Brian-@balail.bsky.social
Ed Foster-@fo5ered.bsky.social
Helen Alexander-@bawley.bsky.social
Nick Vertsonis Photorgraphy via Eloise Powers
Jay Shetty via@openwings – Substack
Scrap Metal Treasures – 4
Michael
Norma Richter
Terri Orr Hilgerman
TheSawLady.com
wordpress.com
Filed under scrap metal art
Thursday 7-9-2026
Kris Vereecken
I don’t just mean the cliche’ here. I am trying to shed worry about things I can’t do anything about anyway. I am working on NOT imagining possible scenarios that MIGHT – but almost NEVER – happen. I’m concentrating on seeing the good wherever it might be and enjoying every moment of it.
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I’m still working on two sketches today – one of an old woman’s hand (mine) and a church-steeple-spire building I took a picture of recently. If I can finish them today, I’ll share them tomorrow.
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Yesterday afternoon there was a wreck in the street that runs in front of my building. I heard the sound and ran to the window to see a sedan type vehicle and a pink motor scooter with a girl on the ground. I couldn’t tell what had happened. The girl was able to get up and there was no blood. They both took pictures and moved their vehicles to the side of the road, and got on their phones. They were there a LONG time waiting for the police to come. A lady came to sit with the girl, and the two of them eventually went away in an ambulance. (I didn’t see what happened to her scooter.) The man was still waiting (I guess for insurance or possible tow truck) to come. I’m amazed that this doesn’t happen more often. This is the only wreck I have seen the aftermath of in the over a year since I’ve been here.
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I’m trying again on getting my wash from yesterday dry, plus added to it this morning. It’s cloudy, with rain forecast, but hopefully I can get things done today.
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Today is the day I get ready for my housekeeper to come tomorrow. (I will NEVER take this for granted. I have always done my own cleaning, but now am definitely getting too old in the tooth to get down on my hands and knees and scrub anymore.) I will change the sheets on my bed, put out fresh towels everywhere, gather and empty the trash, general straightening, otherwise.
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Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Ryosuke Art – 3
“I draw in charcoal. I write about making, seeing, attention, and the quiet shifts art can bring to daily life. Essays, process, and reflections from a slower way of looking.”
I think his work is amazing. I’m in awe of his talent.
Filed under drawings
Wednesday 7-8-2026
Diamond Art
I love the luxury of being able to sing and dance and carry on with no one watching now that I have my own place alone. I’m too busy having fun to judge myself…
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I told my friend Sheila that I’m going to try doing a squat today. She has been having good success with hangs and squats – each working on her back – upper and lower – plus she is losing inches! I’m so impressed at her efforts. I did tell her that if she doesn’t hear anything more from me, it may be because I’m still on the floor after the squat…
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We’re having a rainy morning, but I’m hoping it’ll clear up soon. I went ahead and put my laundry out on the drying rack on the balcony, hoping that any rain will just be sprinkles and will fall pretty straight down, rather than being blown around. One has to have hope on some things –
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I’m going to do some base painting this morning in hopes of spending some time at the cafe this afternoon. Oddly enough, I’m going to start finding ideas for Christmas cards and start making a few at a time. I went over the list of people I gave cards to last year and have added to it for this year. I make all different cards – each one different – and my list already shows 35 at this point, so it takes a good amount of time. I love to make them, feeling joy in the sketching and then the painting, so I want to get started.
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Today is Wednesday, so I’ll do yoga stretches today. I’m doing leg lifts as a part of that, and – as I mentioned – try the squat. I’m routinely coming down the stairs from Brian’s place to mine. I have on my mental list to try to go up at least one flight and see how it goes. (I can take the elevator the rest of the way.)
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Priscilla Zorrilla – Substack
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Tuesday 7-7-2026
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We went to visit Harvey this morning. He has been largely unresponsive the last several times we have visited. He says, “Hi,” or kisses my hand, but that’s basically it. He is calm and content, comfortable, and just wants to look out the window or watch the TV. He lives in his own little world. We are grateful that the quality of his life seems to satisfy him.
The nursing home is now under new ownership. We met the doctor and his assistant today. It looks like we are all in good hands, and that we may be partners in Harvey’s care, with us all on the same page. That is comforting.
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These are my latest painted sketches.
I just came home from the cafe. I got my favorite spot and sat happily sketching and making notes this afternoon.
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I finally got the border for the chameleon puzzle finished. I may die of old age before finishing this one. There are few clues as to what you’re working on or even what colors you’re working with. This will be a challenge, and the chamelon is right in the middle…
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I’m practicing the Key of C chord progression on my guitar – C – G – Am – F. These are some basic chords that are used in lots of popular songs. Of course, I’m vastly simplifying things, but it’s a start.
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I saw a church steeple sticking up out of the ‘noise’ of the city and took a picture of it. I’m going to see if I can draw at least part of it. I also took pictures of two different lizards lately, one that had a blue head, and the other that blended right in with the rocks. The server at the cafe told me that some of the lizards can fly! I looked it up and they can kind of GLIDE down, some up to 60 or so feet (1) to get away from a predator! I’m going to try to draw them, as well. I started a sketch of an old woman’s hands (mine). I don’t know if I can get it to come out at all well. We’ll see. I’ve also started a rooster.
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Today is Tuesday. That means water bottle exercises. I’ll do those as soon as I finish my blog posts for the day.
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Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Vera Kober Art
Vera Kober Art – Oil and acrylic painter. Flower art, original paintings and the romance of snail mail. Her studio is in Belgium. @verakoberart on Substack
I love so much about Vera Kober’s work – the vibrant colors, the freedom of her designs, and being able to see her brushstrokes.
Filed under paintings I love
Playing with Your Food Again – 3
Rebecca Francis
Rebecca Francis
Zestolla
I have to admit that IF I were talented and creative enough to create any of these fabulous food displays, I would kill anyone who actually even THOUGHT of EATING my creation!!!!
Filed under playing with your food?
Monday 7-6-2026
Barb
I rode down in the elevator with a tall slim lady who was ‘mature’ but not as old as I am – almost no one is. She immediately asked where I was going. I told her I was going to the cafe to do some sketching and have a latte.
She then told me how very lucky I am to have my son. Apparently, she knows about our situation and has watched how carefully he holds my hand when we’re leaving the building, etc. I got the feeling that she lives alone and doesn’t have close family around. She was very nice, and we agreed that Brian was a wonderful man, taking great care of his family – a very rare thing nowadays.
I don’t know if I’ll see her again or get to know her, but it brought home again how very lucky I am to be living here now.
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The glass print of my “Cats on the Beach” jigsaw puzzle arrived yesterday and has taken its place on my ‘statement shelf’ in my living area. I really love having these on my shelves. I’ve never seen anything else like this display and I enjoy having something unique that carries hours of ‘work.🤣’ 😂🧩
My new puzzle of the chameleon is going to be a challenge. I’m still working to put together the border. It will keep me busy for a long time.
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My morning has been nice, with the gym, breakfast, taking my laundry, writing one blog post so far, base painting a giraffe, and more. I’ll practice my guitar in between posts today, do my yoga stretching, try to get at least one more sketch base painted before I go to the cafe this afternoon.
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I found a beautiful, beautiful fireworks display of the actual one put on in D.C., and so enjoyed quite an impressive show, vicariously celebrating the 4th.
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Lotus Beacon
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Little Things –
Brooke Cagle – Unsplash
When I died twice the night of February 11, 2025, the good people who installed a pacemaker also seem to have installed a different OUTLOOK on life.
I got a booster when our son came and helped us, convincing us to move to Thailand and retire where we could be close to him. My husband’s stroke 2 weeks after we arrived was the final piece to my personal life’s puzzle and I am forever changed.
I.L. Williams’ quote above says it all. What USED to be unremarkable is now everything, seen through a grateful new lens.
- I wake up grateful to wake up – methodically rising at 4:30 to get ready for our daily session at the gym. My ‘gym buddy’ encourages me to show up and do what will improve my balance that was compromised in my hospital stay, plus my stamina. My determination to start each day with some discipline and routine sets the tone for the rest of my day.
- This morning was nice, with the pollution index app showing ‘good’ quality air, so I turned off my air filters and opened my windows to enjoy the light and air free flowing into my condo (MY first place by myself EVER.) My son has helped me furnish it with sturdy pieces for my computer area, dining area, TV stand, puzzle table, bedroom stuff, and good chairs.
- The problems my condo had (leaky windows, a shower head that trickled and leaked, a door that stuck – causing me problems getting in and out for a while, among others) have been fixed now. There are remaining issues, but they can wait forever if need be. I LOVE my place!
- My husband is in a good, well run and CARING nursing home. His health issues are grim, but he is calm and comfortable, glad when my son and I visit. I will be forever grateful regarding the timing of our move here -crucial to all the rest. We would have been in dire straits if Harvey’s issues had happened at our old home in the States.
- My health is improving since I finally got the rest of the lard I had been caring around for years OFF. I’ve lost a total of about 95 pounds and about 90 some inches now, and am at a good weight for my height (though I’m shrinking). I am concentrating on eating good food with monitored portions and exercising twice a day (yoga stretches, water bottle exercises, and going down the stairs – and up a little now – plus taking some good supplements and drinking lots more water.
- I have the freedom to arrange most of my days (when we don’t have appointments or are going to visit my husband) to my liking, cramming each one with as many fun things as I have time and energy to do. That freedom increases the calm I feel. I don’t feel rushed. I can spend as much or as little time on things as I would like. How wonderful is that!!
- A short list of my ‘joy’ creators are – writing posts for this blog as first and foremost. I have met many beautiful people through it and answering comments is a high point of my day. I spend a lot of time researching to find things I think are wonderful to share. It is a total joy. Trying to teach myself to draw and then painting the sketches brings me concentration, challenge, and a sense of purpose. I love choosing things to sketch, or making them up, doing the best I can at the time to bring them to paper, doing the base painting at home and then taking my supplies to the cafe to add the details and start new sketches while enjoying a latte. Sometimes I get my favorite spot by the front window, but it’s a joy wherever I’m sitting. Working on a jigsaw puzzle and leaving it out so I can work on it whenever the mood strikes. Practicing trying to relearn and play a used guitar and sing with it eventually is my newest challenge. I used to do this to help make money for my college. Now that’s all gone (it’s been at LEAST 50 years) but I’m enjoying the trying. Reading good books, listening to music, sharing meals with my son.
- New things-listening to birds sing on a regular basis. Finding a cute little gecko sharing my condo with me. Taking a picture of a squirrel in a tree outside my window. Taking pictures of two different lizards that live somewhere around the cafe. Listening to the gazillion frogs that are singing to us as we go to the gym. Gathering fallen flowers and leaves that I’ve never seen before. The joy of watching the Thai people and the tourists walk past the cafe going about their business. Discovering how many hard working Thai people make their living in three-wheeled carts filled to the gills with products or services performed right in the street. Seeing the beautiful women and their sense of style. Goggling at the traffic that continues to amaze me.
- New challenges – trying to learn more Thai phrases and customs. Learning about the money and making simple transactions. Taking short walks in my neighborhood – going around the block so I don’t have to cross the street – which is a master course in not getting hit or causing anyone problems.
- New joys – meeting more and more Thai people who have to be some of the kindest people on the planet.
These “little” things encompass my life now and cause the happiness to simply bubble up inside me and spill over. I’m so grateful for a 2nd chance at life to fully live each day, totally aware of how lucky I am, how much I have now, and a purpose to enjoy every moment.
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“Life is just a lot of everyday adventures.”
― Carol Ryrie Brink, Caddie Woodlawn
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
In Otter News – 3
The person behind In Otter News on Substack is SO on my wave-length. I snort, I giggle, chortle (yes!) , groan, and say ‘awwww.’ I never fail to react to what I see or the caption. SO creative and witty! Just love it!
Filed under Substack
Sunday 7-5-2026
Harris County Public Library
I hope that you and your family are enjoying the celebration of our country’s 250th birthday, and that you’re full of food, feeling fabulous and full, and have enjoyed a wonderful display of fireworks.
I will see if I can find coverage of some fireworks later today.
Yesterday when we visited my husband, I reminded Harvey about the holiday where he spent the whole evening setting off fireworks because the lights of the fireworks were basically the only thing my dad was still able to see, due to his severe cataracts. My dad cried he was so happy. If I hadn’t fallen in love with Harvey already, I would have that night. When I talked to him about it, he didn’t remember, but then said, “Well, I always loved to blow stuff up.”
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I just finished practicing my guitar. My fingertips are yelling at me. I found some information on chord progressions, so I made notes and have started practicing the first basic one. I’m hoping to train my head, ears, and fingers to “hear” the progressions, stretching my fingers to form the chords in the progression, and remember them as a kind of unit while I hum along with them.
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I finished sketching a base painting some thank you cards this morning. I’ll take them to the cafe in a while and add the details to finish them. I gave one to Harvey’s nurse yesterday, and she was giggling as she went down the hall.
I saw my neighbors yesterday – a man and his son. The boy was taking a robot head he fashioned out of cardboard and painted for school. I told him I really liked it and he simply lit up the elevator with his smile. I decided to make a card for him showing a robot swinging in a tree swing to give him the next time I see them.
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Here are my latest painted sketches –
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Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Duncan Crombie Art – 2
* Duncan kindly sent me a correction in my first post about his art. He said, “synthart’ is a generic term referring to synthography, and not the Italian studio of the same name :)”
Duncan Crombie of Blue Sky
@the-art-of-web.com
Filed under Synth Art
Saturday 7-4-2026
Yello by Hunter Schwarz
It’s the 4th of July here in Thailand. I don’t know whether any of the expats here will make fireworks happen tonight or tomorrow night, but it would be really nice. If not, I’ll look on the net and see what I can find. Happy birthday, USA. May our future look brighter each year.
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These are my latest painted sketches. I just came home from spending a nice afternoon at the cafe. I’m working on a bunch of stuff I’ll share as soon as they are finished. My head is spinning lately with ideas for what I’d like to try to draw.
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We went to visit Harvey at the nursing home this morning. He was glad to see us, but didn’t have anything much to say. As we were leaving, he did ask where my guitar was. That was it for communication. We talked to HIM, held his hands, hugged him. He seemed calm.
I gave his nurse a thank you card today. She is very young and very shy. I keep trying to make her feel more comfortable with us. We are very grateful for the good care she is giving Harvey. She even sent Brian a video with Harvey eating some French fries earlier this week. I told Brian I didn’t know he was having some delivered. He said he didn’t. The sweet nurse, Khun Pim (pronounced “Peem”) ordered them for him! Brian helped me give her the card, since even though I presented it in both hands to show her it was for her, she wasn’t sure. She seemed to really like it, smiling broadly, and laughing as she went down the hall. 😁
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Our weather was surprisingly good today. I thought it would rain on us, and hurried to get my laundry in off the drying rack on the balcony, but it wasn’t necessary. It may still rain, but it didn’t bother any of our activities.
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I just finished The Goodest Boy, Volume 2: Heartwarming Dog Stories by I.L. Williams. I can’t say enough about it. I kind of expected sappy, sweet stories that would be pleasant to read. I was amazed to find deep, profound stories about the ‘duty’ dogs have to their human, to be what they need, whether the humans think they want it or not, changing their lives forever. Each story shows a different purpose a dog might fulfill for their humans. The stories grab you immediately, some of them written from the dog’s point of view, making you see the connection in a different light, making you think, making you feel. I have finished this, but I’m going to keep it on my Kindle so I can re-read it. I think I’ll learn something more each time I treat myself to living in their worlds again. I’m providing the link for you. Give yourself a really special treat. I have already downloaded another book of hers. 😁
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Filed under Thoughts on a ________
“Tote That Barge!” – 2
Pinterest – Etsy
Sophia – Solunessa-Etsy
Sophia – Solunessa-Etsy
Vintage by Tung-Etsy
Filed under tote bags
Scrap Metal Treasures – 3
itinsightus
John Algree-Ussing
Jordan Sprigg
Jordan Sprigg
Knov Hov
Filed under scrap metal art
Friday 7-3-2026
Jutta Bauer – PsychoBitch
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I’m having my usual Fabulous Friday. I did fine this morning at the gym. We had a good breakfast and I got a truly wonderful massage. It had been a while since I thanked the two ladies especially, so I gave them hand-painted thank you cards today. They seemed to really like them, smiling and showing each other the card they received. :0)
Brian and I just had a snack and we’re spending some time at my place and then will move to the cafe to be out of the housekeeper’s way in a bit. Meanwhile, I’m writing posts for the blog and catching up on some other things.
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These are my latest sketches. The bottom one shows two women on their hands and knees scrubbing the outside, floor, and steps of a building with rags, a brush, and buckets of soap. I was really impressed at how hard they worked and that it seemed to be a normal part of their duties.
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When I came home from the cafe yesterday afternoon, Brian was at my place finishing up installing a brand new shower assembly! The shower head I was using was 7/8 clogged and the whole thing was leaking pretty badly. It had gotten to the point where I was scrunching myself up in the corner in order to get enough water to soap up, wash my hair, and rinse off again. Brian called the maintenance man who brought a tool to install a means of securing the bottom part of the assembly more securely, and the job was done!
This morning was the first time I used it. I was in Heaven! I didn’t want to come out. I actually have a luxurious rain head in there now, plus a 2nd hand-held head if desired (you can switch back and forth) plus it’s the one the housekeeper uses for cleaning the shower. I already had the instant hot water heater, so I’m simply delighted!
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I had a fun time at the cafe yesterday. A lady from China (I think) stopped and asked me if she could see some of my sketches. I showed her, and we had a really nice conversation. She is an artist and does her drawings on something electronic. She showed me a drawing of an eye that was stunning. She was really good. Anyway, she was going back home yesterday afternoon, but it was the kind of spur of the moment thing that can happen in a large city like this that has a lot of tourists. I just love it!
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Pamela Schifano – Mermaid Musings – @pammypoo on Substack
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Playing with Your Food Again – 2
Lisa Peters
Mariateresa Pellegrino
Martha Lopez
Filed under playing with your food?
Thursday 7-2-2026
Tracy Chrest on Substack – @tracychrest989204
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My weather here is supposed to be quite rainy here today. (100% chance, according to my phone.) “Heavy rain warning. Rainy conditions will continue all day.”
Earthwise Windows
Nevertheless, it’s really nice now, so I have my windows open and am enjoying the breezes. Everything is getting aired out after having a long space when I’ve had to have everything closed, so my spirits are lifting as the breezes blow through. I’ll keep a watchful eye on things so I can leap up and close everything up, if needed.
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I received my new puzzle yesterday afternoon! Woo Hoo!
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Here are my latest painted sketches –
I saw a plant whose leaves looked like elephant heads to me, so I did this sketch.
This little guy is dressed up in his new cowboy gear.
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I’ll do water bottle exercises this afternoon. I’ll also practice my guitar chords (and croaking, aka singing), read some more of my book, see if I can get a start on my puzzle, and more.
Happy Day!
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Candy Vickers – Ingenious Umbrellas
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Wednesday – Happy July!
joliecarte.com
Lake Girl
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The sun is out now, but it was raining earlier and I think we have a 100% chance of heavy rain off and on today, at least according to the weather app on my phone. Since the “bucket and towel brigade” seems to have been given the go-ahead to retire, I can simply smile and look outside, or take my umbrella if I’m going out. Hooray!
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These are my latest painted sketches. I’m doing the base painting on two more today, plus working on a sketch that shows two women scrubbing an outside porch and steps. I’m also going to TRY to draw an old lady’s hands (mine). That will be super difficult and may be totally beyond my abilities now, but I’ve been dreaming about it.
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I opted out of the gym this morning. For some strange reason, I really didn’t sleep well. I ate breakfast with Brian, came back to my place, stretched out on the couch and slept until about an hour ago. I feel much better now. I’ll do a good session of yoga stretches this afternoon.
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I’m reading a good book called “The Goodest Boy, Volume 2: Heartwarming Dog Stories” by author I.L. Williams. I follow him on Substack and I can’t say enough about his posts and his writing and his heart.
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Teresa McBee – Ingenious Umbrella
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Duncan Crombie Art
I love the art of Duncan Crombie of Blue Sky. I think it’s fascinating and can’t get enough of it.
It is synthart – “SynthArt: An Italian generative art studio founded by Valeria Pistilli and Michele Durante. It focuses on “symphonography” (the craft of creating images using Artificial Intelligence) by combining AI-generated concepts with hand-finishing, resulting in certified, museum-quality printed artwork and bespoke wallpapers.”*
You can find his work on Blue Sky at @the-art-of-web.com
* Duncan kindly sent me a correction. He said, “synthart’ is a generic term referring to synthography, and not the Italian studio of the same name :)”
Thank you, Duncan. I love your work.
Filed under Synth Art
Playing With Your Food Again
Donna Grace
Dreamy Food Palace
Gummies Snacks
Jing Cheng
Filed under playing with your food?
Tuesday 6-30-2026
Pamela Schifano – @pammypoo on Substack
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We visited Harvey at the nursing home this morning. He was calm. He wasn’t hurting. He seemed glad to see us, but didn’t have much to say, other than asking if I had gotten the guitar when I mentioned that I was trying to learn the chords again. Other than that, we held his hands, hugged him, and sat with him.
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I’ve just come back from spending a very nice couple of hours at the cafe sketching. I got my favorite spot, enjoyed an iced latte (with reduced sugar) and spent my time between sketching and watching life outside the window.
These are my latest painted sketches. I did two sketches at the cafe today, plus started one where I’m trying to show some ladies scrubbing the porch and steps area of a building. They were down on their hands and knees with scrub brushes, rags, and buckets.
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One Green Planet
I played with the incline on the treadmill today, increasing it every 5 minutes for about half of my walking time. It makes me work harder, but didn’t bother my balance, so I was happy. Before dinner, I’ll do my water bottle exercises to work my arms and back.
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When I left my clothes at the laundry yesterday, I gave the lady a “thank you” card. She has been very patient with my efforts to understand the system, try to give her the correct change, etc., so I wanted to show her I appreciate her kindness. She seemed happy with the card, and indicated she would put it in a special book she had on her desk. :0)
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Pattaya Mail
We are forecast to get a lot of rain the next 10 days. Unlike Arkansas, when rain comes, you basically need to reschedule the whole day, here it’s like a faucet was turned on. It rains like crazy for a bit, then the faucet is turned off and the sun comes out. This may happen over and over, but it usually isn’t cause to change your plans. If this happens when I’m at the cafe, for example, I just wait until the faucet turns the water off and go home between showers. I carry my umbrella and my rain suit this time of the year wherever I go, plus take my hoodie if I only need a bit of protection from the rain.
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Hennie – Ingenious Umbrellas
Filed under Uncategorized
creativeartworksblog 