Boy did April fly by! I cannot believe we are coming into summer already. Well....calendar-wise. I'm not sure Ma Nature got the memo. Some bulb flowers have bloomed, some trees have buds. The month went by really fast. It was April Blogging from A-Z and I had a hard time keeping up and I was a bad minion for Tina, basically bailing on my task(s) by the letter G. It wasn't enjoyable for me at all, less so than last year. So this will be my last year participating other than as a commenter. It got off to a horrible start, IMHO. So many bloggers abjectly refused to turn off their CAPTCHA boxes. One didn't have their comments enabled. One blog was 'by invite only'. Lots signed up and bailed. Oh, another pet peeve: "Read More". No. Just No. Not taking that extra step. Have your whole blog post showing or don't even bother. And I apologize to my friends on Wordpress, and I hate to sound exclusionary, but maybe they should split off and host their A-Z, and Blogger can have one too.
We had a wicked storm all day on April 15th with high winds and rain coming down in sheets. It lasted well into the night (can't believe power stayed on) and by 5:00 AM on April 16th, it had turned to ice. Woke up to a skim coat of ice and snow, and big fluffy flakes coming down. I grabbed my coffee, got on line and this was greeting me on my Facebook newsfeed. I totally cracked up.
Earlier in the week, I'd spirited away my boots and heavy coat to the back room. Luckily the sun was out by 8:30, the crap melted, but it remained extremely windy.
Pics of the poppies on a super lazy day.
Peeps is soooo cute. I can't believe how grey she's gotten. My sweet girl.
Tiny guy kickin' it with his stuffies. One night he took a stuffy with him to his crate at bedtime. I almost died from the cuteness.
Spring giving it the ol' college try.
Gorgeous full moon on the 14th/15th. There was a total lunar eclipse but at 3:00 AM I wasn't about to actively seek it out.
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Me and the hubby visited the big flea market in Wareham one Saturday. I got those small Easter figurines for .10 each. So $1 for all 10!! Couple watches and a tiny pagoda, and that whole thing of beads for just $2.50!!
I can't believe I spotted this amongst all the stuff that was in one of the booths. I had a major league brainwave idea for this wee pagoda!
We don't observe Easter from a religious or egg hunt standpoint, but it was a really nice day so we took a walk on the Canal, went for ice cream at Canal Creamery and then browsed the Whatchamacallit Shop for a bit before heading home. I took this pic in the ice cream store. Their ice cream was really good too. Lots of flavours to choose from. I got oreo and Russell got black raspberry.
I saw these lovely beaded and wired pentacles on Pinterest by Elemental Enchantments. I love all of their work. I decided to try and make one.
Well mine's somewhat warped because I had a hard time with the wire. I used chop sticks which, of course, didn't lay very well because they had to be stacked at the tips. I really had to wing it with this project and another 'only one will be made' items. I started to regret starting but I also wanted to finish cause I hate unfinished projects and now it can be crossed off my 'Crafts to Make Bucket List', and maybe order a real one from Elemental Enchantments! I gave this to my friend Sheila to give to her daughter Melody.
Other than that, just dealt with some nagging health issues. My elbow is still giving me a ton of trouble. I took too much advil and that caused some bad stomach pains. My dad had ulcers when he was in his late 40s; I remember being really little and taken to see him in the hospital. That meant I couldn't take anything for pain at all for a few days so the elbow flared up. Also, taking a break from crafting was really difficult and that's just exacerbated things. Bad headaches have also started to become a problem, as has back pain. But my doctor is in Hyannis, which means all referral appointments would be there too and I'm just unwilling to keep having to drive there, esp. with spring and summer coming on. I am hoping that I can get back to walking now that it appears that spring is indeed on the way. I just can't believe the first 4 months of the year are over already!
wow, a whole bowl of beads for $2!? what a deal!
ReplyDeletesorry you're achin and painin friend. hope you get relief soon!
Thanks Kris!! I know super deal on them! Russell actually spotted it and showed me. Good eye!!!
DeleteWhen I complained about advil to my dr, he said advil is acidic, and that I should take Ibuprofen, which isn't. Hubs and I both have sensitive stomachs (he's had ulcers in the past). It seems to be giving us some relief, so give it a try if you can.
ReplyDeleteHope the elbow feels better soon. As for the A to Z and your feelings about it this year, I understand those things that bothered you, too. I got a few visitors even though I went visiting a lot during the first two weeks, there was little return other than the regulars who I normally see, and whom I of course returned visits to.
I noticed many that are just pimping their blog because surprise! they now have a book out, or whatever else they sell, and don't even have a suitable post up. I skipped last year, due to other commitments. It's a great experience, but the value has to be there for the great effort that is required for those who do take the time to formulate a great post. It does make April speed by, though. Take care, JoJo!
Advil is ibuprofen...everyone's telling me to switch to tylenol. It usually doesn't bug my stomach.
DeleteYou are right, I didn't see a lot of return visits when I went around looking at new blogs! The Captcha thing...that really, truly sends me up the wall.
Sorry to hear you're not feeling great. Getting older sucks, but the alternative (not breathing!) is worse ;0)
ReplyDeleteYou are right about that Di!! I just need to get moving more and now that it's spring I can. It was bitterly cold and damp the past 5 months.
DeleteI know what you mean about the CAPTCHA codes, what a pain in the arse. I have visited blogs that use them and notice that their posts often have 0 comments. Guess they have not figured out that people don't want to bother with those inane things.
ReplyDeleteMan, did you got one heck of a bargain with that $2 bowl full of beads.
The photo of the Spring Crocus is lovely. Sure hope old man winter finally goes away and let Spring and Summer have their time.
Take care and I hope your elbow improves soon.
I found a cool craft blog to follow and despite my mentioning her captcha was on, she left it on. I unfollowed her and didn't return, which is too bad. Maybe they just did the A-Z as a challenge for themselves with no expectation of comments.
DeleteIs that what the flower is? A crocus? They are so pretty!
Hi JoJo,
ReplyDeleteI do hope you feel better soon. At least you have managed to post up another one of your comprehensive posts.
I think you know my feelings about the A to Z. I consider it a load of superficial crap. Cynically, folks join in, not so much to interact, but to accumulate followers. I notice sites with well over a 1000 followers and like zero comments. That tells me plenty.
I'm a sexy, sixty year old skateboarder! :)
Enjoy your Sunday, my dear friend.
Gary
Thanks Gary! I'd much rather have a small audience of loyal readers/commenters than look at 'stats'. Some of my blogger pals aren't on Facebook so this is how we keep in touch. I like it better that way.
DeleteGood scores from the flea market! Your pentacle looks good. The chopsticks actually worked pretty well!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I should probably get a book on wire work though. I am always winging it...I don't know the proper technique.
DeletePerhaps you shall really get on track literally - wlaking ia a great thing to relief pains. I hope you get better soona s teh spring approaches your area.
ReplyDeleteIt got so hot here, around +40, I curs ethis weather, as with a baby bump growing it is more and more iddifcult to coop with weather. There is no choice, but we are lucky to have ACs running.. some peopel never have this luxury.
The pentacle turned out nice, I'd like to have such myself :) Loving your version of beads on wire more - it looks much lovelier and lighter.
Thank you so much! When I see my pentacle compared to the one above it, i cringe a little at the crudeness of it. lol I'm not looking forward to the summer heat and humidity here either! So far it's still a bit chilly but at least it's not snowing!!
DeleteI like your choice of words, "not actively seeking it out" about the eclipse. Same here. There was a time when I would have had the weather been right but, meh, I'll catch it on the news. Same with the meteor showers every year. You and I share the some of the same feelings about some of the blogs in the Challenge. I read the same suggestions - captcha, short posts, hit up new blogs, etc. but I'm not sure everyone gets it. But, when you have that many people, it's hard to get everyone to follow the suggested rules. I truly wanted to find new blogs and I'm glad I did. I found some really funny blogs, so for me it was worth it. If my circumstances are the same next year as they are this year, I'd do it again. I do wish there was a way to follow Word Press a bit easier though. And, I don't think I'll comment on anymore captcha people…especially if they are already moderated.
ReplyDeleteThanks Elsie! But what i don't get about the Captcha people is, after the challenge started and the hosts/minions were visiting, we'd ask them to turn it off. They continued to refuse. That's what got me so mad. It's unnecessary. Spammers are going to take the extra step just to get their comment posted. Ever since I turned off the ability to leave anonymous comments, my spam disappeared.
DeleteApril has flown by this year. I think it has been from doing the A-Z. Other years I have really enjoyed it...and this year it has felt like a chore. In years past I wrote my post the day of and this year I had it more planned. The post was ready to go and scheduled. All I had to do really is answer comments and visit and comment. Honestly, I am burned out on the whole thing. It has become a real chore. The upside I have created more art this month than I have created in years. I really love the artist side of me, and I guess I had forgotten how much it made my soul soar to do it. I have found I really like writing 55ers and haiku too. Short and sweet. The only problem is that I feel like all I do is comment. :P So we will see about next year. Once this is over and May is here, my husband will be home and my birthday will come. Seems like a great time to take a break while he is here, and then back to posting. :D
ReplyDeleteYour A-Z posts were among my faves. Love your zentangles and 55ers. You must be so happy your hubby is coming home!!!!
DeleteSo much cool stuff. My favorite are the swee faces of your pups. They are making me melt.
ReplyDeleteThanks Teresa! My pups are just lucky they are so cute. They have me wrapped around their paws.
DeleteI think you still did a great job as an A to Z minion and I think Tina was pleased with the help you gave. That's why we set up the teams--to get a little bit of help from more people than just we the team members.
ReplyDeleteI guess I've gotten used to the hassles of Wordpress, CAPTCHA, and other things so they don't really bother me all that much.
Thanks for the help you pitched in. The commenting is the biggest part of it all and you did plenty of that!
Hope you start feeling better for the summer!
Lee
Wrote By Rote
An A to Z Co-host blog
Thanks Lee!!! I do feel better for the most part. I just have to keep my stress level down.
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