Cute cloudy puffs yesterday. This morning...totally clouded over like one giant pale gray blanket.
Okay...the APR (Artist's Play Room) challenge this week is "magnify". I tried to take a macro picture of my fern but the camera didn't seem to know what to focus on. When I tried to go in closer it wouldn't focus at all for some reason. It's not a fancy camera to most people (Power Shot SD700IS), but it's plenty complicated enough for me--LOL!
I was looking around for something else to try...and I thought, for the fun of it, I'd annoy Miss Karma. She may have found the camera in her face a bit befuddling, but I had much better luck and got me a good Karma eye...shooting the picture with my left hand and waving my right hand to give her something to look at so she'd quit moving, blinking, and smelling the camera. So I can enter!! On time!! :)
This month I am making an Amazon order. I'm ordering the "Doodles Unleashed" book, of course, for the class. :) I'm also ordering a roll of wide outdoor velcro for the porch screen. I am so sick of the moths I can't tell you...especially since one landed in my hair one night. It's a good thing I live up north where the cold kills off a lot of the bugs because I am definitely not a fan of sharing my home with them, I guess. Never have been.
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I got permission from the person in the office back when I moved in here (although I don't think a single person is still here from seven years ago) to put up this makeshift screen on the balcony. I bought three cheap mesh screens that you can hang in a doorway to help keep bugs out--can't remember what catalog I got them from. I sewed them together (hey! I did use my machine seven years ago--LOL!) to make one large screen. It was way too long, so I cut it down and tried to hem it (not an easy task with raw wiggly mesh). Leah picked up some 2 inch wide outdoor velcro for me and we got the screen up. But the roll (or was it two?) wasn't enough to go all the way across the bottom, too. So we just patched with what we had left.
That is where the crawly bugs can get in. They can climb down those gaps between the patches of velcro on the bottom and get into the porch. Since I have a piece of outdoor carpeting on the floor so they can't get up between the floorboards...that's an awful lot of moths crawling down my screen. Never have had more than a very few assorted bugs in a whole summer before this year.
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The velcro goes up both sides...
...and across the top.
Now I want it all the way across the bottom also to keep the bugs O--U--T! I don't even like to go sit on the porch anymore. Every time I uncover my chair a moth or two flies out. I am finding moth bodies everywhere, of course, also.
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Now normally all summer I have both the screen door and the porch door propped wide open. Karma waits for this huge addition to her world with great anticipation. I am also glad to not have to jump up and let her in or out when it's too cold to have the door left open--LOL!
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Well, due to the moth influx, the screen door is shut...all the time...but the door is open. Karma thinks I have closed the screen door on her out of spite or that I've lost my marbles or something. She begs to go out...especially at night, of course, because there are moths fluttering about out there. She's afraid to catch them because they are too big and powdery, but she loves to watch them. And, if she's lucky, get in a pat or two--or bat a dying one around on the floor. What's better than that? And yet, if I crack the door open to let her out after dark...never fails! A darn moth sneaks in here. There are a couple of them in here right now I never could find and hope have peacefully passed away...so they don't land in my hair while I am watching TV tonight--awk!
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This has led to a nightly standoff between Karma and I. We have a "failure to communicate".
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OMG! You can find anything online, I swear!
I found the quote from Cool Hand Luke!!
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Now normally all summer I have both the screen door and the porch door propped wide open. Karma waits for this huge addition to her world with great anticipation. I am also glad to not have to jump up and let her in or out when it's too cold to have the door left open--LOL!
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Well, due to the moth influx, the screen door is shut...all the time...but the door is open. Karma thinks I have closed the screen door on her out of spite or that I've lost my marbles or something. She begs to go out...especially at night, of course, because there are moths fluttering about out there. She's afraid to catch them because they are too big and powdery, but she loves to watch them. And, if she's lucky, get in a pat or two--or bat a dying one around on the floor. What's better than that? And yet, if I crack the door open to let her out after dark...never fails! A darn moth sneaks in here. There are a couple of them in here right now I never could find and hope have peacefully passed away...so they don't land in my hair while I am watching TV tonight--awk!
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This has led to a nightly standoff between Karma and I. We have a "failure to communicate".
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OMG! You can find anything online, I swear!
I found the quote from Cool Hand Luke!!
Ahhh! Paul Newman. What a hunk! He still is!
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I digress.
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When the velcro roll gets here I'll let Dagan and Leah know and we can get the bottom of the screen sealed off for good and all. Maybe they can help me search out any moths that are left alive on the porch, too--LOL! I will be bug free!
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Can you see me trying to live down south or in the tropics??!! No way!
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I'm also ordering some Devil's Claw. I read that this herb can help with the aches and pains of arthritis. Since the melatonin has apparently worked a miracle for me (knock on wood), I thought I'd try me some Devil's Claw and hope for the best.
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Got a few small stamping goodies, too. ;)
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Went to heat up some coffee in the microwave this morning and what a loud noise! But the turntable was moving and everything looked okay--just was really noisy all of a sudden. Worked fine last night? I walked away, but in less than a minute the smell of burning plastic wafted in from the kitchen--AWK! I quick ran and shut it off.
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So--called the office this morning after they opened and she thought they might be able to look at it this afternoon. Funny how you realize how much you use the microwave when you have to live without one. I make up my own frozen TV dinners...and can't put those plastic containers in the oven. I am used to making coffee, unplugging it, and then heating up a cup as I go. I had to dig out the big thermos--LOL! Was funny to heat coffee in a pan on the stove. ;) I hope it gets fixed or replaced pretty soon.
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I'm waiting for instructions from Traci Bautista about the class and/or how to register without paying. If I don't hear in the next day or two I'll email her.
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Supposed to be 70 with thunderstorms this afternoon. I spent the last couple days catching up online and am almost caught up. Some days this laptop and I are attached at the hip--LOL! Well, I'll leave you with an interesting quote. I can't explain precisely what it means, but it touches me. :):)
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"When we come upon beautiful things...they act like small tears on the surface of the world that pull us through to some vaster space."
Elaine Scarry
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I digress.
****
When the velcro roll gets here I'll let Dagan and Leah know and we can get the bottom of the screen sealed off for good and all. Maybe they can help me search out any moths that are left alive on the porch, too--LOL! I will be bug free!
****
Can you see me trying to live down south or in the tropics??!! No way!
****
I'm also ordering some Devil's Claw. I read that this herb can help with the aches and pains of arthritis. Since the melatonin has apparently worked a miracle for me (knock on wood), I thought I'd try me some Devil's Claw and hope for the best.
****
Got a few small stamping goodies, too. ;)
****
Went to heat up some coffee in the microwave this morning and what a loud noise! But the turntable was moving and everything looked okay--just was really noisy all of a sudden. Worked fine last night? I walked away, but in less than a minute the smell of burning plastic wafted in from the kitchen--AWK! I quick ran and shut it off.
****
So--called the office this morning after they opened and she thought they might be able to look at it this afternoon. Funny how you realize how much you use the microwave when you have to live without one. I make up my own frozen TV dinners...and can't put those plastic containers in the oven. I am used to making coffee, unplugging it, and then heating up a cup as I go. I had to dig out the big thermos--LOL! Was funny to heat coffee in a pan on the stove. ;) I hope it gets fixed or replaced pretty soon.
****
I'm waiting for instructions from Traci Bautista about the class and/or how to register without paying. If I don't hear in the next day or two I'll email her.
****
Supposed to be 70 with thunderstorms this afternoon. I spent the last couple days catching up online and am almost caught up. Some days this laptop and I are attached at the hip--LOL! Well, I'll leave you with an interesting quote. I can't explain precisely what it means, but it touches me. :):)
****
"When we come upon beautiful things...they act like small tears on the surface of the world that pull us through to some vaster space."
Elaine Scarry
26 comments:
Great picture of Karma's eye. Oh she must be so frustrated not being able to get out. But I would also find it annoying to let bugs in Moths don't give me the creeps like they do to some people, but I am very susceptible to mosquito bites and that would be the aspect I couldnt stand.
Yes, it's a nice quote, a bit oblique but that's what makes it seem poetic.
I remember falling into my cats' stare because their eyes are so round and clear and you could see every zigzag on the colored surface beneath. It was always so mesmerizing. I think the velcro for the screen is a terrific idea. I had velcro on my desk drawers to keep them shut, because they kept popping open by themselves. Now velcro doesn't work anymore and we're trying out a good strip of magnet.
Love that photo of Karma's eye...I wish I could get mine to stay still!
I usually leave my porch window open for the to come in and out as they please, but they do tend to bring in a lot of snails! Now moths and spiders I can deal with, but it's a definite NO with snails.
That's a good idea about the mesh, and keeping it up with velcro. I hope it works for you...or you could get Karma to catch them!
Ugh, one of my cats loves to eat moths, and it is worse when you can actually hear them being crunched!
i like karma's eye! i hope you can eliminate the bugs and moths. yeah, you'd never make it down here w/ spiders, scorpions, grasshoppers, walking sticks, etc., etc.
Hey, this is too much information to take in at the one time, or find a cohesive comment. So I'll just say the shot of Karma's eye is stunningly clear.
Great pic of Karma's eye--she looks pretty patient there. :)
I can't stand moths, especially the huge ones in Nebraska that they call millers. Many years ago when I was living there, one of those things fell into my pita sandwich. Yuck. Good luck with your fight against the moths!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Yeah, I hate bugs of any description.
When I read the quote I thought it was tears (that come from our eyes) but it's tears (as in ripped garments)! So pulled through to beautiful firmament above? Explanations make it lose its beauty lol.
Thanks for visiting, Rita. I hate beach crowds too, give me peace and shade beside the sea any day.
Good job on the pic of Karma's eye!!
I learned the hard way never to try to warm peanut butter in the microwave. I had a little ring of flames all around the top of the jar. Scared the poopiedoop out of me. ;-)
Those fabulous clouds are like poems..beautiful..and your kitty's eye..dazzling and gorgeous!! beautiful!
Victoria
I love the photo of Karma's eye. I hate to break this to you, but Paul Newman has probably not been much of a hunk since he died. But he'll always be a hunk on film. I love that failure to communicate line. Favorite Young Man and I have said that to each other many times.
Love,
Janie
You did great with Karma's eye! Fantastic picture!! What I miss about living where it is cold is not having fleas; we got fleas down here; poor Koda even with all the flea stuff we put on him, he still gets them. (all dogs do down here, the warm weather year round is the perfect haven for them).
I'm with you, I don't think I'd be happy with a moth in my hair either.
betty
Rita, it is nice to meet you. You have a fun spirit, I can tell. I appreciate your comments and had to see where you lived. A bit north of me, that's for sure, but in the same longitude at least.
I did a book review of Traci's Doodles book back in early March. Here is the link in case you want to read what I wrote:
http://alteredbooklover.blogspot.com/2012/03/doodles-unleashed-book-review.html
Even though I have a lousy camera, you will get a basic idea of the book's contents. Glad you won. How awesome for YOU. Not MY cup of tea (or coffee), but it sounds like you were in the right place at the right time.
That is a fantastic picture of Karma's eye. :)
I don't blame you for not wanting moths crawling all over you and everything else on your little porch. Small bugs come thru our window screens. The mesh isn't small enough to keep them out. Some nights when I'm sitting at the kitchen table working on papers, they attack me until I either give up, turn out the light, or close the window. (i'm itching as i write this...lol)
I'd be lost without my microwave. LOL I know what you mean...you don't realize how much you use something until it isn't there anymore. I hope it's fixed or replaced for you very soon.
The counties around me are under a tornado watch until midnight tonight. Our county hasn't been added to that list, and I'm praying it isn't. Those things freak me out. We're to get thunderstorms with high winds and heavy rain tonight and early tomorrow morning. I had Terri put the rain gauge back out on the pump house tonight.
That's an interesting quote. You sure find some really interesting quotes to post into your blog...quotes that make you stop and think. :)
Wow that picture of Karma's eye is so in your face but I bet she found you taking it somewhat annoying.....
I know I would if someone had a camera that close to my eye.....lol
I love my micowave but I do not like all foods cooked in it, stuff like porriage I prefer cooked on the stove.
Love the photo of the clouds.......
That is a great macro of Karma's eye! Whew, this post was full of lots of stuff, Rita. It will be great when that screen is fixed so that both you and Karma will be able to enjoy the space without bugs. Yeah, you wouldn't do so well in the tropics... :-)
Lovely cat's eye pic. And brilliant sewing project to keep out the bugs!
I hear you on the microwaves!!!! We've had bad luck with them over here and have literally gone through FOUR in the TWO years we've lived here!! First was one Alex gave me (free), and the rest were purchased here but kept crapping out so we would return them for newer duds, lol! The joys of living overseas!!
YAY to eliminating your moth problem!!!!! And yes, you would be a "hot mess" in the south! They invented humidity and bugs, lol!
Stamping stuff? One sentence and no other details???? Excuse me???
Have fun with your online classes and enjoy the thunderstorms! I always liked them until here, because it means we lose power, and that's never fun. Hugs!
I am amazed you could get Karma still enough to take the picture, came out great. My camera hates close ups, it's meant to do macros but I can't get it to do them.
We have a terrible time with mossies and sand flies in summer here, so I feel your pain with the moths.
Von (APR)
thanks so much for working so hard to get a terrific macro shot of Karma. I know it'll swell her head but she's gorgeous. That pic makes me miss having a cat.
Hope to see you next week Rita.
Best,
Jenn
You always have so much in your posts! And for someone who is 'basically housebound' , you certainly have lots going on!
Usually with the camera, there's a macro setting that is indicated by an image of a flower--you probably know that, but thought I'd throw that in.
Amazing picture of Karma's eye--but what I really liked is the vision of you flapping your arm and taking a picture with the other hand! I bet that would have been fun to watch!
Velcro is the best! I use it for my unmounted rubber stamps, mostly, but what a great idea to use it to hold your screen down!
Perfect macro of Karma's eye ~ lovely ~
You are so busy, busy, busy ~ rest well ~ hugs to you and Karma ~ thanks, ^_^
A lovely, tranquil eye.
Sorry about the bugs, I hate them too. Hope the new screen works.
great pic of karma's eye... that is a great take on the topic, and the extent that you go to to avoid bugs is magnificent.... we are inundated all year round, though summer is the worst... life in the sub tropics is not for a bug hater... but mercifully winter is usually better and the geckos take care of lots... mind you not a fan of the geckos either but they are a necessary evil and I will take them over the bugs any day... hope you get it sorted soon so you and Karma can start communicating again...xx
Hope the velcro stuff comes soon so you can keep the moths out.
I hate bugs!
Lovely close-up Karma-eye! I especially like the reflection.
hey. love the close up of karma's eye!
i have a powershot too...and it does the SAME thing...sometimes it just won't focus on what i want it to!! it gets a bit frustrating...and i end up just giving up!
down here in FL...i think we have every bug imaginable...no matter how much screen...they always seem to find they're way in!
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