ship puzzle and arctic temps...

Ship puzzle coming along...

OK, it was -1degree F early this morning. That's a bit ridiculous for Texas. Seriously. We may get several over 100 degrees in the summer, but minus temps - no - at least not here in this part of Texas. The weatherman said that we had this -1degree here back in '89, but neither DH or I remember that - and we've been here since '71.

Anyway, it's COLD! The outside ferals' water dishes keep freezing and we keep replacing them.  And trying to feed them a bit more often to help them keep warm. The heating lamps are a big draw and some have taken to going into the garage. We don't really need to put birdseed out as the birds seem to enjoy the cat food and they (bluejays anyway) are noticeably fat.

Both my son's house here and my daughter's house in the hill country were without power for a few hours yesterday. And DH's brother's house in Houston is still without power. He says his inside temp this morning was 47 degrees. They are bundled up and have put their refrigerated/frozen items outside since the electricity is off.

This is definitely an incentive to get a generator. I've been talking about this for years, but we've never bit the bullet.  Now... we just might. And I was also wondering why Texas is having all these power problems when other states up North and other cold places like Canada, etc. don't (or at least I'm not aware that they do). Is it something that the state of Texas can do to avoid this in the future?

Seems like just another thing we knew could happen, but weren't prepared.

I am a bit concerned that we will have a really big water bill since the faucet water all over the house has been streaming for days to protect the pipes. But DH says it's better that than busted water pipes and the damage it may cause.  

Oh well, it's at least taken our minds off the pandemic and the vaccine distribution!

I heard someone on the news say that some who have had their power off moved into hotels. Not everyone could afford to do that, but it is a solution if your power is off too long and you're able to get to a hotel on these roads... as long as the hotel has power (but most likely hotels have generators?). 

We are expecting more power outs due to the rolling blackouts... but so far, so good. We are conserving energy, lights off, thermostat set at 68, no large appliance use, etc. And we do have both the gas Aga and the gas fireplace. 

Take care my dear blogging friends. This weather is dangerous. This pandemic is dangerous. This political atmosphere is dangerous. I think that it is safe to say that we are living in dangerous times. But... I feel that we will get through it all - together. Maybe it will make us stronger... and even more important... kinder.

Our neighbors next door are keeping an eye on us (the old folks) and come by lately when they make a grocery run to see if we need anything. This morning the only urgent need was coffee. We use Keurig's Dunkin Donuts 100% Columbian k-cups and have run out. We order both from Keurig and Amazon... and both deliveries have been delayed due to the weather and roads. This  is such a simple kindness that I wonder if they could possibly know how much we appreciate it. 

I keep Community coffee around for these occasions (if we run out of k-cups), but the grind isn't really meant for the k-cups and I've never been able to get the French press to taste right (probably grounds are not ground for either). Luckily I can get by with hot tea, but DH really needs his coffee.

Wishing everyone a warm safe healthy week! Thinking Texas should be back to normal winter temps by Friday (hope!hope!). And praying for all of you who may be in the path of this Arctic weather. 

Hugs, (virtual)

Rian 

Arctic air...

Arctic air has hit Texas!  Our temps are in the 20's (F)... and they are hinting that they may get down to 8 degrees (F) by Sunday or Monday. (This is not acceptable)  Texas can get cold, but not that cold.  Is this due to Climate Change?  One weatherman said that this is the coldest Texas has been in 30 years.

The number of accidents on the icy roads just this morning have been horrific. One involved 75-100 cars and had several fatalities. People are being told to stay home due to the roads rather than the pandemic for a change. Schools have closed. With these low temps all outside animals and house-hold pipes could be affected. My daughter is worried about both her pipes and her horses. The horses have blankets and stalls, but they are not inside a barn. 

Only good thing about it being Texas is that the cold doesn't usually last more than a day or 2... this time it seems that we may have 4 days of below freezing weather.

We have blankets, baskets, and pet beds, as well as boxes and heat lamps outside for the ferals. We've also opened the garage door about 6 inches so they can get inside out of the cold. This morning there were 8 black cats huddled on the patio chairs under the heat lamps... and one black and white in the blanketed bed on the front porch.  

As for myself, I'm huddled on the sofa near the fireplace... and will probably stay for the duration. I don't do well with cold. Not sure if my body simply doesn't hold the heat, but sometimes I can get so cold that nothing will do but to soak in a hot bath or shower until my body temp returns to normal again. Hot tea and layers help too.

There is a sofa across from these chairs where
I'm huddled with my blanket and hot tea...

That's my report for today. Those of you who live up north are used to this type of weather... but we aren't and don't do well in it. 

However,  I do believe that this Arctic air is covering a large part of the U.S., so please stay warm and stay safe.  As they say, this too will pass. 

And as always, thanks for visiting. I hope those of you who want the vaccine have gotten it already. Most of the people we know here have gotten theirs. We are on several waiting lists, but have not been contacted yet.... but expect to be in the next few weeks.

Hugs, (virtual)

Rian

miracle needed...

I have a dear friend  who needs a miracle... someone I have known since I was 8 years old, a childhood best friend who is still very dear to me. She called yesterday in tears as her daughter who has been fighting the return of breast cancer just had bad news from her doctor. Apparently the chemo/radiation for this metastasized cancer hasn't helped. They said there was nothing more they could do. 

I believe that prayer is powerful. I believe that our thoughts are powerful. And I believe in miracles.  Please send her and her family your prayers and thoughts. I know that my wanting a miracle for her doesn't mean it will happen. But I would like to try... and I need your help. 

Hugs, (virtual)

Rian   

February 1, 2021... White Rabbit and Dark Chocolate pie

 

Rabbit! Rabbit! White Rabbit!  

(I remembered this morning...)

So I'm posting White Rabbit 

and

Dark Chocolate pie!

Perfect with a cup of black coffee...

(...the pie, not the rabbit)

Hugs (virtual),

Rian

Pandemic blues... and a little creative fun

I was reading something recently about those who have found themselves faced with depression during this pandemic. I can see that... especially if you're alone and have little communication with others. 

Even though I have (luckily?) never experienced this, I have felt days when I really miss the people and activities that were part of our pre-pandemic life.  And it's not that we were that active - or social. But we did go out to eat with our kids and grandkids, they did come over and visit, take walks, have coffee, etc. And I enjoyed my days at the pottery studio or meeting friends for coffee and/or lunch. DH and I also got our exercise year round by walking the top and bottom floors of the malls.  We don't do any of this anymore. 

More than mentally, I find this not good physically.  We do walk the neighborhood if the weather is good... (which it isn't very much lately)  And I do some exercising for my back at home... but not enough to make up for those long walks in the mall. And although I don't think we eat any differently (maybe snack a bit more), I know that I've put on about 5 pounds that I attribute to lack of enough exercise. 

Then I think about all those people sick and dying with Covid and realize how lucky we are that we've gone this long without yet contracting it. How trivial the things we've missed are in the great scheme of things. And now that the vaccine is here, there is even more light at the end of the tunnel... 

I don't know when we will get the vaccine, but it's there and I'm sure we will get it eventually. I'm not complaining that distribution is complex or about long lines. I truly feel that they are doing their best to get it out there for everyone. We will continue to mask, wash hands, stay home, and avoid crowds for a while yet, so things are not going to change that fast even after the vaccine. 

And I do thank the wonders of technology that we have email, text, Skype, and Zoom (and blogging!)...  ways to communicate with friends and love ones that isn't physical. We live in a strange, wonderful, scary world these days, but if we look hard enough, we can still find the joy that's hidden beneath it all.

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This isn't what I planned to post about today. Sometimes my fingers take on a mind of their own and words spill out that I never intended. 

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I was going to post about my playing around with watercolor.  

I'm trying to determine what works best... 

water-coloring the paper before sketching 

or

sketching and then water-coloring over or around it.

example of watercoloring first, then sketching over...

example of sketching first and then watercoloring...

Neither of these are finished products. I'm still working on both... needing to add more seagulls to the first and more watercolor to the second. Actually I'm totally out of white, so will have to order more before I can continue.

If any of you out there are good with watercolor, I'd appreciate any suggestions. I'm definitely an amateur and know it, but enjoy playing around with it just the same. 

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend! It is TGIG... and although one day just runs into the other these days, I still love weekends!?

Take care, stay safe, find joy in your day... and as my little Cheeky Chickens remind me every day "Be Happy!"

Hugs, (virtual)

Rian

food, memories, and playing with watercolor

 

red beans

DH made a batch of red beans and rice last week. I LOVE red beans and rice! And his is the best... even better than they serve in the restaurants at home (New Orleans). It was the perfect meal for these cold, dreary, rainy winter days. 

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And this past Monday would have been my sister's 85th birthday! She passed away at 51 of Cancer.  I was only 10 when she married at 19 and moved to Mexico City. But as the years went by, she eventually moved back and we were just beginning to know each other as adults when she died. 

my favorite photos  (as I remember her)

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Photo taken from my TV set 

I watched the Inauguration of President Biden and was amazed at how well it was done (considering the circumstances). IMO his speech was excellent and the songs beautiful and appropriate (This land is your land, this land is my land...). And that poem from that young poet laureate... well, it gave me chills. 

I'm sure that things will not be easy for President Biden, but just having him in charge after the last 4 years of chaos does my heart good. 

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And these last 2 entries are just things I like... and am willing to share with you.

grand daughter and Moose 

Grand daughter and Moose (their Great Dane) enjoying her last day before going back to college. 

sketch and water color

Practicing my watercolor (which needs a lot of work) on a sketch I had made years ago for the cover for my book... before I found an actual picture that I was happy to use. I really need to take a watercolor class one day. Started one in 2017... but  before the second class I was in the hospital with acute appendicitis.

Oh well, maybe one day.  BTW, my friend who owns a kiln fired my batch of cheeky chickens last week... (10 chickens and 1 fox) so at least they have had their first firing. They will need another after I black bird them... and that may be a while since I'm out of blackbird.

OK, enough sharing for today. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend. The weather had been a  bit bleak this week, but my concerns for our country (politics and the pandemic) seem to have lightened... :) 

Hugs (virtual),

Rian

Cats, chickens, face masks, and puzzles

I laughed when I read this poster...

Thinking about the number of black cats that were in our yard lying in the sun this morning... 6 - I believe. One we call BK (Barbeque Kitten) that jumps on top of the barbeque pit to look into the kitchen window and watch me wash dishes. I was spraying water at him this morning... and he jumps when the sprinkle hits the window... then comes back for more.

We also have a cat toy on the patio... one of those 3 tiered things that have balls that roll around. They love this and sometimes 3 of them can be found playing with it at one time. 

this pic is off Pinterest, but great pic

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Well, I'm back to making face masks and Cheeky Chickens this week... and thinking about starting to play around with watercolor. It's been a while since I've attempted any sketching or painting - but maybe it's time to start. 

new face masks

new Cheeky Chickens

I read somewhere recently how a blogger finds doing housework a good way to pass the time and relieve stress. I can see this... to a point. Washing dishes and watching the cats' antics from the kitchen window is relaxing. Ironing can be also... but dusting, mopping, or vacuuming - not so much.

I do find sculpting with my clay relaxing, also reading or writing, and even a bit of sewing as long as it's not complicated... and baking!  (Now I want to finish this and go bake something - maybe brownies with Peanut Butter and some sea salt sprinkled on top).

But before I go I need to mention 2 things: 

First is a strange phenomenon (maybe not strange, but odd to us). DH made sweet tea a few weeks ago and when he does this, he picks the mint we have growing out front to use in it. This time he picked more than he could use and it smelled so good, I hated to throw the excess away... so I stuck it in a little pottery vase and put it in the frig. Well, believe it or not, that little sprig of mint still looks as fresh as a daisy... it amazes us every time we open the door. We had no idea that mint could last this long.

And second,  we finished another cat puzzle. This one was cat books and was fun to put together as I've read many of these books.

Feline Tales Puzzle Box

Feline Tales puzzle complete

and the next puzzle awaits...

OK, that's it. Thinking about those brownies now...  Hope you all have a wonderful safe sunny weekend! 

Hugs, (virtual)

Rian