Today Is Thursday, October 8 2026: This Is What Happened.

 

Not sure if this will be an long or short post. I had plan to do it earlier. As I'm on the west coast of the United State, We're one the last one to be included as the cycle of the earth rotation. Right now it is almost 6PM, and New York City it 9PM. The street lights are on. Then in Melbourne Australia it Friday the 9^th of October.

As many you seen the link to Ultimate Blog Challenge. So for the month of October one post. But a link, and visit the two blogs above you. Yesterday over at the Ultimate Blog Challenge they're three post below mine. So by the rules. 2 of these people should of stop by my blog, and comment.

Are T.V remote stop working. Went to the dollar store to see if they had anything that worked. They had remote. But I was sure it they worked or not. The dollar tree doesn't do exchanges. So I order them off of Amazon. They will be here Sunday.

I don't mind the quietness. Murphy needs back ground noise. Son Sawyer likes almost dead silent. I'm some where in between.

I'm fairly patience person. But waiting for things to dry in my journals. Can weigh on me. Today I want to glue down a fish hook, a ribbon, and three labels. Did I wait. “No” So I got it all glued down, and it now on the arm of the couch. I told myself, not to get near it until tomorrow.

Instead of doing a surname. I thought I would copy and paste this post, and see which three tarot card it matches up with.

Linking to UBC

1. The World ?

Connection across the globe

You write about living on the West Coast, the time difference with New York, and the day in Melbourne, Australia. Your participation in the Ultimate Blog Challenge also connects you with people you might never meet in person.

The World represents our place in a larger whole. Your blog becomes a little window through which you can meet people across countries and time zones. It also raises a question: are these connections reciprocal when you visit other blogs, but people don't always visit yours?

Temperance ?￯ﾸﾏ

Finding your own balance

You describe three different preferences for sound: Murphy needs background noise, Sawyer likes almost complete silence, and you fall somewhere in between.

That is Temperance in everyday life—finding a comfortable middle ground between different needs. Your experience with the blog challenge also requires balance: participating because you enjoy meeting people while accepting that others may not follow the rules as you expect.

Temperance asks you to make room for differences without losing your own peace.

The Hanged Man ⏳

Learning to wait

This card practically announces itself when you describe gluing down the fish hook, ribbon, and three labels before they were dry enough—or before you were ready to leave them alone.

You know what you should do, but your enthusiasm gets ahead of your patience. Now the journal is resting on the arm of the couch, and you've told yourself not to touch it until tomorrow.

The Hanged Man represents the pause: allowing time to do its work instead of forcing the next step. Sometimes the most productive thing an artist can do is leave the artwork alone.

The World, Temperance, and The Hanged Man describe someone reaching outward to connect with others, finding a balance between different ways of living, and learning when to stop and wait.

I especially like The Hanged Man for your journal entry. You have already done the creative work. Now comes the difficult part: letting it dry.

Perhaps tomorrow's lesson is that patience isn't about doing nothing. It's about giving what you've done the time it needs.

This is off Chat GPT.

Coffee is on.

Today Is Wednesday, October 7, 2026: This Is What Happened.

 

The weather been very nice, although I hear the temps will be dropping over the weekend. I don't think all that much.

I liked to address more about zine. I only ran into one person in my county knows what a zine is. Not saying there isn't other who know what is a zine is.

It comes from the word magazine. They took the maga part off. So it a self publish of any or more than one topic. Usually they're a limited, short run publication. Sold cheaply, given freely, and or traded. It said that THOMAS PAINE was the first one to do zine in American. And his zine is called COMMON SENSE. There many lay out and folds for zine. There is endless ways of doing a zine. No one has true count of zine. But the library of congress has collection of them.

Over at NIGHT CAFE. I'm going to copy and paste line, 12, 13, and 14. In to prompt, and see what Night Cafe comes up with. Some time it way out there. The other day I put in prompt To see about getting my zine, done up. This is my first one. So for lunch we had liver, less than 10 show up. My up coming zine has nothing to do with liver.

I haven't done a surname. But I think I will copy and past line, 23, 24, and 25.

I'm going to see what info I can learn about VanHorn. My husband Murphy has a lot of surname starts with Van. The VanHorn is on my mother father side....and I notice there different spellings.

I could mean point on land, or someone who plays a horn. Some were town crier, All the VanHorn should be able to trace there line to three bothers, that came to America.

They're is 3 well known Vanhorn,,,WILLIAM VANHORN, SIR WILLIAM CORNELIUS VAN HORNE, JOHANNES VAN HORNE

We're having salmon patties for dinner. Not sure what else. I'm linking to UBC

Today Is Monday, October 5, 2026: This Is What Happened.

 

Thought I would share my favor, 2 piece of art that my cousin did. And this is what her exhibit is called” A Little Bit of Both, Not Enough of Either”

I meant her friend “Royal” he sure have a firm hand shake.

Here 2 more photos from art salvage in Spokane.

Today, I went to town. Before I went into the senior center. I stop by our local print store. To see about getting my zine, done up. This is my first one. So for lunch we had liver, less than 10 show up. Anther couple their daughter was in car wreak. No one hurt. Some reason her wheel came off. I have to say this was some of the best liver I ate. 

Stop in at super one mainly to grab the ground beef on sale. Today is last day. This coming Thursday at super one is having an 12 hour meet sale.

Wrote checks out for our natural gas, electricity, health clinic, and the hospital. The hospital I just made a payment.

But for some reason, I can't find our water bill. It $70 a month. So when I go into town tomorrow, I will stop by the water department, and write out check for them.

Murphy and I got our MEDICARE ADVANTAGE Hopefully it works out, well for us. Plus I get $25 a quarter to purchase medical things, and health foods. I need some Vitamin D3.

I'm linking to UBC. I thought I would had time to be creative today. But I didn't.

Today is Sunday, October 4, 2026: This Is What Happened.

 

To much cement on Friday, and had to rest to recovery. I have to say for the next few days I know it best for me to go a slower pace, for least a few days.

All though I had a good time.

My cousin painting were well done, and I will share them tomorrow. But I'm going to share two of works of CONNER KELLY . I had to touch them to see if they were actual made of wood.

I been working in my art journal. Earlier this morning. I went out to our drive way to pick up some small, and I mean small piece of gravel to glue it down. Well I picked up the journal by just one sided, and made a mess.

Not sure if the glue will be dried today, so I can continue on with it. I didn't actually used glue, I used mod podge. It works in same line as glue.

A few days I decided to grab a few pencil pouch, which I use for my art supplies, I can keep them separate. I know I used water crayons. But the other supplies I don't recall.

Before I went to the art exhibit, I stop in at ART SALVAGE , it like a thrift store just for creative supplies. It was located on west side, either on Maple of Ash street. There new place is much larger.

There entry or foyer was most welcoming. Not sure what the owls was made of.

. I did buy a few items. A pound of pack of scape paper, that weigh a pound, I got a 2 packs, which will be part of my granddaughter Christmas present.

I did set of limited of 10 items, and no more. I could got more, but I need to work with what I have. Could spent more time in there. Me, personally I would need a time limited, price limited, and or items limited.

At this point I feel that the UBC isn't a good fit. So far I only ran into business and life coaching. My blogs and those I visit, don't fit in either one of those categories. Plus I'm not looking to look into making money. I only think less then one percent makes money on social media. When I say money, money you can do something with. Like groceries, gas in rig, insurance, go to the movies,and etc. But I will continue playing for a while. Here is a link to some of their POST

I found though chat gpt, a link of BLOG CHALLENGE, but I like the word a party or social.

WRITING and MIXED CHALLENGE. , PHOTO CHALLENGE, and PARTY LINKS.

Today I'm linking to SUNDAY IN THE ART ROOM

Coffee is on. 

Today Is Friday, October 2, 2026: This Is What Happened.

 Not much of a post, having lunch at the senior center. They're having tomato soup with grill cheese sandwich. After ward I'm going to Spokane, These are the two place I definitely stop, ART SALVAGE . Statement time...I need to set some bounds before I go into Art Salvage, I could loose control. The other place will be going is SPOKANE ART. My cousin and anther person has an exhibit there. 

Coffee is on. 

Today is Thursday, October 1, 2026: This Is What Happened.

 

The last chore I did was mop my floor. I shouldn't say mop. I need put much elbow grease behind. Just lightly mopped.

Not sure what other things I will be doing around the place. I know I will make the bed. But the rest at this point I'm totally clueless.

Well, I figure what came in and out of our home, spending that is. Not going to share all the details. I don't have any desire to come across as pitifully or Formidable: So I thought I would share what took the middle part of our income. Which would be our utilities and donation.

In my comments, quite a few comment on my lap top issue. Lock up issue. It seem to be going just fine. In my e-mail box, I had someone or thing saying “You many have unopen e-mail in your box” I fell for it once. But not twice. “Fool me once, your the fool. Fool me twice I'm the fool” Didn't click on it.

I thought part of my UBC I would share the etymology of surnames of my husband and my side. And get chance to meet some bloggers, and possible make some blogger friends.

Well part of my UBC I thought I would continue my Etymology of surnames in my family and my husband side.

Today, I'm going with the last name of Andrew, and the Andrew in my line was a loyalist in our American Revolutionary war. He fought for Britain.

There basic 3 layers to this surname....Son of, or decedent of...The word is from Greek/French....Combine meaning, “Son of the brave one” All surname of Andrew is not related they figure there well over 25 lines. Plus there those who decided to change there last name for the Saint Andrew.

Andrews was at one time a Caddishness clan name, sometimes spelt Andrus. Duncan Fitz Andrew was its chief at the time they rendered homage to the English King Edward I in 1296. Later these Andrews seem to have been absorbed into the Clan Ross. So in Scotland — Andrews was an actual clan name — with a chief named Duncan Fitz Andrew who swore allegiance to King Edward I — the same "Hammer of the Scots" who appears in the earliest Whipp surname records! And: The surnames Andrew and Andrews are also considered septs of the Highland Clan Ross.

There to many well known people with surname of ANDREW or ANDREWS.

Part of my research was done with A.I. And the last two picture is done with A.I art.

Coffee is on.

Today Is Wednesday, September 30, 2026: This Is What Happened.

 End of the month, I was going though my e-mail and click on something I shouldn't. My lap top was lock up, and want me to call this number. To unlock my lap top. I figure I would wait them out. Not sure if they'll be back on or not. They won't get any money from me. I'd buy a lap top before I'm black mailed. 

This late morning I went and had coffee with Quenella, at Under the sun. I had plan to go to the print shop to ask about printing my zine. But in all honestly. I didn't want to.  After I stop in at Lolita to see if she want to go to the art reception, in Spokane. But she has plans. Tried one my sister in law. Same story. Stop and got a few things at the grocery store. Winter squash is on sale.

Quenella sold her place. I think her goal to move in is end of October or the first half of November. Not sure what she got for her place. 

I'm going give the UBC for the month. I'm hobbyist blogger. But it gives me a chance to visit other bloggers.  

Today Is Sunday, September 27, 2026: This Is What Happened.

 

Just found 2 sites, recently. One is called ART HELPER and the other one is ULTIMATE BLOG CHALLENGE.

As in the art helper, still learning my way around. At this point I have no desire to sell my art. Not saying I never will. But I'm curious about other things. What does the art piece say. I know different people will see it differently.

Ages ago I have taken part in the Ultimate blog challenge. Main reason is meet other bloggers. I look like a trip around the world.

Had someone come and look at my ceramic supplies. It was a younger couple. They want to talk among them self, about the purchase. I complete understand. The main reason we're selling them. We just can't handle the weight of the molds.

Murphy had trouble getting out of the tub. It's not fair or right for me to talk about someone weight. For me I need to “Look in the mirror before you look out the window” I'm sure not a rack of bones either. Today I been taking small walks, around the yard. The fall colors are lovely.

When I pick up the pork roast yesterday. I got some chicken hearts for dinner. The price was $2.48 a pound. I recall organ meet being under $1.00 a pound.

I believe the senior center next month, will be serving liver and onions. I know people either like liver or not.

Yesterday, I wrote about the last name of Verstegen. Today I'm going to look into the surname of Murphy paternal grandmother. 'Altmaier” and her given name Elizabeth Theo. I'm using A.I to get though this. His Grandmother was 16 out of 21. Children. I thought a set of my great grandparent had lot of kids, 16 of them. Not all the children made it to adulthood. What I can fine only 3 left the state of Nebraska.

Altmaier meaning...Alt meaning old, Maier meaning Steward, bailiff, estate manager.

The name been used for 700 years or more.

A few famous Altmaier is PETER, JAKOB, and DANIEL

Now let look into the name of Elizabeth meaning..."God is my oath" and her middle name Theo...This time I will do the German meaning is “Brave People”

Today I'm hooking up with ,SUNDAY IN THE ART ROOM. I thought why not I would have A.I figure which three tarot cards. This blog post is...1. The World ?

This is the strongest card for the Art Helper and Ultimate Blog Challenge sections.

The World is about connection, circles, completion, and seeing yourself as part of something larger. You write about meeting bloggers and feeling as though the challenge gives you a trip around the world. Art Helper also opens another circle of people looking at art and interpreting it differently.

I also see The World in your genealogy work. You move from Verstegen to Altmaier, from Elizabeth Theo to the meanings of names, and from one generation to another. You're continually connecting pieces of a much larger human story.

The interesting part is that you're not trying to sell your art. You're asking what the art says. That's very World-like: the work leaves your hands and becomes part of a larger conversation.

2. Strength ?

Strength appears in the parts concerning the body, aging, compassion, and restraint.

Murphy having difficulty getting out of the tub brings physical vulnerability directly into the entry. Then you catch yourself before commenting on his weight:

“It’s not fair or right for me to talk about someone weight.”

Then comes your wonderful reminder:

“Look in the mirror before you look out the window.”

That is Strength—not physical strength, but self-control and compassion. You recognize something uncomfortable about yourself and choose not to use another person's vulnerability as a place to stand above them.

Your small walks around the yard also fit Strength. You're not describing some dramatic transformation. You're simply saying, today I'm taking small walks. Strength can be quiet persistence.

Even the ceramic molds have a Strength quality: the younger couple is considering buying them because they're becoming too heavy for you to handle. There is strength in recognizing when something has become too much to carry.

3. The Hermit ?￯ﾸ 

The Hermit is present throughout the genealogy and name-searching portion.

You're digging backward into Murphy's family history: Elizabeth Theo Altmaier, her 21 children, Nebraska, the meaning of Altmaier, and the meanings of Elizabeth and Theo.

But The Hermit isn't simply “research.” It's the desire to understand something for yourself.

You're using AI as a tool to help you walk through unfamiliar information, but the questions are still yours. You keep asking: Who were these people? What did their names mean? Where did they go? What happened to them?

And there's a nice connection between The Hermit and your opening discussion of art. You aren't satisfied with simply producing an art piece. You want to look at it and ask what it means. That's a Hermit question.

Today Is Saturday, September 26, 2026: This Is What Happened.

 

Got a pork roast in the oven. They had pork roast on sale for $1.98 a pound. Maybe before Wednesday I will go in and pick up a few more. Stuck some applesauce in the fridge. And not sure what we will have for a carb yet.

For breakfast we had blueberry pancakes, with scrambled eggs.

As I was in town, I stop in at the tire store. Had them check the air in them, they were fine. My next stop was dollar tree. Got 3 bags of hard candy. I kept 2 for cough drops. The other one I will take to the senior center, and place it in the candy dish.

It been cloudy and rainy for last few days. But today since the moon is changing to full. I decided to have an slow down day.

As I was cleaning under the stairs. I ran into box of photos. I would like to get back to them. I'm thinking sometime later next week.

Someone is coming out to look at my molds tomorrow. Hopeful they'll buy them. So I can get them out of here. Murphy, and I aren't able to handle the big molds anymore.

This photo is of me, I was in my late teens, or early twenties. My husband didn't recognize me. Funny, there baby photo of Sawyer and Bart I can't tell apart. Later in it fairly easy. Sawyer has dark hair like me and his dad. Bart a lot lighter, even at one time he was blond.

Been working on my family tree. What been doing and fine interesting I been looking up the meaning of both Surname and Given name. I like to share one surname VERSTEGAN which means from Alley or path way.

So the three possible meanings are:

• "From the path/alley" — most scholarly interpretation

• "Firm property" — suggesting established land ownership

• "Overgrown hedge" — a topographic feature

Additional meanings include: The meaning of the last name Verstegen is believed to derive from the Dutch words "verst" meaning "firm" and "egen" meaning "property" suggesting an origin related to ownership of some form.

Now for the Given Name of one of my husband 4^th great grand mother, and the meaning...

Name Element	Meaning
Katrin	Dutch/German form of Catherine — from Greek "Katharos" meaning "pure"
Hendrina	Dutch feminine form of Hendrik/Henry — meaning "ruler of the home"
Hermanus	Dutch/Latin — from Herman — meaning "army man" or possibly a family surname used as a middle name
"Henrietta"	Her American nickname — English form of Hendrina

So her full name essentially means "pure ruler of the home"

Claude found one famous person with last name of Verstegan, RICHARD VERSTEGEN.

Today Is Wednesday, September 23, 2026: This Is What Happened.

 

Woke up with a sore hip. And sore isn't a truthful word. It hurt like hell. Not sure why. I want to do more, but I went at slower pace.

Went to the senior center, and they served Turkey noodle soup, it was really good. Plus a nice green salad, and roll. They did offer some grapes and watermelon. For fruit it was watermelon and grapes. Which isn't on top of my list of fruits, although I will eat them.

Once a month the manger Joy usually have a craft for us to do. We did these pumpkin. I seen these pumpkins and they want a good price for them. So easy to do.

I had few comments about the deal with our health insurance. I never lived a place that health insurance was easy. Plus they only offer 3 for Medicare advantage. All from AARP/United Health. The lady who help us though it. Is hoping for the more choices for 2027.

Today is my oldest birthday, Sawyer turn 38. 

First part of November, not sure of the date. But our mid-term is coming up. Personally I don't see myself voting for any Republican, mostly here in North Idaho. Although I won't vote straight ticket either.

I'm more concern about the levies, initiatives, and propositions, on the ballot.

What I worry about after the election, what sort of revenge Trump will play. Will we have anther January 6. I can see Speaker Johnson not or delaying swearing in the new congress and or senator.

I'm hooking up with WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Coffee is on.

Today Is Tuesday, September 22, 2026: This Is What Happened.

 

Let see what's going on. Yesterday we took care of some medical insurance things. We got a Medicare Advantage plan....A Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) is an alternative way to receive your Medicare benefits. Instead of getting your Medicare coverage directly through Original Medicare, you choose a private insurance company to manage your Medicare coverage.

You still have Medicare, but the private plan handles most of your coverage.

Original Medicare

With Original Medicare, you generally have:

• Part A: Hospital care

• Part B: Doctor and outpatient care

• You can usually see any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare

• You can add a Medigap (supplement) policy to help pay some of the costs Medicare doesn't cover.

• You normally need a separate Part D prescription plan.

Medicare Advantage

With Medicare Advantage, you generally get:

• Part A and Part B coverage through the private plan

• Usually prescription drug coverage (Part D) included

• A network of doctors and hospitals, depending on the plan

• A yearly limit on what you pay out of pocket for covered medical services

• Sometimes extra benefits such as dental, vision, hearing, transportation, or an allowance for certain health-related items.

The important difference

Think of it this way:

Original Medicare + Medigap:
Medicare pays its share → Medigap helps with many remaining costs → you generally have more freedom about which Medicare providers you use.

Medicare Advantage:
Private insurance company administers your Medicare benefits → you generally use the plan's network → you may have lower premiums but have more rules about where and how you receive care.

One important thing: Medicare Advantage is not the same thing as Medicaid. If you qualify for QMB, Medicaid can sometimes help with Medicare costs even if you choose Medicare Advantage.

Plus we also qualify for the QMB... QMB stands for Qualified Medicare Beneficiary.

It is a Medicaid program that helps people with limited income pay their Medicare costs.

If you qualify for QMB, Medicaid can generally help pay:

• Your Medicare Part A premium, if you have one

• Your Medicare Part B premium

• Medicare deductibles

• Medicare coinsurance

• Medicare copayments for Medicare-covered services

One especially important protection is that Medicare providers generally cannot bill you for Medicare-covered cost-sharing when you are a QMB beneficiary.

How QMB works with Medicare

QMB does not replace Medicare. You keep Medicare.

Think of it this way:

Medicare = your main health insurance
QMB = extra help paying Medicare's costs

You can have QMB while using Original Medicare or, depending on your circumstances, a Medicare Advantage plan.

Why QMB can make a big difference

Without QMB, Medicare Part B normally has a monthly premium, and you can also have deductibles and coinsurance.

With QMB, the program can take much of that financial burden off you.

There are income and resource limits to qualify, and those limits can change each year. QMB is administered through Medicaid, so you apply through your state rather than directly through Medicare.

As I believe nothing truly free in this world..I asked A.I Under the Medicare advantage and QMB program if your in accident, and end up in the emergency of a hospital. And end up with $15,000 medical bill. What would be covered, when someone has just medicare one would end up paying about $3,000....What possible would the bill cost with Medicare advantage with QMB. I know they could be all sort of factors...Yes — you are right that there are many factors, but the QMB part is the important piece.

If someone has Medicare + QMB and has a serious accident requiring an emergency-room visit and hospitalization, QMB generally pays the Medicare-covered deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments that Medicare leaves behind.

So, using your $15,000 hospital bill as an example:

• Hospital charges: $15,000

• Medicare pays its portion according to Medicare rules.

• QMB pays the Medicare cost-sharing that remains for covered services.

• The patient could potentially owe $0 for those Medicare-covered services.

That is very different from simply having Medicare alone.

What about Medicare Advantage + QMB?

It can work similarly, but the exact rules depend on the Advantage plan.

With a Medicare Advantage plan + QMB, the Advantage plan processes the hospital bill, and QMB generally helps cover the Medicare Advantage cost-sharing for covered services.

So a $15,000 emergency hospitalization doesn't automatically mean you would receive a $3,000 bill. If the services are Medicare-covered and you have QMB protection, the amount you personally owe can be little or even $0.

There are exceptions—such as services Medicare doesn't cover, certain providers, or circumstances where QMB rules don't apply.

The big takeaway: QMB is not "free healthcare." It is financial assistance that helps pay the Medicare costs that would otherwise come out of your pocket.

And this is one reason the question of Original Medicare + QMB versus Medicare Advantage + QMB is worth looking at carefully. The difference isn't simply the size of the hospital bill; it's how each system handles covered care, networks, deductibles, and cost-sharing.

Yes. That is an important distinction.

With Original Medicare alone, the common situation is that Medicare pays its approved share and the patient may be responsible for 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for Part B services, after applicable deductibles.

With QMB, however, the patient generally should not be billed for Medicare-covered deductibles, coinsurance, or copayments. So even if the hospital's bill shows amounts that Medicare didn't pay, those amounts are not necessarily amounts the QMB patient has to pay.

For example, very simply:

Situation	Possible patient responsibility
Medicare alone	Up to the applicable Medicare cost-sharing, often 20% for Part B
Medicare + QMB	Generally $0 for Medicare-covered cost-sharing
Medicare Advantage + QMB	Generally $0 for Medicare-covered cost-sharing, subject to QMB/plan rules

So yes, a patient might receive a statement or bill showing charges, but that doesn't necessarily mean they legally owe that amount. A QMB beneficiary has protections against being charged Medicare-covered cost-sharing.

The important phrase is "Medicare-covered services." That's where the details matter.

Enough about medical cost.

Still did the everyday things around the place. Murphy and I went to the senior center had Salisbury streak, mash potatoes, with gravy and mushroom was in the gravy. I had carrots, and they offered broccoli as well. I had smaller serving of potatoes because I want a home made dinner roll. And pudding with fruit on it.

Today food give away I would say we got about $60 worth. Someone brought in fresh watermelons. Plus Grocery out let donate some Halloween things. I got a few items. I might pick up some Halloween plates for my grand-girls.

In October a cousin of mine and other person will have their exhibit at the SPOKANE ART SCHOOL this October. Hopefully we can make it down. Thought I would share random work each artist.