get ready.....

the new year begins tonight at the stroke of midnight! for whimsical wednesday, take time to reflect on the year we will have just left behind.  think of something wonderful that happened in each month; be it a special celebration, something you did for someone else, anything that was positive in your life!  (if necessary, use a calendar to nudge your memory).  list what you have selected as your year's wonderful. see what you accomplished?  achieved?  provided to someone else?  it all adds up to a year well lived.  resolve to do even more wonderful in the new year!  happy new year! 

photo friday

jacob found a green tomato in grandpa's garden on december 28th!

thoughtful thursday

reunion.  persons, separated by distance and time, reunite.  the happy excitement that bubbles up upon greeting one another.  the non-stop talking; several conversations at once.  laughter, reminiscences. parting, with endless hugs and goodbyes, glowing of renewal and reconnection. reunion.

whimsical wednesday

our whimsical wednesday activity was family time.  we had a day of family time.  with last night's snowfall we had fun playing in the snow after brunch.  friends visited this afternoon, making the day feel like another christmas day.  after a lovely dinner, where conversation and laughter accompanied the meal, we sat by the fire.  while eating christmas cookies and other treats we played apples to apples, a game we all enjoy. after a bit of conversation and enjoying the fire, it was time for the children's bedtime.  our whimsical wednesday was filled with lots of family time, quiet and not so quiet time. 

miscellaneous

I don't know if you believe in Christmas or if you have presents underneath a Christmas tree.  but if you believe in love, that will be more than enough for you to come and celebrate with me.....

so sings john Denver and the muppets; expressing how I feel at Christmas time!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

  

get ready.....

whimsical wednesday is the day after christmas, a day of busy activity filled with family, friends, fun!  for whimsical wednesday, make the day after this christmas a time where family engages in quiet activity together.  look at all the christmas cards together, play games, work on a puzzle, watch your favorite christmas movie on video, make hot chocolate, make an after christmas treat, cook dinner together; maybe try homemade pizza for the first time!  whatever you do, do it all together! 

thoughtful thursday

what if there were no Christmas trees? 
what if there were no Christmas decorations?
what if there were no Christmas carols?
what if there were no Christmas cookies?
what if there were no Christmas parties?
what if there were no Christmas concerts?
what if there were no Christmas presents?
is there still Christmas?
if there are people who love and care for one another, Christmas is alive, with us and in us.

whimsical wednesday

it's secret santa this whimsical wednesday; offering a gift in any form to someone without them knowing who the gift came from.  at once I knew who and what I wanted to offer as secret santa. my gift was actually gifts.  every year I participate in a holiday cookie exchange.  today the cookies were presented to the firemen in the two fire houses in town.  I was seen but unknown therefore still secret!  the firemen were very pleased to have an array of christmas cookies to enjoy. as soon as the cookies were handed over they began to munch, munch, munch them.  the second secret santa gift went to a person who is having a rough time so is very sad this holiday season.  she will have returned to her workplace after lunch today to be greeted by a lovely plant festooned in holiday regalia.  hopefully her secret santa gift gave her reason to smile. what was your secret santa gift this whimsical wednesday? 

get ready...

be a secret santa for someone this whimsical wednesday.  your "gift" can come in any form you wish to offer.  just make someone very happy today!

photo friday

the poinsettias made out of old christmas cards for this week's whimsical wednesday!

thoughtful thursday

one is never too old to enjoy all the whimsey.  one can be grown up, as in responsible, and still be goofy!

whimsical wednesday

happy poinsettia day for whimsical wednesday.  until i did the research (see website links posted monday of this week), i did not know that poinsettias were of special significance to the mexican culture.  what to do for my poinsettia whimsical wednesday activity?  after looking through the information on the links, the craft of creating poinsettias from old greeting cards caught my eye.  so i pulled out a box of old cards, glue stick, pencil, scissors and packs of glitter glue (different colors). a poinsettia petal pattern from a scrap of paper was made and tested. then i spent what became several hours making poinsettias. while i didn't intend to spend all day making poinsettias out of old greeting cards, i enjoyed the process of selecting just the correct cards to combine as well as carefully cut out just the most perfect area of the greeting card to get the look i was after.  the resulting flowers will be offered to a select few.  the recipients can decide if they wish to make a poinsettia pin or ornament (the flowers will be given with a length of ribbon and a pin back). looking forward to sharing my whimsical wednesday poinsettias.

get ready.....

according to the calendar i have that informs me about such events, this whimsical wednesday is poinsettia day!  so let's do something of a poinsettia theme for our whimsical wednesday activity.  do whatever you wish.  here are links that might provide inspiration:

http://www.aboutflowers.com/flower-holidays-occasions-a-parties/christmas/poinsettia-history.html

http://www.bhg.com/christmas/crafts/christmas-card-projects/#page=10

http://www.ehow.com/how_5793173_make-paper-poinsettias-school-project.html
this one suggests a pencil decoration but it could be used as a napkin holder

http://www.bhg.com/christmas/ornaments/felt-poinsettia-christmas-ornament/

http://www.ehow.com/list_6716166_mexican-poinsettia-crafts-kids.html

photo friday

memories of thanksgiving past filled this year's thanksgiving dinner conversation. 

thoughtful thursday

amid the many items on your santa wish list, be sure to include those items that are priceless and make life all the more precious.  wish for patience, understanding, caring, concern for others; giving of self and treasure freely and often.  wish for these qualities for all persons everywhere.  the foundation of true peace on earth.

whimsical wednesday

we are preparing for st nicholas day this whimsical wednesday.  as explained in the get ready.....  post of monday, when we were children, my siblings and i hung our socks (mostly set them on the kitchen table) before going to bed on december 5th. when we awoke on december 6th, the feast of st nicholas, we ran to the kitchen to see if anything was in our socks.  we found a bit of candy, a nickel or dime and a piece of fruit; usually an orange.  such excitement this simple treat brought. because it was such a fun holiday tradition for me growing up, it was also celebrated with my own children.  my grandchildren are now, too, enjoying celebrating the feast of st nicholas, the original santa claus.

the link offered on monday was full of great ideas on how to celebrate st nicholas day.  i read through all the recipes, activities, crafts before encountering SEND AN E-CARD.  i knew immediately this was the activity i wanted to undertake for whimsical wednesday.  because i have been thinking about memories of celebrating st nicholas day with my siblings, children and grandchildren, it seemed just right to share the memory with them through the e-card (which are free to send). tomorrow my siblings, children and grandchildren as well as a few friends will be greeted with a happy st nicholas day e-card from me.  we shall share celebrating st nicholas day together via the e-card!

get ready.....

whimsical wednesday is the eve of the feast of st nicholas!  the "original" santa claus, st nicholas is an important figure during the holidays around the world.  when my siblings and i were young, we "hung" one of our socks before bed on december 5th.  the next morning, we looked in our socks for anything that st nicholas might have left for us!  for our whimsical wednesday activity, let's prepare for a visit from st nicholas.  here's a link for ideas:  http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/how-to-celebrate/

photo friday

our thanksgiving table centerpiece.  jacob created the bowl of nature, his  interpretation of the symbol of thanksgiving, the turkey!  

thoughtful thursday

everyday should be thanksgiving day.  not to be celebrated like a holiday with turkey and pumpkin pie but of giving thanks; everyday.

whimsical wednesday

it was post-thanksgiving day for whimsical wednesday.  besides talking (via email, phone) to friends to ask about their holiday, "thank you for sharing thanksgiving with me" notes were sent.  these were not only sent to those who were present but also to those who sent something to make our thanksgiving dinner even more tasty fine!  the notes were written on the turkey cards i made for thanksgiving.

get ready.....

let's extend thanksgiving this whimsical wednesday.  take the opportunity to spend time with someone you weren't able to be with at thanksgiving but would have enjoyed doing so.  a visit, a call, a note in the mail, whatever you wish.

photo friday

jacob's artistic eye!

thoughtful thursday

HAPPY THANKSGIVING ONE AND ALL!

whimsical wednesday

preparing something special for thanksgiving was our whimsical wednesday activity.  my preparation was to gather materials for a dinner table game.  a simple card, stamped with a turkey, and pens were placed into a container.  these will be used to have everyone write something special about any thanksgiving they have experienced, their favorite aspects of thanksgiving or share something humorous about thanksgiving.  the container was placed on the table to serve as a centerpiece.

we had a second whimsical wednesday activity today.  we decided to have a thanksgiving eve celebration; a bonfire in the outdoor fire pit.  the weather was lovely and the moon bright in a clear sky.  we tended the fire, roasted hot dogs, brats and marshmallows.  there was lots of talk, a few games like 20 questions and much laughter.  happy thanksgiving eve!

get ready.....

variety of activity for whimsical wednesday is very important to me.  however, every thanksgiving brings a wednesday, thanksgiving eve.  that means every thanksgiving eve, whimsical wednesday, has to have a thanksgiving theme.  this year, prepare something to be utilized on thanksgiving day. i will be preparing an activity for us to engage in on the most wonderful holiday of the year!

photo friday

my constant traveling companion and i shared a cold drink.

thoughtful thursday

my friend shared this hilarious yet thoughtful quote with me recently:

before one can be old and wise, one has to be young and dumb!

whimsical wednesday

we made or bought thanksgiving greeting cards for this whimsical wednesday.  mine were created today.  a simple post card in a lovely fall color stamped with thanksgiving motifs.  i shall be handwriting the sentiment the rest of the week and mail the cards on saturday.  that must mean that whimsical wednesday will last all week!  will others be receiving your thanksgiving greetings next week?  (one of our whimsey project followers already sent her cards and i was THANKFUL to have received one!)

get ready.....

i'm all about remembering others at special times throughout the year; especially at thanksgiving, the most wonderful holiday there is.  for whimsical wednesday, prepare cards or postcards, store bought or homemade to send to at least five people who would be thrilled to find your thanksgiving greeting in their mailbox.

photo friday

visit this website filled with sweet and funny photos of animals of all varieties.  it will delight!

http://www.cutestpaw.com/

thoughtful thursday

people will often not remember precisely what you said or what you did, however, they will always remember how you made them feel.

whimsical wednesday

we added family stories to our memory books for whimsical wednesday.  family stories are very important; threads that connect one generation to another.  when i write about family in my memory book, i think about my children and grandchildren and how much they will enjoy reading the entries.  the entries will offer the opportunity to remember experiences or learn something new.  i just hope they enjoy reading the stories as much as i enjoy writing them.

get ready.....

november is family stories month!  for whimsical wednesday, enter a family story or two in your memory book.  then share the stories during your thanksgiving celebration and ask those gathered to offer stories as well.

photo friday

a halloween pumpkin needs a halloween costume!

thoughtful thursday

the eastern seaboard of the united states was ravaged by a super storm a few days ago; leaving in its wake much destruction.  as is always comforting in such situations, people from all over the country unite to offer assistance in any form necessary to rescue fellow citizens.  imagine how awesome the world would be if we treated each other with such care and concern all the time, in good times as well as bad!

whimsical wednesday

happy halloween!    halloween on the farm was indeed a happy one.  the pumpkin fairy visited.  i had a "costume" for the first time in many, many years.  there was a bit of reverse trick or treating (in costume); took my neighbor a treat!  as is tradition on the farm, all the critters got an extra treat!  happy halloween!

i awoke to find that the pumpkin fairy had visited!

miscellaneous

my friends enjoyed a recent vacation in hawaii to celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.  i was pleased to have the opportunity to look at all of the photographs they took.  one photo particularly caught my attention:  a hawaii license plate on their rental car (convertible, of course)!  while i'll continue to look for that elusive license plate, i can definitely say all fifty state license plates have been sighted.  game over!

it's cold enough at night now to need a bit of heat.  otherwise the weather has remained quite pleasant.  what's nice about cool nights is the luxury to enjoy a fire in the pit outside or in the living room fireplace.

there are still plenty of colored (and green) leaves to enjoy.  the bittersweet is striking, leafless with bright orange berries gleaming in the sunlight.  the harvest moon grand.

get ready.....

this week's whimsical wednesday is halloween!  for your activity, have some halloween fun.  do something new or revisit a part of the celebration you no longer participate in.  enjoy!

photo friday

getting to know you.......

thoughtful thursday

we often find kindness from the most unexpected persons, under the most unexpected circumstances.

whimsical wednesday

our whimsical wednesday activity was the road trip game of sighting humorous signs.  primed for seeing a multitude of signs, then having to narrow the choices to my favorite, i was shocked at the actual result after almost seven hours of driving! one, count them, one!  only one sign i saw was even remotely humorous and it wasn't even that.  it was more of a "smile" sign.  a donut shop's sign read, PUMPKIN SHAPED COOKIES.  that provoked a smile.  it is pumpkin season and everything imaginable pumpkin can be found anywhere and everywhere.  perhaps we'll have to play this road trip again for another whimsical wednesday.

get ready.....

what is it about wednesday lately that it a day of travel!? a day of travel means another road trip game for whimsical wednesday.  let's read billboards, marquees, signs of all description.  what was the most humorous one among them?  share it with us here at the blog.

photo friday

a carefree summer day for a young boy.

thoughtful thursday

BEST EVER.  two words used to describe a myriad of persons, places, things, circumstances.  one would think that not everything in the world could be the BEST EVER.  perhaps not if one's perspective is of  a world of competition and exclusiveness.  conversely, it is very heartening that individuals think their "world" is filled with the BEST EVER;  the best ever family, the best ever home, the best ever friends, the best ever experiences.  for the world is large enough and encompassing enough for everyone, everywhere to believe their small corner of the earth to be valued as the BEST EVER.

whimsical wednesday

according to studies, it has been revealed that people smile, on average, 50 times per day.  to discover if this average applied to our individual selves, this whimsical wednesday we counted our smiles.

the parameters for my smile counting was that i would count smiles for 12 hours, between six am and six pm.  all smiles were counted; smiles when we encounter persons we pass in a hallway, smiles that occur during conversing with others, smiles given when thanking someone for their help, smiles that are provoked through reading or hearing or even thinking about something and any other that might cross my face.

based on my smile count "rules" i smiled a total of 140 smiles, 50 of which were smiled by 11 am!  my smile count was 90 smiles over the average 50.  it was neat to discover that i smile a great deal during any given day.  as a result of our smile study for whimsical wednesday, i think i will continue to be aware of smiling and remind myself to do it offer everyday!  how about you?  how many smiles did you smile today?

get ready.....

studies suggest that people smile an average of 50 times a day.  for whimsical wednesday, count the number of times you smile throughout the day!  then assess how paying close attention to smiling makes you feel!

photo friday

glorious autumn

thoughtful thursday

walk softly; be gentle and kind....
it is as much a benefit to the individual as it is for others.  

whimsical wednesday

this is my photo of a commonly used item taken from a different angle.  what is it?

miscellaneous

colder temperatures arrived in the last few days; chasing the hummingbirds away. the feeder remains hanging just in case.  however no hummers have been sighted since it got cold.

with the cold arriving and the hummingbirds heading south, it was time to bring in the houseplants that have been on the porch all summer.  also, the kitties' winter nest was assembled (consisting of the bench on the porch covered with an old comforter).  they can crawl under the blanket and stay quite snug.

leaves are not only turning colors but are already falling from the trees.  some trees are already bare.  that's what a drought and summer heat does to trees.

it's woolly worm season.  they seem to be everywhere.

the heron flew overhead yesterday and cast such a large shadow it was startling!  he glided from my lake, across the meadow to land at the neighbor's body of water for a visit there. wow!  it is always breathtaking to watch.

get ready.....

let's play "what is it?" for whimsical wednesday.  take a photograph of a common object from a very uncommon angle so that the item isn't readily identifiable.  then ask others if they know what the object in the photograph is!

photo friday

here kitty, kitty?!

thoughtful thursday

fall beckoned.  i complied; the screened porch my destination.  while i sat, i was soon covered with the three kittens.  as they snoozed in a heap on me, i looked at the vista beyond the porch.  there was so much to see; the ducks lazing on the water, the birds going about their day, the turtles sunning themselves at water's edge, observing the trees to discover which leaves had begun to be painted with fall's colors. although it was very enjoyable to sit there it was soon that i thought that i "should" be doing something.  as soon as that thought came to mind it occurred to me that i WAS doing something.  i was immersed in the glorious season of autumn.  i was in that moment instead of there and somewhere else at the same time.  i allowed myself to DO this for quite awhile and it was time well spent.

whimsical wednesday

happy halloween preparations this whimsical wednesday!  my preparation entailed creating halloween cards. a dozen post cards of fall colors were embellished with pumpkins, jack-o-lanterns and greetings of stickers and stamps.  the cards are ready to mail.  they sure are cute; hopefully the recipients will think so too.

miscellaneous

fall has arrived and so has october!

the birds and squirrels are making ready for winter as they store food in trees or in the earth.

everyday more and more leaves are turning bright colors.

it has begun to rain on at regular intervals. after a year of drought and a very intensely hot summer, the rain is most welcome.

as dusk fell a few nights ago, i looked out the window of the sun room to discover a raccoon peering into the window.  he wasn't paying attention to me; he was watching television!

the "wee" ducks are now as large as the adults so i can no longer tell them apart.  the "wee" kittens have just about reached their adult size as well.

friends tell me they have gotten out their stockpots as it soup and chili fixing time! that's eating at its finest.

get ready.....

it's october!  halloween will be here in a blink of an eye.  let's get ready for that celebration by creating a decoration or making cards this whimsical wednesday.

photo friday

visit the link to see libby's effie may ledbetter come to "life" via windygirl!

https://twitter.com/WindyTGirl/status/251683873925255168/photo/1

thoughtful thursday

every day is a good day to make someone happy.

whimsical wednesday

we celebrated johnny appleseed day for whimsical wednesday.  and the way we celebrated was to do something with apples.  my apple endeavors were for a friend, recovering from a recent illness that landed her in the hospital. i visited her today and arrived bearing apple gifts; apple/cinnamon scented potpourri to accent her kitchen (that has an apple motif) and freshly baked apples.  she was cheered by my visit and her apple gifts.  

get ready.....

whimsical wednesday falls on johnny appleseed day!  to celebrate this occasion, do something, anything with apples.  make applesauce or apple butter, bake an apple pie, bob for apples, eat a caramel apple.  make a candle holder out of an apple or use an apple to make prints.  have fun with apples this whimsical wednesday!

photo friday

a central park tree; its branches kiss the earth!

thoughtful thursday

the good we do for others is never wasted.

whimsical wednesday

today was make a grab and go for whimsical wednesday; a concept was inspired by a how-to at the craftin' with suz's blog.  she talked about creating a grab and go bag for unexpected travel.  that is a very utilitarian use of the grab and go idea.  it occurred to me that a grab and go could be comprised of just about anything.

the grab and go i created for whimsical wednesday was a party grab and go.  with grandchildren about, sometimes on short notice, it seemed a good grab and go to have on hand.  a good sized tote began the hunt for items about the house for the grab and go.  the cupboards in the laundry room are filled with items for the grandchildren to play with so that was my go-to place.  every shelf seemed to yield something for the party grab and go:  party hats, markers, stickers, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, deck of cards, notepads, pencils, balloons, colored paper, scissors, glue sticks, dice, magazines.

while they typically have access to these items, it seemed that a fun surprise could be enjoyed by presenting them with a party in a bag as they rarely consider using all of these items at the same time.  the grab and go also has items they don't play with on a regular basis in the form of homemade gift cards.  they will find cards for making ice cream, baking cookies, watching a fun movie together.  i'm looking forward to sharing the party grab and go with them.  

get ready.....

for whimsical wednesday, let's create a grab and go bag.  make any grab and go bag you'd like.  it could be of craft supplies, games, tools, whatever best suits your needs.  happy gathering!

photo friday

shadow play!

thoughtful thursday

according to the "everything everyday" calendar, it is POSITIVE THINKING day. there's value in positive thinking; positive thinking that is tempered with a realistic view of what is possible.  paired with reason, positive thinking can help get us through the rough patches of daily life as well as offer that push that helps us successfully complete the major tasks we undertake.

whimsical wednesday

this whimsical wednesday was all about creating "pass along" art books, following the directions offered by  http://www.craftinwithsuz.com/2012/09/monday-make-itz.html.   my sister actually has my book since she picked up several during one shopping trip.  today i assembled embellishments to add to those that come with the book and made the book's cover.  when next i visit family, i will be able to unite my pass along book efforts with the actual book!  that is something to look forward to.  

miscellaneous

last week's travel netted two yet-to-be-seen license plates:  south dakota and utah! one remains; hawaii.  wonder how long it will take to see a license plate for the state of hawaii.  just to keep the game interesting washington, dc is also on the list.  dc might as well be on the list since we have made note of plates from u.s. territories and canadian provinces as well as mexico.  had we been playing the "spot the license plate" game from the beginning last week, we would have spied a multitude of plates from various states.  we saw many, many, many from all over the nation.

one aspect of travel that has me as a passenger instead of the driver, much progress is made on knitting projects!

a wee kitten (they are growing so quickly and soon will not be wee) belly flopped on the porch rail, got settled then proceeded to watch television through the open window!  silly kitty!

the grandchildren used my digital camera to take lots of photographs while they were here for their summer visit.  the result, besides their enjoyment, is my having the opportunity to look at what they found important enough to photograph.  one of the photos is of the dozen donuts they picked out at the grocery store.  priorities! priorities!

get ready.....

for whimsical wednesday we are making "pass along" art books.  a pass along art book is similar to the autograph books we had in elementary school, however, instead of signatures we are collecting art.  this whimsical wednesday activity is inspired by craftin' with suz.  visit her website for instructions to make a pass along art book.  http://www.craftinwithsuz.com/2012/09/monday-make-itz.html

photo friday

summer fun on a lazy sunday afternoon.

thoughtful thursday

it matters not if no one reads your words, hears your music, views your artistic endeavors or any other result of your efforts.  if you create and doing so makes you more you, that is all that is necessary.

whimsical wednesday

what vehicle to count?  so many to choose from for the whimsical wednesday road trip activity.  once on the road, two cars were in mind to look for; the pt cruiser and the tracker.  because it was too difficult to choose which of the two to play with, it was decided that the first one seen would be the car that would be counted. soon after this decision was made, a pt cruiser was spied tooling along the opposite lanes of the interstate.  the pt cruiser it would be!

because travel would traverse three states, it was decided to break down the count by state as well as the total number of pt cruisers counted on the road.

total number of pt cruisers seen:  21

total number of pt cruisers seen in illinois:  1

total number of pt cruisers seen in kentucky:  9

total number of pt cruisers seen in tennessee:  11

even though the tracker wasn't being counted, it was watched for just to see if any were about.  amazingly, no trackers were spotted on the road trip.

what car did you count for whimsical wednesday?

miscellaneous

labor day was enjoyed with friends on the screened porch; talking, doing handwork, sipping iced tea, watching the antics of the ducks, kitties and birds, dining.  it was a lovely way to end "official" summer (even as the calendar indicates summer will be present for a few more weeks).

a tropical storm turned hurricane visited the gulf of mexico last week.  by friday, the remnants of issac moved north making it possible for us to have three days of rain.  the respite amid the year long drought was very much welcomed.

a turtle was rescued from the road this morning.  a cute little guy who can now call the farm home.

the hummingbirds zoom about as if in formation like the air force's blue angels. yesterday i happened to look out the window to find the wee kittens tracking the hummingbirds in flight.  what a sight!  mango and scruffie moved their heads in unison, round and about, to follow the flight paths of the hummingbirds.  silly kitties.

since being home after taking the grandchildren home, it's been possible to do a page or two in the art journal.  it felt good to delve into that process again.

by whimsey and happenstance, twitter friends and i have been playing virtual *kick* the can!  the twitter community is such fun.  grand connections have been made with the twitter followers of the whimsey project!

get ready.....

another day of travel this whimsical wednesday soooo another road trip game. we'll count cars.  select a car you would like to count and have at it; short journey, long journey, standing on a corner watching the traffic go by, scoping the cars in a parking lot.  i'll spend the next few days deciding what my target will be!

photo friday

a tree in our forest that looks like it was created by dr seuss!

thoughtful thursday

across the road resides a herd of cattle.  lovely white ones.  during the growing season, the cows are kept out of part of the pasture because the farmer is growing hay for winter feed.  it's always evident when he's completed all the hay cutting he's going to do as the cows are allowed to graze in that portion of the pasture; allowing them closer proximity to me.  it's quite pleasantly calming to watch them.  they seem so accepting, so willing to just be as they go about their days being, well, cattle.  it's evident why these creatures are sacred in india.  perhaps we humans should be more like cows.....calm, accepting, willing.

whimsical wednesday

it was one sock day for whimsical wednesday.  my one sock was snappy; an argyle patterned in three colors  with "fringe" (worn inside out so all the long thread ends from the weaving of the pattern were revealed).  one person pointed out to me that i was wearing only one sock.  yes, i was wearing one sock.  one amazingly snappy sock!

miscellaneous

fall is definitely on the way.  grandchildren have been returned home and school began yesterday.  the leaves on several varieties of trees are already turning colors (in part from the drought, no doubt), it's getting darker earlier and earlier each evening, it's cooler at night.  there's much to enjoy during fall so it is something to look forward to.

while watching the hummingbirds at the feeder this morning, i noticed that there was an interaction taking place that wasn't between the hummingbirds.  a closer look revealed that a praying mantis was clinging to a stem of the vine close to where the feeder was hanging.  the mantis and hummer were being curious and checking each other out.  watching that was amazing to behold.

the house sure is quiet without the grandchildren running around enlivening the days.  what i tell them when we part?  parting is the opportunity to look forward to the next visit.  i'm looking forward to the next visit.

get ready.....

it's wear one sock day for whimsical wednesday!  if you don't usually wear socks, put one (and only one) on!  make it a snappy sock with lots of character!  

photo friday

the turkeys decided to visit while we were sitting on the porch.  

thoughtful thursday

the grandchildren were returned to their parents and home last evening.  oh, what a reunion!  joyful happiness abounded;  the bonds of this little family run deep.  it was both heartwarming and reassuring to behold. when saying good night to megan and then jacob, tucked in their beds, they both told me how happy they were to be home again.  to both i replied, "i'm happy to be home too and i don't even live here; that's how good here feels".

whimsical wednesday

our road trip game for whimsical wednesday was lots of fun.  we spent several hours looking for anything that began with the letters J, M and T.  sometimes there was a bunch to find all at the same time and then there were dry spells.  we played until it was too dark to see anything but lights. megan did the best in that there seemed to be a great deal more M stuff and words to spot than either J or T.  no matter how many or few we were able to discover, we had fun with our whimsical wednesday road trip game.

jacob's best find was the word JOLLEY.  it was on a license plate.  we wondered if this was the car owner's name or if they were just jolley folks driving along.

megan's best find was the word MAGNODE. this word was imprinted on the mudflap of a very large truck.  i asked if we should name the next stray kitty at the farm magnode.  megan said, "imagine us calling here magnode magnode magnode"! by the time she finished saying the second magnode we were all laughing.  you try saying magnode three times fast and you'll know why we were laughing.

my best find was the interstate mile marker 222.  while it was numerals, i could "see" 222 in letters.  it would be two-two-two; very cool.

miscellaneous

the grandchildren's annual summer visit comes to an end tomorrow.  no doubt there is more activity and more visiting with friends when they are here than any other time during the year.  we are expert at making the most of our time together. our final day's activity?  bake cookies and brownies to take home to mom and dad.

the weather has been great.  august is typically very very hot, even hotter than july. but, for whatever reason,  the temperature has dropped and the humidity has diminished, making the weather absolutely wonderful for porch sitting for meals, reading, crafting and card playing, hiking in the woods, fishing and boating. blobbing in the hammock too.  it's almost been too cool for swimming but that has happened as well. it has also rained a few times. with as dry as it's been even rain has been an event to enjoy!

the baby ducks are almost grown.  their down is almost completely replaced with feathers. there are still four.  the wee kittens have become quite social; running to greet us when we step out and allowing us to hold and play with them.  jacob named one scruffie and megan named the other mango. now the grandchildren's campaign has been to allow scruffie and mango to come inside!  resisting THAT with fervor! there are already enough cats in the house without adding the outdoor cats.

get ready.....

we will be traveling whimsical wednesday, therefore, our activity will be a road trip game. everyone in a vehicle will be on the lookout for anything seen that begins with the individual's first (or last) name's initial.  for example, if a person's name begins with G, then that person would look for G stuff.  keep a list of sighted items for an agreed upon amount of time during travel or play for the entire journey. how many items were found?  what was the most unusual item spotted?  have fun even if the game is played for just the commute to work or other local destination. and if being on a road won't be taking place on wednesday, improvise!  

photo friday

jacob's portrait of special friends that are also visiting the farm.

thoughtful thursday

megan, jacob and i were at the grocery store this evening when a storm erupted.  it was still raining when we exited the store.  we jumped into action, everyone opening doors and the trunk; getting all of the groceries into the car and returning the cart to the corral.  when we pulled into the garage, we jumped into action, getting all of the groceries (and other items from the day's outing) into the house and put away in the appropriate places.  we worked together, helping one another accomplish a task.  supporting one another helps forge bonds and makes everyone involved feel great.  try it!  you'll like it!

whimsical wednesday

jacob's idea of creating maps was the whimsical wednesday activity today!  a friend joined us for the evening so she participated as well.  supper was enjoyed on the porch and after the dishes were cleared we all got to the task at hand.  it was very quiet as we all worked on our various maps.  once in awhile someone would ask for a different colored marker or seek an opinion on how to proceed with a portion of a map. sometimes we could be heard talking to ourselves about one detail or another!

when we were finished, we showed each other what we created.  jacob created the imaginary place, rock island.  it was very tropical with lots of water, boats and palm trees.  there was a neat rock pile, the feature that gave the place its name.  megan drew a place from a book she read.  her map was all black and red and filled with lots of details about the various characteristics of the place.  our visitor and i both, without intention or consultation, drew a map of the farm!  that was funny.  hers was much better than mine because it had a lot of detail i didn't bother with.  it would seem that her map of the farm reflected her level of observation skills!

get ready.....

it's jacob's week to select the whimsical wednesday activity.  jacob announced that we will create maps.  your map can be an actual space or geographical location, such as your bedroom or your favorite street.  or you can create an imaginary place in map form.  make your map as simple or elaborate as you wish.  we are looking forward to this whimsical wednesday activity!  hopefully you are as well.

photo friday

megan snapped this photograph of the kitten she named mango.

thoughtful thursday

while sitting around the table creating collages yesterday, jacob asked, "if you could be a superhero what would be your powers?"   the three of us sat quietly for awhile, pondering this question, before one of us spoke.  jacob said he would like to have super strength and the ability to fly so he could rescue people from danger or other scary situations.  i said i would like to have the power to be a peacemaker; wherever i was and whomever i was with, i had the ability to enhance the best in people: kindness, understanding, support, cooperation, etc.  megan's superpower wish seemed to be a blend of both jacob's strength and my positive influence on people.

the collage making conversation stayed with me all day.  it was affirming to listen to my grandchildren speak of having superpowers that would be beneficial to the world.  it also occurred to me that we as, mere mortals, can be superheros just by being to others (and ourselves) the best we can be.  we might not be able to fly or have super human strength but we all have the capacity to bring the best of ourselves to others.  in a small, very ordinary, human way, we can make the world a better place for everyone.  a happier, more peaceful world leaves more time for whimsey!

whimsical wednesday

making collages, as suggested by megan, was the focus of whimsical wednesday. old magazines and calendars provided the pictures we needed to make our collages. megan and jacob cut out pictures of items or words they liked from the magazines. these were glued in random arrangements on card stock.  the theme of my collage was flower photographs featured in calendars. after cutting out the photos, it was obvious that the collection was too large for the sheets of card stock megan and jacob used for their collages.  it will take another session of collage making to find what is needed for mounting the flowers.  we discussed the possibility that our collage making activity might require more than one session.  everyone thought that was just fine because sitting around the table together making collages was lots of fun.

miscellaneous

our first full day of what the grandchildren fondly call "camp mamala" was excellent.  there was boating and archery and tree climbing and hammock lazing and porch sitting and play time with kittens.  there was art and quilt making, reading and talking about our collage projects for whimsical wednesday.  and, of course, ice cream, popsicles and candy!  everyone should have a camp mamala each summer!

there are still four baby ducklings.  they are larger but young because they still have downy feathers. the wee kittens (as well as their mom and older sister) really enjoy when we are outside.  the kittens actually come running when we are outside. there hasn't been any "tame" stray cats since dog and her brothers.  it's delightful to have kittens to enjoy.

the extreme heat has seem to have abated; at least for the moment.  that makes being outside in the early morning and in the evenings quite pleasant.

NASA had a new probe land successfully on mars in the early hours of monday after traveling for eight months to the red planet.  we have been following the activity and looking at the images being returned to the earth from the probe, curiosity.  it's remarkably amazing!

get ready.....

the grandchildren are visiting for the next two weeks so will be enjoying whimsical wednesdays with me.  therefore, they have been offered the opportunity to select whimsical wednesday activities while they are here.  megan's suggestion will be the activity for this week.

we will create a collage! the collage could be of random images or images by theme such as enjoyed activities, objects, people (photographs perhaps).  a collage can be made into a framed work of art, cover an object,  made like puzzle pieces or however one would like to display the finished collage.  

we are already planning our collages!  how about you?

photo friday

 handcrafted tags for displaying four leaf clover!  

thoughtful thursday

some days are just meant to be devoted to watching hallmark movies!

whimsical wednesday

it's stay cool during the dog days of summer for whimsical wednesday!  for my activity, i made a new and very tasty iced tea  that is very refreshing! try my recipe:

green/citrus iced tea

to a large pitcher (i used a 3 quart, if yours is larger or smaller, adjust proportions accordingly)  add:

3 green tea bags (tags, if attached, cut off)
1/2 to 1 cup sugar, depending on sweetness desired (i used 3/4 cup of splenda)
1 lemon and 1 lime cut into quarters, squeezed, then dropped into the pitcher

while preparing the pitcher, bring fresh, cold water to a boil.
pour boiling water over ingredients in pitcher to at least half full.
cover the pitcher and let steep for about 15 minutes.
fill the rest of the pitcher with fresh, cold water.

pour over ice in tall glasses (or put in refrigerator for later).
garnish glasses with mint sprig.
enjoy!

miscellaneous

there are still four ducklings.  now that four have made it this far, i find myself anxiously searching for them each morning and am relieved to find all still present and accounted for.

there were four hummingbirds at the feeder at the same time yesterday.  perhaps what i thought was two has actually been four.  the hummers aren't particularly distinctive from one another.  for some reason it's thrilling to have four hummingbirds visit instead of just two.

it's almost time for the grandchildren to visit!  

get ready.....

wednesday is the first day of august; the very midpoint of the dog days of summer! do something fun that will keep you cool amid the heat of the dog days this whimsical wednesday.  will you stay cool by yourself or share the fun with others?    

an old tree, a special feature at the central park zoo.

thoughtful thursday

my sister posted the recipe for sugar bread (sugar sandwiches) on her blog.  reading that brought back memories.  in the summer my siblings and i played outside all day long.  we were extremely hungry by late afternoon, especially after swimming in our little pool and running through the sprinkler.  to tide us over until dinner, mom made sugar sandwiches.  (a sugar sandwich is a slice of white bread spread with butter and sugar is sprinkled on the butter.)  we thought sugar sandwiches were the best taste sensation ever.

the four of us sat huddled on the backyard porch steps in wet swimsuits, wrapped in towels, munching away on sugar sandwiches.  it's doubtful if sugar sandwiches would have the same appeal today. however, this childhood snack will remain an ever wonderful memory.

whimsical wednesday

it was bird watching day for whimsical wednesday!  and a great bird watching day it was!  from the house, that is.  with temperatures soaring above 105 degrees, the birds were observed throughout the day from different windows around the house. there were the usual visitors to the farm; cardinals, crows, hummingbirds, ducks (male, female, ducklings), gold finches, doves, wrens, sparrows, indigo buntings, eastern bluebirds, wild turkeys.  bird watching was eagerly awaited for whimsical wednesday as i was informed by a neighbor yesterday that she spotted the herons with young at my lake over the weekend (while i was away).  there was hope that the heron family would reveal themselves for bird watching day.  even with watching all day, no heron family in sight.  no matter for, like license plates, the search will continue beyond whimsical wednesday!

miscellaneous

several license plates were spotted during travel over the past week; washington (state), oregon, wyoming, california, arkansas, missouri, iowa, kentucky, tennessee, texas, tennessee, maine, virginia, florida, georgia, mississippi, alabama. so many but not the final three needed.  the search continues. 

the highlight of the visit to chicago was attending the performance(s) of the luna troop, sarah's dance company.  sunday's performance was also sarah's birthday. when the troop was taking their bow with sarah, they presented her with flowers, encircled her and sang happy birthday while skipping around her, holding hands.  it was very sweet.  it was, as always, wonderful.  and, as always, it was good to be able to attend.

upon returning home, mama duck was spied on the lake with her ducklings.  it was good to see that there are still ducklings, which have grown significantly.  along with the ducklings, there were a pair of turkeys in the yard.  and all the kitties.  it's fun to return home and find everyone happy to have me here again.

get ready...

it'll be bird watching day for whimsical wednesday. check back tomorrow for full details!

photo friday

thoughtful thursday

"When you do a thing, do it with all your might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your own personality. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."
--Ralph Waldo Emerson

whimsical wednesday

it's share houseplants day this whimsical wednesday!  my neighbors are houseplant persons like me so they received cuttings and starts from several of the houseplant varieties that grace my home.  the neighbors were  surprised and pleased to have the houseplant fairy appear on their doorsteps this morning!

miscellaneous

the wee kittens are growing and so are the ducklings.  both are cute and fun to watch.  they are playful and curious.  the wee kittens come to me now when i am outside or call, "here, kitty kitty".  of course that call usually means food so i have no illusions that they are interested in ME!  giggle......   the ducklings won't be coming when i call.  that's better for them as being wary of humans keeps them safer against predators.  mama duck has had them to the area in the lawn where they are fed their gourmet corn, however, so they know where their meals come from.

the evenings bring deer to the backyard, looking for food.  as they munch corn scattered on the ground for the birds, the kitties stop what they are doing to watch the deer.  it is as if the deer are putting on a performance and the kitties are the audience.  and this happens every day!

the food in the finch feeders hasn't been eaten as quickly as usual so i wondered if they had moved to another location.  imagine my surprise, when i just happened to peek out the window, to find the gold finches    nibbling seeds from the cone flowers! they hang, sideways, onto the flower stems and reach up and over the blossoms to eat.  creatures are very resourceful in their quest for food.  like the deer i observed last evening pulling low hanging leaves off a tree.

rain would be more than welcomed to our drought stricken area.

get ready.....

let's share houseplants this whimsical wednesday.  when you give one away, perhaps you'll get one in exchange!

photo friday

another page from libby's sketchbook.

thoughtful thursday

that quiet voice inside nudges us to pay attention to something.  pay attention!

whimsical wednesday

whimsical wednesday encouraged participation in the "cheer up the lonely" day. for my activity, happy notes were made and then taken to one of the local nursing homes for distribution.  the happy notes were given to the receptionist, who thanked me and said staff would give the residents my offering.  yay!  cheer up the lonely.  what did you do for whimsical wednesday?

miscellaneous

wild turkeys are so large that even at a distance they can be seen as more than black dots on the landscape! over the weekend there was a flock of them in the cow pasture across the road.  a few of the males were in full feather.  that display, tail fans, always reminds me of thanksgiving turkey decorations that children create; often in multiple colors.

one of the ducks on the lake seemed to have disappeared.  she reappeared over the weekend with several ducklings in tow.  they were on the lake, beginning to learn how to be a duck.  they are so cute.  what is the most enjoyable to watch is when they traverse the entire circumference of the lakefollowing mama duck, as close to water's edge as possible. they swim, run along the bank, hop back into the water. how whimsical!

the tote bag i won for the duct tape challenge sponsored by craftin' with suz arrived in monday's mail!  yay! it will be perfect for the art journaling supplies.  i will be able to show off the tote at the august class.

happy anniversary

today is the whimsey project's second anniversary!  it's been two years filled with, what else, whimsey!

please post a comment and wish the whimsey project a happy anniversary!

get ready.....

wednesday is national "cheer up the lonely" day.  for whimsical wednesday, we will cheer up someone in whatever way is appropriate to the person and situation.  the possibilities are endless!

photo friday

a favorite page from libby's sketchbook we viewed at chicago's hyde park art center in may.

o

thoughtful thursday

Desiderata   by max ehrmann

Part 3

be yourself.  especially do not feign affection.  neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is perennial as the grass.

take kindly the course of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.  but do not distress yourself with imaginings.  many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.  you are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.  and whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. therefore be at peace with god, whatever you conceive him to be and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace in your soul. with all its shame, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

be cheerful.  strive to be happy.

whimsical wednesday

happy fourth of july!  it's not every whimsical wednesday that is also a major national holiday but when it occurs,  we add whimsey to the day's celebration.

because my fourth of july was going to be spent at home, quietly enjoying the day to myself, i didn't quite know what i wanted to do differently today.  after some thought about the fourth of july, i decided i wanted to play with sparklers! sparklers were the best part of the fourth of july celebrations of my youth. i hadn't twirled a sparkler in years.  dilemma!  how to acquire sparklers without actually having to leave home to get them?  bright idea!  ask the neighbor, whose 12 year old boy would certainly want to do fireworks, to secure a box of sparklers for me when they did their fireworks shopping.  it was agreed, for a pan of my much loved brownies, that sparklers would be delivered to my door before dark.

the brownies were almost completely cooled when the doorbell rang about 8:30pm. amazingly tasty brownies and the most astounding box of sparklers were exchanged!  after goodbyes and happy fourth of julys to you, i was alone with my sparklers. the box only contained four sparklers, however, the sparklers were at least three feet long!  and "easy" to light at that.  as the remaining daylight waned, i was outside with the lighter and the box of sparklers.  as i was about to light the first sparkler, the neighbor's first firework exploded in the sky!  spectacular!  after watching their display for a few minutes, i lit the sparkler and relived what was, for me, the magic of july fourth.  the sparkler dipped and twirled and the flashes danced about without much assistance from me.  that huge sparkler lasted at least five minutes!  after that much excitement with a single sparkler, i decided to save the rest to share with the grandchildren. the three of us will have sparkler fun during their summer visit to the farm in august!

happy fourth of july!  did you include whimsey in your festivities?

miscellaneous

yes!  it rained yesterday for the first time in a very long time.  it didn't last very long but it was rain and i was both relieved and grateful.  as i write, another storm seems to be brewing!  come, rain, come!  you are very welcome!

last whimsical wednesday's activity was to participate in craftin' with suz's duct tape challenge.  my project was to create and send a post card.  three days after putting it in the mail, i received an email from the recipient telling me a post card made of duct tape was discovered in their mailbox!  the exciting part of the project was that the post office actually processed and delivered a post card made of duct tape!

as with most artists, there is an abundance of art and craft supplies in my house!  an overabundance, actually, that seems to be pushing me passed the ability to create. determined to undo that condition, my creativity has been focused on sorting, paring and organizing.  it is often more difficult than attempting to create a piece!

when in need of a break from the task of paying attention to supplies, i have been practicing the new skills i am learning in the art journaling classes.  thus far, i am very pleased with my efforts.  some of my pages will most likely be posted on photo friday(s).

get ready.....

whimsical wednesday is also the fourth of july!  as you celebrate on the fourth, do something very whimsical; whatever that may be; by yourself or with others!

photo friday

the sketchbook project of new york city made it's way to chicago's hyde park art center in early may.  i attended with  my family; sarah, megan and jacob.  they are looking at libby's sketchbook, a part of the collection.  it was a grand day enjoying the art of the sketchbooks; especially libby's.

thoughtful thursday

Desiderata by max ehrmann

Part II

if you compare yourself with others you may become bitter or vain, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.  keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery.  but let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

whimsical wednesday

we are taking craftin' with suz's duct tape challenge this whimsical wednesday! what to create?  what to create?  last night, just before bedtime, it came to me!  i knew what i was going to create for the duct tape challenge!  this morning i have been busy busy and here are the results:

this duct tape postcard is stamped, addressed and will be dropped in a mailbox today.
it would be a hoot if the post office actually processes and delivers it!  film at 11.....

miscellaneous

there's just nothing quite like how wonderful it feels when summer heat and humidity breaks.  the cooler temperature and lower humidity that follows is a welcome relief.  one can almost feel the earth sigh in relief as well.  for me, the best part of cooler is open windows!  the breeze that fills the house, on which the songs and chatter of birds is carried, allows me to enjoy nature's music.

old television programs are time capsules.  my particular time capsule of enjoyment is perry mason.  to my delight, it is currently airing after a long absence on any of the hundrends of channels the satellite delivers for my viewing pleasure!

the wee kittens are growing.  they have become more adventuresome.  it's delightful to watch them out the windows, unobserved.  and the crows.  these goofy birds are fun to watch as well.  they have taken to sitting on the railing of the dock, overlooking the lake.  the lone hen turkey is still coming to the house to eat the ducks' corn.  why she is still alone is beyond me as i have not seen any chicks with her.

the meadow has grown so lovely; full of beautiful wildflowers.  as hard as it is for me to have it cut short in early spring, the benefits of doing so sure makes it worth the angst!

get ready.....

duct tape!  whimsical wednesday will find us participating in craftin with suz's duct tape challenge.  think of something neat to make with duct tape, submit your idea (and/or photo) to her blog and be eligible to win a tote bag!  link:  http://www.craftinwithsuz.com/2012/06/monday-make-itz-and-give-way.html

photo friday

cakes for special occasions add a touch of whimsey to the celebration!

thoughtful thursday

max ehrmann wrote the DESIDERATA.  his words are profound.  the next few thoughtful thursdays will feature his piece in segments so that we might have the opportunity to carefully consider all he offered.


DESIDERATA, part I

go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.  as far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

speak your truth quietly and clearly:  and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.

avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit.

whimsical wednesday

it's the first day of summer, the longest day of the year and, thus far, the hottest day of the year!  for whimsical wednesday we celebrated the arrival of summer.  for my celebration, i made homemade vanilla ice cream in my new, use inside ice cream maker!  oh, was it good.  chocolate and almonds topped the freshly whipped cream. my neighbors enjoyed it with me for an impromptu ice cream social. how did you celebrate the first day of summer?

miscellaneous

the last few tuesdays were very busy.  in fact my time away for almost two weeks was so busy it was difficult to squeeze in posting on the blog at all.

travel yielded two more state license plates:  rhode island and utah.  it was so amazing to see these plates on the interstate i almost didn't believe what i was seeing!  also a plate from puerto rico was spied.  wow!  very productive journey. only three states remain:  hawaii, vermont and south dakota.  i thought i had seen a plate from vermont, however, it's not dated on the list so i'll just keep looking for it.

mom and dad celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary on june 5th.  that was the main reason for travel.  they had a lovely day and it was grand to be able to spend it with them.

friends and i are learning art journaling.  classes are once a month.  we attended our second class yesterday. it brings satisfaction and enjoyment to delve into a new art form and to learn so many different ways to be creative.

tomorrow we will be celebrating the first day of summer.  if you have a sonic drive-in restaurant in your area, milkshakes are half price all day long to herald the first day of summer.  that would make a fun whimsical wednesday activity;  pull into a retro restaurant, order milkshakes over the speaker and the server (some on roller skates) bring the treats to you.  take a carload between the hours of 2 and 4pm to take advantage of half price drinks.  some will enjoy the milkshakes and others cherry limeades (my favorite)!

get ready.....

whimsical wednesday is the first day of summer!  celebrate!  have a picnic, play outdoor games, sit on the porch listening to the ballgame on the radio, make homemade ice cream, eat a snow cone, look at the stars, go swimming.  make the first day of summer a wonderfully whimsical day any way you wish!

photo friday

friends:  city meets country!

thoughtful thursday

sayings, quotes, common wisdom are often considered trite and banal due of overuse.  however, how carefully are these considered?  because every journey (literally and figuratively) does begin with a single step!

whimsical wednesday

today was worldwide knit in public day.  for whimsical wednesday we knitted (or did any other creative activity) in public.  my knitting in public was done at the veterans of foreign wars post.  it was free supper night; an evening mom and dad enjoy very much!  no one asked me about my knitting, however, there were a few who gazed intendly at the process.  the scarf i was knitted was finished while we were there so i took my whimsical wednesday activity one step further.  the scarf was presented as a gift to our server.  she was surprised and thrilled.  my whimsical wednesday observed a worldwide event AND made someone happy! 

get ready

for whimsical wednesday we shall participate in national knit in public day.  no worries if you do not knit.  create in any art form you enjoy, even if that just consists of drawing doodles! 

photo friday

thoughtful thursday

there was an armentarium available to employ for the celebration of mom and dad's 64th wedding anniversary june fifth (a celebration that continues all this week). amid it all, love is the most important element.  love motivates all the effort toward those being honored to make the event as wonderful as possible.  and that is the greatest gift to anyone; bringing to them joy, happiness and the sense of knowing they are cared for so very much.  although the focus of celebration this week has been for one of life's greater milestones; that of marking commitment and love between two persons across the decades, everyday we can find something, no matter how seemingly small or insignificant  to celebrate.  celebrate daily.  it nourishes the spirit and brings with it that on-going touch of whimsey...  an ingredient so necessary to living a contended life. 

whimsical wednesday

we celebrated this whimsical wednesday.  everyone, everywhere celebrated something of their choosing.  along with parents and sister, my celebration was honoring mom and dad for their 64th wedding anniversary, which was yesterday, and the second day of enjoying their anniversary. the setting was the local veterans of foreign wars post, of which dad is a life time member being a world war two veteran.  along with the weekly free supper served on wednesdays, my sister and i had a cake to share with everyone present.  and a balloon!  everyone shared in mom and dad's happiness, wishing them well with many congratulations and gobbling three fourths of the huge cake.  it was a grand celebration. 

get ready.....

we're having a celebration for whimsical wednesday!  what celebration?  any you wish to enjoy!

photo friday

a pet store was the setting for this photo.  look closely.  see where wee mouse decided to take a siesta?

thoughtful thursday

there are few items in the world that can make a person smile the way the art created by young children does. the art of children is free, open, exuberant! it enhances the world.  there are still some of the pieces my children created so many years ago hanging about the house.  besides the special place in the house for grandchildren art, my bedroom closet's walls are covered with their paintings and drawings. when i step into the closet and see their art, i can't help but feel wonderful.

whimsical wednesday

wishing upon a star for whimsical wednesday was a brief endeavor; although it took all day until it could occur!  with the days longer, the first star of the night was not seen until almost nine pm.  my wish was made.  was yours?

miscellaneous

the days are getting longer;  soon it will be the longest day of the year.

waif, the dog, chewed the avocado sprout.  my first successful sprouting of an avocado pit is gone.  i'll try again.

daisies and hollyhocks bloom.

a downy woodpecker has managed to figure out how to hang on the hummingbird feeders and sip nectar with it's narrow beak.

the happy flyers have been finding themselves all over the place.  it makes me happy to share them.

get ready.....

let's wish upon a star this whimsical wednesday.

photo friday

on a recent visit to new york city, my traveling companion and i encountered abe lincoln standing on the steps of the new york historical museum. 

                                             

thoughtful thursday

share.  freely, willingly, lovingly.

whimsical wednesday

it's lucky penny day for whimsical wednesday!  my lucky penny times three appeared early this morning!  while putting away items from yesterday's outing, i found a stray penny in a jacket pocket, one in a shopping bag and one on the floor by the washing machine!  does that mean i'll have three times the luck today?  how about you? did you find a lucky penny this whimsical wednesday?

miscellaneous

there's a critter (or critters) that come looking for food just after dark.  to keep them out of the bird feeders, i put out extra corn.  the greedy ingrates were not very polite. not only did they eat all the corn, they dislodged all but one of the hummingbird feeders to drink the nectar!  the hummingbird feeder left undisturbed was close to the house.  instead of rehanging the feeders in various locations, they were placed close to the house as well.  there are benefits to this new arrangement. the feeders are spared and the birds are in close proximity.  it's a joy to watch the birds just inches from the windows.

a surprise greeted me on the screened porch late last week.  a wee kitten, black and white, all alone.  there was no evidence of any other kittens or a mama.  one of the outside kitties had a litter of two recently.  the black and white kitten was introduced to the litter of two in the hopes that the mama would adopt it.  the test of acceptance would be if the black and white kitten would be able to nurse along with the mama's kittens.  to my relief, the all alone kitten has been accepted!

get ready.....

this whimsical wednesday just happens to be lucky penny day!  we shall look for that stray penny (anywhere that might be) for our whimsical wednesday activity! happy hunting!

photo friday

                                                                                   
                                           my first successfully sprouted avocado pit!

thoughtful thursday

always say please and thank you.  and, for gifts received and special occasions, write thank you notes.

whimsical wednesday

                                                                    what do you see?