Lolol… Tiffany, that’s a hilarious story about the earrings. And how good on the other, who wore them and how he remembered that years later. That’s the kind of thing that makes a difference in the life of a child. Why it’s so important, these little positive interactions. I’ve been doing a bit of astrology work, although I have essentially given it up, I ended up in a long conversation with my ex-husband about one of his girlfriend’s chart, and then I’m doing a chart as a favour to a friend. It’s been years since I thought about astrology very seriously. It’s interesting to go back into that world of symbols and somewhat psychic interpretation. People think that astrology is those little blurbs that you read in the newspaper about your sunshine. Not so. Here’s a photograph of the natal chart that I am interpreting. And here’s a list of her transits (just for the outer planets from Mars on out) JUST for the next three months. (Transits are the way the current configuration affects your natal chart. ). I know…very woo. However, having done it for years, I can tell you there’s something to it.

Here’s a couple of small pieces I’m currently working on. Deciding what to do with the net on this magic wish granting fish (remember that fairytale? )any opinions? I am thinking of adding some small pieces of coloured glass….and then this one… With the netting that’s been soaked in a fabric hardener so it keeps its shape. With or without shells?

I think the shells makes it a little too busy.

Here’s a few shots of my yard, before the weekend deluge comes (12 weekend in a row with rain!

Your yard looks so well behaved compared to mine… I think I’ve completely given up weeding at least 75% of what I should be doing.

Remember the dresses that were really horrible? I called visa and I’ve started the process for getting the charges reversed. It’s not so much the money as it is that that fake website is still operational and they’re still ripping people off. It should be illegal m.

Ladma..your garden is amazingly lush and manicured at the same time…unfortunately very hard to support all this beauty without all the rain🤷🏻‍♀️…

Lia love they fish! Not sure about the shells? Could go either way :). Could you make a mobile out of fish? Not a chime, I know they cannot hit, but a mobile if you make some more.

I’m happy you started the process of getting your money back on those dresses, Lia. I’m very wary of ordering anything that’s not on a trusted website, because of a situation like the one that happened to you, but also I don’t want them to have my credit card information .

I have ordered many wardrobe items from Amazon and I have, for the most part, been pleased with the prices and the quality. And if I’m not, it goes right back. No problem.

Bty, we’ve had a wet cool spring, so everything is doing well. Spectacular spring blooms all over town. Mr just mowed the lawn before I took the picture . He’s a lawn guy, mows 2x a week in the spring

Beautiful, ladma. You’re in New England, if I remember correctly?

Yes, central Mass

Once in a while I have to stop to marvel at how amazing it is that we all come from such different places.. but find so much in common to share in this interesting discussions…

Still cool here. Yes, Amanda, one of the things I’m concerned about is that I gave them my credit card number. One of the smart things I did was to put it on a credit card that I don’t usually shop with. What that means is any unusual charges will show up. And I have to say, visa was great to deal with. As compared to my bank’s MasterCard. But yes, the whole thing has brought back to mind just how disgusting it is that they can get away with this.

I dropped off these two pieces at my craft shop today… Asking $40 apiece which I think is reasonable. The netting actually shows up better on the darker walls.

lia, why don't you just have visa send you a new card? Very easy to do. Or, if you are going to keep that card, set up alerts to be emailed or texted to you for any charges. Also very easy to do.

The fish and netting pieces are great! You are so creative Lia!

Clever pieces, lia. I hope they sell quickly.

KC I have some automatic payments set up on that card. Not many but enough that it would be somewhat of a hassle to switch things over. I may do that. I don’t use that card to shop with as a general rule…my intuition must’ve been telling me that something was off. I’ll take a look at my last bill and see how much of a hassle it would be to get a new card. There’s a postal strike being threatened so that’s one of the reasons why I haven’t pursued that option but things may have calmed down on the labour front. I don’t want to cancel this card and then I’m stuck with no card. Especially since my oil deliveries get automatically billed to that.

I’ll be calling back visa in two weeks anyway I will ask their advice on what I should do.

Probably I would feel better if I cancel and get a new card.

Thanks on the fish…I have mixed feelings about them. Basically I’m tired of doing crafts. I’m not sure what I want to do in the arts line but I can see myself phasing out the craft business.

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First time everybody’s been well enough for me to visit the grandkids in about a month! Did get to go in and celebrate my daughter-in-law‘s birthday and played bocce. Turned out to be a gorgeous day for a change. It’s always nice to hang out with both sons.

Lia you’ve certainly been 100% on the crafts! But I can understand, maybe when or if you decide to phase out, the break will help you decide. One door might close and new door open. You are good at it though 🤗

—- on the card, I have some auto withdrawals on our account as well which always makes me hesitant to change “things”. Hopefully you have smooth transition bc I’m thinking the sooner the better. You know if you don’t close that something worse to straighten out could occur? Not sure but I feel for ya!

lia, you seem to be enjoying the workshops even though they involve a bit of prep. Maybe more of that instead of the crafts? Or more of the artistic painting type things like the cards instead of the jewelry/wall hanging stuff? But keep the lanterns, they are great. 😍 My favorites are the cards and lanterns. Oh and of course the seasonal flower baskets. 😁

You might just want to wait and see about your credit card, Lia. No need to panic. I know there is a toll-free number that you can call everyday to hear your charges. You might want to just monitor for awhile.

I feel the same about my watercolor painting. People tell me how talented I am and it makes me feel like I should get back into it, but I’m just so unmotivated.

Lia, I really don’t need to cancel the card. It isn’t like they “ stole” your cc number. You are just asking for a refund on a purchase that wasn’t as it was advertised. I had that recently and the MC refunded after an “ investigation “. Another occasion we did have to get a new card because someone got our number and tried to use it to buy $450.00 computer hardware, in California. We live in Alabama.🙄 We also have a notification if over $100.00, but they know our spending habits. They instantly notified us on A$15.00 purchase! Yay Mastercard!

Lia, your probably cutting zzzzz’s by now, I’ve been a bit busy and just noticed I had made a note for today on my calendar 💗 I had noted your Mom’s Birthday today 💕 and Pom Pom’s Birthday 🤗.

Yes, Lia. Definitely call the credit card company. They can issue you a new card and might even hold this one open til you get new one. Ut really, once they know your concerns, they will alert account and it can automatically suspend for the time needed. Lots of options. So don’t call.

This darn auto correct. I say “Do call”.

Awww…thanks! Pom
Poms birthday! (And Ma)…Thanks for remembering. 🥰They’ve had a decorating project on the go for a while. Maybe this will be the day they get to it.

Garden today…mulched veggies with straw, dug tomato bed and planted seedlings. Long three hour session on astrology but felt I had done a reasonable job despite being rusty. AI is a real transformation of the work that goes into charts!

Cute rug Lia! Did u paint the bath yet?

Lia your yard has just come alive overnight!!! Everything looks so healthy and English cottage like 💗 aw Pom Pom, they certainly look focused there on their decorating project!

Tea time…despite it being after noon. Yesterday was the morning doing a friends astrological chart, the afternoon working in the garden and visiting with a friend so this morning it was chop chop tidy up. Does anybody else feel like they spend at least 50% of the time doing house work? probably more if you have a family or nine cats. 🤪😉

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Butterfly decorating project has been inspired by my youngest grandson who loves to decorate and who has a little tree just like mine actually may recall. At Easter I picked up a handful of ribbons for him and these butterflies but of course he needs to share with the gnomes. And Pom.

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Of course I have nothing to do with this… 😆 It’s all about the summer solstice which is coming up on the 21st.

Hm. Some good ideas here on the credit card. Maybe I’ll just have them send me notifications, like you did, Gls…because I never use this card to shop. My antenna must’ve been operating because I did use it for this purchase. (And that marks the end of my online shopping from websites!!) My Amazon purchases go on my MasterCard.

Yes I could monitor the card for a while… but a friend told me of an occasion where this happened to a friend of his and then a year later a fake purchase showed up. Which could’ve been just coincidence. Visa already has my account flagged and details. i’ll talk to them about further actions when I call them in a week. Meanwhile the fake shop has been sending me offers…like “will give you a gift card for $80“ instead of a refund.😂😂😂 completely acting like they’re not total scam artists.😑🤪

Good Morning afternoon tea time, and lovely I may add! Ribbons, how nice! He should love those! I do :). Yes this woman spends that much and more house cleaning and also gall in the category things that make anxiety worse by several of the above. Probably not noticeable here but yea 😂 I’m raising my hand in hesitation :), guilty 😝

I could easily pick 6 on that chart but I won't say which 6! 🤣

LC 😂

Haha KC yes I’m definitely guilty of several of these. It’s good to have this little less though when things start to go south…you can remind yourself of why.

I could definitely rack up more than six. 😑 but usually not in one day. Food water and sleep are big ones for me although sleep is hard to control. Probably followed by adequate exercise. And then by too much online time and news. Add into that the occasional sugar binge and I’m amazed that they haven’t tied me up and put me in a padded cell…😆

It is so hard to keep all those ducks in a row… but it would all be easier if we just allow ourselves to do WHAT we want WHEN we want to… without guilt 😓

Easier said than done😩

Btydrvn…my ducks are usually no where to be found…🤣

Thought we could use some Mary Oliver today.

That poem reminded me of a very peaceful experience on Long Island a couple of weeks ago. We visited a lavendar farm on a a couple of acres in a very serene bucolic area on the east end.

I wish I had taken pictures…

Sometimes the pictures in our mind are the best pictures. Lavender farms are wonderful and we do have one here in Nova Scotia come to think of it. I should put it on my list as something to do with the grandkids family outing.

Tempest in a teapot this morning with the environmental organization that I’ve been on the board of, for years. We’re looking at closing and even closing is not simple. I’ll be very happy to not be sitting on any board going forward! I’m getting too old for this…

And…yes… I confess I bought more plants. Not too many.

Summer is so short-lived in the north, Lia. Make the most of it and enjoy your plants!

An art teacher, friend of mine, is teaching a class for teachers at art college . They have this fun little project going on. I’ll quote her here.

“We were making small clay sculptures, based on Celtic and Nordic mythologies and then we placed them along the Fairy Trail of the Urban Farm in Spryfield. In the meantime, grade 3 & 6 students from a neighbouring school were creating fairy doors, under the skilled artistic mentorship of my dear friend. What a lovely day it was!”

GNOMES RULE!!🥰