Saturday, August 30, 2014

This Was The Week That Was...


8/27/2014 - Mega $$$$ paid for car insurance, and homeowners for the year. This happens every year..this year Murphy kicked in. for 25 years they were due a month apart, but DUE TO ERROR by Homeowners it ended up both due on same day...

SAME DAY , Baby Girl got sick , vet bill 270.00.  antibiotics for urinary tract infection BUTT it could be the big tumor she has... she is on her 5th pill and no better... waiting and watching. (we are now on the way to almost 3,000 in 2 days)


Thursday, the AC started acting weird, as in having to turn it off and back on to get it to run... 
Friday night at bedtime, Bob the handy man noticed the compressor was running and running and no fan to blow the air. The silly thing is ON and will not turn off unless we Throw The Switch at the breaker box...Thank you Lord I married a handyman... 

DID I MENTION WE ARE IN THE HIGH 90'S ALL DAY AND AT BED TIME IT IS 92 AND ONLY GOES DOWN TO 85 WHEN WE WAKE UP?

AC man, per voice mail.... they are closed on the week ends.. still waiting to hear from him..I did push the button for emergency.. that was 3 hours ago...


Murphy's Law is WHY  things break only on Weekends, even teeth know to break on a week end.

The good news is 4 years ago when we had to wait a week for a part for the AC with NO AC at all, we purchased the trusty little, plug in the wall AC unit, 129.00 at Walmart, and Billy Bob kept it in the garage/airplane hanger  and it will keep the bedroom cool for sleeping. 

While Rome Burns, MadSnapper PLAYS...
THREE STRIKES and we are hopefully OUT of things that cost MONEY.



Friday, August 29, 2014

Zentangle Challenge Friday

with pen

In a prior post, Zentangle Challenge, I ask anyone who wanted to play, to create a Zentangle and post on Friday...

After watching this Cindy Angiel YouTube video of BASIC Advanced BEGINNER instructions, I found I have NO gift for Zentangle on paper as seen above and below.

with pencil and sharpies

MadSnapper Muttering at the kitchen table: "  "This is just to HARD.".. "my head is hurting and I am so stressed my shoulders are aching". 


Bob, sitting at the counter with his snack, said
"Well, why don't you just quit?"

"I can't, I challenged the bloggers, I have to create Something"

 I GAVE UP paper and pen... and went to PicMonkey.... ...and found my Zen was there...


Zentangles above and below by MadSnapper completed in PicMonkey.


It is not to late to play... post it today or any day.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Yes, we got no bananas


The first two hands of bananas were fine, then each of those little ridges, should have been a hand of  bananas.. it stopped making bananas, then a few days ago, the pod started opening and making the flowers that would make the bananas. we have never seen it do this before. Woo Hoo we may yet have fruit....so we thought....

The storm came, the wind blew, the rain fell and so did the banana tree, broke half in to... Bye Bye Bananas. 

Monday, August 25, 2014

Zentangle Challenge

Zentangle Image from Google Images


I am challenging anyone who wants to play to create a Zentangle of their own choice and Post it on Friday August 29. No Meme NO linky. Just fun

Search for Zentangles or use these Pink links provided.







Draw it, Stencil it, Color book It..
Black and White, or use Color
JUST HAVE FUN


Create in PicMonkey or Photoshop
Below video is a quick view... I found many by YouTube search Zentangle for Beginners.

WATCH THIS 60 SECOND ON WHAT A ZENTANGLE IS.. IT IS SPEEDED UP 



Zentangle was created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas is black and white art form... of small patterns repeated.
Tangle Patterns . com  The Zentangle® art form and method was created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas and is copyrighted. Zentangle® is a registered trademark of Zentangle, Inc. 






Sunday, August 24, 2014

In Memory of my Friend Janice

Photo's were taken at Historical Village and Mixon Fruit Farms 2009.

Janice McDaniel Pence

5/19/1933 - 8/23/2014
 My friend Janice, due to sudden illness, passed away on Saturday. She is mother to my friend Diane. Janice lived in Ohio, Diane here. 
I met Janice in 2006 when she came to visit. She came every May for Diane's birthday and we would hit the parks and preserves with our cameras.
Janice and I talked via email every day and became fast friends even though we met only once a year, and she was a faithful follower of my blog.


The camera doesn't fall far from the tree and neither does love of animals.
Janice loved her family above all things and had a deep love of ALL creatures, great and small, winged and four footed.
Janice you are loved and missed...
My heart grieves for you and your family.


Saturday, August 23, 2014

Hackelia Opiz in our YARD

Virginia creeper, dead leaves from Vinegar spray

I have known about the beggar lice plant my whole life.. When in the woods in Georgia, the dreaded little sticky pods cover anything they touch and stick like glue.

I looked up the REAL name, Hackelia Opiz... and the English word is Stickseed or beggar lice...which says it all.

Our side yard, now minus the Big Tree that came down, is a weed bed full of these green plants with purple flowers.. Don't even ask what happens when dogs walk through these sticky pods... Think lots of brushing before entering the house. Which spreads the seeds to make more.

Beggar Lice or Stickseed
I researched how to kill them  without harm to our dogs, because there are to many to pull up, we both pulled for two days until we nearly had heat stroke.

ENTER a gallon jug of Vinegar...the natural weed killer.  It kills everything it touches, so be careful using it. Just spray and soak the leaves and wait.
NOTE: Boiling water from a teakettle will kill weeds, like in stones or between cracks in cement.






Friday, August 22, 2014

Flower Friday + Zentangle


Dwarf Poinciana Blooms taken August 19, 2014. we also had 12 big Night blooming cactus that day. the Heat and Humidity is not good for us, but the flora loves it. Record heat for 2 months now.

Zentangle Flowers by MadSnapper


My friend Carole emailed she had signed up for Zentangle Class.. Say What?

Here are two links to videos that will show you what Zentangle is.. I watched the video's and want to learn the Aura tangle, this is one I created in my head.
 I found the outlines in The Color Book on line.. you can use a color book if you have one. Or draw it yourself. Zen can be used on anything, not just flowers.

watch these videos if you want to learn.. Zentangle helps exercise the brain and helps to meditate and ease stress..


MadSnapper challenges you to Fun by Zentangle next Friday
From questions in comments here are two updates
Update 1: Mine look like doodling, but if you watch the video you will see this is art.
Update 2: What is Zentangle? The Zentangle Method is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create 

beautiful images by drawing structured patterns


Thursday, August 21, 2014

Good Fence Thursday - Etc


In a prior post I showed you photos of Flag House. To reach the Flag House, I parked my Kia next to this beautiful fence, that belongs to the house below.

Joining TexWisGirl for Good Fence Thursday


I walked down past this beautiful tree and lovely home


and down the side walk.


 Past this home


and stood on the sidewalk to take a photo of the flag house. these are the homes directly across the street from the flag house. I love the trees and older home in this area...and if the crushing humidity and heat ever give us a break, I will show you more...


Wednesday, August 20, 2014

''Snapper Shares 2''


Bob uses leftover french fries to make his hash browns. Salem's gives enough fries with his Philly Cheese Steak to last 4 days of breakfast....

Don't even THINK about commenting on the cholesterol content, this is about recycling fries...


We have had trouble with our DVR box on the TV... If we have to get a new DVR box, ALL our series from years of watching will disappear... I took 4 photos of the list.... JUST IN CASE

Found on Facebook Shut Up I'm Still Talking 

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Flag House



house in a box created in Photoscape

In June of this year, Brant Greer, a homeowner in a nearby neighborhood to us, found himself in a code enforcement box and painted him home as the American Flag in protest. He and his wife have 9 children, 7 are adopted  and also are foster parents.

watercolor pencil
Click on highlighted link  to read the June Article  This is America


The battle raged with the city for 2 months and The Guardian Angels of Florida jumped in to help the family, along with many neighbors and friends. On August 6th it ended. The city closed the case.

Read details of The End of the Story  CLICK HERE there are many good details







Monday, August 18, 2014

Monotone ME



I would love to have either of these, the gray is my choice
While discussed hoarding, I made the comment I am the opposite of Hoarding, whatever that is. Someone said that would be Spartan...

I found I do live somewhat like a Spartan but am not a fan of Spartan Decor, but modern is good.

I do live mostly spartan, simple, frugal, minimalist shopping only for needs. No junk, no clutter, we buy used when possible, that includes cars. I have only owned one new car in my 69 years. I think carefully on all purchases and most of time do not buy on impulse.

Spartan Decorating that is definitely NOT me HERE


Modern living rooms I LOVE the gray is my choice
The above gray kitchen and gray living room are what I would have if I could afford to. I like clean lines, zero clutter, just what I need to live


the below sofas were because we were dirt poor and I bought used.


Above photos from Google images. My first sofa was brown and ugly like this one, the second one looked just like it but with the red flowers, the 3rd had brown flowers on the wooden one. that was 1963 through 1984


Above is the 4 sofas we have had since 1985 minus the ugly brown one from the thrift store in 84.. 12 dollars it cost us..... all our sofas comes with dogs.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Two Amazing Photographers

Photo by Scott Garlock

On my Facebook page I follow two amazing photographers, who take old dilapidated houses and buildings and make them into art.

I watch what they post and dream of becoming as skilled at seeing beauty as they do. Beauty is everywhere... Pop over to their FB and Like them or just browse their photos.

Click on photo's to enlarge the details

Photo by Matthew Christopher
To view there photos here are the link.. if you click on a photo on their page you can page through all the photos.


Saturday, August 16, 2014

Diane - Florida Gulf Coast Photographer


Photos by Diane

Above photos were taken by my friend Diane, in her back yard a couple years ago. for more of her images click on the link below.

Photo by MadSnapper

For 5 years, Diane and I covered the county parks and beaches almost every weekend. Due to my health issues this is a thing of the past.
I found a ton of photos in my archives of Photos of  Diane that I took while she was unaware... I have about 200 I think.
She is fearless, standing on edges of cliffs, and busy street corners, wading in mucky water. Always on the hunt for photos.

Photo by MadSanpper

While out with 3 friends in their kayaks a few days ago, Diane took these photos of this cormorant that stopped to dry his wings on her friends kayak.

Photo by Diane

Friday, August 15, 2014

"Snapper Shares"

doodle by MadSnapper using sketchy pencil in Photoscape

There's a new kid software program  in town.. PHOTOSCAPE online edit program. For all you doodlers, have fun. It is really close to PhotoShop
NOTE: I am not a gifted Doodler, but I created these.

THANK YOU to The Farmers Daughter for introducing me to Photoscape. to see her ART click on the link

Got a BOO BOO on your finger? or a mosquito bite?
Keep your left over Ketchup Packages in the freezer. Perfect little ice pack.




Did you REALLY think I would do just ONE sketch?
Really???