My sister-in-law is enjoying a glorious, well-earned vacation at Topsail Beach. Happily, she send me a picture so that I can enjoy a vicarious vacation with her! I figure that YOU could use the pleasure, too. AHHHHHHHHH! :0)
Poohisms – Weeds
“Weeds are flowers, too – once you
get to know them ~ A.A. Milne
Filed under Favorite Quotes, Poohisms
More Stunning Oil Portraits
IndiaMART
Kate Stone Art
Yana Golikova Fine Art
Filed under Oil Paintings I Love
Thoughts on a Monday 8-24-2020
source unknown
Isn’t he beautiful?
My project of emptying out our ruined greenhouse is coming along. I figure that in a couple more days of filling up the wheelbarrow with salvageable things and gathering one leaf bag full of trash, I’ll be down to the tables we set up. Once the greenhouse is empty, we MAY leave it to the fall for the final take-down of the structure. It’s too hot now for two old people to be laboring in the sun for long.
Meanwhile, I cleaned off my counter space in the garage so that I can set up a seed-sprouting station with grow lights. We will get a new switch for one of the lights at Yeager’s today while we’re out. We already have a nice grow light. I will continue reorganizing the ‘stuff’ UNDER the counter so that I can THEN arrange the supplies I need for the grow station. Between this and a wonderful video my friend, Cathy, sent me about growing hacks that I can do on the window sill or on the deck, I hope to be able to grow several of my own plants to put in the garden this spring, rather than having to buy them at the store.
My diet and exercising efforts have been going well. I’m using all the work pulling and hauling in the greenhouse as my ‘elliptical trainer’ exercise, and then doing my usual half hour or so of yoga stretches daily. I am continuing to lose weight slowly, and am almost into ‘new territory’ on weight loss. To date I am down 40.2 pounds and 33.2 inches. I plan to lose another 30 pounds or so. My husband has agreed, since we will finish our Month # 2 boxes of the South Beach diet soon, that he will try not to fill the grocery cart with things we are trying to avoid that call to me from the pantry. I hear, “Linnnnnnnnnnnnnn-dahhhhhhhhhhhh…” over and over coming from the greasy, salty, delicious chips of various types, cookies, and bread. He has agreed to eat what I fix, as we transition to all DIY meals soon. He only has about 7 more pounds he wants to lose, but the keto diet is also good for his Type II diabetes, so he SAYS he will cooperate… We will have DIY bacon-wrapped hamburger patties, sliced tomato, and spinach tonight for dinner.
Our wonderful plumber, Travis Hawkins, is TRYING to get to us this week some time with a new water pressure tank for the well house. With the pandemic, and our kids going back to school, he has been working non-stop on modifying all of the water fountains in all of the schools so that they are safe for the kids to use without transmitting the virus. He has also had people with NO water, or water leaks, and that beats out our small problem of low water pressure. He is the best guy, and we are lucky he is trying to fit us in.
My heart and thoughts go out to California, with the wildfires, and to the people in the path of the tropical storms/hurricanes.
Stay safe and well.
Wonderful Animal Photos
Inga Korokovaite and Rokas Launnavicius, Bored Panda
Inga Korokovaite and Rokas Launnavicius, Bored Panda
Inga Korokovaite and Rokas Launnavicius, Bored Panda
Quokkas – Inga Korolkovaite and Rokas Launnavicius, Bored Panda
Filed under Amazing Animals, Awe-Inspiring Photography
Freewheeling Fish
I am still trying to find a solution to my goldfish messing up the water in their tank extremely quickly. The latest change was the filter system. It has three media in layers to help keep the water clean. You change the charcoal layer each month, the foam layer every two months, and the biomax pellet bag every three months. So much for what the directions say.
I changed the charcoal part last week. All of a sudden yesterday their water was greenish. YUCK.
The foam layer, which is supposed to be white, was pink.
I cleaned out the tank, changing all three layers and now the fish have sparkling clear water again. I have no clue why these two sweet fish continue to be able to make their water so yucky so quickly with seeming so little effort. Speaking to them about it doesn’t help.
At least, with all the practice I get, I’ve gotten down to about half an hour from start to finish on changing everything in the tank.
Filed under Family, Housekeeping - Maintenance
Thoughts on a Sunday
Marabou Stork-photo credit unknown- via Penny Yaffe Krakow
If you have a candidate for the “ugliest/most beautiful bird in the world,” please let me know. So far, I love the Shoebill Stork, the Tawny Frogmouth, and the Marabou Stork. I love them because they are unusual, and they have character.
We are at the end of our gorgeous weather streak and are back to normal August weather for Arkansas today. We will keep the doors open for a bit longer, and then close up and turn on the air conditioning.
Yesterday I started what will be a long project – dismantling the greenhouse that was killed by the storm.
I gathered a wheelbarrow load of things I can salvage. It is in the garage now. I will reorganize my counter area in there and store what makes sense there. The rest will go out to the shop. I also gathered a leaf bag full of trash. I will do this steadily, a bit at a time, until it is empty and then we can dismantle the shell. I was amazed that the plastic tubs I was discarding wouldn’t hold together long enough for me to pick them up by the edges without shattering. I then used things that acted like a spatula to scoop them up and put them into the leaf bag.
The thermometer I keep out there showed 120 degrees yesterday – and this is on a COOL day here for August, showing one of the reasons the greenhouse didn’t work well for us. We couldn’t afford to add heating and cooling, and the cost to run it would have been astronomical. I will try to set up a seed-starting area in the future with a grow light in the garage, along with starting things on the window sill in the dining area, plus pots on the deck.
This shows you one of the many reasons I have hope for the future. The pandemic kept us from planting our usual flowers all around the house. I thought we would be completely bare on the deck. Instead, seeds from the wave petunias we planted last year sprouted and have given us a lovely display. (If you look carefully, you can see our yellow lab, Amber, keeping me company while I took this picture. :0)
I am continuing my efforts to become a seller via Amazon Handmade, though I’m not making much progress yet. I’m trying to find out if I can simply put things up for sale via my regular Amazon account where I sell used books, or if I need to apply for separate accounts for each of the categories my products fit in. So far, everyone I manage to finally connect with gives me links back to Seller Central. Seller Central sends me to Handmade, and so the cycle from Hell continues…
All the good people in the path of storms Marco and Laura are in my thoughts and prayers.
Have a good day today and stay safe.
Today’s Harvest 8-22-2020
My poor tomato plants are looking pretty sad now. I’m watering them, but the sun is just too much for them. I AM getting some good cherry-tomato-sized tomatoes, and I’m enjoying those on the side for lunch and in our salads.
My raised bed, square foot garden is almost completely done. I got the one weird green thing shown above. I’m not sure exactly what it is, but it was on a vine that was supposed to be yellow crookneck squash…. Maybe he didn’t get the memo. Anyhow, I will cut into it and decide if it would be good to use as one of my substitutes for pasta.
Our lovely weather is giving over to regular August now – hot and humid. The minute you go out, it’s like you are your own private shower. You’re immediately wet – head to toe. I wear a sweat band so I can see to do what I need to do. :0)
I’m STARTING today to empty out the greenhouse that was killed in our last storm. This is going to be a huge job. I’m not going to push myself in this heat. If I fill up one wheelbarrow load of things I can salvage, plus start a bag of trash today, I’ll consider that good. No time limits on this project.
Sticking My Neck Out
Getty Images
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
Filed under Adventure - Outside Your Comfort Zone, Attitude, Bright Ideas, Challenges, Changes, Family
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
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.
Filed under Lewis Art, playing in my art room
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.
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.”
Filed under Favorite Quotes, Poohisms
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.
Filed under Lewis Art
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!
Filed under Challenges, Changes, Pet Peeves
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…
Filed under Amazing Animals
Amazing Pet Portraits
The Virtual Instructor
Niki Firmin – “Mocha”
Filed under drawings, Niki Firmin - Pet Portraits, Watercolors I Love
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)
Filed under Friendship, Gardening
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!
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.”
Filed under Favorite Quotes, Poohisms
Wonderful Watercolors 3
“Garden-Path” – Jennifer Branch
Artist Stan Miller – Wooarts
Style Magazine
Unsplash
Filed under Watercolors I Love
Poohism – Friend
A.A. Milne
“A day without a friend is like a pot without a single drop of honey left inside”
Filed under Friendship
creativeartworksblog 