The Chat Room ~ Conversations, Questions, Reminders, Concerns, Announcements, Feedback, Requests, Etc.

Greetings.
I am happy to be a member of "A Woman's Touch." Such inspiration; moving artwork created by glorious women.
"Good stuff!!" As my favorite auntie would say to us when we accomplished any/one/thing.

Iris, congratulations on your accomplishments.

May all be well with every one. Stay safe.

Make your world a place of beauty with a Master Peace,
Kaitha Het Heru
Master Peace. It's Simple Divine.

Happy to have you here, Kaitha! I agree, we have a talented creative inspiring group of women artists-photographers!!

I am thinking of not letting the group grow too large so I can give members & their work the attention they deserve? Not sure.

FYI ~ Uploads are coming in fast & furious right now with new members joining daily! That means homepage features will last only a couple three days at a time!

~Brooks

Brooks,
It's really nice to have groups specifically for women. Thanks for organizing this.
Sandy

As a newbie, I have quite a few questions. I'm still trying to learn the ropes, and hope this is the proper place to ask.

1. Do many artists license their work via here? Pros & cons?
2. Does the digital streaming option mean either or? If one chooses to use digital streaming, does it remove the art from the shop? I'm wondering if it can be in both places.

Thanks so much!

Margaret!

A great forum in which to have these questions answered & establish a dialogue re is in the 'Community Discussions'! I think I saw you post there recently, so maybe you already have some answers?

In time, this group thread may prove to be more lucrative, but looks like members are slow to respond. Understandable w-all that is going on.

But, yes, check the main discussion board. There are always interesting questions, concerns & answers there. Good luck!

And welcome!!

Warmly,
Your group administrator

Does anyone pay for ads on Facebook or Pinterest, or other platform? Is there a platform that produces the most results? Can you trace your ads to direct sales?
Thanks for taking the time to answer.
Sandy

Hi, everyone!

Abbie sent out a 'Group Administrators' group email today reinforcing group rules due to a recent situation concerning another group that has now been removed from the site, both the group & the member! It's a looooong story that some of you probably know a little about, but, suffice it to say, things got out of hand big time. Administrators need to keep their sites professional, their group emails to a minimum, actually tend their groups and refrain from sharing & airing their personal woes & grievances. It's just commonsense, for most.

Some administrators are more hands-on than others, some are only here to feature members' work, nothing more...and some are both; that's us! We want this group to be a place where we can share our work, promote sales and gather useful information, while also interacting in a fun way.

In a nutshell, we are following ALL the rules to a 'T'', except the guideline re keeping the homepage features down to around 30! We are not there, yet, but in time.

~Brooks

SANDY, I have known people who have paid for ads on Fb. They did get more attention, but I cannot answer re direct sales as a result. I'd also like to hear from others on this topic! Good question. Let us know if you create an ad...and if it helped!!

Brooks, thanks so much for the info about Pixels. It would have taken me a while to figure that one out! :)

We are the currently the NEWEST & tiniest group operating at the highest level...as far as the group activity ranking! AND, we rank in the TOP 15 FEATURED groups [with the most recent activity], hanging in there w-the big guns who have thousands of members & longevity behind them. Hear us ROAR!!

I encourage YOU to scroll through the ABOVE posts & respond to anything that you feel needs a response!

Anything goes re subject matter, group or non-group related, including the restrictions you've faced or hardships during the Covid-19 pandemic. Let's steer clear of politics as that is too-heated a subject.

ALSO ~ be SURE to check our weekly featured 'Up Close & Personal' artist! Every Sunday that changes, so let each one know you appreciate them & their work. It's a chance for us all to learn MORE about one another!

REMINDER ~ our homepage features rotate twice a week ~ TUESDAY evening & SATURDAY morning. I'm getting a ton of images daily to review, so we'll keep that twice weekly schedule for the time being. At some point, though, I will be posting features only once weekly!

Be sure to check out our homepage, which is carefully & artistically assembled so your work will get noticed. Share it with others whenever, however, wherever!

There will always be CONTESTS in progress for your to further share & promote your work! Click on the 'Contests' tab above to view.

As of today, 2 months into our formal declaration as a group, our official member count is 434, which is a-mazing! We WELCOME our newest! Happy to have your here.

~B

Margaret ~ my pleasure! Enjoy your week as our 'Up Close' featured artist!

I average one "boosted" post on Facebook per month. I must admit I'm not clear on the difference between an ad and a boosted post. I usually pick up new page likes (I have a separate page for my art from my personal page) when I do a boost. I select market based on what I'm trying to accomplish. I can't say whether any of my sales have been as a result of those boosts or not. I have not had anyone buy an original from FB, nor have I had anyone contact me from FAA regarding purchasing an original.

I do have my work available for licensing and did have someone (actually twice) contact me. Neither actually chose my work.

I exhibit my work at local art galleries, through FAA/Pixels, Artmajeur (no sales there), Pinterest, and FB. I also enter online contests through LightSpaceTime occasionally. These are all just to get myself known and maybe generate some interest.

Thanks for chiming in, Sharon, and responding to some of the posts above yours! Happy to have you in the group...and look forward to your images & participation.


In other news,

Everyone needs an avatar of some kind AND a bio! So important to have both. Members will not be accepted without an avatar!

NEW members, I post homepage features on Tuesday evenings & Saturday mornings, so be sure to check your' Activity' or the homepage to stay current.

Your are invited to participate in any-all of the threads that feel right for you!

Happy 4th!! I posted a thread in the community discussions where you can share your 4th of July images!

~B

I joined in April and have been participating in groups, discussions, and contests. I am wondering how to get noticed by the general public. I'm guessing its descriptions etc? Do page views count to get a higher FAA ranking? Do favorites? Do features? Do the number of uploads? Is it style? More social media?

There is just so many beautiful photos and artwork that I'm wondering what sets one apart. How to increase chances of getting noticed?

Thanks so much for any input.

m

Short story long, Margaret, lol...it's true, there are just SO many artists & photographers on site that it can be hard to stand out in the crowd! It's up to each member to make themselves visible by doing all the things you say, and promoting yourself like crazy. That will bring visitors & buyers. The site itself doesn't do much in the way of promoting 'their' artists, unless perhaps you are already have a name, or become very popular as far as sales. Then you have some clout, maybe, and site exposure, such as your images-name used in site ads, on products, in collections, etc. Most of us have to do the work ourselves, though.

I've been at it for 7 years ~ hosting hundreds [800] of contests, entering contests, winning contests, administering 2-3 groups, posting numerous community discussion threads, promoting myself & others, answering emails, helping members, responding to comments, posting comments, posting work in groups, creating a blog, etc. In other words, I do EVERYTHING the site suggests we do in order to garner sales & views. It's a labor of love...and 'all that' still that does not add up to or guarantee sales, just that you will 'hopefully' get noticed by your peers and visitors = potential patrons. I'm lucky to have sold 'enough' to make me stay & keep doing this.

Image descriptions & key words are super important. I would say that the NUMBER of images in your gallery is important, as well, or at least I've heard some say they didn't make sales until they had over 1,000 images! But, then again, I know some with only 25 who sell well and don't do much of anything! That's usually because they have a following of some sort, either a local market w-sales representation and-or a gallery who offers their originals, as well as prints & more, via FAA-Pixels, and-or an interior designer-collector notices you & becomes a patron, etc.

Joining groups, using the threads, entering contests, hosting contests, winning contests, getting promoted by fellow artists, etc., can bring more visibility, followers & views, but if we're talking sales, that is usually by promoting yourself outside of the site or good fortune. Contests do provide some sales according to Abbie. Some sell to friends & family. There are those with mediocre work that sell well, while others with big talent may fall by the wayside, unfortunately. Some buy their own work...for various reasons.

Hope that helps a little. Others I know will have helpful hints to share. Check the 'Community Discussions Forum' as there are always threads re selling & visibility. Check the blogs, too; once in a while they touch upon the subject.

I forgot to mention...the 'bots'. You will notice that some members have scads of views-visitors, while other have relatively few, even though they may have been here the same amount of time and actually do much more, as far as promotion & activity. That would include me. Unless those with a million or more views are tweaking their numbers to appear more popular, that's usually the work of bots, not Twitter, Instagram, Fb, etc., or because people [necessarily] flock to their work, but in some cases that is true, too. I knew one member who upped her numbers by 100,000 with a click of her mouse anytime she wanted, so I figure others know how to as well. [A 'bot', short for robot, is a software application that is programmed to do certain tasks. Bots are automated, which means they run according to their instructions without a human user needing to start them up. Bots often imitate or replace a human user's behavior. Typically they do repetitive tasks, and they can do them much faster than human users could. Bots usually operate over a network; more than half of Internet traffic is bots scanning content, interacting with webpages, chatting with users, or looking for attack targets. Some bots are useful, such as search engine bots that index content for search or customer service bots that help users.]

Brooks, thanks so much for your information! You spelled it out thoroughly and interestingly. I'm one of those artists thinking self promo is harder than creating the art. :)

Me, too, Margaret. But, I bit the bullet & focused a portion of my time everyday to self promote...because if not now...when! I'd much rather be spending ALL my time either creating art or roaming about snapping photographs, believe me.

I challenged myself to do all that I have done ~ host contests, administer a group, promote on social media, etc. I don't do twitter, which just may be my missing link.

I used to have 6 online shops, which I nixed to free me up to concentrate here. I made it a priority THIS year to do as much as I could to promote. I'm not getting any younger, and I have a LOT of artwork that makes amazing prints I know people would love to purchase. I just need to find the secret to facilitating more regular sales. That way, I can sit back & relax more.

~B

Hello lovely Ladies,

I am new to this group and just wanted to say HI.
Looking forward to seeing all of your wonderful work.

~Gabriele

So happy to have you as part of the group, Gabriele!! Thanks for posting & introducing yourself.

Your work is wonderful, and I look forward to seeing more of it...and you!

~B

WHAT are FAA-Pixels groups for? Good question! Someone asked this in the 'Administrators Only Group'. So, I will answer the best I can!

Groups are much more than a place where the administrator gives out homepage features...and members say 'thanks'! That's nice, and it happens, but...

Groups are really interactive mutual support systems. They are about meeting other artists, learning more about one another and appreciating each other's work!

Everyone knows that being active in a group makes it more visible...increases your friends & followers...AND helps to facilitate $ales!

It usually takes time for form a new 'community' of artists, a place where one feels comfortable & welcome. But, since many of us already know, or know of, each other, we've got that part covered. And we are active!

My job is to make sure we are visible, organized, interesting, current & on an upward trajectory; yours is to support one another, submit your best work & participate however you can = a win-win!

Warmly,
Brooks

Hi, ladies. I usually take summers off from FAA/Pixels, for the most part, because I'm busy working/playing/photographing in our gardens. :)

But I did join this group and wanted to quickly check in. Hanne Lore's bubble image is phenomenal! Great job. I've been here for several years now. I average 4 sales a month, it tells me, when I post on someone's discussion that keeps track of those. My sales have no rhyme or reason except, yes, some of them come from my own promotion outside of FAA. I love FAA for several reasons; #1, I want to create art, not do the business side of things. I did that for years full time and I'm retired! #2, I get such inspiration and encouragement from seeing beautiful work here. #3, I love having a lot of my work in one place to send everyone where they can peruse and buy and share. Yes, I have an artist's website, but it's A LOT of work to maintain it, so it is static, whereas FAA is not.

As far as groups go, I hear many theories on whether they help sales. I quit trying to figure out if they help or not. I don't think they help with sales. But they do help with my own understanding of what works of mine are the more popular images I've created overall. I track these numbers often. Then I am in a better position to know what to promote.

Yes, I've paid for ads on IG and FB. I don't spend a lot. I pick up a few followers. I''m now on the path of translating that to emails so I can create an email list of people interested in my work and send quarterly emails to them. I picked up that idea here in the discussions. I ran a contest a while back on FB to gather emails and it worked really well. It was fun.

It takes time, patience, and solid work to make sales. There are a few hundred thousand artists here. So learn what you can, share good information, and keep creating and posting as much work as possible! Oh, that's the other thing I learned... the more images you have, the better. I don't mean mediocre images, I mean good ones. Some people on here have thousands and thousands! LOL. So my goal is to try to post an average of one a day these days. Sometimes I do them all once a week.

Blessings to all for a bright, shiny day doing what you love! :) Stay safe out there.

Jill! Thanks for stopping by to chat! Love having you here & reading about your experiences, what works for you, etc. Great feedback!

We will see more of you in the fall, winter & spring!! But, we'll enjoy you checking in any time during the summer[s], too!

I am tending to a family emergency re my oldest sister, a former triathlete, who completed her first Ironman at age 50! She's a tough woman, and fighting for her life. We are praying.

Just wanted to make sure that the homepage features were up & assembled this morning, as usual. Our new featured artist & her work will be on display later on tonight & throughout the next week!

Have a lovely weekend, stay safe...and creative.

~B

Brooks, I just wanted to say my thoughts are with you and your family. I can’t imagine what you must be feeling. Praying for a full recovery for your sister.

Hello! Thanks for this group. I have enjoyed looking through the images and very impressed. Honoured to be a part!
Kathy Bassett

Thank you, Gabriele. Appreciate your kindness.

Welcome, Kathy! Happy to have you here. Thanks for posting. Looking forward to seeing you and your images!

Stay safe, everyone. Have a blessed Sunday.

~B

Hello, Thanks for letting me be a part of your group. I love looking at all of the beautiful images, everyone is so talented!

Welcome Julie!! Thanks for sharing a little about yourself. Looking forward to seeing you & your wonderful work.

Hi Marla! You are very welcome here. You are right, SO many amazing images...on the homepage and in our 'Images' gallery. Thanks for your warm words.

~B

Good evening (In France), Brooks and Ladies,

Debra, happy belated birthday to your husband!
Good luck to you both!

Thanks for your regards, Anjuna!
Don't forget to clear your computer's cache to surf lighter! or, equip yourself with Anti-virus!

Preeti ! It’s a laughter workshop with your stories that do incredible good! A real therapy!

Sharon, it seems to me that you are very active, right?
And then, fed up with controlling calories! I prefer vegetables with little treats on the side!

Brooks, all the best and above all take care of yourself and your loved ones!
Courage for all the steps you take!

Hugs everyone! Blessings

You are welcome, Shar! And yes, LOVE scones. We have 'em every Sunday, our big treat of the week! And darn it if I haven't lost those 12 stubborn winter pounds yet, even with all the gardening, walking & such. This is getting scary. Help us!!

Edit: Ruth we were been posting at the same time. Always treat to see you. Merci beaucoup pour votre lovely post, heartfelt & so poetically shared. Thank you for choosing the new 'Weekly Theme'! Happy thoughts en route.

~B

Yes Brooks, it really is getting scary! I usually loose 2 - 3 lbs during the week, only to gain that and sometimes more back on the weekends!! And I am usually most active on the weekends. Oy. :( And blueberry scones, yum.

Hi Ruth! Bonjour or Bonne soirée! (I think!) I am active as far as not being here goes mostly because of family obligations. We have a big family on my side with something always going on, birthdays, dance recitals, etc..., and on my husband's side his mother constantly has visiting relatives from out of the country who we are obligated to go visit. And everyone lives so far away so... there goes the whole day.

Are you getting exciting for the Olympics in Paris!!? So awesome!!

Ok ladies, still catching up here!! xx

Yay, our internet is back up, woohoo. Big power outage in the hood...but, WOW, got a lot done while it was out ~ laundry, dishes, more yard work, AWT & FAA stuff. Funny what can get accomplished when you have no cable or computer, LOL.

Looks like we 'might' get some rain, crossing fingers. I'm dealing with high pollen, too, ah-choo. All our newly planted veggies & seeds could use some more moisture...and the transplants, too.

Now, we wait for the next project, widening the driveway & rearranging fences & gates.. Then I can finish arranging the rocks & adding more plants. This WILL get done, right??!! Lol.

Have fun with all the family functions, Shar. Must be a blast with so much to do and all those people to see & hang with! It's been weird for us with none of our family members nearby, especially on holidays & birthdays. Blueberry scones are our favs, too, yummers. Oh yes, the Olympics! That will be exciting.

~B

Hello girls,
reading about you is really nice and fun. Especially laugh at Preeti’s jokes! Preeti congratulations for your Special Daily and feature, I’ll be visiting your works soon.

This space is so relaxing, it really does good. Brooks I can’t believe you got 12 kilograms this winter! You are a breadstick!
I imagine that Sharon so calorie and fat conscious, with biscuits in one hand and celery stalk in the other. I know we have to be careful about health but once in a while, enjoying Joy’s cookies is good for the whole body, and especially for our mind and mood.
Dear Joy, if your treats look like the ones you have in any of your photos on the FAA, I’m afraid all of us, your special friends, will have to ask you to send them to us, you can’t leave us alone to admire your treats but not be able to taste them!

I am happy to read that things are going well for Monte and Debra, indeed adjustments for your new series of fabulous women of the 70s dressed in floral shirts, such as the Daughters of Flowers, with their boots, bracelets necklaces and earrings, are amazing! Awesome like you, Deb!
You guys are awesome!

I’m glad Brooks that you did so much in the garden, I imagine you looking like a leprechaun now in the garden kneeling to plant your flowers and a moment later appear at your desk to choose features, a moment later cooking, then as the cartoon Speedy Gonzales, that running leaves the trail, away to the laundry and back to the computer! Give me some of your energy!

The pink moon? I just read on the web that between tonight April 23rd and tomorrow April 24th you can see it. Today is cloudy we hope to see it tomorrow. Thank you Shar for reminding us of this event.

Dear Ruth, I admired an extraordinary creation of yours, that face of a child with such a pure look! It’s a joy to see you and read your posts here. I often watch French movies, I find them so elegant, so beautiful and some are also very funny.

Greetings to dear Anjuna, so sweet! Greetings dear to Anita, Sue, Greta, Allison, Lynnie, Debby, Constance, Sabina, and all the wonderful creatures of which at this time do not remember the names but that are just as important and dear.

Brooks, I’m going to try to run and participate a little in the discussions and compliment these incredible AWT artists now. I’ll do what I can and what I can.

Hugs to all!

Lory

Mmmm cooking scones, chocolate chip cookies and cream puffs. Love making them all. What a fun day that would be in my kitchen. Now I need to do some walking. Lol. Lory if only there was a way to share them... l can only send recipes.

Brooks, when you pipe the cream puffs lightly push the tips down with a dot of water. Rest in the oven for a hour after cooking with a slit cut into each.

Back later to read all.

Mama Mia, dear Lory! Thank you for your wonderful post. We so look forward to hearing from you when time, family, health & energy permits. I can imagine you & Francis on your beautiful terraces filled with hanging baskets of flowers & colorful patio pots and little birds that come to visit. It must be moist & green & lovely. I hope it's not too cold, so that you can sit outside & enjoy instead of in.

You are too cute with the' breadstick'...and 'Speedy Gonzales', LOL! Used to love that song. Maybe a while ago I didn't need to lose weight, but now, unless I get on the ball, I will be wearing moo-moos [or muumuus] & kaftans instead of fitted clothing this spring & summer. John has a special gig coming up on June 1st, so maybe I can used that as an 'ego incentive' to lose a few. I'm working on it. You on the other hand, have never had a worry about extra pounds, I don't think!

I know WE have some birthdays coming up in June. Need a little reminder as to when.

Oh, big YAY! John just came to tell me that the company is going to give us a NEW refrigerator!!!

Hahaha, Joy! Wish I was walking with you. There is one on my agenda this evening, too. All this talk of scones, creamy puffs, cookies...I just have to have one or the other, a walk, then a scone...or a scone, then a walk!

Va-va-voom! This two piece just came up on my Fb newsfeed. Don't think that's going to be me anytime soon, lol, but sure is flattering.
https://www.asvye.com/products/7dyycifs4glm0

~B

Hi dear Sharon!.... Gosh I cant believe I missed naming you in my previous post! My sincere apologies.... visits and family events are great fun although take up a lot of time and energy.... This is somewhat how our holidays in India goes. And I dont want to start on gaining and losing weight, lol.

dear Preeti... this latest one was the best!, lol...and congrats for the special feature!

Hi dear Joy, Brooks, Lory and Ruth!

Brooks! Congrats on the NEW fridge ( with all parts ) .... My washer has gone for servicing to replace the drum... within just over a year of purchase... sigh...

Oh sure Brooks, I always worried about extra pounds even when I was underweight as a girl. Fashion magazines influence you and girls very often live almost without eating.
Fortunately I was always thin and after the transplant I had to take cortisone, so first I swelled up and then I gained 10 kilograms. But aesthetically, even for my height (I'm not short) I'm 5'7 with extra pounds I don't look bad. The kilos went on the "right" spots breasts and butt, and at the waist I am always as tight as before.
There is a bit of a belly but at 60 years old that is hard to get rid of.
Beautiful that swimsuit, elegant and then the blue is really refined, my favorite color.
In June you will take pictures with that swimsuit among the flowers in your Paradise garden.

Good day or evening, or night and greetings to all the ladies of AWT.

And yes in June there are birthdays, it seems to me first Joy's on the first of June should be, then June 5 Anita's, June 7 mine, June 22 should be Sharon's, is there also Flo's in June? I had written all the birthdays on the chat-room last year but I was stupid I didn't copy them to my notepad. I will have to go back in time on the chat-room to retrieve all the dates.

Ciaoooo
Hioooo,

Lore

Anjuna! Don't be silly, when I actually try to name everyone I ALWAYS forget someone! Lately I haven't really named anyone, so I am very bad!! And there are so many who I want to (so lazy of me!), so thank you for even thinking of me!

Lory, lucky you to gain in all the right places, no doubt you are simply beautiful and would look super great in that gorgeous bathing suit!

Oh yes, you too Brooks, i am wondering if you have ordered it yet!! My 'bathing suit' for the last several years has been cut off shorts and a very light weight sleeveless short top, and that's it for me anymore! Fat or no fat, I would need a work out routine or plastic surgery! And no thank you to that.

Joy! Cream puffs!!? Seriously, you must STOP!! Our bakery sells the best, I have to literally not even walk in there and make my husband buy the bread!

Ok, not good starting the day thinking of food, afraid where it might lead me. Usually I am pretty good during the day, but the night time urge for a snack is what's hurting me, badly! :(

That's it for now. Hello to all the beautiful ladies of AWT reading.

You know, there are certain people missing lately who I miss a lot. Hoping you are all well, and simply taking a break.
Forgive me for not naming you, and to everyone else who I do see here. Anita, will drop you a note very soon.

Have a beautiful day/ afternoon/ evening or good night's sleep. Love and hugs to all. xxx🖤

Oh Lory, you are one of the lucky ones blessed with some height...and weight that is distributed in all the right places! When you hit 70, that cute belly is even harder to get rid of, take it from me. I remember when my always-thinner older triathlete sister Ann said..."and what's with this extra weight around my middle that I can't get rid of'? Now, all of a sudden, I know what she meant, lol. I've shrunk a little to 5'5" and more short-waisted with longer legs. Happily, still sort of an hourglass. Wish I was on the thinner side, but it is what it is. You would look beautiful in blue, btw!!

I grew up in a family of four girls with a mother who had a critical eye & was super aware of how we looked, what we wore, etc. That, plus all the ads & magazines flaunting thin 'perfect' figures [even before air-brushing], I succumbed to body image issues. Was always been able to lose those extra bits easily when I put my mind to it, but not so much lately. I do have low-thyroid, but, thankfully, high energy, so I'm not sure what the deal is other than age.

Thank you for sharing the upcoming birthdays!

Good luck with your washer, Anjuna! I feel your pain. After all we have gone thru with the new frig manufacturer, several of their repairmen, each one either finding something wrong that the other didn't see or missing something altogether, AND the local appliance store people fielding our SOS's, we are ready for the replacement! Thanks for the congrats. Crossing fingers it has all its parts & doesn't make all those eerie noises. Hugs all the way to India!

Shar, I've been wearing shorts & a top for my 'swim suit', too. Those days of prancing about on the beach in a teeny-weeny bikini are O-V-E-R, unless it's pitch black, I'm on a secluded beach with just John or I've lost my mind, LOL!! Beach coverups have become a way of life. I'm sure you look darling in whatever you wear! You once said you were 'petite', so lucky you.

I've gotten used to the ebb & flow in 'The Chat'...but, I feel ya. Just know that whoever you're missing is dealing with health issues or life challenges or creative woes, or all those things. We miss them, yes...and hope they will return when they are ready. If not, it wasn't meant to be. Some just stop by a few times and that's all she wrote, literally. It's hard because we grow accustomed to seeing and-or hearing from certain members. I will send out an email checking on them from time to time. But, I'm just thrilled to see each one who actually does post here ~ you, Joy, Anjuna, Preeti, Ruth, Lory, Debra...Anita, when she can, Lynnie, too, Flo, as well, Allison, sometimes, Susan...and so on. Warms my heart. And we welcome anyone new who want to join in, too.

It's Ruth's turn to be in our spotlight position today!! Congratulations, Ruth.

The garden is SO sweet right now. I just love this time of year. Time flies so quickly, and I don't want to miss a bloom or blossom!

Love & hugs, everyone.

~B

Dear Sharon, thank you for the consolation... and you are definitely not "bad"... because then I dont know what I need to call myself, lol..... you are always there to support through comments and messages besides the mentions here and thats much much much more than what I do.

Hi Lory.... so you are 5'7" ... Then I completely understand what you mean by not looking overweight even with the extra kilos because I am 5'8". In the US, I guess its easier to find things like pants and women's shoes ( the nice ones ) of my size but here its a challenge.... Cannot take advantage in any sale because the size is never there, lol.

Wow, June is full of birthdays!

Thank you Brooks re my washer... yes! crossing fingers that your new fridge is without problems for a very long time... I am based in Singapore right now... but originally from India with most of the extended family there, and we almost always spend the long end of year holidays in India.

Congrats to dear Ruth for the Special feature!

Today we have for you...Joy's cream puffs dipped in chocolate!!
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/freshly-made-profiteroles-joy-watson.html

Hello, everyone...a busy morning for me. We welcome a NEW 'Daily Special' artist in the spotlight...and NEW 'Features' are being assembled. Off to finish tending.

Chilly rainy day in Ashland. Hope you are all having a beautiful one, no matter the weather. I do love a rainy day!

Anjuna, lol. all the way to Singapore, then. You & Lory with the height. Lucky girls.

Big HUGS,

~B

Hi ladies, I wish I could have a hot drink and share my cream puffs with you all. Thanks for sharing the link Brooks and hope that you will make them. Hope that your new appliance works for many years.

Yes wow all the birthdays coming up. Mine is the 31st of may. The day before winter.

Anjuna and Lory you both are a beautiful height. I'm only 5' 2. Brooks for me to walk to the general store it's half an hour each way.

Chilly nights now down to 4c overnight. Beautiful sunny days.

Lol Brooks about the swim suit. I don't own one.

Great to see everyone and hope all is o.k Hi Anita hope that you are resting.

Anjuna I hope that you enjoyed your chocolate chip cookies.

Thank you and hugs back to you Brooks!

I like my height but then start regretting it when going shopping, haha... but thank you!

Hi Joy! lol Yes I could not resist ... did have the choc chip cookies.... enjoyed them... I enjoy anything chocolate, but do not like it with mint.

Now Preeti has made me remember mangoes and mango icecream... mango season, yay!

Hope everyone is doing good. Have a good weekend! love and hugs to all!

Hello Brooks and ladies!

Thanks Brooks; very grateful for my special report!

Ladies, thank you for your edifying comments!

Who's talking about size? I think Anjuna, Lory and Lynnie are very favored! Even if there were shapes here and there, it wouldn't be very visible! How lucky to be able to consume without guilt I hope! lol
Especially since women generally appreciate cakes!
Chocolate chip cookies are good! But what a temptation!

Yes, Sharon, preparations for the Olympic Games are battle orders!
The flame leaves Athens today and will arrive in France on May 8!
There is a lot of enthusiasm! Traders are rubbing their hands and security is maximum in stations and public places!

Warm greetings to Preeti, (I didn't read her anecdotes today), our dear Anita, Jambo Flo, Allison, Debra; big kisses to those who missed me; take care of yourself !

Blessings

Hello Brooks and ladies.

Ruth! Extremely exciting about the Olympics, wow!! Stay safe dear friend and enjoy!

Anjuna and Lory, you are indeed both lucky to be tall! I am also a five foot two one myself! Growing up I always hoped i would grow taller so I could eat all I wanted and there would be more room for the food to go! lol I may be petite in build, but older age does not suit me at all! And yes, those 5 lbs from last holiday season never went away, and no matter how I try (not hard enough of course) I cannot get rid of them. And they are growing slowly but surely into 10 extra pounds! Help!

Those cream puffs were way too yummy looking Joy, I would never make them! But, nothing would stop me from buying one! The weekends are killing me, I feel as though no matter how much walking I do in a day, the rich foods I choose because it is the weekend, do not care! Ah well. Much worse things and all that. Until I have no choice, not giving them up!

Weather here is sunny gorgeous, but still a little cool. Next week they are calling for 70's all week. We have a brand new baby crab apple tree we planted last year and it is blooming so beautifully for the first time. Makes me so happy. It truly is the little things that give us such joy.

Birthdays! Someone please write a list! I see a few here, and I know Anita is June 5th.

I love mangoes, yum.

Well, Ok I feel like I am beginning to ramble here. Have a beautiful weekend everyone, just a quick hello.

I am thinking of all of you I am missing and sending prayers and hugs your way.
Warm greetings to everyone else reading.

Blessings to all. Take good care ladies. xxx🖤

Joy's cream puffs were too good...a delight for all. Some pastries to smile about.....

Even though it was raining heavily and there was thunder & lightening outside, a man went half a kilometer to the nearest bakery and asked for 4 pastries.

The man at the counter said “Your wife must really like pastries?”

“How do you know these are for my wife?” asked the man.

“Because your mother wouldn’t send you out in a weather like this.”

Jambo Brooks and the Ladies..

Receive my warm greetings all the way from Kenya,
Have missed alot,and haven't been able to write much here after my Dad underwent a Brain surgery, and I have been helping my Mum to take care of him as he recovers.

Thanks to everyone who prayed for us and offered us support, iam so grateful, I can't take the kindness you have shown me in this group for granted,here we say"Asante"/Shukrani", a Swahili word for Thank you,God Bless you all.

My prayers are with you Dear Anita,strength to you.

With the Birthdays,mine is on May 29th Dear Lory,and as Sharon suggested we should indeed have a list.

Much Greetings to you Dear Sharon,Lory,Ruth,Anjuna,Joy,Lynnie,
Allison,Preeti and all the members.

More Grace to you Dear Brooks as you tend to this group.

Hugs around, Blessed Weekend.

Hello Florence, all the best to your Dad in his recovery, and to you and your Mom during this difficult time. Thank goodness he will recover, and I hope the worst is over. Let it be a full recovery.

So Ok for birthdays as far as I know:

Florence - May 29th
Joy - May 31st
Anita - June 5th
Lory - June 7th
Sharon - June 22

Who are we missing girls? I know there are others, is there anyone left or who we missed in April, add May and July too! Add your Birthdays! 🎂

Hi Brooks! We posted same time!! Glad your crab apple tree is now happy!!

LOL, Preeti. And, yes, Joy's cream puffs look SO good. I'm still searching for you mentioning mangoes somewhere? Love them, too. I have blueberries each morning, but also love blackberries, tangerines, bananas, mangoes, papaya, cherries, watermelon, pomegranates...and cantaloupe! Wow, what a fruit salad that would make...or smoothie!

Sharon, enjoy your new little crabapple...and 70 degree temps next week! We, too, bought a little crabapple last year. She didn't like it where we planted her, not enough sun, so we transplanted her this winter to the perfect spot in the upper garden...and she's loving it. Lots of blossoms & leaves. It truly is the little things.

Ruth, enjoy all that is the Olympics! I once saw the Olympic torch when the runner passed thru my little town in 1984 en route to L.A. So exciting. Thank you for your beautiful post.

Anjuna, it must be nice to be 5'10"! Did you play sports in high school? I'm with you on the mint. I rarely eat chocolate, but will take a little bite every now & then. Years ago, I did love chocolate chip mint ice cream, but it's a distant memory now. I'm sure you look beautiful in any outfit you wear

Joy, you & Shar are 5'2", a beautiful height to be! I'm sure you both wear it well. You & me both with no swimsuit. Lol, no more prancing about on the beach anymore. I'll just be content with watching the bathing beauties strut their stuff up & down the sand now. That's the perfect walk, Joy...and usually what I do around here, a mile or two. Used to be 3 or 4, but c'est la vie. Just getting out to walk at a good clip works for me. And what I wouldn't give for all of us ladies to be sitting around the kitchen enjoying your pastries.

Speaking of height, just look at the differences in the Khardasian sisters [oldest to youngest] ~ Kourtney at 5'0", Kim is 5'2", Khloe stands 5'10" tall, Kendall is 5'11" and Kylie at 5'6". What a range...and they all wear it well!!

Editing to say 'thanks' for answering my query re upcoming birthdays, Shar! And, oh, I see Flo up there now, too. Florence, so happy to hear the good news about your dear father. Many blessings of complete healing & continued health. Love seeing you...and thank you for your most beautiful most. More later.

Okay, off to do some tending, post our NEW 'Daily Special' artist and pick out some NEW 'Features'.

Hug all around,

~B

Thanks so much Dear Sharon and Brooks..
We are almost sharing our Birthdays.

Fun little post from my Fb Timeline ~ "It's 1979! What vehicle are you driving?"
https://www.facebook.com/brooks.hauschild/posts/pfbid02T2C8nismRhxGLyNhyyKcrMAz7DkW5W2HcuiXykp4LspfzxhLid26LrwdsewbGM1gl?notif_id=1714072368648196¬if_t=feedback_reaction_generic&ref=notif
~~~~~~~~~~~

We have the duo of April and Thelma of 'Natural Abstract Photography' in the spotlight today, everyone! Let them know you see them! One photograph from each.

~B

Ruth, how exciting about the Olympic Games. Great to watch.

Thanks everyone for your comments on my Cream Puffs. Wish I could share around a table with scones and chocolate chip cookies. Then we could all go for a walk. lol

Sharon, I understand what you are saying and I aslo do a lot of walking in the day. I mostly stay constant but have added some weight over the last few months. Still fitting into the same cloths though. Eating more winter meals now with the colder weather. lol Love your jokes Preeti. Sharon your tree sounds wonderful.

Florance, love your avatar. Hope things continue to get better for your dad.

Brooks, it would be nice to be a little taller. Often cannot reach things. The top shelves in the kitchen I only use the bottom shelf. lol true. Although there is only four of them.
Im more relaxed walking than in a car. Love going for walks with the camera. Den wont come for walks.


Brook's great photos on your facebook page.

Hi Ruth! Can feel the excitement of the Olympics!
About eating guilt free is not really true but I eat anyway :).... exactly as our dear Sharon has said... I don't think I will give up... until there is no choice.
Hi Sharon! You know there is New Years resolution.... then there is a resolution I make every month, then those on Mondays... all go out of the window when treats like those in Joy's photos show up in front of me.... and the most difficult thing is I love sweets as much as I love savories. Sometimes I just wish someone could hypnotize me into avoiding most of this stuff.
Hi Preeti! Maybe the wife was expecting and so having cravings, lol....
Hi Flo! good to see you, your fresh new avatar and good to know about the progress in your dad's recovery! In hindi, Thank you is Shukriya... which is so similar to "Shukrani".
Hi Brooks! Lovely pics of you and your sis and "Sally" ( love that you named your car )...
I am 5'8" and not 5'10".... just played normal games and sports in school... there was badminton, then there's a game called kho kho, and another that we friends played with a rubber ring. It was something similar to the monkey in the middle game where we had to jump high... so I was useful there.
Hi Joy! Yes those puffs were really mouthwatering... and a walk in your neighborhood would be just the thing... with all the cows, calves etc...

Edit: the mango reference was from a comment Preeti made on a post by Neelakshi.... I bought mangoes today :)
Take care everyone... love and hugs to all of you.

Happy Sunday, GIRLZ! We have our NEW 'Daily Special' artist in the spotlight. NEW 'Features' are on the board, too. Joy, send me an upload! Preeti, too.

Lol, Joy, would love to walk with you, camera or not. I prefer walking to driving, as well. Glad you enjoyed the Fb pics! I imagine it would be more convenient to be a little taller, but that's why they make step stools, ladders & such, lol...which I use...since I have the same trouble reaching to my upper shelves & cabinets. Still thinking of puffs & chocolate chips!.

Anjuna, okay, 5'8" it is. Wasn't someone 5'10"...?? I must be seeing things. Thx for clarifying re the mangoes. Me, too, with the games ~ baseball, basketball, tennis, track, volleyball ~ loved them all. Kho kho sounded like fun...and yes, your height would help there! Yep, 'Sally' was my first Subaru, my sidekick for 18 years. We went everywhere together. Currently, my ride is 'Pearl', an Outback, and 23 years young. I get attached to my cars!

I do love your new avatar, too, Flo!!!

Hugs,

~B

Anjuna that's great, "Shukriya", Shukrani" the two is quite similar.
Thanks Ladies for your nice comments(My Avatar) ,Appreciate your kind words.

Will have a look at your fb pics Brooks.
Hugs and a Blessed weekend