photo friday

http://theberry.com/2011/04/06/daily-awww-laughing-owls-will-make-you-smile-26-photos/>

these laughing owls will make you laugh too!

thoughtful thursday

a person's birthday is the most wonderful and special day of the year for them.  christmas, thanksgiving and other holidays are, of course, wonderful and special.  however, only a person's birthday belongs just to them.  when the opportunity presents, help make birthdays wonderful and special for everyone you know.  and make your own just as wonderful and special too.  happy birthday!

whimsical wednesday

rain, rain, rain!  sooooooo much rain.  my alternative means to walking this whimsical wednesday was such fun.  i put on my knee high rain boots and tripped along the driveway (which is very long), splashing in the puddles.  i skipped to the puddles then jumped into each with both feet and created excellent splashes!  from the house to the mailbox and back to the house again, all of the puddles and i became well acquainted.  when it's hot and dry this summer and i kick up dust as i walk along the driveway to the mailbox, i will think of this day.   

get ready.....

this whimsical wednesday instead of just walking......

skip, hop, jump, gallop, leap, slide, run! 

(or any number of alternative means of locomotion!)

photo friday

to celebrate easter, photo friday brings an array of very whimsically crafted easter eggs. 

http://blog.amyatlas.com/2011/04/pantone-inspired-egg-contest-winner-egg-cellent-easter-inspiration/

a thank you shout out to windygirl for bringing these happy eggs to our attention!

thoughtful thursday

i have not been well this week; suffering from a spring cold that has knocked me flat.  although unwell isn't what anyone would think of as a good time, there are benefits when minor illness strikes.  staying home from work or school gives an unplanned break from routine.  the comforts of illness are many:  family concern and attention, hot tea, soup, ice cream, favorite movies while blobbing on the couch, naps and no expectation that anything other than getting well is to be accomplished.  none of these comforts are unique to illness as we have them otherwise as well.  however, they are all the more special when they are offered as remedies for the restoration to health.  and minor illness, if we pay attention, can remind us just how wonderful good health is and how we must take appropriate action to protect it. 

whimsical wednesday

it is mismatched sock day at the whimsey project!  mine are happily snappy:  one argyle, brightly colored with pink, purple and gray; the other solid (dilos for windygirl!) purple of a different hue with sparkly dots.  and different shoes:  light blue quilted closed toe slipper and one black sandal with buckles.  whenever i look at my feet, i giggle!  what are your feet wearing this whimsical wednesday? 

miscellaneous

this is my last morning in new york city.  soon it will be time to catch the bus at central park west to make my way to laguardia for the return flight to chicago.  new york city is a very whimsical city.  everywhere one looks there's something to marvel at and, more often than not, be very surprised by.  going "somewhere" in the city really isn't necessary to having a great time because just being in the city is entertaining.  new york city is, contrary to popular belief, a very friendly place.  from the moment i stepped off the plane to this moment commenting on my time here, residents have been so pleasant, kind and helpful.  as a whole, i'm thinking, they have a lot of patience to put up with the constant stream of hapless tourists (who speak all languages!) that inhabit their city continually.  you haven't witnessed a hapless tourist until you have witnessed one in new york city.  fortunately, i have come to the city often enough over the years to be now be a visitor as opposed to a tourist.  it's a badge of honor to have made the transition.  i am looking forward to being a visitor again as soon as possible. 

get ready.....

we shall pass whimsical wednesday wearing mismatched socks!  if you are bold, daring and very whimsical, you could wear mismatched shoes as well.  go for it.....

photo friday

my friend, david, has created a very whimsical and unique cairn.  (the photo is presented as he posted it on facebook).

for those who do not know what a cairn is.....

a cairn is a stack of rocks that are supported only by the balance created in the stacking.  a cairn is a tribute (honor) to someone.  therefore, each cairn is unique in size, shape, material.

enjoy david's cairn!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-whimsey-project/162704880448301#!/photo.php?fbid=202553369779462&set=a.202553323112800.49951.100000744006894&type=1&theater

thoughtful thursday

as life progresses there are many places in which we find oursevles.  some want to return to some or all of what has been left behind, others only go forward and never return.  for all the persons there are, there are that many reasons for taking either course of action.  typically, i fall into the second category.  however, yesterday, i was somewhere i thought i would never return to.  it felt strange and good at the same time.  as i left it behind once again, i was very grad that i had ventured into the land of the past.  no doubt, doing such will yield equally unpleasant feelings at some returned to locations, however, it seems that perhaps going back it worth that risk more often than not.  to where do you wish to return?

whimsical wednesday

my daughters had a classmate who could instantly read a word backwards!   she spoke sentences, indeed paragraphs, backwards fluently and it sounded like a foreign language.  while it was very funny, it was also amazing.  never before or since have i known anyone with this skill.  the rest of us would have to write words backwards and read them in order to than speak them. 

it's backwards day for whimsical wednesday.  i have begun the day writing then speaking my name and the names of several of my furry friends' names backwards.  oh, what a hoot!  my own first.  i am revoltgkt!
a selection of the dogs and cats are newly named (in no particular order or distinction):

stacnrab
palrub
ydneb
orez
nottum
romur
fiaw
hetocsrettub
ailongam

of these, i especially enjoyed saying palrub and nottum! 

what new words did you create this whimsical wednesday?

miscellaneous

i have just arrived at my destination post air flight!

seeing the clouds up close and personal brought to mind our whimsical wednesday activity of cloud watching and what could be found in what we observed.  there were whispy clouds that reminded me of gentle waves lapping the shoreline.  the thick, puffy clouds always look like one should be able to perch upon them.  that would certainly be something if it were possible.

what was really thrilling for me, as the plane approached the city and airport, was being familiar enough with the geography and landmarks that i could name all that passed under me!  although this isn't home i don't feel like a stranger.

because i'm in a completely different part of the country, it occurred to me that i should be able to spy license plates to add to the list we began in december.  i shall feel accomplished if i see even one new plate!

get ready

write your name backwards this whimsical wednesday.  not only your own, but those of family and friends as well.  say those "new" names out loud.  you will be surprised at the results. 



ps....i will be in route to other destinations tuesday, wednesday and thursday of this week.   i will post on the blog whenever possible this week.  in the meantime, have whimsical days!

photo friday

grriiiiiillled cheese! featuring jovey!

http://yfrog.com/h2ulpqkj>

thoughtful thursday

this has been a week of the ever expanding, never ending to-do list (don't most weeks feel that way?).    it occurred to me sometime in the middle of it all today that, in addition to all the urgent tasks at hand, it's very important to include a few "tasks" that are not taxing.  and these should actually be written on the list or they will be overlooked.  take time for that cup of tea or sending an email or watching the birds or taking a short walk or whatever it is that is relaxing.  at the end of a day filled with the chores of the to-do list, the goal is to feel productive and accomplished, not harried and frazzled!

whimsical wednesday!

we are celebrating national GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH month at the whimsey project this whimsical wednesday!  so many options for that seemingly humble delight, yes?  there is something very humble about a grilled cheese sandwich but it is richly satisfying.  grilled cheese sandwiches are great to eat when one doesn't feel well, needs to be cheered with a simple comfort food or wants to be reminded of how simple delightful can be.  it also conjures some of the best memories of childhood if your mom (or dad) served grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch or supper.  it was a staple on our meatless catholic fridays when we were growing up; grilled cheese and tomato soup.  it never seemed much of a sacrifice to me!

so many options indeed!  some like pickles on their grilled cheese sandwich, others a slice of tomato.  some put butter on the bread before grilling.  mom always used crisco (shortening).  she was convinced that it made the difference (and she was correct!).  some are "healthy" and coat the pan with vegetable spray before grilling.  some grill in a pan, others on a griddle.  no doubt some bake their "grilled" cheese sandwiches.  some like american cheese, others cheddar.   however it is prepared it's a grilled cheese sandwich!

my whimsical wednesday began with a new take on the grilled cheese sandwich. because i cannot have gluten anymore, bread was out of the question.  it's difficult to eat a blob of melted cheese without a base so i had to come up with something else.  an apple slice was a great substitute for the bread.  a pan, skillet actually, was given a coat of vegetable spray and allowed to heat on medium briefly.  then thick apple slices were added.  these were allowed to cook for a few minutes then were topped with sharp cheddar cheese.  the "sandwich" was finished when the cheese began to melt.  tasty!  tasty!  tasty fine!  my grilled cheese sandwich made an excellent breakfast.

did you have your grilled cheese sandwich this whimsical wednesday?

miscellaneous

last tuesday there was no blog post because there was nothing to share.  that's something i am pleased about.   no need to yak without there being something to yak about.    oh wow!  that word, yak?  it just gave me an idea for a whimsical wednesday activity.  i love thinking up activities for whimsical wednesday.  and should no one play but me, i still enjoy the anticipation as well as the doing and sharing about the doing.

thank you, twitter followers, for sharing the whimsey project with me.  the number of followers continues to increase and there are more tweets about the project all the time.  thank you!  thank you!

come friday i'll be traveling for a few weeks.  it'll be interesting to take the whimsey project on the road for that length of time as well in more than one location.   next month the whimsey project will be participating in the performance of the chicago based LUNA TROOP dance company.

get ready.....

april is national GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH month!  how whimsical is that?  this wednesday munch a grilled cheese sandwich; the usual or one you create.

photo friday

the first flower to bloom on the farm this spring!