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"Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster..." ― Friedrich W. Nietzsche

Definition of Bigot: a person who is intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; especially : one who regards or treats the members of a group with hatred and intolerance.

"When the whole world is running towards a cliff, he who is running in the opposite direction appears to have lost his mind." ― C. S. Lewis

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Tuesday, March 31, 2020

"T Stands For Teddy And Strawberry Milk" - Photograph

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(Click on image to enlarge)

I am joining Bleubeard and Elizabeth for this week's T Stands For challenge found here.

This is my summation of the past week:

Teddy will be serving double duty as my main image plus as my "T-Day ticket" for my T-Day posts for awhile.

Teddy said that after tea, strawberry milk is another one of his "comfort drinks." Teddy wrapped himself in my rhinoceros sweatshirt, to remind me that I need to tough it out during these stressful times.

United States covid-19 / coronavirus news: I live in Fairfield County, Connecticut, where we continue to follow our State Governor's Lock Down orders. Fairfield County currently has 56% (1445) of Connecticut's total number of positive test result cases (2571). And if you hadn't heard, on March 28, 2020, President Trump attempted to usurp the power of State Governor's, and quarantine "developing “hot spots” [in] New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut." Fortunately, New York Governor Cuomo publicly challenged him on it, and he was forced to back down.

But as they say, a picture tells a thousand words, and I think my From Connecticut With Love postcard speaks for itself:
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Other postcards: Alchemy Wizard, Black White Red Bird.

I painted a clay pot and repotted my Christmas cactus (thanks for your help Elizabeth): Painted Clay Pot and Christmas Cactus In New Pot.
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More Daffodils.

TV Shows on Roku Tubi:

Haven (2010 - 2015)

The Commish (1991 - 1996)

Christmas Cactus In New Pot - Photograph

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(Click on image to enlarge)

I repotted my root bound small Christmas Cactus in this new clay pot that I painted to make it look more like a Christmas pot.

Thanks goes to Elizabeth, for providing me with some plant repotting information and tips. (It's been a long time since I did anything with plants, so I was rusty, and she was very helpful.)

Painted Clay Pot - Photograph

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These are before and after photographs of the clay pot that I got and painted, to make it look more like a Christmas pot, for the small Christmas Cactus that I needed to replant.

I used the following on this pot:

Apple Barrel / Plaid - 20525 Berry Red (acrylic paint)
Apple Barrel / Plaid - 21981E Classic Caramel (satin acrylic paint) (looks sort of like gold)

Liquitex Professional Gloss Gel (gel medium)

I only did one coat of paint. I liked the weathered vintage look some of the underlying streaks of the original color gave it. I also didn't worry about perfection: if a little paint got onto areas where it wasn't supposed to be, I didn't let it bother me. (Usually I'm a perfectionist. With everything else going on right now, I eased up on myself, and ignored the minor mistakes.) Once the paint was dry, I did one coat of gloss on it, to make the colors stand out better. (I also liked how it looked with the matte paint colors, so I could've used a matte clear coat instead, but I decided to go with the glossy clear coat.)

The next step was to repot my root bound Christmas Cactus.

Trump Coronavirus Guidelines Postcard Mailer - Photograph

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This postcard arrived in my mail today, here in Fairfield County, Connecticut. You know, one of those "developing “hot spots” [in] New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut" that Trump both tweeted and stated he was "giving consideration" to quarantining on March 28, 2020. Note that the date on Trump's coronavirus covid-19 guidelines postcard is March 16, 2020, yet it didn't arrive in the mail until today, March 31, 2020. So either it took two weeks to get here, or Trump didn't decide to mail it until recently. I'll go with the latter explanation.

And in case anyone thinks my negative opinion of Trump is because of my political leanings, you would be wrong. I have viewpoints that remain consistent and don't change 180 degrees when the political party of the US President changes, which is more than I can say for many of the members of Congress in both political parties.

On March 28, 2020, Trump attempted to usurp the power of State Governors in the United States, and his actions affected me directly. Fortunately, New York Governor Cuomo publicly challenged him on it, and he was forced to back down.

Monday, March 30, 2020

"From Connecticut With Love" - Postcard

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The idea for this art piece came to me Sunday morning (3/29/2020). It depicts two submarines with New York (NY), New Jersey (NJ), and Connecticut (CT) flags, as well as the United States (US) flag. A snake is riding in the lead submarine, with the message "Don't Tread On Us!" beneath the water. A triskelion logo with the words "NY NJ CT Tri-State Coalition" radiates sunbeams. The message "From Connecticut With Love" is a play on words from the James Bond movie "From Russia With Love."

In case you missed it this past weekend, on Saturday morning, March 28, 2020, a mere two days after US President Trump said he would reopen the US by Easter Sunday (April 12), Trump both tweeted and stated, "I am giving consideration to a QUARANTINE of developing “hot spots”, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut."

New York (NY) Governor Cuomo's response to Trump's quarantine threat was to state, "I don't think it's legal," and that it would be a, "federal declaration of war."

Apparently after that, someone explained to Trump what powers the US President does and does NOT have. So later that night, in order to save face, Trump had the CDC issue a toothless, meaningless Domestic Travel Advisory for New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The tri-state coalition was already doing what the CDC "urged" them to do, starting one week earlier! And the CDC stated, "The Governors of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut will have full discretion to implement this Domestic Travel Advisory." The CDC had to state that, because the US President does not have the authority to implement what was in the Domestic Travel Advisory, but clearly he had every intention of usurping that power!

For those who don't know it, Connecticut is the proud manufacturer of submarines. We even have a museum for the retired USS Nautilus:

Groton, CT - Submarine Force Museum - USS Nautilus Museum

I might print and mail a copy of this postcard to Governor Cuomo. To me, he is the only person who sounds like a Leader and like a President during this coronavirus covid-19 situation.

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My piece is a "cartoon" in the same vein as Charlie Hebdo cartoons. (Their "cartoon" offended me, but apparently some thought it was "funny" so, I too, can make cartoons that others might find offensive.) My piece is also free speech that is protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

I created this using GIMP 2.10.14.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

Sunday, March 29, 2020

"Alchemy Wizard" - Postcard

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(Click on image to enlarge)

This week's Sunday Postcard Art challenge was "Alchemy."

I created this using GIMP 2.10.14.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

Thursday, March 26, 2020

Daffodils - Photograph

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I liked how the light and shadows of the morning sunlight shining through the window blinds looked on these Daffodils that I have in a vase. Yesterday I cut these in my flower garden. Their beauty and perfection is cheerful to look at. Daffodils are one of the few flowers that Deer don't eat.

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

"Black White Red Bird" - Postcard

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(Click on image to enlarge)

I created this using GIMP 2.10.14.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

"T Stands For Teddy And Connecticut Lock Down" - Photograph

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(Click on image to enlarge)

I am joining Bleubeard and Elizabeth for this week's T Stands For challenge found here.

This is my summation of the past week:

Teddy will be serving double duty as my main image plus as my "T-Day ticket" for my T-Day posts for awhile.

United States covid-19 / coronavirus news: "well, that escalated quickly" "and so it begins" New York Quarantine Lock Down Began at 8 PM Sunday March 22, 2020 and Connecticut Quarantine Lock Down Began at 8 PM Monday March 23, 2020.

CT Lock Down: list of what is still open  which is based on:

CISA 16 Critical Infrastructure Sectors

Teddy told me I need to be Strong like a Lion, and Tough like a Rhinoceros during this coronavirus covid-19 crisis. (C3, pronounced C cubed, as Teddy is now calling it. That is also why this week he is posing with a rhinoceros teapot that I got a few years ago.)

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For me here in Connecticut US, over the past week, starting on Monday or Tuesday (March 17, 2020), each day felt like it was 48 hours long, due to the escalating covid-19 / coronavirus situation here in the tri-state (NY, NJ, CT) area. By Friday (March 20, 2020), Saint Patrick's Day felt like it had been one week prior, even though it was a mere three days before.

For those not familiar with the geography of this area, if you drew a circle with the center point in Manhattan, New York, with a radius of about 45 miles (72.4 km), you would have parts of New Jersey (NJ) and Connecticut (CT) in that circle. Many people commute from NJ and CT into New York City to work, via automobile or train. Others commute from within New York (NY) to NJ or CT. Make the radius a little bigger (farther), and now you also include parts of Pennsylvania (PA) in the circle.

My T post two weeks ago first mentioned the local covid-19 / coronavirus news, last week's T post mentioned it again, and today, only two weeks after my first mention of it, several US states have gone into Lock Down, including Connecticut. (I scheduled this post on Monday, before the Lock Down here went into effect, so I won't be able to tell you what it's like until next week, but I do have some information about what it entails written below.)

Something I re-tell myself, when I start to worry, is my own saying that I came up with. Both it and a saying that CJ told me are now posted at the top of my blog page:

Me worrying about things over which I have no control will not change what is going to happen, so it's not helpful. =>
Don't borrow trouble: "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." ~ Matthew 6:34

During the Lock Down, essential businesses / services will remain in operation. So some people will still be commuting to and from their jobs. Grocery stores will remain open, so we can still go to them to get food, etc. But everyone is supposed to limit their travel to only what is essential. I don't know if everyone is going to comply with that, though, so things could "get ugly" if they don't. (Just my opinion, and I won't spell out what I mean by that term.)

An important thing for people with pets to know: veterinarians are essential, so they will remain open during the Lock Down. (But if you have to go, many / all here are saying you can't come in: they will come out to get your pet from your vehicle, they'll go inside with it, then bring it back out when they're done.)

Another important thing for people with pets to know (if you choose to ignore the rules and do whatever you feel like), is this message from one veterinarian here in CT: "Please also note that we recommend you apply social distancing practices to your pets as well. This is not a good time for them to get sick!" A few days ago, there were news reports of people here in CT taking their children and/or dogs out and ignoring the social distancing rules.

Speaking of animals, zoos and rehabilitation sites are enacting contingency plans, so that those animals still get care, too:

Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport, CT had closed effective March 17, 2020, with a plan in place for continued "essential animal care".

March 22, 2020: Ansonia [CT] Nature Center’s permanent residents [animals] moved to temporary homes: "All [of the animals except for] the three owls are going to the homes of the center’s staff and a volunteer. The owls will be housed temporarily at a Killingworth bird aviary [Birds of Prey Rehabilitation Center - Killingworth CT]."

As of Monday morning (March 23, 2020), "Connecticut State Parks and Forests are open for solitary outdoor enjoyment. If you plan to visit a park, it should be for solitary recreation, not group activities." Hopefully "bad apples" don't ignore that requirement, and ruin it for the rest of us, because then CT will probably close them. Already, towns are closing their local parks and beaches (if they have them), so the only places left will be the state ones.

CT State Parks and Forests Covid-19 Updates  (see my Local tab/page for more links)

Saint Patrick's Day artwork (it feels like it was two weeks ago, not one week ago): Ireland Green Woman, Saint Patrick's Day Ireland.

Other artwork: Cigar Labels.

Indoor flower photos:  Saint Patrick's Day Green Flowers, Daffodils and more Daffodils.

Movies:

Double Indemnity (1944) (DVD) - excellent, a classic film-noir

Strange Illusion (1945)  - pretty good

You Only Live Twice (1967) (DVD) James Bond Action - pretty good

Diamonds Are Forever (1971) (DVD) James Bond Action - pretty good

(Roku - Tubi TV - a few commercials) movies:

The Woman in Green (1945) Sherlock Holmes mystery - very good

The Gate (1987) Fantasy, Horror - pretty good

Riding the Bullet (2004) Horror, Thriller - good

The Six Wives of Henry Lefay (2009)  Comedy - pretty funny

The Fields (2011) - Thought it was a horror - okay, but not a horror, so I wouldn't have watched it had I known that

Sunday, March 22, 2020

"Cigar Labels" - Postcard

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(Click on image to enlarge)

This week's Sunday Postcard Art challenge was "Cigar Labels."

United States covid-19 / coronavirus news: "well, that escalated quickly" "and so it begins" New York Quarantine Lock Down Begins Sunday March 22, 2020 at 8 PM and Connecticut Quarantine Lock Down Begins Monday March 23, 2020 at 8 PM

I created this using GIMP 2.10.14.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

Saturday, March 21, 2020

Connecticut Quarantine Lock Down Begins Monday March 23, 2020 at 8 PM

New York state is going into a Quarantine Lock Down due to covid-19 / coronavirus starting at 8 p.m. Sunday, March 22, 2020.

Connecticut followed their lead, and is doing the same thing starting at 8 p.m. Monday, March 23, 2020.

"This is not life as usual. Accept it. Realize it. And deal with it," [New York Governor] Cuomo said. He asked the public to "remain indoors to the greatest extent possible to protect physical and mental health. Your actions can affect my health; that's where we are. We are all in quarantine." (NBC New York article)

Connecticut Governor Lamont called it the "Stay Safe, Stay Home" initiative. (New Haven Register article)

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Daffodils - Photograph

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I took more photographs of the Daffodils I have in vases.

Having these beautiful flowers around me helps to brighten my spirits, as the coronavirus / covid-19 news continues to get worse each day where I am in the United States, and now also where others who I care about live.

To try to remain calm, the main thing I keep telling myself is this: me worrying will not change what is going to happen, so it's not helpful during this situation.

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Daffodils - Photograph

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I took these photographs of some Daffodils in vases today. These were growing in my flower garden, but I decided to cut them and bring them inside, to have something cheerful to look at. Daffodils are one of the few flowers that Deer don't eat.

With each passing day now, the coronavirus / covid-19 news gets worse where I am in the United States. Having these beautiful flowers to look at lets me admire perfection in Nature, and provides some level of calming for me.

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Saint Patrick's Day Green Flowers - Photograph

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I took these photographs of my Saint Patrick's Day green Carnation flowers.

"Saint Patrick's Day Ireland" - Postcard

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Happy Saint Patrick's Day! Éirinn go Brách

Unfortunately, due to coronavirus / covid-19, many Saint Patrick's Day parades have been cancelled here in the US, and in Ireland, and elsewhere.

I created this using GIMP 2.10.14.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

"Ireland Green Woman" - Postcard

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(Click on image to enlarge)

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

I created this using GIMP 2.10.14.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

"T Stands For Teddy And Stress Suppress, Clarity and Calm Tea" - Photograph

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I am joining Bleubeard and Elizabeth for this week's T Stands For challenge found here.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day! (My artwork will appear after this post.)

This is my summation of the past week:

Teddy will be serving double duty as my main image plus as my "T-Day ticket" for my T-Day posts for awhile.

I could use some Stress Suppress Tea and Clarity and Calm Tea, because my stress level has spiked and the peak is not in sight yet. Yesterday (March 16, 2020) I went to the grocery store and there was no meat, chicken, milk, cream, eggs, or toilet paper. In other parts of the store, other shelves were completely bare of items.

In local covid-19 / coronavirus news, the cliche "well that escalated quickly" applies to what I said in  last week's Tuesday post, compared with today, one week later:

NY, NJ, CT Jointly Ban Crowds Over 50, Dining Out, Gyms; Tri-State Cases Surpass 1,000

March 16, 2020: "In the absence of uniform national standards issued by the federal government, Govs. Andrew Cuomo, Phil Murphy and Ned Lamont have implemented their own set of unified rules for the tri-state area.

There will be no crowds with gatherings over 50 anywhere. Casinos will close Monday night [March 16, 2020] regionwide, as well as movie theaters and gyms. Bars and restaurants will be limited to take-out and delivery only as of 8 p.m. Monday [March 16, 2020]. The closures will remain in effect for as long as necessary to protect public health."


Westport [CT] declares Local Preparedness Emergency after 20 residents test positive for coronavirus

March 16, 2020: "of the 31 Westport [CT] residents who were tested for the virus, 20 of them have tested positive." Probably some of those were a result of the report on March 11 of 14 out of 40 people in Westport who were being tested for "flu-like" symptoms who had been exposed to someone with NO SYMPTOMS who later tested positive for covid-19 / coronavirus after leaving the US. Yet back on March 7, after two hospital employees tested positive, one Connecticut hospital assured us that when the employees were working at the hospitals, "the [employee] displayed no symptoms associated with COVID-19, and as a result — and this is very important — the [employee] contact here during that time does not constitute an exposure." If that was true, how did anyone at the party in Westport contract covid-19 from someone who later tested positive but allegedly at the time of the party displayed no symptoms?

March 17, 2020 update to this post: "On Monday [ March 16, 2020], Governor Ned Lamont said that 200 employees of Nuvance Health may have come into contact with coronavirus and are staying home for quarantine. Several of those hospitals are in Connecticut — one of which is in Danbury where a worker who lived in New York state tested positive for COVID-19." THAT spread of the virus would have been from the two NY residents who worked at Danbury Hospital, Norwalk Hospital, and Bridgeport Hospital that they told us at the time does not constitute an exposure and now they tell us it did, when they knew BEFORE that point in time that the CDC was saying people with no symptoms could be spreading it!

I made this map back on March 10, to show the tri-state NJ, NY, CT proximity to the New Rochelle New York containment area.

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postcards: Winged Woman, Dryad Woman, Lucky Irish.

photos: Moon Rays.

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Movies:

Thunderball (1965) (DVD) James Bond Action - pretty good

(Roku - Tubi TV - a few commercials) movies:

The Philadelphia Experiment (1984) Adventure, Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi - very good

The Relic (1997) Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi - pretty good

Disturbing Behavior (1998) Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi - good

Minority Report (2002) Action, Crime, Mystery, Sci-Fi - very good

It Waits (2005) Horror - good

Airborne (2012) Crime, Horror - pretty good

The Remains (2016) Horror, Thriller - good but the ending could've been better

Beast of the Water (2017) (Enuattii - original title) Adventure, Horror, Thriller - good despite a few implausibilities

Ouija Seance: The Final Game (2018) Horror - good despite a few implausibilities


The Invoking (2013) (Sader Ridge - original title) Horror, Thriller - very bad, don't waste your time! a lot of nothing going on, bad acting, bad plot.

Sunday, March 15, 2020

"Lucky Irish" - Postcard

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This week's Sunday Postcard Art challenge was "Lucky."

I'm hoping I and everyone I care about has the luck of the Irish and remains healthy as the coronavirus / covid-19 situation worsens here in the United States. The illness and resultant panic buying is very distressing.

With only 22 cases of covid-19 / coronavirus in Connecticut, State and Local Government officials have stopped informing us of what towns the people who tested positive live in. Most likely because of misleading or outright false information that they told us only one week ago, when cases first started occurring here:

On March 13, Connecticut had 11 cases and State and Local Government officials informed us of what towns they lived in.

On March 14, we were up to 22 cases, and officials said they would no longer tell us what towns people were in, despite the fact that New York continued to do that during their early days, when they had even more cases than 22.

And coincidentally, Connecticut officials' refusal to continue disclosing location information to us followed a report on March 11 of 14 out of 40 people in Westport who were being tested for "flu-like" symptoms who had been exposed to someone with NO SYMPTOMS who later tested positive for covid-19 / coronavirus after leaving the US. Did some / all of those 14 people in Westport test positive, and Connecticut officials don't want to tell us that, because back on March 7, after two hospital employees tested positive, one Connecticut hospital assured us that when the employees were working at the hospitals, "the [employee] displayed no symptoms associated with COVID-19, and as a result — and this is very important — the [employee] contact here during that time does not constitute an exposure." If that was true, how did anyone at the party in Westport contract covid-19 from someone who later tested positive but allegedly at the time of the party displayed no symptoms?

I created this using GIMP 2.10.14.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

Friday, March 13, 2020

"Dryad Woman" - Postcard

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I used some of the same images as I did in my "Vintage Car Woman" - Postcard.

I created this using GIMP 2.10.14.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

Thursday, March 12, 2020

Moon Rays - Photograph

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I took that photograph early this morning. Unfortunately the photo doesn't do justice to how this looked in person. There were two straight beams of light, converging on the horizon behind the trees, like spotlights, shining in the night sky to the left of the moon. I assume they were airplane contrails, but it was still unusual looking.

This is my entry for this week's Skywatch Friday.

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

"Winged Woman" - Postcard

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This week's Take a Word challenge was "Teacup."

I created this using GIMP 2.10.14.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

New Rochelle, New York Containment Area Relative To Connecticut - Map

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coronavirus (covid-19)

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March 7, 2020
2 NY residents test positive:

1 worked at Danbury Hospital and Norwalk Hospital

1 worked at Bridgeport Hospital

but don't panic

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March 10, 2020
approximate New Rochelle, NY Containment Area that will be enforced by National Guard

"T Stands For Teddy And A Healthy Winter Tea" - Photograph

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(Click on image to enlarge)

I am joining Bleubeard and Elizabeth for this week's T Stands For challenge found here.

This is my summation of the past week:

Teddy will be serving double duty as my main image plus as my "T-Day ticket" for my T-Day posts for awhile.

In local news, as of March 7, 2020, two hospital employees who worked at three different hospitals in Fairfield County, Connecticut (Danbury Hospital, Norwalk Hospital, and Bridgeport Hospital) have tested positive for Covid-19 (coronavirus). Also as of March 7, 2020, our Governor said they "don't count" as Connecticut cases because they both live in New York, and it's business as usual at those three hospitals because according to them, when the employees were working at the hospitals, "the [employee] displayed no symptoms associated with COVID-19, and as a result — and this is very important — the [employee] contact here during that time does not constitute an exposure."

As of March 9, 2020, Saint Patrick's Day is apparently cancelled: "Coronavirus: Irish St Patrick's Day parades [Ireland] cancelled" "Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade [Connecticut] postponed due to coronavirus concerns" but I'm not sure why Ireland and Connecticut took those steps, when, on March 3, 2020, UK Prince William [future UK King] thought it was funny to make jokes about 'Spreading Coronavirus' at Royal Engagement in Dublin, Ireland (sarcasm). I wonder if he has ever heard Princess Di is wearing a New Dress? And if he has, does he even understand what the lyrics mean?

Weather-wise, it has been a little cold, but the days are getting noticeably longer, which is nice.

I reformatted my blog so that most of my side bar links are now on Pages/Tabs, instead of my main page.

Postcards: Belly Dancer / Rust, Indian Elephant, Rhinoceros / Steampunk / Rust, Vintage Car Woman.
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Movies:

Dr. No (1962) (DVD) James Bond Action - pretty good

From Russia with Love (1963) (DVD) James Bond Action - pretty good

Goldfinger (1964) (DVD) James Bond Action - pretty good

Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994) (Roku - Tubi TV - a few commercials) Comedy - very funny

Storm of the Century (TV Mini-Series 1999) (DVD) Drama, Fantasy, Horror - excellent

Changing Lanes (2002) (Roku - PopcornFlix - moderate number of commercials) Drama, Thriller - very good

The Thing Below (2004) (Roku - Tubi TV - a few commercials) Action, Adventure, Horror  - pretty bad, a "C" movie

Dark Was the Night (2014) (Roku - Tubi TV - a few commercials) Drama, Horror, Thriller - very good

Sunday, March 8, 2020

"Vintage Car Woman" - Postcard

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This week's Sunday Postcard Art challenge was "Vintage Cars."

I created this using GIMP 2.10.14.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

Thursday, March 5, 2020

"Rhinoceros / Steampunk / Rust" - Postcard

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I made another "rust" piece using the same background as I did for my "Belly Dancer / Rust" postcard. If you look closely, you can see the rhino is slightly embossed.

I created this using GIMP 2.10.14.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

"Indian Elephant" - Postcard

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(Click on image to enlarge)

This week's Three Muses challenge was "Elephant."

I created this using GIMP 2.10.14.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

"Belly Dancer / Rust" - Postcard

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This week's Try It On Tuesday challenge was "Try A New Technique."

I tried this technique: Rust Backgrounds with Distress Oxides.

However, because my artwork is digital, I needed to recreate her end result using various colors and digital brushes. I wanted to make a background that looked like the one on the left: "These are both Vintage Photo following all the same steps except the example on the left is sprayed with a mixture of instant coffee instead of water. The tones are slightly deeper. "

But my rusty background end result was a disaster, and looked nothing like hers:
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I created this using GIMP 2.10.14.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

"T Stands For Teddy And Earl Of Cookie Tea Recipe" - Photograph

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I am joining Bleubeard and Elizabeth for this week's T Stands For challenge found here.

This is my summation of the past week:

Teddy will be serving double duty as my main image plus as my "T-Day ticket" for my T-Day posts for awhile. Teddy said he was humbled by a few of the comments last week, from some of the T-Gang saying they're enjoying seeing his catalog photos, after he complained he was getting bored with them. Teddy said to tell everyone he likes showing the tea, but he's tired of hibernating, and wants to get back outside so he can pose in some parks and nature trails. I told Teddy patience, the warmer weather is almost here.

Earl of Cookie recipe

Weather-wise, we had rain again (which I prefer over snow), but then it got bitterly cold after that. This week it's supposed to warm up into the 50s F (10 C), but as of now, the weekend forecast says a 40% chance of snow. Ugh. Teddy thinks if we make some kind of Pagan Sacrifice to Mother Nature, we can change that snow to all rain. When I asked him what he had in mind, he said he thinks She would love to find a jar of honey left outside on the doorstep for Her, preferably the kind shaped like a bear.

Iris received the Postcard and Envelope I sent her.

Map art piece that was inspired by a CJ quote that I always enjoy reading when she uses it in one of her blog posts:
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Other map artwork: Paris Music Map (tag), Paris Music Map (postcard).

Mardi Gras / Carnival artwork: Jester, Mardi Gras.

Photographs: Dog In Car Driver Seat.
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Movies:

Angel on My Shoulder (1946) (Roku - Horror Movie Classics - commercials every 5 minutes!) Very good movie, channel itself is awful, with commercials every 5 minutes!

No Way Out (1987) (Roku - Pluto TV - commercials every 5 minutes!) crime drama - Very good movie, channel itself is awful, with commercials every 5 minutes!

R.I.P.D. (2013) (DVD) comedy - good, funny

Treehouse (2014) (Roku - Tubi TV - a few commercials) horror - pretty good until the disappointing resolution to the story, and not that many commercials

Black Mountain Side (2014) (Roku - Tubi TV - a few commercials) horror - pretty good, and not that many commercials

Life of the Party (2018) (DVD) comedy - good, funny

The Convent (2018) (Roku - Tubi TV - a few commercials) horror - pretty good, and not that many commercials

Island Zero (2018) (Roku - Tubi TV - a few commercials) horror / sci-fi - pretty good, and not that many commercials

Sunday, March 1, 2020

"Paris Music Map" - Postcard

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(Click on image to enlarge)

This week's Sunday Postcard Art challenge was "Maps."

I used the same images as my "Paris Music Map" - Tag for this piece.

I created this using GIMP 2.10.14.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)

"Hic Sunt Connecticut Map 1891" - Postcard

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(Click on image to enlarge)

This week's Sunday Postcard Art challenge was "Maps."

This postcard is meant to be funny, and isn't meant to offend anyone living in the four sections of Connecticut. (I actually made this in 2019, but never found the "right time" to post it.)

CJ (over at CJ & Ink), sometimes jokingly says that she went to the land of Hic Sunt Draconis (Here There Be Dragons) and explained that, "To a Bostonian, anything beyond the outskirts of the city belongs in the dragon realm." So when I made a day trip to Bara-Hack - Pomfret, CT, I said I had gone to Hic Sunt Draconis. A short time after that, I decided to make a map that defined regions of Connecticut with similar "Hic Sunt" terms. I used Google translate to get the Latin expressions:

here there be people
hic sunt populus
(because of its proximity to New York City)

here there be ghosts
hic sunt manes
(because of Dudleytown - Cornwall, CT)

here there be dragons
hic sunt dracones
(because that's what I called it when I went to Bara-Hack - Pomfret, CT)

here there be sea monsters
hic sunt mare monstra
(because I needed something, and it's along the coast, where everyone knows sea monsters lurk ;-)

I created this using GIMP 2.10.14.

The vintage images are from an Internet search. (See the side of my blog for links.)