Mikaela Bartlett – BoredPanda.com
Filed under Embroidery/Sewing Art, Felted Wool Art
My husband recommended the Robert B Parker books to me years ago. I think I have all he wrote by himself. He wrote a couple with his wife, Joan, and others are trying to add to his legacy, but I have collected only his.
I’m enjoying re-reading my collection. I started with his “Spenser” series on which “Spenser for Hire,” the TV series, was based. I’m reading #24 “Small Vices.” My husband can always tell I’m reading a Parker book because I tend to snort or laugh out loud at his dry sense of humor. His love for sarcasm is right down my alley. He uses no filters – just comes out with the stuff you wish you had the courage to say, but don’t.
I find his Spenser character fascinating because he is so self-contained, doggedly hard-working, determined to get the answers he wants, and has the will to do what he thinks is right, regardless of the consequences. His deep love for Susan melts me into a puddle. It is all pervasive and has no limit. It’s forever – and joyfully. Who could resist that?
There are only 40 in the series by Parker. I’m reveling in the world he created.
Filed under Favorite Authors & Books
The news is depressing. It seems to accentuate the hostility that some have for others who have different beliefs. I remind myself of the wonderful friends and family I have, to look at people as individuals, rather than painting with a broad brush – and not to fall into the trap of labeling people.
There are so many good, talented people in our world. There is such beauty. Sometimes we just have to dig deeper and search harder, while keeping hope alive.
Filed under Attitude, Encouragement, hope
I’m weird. (I know. You already knew.) :0)
I think that MOST people crave sweets when they are trying to watch what they are eating. I crave salty things, bread and starches, like pasta, rice, potatoes.
I AM getting better about reading labels, though, and try to get the lower sodium options, or decide not to buy things if they’re loaded with salt. I used to have the table salt right where we ate. I have now moved that. If I want to add salt, I have to actually get up and go get it. I use a bit of salt to cook, but try to use season salt, rather than regular. (It just occurred to me that I could make the “getting-up-to-get-salt” a part of my exercise plan, but I think that’s really pushing it. :0) )
Filed under DIET!, Funny Signs - Humor
Filed under Stone/Pebble Art
Filed under Favorite Quotes, Poohisms
Filed under Embroidery/Sewing Art, Felted Wool Art
My scales are finally beginning to take notice of my efforts to lose the lard.
Though I vary on eating between meals, my basic program remains the same. I am eating healthy individual portion frozen dinners prepared by good people at either REAL FOOD or STU’S CLEAN COOKIN’ in Greenwood. The ingredients and amounts are listed on the meals. No unpronounceable additives or preservatives are used.
Otherwise, a sandwich or tuna salad, sugar-free jello, and olives or grapes for lunch.
Now that our weather is finally warming up, I don’t dread spending time on my elliptical trainer in the garage as much. I’m trying to do 35 minutes on it three times a week and my yoga stretches every day. I’m doing pretty well at that, even though I have missed days due to helping my husband fix all the stuff that is falling apart around here lately.
I gave up on my efforts to start seeds. I got some messy sprouts, but all were trying their best to die, so I stopped. My title as ‘Serial Seed Killer” remains. :0( Happily, some plants are available locally. I’m trying to decide if I should go ahead and plant things, even though our average last frost date isn’t until April 5th.
I hope that today is a good day for you.
Filed under Attitude, DIET!, exercise, Gardening, Square Foot Gardening - Raised Beds
Mikaela Bartlett, BoredPanda.com
Filed under Embroidery/Sewing Art, Felted Wool Art
Though it’s on my wish list, we have very few quiet days around here.
I’ve told you that things are falling apart around here lately. We are having to jump from one thing to the next, sometimes trying to juggle several things at once, trying to keep our heads above water.
We are waiting for our propane supplier to call us – hoping that one of their delivery people can stop by the next time they are in our area to help us get the pilot light lit for the heater in the shop. I’m assuming that because my husband can’t do it this time, it needs something replaced. We are in a good holding place on this problem. Everything is turned off. We don’t HAVE to work in the shop, and the weather is gradually getting warmer anyway.
I told you that my husband ran over something in the road on the way back from Ft. Smith last week, resulting in a flat and our having to order two tires. The turn signals quit working and the exhaust system is rattling now. The wonderful Vette designers made it so the whole front of the Vette has to come off to work on – or change – the turn signals. We are planning to take it to the dealer in Ft. Smith tomorrow and leave it with both problems to be fixed. THEN, when the tires arrive, we will take it to the local tire place to have the new tires mounted and balanced. Hopefully, that will finish THAT project.
I THINK that is the last of the series of things we have been dealing with the past month of so. (Knock on wood) I’m very glad to be enjoying the LAST day of February!
I saw the local hardware store is selling veggie plants! I may break down and get some. The seeds I started may one day finally be strong enough to go out in the garden, but I’m not depending on that. The plants are calling to me. L- I -N -N- N—- D- A! WE’RE W- A- A- A- A- I- T- I -N -G F O R Y O U !!!!!!!! :0)
Happy last day of February. I hope it’s a fun day for you.
Megan Nedds – The Woolen Wagon – Etsy.com
Filed under Embroidery/Sewing Art, Felted Wool Art
Just kidding. :0)
My husband has Type II Diabetes, so we cut out as much sugar as possible several years ago. That, along with medication, is keeping his blood sugar at a good level. He really had to work to do it. He LOVES sweets. He even calls ME “Sugar.” I’m really proud of him that he is building good habits. He does splurge, but we monitor blood sugar twice a week and pay attention to it.
We had two places start up in Greenwood this year – REAL FOOD and STU’S CLEAN COOKIN.’ Both provide individual serving frozen meals that are HEALTHY and DELICIOUS.
Today I’m cooking a chuck roast in the slow cooker, but most of our days are built around having one of their frozen meals, or the ones I make from the leftovers we have. We have a sandwich or tuna salad for lunch, and we try not to eat much in-between. It seems to be working for us, albeit slowly.
In these days when we need to be particularly careful about our health (we are in the high risk group for COVID) it just makes sense to also eat as healthy as possible and try to lose the lard.
Filed under DIET!, taking care of yourself
Filed under Bethany Kerr, drawings, Glynnis Miller
I’ve been taught that to think of yourself first is selfish. We didn’t talk about it that much that I remember, but somehow I felt guilty even considering what I wanted. Now that I’m older and supposedly wiser, I think that making yourself a priority and meeting your own needs is important, if not essential, to then reaching out and helping others. I admit I’m still ambivalent, feeling a twinge as I typed the last sentence, but I think that when you are hurting, it takes up all the oxygen in the room, no matter how hard you try to move past it and carry on.
I always have a long to-do list. Only in the last several months have I listed my time on the elliptical trainer in the garage and my yoga practice as “priorities” for the day, rather than merely included on the list as “shoulds” IF the time and energy are found when the other things are done. The same thinking has applied to the idea of including some FUN in my day – even if only a little bit of time – done when the ‘important’ things had been accomplished.
Even if it’s “selfish,” I am now actively considering what I want.
I’m considering it a priority to eat right – but to also enjoy any splurges with gusto.
It’s a priority to keep moving, doing ‘regular’ exercises or work outside, or talking a walk, or SOMETHING to make me as strong and healthy as possible.
I’m consciously making time each day to do something that brings me joy, whether it be reading a favorite book, playing in my art room, enjoying the good weather outside, learning something new, reaching out to a friend, etc.
I’m trying to push the ‘shoulds” to the bottom of my to-do list. If I can check one off, that’s great, but not of the highest priority anymore.
I’m working at trying to alleviate stress – something that has been taking up a lot of time and effort lately. A favorite quote is “Do what you can, with what you’ve got, where you are”. (Attributed to Theodore Roosevelt)
Filed under Attitude, quality of life, taking care of yourself
Filed under drawings, Glynnis Miller
Filed under Attitude, Encouragement, I'm a slob, kindness
Filed under Fun with Fingerpaint, Iris Scott
I want to adopt this dog. NOW. I simply melted into a puddle when I saw his little face.
If you’ve been following the blog, you know our generator suddenly wasn’t working. Yesterday we found a man in Ft Smith who could look at the starter motor to see if he could fix it. It turned out he couldn’t, but he had a new one for us. I was asleep when he called, and my husband insisted he would go and pick it up.
I was worried by the time he returned. He said he ran over something on the way home that flattened a tire. He was able to limp to a tire store and buy a used tired to get home. So now we have bought a new starter motor for the generator and ordered two new tires for the Vette. Oh, joy.
We worked on the starter motor most of the remaining afternoon until dark. He was able to get the motor in and running, but will have to tweak it today. He said he had to loosen something to get the motor out that apparently controls the speed of the motor. He will see if he can get that into the proper position today. I hoping this goes smoothly and solves our problem. He really had to work hard yesterday.
I am also hoping for a quiet day so I can get back to exercising. Both my husband and I have been either doing errands quickly, putting out ‘fires’, or working on the generator the past few days, so all routines and idea of a ‘regular’ schedule have been out the window. Instead hot showers, heat pads, muscle gel and Tylenol have kept us afloat.
My mantra is “things will get better.”
We just got home from a trip to Ft. Smith.
Yesterday we discovered that our generator failed to do its weekly automatic test. It also failed to start manually. We charged the battery we just bought last month, and installed a new air filter. The oil level and quality was fine. My husband took out the starter motor and tested it in the shop. No one in Greenwood works on starter motors, so we found a guy in Ft. Smith.
The traffic was AWFUL. My husband is always complaining about the “Anti-destination League,” who take pride in driving side by side in the left lane with the vehicle on the right, so no one can do anything. They really seemed to be out in force today, causing my husband a huge amount of frustration. His griping and efforts to try to get around the traffic cause ME a lot of stress as well.
We found the motor repair place, left the motor with the man, and started to drive home. We agreed to stop for something to eat. We found a Burger King. Each of us had a bacon cheeseburger and French fries. NOT on our diet! The burger was a burger, but the French fries were magnificent.
We are home now, in one piece. I didn’t kill my husband for scaring me to death over and over, but it was a close thing.
I think I may see if I can just go get the motor – if the man can fix it – by myself.
Filed under Challenges, DIET!
Filed under Fun with Fingerpaint, Iris Scott
This is DAY THREE of not eating anything between meals. That, along with portion control at meals and my efforts to move more should result in happy results on the scales and on my measuring tape. The weather is finally warming up, too, which means I can get outside more. I feel that things are coming together now.
It would be easier to simply sign up again for a weight loss/meals provided program again, but I’m determined to take responsibility for what I eat and drink. We are getting lots of help with two new places here locally who each provide individual portion frozen healthy meals. We eat one of those for dinner. I make us a sandwich or tuna salad for lunch. My husband eats snacks when he likes. He is much closer to his goal weight, but we’re still trying to watch his sugar intake.
I’m trying to build good habits that will result in my getting and staying in reasonable shape so I can continue to do most of what I would like for the rest of my life. I’m kind of using you as a check for accountability and reporting. I hope you don’t mind.
Filed under DIET!, exercise, Gorgeous Gourd Art, Healthy Eating, taking care of yourself
The sun is shining brightly and it is supposed to break 60 degrees today! Hooray!!!!!! That should take care of the rest of the snow and ice on our driveway. The sun finally showing itself after almost 3 weeks is really making my spirits soar. :0)
We will take our tax stuff to our CPA in Ft. Smith and I will feel a huge weight off my shoulders. (I think I MIGHT have mentioned how much I HATE bookkeeping and taxes…)
I learned what a water hippo is today.
The people who supply our water are having a problem and are having to repair the system. That is causing many people in the system to be without drinking water. We didn’t see any problem this morning, but we will pick up some bottled water on the way home, just in case. The National Guard of Arkansas will be supplying drinking water via the water hippos to people who bring containers. We are lucky to have them.
We had the luxury of being able to warm up our dinners last night in our new microwave last night! What a beautiful thing. I find I am almost hopelessly spoiled. :0)
I will be able to fill our bird feeders today without being in danger of falling on my head due to the ice on the deck. I have been practically crawling out there, trying really hard not to do something stupid when we couldn’t get down or up our driveway. NOW I’ll just be careful just because I’m sometimes a clutz!
I hope that you are safe, warm, and dry today, and that you find something that brings you joy.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Live Stones by Erzsebet Szilajka – Sea Pebbles – Livemaster.com
Filed under Erzsebet Szilajka, Stone/Pebble Art
We walked down the driveway right after lunch today to get to our truck my husband had to abandon yesterday, not being able to come back up our driveway. We cautiously backed down a seemingly endless amount, sliding a lot, before we were on the street in front of our house. We were delighted to find that our driveway was the only bad spot between our house and town.
We were able to get a microwave that was almost exactly the same as the one we loved that died. It’s a 2.2 cubic foot Panasonic with turbo defroster, genius sensor, etc. The only difference is that the new one has 100 watts less power than the old one. We are beyond delighted. My husband celebrated by warming up a cup of coffee. :0)
The only other excitement in our trip was trying to get back up our driveway. The first time we made it up about 1/3 of the way, but then started sliding around, losing traction. My husband had to carefully back all the way down to the bottom to give it another try. I thought we would end up stuck in the deep ditch on one side of the driveway or the other.
The second time he ‘went for broke.’ We started sliding about half way up, but managed to gain some traction and got over the middle, really steep part of the driveway. I had been holding my breath and firmly keeping my big mouth shut, so it took me a minute or two to calm down. My husband is a much gutsier driver than I, and gutsy is what it took today.
So the truck is in the garage safely now. Hopefully, by the end of the day tomorrow our ice and snow on the driveway will be only a memory.
Filed under Cause for Celebration, Challenges, Mother Nature, Seasons
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