September 5, 2019 · 3:06 pm

Box Freak

Woodbox-Designs – ArtFire.com

 

It’s been awhile since I admitted it, but I’m a box freak. An addict. I drool when I see a box I like. There CANNOT be too many in my life. EVER.  Any excuse will do. I can always find a ‘reason’ for another, or fun way to use one…

I HAVE made a promise to myself to simply ‘window shop’ now, rather than buying all the wonderful boxes I see, so we can still walk through the house without falling or getting buried.

 

“I thought boxes were the best toy. When my parents got a new car, I ran to my mother and said, ‘Did it come in a box?’ ~  Colin Angle

Bellacor

 

“Reorganization to me is shuffling boxes, moving boxes around. Transformation means that you’re really fundamentally changing the way the organization thinks, the way it responds, the way it leads. It’s a lot more than just playing with boxes.” ~  Louis V. Gerstner, Jr.

Calendars.com 

“Life is like a box of crayons. Most people are the 8-color boxes, but what you’re really looking for are the 64-color boxes with the sharpeners on the back. I fancy myself to be a 64-color box, though I’ve got a few missing.” ~ John Mayer

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September 5, 2019 · 12:43 pm

Barn Owl

Jeff Jett – LinkedIn

 

BirdLife International

 

Kentucky Dept of Fish and Wildlife

 

Schlitz Audubon Nature Center

 

The Enchanted Portal

 

YouTube

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September 5, 2019 · 11:37 am

Thoughts on a Thursday 9-5-2019

 

  • Try as you might, the cat jumps out of the planter just before you take the picture.

THIS is that cat – Smoke.

 

  • I’m watching the agonizing ‘progress” of Hurricane Dorian as it makes it way up the East coast wreaking havoc. I’m hoping it will continue moving to the east, causing as little damage as possible.
  • I did DAY 2 of renewed yoga practice yesterday, and will do Day 3 today.
  • I played in my art room yesterday, continuing the painting of yet another stained tee of mine. It seems to be coming back to life slowly. :0)
  • I am learning more about the after effects of my husband’s stroke. (“As with anxiety, anger is both a physical and psychological response. … After a stroke you might find you experience anger much more frequently, have less control over your outbursts and/or get angry over things that would not normally cause you to feel that way.” – the things I’ve read say that this may be a temporary change in personality.  Our son and I are dealing with this. It doesn’t happen often, and fingers are crossed this will pass.)
  • I am thankful that I get to spend time with my two favorite men on the planet, and that we are sharing good conversations, laughs, and hugs.

May your Thursday be full of things that fill your heart and make you smile.

 

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September 4, 2019 · 11:19 am

I Love Raccoons – Elsewhere

Jeff Jett – LinkedIn

I love raccoons. They are so CUTE!  Our personal experience, though, living on top of a ridge line outside of town in Greenwood, Arkansas, is that they don’t share. They want ALL of the birdseed in ALL of the feeders, PLUS they trash the feeders!

 

Jeff Jett – LinkedIn

We have a humane trap we use from time to time, when they have trashed yet another feeder, to catch them and then relocate them way to our south, further out in the country beside a stream.

 

Jeff Jett – LinkedIn

Once our problem starts, it continues until we catch each one of the family separately. We put them in the same stream, hoping they’ll find their family again, but NOT come back to us!

 

* Jeff Jett posts wonderful pictures in an effort to preserve wildlife and their habitats. When we know who the photographer is, we give credit.

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September 4, 2019 · 11:07 am

Thoughts on a Wednesday

2 STAR art

Right now I feel about 110 years old thanks to the fact that I HAVEN’T been doing my yoga as I should have for far too long. Yesterday I finally decided to get started again. My poor body could really tell that it had been awhile, creaking, groaning, snap-crackle-popping as I did each new stretch. I felt better afterward, but stiffened up again overnight since I used muscles I haven’t bothered with.

I have a haircut this afternoon, but THEN I will do another good session of yoga stretching out each and every part slowly – breathing into each stretch and holding it. I really am promising myself I will do this every day. I had made good progress before, FINALLY able to touch my fingertips on the floor while bending over from the waist, for example. I’m pretty much starting from scratch right now, but I have proved to myself that I feel better, move more easily, and have improved balance when I practice yoga regularly. And this old broad has started again! REALLY!

I also felt my spirits lifting even as I walked upstairs to my art room yesterday. I turned on one of my CDs and shed years as I listened to old favorites. I started painting another tee, giving it some new life. I’m looking forward to getting up there again this afternoon. I’m promising myself to do THIS as much as possible, too, as I can handle whatever better after giving myself permission to play a bit. :0)

So far, Hurricane Dorian has missed some of my good friends in Florida, and for that I’m truly grateful. I have several other friends I’m monitoring as the storm moves up the East Coast, hoping that they, too, won’t suffer from this awful storm. It has hurt too many good people already.

I hope that your day brings YOU joy, too!

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September 4, 2019 · 9:59 am

“Little Kids and Their Big Dogs” – Photo Project for 2019

Thanks to Marianna Bellantoni, I discovered this beautiful photo project by Andy Seliverstoff  (with Марина Кокорева and 2 others).  I just HAD to share these with you. I hope the project is a huge success.

This is called “Varya and Weiss” (Weiss is an Ibizan hound)

Andy Seliverstoff – “Varya and Weiss” – “Little Kids & Their Big Dogs”

 

Andy Seliverstoff – “Varya and Weiss” – “Little Kids & Their Big Dogs”

 

Andy Seliverstoff – “Varya and Weiss” – “Little Kids & Their Big Dogs”

 

Andy Seliverstoff – “Varya and Weiss” – “Little Kids & Their Big Dogs”

 

Andy Seliverstoff – “Varya and Weiss” – “Little Kids & Their Big Dogs”

 

Andy Seliverstoff – “Varya and Weiss” – “Little Kids & Their Big Dogs”

 

Andy Seliverstoff – “Varya and Weiss” – “Little Kids & Their Big Dogs”

 

 

Andy Seliverstoff – “Varya and Weiss” – “Little Kids & Their Big Dogs”

 

Andy Seliverstoff – “Varya and Weiss” – “Little Kids & Their Big Dogs”

I included my favorite of the photos. You can see them all here.

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September 3, 2019 · 4:02 pm

The Art of Benny Norbert Smet

Benny Norbert Smet – LinkedIn

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September 3, 2019 · 1:33 pm

Folding Myself into a Paper Airplane

Pixabay

I can’t tell you how long it has been since I did a session of yoga. I will be generous to myself and say a couple of months, but it’s probably longer. I have given other things priority over yoga practice, even though I KNOW I need it. I have lots of excuses, but I finally decided that today was the day.

I have just finished a session, and I have to tell you that I feel better than I did.

I do “Gentle Yoga” – sometimes using a set of DVDs by this name put out by sixtyandme.com with instructor Cat Kabira.  This is a group of yoga stretches and poses for people who are NOT yoga people – people who are a bit age-challenged like I am (I’m 72) who have likely have health or injury issues, or, who, like me, are generally stiff, sore, and too sedentary for their own good. I call it “Yoga for Old Broads” and I love it. The instructor is very forgiving, non-judgmental, NOT super-perky so you have the urge to squeeze her neck. She stresses to just do what you can do. If you stretch in the way she is telling you, even though you can’t fold yourself into a pretzel, you are doing good for yourself. The stretching in that direction, holding the pose and BREATHING into it will finally result in your body GIVING a bit, stretching out, relaxing.

Today I just did some of the poses on my own. I wanted to take my time, do what occurred to me to do, holding the poses as long as I could. BOY! My body was telling me that I had been neglecting it!  Everything was difficult today. I really worked slowly, easing into things, breathing a lot, trying to relax. I could really tell that I need to do this every day as I was doing before other things took precedence around here. Everything I have is stiff and sore. Even lying on my back hurt for a minute or so!  I snapped, crackled, and popped as I stretched each part of me out, one area at a time.  I spent half an hour today and feel better now for it.

I will try to make time for this every day now. I have AGAIN learned that my health and ability to move and relax is super important – maybe now more than ever.

If you haven’t tried “Gentle Yoga” I highly recommend it.

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September 3, 2019 · 12:13 pm

Working on Creativity

2 STAR art

I am doing two things for myself this afternoon –

THING ONE – I’m going to do a long, slow session of old lady yoga this afternoon, stretching every part I have as much as possible.

THING TWO – I’m going to start painting another stained tee that needs new life due to my slobbiness.

I hope that you have a nice afternoon planned.

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September 3, 2019 · 11:20 am

What If

e.h. – 2 STAR art

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September 2, 2019 · 12:30 pm

Living Fully

Victoria Erickson – Wild Woman Sisterhood – via Tetiana Shevchuk – LinkedIn

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September 2, 2019 · 12:24 pm

Welcome!

Email from Marsha Koenig

Hahahahahahahaha! I have to get one of these…. :0)

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September 2, 2019 · 10:20 am

The Art of Alina Ciuciu

Alina Ciuciu – Colors of the Day

 

Alina Ciuciu – Nothing Lasts Forever

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September 2, 2019 · 9:40 am

Labor Day 2019

A Better Balance

Here’s to all the working men and women in our country today.

Here’s to the people who worked all their lives and are finally retired.

Here’s to all the working people who do not get the day off today.

My hat is also off to the good people of Bowling World in Fort Smith, Arkansas, who have to work today. Because of this, my husband, our son, our long-time good friends and I will go bowling tonight – for the first time since my husband’s stroke – with ice cream at Braums after.

My dad was born on Labor Day. He loved it, thinking it was quite appropriate. :0)

HAPPY LABOR DAY!

 

 

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September 1, 2019 · 1:12 pm

Broken?

Zen to Zany – Hillbilly Hijinx via Stephanie Youmans Wilson

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September 1, 2019 · 12:29 pm

Thoughts on a Sunday

Wildlife Lovers via Sherry Dellaria McGrath

Good morning!

First, I feel guilty that our weather is pretty nice today. My thoughts are full of the people in the path of Hurricane Dorian. I am hoping that the hurricane will take a sharp turn and just give  people a lot of rain and maybe some wind and THAT’S ALL. Fingers crossed.

Second, I’m reading as much as I can find about strokes. We were extremely lucky with my husband’s. It affected his speech and his walking, but both are improving by leaps and bounds. I learned that changes in personality and behavior are common. He is experiencing hair-trigger anger, lashing out suddenly. Most of the things I’m reading say that these changes are usually temporary and fade with time. Our son is home, helping us all keep much calmer in dealing with this.

Third, I’m happy to be finished with August and beginning a brand new, hopefully cooler month. Fall has always been my favorite season. I love being able to throw on MORE clothes, rather than being too hot. I love fireplaces, hot cocoa, the rich colors all around.  I love cleaning up the yard because things STAY done a lot longer. :0)  I love sitting outside in the evening with a hot cup of coffee, enjoying the weather, watching birds, and more. Ahhh!

Fourth, our son had me laughing so hard my stomach hurt. He decided that our goldfish are playing basketball in their aquarium.

He described in elaborate detail how the fish were sucking up one of the pieces of gravel, then swimming over to the bathtub with the piece of gravel and then spitting it into the bathtub. When I laughed at the idea, he puffed up, trying to imitate the goldfish – but actually looking a bit like a chicken – acting out the playing of the basketball game. I laughed and laughed.  This is one of the MANY reasons I am thankful he came home to help us through the health challenge. He brings compassion, love, calmness, strength, and an absolutely fabulous sense of humor.

So happy Sunday, happy September!

I wish you a day filled with good things.

 

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August 31, 2019 · 1:08 pm

Remember

Thich Nhat Hanh via Lisa Bearnes Richey

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August 31, 2019 · 12:45 pm

Happy Reunion

We have a driveway that is 650+ feet down to the road. It is graveled and STEEP. Happily, we don’t have any trouble getting down our driveway and up again, but some people do. It’s particularly bad when we have had the combination of lots and lots of rain and delivery trucks trying to get up and down.

We’ve been in bad shape now for several months now.

We used to have a wonderful man, Tommy Sandifer,  who came and used his tractor to smooth things out for us. He became very ill and was unable to help us anymore, but his son, Eric, took over for him and helps us from time to time. Eric is extremely busy though, and bringing a tractor out to help us is time-consuming and costly for him.

We called several weeks ago, asking Eric for help again. A combination of his being too busy and our rain storms have caused lots of delays.

We were delighted to hear our driveway alarm going nuts, showing a guy on a tractor there to heal our driveway – but the BEST part was that it was our original man, Tommy, the father! It’s been over 2 years since he felt well enough to help us. My husband and I both shook his hand and told him how happy we were to see him. He said he doesn’t get out much now, but he felt well enough to come and help us this morning.  He proudly showed us the new blade he got to go on the back of the tractor.

My husband and I just went down the driveway to get our mail and test the driveway fix. It is beautiful!

I’m happy our driveway is much easier to negotiate now, but I’m happier that Tommy seems to be doing well. :0)

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August 31, 2019 · 12:05 pm

Announcement

imnotrightinthehead.com via Michael Remillard

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August 31, 2019 · 10:01 am

Blocked

Shared-Vintage

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August 30, 2019 · 1:09 pm

Perilous Adventure

We got our blood pumping on the way to Lunch Bunch this morning. We wanted to change out the decoration on our mailbox. Usually, this is a very quick thing. We take off the old one, put it in the truck and replace it with the new one.

Today we started to take off the old one and wasps came flying out of the holes in the post that holds up the mailbox and acts as the attachment bar for the decorations. We had this happen once before, but we hosed it with wasp spray and hadn’t seen any wasps since. My husband got ‘grazed’ (but not actually stung badly) before we could get back into the truck. We took the can of wasp spray we now keep in the truck and hosed down the post again before heading for Lunch Bunch and errands.

We checked things out carefully when we returned before getting out and putting up the caterpillar with the Hookah pipe from Alice in Wonderland.  This time, no problem, but we’ll remain wary for awhile.

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August 30, 2019 · 12:52 pm

Wow

Native American Nation

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August 30, 2019 · 10:05 am

Music

Womenworking.com

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August 30, 2019 · 9:59 am

It’s Raining, It’s Pouring….

Tail and Fur

“It’s raining, it’s pouring;
The old man is snoring.
He went to bed and he
Bumped his head
And he couldn’t get up in the morning.”    ~ Nursery Rhyme

We’ve already reached and broken the record here in Arkansas for rain in August, and it’s raining again. We may get another 2 inches today to add to the over 11 for the month.

My husband has been gritching all summer because USUALLY we get to a point where it’s so hot with no rain that our lawn becomes ‘brown and crunchy’ (his favorite) and doesn’t need mowing. No luck for him this year. Happily, we have a nice used riding mower to make the job as easy as it gets.

I did a good job on weed whacking yesterday, going all the way around our garden, the propane tank for our shop, and behind the shop, plus the front yard, plus the area between the front yard and the driveway pad. I was planning to work on the back – and around the greenhouse today – but it looks like an inside day for us.

We’re getting ready to enjoy eating with our long-time Lunch Bunch friends. I think we decided recently we had been meeting every Friday for at least 17 years. I’m thankful to have such good, long-time friends. We’ve shared laughter and tears through the years, celebrating, or helping each other through hard times. Today our son plans to come with us!

After errands, we’ll settle in, enjoying a dry home, family, and pets.

I hope that you are enjoying your Friday.

 

 

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August 30, 2019 · 9:32 am

Glorious Pet Portraits

Niki Firmin – Therapy dogs Oliver and Lily

 

Commissioned Portrait – Bethany Kerr

 

Original photo from which portrait was done – Bethany Kerr

 

Kelly Armitage – LinkedIn

 

Kelly Armitage – LinkedIn

 

Niki Firmin – Lily

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August 29, 2019 · 1:19 pm

When

Brian Tracy – MadeWithLovebyRecycleThis.com – pinterest.com

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August 29, 2019 · 1:12 pm

Metal Sculpture by Paul Eppling – Part II

Paul Eppling-Dragon-Pinterest

 

Paul Eppling-Invaluable

 

Paul Eppling-Pinterest

 

Paul Eppling-Tampa Bay Times

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August 29, 2019 · 1:06 pm

The Art of Mario Adornetto

Mario Adornetto – LinkedIn

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August 29, 2019 · 12:51 pm

Ahhhhh!

Getty Images

I used to think that massage was an indulgence.

For 8 years I did the medical transcription and bookkeeping for a busy 8 general surgeons office in Fort Smith. I routinely worked overtime, trying to keep up, sometimes working 10 and 12 hour days. I gradually got to the point that I was so messed up that I was unable to pull my shirt over my head at night. I finally saw a doctor and he recommended several things to help me, one of which was massage. Happily, there was an exercise place very near the medical clinic, so I started going every day after work, and once a week I got a massage. Gradually, I regained my health.

I stopped getting a massage because I told myself I was better, and it was really expensive getting a massage weekly. I had stopped working at the clinic and didn’t want to drive to Fort Smith (45 minutes each way).

I don’t remember how I met Lynn Moody, my miracle working massage therapist here in Greenwood, but I am thankful every day that I did. I now get a massage once a month, and I cannot say enough about how much I get from it. When you find a good massage therapist, you can fully relax, knowing you’re in good, caring hands. You can talk or not talk. I use this time to catch up with Lynn, since I consider her a good friend, as well as a miracle worker. I leave feeling relaxed and able to tackle whatever happens in a much better frame of mind.

A good massage therapist finds all the places that you didn’t even realize were tied in a knot. She listens and focuses on areas you do know about. I definitely need my massage once a month, but I don’t get like a pretzel anymore, so sore I can’t raise my arms, for example.

If you have erroneously considered massage therapy a ‘luxury,’ an ‘indulgence,’ putting it in the category of ‘things-you-can-do-without,’ I hope that you will reconsider.

It is now one of the main things I do to take care of myself –  part of my healthcare. It would be one of the LAST things I would stop doing if I really had to start cutting things due to money difficulties.

If you are in the Fort Smith/Greenwood/Hackett area in Arkansas, thank your lucky stars and call Lynn Moody.  320 South Coker Street, Greenwood AR. 479-629-7601.

If you live elsewhere, ask your friends if they know a good one and get started.  Your body will thank you.

Love Being a Massage Therapist

 

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August 28, 2019 · 4:53 pm

The Ant Murderer Strikes Again

In our short walk around our yard last night, we found many fire ant mounds again. ARRRGH!

Since I am pretty allergic to them, we take them seriously around here. Suddenly, a bunch of hills have popped up.  I mixed up a 2-gallon container of EIGHT bug spray,

Home Depot

that kills the bugs without hurting our pets or veggies, and started out. Suddenly my husband was there, too, wanting to tote the container while I did the spraying! We went all around the yard, out to the greenhouse, then out to the shop, hosing down fire ant hills all over.

We won the round today, so will declare victory, if only for a short time. We also got the benefit of some good walking, too!

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August 28, 2019 · 12:52 pm

The Ingenious Metal Sculpture of Paul Eppling – Part I

Paul Eppling – Aardvark – Live Auctioneers

 

Paul Eppling – armadillo – Green Bench Monthly

 

Paul Eppling – Bruce Herwing-WordPress.com

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