Friday, October 2, 2026

Totopotomoy map 2026

 



I'm making a map so you can visualize Totopotomoy's "seat." This is a preview. I have to drop everything I am working on at the computer and do winter prep before it gets cold!

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Stop Bullying Your Sister

 



My sister has bullied members of our family, including me, her entire life. There is nothing I can do about it but I no longer have to try to keep it a secret to protect my family from the embarrassment. I just don't care to protect her any longer. AND she hides behind fake Christianity, which is really annoying but what can we do? 

How do I cope with my chaotic family? I will be listing my coping mechanisms here. First one is having a cup of tea. This image - the teacup is my Grandma Jean's dish pattern - Virginia Rose. (My Grandpa Oscar was born in Iaeger, West Virginia (WP) originally Virginia of course!)



Belly Breathing with Gyan Mudra is #2


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++



#3 is soothing audio - I don't know how to "meditate" I don't know what it means really. BUT I think that listening to waves, trains, rain, I think they can be the same as meditating? I did discover when I adopted my collie Amon, he is not quite right, he is agitated a lot. I discovered that he loves storytime by one particular reader "Thomas." I researched Thomas and he is a real person. I also found out that Amon loves "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and I do too! I can listen to it over and over and still enjoy it. And it calms me down. What I did is subscribed to YouTube premium and that way I can download all these, no commercials,  and then I just hit play to play them when we go to bed.

#4 BIRDS


This started for me when someone said I should see the documentary 

LISTERS: A Glimpse Into Extreme Birdwatching (YT)

Right down my alley of cataloguing everything.

Then of course I got the Merlin app. I thought I had Robins, of course, and the occasional eagle. But I have SO MANY birds. One day I had 35 birds in my yard! I have had a Blue Heron in my yard.

I never really had time to birdwatch! Now I love it. And Robins:

So yes, there are Robins in my yard and it has just occurred to me that even though I have had to move over 25 times in my life - THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ROBINS IN MY YARD. I think they must be some kind of spirit animal for me, protecting me. I collect robin's eggs I find and Robin's Egg Blue is one of my favorite colors. (WP)


I have heard Paul McCartney sing Blackbird IRL twice in my life (once with my sister!). I love that song. Here is a great recording (YT).

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free

Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
Into the light of a dark black night
Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
Into the light of a dark black night

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise

You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Before the Merlin app - I had an owl in my backyard and I figured out what bird it was by listening to a whole bunch of owl calls - I think it is called the Cornell site. I found out we had a Saw-whet owl! I couldn't see it but I found out it is scientifically classified as the cutest owl. Here is a photo by Kameron Perensovich



Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Addie

 




I am raising money for wolf rescue - captive-born wolves or wolfdogs

- by selling this portrait of Addie who lived on A st on the Upper Pack

and would visit each neighbor every day for a treat. When her

guardian, Mike Killebrew, passed away his brother Daniel had her

sent to a wolf rescue in Worley, Idaho. She has since passed away.


Purchase print from Zazzle



Monday, September 7, 2026

American Robin

 


So yes, there are Robins in my yard and it has just occurred to me that even though I have had to move over 25 times in my life - THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ROBINS IN MY YARD. I think they must be some kind of spirit animal for me, protecting me. I collect robin's eggs I find and Robin's Egg Blue is one of my favorite colors. (WP)



Saturday, September 5, 2026

completely insane board about hats on Pinterest

 


I have made a completely insane board about hats and headgear on Pinterest. I started it as a photographer when I noted that hats often are an ingredient for a really great portrait. So I wanted a board where I could choose a hat for a portrait. I have some interest in making hats. I have made hats for babies. The insane part is I have thousands (8.7k!) of hats there now and I think it could be a great resource for  hat makers or costume design. here is a link to buy the witch hat at Amazon


Tuesday, September 1, 2026

preparing to evacuate

I have to get all my paperwork together not just because we have a wildfire nearby (Silver fire) I have to do it anyway. Just using the fire to give myself a deadline. But it is daunting! I do have a new trust but I don't have my truck in the trust because I might sell it but in the meantime I have to figure out how to leave my truck to my kids. And on and on....

How Narcissists & Psychopaths Actually Think - Dr. Peter Salerno

 This is one of the best explanations of psychopaths/sociopaths/narcissists you need if you have one in your life.








Tuesday, August 11, 2026

Your future self is watching you photo by deeAuvil

 



“Your future self is watching you right now through your memories.”
— Anonymous internet saying, circulating since at least 2015

Friday, February 20, 2026

Beautiful map of Pennsylvania

 I found the most beautiful map of Pennsylvania and it is in a children's book. A book about a Lenape Princess titled Buttons & Beads by  Gretchen E. Hardy. The map is painted by the illustrator Zoungy Kligge. You can see a larger map at Gretchen's blog. Kligg has a substack. As I study for painting my map - Important Places to Southeast Indians II - I'm looking at maps made for children and cartoon maps. It's just helping me visualize spaces in a fun way.

buy from Amazon or Bookshop.org or eBay