Creating, Playing and Having Fun with Art

 

No I'm not creating Tarot Cards but I'm having a blast playing on Night Café.  It's AI generated and so much fun.  

AI is going to continue and grow, which scares artists and creators. I even had a friend who I shared my art with tell me she doesn't like AI creations.  

Night Cafe  is a fun community.  Every day there is a new challenge.  Today's is Made Up Album Covers.   They did a challenge a while back about Made Up Magazine Covers.  I was blown away by people's creativity.  

NIGHT CAFE IS FREE!!

Every day we get 5 free credits to create something.  Many creations only use .5 credits.  Then we can earn more credits by liking other's creations.  So if you only want to try Night Café out you can play around with it for awhile. That's what I did until I joined as a pro member.  The reason I joined was so I could use some of the features that were only available for paying members.  I pay $23 every three months and get a nice amount of credits to use plus the credits I get each day. I haven't run out of credits yet and I've created over 1k creations that are sitting on my page.

I invite you to check out Night Café.  It's so much fun and so relaxing. The creations I've come up with have really surprised me.  

As far as AI hurting artists, I found it inspired me to draw more.  I saw a creation I liked and created a totally different picture using paper, colored pencils, crayons and chalk if I felt like it.  Then I posted it to an art group I belong to.  It's all fun and we all need fun don't we?   

We HAVE Healing Angels !!

Do you believe in angels? Or do you believe they are just a fantasy? Do you wish you believed in angels? I always wanted to believe in them but was skeptical.  So so skeptical.  After all I'm a born and bred Taurus and wanted to make sure my beliefs could be proven.

Ok fast forward to when I got my first Tarot card reading.  It was at a flea market and I knew the reader.  I sat there with my arms crossed thinking "ok prove you can read my cards".  She tried.  But my skepticism was so strong she finally said, "I can't read you, your energy is blocked and I can't get through.  But you need to get your husband over here, he has a problem with his job."   I thought sure you just want to make more money.  But I told him and he got a reading from her.  Everything she told him was right on about his job and the outcome.   I was so amazed that I wanted to know more so I approached her again and picked her brain.   She said she could teach me how to read the tarot cards and my skeptical brain kicked in again but finally I relented.  Later when I started reading the cards I would have skeptical people come trying to get me to prove I could read their cards and I told them I understood how they felt because I did the same thing.  I'd get them laughing and they could relax enough so their energies were open enough to their cards read accurately.

But this isn't about tarot readings as much as it is about being skeptical.  So which of you wants to believe in angels but just can't for one reason or another?   I cannot prove to you that they are real but I can tell you some of my experiences and you can try them out for yourself. 

 

I took a class about tuning into your intuition and the teacher talked about our helper angels.  She specifically told us we all had a healing angel that we could call on in times of need.  Then she instructed us to become quiet and ask for the name of our healing angel.   Some of us have more than one.  I got the name Hippie a saw a picture in my mind's eye of what he looked like minus wings, and doubted that it was real but decided I'd accept it and see what happened.  I told her the name I got and she said it was perfect for me because of my offbeat personality.  

I had been having some pains in various places so I would acknowledge Hippy and ask for his help.  I began feeling better and the pains would go away.  I always thanked him for his help.  Yes I know aches and pains can come and go away on their own.  However I received messages of who to go to about this and that problem because Hippy wasn't only healing my body but giving me new ideas too.  I know just reading this doesn't prove anything but it sure has been a comfort for me.  

I remember one time in particular when I was getting ready to go to the dermatologist who always found something on my skin to biopsy.  I was anxious as usual.  I was taking a shower when I felt the energy change.  It felt warmer than usual and I wondered what I was feeling. I opened my eyes and saw a huge vision of a male shadow on the tile.  "You aren't going to get cut on today." I heard in my ear.   And I didn't! The doctor didn't find anything he wanted to biopsy and I felt my body relax, not only because I wasn't getting cut but because I got the wonderful message from my healing angel.

Do you want to know the name of your healing angel?  How about your Guardian Angel(s)?  Here is a link to Cheryl Richardson's first video on learning how to relax and meditate.  These are free and if you like it and it's helpful there are a whole series of them.  

Learn to Meditate

If you already know how to relax and meditate you can do that now and just ask for the name of your angels.  Then accept the first name you hear in your mind.  See what happens.  You might not get an answer the first time but play with this and see what happens.  

Easy Classes on how to Meditate That Works

February 20, 2022,

Meditation has never come easy to me.  I've tried different methods including clearing my mind of any thoughts which never worked.  Guided meditations have relaxed me but also put me to sleep.   I've always wished I could find a way to meditate that I could use to calm myself almost instantly when I needed before I climbed on that "Crazy Train" that Cheryl Richardson talks about.  Cheryl offered free meditation classes because she wanted to do something to help us all who feel so stressed out by all the changes that are going on in the world today.  I don't know how long these classes will last but I found a meditation that works for me.   She begins by talking about the benefits of meditation and tells her own examples of how it's helped her and people she knows.  Then we practiced.  Five minutes! I was amazed at how just five minutes of meditation can be so helpful and also how fast it goes. 

Cheryl wants us to share her free meditation classes so they will help others lower their stress levels, which will benefit us all.   


If this speaks to you here is the link to the three classes so far.  You can sign up to be on her mailing list to receive notices of these ongoing classes or her others. 

My 911 call to my angels worked

December 9, 2021

Today I had an appointment with my dermatologist for my six month checkup.   I've had a lot of basal cell carcinoma's removed from my body over the past thirty years.  Because of many surgeries as a child for a cleft lip and palate, I also have Post Traumatic Stress, so often impending doctor's appointments bring on high anxiety.   Today was one of them.  I wasn't afraid of what she was going to do to me though.  The anxiety felt like it was automatic.  So uncomfortable.  I did some EFT tapping and got some relief and I also took a quarter of an anti anxiety pill.  But more was needed.

I called on my angels.  "Help Angels!! I need help!! 911 Angels!!   This helped and by the time I got to the appointment I was calmer.   I walked into the office and up to the window to log in and what did I see but a beautifully decorated angel tree!  It felt like a sign.  It felt like a sign that my angels heard my 911 call.  You can call it a coincidence and I'm sure they didn't put the angel tree up for me, but it still felt like a sign and I will accept it.  Thank you Angels for hearing my call and helping calm me.  I did have another biopsy so the results remain to be seen.  If I need surgery I'll take my angels with me.  But hey, I know they are with me always and so are yours! 

Here are two pictures I took of the lovely angel tree.  Oh yes, calling 911 help angels has benefited me more than once.  

Now I want my own angel tree.

 Thank you for reading and hopefully commenting.  

Friday eclipse and more

November 19, 2021

I woke up around 3am and had to go outside to see the longest lunar eclipse in 600 years.  The moon was half covered and so pretty.   I wasn't able to capture the picture on my iPhone as well as what I was seeing with my eyes and I was a bit disappointed. But I saw the Little Dipper and a shooting star.  That was special.  I need to learn more about iPhone photography.  Here are the pictures of the eclipse. 

I was able to go back to sleep until the glitches started.  We must have had about 9 or 10 glitches but thankfully my UPS (universal power supply) worked and I didn't lose the internet or my computer.  Hubby called the power company and it was due to a power outage in the neighborhood affecting about 108 of us.  

So around 5 am I stepped outside again.  The wind had picked up and it felt colder than it did earlier. I had to walk down to the neighbor's driveway to get these pictures.  The eclipse was over and the full moon was spectacular and almost ready to set.  

Around 7 I saw this beautiful sunrise from my window.   I feel blessed to have been able to experience these wonderful moments this morning.  

Thank you for reading and replying if you felt led to. 

Halloween Through The Years

October 30, 2021,

I've always enjoyed Halloween as a child unless I was sick.  Although I've made myself sick from eating too much Halloween candy other years.   

Later as adults, my hubby and I dressed up and had  fun.  One year Bernie dressed up as a gorilla and couldn't see out of his mask so I drove.  I covered myself with green grease paint and went as Mrs. Jolly Green Giant. What a mess!  We were headed to a party when we decided to stop by the police station where a good friend was on duty.  As I drove he would turn and wave to people in the other cars. I could hear the children screaming and laughing at the Gorilla.  We walked into the police station and the lady sitting at the desk said, "Uh Oh!"  She called our friend and everyone had a good laugh.

Another time we dressed up as babies and went to a party.  Someone was dressed as a Priest and I kept following him around calling, "Daddy, daddy!"  I had a pacifier hanging around my neck and offered people sucks.  I was surprised how many accepted 😱

One year we went trick or treating in our neighborhood holding wine glasses instead of candy bags.  Not a good idea to walk and drink.  I had a baaad hangover and tried to fly home instead of walk. 

I don't remember what I was supposed to be this year but the costume was fun.  

Bernie dressed as a Mummy here and was a big hit. 

Have any of you had some memorable Halloween's? If so I'd love to know what they were.

Thank you for reading and replying if it felt right for you to. 
 

Food Receipts From 1902

October 20, 2021

I'm going through books and papers to see what I can recycle.  I don't want anyone else to have to do this when I am gone.  Not that I'm planning on leaving any time soon but one never knows. 

I found a small pile of grocery receipts from my Grandmother dated 1902.  What an interesting find!

October 15, 1902 

1 dozen eggs 28 cents

2 long bread 10 cents

1 lb. of butter 33 cents

1 ounce cinnamon 03 cents

1 ounce bay leaf 5 cents

July 17, 1902

1 lb. of butter 32 cents

1 and 5/8 lb. of butter 37 cents

5 lb. of ham @30 $1.00

1 broom 30 cents

10 lbs. of sugar 55 cents
1 loaf of bread 5 cents

October 2, 1902

1 chocolate cake 19 cents

1 dozen eggs 30 cents

1 lb. of roll butter 29 cents

5 lbs. of sugar 25 cents

1 quart of molasses in jar 12 cents
2 boxes of sardines 20 cents

5 lbs. of lard 42 cents

That's all for now but I have an account book that my grandmother kept for my mother.  I think she kept one for all the children.  Mother was born in 1917 and the entries go on until I was born. That will be another blog if I find it interesting enough to share.

Thank you for reading and replying if that feels right to you.

Falling Leaves and Releasing Thoughts

October 15, 2021

Whenever I see fall leaves swirling and dancing from the tree branches, I wish I could release my negative or scary thoughts as easily. Why is it so hard to let go? Why do we hold on so tightly? I don't know the answers but I invite you to enjoy this beautiful video. I watched as tears filled my eyes and called on my angels to gently help me release easily like the leaves.

What helps you release and let go? Is it easy or difficult? 

Thank you for reading and maybe replying. 

My Inner Idiot Came Out to Play

October 10, 2021

I saw this meme and laughed.  Who of us doesn't have an inner idiot who pops out at times? I know I do and when she appears who knows what will happen.  

I was a young mother getting ready to take my son to a doctor's appointment when my toilet started  overflowing.  Dressed and ready to leave, I knew I couldn't leave without stopping the water.  What to do? What to do?  No one ever taught me about toilets and I thought if I put the lid down and bumped up and down on it with my butt it would form some kind of seal to stop the water.  It didn't work and my shoes were getting wet.  What to do?  I picked up the phone and called my step father at work.  When he heard what I'd done he was laughing so hard he had trouble explaining about the turnoff knob on the wall behind the toilet.  He never let me live that one down.  I think it's funny now of course but drat, how would I have known? 😱

Another time I wanted to make bread.  The directions said to put the dough in a warm place and let it rise.  Warm place? Where was that? Not in the oven, that's for baking the bread.  I got a brainstorm to put it in my son's plastic dump truck and roll it over in front of the space heater.  Yes my inner idiot was really out that day because the plastic dump truck melted.  😂😂

My inner idiot sewed my son's pant legs together when I tried to mend them. 

My inner real mean idiot appeared when I was just a little child. My father was in the bathtub and I threw our cat in with him.  I have no idea what made me do this but I blame it on my inner idiot.  Of course everyone was mad at me and dad was covered with scratches. 😢😢

If any of you reading this are brave enough to share your inner idiot experience I'd love to read it.  

Thanks for reading mine and maybe replying too.

 

Rain Rain Go Away - and it Did !

October 9, 2021

We had a few days of gloomy, rainy days here in the Asheville, NC area.  This is a picture of the rain on our skylight with fall leaves clinging to the wet.  I took a video of it actually raining but blogger won't process it for some reason.  I'd have to post it on You Tube first I guess.  

Finally the sun came out this morning and what a relief.  I was starting to get depressed.  Not only because of the rain but that our internet prices are going up $30 for no additional speed.  This sucks.

Sunshine helps uplift my mood though.

How is your day going?
Thank you for reading and maybe replying.😃

 

Lazy Hungry Monday

October 6, 2021

I started this post on Monday right before Facebook crashed.  Since I couldn't post it there I just left the blog and did some other stuff. In fact Monday was one of those lazy days that can be so relaxing if I let it.  I was going to do laundry and vacuum but I ended up not doing either and that was ok. 

Both of us wanted something different to eat. Do you ever get that way?  I'm very grateful for the food I have but sometimes I just want a change.  So we discussed ordering a pizza out or make it ourselves.  I had a pizza dough in the refrigerator so decided to make the pizza myself.

I sliced up a lot of mushrooms, onions and garlic while rolling out the dough. Then I remembered I had an eggplant in the refrigerator so I sliced that up in cubes and sautéed it with the rest of the cut up vegetables.  Last time I made this I used a half a jar of pizza sauce and refrigerated the rest.  It had to be used in 14 days and today was day 13.  I spread it on the pizza dough and covered it with the sautéed mushrooms, onions, garlic and eggplant.  Bernie covered it all with mozzarella cheese and popped it in the oven.  Here is the result.  We are going to eat the rest of it today topped with some ground beef I cooked last night.  Yum. 

Yesterday I felt more energetic so I vacuumed and did the laundry that I put off on Monday. It was easy - certainly easier than if I'd pushed myself on Monday.  I've pushed myself many times over the years and enough is enough.  Sure there are things that I need to do but laundry and vacuuming can usually wait.  I remember way back when, standing at the ironing board and getting the worst backaches.  I stopped that and told my family to buy wash and wear or learn to iron.  It worked! 

Today is Wednesday and we talked about going to the grocery store.  Will we or won't we?  I can put it off a while or maybe it would be good just to get out.  I do want to get a rotisserie chicken though. There's so much I can do with it.  I'm grateful that I have choices.  I'm also grateful for being able to be laid back about certain things. 

Speaking of getting out, we got our Pfizer booster vaccine on Friday so we feel more protected. I have two gift cards to use at Barnes and Noble and I'm looking forward to going into the store and browsing.  It's been a while since I've shopped in a store.  We'll still wear our masks though.  I'm not real laid back about protecting ourselves from the Corona Virus, thank you just the same. 

My 30 day blog-a-thon is over now but it reminded me of how I like to blog so here I am blogging again.  

What's going on in your life if you want to reply and share?  

Thank you for reading and maybe replying.

 

Stella the Dog who loves to jump in piles of leaves and kill snowmen

 October 2, 2021

Did you like to jump in piles of fall leaves when you were a kid? I sure did.  I also loved to kick leaves as I walked and watch them swirl.  They made a neat sound too.  

Stella, the dog loves to jump in piles of leaves too.  Here is an interview with Stella and her owner I enjoyed watching and wanted to share. I hope you enjoy the video as much as I do.

Thank you for reading and replying.

Sunrise & Fall

 October 1, 2021

Happy October! October is a nice month before the real cold arrives.  

Here are some fall and sunrise pictures I took out my window this morning.  There was a lot of fog before the red sun broke through, then the clouds appeared.  I was lucky to have been able to see these.  

Blogging For 30 Days Has Been FUN

 September 30, 2021

I almost blogged for 30 days but I skipped Sunday and it's ok.  September flew by! Tomorrow will be October 1.  The leaves are changing a little and the weather is a bit cooler.  

Thank you Effy  for hosting this blog-a-thon.  It was fun and I hope I continue blogging. Time will tell.  I've so enjoyed reading the blogs others in the group wrote.  Everyone was so creative in their own way.  I looked forward to not only write but to read the other blogs.  The rule was if we posted a blog we were to read and comment on three other blogs.  I never could just read 3, everyone's blog was interesting.

I hope we all continue blogging without obligation but if it speaks to us.  However, I couldn't resist this song/video.

http://effywild.com

Thank you for reading.

HEALING IN THE SUNRISE

September 29, 2021

I found this video and I felt soothed, relaxed, and at peace. So I offer this gift to you. 

If you can, open the video to full screen and imagine walking onto the beach.  

Imagine the ocean washing away any worries, unforgiveness, sadness, stress or whatever is bothering you. 

As you stand in the sun light feel the healing rays  coursing  through your body uplifting you, inspiring you, loving you. You are blessed! The universe loves you and this is a gift from the Universe just for you 💖💓

 

http://effywild.com

Thank you for reading.

Free Books and other Free stuff

 September 28, 2021

My county library subscribes to Hoopladigital.com an app where members can borrow and download e-books.  We can borrow 3 books a month.  So today I scrolled through a bunch of available books to see what I wanted to borrow before the end of the month. Since Covid hit I haven't been to the library and I miss it. But being able to download and borrow e-books is fun.  Oh yes, we can borrow movies and also audio books.

Our library subscribes to Libby too - another app.  I can borrow lots of books there if they are available. If not I can put a hold on them.  They also have a lot of magazines.  There are so many I can borrow that I am thinking of unsubscribing to a magazine app I have.

One of the books I borrowed from Hoopla is Come and Get it written by Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman.

I love watching her TV shows.  I was just browsing through the book and found a sheet pan recipe I want to try.  It's called 12 chicken legs and 40 Garlic cloves.  Now I like roasted garlic a lot but not sure I'd roast that many.  She turns on the oven to 400, lays the chicken legs and garlic cloves on the sheet pan, salt and peppers them and drizzles them with olive oil. She roasts them until they are done, about 40 to 45 minutes.  They are served with French bread to spread the garlic cloves on.  Doesn't that sound delicious?

Ree uses frozen bread dough to make pizza with. I want to try that too.

The other free stuff I got was from our health insurance.  We each get $40 to spend every 3 months for stuff like eye drops, tooth paste, and a lot of other health products.  The new quarter starts on October 1 so I needed to catch up here too.  

Then I created a food shopping list to be delivered on Thursday. That isn't free but it's cheaper than walking around the store making impulse buys. 

Ree said in her book that the only communication the cowboys had on the ranch was by Citizens Band Radio until everyone got cell phones.  I remember CB Radio.  My "handle" (name) was The Confessor because I used to write confession stories.

CB radio

Confession magazines my stories were published in

  Confession magazines aren't being published anymore though.  I wish they'd bring them back.  I am so happy with the internet, borrowing and reading e-books, watch movies and tv and get lost in You Tube Videos.  Oh yes, going to online classes on Zoom.  This is all fun. 

http://effywild.com

Thank you for reading.

 

A Woman Built her own Tiny House

 September 27, 2021

I didn't write my blog yesterday so I'll catch up at the end and that's ok.  I started to force myself to blog yesterday and started to feel guilty. Then I laughed and told myself it's all good.  And it is! 

I'm fascinated by Tiny Houses and watch them on TV and on You Tube.  The one I'm posting about today would not be my style but the fact that this woman built it herself with help, of course, is intriguing.  She knew she had no retirement saved and she needed a place to live economically when she retired. Her journey is fascinating to me.  

I think I could live in a Tiny House if I was alone.  But renting the lot to put it on might deter the savings.  The other deterrent would be bad storms.  A house on a trailer with wheels is not going to be safe in a bad wind storm or a tornado.  But what is safe in tornados? I think that would be my biggest worry, especially with the weather changes we're all experiencing now.

If this video speaks to you I hope you enjoy it.  If not, that's good too.

http://effywild.com

Thank you for reading.

Loving Autumn

 September 25, 2021

After living in Florida for 47 years I was so hungry to see fall and the beautiful colored leaves.  We took a trip up to Asheville and as we drove through the beautiful mountains tears rolled down my face and I knew I had to live where there was four seasons again.  I grew up in the north but all I could think of when I saw fall was how much I dreaded going back to school.   I hated school so bad that I'm not sure I even noticed the beauty of autumn.  I sure do now.  

I helped rake leaves with the people we were staying with and I wanted so much to jump in the big pile.  Bob dared me and I did.  Right into a pile of leaves with yellow jackets.  Thankfully I didn't get stung.  

Stella knows how to enjoy piles of leaves!  I love watching this video and I hope you do too.

http://effywild.com

Thank you for reading.

OOPS

 September 24, 2021

Friday night 9:30 pm.  

 I really messed up today making soup.  I put my Instant Pot on sauté while chopping vegetables.  Added some butter and olive oil, then dumped the veggies in.  I opened a new bag of baby spinach and dumped half of it in the pot.  Something told me to taste the spinach so I did.  Yuck.  It had a musty taste and luckily I'd only put it on top. So I scooped it out and put it back in the bag.  I poured the chicken broth in and added my spices.  But I forgot to push the steam valve toward the back. I pushed pressure for 9 minutes and left the room. 

Next thing I heard all this hissing.  Being in the middle of something on my iPad I decided to wait a bit. Bernie came in and said, "Is the Instant Pot supposed to be hissing like this?"  I hurried into the kitchen and steam and liquid was coming out like it was natural releasing. The silver button was up but the pot wasn't counting down.  Hmm, I thought, what do I do next?  I turned it off, pushed the hissing valve back and turned on the pot again.  But it still didn't count down.  So I carefully pushed the valve forward again and let it release all the steam.  Liquid was still coming out making a mess on the lid. Finally I was able to open the pot and the soup looked ok.  I'd sautéed the stuff a while before and the pressure did build.  Nothing was raw and one can drink the broth right out of the carton. 

 So I decided I'd serve the soup anyhow.  Some of the vegetables were a tad more crunchy than usual but on the whole the soup was good.  This was the first time in 3 years that I forgot to push the steam valve back so I didn't beat myself up.

http://effywild.com

Thank you for reading.

Time is Flying

 September 23, 2021,

One week to go for this September blog-a-thon.  One week until the last day of September.  The days are flying.  My life is flying by in some what of a blur.  I'm slowly learning to be in the moment   but that doesn't mean that I don't think about the future.  Sometimes I wonder how I'm going to die.  I'm not obsessed about it but at 85 - well I don't think that's abnormal or strange.  My father died at 32 and my mother passed at 72 so I've outlived them both. I hope my death is quick and peaceful.  

I've seen so many changes! When I was a child we had no tv. Instead we listened to programs on the radio and our imaginations created the character's looks. 

Women dressed up to go shopping.  The 1960s changed that.  Now we can wear whatever we please like Jeans.  

We had party lines on our phones.  We'd pick up the receiver to make a call and we'd hear conversations going on so we had to wait our turn.  Or if there was no one talking we'd hear the operator say, "Number Please."  

I remember working a switchboard in a newspaper office in Palm Beach in the 50s. I liked the job plugging in the phone plugs to connect the parties. Once I accidently disconnected an important call. They were upset but forgave me.

People talk about the "Good Old Days" but personally I don't think of them that way.  I mostly like today better because of cell phones, computers, and the myriad ways of communicating. Do you remember being stuck beside the telephone waiting for an important call?  Now we can get our important messages in many other ways.

 I like to read real books but reading the print on many of the pages has become a struggle.  I'm so thankful for being able to read books and magazines online. I can enlarge the print and read comfortably.  I subscribe to several magazine apps and I download e books from our county library.  I'll never run out of things to read and it all fuels my innate curiosity. 

Yes back in the day we could play outside all summer without worrying about what the kids have to worry about now.  But really for me it wasn't that peaceful.  I hated school, had many surgeries, was sick a lot.  So yes I do like today better.  I wish there wasn't the violence but there have always been wars.  

Getting old is an adventure for sure.  And, as they say it isn't for sissies.  I am thankful for my curiosity, my health and my active mind.  I'm actually looking forward to the next adventure when my time on this planet is over.  So when you hear of my passing don't mourn, just wish me a good trip ask I fly with my angels to see what's ahead. 

http://effywild.com

Thank you for reading.