Clotheslines

Clotheslines are a place of

happy memories. 

Running through the 

billowing sheets was fun.

It amazed me to hear that there are places where clothesline aren't allowed, mainly because they don't make 

the area look good.

My short 5 garment length

clothesline is between a planter pole and an iron umbrella stand.

On very hot days, 3 or 4 

hand washing can be 

hung out to dry.

There are a variety of clothesline styles to use that might fit into a safe and secure area in 

your landscape. 

Do you have a clotheline or used a collapsible dryer rack?

The About the Out: Toads

Toad Habitat

This blogger was spray painting one of two planters. As I'm removing a stone, an American toad appears. Gloves on, up goes the toad to the other planter via human transportation. 

Task done. I see movement in the unpainted planter's soil. I shade the toad with another stone. The sun was hot. A few seconds later, the toad is gone.

A 1.5 foot tall planter is quite a leap for a small toad. I have seen one climb. I am guessing when the deck was crowded with stuff, he climbed into the planter.

Searching online how high can toads jump, how get in planters, etcetera, the results show that toads in planters and flower pots is a common problem.

After moving debris, I heard what sounds like an unhappy toad in the shrubs. 

Careful out there in the garden.

Peace

 God Bless America

and all veterans that sacrificed

their lives for Freedom

Another Plume Moth

Plume Moth
26 May 2023

Every year on my deck, a plume moth visits. I've even found one sunning on my vehicle. The plume in the photo was there for hours. It does not flinch when the sliding screen door opens and closes or when I near it.

They take the form of a T when at. As a pest, snapdragons that I plant every year, (some reseed) can be damaged. Otherwise, it is a cute moth most active at night.
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For the long weekend

Make coffee syrup 

Create a clock face 

Draw butterflies

Listen to piano music

Turn your at home radio on

Browse linen shirts online

Read about the history of sewing patterns

Consider a local group walk

Sing to a flower

Dance on a shadow

~~~~~~~

27 May 2023 Back Again
On the outside

Memorial Day Weekend 2023

For a safe & thankful weekend

Have an hour of prayer outdoors

Honoring the Veterans who died 

defending our country 

Painting At the End of the Day

In progress acrylic, Lake Champlain

Greens are not easy to mix. The video (previous post) helps my mind settle in. 

Painting by light bulb isn't ideal. Tomorrow daylight will be better for the next phase of painting. I didn't feel like watching live stream tonight. So I sat down to paint instead.

(Not diggin' the tree on the right.)

It is late. Early dinner, I now feel hungry. A light snack and reading before my day goes into slumber mode.

How To Paint Atmospheric Perspective

Good Youtube video

A Sink Lip Sync

 In the hope of enhancing your life 

in a light hearted way...

a discovery I share.

At the bathroom sink 

looking in the mirror,

jiggle your hands in the running water

as you lip sync jiggling your chin.

It is funny.

Enjoy Your Life!

~~~~~

One might ask...Does she have nothing better to do?

Actually, being silly is a healthy use of one's time. Think of all the sad and sour faces gone into that mirror. Make up on, make up off, make up faces, drooping eyes and bed hair. Since my hair has grown longer, my morning entertainment quality has increased. 

My spring cleaning clear out is such a success, I've been taking time to admire it before I begin messing it up. The first project is putting together the pieces of old frames I've collected over the years. Hand sawing the wood isn't fun because the cut rarely fits well. I have to sand and fit, sand and fit. In the end, the frames  will not be a standard size. Enter the hardboard covered with cotton duck canvas to fit. 

At Fort Frederic 

I have printed out 3 landscapes to paint during the rainy days. (most sidebar photos)

Spring this year has been so nice, I feel very fortunate for each lovely day we've had here in the Vermont side of the Champlain Valley. Planning for summer is going well with enough variety of things to do that health and weather will not be an issue. A recent arthritic knee injection is going so well that I may be able to walk more as well as farther without pain and discomfort, during and afterwards. Walks, no hiking. 

Salads, smoothies, making a pair of rope sandals, and meals al fresco are at the top of my summer to do list. 

Plans help extend the enjoyment of any season. I believe more so for summer because it can fly by too fast when heat waves bring us indoors.

Small Somethings to Know

Anchor Hocking Wexford Pattern Glass

The cordial size pressed glass in the Wexford pattern has a 4 seam bowl, 8 stem curves, and a 4 seam base.

This is information that might be handy as a conversation starter. Not everything in life has a crucial significance  to living one's life.

Textured glasses are easier to grip. Thick glass stemware are easier to hold as well. I prefer those styles. 

My favorite water glass is horizontal ribbed barrel shape called Park Avenue by Anchor Hocking. I bought them at a thrift store. Alas, a discontinued pattern, I have only one left. Time to find another pattern.

Do you have a favorite water glass pattern?

Carbon Capture & CO2 Emissions

NPR.org, Climate

 The U.S. is expanding CO2 Pipelines. 

One poisoned town wants you to know its story.

May 21, 2023 by Julia Simon

Blog post

Thoughts About Being Informed 

May 12, 2023

PBS Newshour, 

May 11, 2023

Proposed EPA Rules would force power plants to slash emissions

Scary stuff. The NPR article reads like science fiction.

The article is Not Fiction.

Note, there is a push for legislation money to fund carbon capture projects, build pipelines to areas where it can be stored. 

The urgent need to reduce carbon emissions is very real. 

However, we should know from past mistakes, ( nuclear power plants) a rush to fix one problem, can create another, sometimes an even larger problem.

Here's the thing, Please Be Informed.

Know if your area has carbon capture storage, pipelines or there are plans for them.

Know where Your congresspersons stand on environmental issues. 

Don't settle for the, we need this because of that, argument. 

Know from start to finish the full scope of issues.

The Someday List

Furniture Extension Springs

After every sorting of stuff there is a pile and/or box of items that have expired their use life or else I forget why I saved them.

Fact is, there are objects that are so cute on their own that we keep them around for a while, (years even), such as the furniture extension springs found in a plastic bag during sorting. I bought them for a sculpture class project. 

Another clear epoxy resin lamp may be in my future or another sculpture.

Sculpture Notes

Another idea goes on the Someday List...