Going to the Birds....

...or at least that's the way I feel.  About 2 weeks ago my Jazzercise class started a new routine. That was the start of it. Numbness in my arm. So I go to the doctor who says pinched nerve and gives me some prednisone...it's been almost a week and it's no better.

So I'm thinking this morning, it's hell getting old. The aches and pains, the pulled this muscle or that muscle...now pinched nerves! It's irking my last nerve! But I guess the alternative to not aging isn't good either so I'll make the best of it.

Speaking of birds. I love birds. I have this little "island" in my backyard for birds. It brings quite a few of them in. I love to watch them.
So today I give you tips for attracting birds to your yard...you know it's like people it's all about food, water and shelter! 

Birds like people, like to eat so you gotta feed them so put out bird feeders. But when you put them out think about what kind of birds you want to attract. Maybe you want a variety. So put out a feeder with general mix of wild bird food. You might want another one with thistle  to see some goldfinch or even one with necture for hummingbirds. I like to leave an open dish of peanuts in the shells for my bluejay buddies! The squirrels also love them which is okay with me too. I'm not anti-squirrel.

All that food makes them thirsty so a nice bird bath will do the trick for a sip and a quick bath. I love watching birds flap around in the bird bath.  But make sure you keep that bird bath clean. We don't want dead birds in the bird bath! Of course with water comes mosquitos. I use a mosquito control rink that I put in the bird bath. It's safe for birds and it keeps the mosquito larvae away. Here's a link to one I found online:
http://www.shop.com/Mosquito_Control_Rings-73114744-90743006-p+.xhtml?sourceid=298 

So now their bellies are full and they need a place to rest their weary heads from all the flapping around in the bird bath. That's where the shelter comes in. Add a bird house or two but if you don't want to mess with the birdhouses even providing shrubbery, grasses or some trees will go along way.
---------------------------------------
If you like the bird house pictured above. It's available in my Etsy shop. It is not suitable for outdoor use. It's purely for decorative purposes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have 2 bird houses in my shop. Here's the link for the one above:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/33502861/handpainted-bird-ofgsfc

Some Times I Feel....

...like this butterfly.  Trying to balance on a petal!  My life is a balance act these days. Between my children and my parents. I know what they mean about the sandwich generation.  I seem to be always running parents to doctor's appointments and cleaning, weeding and whatever else they need.  Then there's the kids. Waiting for repairmen for my daughter. Helping my son get things together for the house he's buying...running paperwork here and there, meeting contractors & inspectors, shopping for appliances and whatever else he needs (which is pretty much everything!)

But just like this little butterfly, I'm hanging on.  I love my family as much as this butterfly loves her flower and I'd do anything for them.

If you like this ACEO, it's an original watercolor available in my new Zibbet Shop.... http://www.zibbet.com/ArtByJYWheeler

Blog Give Away Winner

The winner of my blog give away is from Cleveland Ohio. Her blog is JewelKnits. She didn't post her  name. I'll have to email her for that I guess! :)

Thanks to all the people who entered the give away. I was blown away with how successful it was. Look for another give away to come!

Olive Oil, My New Best Friend

I've always from time to time used a tiny amount of olive oil in my hair when I wash it. It's an Italian thing. A dime sized dot goes into in my palm, and  I rub my palms together to warm and distribute it in my hands and then run it through my hair especially close to the ends. My hair is so dry & it really helps condition it.

So the other day as I'm putting the olive oil in my hair, I'm looking at my over 50 face and thinking, even using the emu cream (which in the past has worked wonders on me) above my eye looks droopy and saggy. And I think to myself, well if it does such a great job with the hair, what about the face. So I take another tiny dot and do the same thing on my face. I did it 2 days and I'm telling you it firmed up the upper lid eye area! My tired eyes don't look tired anymore.

Then I think, well maybe I should google it since I don't want to clog my pores and end up with teenage acne or something.  And what do you know, I find out that olive oil has been used on the skin since the times of the Egyptians...who knew?

After that I spent time working it into the laugh lines and lines around my lips and down my neck and you know what? It really does look better.

So girls go get your extra virgin olive oil out of your pantry and give it a try..........it's so much cheaper than face and wrinkle creams!

Prayer and Rain

Yesterday was the National Day of Prayer. As I reflect on it and all the prayers I said yesterday through out the day for others and especially my Dad....this song is my prayer for yesterday, for today, for tomorrow.

If you've never heard it, you need to take a minute. Life is tough, no doubt about it.  There's a lot of rain in one's life...I certainly have my share with my parents and their health. But I learned along time ago, that in all the bad, you need to give praise for the good that comes out of it. I am so thankful that I have God in my corner. I don't know how those who do not believe in God make it through the thunderstorms of life. For me, He has always been there for me. Even at my lowest times, I am never alone. He is always with me.

I am sincerely thankful for that. I hope if you don't know God or if you've been away from God for whatever reason, that you come back to him. His arms are always opened wide and waiting.

Blog Give Away

So it seems all my blogger friends are doing blog give aways and you know me, I can't be left behind in the dust. Always trying to keep up with what's going on online.  So today I offer a blog give away for one of my pieces of hand painted porcelain. 

It's a china painted Porcelain butter dish. Painted with big pink cabbage roses and baby blue accents. Perfect for the shabby chic or cottage style home.

This piece of china  has been handpainted and fired many times in a kiln to an approximate temperature of 1800 degrees to obtain the beautiful finished product. Because each piece of porcelain is handpainted, no two pieces are exactly alike. Because the paints are fired on and permanent, it is dishwasher safe.

So here's the rules

 1)  Eligible to US Residents only.
2)  Time Period today until May 8th.
3)  One entry per person.
4)  Two entries if you visit my Etsy Shop and post a link to your favorite item: http://jywheeler.etsy.com
5)  Must post your email address in comment box so that the winner can be contacted.

DRAWING TAKES PLACE MOTHER'S DAY and winner will be posted on blog that day.

Good luck!