What's Your BMI (Body Mass Index)?

Here's an easy chart from RealAge to calculate your Body Mass Index. Anything over 30% body fat can lead to a host of health issues. All you need to know is your height, weight and waist size. I think it's good to know if weight loss should be considered an issue.

A White (Day After) Christmas

It's the day after Christmas and we're receiving our first big snowstorm of the season here on the East coast. It's a good opportunity to just relax, recharge and and stay warm inside. I've been going through my reading list here on Blogger and perusing some of my friends' holiday posts. Wow, I am so lucky to have found such a productive and creative bunch to follow! It's especially nice to see what others have written and to feel that holiday connection. There are so many words and images to inspire and sooth my spirit here. Meanwhile, the wind whirls big drifts of the white stuff all around the house. I watch the clock, keep an eye on the build up and wonder how much shoveling I'll have to do to get back to the barn for the dinner time and nightly feedings. Looks like I'd better sign off soon while there's still some daylight and go find my knee high winter boots! For those of you experiencing wintery weather, enjoy it. For those of you with warmer weather, appreciate it!

"To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring." ~ George Santayana

"The snow doesn't give a soft white damn whom it touches." ~ e.e. cummings

"A snowflake is one of God's most fragile creations, but just look what they can do when they stick together!" ~ Author Unknown

"Don't knock the weather; nine-tenths of the people couldn't start a conversation if it didn't change once in a while." ~ Kin Hubbard

Holiday Happiness

"HAPPY HOLIDAYS!" IS THE MOST COMMON GREETING OF THE SEASON.

So, what is happiness and how do we get it?

Abraham Lincoln said that people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. It is a simple statement that yields a wealth of truth. Situations constantly change. The way we deal with physical pain, fear, frustration, stress, loneliness and other negative situations, directly determines our state of mind and ultimately our own degree of happiness. Someone once told me; "It's not so much what happens to you, as how you react to what happens to you, that determines your happiness in life".

"We create our own happiness." ~ Walt Disney

"It takes wit, interest and energy to be happy. The pursuit of happiness is a great activity. One must be open and alive. It is the greatest feat man has to accomplish, and spirits must flow." ~ Robert Henri

Reposted from my 1/12/09 Spirit Art Letter.

Easy Mock EggNog

I just made myself an easy holiday drink and thought I would share my recipe with you here today.

1) ripe banana
1-2) scoops vanilla ice cream
1-2) cups milk

Mix in blender

Garnish with nutmeg

I know it sounds crazy, but I think it is amazing how yummy it tastes and how much it resembles EggNog! Give it a try and let me know what you think!


See all my snowman illustrations available for royalty free licensing from iStock here.

First Snow

See more snow quotes at "The Quote Garden".

Remember To Be Kind

The Holiday Season is upon us and one of the important things to remember is to be kind. The gift of kindness can be as simple as a smile or a compliment.  This quote by Robert Brault , has really stuck in mind ever since I read it. He said; "Today I bent the truth to be kind, and I have no regret, for I am far surer of what is kind than I am of what is true."

"A kind word is like a Spring day."  ~Russian Proverb "Don't be yourself - be someone a little nicer."  ~Mignon McLaughlin Excerpted here from my '09 Spirit Art Letters.

The Basic Ingredients of Time & Love

See my snowman images available from iStock here.

Happy Thanksgiving!

This time of year reminds us all that we have so much to be grateful for. Deep and sincere gratitude is something I don't think, feel or voice as often as I should. Giving thanks throughout the day is a wonderful way to live. Please join me this week in a more conscious attitude of gratitude!

Some quotations on Gratitude:

"Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others. " ~ Cicero

"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice. " ~ Meister Eckhart

"You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing and grace before I dip the pen in the ink. " ~ G.K. Chesterton

This text from my November 19th 2007 Spirit Art Letter.

Many Blessings

See more of my seasonal images available for licensing here.

Giving Thanks

See more fall images here.

Action Packed Halloween 2010

From October 24th to October 31st my parents and sister Gaile, visited my other sister, Denise and I and our families here in NJ. Living in "the hell hole" as Gaile calls it, they all really miss the change of seasons and especially the fall foliage. You couldn't have hit it at a better time than last week! The color here was peek. I don't believe New England could be any prettier. The temperatures were mild and for the most part, very pleasant. We all had an action packed week which included pumpkin picking and carving . . .


bonfire, family gatherings with great food, picnic lunches, walks in the woods and always great dinners. And as an 80th / 78th birthday gift from us daughters to our parents, an all expense paid, overnight trip to Cape May New Jersey. The trip included more great meals, front row seats to a hilarious play, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), at the Cape May Stage, (where my dad and mom even got picked to participate in the show), a little bird watching and a great private tour through the Cape May County Museum. The next night, an 80th and 78th birthday PIRATE PARTY was fun for all.


After my parent's departure in their motor home, we sisters spent the last day at Grounds For Sculpture,


followed by a trip to Borgota for dinner and some gambling fun. One last picnic lunch on Sunday and it was over until the next time we meet up again. I've put a little slide show together with some of my point and shoot snapshots if you'd like to see more here.

Horse Treats!

I got a cool email from my Stud Muffin supplier today! They just changed their name to: HorseTreats.com and have a new and expanded website that I was very impressed with. You horse lovers out there ought to check it out! I'm thinking of putting a few items from their site on my holiday list. Here's the link and their fresh new logo.


I'm really into horse treats these days! I've been busy the past few months shooting and adding horse stuff to my iStock portfolio. This is one of my royalty free stock images available for licensing.

I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up

OMG! I just stopped by and can't believe it's been over two and a half months since I posted anything here. Or anywhere much, for that matter. Except for my daily DrawingEveryday summertime blog, over as of Sept. 1st, and my InspirationEveryday blog, which I conked out on a month ago. What happened? For the last month and a half I literally had dropped off the face of the interenet. I'd seen this happen to others too. One day they were blogging and posting regulars and the next, vanished into the thin air of cyberspace. Well, things got complicated in my life and priorities change. I'll be telling more about my ordeal on my SketchingEveryday blog soon. I still have the very last post of the season to add to my 2010 series. Well, it feels like I might be slowly making my way back, folks. I'll see how I feel about it tomorrow and in the days to come. Wishing you all well, peps. I've missed seeing you online.

I Got "Lens Of The Day" Today! YAY!

"Every day (or nearly that) Squidoo's Community & Charity Organizer, Kimberly Dawn Wells, highlights a lens that stands out from the crowd, a lens that is unique in topic, approach, personality, tools or timing. Or, you know, just a lens that made her day." ~ Lens Of The Day

Today Kimberly wrote in my guestbook; "Congratulations on your LOTD! Thanks for teaching us how to make such great art with such simple directions."

WOW! SketchingEveryday is my top rated lens and this really made my day. My Summer Sketching Series is now in full swing . . . and I am truly thrilled to see that my Six Steps To Sensational Sketches got "Lens of the Day"! Thanks Kimberly!

Rating Hummingbird Feeders From My Reject Pile

Avoid These Mistakes!

Here is a snapshot of some of my Hummingbird Feeder mistakes, discards and disasters. I'm sharing them with you, so you don't make the same errors! :-D



Going from left to right (clockwise) . . .
Bottom Left:
A. Perky-Pet Brand Hummingbird Feeder - I'm not sure where this came from or when. Pros: Made in USA, Cons: The picture on the box shows the dreaded red-dyed hummingbird nectar which the company still sells! It is common knowledge that at best the dye is totally unnecessary and it may even be harmful to the birds. This feeder would be a nightmare to clean for various reasons. You don't even want to get me started! To tell you the truth, I can't ever remember even opening the box before. And from my experience with flocks of hummers, they prefer the saucer feeders.Top Left:
B. No-Name Arty Hummingbird Feeder -Pros: A gift. Unique. Cons: Made in China. Hard to clean, too many parts, not my type. (Probably goes for 70% of all pretty feeders too.)Top:
C. Best One - Giant Hummingbird Feeder - Pros: Made in USA. A half gallon capacity and eight ports! (See bottom in center of basket.)Woo Hoo! Could last me more than 24 hrs. in an emergency situation. (ie: I couldn't be home to monitor the nectar situation 24/7.) Cons: Hard to clean and fill. Very Heavy when full. Top loop broke off from weight and hubby patched it. Plastic has discolored. Too ugly to put back up. I still have good feelings for this object though and will keep it on hand for back-up.Top Right:
D. The Droll Yankee Window Feeder - Pros: Made in USA, Very cute, Really Close-up Viewing, Fun, time consuming project. Cons: Doesn't hold much nectar. Messy sticky windows from hummingbird poo. Many little parts. Time consuming project.Far Right:
E. Perky-Pet Brand - Oasis Feeder - Pros: Made in USA, Hummingbirds love these feeders! I used them for years and just retired my last few. I have phased them out for several reasons. Cons: The company stills sells red nectar. The little yellow flowers are unnecessary and create a lot more work in the maintenance department. They fall off and get brittle and are a bitch to clean. (Please pardon my French.) Loop on top of hanger is smaller, making connector "S" hooks necessary when attaching to a shepherd's hook.Bottom Right:
F. Aspects Oriole Feeder - Pros: Made in USA, Quality product, Easy to clean. Nectar recipe on bottom of lid. Cons: I can't seem to attract Orioles. They pass through occasionally, but quickly move on. Only four ports. Not optimal for hummingbirds, but would do in a pinch.

Gee. Not Pictured (All in use.):
HummZinger - Aspects - Pros: Many! Cons: Few! - I now almost exclusively use Aspects HummZingers. I have many of their various sizes and models and love them for many reasons. See yesterday's post's photo of a 16 oz. HummZinger. There is too much information to go into today, but I promise to tell you more about them, list their features and rave about the benefits of owning these in a variety of sizes in an upcoming post! Until then, Happy Humming!

See 5 Steps to Happy Hummingbirds here.

I'VE GOT FLOCKS OF HUMMINGBIRDS!

I had to take my Macbook Pro to the hospital today. Seems the (old ticker) battery isn't what it used to be. After the Mac Doctor ran some diagnostic tests, my fears were confirmed. A replacement is on order. Until it comes in, I'm tethered to the wall. A hard thing to get used to after 2.5 years of continuous roaming around The Sandarosa while online.

Anyway at the Mac hospital I got talking to a couple of the technicians about two of my favorite subjects, HUMMINGBIRDS and photography. I had to search my sites for the information I wanted to show them, but found it on one of my newest Squidoo Lenses, An Obsession With Hummingbirds. Here you'll find a link to a photographer who specializes in photographing the incredible creatures and even gives in-detail, expert advise on how to do it!! Be sure to check out his wonderful hummingbird gallery too!! I'd mention him by name, however it doesn't seem to be on the site. It's just DyessCreek.com.

Is Your Left or Right Brain Dominant?

WHICH WAY DOES SHE SPIN?

Watch this video and see if the dancer moves clockwise or counter clockwise. If she moves clockwise, you're probably more right brain dominated. You often function using your NON VERBAL, intuitive, creative side. If you see her move counter clockwise, you are in the majority and are more of a left brain dominated, VERBAL, analytical individual.

ACCORDING TO BETTY EDWARDS, AUTHOR OF DRAWING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BRAIN, "The right brain perceives and processes visual information, in the way one needs to see in order to draw, and the left brain perceives in ways that seem to interfere with drawing."
"An individual's ability to draw is... the ability to shift to a different-from-ordinary way of processing visual information - to shift from verbal, analytic processing to spatial, global processing." ~ Betty Edwards

I just got my new, revised, expanded and updated copy of Betty Edwards' wonderful classic, "Drawing On The Right Side Of The Brain"! Betty says learning to draw is like learning to drive or ride a bike. Once it's learned, we don't have to think about it. I decided to go through the book and do the whole class again. (It has been a while.) Follow along with me this summer as I go through Betty's course and sketch everyday.

Robert Henri's Art Spirit

The Art Spirit
inspires my art and life

Robert Henri's book, The Art Spirit, is a collection of notes, articles, fragments of letters and lectures to students. The book was complied after his death by former student, Margery Ryerson. Henri's highly inspirational material taps into the core of artistic expression and picture making. Learn more about Robert Henri (pronounced hen-rye) on my new page here.

Three Cats In The Yard

I decided that the pictures I posted of Jerry's tomato plants didn't really do them justice and show their size, so today I'm including these two shots.




When I was shooting the plants, the cats came out and wanted their picture taken too. This is Leah. Short for Ugly-a. She's a feral feline that we had fixed and take care of. At first I thought she was ugly, but now I see her beauty.

"A cat improves the garden wall in sunshine, and the hearth in foul weather." ~ Judith Merkle Riley


And Ziggy (our orange house cat, Tigger's brother). He's also a feral we had neutered. He's nothing like his laid back brother. He's afraid of us and like Leah, always stays a safe distance away. He and Leah are real pals and are almost always together.

"The cat has too much spirit to have no heart." ~ Ernest Manual

"Women, poets, and especially artists, like cats; delicate natures only can realize their sensitive nervous systems." ~ Helen M. Winslow

And last but not least, this is Princess. She is my studio cat, waiting at the studio door to be let in. She was here first and thinks all the others should definitely go!

"I had been told that the training procedure with cats was difficult. It's not. Mine had me trained in two days." ~ Bill Dana

Deer Trouble and Jerry's Giant Tomato Plants

We've had to put our hanging plants up on the side deck because we've got a juvenile delinquent problem. A brazen, ravenous, young doe started eating my flowers! I gave up years ago trying to have flower beds out here, but have gotten away with hanging baskets right up next to the back of our house. The deer have always stayed away . . . 'til now. We bought some spray, but I'm thinking it's easier just to move them around everyday. I scared the curious culprit away in the middle of the day yesterday! Any suggestions (besides hunting of course) will be considered. Here are a few shots taken early this morning with my little Cannon Power Shot.


Before I got off on that tangent, I wanted to show you these hu-mung-ous tomato plants that Jerry picked up! I've never seen a potted tomato plant get so huge. I hope the little deer doesn't decide to go up on the deck and give them a nibble.