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?