I LIke Thursday #196

bird's eye view

Welcome to this week's list of likes.
I am not ignoring the issues going on in my country, I am heartsick over them. I also know that when going through bad times, humans need a break emotionally, for balance of good and evil.

 Now in an effort to balance the American Horror story we face,  here are some likes for the week

a neighbor's white flamingos... very rare!

 I liked painting this week, and reading comments from other people who find respite in painting 
more on Paint Party Friday post

I added in details you'll see tomorrow

 Several people encouraged me to print out my pink flower on fabric, so I tried using my printable fabric, but the printer messed up and printed in black and white.

More on Sewing Saturday

  On to the "like" part of this, I decided to use it as a design challenge! More on Saturday

I like seeing this sculpture when we come and go

I was uplifted by this little musical family (link sent by my friend Sonja in HI) 
that little girl is going places, mark my words!  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc3QANpzsPM

I have loved, truly loved Diana Krall's talent for years but this video of Elvis Costello, Elton John interviewing her, and her musical interpretations was amazing. About midway, she plays a song one way, then another that takes my breath away.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mx3L5X0EC_w

The show "Spectacle"  on youtube in many episodes, has awesome interviews with big named singers

We started the series Shitt's Creek on netflix.Very funny with intelligently written humor

We are on the last episode of Tim Gunn's design show on Prime. So good! Very different than Project Runway, and great views of Paris, Tokyo and NYC before the pandemic.

We made meatloaf again... (no pics) we haven't made this since the move years ago!
Because of allergies we use ground chicken, and mix in a tube of turkey sausage, panko crumbs, oatmeal, bbq sauce and heinz 57 sauce and ketchup, add garlic and basil and sauted onion/bellpepper,  top with turkey bacon. Lasts for many meals and is wonderful.

Like my niece said after moving out on her own, if you didn't make enough for leftovers you've wasted your time.

Loved hearing this podcast about finding a moment of Joy in hard times
podcast/gary-haugen-joy-is-the-oxygen

I've done some good blueprint classes this week and learned the class may be 10 hours long but a person needs to take it in small bites, to digest the lessons 

I enjoyed the Irish people who try different foods so much I went to EPCOT with them...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnJ03p1EMVs

I like having constitutional rights as an American...
Dear Mr. president, you vowed to uphold this:
". Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances"

what can I do to help, Mama?

Milo's Moments

Whew y'all!  it was hard keeping Mama going this week. She was crying, or sewing, or painting but I did my best to make her laugh. I think I have a natural talent for clowning. For instance, I will grab a toy outta the toybox inside, and stare at the Daddy til he gets up off his perch and chases me in circles around the coffee table. I don't know why they call it that, it's not made of coffee. Anyway Daddy can't catch me cause it's round and he only has two legs!
Poor humans!
So he loses interest, and I slow down to make him think he has a chance, then he catches up and I change direction! Ha! Hahahahahahaha! that's fun.

Or a thirsty day!!

Sometimes I have a hungry day, ever have one of those? Where you just want another cup of kibble?? Well I've been kind of hungry lately. I am also wanting not only my nightly alligator chewie (again, it's not made of alligators, like the coffee table) but also a chew stick of good stuff for my joints.

Did I just hear the garage door??? The Daddy always comes in after I hear that!

Hey Mama, like you say banana cake is just fruit.... the chew stick is just medicine!

Now, sit! Stay! Visit these people finding joy in their weeks too, and join us if you wrote a post too!

craftscaviescontras 
  https://whataboutrheema.blogspot.com/
http://littlepenguinquilts 
http://homesewnbyus 
https://www.su-sieeemac.com/ 

https://canadianneedlenana.blogspot.com/
  maryinpeoriahandmade.blogspot.com 
http://imworkingonaproject.blogspot.com/
http://3poodlesandanana.blogspot.com  

https://www.justletmequilt.com/ 
https://knittingquilter.blogspot.com/    
https://scrapatches.blogspot.com/      
 https://lavenderdreamstoo.blogspot.com/  
https://quiltschmilt.wordpress.com/ 

not sure if she's posting today:
https://www.mmmquilts.com/ 
  http://www.piecefulthoughts.com
https://100sweets.blogspot.com/

LINKING WITH

http://newthursday13.blogspot.com/
http://goodrandomfun.blogspot.com
http://itsasmalltownlife.blogspot.com/

Learning about each other

I wanted to do the meme Sunday Steals but....
What a lot of difficult questions to answer, and I suspect when I go read the responses from others they won't disclose as much, but then maybe we shouldn't be afraid to be real with each other... 

1. What do you think is the greatest television show of all time?
A: assuming you mean American TV show, there's a difference between the greatest and what I liked the best. 
DH said, MASH. I think Seinfeld made a big impact and many common jokes are still shared from that. I loved WestWing and still love This is us.  Johnny Carson brought celebrities into our lives every night, and SNL made an impact on me.
I can watch Gilmore Girls any time it's on, over and over for the fast paced intelligent dialogue, love and laughs and kindness in it.

2. Would you rather win a Nobel Prize or an Academy Award?
A: Nobel prize... make a difference in the world! I'd probably be more likely however to win an academy award as I fancy myself as an entertainer, lol.

3. What one food would you banish from this earth if you could?
A: some cultures eat dogs... ewwwww. 
If you're asking what food I don't like it's really smelly fishy fish

4. What’s the scariest story you’ve ever heard?
A: the holocaust 

5. Who is the most famous person you have ever met?
A: we talked to and got the signature of Garrison Keillor at the Library of Congress National Book Festival in DC. He's quite tall and taciturn
We tasted wine at Fess Parker's winery in CA and met him there, or at least saw him. 
my mother took me to a Frankie Avalon concert when I was 4 and he sang to me. 
I met and was hugged by Miss America of 1958, after she gave a talk about her experience with incest, and she changed my life giving me strength to speak the truth.
I am a quilt artist and have met and become friends with international teachers, does that count ?

6. What’s something you’ve done that most people wouldn’t know or guess about you?
A: oh sure, open that can of worms!!!
Well, I was a wench every year at the Largo Rennasance Festival for really long time, and was a magicians assistant one of those years. I do a mean English accent for reals. 

7. You’re strapped in a rocket ship about to go to the moon. Are you thrilled? Or terrified?
A: TERRIFIED!

8. What is the correct way for toilet paper to sit on the roll?
A: paper coming over the outside of the roll, obviously, lol

9. Talk about a mistake you made, or something you regret.
A: I have a lot of regrets... I hate making mistakes and living with them. If I had to pick one, right now it would be moving to Colorado.That was a costly mistake. 
Then again... mistakes teach us. Each time we make a mistake we learn about life, and that's a good thing. I think it makes us more human, and able to relate and accept others.

10. What would be the best gift I could give you?
A: the things I want most no one can give me... safety, peace and belonging
Otherwise, diamonds are always appropriate
I do have a fabric obsession, love perfumes, and want to go to Italy however

11. What makes you feel better when you’re sad or stressed?
A: talking to a friend who shares the woe, then makes me laugh. Diversions like watching TV, taking a walk, painting a picture or sewing.

12. What is the most romantic movie you’ve ever seen?
A: so many... I can list some but can't think of the MOST romantic...
Out of Africa touched me, Sleepless in Seatle, The Notebook, Casablanca,West side story, and obscurely, The Mirror has two faces struck me as very romantic.
Certain themes/stories that have been done many times touch my romantic side, the side where love overcomes odds, where two people stand the test of life together.
Beauty and the Beast has a nice theme.


13. What is the worst date you’ve ever been on?
A: I went on a blind date (my step father chose a guy from his church) and the guy started telling me how women should be subservient to men according to God, and it went downhill quickly from there. The guy got so mad at me he threw up during dinner. 

Another one bragged that men should trade in their 40 year old wives for two twenty's. I excused myself to go to the restroom, got in my car and left. 
To be honest there was one where force was used to take physical liberty with me... many of us had that happen back then as women weren't always respected. ahem.

On the other hand the rest of the men I dated were lovely people, I enjoyed them, and shared many wonderful experiences. 
They were a diverse lot, of every culture and level.
Several of them asked to marry me, but I couldn't.
I learned love was not enough with them. When I married later in life, I knew it was right. 

14. What is the glue that keeps couples together?
A: shared values.
 You can like different music, or activities but you must share values, to stay friends, and liking someone is very important in the long run. To be a true friend one must trust the person, to be able to tell them anything and know they will always have your best interest at heart. It has to be mutual, this liking and trust too, both people must want their partner to be content and happy.
Then there is the shared language of private jokes that accumulate over the years.

15.  What was your first crush.
A: a neighbor boy who was one year older than I,  he and his sister and I grew up playing together then when I was about 12 I began to see him differently. 
Or maybe Ricky in grade one... I even kissed him in the playground and he liked me too!

16. When did your parents talk to you about the birds and the bees?
A: never

17. What is your greatest achievement?
A: I haven't done it yet. 
I am glad that I spent years working to help others as a social worker. I made next to nothing salary-wise but it was important work. 
I also did a piece of art that says, sometimes getting up each day and facing life is a great achievement and I stand by that.

 

18. Were you close to your parents growing up?
A: they  never really cared to know who I was. I was adopted then abused in many ways. It was hard to be dependent on people who hurt you.

19. What was the most life-changing event you’ve ever experienced?
A: I broke up with my fiance after age 30, and it was nearly my undoing. I learned love was not enough, hence the values comment in 14. I lost my emotional footing and had to redefine myself.  
As a young woman I found out I had been adopted, and a lot of memories surfaced about the abuse that I had pushed down... I learned how to live with that, and this man went through this with me but then we were worn out and he gave up. It was hard for both of us to let go of each other and I became depressed. That was when I truly began a spiritual relationship with God and saw a bigger picture. 
Some years later I nearly died from developing allergies to chemicals and underwent acupuncture treatments that saved my life. During that year, I grew so much while surviving.

20. Have you ever had a falling out with a friend? What happened?
A: my best friend and confidant C. (and I still long for our friendship), ended when her husband did not like the fiance mentioned above.   She said if I stayed with him, she couldn't have anything to do with me, and left my life. It was a lesson that we don't have control over what happens all the time, that reason doesn't always prevail, that sometimes one has to let go and move on. 
Of course I've had arguments with friends over the years, that were resolved, too. 


WHEW! what ever happened to what's your favorite color??? 

Read other opinions here
https://sundaystealing.blogspot.com/ 

Sewing Saturday and just for fun....

not a lot of sewing done this week... a lot of painting happened, a lot of online watching of classes happened, knitting of socks happened, some writing happened but at least I finished up the RSC dark green scrap blocks for May. They should look good with the other colors.
 Improv log cabins

Surprisingly I enjoyed all the things I made, and the one still in progress, ready to be quilted.
The design wall was homey and nature-like all month.

paintings were shown yesterday, scroll down to see them, here's one

Now for a bit of fun...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRL8W1w_gag

https://nedhardy.com/ funny dog pics


I took this enneagram test and am a number 4
look on the left side to take the test yourself
https://www.eclecticenergies.com/enneagram/type4

cats are flying back, in spring...
https://www.sadanduseless.com/cats-in-trees/

LINKING TO
http://www.inquiringquilter.com/ Wednesday wait loss
Midweek makers wednesdays

design wall Mondays at smallquiltsanddollquilts
lovelaughquilt.mondays

oh Scrap Sundays 

 scrap happy Saturdays

paint party Friday I'd like to give you the moon and the stars and flowers

Welcome to Friday's paint post...
I started a painting class with Mary P. Murphy that is full of information and inspiration.
One exercise was to paint a really large flower engaging the borders, on small paper.

 this is 5" square paper, using round #8 brush and Kuretake paint, with white Posca pen dots.

Over paint, outline in pen, add, lift color, til content. DH said, it's so vibrant!
She also suggested 12 texturing techniques to try, one was saran wrap on very wet color

lots of water, blobs of color and let saran wrap dry on it

I used the scribble technique from last week, turned it round and round til I saw something.
Used the collage technique of cutting magazines for words and images on top.

and love it. The fountain was in an ad in Marie Claire, the words described a strong woman who works for the good of our earth's environment.

She suggested underpainting a background in hard lines

fun in itself to see where color touches, right?
Then I drew a tree with blossoms...

and for my mandala series, added in a spiral at the roots... kind of like a snail

the image is hard to see here but this is lovely in person. Soft blues and silver pen create ephemeral clothing and wings, wand and crown.

Amber Bonnici held a zoom seminar for creative women across the globe, so I went to see. They were considering play, and magic in art.

I heard her say when approaching a new skill, you can be nervous and tell yourself you can't do it, or you can see where it takes you... So for me, a curved doorway, steps up to it as one needs to take baby steps when learning, and an invitation to enter.

To cap it off this week, I saw a brilliant natural moon phenomenon this week, a smiley face of crescent moon and two stars/planets in alignment in the sky...
My point and shoot camera couldn't capture it well, so I painted it

here's to self expression.... and play

 LINKING TO

Pink Saturday!
https://paintpartyfriday.blogspot.com/
http://floralfridayfoto.blogspot.com/

I Like #195

 welcome to this week's list of likes... did you notice we've moved from Spring to "OMG it's hot!" ?
more pretty paintings on Friday's paint party post!

saw this inspiring Iris growing in a neighbor's yard yesterday. She's the only one of over a thousand homes in here to have iris

want to get to know me better through a meme of questions??? you know you do, everyone's doing it! Read it HERE

Of course I have a glass cow ornament... it got broken in the move, an I used superglue to put the leg back on..... then noticed I glued it on backward... oy vey!

so happy to be knitting socks again! I successfully (sort of) turned the heel on DH's sock yesterday, it's been a really long time since I did a sock and had to look up how to do SSP (a decrease on a purl row) after messing it up a couple times but I'm on the way to a finish. I suppose he'll want a match for his other foot...

Did you hear blueprint has sold out and is closing down? Craftsy advertised having classes for "life" when you purchased them, then they sold to blueprint. Blueprint advertised classes for "life" then they sold to NBC who is shutting it down. I just joined for a year because they advertised unlimited classes for your subscription time and being isolated seemed like a good time to invest.

blink blink
Aren't you tired of being lied to and manipulated?
I know, things change but when a promise is made, a contract is signed, and in general...

So I'm trying to see a few classes before the end, and am watching a good one by Mary P Murphy on painting. She also speaks to design principles and drawing. She's good. Photos of my work tomorrow.


we had a big rainstorm last week, and even the robins were trying to escape it

I wonder what else goes on when our backs are turned? Are the birds having a party on the patio?
ran across this cute song on youtube this week. I grew up watching Dean Martin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuEv942wOZs

google images but this is exactly what it looked like!

How about that moon on May 25th? It was the smiley face we thought might happen earlier. Well it happened on Memorial Day, and came not a moment too soon to lift my spirits. Unfortunately my camera couldn't capture the stars well, but I saw it. I'm a witness!

my point and shoot image

 Ain't nature grand? Aren't scientists wonderful to help explain it to us?

I painted this to commemorate it

Milo made this toy arrangement in honor of the moon's smiley face!

Speaking of eating, and who isn't? I made banana cake again, but something went wrong and it didn't rise into a fluffy big cake this time. Still tasted good even being dense. I made two  mini trifles with it one night for desert...

I like bada bing cherries (yea, no corn syrup) so into a handled cup went a big square of cake, pour on some cherry juice, layer on half a tapioca pudding cup (yea, no corn starch!), a bit of whipped cream, put two actual cherries on top, and it was moist and delish!
Speaking of sweet, and who isn't?

Remember...

button up your overcoat

 have you ever been around a group of children? All of them are cute and nice, but they'll pass on germs like little infection vectors, til pretty soon everyone in school has strep, pink eye or head lice...

they may be opening up business again, but nothing is changed as far as infection goes. The virus spreads like a drop of water in a lake... in every direction at once.

be smart.... this is no joke, no one is trying to strip you of your rights to get sick so put away your guns, just don't give it to the innocent law abiding careful people who are trying to keep a distance from you. (this is to the hundreds of people who come right at me on a 4 Ft wide sidewalk while panting and running)

Milo's Moments

pining for my friend Kuna

I get it,  Mama!
 Remember this week when that tree guy's dog ran right at me when I was on a leash? Then his stupid owner ran right to all of us saying, she's just friendly. First of all no dog wants free dogs running up to them when they are on a leash, being all law abiding and all. Second of all,
even  friendly dogs and people can make us sick because who knows who they've been around?
Makes me want to put my head in a fire place!

I just sleep when I'm tired

HA HA! Just kidding about that... what I want to do is play with that dog but it's just not smart right now. I'm a big smart poodle, I know what the word WAIT means! I can do it, and so can humans!

My friend Kuna walking by...catch ya later girlie!

Heyyyy what's that little orange thing?
Mama: that's a goldfish cracker I gave you... why aren't you eating it?
Milo: I don't know... I'm not sure what it is
Mama: Oh NOW you're a discriminating diner? I've seen you pick up junk on the road to eat. I've seen your nose headed for a trash can. Every night when dad snacks before bed you're right there as his noshing companion eating goldfish!
Milo: oh. well. maybe if Daddy tries to eat it....

Now sit! Stay! visit these people to see their lists of likes and join us sometime!
 It seems hard to find paw-sitive things to like right now, but there is always some little thing that makes you laugh, or sigh, or smile... right?

craftscaviescontras 
  https://whataboutrheema.blogspot.com/
http://littlepenguinquilts 
http://homesewnbyus 

https://canadianneedlenana.blogspot.com/
  maryinpeoriahandmade.blogspot.com 
http://imworkingonaproject.blogspot.com/
http://3poodlesandanana.blogspot.com  
  http://www.piecefulthoughts.com

https://knittingquilter.blogspot.com/    
https://scrapatches.blogspot.com/      
 https://lavenderdreamstoo.blogspot.com/  
https://www.mmmquilts.com/ 
http://daybyday12101.blogspot.com/

not sure if she's posting:
https://100sweets.blogspot.com/

LINKING WITH
 http://backroadstraveller.blogspot.com/
http://id-rather-b-birdin.blogspot.ca/
rosie and the boys nature pics  

http://goodrandomfun.blogspot.com

http://itsasmalltownlife.blogspot.com/

https://www.myslicesoflife.com/ 

http://newthursday13.blogspot.com/ 

Thankful Thursdays pet parade

getting to know you.....

I saw this cool meme and thought... how fun! Here goes!


1. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?

  heh heh... that would be my poodle probably, so YEP!

2. What’s the closest thing to you that’s red?

A.My kitchen table has a bold red damask table cloth that makes me happy

3. Did you meet someone new today?

A.from a distance, I met a woman who had pretty flower boxes, and we discussed how to get flowers without viruses

4. What are you craving right now?

A. peace

5. What comes to mind when I say, “cabbage”?

A. yum... I love cabbage!

6. What does your last text say?

A. now, don't judge me... I do not text
 
7. Do you bite into your ice cream, or just lick it?

A. I eat ice cream in a bowl, so I spoon it up. In a cone, bite it! Heyyyy I wouldn't mind a sugar cone with chocolate right now...

8. Do you like your hair?

A. I have thin, straight, hair and always have. It's gotten pretty greyed out though. I'd love to color it again but became sensitive to hair dyes, wah! I like the cut, given by myself, right now. It is kind of flattering.  Because it's so limp, I often prefer messy bed head to brushed hair.

9. Do you like yourself?

A. I think I do... and that surprises me. As I age, I realize everyone has attributes and drawbacks, in action, looks, outlook etc. I found a wonderful podcast by
Kate Bowler who said she doesn't like optimists, I can relate,  because they act like everything is okay which it isn't. She likes hopeful people, me too, because they see things as cracked and try to make it better because that gives them hope.

I think I am okay... most people are okay too... 

10. Do you like cottage cheese?

A. I love cottage cheese. I usually put either pineapple in it, or go the other way and have in in a salad, or with a bit of italian dressing. I cook with it too, the large curd high fat version that melts well in a casserole. Organic tastes better.

11. What are you listening to right now?

A. I love bossa nova and show tunes when I hear music. And clear lovely women's voices. And 70's music I know all the words to. And I often have on a book on disc or the tv while I make art, to keep my inner critic occupied while I have a spree!

12. Is there anything sparkly in the room where you are?

A. I just painted a night sky piece, and put silver ink on the stars! Also there is a lovely group of glittery snowflakes on wire still on the mantel. I might just leave it up all year long!

13. How many countries have you visited?

A. Oh that might be difficult to remember. I have seen many of the states here, have lived in Canada for a couple years, visited Mexico as a little girl on a road trip from Florida to California, traveled to Europe by myself on a eurail pass and saw lots of northern European countries, loving Belgium and the Netherlands the best.

14. Are you sarcastic?

A. yes, and if you are too, sit by me and make me laugh!

15. Have you ever crawled through a window?

A.gosh, that sounds familiar... heh heh but I can't remember exactly when. I think I climbed through a window as an adult to sit on a roof once. 

linking with 
https://sundaystealing.blogspot.com/2020/05/sabotage.html 

hope

These words from Kate Bowler; “Hope doesn’t mean we are blind to all that is broken”

I LOVED this podcast, am working my way through ALL of her podcasts as she is like a lifeline to me, and feel it's important in so many ways to hear. She is one of those special people who is beautiful. Inside and out, she speaks truth and always kind with fascinating interviews.

https://podcasts.google.com make us gardeners



My poodle has a long nose that sometimes reminds me of Bob Hope.... a man who toured military bases to uphold our soldiers fighting for US far from home...


these two young men gave me hope and laughter today. I mean I LOVE the carpenters especially talented alto Karen... too soon gone.... but they review her song, never having heard her. VERY respectful and funny take on my music from the 70's! enjoy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LToUNooinYw

while you're at it... this guy is also way cool reviewing the carpenters for the first time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoVaBVsgP2c&list=RDDoVaBVsgP2c&start_radio=1&t=9

Finally, I found a young woman (Shane Ericks) who sings all the carpenter's songs and sounds eerily like Karen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCiFwtdb-vw

 keep your chins up....hugs from afar.... love you....