My YouTube Channel

 

Day 142 of Week 21 May 2026

There are dozens of causes for folks to post about, discuss, support or protest. How to choose what to be involved in is not easy when so many speak to our hearts. 

Data centers and BESS (battery energy storage stations) are two very hot topics. There is a serious issue in my community about the proposal for a very badly located BESS. It boggles my mind how stupid the location is for such a facility. 

If you aren’t familiar with those issues, then I encourage you to read about them using various sources.

I’ve listened to videos recording the noise data centers create. How anyone can pollute the environment and cause people that level of physical harm is, I feel, an absolute outrage.

Know what your state government is doing.

Be informed

Interesting things I saw that are only stored in my brain

I saw a gorgeous patch of tall yellow tulips when stopped at a red light.

A vehicle that was briefly in front of me (made a turn) has a design that feels to me like it could hover over the road. No brand insignia, I have no idea the name of the maker.

Waiting for my Dunkin at the drive-thru, I saw a man at a pump holding a bag of chips in his hand. He was just chewing away like he hasn’t had a meal all day. Handsome, light scruffy whiskers, I thought that has to be thee most beautiful and earnest chewing I’ve ever seen. It belongs in a movie. 

Waiting at a road construction stop, I watched a field of tall grass waving in the wind. The pattern follows the plowed rows. The scene reminds me of the 1985 Harrison Ford film, “Witness.” As I recall, the movie opens with a windy tall grass field. 

Glancing towards Lake Champlain, I saw the evidence of brisk winds in the many white caps. 

I didn’t make my usual stop to take photographs today. At home, I realize there’s no pictures to edit. That feels weird to have that sense of separation from a lens.

Lake Champlain April 2026

For a good day, appointment anxiety coping

Lazy day for me as I minimize appointment anxiety by doing much of nothing. I have tried other methods. This one of being good to myself works best. I think when my mind is taken off busy, the rest mode smooths over the stress. 

A yearly, important mammogram* is not a high anxiety test. An appointment of any kind is the anxiety source.I have no fear of hospitals, doctors and such. I suspect past negative experiences set off my anxiety alarm. I don’t need to analyze it. Managing ways around it are good enough. 

The ambient temperature is much lower today, forecast 75°F (23°C). Being outdoors will be comfortable enough to enjoy a nice ice tea and sketching later.

I’m also thinking taco salad for dinner will be nice as well. It is putting taco filling in a baking dish, mixing in crumbled taco shells and melting cheese over the top. 

Have a wonderful day

As it happens, I had to reschedule my test. Ambushed by a sudden intense anxiety attack, I had to say I can’t. I then went home. I wish I stayed to ride it out. It has been so long since I experienced one that intense, I automatically did what the doctor told me years ago, to remove myself from the location/situation. Anxiety is like that, there are attacks that you know when it is time to make the decision to take care of yourself no matter how embarrassing or disruptive to others. 

Cloudy sky inspiration

Where does the energy go? One day rearing to do things, and the next muscle aches making me question what did I do. I’m laughing. Whatever the cause, it is proof I did something. 

The residue and/or debris we leave behind, are the decorations of our past. Exploring the future is the chance to choose a theme, colors, flowers, glassware and such. 

Right now, if I could, I’d be (a slimmer me) in an infinity pool looking at the Rocky Mountains while wild horses splash in the waters of a cool creek crossing the property.

In real life, I sat in an old plastic chair on my porch watching storm clouds moving by from the northwest. Not even a cat strolled down the sidewalk. The appreciation for the dream and the reality is the smooth blend of hope and acceptance for what we have.

Where would you be if you could?

Unpausing early

 This is the first day since my week of stress that I feel some positive energy. An empath takes longer to recover from stress. Being good to yourself by accepting that, is a healthy move.

3:45 PM EDT 

northwest Vermont along Route 7, 

90°F 

( 32°C)

5:50 PM EDT

92°F

☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️

Boredom sent me back to Instagram.* The algorithm, I suspect, has a fondness for injustice outrage leaning videos because if I click a heart in support or click on one, they all show up like seagulls when somebody drops a french fry. 

Spring hit peak about a week ago. Trees here in this area of Vermont are full of green except trees that leaf-up later when temperatures are steadily warmer. Lilacs will soon be blooming. The pansies are loving the rain and cool weather.

I’ve been puttering, doing small projects and hand sewing summer pajama hems. If pj winter pants are old, I cut and hem them for summer use. Same goes for some jeans.

* I Deleted my fun Instagram account, again. My main account, (not used to scroll reels) I keep.

Day 135 of Week 20 May 2026

We next to a tree,

what evidence which grew wild,

woven into a system

busy being as should?

Neighborhood or forest,

the value of each,

as if we could _____

a tree allergic to cats,

we invaded by beetles.

The juxtaposition chosen,

shared molecules of DNA,

for egg and acorn.

M.Flannery

May 2026

What’s been going on catch-up and such

Written before the blog pause

On YouTube I’ve been discovering more craft based channels. I don’t think anything that can be cut, fastened, glued, twisted, or sewn hasn’t or isn’t being done. Amazing art. I’m developing a craving for decoupaging balloons with lace dollies. 

Last gas up at the cheaper gas station was $4.00/gallon for regular unleaded. It was a shock for a second there. At other gas pumps, I’ve seen $4.59/gallon. 😱

An increase of  arthritis discomfort in my knee is not a shock. I had a recent cortisone shot that helps, but I still can’t walk far. An exam for a possible knee replacement is scheduled. 

Spring is at peak here in Vermont. After all the rain, the green everywhere is just stunning. Warmer sunny weather is welcome. Alas, there was a recent frost warning. 

Blog Pause

Blog is on Pause

Will resume posting in June

Day 128 of Week 19 May 2026

This month is Summer planning month for me. As the days are longer, the dreams of Summer stretch further into my imagination. 

Then paranoia sets in blocking my sunshine. My mother often said when I was a kid, Don’t plan because something will always go wrong. 

I heard the heartbreak in her voice. Today, I feel my own when planning ahead. For her, I can say in my early years, events proved her right. What cycle is this that dampens dreams? I stop going on here about what I’d like to do, plans I make so as to break that cycle of something going wrong.  

Somethings can also go right!

Have a Right Good Weekend 

Read about social trends

Visit an art gallery

Make a new recipe

Ask an apple about your future

Find a constellation in the stars

Dance with love ones

Sketch a daffodil

Grabbing what’s around you

Portfolio woven fabric

Looking around more after discovering a drawing between two cabinets, I see fabric atop a cardboard box. It is two pieces that were cut for throw pillows. 

Out comes my handy sewing tin, and away I go hand basting the edges. The incentive to get out a sewing machine builds.

Using bed pillows as the pillow forms, the closure is planned for tiny grommets that can be used to lace up the open edge. Easy on and off to wash.

On the Art of Freaking Out

Freaking out, I believe, is a moment of emotional panic that can blur common sense. I also believe it happens in clusters than can diminish in strength.

The clusters are made up of various sizes and durations of freaking out.  On the good side, as they go on, one’s awareness can increase as the identification of what stupid looks like becomes sharper as well as kicking in quicker. One can learn to handle freaking out with great skill. 

To all those (of us) out there on the learning curve of self control during a freaking out cluster or a one time event, please know you are not stupid or emotionally weak. You are not alone. I myself have been there more times than my ability to cope with the shame allows me to admit. (I haven’t kept count.) 😎😂

No, no mobile app today
Medium hot coffee w/cream & sugar

There are times when the world does look topsy-turvy.

The Sparkle of Sunshine

 When the sun shines just right in the trees on a windy day, the leaves sparkle. I stood looking at what I think is a beach or type of birch tree, thinking about how to paint that. There are ways, but none that are better than seeing it happen in person.

Spring is the best when seen outdoors as a physical biosphere experience. 

I was zooming in for a flower close up.
Instead, a beautiful sunny branch shows up.

Sunny morning

Refreshing an art minded altitude

A post started early this morning, edited…

Trying to pull up a visual emotion to paint from is difficult for me. Impact worries take over, is the artwork meant to be or not. Painting a scene as the source of reference has issues, but not as much emotional mining as an image that at first sight of it, was a big wow moment. 

A 40 inch by 53 inch canvas physically feels stronger than  5 inch by 7 inch canvas you hold in your hand.  Bigger impact. 

Now that I can (almost) easily navigate around my easel space to paint again, I’m pondering what I want to achieve instead of what can I do. Do I continue with old projects I let go that were started months ago or start fresh? So, I gave myself permission to just grab what’s around and let worry take care of itself.

Ink & watercolor drawing started last year 
It was on the floor between cabinets. 
Placed in front now for me to see
and consider what next. 

In the photo, my stuff on the floor next to my recliner. Tissue box on the right and charger cord hanging down on the left.  

Reflection Monday May 2026

Thoughts on social media

Change is needed. I stopped spending time on Instagram. For a second or two, I missed seeing how folks and animals are doing. I also thinned out what I watch on YouTube.

Doing others things instead, fluffs things up for me. I’ve learned that not all creators are skilled in being sensitive to their audience. Creators can be so wrapped up in their lives, they fail to consider people are also waiting, wondering, expecting news. 

Viewers have to accept creators have things going on in their lives that they don’t want to or may not be ready to share. When to vs when not to is a fine balance. Think adjustments. 

Telling the audience news, but withhold the particulars, some very basic, until the video next week I feel, is disappointing and hugely inconsiderate.

When things like that happen, I unsubscribe or block. The same on social media as in real life. If you don’t like the service, then don’t go back. People prefer places where the experiences are good. 

Social media can provide perspective. Managing the time spent as well as building favorites helps enhance the experience. 

Wild Violets

When There’s Just the Two

 Admire them like they’re a dozen.

Last year there was a few tulips. This year there’s plenty of leaves with only two blooms. I think maybe the silver mound crowds them out. Once the flowers are done and the silver mound is taller, I’ll separate them. The bulbs will be farther away. 

Maybe later more will appear now that the temperatures are warmer.

Day 120 of Week 18 April 2026

 In editing pictures, when you flip cloud formations, you not only change 

the position of the Sun,

 you are spinning the direction of the 

wind, how it flows around Earth. 

Stratocumulus Clouds
looking westward

Have a Flip Free Weekend

Take a walk with friends

Bake a 2 crust apple pie

Browse mugs with lids online

Read about sculpture

Sing to a daffodil

Make a robust potato soup

Play Wordle unlimited

Craft something from a cereal box

Background voices on video

During a water study, taking a video of Lake Champlain, in the background right in the middle of my video, from somewhere in the parking lot, a voice is recorded. Think not wanted in the video. 

I do not expect people to be silent if they happen to see a person taking a video. It is a public place. I can mute the background voices in editing. 

The problem is editing the film reveals there is more talking than what I thought at the time. A big section would have to be deleted. That is sad because I like the video images. I can’t upload the video as it is. Another video will have to be made. 

I now appreciate the value of using a script, a plan of what I want to film. 

Know what is to be recorded, the weather, the hour, the location. Take a few videos. Write down notes. Lesson learned. 

What about all those ads?

Typing every post here starts with clicking a Blogspot font choice twice because the first time stays in the default font. It’s a minor glitch not worth reporting to Google.

In life, the fork in the road between essential and non-essential has a zone of sunshine that there are still choices in our control. 

When you begin to fear you aren’t as sharp as you use to be, then it is time to engage in regular brain exercise, research a better diet, and/ or talk with your doctor. 

Playing brain exercise memory games, matching objects, tells me my short term memory isn’t impaired. (I actually do rather well.) What I sense is worry about old age is increasing the closer I am to 80 years, (a few to go). 

Add to aging, there are lots of ads and articles about memory loss everywhere. 

How much of what you see influences how you feel about yourself? 

In your background, what continues to play even when you know it makes no sense?