Compassion after Euthanasia
I know first hand what a difference this makes. Greenwood Veterinary Clinic sent us a card where everyone had signed it. I still have it.
Crowd Helping Fan Watch Show
I love this one.
Beautiful Fall Rain – Ahhhhh!
S-Media-Cache-AKO.pinimg.com via Cathy Ruggiero
We had a nice rain last night and into this morning. We saw lightning and heard thunder, and it was great sleeping weather. The rain has stopped for now, but I’m hoping for a bit more, if Mother Nature is in the mood.
It’s a bit too chilly for dancing in the rain today, but I’m celebrating, nonetheless.
Hope your weather is nice, too.
Filed under Arkansas, Mother Nature
Storybook Places – Take 19
Shengsi Island, China via Weibo
Plans vs Reality
BuzzFeed
I just came in from my third mulching leaves session of the day. I’m exhausted. I stopped while I was still able to clean up after myself and put everything away, but just barely.
The PLAN was to top off the flower planters, then mulch three large leaf bags to store in the garage for the spring.
The REALITY was I mulched three large leaf bags, but TWO of them were needed to top off the planters! I only made ONE bag to put in the garage.
We have a good chance of rain (fingers crossed) for tomorrow afternoon through Monday morning. If that happens, it’ll take a few days for the leaves to dry out enough to gather them to mulch again. I THINK the flower planters are taken care of now for the winter. Hopefully, while we still have leaves enough for EVERYONE on the planet to come mulch, I can make what I would like to have for the spring.
I’ll plan to harvest whatever is ready in the garden tomorrow, planning to cover the plants for more freezes Tuesday and Wednesday…
I hope the weather where you are allows you to be outside enjoying it. If not, I hope you’re warm and dry.
Since I’m exhausted, stiff and sore right now – feeling as if I’m 105 years old, I’m going to go do my yoga for the day and see if that helps.
Happy day, everyone!
Leaf Mulching Day!
Alamy
Recently I made enough leaf mulch to fill all the flower planters around the house. Now I’ve noticed that the mulch is packing down – as it should – so I need to make more. Happily, we’re awash in leaves everywhere!
I plan to make enough mulch today to top off all the planters in the yard and then fill three more large leaf bags to store in the garage over the winter to be used in the spring.
I’ll work awhile, then come in to drink lots of water and rest a bit before doing another session.
I really have a nice system now for mulching – my WORX mulcher, a nice canvas collapsible barrel, big yellow ‘hands’ to scoop up the leaves, and a huge rake!
Lots of good exercise today in a sunny, crisp fall day!
Making a Difference – Take 1
This barber gives haircuts and shaves to the homeless – price? A single hug.
Thanks to Bill Lites for his email.
People going out of their way to do something for others brings tears to my eyes. Each kindness is different. Sometimes it’s giving of your talents at no charge. Sometimes it’s spending your time and money to say ‘thank you’ to others. These people are making a difference – making their part of the world better. This kind of generosity should motivate US to think about what WE can do in OUR part of the world.
Watercolors I Love – Take 5
Joe Cartwright – Lake Bonney, South Australia
I love the color in this and the starkness of the trees versus the lush sunset and water.
This little guy just melted my heart. Great choice of subject, plus real talent in making him come to life.
Filed under Creativity, Watercolors I Love
Hard Head
XciteFun.net
I have a hard head – I’m really slow to learn a lesson at times.
About 3 weeks ago I started doing yoga. I chose a 2-DVD set called, “Gentle Yoga” because it was geared toward women 60 years and older who had never done yoga, might have health issues, and who might be intimidated by the whole idea – a perfect description of me.
I was surprised that after doing the “Head, Shoulders, and Neck” section, I not only was able to do everything the good teacher asked, but I felt encouraged. She is very accepting. She stresses that there is no perfect yoga pose. Even if you’re only able to START to stretch in the direction she’s showing you, it does your body good. With time and practice, your body will learn to ‘give,’ and you’ll be able to stretch into the poses more and more, your body becoming stronger and more flexible. She asks that you do SOMETHING from the videos every day, even if it’s only for 5 minutes.
I THOUGHT I had listened and absorbed everything, and yet I found myself thinking I would ‘take a day off’ yesterday, since it was Thanksgiving. When mid-afternoon came, I then decided to go ahead and do my yoga. I did the “Lower Back” and “Overall” sections.
By the time I was finished, my back didn’t hurt. I’m working on being able to ‘sit’ on my feet with my knees bent. Each day I can do it for a couple of seconds longer. (My feet tend to cramp and my thighs really don’t like this). I’m determined that one day, if I keep practicing, I’ll be able to do this comfortably.
I even told my sister-in-law that I had learned that I really felt better when I did my yoga and that I was surprised by this. Yesterday I had to prove it to myself again. I’m trying to get to the point that I do two sections every day routinely, rather than making the conscious decision to do it.
Jen’s Creative Media Blog
I have NEVER found an exercise where I felt better and more relaxed when I finished before. Even hard heads like me should be able to learn this lesson! Today I’ll do “Spinal Health” and “Overall.”
Filed under Acting Like a Grownup, Attitude, exercise
Think Life Differently – Take 4
Jane Austen via Higher Perspective via Bill Lites
Jimi Hendrix via Higher Perspective via Bill Lites
Filed under Favorite Quotes, Good Thoughts, Think Life Differently
Watercolors I Love – Take 4
Bored Panda
I love the softness of this one, and the contrast between the detailed painting and the merely suggestive.
Etsy
I had a visceral reaction to this painting. I simply melted and said, “Awwwww!” inside.
Filed under animal paintings, Creativity, Watercolors I Love
“Snail’s Pace”
“Snail’s Pace” – Paul Militaru Photography
Filed under Mother Nature, Paul Militaru Photography
Beautiful Arkansas
Scott Cordell – AR Sunrises and Sunsets via Cindy Bassnett Thurman
Filed under Arkansas, Awe-Inspiring Photography
Santa Mailbox Decoration is Finished!
This is the mailbox decoration before I had fun using my new Snow-Tex and glitter glue.
I had trouble getting pictures today, but the left mitten gives you an idea of what the glitter glue does, and you get an idea of the Snow-tex on Santa’s eyebrows, etc.
This is a close up of the Snow-Tex. As my husband says, when you’re driving past the house at 45 mph, you probably won’t be able to appreciate the texture. I think my husband would have preferred I left Santa as he was before the new experiments, but I had so much fun doing it, I’ll just let his opinion slide. HE can paint the next one… :0)
Filed under holidays, Lewis Art, Lewis Mailbox Decorations
Monet’s Pond
This is a beautiful video that is mesmerizing. It’s called “Monet’s Pond, Seki City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan.
Art’s video, Cheryl Glatt, Via Angela Tag
If clicking on the link above doesn’t work, please paste this URL in your browser – http://www.facebook.com/artstorica/videos/10345
(trying again to get the URL to print out. Fingers crossed.)
Filed under Awe-Inspiring Photography, Creativity
Happy Thanksgiving 2016
Victoria Park Animal Hospital
“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. ” ~William Arthur Ward
I’m grateful for MANY things this year – these are some of them –
- I’m grateful we discovered my husband’s diabetes and that he is no longer in denial or depression and is actively working to cut out the sugar and get healthier.
- My efforts to get my lard off and move more are paying off, giving me the motivation to continue to do all I can to be healthier.
- My husband and I truly enjoy being together after 47 years of marriage. Our lives are so rich and full!
- Our son is living his dreams. Although he’s across the world from us, we chat almost every day, staying close.
- Our animals are enjoying their lives, even though some are getting a little long in the tooth – as we are.
- I have friends who mean the world to me.
- Our cousins in Louisiana have both weathered health crises and are still bringing joy to everyone lucky enough to know them.
- I have a sister-in-law in North Carolina who is truly my friend, sharing giggles and challenges every day.
- I enjoy my life so much – having the time and freedom to try to create things, either in the shop or in my art room, trying out new media, challenging myself to do the best I can.
- Our raised bed, square foot garden is perfect for my needs for years to come. I love trying to grow some of our own food.
- We’re surrounded by flowers most of the year. We built planters with irrigation systems that allow us to feel rich in blooms.
- I have too many things I would like to do in any given day.
- I have the joy of reading – in books and the Internet, allowing me to learn as much as my brain will allow.
- I have my husband, sitting across the office from me, scowling at the computer, trying to design a phone answering machine specifically for us to block calls we don’t want.
- I have a warm, dry home filled with love where I can watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade, enjoy football games, wash clothes and fix a turkey dinner today.
I hope you have a lot to be thankful for. Take a few minutes and realize how lucky you are!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! ENJOY YOUR DAY!
Filed under holidays
Snow-Tex!
I don’t have pics to show you yet, but I had SUCH fun playing with the new (to me) Snow-Tex stuff. It comes in a jar kind of like grout. You can use almost anything to put it on whatever surface you want. I used a brush, but was dabbing heavily on the hat fur, his mitten fur, his eyebrows, mustache, beard, etc. My husband wasn’t impressed with the texture, but I loved it. I also used the glitter glue on the sign frame, his mittens and the red part of his hat. Gaudy and Christmas-y! :0)
Will turn the piece over tomorrow, paint the special effects, and take some pics to post.
Such a fun day!!!!
Filed under Lewis Art, Lewis Mailbox Decorations
Hopelessly Spoiled
This showed up this morning! We weren’t up yet when it was delivered, but whoever it was pushed the package through the cat door in the garage, making lots of noise with our driveway detector. As you can see, the company personalizes the art box. :0)
I was dazzled by the wonderful array of art media when I opened the suitcase type box! Here there are watercolors on the left with nice places to put water under each group of watercolors. There is a beautiful group of oil pastels. I’ve used ‘regular’ pastels, but never oil, so my mouth is watering. You can also see there are two brushes.
On the other side is a nice group of colored pencils, a pencil sharpener, and two nice erasers. There is also a group of colored pens.
My husband said he found this offer on Brad’s Deals, a favorite free-subscription-to-nice-deals-on-all-kinds-of-things place.
I’m really looking forward to using this. I can take it anywhere, bringing a bottle of water and some paper, and be all set up for some serious playing!
What a happy gift!
Filed under Delightful Surprises, Lewis Art
“Happy Places”
This is my sister-in-law’s “Happy Place,” and what a glorious place it is! Whenever she’s feeling down she can simply go to her happy place and immediately feels a lift in her spirits.
I think we should all have a happy place when we need one. A thing that makes me grin like a Cheshire cat every time I see it is this owl I got recently.
He lives in my dining area window on a special display piece my husband and I made. Right now he’s helping me celebrate the fall and Thanksgiving, but I’ll probably dress him up for Christmas when the time comes.
Build YOURSELF a happy place somewhere, if you don’t already have one. Someplace you can go when you’re feeling down to give your spirits a lift.
Filed under Attitude, Encouragement
Present to Myself
It’s not my birthday. It’s not a holiday when you get presents, but I got myself a present recently and I’m grinning from ear to ear.
Robyn Soules is one of the talented artists on my website, Creative Artworks.
She makes beautiful jewelry and Christmas ornament wraps from gazillions of tiny beads.
I liked this necklace –
I wrote to Robyn and said, “I love the design of this necklace, but can you make it in all white? She immediately wrote back, saying, “You bet!” She got more details, such as how long I wanted the necklace, and whether I wanted her to use all white beads or would prefer clear Swarovski crystals. I asked her to do what she thought looked best, but that I loved ‘sparkly.’
These photos just don’t do the necklace justice. I wore it out with friends Monday evening, and they were already talking about my necklace even before I took off my vest! It lies down perfectly, staying nicely spread out like this as you wear it, rather than bunching up like some other necklaces do. Robyn really listened to my love of sparklies. The crystals catch the light and reflect it beautifully. I’m delighted with her work and feel really special when I wear it. :0)
Besides these gorgeous beaded necklaces, she makes earrings, luxurious ‘garden’ bracelets, sports bracelets, and Christmas ornament wraps.
Filed under holidays
Thanksgiving Wednesday
What’s Trending
“Thanksgiving is America’s national chow-down feast, the one occasion each year when gluttony becomes a patriotic duty.” ~Michael Dresser
Filed under Favorite Pictures, holidays
Bookish Problem
I Love Reading Books via Cathy Ruggiero
I have almost all the books Robert B. Parker ever wrote, including the Spenser series, the Jesse Stone series, the Sunny Randall series, the westerns, the books for youths, etc. I have about 50 books and I just finished re-reading them. I’m feeling a bit blue now, since I probably won’t read them again for awhile, but insanely rich that I can pick one any time I want and dive into his world of wit, wry dialogue, great stories, and characters I know and care about.
For the next few days I’ll dabble in all the wonderful things on my Kindle, letting all the good work from Mr. Parker settle once again in my psyche.
Filed under Favorite Authors & Books, Reading is FUNdamental
Watercolors I Love – Take 3
Bored Panda
I love the way this artist has gone from an almost pointillism technique for the lion’s head to a free form, glorious color watercolor!
Canvas Wall Art and Canvas Prints
Filed under Creativity, Watercolors I Love
Fingers (and all other appendages) Crossed for Rain
123RF.com
If the ‘weather weenies’ (as my husband calls them) are correct, we have a 60% chance of some rain this afternoon and evening. I have all appendages (including my eyes) crossed.
Although we don’t have many wildfires happening in Arkansas right now, we are about 15 inches below normal and burn bans have been issued because the risk of wildfires is high. Since we turned off our irrigation systems for the winter, it’s a lot of trouble to water my fall garden, so it would be great if they get a good, long drink. If we actually get some, I can then send any remaining moisture to my sister-in-law, Mary Lou, who IS suffering from wildfires in North Carolina.
I have lots of errands, plus a haircut, this afternoon, and if I drown while doing them, I promise you I’ll be smiling.
Clipart Kid
Filed under Arkansas, Mother Nature
Think Life Differently – Take 3
Higher Perspective via Bill Lites
Filed under Favorite Quotes, Good Thoughts, Think Life Differently
Thanksgiving Tuesday
The Lucky Penny
“Love wholeheartedly, be surprised, give thanks and praise – then you will discover the fullness of your life.” ~ Brother David Steindl-Rast
Filed under Favorite Quotes, holidays
Getting the Lard Off – Progress Report Nov. 21, 2016
Pinterest.com
I’m happy to say that I am FINALLY back on the getting the lard off road! I lost my way for a bit, but – with the addition of yoga poses done daily – I’m starting to lose again.
My husband – who is a newly-diagnosed diabetic – and I are eating a low carb diet, substituting sugar-free candy, pudding, and tea for the things he’s missing the most.
Bored Panda
The biggest change is that I’m doing two sections of my yoga DVD set daily. Today, for example, I’m doing “Joint Mobility” and “Overall Flow.”
Yesterday I ALMOST skipped the yoga because I had some sore muscles. I went ahead, grimly, and found that my soreness disappeared! Let this be an ongoing lesson for me!!!!!
I’ve been doing the two sections daily for a bit over a week now, and I decided to see whether my measuring tape was impressed or not.
It was! To date, I’ve lost 21.75 inches and 40 pounds. (Some of these pounds have been regained and now lost again. I’m looking forward to breaking into new territory soon.)
Yesterday I was doing the ‘fold-yourself-into-a-paper-airplane-and-twist’ pose. I end up with my leg bent and twisted over to the side across my body with my knee on the floor. The opposite arm is stretched up above my head. See what I mean about folding yourself into a paper airplane?
Anyway, you get into the pose, holding it while you breathe in deeply into the stretch, and then exhale several times. When I was doing the last deep breath, my fingers touched the floor! Just barely – but they did!!!!! Only on one side, and only for a second, but HOOORAAAAAY!
The only other exercise I’m doing right now is sitting on the exercise ball while watching TV. This is supposed to be good for building up my ‘core’ muscles and strengthening my balance. Since I need both, I spend some time bouncing around each evening.
I’m going right now to do my yoga sessions.
Hope YOUR day is good, too.
Filed under Acting Like a Grownup, DIET!, exercise, getting the lard off
The Merry Christmas Santa is Coming to Life!
Yesterday I finished the second coat on the front of the mailbox decoration. Today I’ll flip it over and do the 2nd coat on the back of the piece.
I checked on my order of Sno-Tex, the textured white paint I want to experiment with on this. It had not been shipped! I cancelled that order and ordered from another source, so it should be delivered tomorrow. HOORAAAY!
When the 2nd coat is on the back and is dry, then I get to play.
Clipart Kid
I already have my glitter glue to make some things sparkly. THEN the Sno-Tex is supposed to make things like Santa’s hair, mustache, bear, and fur on his mittens and hat 3-dimensional. I’ve never used these before, so I’m like a kid at Christmas.
I’ll show you some progress on these two things as I can.
Filed under holidays, Lewis Art, Lewis Mailbox Decorations
The Garden Still Lives!
For two nights this week I’ve had to spread sheets over our fall raised bed, square foot garden, trying to bring the plants through the freezes. Last night it wasn’t supposed to freeze, so I held my breath and didn’t cover the plants. I went out to check on things this morning and all our plants were still alive! I have several different types of lettuce that I’m HOPING I can continue to harvest into January. Time will tell. The above is head lettuce.
I’m not sure what this is called, but the leaves are frilly and curly.
This is kind of ruffle-y.
This is one of the two raised bed planters that are almost entirely devoted to broccoli and cauliflower, although you can see two lettuce plants on the left.
This planter is almost entirely lettuces. If you look carefully, there’s a ‘salad blend’ brownish lettuce in the center. The weather was so warm I almost lost the lettuce plants due to them trying to bolt. That’s why the plants are so tall. I have no clue what will happen, but I’m harvesting every two or three days for as long as they’ll allow.
This is the treasure I found this morning – a teeny, tiny head of cauliflower! Isn’t it cute? :0)
I tried to grow celery this year, planting three ‘bottoms’ of celery I had gotten at the store. Two immediately croaked when I transferred them to the planter, but one is still alive, quite green, but only has small leaves and doesn’t seem to be growing. I’m just glad I tried, kept one alive, and will keep trying.
I finally folded up the king sized sheets I used to cover the planters. We MIGHT get much-needed rain tomorrow and I don’t want the sheets to get wet.
So far, so good!
Filed under Gardening, Square Foot Gardening - Raised Beds
creativeartworksblog 