Thursday, January 31, 2013
thoughtful thursday
my father died yesterday after several months of medical complications. he was 88 years old. through it all, i continued the whimsey project. there were moments when i questioned this decision. a few times i wavered; thinking to suspend the blog and activities or asking a follower to keep it going while i took a break. but i persevered. doing so never interfered with caring for my father and mother. not so very long ago someone remarked to me that life was sure full of difficult experiences. she was sad over the death of a friend, a much younger person than my father. without forethought or hesitation i responded that the difficult experiences are the very reason why we should make the rest of living as wonderful as possible. that must be, without my realizing it, why i have continued active participation in the whimsey project.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
whimsical wednesday
it's rainbow day at whimsical wednesday; creating a rainbow simple or elaborate in any style or form. the goal of creating a rainbow for whimsical wednesday was to brighten our day amid winter's dreary. my rainbow was formed from ribbons. strips of ribbon, in the colors of the rainbow, were placed on the tines of a card holder; something of a ribbon rainbow tree.
a symbol of hope, the rainbow creating activity for this whimsical wednesday took on a very personal meaning for me. i dedicate my ribbon in my father's honor who died early this morning at the age of 88.
a symbol of hope, the rainbow creating activity for this whimsical wednesday took on a very personal meaning for me. i dedicate my ribbon in my father's honor who died early this morning at the age of 88.
Monday, January 28, 2013
get ready.....
long winter days can be very dreary. days can pass without the sun shining. we will brighten our environments this whimsical wednesday by creating a rainbow. elaborate, simple, paper and crayons, flowers arranged in the colors of the rainbow. whatever shape and style your rainbow takes, create one this whimsical wednesday.
Friday, January 25, 2013
Thursday, January 24, 2013
thoughtful thursday
my sweet daughter, libby, shared this quote with me today and it just had to be used for thoughtful thursday.
"never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. time will pass anyway."
-earl nightengale
isn't this thought an eye-opener? how often do we do nothing because we are overwhelmed by the enormity of a project, goal, dream? the days pass and nothing can be looked back upon that evidences progress; rendering us all the more discouraged and sure what we are after can never happen. fortunately there is a remedy for this condition. small steps. every day give yourself 15 minutes to focus on the project. it isn't a great deal of time in the larger scheme of time, but you will have accomplished something everyday. the small steps of accomplishment build to a larger and larger accomplishment. you WILL have something to show for your efforts, even small. often this gives the boost needed to put in more time on the project on some days to build even more accomplishment. and don't worry about whether it's great or you love it or it's your best effort. effort in and of itself matters! go for it!
"never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. time will pass anyway."
-earl nightengale
isn't this thought an eye-opener? how often do we do nothing because we are overwhelmed by the enormity of a project, goal, dream? the days pass and nothing can be looked back upon that evidences progress; rendering us all the more discouraged and sure what we are after can never happen. fortunately there is a remedy for this condition. small steps. every day give yourself 15 minutes to focus on the project. it isn't a great deal of time in the larger scheme of time, but you will have accomplished something everyday. the small steps of accomplishment build to a larger and larger accomplishment. you WILL have something to show for your efforts, even small. often this gives the boost needed to put in more time on the project on some days to build even more accomplishment. and don't worry about whether it's great or you love it or it's your best effort. effort in and of itself matters! go for it!
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
whimsical wednesday
it was memory book or notable notebook entries for whimsical wednesday. nothing of note caught my attention today so the notable notebook received no attention. however, i did make write an entry into my memory book; all about my dad's favorite christmas cookies, his mother's boston cookies. not only did i write about dad and his cookies but i included grandma's recipe! if my children and/or grandchildren read my memory book, they will be able to make boston cookies just like their great-grandmother or their
great-great-grandmother!
great-great-grandmother!
Sunday, January 20, 2013
get ready.....
beginning with 2013, we will be paying attention to our memory books and notable notebooks one whimsical wednesday a month. let's start this whimsical wednesday! write an entry into the memory book or the notable notebook or both!
if you haven't begun either as yet, this whimsical wednesday will be a great place to begin. use any bound notebook of paper or loose leaf to put into a binder. a memory book is just that; entries of any memories. mine is a jumble of memories of me as an adult, a child, memories about my children, grandchildren, friends, experiences. these are written in no particular order, just when i think about them and decide to write them in the memory book. a notable notebook is a place for all sorts of fun stuff: definitions to neat words, quotes, ideas, anything you encounter that you want to record!
if you haven't begun either as yet, this whimsical wednesday will be a great place to begin. use any bound notebook of paper or loose leaf to put into a binder. a memory book is just that; entries of any memories. mine is a jumble of memories of me as an adult, a child, memories about my children, grandchildren, friends, experiences. these are written in no particular order, just when i think about them and decide to write them in the memory book. a notable notebook is a place for all sorts of fun stuff: definitions to neat words, quotes, ideas, anything you encounter that you want to record!
Friday, January 18, 2013
Thursday, January 17, 2013
thoughtful thursday
there are few absolutes that can be counted on in life. one we can absolutely be certain of is CHANGE!
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
whimsical wednesday
it's accept kindness day for whimsical wednesday. i am visiting family in another state due to my father's serious illness. we have been exceedingly busy with attending to all his needs. when my sister arrived at mom and dad's house this morning she presented me with baked spaghetti without onions or celery; one of my more favorite meals ever! i was soooooo excited to get this treat as i never make it for myself. and, even as busy as we have all been, she took the time to make baked spaghetti without onions or celery for me! (i will share, although i could eat it all myself!)
Monday, January 14, 2013
get ready....
this whimsical wednesday, if someone offers you a kindness accept it graciously and with gratitude. pay attention to that which constitutes a kindness. what you least expect might be the grandest kindness of all.
Friday, January 11, 2013
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
whimsical wednesday
it's oatmeal day this whimsical wednesday! the get ready post on monday offered several suggestions for whimsical wednesday oatmeal activities. several of those activities were very appealing. however, sometime between monday and wednesday, it came to me to dye oatmeal with food coloring! why, i have no clue but it sounded like fun so why not?!
oatmeal was poured into four paper cups, enough to cover the bottom of the cups. food coloring was added to the oatmeal; one color in each of the cups: red, yellow, blue and green. the oatmeal was stirred to coat all the oatmeal. it looked like confetti! confetti is one of my favorite happy words so that oatmeal outcome was exciting!
after the food coloring dried, the oatmeal needed a taste test. the red oatmeal tasted RED. the yellow oatmeal tasted YELLOW. the blue oatmeal tasted BLUE. the green oatmeal tasted GREEN! the blue oatmeal was my favorite.
it seemed the birds would enjoy confetti oatmeal so it was thrown out into the yard for them to enjoy.
what was your oatmeal activity for whimsical wednesday?
oatmeal was poured into four paper cups, enough to cover the bottom of the cups. food coloring was added to the oatmeal; one color in each of the cups: red, yellow, blue and green. the oatmeal was stirred to coat all the oatmeal. it looked like confetti! confetti is one of my favorite happy words so that oatmeal outcome was exciting!
after the food coloring dried, the oatmeal needed a taste test. the red oatmeal tasted RED. the yellow oatmeal tasted YELLOW. the blue oatmeal tasted BLUE. the green oatmeal tasted GREEN! the blue oatmeal was my favorite.
it seemed the birds would enjoy confetti oatmeal so it was thrown out into the yard for them to enjoy.
what was your oatmeal activity for whimsical wednesday?
Monday, January 7, 2013
get ready.....
january is oatmeal month! this whimsical wednesday let it be a day of all things oatmeal! eat oatmeal for lunch or supper; adding different ingredients to make it a new taste for you. bake oatmeal cookies. take an oatmeal bath. give yourself an oatmeal facial. make an oatmeal suet cake for the birds to enjoy. put a flake of oatmeal in a glass of water and watch how it puffs up. have fun with oatmeal! it's not just for breakfast anymore!
Friday, January 4, 2013
Thursday, January 3, 2013
thoughtful thursday
in the spirit of the new year, here is WISHFUL THINKING by janet mowat, published in the 11.1.02 FAMILY CIRCLE magazine.....
today:
i will allow the beds to stay unmade all day.
i will let the kids dress themselves and tell them they look wonderful; no matter what they choose.
i will invite people over even if the house isn't white-glove clean.
i will focus on the things i already have rather than the things i want.
i will indulge in the serenity and sanity of an afternoon nap.
i will relax and read a book when sense is telling me to do laundry.
i will forget about my extra pounds and wear something that makes me feel great.
i will call an old friend who always makes me laugh.
i will take a long, luxurious bath using the scented bath beads that i've been saving for a special time.
i will play my favorite music and sing along as loud as i want.
i will treat myself to a slice of apple pie a la mode and skip the guilt.
what uniquely you I WILL could you add to the list? no doubt there's at least one I WILL you wish for!
today:
i will allow the beds to stay unmade all day.
i will let the kids dress themselves and tell them they look wonderful; no matter what they choose.
i will invite people over even if the house isn't white-glove clean.
i will focus on the things i already have rather than the things i want.
i will indulge in the serenity and sanity of an afternoon nap.
i will relax and read a book when sense is telling me to do laundry.
i will forget about my extra pounds and wear something that makes me feel great.
i will call an old friend who always makes me laugh.
i will take a long, luxurious bath using the scented bath beads that i've been saving for a special time.
i will play my favorite music and sing along as loud as i want.
i will treat myself to a slice of apple pie a la mode and skip the guilt.
what uniquely you I WILL could you add to the list? no doubt there's at least one I WILL you wish for!
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
whimsical wednesday
it's a look back to 2012 for whimsical wednesday; to discover all the good we experienced during the year. a month by month inventory revealed that i had a year filled with lots of wonderful and whimsey. here's my 2012:
january: rang in the new year with family and friends in tennessee.
february: crafting sessions with craft buddies (on going throughout the year).
march: visited tennessee to help mom and dad as well as visit with family and friends.
april: looked after friend's dogs so she could go away for spring break and not worry about her pets.
may: flew to new york city from chicago to visit libby for her 35th birthday. upon return to chicago attended performance of swan lake in which sarah was a lead dancer.
june: two wedding celebrations in tennessee; mom and dad's 64th wedding anniversary and the renewal of vows for friends on their 40th wedding anniversary.
july: back to chicago to attend the performances of sarah's dance company, the luna troop, perform sarah's original work, PLACES. and celebrate sarah's 37th birthday. another anniversary: the whimsey project!
august: megan and jacob visited the farm for three weeks!
september: a wonderful labor day picnic with friends here on the farm.
october: back to tennessee to help mom and dad.
november: thanksgiving holiday weekend with libby, katherine, sarah, megan, jacob and scott here. the most wonderful time of the year.
december: my opportunity to be secret santa to those in need or to offer special appreciation. lots and lots of holiday activity with family and friends; ended the year in tennessee with family.
january: rang in the new year with family and friends in tennessee.
february: crafting sessions with craft buddies (on going throughout the year).
march: visited tennessee to help mom and dad as well as visit with family and friends.
april: looked after friend's dogs so she could go away for spring break and not worry about her pets.
may: flew to new york city from chicago to visit libby for her 35th birthday. upon return to chicago attended performance of swan lake in which sarah was a lead dancer.
june: two wedding celebrations in tennessee; mom and dad's 64th wedding anniversary and the renewal of vows for friends on their 40th wedding anniversary.
july: back to chicago to attend the performances of sarah's dance company, the luna troop, perform sarah's original work, PLACES. and celebrate sarah's 37th birthday. another anniversary: the whimsey project!
august: megan and jacob visited the farm for three weeks!
september: a wonderful labor day picnic with friends here on the farm.
october: back to tennessee to help mom and dad.
november: thanksgiving holiday weekend with libby, katherine, sarah, megan, jacob and scott here. the most wonderful time of the year.
december: my opportunity to be secret santa to those in need or to offer special appreciation. lots and lots of holiday activity with family and friends; ended the year in tennessee with family.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
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