solitude sunday

turn left at the trojan horse: a would-be hero's american odyssey by brad herzog

while discussing his visit to marathon, wisconsin, brad details the history of the modern marathon.

silly saturday

how the multitudes gather here on the farm, truth!

photo friday

winter on the farm.

thoughtful thursday

romanian proverb:

sweep the stairs downward, not up.

whimsical wednesday

it's last chance of 2017 for whimsical wednesday. what did you want to do, finish, experience, create, try, accomplish before the year is complete? do that today for whimsical wednesday; even if only in your imagination! share your whimsical wednesday with the whimsey project!

trivia tuesday

from the new york daily news:

the eight most regifted christmas presents:

1.  candles
2.  gift cards
3.  housewares
4.  clothing
5.  bath items and lotions
6.  fruitcake
7.  gift baskets
8.  alcoholic spirits

miscellaneous monday

merry christmas!

solitude sunday

turn left at the trojan horse: a world-be hero's american odyssey. by brad herzog

brad is in siren, wisconsin, where the pour house cafe resides.  think about that.

silly saturday

from boyslife.org:

Q: who delivers christmas presents to animals?
A: santa paws!

photo friday

farm residents in their coop.

thoughtful thursday

anonymous:

when you are looking at others thinking "how odd", others are looking at you thinking "how odd".

whimsical wednesday

we are playing santa for whimsical wednesday! today is the day we distribute the proceeds from our reverse advent calendar project. you might deliver in person, send a check by mail, make a donation over the internet. i will be delivering my gifts in person. how about you? share your doings with the whimsey project.

trivia tuesday

from mental floss:

hedgehogs got their name from their preferred habitat, the garden hedge, and the pig-like grunt sounds they make.

miscellaneous monday

children writing letters to santa claus is an age old tradition. follow the link to learn historical facts about letters to santa:

http://mentalfloss.com/article/72310/10-historical-facts-about-santa-letters

get ready.....

get ready for whimsical wednesday! we're playing santa!

solitude sunday

turn left at the trojan horse: a would-be hero's american odyssey by brad herzog

the people brad encounters on his journey as well as the experiences he has in very unique environments makes for one interesting read.

silly saturday

from goodreads:

what a book!

photo friday

"polar express" on display at the jefferson county historical village!

thoughtful thursday

buddhist proverb:

change how you see and see how you change.

whimsical wednesday

it's national necktie month. we are celebrating by learning to tie a necktie! here's are links that demonstrates how:

http://www.esquire.com/style/advice/a25665/how-to-tie-a-tie-easy/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAg7z6u4NE8

report your experience to the whimsey project!

trivia tuesday

from merriam-webster:

cachinnate: to laugh loudly or immoderately.

there is laughter that is immoderate? asks one who laughs loudly and, supposedly, immoderately!

miscellaneous monday

this is a neat video! the making of a steinway piano:

http://www.openculture.com/2013/07/the-making-of-a-steinway-grand-piano-from-start-to-finish.html

get ready.....

get out a necktie. that's what we'll need for whimsical wednesday!

solitude sunday

turn left at the trojan horse: a would-be hero's american odyssey by brad herzog

while travelling through north dakota where teddy roosevelt and louie l'amour lived, brad opined that a person must be authentic.

silly saturday

hannah sorrell‏ @hannahkimberlee

13 years ago I ordered an m&m blizzard at Dairy Queen and the lady who took my order screamed “ONE SMALL M&M BLIZZARD!!!” at the top of her lungs then immediately turned around and started making it herself and it’s still the funniest thing that has ever happened to me

7:57 PM - 7 Dec 2017

photo friday

sunset at the farm. photo by windy.

thoughtful thursday

lewis carroll:

i can't go back to yesterday because i was a different person then.

whimsical wednesday

we are coloring our mood for whimsical wednesday. here's a link that describes mood and color:

http://www.color-wheel-pro.com/color-meaning.html

perhaps you would enjoy marking your mood on a piece of paper with a marker, crayon or colored pencil. perhaps you would enjoy cutting out paper of the color of your mood and creating a collage. perhaps you would enjoy coloring in an adult coloring book using the colors that depict your mood. share your results with the whimsey project!

trivia tuesday

from merriam-webster:

the word "scissors" is called a plurale tantum; a word for a singular item that only has a plural form.  this pertains to the word "pants" as well.  can you think of other words that would be a plurale tantum?

miscellaneous monday

it's december 4th and traditional advent is underway. how are you doing with your reverse advent calendar we began in november? we determined whether to put money in a jar or food in a box each day in november and december then give to the specific charity of our choice. i have remembered to put a dollar in the jar each day.  i even put dollars ahead for the days i was away during thanksgiving weekend! i'm looking forward to sharing my offering with my chosen charity. what about you? share your reverse advent calendar progress!

get ready.....

we are coloring for whimsical wednesday.  so get your paper and coloring instruments ready. further instructions on wednesday...

solitude sunday

turn left at the trojan horse; a would-be hero's american odyssey by brad herzog.

brad is on his way to ithaca, new york from the west coast; washington state to be precise. he's looking for life along the way. an interesting aspect of this journey is how he weaves classical greek mythology into the modern world of what he experiences and observes.  one need not be versed in greek mythology to understand the story he tells.

silly saturday

that'll leave a mark!

photo friday

breakfast!

thoughtful thursday

victor frankl:

when we can no longer change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.

whimsical wednesday

it's stuff making day for whimsical wednesday! what stuff? your stuff! this time of year projects are being made as gifts or decorations for the holiday season. take time to devote effort to at least one of your projects.  i'll be finishing the final component of an art project that i have been trying to finish for months now. i will feel so accomplished when it is complete! how about you? report your efforts to the whimsey project. 

trivia tuesday

it's international giving day.  here's a link about it:

https://www.givingtuesday.org/

miscellaneous monday

saturday, november 25, 2017, was the day family and friends gathered to have the burial service for mom's ashes.  the day was beautiful with such fine weather. after the service we gathered at mom's house for lunch, comprised of many of her favorites on the table such as her cole slaw and potato salad. my sister surprised us with a project she must have spent hours and hours working on. she gave each of us a binder filled with mom's most loved (and famous) cookie recipes. the binder cover has a photo of mom taken in the last year, holding a bouquet of flowers. it is very sweet. inside some of the recipes are in mom's handwriting or has notes she's added. we will still be able to savor mom's cookies if we so choose to bake! it is a treasure we were all thrilled and touched to receive.

get ready.....

tis the season for making lots of stuff.  we'll make stuff for whimsical wednesday.

solitude sunday

a new book today: turn left at the trojan horse by brad herzog. the story is the account of brad traveling across country in an rv and what he experienced along the way.

silly saturday

photo friday

gobble! gobble!

thoughtful thursday

henry david thoreau:

my thanksgiving is perpetual.

whimsical wednesday

we are focusing our attention on preparations for our thanksgiving holiday for whimsical wednesday. whatever you need to be doing, that's what you'll do!

trivia tuesday

from merriam-webster dictionary:

postprandial somnolence is latin for taking a nap after eating.  something many will be doing on thanksgiving!

miscellaneous monday

it's thanksgiving week! november is moving along. since the beginning of the month we have been participating in the reverse advent calendar. we are either putting a non-perishable food item in a box or money in a jar each day for the months of november and december. the collection will be given to the organization(s) of your choice; either divided for thanksgiving and christmas or to one or the other. thus far i have remembered to put a dollar a day in a jar. a simple task but easily overlooked so i am pleased to have done so each day. if you haven't yet started your reverse advent calendar project you can begin today!

get ready.....

get ready for whimsical wednesday! it's thanksgiving eve so we'll take the day to prepare for the holiday!

solitude sunday

zelda la grange's, good morning, mr mandela, continues.  mandela is now 90 years old. our author has gone from a typist in his presidential office to his trusted personal assistant. they have become family through their years together.

silly saturday

just in thyme for thanksgiving dinner!

photo friday

another morgan buddy.

thoughtful thursday

robert frost:

i always entertain great hopes.

whimsical wednesday

we write in our journals in months containing five wednesdays! here we are for november, writing in our journals, for whimsical wednesday. i will be writing in several journals:
*personal journal
*memories notebook in which i record random memories
*farm journal in which i write about what's happening on the farm
*notable notebook in which i record awesome stuff like quotes and neat ideas
*daily whimsical moment notebook in which i record a special moment from each day (not just on whimsical wednesday but every day!)
if you do not currently keep a journal today is a good day to begin. keep a journal about a hobby. start a notable notebook. a memories notebook will be enjoyed for years to come. and, of course, do record a daily whimsical moment. it lifts the spirit. none of these journals need be elaborate.  if you even write a single sentence it's a journal!

trivia tuesday

from mental floss:

on this date in 1886, freidrich soennecken filed for a patent of the hole punch. confetti everyone!

miscellaneous monday

enjoy learning just to know about stuff? open culture offers 94 free lectures on various topics. partake of one or two or several! link:

http://www.openculture.com/2017/11/watch-94-free-lectures-from-the-great-courses-dystopian-fiction-astrophysics-guitar-playing-much-more.html?platform=hootsuite

get ready.....

we'll be writing in our journals for whimsical wednesday. get them gathered so you'll be ready to go!

solitude sunday

zelda la grange's good morning mr mandela continues. zelda discusses mr mandela's warm relationship with britian's queen elizabeth. she recounts how he calls the queen by her first name, elizabeth. when zelda tells him he should address her as befitting her position, mr mandela replies, "why? she calls me nelson!".

silly saturday

from funkidjokes.com:

Q: why was the turkey in jail?
A: fowl play!

photo friday

morgan has many interesting friends.

thoughtful thursday

willie wonka:

so shines a good deed in a weary world.

whimsical wednesday

with colder temperatures, we think of being snuggled up in all manner of blankets. a favorite blanket is a quilt. for whimsical wednesday we are creating a quilt pattern! patchwork design, the original american quilt pattern, is made up of shapes: rectangles, squares, triangles. get out your paper, colored pencils and ruler to create your quilt pattern using these shapes.

trivia tuesday

from mental floss:

a group of pugs is called a grumble.

miscellaneous monday

it's been cooler now that it's november and, for the last week, we have experienced rain. nothing like soup when it's cold and damp outside.  the following link takes you to a recipe for easy cabbage roll soup made in the crockput. even if you don't typically eat cabbage, it's great in soup.  it takes on the flavors of the other ingredients. it also has the texture of noodles so pasta isn't needed.  a great way to cut carbs. 

https://www.simplystacie.net/2014/01/cabbage-roll-soup-recipe/

get ready.....

we're creating for whimsical wednesday. to prepare assemble paper, colored pencils and a ruler.

solitude sunday

a new book to talk about for solitude sunday; zelda la grange's good morning, mr mandela. ms la grange recounts her time in the service of south africa's president, beginning as a senior typist to life long personal assistant.

silly saturday

what?!??

photo friday

high school halloween!

thoughtful thursday

walter lippmann:

when all men think alike, no one thinks very much.

whimsical wednesday

there's a project known as reverse advent calendar. the goal is to put a non-perishable food item in a box each day of advent. just before christmas, the food is given to a food bank or a family or what is most logical for individual participants.

for whimsical wednesday we will begin our reverse advent calendar. it's a month earlier than advent actually begins. that is so we can offer support for thanksgiving as well as christmas if we so choose. today we'll secure a large box for actual food items or a small box, bank or other container for money. you decide which route you wish to take. every day either put a food item in the large box or a predetermined amount of money in the small box. if every day is inconvenient, do it weekly. of course it's always possible to just gather food or cash on one day and offer it to a chosen outlet. however, that defeats the spirit of the reverse advent calendar as the advent calendar is a daily activity.

along with determining the need for a large box or a small box, think of the options you have for donating your offerings.  maybe do a bit of sleuthing to find out what organizations make care packages for the holidays. perhaps you belong to an organization that has holiday outreach and will contribute to your "home" organization. food is a logical offering, however, if you want to do otherwise, there's also need for christmas gifts; toys, books, clothing, etc.

do your thinking and planning about your participation in the reverse advent calendar and report your selection(s) to the whimsey project for whimsical wednesday. at intervals we'll discuss our reverse advent calendar activity progress on miscellaneous monday. i'm looking forward to your participation as well as my own!

trivia tuesday

happy halloween! chocolate is a favorite sweet to give for trick or treat!  mentalfloss.com provides our trivia for trivia tuesday!

chocolate is a vegetable!  chocolate comes from the cacao bean, grown on the cacao tree (theobroma cacao) an evergreen tree of the family malvaceae; that also includes okra and cotton. 

miscellaneous monday

butterflies! here's an article from mother nature network about how to idenify the most common among them. enjoy!

https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/photos/how-identify-10-common-butterfly-species/can-you-identify-me

get ready.....

we're preparing for a big project for whimsical wednesday! be on the lookout for a large box or other container.

solitude sunday

all or nothing: one chef's appetite for the extreme by jesse schenker is my current read. jesse recounts his love of food and cooking as a preschooler cooking with his great-grandmother, nana mae. one of his greatest personal achievements was cooking on the tv show, iron chef america and winning against iron chef geoffrey zakarian. oh, and jesse details his drug addiction that found him homeless and then jailed as a teenager. and his recovery to sobriety so that he could rise to beat an iron chef.

silly saturday

from robinsfyi.com:

Q: what does tweety bird say on halloween?
A: twick or tweet!

photo friday

eleanor

thoughtful thursday

thoughts of dog @dog_feelings:

today. is a snuggle day. please set aside. some quality time. for snugs.

whimsical wednesday

we are celebrating international artists day for whimsical wednesday! who is your favorite artist? why is this your favorite artist? what is your favorite piece they created? find out something you don't know about them! share your favorite artist with the whimsey project for whimsical wednesday!

henri matisse, french painter, sculptor, paper artist, was born december 31, 1869 and died november 3, 1954.  he was first introduced to painting when recovering from illness. his mother gave him a set of art supplies to occupy him. that was the beginning of what was to be his life long avocation.

matisse is my favorite artist because i am drawn to the vibrancy of the color in most of his paintings. the figures are simple and inelegantly drawn, which i find most whimsical. the mismatch of shapes remind me of early american patchwork quilting. the riot of shapes and colors should not work but work it does. his works that are most aesthetically pleasing to me are his interiors; rooms i would enjoy being in. a few of these paintings include "interior at collioure", "the red room", "the blue window", "the black table", "girl in the green dress", "two women", "the daisies", "the lute", "interior in yellow", "the black fern", "red interior, still on a blue table", "red interior".  it's quite impossible for me to have a favorite matisse.

what i did not know about matisse before my research on his for whimsical wednesday is that he dabbled in pointillism, the process of creating images with dots of color. a few of his pointillistic works were dots but the dots soon became most like smudges. this was actually more interesting than dots as the color smudges added a layer of interest beyond what dots could offer. 

when my artistically inclined daughter was in seventh grade i asked her to create a matisse inspired painting for me. she painted an interior with two girls (her sister and herself!) sitting at a table enjoying tea. that painting has always had a place of prominence in my home(s).

trivia tuesday

from onthisday.com:

on this date in 1971, harry drake shot the longest traveling arrow from a footbow at one mile, 268 yards.

miscellaneous monday

taking a peek inside the whimsey notebook for a favorite daily whimsical moment...   on monday, september 25th, i watched as leaves fell from trees into the lake. then the leaves glided across the surface of the water like wee boats.

are you keeping a whimsey notebook in which to record a daily whimsical moment? if not, consider doing so. if you keep a whimsey notebook, share a moment for miscellaneous monday. 

get ready.....

who is your favorite artist? be thinking for whimsical wednesday.

solitude sunday

trumbo by bruce cook. because dalton trumbo wouldn't answer questions before the congressional committee investigating un-american activities, he was found in contempt of congress. he was sentenced to one year in federal prison. all all appeals were exhausted, he served ten months in the federal prison in kentucky. 

silly saturday

from jokes4us.com:

Q: did you hear about the race between the lettuce and the tomato?
A: the lettuce was a head and the tomato was trying to ketchup!

photo friday

enjoy the scenery.

thoughtful thursday

elbert hubbard:

the greatest mistake you can make in life is continually fearing that you'll make one.

whimsical wednesday

we are celebrating inktober for whimsical wednesday! inktober is a month long, daily art activity using ink. created by artist jake porter, inktober has been going strong since 2009. for our whimsical wednesday activity we need a pen and a piece of paper or card stock no larger than 4x6 inches. we are drawing circles. the challenge within the drawing is draw as many circles as the card will hold. there's no boundary for what type of circles; large, medium, small. intertwined, circles within circles. after you have completed your circles, report your circle total to the whimsey project.

trivia tuesday

from @mental_floss:

dr seuss was the first person to use the word NERD. it appeared in his 1950 book, IF I RAN THE ZOO.  a noun used to describe one of his creatures, it later became an adjective in newsweek to describe a teenager that is a square or uncool.

miscellaneous monday

the mind circle is an awesome website! so much to be amazed by. here's a link to a post about street art:

http://themindcircle.com/incredible-pieces-of-street-arts/

get ready.....

get ready for whimsical wednesday! you'll need a pen or pencil and a 4x6 inch piece of paper or card stock.

solitude sunday

trumbo by bruce cook continues. trumbo spent two years in pursuit of cleo, a woman he met and decided to marry the first time he saw her. love at first sight on his part but not so much on hers. thus, two years. a persistent fellow, that trumbo.

silly saturday

from squighysplayhouse.com

Q: what do you call a dog who always knows the time?
A: a watch dog!

photo friday

play ball.

thoughtful thursday

buddhist proverb:

better than a thousand hollow words is one word that brings peace.

whimsical wednesday

we are trying new apple recipes for whimsical wednesday! on monday, under the get ready post, a link was shared that offers a variety of tasty apple recipes; if you are in need of a recipe. otherwise enjoy making a recipe you already have. please report your results to the whimsey project!

trivia tuesday

from mental floss:

1946: when the first photograph of earth was taken from space; black and white, grainy, distorted.

miscellaneous monday

interesting, beautiful art is always grand to view but we can't see it all in person. however we can enjoy art all over the world via the internet. be thrilled by these sculptures from the mind circle:

http://themindcircle.com/fascinating-public-sculptures/

get ready.....

get ready for whimsical wednesday! apples are so tasty this time of year so we are trying new apple recipes. maybe you have one you've been meaning to try. if not, here's a link for apple recipe ideas:

http://fm.e.allrecipes.com/ats/msg.aspx?sg1=8e62cc6746d8688fe48e5784be0cf5128f31a406ff1d639bd44c8010f50969b4&prop26=whatscooking&prop25=9409799271&prop27=2017-10-09&did=178701-20171009&eaid=15028179&hid=ec5f4d6d64ce62deb155b0c68a16334df9375845

solitude sunday

bruce cook's trumbo continues. dalton trumbo was responsible for taking care of his family; father, mother and two sisters. this began at an early age and continued well into adulthood. he took his responsibilities and worked very hard, often at more than one job at a time, to keep the family going. through it all he wrote, wrote, wrote.

silly saturday

photo friday

windy, michael and jovey celebrated national taco day wednesday 10.4

thoughtful thursday

thoughts of dog @dog_feelings:

I'VE GOT. BIG NEWS.. i love you.

whimsical wednesday

we are on a treasure hunt in our homes for whimsical wednesday. look around your house. what is the oldest item therein? what is it? where did it come from? who did it belong to? tell the story of the oldest item in your home for whimsical wednesday!

the oldest item in my home belonged to my maternal great-grandmother; two pieces of ruby and clear cut depression glass. my mother said they were the only items of value that belonged to her grandmother and then mother. her mother gave them to her. she gave them to me for my daughters. when she gave them to me, years ago when my daughters were young, she wrote the family history of the pieces and tucked that paper in one of the pieces.

trivia tuesday

from national geographic:

a group of jellyfish is called a bloom.

miscellaneous monday

open culture is an amazing website! check out this particular post of the oldest song known:

http://www.openculture.com/2014/07/the-oldest-song-in-the-world.html

get ready.....

get ready for whimsical wednesday! it's very old day. you'll need your eyes and thinking cap!

solitude sunday

a new book begins. trumbo by bruce cook. the biography of an oscar-winning screenwriter who broke the hollywood blacklist. i read the forward by john mcnamara, the screenwriter of the movie trumbo featuring bryan cranston. and a few pages of chapter one.

silly saturday

from lunch box jokes for kids:

Q: how do leaves get from place to place?
A: autumn-mobiles!

photo friday

that look.

thoughtful thursday

alan watts:

every individual is an expression of the whole realm of nature, a unique action of the total universe.

whimsical wednesday

it's "what can we do with that?" for whimsical wednesday! september is national happy cat month, sewing month and piano month. for today's whimsical wednesday activity we'll be do what we can to celebrate one or two or all three of these. report your activity to the whimsey project! 

trivia tuesday

from amanda:

morgan calls spiders EEKS.

miscellaneous monday

the greatest handmade card arrived in my mailbox last week. one of my sister's "blast from the past" cards! this one featured a newspaper photo of the two of us in matching jumpers that mom had made. i am pinning a buddy poppy on her dress as she holds a basket filled with the poppies. we are announcing the soon-to-be VFW poppy sale; for the benefit of disabled veterans, widows and children of veterans. the photograph was taken in 1963.  i have the card on the television so i can look at it. as i have looked and thought i realize that i can vividly recall the day of the poppy sale. it it a good memory and the card is awesome!

get ready.....

get ready for whimsical wednesday. it's national sewing month as well as national happy cat month as well as piano month! we'll see what we can do with that for the last wednesday of september.

solitude sunday

solitude sunday is our day to spend time with a book. today's session finds me on the porch reveling in the fineness of a fall day; the perfect setting for reading. i continue with paris to the moon by adam gopnik. in today's chapter, mr gopnik recounted telling bedtime stories to his young son. the featured story was about american baseball, of which his son had no knowledge. thoughtfully, he also discussed, through baseball, what american ex-pats miss about home. e made connections i would not have considered; definitely worth thinking about.

silly saturday

from silly jokes for kids:

Q: what kind of coat goes on wet?
A: a coat of paint!

photo friday

spa day for lil mouse! 

thoughtful thursday

albert camus:

autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.

whimsical wednesday

it's red dot day for whimsical wednesday! red dot day you wonder? yes! we are counting all those little dots of light that our electronics emit. how many red (or other color) dots shine in your house? you can include the garage and your car(s) if you wish to be comprehensive. report your findings to the whimsey project. it is predicted you'll count more than you think there are!

i did a sweep of the house before sitting down to write this post. my house and attached garage contains 20 red dots shining brightly throughout my abode. they weren't all red. some of them were blue. there were dots on items i didn't even think about before beginning the red dot search.

trivia tuesday

from mother nature network:

the ruddy shelduck is the highest flying duck. it nests on both sides of the himalayas, thus flying over the mountains to each home territory.

miscellaneous monday

another milestone has passed for my family. our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother has died at the age of 92. if you recall, greetings were posted last miscellaneous monday to celebrate her 92nd birthday. she had been in decline for the last few months and when she got so close to her birthday we all hoped that she would make it. she did. then it was time for her to go.

get ready.....

get ready for whimsical wednesday! it's red dot day. no special equipment needed.

solitude sunday

we spend time with a book on solitude sunday. i am currently reading paris to the moon by adam gopnik. in the just read chapter, gopnik explores the meaning of haute couture; fashion being an important part of the fabric that is paris. his descriptions are most likely more revealing than the actual fashion shows he writes about.

silly saturday

from jokes4us.com:

Q: what do you call a mythical vegetable?
A: a unicorn!

photo friday

bountiful harvest from sarah's patio garden.

thoughtful thursday

dr seuss:

i like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living.

whimsical wednesday

we're sleuthing books for whimsical wednesday! we are finding books that have our names as the name of the main character. using your computer, type the following into your browser to search:

what books have the name (insert your name) as the main character?

this is likely to yield authors of that name as well. you can look at the bottom of the list on the first page to see refined search ideas.

report your findings to the whimsey project!

trivia tuesday

from mental floss:

the word pizza dates back over 100 years; found in latin text, italy, common era 997.

miscellaneous monday

happy birthday #92 to mom!

get ready...

get ready for whimsical wednesday! we're looking for books. you'll need your internet browser to do the heavy lifting!

solitude sunday

we read a book on solitude sunday. i'm currently reading paris to the moon by adam gopnik. mr gopnik discusses aspects of life in paris as an american. he summed up his social relationship with french society by quoting cioran, "it's hard for me to live in a country where everyone is as irascible as i am".

silly saturday

tweet!

photo friday

jacob's dog.

thoughtful thursday

trenchologist:

no alarm wake up, covered in cats, now it's teatime. good. good.

whimsical wednesday

an art challenge for whimsical wednesday! get out an index card, a pair of scissors, glue and magazine. after the materials are assembled, set a timer for 15 minutes. in that time frame, select a page from the magazine that appeals to you. cut the magazine page into strips. glue the strips in an any arrangements onto the index card. move steadily and keep yourself from thinking as you create; just focus on doing. when the timer rings, stop! resist the urge to tinker with the piece after the 15 minutes are up.  it will be beautiful just as it is!

trivia tuesday

from the audubon society:

indigo buntings are among the many birds that migrate at night. they use the stars to guide them.

miscellaneous monday

happy labor day! enjoy the traditional last day of summer!

get ready...

get ready for whimsical wednesday! get out a magazine, glue stick, scissors and an index card to prepare for our whimsical wednesday activity.

silly saturday

suzi got her ducks in a row!

photo friday

crescent shaped shadows cast by solar eclipse 8.21.2017

thoughtful thursday

unknown:

the needs of others are just as important as your own.

whimsical wednesday

it's puzzle day for whimsical wednesday! below are brain teasers to solve.  record your responses in the comment section in the order of the questions. correct answers will be posted thursday.

1. what do you call a frog with no legs?
2. what has six eyes but cannot see?
3. what can you catch but not throw?
4. two people go into a barn. ten cats follow them. how many feet are in the barn?
5. a red house is made of red bricks. a blue house is made of blue bricks. a yellow house is made of yellow bricks. what is a green house made of?

trivia tuesday

from onthisdate.com:

on august 29, 708:  japan minted the first copper coins.

miscellaneous monday

from mental floss: the best ice cream shops in all 50 states. enjoy the tour!

http://mentalfloss.com/article/86342/july-best-ice-cream-shop-all-50-states

get ready.....

get ready for whimsical wednesday! put on your thinking caps! it will be a puzzling day!

solitude sunday

paris to the moon. adam gopnik.

adam and his wife spent their first christmas season in paris adjusting to the christmas tree lights. lights came in a ring instead of a string. then there were how the lights blinked or twinked. and how they were colored. just goes to show that things that are the same are very different.

silly saturday

it's national dog day.  from @cuteemergency

photo friday

light (white) and dark (chocolate) cake! it was yum!

thoughtful thursday

italian proverb:

one may have good eyes and still see nothing.

whimsical wednesday

we are celebrating happiness happens day for whimsical wednesday! how will you make happiness happen today? share your experiences with the whimsey project.

trivia tuesday

our solar eclipse picnic was awesome! approximately 30 of us gathered at the home of my nephew and his wife in marion, illinois. besides the great food and fun time together, we saw the majesty that is the universe. we watched as the moon moved across the sun. at total eclipse we took off the protective eye ware and looked at the corona. it was gloriously intact for more than two minutes. a few times light clouds crossed the sun's path. however, that only made it more amazing. according to the local television station's tracking, before the total eclipse it was 92 degrees and immediately after the sun began to reappear from behind the moon, it was 87 degrees. we felt that change. during total coverage, the earth went dark, the wind picked up and the insects that are usually noisy at dusk were chirping away. it was more of an experience than words can express.

miscellaneous monday

it's total solar eclipse day! we are very excited to be traveling to attend a solar eclipse picnic. it will be well attended. much fun is expected to be had by all as we witness this natural event. enjoy your solar eclipse experience if you plan to participate in observing.

get ready.....

get ready for whimsical wednesday!  we are celebrating happiness happens day. begin to think how you will make happiness happen for yourself and/or others.

solitude sunday

adam gopnik. paris to the moon.
during a nationwide strike, american adam was worried about the turkey he ordered for thanksgiving arriving in time for the celebration.  it did.

silly saturday

photo friday

boop!

thoughtful thursday

thoughts of dog @dog_feelings:

i'd slide. across. a million. hardwood floors. for you

whimsical wednesday

for whimsical wednesday we are preparing for the once-in-a-lifetime event on monday, august 21st! there will be a full solar eclipse. do something to get ready for this event that will be like no other in our time. if you haven't thought about doing something or the eclipse, doing so for whimsical wednesday is a great time to start! share your plans and preparations with the whimsey project!

trivia tuesday

from mental floss:

cats are unable to taste sweetness. the dna on the gene that allows for the tasting of sweetness is defective.

miscellaneous monday

a look into our notebook of daily whimsical moments for miscellaneous monday! for those who don't know or haven't participated, a daily whimsical moment is a place to record a moment from each day that makes us smile because it's a particularly whimsical moment. from my whimsey notebook: on monday, august 7th, i wrote in my notebook that i saw two butterflies dancing.

get ready.....

get ready for whimsical wednesday! next monday, august 21st, there will be a solar eclipse. on whimsical wednesday, make your plans and preparations for this historic event.

solitude sunday

book reading for solitude sunday was enjoyed on the porch this morning. what a lovely way to begin the day. adam gopnik discussed finding an apartment in paris in the chapter just read. as typical, it all had to do with who you know and messy politics. when we read about other cultures, it is verified that things are pretty much the same everywhere.  "paris to the moon"

silly saturday

git up there horsey!

photo friday

boxed water?

thoughtful thursday

unknown:

some dreams are just dreams.

whimsical wednesday

we are writing in our journals for whimsical wednesday. we do so once in every month that contains five wednesdays.  if you don't keep a journal, consider beginning one today. options include:
*personal journal
*themed journal; i keep one about the farm i live on
*notable notebook in which to record neat stuff such as quotes
*memory notebook in which to record random memories
*hobby journal
*art journal

write away...

trivia tuesday

definition from merriam-webster:

poltroon. noun. pahl-troon.
a spiritless coward.

miscellaneous monday

names can be tricky or funny or confounding. follow the link to the funniest named town in your state and read about others as well!

http://mentalfloss.com/article/502251/funniest-town-name-all-50-states

get ready.....

get ready for whimsical wednesday. we are writing in our journal(s). line them up, gather your pens or pencils. get ready to write.

silly saturday

from hilarious jokes for kids:

Q: why do bees have sticky hair?
A: because they use honey combs!

grin, giggle, guffaw....

photo friday

fdr, eleanor and tr kitten kitties.

thoughtful thursday

lao tzu, tao te ching:

it is exactly because she does not contend, that nobody can contend with her.

whimsical wednesday

we are celebrating national coloring book day for whimsical wednesday! we have colored in a coloring book before but never have we celebrated national coloring book day! how should we celebrate? buy a book, gift a book, color in a book, look at the detail in the drawings in a book, make your own book. follow the link to learn more about national coloring book day:

http://www.coloringbookday.com/

as always, please share your doings with the whimsey project!

trivia tuesday

from mental floss:

one of the earth's first flowers bloomed over 125 million years ago.

miscellaneous monday

after seven years of posting on the whimsey project blog, it became iffy regarding memory of photographs posted. over the weekend i browsed through the pictures to determine how well i did posting by memory. overall, memory held well. only two photographs were posted twice. along with looking, i wrote a list of photos used, especially about lil mouse. a revelation about lil mouse; i didn't realize how early in the whimsey project that lil mouse came along. also, it was interesting to see how the novice blogger changed over time with the adjustments of blog features and the acquisition of a camera!  even though there's a camera on the phone, a real camera is preferred.  and after seven of blogging about the whimsey project, it is still an enjoyable endeavor.

get ready.....

we are celebrating national coloring book day for whimsical wednesday! here's a link to help you prepare for national coloring book day:

http://www.coloringbookday.com/

read about national coloring book day, gather your supplies and get ready to enjoy!

solitude sunday

solitude sunday at the whimsey project. our day to spend time with a book. what are you reading? share your book with the whimsey project today.

paris to the moon by adam gopnik.  the author moved to paris in 1995 with his wife and newborn son. the plan for the family is to live there for five years; the last years of the century and the first years of his child's life.

silly saturday

silly saturday at the whimsey project! our day to grin, giggle, guffaw! bring on the silliness!

from hilarious jokes for kids:

Q: what do you call a pig who knows karate?

A: a pork chop!

photo friday

lil mouse and new friend!

thoughtful thursday

anonymous:

never underestimate the power of adhesive on labels.

whimsical wednesday

it's national watercolor month so we are painting for whimsical wednesday! not really painting but playing with paint. we're making a drop of paint and watch how far it travels. while watercolor painting takes a particular type of paper, paint and brushes, we won't be worried about that. if you don't have watercolor supplies, use a damp paper towel resting on a paper plate or something. drop a bit of food color on the paper towel. watch the color spread. how far did it go across the paper towel? of course, you are free to use actual watercolor supplies if you wish!  my experiment below:

food color/wet paper towel; after drying.

trivia tuesday

trivia tuesday at the whimsey project! our day to share all the trivia; experiential or factual. bring on the trivia!

from atlas obscura:
trees "sleep" at night, their leaves and branches slowly droop as soon as dusk begins to settle.

miscellaneous monday

miscellaneous monday at the whimsey project! our day to share all the stuff we don't share the rest of the week. what say you miscellaneous?

new critters grace the farm. windy and the children came home with baby guineas recently.  so cute! eight became seven over the first night but the remaining fowl are flourishing (sorry. couldn't resist!). when the guineas are grown they will roam at will, eating all the bugs we don't, as humans, enjoy! the former chicken coup will be their place of roost.

get ready.....

we're painting for whimsical wednesday. gather your supplies while ye may.

solitude sunday

solitude sunday at the whimsey project. our day to spend time with a book. what are you reading? share your book with the whimsey project today.

paris to the moon. a book of essays about paris by american adam gopnik. the title of the book is taken from the title of a nineteenth century painting.

photo friday

a respite from the summer heat. 

thoughtful thursday

rabindranath togore:

it is very simple to be happy, but it is very difficult to be simple.

whimsical wednesday

it's a mystery for whimsical wednesday! a mystery you say? yes, a mystery!  a google search offers this definition of mystery:

https://www.google.com/search?q=mystery&oq=my&aqs=chrome.1.69i60j69i59j69i60l3j69i65.4728j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

whimsical wednesday's mystery? it's a mystery! ponder at will.

trivia tuesday

trivia tuesday at the whimsey project! our day to share all the trivia; experiential or factual. bring on the trivia!

from @factsprofessor:

the contraction, amn't (am not) actually exists.

miscellaneous monday

miscellaneous monday at the whimsey project! our day to share all the stuff we don't share the rest of the week. what say you about miscellaneous?

here are lovely gardens with mazes to enjoy:
https://www.mnn.com/your-home/organic-farming-gardening/photos/8-breathtaking-garden-mazes/fun-confusion

get ready.....

get ready for whimsical wednesday. it's a mystery.

solitude sunday

solitude sunday at the whimsey project. our day to spend time with a book. what are you reading? share your book with the whimsey project today.

choke hold. paul butler.  what i find interesting about this book about policing black men in america is the author is a black man.  a black man who was a prosecutor who's job it was to put black men in prison.

silly saturday

this is me. i am old and unpredictable!

photo friday

brown-eyed susan blossoms seem to say, happy summer!

thoughtful thursday

mommy needs (facebook):

the only thing i know for sure about today is coffee. everything else is just wild speculation.

whimsical wednesday

we are celebrating brown paper bag day for whimsical wednesday! do whatever you would like that focuses on the paper bag. make something with the bag. here are two links that might spark ideas for you:

http://www.homemadehomeideas.com/14-clever-things-to-do-with-paper-bags/

http://happyhooligans.ca/35-very-cool-things-to-make-with-a-paper-bag/

share your paper bag creations with the whimsey project.  if you didn't create something, tell us how you might have utilized a paper bag. the possibilities are endless!

me celebrating paper bag day.

trivia tuesday

trivia tuesday at the whimsey project! our day to share all the trivia; experiential or factual. bring on the trivia!

miscellaneous monday

celebrating the 7th anniversary of the whimsey project!

get ready.....

we are celebrating brown paper bag day for whimsical wednesday! gather up a few of various sizes between now and then.

solitude sunday

solitude sunday at the whimsey project. our day to spend time with a book. what are you reading? share your book with the whimsey project today.

the book i am reading, choke hold, (paul butler) is a very grim, but important thesis. it provides much food for thought and i find i think about what i have read long after i have read it.

silly saturday

silly saturday at the whimsey project! our day to share silliness to make us grin, giggle, guffaw! share your silliness with the whimsey project today!

from mytowntutors.com:

Q: what do you get from alaskan cows?
A: ice cream!

photo friday

sweet baby burlap.

thoughtful thursday

@animals galore:

i wish dogs lived longer and life wasn't so expensive and fries still tasted good heated up.

whimsical wednesday

we are celebrating the color of the month of july for whimsical wednesday! that color is red, which is indicated by the ruby birthstone. make today about red. wear something red, create art with the color red, eat something red or make a new recipe with food that is red like watermelon or strawberries. share your red doings with the whimsey project!

my red activity will include making three ingredient snow cone syrup. my flavor will be cherry. if you would like to make snow cone syrup follow the link to the recipe. once at craftin with suz's blog, scroll down to thursday june 29, 2017:  http://www.craftinwithsuz.com/

i have plans to create with my art journaling so there will most likely be lots of red involved.

trivia tuesday

trivia tuesday at the whimsey project! our day to share all the trivia; experiential or factual. bring on the trivia!

last week's photo for photo friday depicts the raccoon family that currently lives in the huge maple tree in front of the house. a mama raccoon will have her babies and they will live in a tree for about two months before coming down to begin to explore the world. this is the second time mama raccoon has presented us with five kits! and this is several years in that she has chosen the farm for her nursery. by the photo it's obvious to see why! there's a restaurant just a short walking distance from the tree hotel.  mama choose wisely.  (sam was here working on outdoor chores when he saw them all munching on the cat food. i was so excited to see his photograph land in my texts.)

miscellaneous monday

miscellaneous monday at the whimsey project! our day to share all the stuff we don't share the rest of the week. bring on the miscellaneous.

life often requires working around obstacles. my solution to being away for a few days was to post ahead.  it was that or not post at all. i'll be live again for whimsical wednesday!

get ready.....

get ready for whimsical wednesday! we are celebrating the color red; the color of the month of july! be thinking of your incorporation of RED for whimsical wednesday!

solitude sunday

solitude sunday at the whimsey project. our day to spend time with a book. what are you reading? share your book with the whimsey project.

my reading will continue with choke hold by paul butler.

silly saturday

silly saturday at the whimsey project! our day to share silliness to make us grin, giggle, guffaw! bring on the silly!

from babycenter.com:

Q: what do elves learn in school?
A: the elf-abet!

photo friday

unexpected dinner guests! photo by sam howard.

thoughtful thursday

thoughts of dogs @dog_feelings:

when. a sad occurs. take a snooze. then. pet a dog. me...preferably.

whimsical wednesday

we're rhyming for whimsical wednesday! select a word; hopefully a longer, unusual word. look at the online dictionary for words that rhyme with your chosen word. write a sentence that incorporates as many of the rhyming words as possible. remember to include your word of choice! share your sentence with the whimsey project!

link to dictionary:  https://www.merriam-webster.com/  (in the search box write "words that rhyme with..........")

my word is gyroscope and here is my sentence:

horoscope:  you will see an antelope of forlorn hope, carrying a gyroscope in an envelope, on the bunny slope; he is not a misanthrope but an interlope on a slippery slope!

trivia tuesday

trivia tuesday at the whimsey project! our day to share all the trivia; experiential or factual. bring on the trivia!

from facts professor:

one teaspoon of honey equals the life's work of twelve bees.

miscellaneous monday

miscellaneous monday at the whimsey project! our day to share all the stuff we don't share the rest of the week. what say you about miscellaneous?

lulls in the summer heat are as lovely a gift as ever can be given. it's been so very, very hot. the type of heat that permeates everything. even inside the house feels hot as the air conditioner works overtime. when the heat breaks and mild temperatures ensue, it feels lovely. a respite. we go outside, sit on our porches and revel in it all until the heat returns.

get ready.....

get ready for whimsical wednesday! it's word rhyming day. more details on whimsical wednesday!

solitude sunday

solitude sunday at the whimsey project. our day to spend time with a book. what are you reading? share your book with the whimsey project.

a new book begins. choke hold by paul butler. paul butler is a former prosecutor who details the problem of america's policing of black men. his goal is to help change the system.

silly saturday

silly saturday at the whimsey project! our day to share all the silly to make us grin, giggle, guffaw. bring on the silly!

from highlights magazine:

Q: why did the tonsils get dressed up?
A: because the doctor was taking them out!

photo friday

summer!

thoughtful thursday

kenyan proverb:

sticks in a bundle are unbreakable.

whimsical wednesday

we're celebrating world music day for whimsical wednesday! and we are making it personal. find out what music was popular the year you were born. go further and discover what music was popular the day you were born or the week or the month. can you discover various genres of music, such as show tunes, pop, classical? what was your reaction to your discoveries? share with the whimsey project!

the year of my birth was 1951. lots of music doings in that year according to information found on the internet. here's just a bit of what i discovered:
*bing crosby released seven albums.
*the king and i, south pacific (my favorite) and a tree grows in brooklyn were among the debuts in musical theater.
*film presented an american in paris, royal wedding, showboat.
*frankie laine signed with columbia records, becoming the highest paid singer.
*nat king cole, tony bennett and perry como all had number one hits.
*song of the year was "be my love" by mario lanza.

i read about the classical music and opera, however, it was too complicated to include in the list. it seemed to need more than just a sentence to be understood.

reactions? when i read that the song of the year was "be my love" by mario lanza, i burst into that song, flinging my arms outward. then i had a good giggle!

trivia tuesday

trivia tuesday at the whimsey project! our day to share all the trivia; experiential or factual. bring on the trivia!

from weird history @weird_hist:

queen elizabeth II is purported to be descended from the prophet mohammad through spanish royalty.