Friday's Featured Painting #2

Time for another Friday painting this one featuring a classic wonderful oil on panel. This one is titled "Entertainment of the Boston Rifle Rangers by the Portland Rifle Club in Portland Harbor, August 12, 1829" by Charles Codman (circa 1830) who was a noted landscape painter of Portland, Maine. His art is featured at the Portland Museum of Art as mature, fine early American landscape painting. Codman began as a decorative painter and had no formal training but eventually produced mature works of romance and beauty. His work was "discovered" in 1828 by the contemporary art critic, John Neal (1793–1876).

Some title for a painting huh!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~That's all there is for today my friends. Have a great weekend and until next time be blessed.

Sister Get Together

Yesterday was the first time in a few weeks that my two sisters and I have played cards on a Monday night. It was fun and laughs for the three of us and the first time I've been with them both in weeks. The summer hasn't been kind to a couple of us this year. I won't elaborate but between pain, sickness and colds it hasn't been a good one. The weather hasn't helped at all as it's been very, very hot and humid. But I manage to not let it get me down too much.

Anyway back to the game. We mostly play a card game called "Hand and Foot". It's a canasta type game with 4 levels and one more deck than the number of players, i.e.; 3 players, four decks. We play the first set of cards  (11 cards called the hand)  and we are dealt and passed on by the player on our right 11 cards, the foot, not to be used until we play the hand. Sounds complicated but it isn't really. I learned by playing as I hate to read rules of any game. Here's a video on how to play. Just remember those who play, play it different from others. If you want to know more about the game google hand and foot card game. It was so humid that the cards were sticking to our hands and we stopped inbetween the game to go into my sister's living room to relax. It was the first time in a long time I ended up winning. LOL!



Nothing else new, right now it's 5:15 AM and I'm washing clothes in the laundry room before anyone in the building is up and around and the hot heat and humidity kick in. So dear friends until the next time, be blessed.

Tree Of Life

If you remember, a few years ago I posted an entry with some unusual trees from a park in California. While cruising the net yesterday I found another one I had seen a long time ago. One that amazed me to no end, and so now I'm taking you to Florida's Animal Kingdom in Disney World where the majestic Tree of Life stands proudly as the icon of the Animal Kingdom Park. Click on photos to see them full size.

From a distance, this imposing structure appears to be the real thing. As you draw closer, the amazing details come to life. An international team of artisans were brought together to design and implement the carving of nearly 400 animals in it's intricate framework. A major part of the illusion is the painting. With varying shades of browns and green used, you'll be tempted to reach out and touch it to make certain that it's not actually tree bark. Even when you're viewing it close up, the realism is striking. It's one of the most photographed structures in Disney World. Truly magnificent.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I now leave you with this quote by ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe ~, "All theory, dear friend, is gray, but the golden tree of life springs ever green"...   Until next time, be blessed.

New Summer News

Time to talk to my journal/diary again.

I've always prided myself with not being allergic to anything. But after the past two times I spent outside in full sunlight  (The first time was on the Erie Canal cruise and again this past Wednesday)  I knew for sure that I'm allergic to sunlight. I was out with my sister and while she had an appointment I waited outside in the beautiful sunlight for 40-45 minutes. Both times I not only broke out in a rash but also hives where my arms were exposed. I do not tan but turn red even after 10 or 15 minutes out in the sun. This is the first year this has happened with hives and an itchy rash on my arms. Usually I just burn and turn red.  (Photo from 2015 Memorial Day at a family picnic in the park).

I guess it's a good thing I've been spending most of the summer indoors. I had planned a Lake George vacation with my sisters and their families renting a house for an extended Labor Day weekend but now have decided to cancel as I can't hang around the lake or pool or enjoy the other fun things the kids have planned. I would end up staying at the house by myself so why bother. I don't want to spoil their fun having to worry about me and leaving me alone for 5 days.

This is not really a new thing for me I've always tried to keep out of the sun during the summer but yet I enjoyed the beach, lakes, park picnics all my life. No way will I have to completely cover myself to continue to do so for that's no fun either. I guess I have to realize I'm not that young anymore. My mind thinks it's still in the 20's and 30's but my body knows different. LOL!!

Well that's enough chatting for now. Until the next time dear diary, I send blessings to all my friends and family.

My Mysteries Addiction

You may remember on my old blog I spoke about how much I loved the British murder series called Midsomer Murders. I have the complete series to #20   (I'm showing #19 with Jason Hughes on the cover)  when the original DCI  (Detective Chief Inspector)  John Barnaby was played by the excellent British actor John Nettles from the beginning of the series in 1995 until 2011. I own the complete set with Jason Hughes as Dectective Sgt. Ben Jones. He was my favorite out of all Barnaby's sidekicks besides the original DS Troy, I only owe two sets with him in it. Since it wasn't shown on American TV anymore I ceased to buy the continuing series with the actor Neil Dudgeon who took over John Nettles part as DCI John Barnaby the younger cousin of the original Barnaby. Are you keeping up with me so far? LOL!

Well being home so much I've watched the complete series that I have and was curious as to how the new Barnaby fared. So I ordered the first set #21  (each set contains 4 shows)  which showed up yesterday and I found I enjoyed it as much as the other series. This set still has Jason Hughes playing DS Jones as Barnaby's sidekick. I know I'll be ordering others in time too. From what I understand the series is still running all over the map except here in America and has since had two more sidekicks taking over Jason Hughes part since he left the series a couple of years ago. To me it is one of the best of modern day British mysteries out there especially that it's running so many years. They call it the English version of Law & Order although there isn't any court room drama. I place it up there with my American favorite shows of CSI-NY and NCIS. I could watch these shows over and over again, and of course I do.. LOL!

Well there's more you've learned about me. So in the meantime and until next time be blessed dear friends.

Very Strange Art

Found these four sculptures very intriguing. There are so many more but many of them I wouldn't put on my blog. Not the strange bit but the ugly and x-rated ones. I used to write about strange buildings and trees and I thought this was a different change. Let me know if you like this kind of stuff enough for me to post things like this every so often. They come from Paris, Brussels and even Brooklyn and LA...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Have a great day ahead. Until then be blessed dear friends.

My Summer So Far

I had a very busy and usually away from home, the past two summers and was too busy to keep up with a blog. This summer has been just the opposite with most of the family growing, working and having other responsibilities. As I don't drive anymore I spend most of my time in my apartment writing poetry, drawing computer pixel graphics, watching TV and DVDs or on my laptop. So I decided to start up another blog of which this is the result. I think of it as more of my journal or diary.

I do have my poetry site that is used just for my own poetry. I enjoy writing and displaying my poems even if I'm the only one who logs on to the site. Every so often one of my sisters or a couple of online friends will visit and sometimes comment on the poems. I do enjoy reading what they think of them. I feel the same about this blog. Not having many things to write about I opt for posting photos, paintings, trivia or things that I sometimes do or buy. There will be times when I'll feel I have nothing to post and so I limit myself to not posting every day and rarely on weekends. I feel if I can't keep my body active I'll at least keep my mind active. Hopefully if you are reading this you don't think I'm feeling sorry for myself because I definitely am not. I enjoy my quiet life and have always been sort of a loner most of it, just ask my family! I am happy when I'm with people and happy when I'm in my own company.

I am looking forward to seeing my grandson and granddaughter next month when they come to visit as it's been a few years since I've seen them, especially my granddaughter, hubby and her 4 boys. I've never seen the two youngest. One is 6 and the baby is 2. The two oldest are 13 and 12. It should be a wonderful reunion.

Well that's enough chatting for now. Until the next time dear diary, I send blessings to all my friends and family.

Friday's Featured Painting

It's been awhile since I've shown a painting on a blog but I thought I would start it up again for Fridays. So today I'm featuring a painting of one of my favorite artists Mark Shasha. He is an American artist and also an author, illustrator and educator. His subjects are often familiar and are usually inspired by the textures and light found along the New England coast where he lives and works. This is one of the oil paintings from his site titled, "Woman Of The Seas". Beautiful isn't it!

Also today I wish a Blessed and Happy Birthday to my son Louis  (and Joseph who is with the Lord)  my beloved twins.

Well that's all there is my friends. Have a great day ahead. Until next time be blessed.

Very Much Needed

Finally after 9 years, my small black shopping cart broke down and went by the way of the dumpster. So last week I ordered another one from Walmart which showed up yesterday afternoon. For me this is a necessary item for local fill-ins like milk, bread, eggs, etc;, shopping and also to carry my laundry to and from the laundry room in the building I live in. My son came by to put it together, of course, nothing is together anymore. This metal one came with a liner that had a top cover to keep prying eyes from seeing what's in the cart. Well when it was all set up I was very happily surprised as it is a jumbo size cart that I could fit 6 shopping bags in it with no problem. This size of it is 25.00 x 21.00 x 40.00 Inches with very large wheels. Twice the size of my old black one. To top it off it cost less than my black one did. It was a rollback price of $25.98. My old one cost me $30.00 with no liner and small wheels. The photo doesn't do it justice. I'm so glad I ordered it.

No plans for the remainder of the week that I know of  (yet!)  I'm starting to feel a little better and almost back to normal. So, my friends, until next time be blessed.

Manhattanhenge

Today and again tomorrow, New York City has the opportunity to experience what's known as Manhattanhenge. The phenomenal moment when the alignment of the sunset with Manhattan's grid. This will happen on Today, July 11 and Tomorrow, July 12. One of two days when the sunset is exactly aligned with the grid of streets in Manhattan. Clear cross streets include 14th, 23rd, 34th. 42nd, 57th, and several streets adjacent to them. The street grid for most of Manhattan is rotated 29° clockwise from true east-west. Thus, when the many pedestrians that show up for this, line the street  (and take photos)  and look down the center line of the street westward towards New Jersey and the Hudson River, they can see the full solar disk slightly above the horizon and in between the profiles of the buildings.

I wish I was there to be able to see it. But I can only see it in photos. I'm still nursing this horrible cold and just pray I was over it. In the meantime dear friends be blessed.

Breakfast Out

Today is my first day out since June 29th. I'm going out for breakfast at Applebees with my sisters and other family members and friends. It's a fundraiser breakfast for my church, one I attend every year. Besides being a pancake lover  (though I usually make my own from scratch)  It's also time spent with my family and friends. It's always a lot of fun as we catch up on what's going on with each other etc., plus it's the only time I get to eat real bacon for I usually stay away from it even though I love it. Hopefully the weather cooperates and won't be as hot, humid and muggy as it's been most of this past week. The weatherman promised me it wouldn't be. LOL!! Tomorrow I'll be able to go to church too as I missed going this past Sunday. I'm looking forward to a lovely weekend. I hope yours will be blessed also.

Back In Time

Here are two old meme quizzes I found on my flash drive and thought it would be fun to post them again. I always enjoyed memes. Too bad most of them aren't around anymore. And no! I won't start one up again LOL! The answers to these two are also from 2007. I probably would have answered them almost the same today.

10 Best Games (5 board games, 5 card games)Board Games

1.  Scrabble
2.  Monopoly
3.  Clue
4.  Chinese Checkers
5.  Parcheesi


Card Games

6.  Hand & Foot
7.  Phase 10
8.  Solitaire
9.  Uno
10.  Quiddler

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Unexpected Windfall
1.  If you were to get a unexpected windfall, what is your first thought on what to do with the money? Were you practical or not?:   Definitely practical. Pay off my charge card.

2.  You have $1000 to spend on yourself. What do you buy?:   With $1000, a new touch screen HP laptop

3.  You have $1000 to spend on something for your home. What do you buy?:   With $1000, probably towards a new Samsung 55-Inch 1080p LED TV.

Have a great day ahead.

Capital 4th vs. Macy's 4th

It was a past five days of not feeling well at all that I spent the holiday weekend and day at home not doing much at all, I watched the Capital 4th of July show on PBS in Washington and later after the show I turned on the Macy's 4th of July show in NY. As much of a New York native that I am, I must say that the Capital show was 100% better for all the fantastic singers and dancers sang about our country.

The only good thing I found about the New York show was the fireworks. Washington DC's weather was cloudy and their usually great fireworks because of the weather weren't that great  (at least in my opinion for some may not agree).  So after the PBS show I turned to the New York show just in time for the fireworks. Maybe it's my age and not feeling well that has changed my taste of music.

I hope you all had a lovely weekend and holiday. One more  (hopefully I pray)  day of rest for me as I'm getting tired of being sick and home bound. So until the next time dear friends, Be Blessed.

Safe Holiday Weekend

Wishing all my friends and family a happy and safe 4th of July. Enjoy the fireworks. Be happy, have fun, be safe and enjoy your picnics and barbecues.

Too Sick To Think

Well at least that's the way I feel since Thursday. I came home from the cruise Wednesday night tired and not up to par. Had a bad night sleeping. Finally woke up with the start of a sore throat and stuffed nose. Yesterday I came down with a full head cold, watery eyes, sore throat and constant coughing and sniffling. This is not a good way to start a holiday weekend. Hopefully by Monday with rest, tea and honey   (I'm not a medicine taker)   I'll feel more normal and myself. At least I hope by Wednesday as we have a group picnic to attend.

Not much else going on right now and am not sure of the weekend as it all depends. So my friends, I hope your days are better and blessed.