Category Archives: Journaling

Jul28

A Tuesday Surprise!

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First Hatchling

First Hatchling

Last week I told you all about the geckos, and the eggs that are incubating.  Thursday I received a call from my grand-daughter Sage.  She was so excited I could hardly understand her, but after finally getting her to slow down and talk to me this is what  she was trying to say…..

“Mom told me to check the incubator, and see how the eggs are doing, and guess what grandma…..?”  says Sage

“One of the eggs hatched, and there is a little gecko in there!”

After expressing my excitement, and Sage expressed her excitement, she tells me the other egg was starting to hatch also, and she had to go.  I asked her if someone could take a video, and of course they said, Yes!  But, after the whole thing was said and done, they forgot to take the video.  Sage facetimed her cousin, they all watched the second egg hatch, and all the while I sat here expecting to show all of you the hatching egg in the process.

Second hatling

Second hatling

Well, there are four more eggs to hatch, and in approximally two weeks the next two should be hatching.

This is so much fun to be part of, I can’t tell you…  And just about the time I was going to tell you all about Connor’s little creatures, Sage’s geckos steal the spotlight.

Stay tuned for more excitement, and pictures.

Jul24

Flippen Friday

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DSCN0067This is always a fun challenge. Making uneven circles.  This was inspired by my friend Jane LaFazio.  We did this project as a Diva Day challenge, and the interesting thing is…..all five of us created something different.

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I even cut mine up to make cards out of it.

 

Jul23

Thursday Time Out For Art

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TAngling on an old painting

Tangling on an old painting

When I get stressed, or have been running around too much, there has to be away to unwind.  Getting balanced, and feeling calm inside is how I live now. Oh….I have to work at it, but when I compare how I use to live, and how I live in the moment now……there is a huge difference.  I might say, Night & Day!IMG_3860Painting rocks is one way to pull back, and that’s exactly what I do to start the creative juices flowing when I’m at a bottle neck in my art.  

Birthday heart made for Maxine Custer

Birthday heart made for Maxine Custer

But there is something else that I think is even more beneficial for calming the mind, and bringing  me back into balance.

 

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This small little exercise is doodling or zentangling.  It’s hard to believe that something so simple can have such a calming effect on anyone, but try it sometime before you say anything.IMG_3799

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For those of us who can’t wind down, or take life too seriously, this could be the answer.  I have two friends that use this method for pain relief. It doesn’t have to be perfect, that isn’t what makes this work, but if that’s what you want to do, really get into it, and make it perfection!

It works…..don’t laugh!

 

 

Jul21

As The Zoo Grows

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Since I’ve told you all about Sage’s geckos, I feel like it’s only fair to tell all about Connor’s little creatures.

Lea the Bearded Dragon

Lea the Bearded Dragon

Connor has a Bearded Dragon named Lea, who is very quiet, grows like she is being fed all the time, and is very fun to have.

I got to know Lea last year during the holidays when she was out of her cage, and we sat together in silent thought.  By that I mean, neither of us spoke, we each just observed!

Lea  started out being about six inches or so long, and maybe a couple of inches wide.  Today, she is about thirteen inches long, and maybe six or seven inches wide.  Connor hasn’t had Lea for very long, maybe two years at most, but Lea has grown as if she sat in front of an all day buffet……all day!  Crickets are her meal of choice, and while she is very interesting to look at, and touch, she is very calm.  She doesn’t make abrupt moves, but she can move it out if she wants too.

Her terrariam is long, wide, and she has plenty of room to explore, logs to climb on, and places to hide.

Her habits are simple as well as her needs, and she is a perfect  starter pet.  Reptiles can be a huge learning experience.

Jul17

More About The Geckos

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Gecko eggs

Gecko eggs

Can you even imagine going to feed the geckos, and finding two eggs at the bottom of the terrarium?  That’s exactly what happened!  Who knew the Little Gecko Without a Tail would be so amorous.

Crunch The Little Gecko without a tail

Crunch The Little Gecko without a tail

The entire idea of getting him in the first place was that know one would love him, and he needed a forever home. (My granddaughter Sage wrote an entire page about why she should get him)  Well,   apparently when my daughter Tracy, and Sage were at LLL Reptile,  they gave Crunch to them if they bought another gecko.  So of course, they came home with two, and everything they needed to make a beautiful home for them.  Sage loves them, and they really are interesting to study.

Megan the momma Gecko

Megan the momma Gecko

Meanwhile, Crunch, the little gecko without a tail, and Megan made a home for themselves, and I guess someone loves Crunch as much as Sage does.

This is a HUGE learning opportunity, and a great school project!

The eggs were marked on top so they didn’t get moved, and put in an incubator to keep them warm.  Incubation time is something like four months, so maybe the eggs  have been there two of those months.  Every once in a while Tracy candles them, and the last time the whole family saw the tiny gecko move.  At this point the head, arms, and legs are visible,  and still developing.  Since we had all kinds of creatures while my kids were growing up, I think this is exciting, and a great summer project to learn from.

Meanwhile…..the terrarium is just the right temperature, the geckos are feed just the right amount of food, and they get sprayed with a fine mist of water twice a day.  I wonder how many more eggs with appear out of nowhere?