’ Hooray!

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Jennifer Gennari Art

Jennifer Gennari

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Needle Felting Art – Artemis Fibre Art

Di Haswell

Emma Hall Art

Pet Universe

Artemis Fibre Art

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Sleepy Puppy

Tenor

I feel like this sweet puppy, though not nearly as cute. I couldn’t sleep last night, so was downstairs reading for several hours, then tossed and turned. I’m glad I don’t have this problem often. I predict an unproductive day today…

I wish I felt energetic because the weather is stellar – sunny, bright, happy-looking day with a high this afternoon of around 72 here in Arkansas. In January. Unbelievable. :0)

I hope your day is fun.

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Monday Love 1-16-2023

Artemis Fibre Art

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More Dede Gold Art

Honest Joe

Lilliput

Miss Mabel

Scarteen Couple

Dede Gold Art

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The Art Room Calls

The News-Press

I planned to go up to my art room yesterday, but got distracted by the big pile of folders with tax receipts on the table beside my computer counter. I did the first go-through of the receipts, emptying the folders and putting them in the drawer for the new year. I feel I have a start on things now.

I did my new 10-minute walk video again yesterday created by yes2next – a mother and daughter duo. I found another one by them – a line dance video, that I’ll try when I feel ready. I did careful yoga yesterday, too, trying to stretch out the soreness I’ve been feeling, plus walked around the yard some in the afternoon, though I felt as if the gusty winds would blow me away.

Between have-to’s or shoulds, I’m enjoying re-reading my In Death series collection by J.D. Robb/Nora Roberts. I received the latest paperback in the collection – Desperation in Death – which came out the last day of last month, so I dived into my collection again, to enjoy the gritty, fascinating world before allowing myself to read the latest addition. The collection now has 55 books. Encore in Death, #56, will come out in hardback in February of this year. I’ll preorder the paperback when I can. I’m enjoying re-reading # 20, Survivor in Death, now.

I hope that things are going well for you. I wish you a calm and joy-filled day.

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Nastia Calaca Ceramic Art

Nastia Calaca Ceramic Art

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Music is Healing

Karen Fawcett Ceramics

A hundred years or so ago I played guitar and sang. I wasn’t that great, but I did make some money in college as a part of a group that entertained at corporate events, and there was a place where folk singing was popular. I sang there regularly.

Time Out

I still sing along when I’m listening to music upstairs in my art room. It’s fun because I can really get into the music, bopping around to the beat and humming or singing as I figure out what the next step is in whatever art I’m working on. My husband is downstairs, and is a bit hard of hearing, so he isn’t bothered. :0)

FreePik

It has always amazed me how much POWER music has. It takes you back to where you were, how you felt when you heard it first. It gets inside you and makes you FEEL. Some voices just fill you up and you feel happier. I hear some music and I’m simply unable to sit still. I HAVE to get up and move. I have my MP3 player filled with music that makes me want to move to the beat, so I always take that out with me when I’m exercising on my elliptical trainer.

I have a lot of YouTube videos bookmarked so I can listen to them whenever I would like a boost. Even when the music is sad, I listen and it seems to purge any sadness as I react to the song, so that by the end I feel calmer, more able to deal with any problems or simply enjoy the day.

FreePik

I have CDs to play upstairs. I have Pandora on my phone now with earbuds I can use so I can listen to music if we’re having to wait for an appointment somewhere.

I feel lucky to have so many ways to listen to something that brings me joy.

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Art by Dede Gold

Chilibean

Heavenly Harvey

I’ve Got Freckles

Who Ate all the Pies?

Dede Gold Art

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Sunny, Bright Sunday 1-15-2023

I found this and walked with them yesterday. I was reminded how much I need this by my hips talking to me a couple of times, but I think this will do me a lot of good. It’s short, gets me moving, and I like this mother and daughter.

I also did a careful, abbreviated version of my yoga practice yesterday for the first time in a couple of weeks. I have no clue why my right upper arm is hurting, but I’ve decided to try to work through it very carefully and see how it goes. ONE DAY AT A TIME.

I’m also being more successful in NOT eating in-between meals. This week has been a good start. If I think I’m hungry, I’m trying to drink some water and see how I feel later. If I’m STILL hungry, I have some dried fruit to eat. 2-1/2 pounds down for the week.

Our weather is nice today, so I’m planning to at least walk around outside this afternoon. It’s hard to believe it’s January. The high will be around 62!

I’m thinking about at least spending some time in my art room today. I have ideas rattling around in my brain during the day, and am dreaming about them at night, so it’s time. :0)

I hope you’re enjoying your Sunday, too.

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Thank You

I love writing this blog. I’m delighted when I find some someone who is creating something that fills me with awe at their talent and with joy from what they have created, whether it’s in music, or art, or writing, or just making me laugh or cry. One of the things that keeps me from giving up is that there are so MANY creative souls who continue to create something special in the middle of our callousness and stupidity. These people shut out the world and create something that speaks to us, makes us feel our better selves, causes us to keep hope alive. I’m so grateful that I am able to find people from all over the world who fill my heart, making me want to share them with you.

The WordPress people provide graphs and charts showing you how many people are following you, how many people look at your posts, how many ‘likes’ you get, comments, etc., and then compare them to the past. I usually just concentrate on the day, trying to provide a variety of posts, hoping that you feel entertained, glad you spent some time with me. Every once in awhile I look at the past, just to get an idea of what has happened since I started.

People follow for different reasons. When they no longer find it interesting, or I send too many posts, they stop following, so the numbers go up and down. The chart above shows the yearly totals of visitors and views, from 2014 when I started until the year just started, 2023. I found it really encouraging to see the difference last year. It makes me happy, but it also makes me more serious about trying to provide a variety of things that will make you feel you aren’t wasting your time or finding me too annoying.

I so enjoy the ‘likes’ I receive, and particularly the comments, letting me know what you think. Thanks for making 2022 a nice year. I’ll try to do better in 2023.

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A Little Bit of Hope

Reddit

Except for enjoying a surprise brunch at The Waffle House when out with my husband, I’ve been good this week. In fact, when my husband said we should go somewhere out to eat when we found out our friends wouldn’t be at Lunch Bunch yesterday, I convinced him to stay home and make our own lunch – even though it was nice of him to suggest it.

I’m hoping that my new “One Day at a Time” affirmation will continue to give me the strength of purpose to keep my mouth shut, not eating in-between meals or in the middle of the night when I am finding it hard to sleep, and getting back into my exercising daily.

So far this week my scales are still laughing at me, but I AM showing about 2 lbs less now. I’m hoping for 2 to 3 pounds per week, or at least that I hold whatever I’ve lost from week to week before showing more loss. Onward and downward.

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Vivi K. Crandall Art 2

Pokerface

Shady Lady

Spitting Image

Unity

Winchester

Vivi K. Crandall Originals

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Two Special Songbirds

I discovered Jess Glynne when she pranked The Voice Coaches, supposedly auditioning. She completely blew me away. Since then, I’ve found lots of songs she has recorded. I’ve never heard a voice like hers. I’ve bookmarked several so I can listen over and over again. I hope you enjoy her, too.

I found Emilie Fosshaug yesterday when I was taking a break between chores. Her voice is rich, full, and as smooth as butter. I hope she goes far in the competition.

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Nichola Theakston Ceramics

Nichola Theakston Ceramics – Kate Mothes – thisiscolossal.com

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“Habit”

Practical Psychology

I think I’ve finally done it. Oddly enough, I’m convinced I’ve done it because I HAVEN’T been able to exercise lately and I am thinking about it and MISSING it. YES! You read that right. I AM!

In my former life, The fact that I’ve not been able to continue my ‘however-many-days-in-a-row’ streak and continue putting starts on my calendar would have caused me to give it up. My current feelings are more mature (yeah, I know – hard to believe), but I’m simply looking forward to feeling good enough to be able to do a session of yoga. Each day I’ve been closer, and this afternoon might be the time I can do it again. And also, hopefully, when I’m able to do that, I’d like to start with my alternating warm-up and weights videos one day and elliptical trainer the next again.

I’m writing this day down on my calendar because it’s hard to believe that I’m not having an out-of-body experience or something. It doesn’t MATTER that I haven’t been able to keep up my ‘streak.’ I won’t even keep track of it anymore. The IMPORTANT thing is that I’m doing ONE DAY AT A TIME.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE – I just received a text from Patty, Linda’s daughter. She said that Kay had called her and said she was sick and wouldn’t be at Lunch Bunch today. Patty is out of town and said that Linda wouldn’t be there, either. I told my husband that Lunch Bunch was called off for the week. He said, “We could still go to the Waffle House.” I thanked him for the offer, but told him (again) that I was really trying to eat right and that when we had a chance to do that, we should, and that I would rather just stay home today and eat our normal lunch. I managed to NOT eat anything in-between meals yesterday, had bought some dried fruit to eat if I DID eat between meals, and that I was trying to take one day at a time, eating right and doing my exercises.

It’s funny. I’m older than dirt, but am just NOW starting to act a bit more like an adult. :0) The question of how long does it take to build a habit varies a lot from person to person. The answer for ME is around 172 days – at least on exercising. The ‘habit’ of eating right is just in its infancy for me, but I won’t count.

Kris Carr On Twitter

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Quilts of Darlene Determan 2

Darlene Determan Quilts – Susan Carlson’s Blog

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