Test Your Vision - What Do You See?

Are they moving? Spinning?



Or are they perfectly still?




How about these. Are they moving? Turning?



Or are they perfectly still?





Now, look at these. Are they moving? One teacher said, "I felt like they were all moving...but slowly. Kind of like they were breathing."



Or are they perfectly still?





The pictures above are used to test the level of stress a person can handle. If you click on each picture, you can see movement more clearly.

The slower the pictures move, the better your ability to handle stress.

Allegedly, criminals that were tested see them spinning around madly; however, senior citizens and kids see them standing still.

None of these images are animated--they are perfectly still.

If you do happen to see the images spinning around madly, please lie down and rest!


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Here comes Blogger Love!



Missy from Things in Life presented me with The Super Comments award July 23rd. The rules are to post the award, tell who presented it with a link back to that person, and then pass the award on to six other bloggers, linking them to the post. Since comments are so special to me, this is an award I cherish. Missy's blog is a good one to visit.


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July 11, Barbara at The Purple Goat Lady shared the PREMIOS DARDO which means "Top Dart. The award acknowledges the values that every blogger shows in his or her effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literary and personal values everyday." Barbara is a proud Texan, but then isn't everyone who lives in Texas? I lived there for one year, and I was proud. I hope you'll visit Barbara too.

The rules are: 1. accept it 2. link back to the one who awarded it to you 3. award it to fifteen others.



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I appreciate these two ladies and feel honored to accept these awards. I have been known to bend a rule or two, so I'm tweaking one of the rules--the last one. I would like if everyone of you who leave a comment to please accept the commenter award, and every one of you who bother to visit me to please accept the Premios Dardo award. That may mean that you should take both awards with my ❤ Blogger Love! ❤ You may copy and follow all of the rules (or not!). Just let me know in your comment if you're taking one or both.

Booking Through Thursday - Recent Funny

If you would like to join in, click here.

Today's question: What’s the funniest book you’ve read recently?

My Response:
Although I love to laugh, I haven't read many funny books. Whenever I come to a place in a book that causes me to laugh out loud, I'm delightfully surprised. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen often. So I had to think to answer this prompt.

According to Their Deeds by Paul Robertson is one book that had me chuckling several times. Although it's a mystery, there's a play on words going on throughout the novel. The protagonist and his wife dialogue like the Thin Man. This is a book about the operations of a bookstore, and I think that anyone who loves books will enjoy it. My review is here.

How about you? Have you read any funny books lately?

Have You Ever Wondered About Speed Bumps?

Susan at A Southern Daydreamer is the gracious hostess for Outdoor Wednesday. Participants post pictures of anything that they might find outdoors. Come join in.








Have you ever wondered how speed bumps get their stripes? What happens when the stripes wear out?


I happened upon these men the other day and found the answers.



The guy on the left is holding a machine that blows out heat, while the guy on the right splashes a powder adhesive on some new white stripes.

Here's a better view.


And now, the finished product!


What's your opinion of speed bumps?

Christimas in July

My friend, Diane at A Picture is Worth A Thousand... hosts 2nd Time Around. She's a creative and crafty lady. She finds what some may think is not worth much, and paints it or tweaks it a bit and creates a thing of beauty, function, and/or value for her home. If you'd like to join in the fun, click on the link.

Diane is a Thrift Shop Queen; she comes up with the best finds. I've never been one who shops at thrift stores, but Blogland has educated me. I stopped in one place and then another. Sometimes I find something; sometimes, there is nothing that interests me, but it's always an adventure. I'm beginning to understand what Diane has been talking about!

The item I'm sharing today was purchased from a thrift store in July when all Christmas items were 50% off! This set of four cute coasters in their holder was 75¢. They look unused. All are more red than the picture shows.








I'm looking forward to using them in December! With all of my things packed up and sitting in the warehouse, this may turn out to be the center of my Christmas decor!

Blue Monday - Japanese Tea Cups and Saucers

It's Blue Monday! To participate:

1. Post about something blue on your blog. It can be pretty, ugly, funny, old, or new as long as it's blue. Leave a link to this blog on your post.

2. Place the Blue Monday button on the top of your post so that people can easily spot it. Place another Blue Monday button on the sidebar of your blog.

3. Mr. Linky will be up after midnight. Return here and link in with Mr. Linky by leaving your name and the Permalink to your post. To create a Permalink, click on your Blue Monday post title and copy all the stuff in the http window. It is a longer address so that people can find your post even later in the week--whenever they get a chance to visit.

4. Leave me a comment. I promise that I will visit you and leave you a commet. Visit other Blue participants by clicking on their links. Make someone's day; leave a comment.

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These are four cups and five saucers that came to me from my mother. Obviously, something broke, but that was many years ago. My mom got them (along with several other things) from her Uncle Charlie--my grandfather's brother. I especially like the shape of the handles.

Here's a glimpse at the inside of one of the cups. I love the beautiful artwork.

Uncle Charlie first married Aunt Margaret and Aunt Margaret bought these tea cups. Unfortunately, Aunt Margaret died. When Uncle Charlie married his second wife, Aunt Betty, she wanted the house to be filled with things that better suited her taste. So, the china was given to my mom who later, passed them down to me. They're quite delicate. I use them for display in my china cabinet. I love the Blue color. There's a good bit of gold too, but that doesn't show up so well.

Here's a shot of the markings on the bottom of the tea cup.



Blue Monday Participants

1. Sally 2. ellen b 3. Elizabeth 4. Lana G! 5. Anne Fannie 6. Lavoice 7. Robyn 8. CailinMarie 9. Marjorie...Molly 10. bj 11. Annemieke @ The Netherlands 12. fitty 13. Ivory Spring 14. Gee 15. Gemma 16. Jeanne 17. NicoleB Hungary

18. Maria Berg, Sweden 19. Valerie@Snap-Pea 20. Hip chick 21. Itajeff 22. Mary@oOne Perfect Bite 23. Janie at Southern Lagniappe 24. Mojo,NC,USA 25. Barbara@Purple Goat Lady 26. cindy 27. Kathy 28. charli and me 29. DeniseMarie 30. Debra Kaye 31. Ms. Sharlotte's...Southern Reflections 32. Knitty 33. Annies Home 34. Becky K.

35. KayC 36. Candy 37. Claudie @ Bubblin' Over 38. Miranda 39. storyteller at Small Reflections 40. Fifi Flowers 41. Lynns Lovelies 42. Iris 43. charmine 44. TwirlandTaste 45. barbara jean 46. Kim: To Desire, Live -To Travel 47. Puna @ LifeSignatures 48. AnnA 49. Rita @ Cashjocky and the Old Salt

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Don't Look to Adam

Romans ¹² When Adam sinned, sin entered the world.... ¹⁵But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. (New Living Translation)

Spiritual Sundays are hosted by gracious Ginger and charming Charlotte. To visit other participants, click here.


See you tomorrow for Blue Monday!

Little Things Mean A Lot

Precious Beverly at How Sweet the Sound hosts Pink Saturday. Please Pause at her Place to see Plenty of other Pretty Pink items that Precious Pink Participating People are Presently Presenting for your Perusing Pleasure.

As Kitty Kallen sang in 1954, "Little Things Mean A Lot." If you're interested, I'm including a copy of her singing this lovely song. I've included the lyrics so that you can sing along.

Blow me a kiss from across the room
Say I look nice when I'm not
Touch my hair as you pass my chair
Little things mean a lot

Give me your arm as we cross the street
Call me at six on the dot
A line a day when you're far away
Little things mean a lot

Don't have to buy me diamonds or pearls
Champagne, sables, and such
I never cared much for diamonds and pearls
'cause honestly, honey, they just cost money

Give me a hand when I've lost the way
Give me your shoulder to cry on
Whether the day is bright or gray
Give me your heart to rely on

Send me the warmth of a secret smile
To show me you haven't forgot
For now and forever, that's always and ever
Honey, little things mean a lot

This past week, while shopping at Publix, a grocery store, I picked up a bunch of pretty flowers. They cost $3.00.




What a bargain!

See you in two days for Blue Monday!

When Treeless, Grow Your Own!

Susan at A Southern Daydreamer is the gracious hostess for Outdoor Wednesday. Life has become complex for her these days, but she still takes the time to provide Mr. Linky for those of us who are interested. Participants post pictures of anything that they might find outdoors. Come join in.

You may remember when I shared about my new rental and the pretty plant I placed by the door. I asked Blogland to identify it for me, and Mrs. Magpie told me that it is an Anthurium. Well, it looked a bit lonely to me.

Since I love palms, I decided that there was a perfect spot on the porch for an Areca palm.

The little porch looks so much better with the plant and the palm sitting in their matching red pots. They DO match, but the film doesn't show that.


See how happy they look? Think of the money we'll save by buying small and growing it ourselves.

Why, by the time my house is done, the palm may be six or seven feet tall! LOL

A Craftsman at Work

My friend, Diane at A Picture is Worth A Thousand... hosts 2nd Time Around. She's a creative and crafty lady. She finds what some may think is not worth much, and paints it or tweaks it a bit and creates a thing of beauty, function, and/or value for her home. If you'd like to join in the fun, click on the link.

I posted about how the movers damaged my china cabinet and promised to show you how the repair turned out. The first two pictures show the terrible gouge that the movers made.

A close-up allows you to get the full impact.

We called this repairman. After visiting once to access the situation, take pictures and measurements, he returned with this wooden plug that he had fashioned. 


He tried the fit, and then went to his truck to sand it down a bit more.


Here he is shown marking lines on the piece.

Next, he used a product called Wood Quick which begins as a putty-type substance and after working it until it begins to harden, he blends it in with the wood piece and attaches it to the china cabinet. Once again, he sands it.


He trims the piece.



 Next, he stained with four different stains and then a coat of varnish. Here's the finished job.


And, a closer look. 

We found him by calling a furniture company that deals with Drexel, the manufacturer of the china cabinet.  We are quite pleased to have this repair so nicely done.