miscellaneous

temperatures have been near 60 thus far this week and that trend is predicted to continue.  that will make for a pleasant "go outside day" for whimsical wednesday.

the amaryllis is growing quickly now.  one of the stems is twice the length it was in last friday's photo.

having the house closed up for the winter is the perfect time for burning candles. it's a real pleasure; enjoying the glow of the flame and the warmth of the scent.

it's always a treat to look out the window to find wood ducks on the lake with the home flock. they are elusive so catching them in action is grand.

get ready.....

it's winter and even when the temperature is mild we tend to stay indoors just because it's winter. this whimsical wednesday we are going to have a "go outside" day.  look at the earth to discover what winter brings that isn't present (or is in an altered winter state).  if there is sunshine, absorb some rays for a dose of vitamin d. take a camera to snap shots of anything that interests.  it doesn't matter how long you remain outside just do it. enjoy!

photo friday

the christmas amaryllis in progress......

thoughtful thursday

most of us typically have a lot of projects going at the same time; hobbies, household, dealing with calls, appointments, paperwork, people.  often this leaves us feeling fragmented and never finished with anything.  that induces stress because we feel overwhelmed.  one day this week was spent taking care of several tasks that finished many open projects here at home.  another day this week was spent going to appointments and other errands that finished several items on the pending list.  it is liberating to accomplish so much in such a short period of time.  having all of those musts completed has helped promote a sense of efficiency that leaves me calm instead of experiencing so much stress.  take one day a week to tie up loose ends.  you'll feel the relief i have felt this week and there will also be more time for whimsey!

whimsical wednesday!

it's opposite day for whimsical wednesday!  my opposite activities were great!

instead of getting up at the usual time, i slept late. such luxury for a weekday! the furry creatures in the house were especially pleased with this opposite activity, it seemed.  when i awoke in late morning, i was covered with dog and kitties.  they were happily snoozing too.  for their benefit i laid with them longer; enjoying being drowsy, feeling their warm little selves on me and listening to the rain fall against the windows.  

i tackled another opposite and it is one that doesn't come easily.  i actually read the manuals of the digital camera and cell phones to learn more about how to use these instruments of technology.  typically i manage to use technology on a very superficial level.  if i can get it to at least function that's good enough.  i know i'm not utilizing the instruments to full capacity.  i know i don't get full use of anything technical (i STILL can't program a vcr) because it's just not in me.  but i worked at my opposite activity and learned a lot more about the camera and the simple cell phone.  i feel empowered!

what did you do for opposite day?

miscellaneous

being ignorant of all things amaryllis, i wasn't expecting what evolved in the development of this plant.  over the weekend the stems on each side of what i thought was the main stem grew a very strange shape at the top of the stem.  after looking at it for a few days i realized those strange shapes at the top of the stems were the blooms forming! so the plant is backwards from what i have been describing it!  there are two main stems and they aren't in the center.  they are on either side of leaves.  the amaryllis experience has sure been interesting.

it's about five thirty pm and the sky is still light; twilight but light.  it feels like the earth is staying up a little later at night.

a flock of at least 12 pairs of cardinals were counted at the bird feeding station over the weekend.

get ready.....

wednesday is national opposite day.  we will celebrate opposite day by doing something(s) opposite for whimsical wednesday.  what is opposite is anything you want it to be.  if you usually wear black, wear a bright color.  if you watch tv, don't watch tv.  if you dine at home, dine out.  make opposite day happy and fun.

photo friday

after it rained recently i looked out the window to discover raindrops dripping off the bittersweet vines that are just outside the dining room window.  it was magical!

thoughtful thursday

an amaryllis bulb was received as a gift in the third week of december, 2011.  for more than a week, even though it was given the right conditions for growth, nothing happened.  i have never grown an amaryllis bulb before so each day i would look at it, with concern, when i got up in the morning and still found no signs of life.  had i killed it before it ever had a chance?  then one morning i found the smallest tip of green peeking out of the top of the bulb.  it amazed how excited finding green emerging from the bulb made me. the amaryllis was alive and had begun to grow! but that was the extent of the excitement for awhile because there was no visible growth for several more days.  when the stem was finally an inch in length, it seemed like a huge milestone had been achieved in the world of the amaryllis bulb. more time passed before there was evidence of two stems emerging on either side of the main stem.  the main stem slowly revealed several separate stems amid the main stem.  the two side stems have remained single, but very plump.  the amaryllis has lived with me for a month.  the main stem is only three inches in length.  one of the side stems is almost that high and the other is approximately one inch high. mom and i have laughed that the christmas amaryllis could very well be an easter amaryllis!

one day this week i looked at the amaryllis and it suddenly took on new meaning. perhaps this process was not only a flower bulb growing but also a lesson in progress.  progress is moving forward, getting beyond where one began.  it is important to remember that progress, however slight and slow, is nonetheless progress.  progress requires patience.  progress demands that we pay attention to each step forward.  progress urges us to be excited about each step forward because this is success in succession over time.   the amaryllis will be celebrated when it has finally progressed to a fully matured plant and blooms unfurl at the top of stems; even if that does indeed take until easter!  take your time, amaryllis.  i'm with you, patiently, each day!  

whimsical wednesday!

the whimsical wednesday activity was to search the thesaurus for alternatives to words we like or use often.  this task wasn't as simple as it seemed.  it took a great deal of thought before getting to the activity today because it was difficult to decide what words to focus on.  here are my selections:

pleasant  (adjective)

definition:  acceptable; friendly

synonyms:  affable, agreeable, amiable, charming, cheerful, civil, civilized, congenial, convivial, cordial, delightful, enchanting, engaging, enjoyable, genial, gracious, gratifying, jovial, lovely, refreshing. 

the synonyms for pleasant seems to be broad so i will continue to use pleasant.

peachy (adjective)

definition:  satisfactory; agreeable

peachy was actually a synonym for acceptable and was listed as peachy keen.

synonyms:  adequate, delightful, pleasant, pleasing, tolerable.

peachy is a word i use when asked how am i by others.  since it's the synonym of satisfactory or agreeable, i will continue to use peachy.  tolerable would be a good alternative.

grand (adjective)

definition:  impressive; great

synonyms:  admirable, august, excellent, glorious, illustrious, magnificent, outstanding, smashing, sublime.

grand is grand, however, smashing is similar to peachy in tone and verve so i will try to utilize smashing when describing something as grand.

content (adjective)

definition:  happy; agreeable

synonyms:  at ease, can't complain, comfortable, contented, fulfilled, gratified, satisfied.

while there are alternative words for content, content says it all; no need for another.   

looking up words in the thesaurus at dictionary.com provoked a thought.  what are the alternative words for thesaurus?  alternative words do exist for thesaurus!

thesaurus (noun)

definition:  a book of synonyms and antonyms

synonyms:  glossary, language reference book, lexicon, onomasticon, reference book, sourcebook, storehouse of words, terminology, treasury of words, vocabulary, word list.

the word thesaurus is a cool word and brings to mind some manner of dinosaur. the urban dictionary offers several definitions for thesaurus, my favorite being "thesaurus: the smartest dinosaur known to man."

miscellaneous

last week brought the first snow of winter.  this week it's over 60 degrees!

the twitter following for the whimsey project continues to increase in number. that's really exciting.  wish that many followed the blog.  hello and thank you, tweeties!

seed and gardening catalogues have begun to arrive in the mail.  i enjoy browsing the pages of the beautiful plants or what they yield; especially during the winter when it's cold, snowy, windy and dreary.  what these catalogues offer as much as seeds and plants is possibility.

as someone who loves words i read dictionary websites.  lots of interesting surprises about words are revealed.  i read on dictionary.com that one common word has no rhyme: angel!  imagine that.

spied a license plate from nevada yesterday.  it was already checked off the sighted list but it's always fun to see a plate from afar more than once.

get ready.....

this whimsical wednesday we will delve into the thesaurus.  select a sample of your favorite words.  then utilize the thesaurus to find alternatives to your chosen words.  you just might find new variations to use!

photo friday

bunnies! what my young grandchildren consider the perfect christmas gift for a grandmother.  

 

thoughtful thursday

even though i don't make formal resolutions each new year, there is one resolution we should all undertake:  the determination to make a concerted effort to be in touch with others.  of everything life has to offer, the persons we are connected to is the most important.  write, call, visit.  do it all and do it often.  and please remember to remember those who might be alone, misunderstood or forgotten. they need it the most!  

whimsical wednesday!

january! hot tea month!  for whimsical wednesday we celebrated by enjoying hot tea in any form that suited us. since i drink hot tea everyday, i wanted to do something in addition to drinking tea for my whimsical wednesday activity. hot tea surprises were created to share with others. craft materials that were already in the supply box were used to make teabag holders.  mini brown bags were embellished then a foil wrapped teabag was tucked inside.  

miscellaneous

january weather continues to be more sunny and mild than cold and dreary.  any winter day that's sunny and mild is one more day without cold and dreary with the possibility of ice and snow.  i'll take it!

the christmas amaryllis has grown another half inch and has 6 main stems.  two additional stems have begun to sprout on either side of the main stem.  when this amaryllis actually matures it's going to be amazing.

yesterday a friend and i shopped at our favorite scrapbook store.  there is often a free make and take, a simple paper craft project that is designed to demostrate different techniques and use of products.  it's a lot of fun to walk in and be greeted by a free make and take.  it's almost ridiculous how excitedly happy these simple projects make me.  (it doesn't take much to amuse or satisfy me and that's a good way to be).  several of these have become projects that i make at home as gifts for others.

also yesterday the mail presented me with an amazing tea themed handmade thank you greeting card.  love it! this morning i awoke to discover that the dog had chewed a handmade christmas card still on display that had fallen to the floor!  oh, sadness!  it was like the victory and defeat of handmade greeting cards all at once!  thankfully, the creator of the christmas card has agreed to send another.  that gesture will make it necessary to send a handmade thank you card!   there can't be too many handmade greeting cards.

 

get ready.....

january is hot tea month! oh, i love january for that reason alone being a dedicated hot tea drinker! for whimsical wednesday we shall indulge in hot tea in any way that suits our day.  i have a great idea for hot tea treats to give to others that i want to create! how about you?

photo friday

this is marmalade; the kitten born with two others in the fall.  she has gotten so furry we have taken to calling her puff ball.  just looking at her makes me laugh.  

thoughtful thursday

it's the first thursday of 2012 so we are into the first week of the new year.  about this time each year people make resolutions.  usually these consist of self improvement.  often the goals are so grand that failure sets in rather early in the year.  many don't make it through january before a resolution gets broken.  several years ago i resolved to make no more new year's resolutions.  instead, i resolved to make each day the best it could be for the circumstances that came with that day. that best meant to be as kind, patient and content as possible; even if that was just with and/or for myself.  i also resolved that each day was a new day and the opportunity to begin again.  as resolutions unfold, this strategy has worked rather well. it might work for you.  happy new year!

whimsical wednesday!

we created treasure boxes for whimsical wednesday! it took awhile to decide on the container for my treasure box because it was important to use something already available (to recycle). several options were found, considered and discarded.  a box in the closet seemed to be the right fit for my treasure box.  it's large enough without being overwhelming in size and has a lid.

the decorating of the box will have to wait because i just can't decide what i want it to be.  thus my treasure box will be a work in progress, both in style and what it will contain.  when my friends come for a crafting day i will pay attention to the outward appearance of my treasure box.  should nothing inspire, the box shall remain unadorned and will be a "plain brown wrapper" treasure box.  all that will be within will belie the outward appearance.  that is just as appealing to me as anything that could be added to the outside of the box in the form of decoration.

did you create a treasure box this whimsical wednesday?

miscellaneous

home again from new year's with family.  even with all the vehicles we shared the roads with in both directions, we did not, unfortunately, see the few remaining state license plates that are left unchecked on our list.  we shall prevail at some point.

holiday decorations were being undone all along with way.  the few i have will be on display until epiphany, the 12th day of christmas.  the amaryllis grew almost an inch in the time i was away.  the wreath was moved to an outside door before leaving last thursday to keep it from drying out too quickly.  it's nice to see it on the front door now where it can remain for longer than it could have had it stayed inside.

with the dropping temperature, the ducks are contending with a lake that is freezing in places.  right now they have gotten themselves caught in the middle of the lake. they will figure it out.  silly ducks.

it's about five pm right now and the sky is still light, faint but light.  the sunset is lovely.  longer days since the shortest day of the year, december 21st, is evident. each day, as we travel through winter, is a sign that spring is coming.

happy new year.  may 2012 to kind to all.

get ready.....

create a treasure box* this whimsical wednesday.  a treasure box is a container for all those special items you find yourself acquiring along the way.  for example, my treasures would be anything the grandchildren would give to me; like a rock, pine cone, feather, something found during an outdoor adventure.  the contents of a treasure box reflects the person who possesses the treasure box.  make a treasure box just for you that is you!

*thank you to granddaughter, megan, for this grand whimsical wedneday activity idea!