Jeff Jett – LinkedIn
This is the sweetest picture of a tiger I’ve ever seen. I don’t know if it’s photo-shopped or what, but I love it. I just HAVE to smile back. :0)
I hope your Sunday is full of warm hugs and laughter.
Defying Gravity
Whatz Viral – Abedo By Emil Alzamora
Whatz Viral – Balancing Sculptures by Jerzy Kedziora
Whatz Viral – De Vaartkapoem By Tom Frantzen
Filed under sculpture
Opinions Welcome
I am trying to design a banner to go across the top of my new shop on Etsy. The shop will feature hand-painted, one-of-a-kind tote bags and is called
“Totably Yours.”
I would appreciate your opinion on which of the three you like best, or – a fourth choice would be “Please go back to the drawing board.” Please picture each of these going all the way across the top of the page of the shop.
Here is Design # 1 –
Here is Design # 2 –
And Design # 3 –
Please let me know Design # 1, 2, 3, or ‘back to the drawing board.”
I appreciate your help very much!
Filed under Uncategorized
Thoughts on a Saturday – 10-5-2019
Backyard Garden Lover via Yolanda Vanveen
I marvel at the way some people’s minds work. I LOVE the creativity that resulted in the cute ‘birds’ above! I just hope there is a way to preserve these.
Penn Fitness Warehouse
After almost two full weeks of using my elliptical trainer 3 times a week for 35 minutes each session, my body told me that was too much at one time. Thursday I went to two 15-minute sessions, and that seemed to be better, though 15 minutes seemed a bit short, plus it was difficult to work the 2nd session into the day. Today I started with a 20-minute session. That seemed good, so I’ll do it daily for the next week or so and see how it goes. The cooler days now are bringing up my energy level, so hopefully I can get in my elliptical early.
Y is for Yogini
My daily yoga practice is going well. (I’m on DAY 33 today.) This poor old stiff, sore lady emerges from my yoga stretches feeling better, moving more freely. I’m FEELING a bit of progress. Our dog, Amber,
Amber
‘helps’ me do my positions by oozing off her ‘place’ (bed) closer and closer until she can nuzzle me. When I start to laugh, she dives right in for a good hug.
Today I’m cooking TWO recipes worth of “Sausage, Egg and Cheese Bake” by Suzanne Ryan of Simply Keto at my husband’s REQUEST. I have one more pound to lose before I’m ‘into-new-territory’ on my efforts to lose the lard. Cronometer.com is a great site for showing you where you are on your macros (percentages of fat, protein and carbs for the day). I like to add what I’m planning to eat, and then be able to modify it, if needed, before I make a mistake. I have the site bookmarked on my computer, plus added the app on my phone.
The fish haven’t complained, but it’s time today to clean out the aquarium. I’ll scrub things out, vacuum the gravel, put in different decorations, and then fill it back up again. The four goldfish I have are at least triple the size they were when I got them. They still seem to be fine in the 5-gallon tank. I’ll try to show you pics of their new digs later.
I’m working on three designs for a banner to go across the new Etsy shop I’m going to open soon. I’ll also try to post pics later to see what you think.
The weather is SOOOO nice! We have doors open again today. It’s really nice to air out the house and not have to use the a/c.
I hope that your day is full of fun things to do.
Extraordinary Pet Portraits
Filed under drawings, Gary Wing, Kelly Armitage, Niki Firmin - Pet Portraits
My Own Personal Rain Dance
Weekend Gardener
Just another proof that Mother Nature is watching me – I went outside, armed with my wonderful long suede rose pruning gloves, a basket, and a sharp pair of clippers, intending to prune the roses.
As I was walking out, thunder sounded in the distance. I thought I had better hurry, but thought I could finish before any rain fell.
WRONG!
I got two of our bushes pruned, but then the sky opened up.
I’m really happy that we’re having a COOL day today so far, and I like cloudy days, but it WOULD have been nice to get that chore checked off my list….
Filed under Gardening, Mother Nature
Bird Hunter Smoke
This is Smoke. She adopted me at the vet’s office several years ago.
She is quite the hunter, while Abby, our lap kitty, prefers demanding cat treats and sleeping upside down in one of several spots around the house or in a convenient lap.
This morning my husband came downstairs to start the morning – feeding animals, starting coffee, etc, while I took a quick shower.
Smoke tried to dash into the house from the garage. She had a sparrow type of bird in her mouth. A lot of thrashing around ensued, with my husband coming out the winner, but having landed on the garage steps on his rear end, and having scraped his arm in the attempt.
My husband is all right, thank goodness. The cat is okay, too, and is enjoying time in my husband’s lap as I type.
We have agreed – or at least he SAID he agreed – that next time this kind of thing happens, he should let the cat win the fight and we’ll deal with the bird, or mouse, or vole, or mole, or whatever TOGETHER, and that his parts are much more important than the annoyance of Bird Hunter Smoke bringing wildlife inside….
Filed under Amazing Animals, Family, taking care of yourself
New Venture
I’m opening up a second shop on Etsy. This one will be called, “Totably Yours” and will feature large and small hand-painted, one-of-a-kind tote bags in canvas or denim. This one is called, “Flower Basket.”
This one is “Happy Penguins” and is one of my Christmas totes.
“Embrace Your Life” either reminds you or someone you care about to enjoy every moment.
And this one is a Spring bag called, “New Digs.”
I uploaded the images and descriptions yesterday. Today I’m going to try to design a banner to go across the top of the page. Then some details remain before I can open the shop.
A new venture is an exciting thing – sticking my neck out, challenging myself to overcome doubt, technical obstacles, etc. Character-building exercise with fingers crossed.
123RF.com
Filed under Bright Ideas, Challenges, character-building exercises
Best Friends
Run Pics and Stuff via Marianna Bellantoni
I’m lucky to be able to consider our son one of my very best friends.
Filed under Family, Friendship
Beautiful Birds
“White Lady” – Paul Militaru Photography
“Food for Pigeons” – Paul Militaru Photography
“Seagulls” – Paul Militaru Photography
Thoughts on a Thursday – 10-3-2019
Jeff Jett
Seeing this cute photo of a raccoon reminds me how HAPPY I am that we finally seem to have encouraged all the raccoons to go elsewhere. At least for a while.
We love seeing animals around our place. We see deer, possums, racoons, squirrels, road runners, birds of all kinds…. We have lots of feeders on our deck because we love watching all kinds of birds flit around while we sit at our dining area table. This comes to a halt suddenly, several times in the spring, summer, and fall, when we find ALL the feeders empty, hanging at half mast, or down on the deck, ruined. Our raccoons seem to arrive in families. We use a humane trap to catch them, one at a time, and then drive them out further into the country about 5 miles or so, and let them out at a creek to hopefully catch up to the ones we’ve relocated before and go on to live a happy life – away from us.
If they would SHARE or wouldn’t trash our feeders and make a mess, we could live in harmony. SADLY, they want it ALL.
Right now we still have hummingbird feeders up and filled since we are still seeing up to 4 at a time, darting between the two feeders and our wave petunias. We’ll keep them up to feed late stragglers who haven’t gotten the memo yet that it’s probably time to head south. (Mother Nature is still giving us summer here, so it’s no wonder the sweet hummers are confused.)
We also have black oil sunflower seeds and small seeds so everyone can find something to their liking. We had kept the feeders empty, trying to discourage the raccoons, for a LONG time, so it’s good to be back to normal now.
I just finished the first of 2 sessions on my elliptical trainer in the garage. I overdid a couple of days ago, and ended up like a slug in my chair most of the day yesterday. Dividing up my time into two sessions will hopefully allow me to keep moving without my body going on strike. I do another session later today plus a session of yoga.
My creative juices are starting to rummage around in my brain, so I’m hoping to get up to my art room this afternoon and start plotting, planning, and playing. (I hope you get a kick out of alliteration :0) )
*Today is Day 31 of daily yoga. Day 16 of getting-serious-about-keto-macros, and Day 5 of three-times-a-week elliptical trainer time. I’m going to give myself a gold star EACH time I do an elliptical session, hopefully making it so I don’t slough off the second session of the day, so I can earn THREE today. I cooked “Cheesy Bacon-Wrapped Chicken” by Suzanne Ryan, Simply Keto last night. Both my husband and son said, “YUMMY!”
The weather people are saying a cold front is coming through over night. I’m holding them to their word that this will happen, and will finally break the back of the too-hot temps with too-high humidity that have become the norm here. Fall – here we come!
I hope YOU have a star-filled and raccoon-less day, too!
Filed under Amazing Animals, DIET!, exercise, Mother Nature, Thoughts on a ________
Another Exquisite Embroidery
Satin De Soie – with Adrian Z Smith via A Girl Down Under Vintage
Filed under Embroidery/Sewing Art
Paintings I Love
Marina Syntelis – LinkedIn
Alina Ciuciu – “Like a Child” – LinkedIn
Alina Ciuciu – “Symbosis with the Fence” – LinkedIn
Graham Colthorpe -“Sunshine and Showers – Paris”
Filed under paintings I love
Thoughts on a Wednesday – 10-2-2019
Lauren Eliassen via Pinterest
I’m feeling extremely lazy today. Excuses – but the fact remains I’m not impressing anyone with my list of accomplishments for the day.
We just got back from doing errands, but that – and yoga – may be it for the day.
My good friend Marsha suggested that I sell the Christmas cards I’ve made with the addition of a flat wooden Christmas ornament – either painted or ‘un.’ I’m also thinking of opening another shop on Etsy devoted to one-of-a-kind painted tote bags. I would appreciate it if you would let me know what you think of these ideas.
If I can get rid of the lazies, I’ll spend some time in my art room this afternoon.
TOMORROW is supposed to usher in fall here. I am SO ready.
Meanwhile, I wish YOU a happy day – whether you’re feeling ‘productive’ or not!
Filed under Bright Ideas, Thoughts on a ________
Super Powers
For Reading Addicts via Cathy Ruggiero
I feel lucky because I’m in the middle of re-reading the Nora Roberts (J.D. Robb) “In Death” series and can escape whenever I can make the time and come out calm and refreshed. I love her writing. She creates incredibly deep characters you feel as if you actually know. You care about them, laughing and crying with them. I can’t think of a greater compliment to a writer for the readers to want to live in the world they have created and always want more.
Filed under Favorite Authors & Books, Hobbies, Reading is FUNdamental
A Bit Late, But…
“1st Day of Autumn” – Netherlands – photographer Sassy Chris1 via Mara Spirig – LinkedIn
Filed under Awe-Inspiring Photography, Seasons
Thoughts on a Tuesday 10-1-2019
Slice of Life
Though it’s supposed to get to 90+ degrees today, fall is coming. We’re supposed to get a cold front, some rain, and highs in the 70’s THURSDAY. Can you SEE me dancing around and grinning?
Peace-Love and Smiles
I’m doing better with eating according to my keto macros – (5% carbs, 25% protein, 70% fat.) I love the cronometer.com tracking site. I’m basically doing intermittent fasting (not eating from dinner the night before until 1:00 or so the next day) then eating lunch and dinner. I lost another pound yesterday. I need to lose ONE MORE and then I’ll be at the lowest I achieved before our world fell apart and we needed to focus on my husband’s health. He is much better and things are much calmer now, so I can concentrate on things like macros – so I am TRULY thankful. I’m on DAY 14 of ‘getting-serious-about-Keto.” I’m looking forward to finally breaking into new territory on my weight loss.
Yesterday I finished undoing the work of the gremlins who ate part of my data on my monthly tax prep and bookkeeping spreadsheets. I printed them and saved them to another spot on the computer, plus my outside backup drive, so I SHOULD be good again. A character-building exercise for sure, but I feel good that it’s up to date now.
This morning was a 3-hummingbirds- with-breakfast day. We LOVE sitting at the dining area table and watching all the birds flitting (or dive-bombing-then-hovering in the case of the hummingbirds).
Funotic.com- Where Fun Never Ends
I’m on DAY 29 of my daily yoga practice. My husband noticed yesterday that I was getting lower – or farther into – some of my poses yesterday!
Today I have the opportunity to earn TWO Gold Stars – one for the elliptical and one for yoga.
I hope that YOUR day is full of things that bring you joy.
Filed under DIET!, exercise, Seasons, Thoughts on a ________
Grindstone
Pixtastock,com
I discovered, to my horror, that about half of the data on the spreadsheets I started this year to keep up with bookkeeping and taxes had mysteriously ‘poofed.’ The data was also gone from two backups!
So, yesterday I entered the data from August and September. Today I re-entered the data from June and July, and then went through our credit card statements from January through September to check to make sure all the items from them was included on the spreadsheets.
I printed each spreadsheet, just in case gremlins enter my computer again and eat the data.
I am NOW making a backup and will make a second after I check the first to make sure nothing was lost in translation.
I wasn’t really in the mood for such a long character-building exercise….
Filed under Challenges, character-building exercises
Pepe Le Pew and Penelope
“Pepé Le Pew is a character from the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons, first introduced in 1945. Depicted as a French striped skunk, Pepé is constantly in search of love and appreciation.” Penelope is a black cat who catches Pepe’s eye. She is constantly in a situation where paint falls on her, or something similar, so she has a white stripe down her back. Pepe is mad for her.
This was one of our favorite cartoons, so we delighted in making this decoration for our mailbox.
The decoration is about 2-1/2 feet high and about 2 feet wide at the widest point. We cut the design out using our CNC machine (computer guided torch) from sheet metal. We welded the piece onto an attachment section so we can bolt the design onto the pole of the mailbox. I then use an overhead projector to mark salient details and then paint both sides of the piece. The final step is spraying it front and back with polyurethane to protect it from the elements as much as possible.
Hoping this will bring a smile to YOU, plus people who drive by the bottom of our driveway.
Filed under Lewis Art, Lewis Mailbox Decorations, metal art
Progress
Jeff Jett
This – on the last day of September – is DAY 28 of my daily yoga practice. My face doesn’t look nearly as blissful as this sweet lion’s face, but I AM making progress. It’s exciting to finally feel my body ‘give’ as I breathe, moving closer to the goal. Each time I start with stiff, sore parts from one end to the other. After I finish, though, I feel much looser.
This is DAY 13 of my ‘getting-serious-about-keto’ eating. I am using a carb tracking site called Cronometer.com. I filled out a short form to find out what MY macros (percentages of fat, protein and carbs) should be for the day.
I had no trouble eating protein – in fact, I discovered I was eating way TOO much protein. I was staying under the 5% carbs easily, but nothing was happening. I discovered I wasn’t eating enough fat! My son helped me figure out good ways to add healthy fat to my diet. I can put a tablespoon of heavy whipping cream in my coffee, for example. I got some avocados. They are good for you and high in fat. I don’t really LIKE them, but I can eat one a day. I can eat macadamia nuts. I can put a tablespoon of olive oil in my salad…
As I plan for the day, I can ‘test’ what I would like to eat and see graphically what it does for my macros for the day. Yesterday I did well on fat by eating an avocado and having the cream in my coffee for breakfast. The macro showed me I needed to concentrate on protein the rest of the day. The carbs took care of themselves.
I’ve now lost a bit over 6 pounds this month. That’s slow, but it’s better than I HAD been doing, and the weight loss is mainly in the past 12 days of watching my macros. I’m hopeful that October will continue to show good improvement. I would like for there to be 30 pounds or so less of me one day.
I’ve told you I’m also adding 3 days a week on my elliptical trainer. It is in the garage and the temperature is FINALLY cooling off so that I can use it out there without getting heat stroke. :0)
Motivation:
- This has always been hard for me. Our son is really encouraging. He’s leaving soon, though, so I need to buck up and find good things even though he won’t be here. My husband asks me if I’m going to ‘yoge,’ and occasionally tells me he’s proud of me trying to exercise. He says he is ‘with me in spirit.” :0) I have the wonderful book by Suzanne Ryan, Simply Keto which has provided us with several recipes we like so much they keep me busy cooking without trying more. To have my husband REQUEST meals is the ultimate compliment.
- GOLD STARS on my desk calendar. SILLY, I know, but it works for me. Right now I have the opportunity to earn 10 for this week (7 for yoga, 3 for elliptical).
- Scales – I KNOW that the experts tell you to only weigh once a week. I do it once a day, not expecting to see great things, but to remind myself that I need to watch what I’m eating and keep moving in order to get the lard off.
- Measuring Tape – Every once in a while I’ll get a nice surprise. I figure the measuring tape is objective and will give me an honest answer as to whether things are going in the right direction.
- Fit of my clothes – I’m tired of shopping where I’m hoping that they have clothes that are large enough for me. I have come down several sizes in jeans, and it feels really good to give them to someone else who will be grateful that a pair of jeans will be large enough.
TO DATE –
I have lost 43 pounds since my lardiest and there are 45 inches less of me than at my lardiest.
I look forward to the day when I am at a healthy weight for my height (I’ve given up trying to get taller), my BMI makes insurance companies sing with joy, I can buy clothes most anywhere I can afford, and I FEEL good. I want to be able to do a lot of things easily that now are off limits because of pain, stiffness, soreness, or fatigue. I don’t picture myself climbing mountains, but a good long walk with friends or one of my dogs would be nice!
Filed under building good habits, Challenges, DIET!, exercise
Thoughts on a Monday – 9-30-2019
Wild About Nature
September came and went so fast my hair is blowing!
I’m excited about Thursday of this week, when fall is finally coming to Greenwood, Arkansas. We’ll have some rain and the highs for the rest of the week as far as I can see will be in the 70’s. AHHHHH! I’m more than ready.
Our son, who came home to help us through the aftermath of my husband’s stroke, will be leaving Oct. 19th. We are SO lucky to have such a generous, caring son. It’s time for him to get back to his life in Thailand now.
We will do errands, change the decoration on the mailbox, and then settle in to enjoy the day. Yoga and art room are planned. And that’s it from the exciting life of the Lewises! It’s so wonderful NOT to have drama. :0)
Enjoy the last day of September.
Filed under DIET!, exercise, Mother Nature, playing in my art room, Seasons, Thoughts on a ________
Whine and Cheese
Sound Cloud
If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile, you know that I should get an award for procrastination. I’m an EXPERT in putting off things I hate, coming up with mental and vocal excuses that are truly impressive. My biggest area has been in bookkeeping/tax records. I keep folders, but don’t do the actual putting things down or organizing until push comes to shove and time is running out.
THIS year, I decided that I would do my bookkeeping and tax records at the end of each month. It wouldn’t take a lot of time and I would be up to date, just needing to do totals on the spreadsheets before tying it with a bow for our wonderful CPA.
I have been really good (for me) on keeping up with this. I got behind, though when health issues took obvious priority, so I was going to start on August yesterday, and then dive straight into September.
When I brought up a spreadsheet, a bunch of data was gone! I looked at the other spreadsheets and found the same thing. I got out my backups and ran them. The data wasn’t there, either. :0(
SO – It looks like I’ll have to redo about 5 months of records. OH, JOY.
“No good deed goes unpunished.” (Source in question)
I will grit my teeth and try to get August done today. THEN, I’ll tackle one month at a time until everything is back and caught up. THEN – I will print a copy of each of the spreadsheets AND make a backup!
And the character-building exercises continue….
Filed under Challenges, character-building exercises
Carsten Dahl
Carsten Dahl – “God Throwing with the Light”
Carsten Dahl – “The Old Man and the Moon”
Filed under paintings I love
Gorgeous Pet Portraits
Niki Firmin – Tess
Dreama Tolle Perry
Gary Wing – Kedzie
Filed under drawings, Gary Wing, Niki Firmin - Pet Portraits
creativeartworksblog 