"Some Ideas for a Happy New Year!"

 

A Visit at Christmas 

2025 is now behind us, and we look forward to a brighter, more positive new year!

Have you made out any new year's resolutions for 2026?

I made out my resolutions a couple of years ago, and I review them almost daily to help me stay on track. I change them as needed.

This year, Greg and I decided that we need to follow the circadian rhythm a lot more. Most specifically, and importantly, we need to turn in earlier at night. We researched, and discovered that people are four different chronotypes. Our type is the wolf. A wolf stays up later at night and likes to get up later in the morning. That's fine, except we stay up too late at night, even for our type. (My parents were both night people, so I come by it honestly!)

We're working on that now, and we're gradually doing a lot better. In a couple of nights, we should reach our time goal. We just need to maintain it.

If you'd like more information about chronotypes, just do an online search. You might even want to take the chronotype quiz to discover what type you are.

Would you like to make some improvements in your life? If so, here are some ideas that you might want to consider, words of wisdom from some experts in their fields-

~"Point your words, your energy, your life in a clear direction, and everything starts to organize around that choice."-Carol Tuttle  https://ct.liveyourtruth.com

~"We cannot let our past destroy the future that God has for us." "2026 is blessed."-Julie Green

https://www.jgminternational.org

~"Don't let 2026 be another year where your desires fade with the holiday excitement, allow it to be the year you see lasting transformation."-Rhonda Byrne, author of "Countdown to Riches."

Greg and I wish you a wonderful 2026. Let this be our best year ever!

(Also, I'll let you know in my February blog post how well Greg and I did on following our chronotype.)

Thanks for visiting! Until around Saturday, February 7, 2026, Becky

"A Positive Christmas!"

 

Mike and Betty's Farm at Christmas

This is a short, but (hopefully) sweet (Think candy canes and red velvet cake!) positive Christmas blog post.

Here are some ideas that might help make your Christmas even more enjoyable- (You can do these alone or with others.)

~Make Christmas crafts, like these that were made by a relative.

Pretty Christmas Balls

These handmade crafts can be given as gifts, used for decorating your home, or even sold in shops, etc. to make extra money.

Besides giving homemade gifts, we can shop for gifts at places that offer nice, unique things at reasonable prices, like-

The Antique Barn in Abingdon, Virginia

~Homemade goodies make nice gifts, or you could even host a Christmas party or a dinner. 

~Donate to local animal shelters, food banks, or local charities.

~As we're working on Christmas cards, wrapping gifts, or decorating, it can be fun to listen to Christmas music, our own, or from the radio. One of our local radio stations plays Christmas music every year from Thanksgiving until Christmas. Listening to Christmas music can put us in the Christmas spirit.

~Sing Christmas carols. Sing in a Christmas cantata, or go to one. Go to a Christmas church service.

~Watch a wonderful Christmas movie on TV, on a DVD, or online, such as "Home Alone" or "It's a Wonderful Life."

~Decorate your vehicle-

~See a Christmas parade, or even be in one.

We enjoy just driving around the different neighborhoods and looking at the Christmas decorations.

Here is one of my childhood Christmas memories-

"As a child, I still remember coming down the stairs on Christmas morning. I felt the excitement of Christmas in the air, especially if snow were falling outside and accumulating on the trees and ground. I felt breathless as I saw the toys and other gifts under the Christmas tree that Santa had left for my brother and me: a pretty doll, a decorative rocking horse, and oranges and nuts in our Christmas stockings. It was really exciting when I noticed that the cookies and milk that we had left for Santa were gone. I imagined that he had really enjoyed those!" ~An excerpt from my book, "Down Memory Lane"  which is on Amazon. For more information, please see the widget above.

~"May you never be too grown up to search the skies on Christmas Eve."- Author Unknown

 ~Positive thought: "Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts."-Janice Maeditere

 Thanks for visiting! Until around Saturday, January 3, 2026!, Becky

"A Few Positive Thoughts"

 

I'm still working on my new book about Southern Appalachia, and I also have a new coal jewelry order to finish, so I'm limited on the time I can spend writing my blog posts, etc.

However, I have a few positive thoughts I'd like to share with you.in this blog post today.

Here they are, in no certain order-

~Because of the dry weather this year in our area, most of the leaves on the trees have not been as vibrant as usual, but some of them are really pretty-

If we look for the good, for the beauty, we can find it!

As I was working on this blog post last night, I was also half-way listening to an interesting radio show that comes on earlier than usual on Sunday nights, "Coast to Coast AM." I got to hear part of an interview that the host, George Noory, had with a guest. 

She was an expert on the way the brain works, and she told about an experiment in which there were two groups of people that were taken to Las Vegas. One group was very positive, happy, and friendly, and the other group consisted of people who were mean and very negative. Guess which group did a lot better in Las Vegas? 

Before we try something like this experiment ourselves, we just need to be positive, so our lives and the lives of others will be happier and more fulfilling in all ways. This positive attitude must become a way of life, like being nice to other people, thinking well of others and ourselves. We need to look on the bright side of things, and to expect the best. We should then attract better people and things into our lives, including material things. ( I certainly don't promote compulsive gambling though!) Your life should flow a lot better with a kind, loving, calm, positive attitude. Just try for yourself, and see!

Another thing that Greg and I both heard was that if your have a positive attitude, even toward your computer printer, that it will work a lot better!

Something very important that I wanted to mention was that if you have an election in your state tomorrow, Tuesday, November 4, 2025, please vote as if your future depends on it, because it does! Good can overcome evil because good is much stronger than evil!

Here is something that I could have put in my book about Appalachia, but I didn't. Instead, I decided to save it for this blog post- 

One time, at a family holiday dinner, I bit into a mini tomato (that we call a tommie toe here in Southern Appalachia), that squirted my cousin who was seated across from me, right in the face! I was appalled, but thankfully, everyone, including my cousin, just laughed! (I wouldn't be able do that again even if I positively tried!)

A Basket of Tommie Toes

Wishing you and your loved ones-

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Positive thought: Greg and I were out shopping last week when we saw this beautiful rainbow (above) in the sky. It was the closest we'd ever been to one. Other people came by, and we all marveled at the beautiful sight. A rainbow traditionally symbolizes hope, peace, and new beginnings, even after difficult times. We took that to mean a better, more positive life for all of us here on our Earth!

Thanks for visiting! Until around Saturday, December 6, 2025, Becky

 

 

"Becky Arnott Artist"

 

This is a special blog post. I have some positive quotes from some special people, and I'll also tell you about my business, most of which I've hardly ever mentioned.

First, here are some positive quotes and ideas that have helped me be on, and stay on, the track of positivity.

One of my favorite authors is Rhonda Byrne who believes that a positive mindset attracts positive outcomes. She has many wonderful thoughts on being positive-

~"Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results."

~"Gratitude is a powerful process for shifting your energy and bringing more of what you want into your life."

Rhonda Byrne is a prolific author. Just a few of her helpful, inspirational books are: "The Secret," "The Magic," and "The Power."

Rhonda's latest book is "Countdown to Riches" which is about attracting wealth.

Here are some more inspirational quotes from others-

~"Nothing is impossible. The word itself says 'I'm possible.'!" -Audrey Hepburn

~"If you can dream it, you can do it." -Walt Disney

I like to say- "I'm a positive thinker, feeler, doer, and speaker." This is my own quote that helps me be more positive. I got the idea from a talented psychic several years ago who told me that I was a positive thinker, but not a positive feeler. Just thinking positive isn't enough. We need to feel positive, too.

I'm currently studying a website about the importance of being on a high frequency level. I'm working on the areas I need to improve. You might find it useful, too. Are you a high- or a low-frequency person? This website can help you decide. It's-  

 https://www.yogkulam.org/blog /common-traits-of-high-vibration-people

Here is a brief description of the types of art that I do-

I come from a family of artists, so art comes naturally to me. I have been involved with the arts since childhood.

~I do pencil portraits of people and pets from photographs-

I also create unique Southern Appalachian Mountain coal jewelry and magnets-

Some of my work is in shops in Southwest Virginia-the June Tolliver House in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, and The Clapboard House in Wise, Virginia. Also, my coal jewelry, etc. is at Coal Miners Daughter Mercantile at two locations in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

I've written two books-

My first one, "Photographic Encounters of the Spirit Kind," is full of paranormal photographs (over 100!) that I, my husband Greg, and my brother Nick, have taken throughout the years.

 My second book is "Down Memory Lane," which is "A Nostalgic Memoir of Life in the Southern Appalachians."

Please see the widgets above for more information about my books.

Also, I'm currently finishing a third book about life in the Southern Appalachian Mountains.

Many of my photographs are on a Getty Images stock photography site. I'll have more information about that at a later date.

Positive thought: "Thoughts are magnetic and thoughts have a frequency. As you think thoughts, they are sent out into the Universe, and they magically attract all like things that are on the same frequency. Everything sent out returns to the source-you." -Rhonda Byrne

Thanks for visiting! Until around Saturday, November 1, 2025, Becky

"A Positive Mini-Blog Post"

 

This is a view of Abingdon, Virginia from the porch of  The Martha Washington Inn & Spa.

 The picture above was taken a couple of years ago, a little later in the year than it is right now. Our leaves are just barely changing color as I write this.

Fall is on the way, though. It officially starts on Monday, September 22 this year.

It's best that we look for the good and the positive, although, at times, it may seem like an impossible task. 

Let this be a day of remembrance for all of those who have passed on, especially those whose whose lives have been cut short in senseless tragedies.

Here are some words that will hopefully inspire us to move on with our lives no matter what happens in our country, or comes our way-

~"You cannot help the world by focusing on negative things. As you focus on the negative events of the world, you not only add to them, but you bring more negative things into your own life at the same time." -Rhonda Byrne

~"You cannot harm another person with your negative thoughts. You can only harm you." -Rhonda Byrne

~"This is a spiritual battle that we are in...good versus evil...." -Julie Green 

For prayers and healing- www.jgminternational.org

~"Love and gratitude can part seas, move mountains, and create miracles." -Rhonda Byrne

Let's all hug, and be thankful for, our loved ones.

I'll have another special blog post later this month, (as well as my usual one next month, which will be around the first Saturday in October) with more positive thoughts and ideas, and some information about some projects that I'm working on that I'd like to share with you.

Here's one of those things that I'm still working on-my new book about Southern Appalachia- 

The following will not be in my new book, but it could have been-

This type of quilt was called a crazy quilt. 

This particular quilt was made during the winter by some of my ancestors. It was finished in 1897. The ladies that made this quilt were sisters, and they enjoyed "visiting with each other" as they worked. They made a quilt for each sister. They had the quilt on a frame, and they'd roll it up as they worked on it. 

There are several initials on the quilt, and one set of initials was for a relative who was a Confederate soldier.

Positive thought- "Your thoughts and your feelings create your life." -Lisa Nichols

Thanks for visiting! Until around Saturday, October 4, 2025, Becky

"Upcoming Book Preview"

 

In this post, I'd like to share with you how far along I am with writing my upcoming book about life in the Southern Appalachians today, as well as in earlier times. I'm still working on it every day, and it should be ready to publish in a few short weeks.

I'd like to give you a brief preview of  a few chapters in my new book. This is exclusive information, all of which will not be in my book, but it is similar to what will be in there.

This could have been in my "Timeless Treasures" chapter-

It is a unique 120-year old ironing board that can be made into-

a seat when not in use.

These could have been in my "Quilts" chapter-

Here are two pretty, unique quilted Christmas balls.

And, finally, for those of you that like something kind of scary from time to time, there's my "Haunted Appalachia" chapter. There are several paranormal pictures in that chapter, but this one is not in there-

I only found this picture a few days ago when I was going through my hundreds of pictures to find ones that I could use in my book. Neither Greg nor I can remember exactly where this is, but we do know it is a small town in Virginia. I don't know why I even took this picture since it's of a really run-down street where there used to be businesses. 

As I studied the picture...

Close-up of Photograph

I noticed unmistakable ectoplasm in the upper front of the building at the end of the street. There is also a small amount of ectoplasm on the wires on the upper left side of the picture.

What caused the ectoplasm? We can only speculate. Most old buildings tend to have at least some spirit activity around them.

I'm talented in taking paranormal photographs, but I have no idea how to interpret them. I leave that to professional psychics.

By the way, author Mark Muncy said that he thought that the Appalachians were "one of the darkest places on the planet..."

A few of the other chapters in my book are entitled "Critters," "Appalachian Mountain Coal," and "Memorable Moments." And there is a lot more!

Until my book is published, you might want to check out my paranormal Amazon Kindle book, "Photographic Encounters of the Spirit Kind," and also my memoir, "Down Memory Lane," which is in both the paperback and Kindle versions. The setting for both of these books is mostly in the Southern Appalachians.

Happy reading!

Positive thought: "Make every day a celebration!" ~ Becky Arnott

Thanks for visiting! Until around Saturday, September 6, 2025, Becky (At that time, I'll tell you about a special blog post, and the latest about my new book about Southern Appalachia.)

"The Importance of Being on a Positive, High Frequency Level"

 

This is a mini blog post for this month, but a very important one since I'd like to share with you some wonderful information about the importance of being on a positive, high frequency level.*

~"You are an electromagnetic being emitting a frequency. Only those things that are the same frequency as the one you are emitting can come into your experience. Every single person, event, and circumstance in your day is telling you what frequency you are on." -Rhonda Byrne

Rhonda then goes on to say that if your day is not going well, you need to change to a more positive frequency.

~"Being on a high frequency level"...(is) characterized by positive emotions, feelings of well-being...it's often associated with experiencing joy, love, peace, and gratitude...This state is believed to influence one's physical, emotional, and mental well-being, and can even impact how one interacts with the world." -Google AI Overview

Are your radiating positivity or negativity? What or who do you think you'll attract if you send out to the world negative vibrations, as opposed to positive ones?

Did you ever go somewhere and notice that everyone was being really nice to you and treating you as someone very special, and then you go there another day, and people acted indifferent or even rude? What's the difference? It might be that your vibrations were different those two days.

Did you know that your high vibration can positively influence those around you? We can help others while we are helping ourselves!

Here is a wonderful website that can help us get into a higher vibrational frequency which can help us to be more positive and to attract more positivity-  

www.yogkulam.org/blog/common-traits-of-high-vibration-people

~ Here's my personal affirmation that I say every day- "I'm on a high frequency level, and I only allow people into my life that are kind, respectful, and supportive."

*Disclaimer- This, blog post (or any other post) on this blog is not a substitute for professional help if you are having serious negative emotions or mental health issues. 

Today, I'd like to honor the memory of my wonderful mother, Jean, (Mama) whose birth date was on July 9.

Positive thought: "Vibrate so high that the toxic people in your life have no choice but to fall out of your frequency." -www.pinterest.com

Thanks for visiting! Until around Saturday, August 1, 2025, Becky