T Stands For Gift Basket I Won

 

Several people have asked me to show the contents of the gift basket I won from The Spice Merchant back in early March.

Let's head to the PBS lobby.

 

Walk with me to the alternate (side) entry.

 

 Once inside, I signed in, then waited while the receptionist found someone to bring me the gift basket.  While I waited,

 

I took advantage of watching the various shows and stations available.

 

On the top left is the main/PBS Kansas channel. The top right carries Explore.  The bottom left transmits Create.  The bottom right is the PBS Kid's Channel (which airs ages seven and under childrens shows 24/7).  

 

Yes, my PBS carries four separate channels.  That's why Federal defunding was so devastating here.  We are all viewer supported, unlike some states that give millions of dollars, or those that are connected to some major university.  My state (Kansas) gives my PBS station $50,000 (USD) a year.  You read right.  If we get enough new senators and congress people, maybe we can reverse that.

 

Note the new rules.  The Discovery Center is no longer FREE because of defunding.

 

 

  I'm sure some of you remember when I took you to The Discovery Center and Victor 

Hogstrom, President and CEO of PBS Kansas, came in to greet me.  This guy is so thoughtful, and goes out of his way to meet with major donors like myself.

  

But I digress.  You can tell this photo was taken back in early March because of the decorations.  

 

 

 Here is part of the Wall of Giving that I was on for several years.

   

Back in the car, I took a photo of the basket that was valued at $120.00 (USD).  To be honest, I wasn't that impressed with it.  I ended up giving over half of the contents to Sally, who was more enthusiastic than I.  There was lots of shredding that filled the bottom of the basket.  What you saw was everything.  No hidden pieces below.

 

I gave Sally the plastic coffee scoop and 1/2 pound of Colombian ground coffee. She wasn't interested in the Breakfast Blend.  You  might be able to see the biscotti in the bag.  I gave her half.  You have seen the mug "Scatter seeds of kindness," because I've used it several times.

 

There was 1 ounce of lavender flowers.  Behind it was a rubber like round, flat object that keeps a bowl from sliding on the kitchen counter.  I had no idea what it was, but Sally did and because it was pink, wouldn't go in my kitchen.  She got that, too.

 

 You can just barely see the cookies.  Below them is the pink and blue tea towel I also gave to Sally. 

 

  I'm sure you remember the cookies where the chocolate chips were so hard and tiny they would never melt.

The bow was cheesy, but you get a better view of the tea towel because it also has green in it.  It's just to the left of the letter "S." Directly above the lavender and to the right of the letter "r," is a rubber jar opener.  I apparently gave it to Sally, too because I couldn't find it the other day when I was trying to open a jar.

 

What I kept was the mug, the lavender, the horrible cookies, and half the biscotti.  Sally made out better than I, but only because I insisted she take all that stuff.  I gave the basket to my next door neighbor and put the shredding in the compost pile.  I don't believe there was any tea in the basket, which surprises me because of all the loose leaf blends they carry.

 

I've shown you mine, now it's your turn to share your T entry this week.  The rules are extremely simple.  Your drink related post may be anything from a photo of a glass, cup, or mug, to an actual drink.  You may choose to share a sketch or a digital, hybrid, or traditional page in your scrapbook, art journal, or altered book, as I have done.  Maybe you'd prefer to share a tag, or wow us with your photography.  You might choose a postcard or decorated card.  You might even draw an image on a used tea bag.  Or perhaps you prefer to review a place you visited, a movie, or book.  It makes no difference as long as it's drink related.  And don't forget that the more unique and outside the box it is, the better we like it.  Please tie it back here, and please link only to your T post, not your entire blog.  When you link, Bleubeard, the T gang, and I will be by to visit.   Bleubeard would also like to remind you that your photos may be taken any time.    

 

 

 

 

 

If it's Sunday, it's Rocking Horses

 

It's time to share a very unusual and beloved rocking horse.  Today Bleubeard and I are also joining Nicole for Sunday in the Art Room or SITAR, and Gillena for Sunday Smiles.   

Today I only have one rocking horse, but it is both beautiful and functional.  

 

It holds one of my rings I can't wear due to my lupus which makes my body break out around any ring, watch, or anything metal.  Before you ladies ask, I can't wear bras with metal fasteners.

 

It's even more functional than being a ring holder.

 

Do you see what the rocker is hiding?

 

Even PhotoShop couldn't lighten this enough for you to see it clearly.

 

 

Finally.  After over 30 photos, I got one that actually shows the functional part that's normally hidden.  Yes, it's a pencil sharpener.  It was a gift one year for Christmas.

 

A lousy close up of the face.  The background was in focus, the foreground wasn't.

 

I had a bit better luck with the tail.

 

I tried to show the copper patina, which doesn't show in the other photos.  Too bad even PhotoShop was unable to color correct with much luck.  At least, I hope you had a smile or two when you saw this one-of-a-kind rocking horse.

 

Thanks for visiting Bleubeard and me today.  Please join us at 

 

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Second on the 2nd

 

As most of you know, I like my Second Look to somehow reflect what our current host at Art Journal Journey (AJJ) is featuring.  That means I had to look for something that reflected Beautiful World as requested by Mia of Craftartista.  Because it's Friday, I'm also joining Nicole for Friday Face-Off and Gillena for Art For Fun Friday.  

  This is a spread I created for an AJJ challenge.  It is all about Paris.  The original post, which was published on September 15, 2017, can be found here.  This is a great example of how a tag can be used in an AJJ spread.

  This spread is entitled Dutch Summer Vacation.  This is the first of two spreads I created in this post originally published on July 24, 2019, found here.  There is also an obligatory face in this spread.

Now it's time to share your own Second on the 2nd.  The rules are quite simple and everyone is welcome to join the fun look back.  All you have to do is bring back a post that you are especially proud of, or perhaps one you shared before anyone knew your blog existed.  It could even be one that holds special meaning.  Any post, any genre, any artistic endeavor is acceptable, as long as it's been published sometime in the past.  Then link below (direct links only, please) and Bleubeard and I, along with other Second on the 2nd friends, will be by to visit.  

 

 

 

Bleubeard and I are really grateful you dropped by for    Second on the 2nd.  Also, please join us at 

     these two art blogs.  

 

  

My Big Beautiful World

  

I want to begin by thanking Sharon from That Girl Fritchey who did a marvelous job hosting in September.  Her art was fantastic and her comments were heartfelt.  We look forward to Sharon joining us again next year.

Today we welcome a new host, as we do the 1st of every month.  This month's host is no stranger.  She is one of the co-administrators at AJJ.  Yes, it's my friend Mia of Craftartista.  Mia has chosen Beautiful World as her theme for October.  Below is my first interpretation of her theme.

 

Welcome to my big beautiful world.  Details are below.

 

 

 

I began by copying an image of the western hemisphere.  I then colored it using watercolor pencils.  I adhered the sentiment to 5 X 8 in (12.7 X 20.32 cm) 110 lb white cardstock

 

Note I adhered the word "big" upside down, but I had no time to change or redo it because I am posting this mere minutes before it will publish online. 

 

Please remember we welcome art journal pages that meet the theme requirements, altered book pages, canvases, loose, or stand alone pages including fabric and digital art.  I (and the administrators) do not leave comments on Facebook, TicTok, or Instagram entries.  We do not allow cards!!!  Period! We also don't allow tags, index cards, ATCs, or ATCoins, unless they are part of a journal page, and as much as we don't want to, will be forced to delete your entry.  Please remember if your blog is not in English, we ask that you translate it for us since the translation tool doesn't work on some blogs.  Finally, we do not allow back-links to any journal page published prior to the start date of this month's challenge. Hope to see you and your interpretation of Beautiful World inspired art soon at Art Journal Journey.  

T Stands For Mugs, Mugs, Mugs

 

 On a recent trip to The Spice Merchant,

these mugs caught my eye.

 

I'm not seeing much of a theme here.

 

Maybe it's the shape 

 

that makes them stand out.

  

I'm not sure that square shape would entice me to warm my hands on one of those mugs on a cold morning.

 

However, the kokopelli really caught my eye.  In case you didn't know, Kokopelli is a fertility deity used by some Native American cultures in the southwestern United States, often depicted as a humpbacked flute player with feathers or antenna-like protrusions on his head.

 

I've shown you mine, now it's your turn to share your T entry this week.  The rules are extremely simple.  Your drink related post may be anything from a photo of a glass, cup, or mug, to an actual drink.  You may choose to share a sketch or a digital, hybrid, or traditional page in your scrapbook, art journal, or altered book.  Maybe you'd prefer to share a tag, or wow us with your photography.  You might choose a postcard or decorated card.  You might even draw an image on a used tea bag.  Or perhaps you prefer to review a place you visited, a movie, or book.  It makes no difference as long as it's drink related.  And don't forget that the more unique and outside the box it is, the better we like it.  Please tie it back here, and please link only to your T post, not your entire blog.  When you link, Bleubeard, the T gang, and I will be by to visit.   Bleubeard would also like to remind you that your photos may be taken any time.  

 

Once again I would be remiss if I didn't remind you that it's time to dig up your Second on the 2nd.  Any genre, any theme, any length is acceptable, as long as it has been published sometime in the past.  

  

 

If it's Sunday, it's Rocking Horses

 

It's time to share some different rockers.  Today Bleubeard and I are sharing two rocking horse tops as we join Nicole for Sunday in the Art Room or SITAR, and Gillena for Sunday Smiles.  

I've teased you enough.  Today I will show these tops up close.

 

This was a Christmas gift from a friend who LOVES glitter.  Detail photos are below.

 

Here's a top I can wear winter, spring, and autumn.  Again, detail photos are below.

 

This was also made for me by another friend who used special fabric (batik) for the rockers.

 

Thanks for visiting Bleubeard and me today.  Please join us at 

 

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