"Positively Patriotic"

 The photograph above shows some special things in our memorabilia room that are meaningful to us-a picture of a painting of George Washington, who was one of our country's Founding Fathers, and our first president. 

There is also an old postcard that belonged to Greg's grandmother that someone had sent her. The post- card depicts the signing of the "Declaration of Independence." The 56 signers of this important document included Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, John Hancock, and Samuel Adams. Thomas Jefferson was the main author of this document. He was our third president, and he also founded the University of Virginia. Each of these men is outstanding in his own way.

~"Where liberty dwells, there is my country."- Benjamin Franklin

The brown booklet behind the postcard contains a copy of the "Declaration of Independence," as well as the "Constitution of the United States" which we got for free from Hillsdale College a few years ago. It was published by Cato Institute.

This is a special anniversary for our country, the United States of America, 250 years old! What a milestone! We should all feel positively patriotic!

~"God bless America, land that I love."- Irving Berlin

~"America is a tune. It must be sung together."- Gerald Stanley Lee 

~"The federal government should only be flying the flag that represents all people, the American flag."- Marjorie Taylor Greene

~"I stand fearlessly for small dogs, the American flag, motherhood, and the 'Bible.' That's why people love me."- Art Linkletter

I love to read about, and watch shows about our Founding Fathers and all of the great men and women who have helped make our country strong. I get a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes when I see the American flag fluttering in the wind or images of Paul Revere riding on horseback to warn others that the British were coming. 

~"Liberty and independence forever."- Davy Crockett

~"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."- John F. Kennedy

In my new book about Appalachia which will be published soon, I have a whole chapter about patriotism in Southern Appalachia. I'll have more to tell about my book next month.

~"I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free...there ain't no doubt I love this land. God bless the U.S.A."- Lee Greenwood

~Thanks for visiting! Until around Saturday, August 1, 2026, Becky

 

"Positive Signs and Wonders"

 

      

~"And what is so rare as a day in June?" -James Russell Lowell 

June is a wonderful month; in fact, it is my favorite month. June generally has really nice weather, and it is a romantic month with weddings and beautiful flowers, including the rose which is the traditional birth flower for June. The traditional birthstone for June is the pearl.

Nature helps us live better lives, if we just pay attention to it. Nature is full of  wonders, and signs, to help show us the way. ("Signs and wonders" is from the "Bible" where it is mentioned 100 times!)

Wherever I go, I always carry my camera with me.

One day last year, I was really attracted to a pretty yellow flower that was blooming near where we had been shopping. I decided to take a picture of it-

It Was Goldenrod.

I wondered if it had some special meaning for me, so I looked it up, and it said that it represents good luck, and positivity! No wonder I was attracted to it! What a neat message!

Flowers often have important messages for us, but so do animals, birds, and even insects.

I have a really interesting book, "Animal-Speak" by Ted Andrews that tells the reader the significance of the creatures that come into our lives. 

For instance, just recently, I have noticed several butterflies, and I found out that they were trying to tell me not to work so much, to have more fun. Also, just a couple of weeks ago, a hummingbird flew right in front of me while I was sitting quietly on our deck, which I've hardly ever done before. I looked up "hummingbird" in the book, and its message was that I needed to get more sleep and rest so I wouldn't burn myself out. So amazing! So true! I took these messages seriously, and I'm making important lifestyle changes now. It's truly all because a little bird (and butterflies) told me!

Nature is on our side, trying to help us, if we just let it. We need to heed its messages for much better, happier lives!

I finally finished writing my book about the Southern Appalachian Mountains, and it's now in the hands of my publisher. It should be published in a few weeks. I'll let you know more later. Here's something similar to what is in my book-

Floral Pin

This is a decorative pin that is made entirely of seeds. (Great idea!) Southern Appalachian Mountain craftspeople tend to be very creative!

Positive thought- "One of the most efficient ways you can improve your life is by simply thinking more positively." -Robert Norman

Thanks for visiting! Until around Saturday, July 4, 2026, Becky

"Some Random Positive Thoughts"

 

View from a Window

~"To a wonderful May full of sunshine, fresh air & healing." -Laura Koniver MD

I love being out on beautiful, warm days, so I take breaks to be outside in between writing on my book which is due by the end of this month. It will hopefully be published in June.

Since I have limited time right now, I'm writing a blog post today which is short, but hopefully sweet!

Here are some random positive thoughts-

~I often like sitting on our front porch on a nice day for a few minutes. Rather than sitting and trying to meditate in a traditional way with my eyes closed, I prefer to observe things around me, to take in the sights and sounds of my surroundings. I enjoy the warmth of the sun, the fresh air, the beauty of nature, and birds sweetly singing and soaring through the air.

By taking breaks outside, I often come up with new ideas that really help me, either while sitting outside or a little while later.

I come up with ideas for my blog posts, my books, places to go, things to do, and not long ago, I suddenly thought about moving a small chair just around the corner from a small room to a larger room, and it has made a huge difference for us!

~ I try to stay away from negativity, like negative ads, negative PSAs, negative situations, and negative people! Things seem to go a lot better that way!

~On the other hand, it's good to listen to and watch positive things. One day, I heard Dana Perino talking about being positive, which was very inspiring. It makes you feel so much better when you watch and listen to things that are positive rather than negative.

As a little experiment, look at and listen to things for a few minutes that are negative, and then do the same for things that are positive. How did you feel after each one? Why dwell on the negative when we can live our lives positively? 

~Let's "Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative." -Johnny Mercer

What a great idea!

~Pet feature-

Happy birthday Mitzi! 

~Later this month our Mitzi will be 19 years old! Kallie was almost 17 and Kit-Cat is eight. We love all of our babies. They are very special!

~Another important day this month is this Sunday, May 10-

Happy Mother's Day!

Greg and I remember our special mothers and grandmothers, and we wish mothers everywhere a wonderful day of celebration!

~Next month, excerpts from my new book!

~Positive thought- "The blessings of life are everywhere, in the small moments, in the simple fact that we are here....beauty is always present, waiting to be noticed." -Malte Marten Music

Thanks for visiting! Until around Saturday, June 6, 2026, Becky

"Positively Inspired!"

 

"We love, because God loved us first." (1 John 4:19)

This is such a wonderful time of the year, with the beauty of nature and the Easter holiday with its special church services, Easter baskets filled with colorful eggs and chocolate bunnies, and special traditional meals shared with loved ones. 

Some people celebrate the holiday in non-traditional ways, like celebrating on another day of the weekend, or having a meal at a fast food restaurant, etc. ( It's okay to just celebrate it your way! We can be creative!)

All of these special things help to make us feel positively inspired. They can keep us from being in a rut.

To be inspired generally means to create a positive feeling.

We don't have to wait to be positively inspired because we can feel positive every day of our lives! During challenging times, it's good to have things that inspire us.

Here are some things that have helped inspire me be happy and positive-

~Walking, taking pictures, etc. in nature. (Once while on a walk, Greg and I came upon a woman who was painting a picture of the beautiful scenery.)

~Being with happy, positive people

~Watching funny shows, DVD's, etc.

~Planning and doing special nearby trips. You don't have to go abroad or across the country to have a wonderful time. There are so many nice things to do in our own back yards!

~Doing things often that I enjoy, like writing, crafts, etc. (What do you really enjoy doing?)

Beautiful music can be inspiring. I especially like these two songs- 

~"Hero" by Mariah Carey- ..."Look inside you and be strong, And you'll finally see the truth, That a hero lies in you."

~"Unstoppable" by Sia- ..."I'm unstoppable today..." -I first heard this heartfelt song on the Dr. Bob Martin radio show.

(These two talented women, who write songs, as well as sing, overcame adversity to share their great talents with the world.)

Here are some inspiring thoughts from other people-

~"Today is another chance to get better." -Unknown

~"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." -Henry David Thoreau

~"All dreams are within reach. All you have to do is keep moving toward them." -Viola Davis

~"Prayer is powerful." -Julie Green

~"If you have zest and enthusiasm, you attract zest and enthusiasm. Life does give back in kind." -Norman Vincent Peale (His wonderful book is "Enthusiasm Makes the Difference.")

Here are a couple of inspirational people and their websites-

~ www.Intuition-Physician.com (Dr. Laura Koniver, who has a background of abuse, helps others overcome various illnesses with natural healing techniques, etc.)

~ https://ct.liveyourtruth.com (Carol Tuttle, who had a rough childhood, helps others dress better, look more beautiful, and live better lives.)

"Easter is a day rooted in faith, in gratitude, and in the quiet reminder of what matters most." -Good Ranchers

~Positive thought: "If you are feeling good, it is because you are thinking good thoughts." -Rhonda Byrne, "The Secret"

~Thanks for visiting! Until around Saturday, May 2, 2026, Becky

"Spring-New Beginnings"

 

And Welcome Spring!

If our new year's resolutions have not worked out as well as we would have liked, spring is a wonderful time to start anew!*

~"Spring with its blooming flowers, warmer weather, and longer days, is often associated with new beginnings and fresh starts." -LPI Legal Professionals, Inc.

Although spring doesn't officially start this year until Friday, March 20, Greg and I are getting a bit of a head start on spring this year-

First of all, we are still working on our circadian rhythm which I mentioned in my last two blogs posts. Although we are the wolf type, which stays up later than the other chronotypes, we were staying up way too late at night, even for our type. Working on this was our new year's resolution this year.

We had made some progress on this, but we're doing even better now since daylight savings time started a few days ago, and we're also inspired by spring which does represent new beginnings.

In fact, we have not done this well, turning in to sleep at an earlier time in years! Since we are so happy that we are so close to achieving our goal, we decided to reward ourselves with a fun trip in a couple of weeks. It's really good to reward yourself for a job well done!

However, our best, most important reward is that of improved health, physically, mentally, and emotionally, as we continue to follow our circadian rhythm type, getting the right amount of sleep we need during certain hours of the night. We hope that meeting our personal goal will inspire others to do the same.

Spring is also a wonderful time to work on the place you call home.

~"Spring is the time of plans and projects." -Leo Tolstoy, "Anna Karenina"

Greg recently changed our kitchen faucet, and I decided that this was a great opportunity to organize the things under our sink. It didn't take that long, and it was very rewarding. Things are much easier to find now.

Spring can inspire you to be more creative.

I'm planning and working on a new art/craft project. I thought of the idea while I was writing my book about Southern Appalachia that should be published in a few weeks, in the spring!

Happy Spring!

*Actually, any time is a good time to start or even restart something if you feel like you are ready.

~Positive thought: "Spring is far more than just a changing of seasons; it's a rebirth of the spirit." -Tamara Myers

Thanks for visiting! Until around Saturday, April 4, 2026, Becky

"Love Yourself, as Well as Others"

 

 

It's February, and I guess most of us think about Valentine's Day on February 14, when we buy or make valentines, and when we make or buy gifts for the special people in our lives which is, of course, wonderful that we think of our loved ones on this special day.

However, there is also a little-known, more recent, unofficial holiday in February, on the 17th, My Way Day. This is a special day to do whatever you would like to do. Wow! Imagine doing that!

If you could spend the whole day any way you'd like, what would you do? You could plan ahead by making a list of things that you'd like to do that you haven't done in a while, or maybe even something that you've never gotten to do!

You could just do the things you'd enjoy doing by yourself, or you could even go with a friend or a relative or your spouse somewhere, and you could do your fun things while the other person does what she or he might want to do. You could work out a plan. Sounds like fun!

For the first time, Greg and I will be celebrating My Way Day together this month. We have planned to go to a place we both like for lunch, and then afterwards, we can go places and do things we'd individually like to do. For instance, I'm planning to visit a new shop in town while Greg enjoys his favorite coffee shop. He said he'd like to try out a new coffee there. 

Then, back at home, Greg plans to see a DVD he's never had time to watch, while I'll curl up on the couch in the study to enjoy a book I'd been wanting to read.

Should be a memorable day! Adventure awaits!

We may decide that we don't have to wait until My Way Day next February to do things that we'd like to do. We might even have a My Way Day once a month or even once a week, if we plan it into our schedule. Why not? 

Wishing you a very happy My Way Day on February 17, as well as many other My Way Days!

Just remember to love yourself, as well as others.

Pet Feature-

How to be cozy on a cold winter day!-

Our Mitzi knows how to enjoy My Way Day every day!

Also-

~And, here's an update on following our chronotype each day-It's still a challenge for us since we have been used to our old schedule for so long, but we're making good progress. We'll continue to update you each month on how well we're doing. For more information about chronotypes, check out my blog post from last month-"Some Ideas for a Happy New Year!" published on Sunday, January 4, 2026.

~Positive thought: "I give myself space to breathe in the moment and recognize there is beauty in life's pauses." -cupofcharisma.com

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

"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

"Some More Positive Ideas"

 

Nowadays, it's more important than ever to be positive.

We need to accentuate the positive in our lives, and eliminate the negative.

Here are some positive ideas to help with that-

~Watch positive messages instead of negative ones.

Julie Green, a modern-day prophet, has positive spiritual messages instead of negative ones. www.jgminternational.org

~Also, listening to positive music is very important. What messages are these songs giving us? Also, the frequency of the music is important. Most music is not the right frequency these days. The best songs are on the Hertz frequencies. Several musical artists like the Beatles, Michel Jackson, Whitney Houston, Mozart, Pink Floyd, as well as many others performed songs that were mostly on the Hertz frequencies. No wonder their songs were so popular and harmonious. 

The German handpan expert and teacher Malte Marten on YouTube plays handpans that are tuned to the various Hertz frequencies. One of his YouTube videos is entitled "Positivity Meditation."

The Hertz frequencies are supposed to be healing both physically and emotionally. They can even make you feel more positive! 528 Hz is especially healing since it's supposed to lower your cortisol levels, as well as doing other positive things.

~Reading books that promote positivity by authors such as Rhonda Byrne, Norman Vincent Peale, Carol Tuttle, and Joel Osteen can be very helpful.

~Also, getting out and traveling to different places can be fun and relaxing, and can put you into a positive frame of mind. You don't have to go very far to have a wonderful travel experience. Greg and I enjoy going on day trips, places that are not far from where we live.

We recently went on one of those trips, to Blowing Rock, North Carolina, which is one of the best-kept secrets as a travel destination. The town of Blowing Rock is very attractive-

with great places to enjoy a tasty meal, and to shop for local crafts, etc.

The Blowing Rock itself is a wonderful experience. The view from the rock is really beautiful, and so is the landscaping near the rock, complete with goldfish and turtles.

You can get a snack there, (We had delicious ice cream!) and visit their gift shop, complete with a couple of pretty resident cats. The people at Blowing Rock are very friendly and helpful. This was one of our best trips ever. You might want to visit there yourself, and/or go to another place near where you live. We think day trips are the best!

~Finally, another positive idea is to celebrate!

A couple of our family members have an adorable dog named Lucy Elizabeth, and they recently celebrated her first birthday, complete with a doggie cake-

Today, Saturday, June 14, 2025 is a special day, and many are celebrating this historic day.

Yesterday, Friday, June 13, was also a wonderful day. It's all in how we look at things. Look for the good, and we can find it. There are things to celebrate each and every day if we eliminate the negative, and look at everything in a positive light.

"...today is a gift. That's why they call it the present." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

In July, I'll have a very special blog post featuring my new book about Southern Appalachia, as well as other things. Please stay tuned!

Positive thought- "Sometimes when things are falling apart, they may actually be falling into place." -Unknown 

Thanks for visiting! Until around Saturday, July 5-Tuesday July 8, 2025, Becky