First, it’s hard to believe this is “art,” rather than simply wonderful photographs. Then, you have to understand that Isabella Clever is 13 years old, living in New Zealand. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it.
My Wish for You in 2023!
“May peace break into your house and may thieves come to steal your debts.
May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet of $100 bills.
May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips!
May your clothes smell of success like smoking tires.
May happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy.
May the problems you had forget your home address! In simple words …….
May 2023 be the best year of your life!!!”
Source Unknown
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“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
Filed under holidays
More Whendi’s Bears
Filed under Embroidery/Sewing Art, Whendi's Bears
Ronnie Gould Ceramic Dogs
Filed under ceramics, Clay Art, Ronnie Gould Ceramics
Friends on Friday 12-30-2022
Lunch Bunch – I think I’m the one in the middle. (Final Fantasy XIV)
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On the way to Lunch Bunch this morning, we’ll change the decoration on our mailbox.
Here’s hoping that 2023 will be a better year than this one has been.
I MAY be able to get outside this afternoon and lop or saw down a few weed trees. Fingers crossed.
On the two other challenges that we’ve faced lately – the fact that the clothes washer died mid load and wouldn’t restart and that my MP3 player had been misplaced have shown some progress!
After finally arranging for a tech to come about the clothes washer on Tuesday of next week, we tried a bunch of things to get the machine to reset. I found a blurb online about a ‘child lock’ and the icon looked like what we were seeing. We tried the two solutions given and one of them WORKED! Everything is working again! I rewashed the half-washed comforter and it worked perfectly. HOOORAAAAAY! We saved the at least $150 we would have paid for the guy to come out and look at it.
Speaking of that, the company we dealt with was Pro-Tech. The tech’s name was Jonathan. The lady I texted back and forth with at the company was truly wonderful, though I didn’t get her name. After we got the washer running again, I texted her, asking her to cancel the Tuesday appointment. She got right back to me, confirming that she had cancelled it. I highly recommend Pro-Tech because of the good communication we had when I had no luck with the many others I called or contacted trying to fix this problem. Their phone number is 479-462-7787. I think they serve the Ft. Smith AR and surrounding areas, like us in Greenwood.
I FOUND the MP3 player. I went out to the elliptical yesterday and turned it on. It said it had NO music recorded on it! None. Nada. I finally found an FM radio and listened to a rock station that played 3/4 commercials and 1/4 music, but it was better than nothing. Talk about desperation! My husband is trying now to record some of HIS favorite songs on it. I told him I would be very grateful to have SOMEONE’S favorite songs on it when I do the elliptical again tomorrow.
Today is “warm-up” and “weights” videos online and then yoga. (DAY 168).
Have a wonderful Friday.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Mirror, Mirror…
Source Unknown
Can you say, “yo yo” three times fast?
All the goodies are finally gone. My scales are not only smirking – they are guffawing.
guf·faw
/ɡəˈfô/
noun
noun: guffaw; plural noun: guffaws
- a loud and boisterous laugh. :0(
123RF
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This generates hostility and frustration, obviously. Since we’re not planning any more holiday stuff, I can hopefully get back on track. (I know. You’ve heard this before. Whine.)
SO –
today is a new day. I have not eaten breakfast yet, since I’ve been trying to reach a tech to work on our dishwasher. I also haven’t gotten out in the garage to do my elliptical trainer session for the day.
I’ll go do both NOW.
I Still Love David Zinn Street Art
“Carpe Quies”
David Zinn – StreetArtUtopia.com
“Franz Never Met a Place That Didn’t Need Singing In”
“Friends in Rocky Places”
“Frog and Butterfly”
“Nadine and the Emerging Perch”
Filed under David Zinn - Street Artist, drawings
Ronnie Gould Sculpture
Filed under ceramics, Clay Art, Ronnie Gould Ceramics, sculpture
Mother Nature is Getting Senile 12-29-2022
BBC
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I think Mother Nature may be joining me as a “senior” – maybe getting a bit confused. As you know, this past week almost the whole of the USA was treated to a front from Canada, putting us all in the deep-freeze, threatening to burst our water pipes, bringing havoc during the holidays, even causing tragedy. Now, while people are either STILL trying to get to their family to at least say, “Hi,” and or just simply get home, Mother Nature has decided to bring a touch of spring to Arkansas.
Yesterday was beautiful, with a high in the 60s. Today it’s supposed to be in the 70s! It’s really windy, though, so I’m not sure I want to work outside for very long. I was just dumping the cat box and felt like the wind was trying to lift me AND the box up in the air! Who knows what to expect next, but –
“Winter is coming….”
Filed under Mother Nature
Mixed Bag
IN THE WIN COLUMN – I FOUND my MP3 Player! :0) I wanted to use it while I was on the elliptical trainer on Tuesday and it wasn’t in its usual place. I looked all around, but came up with no clue. I exercised in silence in the garage, each minute seeming like 5 or 10.
Later, I looked at the table again where the player should have been. I realized the charger wasn’t there, either, and that made me think in another direction. I found the player on the charger behind my left-hand computer monitor in the office. I don’t remember why I moved it now, but I’m happy I found it, since today is elliptical trainer morning, with yoga this afternoon.
IN THE LOSE COLUMN – The third load of laundry yesterday was our comforter. I’ve washed it several times before, but this time when I checked on it, the washer had stopped and “15” (I think) was flashing. I tried to get it going again, to no avail. Then it showed ‘locked’ with a key, that would flash and then go off. The door WASN’T locked, though. I could open it. The washer had water, soap, and the comforter and I couldn’t get it to work. My husband found the circuit breaker for the utility room. We tried turning that off and back on again after waiting, hoping that would get the washer to reset. No change. The basket finally drained and we took the comforter out, putting it in a laundry basket, where it waits. I need to get it rinsed, somehow, and I’ll think about how best to do that.
I started trying to find someone to come look at it. Of COURSE our stuff breaks down during holiday week, when everyone is closed or can’t get someone here until much, much later. I have a text in now to another tech or may or may not call me back. ARRRRRGH!
Filed under Cause for Celebration, Challenges
Woodturner Eric Lofstrom
Filed under When Wood Comes Alive
Do That
I’m finally doing this more. I try to make sure that I have a bit of time for myself each day, where I ignore all the ‘shoulds’ and just do something that makes me smile – or at least, calm down – in that life is sometimes a challenge, isn’t it.
I have a mental list of what makes me smile – (in random order, as I think of them) –
- Playing in my art room – trying a new technique – playing with color and texture
- Listening to music
- Reading
- Being outside, working in the yard
- Watching a favorite movie
- Spending time with a good friend
- Shutting my eyes and dreaming
- Talking with our son
- Spending quality time with my husband
- Finding creative people on the Internet
- Writing my blog
My goal is to spend more and more time smiling. What makes YOUR soul happy?
Filed under Attitude, Challenges, Changes, Cherishing the Quiet Day
You OK Today?
Healthline
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My altered exercise plan is doing well so far. One day I’m doing a warm-up video and another with weights in the morning and then yoga in the afternoon. The following day I’m doing minutes on my elliptical trainer in the garage and then yoga. I did the elliptical for the first time in a LONG time yesterday. I can’t find my MP3 player yet, so I had to do the minutes in silence, making it seem like a really long time. :0( I’ll scour the house for it today so that hopefully, I’ll have it for tomorrow.) My arms and legs are slightly sore, meaning that my sweet old body is noticing that I’m doing something different – a really good thing.
With the weather finally warming up to ‘regular winter’ in Arkansas, I MAY be able to lop or saw more weed trees across our back yard soon.
Since we don’t have any plans today, I’ll see what I can get accomplished on running the bulldozer through the house. So far, I’ve changed our sheets and started the laundry. Amber has shed at least a dog’s worth of hair in the past couple of days, so I’ll vacuum the tiled areas and see what I can do about scrubbing the kitchen some.
I hope you’re doing okay, too, and that you have a really nice Wednesday.
Filed under exercise, Housekeeping - Maintenance
It’s Tuesday 12-27-2022
Cute Animals Rule – Twitter
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I hope you’re doing well – feeling sassy – today. The sun is shining (at least I THINK that’s what I’m seeing in the sky), it’s 17 degrees F. right now, but it’s supposed to warm up to 46 today and be even warmer tomorrow! We may be able to stop dripping water today to keep the pipes from freezing.
Walmart
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I’ve learned another thing since this cold snap – that we should get more proactive on storing bottled water than we have been. The water companies had problems, asking for conservation, cutting off service to some surrounding areas for a time in order not to run out – all I had been actively thinking about was not having our pipes freeze. I should have been thinking that if everyone drips water, there could be a resulting problem. We’ll buy some more today to put in the pantry.
Get Healthy U
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Yesterday I did the warm-up – then the weights exercises videos online for the first time in a long time. I then did my usual yoga in the afternoon. (DAY 164). Today after lunch (due to errands this morning) I’ll do a session on the elliptical in the garage and then my yoga. I’m hoping that these additions will be a good variation in my efforts to get stronger and more flexible, plus alleviate pain.
I’m HOPING that our weather will warm up enough tomorrow that I can try to get more weed trees down across the back yard. I’m now armed with loppers and a reciprocating saw, so I should be able to make some noticeable progress. Here’s to warmer weather!
Enjoy your Tuesday.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Watercolor Collage – Colours by Sheri
“Bright of the Night”
“Hostas to the Sun”
“Plentiful”
“Plum Rain”
Watercolor Collage – Sheri Trepina – Watercolours by Sheri
Books to Give Yourself and Others
I’ve enjoyed three books lately that I will keep and read over and over. I wanted to share them with you so that you can give yourself a gift, plus – if you feel the way I do about them – you’ll buy and give to others –
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
Reminiscent of Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne with illustrations by E. H. Shepard, this is a deceptively simple book full of hand-written quiet wisdom and illustrations that grab your heart. Here is a sample –
“I’ve discovered something better than cake.”
“No you haven’t,” said the boy.
“I have,” replied the mole.
“What is it?”
“A hug. It lasts longer.”
This is a good one to keep by your reading chair, where you can pick it up any time your heart needs a lift.
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US by Curtis Wiklund
Curtis Wiklund and his wife are professional photographers. His wife participated in a challenge to take one photo a day. While his wife did that, he decided to draw one sketch each day. His subject matter was his marriage – their everyday lives, challenges, and love. His illustrations are heartfelt and his love shines through like a beacon. Some will make you laugh, others will fill your heart, some might make you cry. All are special. Here is a sample –
A beautiful reminder of what sharing your life with someone can be. How strong a bond can be.
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How to be HAPPY, dammit – a cynic’s guide to spiritual happiness by Karen Salmansohn
This is a very quick read, but one you find yourself thinking about and absorbing. 44 Life Lessons presented with sass and humor and wit. Ideas that will make you rethink some things you thought you knew, that you believed, that you might not have been aware you believed and lived by. I’ve read it once so far. I smirked. I laughed out loud. And I’ve thought about it since. I plan to read this one again and again so that I can really absorb the breezy wisdom here. I like the way Karen Salmansohn thinks. I’ll go see if she has written other books. Here is a sample –
“Life Lesson # 7 – You — and those you’ve befriended/worked with/slept with – each of you – just like plants – comes with your own unique feeding manual. You each have your own needs and speeds for growth. You must read each person’s instruction manual carefully – then proceed with caution!”
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I hope you enjoy these. :0)
Filed under Book - Movie - TV Reviews, Favorite Authors & Books
Thoughts At Christmas
By Common Consent
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“Probably the reason we all go so haywire at Christmas time with the endless unrestrained and often silly buying of gifts is that we don’t quite know how to put our love into words.” – Harlan Miller
“Christmas, children, is not a date. It is a state of mind.” – Mary Ellen Chase
“Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts.” ~Janice Maeditere
“Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.” ~Larry Wilde
“I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month.” ~Harlan Miller
“One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don’t clean it up too quickly.” ~Andy Rooney
Filed under Favorite Quotes, holidays
Pastels by Rita Kirkman
“A Boy and His Sister”
“Audrey with Flowers at Seven”
“Bella in the Blue Bonnets”
“Safe Haven”
Filed under Pastels, Rita Kirkman Pastels
Nick Mackman’s Amazing Sculpture
For some reason, I thought Nick Mackman was a man. NOT TRUE! While I was oohing and ahhing over the sculptures again, looking for things I hadn’t shared with you previously, I found a photo labeled, “Nick Mackman, Sculptor”.
So now that I have adjusted my mental picture of this talented artist, here is some more of her amazing sculpture –
Filed under Nick Mackman Animal Sculpture, sculpture
Merry Christmas 2022
Woman’s Day
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I just had the BEST Christmas present – I got to talk to our son via the conference call program. We had a wonderful talk. I got to see him smile and laugh. I’m feeling HUGGED right now. :0)
I hope you’re having a nice Christmas at your house. It’s 20 degrees here, but it’s supposed to get to 38 this afternoon! Woo HOOO! Since my husband is taking a nap, I’m trying to be a responsible adult and get things a bit more organized in the office. I am behind on my online bookkeeping – with November’s information sitting beside me in a folder. I’ll try to get that taken care of today. I’m also officially changing calendars today.
2022
As you can see, I’m very messy. This, though, and my kitchen calendar, together, keep me straight on our obligations, accomplishments, etc. Each year I tell myself that I’ll actually USE the lines on the calendar, trying to be neater, and then I degenerate into my normal messy state…
2023
solagohome.com
We are eating normally today, even though it’s Christmas. With all the kind people who love us and don’t care about our lack of willpower, we have devoured pumpkin bread, Mt. Dew Cake with Pineapple, and a box of chocolates, among other things. We are full as ticks and are both ready to TRY to tone it down some.
Minions
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This is DAY 163 of daily yoga. Yesterday I held the plank pose three times at a count of 30 each. I hope that 2023 brings me more flexibility, more strength, more balance, less pain and stiffness, and less of me. :0)
The U.S. Sun
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Enjoy today with warmth, love, and lots and lots of hugs!
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
Filed under holidays, Thoughts on a ________
creativeartworksblog 