Me, Enjoying the Weather...

Me, enjoying the weather...

PRAYERS

Slow changing of heart
calms the storms blocking seasons; 
forgiving the past.

ARGUMENT!

ARGUMENT!

Fall awaits her door
opening to early snow
summer holds on tight!

PUSHY FALL

Tries to force entry
banging upon the stage door
yet summer finds peace.




RED FLOWERS

Nursed by sweet summer
bloom in the raining of tears
showering beauty.



PEACE

Sun sets upon strife
bringing divine colors in;
stars will shine on blues.


skb

RUBIO and BANJO



2 Bettas (from a photo I found online)



My fish tank now has a Betta. He's bright red and I named him Rubio! So, now I have 2 fish, Banjo (my banjo catfish) and my Betta, Rubio. They are so relaxing to watch, better than medicine in so many ways!



A banjo catfish (from a photo I found online)


These handy fish clean your tank so well you hardly have to clean it at all, except vacuum and change the water. They eat algae off the glass, rocks, plants... and they are so much fun to watch!

Both these fish have plenty of "personality!"

Some days you just have to grin and take it...

We had a power failure of 16 hours recently. Several of my fish died right after the power went back on! I was shocked about this until I realized that they must have hyper-ventilated. They got over-drunk on oxygen, the poor things! They had been breathing so heavily, gulping air during those 16 hours (probably unconciously) that when the power and their "air" came back on, they sucked in so much oxygen that it killed them, poor li'l things.

I guess I'll have to get some surface breathers like the Betta from now on. My Banjo Catfish did survive, he's a surface breather and did so during the whole 16 hours. I love him so! He's so much fun to watch.



My Daddy's Lentil Soup

My Daddy's Lentil Soup

This is a 24-48 hour recipe in some ways! That is because it tastes best after having simmered for that long or there abouts. What you'll need to make it the best way are the following, though some things can be substituted:

1 onion
(medium, medium pot size, large, larger pot size, etc.)
1/2 to 1 bag of dry lentils
2-3 carrots
cellery tops (leavy parts)
1 Daisy Ham (or Polish Sausage)
1-2 bay leaves
peppercorns
salt to taste
water

A crock pot can be used, or stove top pot.

Fill your pot 1/2 full with water. Soak lentils for 24 hours in the pot. Fry the onion to a golden brown. Slice the carrots and cellery. Place the pepper corns and bay leaf(s) into a tea ball or some other thing that separates them from the main soup. Then boil the water and add all the other ingredients. Bring to a rapid boil for 10 minutes and Simmer 24 hours. Enjoy!

My uncle worked for the UN



"TWO OF MY COUSINS WERE BORN IN AFRICA"
(My uncle worked for the UN)

To see this page and entry your own stories...
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151018787391424&set=a.350753881423.192087.202273991423&type=1

Or your own photo and story:
https://www.facebook.com/art.com?sk=app_95936962634

 I never had the chance to meet them until I was in eighth grade. When I told my social studies teacher they had come home to the USA, she wanted them to come to our class and answer questions. I had to inform her that they lived in NYC, a 3 hour drive from where I went to shcool. She acted like she didn't believe the whole thing then!

My cousins were so into everything that was new to them here, swingsets on the school playground, our dog, the forest behind our house, etc. I really did not get a chance to ask them much.

Over the years I understood that their having been born and raised for many years in a war torn country made it not too much what they wanted to talk about. That country had been torn apart; it was called Nigeria by some and Biafra by others...

I wonder if they ever saw any elephants, I never asked.

I do observe that their birthplace influenced their lives a lot. The older of the two boys joined our army and after many terms of service, is now studying CAD on the Post 911 GI Bill. The younger one plays the drums professionally and obviously heard many a drum in his early childhood.

Africa is still mostly unfamiliar to me. Thankfully, though, my cousins have shared a bit of their memories about it here and there on their Facebook Pages. I'm always impressed!

~

My Daddy the Chef!

Photo complements of
a CHOPHOUSE in
Murphy, NC

( COOKING WITH DADDY AFTER MY SCHOOL DAYS )

My daddy was the chef and connoisseur in our family. He LOVED Italian restaurants and was known to take Sunday afternoon drives two states away to find the "bestest" ones! Mom was a world famous computer programmer, and a pioneer in her field too.  SO daddy was our chef extraordinaire.

Daddy would make steamed clams with me every day after high school. It was my job to watch them and let him know as soon as they slowly opened... then we enjoyed them with real butter, YUM!

He had a PASSION for spaghetti and sausage; he made some mean baked beans and the BEST home-made soups and stews! Everything was done the old fashioned way, no cookbook, a pinch of this, hand full of that, etc.

He had some awesome pots and pans with copper bottoms.

These days I use cast iron pots when I can, or the ones he liked to use with the copper bottoms. I find these in thrift stores. I have built a bit of mean arm muscle with the heavy iron ones too; lifting them is tough!

He didn't use crock pots or a microwave because they had not been invented yet! I use my crock pot quite often, but my microwave seldomly.

Last night I made some popcorn the old fashioned way, no microwave. You have to shake it the whole time you cook and fry it in a bit of oil, or it will stick and burn!

Soups and Stews: 

Daddy would fry the onions to a golden brown (uncovered) before adding them to these. This way we'd be sure the "onion gasses" would not overpower the more gentle flavors of other veggies.

Baked Goods:

He didn't do cakes or cookies, so I did those. I liked the simple ones you drop by the spoon on cookie sheets and bake. I do them that way even today. He liked to get things from the local bakeries best though. And eclairs topped his list (mine too)!!!

We had a huge dining room table that seated maybe 12. Daddy and mommy both enjoyed dinner parties and entertained often. We were not rich; daddy was a plumber. We were just comfortable and that is the kind of life I try to live these days in their honor, God rest their souls.


Photo complements of
a CHOPHOUSE in
Murphy, NC

Living "Outside the Box"

"Mountain Sunrise..."



Sometimes it's so hard to deal with being "way out in the middle of nowhere" (as I've been told so many times that the phrase echos in my sleep and dreams sometimes.) None the less, most days it is pure pleasure to live here. The air is fresh, the birds sing every morning, stores are available that are needed or just even wanted, galleries, rustic furniture, basketry, places to enjoy life and parks too. In fact, this IS a National Forest: The Nantahala! Then there is the Cherokee Reservation...   

So far, the only person who is making plans to visit me is my dear friend Betty from Florida. She's coming for my birthday. I CAN'T WAIT!!!

However, generally and too often, when I ask folks if they'd like to come visit, the answer is "No..." (with enough excuses to blow out six tires on the way here, should they ever finally brave it and actually decide to come).

Well... I'll just live it up in this sweet beauty, lovely natural setting and enjoy my life here. If no one other than Betty wants to share this wonderful gift of God, so be it!

~

Life "Ain't" Always What it Seems

Life "Ain't" Always What it Seems


Sometimes one expects life to be a certain way. Then it proves over and over that things "ain't" the way you want them to be.


Case in point:


One expects help, care, love and actions that prove these things exist from a certain group of folks. Usually, in good fiction books, TV and movies, they come to the rescue.  Instead, another bunch of people (strangers even) steps up to the plate, thank God!


"The Lord Shall Provide!" needs to be my LIFE motto.


Help me to know this and trust in You, my Lord, remembering this EVERY day of my life!


Amen. Thank You, Jesus.
"li'l one" 

To my Beloved



"Delicate littlest ones swimming downstream..."



To my Beloved

Oh! Sacred Spirit
to You I up my thumbs!
As I play my flute
I listen to ancient drums.

Nature calls, birds sing...
reminding me my name is "li'l one."
Everyone has a name
just as You are "The Great One."

Water ever clings to bedrocks
washing the lands clean;
everything is so beautiful
especially all You created in green.

Rainbows of color swim

gracefully downstream

knowing about Your Love

makes their eyes gleam.

Cardinals above, land in trees
settling in... once the day is done;
they always remind me
of Your precious Son.

I pray to You, Oh! Sacred Spirit
For all my dear friends;
I hope they too enjoy Your Love
so sweet which never, ever ends!
li'l one

WHAT WAS YOUR FAV SONG?

What was your fav song?

We'd sit with a root beer for hours and listen to whatever everyone chose to play because we only had enough money for the soda, if that! So we sipped it 

V-E-R-Y  

S-L-O-W-L-Y...

My fav song was "Stairway to Heaven"  by Lead Zep.

I Was Robbed While In The Hospital!

"?"

I was robbed while in the hospital! Want to talk about what it is like to be kicked when you are down? No?? I don't want to talk about it either! However, it did happen and it "ain't" fun! 

I will say it is tough living without a digital camera, computer, my favorite CD music (Deep Forest - with sounds of the rain forest in Brazil and the Native folks there too, calling to one another, drumming and singing) and all sorts of other things...

Believe it or not, that CD is what I miss MOST! There are computers and friends at the local library, I bought an old 35mm Pentax at a thrift store, but the CD? I'm going to need to search for it a lot, I have a feeling... I'll let you all know how the search goes. If I find it, I'll share it with you!

Here goes my search, be back later...

AMAZON has it!

$0.78 cents used!!! ( in very good condition)

(Here's the link below)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0000029IH/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used

THANK YOU, JESUS!

(For making and rescuing my day).

Sunrise or Sunset...

Smokey Mountains (~click here~) Info Link

Sunrise or Sunset

Sunrise or sunset

my favorite times of the day

pleasure awaits

as the day comes or passes away

Love of nature surrounds me

love of friends

the Love of God

it never ends!

His Love is in the little things

best of all

the birds during sunrise

as they sing sweetly and call

Call to their mates

call to me to feed them

call to God saying "thanks"

for the new day is such a gem!

sheilshel

My Guppies Have Been Doing Their Mating Dances!

"Little Ones Hatching!"
(this is a borrowed photo I grabbed from Facebook, I'd give credit if I knew to whom!!!)

My guppies have been doing their springtime mating dances. They are so beautiful as they flitter and flutter round 'n' round in delicate circles. There are 2 fancy tiger tailed males and 3 silky purple black females. I'm going to be a GRANDMA!  Some days I  just feel like dancing too!

I'll be reading in my new blue/ brown, recliner/ rocker chair this afternoon. Then I'll do more pastel drawings this eveing. My environment can sure get into my blood and bones... so it has to be very ME so I stay happy and my art that I create is rewarding and beautiful...

Powder Fresh From The Shower

A Lady needs to start her day in a nice way
chasing the shadows of her nightime dreams away...
those ones that haunted just a tad
maybe remembering and missing her mom and dad.
Daddy and Mommy, I miss you and LOVE you so!
Your "li'l one" sheila

I STARTED MY FRONT DOOR GALLERY

I STARTED MY FRONT DOOR ART GALLERY
Just like we did as children (on the fridge door with our moms' help), I started putting my newest "Not-Yet-Framed-Works -of-Art" on my apartment front door. I won't sign them until they are being framed. This way, if someone has the nerve to steal them, these would not be worth much! But those who love my art can stop by (even if I'm out) and "vote" by giving me a call and saying which one(s) they like best.

THANKS!

sheila

Sometimes you have to let those things AND PEOPLE you love most go... not to mention those whom we've been family with! My hubby, I miss you so, but I know you had to go. Now your pain is all gone. I await our journey in Heaven... until then, my love. I remember all the wonderful times on the boardwalks celebrating each of our Anniversaries together. Walking barefoot in the waves, sharing dinners by the big picture windows of our favorite restaurants, riding the circus rides, ice cream cones...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, ONCE AGAIN, DEAR! (JUNE 16TH 1985 - MID NOV, 2005).

Some days you get brave enough to try for a dream you've had for over a year; today is that day!

Some days you get brave enough to try for a dream you've had for over a year; today is that day!

I walked into a local Real Estate Office and asked about getting a storefront here on Main St. in the town where I live for my very own art gallery! Also as a place to live. This was very brave on my part, but it was time. I've been praying an unspoken prayer about this for a long time now...

As it turns out, there was a lady from Florida who just called that same Real Estate Agent looking for just such an artist yesterday!

GOD IS AT WORK...

SELF PORTRAITS

These are every artist's duty, to help folks 
understand the arts and artists in general! 
They communicate things about us that maybe we 
just cannot put into words, but that maybe 
need to be known or understood.



"I Wonder What They Think Of Me Now That I Spoke My Mind..."




"Ah! Well... It's Okay Whatever They Think!"
(Sometimes ya just gotta speak your mind...)




"I Know You Love me anyway,  my Lord,  no matter what!"
(So thanks.)


In the next few days, I plan to do some 
remembrances of childhood self portraits. 
Then we were unaware that was what these were 
called! We just drew pictures and used 
whatever color(s) of finger  paint or crayon 
expressed our mood of the moment!