Right before our eyes

 Hi Everyone!

Sorry this is kind of long I got carried away. 

As all of you know I try not to be political on my blog. Also, as open as I am about some personal things, I have never talked about how Mr. M. and I get by. When I lost my business to covid, I thought, "How in hell would we live just on our small social security?" At that time we signed up for SNAP. 

It was a life saver for us.  

 I also doubled the size of my garden and started canning like a mad woman. I knew there would be a day like now. 

Even with what I have in store, this is going to be rough for us and the millions who try to make it from month to month. I am sickened by the republicans that are bashing Americans on SNAP telling them to stop buying treats for their kids. Are you effing kidding me? These kids have little enough as it is and republicans want to take away a treat!!!! Believe me treats are not the reason our county is where it is. Or the senator from Louisiana telling SNAP recipients to stop buying crack. WTF? The people I know on SNAP have jobs, take care of their kids and try to make ends meet. 

The people in charge don't go hungry, they get $79.00 a day for meals paid with our taxes. SNAP covers $6.19 a day. They don't go without the best healthcare. They choose from a gold-level Obamacare policy and receive federal subsidies that cover 72 percent of the cost of the premiums.  There are other subsidies that our tax dollars pay for too.  What they don't do, is go to bed worrying, and wondering how they are going to pay the rent, utilities, food, and medications. 

Yesterday I received a letter telling me my prescriptions will now be $12.69 starting Jan. Right now I'm paying $1.69. We are seeing someone to try and change this.

 

Only the "thing" in the white house would say, "A Little Party Never Killed Nobody” 

As he hosted a lavish party of his closest billionaire buddies at Mara-a- largo, while millions of people lose their SNAP. 

There was two stand alone bills to fund SNAP. Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune opposed both legislations. 

To use hunger as a political tool is, in my opinion, the most evil a government can do. The "thing" has already stated that SNAP is gone. This is part of his plan. Shut down the government so he can do what he wants. Have Mike Johnson keep congress on hiatus. It's been over a month now. Get rid of SNAP, Obamacare subsides, next will be Medicare. ICE is just the beginning of his nationalization of so called law enforcement. Get rid of anyone who goes against him, Pardon criminals that will be loyal to him, and there are so many other illegal and unethical things he has done. Last he will rig the voting. (Again?) You don't build a 90,000 Sq Ft ball room and then leave it. 

So, right before our eyes we have a dictator who hates anyone that he can't befit from.

 

Nicole 

Friday Face OFF Lucky Me

 

 Welcome To Friday Face OFF (FFO)

This is the place to show off your face art.

You know, ANY type of face, nature, the face of a flower, Photography, drawings, paintings. There just needs to be a face in your blog post.

 

This week I have decided to teach myself how to draw with colored pencils. Why? Because I was reorganizing my art room and found all of my colored pencils. While drawing I mentioned to MR. M. what I was doing and wished we had the money for me to buy some graphitint pencils. (They are very expensive) Mr. M. hobbles upstairs. A few minutes later he hands me a new set of graphitint pencils, some Ticonderoga colored pencils and a new set of graphite pencils. The best part about this set is it has 6 matt graphite pencils that I have been wanting. Mr. M. doesn't use these any more so they are now mine. 

graphitint. 

Ticonderogoa  

graphite 

graphite matt 

One can never have enough art supplies. 

Now for my piece for this week.

I was going through some art paper and found two sketches that I made years ago. This is the first one.

I have no idea where I found this face. 

She ended up like this. 

It's AI time.

Do you remember this guy from Monster Monday? 

YAY I made top 20%

At night 

 

Some heads

 

Weird teeth 

Something pretty

Join Night Cafe it's free. 

 

It's time to see some features.

 

Mia is a wonderful artist and always has free downloads.

 

Carola You don't want to miss this post. Just take my word for it.

 

Louise is this fun loving, adventurist that will delight you with every post.

Before I end this week's FFO. I want to remind all of you about the self portrait challenge. 

I hope you will join in. Here are the rules.

FFO self portrait, I ask that it is really you from any age. Please include the photo you worked from. If you are creating from life, like looking in a mirror just show any photo of you now. 

Any medium can be used except a photograph. Ya know, you can't just put a photo of yourself. However, it can be realism, character, surreal, abstract as long as we can see you in the art. 

 Any kind of expression. Create you as you see yourself. Now, I know this can take awhile. It will for me. So you have until November 28, 2025 to show your face on FFO. That gives you 4 weeks to work on it. 

 

That's it for me. Now it's your turn to show me your face.

Nicole  

 

Monster Monday

 Hi Everyone!

I was going to show the monsters running the US government today, but thought better of it. I will say that a turn for the worse has happened in the US where the "thing" in the white house has complete control. Congress has been on hiatus   giving the "thing" total control, thanks to Mike Johnson. Congress typically controls America's finances. Before and during the government shutdown, the "thing" has been making his own financial decisions. Finding ways to get around congress. These money moves are disrupting the balance of power. There are NO checks and balances. The "thing" does what he wants. He wheels and deals around the world, making sure he gets his and to hell with everyone else. That is a dictator and although I agree and join in with the protest, no amount of protests are going to stop him. 

Now on to the fun Monster Monday. 

It has been a fun time on NightCafe. Some Halloween challenges that render lots of free credits just by joining in. I also won top 10% for this beauty in a different challenge.

 

A bit of surrealism.

 

 

 My idea for the pumpkin patch.  

And this

 

I love these witches. 

 

These skulls be stylin

Have you ever seen the movie "Stories to tell in the dark?" It's a supernatural, horror film with some laughs. You can stream it on Tubi for free. I mention this because one of the creatures looks a bit like this, without the glowing red and big smile. 

Another big guy. 

Now for some pretties. One of these was for a challenge. I love autumn in the desert.

Surreal places.

 

This was for a white challenge.

Nice outfits, yeah?

That's all for now. If you want to create with what you can imagine and put it into words, then join NightCafe. 

It's free and it's fun!

Have the best Monday!

Nicole
 

 

Sunday Stormy weekend

 Hi Everyone!

I guess winter is upon us. We are in a wicked storm that is hitting the entire Pacific coast. We have just stayed in, watched movies, tried to stay warm and made each other laugh. It's a good thing. After 45 years together that we can still laugh so hard that our cheeks hurt.

One thing Mr. M. can eat with the CKD are tacos. One night this week I made chicken breast, home canned potato tacos. Of course there were onions from the garden, red bell pepper and some good seasoning.
 

I did add some sour cream to mine and we had some home canned refried beans to go with it.   

 Before the rains started I went out to the garden to see that my Nasturtiums are taking over this corner. That is perfectly fine with me. I think it is choking out the Borage though. 

 

 

Taking over the Pork n Bean plant too.

Also this Roma tomato plant thinks it's summer 

 It is loaded with tomatoes, some turning red.

 And new blossoms all over the plant. I will have to check on it today when the rain lets up.

 

 The other thing I have been doing this weekend is trying to get a good photo of me for the FFO Self Portrait challenge. OMG! I already told you how I DO NOT take good photos at all. I have notice that my face has changed so much with lupus and 25 years of on and off prednisone. However, I will get something I can live with and be ready. 

I hope you will join in. Here are the rules.

FFO self portrait, I ask that it is really you from any age. Please include the photo you worked from. If you are creating from life, like looking in a mirror just show any photo of you now. 

Any medium can be used except a photograph. Ya know, you can't just put a photo of yourself. However, it can be realism, character, surreal, abstract as long as we can see you in the art. 

 Any kind of expression. Create you as you see yourself. Now, I know this can take awhile. It will for me. So you have until November 28, 2025 to show your face on FFO. That gives you 5 weeks to work on it. 

 

That's it for me. I have to get this house warmed up. 

Have a great Sunday. 

 Nicole

FFO and Self Portrait Details

 

 Welcome To Friday Face OFF (FFO)

This is the place to show off your face art.

You know, ANY type of face, nature, the face of a flower, Photography, drawings, paintings. There just needs to be a face in your blog post.

 

Last week I asked if any of you have created a self portrait? I got a lot of good responses about it. Sooooo here's how it will work. You may join in or not it's not mandatory. FFO will stay the same any face on your blog works for me. However, for those who want to join in on the FFO self portrait, I ask that it is really you from any age. Please include the photo you worked from. If you are creating from life, like looking in a mirror just show any photo of you now. 

Any medium can be used except a photography. Ya know, you can't just put a photo of yourself. However, it can be realism, character, surreal, abstract as long as we can see you in the art. 

 Any kind of expression. Create you as you see yourself. Now, I know this can take awhile. It will for me. So you have until November 28, 2025 to show your face on FFO. That gives your 5 weeks to work on it. Are you in???? I can't wait to see what every one creates. I will feature everyone that posts a self portrait.

 

 My drawing this week for FFO is this guy.

He started like this.

 

In his photo he had very dark eyes. 

I changed that.

He finally ended up like this. 

Before I show some AI art, some of you may remember this top hat I created.

The band is a bracelet I beaded years ago then added it to the hat. This is the front 

Left side. 

Going towards the back

The back. You have to have an eye in the back of your head. LOL

This is the right side. It was the first thing that sold at my show a few years ago.

I showed you hat to show you these AI pieces.

 

These were created for challenges

 

Some pretties

If you want to create AI art check out NightCafe it's free to join and create.

 

It's time to see some features.

 

Iris. She creates with her heat. It may be serious, funny or creepy either way she is amazing. 

 

Tom, you just can't go wrong visiting his blog.

Photos and fun things.  

 Jeanie shares photos, art and much more from Postcards from the lake. I think she may be home now for the winter.

That's it for me. Now it's your turn to show me your face.

Nicole