August 22, 2020 · 9:55 am

Sticking My Neck Out

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I have a happy feeling this morning of my parents reaching down and encouraging me in my efforts to join Amazon Handmade in selling the products I make. They seem to like it when I leave my comfort zone, trying something new, learning a ton in the process, adrenaline flowing. They are doing a combination of enveloping me in a huge hug and shooing me out to get with it.

sayingimages.com

I submitted an application yesterday to be able to list my earrings in the jewelry section. They sent an email saying they had received my application, and that I would hear something within 15 working days.

I have decided to call and see if I can reach a human who can answer questions about

  • whether I need to submit a separate application for each category I would like to be able to list products in, or if the one I have sent is an ‘umbrella’ application.
  • whether the Handmade group is handled the way their used book section works,
  • how I submit products, etc.

I’m nervous and excited. I dreamed about it last night, showing my subconscious KNOWS I’m trying to enter uncharted territory.

I hope to be able to tell you I have been accepted…

123RF.com

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August 21, 2020 · 5:50 pm

New Horizons?

2STARart

 

 

Amazon Handmade

Today I applied to Amazon Handmade to see if they will accept me to list my stuff there. I still have a lot of questions, but I’ve made the first step. They said it will take up to 15 business days for me to hear from them on acceptance or rejection. So that means it could be the first week in September before I know.

I applied in the Jewelry category. They asked for my ‘process,’ plus 3 representative pics of my stuff.

Right now I have no clue on whether I can have one store and sell one type of thing on it, or have a store for each type of products I make. Either way, I’m excited to be trying something different.

If you would like to check them out, here is their website – Amazon Handmade

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August 21, 2020 · 5:39 pm

Stained Glass Look Earrings

These are hand-painted, super light-weight wooden earrings. They are 3 inches in diameter.

I just finished listing them on my Etsy website, Eyecatching Earrings on Etsy, if you’d like to see them, and more.

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August 21, 2020 · 9:38 am

Thoughts on a Friday 8-21-2020

source unknown

I can’t decide my favorite between the Tawny Owl and this sweet Shoebill Stork. I think they are both wonderful.

I had fun yesterday working in my art room a bit. I decided to try a new ‘stained glass’ look on a couple of pairs of earrings. I’ll post them later to see what you think.

My South Beach efforts are paying off. I’m down 11.2 lbs since we started with them, and down 40.2 overall since my lardiest. I’m almost into ‘new territory’ on my weight loss efforts – about 2 lbs to go.

I’ve decided that no matter how hard I try, my body measurements aren’t that accurate. Today they are showing I’ve lost 33.2 inches since I began trying to lose weight and exercise. This varies – due to my ineptness – but it shows the general trend is downward, always a good thing. Suffice to say I’m down a few sizes and my current clothes are looser. My husband noticed my jeans are looser, and I was able to finally wear a blouse today that I’ve kept for years, hoping I could lose enough weight for it to not be too tight. Today it’s loose! :0)

I’m getting into the habit of doing my elliptical trainer (or equivalent cardio/whole body exercise plus about 30 minutes or so of yoga stretches & abdominal exercises daily. I am feeling better with less pain/stiffness and am feeling my stomach muscles when I walk now, if that makes any sense…

We will join our friends for Lunch Bunch in about an hour. I love getting to see their faces, laugh with them, and catch up on what has been happening since last week.

I will start getting things out of our greenhouse today.

It would take too much money and too much work to get it back to working condition since the storm. We weren’t able to afford to heat and cool it, so it’s better to take it down. We will do this a bit at a time, salvaging what we can.

Our weather has been perfect lately – cooler temperatures and lower humidity. I think tomorrow we start getting back to our normal too hot, too humid summer tomorrow, so we will enjoy every minute today, enjoying having the doors open and ceiling fans.

I hope YOUR day is wonderful, too.

Stay safe and well.

 

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August 20, 2020 · 11:28 am

Poohism – Love

A.A. Milne

“Love is taking a few steps backward – maybe even more – to give way to the happiness of the person you love.”

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August 20, 2020 · 11:22 am

Hope

keepinspiring.me

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August 20, 2020 · 11:17 am

So How Was YOUR Day? – 8

email forwarded by a friend

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August 20, 2020 · 11:14 am

Productive Day

Yesterday I got the findings attached to the newest batch of hand-painted wooden earrings. I got them listed for sale on my Eyecatching Earrings site on Etsy.

 

 

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August 20, 2020 · 11:00 am

Pet Peeve

123RF.com

I wonder if I.T. website people get paid on the basis of how seamlessly the website works or for how many changes they make?

A new pet peeve is changes that only seem to make what I have done for a long time harder. I love it when problems or glitches are fixed. I also like it when there is someone available on a chat program to help me if I can’t figure it out by myself.

I have sold used books on Amazon for years. I would look up the book, hit the ‘used’ button, then the ‘sell yours’ button and list my details. Easy peasy.

For over three weeks now , I haven’t had a clue what was going on. The ‘sell yours’ button disappeared!

I finally reached a chat person. She checked and checked and then said someone with more knowledge would get back to me within 48 hours.

I received an email telling me about a trade-in program…

Two days ago, instead of automatically hitting the ‘used’ button on the main page for the book, I was determined I would find SOMETHING that would get me on the road to being able to list our books again. I finally saw a link to the far right of the page saying, “Condition.” I clicked on it, and another button showed up saying, “Sell product.” 

THEN I was able to list the book for sale under ‘used.’ 

HOORAY!

I quickly listed the pile of books I had been saving.

We sold one overnight.

The next day we sold three more.

The person who made this change probably thought it was a good thing. When the chat people who work there aren’t able to figure it out, and neither are the ‘more knowledgeable’ people to whom I was sent – it makes me feel a bit better that I had so much trouble figuring it out, but this has really become a pet peeve!

 

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August 20, 2020 · 10:41 am

Cheaper by the Dozen?

Wired

We just got back from relocating Raccoon # 12 for the season.

As I said the last time, we are HOPING that this is the last one. We are lucky that our feeders remain intact. One year we had to repair, and then replace them all after they were damaged beyond repair.

Raccoons are really cute, but greedy and destructive. They have not learned to share, and so eat EVERY seed from EVERY feeder, and too many times trash the feeders. We have several squirrels who share quite nicely with the birds. We would welcome the raccoons, too, if they could learn to share…

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August 19, 2020 · 12:52 pm

How Was YOUR Day? – 7

forward from a friend

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August 19, 2020 · 12:50 pm

Amazing Pet Portraits

The Virtual Instructor

 

 

 

Niki Firmin – “Mocha”

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August 19, 2020 · 12:43 pm

Loving and Learning

Mahatma Gandhi via keepinspiring.me

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August 19, 2020 · 11:58 am

What Ever Happened To…

A nice person wrote and asked me if my elephant ear plants were doing well.

(I received these as a gift from Laufrain, a really good friend, last fall. I kept them alive over the winter, putting them on the floor in our dining area.)

Then I tried to put them in pots on our front porch. They were not happy there, and were trying to croak. I moved them to one of the brick planters we recently rebuilt, hoping they would be happier there, with a bit of protection from the winds we get up here on top of our hill sometimes.

 

They seem to be really happy here. Even with the awful storm we had recently, they were fine. I’m delighted. I love these plants and I think they look good here. :0)

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August 19, 2020 · 11:41 am

Planning for FUN

Freepik

Managing stress is super-important.

Stress crawls into all your nooks and crannies, wreaking havoc in your mindset, your health, your ability to function. It colors EVERYTHING – painting with a broad brush.

I’ve been having some, due to various things, such as having to have one of our dogs euthanized due to cancer and health issues with my husband. I’ve been aware of it, but have just shoved it down deep, staying busy – rather than actively trying to deal with it. I finally decided to get proactive when my doctor asked how I was and tears sprang up.

Now I am thinking of ways I can help myself. My situation is not going to change. In fact, it will get worse. I’m actively gathering ideas for what I can do to take care of myself so that I will be strong enough to deal with whatever is ahead.

  • Value the family members and friends who care. They allow me to vent whenever I need to – I try not to abuse the privilege – but knowing they are there is everything.
  • Make a plan for each day, listing ONE thing I would like to accomplish. (Today it is listing my newest earrings on EyecatchingEarrings at Etsy)
  • Eat right and exercise daily ( we are on Month #2 of the South Beach diet. DIY dinner tonight – bacon-wrapped chicken breast and salad – now that the main yard cleanup is finished, I’ll go back to my elliptical trainer and yoga)
  • Dive into a good book daily – I’m enjoying the Rise of the Iliri series by Auryn Hadley. I’m on book # 6 now.
  • Spend time in my art room – Even if it’s just messing around, something usually grabs me. I play some of my favorite music while I’m up there, making it a double-escape, creative time.
  • Work in my garden or flower planters. Right now we’re having a bit cooler temperatures with lower humidity, so it’s lovely outside.
  • Listen to music. I either arrange a mini-concert of some of my favorites via YouTube, or spread out in my recliner and plug myself into my MP3 player.
  • Actively plan for FUN daily – something that brings me pleasure – for the moment or longer term.

AND, as I do these things, my problems lessen – allowing me to get a better perspective and be thankful for all I have.

I hope that YOU can plan for some FUN in YOUR day, too!

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August 19, 2020 · 9:59 am

Poohism – Heart

A. A. Milne – “If there ever comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart and I’ll stay there forever.”

 

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August 18, 2020 · 11:01 am

Wonderful Watercolors 3

“Garden-Path” – Jennifer Branch

 

 

Artist Stan Miller – Wooarts

 

 

 

Style Magazine

 

 

 

Unsplash

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August 18, 2020 · 10:46 am

Poohism – Friend

A.A. Milne

“A day without a friend is like a pot without a single drop of honey left inside”

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August 18, 2020 · 10:42 am

So How Was YOUR Day? – 6

forwarded by a friend

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August 18, 2020 · 10:39 am

Be So Busy…

InspirationalQuotesMagazine.com via Pinterest

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August 18, 2020 · 10:36 am

Thoughts on a Tuesday 8-18-2020

Tawny Frogmouth Owl-hcreations72 via Penny Yaffe Krakow

I LOVE this bird!  So ugly she’s beautiful. AND unique in the world.

Lowes

I will finish the yard clean up today from our storm last Friday. I have used all the picking up branches and using the leaf blower to try to clear up the yard as a stand-in for my elliptical trainer since Friday. I have done at least two sessions each day in the hot sun, getting my heart rate up, breathing hard, then resting and drinking LOTS and LOTS of water to re-hydrate. I’ve been finishing that off with an abbreviated session of yoga each day to stretch out my poor, sore muscles.  I had one day of neck, shoulders and arms really complaining about working with the leaf blower again, so  finishing today will be a good thing.

I have a haircut this afternoon!  I go to Tangles in Greenwood, owned and operated by Michael Remillard. He has cut my husband’s hair and beard, plus my hair, for years now. He makes us look presentable, and that’s no small task!  I went really short last time and I have really liked it, so I’ll ask him to do that again. I just wash and blow it dry every morning. No muss, no fuss. Wonderful!  If you would like to contact him, his phone number is 479-357-9305.  He is the best.

I have lost almost 10 lbs via South Beach now. I am about to break into new territory on my losing-the-lard efforts, rather than re-losing what I lost before. I will be really happy when I reach that point, and will probably make you roll your eyes with my jubilance when that goal is reached. :0)

Gfycat

I am trying to finish my newest earrings today, putting various findings on them, (pierced, post, or clip-on) so I can take individual pictures of each pair and list them for sale on my EyecatchingEarrings on Etsy website.

I have no big project today, other than finishing the yard clean up. If I can do that, plus get the newest earrings finished and listed, I will be happy with my day.

 

 

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August 17, 2020 · 11:04 am

Wonderful Watercolor 2

Homesthetics

 

 

 

jeanhaines.com

 

 

 

Jerry’sArtarma.com

 

 

 

Design Shack

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August 17, 2020 · 10:47 am

So How Was YOUR Day? – 5

forwarded email

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August 17, 2020 · 10:46 am

Perspective

Bored Panda

Penny Yaffe-Krakow

It’s more than being a ‘glass-half-full/glass-half-empty’ thing. Perspective is also a product of your circumstance, your condition, your support systems.

We all deal with life challenges differently, and we are ALL trying to handle LOTS of character-building things right now – whether it’s the virus, life-turned-upside-down, fear for the future, loss of job, loss of loved ones, Mother Nature’s fury, lost opportunities, and more.

Looking for ways to stay CALM while doing the best possible otherwise is becoming more and more important to me. 

  • Realizing and accepting what I CAN – and CAN’T do anything about is a first step.
  • Doing what you CAN – step by step – “All you can do is all you can do.” Try to stop worrying.
  • Stay busy. Try to be as productive as possible.  Make a list and check things off. (I try to do at least one big project each day.)
  • Take care of yourself by eating healthy and exercising. (Trying to get my lard off makes me feel I’m in control of at least ONE thing.)
  • Try to arrange for happy things during the day. (Mine are reading, art room, writing on my blog, finding pictures for the blog, working in my garden, listening to music, talking to friends.
  • Take advantage of your personal support group. (Having someone who cares and listens, letting you vent without verbal judgment, is a life saver. Remember that this goes both ways!)
  • Try to change the way you look at things.

Pinterest

 

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August 17, 2020 · 10:19 am

I Love Books

NUSTBookClub.wordpress.com

 

I am enjoying Book # 5 of the Rise of the Iliri Series by Auryn Hadley.  It is called, “Tenacity.”

 

 

It is fascinating.  Sal is the strong female character who lives in a world that is compelling. Auryn Hadley creates unforgettable characters living in a world you learn to think of as almost normal, although it is about as far from our real world as possible.  I think there are 9 books in the series so far. Wonderful escape reading that makes you think.

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August 17, 2020 · 10:04 am

Newest Earrings are Almost Finished

 

The newest painted wooden earrings are 3 inches in diameter. I painted each pair a different solid color and then had a lot of fun adding a floral design to each one.

 

I will add the findings to each pair – French hooks on some, posts on others, and clip-on’s on some.

 

I will then take individual pictures of each pair and list them on my earrings website for sale.

 

If you would like to see more, please go to EyecatchingEarrings on Etsy

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August 16, 2020 · 11:36 am

Stunning Watercolors

123RF.com-#168

 

 

 

Annemiek Groenhout

 

 

 

“Bluebonnet Time” – William Hagerman

 

 

 

“Camel” -Indian Art Ideas

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August 16, 2020 · 10:53 am

“Things You Deserve”

Nanea Hoffman-Sweatpants & Coffee

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August 16, 2020 · 10:14 am

So How Was YOUR Day? – 4

forwarded email

This one brings back memories from my childhood.

For some strange reason, my mother decided to plant some paddle cactus in the bed that went around the house.

One day, our cat wouldn’t come in when it was time for dinner. My mom told me to find her and bring her in. I found her in the bed under the cactus. I tried coaxing her out, but nothing was working. I finally crawled into the bed trying to reach the cat to pull her out. I inched forward, finally getting a hand on her leg. I stood up, pulling, then lost my balance and SAT on the cactus.

To say the whole neighborhood heard my screams is an understatement. My mom spent much of that evening with me in the bathroom, trying to pull out all the sharp spines of the cactus that were firmly lodged in my bottom. Needless to say, this is an indelible memory!

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August 16, 2020 · 10:04 am

Exercise

Pop Sugar

I am counting the work I’m doing in the yard each day, trying to clean up from the storm, as my elliptical/cardio exercise for each day. Yesterday I spent a total of 2 hours out in the hot sun blowing leaves and picking up branches.  I gave myself a gold star for each hour. I drank water like a camel preparing for a stroll across the Sahara, and that led to a lot of exercise getting up to pee!  I had a nice shower and did a very abbreviated set of yoga stretches to try to keep myself from feeling sore.

I plan to do more of the same today, since everything is still covered in branches and leaves. I will do short sessions, drinking lots of water and resting in-between.

Tonight is a DIY (do-it-yourself) meal on our South Beach plan. Thanks to Suzanne Ryan of Simply Keto, I have a recipe for bacon-wrapped chicken breasts that is to die for. My husband’s reaction when I told him what I planned to cook was, “Oh, GOOD!”

I am PLANNING to get up to my art room to work on the newest earring painting.

I hope you have a beautiful Sunday!

 

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August 16, 2020 · 9:43 am

Beautiful Charcoal Drawings

Stephen Walton-Nature in Art

 

 

Strathmore Artist Papers

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