It’s quite dark and rainy outside right now, even though it’s after 9am. It’s welcome, though, because we can really use the rain. I can almost hear everything outside saying, “Ahhhhhhhhhhh.” My husband is sleeping in this morning – a really perfect morning for it.
We monitored our irrigation system yesterday afternoon, and had to spend over an hour trying to fix a blowout in the main pipe coming from the well house. I insisted we take a break, since we were both literally dripping from the humidity, and then we finished the job. We’ll monitor things again today to see if our ‘fix’ holds and my reprogramming of the irrigation unit for the front yard was correct and works as it’s supposed to.
Because of this, I didn’t get up to my art room yesterday. I’m having a really good time working on two new pieces of wood-burning. I’m improving, although it’s hard to judge because finding hand-done wood-burning designs now is difficult. Most of the ones on Etsy are machine-guided, like we do when we cut out a new mailbox decoration using a computer for the cut out on the sheet metal. Of course, they look really wonderful, but I’m trying to do ONE one-of-a-kind piece at a time, even though the art form has already left me in the dust. :0)
We’ve had several ‘wins’ lately, and I AM ‘smiling on the inside.’
The most important is that we are finishing up on the generator project. We had put a new car battery in it and a new starter solenoid. We changed the oil and the oil filter. The generator tech/electrician did his magic, getting all the red lights to go off and pronounce it ‘good to go’ again. Yesterday my husband removed what he called a ‘tach (and something else) combo and has a new one ordered. We looked on the general log we keep to find out when we bought the generator and found it was 2008, so it’s old. In fact, the tech said he had never seen on as old as ours. Of course, WE are also older than dirt, so it fits right in. We’re HOPING that the generator will last as long as we do. The generator did its weekly automatic test yesterday – the first time this has happened in about a month. HOOORAAAAAAY!!!!!
Second, for the first time in a couple of years, it’s a pleasure to go down and up our driveway. We had to plan to be able to afford someone to do the project because the driveway is 650 feet + and STEEP. It really needed some reshaping and scraping, as well as a couple of huge truckloads of a special gravel that the city uses when it does roads, plus the work of spreading it. THEN nature was trying to go back to what it was 37 years ago when we first cleared it for our house, our shop, and the driveway. We had done what we could each year, but it just wasn’t enough. We hired a guy who calls himself “The Tree Man” to cut away the branches and brush and even trees that were trying to close off our access to the road. Happily, he said he would make himself available if during the winter we had any problems with trees coming down into the driveway.
Third, my husband mowed the grass last night, so we look as civilized as we ever do around here. Plus, he waited until 6:30 to do it, not risking heat stroke. The weed whacking and weed killing I’ve done in the past is holding up so far. My husband had an easy time of using the riding mower.
Fourth, I’m still alive and mostly sane after riding in the Vette with my husband to our teeth cleaning Wednesday. The hygienist is now used to my blood pressure being sky-high when I first get there, and down to the only-mildly-elevated-about-going-to-the-dentist reading by the time she finishes with me. We don’t have to go back until January 27th of 2025. Ahhhhh!
Fifth, our foyer corner is empty and clean for the first time in about a year, since it holds waiting-for-donations stuff. I’m letting it bask in all its glory for a few days before starting to gather more donations.
Finally, I hit the 33-pounds-down mark this morning, so I’m re-motivated in my efforts. I’m exercising, eating right, and making slow, steady progress, PLUS I’m having a blast experimenting with the concept of wood burning. I have two more pieces in the works and the ideas are keeping me up at night. I have a pad of paper and pen beside my side of the bed so I can write down some of the ideas that are swirling around. :0)
We still have many challenges to work through, but the progress we’re making is encouraging.
I don’t draw well. I love finding people who do, wishing I could learn, but knowing that I’ll just have to thoroughly enjoy what others can create. Adding 3-D-ness to the art simply blows my mind. I’m impressed with the ability to convey ‘regular’ perspective in drawings, but making the work leap up off the page is mind-boggling. I found some wonderful examples yesterday –
Alessandro DiddiAlessandro DiddiAlessandro DiddiCarmen HaradaDevil Of My Own
These were featured in an article by Julija Neje and Juste Kairyte-Barkairskiene, “Realistic 3-D Drawings” – BoredPanda.com
Jet (aka “Monster Cat”) is showing us more and more of her personality as she settles into her new lifestyle as a member of our family.
She still startles a lot; in fact, it’s funny that she’ll go from what looks like a deep sleep beside my foot on the recliner to sitting straight up, neck stretched, eyes wide, as she tries to figure out what is ‘attacking her.’ To my knowledge, she hasn’t found anything at all in the time she’s been with us, but she continues to be vigilant.
We found out that she LOVES empty boxes. We put the one in the middle of the living room and she jumps in and out of it daily, stretching her head up to peer out the top, eyes wide.
Yesterday afternoon she jumped out of the box and crouched down beside the box, partially under one flap. She waited, holding her breath. Her backside came up and her eyes widened. She started moving her weight from one front foot to the other, soundlessly. She got very still – then POUNCED – landing on a tiny catnip mouse a couple of feet from the box. She rolled with it in her arms, flipping it with her paws and rolling again. Then dashed back to hide behind the box.
She repeated this at LEAST 5 times before finally tiring of the game. My husband and I were laughing out loud watching her. Quite a show.
I pointed out this website on Etsy before, loving the stained glass look decals they have created. Now I found they are adding digital art to ceramic tiles –
Re-losing the poundage I gained because of caving when my husband insisted we stop at Sonic so he could get a large banana milkshake. “Somehow” a medium chocolate shake appeared in my hand while we were there. This was followed that day by some potato chips from my husband’s stash with our dinner….
I’m ALMOST back now to my 33 pounds down level. I’m hoping to be there tomorrow, and then I can zero in on getting to my current interim goal of 35 down.
The key to all this, of course, is keeping my eyes open and my mouth shut. I am now using MyFitnessPal.com to ENSURE that when I plan my eating for the day, the result, including any snacks will be the website concluding, “You’re not eating enough.” When you’re old and you don’t live for exercise, this seems to be the key in seeing a difference on the scales.
I’ve also decided to concentrate on my yoga each afternoon plus a video or two daily using weights from my More Life Health Seniors guy, Mike with the wonderful Australian accent.
Reddit – r/midjourney
“Eyes open – mouth shut – body moving” SING IT! :0)
This may not look like much to YOU, but to ME it’s a “thing-of-beauty” and “a-joy-forever.” This corner of my foyer is empty for the first time in almost a year. This is the corner behind the front door to our house that is the storage place for donations to go to Veteran’s Thrift Store and our local public library.
Until yesterday, it was filled with two large paper grocery sacks of books plus three large trash bags of clothes. On Thursday we donated the clothes in Fort Smith while we were there for our teeth cleanings. Yesterday while my husband had a haircut, I took the sacks of books to the library for donation for their next community sale.
I also took some paperwork for the nice lady at my lawyer’s office to fax for me. She was really nice and didn’t even charge me – a nice surprise.
It will be really nice for a while, at least, not to have to move 5 sacks/bags in order to vacuum. HOORAY!
Today I’m hoping to start two more wood-burning pieces in my art room. I have an idea for a present for a good friend, plus another idea for a gift sign. I’m having such a good time learning what I can do with the different tips. I’m challenged now – rather than intimidated – so I can thoroughly enjoy myself. :0)
No errands today, so hopefully a quiet one. Ahhhhhhh!
It’s only 77 outside right now. Ahhhhhh! It won’t last long, but I’m hoping that if I mention it, Mother Nature will be happy enough to allow it stay for a bit longer than she might have planned.
Yesterday was our semi-annual teeth cleaning. I really hate it, even though our dentist and our hygienist are both really nice people. Years ago, my husband wouldn’t wear a helmet when he was riding his motorcycle. I kept talking to him about it and he kept refusing. Finally, one day he said, “Okay. I’ll wear a helmet if you’ll come with me to the dentist for regular care.” I agreed and now I’m stuck, even though the motorcycle is a thing long past now.
I’ve always been afraid of the dentist, even though I had never had a cavity until one last year. I did have braces for a couple of years – painful and annoying – and then my teeth went back to their original places even though I wore a retainer. My mom died of oral cancer, and so I hold my breath that I’ll get that, too, even though I quit smoking some 45 years ago. Adding insult to injury, my husband insists we use the Corvette to make the trip to Fort Smith. He scares my hair off, putting on the gas when I would put on the brakes in any given situation. My stomach is in a knot by the time we get there.
We have made it alive through another trip now and don’t have to go for another 6 months. We did leave a donation for the Veteran’s Thrift Store while in Fort Smith.
I have a pretty impressive to-do list for today, some of which I’ll actually have to get accomplished – like putting clean sheets on our bed. I’m getting really skilled at pushing other things on the list aside for another time, though, to the point that I might see if there is a competition around for an award…
My husband was given the best gift ever yesterday by our son.
Our son lives across the world from us – having created a life where he can live on his own terms, happy as a clam. We use a chat program almost every day plus a conference call program when we are all up and functional at the same time of the day, so we stay close.
I check the chat program every morning to see if he’s left any messages, pictures, or questions for us.
Yesterday morning I found this – “Dad, I have a luxurious life now because you were so patient in making me strong.”
I’m still tearing up this morning. What a beautiful thing for our son to FEEL, and to SAY to his dad. We really won the lottery on sons.
I just finished this little sign. It’s a combination of wood burning, paint, and pastels. I’m having fun experimenting and learn a TON each time I do a new piece. My poor brain is overflowing with ideas I would LIKE to do now. I’ll have to start a list so that I can sleep, instead of trying to MAKE the ideas happen in my mind with my eyes closed. :0)
I’ll try to get this sign added to HandmadeHavenby Linda on Etsy by the end of the day.
It’s my mom’s birthday today. My main memories are of her sitting in her chair in the living room, one small dog sitting in the chair on each side of her, and a big board propped up so that she could work on the New York Times Sunday crossword puzzle, plus the Cryptoquote in the paper. She usually finished both.
Her dad didn’t think she should go to college, but allowed her one year at the community college in Nevada, Missouri. She graduated one credit short (physical education) of a degree from the two-year college program in that one year she was allowed. Most people thought she was highly educated, due to her vocabulary (a product of reading voraciously and the crossword puzzles :0) ). It was funny that I could tell how angry she was by the words she used – in that they got longer and longer the angrier she got. She could stand on her feet and cut you off at the knees verbally. She did this at city meetings in Tulsa OK, when she was upset.
She had a delightfully silly side, ‘speaking’ for various dogs in a high, delicate, babyish voice, insisting that you react to what ‘the dog said.’ Thankfully, you only had to react – she didn’t require that YOU speak in a high voice to the dog…
I’ll never forget her bailing us out financially when our son was going to a private school in Tulsa which had a big tuition. My husband was working in Tulsa that year so that our son could attend the school. He and our son were living with my in-laws.
After we signed the contract at the school, my father-in-law decided he didn’t want them to live there and insisted they leave. My husband found an apartment, but we couldn’t afford to pay for both the apartment there, our home here, AND the tuition, even with both of us working full time.
My mom called and I tried to just talk to her as if nothing was wrong. It didn’t work. I told her what the problem was, and that we were trying to figure out what we could do. My mom said, “Stop worrying. I will pay the tuition for the school.” I hadn’t cried when telling her about it, but I cried buckets when she said that. My husband did, too, when I told him. He had been feeling like a failure, trying to be strong for our son while we tried to figure things out.
She’s been gone a long time now, but I FEEL her sometimes, usually when I’m sticking my neck out, trying something completely new that scares me. She encourages me to try to be the best person I can be. Quite a woman. I miss her so much.
These wonderful critters were created by the team of “M and M” (Marty Cohen and Margie Ruegger) who use their imagination, sense of humor, creativity, welding skills, and scrap metal to bring smiles.
We were outside much of the afternoon yesterday – in the excessive heat warning – trying to get the oil changed on our generator. My husband had received a notice from his computer that this was needed, and wouldn’t put it off for even a day.
To make a long story much shorter, we went to town to get an oil filter, but it turned out it was not the correct one, even though we took the old one in to the store. We went back, but the only other one they had was a ‘comparable’ and was $30. Since the generator was apart, we took it. This one worked, but we were both wringing wet after getting it in, adding the fresh oil, cleaning up the spilled oil from the mistakes and getting the generator back together. I had also started out the session by checking to make sure the watering in our planters was going as it should, having to make some tweaks. We certainly had enough of ‘outside when we shouldn’t have been.’
Today I hope we have a quiet day, INSIDE in our air-conditioning. We have become quite spoiled regarding our creature comforts. I feel so sorry for the people in Texas who are suffering in this heat with no power – two weeks after Beryl. I also worry about the people working outside trying to restore that power. Awful situation.
I would like to get up to my art room today. Maybe it’ll happen. :0)
This is Jet, the one time she has been ‘quiet’ this morning. She enjoys sleeping in the bread basket I put on the counter to the left of my computer area.
She has been jumping into a box we left for her to play in in the middle of the living room, then exploding out again with a huge amount of noise from the bell we hung on her collar.
She has been flipping like a fish, playing with a catnip mouse, then looking as if she’ll bite your arm off if you try to pet her or pick her up. This is after purring madly when I went into the bathroom to feed her and clean up her area.
We’re going to be doing our errands soon, so I’ll leave her in the bathroom. Hopefully, she will be calm and ready to be reasonably sociable when we return. At least we can HOPE.
Good morning. We are back into some super-hot weather today with a heat index this afternoon and evening, starting around noon and tapering off around 8pm, of 106-109. Three of my poor transplanted tomato suckers are still alive, but I don’t know if they can survive this. If they can’t and don’t, I’ll start snipping suckers and putting them directly into the planter to see if I can get something going. It’s a fun experiment. Meanwhile, I gathered a few ripe tomatoes from the main plants. They seem to be in kind of a holding pattern right now. Lots of green tomatoes, but very few ripe ones, showing the stress of different amounts of water, rather than the steady watering they prefer.
Our excitement for the day is gathering trash and driving it down to the bottom of the driveway. We’ll also get mail and go to Walmart for a couple of things. AND, speaking of ‘exciting,’ my new coffee thermos came with a bottle brush to clean it, but didn’t have a brush to clean the straw that it uses. I just ordered several so hopefully I can keep residue to a minimum. We discovered we needed a new oil filter for the generator while my husband was changing the oil, so we’ll stop and get one of those, as well, while we’re out.
Hopefully, more work on the two wood-burning projects I have going right now. Not sure what the rest of the day holds.
I’m feeling a bit swamped this morning. I know I can’t control things happening in the world. I can’t even control much of what is happening in my own, personal world. I have to fight the urge to cover up my head and just escape.
The 20-year-old trying to assassinate former President Trump at the rally in Pennsylvania yesterday is the latest example of how lost our world is. We are filled with frustration and hate. We have forgotten how to communicate. We want freedom of speech for ourselves, but not for those who have views differing from ours. Once again, innocent people have lost their lives or have been injured.
I feel guilty that I want to escape. I want to insulate myself from all the bad stuff going on around me. Feeling helpless, I strive to find something that is beautiful, something that touches me, something that gives me hope. Me, me, me. Yes, I feel guilty.
I wish there were a “reset” button. A “reboot” button. A “wipe-the-slate-clean-and-start-over” button. While I’m wishing, I wish for a “listening-and-truly-HEARING” button. An “understanding” button. “Empathy.” “Compromise.” “Cooperation.” A “live-and-let-live” button. What about old-style values, such as “respect.”
“You never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice.” – Bob Marley
Even with the weird summer we’ve had, the three elephant ear bulbs I bought are doing pretty well. The one above is the smallest. It’s in the shade much of the day, but protected from a lot of the wind we get up here. It’s had several rough starts, but it seems to be holding its own now.
This planter is on one side of our front porch. This elephant ear is starting to do what I wanted, which was take over the whole planter and fill out as much as it wanted to.
And this is the planter that is in front of our garage. It’s obvious doing the best. This one bulb looks like it will fill the whole planter. I just love it.
We bought a new coffee pot a couple of days ago, as the first part of solving our problem of ‘stuff’ swirling around in our coffee. At first I thought the ‘stuff’ was grounds, due to my husband’s hands shaking, or our maybe putting too much water in the pot, causing an overflow over the top of the coffee filter and distributing grounds in the coffee maker.
I cleaned the coffee maker really thoroughly, using commercial cleaner, then baking soda, then rinsing really carefully and wiping everything out, plus another running of the carafe and the filter holder through the dishwasher. No dice. STILL stuff in the coffee cups.
We used the new coffee maker. NO ‘stuff’ in the cups at first pour from the pot. We still had problems when we refilled the cups from the big coffee thermos we use. So – we had a problem there, too. There was no way to really clean the thermos any more than I was by putting boiling water and baking soda in there, too -which I did – but that didn’t do the job.
I ordered another thermos from Amazon which was supposed to be delivered Monday. Happily, the guy from Amazon deliveries who has been coming up our driveway (hooray!) lately, came TODAY with the new thermos!
I immediately rinsed out the old thermos and left it to dry, thinking if the world ended and the new one didn’t work, the old one was better than nothing. I started a new pot of coffee in the new pot and got the new thermos ready to receive it.
VOILA! I poured the fresh coffee into the new thermos and there was NOTHING swirling around in my coffee cup! And the coffee tasted good, as well.
I really can’t believe these were done with needle and thread. I would love them if someone had PAINTED them, or taken photographs of beautiful places. These were embroidered, one length of thread at a time, by Katrin Vates of KatVatesEmbroidery on Etsy.
creativeartworksblog 