Delicious Driftwood Sculpture
Filed under Driftwood Art, When Wood Comes Alive
Togetherness
hahahahahahahahahaha. I love this. :0)
As you probably agree, being stuck at home during the pandemic followed by being snowed in, and then iced in within a three week period can be challenging. My wonderful SIL and I discuss the idea of a “deep hole in the back yard” (I won’t tell you in WHOSE back yard) beckons when faced with too many challenges of living with our spouses.
My mantra is ‘one day at a time,’ and I’m trying to consciously be as nice as I can while engineering ways to get some space and time to myself each day. I figure if we each do that, we probably come out in the middle – and the hole in the back yard won’t be utilized…
Filed under Challenges
Too Much Comfort!
Being iced in and eating comfort food is making my scales smirk at me again. Can you say, ‘Yo-yo?”
It’s 23 now, but it’s supposed to get to 40 this afternoon, with a slow warming trend in the coming days. Our driveway looks like a ski slope, and when we’re stupid enough to try to walk on it, where we walked doesn’t show, as the ice is still much too solid to allow footprints. It’ll be at LEAST another day or two before we venture out – at least I HOPE my husband doesn’t decide to be all macho about it.
When I looked out this morning, my eyes actually hurt, looking at the bright sunshine bouncing off the ice-covered EVERYTHING. It seems as if you can see every branch on every tree. Very pretty, but WAY too cold for me.
My husband requested that I make chicken chunks, onion, mushrooms, and soup over rice for our dinner this evening. I can FEEL the scales smirk. At this rate, a crane will be needed to pull me up out of my chair…
I HAVE been doing my yoga, though, so I’m starting to loosen up, and THAT feels wonderful. I’m doing a session each afternoon.
Since we’re still iced in, no Lunch Bunch today. I called each of my friends, and we visited a bit. Hopefully, NEXT Friday will be a time we can get together again.
Have a wonderful Friday.
Filed under DIET!, exercise, Thoughts on a ________, weather
It’s Okay
“It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay
If you’re lost, we’re all a little lost and it’s alright
It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay
If you’re lost, we’re all a little lost and it’s alright”
Rest In Peace.
Filed under Encouragement
Louise Freeman Ceramics
Louise Freeman Ceramics – quirkyceramics.com
Filed under ceramics, Clay Art, Louise Freeman Ceramics
Thoughts on a Thursday 2-24-2022
It LOOKS like it snowed outside, but it’s SLEET. We’re lucky about that, since according to what I’ve read, sleet doesn’t accumulate on power lines. Today the forecast is for sleet, freezing rain, and rain. I really didn’t know the difference between ‘sleet’ and ‘freezing rain’, so I looked it up. ‘Freezing rain’ falls as rain and pretty much freezes on contact. ‘Sleet’ falls as already-frozen pellets of differing sizes. I guess the difference between ‘sleet’ and ‘hail’ is the size of the pellets. Not sure what the dividing line is between the two – WHEN ‘sleet’ becomes ‘hail.’ At any rate, it’s all white, all cold, and is a problem when it’s on the ground.
When my husband took Amber out last night, he remarked that he didn’t leave any footprints in the white stuff. It was solid and really slippery. UGH. It’s supposed to start warming up tomorrow.
We’re lucky we have a warm, dry house, power, food, and water.
Since I am powerless to do anything about most of what’s happening in the world, I am again basically hiding from it and trying to not drown in despair. I hate that there are power hungry tyrants in the world making innocent people suffer. I hate that so many decisions are based on people trying to get and maintain power and control others. If I had a magic wand, I would sure be waving it right now.
I’ve been happily finding more evidence of more of the talent and creativity in the world. It’s truly wonderful to be able to type in a few words and be taken to more places than I have time to research, finding jaw-dropping things that people have created that I’ve never seen before. I’ve decided that almost ANYTHING can be made into art. Just put something out there. One person with vision will see it differently – will see the potential of it – and will create something breathtaking.
Yesterday I found some wonderful things I’ll be sharing with you during the coming days. I hope you’re able to stay safe, warm, dry, and smiling today.
Filed under Challenges, Thoughts on a ________, weather
Bits and Pieces
Art is all around us. Sometimes I find the work of an artist who is new to me and I share it with you. More often I find things on Pinterest that I love one at a time. I wanted to share a few that I’ve found lately –
Filed under Favorite Things
It’s Still Winter
Although winter is not my favorite season, there are things I love about it –
Snow people and critters are one of my favorite things. Again, the creativity shown by people amazes me.
- I love snowball fights (though not HARD snowballs in my face),
- making snow angels,
- walking around while it’s snowing trying to catch snowflakes on my tongue,
- appreciating fresh snow blanketing everything,
- the QUIET after a snow,
- riding on a sled
- I also love making hot chocolate and other comfort foods to enjoy when people come in from the cold.
All the acorn images are by Petr Vaclavek – Dubanci,cz
Filed under acorn art, Petr Vaclavek - Dubanci.cz, Seasons
Ice!
We awoke to sleet. When my husband went out to fill up our birdfeeders, he said we were having ‘ice balls.’ It’s 18 degrees. You can HEAR the sleet on the windows. I stood on the porch to get the feel of things and decided we’re very lucky to have a warm, dry house. (I just looked out the office window from my office chair. There is a bird feeder in the window, and I could SEE the balls of sleet bouncing off the feeder.) This is supposed to continue until TOMORROW evening, so things could get bad. We still have power, and our generator test worked LAST Thursday, so hopefully we have back up. I THINK I might have mentioned that winter is NOT my favorite season and that I’m MORE than ready for spring…
I’ve been enjoying listening to lots of music lately. I’m a sucker for The Voice, American Idol, and The X Factor, or ________’s Got Talent. I watch the clips on my computer. It’s heartwarming to see how much talent there is in the world, how many truly unique voices and styles they have. I wish all of them could go on to great success doing what they love. I’m also newly in love with Merrick Hanna, whose dance audition several years ago brought me to tears.
Since we’re stuck in the house, I’m trying to bounce between listening to music, reading, cleaning something, exercising, and back again over and over throughout the day.
I hope that the weather where you are isn’t bad. If it IS, I hope you can stay where you are safe, warm, and dry.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________, weather
Wire Sculpture by Rupert Till
Filed under Wire Art
Terrific Topiary
Nice View
Our son is now a property owner all the way across the world from us. This is a view from the condo he bought. Property ownership will make him more secure – always a good thing.
We are happy for him. He is living where he wants to live, although the next dream is a second home ‘in the country’ there. He is as safe and secure as there is in the world today. He is able to live the way he wants. It just doesn’t get better. WE would be happier if he had someone to share his life with. My husband pressures him for ‘rug rats.’
Happily, he seems to be accepting our words about how proud we are of the man he is. I honestly have never personally known anyone who is kinder or more generous than he.
May he be ‘happy as clam’ (where did this expression come from? Are clams really happy?) in his new place.
Mister Finch 2
Filed under Embroidery/Sewing Art
Thoughts on a Wet Tuesday
The rains started last night with a lot of thunder and lightning. They continue today. I’m not griping TOO loudly, though, as this is much better than what we’ll have starting tomorrow – ICE. Ugh.
We’ll leave in about half an hour to run errands, keeping appointments and picking up supplies for the coming winter storm.
I’m very happy we have a warm, dry home to ‘weather’ the storm in. I have to admit I’m more than ready for spring to arrive, though. Yesterday we saw veggie plants for sale at the local hardware store. Just too soon to plant, as far as I’m concerned. I don’t want to have to cover the plants every night from now to mid March – though I really felt drawn to the plants…
Stay warm and safe.
Filed under Mother Nature, Seasons, Thoughts on a ________, weather
AND Flying Hairballs!
Mother Nature is trying to give us a lesson in humility, and not taking her for granted in the next few days.
This morning, while the weather was nice, we went to Ft. Smith to leave our tax stuff with our wonderful CPA. While we were there, we were able to swing by and see my good friend Nora, who is office manager at an insurance agency. I hugged her neck quickly, then again, because we don’t get to see each other often.
Tonight Mother Nature is serving us some possibly severe weather. Tonight-into-tomorrow, heavy rain and thunderstorms, some possibly dangerous. Heavy rain tomorrow, and then ice and snow Wednesday and Thursday. Great week, huh!
We will do errands tomorrow and pick up supplies in case we’re stranded up on our hill again. I rescheduled my massage that would have been Thursday, so that won’t be a worry anymore.
Yesterday I gathered a few more blooming daffodils for us to enjoy inside. They were lying on the ground, but still pretty. My favorite is the one that dares to be different in the center of the pic. I wish I could bring them ALL in. Hopefully, there will be more after the freeze, ice, and snow of Wednesday and Thursday.
Stay safe and warm!
Filed under Mother Nature, weather
The Incomparable Calvin Nicholls
Calvin Nicholls – 3-D Paper Sculpture – DailyMail.com
Filed under Calvin Nichols, paper art
Sleeping When Old
There is one large perk in getting older that I am cherishing more and more.
I think a lot of people have trouble sleeping as they age. This becomes much less of a problem when you retire and no longer have to show up ready to put in a good day’s work. In fact, it’s life saving.
My husband and I vary all over the block on how we sleep. We have always stayed up late, heading up for bed around 11:30, midnight, or after. Sometimes I have trouble actually GETTING to sleep. Other times I wake up with my hips hurting, or have had a bad dream, or….
I come downstairs and read until I’m sleepy again. We don’t get up until 8am, so this usually isn’t a problem.
Last night I noticed the light was on downstairs and joined my husband about 3am. We read for awhile, and then went up to sleep. I again noticed the light on later, but was too sleepy to join him again. I don’t know what time it was. Then he was up when I woke up again at 7. I got dressed and we started our day.
We will both probably end up asleep in our recliners after lunch.
It’s a really good thing we can plan our day – usually – around how we are feeling. We have times during the day when we feel awake, alert, and energetic, and times we can hardly keep our eyes open. The perk of being able to give in and sleep when you would like is a luxury beyond price.
It may be an odd way to live, but we aren’t bothering anyone else so we’ll take it.
Filed under aging
3-Star Day
I did my yoga practice to earn one star, then my husband and I took off the fragile tarps and bungee cords from the garden planters and replaced them with new tarps and cords. We also put new tarps on the cement mixer we use to mix our Mel’s Mix for the garden planters and the pile of potting soil bags we keep to replenish the brick planters around the house. With temperatures in the 60s and bright sunshine, it was the perfect day to do it – earning a second star. The third was for the scales smiling a bit at me yesterday.
We have another stellar weather day today before things deteriorate tomorrow and into the coming week. I’ll make sure to get outside and walk around the yard this afternoon to show my appreciation for the day.
_______________
I actually just came in from walking around the yard and taking a few pics to share. I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to spring. As we uncovered the planters before covering them up again yesterday, I wished I could start playing in the dirt.
I also took some pics on the way back to the house from the shop and garden –
I love wandering around the yard. I had to stop myself from spending time weeding and getting ready for spring, since I wasn’t wearing a jacket and it was in the 40s out there now. I’m still hoping the weather people have it wrong and we won’t get ice Wednesday and Thursday….
Ivan Lovatt Chickenwire Art 3
Ivan Lovatt Chickenwire Art – http://www.designstack.co
Ah, Sunshine!
It’s chilly now, but it’s supposed to get into the 50s this afternoon. Ahhhhh. Nice weekend ahead for us and I’ll take it. I’m afraid I’ll have to reschedule my happily-anticipated massage on Thursday of next week – if the weather people are right – due to forecast ‘wintry mix,’ (especially ice), on Wednesday and maybe Thursday, as well. Did I tell you I’m ready for spring?
I’m feeling good today, having lost a bit more poundage – almost 4.5 lbs this week – and I did my yoga practice again yesterday. I’ve decided I will try to do my yoga each afternoon. I’m feeling less stiff and sore and hope to improve my practice each day.
I thanked my lucky stars when I discovered Cat Kabira a couple of years ago. I found her on a website called Sixty and Me. I bought the DVD they were selling to get seniors into yoga. I didn’t want to wind myself into a pretzel shape or fold myself into a paper airplane, but I did like the idea of getting and staying more flexible, alleviating pain, and improving my balance.
I now do my own thing on yoga stretches, but the thing that Cat stressed was that no one gives you awards for putting your hands flat on the floor after touching your toes, or bending forward while sitting and putting your face on the floor in front of you. (Good thing!) :0)
The thing that is important is that you stretch yourself in that DIRECTION and then breathe into it. You will improve as you learn to relax into the positions and you will get the same benefit as if you HAD touched the floor. THAT freed me from feeling defeated before I started.
As I’ve told you, I’m a champion hard-head, so I have to keep reminding myself that the benefits don’t continue if you don’t practice. So now I’m almost starting at square one, stretching TOWARD where I would like to go, trying to get my poor, sore and stiff body to relax into it once again. I AM starting to feel a difference, and my husband noticed I was doing better yesterday.
I’m on a roll with my determination to ‘shut my mouth and practice yoga daily.’ Hopefully, I can keep this going.
Filed under DIET!, exercise, Thoughts on a ________, weather
Stars for the Day
My husband said I deserved a star for the day when I finished my yoga practice a few minutes ago. :0)
I’m really trying hard with it after NOT doing it for way too long. My poor body has stiffened up. I finally started it again because I really didn’t feel well. I was waking up in the middle of the night with my hips hurting, etc. In other words, I was paying for my sloth and had to re-teach myself that yoga is important to my health.
I’ve been doing it this week. The first time, I really had trouble and was cracking and popping like the old Rice Krispies Cereal. Do they even make that anymore? I’ll have to check. I’m still having trouble, but I’m doing a bit better each time.
I’m only doing old lady yoga with lots of good stretches in all directions and a concentration on relaxing into each position, rather than standing on my head or folding myself into a paper airplane. I feel looser when I finish and am hoping I can sleep through the night soon.
The fact that my husband has noticed and approves of my efforts means a lot. I gave myself a silver sparkly star on my desk calendar today. In fact, I gave myself two – one for the yoga and the other because I’m starting to get the lard off again, being down 2.5 lbs this week.
Onward and downward!
Filed under exercise
Olga Teplolino Thread Art
Olga Teplolino Russian Thread Art – MyOwlBarn.com
Amy Romaniec Pottery
Amy Romaniec – Highhorsefarm.com
Filed under ceramics, Clay Art, highhorsefarm.com
2 of 3
I was able to get and print 2 of the 3 things I need from our investment accounts this morning. As soon as I can get the third, we can bag up or tax stuff and take it to our CPA. I always feel so much better when my part of this is done for another year.
I have all appendages crossed that our weather cooperates with me so I can get my massage next week. We’re supposed to get rain Monday and Tuesday, with a possible ‘wintry mix’ Wednesday, just in time for my massage on Thursday. My body would really be grateful if we can keep that appointment.
I’m doing better with my yoga, though. I’m starting to loosen up again, although it will be awhile before I get back to where I was. Why do I have to prove to myself over and over again that this old woman really NEEDS these stretches? I could win a prize for ‘hardest head’ I think. I’m also doing better at keeping my mouth shut this week. I’ve lost 2.5 lbs and hope to continue this, earning gold stars on my calendar. :0)
We’ll leave for Lunch Bunch in about an hour. It was SOOOO good to finally have most of us there last week. I just got a text saying two of us won’t be there. :0( Hopefully, Kay will be there.
I hope you have a wonderful Friday.
Filed under Challenges, Friendship, Thoughts on a ________, weather
creativeartworksblog 