Her name means beautiful. She practically named herself. I have so many pictures of our cats I want to post more for the Friday Photo. Can you see why we named her Teagan?
Black Cat
Posted by terrepruitt on March 22, 2019
Posted in Friday Photo | Tagged: beautiful black cat, black cat, Friday Photo, pretty girl, Teagan | 6 Comments »
Dance Like Everyone Is Watching
Posted by terrepruitt on March 20, 2019
When I was younger there was a dance place to go to every night of the week, except Friday, there wasn’t a good place on Friday nights. I don’t remember why, but I do remember that every other night of the week there was a place to go. And we would go, every night, except Fridays. Specifically on Sundays – dollar drink night – it wasn’t a case of calling people up and making plans to GO. The only reason you would call someone about it was if you WEREN’T going, otherwise it was just assumed you would be there. There was a small group of us that would meet up. The other nights of the week, we would usually need to make plans, but the atmospheres of the places we went to were ones that you could show up by yourself and be fine. It was easy to dance, drink, mix, and mingle with people until the core group showed up. It was pretty much always the same people at the same places so even if you weren’t friends outside you were friends inside and it was fun. But even though that were the case there was still that fear of getting up on the dance floor and dancing. That fear that people were watching you, judging you, or whatever that fear is about. One time we were out one of my friends solved that problem for me for life, he said something like, “Yeah, they are all watching – not because there is something wrong or they are making fun of us, but they are watching because they want to be us! They are watching because we are so awesome.” And from that moment on, I didn’t care who was watching.
This life changing statement/attitude is a great thing to have when dancing Nia. It really allows you to realize that dancing is not about the people who are not on the dance floor, it is about you and your body. It helps make it easy to just forget about the people who may or may not be watching and really move your body.
I just don’t agree with this thing/saying, the one that says to do all these things as if no one is watching or hearing or as if you’ve never lived before. But . . . I get the basic sentiment, I just don’t agree.
Dance like everyone is watching, but don’t worry about them – who cares? Dance anyway.
Love as though you have learned how to love and make it wonderful – Every. Single. Time.
Sing as though the whole world can hear you and STILL wants to listen.
Live in a way that makes you happy.
That is what I say . . . . today anyway.
How do you feel about the saying?
Posted in Misc | Tagged: dance, life changing statements, Live", love, Nia, sayings, Sing, Souza | 3 Comments »
Rusting Cat
Posted by terrepruitt on March 18, 2019
At the end of last week I was walking down the stairs and my eyes landed on our black cat. I was struck with the thought of how black she is. Then it occurred to me that we have had a lot of rain, a lot of days without hours and hours of sun. I call Teagan my Sunshine Girl because she LOVES to be in the sun. She will go from window/door to window/door to get the most sunshine throughout the day. She will sit in the sun until she is so hot it makes me wonder if it is good for her. When she sits in the sun hour after hour she starts to rust.
Yeah, it’s a real thing. Black cats can “rust”, their black coats start to turn a lighter shade, it becomes somewhat brown. It kinda looks like rust. According to Wiki the black fur pigment is fragile and cats that sit in the sun a lot “rust”. The black fur pigment is called eumelanin. Information on the internet also states that a tyrosine deficiency could cause a black cat’s fur to turn red. If a cat is being fed a nutritious diet of food formulated for cats, this type of deficiency is rare. I am confident that Teagan does not have a tyrosine deficiency, especially since she was so black.
I have noticed her rusting in the past, I think that is why I noticed her total blackness recently. It took me a while to acknowledge she was a deeper black than she usually is. She is always a black cat, but as I said, it just occurred to me that she was very black with hardly any of the brown undertones. I say “was” because the sun has been out for days now and she and her sister are taking advantage of it. With the temperatures warming up to hot (for me) the doors have been open pretty much most of the day for the past few days and both cats have been parked in front of one of them soaking it up. I think Teagan might already be starting to rust.
To me the rust looks like it starts in the undercoat and not at the ends as does a bleaching of human hair in the sun. I could be wrong, but it seems as if the brown is more visible when her fur is brushed one way or the other.
If the cloudy days are gone, then Teagan will continue to rust and get lighter and lighter as the days go by.
Have you noticed a cat rusting?
Posted in Cats, Teagan and Nessa | Tagged: black cat, bleached by the sun, eumelanin, rusting cat, sun rust, sunshine, Sunshine Girl, Teagan, tyrpsine deficiency, Wiki | 8 Comments »
Small Flower Arrangement
Posted by terrepruitt on March 15, 2019
I have been cutting the flowers down, getting rid of the absolutely dead ones, and putting them in a smaller vase for over a week now. I just liked the look of this little arrangement and I wanted to share it. I thought it would make a perfect Friday Photo. What do you think?
Posted in Friday Photo | Tagged: carnations, Flowers, Friday Photo, iPhone portrait mode, small flower arrangement, small vase | Leave a Comment »
Dancing Bug Butts
Posted by terrepruitt on March 13, 2019
There used to be this really cool Art and Wine Festival that my husband and I used to go to whenever we could. They always do it on Mother’s Day weekend so there were times when we would be visiting my mother so we wouldn’t be able to attend. It is a one day festival, which I think makes it a little challenging for the actual artists because driving from afar and setting up just for one day might not always be worth it. It used to be my favorite festival. It was small, but big enough that we could always find a lot of stuff to buy. And over the years we became friends with a few of the artists and so we would hang out in their booths and visit with them. One of the artists was the creator of solar art. He put together things with solar cells and they would spin. He made solar bugs. The festival isn’t the same as it used to be, it is less artists with really cool stuff and more like booths of merchandise that you can buy from Oriental Trading Company. At least that was how it was the last time I stopped by. We don’t make it a point to attend, but we did hear from the solar guy recently.
The artist of the solar bugs sent us a note at the end of last year and said that he had redesigned his “solar dragonfly’ and offered us one because we had always been such great customers. So we are the lucky recipients of this newly designed solar dragonfly. His past designs were the same in that the sun made the bug move around and his spiral wire butt danced. But they used to be secured on a small metal stake, so they would stick in the ground. This new design is for hanging. Since the bug is not secured to a stake at the bottom, Jon, the creator, has attached things on a ring that spins around.
These bugs are so funny. They make me happy watching them dance around. When the sun is bright and hitting the solar cells just right they really get moving. As they get less light they start to slow down. It is really fun when they are getting all the light.
If anyone is interested in buying a dancing solar dragonfly for your yard let me know. I can get you in touch with Jon so you can order one (or more)!
Posted in Misc | Tagged: Berryessa Art and Wine Festival, dragonflies, Mother's Day weekend, Oriental Trading Company, solar art, solar dragonfly, wiggly bug butts | 2 Comments »
Popped Corn Toppings
Posted by terrepruitt on March 11, 2019
What do you like to put on your popcorn? What is your favorite popcorn topping? I love popcorn and lately I have been putting a little bit of butter, olive oil, salt, and nutritional yeast. The butter gives it that rich flavor. The olive oil helps the nutritional yeast stick. The nutritional yeast gives it a nice flavor and adds a little bit of protein.
I have really been loving this lately. And it got me thinking . . . . there are so many things that can be put on popcorn . . . . I was wondering what your favorite thing is.
My husband doesn’t really like popcorn and I find that kind of surprising because popcorn is one of those things that I think of as EVERY ONE liking, but he doesn’t.
A few wiki facts (many copied directly):
–Archaeologists discovered that people have known about popcorn for thousands of years.
–The term popped corn first appeared in John Russell Bartlett’s 1848 Dictionary of Americanisms.
–Since popcorn remained fairly inexpensive during the Great Depression, the popcorn business was a source of income for many farmers . . . including the Redenbacher family.
–Americans ate three times as much popcorn as they had before when candy production was reduced by sugar rations during World War II.
–In 1981, General Mills received the first patent for a microwave popcorn bag.
–When referring to multiple pieces of popcorn, it is acceptable to use the term “popcorn”. When referring to a singular piece of popcorn, the accepted terminology is kernel.
–Popcorn as a breakfast cereal was consumed by Americans in the 1800s and generally consisted of popcorn with milk and a sweetener.
I didn’t know popcorn was eaten as a breakfast cereal. Did you?
So what do you like on your popcorn?
Posted in Food | Tagged: butter, Corn, nutritional yeast. salt, olive oil, Popcorn, popped corn | 15 Comments »
Colorful Kitty
Posted by terrepruitt on March 8, 2019
Ooooo! I found this kitty at the community center where I teach Nia. I love it. It was behind glass though so there is a lot of reflection. But she is still beautiful.
This is the latest watercolor animal for my Friday Photo.
Posted in Friday Photo | Tagged: Camden Community Center, cat, Colorful Kitty, community center, Friday Photo, kitty, Nia, Nia class, watercolor painting | 2 Comments »
I Can See The Benefit Of Online Buying
Posted by terrepruitt on March 6, 2019
It has been years. I have been saying I am going to get new glasses for years. In 2016 I was going to get serious and go do it, but that didn’t happen. And then it seems like my eyes went that over-50-can’t-see-up-close thing. But it is that I can’t see up close with my glasses on, I have to take them off. So then I was thinking, “UGH! I have to get bifocals or progressives!” And that is just so much more. I wear my glasses every day all the time, so I don’t like to have just ONE pair of glasses. I like to have at least three pair. I like a pair of sunglasses — which I have been living without for years because a screw fell out of mine and the arm fell off — and then I like at least two different regular eyeglasses.
When I finally went to the doctor I was impressed and relieved. The doctor was so nice and gave me a prescription for both single vision and progressives. I don’t like the way progressives cut out such a big portion of the “viewing window”, with the lower sides – both inside and out – being just blurry. I don’t understand why they aren’t made more like bifocals but without the line. I thought that was what they were until I started looking at getting some. The first place I looked had different areas of blurriness depending on cost. The more you paid the more actual viewing area you have. That is annoying. Again . . . why can’t they make them so you are able to use the entire lens?
Well, that was enough to put me off from buying them for now. I decided to stick with single vision lenses which are so much less expensive. My doctor actually said that my prescription didn’t change that much so I could just keep wearing the glasses I have. I thought about that, but I decided to treat myself to new glasses. Two of the pairs I own have broken plastic around the arm and it rips my hair out — OWWWW — and the lenses (after over ten years of wear) were a little scratched.
I decided to really go out on a limb and order some glasses online. I looked at several online places and my first purchase was with EyeBuyDirect.com. I usually buy metal frames, but, as I said, the one thing that “forced” me to go get new glasses was the broken plastic pulling my hair out, so I didn’t mind that this place didn’t have any metal frames that I liked.
Since I was very leery about buying glasses online I didn’t want to spend a lot. Somehow I found REALLY CHEAP frames so I decided to buy two pair. I got two pairs of single vision glasses for $27.95 each! I figured if they didn’t work out then it really wasn’t that big of a loss. I mean, I certainly don’t want to throw $56.00 away, but I thought that it wouldn’t be too bad of a loss. While I don’t really care for the frames . . . one is too dull/gray and one is too dark, I do like the glasses. The lenses are great, the frames are comfortable, and they aren’t that bad (the colors). I love the sunglasses. I love the different colors and the little winged sides. They were more because when you add tinting to a lens it cost more.
I have a few friends that wear glasses and they were asking about my glasses and where I got them. Since they know how much glasses can be they were inquiring as to my having gotten TWO PAIR. I thought I would write up a little post to share. Those of us that wear glasses are always interested in places that have quality eyeglasses for less. If you are not tied to having a designer frame then it might be a good idea to check out the online places.
I ordered another pair from a different place. I wanted a metal half-rim. They were $36.00. I am waiting to see what they are like and if they will work. We will see.
Since the glasses are so much more affordable, I might just go ahead and try some progressives . . . they are a lot more than $36.00, but about half the cost of some places that I have seen. But, not having anything to compare them to, I am still kinda unsure. I mean, I have single vision glasses so when I purchases some online I could compare, but I don’t know about progressives.
Have any of you purchased progressives online? What do you think? Where do you buy your glasses?
Posted in Misc | Tagged: bifocal lenses, eye glasses, EyeBuyDirect.com, online glasses, prescription eyeglasses, progressive eyeglasses, single vision eyeglasses, single vision lenses | 6 Comments »
Very Popular Attraction
Posted by terrepruitt on March 1, 2019
Ahhhh, for many people this needs no caption. Many will know what this is right away. It is a Disneyland staple. I thought I had heard that it was closing down and assumed it had, but . . . we just went on it. I cannot find (but I didn’t look very thoroughly) anything on the internet that confirms it is going to close. Either way, I am glad that I went on it and I don’t really need to go on it again. I like it, I think it is sweet, but I would rather spend my time in line for Space Mountain.
Here is the entrance to It’s a Small World at Disneyland for my Friday Photo.
Posted in Friday Photo | Tagged: Disneyland, earworm, Friday Photo, gentle ride, It's a Small World, ride closure, Space Mountain, water ride | Leave a Comment »
Breaking Out
Posted by terrepruitt on February 27, 2019
When my niece heard that Disney was changing The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror out for a Guardians of the Galaxy themed ride she was not happy. At that time she didn’t even like Guardians of the Galaxy. I had never been on the Tower of Terror so I was not attached to it. I DO like the Guardians of the Galaxy, but didn’t really care that Disney was doing a ride based around it. When we went this past week to Disneyland we also went to Disney California Adventure, that is where the Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! ride is. I wasn’t really planning on going on it because I thought it was just a tower drop ride. I am not a fan of those. I had my fill of that type of ride when I was young and went to Great America and rode The Edge that was there. But, I decided to ride it, however my niece was making me nervous because she was nervous. She had me convinced I was going to wet myself because we have to stand in line for a long time and by the time I get to the ride I have to use the restroom. But it was super fun and I walked off dry!
It is not JUST a drop ride. The drop ride I mentioned, took you up in a lift, at the top of the tower the lift was moved forward and then it dropped. The bottom of the tower/ride was curved so you ended up lying on your back. It was not my favorite ride. I thought the Guardians of the Galaxy ride was going to be a bit of the same, but it is not.
The Guardians of the Galaxy ride takes you up, then drops you, then takes you up then drops you. It goes up and down. It is hilarious. In the middle of the ups and downs the lift doors up to show snippets of the cast of the movie working on the “break out”. At one point it takes you all the way to the top and opens the doors so you can see out over the park.
The manufacturer was Otis Elevator Company. Well, that actually makes sense, as it is an elevator. The ride has six songs and six versions. According to wiki the tower is 183 feet high, the drop is 130 feet, it’s speed is 39 mph, and the ride is 2 minutes and 10 seconds long. It is pretty fun.
My niece wanted the group that was going on it to be in the same row. Since my family goes to the parks all the time she was able to figure it out. So that was our (mine and my husband’s) first ride on it.
We only went on it twice. Once in the back row and once in the front. I thought I wouldn’t like the front, but it was fine. Any seat is a good seat. It is not like a roller coaster where you get whipped around more or less depending on where you sit. My niece loves this ride now. I don’t think she misses the Tower of Terror.
Do you like drop rides?
Posted in Misc | Tagged: Disney, Disney California Adventure, Disneyland, Great America, Guardians of the Galaxy, Otis Elevator Company, roller coaster, tower drop ride, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror | Leave a Comment »
