Do you have a child, grandchild, niece or nephew that drags his or her feet when asked to write a thank you note for a gift received?
I just added these to my Etsy and ArtFire shops –
A good friend of mine suggested that I offer the option of themes, such as cat lovers, to my thank you note cards in order to encourage kids to write thank yous for the gifts received. I think this would be a FUN way to encourage kids to write a personal note when they can choose from 5 designs with their name on them. Bright, colorful, cartoony – many of them with a 3-dimensional touch, like glitter glue collars, string whiskers, etc. Tell me what theme you would like, plus a name, and I’ll do my best to make both your relative AND the gift giver smile! $14.99 for the set of 5 with free shipping in the contiguous United States.
For flower lovers, I offer this group of 5 hand-painted, personalized thank you note cards. These are mostly ‘flowers-that-exist-only-in-my-own-mind,’ and I have great fun painting different styles and colors. These are watercolor or acrylic with pastel backgrounds. Personalization at no extra charge. It’s FUN for children or adults to send a special thank you with their name on it – even if they have to write a short note to go with it. The child smiles, choosing which floral design to use. The recipient smiles, feeling special and appreciated. Win/win! $14.99 for the set of 5 cards and envelopes and FREE SHIPPING to the contiguous United States.
Filed under Uncategorized
colegallery.wordpress.com
Isn’t this a cute idea? This would be fun as baby announcements….
Zaria-Forman-www.dailymail.co.uk
Filed under Creativity, Fun with Fingerpaint
Francine Jay via Lisa Bearnes Richey
I think these nice folks were looking at ME when they wrote this reminder….
I AM making progress in my efforts to tackle one area at a time, take everything out, look through it, decide what to keep, what to donate, what to throw away, and THEN how to reorganize what is left after a thorough cleaning. I figure I should go through things this way at least once each 30 years or so – just to keep up to date…
My husband is getting me a computer. He HATES my MAC. He’s a retired computer analyst, used to knowing everything about computers. Lately he is realizing that the field is growing faster than he can keep up. He hasn’t given up, and he wants to be able to fix any problems I have when my computer is getting wonky. It really makes him angry – feeling inadequate – when he can’t begin to solve any problems on the MAC, so he finally convinced me to let him build a new computer for me – a PC with Windows 10.
He has promised me that he’ll build it on the counter beside me, taking all the time he wants to bend Windows 10 to his will, making sure all is good before we CAREFULLY move my stuff from the MAC to the PC. When we’ve tested everything and we’re sure we have everything we need from the computer I’m using now, we’ll make the switch. We’ll wipe the MAC and sell it, since it’s a good computer and fairly up to date on what is being sold now.
To this end, we decided to move the printer over beside one of our file cabinets. The printer is wider than the file cabinet, so he built an extender for the counter top and we put the printer on it. Now I have a lot more usable space for working.
I also discovered, to my horror, a truly contest-winning amount of dust and grime that was living under and behind the printer and my MAC screen, among the rivers of wiring that string along the counter. This will be my project of the day – to move stuff from one side to the other, thoroughly clean the counter top, and then figure out the best way to arrange things so I can reach them easily and the area can be cleaned again in another 30 years or so…
In the past we’ve always moved often enough that we were forced to go through things, being ruthless about what we would pay to move and what needed to be purged. We’ve lived in our home on the top of the ridge line for over 30 years. Internalizing the quote above, that ‘Your Home in LIVING SPACE, not Storage Space” hits me right between the eyes. The two nice ladies took one look at me and said, “Linda Lewis, this means YOU!”
At least I can look to various places in our home and see that progress has been made. I’ll just keep tackling one area at a time, healing things as I go. :0)
Amber at 10 months
Today has been a challenging day for the parents of a 10 month old lab ‘puppy.’
She LOVES the cold weather we’re having. She comes to sit beside me as I’m working on the computer. Then she starts ‘talking’ to me, saying something like, “Hmmmm!” If I look at her and say, “What do you want, Amber?” she says, “WOOOF!!!” – making me jump straight up in my chair. She actually hurts my ears! We wanted her to bark when she wanted to go out and when she wants to come back in again, but I think we’ve created a monster. How to you ‘explain’ to a 10-month-old-lab-with-small-brain that barking ONCE to go out is good. When you’ve gone out, and come back in again, you need to wait at least awhile before repeating the process?
It’s noon and so far, she’s been out 5 times! The first time I let her in, I saw she had been busy collecting sticks again. I put on my coat, hat, gloves, and muffler (I feel like a kindergartner getting ready to go out and play in the snow), and cleaned up the yard.
The second time, I saw ‘something’ I couldn’t identify in the yard. I donned all my gear again and went out to discover that Amber had brought the cats’ water bowl and bottle out into the front yard and had been chewing on them. :0( I picked them up, brought them into the house, washed the bowl and water bottle and refilled them. I took them back out into the garage to find that, before taking them out into the yard, she had played, “Let’s splash all the water out onto the floor!” Since it’s 15 degrees outside right now, I took the broom and swept the water out as best I could, warning my husband to be careful if he went out into the garage, watching for thin patches of ice on the floor.
The next times were more ordinary, without much destruction, but she would stay in 30 seconds, come over to me and say, “WOOOOF!!!” – piercing my eardrums – to go right back out again.
My husband just finished playing “fetch the frog” with her. That lasted for a good 5 minutes or so before she came over and said, “WOOOOOF!!!” again.
By the way, this cute rubber frog is a “Thumbs UP” list frog, as far as we’re concerned.
When we first got it, It’s made of soft rubber and squeaks. I thought it was really cute, but wouldn’t last long. I was wrong! It has lasted for about 3 months so far. She just loves it. She finally ate off one of the eyeballs, so it’s a one-eyed frog now, but seems to have many hours left in it. (sorry. I just tried to find the toy on the net so I could give you a URL for it, but I guess it’s been discontinued.)
Footnote – It may be that I’m paying for past sins or something, but one of our CATS just pulled over the laundry basket that was sitting on the stairs, scattering the clean, folded clothes and throwing some socks over the side…..
Filed under Amazing Animals, Challenges, Dog Products - Thumbs Up List, Family
One of my dear friends ordered two sets of hand-painted, personalized thank you notes recently – one with a cat theme and the other floral. I’ve had more fun doing this!
My friend knows my work. The cats will be silhouettes and cartoony and the flowers I paint are mostly ones that never were – except in my own mind. I’m spending a bit of time each day playing in my art room, trying to create thank you notes that will bring a smile or two.
Spending time there working on a project, trying to bring order out of chaos, or just experimenting, is just about the best time there is for me. The years fall away. Aches and pains fade. I’m totally absorbed, bopping to my music, surrounded by fun materials, with the only limitations my own imagination and ability. HEAVEN!
Filed under Childlike Fun, Favorite Things, Hobbies
We put this up this morning. I forgot to take my camera (surprise!) and so I’m posting pics from the last time we put it up, when things were green and the weather was deliciously warm. Today it’s 30, but sunny. Tonight we’re supposed to get a wintry mix and tomorrow the low will be 14 and the high 21….
We needed something happy to take our minds off another possibility of ice. The Cheshire Cat is just the ticket. :0)
Filed under Lewis Art, Lewis Mailbox Decorations
Iris-Scott-www.demilked.com
Filed under Creativity, Fun with Fingerpaint
Growing Bolder via Cathy Ruggiero
Filed under Acting Like a Grownup, Attitude, Childlike Fun, Encouragement
“Mona in her Basket” – Paul Militaru Photography
Filed under Paul Militaru Photography
africageographic.com
I love this sign. We have something similar that lives on the divider between the kitchen and our dining area –
Filed under Attitude, Funny Signs - Humor
victoryforwomen.org
I worked hard today, getting many things on my list accomplished.
I finally got my tax prep done to the point I can just plug in numbers and put receipts in the booklet our CPA sends us each year. Then I wait for one more thing to come in the mail and we can take it all and dump it on our wonderful tax man. This is the earliest I’ve ever done this, so I’m feeling particularly good – and a giant weight has been removed from my shoulders.
I shopped for groceries this morning, did two loads of laundry, changed the sheets on the bed, and cleaned up the kitchen.
I listed the stuff we’re donating to the Veterans Thrift Store in Fort Smith. I’ll call them tomorrow before we put the bags in the car because tomorrow is Martin Luther King Day and they might be closed.
I received an order for two sets of thank you notes from a good friend. I made good progress on them this afternoon.
I did the leash training walk with Amber without having the no-pull collar on. She did PERFECTLY. She stayed right by my side on the short leash. We walked out to the shop, then farther out to the garden, then all the way back, behind the house, out to the greenhouse, and then all the way across the front yard, into the garage and into the house. Amber got lots of love, hugs, praise, and a big dog biscuit.
I’m about to go start fixing our dinner, but I wanted to share my small victory lap with you. :0)
Filed under Acting Like a Grownup, Attitude, Challenges, Encouragement
I have a shop on ArtFire where I sell most of my work. I’ve just finished lowering prices and would like to invite you to take a look. :0)
Example of what you’ll find –
Hand-crocheted scarves with long fringe will help you keep out the cold right now. Stylish and FUN to wear!
Each scarf is one-of-a-kind. I’ve slashed the prices to $12.99 + $3.50 shipping. If you purchase more than one at the same time sent to the same address, additional shipping is just $1.00 per additional scarf. There are 6 different scarves available in my ArtFire shop HERE
Make bundling up to go outside more fun. Shop today!!
Filed under Uncategorized
mycraftilyeverafter
I’m gathering suggestions as to what to start when – and a bit on how – in my new greenhouse! My goal is to be ready to start some plants the middle of March. I’ll have to see what the temperature is in the greenhouse, since I don’t have heat out there, but if it’s too cold, I can start the seeds in the house and move them out there later.
Our greenhouse is 10×14. It is not heated or cooled with electricity because it would cost us a fortune. We do have the ability to have lights, and we do have an automatic venting system tied to the thermostat, so we can get reasonable ventilation in there, particularly when I leave the door open at the opposite end of the greenhouse.
So far I just moved things out there and stashed them somewhere. I’m giving some thought now to storage and work areas.
I would like to keep as much table area as possible for either planting seeds or staging the plants I’ve started. If we have some warmer days (like in the 40s or so) I’ll try to start moving things around, trying to get organized for the initial planting. I’ll take pics as I make some progress and share them with you. I’m hoping that I can stretch my growing season, growing my own plants to transplant out to the square foot garden when they’re ready and the danger of frost is past.
Our square foot garden used to look like this, with two rows of boxes on the ground.
Now we have six 4’x4′ boxes at chest level so I can replenish the Mel’s Mix in the boxes, mark the squares with string, plant, weed, and harvest without having to bend over or kneel down on the ground. The boxes have a fence all the way around them, reinforced with chicken wire to keep critters out. We have an automatic irrigation system set up.
I’m dreaming about plants, greenhouses, and glorious harvests this spring!
“Bridge Between Trees” – Paul Militaru Photography
Filed under Paul Militaru Photography
Filed under Creativity, Oil Paintings I Love
It has been really cold for Arkansas already this winter. Our ‘worst’ month is usually February, and it has snowed on my birthday in March. Usually, though, we have a cold snap and then Indian Summer type weather through January. I think I mentioned before that last year I was still harvesting lettuce in January…
We have had no ice, though, and I’m very grateful. That’s the only thing that truly paralyzes us. We live on top of a ridge line. Our driveway is steep, 650 feet or so down to the road that runs in front of the house. It becomes a ski slope in the winter. We can navigate it down and up again if it snows because of the snow tires on the truck. Ice is another story. Not only does the ice make it impossible for us to go out, it breaks the branches of the trees. We still haven’t fully recovered from the damage from an ice storm in 2000!
That said, our 90 pound, 10-month-old lab puppy, Amber, LOVES this weather. She finally isn’t panting from being too hot. Her coat is very thick and she seems to grin all the time she’s outside. When it’s seriously cold, we don’t let her stay out long because she’s a huge dog with very little brain at this point, but we try to let her out often. When it warms up to our high of 36 today, I’ll take her out for her no-pull collar training session on the leash for the day – Day Three.
The fact that it’s too cold to be comfortable outside has helped in my efforts to declutter our house. Religiously every 30 years or so I go through the stuff in our house, taking everything out of an area, cleaning, donating what we think someone else might be able to use, throwing out what should have been thrown out years ago, and then reorganizing what goes back in. Yesterday it was our “coat, hat, muffler, and glove area” in the utility room and back bathroom. Today it will be the front hall closet.
So far, I’ve kept my promise of filling an EXTRA big trash bag to put out for the trash people each week. I’m piling things up for donations to our local library and the Veterans Thrift Store in Fort Smith before the end of this month. My goal is to have donations each month, but if I don’t make it, the goal still stands and will remind me that I have much more to do. I’m trying not to be overwhelmed by how MANY areas in our house are crying out for my attention!
Though I don’t enjoy going through things and cleaning, I DO enjoy each area when it’s finished. I like the feeling of accomplishment, the cleaner, more organized area, the feel that I’m getting better control of our ‘stuff,’ and the happy feeling that I’m sharing things that we have enjoyed with others.
I hope you’re having a happy Saturday. Stay warm and enjoy your day!
beatlessongwriting.blogspot.com
I absolutely LOVED fingerpainting as a child in school. I would have done it at home all the time, but my mom didn’t want to worry about a possible mess. I still love the FEEL of finger paints – the freedom you have to play and play – squooshing the paint between your fingers, swirling it all around, watching the colors mix, creating something, then wiping it away with a swoosh….
Iris Scott loves fingerpainting, too, but she brings it to an art form. I’m in awe of her talent. She makes me want to play again, even though there is no way in the world I could ever hope to emulate her work.
Iris-Scott-“Finger-Painting-Spring”-www.crazyleafdesign.com
Iris Scott-inspirationhut.net.
Filed under Creativity, Fun with Fingerpaint
Yesterday we learned the hard way that a now 90-pound ‘puppy’ on a leash HAS to mind. She almost pulled my husband down three times between the car and the vet’s yesterday. It really scared us that we basically lucked out, not being injured by our happy-go-lucky puppy. We came home, dug out the no-pull collar, put it on Amber, attached her to the leash, and headed outside for a walk.
The no-pull collar is designed for the DOG to control whether he or she gets shocked or not. If the dog is obedient and doesn’t pull hard on the leash, there are no shocks. If he or she pulls on the leash, a shock is produced, continuing for a couple of seconds if he or she continues to pull. The dog quickly learns not to pull.
At first Amber was rambunctious and got shocked a lot. I decided that we had the shock value up too high, so my husband lowered it, and we continued our walk. We were all tense, since Amber got really upset at the beginning (this, after she paid NO attention to the regular shock collar at the vet’s). She got shocked once more when she tried to chase one of our cats; but otherwise, we felt the first training walk was a success.
When we came home from errands and Lunch Bunch today, we put the no-pull collar on and attached her to the leash. She hunched down and didn’t want to go out. I felt awful, but determined that we get this under control. We HAVE to be able to control her even when she’s excited, meeting people, other animals,being treated at the vet, etc. We don’t want to be pulled down and dragged by our dog. So I grimly insisted she come with me, my husband following along behind.
She walked as if she were on eggs, clearly associating the no-pull collar with the shocks yesterday. Her tail was between her legs. I was tearing up, gritting my teeth, hoping she would be successful. We walked out to the shop, and she did really well. We gave her a treat and then started back toward the house. She wanted to go back inside, but I told her we were going to walk around the house. When we got to the far side of the house, I continued to walk with Amber and my husband hung back, so she would have to decide whether to continue with me or risk getting shocked by insisting she go to him. Happily, she continued with me. I kept the lead short, so we basically walked side by side. I stopped a couple of times, waited, and then continued to walk. As we walked her attitude improved dramatically. It’s as if she had to re-learn that SHE was in control of whether she was shocked or not. Her tail came up and her step became happier.
We finished the walk, brought her inside. took the collar off, and gave her a big hug, words of praise, and another small treat. I’m hopeful that, as the days of daily walks with no shocks pile up, she’ll adapt to the collar without any more problem. We’ll give this a couple of weeks and then try going to the vet’s again…
Filed under Amazing Animals, Family
afremov.com
Darko-Topalski-www.topalski.com
Filed under Creativity, Oil Paintings I Love
creativeartworksblog 