Art Fifty Three Years Ago - Day19

When I found these sketches that I created back in the late 60s I was amazed.  I knew these were mine but I had forgotten that I was this creative.  What happened?  Why did I stop?  53 years ago.  What if I had continued practicing my art? What if I had taken some lessons? I know it's not too late.  I've been telling myself I was going to learn Procreate an art program on my iPad, but I haven't done much with it.  I'm not beating myself up, just really curious about what's going on here.  No, I'm not comparing either.  

While finding these pictures I also found two empty art pads. Maybe these pictures are all I'll draw.  Is that wrong?  Or does it matter? I don't know.  

I am enjoying blogging and am being more consistent than I am with creating art.  ????

I like to blog and I'm blogging every day in April with a group of over 300 creative bloggers on Effy's blog-along

http://effywild.com

Grateful Day - 18

This is my blog for today.  I am grateful! 

I am blogging every day in April with a wonderful group of over 300 bloggers in Effy's blog-along

http://effywild.com

Lots of Hugs Day - 17

 Some days we just have to wrap ourselves in hugs.  

I saw these blankets advertised on Steals and Deals on Good Morning America several years ago and had to have them.   They are the softest, cuddliest blankets I ever experienced.  I'm thinking of ordering some more from blankiegram.   You can also purchase them from Amazon.com No I am not an affiliate, I just love these blankets, especially the hugs.  

Yes of course we hug each other but wrapping myself in hugs when I'm watching TV, reading or even sleeping is very comforting.

I'm so enjoying my blogging adventure here for the month of April with over 300 creative souls.

http://effywild.com

Fifty Eight Years of Journals - Day 16

1965 Prices

House payment: $55.20
Electricity: $6.59
Telephone: $6.35
Food: $30 average
Dentist Cleaning $10
Trash: $5.25 every six months
TV: $10.07

Imagine paying these prices! Does anyone remember? I found the spreadsheets in my July '65 - June - '66 Journal.  I've been writing in these journals from right before John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. I have them all and don't know what to do with them. 

I know I'd love to discover these from my mother or grandmother. But I don't feel that my family would want to read them. Do I even want them to?

Some say go through these and write some articles.  Or even blog them. I don't want to reread them right now.  One time I tore some pages out and tried to tear them up but I kept feeling NO! Another time I started piling them in a box to get shredded but another NO.  An astrologer suggested I get rid of them and free myself from the past.  Would that work or would wish I had them back. I told hubby if I die first he has my permission to shred them.  A part of me is feeling like hiring a shredder truck to come and shred them. Sigh!

I am so enjoying blogging with the creative, caring bloggers here for the month of April.

http://effywild.com

Relaxing Jigsaw Puzzles - Day 15

 In the back of my mind I keep thinking someday I will sketch so when I saw these puzzles I was intrigued.  The pictures are pretty especially the landscapes.  I used to love to put jigsaw puzzles together when I earlier in my life sitting at a table.  We made it a family affair when we weren't playing monopoly.  But these days sitting at a table putting puzzles together would be painful.  So when I saw these digital puzzles I was delighted.  I usually put together one puzzle a day - the free one that they offer.  Of course I've bought my share too, especially when they are on sale.  Usually they only cost a little over $2 on sale.  When we put a puzzle together we get points and these can add up until we have enough to use for getting more free puzzles.  Putting together these puzzles relax me.

Here is a pretty puzzle I did.

 

I love faces and her lips intrigued me.

I was putting this puzzle together 

That was going to be the picture of the humming bird in the middle.  We get to peek at our picture if we want.

Another cool feature is, I find some really pretty pictures and I can copy them and import them into the puzzle feature where I create my own.  

Here is a busier picture puzzle I put together

I'm enjoying blogging every day in April with a group of creative fun people in Effy's blog-a-thon.

http://effywild.com

Zoom With Your Angels

September 8, 2021

This is a repeat of one of my favorite blogs.

 

What if we could schedule zoom meetings with our angels?

Would you schedule regular meetings with your angels?  What would you ask them to help you with?  Why not visualize zoom meetings with your angels!  I've done this from time to time and I want to get into a regular habit of it.  Will I get quiet enough to listen?  Would doubt get in the way?  I do believe in them but never know how they are going to reply.  Will I get signs or dreams? Butterflies or birds? Coins or pretty cloud formations?  I never know.

What messages have YOU received? 

Zooming with our Angels

I created this using a blank Zoom template and imported into Procreate, my digital art program on my iPad.  Then I copied different angels and cut and pasted them into the zoom windows.  

I'm blogging every day in September with Effy's Blog a Thon.  I'm having fun coming up with different ideas for my blog. Also it's fun reading and commenting on many of the creative blogs people have been posting.

 http://effywild.com

Thank you for reading.

Loving My Instant Pot - Day 13

  I wanted a pressure cooker for many years and actually bought one from QVC but I was scared to use it.  It sat in the box for a couple of years and I'd feel guilty every time I looked it.  We end up donating it someplace.

Fast forward a few years.  I started hearing about this thing called an Instant Pot.  Not knowing what it was I googled it and found links to You Tube videos showing what to do with them along with delicious sounding recipes.  So I binged watched many, saved links and talked to people who swore by their Instant Pot.

By then I had to have one.  So I ordered this from Amazon and started playing. It is over 3 years old and well used.

We love tender pot roasts so I decided to buy a Chuck roast. I had to cut it into chunks because it wouldn't fit in the pot whole.  I chopped up some onions, mushrooms, garlic and carrots.  First I turned the pot onto Sauté.  When it gets warm enough it will show HOT.  I poured some olive oil and butter in, then some onions, garlic and the meat.  I browned the meat but had to keep scraping off the browned bits because if I didn't it would stick to the bottom of the pot and it wouldn't go up to pressure.   If food sticks to the pot where the Off is, it would read BURN.  

Next I added the rest of the onions, mushrooms, carrots and garlic along with a can of Beef Consume.  Yes beef broth is good and so is water.  I added some more water (don't remember how much, I play it by instinct now days).  I added garlic powder, some what's its here sauce (worchestire sauce however you spell it) and salt and pepper.  You can add what you want.  When everything was in the pot, I put the lid on, moved the nozzle on the top toward the back.  I pushed the off button and pushed the manual to on and moved it up to 60 minutes. When the little silver pin pops up then the pressure has begun and the numbers on the front start counting down.  I found through trial and error that we liked the pot roast cut into cubes and cooked longer.  A wire rack comes with the pot so I peel two large potatoes and put the rack on top of the food and place the potatoes on the rack, then close the lid and set the time.  They are a little soft but delicious. When the pot reads LO 00 then you push the lever at the top of the lid forward carefully because steam will pour out and you don't want to get burned. I use a long handled wooden spoon and pull it forward with that.  When the silver pin at the top drops down that means you can open the lid safely.  I usually let anything I cook with beef do a natural release meaning let it count down without forcing it.  I find the meat is more tender by releasing naturally.

There are a lot of recipes online and many have videos that go with them.  I belong to several Instant Pot groups on Facebook that have been a lot of help.  So if you are thinking of buying an IP I would say go for it. Watch the videos first if you want as they helped me to decide which model I wanted and gave me so many hints.  I'm thinking seriously of buying a second one because I can cook pot roast in one and the most delicious mashed potatoes in the second.  I mash the potatoes right in the pot and they are so good.  Here is the pot roast finished.  



I've made fresh vegetable soup with chicken broth.  If you're vegetarian you can use vegetable broth or make your own. 

P

A big cup of finished soup

Spaghetti, oh my!  Yes you can put the uncooked spaghetti in the pot.  Here is a recipe . It's my favorite.    A word of warning.  Before you put the spaghetti in make sure you have scraped all the bits of browned meat, onions off the bottom because if you don't you could easily get a BURN notice. Or it might count down without the burn notice and you will have burned food on the bottom of your bowl.  Yes you can eat it if you want, I have.  Also I had to add some more water with this recipe.  

I made Instant Pot Pasta Carbonera  ,  Banana Bread  too. Corn takes 3 minutes, asparagus 3 minutes  and oh hard boiled eggs!  5, 5, 5.   You can even cook potatoes under the eggs for potato salad!!!  

So I hope this has wet your appetite for the Instant Pot. They even have a model now with a browning lid for air fry. People swear by it but I don't have one. 

Happy Pressure Cooking.

I am having so much fun blogging every day in April with my blogging buddies in Effy's blog-a-thon.

http://effywild.com