§ I'm a rebel!! And Irish. [guess it goes hand in hand]....

It's the most dreaded week [and part of next week] for us local beach lovers!!! HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE SPRING BREAK hits the beaches on the coast---

..."City tourism officials said they expect more than 100,000 people to come to the Coastal Bend this week for spring break, with an economic impact in the tens of millions of dollars."

Read the rest of the story if you're interested. I'm not. rofl

Blah, blah, blah!! I am refusing to do what our government tells us to do by ONE aspect. LOL At least the timing is right....by this I mean, I am refusing to go onto daylight savings time in my home, car, smartphone, computer...refusing to reset the clocks. I've had it up 'to here' with my whole bodily system being confused...and my hour[s] to take my meds, when to begin dinner, go to bed etc. etc. etc. With all the hoopla of daylight time, nothing is being saved as in energy consumption [the sun still rises and sets no matter what the clock says -lights are turned on when it's dark and off when it's light] ------and besides, I'm retired! I have no schedule or time clock to punch. If I ever have an appointment set up with a doctor or a hair cut...if they tell me to show up at 8:00 a.m. I'll write down 7 a.m. Simple as that. In other words...I deplore the time change and never again will I adjust my clocks.

Did you change YOUR clocks? READ THIS - it's all about time change putting your heart at risk --I can relate to this!!!

Benjamin Franklin is the culprit...he's the one that suggested Daylight Savings Time. If he were around, I could really give him a piece of my mind. Kicking his butt clear back to England where he belonged [at least coming up with THAT conception!!]

Studies show that the time change does NOT conserve energy...in fact on an average, the states [except for Arizona] tally up MORE consumption during daylight savings time by 1%; costing states extra money in the MILLIONS of dollars. All contributed to the extra time needed to air conditioning and/or heating either in the summertime or early autumn.

I've written to my Congressmen in Texas...they all highly disagree with the nation-wide studies. Why does that not surprise me? I think it all boils down to lobbyists and big money exchanging hands with oil.

Also estimate social costs of increased pollution emissions that range from $1.7 to $5.5 million per year during the savings time months.

That was one of the BEST parts of our living in Arizona for a decade!!! No Daylight Savings Time!!!!

Speaking of SPRING...Saturday is St. Patrick's Day. Of course, I didn't go without doing a little decorating o' the house and hearth...and I do mean a LITTLE bit. Didn't have that much time to go all out this year....






All images are from the coffee table, table top
...in living room

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I titled this "Irish Interlude"




Effects and steps to come to this:

Pastel of the original from above in my Fragments...then-
Feather, Eclipse, copy, paste add picture tube of Irish Green hat...frame, Goldplate, title it.




CONNECTING TO:

§ Wouldn't you keep it? I've fractured a law or two...

44 years ago today, Bud and I had our first date!! March 9, 1968 -Dinner at a Posh Restaurant in the city...two dozen long stemmed roses awaited me at the table we were to dine at---a beautiful evening. By the end of the time we spent together, he then told me he loved me.

Magazine: My Texas Life March issue is online now --this month some great Texas Recipes!! LINK on SIDEBAR

So, I'm reading a newspaper article on the history of ship wrecks, rich people inhabiting part of the island near my home...all long ago. AND...all about finding treasure; like in gold, silver and jewels. Yet, near the end of the article, I read where one hidden treasure of the wealthy Singer family [his brother inventor of the Singer Sewing Machine] lived on what is now Padre Island National Seashore [federal national park reserve]...and had to research on Google the saga. I found this, which is quite interesting. But, keep in mind...now that this is a National Park...metal detectors are strictly prohibited. Darn!!!

The Singer family was wealthy beyond their wildest dreams, making larger and larger investments in their cattle business. At some point, John became a bit concerned about having all that gold and silver at the house, so he located a hiding spot where he buried his fortune. The hiding spot was on a large sand dune that became known as “money hill.” There were also rumors of a second hiding spot. Unfortunately for the Singers, the U.S. Civil War started in 1861, putting the Singers in a precarious position. They were wealthy northerners living in an area that could become a high profile area for the military. They relocated to the mainland and remained there for four years, until the end of the war. As the war progressed, the Union Navy arrived at Padre Island and U.S. Navy troops used the Singer house. By the end of the war, they had destroyed the house, apparently for firewood. Additionally, several storms had hit the area, some quite severe. The money hill was no longer identifiable! John made several trips back to the island to try to find it, but with no success.

I'm thinking that perhaps with the troops using their home for firewood and such, perhaps maybe the soldiers found the treasure? Wouldn't it be fun and thrilling to find such?!!! Of course, Texas law says you must return it to the state. But, really...who would tell?

Also, many shipwrecks and Spanish gold from the 1500's are being found still today along the entire length of Padre Island!!! Again, property of the state.

Another shipwreck was the S S Nicaragua in 1912 ---it was found, and being part of an archeological exploration. It is said at LOW TIDE some ship parts are visible!!!

I WOULD LOVE TO FIND A SPANISH COIN on the beach. I would keep it. Never tell anyone. Yep, I've fractured a law or two in my day, and this wouldn't be the last, I'm sure.

And last: Remember the overnight sensation of Britain's Got Talent and Susan Boyle with her rendition of I Dreamed a Dream [from Les Miserables]? Well, a news segment in the entertainment issue online had this video of a 2nd one that was wondrous in my opinion--this time it's American Idol. And a 16 year old; Jessica Sanchez singing I Will Always Love You [to skip over all the whoopla at the beginning...use the scroll horizontal bar on the youtube video and scroll to 57 seconds, then play arrow:

...besides, I LOVE the deep rich cobalt blue gown she is wearing! LOL




Read more on the Singer Family Treasure HERE
Online Article found that is the same printed in our local paper.

DISCLAIMER for Spanish Ship Clipart use:

You are allowed to use clker.com and any content provided by clker.com if you are 18 years or older... courtesy of this site

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INDIGO FANTASY is what I titled the art effects image. The original photo is the small inset to the right. This is one of my solar lights that I just bought---I just took a photo of the box it came in and will make a post about it later...

The effects used this time in Paintshop Pro is:

Pastel
Sandstone filter
Brightness/Contrast
Illumination [on wings]
then, as always my gold nameplate






CONNECTING TO:

§ Fragmenting the Oscars...

Sorry, I didn't get a chance to visit any of you who stopped by yesterday [Thursday] --I wasn't home from early morning 'til late at night, and I'll publish this when I have completed my Friday's thoughts and then go snooze some before the daylight hours arrive. I'm gonna try and get around to saying 'howdy' to y'all today if I can!!! My post for today is a delayed reaction post...by that I mean...I haven't had much time online/blogging to actually sit down and 'talk about' the Oscars from this past Sunday, so I'll do it now...

Watched the Oscars streamed live on the computer from around 5:00 PM CST to its closing winner ---The Artist movie of the year. I have really been lax in movie going lately. In fact, the only two that I saw in the theater were War Horse and Rango [Rango won best animated feature]. And for me, War Horse was good, but oh so typical an animal story. Personally, I didn't think it was close to Oscar material. Now, what boggled my mind, and this shows that I didn't even pay any ATTENTION to movies this year; I didn't know that we had a Silent Film!! I can't even recall that The Artist was here in our theaters. LOL [Guess I lived under a rock in 2011] ---But, the fashions are really what I like to view...the walk down the Red Carpet. And I picked a few that were my favorites, as I do every year. I think my favorite was Viola Davis's green gown!! Then, the two runners-up were J-Lo [her gown was quite Egyptian I think, and tastefully revealing I thought. But now the 'buzz' is that her nipple was exposed ---:sigh: OMGoodness, I'm sure the media just pounced on that story!!] - and - Stacey Keibler's stunning gold ensemble. I loved the off shoulder cut, and the gold lame; all the way up to the hip's rose drape. But, of this gown, watching her try and walk in it...hilarious.

The only 'star' that was absent in attendance at the red carpet pre-show was Uggie, the dog in the best picture of the year...The Artist. Rumor has it, he'll now retire. Just think, retiring at age 7. Heck even in doggie years, that would be 49! Whoa...

Oh, and one big whoopty-do about Angelina Jolie strutting her stuff in her black velvet gown...slit up to her thigh---and she stopping in front of the red carpet cameras, stickin' out her ugly leg ---LOL I can't understand the fascination with her OR Brad Pitt. Never have, never will. Not to mention his ex --Jennifer. Old hat. Too bad there is really nothing to cover in those tabloid rags that would sell for them, 'cause I for one get real tired of seeing their mug shots at the stores' check-out stands.

Not to ignore the men....Even tho you really can't say too much about their style 'cause it's all so redundant, I did like the way Sean Combs carried himself...very stately, well dressed and just all and all spiffy---

I really really liked the acceptance speech on the Sound Editing award [or some such award for sound] I believe it was --for the movie Hugo...it was ingenious and smart. One of the editors on stage thanked

"everyone who is here, everyone who is not here, everyone who has been born and everyone who has been reborn. 'If I left anyone out, you know who you are'."

All time favorites of mine - Meryl Streep. And Christopher Plummer...[remember him?] Oh how I adored him from The Sound of Music on up to today---just think, he's just two years younger than the Oscar himself, which he noted on stage!!!

As I posted at the beginning, I'm done with my usual blog Oscar rant, tho very late this year because I've been busy cleaning house during the day and not on the computer much. Now it's time to exit....stage left

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Original [our Persian, Winston]...



..."on canvas"



Techniques used in PaintShop Pro:

Fine Leather
Pastel filter
Canvas
Frame
x2 Frame
Goldplate Nameplate "Marbles of Aquamarine"





CONNECTING TO:

§ Shades of Pink in Season...

Busy week for me...not too much time on the computer. Bah!!!

Each day this week, we have had a dense fog warning early in the mornings

Temperatures were soaring during the mid-week. A high on Wednesday was 84 degrees - Fahrenheit!! But, there is a cold front moving in [cold for this time of year, and this area anyway]. It will be a nice relief after such a sultry day experienced. At 5:30 this morning...it's raining heavily and the wind is howling outside my window.

You can tell the weather is warming up...there is a need for the ceiling fans to be a'runnin' again---full throttle

Also weather related...even tho Bud takes Winston out on the work bench and gives him a good brushing of his long Persain coat --he's shedding...he's MOLTING his winter gear and readying for Spring and warm temps---which brings us to waking up to HAIR BALLS on the carpet!!!

And on that note...I'll stop with fragments and move on.....

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One of four of our rose bushes that border the master bedroom windows in bloom this week




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Mosaic - Quilted
The same rose image as above resulted in this program 'art work'
Techniques in PaintShop Pro

1] texture - canvas
2] texture - tile/triangle
3] color/brightness
4] preset picture frame - design01 = added pink hex color
5] add borders in green - texture - tile/triangle
6] add border in pink - texture - tile/triangle
7] name plate in gold - "Coastal Corals"

Note to ceevee ---I can't leave you a comment because I have no flickr account so, I thought I'd leave a note to you here: Well, I think this still life...probably BEFORE the filters were used, is beautiful. They say a picture paints a 1000 words...this is the epitome...and you improved it to become a true work of art.

Note to the Artful Diva ---you also have a flickr account for the meme, and I LOVE your textured amaryllis!! I can see this framed and hanging in a renowned art gallery!!! Well done.


CONNECTING TO:

§ They Say the Neon Lights are Bright...

FRIDAY FRAGMENTS

I finally received my 2nd issue of the gift subscription to Birds and Blooms. First thing I did was to go searchin' for the acorn. And found it. Clever hiding place...well concealed.

Bud and I went to Logan's for Valentine's Day. I ordered the 6 oz. sirloin. Mighty tasty. But, for me, the tossed salad with Balsamic dressing was scrumptious. We like to go there 'cause they have peanuts in the shell to snack on while waiting for your order to arrive at the table. And of course, their multitude of TV screens around the establishment is always on ESPN. You know me and sports.

The Texas drought in this section of the state isn't over yet...but the rainfall is getting better. We've had some nice, gentle, day-long bouts of moisture!! Thing is tho, yesterday, it was near 80◦ Fahrenheit.

I'm revamping my meme links...going back to the original images made by meme owners instead of my 'template themed' buttons...much easier to keep up with than trying to design buttons for each template. LOL

This week, Janet became my 600th follower!! The "Friends Connect" shows 601, but Janet was #600 and her profile image appears...it's kinda misleading and the only thing I can figure out is I have a follower that did not go public; instead... choosing to follow me 'icognito'. Any case, KEWL BEANS...

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FLORAL FRIDAY FOTO


Here in Coastal Texas, flowers that have an origin from bulbs is quite difficult to grow successfully. First, there are rarely deep freezes in the soil in the winter months. Bulbs really need to go dormant, and they don't without freezing temps. Secondly, the ground, in any normal weather pattern [unlike what we've experienced in the last year] --the ground is usually quite moist, which bulbs tend to get root-rot. This year however, the daffodils are putting on a good showing in our yard...






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and then for PHOTO ART FRIDAY
I thought perhaps I'd show you the "Neon Lights of Corpus" using the same image as above...

Techniques and filters used:
SHARPEN MASK
EDGE ART FILTER
BRIGHTNESS/CONTRAST
FILL
adding a gold nameplate "Neon Lights"
With Paintshop Pro, I did the above list, with these results:





CONNECTING TO: PHOTO ART FRIDAY meme

§ I'm gettin' geared up....'tis near the season---

FRIDAY FRAGMENTS

FIRST & FOREMOST...I want to thank each and everyone for all the wonderful birthday wishes in the past few days. You guys, my bloggin' buddies, are top in my book!!! THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. Y'all definitely know how to make this ol' gal feel really special.

The Super Bowl is over, I was pleased to have the Giants win. Very much so. But now....it'll soon be MY time of year for sports. Following professional baseball!! Soon, I'll hear the crack of the bat...see the home runs, and root for my favorite teams. D'Back, Rockies, Astros, and of course my all time favorite, the Yankees!! It's gonna be an odd season for me and the Yankees, tho. Jorge Posada retired a few weeks back. Not surprising because of his turmoil and 'bad' season last year, but still he's been with the team almost 'forever'. I love what he did, I just plain 'loved' him. Anyway, it's now coming up on Spring Training... and I read that the one time Spring Training ballpark in Tucson [one of two---the Colorado Rockies no longer train there either], the AZ Diamondbacks used to train in Tucson at Tucson Electric Park. But, I read that it's now had a name change...Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium [pronounced KEEno]. Tho, the D'backs train elsewhere as do the Rockies, I'm happy to hear that the bond issue that we passed when we lived in Tucson...that the ballpark is going to be used by the Chicago White Sox here and there a few times. At least the money spent decades ago isn't going to waste on the huge park. March 2nd and 3rd are the scheduled 1st games of the season. "PLAY BALL"

The Kino name as mentioned above is named after Father Kino [a Catholic Missionary for the Pima tribe in and around Arizona] - also he's connected with the history of the San Xavier Mission just outside Tucson on the reservation.





The "White Dove of the Desert"

The Super Bowl Commercials...well, at least the one I picked WAS part of the top ten. [if you want to watch the commercial, click on hyperlink & scroll down] But, the #1....so darned political, even NFL dropped it from you tube? Unbelievable. It made a statement. The corrupt American government, the people who suffer...the country in HALF time. Needing to go forth for the 2nd half and win!!! I kinda liked it actually. Thing is tho, it's really sad to have the need to use this time slot to make a political point so strong and yet it's all about ONE auto maker? It should have been more about the American People who suffer with no jobs, etc. etc. and leave it go at that. Another point, Americans know about the economy...they know HOW to be strong; it's the government that's weak. Top Ten commercials list here.

connected to: Friday Fragments [linked button found at BOTTOM of blog page]

PHOTO ART FRIDAY & Friday Favorites, mingled in together this week with Floral Friday Foto Memes


I used the photo of a church in our city -- one that is located atop Upper Broadway...on a bluff overlooking the Bay. This is the original photo - with that image, in my Paintshop Pro, I used these techniques:

"Define Filter"
"Edge Art"
and
"Custom"
"Frame and Texture"
"Gold Nameplate" *Corpus Christi* [in English: Christ's Body]
making it turn to a monochrome watercolor...





And then, this one that ties into part of the post below...



PaintShop Pro

EFFECTS used:
Pastel filter
Hot Wax
Edge Glow
Wrinkle Emboss
Color Adjustment
crop/paste behind frame
Gold Nameplate: "Luck of the Iris"






connecting to: PHOTO ART FRIDAY meme

*

I was invited to join in on the meme --Floral Friday Foto, and with this blossom/plant being one of my favorites I thought I'd combine this with, of course, Friday's Favorites. You see, when I grew up in Colorado, my father, the man with the greenest thumb ever...had acres of flowers, fruit trees, and a vast vegetable garden!! One species of flowers that he had bordering his property lines, along the split railing fencing...was IRIS. Tons of colors in the Rocky Mountain Springtime!! Relocating to Tucson after Bud retired, iris did not grow well. And I've never seen anyone's yards around here in the sub-tropical Texas Coast have any iris blooming either. I figured it was too wet or something. But then, one time when we were in Lowes Improvment stores, they had bins of different patented iris. I spied a blue one!! I took it home an planted it. So far, in the last eight years, it's only bloomed once!! Then, Dawn, a blogger from near my hometown in Colorado sent me some iris bulbs to plant. One is thriving!! It has bloomed every Spring. As it is right now....PURPLE is a favorite color of mine, and IRIS is a favorite flower for Springtime-------








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and

§ He loves me, he loves me not....

FRIDAY FRAGMENTS

The February issue of MY TEXAS LIFE is online. Some 'hearty' recipes this month!! View by using the sidebar link.

What a terrific book I just finished reading! [THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN authored by Ron Rozelle] So filled with a personal view [tho fiction, but based on factual events] on the historic Texas Catastrophic Hurricane of 1900!

Still, today [2012]....This event holds the record as the United States' deadliest natural disaster.

From the beginning to the ending epilogue, it was profound, poignant, and oh so intimate...an imaginary step back in time, and what the people of 1900 Galveston Island went through on the fateful Saturday in September when a catastrophic hurricane pummeled the area with destructive winds, rain, and the ferocious Gulf Waters and floods. Families, two orphanages, houses...etc. Background stories of the citizens' efforts to stay alive, while still the author gives a 'human' perspective of their lives. From the two weathermen of that time, to the rich and very poor. Outstanding!! And the epilogue [I rarely take time to read an epilogue]...but this book, I didn't want to see it end, it was that extreme...the epilogue has a modern day NASA weatherman traveling to Galveston and just viewing in his mind what it would have been like some 100+ years ago. I rarely do continued research after reading a novel, but this book had me online several days, searching for answers and images!! Read it if you can. It's well worth finding it and adding it to your 'to read list'.



















IMAGES OF THE AFTERMATH -found online

We tried CiCi's Pizza for the very first time ever... this week; not bad. I really liked their Spinach/Romano Cheese pizza. And their salad buffet was really cold, fresh and crispy!! Oh, and need I mention the dessert bar? Whoa...Boston Cream Pizza? Yep, according to Bud I should try it..."it's super"...as he goes back for seconds in that department, lol!! I had one slice of Pepperoni, the Spinach Romano pizza -one slice. A large bowl of pasta/chicken/vegetable soup, a huge salad with three different lettuces/red cabbage/baby carrots/grape tomatoes/red onion/black olives...topped with light Italian dressing and garlic croutons. Along with the salad I grabbed and added to my plate two garlic bread sticks. I had no dessert, but Bud made up for what I didn't take. He doesn't gain an ounce and can eat anything in front of him!!

Valentine's Day is coming ever so quickly! I love red, so this is another good holiday to decorate the home with hearts and love. I didn't do much, but had to have something: valentine's ribbon, glass hearts, ladybug hi-ball glasses, mice in love, and red candles [can't see the candles but the silver candle holders], and red shredded foil [all on the fireplace mantel], the living room coffee table, and not to forget the dining room table---


...the fireplace



...on the coffee table




...the dining room centerpiece

connected to: Friday Fragments [linked button at BOTTOM of blog]

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PHOTO ART FRIDAY

I took this image of a wildflower [sunflower] that I posted on my Monday's blog for Mellow Yellow and macro Monday---Making it aged newspaper. The steps I used in PaintShop Pro were: "pastel" 2] "colored edges" 3] "aged" 4] "picture frame preset" 5] aged again 6] then, added the gold title plate with "FADED GLORY" with these results:





connecting to: PHOTO ART FRIDAY meme


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FRIDAY FAVORITES

This painting has been a favorite of mine for a long long time. As a youngster, the image was framed and hanging on the municipal's library wall....it reminded me of my grandparents, even tho my own grandparents don't even come close to physical features in this painting--I don't know why, but it just did. Then, as I grew older and had two children of my own, I saw it again, and told Erik and Irene that 'once it reminded me of grandpa and grandma but now it reminds me of my folks, YOUR grandparents'. Well, just a few years back, Erik came to visit us from Houston for the weekend, and he had in his car's trunk a surprise wrapped in brown paper. When he got it into the house he handed it over to me and I tore the papering off, only to find that he found the print and had it framed....Keeping for the theme of Valentine's as I have with hearts and flowers today, I thought this would be a perfect time to share it. Of course, it's on the fireplace wall surrounded by the silver candle holders, I mentioned above, with red candles. The painting is titled THIS IS MY LOVE and the artist is Leslie Emery. Painted in 1950 [I was one year old]. It is a gift and wonderful gesture from Erik, that I will treasure, I hope, for years to come...




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Further Reading:

GALVESTON TEXAS 1900 HURRICANE RECOVERY

From another site GALVESTON ISLAND FACTS, it stated:

The Cold Facts of the Great Galveston Hurricane
Estimated Maximum Wind Speed: 120 mph The official anemometer blew away after recording a sustained
wind speed of 84 mph and gust of 102 mph.
Estimated Storm Surge: 15 to 20 ft Galveston's highest point stood
only 8.7 feet above sea level.
The storm surge occurred at high tide.
Estimated Saffir-Simpson Category: Category 4
Estimated Dead: 8,000 -- 6,000 in Galveston + 2,000 in surrounding area (Some place the figure as high as 12,000).
Estimated Number of Homes Destroyed: 3,600-plus in Galveston.
Estimated Total Damage: $25 to 50 million (in 1900 dollars);
$500 million to $1 billion (in 2003 dollars)

YOU TUBE VIDEO OF "after" DESTRUCTION

RELATED ORPHANAGE VIDEO