Insights

Until I took my little stroll around the neighborhood I did nor realize that these evergreen trees had flowers.  A new insight from taking the time to really look around me.  When I am looking for fun things to photograph I tend to look a little closer, look from different angles and different distances therefore I get new insights on the world around me.  If you look at yesterdays pictures you will see more of the tree. Then I just had fun with the close-up and wanted to give you some insight into how I came up with my art edit.

First I adjusted the color to make them brighter as I was shooting in the full sun the colors were a little washed out.

I then made the photo that  zooms out making the colors radiate out.  Next I wanted to add some texture to the photo to add more interest so I added the glasstile effect.  I looked at it for a while and decided that there were too many big blocks with basically the same color so I went to another program and

I layered with a solar system background, but I decided that the photo was now too static so I zoomed it one more time leaving the center as the sky to ground the picture.  I recropped it so that the blocks would be more even; added a couple of sets of borders and like any artist I added my name (signature). Then I hit Save.   I wish I had saved more of the steps to give you more insight but I wasn't thinking about this post when I was editing.  Sigh

Enjoy

☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺

Welcome Home

I'm feeling much better now.  However I am trying to catch up on what was left undone while I was not up to doing much.  This seems to be a constant theme of my life.  I am on an upward spiral this time not a downward one, so I am recuperating faster and getting more done when I do feel better.  Hooray! Hooray!  Right now I am also researching how to do more to improve my health.  The better I feel the more I can do to make myself feel even better so now I am deciding on my next step.  Since my herbal teas seem to be helping so much I am researching herbs and what they help with.  I am trying to find a good reference book on how to use and maybe grow the herbs.  I've been checking books out of the library in hopes of finding one without spending a lot of money on books that may not fit my needs.  If anyone knows of a good book or a good blog on herbs and natural healing I would appreciate it if you would leave a comment or e-mail me (see Hi this is me page above)
Since I was feeling better I edited some of the front door gardens and mailboxes that welcome home the people in my neighborhood.  I love my front door garden and the colorful, cheerful greetings they give to me and have started to notice those around me and take photos of them.  These pictures were taken just a few days ago as I walked around my neighborhood.

                            ENJOY ☺☺☺ Johnina☺☺☺

Shoot for the Moon

I've had a couple of busy then bad days. I was feeling better and think i kind of overdid, I still have a problem with learning to pace myself, but when I feel good I want to accomplish all those things that I haven't gotten around to due to my health so I overdo. Friday was a particularly good day and I got a lot accomplished, dog to the vet, physical therapy, shopping, photo taking more than usual but didn't take extra steroids to compensate for the extra stress. Mistake, mistake. When that happens I tend to sleep all the next day, which is pretty much happened.

On top of that Jeremy came home from scout camp where he was one of the leaders, while this was real nice, he also brought home a bug of some kind and we were both sick today. So sleep is what I accomplished today.

I did wake up long enough to eat and then was awake enough to watch the movie 'Secretariat'. A movie that really moved me.  Here was an ordinary women with a dream to help her family and through all her trials including thinking that instead of helping her family she was losing them due to her absence, but in the end she teaches them so much more.  She taught them about following your own  dreams, perseverance and other great character traits.  Sometimes I feel so bad about my health problems and how they have taken me away from my family, both in down time and the time I have to spend to take care of myself, but my family has learned many character traits from my trails that they would not have learned otherwise.
I've seen this movie once before but this time it struck me that she would not have made her dreams come true if it wasn't for the support system of friends and co-workers who turned into friends with which she picked and surrounded herself with.  I too have had and still have a support system for which I am extremely thankful for.  Without them I would not have been as successful as I have been.  This time the movie moved me to tears at her and her support system and their triumph.  Even though I was a junior and senior in high school (which really dates me) I was still right there with them at the triumphs and disappointments along the way even though I knew how it all turned out, because this time I understood the feelings that was happening in the film.  What a difference it made.
Anyway it reminded me of the moon picture and the quote as she shot for the moon and made it then went even further to reach the stars.  Not just in the triumph of her horse but the triumph of her spirit and the difference she made in so many people's lives.
Enjoy
☺☺☺Johnina ☺☺☺ 

Inspiring post

Found this post with great wisdom in it- have a look
http://elena-myquest.blogspot.com/2011/07/let-go.html
Enjoy
☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺

Welcome Home

This morning I went out and walked around the neighborhood and took pictures especially of the mailboxes and front door gardens. The things that welcome us home. While I was out one of my neighbors was sitting on his porch and came out to ask what I was doing. It is nice to live in a neighborhood where people still sit on their porches and care enough to question unusual behavior. It makes me feel safer.

I went out this morning at my husbands suggestion. He walks the dogs first thing in the morning and let me know even though it was warm at least the humidity was down. Amazingly I even felt good enough to go. After I did what needed to do in the garden I had to come back in and use the old ice packs, but that doesn't take away from the pleasure of my walk. It wasn't but a couple of weeks ago that due to the siezures that walk would have been impossible. It may not have a very long walk but it is longer than I have walked in a very long time. Progress-Hooray

ENJOY

☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺

Morning Light

"This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." ~Psalms 118:24

No matter what form your diety takes or what kind of day it is we should all rejoice in the day that we have; love life, be grateful for it and enjoy the beauty thereof.

ENJOY

☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺

Relief



Jack Benny rose and spider guest
On a rainy day



Jack Benny rose and spider guest
On a rainy day
Art edit

 It was drizzling outside but it had also cooled things off a great deal. What a relief! Just standing outside a couple of days ago would make the sweat drip down my back; I'm still getting wet outside but it feels so cool and refreshing.



Blanketflower in the rain




Blanketflower in the rain
In the star lit sky
Art Edit

 I still can't go out in the garden and work so I am practicing with picnik.com and having quite the good time. Some people might complain that today is cold and dreary but I think it is absolutely wonderful, cool and refreshing; a relief from the heat. You just have to know how to make it fun. I took some delightful water dropped photos then came in and played with them.


Leaves in the rain



Leaves in rain
Art edit



Enjoy

☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺

Food Friday- New Addiction




New non food addiction- art edits

 

New food addiction

 First I'll address my new photo- let's have fun- addiction.  Believe it or not both of these photos started out with the same shot.  It has been so hot outside that I have spent more time inside on my computer.  While alot of this extra time has been in reinstalling and organizing the data I put back on my computer after having to reinstall Windows, but I have also taken some time to play.  I have been playing with different aspects of the picnik.com editing program and learning how to fine tune some of the different aspects of the program.  I've been working with this because I don't have to download the program it stays on the Internet and therefore it does not take up memory on my computer; a big plus for a photo editing program.  Add the biggest plus is it's free and does some really cool edits.  They do have a premium program with more features for a small yearly fee, I just never felt the need to use the features on the premium plan.  But fun it is and there are so many variations that I could use it for a long time and still be having fun.  In fact I have to restrain myself from saving to many of the variations.  Fun, fun.
Now on to the new food addicton, since I have given up sodas, I have started to drink lots of herbal teas sweetened by Stevia in the Raw (check out the ingredients some stevia products have additives).  I drink a great variety especially those from Celestial Seasonings.  When I open the packages I put them in ziploc bags to save the flavor and also because they take up less room.  I have a good size container filled with these bags.


My collection of teas

 As you can see I really do have lots, most of them I drink for the flavor but I have also been researching medicinal teas and there are some that I drink for that reason.  I believe that they are slowly but surely helping.

Since so much of my life right now is taken up on developing new eating habits and having fun doing it I have decided to do a post on Fridays on my food lifestyle changes and the things that make this change easier and/or more fun.  That's the reason for for this photo as it shows some of the things I have found to be useful.  First is a wide variety of flavors so I don't get bored. Second is the teabag strainer cuz it keeps my fingers from getting burned when I squeeze out the tea bags after they steep. Third is the mesh tea ball as alot of medicinal teas come loose, not in bags. Fourth I had to make sure the containers I use to steep my tea have a big enough mouth so that the ball will fit in it I use Rubbermaid servin' saver bottle.  Its nice to use 'cause of the lid which keeps the flavor in while it steeps and I can use it to drink from when it's done with very little spilling.  Nice when your hands shake.  They also hold a two cups of water and since I like my tea a little stronger I can put 3 bags in the 2 cups instead of 1 bag per cup and then it can be heated in the microwave.
Fifth I also use insulated sports bottles for iced herbal teas, the ones shown holds the containers worth of tea plus the ice from one of the ice cube trays shown. Sixth is the flexible ice cube trays as they flex to get the ice cubes out easier and the cubes fit through the small necks of soda bottles and sports bottles.  And of course you have to have your favorite mug, mine is 'Winnie the Pooh' from the Disney Store.  I try to make everything as fun as possible.
Try some I think you'll like it.
Enjoy
☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺

Wonderful summer post

I found this wonderful photo essay post- it is worth checking out
http://thesmittenimage.blogspot.com/2011/07/summer-growth.html
ENJOY ☺

Playing with my garden photos

It is so hot and muggy here now that even getting up early and playing in the dirt is very hot sweaty work.  Not something I tolerate very well so I do the minimun, only that which keeps the garden going, and will continue that  until the morning temperature starts to drop again.  In the meantime I am playing with my flower pictures and having fun with them.  I hope you enjoy them too and they cheer your heart.

Good Morning



Dazzler Blanket flower

Dazzler blanket flower



Balsam flower volunteer



Balsam flowe volunteer



ENJOY

☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺

Catching up

Early morning light- taken through my rear view mirror

Between my healthy problems and computer problems I have been trying to catch up on putting programs and files back on my computer.  Not being real tech savvy it has taken me longer than maybe it would have taken others.  It was also somewhat frustrating, but I certainly learned a lot.  I had help from family, my Internet friends and the Geek Squad, for which I am very grateful.  Now that I have gotten most of that done I am working on organizing the data I have put back on.  In going though my photos I came across some skyline photos that I really liked but had forgotten about so I edited them to share with you today.



Early morning light




Early morning light



Early morning light- taken through my side view mirror

                                                                              Enjoy

☺☺☺Johnina ☺☺☺

Cheer up

I haven't felt good for a couple of days now so I decided to post some photos of my flower garden to cheer me up.  I hope you enjoy them too.

Blanketflower Dazzler

Black-eyed Susan



English Daisy, Purple Coneflower, Jack Benny Rose



Enjoy

☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺

A promise is a promise

A couple of days ago I promised debra of http://shewhoseeks.blogspot.com/ to put up a dessert recipie that was low carb on friday.  Well with my IVIG yesterday it didn't get done but here it is late but it is here:

Enjoy

☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺

PS- the program I use to organize my recipies is Mastercook 11.  It prints up the recipie,  allows you to add photos or videos, makes menus and shopping lists and will even downlod to your smart phone- great program.  Just click the pic to get it. Watch what version you get as the program version makes a difference with your operating system.

Watch this from gizmodo

I never would have thought that water could do such a fasinating dance

My husband pointed this out to me from Gizmodo.com

Amazing

Team Ghost - High Hopes from 16ar on Vimeo.


Enjoy

☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺

Laughter is the best Medicine

"Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it.”

~Bill Cosby~

My friend, a part of my support system who knows how to laugh and make me feel better

”True friendship multiplies the good in life and divides it's evils."
   ~Baltasar Gredian~

Leaving comments-HELP

I have been reading and catching up on many of my favorite blogs but have had a difficult time leaving comments occasionally on blogger but mostly leaving comment on other blog platforms. I am getting frustrated by being sent to blogger sign in only to be unable to publish or worse having my comment dropped.  Is there an easier way? Any tips or comments would be appreciated
Johnina :^A

Fun foods

Check out this blog it has some really fun and creative pancakes
http://asucculentlife.blogspot.com/2011/07/happy-4th-of-july-pancakes-just-for-you.html
Enjoy  ☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺

Dreamy post

I was reading some of my favorite blogs when I came across this delightful post
http://carouseldreams-tina.blogspot.com/2011/07/she.html

Enjoy  ☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺

Storms- Thunder and lightning



"In our lives there is bound to come some pain, surely as there are storms and falling rain; just believe that the one who holds the storms will bring the sun.”

~unknown~





Here in Georgia we frequently have evening summer storms complete with heavy rain, thunder and lightning.  Lately these typical summer storms have been happening every day or two and the last one took down this limb.  It wasn't until this morning when I went out to take pictures of the downed limb that I realized why the limb had broken off this healthy tree.

It was kind of obvious once I looked up the reason why; as you can see the tree was hit by lightning.  Wow was I impressed as this was just a typical summer storm.  Even though we heard the thunder and knew the lightning was close we had no idea how close.  This tree is the closest one to our house.

I took this picture from my kitchen window so you could get an idea of exactly how close the tree was to the house.  I would say that we were real lucky with this one.  We have had lightning strike the house and take out our phone wiring. It completely wiped out my surge protector and my computer; so now my computer gets unplugged and I stay off my land lines.  Please do not take for granted that a surge protector will always protect your computer from lightning; as I learned it can wipe out your surge protector making it useless.  Of course in part I did get an updated computer out of it eventually, which has been nice.

We were real lucky this time and our lawn and garden are thriving from all the rain so all these summer storms are not all bad and we have great sunshine during the day.

Enjoy the summer

☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺

My low-carb diet is working

Stuffed Burgers- you'll never miss the bun- low carb cooking

After googling to find some way to help myself with my seizures, I came across many articles that suggested using a low carb diet to help with seizures, so after checking with my endocrinologist and getting the go ahead I started.  Wow!!! what a difference it has made.  No more seizures.  The meds helped to make the seizures less frequent and less severe, but didn't get rid of them.  The diet is a moderate Atkins diet, phase 2, and I have found the Atkins website to be of great use.  http://www.atkins.com/Homepage.aspx  They have lots of tips and recipes and help.
I have also found that every time I'm tempted all I have to do is remember the seizures and  the temptation tends to go away.  I have also started cooking for myself, right now my getting better outweighs any other persons preferences in food.  I'll gladly fix for whoever in the house wants to eat the way I do, but for the most part they would rather fix for themselves.  I am now trying new recipies and learning to enjoy cooking again.  It makes a big difference in how much you can enjoy cooking when you don't have to worry about someone else's opinion.  I have found many recipes that I like in the South Beach Diet Summer Cookbook and the South Beach Diet Cookbook.  If you would like to buy one for yourself just click on the picture and it will take you to Amazon.com where I have found the best prices and service.
As I adapt some of these recipes and come up with my own I will post them.  By learning new ways to cook and experimenting with new reciepes, I have taken what could have been an onerous lifestyle change and made it fun.                                                                                                                                                                                    Right now I can't publish my recipes as I had to reset Windows which means I have to reinstall my programs and reinstall my backed up information which is proving to be a difficult and frustrating task.  I will get it done but it might take a couple of days.

Johnina☺☺☺

Enjoy

☺☺☺

Good morning from Georgia

My mimosa tree

I love my mimosa tree, it greets me every morning with it's delicate lacy leaves as I go out back to work on my veggie garden.  Unfortunely it grew up right next to our house and is quickly growing taller than our house so it has to go before it does any permanent damage.  Fortunely there are plenty of small ones that can be transplanted to wherever I would like one. I even dug a small one up an put it in a pot inside. I am in the process of deciding where in the yard I would like one; one of the fun parts of doing a garden is the planning and seeing the plan grow and develop. In more ways than one you can see it grow from the plans to the garden growing the way you want it.  Trees grow, flowers fill out and bloom, and veggies develop.  Right now I am working on a 5 year plan for my yard that includes trees, perrenials, edible plants and annuals.  Little by little my yard developes in beauty and I'm already looking forward to the fall planting especailly since I missed most of the spring planting due to my siezures, which have gotten much better and I now have hope to be able to do some of the things that I have been planning.  Hooray, hooray for me.
We are staying home this 4th of July and I am pleased that we can enjoy it here at home with our ever growing garden.
Enjoy your day
☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺

Courage

"Courage doesn't always roar.  Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow."

~Mary Anne Radmaher~

Physically I had a really bad day yesterday.  This picture was taken last night just before sunset but when I sat down to download it; I fell asleep.  I had lots that I wanted to do but instead all I could do was sleep.  I really don't like those kind of days.  But I am still plugging along and just to let you know although I am feeling a little better, between appointments, phone calls and other daily interferences this post as simple as it is has taken about eleven hours from start to posting not a whole lot of improvement. ... Sigh....but onward I go.  Tomorrow I've planned a day of resting and pampering so I can make it to church on Sunday and enjoy it.  Sometimes the courage to keep going on takes a little pre-planning and taking care of myself so I can do the things that are most important to me.  How about taking the time to pamper yourself a little?  You'll feel better and keep up the courage to carry on and  I'll bet you will-

Enjoy your weekend

☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺