Drawings
Filed under drawings
Beautiful Watercolor
Filed under RJ Watercolors - Etsy, Watercolors I Love
Learning to “Deal”
Our world is becoming more and more challenging. I know I’m getting older than dirt and have less patience than I used to have, but I find myself getting hostile often lately.
I listen to the news and get angry. I read articles on my computer that make me mad. I get disgusted by many song lyrics. I have little patience with actions of celebrities and just plain folks, tending to get offended when they step on or scoff at things that mean a lot to me. I’m tired of people being so judgmental, but I guess I’m the SAME.
I spend a lot of time avoiding. In fact, maybe ‘avoiding’ should be included as an Olympic sport. If it were, I would see if I could qualify for the seniors team from the U.S.
I propose the use of two emojis – Emoji ONE – showing a person with hair blowing in the wind. This would mean that YOU are letting bad stuff blow right over you, choosing not to react. It could also be encouragement to others, not to LET all the aggravation get them down.
Emoji TWO – a person with their lips zipped, reminding yourself that your opinion might not be shared by others and that insisting on telling people what you think all the time might be supremely irritating and probably won’t change any minds. It might also be used to quietly ask others to let you go on in your ‘bliss and ignorance,’ rather than trying to loudly tell you that you’re full of it.
Whaddya think?
Filed under Challenges
Sunday 7-28-2024
I love this drawing – and I’m NOT fond of mice.
We missed the hoped-for rain yesterday, and then next 10 days are supposed to be a ‘return-to-the-heat’ and dry. UGH.
Yesterday I checked for ripe tomatoes, but found none. I did find and replant some tomato suckers, though. As you can see here, only ONE of the suckers is doing really well. The rest are just hanging on. I’ll keep trying, though. I keep reminding myself that these are all ‘free’ tomato plants, and if just a couple do well, our chance for ripe tomatoes in an extended season increases.
The experiment of planting the elephant ear bulbs has been really interesting. I planted one large bulb in each of three brick planters. One planter in front of the garage has been a good place for several years. I planted the second bulb in a tall, shaded planter to one side of our front porch, hoping it would really spread out and take over the area. The third I planted in a planter at one end of the front yard, in a shaded, fairly protected place.
This is where I’ve planted elephant ears for several years. Usually I have three bulbs in this planter, but the ones I bought are huge, so I decided to see what one bulb in the middle would do. It seems to be happy here and very healthy.
The bulb in the planter to the side of the front porch is doing well, too, although the plant is not nearly as large as the other.
This is the bulb in the protected, shaded planter at one end of the front yard. It has struggled, but is finally gaining a foot hold. The plant is still very small.
Time got away from me yesterday, but I’ll try to get upstairs to my art room today and get started on a new wood burned sign. I’m really enjoying trying to do this. My dreams are full of what I’d like to do in the future, and all I’m learning daily, as far as techniques, what each of the different tips does, and more. Really FUN. :0)
I hope your Sunday is bright, shiny, and full of pleasure.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Scrap Metal Sculpture
Scrap Metal Sculpture – EngineeringDiscoveries.com – Pinterest
Filed under metal art, scrap metal art
Fabric Art
Filed under Embroidery/Sewing Art
Addictions
I have to stay out of office supply stores. Also, stores that sell baskets or boxes. Also, food – particularly salty, greasy things and chocolate. And now I’ve found a new addiction – watching military homecoming videos on YouTube.
Yesterday, when my to-do list had filled up the page and was spilling over you could have found me glued to my computer, headphones on, tears in my eyes, watching reunions of military people and their families. They are so touching, and I’m so sorry that they have to go through the separation, but happy for them when they are reunited. They cry. I cry. And then I find and watch another.
I guess I watch them because they are happy endings in our country. Real people having good things happen. A thing that is sorely needed right now. Love spilling out over the top, enveloping all in the area, plus felt vicariously by people needing holes filled.
Just what I needed – another addiction to add to my list. :0)
Saturday 7-27-2024
These are too cute to EAT. I love the creativity some people show with food. Maybe if I find someone who will make things like this for ME, I can lose all the weight I would like because EVERYTHING is simply TOO CUTE TO EAT. :0)
I’m an emotional eater – of course, ANY excuse will do. Yesterday it was because my husband yelled at me – after asking for my help – when I was insisting that he wasn’t giving Microsoft what it was demanding in order to sign in. I left the room, and then proceeded to eat our dinner hot dogs with actual BUNS instead of the Mission tortillas that have no carbs, PLUS I ate potato chips, sabotaging my lose-the-lard efforts for the day.
I’m patting myself on the head a bit this morning that I DID vacuum all the tiled areas on our first floor yesterday – pantry, kitchen, utility room, dining area, walkway to the living room, and two half baths. Today I’ll do the carpeted areas on the first floor, plus our bedroom and master bath upstairs. I’m amazed that Amber isn’t completely bald after vacuuming up the equivalent of at least one dog yesterday.
We had the nicest short rain yesterday afternoon and have a chance for a repeat today. I hope we get it because it looks like we have quite the dry spell after that, with the temperatures soaring again. In a few minutes, I’ll check our tomato plants, fertilize, and see if I can replant any suckers.
I hope that you are able to make today a really nice one.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Guilt
I’ve told you before that I’m a slob. No amount of good intentions seems to change it. I’m either ready for Good Housekeeping to come photograph – and woe betide anyone who messes anything up – no cooking going on – etc., or it’s our ‘regular’ house status, where the above sign is true.
Sometimes I can simply ignore the problem. When the hairballs start being wafted across the floor by the air conditioning vents, some of them trying to grab your leg as you pass, it’s time to vacuum. Amber, our 95-pound yellow lab, is the major contributor to showing how bad a housekeeper I am. I’ve tried using a ‘defurminator’ tool on her to preemptively collect hair she will shed. I’ve even tried running the vacuum tool over her back, though she really didn’t like that. More frequent baths don’t help, either. She walks through a room – sometimes right after I’ve run the vacuum AGAIN – and sits down. The hair scatters as she plops down, carried by the breeze.
So at the top of today’s list is vacuuming the tiled areas on the first floor AGAIN this morning and the carpeted areas AGAIN this afternoon. If this would STAY done at least ONE day, I wouldn’t get so hostile…
Filed under Housekeeping - Maintenance, I'm a slob
Wonderful Cat Drawings
Filed under drawings
Metal Sculpture
Filed under metal art, scrap metal art
It’s Friday – 7-26-2024
PsychoBitch – John – Pinterest
We’re having nice weather. It’s only 77 degrees F. right now. We may get a bit of rain this evening. NICE.
I’m planning to get outside to see if we have any ripe tomatoes. We have passed going into withdrawal due to the lack of ripe tomatoes now, but I keep hoping some of the many green ones we have will ripen. This has been a weird tomato season for us for sure. I’ll check to see if I can find any suckers to snip and replant. So far, my luck on getting the suckers to take root and grow isn’t stellar. I’m still hopeful something I do will result in at least ONE sucker extending our season.
Yesterday’s errands went really well. I hit the post office first, mailing the thingie certified. It’s been awhile since I had to do this, and wow – have prices skyrocketed! It cost me over $11.00.
Then I saw that our hairdresser was in his salon, so I stopped to give him the plaque I made for him. He hugged me and seemed to be very happy with it. Finally, we went to the vet to get Amber’s rabies vaccination. I went in and handled the payment and the paperwork. The lady at the counter remembered my husband being pulled down in the parking lot by Amber the last time we were there. Two ladies met me in the parking lot. One held Amber’s collar while the other gave Amber the injection. Amber didn’t even realize she had been given a shot! She was totally into trying to lick each of the girls. It was quick and easy. Amber is protected now for another year. I’m SO grateful to have a vet who will help us with our changing needs.
Jet (aka Monster Cat) gave us quite a show yesterday, playing on her tower. She is fascinated by the balls hanging on it that swing at the least provocation. She was reaching out – grabbing a string with a paw, and trying to hold the ball close to her chest. She tried jumping down on one, THEN hanging from the underside of a higher level to reach the ball, THEN considering jumping into the book shelf beside the tower to try to reach it from a different angle. She’s quite relentless when in the mood, and it’s really fun to watch her.
I hope you have a wonderful day that makes you smile.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Hahahahahahah
Filed under Funny Signs - Humor
Ramon Bruin 3-D Drawings
Ramon Bruin – BoredPanda.com – “Realistic 3-D Drawings” – Julija Neje and Juste Kairijte-Barkauskiene
Filed under 3-D Paintings, drawings
Thursday Thoughts 7-25-2024
I called the vet’s office first thing this morning to ask if they could give Amber (our 95 pound yellow lab) her rabies shot IN THE CAR. The last time we took her, my husband was pulled down in the parking lot when she got excited, and I DON’T want a repeat of that. Happily, they said that would not be a problem. I’m planning to sneak out in a few minutes when my husband is usually taking a mid morning nap, take her for the shot and do some other quick errands before heading home again. Fingers crossed. (HATE to sneak around, but trying to avoid possible problems is becoming one of my art forms.)
I’m hoping to start a new wood-burned piece today. I finished a plaque for our hairdresser, and one of my stops this morning will be to take it to him.
My tomatoes are still not ripening. I’ll try fertilizing them today and see if that helps. Three of my sucker plants are still alive and I’ll try to add to them today. It would be great if I can manage to prolong our ‘ripe tomatoes’ season. :0)
We THINK the irrigation systems, front and back, are now working with no blowouts and correct programming of the units. The addition of the tach to the generator finishes up getting it working, too. Hopefully, it will run its Friday-at-2pm-automatic-test tomorrow.
Hoping for a quiet, pleasant day and evening. I wish YOU the same.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
3-D Drawings – Muhammad Ejleh
Muhammad Ejleh – BoredPanda.com – Julija Neje and Juste Kairyte-Barkauskiene
Filed under 3-D Paintings, drawings
More Tattoos I Like
Filed under Tattoos!
Wednesday 7-24-2024
I’m again trying to distract myself from the completely nuts world we live in, filling my days with pleasurable things, since my magic wand is on the fritz and isn’t working, no matter how hard I wave.
I had a truly wonderful massage yesterday from Lynn Moody, my massage therapist who listens to what I KNOW is bothering me, works on those, PLUS finds the spots I didn’t know about, and works on those, as well. I could truly fall asleep on the table when she finishes, thoroughly relaxed and loose. She laughs when I say, “Good night,” before getting up and getting dressed.
After I had paid for my visit and had a new appointment scheduled, I gave her a small ‘thank you’ for what she means to me – this plaque I made. She seemed to like it.
I was going to try to get up to my art room to start a new piece yesterday, but two things got in the way – THING ONE – I was on the phone trying to get the replacement credit cards that I was supposed to have received in 5 business days, but didn’t, and THING TWO – my husband wanted me to come out in the yard and help him deal with getting the new tach he put on the generator set and working.
I was pleased that my husband asked for help. He had gotten dizzy trying to work bent over, realized it before he had a more serious problem, and came and got me. I was able to get the tach set and tested, and I praised him for not trying to ignore the problem he was having, wish it away, work through it doggedly, or any of the other things he has done in the past.
Today we’re going to replenish our grocery supplies and get the mail. I THINK that’s all on our list for the day.
I fixed Suzanne Ryan’s “Bacon-Wrapped Cheesy Chicken” recipe from her Simply Keto recipe book last night. The last time I tried it I used Ranch dressing and didn’t have fresh mushrooms. This time I did have the mushrooms and switched to using honey mustard instead of the Ranch. My husband pronounced it ‘delicious’ and we have enough for one more meal from the leftovers. :0) Tonight is spaghetti, where I’ll fix spaghetti for him to have with his sauce while I have zoodles (zucchini noodles.)
I’ve told you that Jet (aka Monster Cat) likes to play in an empty open box, sneaking around it to attach a catnip mouse, and jumping in and out of the box. My husband added another box to the mix to see her reaction. I didn’t think she would get in, but she jumped into the top of the inner box, rooted around, and then exploded out again in dramatic fashion. I went to get the camera, but she was already out by the time I got back. :0(
Make this a wonderful day.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Marilyn De la Cruz 2
Filed under animal paintings, Marilyn De la Cruz
Tuesday 7-23-2024
My massage therapist texted me that she needed to change my massage day and time, so – happily – I’m going this morning! Between my massage this morning and my yoga stretches this afternoon, I should be a happy camper!
Yesterday I finished two wood-burned pieces. One is a gift for our hair dresser and the other a sign I listed on Etsy –
I’m having a great time in my art room. I learn more each time I work on another piece, and I’m enjoying the challenge. I’m brimming with ideas, so that makes me greet each day with anticipation. Hopefully, I’ll get another piece started today.
I hope you find something fun or satisfying to do today.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Thoughts on a Rainy Monday
I THINK this morning’s rain is finished now, but it’s still pretty dark and wet outside. We’ll wait a bit and then gather trash to drive to the bottom of the driveway, getting our mail and then coming back up. Thankfully, we don’t have any pressing errands to do today – at least none about which I am aware.
I saw this little guy yesterday and just LOVE the way the light is shining through his ears and happy face.
We just grabbed the opportunity to get our trash down to the bottom of the driveway and get our mail. A wonderful new down-the-road neighbor family from Norway was taking their daily walk on the road that goes in front of our house. We waved to them and chatted for a second before we drove to the opposite end of the street, turned around, and drove back up. It still looks like we could get more rain, but it’s cool enough right now that we turned off the a/c and opened the front and back doors to enjoy a nice breeze and air out the house.
My two wood-burning pieces are coming along. I’m learning so much every time I’m up there practicing. It’s fun to be learning and trying to make things at the same time. Monster Cat sits right outside my art room door waiting for me to come out. :0)
This is my weight chart for this past week. I’m encouraged by the downward trend, and this is motivating me to continue my efforts. I’m closer to my interim goal each day now. Down 33.4 pounds and 34.1 inches so far.
Have a fun day.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Question
BoredPanda.com – Funny Signs – Migle Miliute and Ilona Baliunaite
Filed under Funny Signs - Humor
Funny Antics
Yesterday I smiled as I told you about Jet’s (aka Monster Cat’s) playing with a catnip mouse and a cardboard box in the middle of the living room.
Jet gave us quite a show yesterday evening as she ‘re-discovered’ the cat tower in the corner of the room.
It started with her leaping on the tower all of a sudden to play with the ball hanging from one of the top levels. She batted the ball as if it were a tether ball and gave us quite a show as she hung from the tower, toppled off, then leaped up again, attacking it from all angles, even finding a catnip mouse up on the highest level. We both stopped what we were doing to appreciate the show.
I’m happy that her personality is showing more and more. I think it shows she feels more confident now and is fearlessly exploring all areas.
One thing I DON’T like is her biting – with and without warning. I’ll be petting her when she has jumped up on the arm of my chair and she’ll suddenly nip me. Most of the time the bite is kind of like a ‘love bite,’ but I don’t want to encourage it. I am using my cosmetic misting bottle, trying to spray her just as she bites, in order to discourage this behavior. Hopefully, she’ll get the message and stop.
Meanwhile, she is causing lots of grins and laughs around here. My husband’s reaction after the show was, “Whatever we paid for the tower, it was worth every penny.”
Filed under Family
3-D Drawings 2
Realistic 3-D Drawings – Julija Neje and Juste Kairyte-Barkauskiene – BoredPanda.com
Filed under 3-D Paintings, drawings
I’ll Take This Under Advisement
Filed under Funny Signs - Humor
Marilyn De la Cruz Art
Filed under animal paintings, Marilyn De la Cruz
More Mosaics
Filed under mosaic
creativeartworksblog 