Wave Bowl – Wikipedia
These simply take my breath away. I love the creativity and expertise shown in these designs.
Kate Malone – The Art Teacher
Pinterest – no attribution
Springfield Museums
eBay
Happy October 2025
Happy October 2025! I miss being able to drive down with a mailbox decoration from the shop and my husband and I changing out the one there for the new one twice a month. It was particularly wonderful when someone would start to drive by, stop, and get out of the car to tell us what a kick they got out of our decorations. Several people told us they drove by often just to see if we had changed the decoration yet. How wonderful is that! 🤗
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This morning I was up at 1am wringing out towels from my leaking windows with a hard storm from Typhoon Regasa. I got back to sleep, back up again at 5 in order to check the towels again and get ready for the gym. I had to wring them out again, but that has been it for the day. I got the towels on my drying rack out on the balcony, and everything is almost dry now. I have rolled up towels in the window sills again, in case we’re not finished with the remnants of the typhoon, but hopefully, it has passed us now.
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This is the latest painted sketch.
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We went to visit Harvey at the nursing home this morning. This is a 3 hour round trip we make three times a week to show him we love him and make sure he’s getting the care he needs. At first we thought he wasn’t going to talk to us at all. I had almost given up after about 25 minutes of our asking questions or making statements with no reaction from him at all when he suddenly said, “I’m trying to remember where I got your engagement ring. I want to get you a “better” wedding ring.” I sat there with tears running down my face.
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Today has turned out to be a beautiful day with lots of sunshine. Dark clouds are looming, but they haven’t won yet. I’ll take it! 👍
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When we got home, Brian walked me to my door. A couple of minutes later he was back with a small package in his hand that had arrived downstairs. I opened it and found two new squeeze balls! When he ordered the original for Harvey, two came in the package. He gave one to Harvey and the other to me. I have to admit I keep it on my computer desk, reaching for it and squeezing it whenever I’m here. It’s mesmerizing. Sadly, about 3 weeks ago I punctured mine inadvertently with a fingernail. I told Harvey about it when I was handing him the ball, encouraging him to practice with his weaker left hand. Brian quietly ordered another set. I’m thrilled! I have my toy back! We’ll take the other one to swap out for the original one the next time we visit Harvey. This new one is actually better than the old one.
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I hope your day/evening is filled with giggles and grins..
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
“Losing the Lard” Progress Report
Noemar – @noemardau.bsky.social
I absolutely LOVE this mug. No words are needed. One look and you react.
The progress report for September 2025 is encouraging, though slow, as usual. My “Losing the Lard” project started a couple of years ago. I have hit every snag, bump in the road, pothole, plateau and stagnation possible during that time. I have become a master of making excuses for what went wrong.
Dying twice February 11th in the hospital in Arkansas, having to have a temporary, then permanent pacemaker installed, then moving to Thailand and having a baseline assessment doctor totally concerned about my sky-high blood pressure – with orders to take a medication, lose weight and exercise – finally ended that. No more excuses. I needed to quit opening my mouth, start seriously moving my body, and embrace the fact that I have been given a second chance.
Since Thai food has LOTS and LOTS of carbs, my low-carb plan has been a challenge. “Western food” as it’s known here, is much more what I would like to eat, but it’s a lot more expensive. So I have changed to eating two meals daily – breakfast and dinner – with an iced coffee or chocolate in the afternoons, and sharing dinner with my son – with him eating 2/3 of whatever we get an me eating 1/3. We are eating chicken, pork, rarely beef, bacon, salad stuff, fruit, eggs, nuts, and some veggies. We are drinking mushroom tea with some beef bone broth mixed in each morning.
I moved to Thailand in April. Since the assessment by the doctor, I have lost 23 pounds. I am walking on the treadmill daily at the gym, doing yoga stretches, and dancing to music with water bottles for weights daily, plus regular walking.
PROGRESS TO DATE – I’ve lost 78 pounds total since my heaviest, and there are 74-3/4 inches less of me than at my heaviest. I’m undecided whether I want to lose 10 or 15 pounds at this point. I want to be in the middle of the ‘healthy weight’ section of the chart. I want to feel stronger, more flexible, and handle the uneven streets and sidewalks here in Thailand with more agility. I need to improve the balance issue I’ve had since being in the hospital. I’m working on that at the gym by not holding on to the handlebars of the treadmill, forcing my brain and my body to keep correcting to not fall on my head. It’s amazing to me how much more trouble I have staying balanced when the video on the screen in front of me is following a really curvy path and going in and out of dark places…
It’s good to be able to finally see reaching my goal in the relatively near future. Working toward my goal makes me feel that I am doing something good for myself.
Filed under getting the lard off
Luscious Handmade Pottery
AniCeramicArt – Etsy
Canister with Attitude – sususummer.com
EdgeofUrge.com
L Nicole Designs Studio – Etsy
m.vk.com – Pinterest
Stardustivy – Pinterest
Filed under ceramics
All Dry So Far
Typhoon Regasa – Wikipedia
This has hit China, Taiwan, the Phillipines, and Vietnam, and is due to hit us with heavy rains for the next several days. So far, we’re good.
My bucket, plus towels, are as ready as they can be. I rolled up towels and put them across the sill of my windows with the bucket right there handy for wringing out soaked towels. I’m staying alert and hoping for the best. I really hope that people at street level don’t get flooded.
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Women’s Health
A shout-out to Murray, who is celebrating a birthday today. Her birthday was yesterday, but I wrote THIS MORNING to be able to time it so that it was still her birthday in the states. (Things get complicated when you live in different countries with different time zones.) She was surrounded by family and friends, lots of fun and good food she’s trying not to eat. (Does that sound familiar?) 😋. She is one of my favorite people in all the world, so I’m delighted that she had a good celebration. I love you, Murray!!!!
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Two paintings I did yesterday.
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Unless it’s really a downpour later today, I’m planning to join Brian at the cafe for an iced mocha, and then later we’ll share dinner at my place. Hopefully, I can get the laundry on my balcony dry before a thunderstorm is forecast for around 3pm.
I’ve had a nice morning so far. I was able to increase both my walking speed and the incline % on the treadmill this morning. I’m starting to feel stronger and more balanced. I had a delicious breakfast and am feeling good.
I wish you a happy day – free from any dramatic weather – and filled with happy moments all day long.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Helmets in Chiang Mai – 2
Chiang Mai Buddy
Ubuy Thailand
Mango Scooter Rental
Etsy
eBay
My SIL researched the helmet law and sent it to me. Enforcement of the new helmet law is supposed to start in June, with a 2000 baht fine ( $62.05 USD) for each person not wearing a helmet on the motorcycle, scooter, or bicycle for each offense.
This could be catastrophic for a lot of people. I agree that wearing a helmet is very important, but a lot of people here cannot afford it. Some bring their whole family on the vehicle. Can you imagine the fine on that? People won’t be able to afford to buy a helmet OR pay the fine. They will go to jail and lose their jobs. I’m hoping there is a way around this.
Filed under Wonderful Things about Thailand
Monday Thoughts 8-29-2025
Latest sketch/painting
It looks like the typhoon rain will start this evening and then continue Tuesday and Wednesday. I’m going to roll up a bath towel and one smaller one and put them on my window sills this evening, hoping to avoid more damage to my walls and floor. I’ll leave my bucket right there, too. I may get a lot of exercise wringing out towels and trying have enough dry ones to replace them the next couple of days.
At the gym this morning, I started slow and then increased my incline % to “4” and my speed to “4” for most of my walking time. I did rest my wrists on top of the handle bars, though, because I was feeling a bit shaky.
Shutterstock.com
I have yet ANOTHER annoying habit to try to stop (!) – I unconsciously reach up and put my finger in my ear to scratch it, followed by the same on the other one. Since I’m now lucky enough to have hearing aids, I now realize how OFTEN I do that – now that I have something IN my ears. I’m teaching myself to ignore it for a full minute. If I STILL want to scratch my ears, I’ll then take out my hearing aids, scratch, and then put them back in. So far, it isn’t worth the effort.
Brian is working and studying today. I will write my blog posts and then choose another fun thing to do! 😜 Have a great day!
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
You Just Have to Laugh
Indian Hills Community Center – Vince, the Sign Guy
Filed under Funny Signs - Humor
Cherish the Blooms!
@mrmads.bsky.social
“I must have flowers, always, and always.” ― Claude Monet
Natures Eyes – @see3trees.bsky.social
“Butterflies are self-propelled flowers.” ― Robert A. Heinlein
Displate – Prints on Metal
“Let us live like flowers, wild and beautiful and drenched in sun.” ― Ellen Everett
Filed under Favorite Quotes
Helmets in Thailand
I don’t know for sure if it’s the law that motorcyclists and motor-scooterists and bicyclists must wear helmets or not. If it is, it doesn’t seem to b enforced. I’ve told you before that my unscientific count is that for every car, bus, tuk tuk, or truck there are 14 motor scooters, et.al. On these are anywhere from one person to four people and a dog that I personally have seen, with boxes, bags, and building equipment (!) hanging off in all directions.
I would estimate that 1/3 of the riders have no protective gear at all. Almost all wear long sleeved shirts and/or hoodies mostly to protect themselves from the strong sun. A rain suit is added when appropriate, if the rain isn’t simply ignored.
Of the 2/3 that DO wear helmets I’ve been amazed at all the different designs and looks. I’ve tried to find representative images of some of the different styles I’ve seen. It’s fascinating.
GT-Rider
Luma Health Insurance
Thaiger
Magic Travel Blog
Etsy
Filed under Wonderful Things about Thailand
Sunday, September 28, 2025
Tina Ann
I hope you’re learning – as I am – to enjoy the little joys as they come.
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Super Typhoon Regasa is hitting Vietnam today. This will cause the storm to downgrade before it comes here tomorrow and the next day (our Sept. 29th and 30th). I will have my bucket and towels ready to keep window leak damage to a minimum and we’ll keep going out to a minimum.
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This is the latest sketch I painted yesterday. I plan to paint more this afternoon.
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We just got back awhile ago from visiting my husband in the nursing home. He was more alert than he has been. It took him 30 minutes to laboriously eat a small bowl of mandarin oranges, but he seemed to enjoy them. When he got to the packaged chocolate-covered, icing-filled cookie on his tray, he turned up his nose. He said he had eaten two of those and they sucked. Now THAT sounds like my husband! 😋. He then talked about buying a BMW motorcycle and a house with a marble front porch – both things he had seen on TV. He said some other stuff that didn’t make sense, and still more we couldn’t understand at all, but it was a better visit than we’ve had in awhile.
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The sun is shining, so there is a good chance that I’ll get my laundry in dry later. I’m particularly glad to get all my towels dry for the coming weather and leaks.
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Do you have something fun planned to do today? I can’t decide between painting another sketch, reading, or working on the jigsaw puzzle. Maybe I’ll do some of ALL of those! Have a wonderful day.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
I am a Work-in-Progress
Unknown
I am in the process of doing a lot of changing since we moved to Thailand.
Some of them are health-related:
- I used to drink coffee by the pot full. I would start a pot in the morning. My husband and I would drink a cup and then I would finish the pot. If dinnertime came and the pot was empty, I would make another pot and drink most of it, if not all. Coffee didn’t keep me awake. It was like drinking water to me. – now we drink mushroom teas (various) with bone broth mixed in. This is a very healthful drink. It’s supposed to do all kind of wonderful things for us. The bone broth is supposed to help with hair and fingernails. We drink one cup with breakfast. Now many times I have an iced mocha in the afternoon as a pick-me-up. I never liked iced coffee, but the ones I’ve tried here are all wonderful, and the ‘iced’ helps me ‘weather’ the weather better…
- Exercise – I used to do yoga stretches and various exercise videos on my computer at various times when we lived in the states. I THOUGHT about them more than actually DOING them. – Now Brian and I go to the gym every morning at 0-dark-thirty to use the treadmills for half an hour. Brian says he can tell I’m healthier. I also make it a point to do at least half an hour of yoga stretches daily. I also dance with water bottles in each hand at least every other day, trying to work on my arms and back, as well as have fun moving more.
- Eating – I used to eat what I liked and too much of that. I belonged to the “clean plate club”, practically licking the plate before I finished stuffing my face. Sometimes I went back for seconds. We always had high carb, salty snacks on hand. Now I eat breakfast and dinner. Brian and I share whatever we get. He eats 2/3 and I eat 1/3. I try to drink LOTS more water than I did before. If I get hungry, I chew some sugarless gum.
- Using my day – In the states I was trying to handle more and more of what my husband used to do, but couldn’t do anymore. I was overwhelmed by to-do lists that only grew. I felt guilty when I went up to my art room, even though I sold much of what I made up there. By the time I had handled enough of the list to do a little bit of something fun, I had run out of time or was simply too exhausted to do it. Now I can put myself at the top of the list mentally. I still have ‘to-do’ lists and a list of errands we need to run, calls I need to make, etc., but I make a conscious effort to include something FUN in my day while I still have energy and actually ENJOY the doing. Now that I’m officially ‘retired,’ I am moving from one fun thing to another any time I’m not needed elsewhere. My attitude is one of improving my quality of life. Getting a second chance at life changed me forever. I am worth doing something fun now. 👍
Filed under Attitude
Beautiful Birds
Amy Gann – @amygann.bsky.social
“Opportunity is a bird that never perches.” — Claude Maxwell MacDonald
Miya 115 – @ miya1156.bsky.social
“I would like to paint the way a bird sings.” — Claude Monet
Structure & Function – @aaronsimages.bsky.social
“I’d rather learn from one bird how to sing than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance.” — E. E. Cummings
Janet Hill – @saskajanet.bsky.social
“Every bird, every tree, every flower reminds me what a blessing and privilege it is just to be alive.” — Marty Rubin
Filed under Amazing Animals
Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025
WebstaurantStore
The “Bucket and Towels Brigade” was activated at 3:15 a.m. when I heard rain pelting my bedroom window. I got up to find one of my window sills absolutely full to the brim with water and ready to spill over down the wall. I managed to get things under control, but couldn’t go back to sleep. This situation will hopefully be solved in November, when the ‘rainy season’ finally ends and exterior work on the building, including repairs window seals, will happen before repainting. I now have the wrung out towels hanging on my drying rack inside with a fan on them. (I just noticed the sun has come out, so I have moved the rack outside, to my balcony.) 😁
Yesterday was wonderful, starting with a massage that relaxed me SO much I took a nap when I got home. Khun Wey-o is truly an artist, and she now knows exactly where I keep the worst of my tension and knots and zeroed in on them beautifully. I’m so lucky to have found her, and also the prices here are such that I can afford to have a massage each Friday.
Khun Nong, my exceptionally nice housekeeper, brought new flowers to put with what was left of the old to make another stunning bouquet for me. My house is now sparkling (except for the areas that are still wet from the leakage) AND I have gorgeous flowers to keep my spirits high!
I did lots of sketching yesterday at the cafe, so I have plenty to start painting later today. Brian is working, but said he might text later and we can go for chocolate – always a favorite thing in my book. 😋
We got a short video of Harvey sitting in a wheelchair eating a meal! I think this means that he was wheeled to the dining room of the nursing home for the first time since he’s been there! We will see him again tomorrow and find out for sure.
Have a wonderful day. Find something special to do that makes you happy.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Paper Cutting Art
India – Art Lounge
Parth Kothekar – All Things Paper
Strathmore Artist Papers
Octopus – Masayo – Fukuda – Japanese Artist
Kirigami Paper Art – YouTube
Filed under paper art
Geography
I have always been pretty pathetic when it comes to geography. I’m particularly bad the farther I get from the USA. So I decided to start researching the subject so that I won’t be as dumb as I look….
We went to Laos as a part of getting my retirement visa, so I knew where that was. I didn’t know “Laos” is pronounced, “Lao”. We visited Luang Prabang. What I saw was beautiful and it was a nice trip.
I was really ignorant about what countries surrounded Thailand. I didn’t even realize that Thailand used to be called “Siam.” There is a place called, “Siam – Celadon” on the way to the nursing home. Maybe we’ll stop and see it one of these days. This map is a good one as far as basic information on the countries around me now.
This is a closer look at Thailand. I am in Chiang Mai, which is in the northern part of Thailand. It’s quite mountainous in this area, making for some spectacular views. Chiang Mai has a population of approximately 1.2 million people. (As a comparison, Greenwood, Arkansas, (my former home) has a population of approximately 9,730.)
You can see here that Thailand goes all the way down to Malaysia. I was also interested to see Cambodia, with whom their are skirmishes from time to time over boundaries between the two countries.
I hope I haven’t bored you to tears with this ‘geography lesson.’ I just suddenly felt intensely stupid to know almost nothing about my new home. I hope to collect new information from time to time so that I have a better understanding of where I am.
Filed under Wonderful Things about Thailand
Great Morning
Phyllis Harris – @PhyllisHarris on X
My great morning started with our normal trip to the gym. I’ve told you I’m working on trying to regain my normal sense of balance which took an enormous hit from the anesthetic when I was in the hospital in February. I’m am definitely getting stronger and steadier. I spent my 30 minutes today changing the incline % so my brain and body would have to keep adapting and correcting. Brian said later this morning he thought I was definitely healthier. 👍
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We went to visit Harvey this morning. When we first went into his room, he was lying in the bed in an odd position and we thought for a few moments he was paralyzed. Gradually he straightened out. We cranked up the bed a bit so he would be more comfortable drinking the grape no-sugar drink Brian brings him each time. The highlight of the visit was he turned to Brian and said, “I love you.” Needless to say, we both melted into a puddle.
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On the way home from the nursing home, we stopped at Index Living Mall. Brian needed a replacement sheet set. I got two extra pillowcases, and we got a frame for the print of a painting we received in the mail.
I just love this. Jon paints these and sends prints every Christmas. I have saved them over the years, treasuring them, but the collection was one of the many things we had to leave behind when we each could bring only one suitcase and one backpack to Thailand.
Here it is – displayed on my mantle/shelf in my living area. I’m so delighted to have a painting I can proudly display with my other treasures. Thank you, Jon!
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We topped off the morning by stopping for a chocolate drink.
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Yesterday I spent much of the afternoon watching “Dead Poets Society” with Robin Williams. Today I’m doing the prep work for my housekeeper to come clean tomorrow. When that is done, I’ll reward myself spending time between working on my jigsaw puzzle and trying to do some sketches.
I hope you’re having a wonderful day, as well, doing something that brings you joy.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Sleepy Day
Tina Ann
I stayed up especially late last night listening to YouTube singing contest videos. I’m a sucker for someone gathering their courage and trying to sing in front of a huge audience and critical judges. I tear up when they’re successful, cry if they actually win. (I know, I’m hopeless ) 😋
When my photo alarm went off at 5 a.m. this morning, I checked to see if there had been a mistake. I must have set the alarm incorrectly – but, NOOOOO! It was time to get up and get dressed to go to the gym.
I was sitting on the couch, still trying to wake up when Brian texted me that he wasn’t feeling well and wanted to skip the gym today. I decided to go ahead and shower and dress for breakfast and going to visit Harvey at the nursing home.
It’s quite cloudy and my phone app says it will be cloudy and rainy all day. It lies, though, so I decided to go ahead and put the laundry I had washed out on the balcony on the drying rack. I may regret that later – if we’re out and the rain starts – but it won’t be the end of the world.
It’s a perfect day to take a nice nap. I’m fighting that, but I’m not sure for how long. I don’t know what it is about a cloudy day that makes me sleepy, but it works every time. Then if I can hear the rain (and it’s NOT leaking around my windows), I can really rest well.
Brian tells me that once the rainy season is over around the first of November, then it will get HOT and the sun will be super strong, and no rain will fall for weeks at a time. All this is completely new to me. It’s like I have been dropped onto a different planet at times. By the NEXT rainy season, I’ll feel like a veteran. Hopefully, my window leaks will have been fixed and the bucket and towel brigade can be retired.
For now, I’m getting up from the computer every few minutes to keep alert…
Filed under Attitude
Oh, Look! It’s a Bunny!
Michele Banks – @artologica.net.bsky.social
“Hallo, Rabbit,” he said, “is that you?”
“Let’s pretend it isn’t,” said Rabbit, “and see what happens.”
― A. A. Milne
Patrick – @watchinthesky.bsky.social
“Owl,” said Rabbit shortly, “you and I have brains. The others have fluff. If there is any thinking to be done in this Forest–and when I say thinking I mean thinking–you and I must do it.” ― A.A. Milne, The House at Pooh Corner
Filed under Amazing Animals
Wednesday Thoughts 9-24-2025
This is the “bouquet-that-keeps-on-giving.” My wonderful housekeeper left this for me last Friday. It was fully in bloom the nearer you got to the vase, with lots and lots of buds going up the stems. As the days pass, more and more buds have opened up. This is truly an amazing flower. It has brought me such joy!
This sweet little guy greeted me this morning on an a/c unit that belongs to my neighbor, I guess. He wasn’t upset when I got my phone and took a picture of him. He looked at me briefly when I tapped lightly on the glass, and then flew away.
Two new sketches/paintings from yesterday.
We were planning to go visit Harvey at the nursing home this morning. Brian isn’t feeling well this morning, so I’m not sure if we’ll actually go or reschedule it.
I hope you have a beautiful day and evening doing something you love.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
I’m a Box Freak
Like I admitted recently, I have to stay away from places that sell baskets, getting incredibly creative with reasons why I should buy another one, I’m also a wooden box freak. I absolutely love them. I’ve never had a really fancy one, but I see them and simply drool. I’ll share some of them with you here. 🤗
Hajna V. Csorba – Artist – ArtPal. (Painted)
“Ivy Fantasy” – Novica. (Carved)
Quattrociocchi – Fine Woodwork
Reality Daydream. (wood-burned and stained)
SoulfulThingsCo – Etsy. (printed)
Filed under Beautiful Boxes
Take a Break – It’s Smirk Time
Indian Hills – Vince, the Sign Guy
The Sign Maker – Pinterest
The Sign Maker
Filed under Funny Signs - Humor
The Pelican
David Clode – Unsplash
“A wonderful bird is a pelican,
His bill will hold more than his belican.
He can take in his beak
Food enough for a week;
But I’m damned if I see how the helican.” ~Dixon Lanier Merritt
Embla Munk Rynkebjerg – Unsplash
“The pelican is best known for its impressive diving skills and its large bill, which it uses to catch fish.” – Unknown
Matt Bango – Unsplash
“Goal: Clean air, clean clear-running rivers, the presence of Pelican and Osprey and Gray Whale in our lives; salmon and trout in our streams; unmuddied language and good dreams.” – Gary Snyder
Matt Bango – Unsplash
Zazzle
Nathan Dumlao – Unsplash
“I particularly enjoy the great synchronized skeins of pelicans that fly above the waves in summer. How, being animals, they know how to write the letter V just so in the sky is anyone’s guess.” — Sol Luckman
Richard Sagredo – Unsplash
Filed under Amazing Animals
Stunning Flower Photography
@martini8m.bsky.social
@oto2.bsky.social
Dave’s Photos – @davesadventures.bsky.social
@Rina2012.bsky.social
Filed under Awe-Inspiring Photography
Making Fun a Priority
I love these drawings by Tina Ann. I love her lust for life, her gift for making you smile. Some people frown because it says, “AI modified,” and discount it as ‘not art’ or ‘not real.’ I say, “Bah! Humbug! to that.
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I honestly didn’t realize how bogged down I was getting while we were in Arkansas. We lived in a home we loved on top of a ridge line on about 8 acres outside of the town of Greenwood. We built the house in about 1987. We had the house and the shop we built, (then doubled the size of) where we made our ‘yard critters’ out of scrap metal, our decorations for our mailbox out of 4×8 sheet metal, I etched glassware, did mosaics, etc.
We had an absolutely wonderful life for many years, but as we got older, we became less able to take care of it. We didn’t have the money for renovations or huge repairs. We just had to keep up the best we could. My husband continued to ask me to take over technical stuff he had always handled but no longer could. Our health was deteriorating.
Now that I’m in Thailand and am actually fully retired now, a huge weight has left my shoulders!
I start my day with a trip to the gym to walk on the treadmill with concentration on improving my stamina plus my balance that was affected by the anesthesia in the hospital in February. Brian and I share breakfast and then we decide what we’ll do with our day.
Three times a week we spent 3 hours going to see Harvey at the nursing home.
Other than that, unless we have errands to run, I have the rest of the day to myself or a whole day to myself. I am having a wonderful time deciding how I want to spend my day – what I’m going to do for FUN once my laundry is done and my place is straight.
How wonderful is that! I can make doing something fun a priority!!! Whoopeeeeee!!
Today I’ve spent some time in my art alcove after getting my laundry out on my balcony. I’m keeping an eye out for rain, since that is predicted, but the sun is shining brightly now so I may not have to leap up to rescue my stuff. 😁
Brian keeps reminding me that it’s no trouble for him to order an iced coffee for me, so I’ll probably do that a bit later. I may watch a movie, or I may listen to music, work on my puzzle, read my book, take a short walk, do a session of yoga stretches, bop around the room to dance music with my headphones on and my water bottle in each hand, or take a nap, depending on WHAT. I. WANT. TO. DO. Can you imagine that!🤪
I wish that someone had suggested – no, TOLD me – how important it is to your frame of mind and well-being to purposefully include something fun in each and every day possible. It makes you happy when you are a priority even for a few minutes, when something makes you grin from ear to ear or do a happy dance. When you’re happy, you can be a kinder, gentler person to those around you. It’s simply contagious.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Gentle Deer and Fawns
“Baby Fawn” – original graphite drawing by Ashley Benedict
“Live bold, without fear. This is life amongst the deer.” ― Katelyn S. Bolds
@alisontolley.bsky.social
“Like a deer, find strength in your gentleness and power in your grace.” — Unknown
@willjames95.bsky.social
“With eyes wide open and a heart full of courage, the deer navigates the wild.” — Unknown
Stephanie Graham – @logicaphotography.bsky.social
“His antlers trace celestial arcs in the misty dawn, a kaleidoscope of shapes that play with the first timid rays of light.” ― David Passarelli, Mountain poems: Musings on stone, forest, and snow
Filed under Amazing Animals
Get Started!
@wholesomememe.bsky.social
Now this is the attitude I love. The whole idea of doing something for someone ELSE on your birthday, rather than being the center of attention shows a desire to make a difference. This cheeky lady is showing she has a great sense of humor and wants to give others a special day. How refreshing is that! Talk about an inspiration!!! I will try to be more like this amazing lady.
We went to visit Harvey today at the nursing home. It was kind of sad because Harvey wanted to watch TV rather than talk to us, but we wanted him to be interested in something, and that’s exactly what he was doing.
The lady who picked us up to drive us home spoke with Brian much of the way home. It was in Thai, so I didn’t understand any of it, but she smiled warmly at me when I tried to say, “Hello, and wishing you a nice day,” in Thai. Roughly speaking, it sounds like, “Sawat Dee Ka’-ah.”
She took us to a stationery place so I could buy more heavy paper for the cards I make and then we got another Grab to get a chocolate. While we were at the chocolate place, I asked Brian what he and the lady had talked about. It turned out she recognized us, and has driven us out to the nursing home a couple of times now. She asked how Brian’ dad was doing and how I liked being in Thailand. Isn’t that amazingly nice?
I’m enjoying the afternoon now, with time by myself to do whatever I would like. The morning’s rain stopped, so I moved my laundry out onto the balcony. It’s supposed to be rainy all day, and there are some ominous looking clouds, so I’m keeping a watchful eye on the skies as I type.
This is the latest drawing. Those of you who follow the blog know what my ‘inspiration’ for this was. 🤪😜 I’m having a good time trying to get an initial handle on the new puzzle.
I have two more sketches that I did at the cafe to paint, also.
I’m having a great time in the evening listening to YouTube music. There is a search feature where you can talk into the remote, telling it a musician’s or singer’s name and it comes up with videos you can enjoy. I just LOVE that. I’m making a master list of favorite people, plus people I want to listen to to see if I like them or not.
I’m also enjoying watching a favorite movie if I have a totally free afternoon. I’ve watched two so far and look forward to enjoying more. I’m also interested to see what fare Netflix offers in this regard as time passes.
As soon as I finish blog posts for the day, you can giggle at the mental picture of me bopping around my living area with a water bottle in each hand, headphones on and grinning like a nut as I ‘dance’ to music with a heavy beat from the computer. It’s a really fun way to move a lot, exercise my arms and back with weights, all while not seeming to be exercise.
I showed you the flowers my housekeeper left for me last Friday. I think I told you that there are buds all the way to the top of the stems on this glorious display, so it’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Here it is this morning!
I hope you’re having a fabulous day and evening, doing something that gives you loads of pleasure.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
“A Tisket, a Basket…” – 2
Matt Tommey – Tabletop to Pedestal
I would LOVE to have this for my dining area table!
“Even the simplest wicker basket can become priceless when it is loved and cared for through the generations of a family.” ~ Sister Parish
Matt Tommey – YouTube
A new basket is justified by its utility in personal or professional gifting, the convenience and value of a pre-packaged gift, or for retail use as a tool to encourage larger purchases and improve the customer experience. You might also justify buying a new basket to enhance the aesthetic of a space or for practical home organization needs. (I could go on, but you get the idea – there is always a reason to buy another basket.) 🤪
Musgrove Willow
- Storage and Organization: Baskets are functional for various purposes, including storing clothes, furnishings, or other household items.
- Aesthetic Enhancement: Baskets can be used to add artistic or decorative elements to a living space.
- Cultural Significance: The creation and use of baskets have deep cultural and artistic traditions, and incorporating them into your home can be a way to connect with these practices.
Wabanaki Basket – Jessica Hamilton-Jones, Fine Artist
- Personalization: You can customize gift baskets to suit the recipient’s tastes and preferences, making the gift more personal and meaningful than a standard store-bought item.
- Presentation: A gift basket provides a special and memorable presentation that enhances the excitement of the unwrapping experience.
- Versatility: Baskets can hold a wide variety of items, including food, cosmetics, or other goods, offering immense possibilities for a fantastic gift.
- Convenience: Gift baskets can save time and offer a cost-effective way to give a meaningful gift.
These, of course, are works of art and well beyond my ability to actually buy them, though I’m drooling.
AND you begin to see why I banned myself from going into basket stores. I MAY be able to justify buying some for my NEW place, though….
Filed under Beautiful Baskets
creativeartworksblog 