Somebody Make Summer Stay!!

As I hung up my front door wreath that states "Welcome Fall", I sadly realized another summer was coming to an end.  Time to gear up for the gray, rainy weather and the short days.

What's been going on in my world?

Started a new health plan in July to lose weight and quit smoking. So far, I'm down 33 pounds and no longer smoke. Yippee!

Sister Julie stopped by last weekend and showed me how to grow sprouts. I haven't started some yet but plan to soon.

Along with Julie, visited with sis Luna as she was organizing her storage unit. She gifted me two statues that belonged to my grandmother.  I love them!!  They will be treasured!!

Have been browsing Pinterest to see if something sparks my creativity when I ran across the following fashion trends.  Definitely not Diva dressing!!

We went to Jimmy and Lexi's daughter Hazley's 4-year old birthday party. She's so cute.  I picked up a pink fur covered journal and add about 30 of my small paintings to it, labeling each item by name so she can begin learning words and spelling.  Like cow, pig, house, etc. We had to leave the party before gifts were open but apparently the book was a big hit. It was passed around and everyone loved it, which brought a smile to my face!

Picked up a $1.99 resin shell sculpture, painted it, added crystal glass along with vintage jewelry, and it turned out, as Opie would say, mighty fine!

I'm looking forward to this coming Friday when my work team is meeting up in Seattle to have lunch and glassblowing.  Almost two years there and haven't yet met any of my co-workers as we are all remote.  Have never blown glass so excited about it!!

One of my recent relaxers has been playing a jigsaw puzzle app on my phone. Now it has turned into a competitive game where I try to maintain my 1st place standing. This means not only reaching the top spot, but remaining 500+ points ahead so no other player can surpass me!  The competitive, take no prisoners urge is strong in the Shepard blood!

Let's take care of ourselves this coming week as we brave the upcoming onslaught of October and the winter months.  Cheers!

Summer Bits & Pieces

 Oh where to start!  

Met my high school friends Marie and Carri this month at Lake Sacajawea for a Thursday night free concert. Music wasn't bad and the place was packed!

The cleaning, organizing, and decorating bug hit me bad over the last month. Decided to redecorate our bedroom with more of the coastal vibe. Hit Amazon and picked up new quilt and shams, throw, starfish pillow, and curtains. Also created a driftwood shelf, stripping a previous piece and staining it gray.   Dug into garage stash and found suitable throw pillows, vintage rocking chair, and additional beach decor.  Moved my sweatshirt stash into my shoe closet then moved the small underwear dresser into the closet which freed up more space.  Have to say it turned out exactly how I pictured it.

When the decorating was done, I proceeded to clean the stove inside and out! Not sure what got into me but I went with the flow.

Our duplex recently was repainted. The color is acceptable - kind of a reddish brown to match the brick.  

Drove over to Walmart to pick up a prescription and this was the scene across the way.  Apparently a scrapyard caught fire and became engulfed in flame. 

Here's one of our squirrel visitors hanging out on the newly trimmed front bush. King of the Shrub!

Two weeks ago was my regular doctor's visit and it was not good. Gained weight, bloodwork sky dived, and still smoking. Decided to take the bull by the horns and jumped into losing weight and quitting smoking. 

Doctor prescribed me Chantix to quit the smokes and a new weekly shot to drop the pounds. Both of the prescriptions help to reduce cravings.  Gotta say it's all been working!  Have dropped 17 lbs so far and smoking has dwindled down to nothing.  Feeling great and only side effect has been weird dreams which are akin to a movie when I'm sleeping. 

It's almost August!  Why does the summer go so quickly??

Enjoy your August my fellow divas!

Fledglings, Flowers, and Bread Pudding

Candy transplanted a Lilly plant to us about three years ago. The first year was nothing then last year it bloomed about two flowers. This year it has gone gangbusters! Several smaller flowers then a huge stalk sprouting 5-7 large lillies! And the color is gorgeous!

Last weekend we found a little fledgling wandering around. Decided to leave it alone as Google said the parents were close by keeping an eye on their young'un. 

Later in the day, rounded the corner to the back yard and there were four happy little fellas sitting in the grass. So cute!!  The next day we witnessed two of them trying out their wings and flying. Was like watching the kids ride their bikes for the first time.

Saturday Sam took me out for a Mother's Day breakfast.  We decided on Denny's - fast, simple, and cheap. Well, the fast part flew out the window!  Had to wait 15 minutes to be seated, another 10 for menus, then 30 minutes more to be served. Over an hour at Denny's was more than we expected!

Returning home, we were leaving to go to the store. Battery dead!  Got a ride to Jiffy Lube to pick up a battery which Sam installed. Didn't start. Called up roadside service to tow the car to Jiffy Lube for a once over. Diagnosis was for a new starter!  They had to order the part so it couldn't be installed til Monday. Monday afternoon we took a 1.5 mile walk to pick up the rig.

Yesterday made Dollywood Cinnamon Bread. The batter was rather thick which should have been my first clue that the bake may just not be successful.

Baked it for the standard time, let it cool, then cut myself a tasting tester. Dry, too much cinnamon, and just not up to my standards. However, I never say die so this morning before work I cut the bread in cubes and made a batch of bread pudding.  Turned out moist and delicious!  Where there's a will there's a way!

Continuing on with my painting. Here's a few of this week's art.

This one turned out a wee bit masculine dontcha think??

Once in awhile I'll receive notices of settlements. Last year mailed in one for a Blue Cross Blue Shield data breach. This week received $125 for the settlement! Today a notice of $50 coming my way for another data breach. Rolling in the bucks!

And that's a wrap!!

Mopping and Mother's Day

Not sure what's gotten into me but I've been on a cleaning and baking jag for the past two weeks!  My domestic goddess adventures include the following:

• Cleaned and vacuumed the car - like serious nook and cranny cleaning followed by a good dousing of coconut spray!
• Cleaned and organized my office and spare room
• Cleaned and mopped the bathroom
• Went through a big box of my dad's pictures, viewing all, reading letters, and organizing.  My next project will be to take photos of all the pictures and share them with the family.
• Examinined and organized a huge tub of vintage jewelry, gloves, and other memorabilia I was given by sis Luna.
• Dusted the entire house.
• Along with making Manny an omelet last weekend, have also made chicken fettuccine Alfredo, shrimp pasta salad, spaghetti, chocolate chip cookies, and peach pie with homemade crust (am obviously experiencing a high carb indulgence diet!)  Thank the Lord we have people to share these goodies with as we are overflowing in food!
• Painted 20+ items in my 5x5 watercolor journal. Close to finishing my 5th book so it's pretty obvious this hobby has become an obsession!
• Started walking again and remind myself daily that the first step is the hardest.

Add in my 40-hour workweek and life has been busy!!

Here's a few more of my watercolor/acrylic pictures. 

This one's for you Jube!

Received the absolute best fortune cookie from a recent Chinese dinner:

On that note, have a fabulous rest of your week!!  Happy Mother's Day!!

Coffee, Creativity, and Birds

Yesterday met up with Luna and Arlene for coffee at The Storybook coffee shop. Was great to see each other and catch up. 

Received sad news today. The Salvation Army owns the big tree in front of our place. They were trimming the branches then told us we had to stop feeding the birds and squirrels and to remove all the decor on and around the tree. Such a bummer as watching the animals eat and play is such a highlight for us. I tore down and packed up all the decor, bird feeders, and gnomes and now the tree is bare. It is what it is but a little heartbreaking. 😪 

Speaking of birds, here's a new pigeon that came to visit. Beautiful white with touches of black. And this pigeon was HUGE!  It was like a turkey breed of pigeon.

Busy with work and have been working Sundays to get my certification credits completed. Still spending my free time drawing and painting.  Need to get my butt in gear and get back to walking and breaking my sugar habit!

Tomorrow is Friday once again! Enjoy your weekend!