I have read several good books lately, am re-reading other favorites, and looking forward to more –
I reread this one the past two days. I enjoy Ryan’s sense of humor, wit, and the interaction of the real characters he has created. My favorite line in this book is, “I’ll not describe what transpired next, because nobody wants to see a grown man cry.” Jake is a really skilled ‘finder of lost things’ but also has a heart that be touched by purity and love. I follow R.G. Ryan on X. He told me that he’s written 15 Jake Moriarity books, 8 are published with #9 scheduled for a May release. I have #2 Finding Wonderland, Jake Moriarity Book 2 downloaded onto my Kindle, ready to be enjoyed. :0)
“It was Morgan who let the monster in. “Luke” is actually a cold-hearted con artist named Gavin who targets a particular type of woman, steals her assets and identity, and then commits his ultimate goal: murder.”
This is a well-crafted story, as usual for Nora Roberts. You get caught up in the situation and the characters right off the bat and hate to stop reading. I bought this as a temporary-Kindle offering, but will probably buy it when it comes out in paperback to add it to my permanent collection.
This is the one I’m re-reading now.
“Adrian starts getting death threats as a routine part of her celebrity, and she can’t help but find the vicious rhymes unsettling. Sometimes it even seems like the terrifying messages are indeed routine, like nothing will come of them. Until the murders start, and the escalation begins…”
I’m thoroughly engrossed in this one right now, having trouble stopping to get anything done. :0)
When I finish this one, I have R.G. Ryan’s Finding Wonderland waiting…
Filed under Hobbies, quality of life, Reading is FUNdamental
It’s gray and rainy-looking outside. It’s 49 degrees F. and we’re supposed to have whatever ‘spotty showers’ are off and on all day. Sounds like a great day to cover up my head and enjoy being warm and dry. :0)
I’m hoping the weather will allow me to weed whack around my veggie planters today. I pooped out after fertilizing and watering yesterday, wanting to save enough energy for my yoga practice. I’m learning I need to space the work out even more this year than last. It’s a challenge to adapt, but I can do it.
I took a break in the middle of this post to try the above recipe. It always takes me longer than the prep time says, but this one was 5 minutes prep time, 1 minute cook time, so I couldn’t resist.
I thought it tasted good. My husband wasn’t as enthusiastic, eating his half of the muffin, but that’s okay. I can eat half of the muffin for a breakfast and the other half later in the day as a snack or part of lunch or dinner. I DID have to get out 10 ingredients – a bit much for my before-coffee brain, but I have to admit I didn’t use a bunch of utensils or containers, so clean up was very quick. I won’t eat this every morning, but it’s a nice start for a cool, rainy-looking day. Meanwhile, I found a nice recipe for a Lemon Garlic Pork Tenderloin I’ll do tomorrow.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
David M. Bird “Becorns”
Filed under acorn art, David M. Bird "Becorns"
“David Zinn was a freelance commercial illustrator for more than twenty years until he picked out some sidewalk chalk to “work” outdoors on a beautiful day. Since then his work has appeared on streets around the United States and as far away as Taiwan, Sweden, Germany, France and Holland. He is the author of Temporary Preserves and Underfoot Menagerie and has been featured in The Guardian, Business Insider, and the Los Angeles Times, among others. Zinn lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.” ~ Google.com
Filed under David Zinn - Street Artist, drawings
Somehow I forgot to send Happy Spring Wishes yesterday. My apologies. I DO send them to you. :0)
I finished planting my spring garden yesterday afternoon. We got the rest of the plants yesterday morning and I waited until it warmed up to actually plant. Yesterday I planted 6 more spinach plants and 8 tomato plants.
This is the 8-foot planter. I planted Butter Crunch leaf lettuce, iceberg head lettuce, and spinach. Due to space, I just spread the plants out as best I could, changing from one type of plant to the other, rather than planting the spinach 4-to-a-square, and the leaf lettuce the same way. I’m hoping the plants will do okay like this.
This is a closer view. The plants have a bit more room to spread out than in traditional square foot planting.
This square planter has 4 tomato plants around the center pole with supports tied to the pole for sturdiness. Then I planted some of the lettuces and the spinach around the perimeter.
The ‘niche’ planter (because it is sheltered by the back of the house and our screened porch) has the other 4 tomato plants. I’m going to TRY not to allow the plants to spill over the side onto the ground this time. I really hate cutting healthy vines, but I’m telling myself that all the energy goes to the vines, rather than producing tomatoes…
Today I’m planning to get there this afternoon when it’s warmer (it’s 47 now) do some weed whacking, fertilizing, and soil-enhancing.
This yard work PLUS my yoga practice PLUS my normal other activities is really making me welcome the bed at night. Probably good for building my character, as well. :0)
Are you growing a garden this year?
Filed under Gardening, Square Foot Gardening - Raised Beds
Filed under Donna van Hooser Mosaics, mosaic
This isn’t Amber but it could be. She ‘helped’ me do my yoga yesterday. She watches me practice every day, lying on her living room bed while I stretch on my pad, but she usually doesn’t participate.
For some reason yesterday she kept walking over me to talk to my husband, who was in his chair. She stepped right on my stomach, which, to say the least, broke my concentration. When I doubled up and laughed, she decided it was an invitation to play. She rolled around on me (and, at 95 pounds +- really gets my attention). As I continued to laugh helplessly, she would try to get as close to me as possible, stepping on me over and over. I finally controlled my laughing enough to tell her “PLACE” and she complied, going back to her bed, stepping on me one more time, of course.
I finished my practice, but she tried to join me a couple more times. I was watching, though, and caught her before she got up. She managed to ooze off the bed, as close to me as she could get, licking me or nuzzling me.
When I finished my practice, I sat down next to HER and gave her a good loving.
I’m still not sure what triggered all this. We play and love every day, mostly several times a day. Maybe it’s a test to see if I can keep my concentration with a 95 pound dog walking on me. If so, I have dismally failed. :0)
Filed under exercise
Yesterday I did a bunch (for me). I –
Best of all, we went in the TRUCK instead of the Vette. I don’t enjoy riding in the Vette anymore. My husband drives like he is 20, zipping in and around everyone on the road, stepping on the gas when I would step on the brakes. The fact that he is 80 and is still recovering from a broken collarbone from falling on the ice just wouldn’t make a difference. SO – I was very grateful that we took the truck. :0)
When we got home I gathered the planting stuff and took it out to the east end of the house where we have the three brick planters we converted to square foot planters a year or so ago. I got all the plants in (16 of each), fertilized and watered them. I rested a bit, then, since I would be fixing dinner soon, I took king-sized sheets and clothespins out and covered the plants. It was due to – and DID – freeze last night. (I have an alarm set now for an hour to go out and UNcover the plants before we need to leave for some errands this morning.) I think I’ll give the garden a day to see if these plants look like they’re going to make it before buying more.
I did my yoga like a good girl, although I had quite a talk with myself. At first I thought, okay – I spent about 45 minutes out in the yard, bending, digging, planting, watering, then covering things with sheets. I have had my exercise for the day and don’t need to do my yoga today. On the other hand, I have committed to trying to do it EVERY day, building a habit, hopefully giving my body the gift of better balance, more strength and flexibility. My responsible side won.
The end result was that I was pooped. I made our dinner, then cleaned up the kitchen. I took my shower early and went to bed early. My husband woke me up this morning or I would have overslept!
So, I hope the plants are looking happy later today and tomorrow. If they are, I’ll get the second load of plants and see if I can finish. I want to plant tomatoes, and I’m not sure what other veggies I’ll get. :0)
Filed under exercise, Gardening, Square Foot Gardening - Raised Beds
Filed under mosaic, Solange Piffer Mosaics
Today we’ll gather trash and drive it down, setting up the can at the bottom of the drive as we start errands. We’ll get our mail, drive to Ft. Smith to our CPA’s to sign our tax returns and get the receipts, then back to Greenwood to hopefully find some veggie plants for my spring garden.
If we’re successful, I’ll get those in the ground today. We had a light freeze last night, but that’s the last one we’ll have as far as the forecasters are predicting now. I’ll keep a close eye on things, though.
Yesterday I found a gourd and sanded it and cleaned it up. I plan to do some wood working on it. I still have no clue what I’m doing, but I have ideas rattling around in my head that want to come out.
Apparently Amber heard ‘something’ in the garage last night or this morning and was barking. The next thing I heard was when she was barking at 5:30 this morning. I tried to ignore it, but couldn’t. I got up and shuffled downstairs, let her in, admonished her to keep her mouth firmly shut, and came back up. I managed to sleep a bit more, thank goodness. When I asked my husband how the dog got out, he said she was barking in the utility room and he let her out…
He took one of our guns out into the garage this morning, thinking there was a critter of some kind under his car. He came back in, saying he didn’t see anything.
I’m hoping the remainder of our Monday goes smoothly. I’m trying to gather grit and patience, in case he wants to drive the Vette to Ft. Smith. I’m HOPING the fact we need to take the trash down and bring plants back will convince him that the truck is the better choice today.
Please wish me luck.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Filed under mosaic, Solange Piffer Mosaics
“May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light,
May good luck pursue you each morning and night.”
~Irish Blessing
It’s a cool gray morning here on St. Patrick’s Day. I panicked one St. Patrick’s Day when I was in elementary school a hundred years or so ago. I hadn’t planned ahead. I looked in my closet and didn’t have anything green to wear. I ran into the kitchen, pleading for my mom to help me. She thought I was over-reacting, making me over-react even more when there didn’t seem to be any hope for it. Unless you were wearing SCREAMING green from head to toe, the kids would descend on you, pinching you until you died of it – or wanted to – according to me at whatever age I was.
I immediately became too ill to go to school – or so I said. My acting didn’t reap any good results with my mom. My tears didn’t help, either, as she told me that my fears weren’t logical. THAT fell on my deaf ears. I seriously considered running away, rather than walking to school as usual. I died a thousand deaths that morning.
Thankfully, I ran into one of my teachers in the school parking lot. I tearfully ran to her. She walked me into class, made a humongous four leaf clover for me to pin on my shirt, and thereby saved my life. (I know. I maybe should have tried out for the drama class.)
Ridiculous or not, my fears were real to me. The eight years I taught in elementary school I made SURE I had four leaf clovers ready for anyone coming into school on St. Pat’s Day, just in case someone needed one. I didn’t tolerate anyone threatening anyone else, for the lack of something green, or any other reason.
I STILL found myself looking for something green to wear this morning (I’m wearing a green shirt and I have on green butterfly earrings) even though we’re not even due to go out today. I’m certainly not worried that my husband will pinch me cruelly. He is oblivious to holidays. If anyone DID threaten me, I’m not as helpless as I used to feel…
“There are only two kinds of people in the world, The Irish and those who wish they were.” ~ Unknown
Filed under holidays
I’ve shared some of this artist’s fine work quite a while back. I love driftwood art and Jeffro Uitto is a master. I discovered some new pieces to me, plus some furniture that had me drooling.
Jeffro made this box where he keeps his portfolio images.
Filed under Driftwood Art, Jeffro Uitto
Filed under Renald Pierre, sculpture
I LOVE the kind of mind that thinks to create this AND the creativity and expertise it takes to actually make it happen.
We’re having a beautiful, slightly chilly morning. I haven’t decided if I want to go get veggies to plant today or if I want to wait until Monday.
I have an idea rattling around in my head regarding something I would like to try in the art room – involving a gourd and my wood burning equipment. I have NO idea if it would work or not, but I’ve dreamed about it for 2 nights now…
Animals and people are all doing fine – holding their own – here. It’s a quiet start for the day.
It’s feeling strange to be awake around here right now. I just checked and both Abby and Amber are asleep. My husband is asleep in his chair in the living room. I’m the only one rattling around.
I hope this is a good Saturday for you – that your weather is nice and that you have something fun planned.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Filed under animal paintings, drawings, Julie Pfirsch, Julie Pfirsch Art
We had some wild weather last night with waves of storms coming through. We had the back door open, but we shut the front door and the garage door.
It would rain HARD, with thunder and lightning, and then it would slowly quiet down and stop. And then another wave would come through. This went on for several hours – an unusual thing for us. It was still doing that around midnight when we finally gave up and went to bed.
I didn’t know what we would find when we headed for the store this morning to get food for Amber. Sometimes we get just to the top of the driveway and have to stop, go out to the shop to get our chain saw and lots and lots of extension cords to connect in order to cut our way down our driveway with all the tree branches, and sometimes whole trees (!) that have blown down.
This morning we lucked out. With all the rain we got, NO branches or trees down in the driveway. You could see where it is trying to wash out on one edge, but that’s it. I’ll try again to find someone to help us repair the driveway as much as we can afford soon. We’ve had money flying out in all directions lately, so we’ll have to be careful to make sure we have it all covered before we contract with someone.
I hope that you came through all the bad weather from last night and that you enjoy your day.
Filed under weather
Amber is acting like herself in every way except for food handling. She is eager to eat, playful, energetic, sleeps fine, seems happy, but she is still battling upset stomach.
Because of this we found some dry and canned food that is supposed to be easier on her stomach. We just got back from the store and fed her. We’ll see how she does with this, fingers crossed.
Filed under Amazing Animals, Family
Julie Pfirsch – Julie Pfirsch Studio
Julie creates these animal portraits in several different media. I’ll show you more soon. I think she is wonderful.
Filed under Amazing Animals, animal paintings, Julie Pfirsch Art
Some of you have been asking how our animals are. I told you recently that Abby has been diagnosed with a large tumor on her kidney, probably malignant, inoperable in practical terms, due to her age (14) and other health problems. The vet injected her with antibiotics and a pain shot the last time we were there.
I bought her cat diapers so that I could allow her free reign in the house while I’m otherwise occupied. These are a great idea at best, but haven’t worked well so far. We can’t get them to stay on. At this point, I’m bringing her in at least once a day for a cat-loving session, where we sit in my recliner and purr at each other, cramming as much love into each session as we can. We may still need to use the diapers as her tumor progresses, but so far, no problems. We are both really enjoying this time together. She doesn’t seem to be in any pain.
This is an old picture of Amber. Picture her almost twice as large and she looks the same, otherwise. She weighs 95 pounds or so now. We thought that she was the one leaving the bloody puddle on her bed. Our vet tested the sample we brought in, gave her an antibiotics shot for an infection, and prescribed some meds that would clear the bladder infection. I gave her one pill that night and she had been sick the next morning or overnight when we got up. I called the vet, having caught Abby in the act of making the bloody puddle. We took Abby in, getting anti-nausea pills for Amber while we were at the vet’s.
We are still dealing with an iffy stomach with Amber. I remember that her stomach was really sensitive when she was a young puppy and we had trouble finding food that agreed with her. We thought we had solved the problem this time, after two anti-nausea pills, and then, suddenly, she was sick again. We are keeping her on the tiled area of the house in case she is ill again. She seems to be doing well now. She is a happy, overly playful dog, otherwise, her usual self, so I think we’re almost over the problem.
Filed under Amazing Animals, Family
This is forecast for Oklahoma and Arkansas this afternoon into this evening. I got out and took some pics of our blooms this morning, just in case this is the last we’ll see of them –
Walking around outside lately has really brought my spirits up. There is a LOT to do in the yard, but the first thing – assuming the storms this afternoon and evening leave us intact – is to look for veggie plants to start my spring garden tomorrow. If I do, I’ll take some pics to share.
If the weather allows, I’ll try to work in the yard a bit today. If not, I’m planning to spend some time in my art room. A nice day either way.
I hope the weather is good where you are, OR that you ‘weather it’ well. :0)
Filed under Thoughts on a ________, weather
creativeartworksblog 