Wednesday, September 30, 2020

TAD with Rain My favorite Ghouls and Goblins PPF

Hi Everyone!
 

I am excited for TAD with Rain. Her theme is Goblins and Ghouls. 
Ya know my world. LOL
Did you know?
Ghoul, is Arabic ghūl, in popular legend, demonic being believed to inhabit burial grounds and other deserted places. In ancient Arabic folklore, ghūls belonged to a diabolic class of jinn (spirits) and were said to be the offspring of Iblīs, the prince of darkness in Islam
Considered female by the ancients, the ghūl was often confused with the sílā, also female; the sílā, however, was a witch like species of jinn, immutable in shape. A ghūl stalked the desert, often in the guise of an attractive woman, trying to distract travelers, and, when successful, killed and ate them. The sole defense that one had against a ghūl was to strike it dead in one blow; a second blow would only bring it back to life again.
 
Gobblins in the other hand,
 originated in the 14th century and are most prevalent in northwestern Europe, Scandinavia, the British Isles, and the United States. The name “Goblin” is said to derive from the Old French spelling “gobelin 
 Goblins were a race of small and numerous goblinoids common throughout Toril, often living in underground caverns near the surface known as lairs. The race was often, though not always, dominated by other goblinoids, most commonly hobgoblins.
 
Don't know if this is a goblin or a ghoul or maybe a bit of both.
 Possibly bitten by a vampire. (giggle)
 
There is a movie called "Insidious" 
It's one movie that the monster really scares me. 
It is a thrilling feeling to be scared from a movie.
Anyway, the face is this creature is somewhat like this.
 
Did you know? 
According to Brownlowe, there's a good reason why people like watching a horror movie. "The experience of your brain calming itself down after watching a scary movie is actually neuro-chemically very pleasurable," she says. "That's because the dopamine release related to the 'rest-and-digest' brain response causes an increased sense of well-being
 Geesss I should have the most well-being brain on earth. 
I watch at least one scary movie everyday.  
What can I say I am a FREAK!!! LOL
 
Here is the creature from the movie "Insidious."

Come by Rain's blog to see what all the other's have created.
Have a great day and watch a scary movie today.

Nicole/DVArtist
Honor and integrity in art, in life. 
beadwright.com

Debate Disgrace

Hi Everyone!
 
As you know I try to keep my blog for art, garden, food and happy things. However, I did mention that I would take a look at the US presidential debate and I did watch the entire mess.  I am naming it, "Debate Disgrace."  I am also NOT having an argument here. These are my opinions, and for now, I still have the right to them.  If you don't agree with me just move on to the next blog and don't leave a mean or nasty comment.
 
There is a man in the white house that has told us exactly what he will do since 2013. He wants to be (is) a dictator. This doesn't happen overnight but dt is so blatant about it that only the blind of mind won't see it.  Last night he showed us exactly who he is and what he is going to do. He is a bully, so stupid that only shouting and talking over others is his way to distract. He can only belittle, hurt and talk badly about anyone who isn't loyal to him. However, with that, he belittles, hurts and talks badly about those who are loyal to him. His only loyalty is to himself.  He will NOT accept the election, he WILL call upon his blind loyal troops to make war in the streets, he WILL not take care of America or the American people. He has NO plan except to fill his pockets with illegitimate money, help Russia, and destroy America even more than he has. dt is a hater, a racist, thinks we are disgusting, and will do anything to get what he wants. 
 
Do you think dt NOT doing the right thing with Covid is an accident? He is purging our country with out the gas chambers. Think about who Covid hits hardest, the elderly, people of color, people with underlying health conditions.  
 
If you don't think we are about to lose are rights, you better do some research. Especially women's rights. I am heart broke that for 100 years the fight we have put up may disappear in a stroke of the pen.  

He wants the west cost to get out and rake the forest to stop the fires. He thinks climate change is in his words a "hoax" 

He has NOT brought in more industry.

He is NEVER at fault. It is always the fault of someone else.
 
He distracts, lies, cheats, and calls that smart.
 
I have a friend who paid $4,000.00 in income taxes this year. I asked her if she is pissed of about dt not paying and then only paying $750.00. She actually defended him. 
I am at a loss at what people see in him. Why it is ok for him to do what he does and some 
people just think it's OK?

There is a lot more I can say but I wanted to stay with the Debate Disgrace.

I am not angry, I am so entirely sadden that there seems to be nothing congress or any other entity can do to get rid of him. His republican senate followers are just as bad. While we still can EVERYONE needs to vote on every level. Senators that help dt need to be voted out, dt needs to be voted out and then do what ever we can, what ever we need to do to get him out.  

Will I watch another so called debate,  because in all the chaos, the shouting, the taking over and the bullying dt tells us his next step. 



 
Nicole/DVArtist 
Honor and integrity in art, in life. 
beadwright.com

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

T Stands for Art Room Door

 Hi Everyone!

I hope all of you are well and being as safe as you can. Yesterday I had to go out in the afternoon. OMG!!!! My town is STILL full of tourists and a lot of people just think Covid is over orrrr something. When I returned home I threw away the gloves and mask and sterilized my face shield. Then got into a hot shower and washed the outside off of me. I know, you may think I take it too far but I CANNOT get sick. 
 
Before I get started on this post I would very much like to know if any of you are going to watch the US presidential debate tonight? I am going to start but if it gets nasty, I will shut it off.
I am watching a very good series on Prime called "Utopia" and I will turn that on instead.
 
Come by to see what the T-gang are up too.
Even though I am not supposed to drink coffee it just sounded good 
this morning. I like it black and very hot.
 
 
I received a comment about my cabochons being seasonal. I had to laugh because for me, the scary, the haunting, the macabre is year round. It has been this way since I was a kid. My dad and I use to stay up late and watch scary movies. Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff and Lon Chaney were the best scary actors. This has carried on through my entire life.
Here is the entrance to my art room.
Note the outside of my house is a bit Victorian.
However, the inside is very modern with high ceiling, sharp lines, corners and alcoves. 
When people use to visit the first thing they would say is, "Your house is like an art gallery."
I suppose it is but I love it.
 

 


 


 


 


 


 



 


 

 


 



The last 4 photos are random skull art. The top 2 are wreaths 
 and the last two are pyrography art on leather. 

What has stayed with you from childhood? 
Have a wonderful Tuesday.
 
Nicole/DVArtist
Honor and integrity in art, in life. 
beadwright.com

Monday, September 28, 2020

Monday Morning

Hi Everyone!
 
Monday morning and the start of a new week. Actually, my days just run into each other and before I know it another week has flown by.  For the next 2 days we are going to have 88° I love hot sunshine and will take full advantage of it. I say hot sunshine because we have many days of sunshine but it is cold with the pacific winds. As you know this is the time of year that I make cabs, (cabochons) I am still in the mix of it. I have most of the digitals finished and now have to start on the hand painted cabs. 


I am watching the news for the first time in a week. Holy Crow! I am turning it off. 
It's time to take cabs out of the kiln anyway.
I am wishing the very best day for all who 
come my way.
Be Safe out there.

 
Nicole/DVArtisth
Honor and integrity in art, 
in life. beadwright.com

Saturday, September 26, 2020

Still harvesting and a happy surprise.

Hi Everyone!
 
Boy this week has been out of control busy. I need to slow down  or something. The weather for the last 2 days have been rain, wind, rain, wind and rain and wind. Today it has calmed down. We had to drive into Eugene yesterday for a check up on my eye. The surgery on my right eye went without a hitch. The surgery on my left eye didn't. There is a film behind the lens that will have to be laser out. REALLY???? It's like looking through wax paper. I truly need a break here with the eye thing. Oh well nothing I can do about it.
The sun is out today thank goodness, my garden is drenched but with that came a happy surprise.
OMG I have eggplant!! I am so happy and yes I am dancing around the house over it.
 

 There is such a difference in the rain watering plants verses watering from a hose. Rain is so much better. LOL  My herbs double in size again and everything is big and green and blooming. This is my haul for today.
lettuce, onions, squash, beans, tomatoes and herbs.

This squash was hiding under huge leaves.
It is just over 7" long and will be part of dinner tonight.
 
Lettuce it is so tender and good.
 
and another big harvest of herbs. I am blessed.

Yesterday when we got home we made sandwiches for dinner, I cleaned up and then had to take a nap. I NEVER take naps, but I must have needed it because I slept from 3PM until 7PM got a drink of water went back to bed and slept until 5AM.
 Uhhhh yeah don't know what that was all about. 
I do feel rested though. LOL
Enjoy your day!

Nicole/DVArtist
Honor and integrity in art, in life. 
beadwright.com

Thursday, September 24, 2020

TAD with Rain Crops and Farming

Hi Everyone!

I am running so late with this post. My days truly fly by. Today is Thursday Art Date with Rain
Her theme this week is Crops and Farming. Wellllll.... if you stop by my blog you know
I grew my first garden this year. I think that falls under crops and you 
can go to older posts to see the grand harvest I got. 
However, I want to talk about cotton today. I am drawn to raw cotton. 
I have some in my house. 

 


 


This is a little corner in my house.
Did you know? Some historians believe Catherine Greene devised the cotton gin and Eli Whitney merely built it and applied for the patent, since at that time women were not allowed to file for patents. Others believe the idea was Whitney's but Greene played an important role as both designer and financier.

When I was little I would take my brothers and sister out back of my Nan's house to play in the cotton fields. This was Mesa, AZ. They have been gone a long time now.
Mulford Windsor Ranch
Mesa, AZ.
 
The contrasts



I have a friend in SC. that her grandpa still works in the 
oldest running cotton mill.
Many old mills, not just cotton, have been turned into beautiful inside malls
with unique shops and eateries. 
Why did cotton disappear?
 
During the war, cotton could no longer be exported to the foreign markets and those countries, particularly Japan, set up their own factories. ... The demand for British cotton slumped and mill owners put cotton workers on short time, or closed the mills altogether.
So why do I like cotton. There is something magical about running through a row of growing cotton. Even if you do get scratched by the thorns. It feels like a what I would think a cloud feels like and the raw cotton brings luck and prosperity. So what's not to like
 
There is a long, rich and sad history to cotton and if you are interested just type in 
the history of cotton to find many excellent sites on it.
 
Enjoy your day
 
PS. New blogger again has changed my text and photo placement.
 
Nicole/DVArtist 
Honor and integrity in art, in life. 
beadwright.com

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Hi Everyone!
 
I can't believe how busy I am and at the end of the day I feel like I don't get anything done. This is not like me at all. I am very organized and finish things I start. However, that's not happening the last few days. Must be the change in the weather, LOL
Yesterday I took more squash, onions, celery, cucumbers and dill from the garden and canned this. I wish I had thought of this before I froze 15lbs of squash. siigghhh.
Next year I will do things differently.
All of these tomatoes will be made into a relish and also canned. It is a happy place for me. 
What makes you happy?
 
Now I am off to get something done. 
Ha ha ha
 Be safe out there and have a great day

Nicole/DVArtist
Honor and integrity in art, in life. 
beadwright.com

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

T stands for Tuesday First day of Fall

Hi Everyone!
 
Happy Fall day to you. Feeling better than yesterday. I made sure I did things to make me happy and I stayed off line except to watch art and canning youtubes. LOL 
Today I am linking up with Bluebeard and Elizabeth for T Tuesday. 
My drink for today is a DEEEElicious smoothie.  
This one is made with frozen banana, apple, strawberries, and red seedless grapes. I am telling you this is better than sex. Wellll, maybe not but it sure is good. LOL
 

Also this AM. I made some cinnamon bread. One of the nice memories I have as a child is my mom splurging on store bought cinnamon bread. She would make hot coco and toast up the bread for us. BTW there were 6 of us so this was a real treat. I found a recipe yesterday to make this bread. It is easy and OHHH so good.

You will need;
2 packages active dry yeast
1/3 C warm water
1 C warm milk 2%
1 C sugar divided
2 large eggs room temp
6 T butter softened
1 1/2 t salt
5 1/2 to 6 C flour
2 T ground cinnamon.

In a large bowl dissolve warm water. Add milk, 1/2 C sugar, eggs, butter, salt and 3C flour. Beat on medium speed until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. 
Turn dough into a floured surface: knead until smooth and elastic, about 6 to 8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl turning once to grease the top. Cover; let rise in a warm place until doubled. 
About 1 hour.
Mix cinnamon and remaining sugar.  Punch down dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface: divide in half. Roll each portion into an 18x8: rectangle. Sprinkle each with about 1/4 C cinnamon sugar to within 1/2 in. of edges. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with the short side. Pinch seam to seal. Place in 2 greased loaf  pans seam side down. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled about 1 1/2 hours. Preheat oven to 350° F. Bake until golden brown 30 to 35 minutes. Remove and set on rack to cool.
Of course cut the end piece right away and smother with butter. Yummmm.

Until Covid and being stuck inside, I had not eaten any bread for close to 4 years. Now, I can't seem to get enough of it. Not good for the hips and thighs. LOL

Enjoy your day

 
Nicole/DVArtist
Honor and integrity in art, in life. 
beadwright.com

Monday, September 21, 2020

Good Monday Morning

Hi Everyone!
 
It's Monday, tomorrow starts the first day of fall. It arrived wayyyy too fast for me. 2020 has been a hell year and will go down in history as such. I write this post with heavy heart. I try not to get political on my blog but the circumstances in the US are beyond dire. The passing of a true hero RBG, has given the "thing" in the white house another check in his "win" book of horrors. It is truly a time to stand up and stand for our democracy. 
Time to change the subject.
As for my personal history, I feel like I accomplished as much as I could with the circumstances that surround not only me but all of us. Yesterday, it was time to clean out some of the garden. The ash filled toxic air last week did take it's toll on some of my veggie plants.
 I am just thankful they were at the end of their growing cycle,
 although a few pepper plants didn't make it.
I will begin winter sowing next month and get a real start on next years garden. 
I belong to a few garden groups on FB and a question was posed on one of them,
"What did you learn this year from gardening"
Well for me it is EVERYTHING, however, I answered that question with
"Even though my little garden produced a lot of food the one thing I learned is
to grow more." 
This is what is left and I hope they do well over the next month.

The front pots with herbs will go into the house. They have produces so much for me this year.
Look at that beautiful dill. The very back plants are beans that are still producing.

This plant was marked as a watermelon seed.
Uhhh it is a big health tomato plant with loads of toms on it.
 
I removed 6 plants from the space yesterday. The squash just keeps on giving.

This was filled with buckets and containers of food now just 6 are left. Of course squash and beans, Brussels  sprouts and I moved a pepper plant over there.

These are 3 kinds of peppers. They are not doing well from the toxic air we had from the fires. I am babying them along. Next year peppers and tomatoes will go into a green house. It is too cold on the OR. coast for them. Anyway in my yard. 

You can grow food in the smallest of areas in containers. My grandson has a small 4x4' space and grew carrots, peppers, tomatoes, and potatoes all in containers. He also says next yearr he will grow more. You can do it too.

Have a very nice Monday.
 
Nicole/DVArtist
Honor and integrity in art, in life.
 beadwrigh.com