January 30, 2021 · 9:25 am

Love Affair

forwarded by a friend

The next thing on my diet list is to keep trying recipes for low carb bread. I’ve found one that is workable, but not great.

I’ve always had a love affair with bread. I love the creative things people do when baking bread so that it looks beautiful while tasting wonderful. I enjoy the idea of breaking off a hunk of bread and enjoying it with soups or stews. I really like a roll with dinner or a sandwich for lunch.

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That said, bread is part of the reason I am trying to lose my lard. I am looking for ONE low carb bread recipe that I can make where I can slice it for sandwiches or use it as a replacement for a roll.

If you have one that you think is good, I would really appreciate it if you would let me know.

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January 30, 2021 · 9:13 am

We Have a Leak

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In 2005 we bought a competitor to the Sleep Number Bed, called Celenia, by Comfortaire. It has been a wonderful bed. We particularly like the fact that each of us can independently adjust the firmness of our side of the bed. It has worked flawlessly until lately, when my husband keeps having to hit the control to pump up his side.

We stripped the bed all the way down to the fancy, super-sturdy air mattresses this morning. We will tackle finding and repairing the leak, if possible today. This is much like finding a leak in a tire. We will make up a solution of soap and water and see if any area of the bed bubbles up. If that doesn’t find it, the problem may be where the hose goes into the mattress – a more complicated problem.

I’m a good go-fer and will endeavor to keep my mouth firmly closed – with any suggestions or questions squelched before they are allowed to see the light of day. Hopefully, we will find and fix the leak while I’m washing everything that goes ON the bed. I really would rather not have to call and try to find someone who can come and fix it for us…

Fingers crossed for our success.

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January 29, 2021 · 12:19 pm

Great Pet Portraits

Waggy Dogz – Christine Varley
Warwick Hall Burford

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January 29, 2021 · 9:56 am

Punny

forward from a friend

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January 29, 2021 · 9:47 am

‘Enthusiastic’ Eating

My husband has requested that I cook a roast in the crock pot, so I’ll do that tomorrow. I’m am learning to put any leftovers into individual meal containers for us and put them into the freezer, to be put into the regular rotation.

Mostly, though, we center our eating around two new places in Greenwood that offer healthy frozen individual meals. REAL FOOD and STU’S CLEAN COOKIN’ both offer really delicious meals, and we are thoroughly enjoying them.

We center our eating for the day around our dinner frozen meal. We are usually sharing a homemade tuna fish salad and sugar free jello for lunch. My husband has some sweet pickles and I have green or black olives. I usually add another portion of veggies to our evening meal.

Our biggest problems center around snacking. I am trying to decide what my snack for the day will be and stick to it. I am also trying to drink lots of water. Sometimes I think that all the water-drinking advice is a ploy to get even the most sluggish among us to get some exercise – running to the bathroom! We both really want ‘something’ as we move toward bedtime. I’m trying to work on things for that, too.

We fell off the wagon during the pandemic and should be up for an award or two for creating new excuses for not eating the way we should and exercises. We are back in the saddle now and are seeing some steady progress.

Even though the winter and the pandemic encourage our desire for comfort food, I’m trying to look at this as an opportunity to have MORE control over what we are putting into our mouths and how we are spending our time.

I will try to be a good little girl and get my gold stars for my exercises today. :0)

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January 29, 2021 · 9:11 am

Hope is Where You Find It

There is SO much hate and hostility now sometimes coming at us in waves. To combat this, I am looking for hope where I can find it.

This morning when I let our yellow lab, Amber, out, I noticed that our silly daffodils have shot up greenery in preparation for blooming in the spring. We have a good 6 weeks or more of really bad weather for daffodils, maybe even resulting in their deaths. Yet here they are, giving life their all, full of hope that things will get better.

I dug up our daffodils several years ago, transplanting them around the yard. I dug deep and thought I had gotten all the bulbs out, since it’s kind of a pain to deal with them around the well house. Some came up anyway, despite my efforts, determined to put on a show.

Each year they are thicker and stronger, and I look at them as determined, hopeful, heroic, happy plants, believing they should come up wherever they want and be treasured wherever they are found.

May we all look at the ‘silly daffodils,’ full of hope in the middle of a hostile environment, determined to add their beauty and optimism wherever they are – and emulate them.

Where will you bloom?

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January 28, 2021 · 10:08 am

Old Age

Bernard Baruch – PixelsQuote.net

Some days I feel older than dirt. The articles that come out occasionally that point out what people in their 20s or 30s never heard of hit me right between the eyes. When someone on TV talks about the ‘elderly,’ and then make it clear that “I” am included in that group, it’s a gut punch. When I harbor fantasies about some wonderful hunk and then am forced to realize he’s young enough to be my SON, it hurts. If I fold myself into a paper airplane doing my yoga stretches and then have trouble getting OUT of the pose, I get a bit cranky.

But most of the time age is not an issue with me. I really think that if I could just ‘be’ the age I felt, I would probably be somewhere in my early 40s. No spring chicken, but…

The key to aging – I think – is just ignoring the whole thing for as long as you can. That doesn’t mean being stupid about it. You should try to get – and stay – as healthy as you can. THAT means that I am continuing to try to shed my extra lard and exercise, using whatever means it takes to keep moving. One of the things I’m doing that brings up my spirits as well as is good for my muscles and bones is wearing my MP3 player and dancing in a room all by myself so I don’t have to worry about my husband’s, dog’s, or cat’s reactions to it. The years fall away and I’m the age I was the first time I heard or danced to the music. Since my music list is old, it makes me feel young and full of life. I can close my eyes, surrounded by the music, and dance my heart out. :0)

Staying interested in things, plus learning new ones, is another thing that allows you to ignore the fact that you’re getting older. I personally find discovering a new art technique or medium and watching the YouTube demonstrations gets my juices flowing, eager to try it. It doesn’t matter if I am successful or not. It’s FUN to spend some time making a mess with childlike joy and no pressure to ‘perform.’

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January 28, 2021 · 9:52 am

More Fabulous Pet Portraits

Janet Zeh – Zeh Original Art.etsy.com
Moonlake Designs Ltd.
Wetnose Watercolours

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January 28, 2021 · 9:45 am

Doldrums

jokejive.com

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January 27, 2021 · 11:20 am

Frozen

Alliance of Therapy Dogs

I just came in from doing 35 minutes of my elliptical trainer in our garage and I’m FROZEN. The garage is the only place we have a hard floor that isn’t in the way, so the trainer lives there. In summer, I have a fan on the wall right in front of the trainer so I don’t melt. In the winter, I’m on my own.

Today the computer says it’s 33 outside. It MAY be 40 up here on our ridge line, but it’s COLD in the garage. I had on a long-sleeved shirt and my puffy vest, but it wasn’t enough. Tomorrow I’ll wear a sweatshirt, THEN my puffy vest, and some gloves….

I did give myself a gold star on my desk calendar, so I feel good about my efforts right now.

This afternoon, I’ll do my yoga stretches.

I hope that YOU are feeling good, too.

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January 27, 2021 · 10:11 am

Beautiful Pet Portraits

Etsy.com – Pinterest
JudyDickinson’sArt-Wordpress.com
Rosie Coyne – Pet Portraiture UK

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January 27, 2021 · 10:05 am

Crunchy

Veterinarian Bend Oregon

I’ve been doing my stretching yoga poses for several days in a row now and I’m definitely feeling looser. The thing I’m NOT is smarter.

I have proven to myself several times now that I hurt less, feel looser, AND feel better about myself when I do 30 minutes or so of yoga stretches (old lady version) every day. I even give myself a gold star on my desk calendar when I do my practice. And, yet, STILL it does not become a habit, where I notice and miss it when I don’t do it. I would really LIKE for that to happen.

Soon I will be another year older – (unless I get hit by a bus or something before then.) I would LIKE to be able to report that I am taking better care of myself – eating healthy food, eating reasonable portions, losing some of my lard, and moving easier with less pain, building a stronger core.

This is not merely a New Year’s Resolution. I am trying for a true lifestyle change. I am trying to take one day at a time, rather than being overwhelmed by the hugeness of the challenge. I have plans for what I’ll eat today. I will go do my 35 minutes on my elliptical as soon as I finish my blog posts here (and my coffee). We have errands to run and then I will do my 30 minutes of yoga this afternoon.

I will try to be better than I was yesterday.

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January 27, 2021 · 9:51 am

Do It.

Sanjay Daya

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January 27, 2021 · 9:42 am

Funky Fish

I cleaned out my aquarium yesterday. We have a new issue, and I’m not sure why – that of ‘green water algae.’ I researched it, but didn’t find a whole lot of information about the ‘why’ of it. Since we have it and I don’t want it, I found and ordered some stuff that is supposed to be safe for fish but gets rid of – and then helps prevent more – algae. It’s called, “No More Algae.”

Right now the water is sparkling clean. I really am beginning to think that cleaning the aquarium spurs the fish on to poop more – if possible. Maybe it’s boredom. Maybe I can find some kind of decoration that sings, dances, or talks to the fish to give them more to do than eat, swim, and poop.

I love my fish. I like going past the aquarium umpteen times each day, talking to them, seeing the clean tank and water, feeding them, and occasionally finding another decoration I hope they’ll enjoy. The smaller, almost white gold fish is about 3 times as large as it was when I bought them. The gold fish is a good 4 or 5 times as large as it was. They seem healthy and happy. Hopefully the new algae killer/fighter will help me keep the aquarium nicer.

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January 26, 2021 · 9:02 am

Wonderful Pet Portraits

CynthiaHargraves-PetPortraitArtist.com.au
DavidScheirerWatercolors
Deidre Wicks

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January 26, 2021 · 8:49 am

Stone Art 12

sassidautore.it/Facebook – Stefano Furlani

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January 26, 2021 · 8:41 am

Weight Loss Tips

ASPCA
  • When eating donuts – only eat the center part.
  • Weigh yourself with only one foot on the scale.
  • Eat your food with one chopstick.
  • Don’t eat your evening meal before breakfast.
  • Only eat food that you can catch & kill with a toothpick.
  • Even when dieting, laughter should be on everyone’s menu…. it tastes delicious!

NB. Thanks to Larry Wentz. Owner of Weight Loss Program.com MatchettGroup

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January 25, 2021 · 3:32 pm

FINALLY!

I saw this Everblade Knife on TV around the beginning of November and ordered it online. I waited and waited, but didn’t receive it. Finally, a week or so ago, I wrote, telling them to either send the knife I ordered or give me a refund. It was just delivered about 30 minutes ago, January 25th.

Though the shipping was lousy, the knife seems to be first class. It comes with a self-sharpener for the blade built into the holder, which sticks to whatever surface you would like. Every time you take the knife out or put it back in, the blade is sharpened.

I have high hopes, since it was advertised that it makes cutting squash and/or bread easy, and that really appealed to me. You have to hand wash and dry it, but that’s a very small price to pay if it’s as good as I hope it is.

I’ll make a note to let you know.

_________________________________

The other thing I ordered about the same time was a purse. It looked like a good size, had a strap so you can wear it cross-body, is large enough to easily carry my big wallet/checkbook combination, and looked like leather, even though it cost almost nothing.

Again I just received it in the mail this past week. I transferred all my STUFF to it yesterday and carried it for the first time today. I love it. It’s probably not leather, but it FEELS good. Nice and soft and yummy.

This is the back.

This is the front.

I love it. So the lesson for the day is that determination and patience pays off. :0)

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January 25, 2021 · 10:30 am

Take the Next Fork…

Diet Humor – Jypseegirl – Pinterest

I lost a pound yesterday – Whoo HOOOO!

123RF

Only 800 to go!

We are thankful that we have TWO frozen individual healthy meal places that have opened in the past year in Greenwood. We plan our eating for the day around these, trying to keep our calories down and portions good in our efforts to NOT each sugar and lose the lard. I will go pick up our order for the week from one of them today.

Yesterday I really worked to finish the tax prep and the reorganization of my booth basket, so I didn’t exercise. :0( I will get back on the exercise horse today, with the elliptical trainer as soon as I return from errands and then yoga this afternoon. If it will stop the spring-rains-in-the-middle-of-winter weather, I’ll also try to get outside and at least walk around the yard.

I hope that you are managing to stay safe from the Covid virus, eat right, and exercise your way to better health, too.

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January 25, 2021 · 10:14 am

Stone Art 11

sassidautore.it.Facebook – Stefano Furlani

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January 25, 2021 · 10:08 am

Pat, Pat, Pat

Clipart Library

Yesterday I truly earned a pat on the head.

THING ONE: I FINISHED my part of our 2020 tax prep. It is in an envelope waiting for some investment statements to be available online and printed, then it will be taken and dumped, with relief, on our CPA for processing.

As a part of this, I started spreadsheets for 2021, made some improvements to my filing system, and threw some stuff away. I also discovered that there was, indeed, a DESK in my office, under the huge pile of STUFF.

Note: The big white envelope on the right side of the desk is the tax stuff that is almost ready to go!

THING TWO: I finally went through the big laundry basket I use to haul things back and forth to the booth my friend Carla and I share at Rags & Roses Collective in Greenwood. It was an absolute mess, full of packing materials, display supplies I can never quite put my hands on when I’m trying to put new things in the booth, products I had brought home, products that needed to be put in the booth when there is room, etc.

The thing remaining is the counter area where my computer is. I’ll clean that up today and then celebrate by giving myself some time to play in my art room this afternoon.

Every once in a while, I do something GOOD! :0)

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January 24, 2021 · 11:27 am

I DID IT!

I just finished my part of the tax prep for the year. I feel SMUG, TRIUMPHANT, and RELIEVED.

I feel SMUG because I jumped right in on it this year, rather than doing my normal procrastinating until it was a really stressful, have-to thing. I have been inputting monthly information on the spreadsheets I created for each tax category so that when all the information is there, I just total it and print it. This has been the best year ever for staying on top of things. I have opened the spreadsheets now for 2021.

Depositphotos

I feel TRIUMPHANT because I figured out some things on my filing system for receipts that will save me a LOT of time and effort next year.

I feel RELIEVED because it is done ahead of time – for once. I will print investment statements when they are available and then we can take it all to our wonderful CPA to perform his magic and make sure all is good.

HOORAAAAAAAAAAAAY!

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January 24, 2021 · 10:16 am

Spare Cats

Liucija Adomaite and Mindaugas Balciauskas, BoredPanda.com

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January 24, 2021 · 9:58 am

Singing in the Rain?

Vicki Wynberg – Fine Art America

“Do not be angry with the rain; it simply does not know how to fall upwards.”
~ Vladimir Nabokov

Clouds, drizzle, rain, gusty wind, hail, flooding, flying hair balls – all on tap for us today, overnight, and into the day tomorrow if the weather forecasters have it right. UGH.

We live on top of a ridge line, so we don’t have a large concern about flooding around our house, but we DO have some concern about lightning and hail, plus gusty winds. In the past several months we have had several more serious storms- resulting in several trees breaking and falling down on either side of the driveway. Happily, they fell AWAY from the driveway, rather than into it or across it, so we are simply ignoring it for right now.

This is a wonderful day to enjoy a warm, dry house.

PandaLifeHacks

“And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow.” ~ Gilbert K. Chesterton

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January 24, 2021 · 9:08 am

Stone Art 10

sassidautore.it/Facebook – Stefano Furlani

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January 24, 2021 · 8:57 am

Talking to Myself

Askideas.com

I’ve been talking to myself again; sometimes it’s the most intelligent conversation I have all day! :0)

One of the things I’m talking to myself about is NOT stuffing something into my face. I’ve been doing better on that lately, even though I’m a stress eater. I also could eat the entire house when I’m up in the middle of the night, not able to sleep.

The last several days I’ve been slogging my way through tax prep. (I’m hoping to essentially finish that up today). When my brain goes glassy, I get up and move around. I get some water. If the weather is reasonable, I put on a jacket and walk around the yard a bit. If not, I do a few minutes on my elliptical trainer in the garage. In the afternoon my ‘break’ takes the form of stretching yoga.

It is my hope that all of this will come together – resulting in

less lard

less pain

feeling good

In the meantime, I tell myself to take it one day at a time and

taolife.com

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January 23, 2021 · 10:31 am

What Will You Do With Your Now?

Forwarded by a friend

I laughed when I saw this. I have to admit that I do identify with it.

In our world today, tensions remain high. Emotions live at the surface. It’s hard to know whether to keep up with the news of the day or avoid it and cover up your head. Communication can be strained. Attitudes are like yo-yos or roller coasters. You’re not sure whether to smile and put your hands in the air or crawl down into the bottom of the ride car and hope the ride will end soon. It’s hard to plan when we don’t have the first clue what’s happening or what may be in the future.

I have found that I like to feel in control. I like to plan my day – know what’s going to happen – get things ready. Very little of that is possible now, so I’m a bit at loose ends.

But then – as I’ve had some time to think about it – I have never really had control over much of anything. That’s all just been an illusion. I DO have control over how I REACT to whatever is happening, though, so THAT’S where I will put my concentration and efforts.

All we really have is NOW. The PRESENT. I will try to remember that and make each NOW count. Make each NOW the best I can make it. Make each NOW productive, enjoyable, or at least as pleasant as possible. And make the people sharing my NOW know how very much they mean to me.

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January 23, 2021 · 10:06 am

Stone Art 9

sassidautore.it/Facebook – Stefano Furlani

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January 23, 2021 · 9:58 am

Mosaic-Puzzle-Quilt-Grab Bag

Brooke Hampton – Chrissie Anderson Peters

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January 23, 2021 · 9:54 am

Perfect Weather for Tax Prep

Today through Monday is the perfect weather here for tax prep – cold, raw, rainy, gray. I don’t mean to offend tax people – in fact, our CPA is one of our favorite people. I just dread MY part in it each year.

I’ve come up with a system that causes the least pain now, though. I built spreadsheets for each category of itemization and strive to add information to them monthly so that I’m not faced with a truly awful amount of time trying to go through things to make sense of them. I finish December’s input, total the spreadsheets, print them, etc.

Our CPA provides a booklet through which I trudge, filling in information, adding spreadsheets and documentation. The booklet makes sure I don’t miss anything. I’m doing it this weekend, trying to finish tomorrow.

Then I just wait for the tax documents I need to arrive in the mail or be available for download and printing online, bag it all up and dump it on our CPA.

Since our weather is dreary and yucky, I’m not distracted by wanting to be outside. Hopefully, I can keep my head down and get this done.

Have a happy day!

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January 22, 2021 · 9:55 am

Wasted Day

E. E. Cummings – Good Housekeeping

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