AdSense........I'm so confused....

Does anyone out there have any idea why the AdSense ad on my blog hasn't changed in over a week? Have I done something I shouldn't have??? or what?? I can't seem to locate any way of contacting Google to check this out?? Any of you techno wizards have an answer?? HELP, please!
I'm spending time at the moment doing some research with fellow blog artists to figure out how to enhance this blog so I draw more attention to my Etsy shop but being so technically challenged has it's drawbacks. It takes me so long to figure out what in the world I need to do and how to do it....Don't worry...I WILL get there at some point. Gosh, I envy those that 'get it'.

NEW PHOTOS TO VIEW.....

I've spent some time the past few days editing and posting some new photos. Although I'm not a professional by any means, I've been getting some wonderful positive responses regarding some of my pictures...I think it's becoming an addiction!
In the midst of my passion for both my photography and my plates, I'm trying to update my resume as I have to go back to work...unfortunately. I'm not sure who will hire a 61 year old, but I'm about to find out.
I hate that I'm in this position but it is what it is. It goes to show that sooner or later past poor choices and decisions come back to haunt you. However, must move forward!
Just noticed something on my site. I must be in Google's bad books. I've had the same ad showing on AdSense for two or three days consistently without it changing. What's up with that?

A leisurely day...thank goodness!

We are going to a corn roast tomorrow, so did some baking for my contribution. Spent most of the day editing photo folders and resizing photos I want to list on my Etsy site.
Highlight of the day though was seeing and talking to our little grandaughter via webcam...what a great invention! Living so far away from our daughters, their husbands and our grandchildren it's just so great to stay connected that way. My daughter and my grandaughter will be coming to stay for a few days in two weeks and I can hardly wait to hug and kiss her cute little self. I think she looks so much like her Mom did at that age....amazing.
I have two custom plates to get made in the next week and then will start making fall and Christmas stuff....hard to believe we're thinking of that already! Whew, where does time go?

Photography, photography....that's my day today!

I've spent most of the day either taking photos or downloading, categorizing, manipulating, etc. etc. I am developing such a passion for this. It's funny how you look at things much differently when you're looking for subject matter to photograph..one little flower bud, a tree, a single flower. Although, I like to photograph a variety I tend to be leaning towards nature.
I bought a jump drive today but not installed as my husband says the capacity isn't big enough so I'll return and get a bigger one.
I have a Sony DSC - H7 and I'm on a mission to find somewhere to get personal hands on training on all the features of my camera. I'm a hands on learner. The tutorial is OK, but just a little vague in a lot of areas.
Tomorrow I hope to spend time cleaning up and out all my photo folders and only keeping the quality pictures...big job.

YEAH!!!!! ..........Have my computer back!....GREAT BIRTHDAY GIFT!

It turned out my hard drive was shot, but my tech was able to retrieve everything...Sigh of relief.
I have to purchase a jump drive ( another tech thing to learn.)
When I got up and running today I had over 100 emails and in my junk mail there were over 200 entries and had to review them all just in case.
Today I had a leisurely day as it was my birthday. Got calls from many friends and family and I was able to get on webcam with my grandson. Earlier, while out for dinner he and his Mom called and he sang Happy Birthday to me...so, so cute!

A week of breakdowns..........!!!

Well, I'm currently writing this on my husband's computer...For a week I've had no access to my computer as we thought ( according to my techie ) that my video card died a painful death...today she came and NOT SO....no, no , no ....it's my hard drive...expensive and problematic as I hadn't backed anything up for ages. She is not sure when she replaces it how much she will actually be able to retrieve...YIKES!
I have hundreds and hundreds of photos and family, friend pics that may be lost...not to mention what it will do to my ETsy shop. I feel just sick!
In the past week, my computer, our electric kettle, our alarm clock, one of our phones and our toaster oven all died.
Yesterday, from around 4 pm to midnight we had the closest thing to a hurricane you can imagine for the north. We lost power for over 7 hours, lightning storms like you wouldn't believe, our yard is completely over saturated with rain and there are twigs and leaves and small branches all over the place.
The storm caused my husband's power source on his computer to go and he had to get that replaced this morning.
Our friends from Ohio left yesterday morning so at least they got home safely before all this happened.
My computer techie says it will take at least a week or more to try and retrieve all my stuff, if in fact it can be retrieved....omg, I've learned a valuable lesson! Backup, backup, backup!! I have to get a jump drive today or tomorrow so I can back up. I can't afford an exterior hard drive so next best thing.
I am one of those people that doesn't handle when things don't function as they are suppose to....must work on my patience level with this!
At the moment in my new selections I' featuring some of my husband's work as I can't access my folders to post my own stuff.

Technology.....................yikes!!!!!

Well, I'm accessing my husband's computer as mine as not been working for about three to four days. I have a computer repair person coming on Tuesday and she thinks it's my video card that's shot.........probably parts and labour about $160.00...necessary evils, I say....and yet the way of the future. I'm amazed at what can be done and the world wide spread and exposure..that's the good part. The bad is the technical breakdowns, the scam artists, the perverts and the potential for misuse seems to grow.
Me, the not so technical person, can't believe how much time I actually spend on the computer and specifically the internet! Since mine has been broken, I feel 'out of touch'....Omg! I'm hooked!
These days it seems as fast as I learn the capacity of the internet, I realize I'm just scratching the surface and have SO much more to learn.
My Etsy store is there but I can't do too much more until I'm back on my own computer and have access to my own files, folders, etc.

Today........

Spent the morning just taking it easy and sitting in my 'cave' and designing some new drafts for both fall and Christmas plates and fall and Christmas glass blocks.
They look great in my head...let's see how great they look when I make them!
Our Ohio company comes tomorrow..I swear they're moving in. Got a call today with info on all the stuff they're bringing...omg!..we'll be able to feed the army. For sure, we will definitely eat well. We have an English friend that says most Canadians social life revolves around eating...hmmm, I think she's right!
I got a list of new stores and contacts to sell my plates so will start some follow up in a week or so.... I could truly spend most of my time down in my 'cave' creating and making.I'm going to try napkin rings using the stuff they make casts out of..watch for it!
Oh yeah!..the strangest thing is going on! Yesterday, I noticed one of my plates is missing. I'm still 'missing' two others that over the past two months have disappeared. I've asked my husband and he says he knows nothing...how weird is this?

Etsy busy!

Had a really great lunch with our 'angel' and then have spent most of the rest of the day doing photos and posting some new things on my Etsy site...go see!

Company's coming.........

Started the day at my auto mechanics as I'm smelling burning oil every time I shut the iginition off....well, it turns out that last week when I had the oil changed (somewhere else ) they put in a faulty oil filter. Thank goodness, I thought maybe the seals were going or something even worse...don't need those type of expenses at the moment. Also, in Canada every two years, depending on the year of your car you are required by law to have an emissions test done. If your vehicle doesn't pass then you can't renew your vehicle plates. So, this is an expensive month for my car. They always tie all this required stuff into the month of your birthday. Also, my driver's licence expires this month so have to pay for that as well. Fortunately, that only happens every four years.
Our friends are arriving from Ohio on Sunday so did grocery shopping.
We are having the nurse practitioner ( our angel ) here for lunch tomorrow to say thank you to her. I ordered from another Etsy shop a custom made necklace. The necklace part is three different strands of brown beads and then there is a hand blown glass heart suspended from it in brown tones.Beautiful! This shop is in New Hamshire and she made this especially for me. She has some interesting pieces and if you're curious check out crownpointglass.com.
When our Ohio company leaves on the 18th, I have three orders for plates that need to be done by the end of the month.
I'm going to start making more Christmas stuff as well for my shop and will post there as each piece is completed. Watch! You may find something you like! Omg, I hope so!
I also went around to various retailers today and picked up employment applications. I'll fill them out and drop them back the first week of September. The college kids go back and that's usually the best time to find something. I'm not just going to look at retail though. There are some other options I need to look into.
I so hate that I have to go back to work, but we will not survive if I don't. Oh well, the up side of that is some time away. Even after four years, I'm still not used to having my husband home 24/7. I spent 36 years of our marriage with him away Monday to Friday for his job. I had two separate lives and loved that. This whole retirement thing has been a challenge for me to adapt to but I think I'm getting better at it...I hope!

Patience........hmmmm, do I have enough?

This Etsy thing is both exciting and painful and a lot of work, but my heart is telling me to hang in as there is change coming. I need the patience to not give up or get too discouraged. This is a process, not only from a sales point but for the creative side as well.
So many times in the past, I've given up due to other priorities and I refuse to do that this time. I finally have the chance to explore and test my talent. Talking to other artists on both Etsy and locally, it's a journey that tests your convictions but is so worth the process!
I had my two aunts from British Columbia here for lunch yesterday before they head back home. I got two custom orders from relatives at the reunion for plates and my other aunt bought a plate yesterday. It's so uplifting when people buy your art! So I need to keep on keepin' on!

Omg!...................So, so tired..

I thought one night of good sleep and I would be back to my normal energy level...No sir! I had almost nine hours sleep and at this point, I'm pretty sure I'll fight to stay awake until 9:30 to 10:00 pm and then justify going to bed again!
At almost 61 years old, I definitely don't bounce back the same way I used to and it takes me a while to find my 'groove' again.
My husband and I spent most of the day beginning to weed our sad, sad gardens. WE probably have at least four or five more days of solid weeding to get it cleaned up and out.
Thank goodness, I had brought home some leftovers from the reunion and so I didn't have to cook tonight.
We have friends arriving from Ohio on Sunday for eight days so I'm sure glad I have a few more days to get ready. At the pace I'm moving at the moment, I'll need all those days.

Exhausted.......but worth it!

Well, the family reunion is over and it's been a very busy, fun filled, emotional three days.
Those of us on the organizing committees are both relieved and proud at how well everything went.
It went so well that many family members thought we should do this every year....NOT!
We will let the next generation work on the next one.

The start of a crazy busy weekend!!

Well, my husband and I have spent most of today getting food prepared for the 'Meet and Greet' start of our family reunion tonight. A lot of my local aunts and cousins are also preparing food for tonight. There's some entertainment, music, games and stories that will make up the evening. This is the first one ever for my Mom's side of the family. Sadly, not everyone still alive can attend but there will be about 88 adults and children there tonight. I have never met about one third of those coming so it should be both interesting and enjoyable. We have a bunch of door prizes to give away as well. The 'committee' actually decided to spend some of the money allocated for prizes to purchase a couple of my plates and some of my husband's woodworking objects.
I made a special plate and donated with my grandparents wedding photo and now my aunts said they want to order their own after this event is over....yeah!
Gosh, I'm already tired and there's all day tomorrow and all day Sunday yet to go...Whew!