“A cat will do what it wants when it wants, and there’s not a thing you can do about it.” ~ Frank Perkins
“Cats have it all: admiration, an endless sleep, and company only when they want it.” –Rod McKuen
“There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats.” –Albert Schweitzer
Filed under Amazing Animals, animal paintings
I LOVE this sweet little owl!
Yesterday was eventful with the crews from our power company cutting down stuff that might encroach on the power lines. They said they are scheduled to come out every 7 years, but they’ve only been out once before in the 37 years we’ve been here.
We actually are due for several different crews. The one with the spinning blade that did the larger work was here yesterday. This was followed by a crew with chain saws and loppers. A third crew will follow at some point with a chipper machine to chew up what the others cut down and haul it away. Finally, mowers are supposed to try to cut the remaining grass. It’s very rocky, so I don’t know how successful they will be.
I took bottles of water out to the chain saw and lopper crew, asking if they did outside jobs or knew someone who did. I got the name and number of a guy they trusted, who does outside jobs on the weekends.
I called. He came out yesterday and gave me an estimate on two jobs – one to clear the weed trees across the back of the yard, and the other to cut back more of the trees on either side of the driveway. He actually told me he wouldn’t charge for the weed trees! We are expecting him by 9 this morning to get started on what he said would be a two-day job! HOOOOOORAAAAAAAY!
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I drank the first protein shake yesterday in my efforts to lose my lard and improve kidney function issues. I tried Premier Protein Chocolate High Protein Shake. Each bottle is 11.5 oz. 160 calories, 1g sugar, 24 vitamins and minerals. 3g fat, 20mg cholesterol, 190mg sodium, 5g carbs, 3g fiber (making the NET carb total 2), 30g protein. It was good! Not like having a chocolate shake from Sonic, but just fine. I can live with this easily. I drank it mid afternoon, when usually I’m feeling a bit low and hungry and it perked me right up. I’m really happy about this addition to my diet. I’ll tweak things around the shake so I’m staying within boundaries on everything.
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I spent time in my art room, finishing a couple more signs and starting a couple more. It is so relaxing to be up there, able to concentrate on trying to make something, away from stress for a bit, totally engrossed in trying to use my new wood burning tool and tips effectively.
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Today and tomorrow are due to be record-breakers temperature-wise, but then we’re supposed to have a cold front come through tomorrow evening to bring the temperatures down to fall weather. I’m ready.
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I hope that your weekend is a fun one, making you grin from ear to ear.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Filed under Amazing Animals
The driveway detector sounded off again. We found some guys asking if they could look around to see where they could drive the chipper truck later.
They left, and another truck came up, this one with 4 guys who are now chainsawing, finishing up what the man with the spinning blade machine started earlier. They said they would be working on the other end of the line, the one that goes across to the shop, as well.
I guess when they finish, the chipper guy will come. I’ve asked each group if they do outside jobs, but no one does. Sigh.
I’ll just be happy with whatever they do. It’s a constant battle around here to keep Mother Nature from growing up around us, trying to push us off the land and go back to the way it was in 1987.
All the activity around here sure keeps your interest, though. What a NICE bunch of hardworking guys. I’ll offer them bottles of cold water in a bit.
Filed under Challenges, Changes
My good friend, Cathy, sent this to me this morning. I had JUST come out from feeding the cat and cleaning up her area, so this was especially apt. I love it!
Monster Cat’s favorite toys are
She WILL get on the cat tower in the corner of the room, especially if I put one of the catnip mice on top. (She is drawn to the ball on a string that hangs from the top level.) I got her some ping pong balls, and though she bats them around for a bit, loses interest and just leaves them. Actual cat toys are a complete dud.
I will say that she plays and entertains herself more than any cat we’ve ever had. We sit and watch and laugh at her as she ‘stalks her prey’ of the ball on the end of the string, crouching down behind the corner of the box, then springing out to pounce on the ball. She then carries it in her mouth and jumps into the box. A few seconds later, she SPRINGS up out of the box and the game begins again.
Her favorite thing at the moment is sitting out on the screened back porch watching some rabbits who have been moving around out there in the evenings. I don’t know if she could actually catch them. They certainly keep her attention.
Filed under Amazing Animals, Family
This is similar to what is on the end of the long folding arm of the machine the man is driving that is clearing the power lines in the right-of-way to the east of our house. They simply showed up and started making noise when my husband was trying to take a morning nap in his recliner. Amber’s barking and the noise finally got him up.
He took Amber and the truck to go find out what was happening. It turned out that there was a man driving a humongous piece of equipment with a cab that moved to all angles, with a long folding ‘arm’ on the front with a spinning blade to saw off anything that could encroach on the power lines. They sawed off a bunch of stuff, particularly off a humongous trying-to-die tree on the edge of what we laughingly call the ‘civilized’ part of our land.
They stopped when they saw me standing out there watching them. I complimented the man operating the spinning blade. Another man will be trying to mow the right of way, though it’s really rocky and will be a nightmare to mow. They said they tried to do it every 7 years, but they’ve only been here once before, and we’ve lived here over 35 years now.
They said a bucket truck will be here within 48 hours with a huge chipper thingie on it to grind up what they cut down and haul it off. I asked if they could take a few minutes and go all the way across the back of the yard for us with the spinning blade. Sadly, they couldn’t. :0/
We paid a guy to clear quite a bit of the back as a fire brake several years ago. He did a great job, but the stuff started growing up immediately, trying to go back to the way it was and we can’t afford to keep doing it.
Just cutting out the top of the tree on the one side made a huge difference in the amount of sun coming in on the back porch.
My husband drove out to the shop when he came back so he could fill up a low tire on the truck. He decided to mow one spot in the yard that needed it, and now has the mower still running in the shop to use up the rest of the gas in it so he can store it for the winter.
Things are quiet around here right now, but now my husband is awake and fussing at his phone… :0)
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Indian Hills Sign Humor – Vince, the Sign Guy
Filed under Funny Signs - Humor, Indian Hills Signs
Filed under Amazing Animals, animal paintings
My SIL’s email this morning ended with, “You come from dust, you return to dust, that’s why I don’t dust. It could be someone I know.” I absolutely LOVE it.
My good friend Marsha came through Milton just fine. I’m so relieved. She’s annoyed that she did all the work of moving things ‘all for nothing.’ She’s saying that “at least things got dusted well.” I’m delighted and relieved she’s alive to BE annoyed. I’m assuming that my friend, Jeff and his family came through all right, since he lives in the same area as Marsha.
Mother Nature has really shown her ugly side lately. So many good people are dealing with so much loss and devastation. All most of us are able to do is to donate to the groups that are helping directly. It’s so little. :0(
We didn’t get all our errands accomplished yesterday, so we’ll continue today. Mail, post office, Walmart and bank are on the list. I should get the protein drinks I ordered, so hopefully I can get started on drinking one per day as my doc’s APRN suggested. I set up an account and got my new med ordered yesterday, as well. It will take a while to get here, but I’ll start as soon as I receive it. Everything else is “keep on keepin’ on. “
I’m going to try to get outside today to trim up some things in the yard. It looks like we may have come to the end of having to mow and weed whack, although there is something always needing to be trimmed back. Our weather is still doing the transition from summer to fall, with the weather this minute super nice, then a HOT weekend, then a cold front with cooler weather. Roller coaster, but I’m NOT complaining, since there isn’t any severe weather with it.
I hope that things are good where you are. Keep your eyes open and stay safe.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
I’m sending hope and good wishes to Florida, hoping that Milton isn’t as bad as forecast. I’m hoping that the responders on the ground can act quickly to help people affected. The two people I know are not in the mandatory evacuation areas, so I’m hoping they’ll be safe.
We have lots of errands this morning, but should be home by lunch time.
The APRN who saw my husband and me at the doc’s office yesterday was pleased with my weight loss efforts. She wants me to drink a protein shake daily, start a new medication and return in three months. Hopefully this combo of losing more weight, the shakes, and the med will result in good improvement in January.
At lunch we discovered our TV channels weren’t coming up. The problem turned out to be a system-wide problem that the TV provider was having, rather than us, particularly. He didn’t know when it would be fixed, so we enjoyed a movie from our collection last night.
Stay safe and well.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Sheep sheltering from rain at a bus stop in Ireland
Smile – BoredPanda.com – Nikita Manot and Dominyka
Filed under Amazing Animals
It seems impossible that this is a ‘drawing’ of a pet, doesn’t it?
It’s actually a bit cool here this morning at 57 degrees F. The sun is shining brightly and the high is supposed to be 82. Just a perfect day. We are so lucky.
Shout-out to two friends in the path of Hurricane Milton – Marsha and Jeff. I have all appendages crossed that both come through the next few days well with very little, if any, damage. They are not in evacuation zones.
My husband and I have routine doctor appointments today. Hopefully, we’ll be cleared to live our lives the best we can for the next 6 months before having to go back again. We are actually seeing an APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse) today, rather than our regular primary doctor. Our sweet doctor broke her shoulder in a snow mobile accident on vacation with her husband. She had surgery, but it didn’t do the job. So now she has had to undergo a 2nd surgery. I really hope this time her pain goes away and that she gains full range of motion with physical therapy. I’ll get an update, I hope, at our appointment today.
I’m hoping that eventually my weight loss will result in good blood test numbers. If we get to wait 6 months before seeing our primary again, I can be much closer – if not AT – my goal weight. One can hope. At least there will be less of me. :0)
We are lucky to have a frozen meal company called, “Stu’s Clean Cookin'” in Greenwood. It is owned and run by veterans, a fact we like a lot. Not only is their food good, but I was able to get online and look through their offerings, each with a complete nutritional run-down on the meal. I was able to find several that were low sugar for my husband and several low carb for me. I showed the low sugar listings to my husband and he chose the ones he wanted. The store also offers $12.00 savings if you buy 12 meals, so we did that. We’ll each enjoy one of our choices this evening.
I’m hoping to finish two wood-burned pieces today. I’m also getting excited about hand-painting a package or two of stationery and/or note cards. It’s fun to be able to spend time in my art room, concentrating on colors, shapes and texture.
I hope your day is a good one.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
These earrings are made by hand with polymer clay by Reka Langmar of Hungary. I think they are exquisite.
Reka Langmar – VintageFloralJewel – Etsy
Filed under jewelry, Reka Langmar - VintageFloralJewel on Etsy
Whew! My husband wanted to turn off the power so that he could install an extra surge protector for the house.
It took him two tries to get the power off. While he was doing that, it suddenly occurred to me that the generator might come on and mess things up. I found him still in the yard and he said that wouldn’t be a problem.
I left him alone for a bit and then went out to the garage to check on him. He was trying to lift up a really heavy metal cover for the house breaker box. I helped him lift that up and held the bottom up while he got some screws started. We finished that and he went out to turn on the power again, saying, ‘Watch to see if anything smokes.” Oh, good.
The garage lights came back on and nothing else happened. WHEW! I used the opportunity to sweep behind the fridge we have out there that partially obstructs the breaker box, sweeping up all kinds of yucky stuff.
I asked again how the generator – which is wired to act with power system, turning on when the public power is off, and then stopping when public power comes back on – tells the ‘difference’ between US shutting off the power and NATURE causing the power to go off. He said something vague (to me) about the generator reading the electrical dial. I still don’t know, but we’re back with power, nothing smoking, and hopefully more resistant to any problems caused by power surges.
We put the fridge back where it belongs and my husband has switched to the previous project where he was having someone send a code to my phone. I’m now monitoring that for either a message or a direct phone call. Sigh.
In another 45 minutes we’ll take a break for lunch. I’m looking forward to that.
Filed under Challenges
I found these yesterday on Pinterest. I have no other information about the artwork or artist, but I love the work, and I fell in love with the little boy(s) in the images with the art.
Filed under When Wood Comes Alive
A beautiful morning here in Arkansas. We have doors open to the breezes and a/c off. Woo HOOOO!
We’ve had a lot of deer in the area lately. We were coming home from errands a couple of days ago and FOUR deer were suddenly crossing the road in front of us. My husband managed to slow down enough to miss all of them, including the baby, who was lagging behind and might have been hit. We’ve also seen them toward the bottom of our driveway. They are always crossing over the driveway, on the way somewhere else. :0)
We were going to watch the Dallas Cowboys vs the Pittsburgh Steelers football game last night, but gave up because of the hugely long weather delay. I read this morning that they STARTED the game after a 90-minute delay. We’re not die-hard fans of anyone, so too much for us.
I will be super-aware of my husband today. He’s in a mood to do a bunch of stuff. I heard the driveway alarm and got up to see if anyone was there. When I came back, he was upset he couldn’t find me. He wanted me to check my phone for a code he needed from our investment brokers. I gave it to him and then asked why he didn’t have them send the code to HIS phone. He said he couldn’t remember how to do that.
NOW he was gathering some tools in the office. I asked him what he was planning to do. He said, ‘surge protector for electrical system.’ I asked him if this was a big deal – and he said, “kinda.” I asked him to get me if I could help. He left, mumbling. I’ll check on him in a bit. As so many of our days around here go…
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Filed under When Wood Comes Alive
Filed under digital art, WenderAspire on Etsy
I was a good girl yesterday, doing 4 of the ‘drumming’ videos with my 3-pound weights and then half an hour or so of yoga stretches. I’m really trying to work those in every day, but actual results vary…
These are the latest wood-burned and painted efforts from my art room, just listed on my Etsy site. I’m planning to play up there again today, with maybe starting a package of painted stationery.
We don’t have any other scheduled plans today, other than watching the KC Chiefs play tonight. They play right when we usually eat dinner, so I’ll fix something quick and easy.
Our weather is going to cool off starting overnight tonight. I’m happy to be finally embracing the look and feel of Fall.
I wish you a happy, productive, or restful day – one that brings a smile.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
“Smile” – BoredPanda.com – Nikita Manot and Dominyka
Filed under Favorite Pictures
creativeartworksblog 