whimsical wednesday

it's october! a month with five wednesdays! you know what that means, fellow whim-zees! it means we journal for whimsical wednesday. journal in what? here's options:

*personal journal
*themed journal (i journal about my farm)
*notable notebook in which to record random ideas, quotes and such
*memory notebook in which to record random memories
*whimsical moments notebook in which to record a daily moment that made you laugh or smile or just stood out as awesome

if you currently do not keep any journals, consider doing so.  the daily whimsical moments notebook is a great beginning. 

trivia tuesday

not something you see every day:

while preparing to drive recently, i glanced at the dashboard and the odometer read 225500! 

miscellaneous monday

have you been making daily entries in your whimsical notebook? what is a whimsical notebook? any bit of paper in which to record a daily moment of whimsey. sometimes when i wonder about how quickly the days pass and what became of them, i thumb through my whimsical notebook and have moments to smile or laugh about.  on july 28th i wrote, "sitting on the screened porch as darkness fell"; i remembered the moment and how it felt and how pleasant it was. it's good to keep a whimsical notebook.  

solitude sunday

solitude sunday at the whimsey project. our day to spend time with a book. i was reading nate silver's book when my book buddy appeared with an eric larson! no contest. so my current read is dead wake: the last crossing of the lusitania. the title reveals what the book is about.  read anything by eric larson. his work is awesome!

silly saturday

silly and awesome!

https://boingboing.net/2018/07/20/realtor-used-inflatable-t-rex.html

photo friday

a visitor at the door! 

thoughtful thursday

unknown:

LISTEN and SILENT are spelled with the same letters. 

whimsical wednesday

it's national top spinning day for whimsical wednesday! how long has it been since you tried to spin a top? today is your opportunity to give it a go.

top spinning activities: purchase a top; give it a whirl. make a top; give it a whirl. play top spinning with another person. find out neat stuff about tops; how old are tops? where did they originate? look for images of tops. find one you liked? have a memory about top spinning? share all your experiences with the whimsey project! 

my homemade top! materials used were a toothpick and the inner seal of a container of kitty treats.  the toothpick was poked into the center of the seal. then it was trimmed after each attempt to make the top spin until it was just the right size. 

here's a great article on the history of the spinning top: 

https://www.artofplay.com/blogs/articles/history-of-spinning-tops



not only are there top spinning competitions, there's an international top spinners association! here's the link to their website:

http://www.spintops.org/

trivia tuesday

from OMGfacts:

the paper bag, windshield wiper, monopoly and dishwasher were all invented by women. 

miscellaneous monday

whimsical wednesday for september 12th was to write to someone and ask them to play mail tag with you. i wrote to two recipients hoping that one would be willing and able to play with me. i'm very pleased and excited to report that both of my mail buddies wrote! how awesome to get that first reply in the mail. now we are on round three (i just sent replies a few days ago) and we are having a grand time! are you playing mail tag with anyone? tell us about it! if you would like to play mail tag and don't have a mail buddy, i would be pleased to be your buddy. email the whimsey project (address in the upper right hand corner of the blog) if you do not wish to respond in the comment section.)

solitude sunday

we spend time with a book on solitude sunday. my book is the signal and the noise; why so many predictions fail--but some don't by nate silver. mr silver discusses the intersection between human beings and science. 

silly saturday

from michael:

Q: why do giraffes have long necks?
A: because their feet stink! 

photo friday

wheeeeeee.....

thoughtful thursday

l.m. montgomery:

i am so glad i live in a world where there are octobers.

whimsical wednesday

it's the first whimsical wednesday of the month of october! that means we work on our own projects! what are you working on this whimsical wednesday? share your projects with us!

i'm closing in the art journaling on line classes i'm enrolled in. i'll be plugging away on that for whimsical wednesday. and maybe a few other projects i haven't thought about working on just yet but it could happen.

trivia tuesday

from historyinformation.com:

joseph priestly and edward nairne invented the eraser in 1770. the eraser has been the companion of the pencil ever since.

miscellaneous monday

inktober! artist, jake parker, began inktober. the goal was to draw in ink everyday in october to help him improve his inking skills. since 2009, it has grown into a worldwide event! it's october first and the day to begin for 2018.  i participated last year for the first time and very much enjoyed the process.  one not need to have drawing skills or much experience with ink to play.  everyday draw with ink, perhaps on an index card or the backs of envelopes received in the mail, even if you just draw lines or circles. it's a great way to take a few minutes to relax.  here's the link to the website if anyone wishes to read more about inktober:

https://inktober.com/ 

solitude sunday

solitude sunday is our day to spend time with a book. my time with william b helmreich's the new york nobody knows: walking 6000 miles in the city. i am reading about spaces and gentrification. 

silly saturday

from fancast.com:

Q: what's the difference between an elephant and a flea?
A: an elephant can have fleas but fleas can't have elephants!

photo friday

from the rose garden

thoughtful thursday

anonymous: 

those who cast about looking for someone to blame for their fractured relationships should begin by looking in the mirror.

whimsical wednesday

whimsical wednesday! drive on a randomly selected street; either a street you know well or one new to you. drive slowly and take a peek at the houses you pass. select the house that most appeals to you. share your selection with the whimsey project and explain why that house is the one you like best. 

trivia tuesday

from tenrandomfacts.com:

the buttonhole was first used in germany in the 13th century when clothing became tighter fitting. although "modern" use of the buttonhole began in europe, persians may have invented them well before. 

miscellaneous monday

enjoy this article about olivine, a glass-like gem found in the lava of erupting volcanoes:

https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/stories/hawaiis-kilauea-volcano-raining-green-stones-olivine

solitude sunday

solitude sunday is our day to spend time with a book. my reading continues with william b helmreich's the new york nobody knows; walking 6000 miles in the city. i finished the chapter on communities and have begun the chapter on enjoying the city. 

silly saturday

from fancast.com:

Q: what do you get when you cross a parrot with a centipede?
A: a walkie-talkie!

photo friday

bonfire season begins! (photo by katrina)

thoughtful thursday

for more time than i care to consider i have been aware that, with friends, i initiate contact more often than they do. while i don't make new year's resolutions, this year i determined i would expect reciprocity in relationships. what does that mean, reciprocity? it means that i wanted people to initiate contact as much as i did; to reach out to me the way i reached out to them. 

through the year i have initiated contact with others be it email, phone calls, texting, letters or actually getting together. after doing so for a few times i then waited for the gestures to be returned. the results after most of the year passing? many people i haven't heard a peep from. one person called me after a few months and barked, "i haven't heard from you!" my reply of, "and i haven't heard from you!" was met with silence. if people reached out, i responded, however, the length between connections has grown greater and greater. i have been in the company of some i have waited a response from but it was because someone else did the inviting. 

it is doubtful that any of the persons involved mean any harm, no malice intended. it's also doubtful that many are aware of their lack of action. even so, there is then no relationship because it takes everyone involved for a relationship to happen. if people do not wish a real friendship i'm ok with that and i wish them well. my focus, my energy will be given to those who are as invested in me as i am in them. 

whimsical wednesday

we are sharing our favorite helpful hints for whimsical wednesday! have at giving your best tips to all the whim-zees!!

my tips:

*line dry underwear. if it's dried in the dryer it tightens up and is very uncomfortable to wear; at least initially.

*want a different flavor to chicken? before cooking, marinate it in pickle juice!  (try saying "pickle juice" out loud, fast three times. guaranteed to make you giggle!)l;;;;;;;;;20....barley added that part.

trivia tuesday

from atlasobscura.com:

the bing cherry was first cultivated by ah bing; thus the name.

miscellaneous monday

jovey's salt crystals sculpture

during the summer i enjoyed play dates with young buddies, jovey and michael. we made salt crystal sculptures one day. these went home with them and the waiting began.... waiting for the salt crystals to begin to form. after a month they reported still no crystals. the problem was most likely not enough salt in the water. giving them a container of salt, they were instructed to pour half the container in each jar. that was the remedy! 

michael's salt crystals sculpture

solitude sunday

solitude sunday is our day to spend time with a book. my journey with william b. helmreich's the new york nobody knows: walking 6000 miles in the city continues. the author is a sociologist and the perspective of this book is a sociologist's perspective. perhaps considered dry by some, it is for me, a view of the city rarely observed no matter how often one might visit.

silly saturday

awesome silly art (and photo) by windy! 

photo friday

within the labyrinth

thoughtful thursday

carrie schmitt:

we will embrace the wild, the natural, the free. let go. mimic the rose with its many layers. imitate the wild wisteria vine with its playful unpredictability. and admire the determined ivy for its tenacity and ability to make breakthroughs despite obstacles.

whimsical wednesday

we are playing mail tag for whimsical wednesday! select someone to send any style card to. write a wee bit on the card, leaving lots and lots of blank space. include a separate note to explain that the card is for mail tag: they read your message, write a message to you and mail it back. see how many times you and your mail tag buddy can keep the card going! report to the whimsey project!

i have two cards prepared and ready to mail to two potential mail tag buddies. hopefully one or both will play mail tag with me! i like getting mail so i am anticipating responses soon! 

trivia tuesday

from wikipedia:

the earliest known european dollhouses date back to the 1600s. intended as a hobby for wealthy adults, dollhouses were housed in cabinets with box shaped compartments in which rooms were created. the cost of miniature houses was often more than the cost of actual modest sized houses.

miscellaneous monday

a heartwarming story to begin the week: the rescue of a hummingbird from goodnewsnetwork.org:

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/these-firefighters-nursed-an-exhausted-hummingbird-back-to-health/?utm_campaign=newsletters&utm_medium=weekly_mailout&utm_source=04-09-2018

solitude sunday

solitude sunday. our day to spend time with a book. my book is the new york nobody knows by william b helmreich. the author walked the entire geography of new york city (all five boroughs!). the book is the result of this 6,000 mile journey through his hometown. there are maps within; i love maps!  what are you reading? share your book with the whimsey project.

silly saturday

from fancast.com:

Q: what makes more noise than a cat meowing outside a window?
A: 8 cats meowing outside a window!

photo friday

burlap in her favorite place

thoughtful thursday

from the lorax by dr seuss:

"...and i'll yell and i'll shout for the fine things on earth that are on their way out..." 

whimsical wednesday

it's the first whimsical wednesday for the month of september! that means it's do your own project day! share your activity with the whimsey project.

trivia tuesday

from candyclub.com:

the compound, glycyrrhizin, found in the licorice plant is said to be 30 to 50 times sweeter than sugar. 

miscellaneous monday

recently i happened upon this website. the organization that runs the site supports the well being of the elderly. one of the programs they offer is phone calls to those who are alone and lonely.  it is my plan to become a volunteer in order to keep an elder person company, even if only via telephone.  readers might be interested in doing the same.

https://www.eskaton.org/home-support-services.html#tr

solitude sunday

solitude sunday. our day to spend time with a book. douglas preston's the lost city of the monkey god continues. at this point in the narrative, lidar has been used to track the topography of the honduran jungle. through this process of mapping man made structures were discovered.  

silly saturday

from the floor: please, someone, bring tea!

photo friday

caption this photo!

thoughtful thursday

unknown:

friendship is like tennis. the ball must go back and forth for the game to continue.

whimsical wednesday

an adventure for whimsical wednesday! drive on a street/road/avenue/boulevard/highway/interstate/expressway/or any other driving surface that you have never driven on before. if you no plans to drive today, enjoy whimsical wednesday on another day this week! share your adventure with the whimsey project.

trivia tuesday

from thewalkingsite.com:

there are approximately 2,000 steps in a mile.

miscellaneous monday

ever heard of a dog train? read all about one...

https://www.mnn.com/family/pets/stories/these-rescue-dogs-have-ticket-dog-train

solitude sunday

solitude sunday. our day to spend time with a book. my book is douglas preston's the lost city of the monkey god.  the book details the true story of the author's expedition (along with a score of scientists) to find the five-hundred-year-old legend of an ancient city in the deepest jungles of what is now in the country of honduras. what are you reading? share your book with the whimsey project!

silly saturday

from fancast.com:

Q: what runs but never walks?
A: water!

photo friday

in the meadow

thoughtful thursday

ralph waldo emerson:

what is a weed? a plant whose virtues have yet to be discovered.

whimsical wednesday

today we journal! august has five wednesdays and we journal one week in months that have that much whimsey! if you don't currently keep a journal, consider beginning one today. there are many options, all of which are personal preference. by way of suggestions, here are the journals i keep:

*personal journal
*themed journal about my farm
*memory book in which to record random memories
*notable notebook in which to record random neat stuff like quotes
*daily whimiscal moment in which to record a special moment because there's at least one special moment in each day. 

trivia tuesday

from factretriever.com:

it take 2,000 tea leaves to make a pound of finished tea.

miscellaneous monday

the home of pippi longstockings! my favorite childhood book. the home is in sweden as featured in this atlas obscura article:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/villa-villekulla?utm_source=Atlas+Obscura+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=085447af25-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_08_17&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f36db9c480-085447af25-63075313&ct=t(EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_8_17_2018)&mc_cid=085447af25&mc_eid=cba998d18b

solitude sunday

solitude sunday. our day to spend time with a book. my book companion is the loyal son; the war in ben franklin's house authored by daniel mark epstein. the son, who was born of a woman not his wife, was taken in by ben franklin as an infant. soon after ben married a former sweetheart; both making a bargain based on the needs of soon-to-be husband and wife. the book features the collaboration and relationship between ben franklin and this son.  what are you reading? share your book with the whimsey project.

silly saturday

from fancast.com:

Q: why did the turkey cross the road?
A: it was the chicken's day off.

photo friday

hens leave surprises!

thoughtful thursday

as read on a floral shop marquee:

butterflies are flowers in motion.

whimsical wednesday

it's play date wednesday for me so for whimsical wednesday my young charges and i will be crafting paper charms.  if you would enjoy making paper charms with us here's what you need:

*key ring that opens on a hinge
*paper shapes with hole punched in one spot so it can be slipped onto the ring.
*assorted stamps, inks, stickers, scissors, glue stick, sparklies.

decorate each paper shape with the bling then put the finished paper shapes in the ring, admire, smile!

unfinished paper shapes:

decorated paper shapes, which we dubbed paper charms!

trivia tuesday

from brainpickings.org:

it takes an average of 66 days to form a new habit. it takes about the same number of days to break a habit since new habits typically replace old habits.

miscellaneous monday

an awesome walk through the woods in this article. sculpture!

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/james-tellen-woodland-sculpture-garden?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=atlas-page

solitude sunday

solitude sunday is our day to spend time with a book. keeping me company today is erik larson's in the garden of beasts. the book recounts the experiences of the ambassador to germany, william e dodd and his family, during hitler's reign. eric larson, the author of the devil in the white city, weaves tales that keep readers enthralled. 

silly saturday

refrigerator art!

photo friday

enjoy the scenery!

thoughtful thursday

buddhist proverb:

change how you see and see how you change.

whimsical wednesday

a house related activity for whimsical wednesday! in 30 minutes or less, remove 5 items from any storage area in the home: a drawer, cupboard, closet, tote. after removing the items, place them in categories: trash, utilize, thrift store, gift. do you feel lighter?  

in the time frame i removed about 12 items from a closet. and the items fell into every category! i do feel lighter!!!

miscellaneous monday

sunday brought television viewing that only occurs on sunday.  monday morning brought a monday appointment and medication taken from the "monday" compartment of the weekly medication container. looking at the calendar indicated it was indeed monday. however, despite all evidence to the contrary, for me, it was tuesday. therefore, this week in the world of whimsey, tuesday comes before monday.  

trivia tuesday

from kids.nationalgeographic.com:

there are 5000 different species of ladybugs in the world. besides being a symbol of good luck, ladybugs are an asset to farmers as they eat aphids and other plant eating insects.

solitude sunday

solitude sunday. our day to spend time with a book. i continue with ben tarnoff's the bohemians. after years of relying on other publications to feature their work, the bohemians are creating their own publication.

silly saturday

from catalogical.com:

Q: where is the one place your cat can sit that you cannot?
A: your lap!

photo friday

summer treat!

thoughtful thursday

ralph waldo emerson:

the only way to have a friend is to be one.

whimsical wednesday

it's the first wednesday of august! that means we work on our own projects for whimsical wednesday. have at it, whimzees!

trivia tuesday

@uberfacts:

any snow below 14 degrees will squeak when it is stepped on due to the friction of the snow crystals being compressed underfoot.

miscellaneous monday

land art. it's awesome!

http://themindcircle.com/circular-land-art/

solitude sunday

we read a book on solitude sunday. today's read is the bohemians by ben tarnoff. the bohemians is the story of how a group of writers in 1860s san francisco, including mark twain, created america's modern literature. 

silly saturday

from ducksters.com:

Q: what kind of bird works at a construction site?
A: the crane!

photo friday

take a walk in the labyrinth

thoughtful thursday

desmond tutu:

become a reservoir of joy, an oasis of peace, a pool of serenity that can ripple out to all those around you. 

whimsical wednesday

it's national cousin day! let's celebrate this occasion for whimsical wednesday. call, text, send a card, write a letter to a cousin/cousins that you would like to connect with. if you are geographically close to a cousin, invite them to meet for coffee or dessert or whatever all of you would enjoy. additionally, share a memory or two about cousins while you were growing up together. 

this morning i have connected with cousins. we enjoyed virtual hugs and smiles.  

my cousin memory #1:
there were five of us from four mothers that were a pack at family gatherings. we were all within a year of each other so we gravitated to one another. the pack consisted of two girls and three boys. if the boys annoyed the girls or wouldn't let us participate in an activity with them, we would start crying and get the boys in trouble. countless times the dads were yelling at the boys to "leave those girls alone"! we two girls had such power! it was awesome!

my cousin memory #2:
the third sister of the other female pack member learned to walk while visiting my family's home in tennessee. she was crawling around and ended up in a bedroom where, it happened, a pair of gloves were on the bed. she went in crawling but came out walking because she was "holding hands" with the gloves. i was where i could see her so when i realized she was walking i shouted, "hey! she's walking!". everyone came running to see the amazing feat. it was awesome! 

trivia tuesday

from atlas obscura:

baldwin street in dunedin, new zealand, is the steepest street in the world.

miscellaneous monday

the case of unintended consequences or for every action there is a reaction or both: chickies!

https://www.treehugger.com/animals/surprise-hundreds-chicks-hatch-spoiled-eggs-dumped-landfill.html?utm_content=buffer51184&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

solitude sunday

solitude sunday is our day to spend time with a book. my current read is particularly grand. it is a book i read years ago. i loaned it to someone and then moved away. thinking i left the book behind and often wishing i could re-read it, it was so awesome to discover it in a place in the house i rarely look. my wish to read the book again came true! peter matthiessen's the snow leopard is the story of a spiritual odyssey in the himalaya mountains. so thoughtful and probing of the human psyche, that it leaves one pondering in thoughtful reflection after each encounter. 

silly saturday

even serious can have silly!

photo friday

toe tips.

thoughtful thursday

tammy garcia:

imperfect art is my favorite kind of art. it is more intriguing, more interesting, more human and definitely more real, yay!!

whimsical wednesday

it's do your own project for whimsical wednesday, an activity we do monthly here at the whimsey project. share your project!

trivia tuesday

from mnn.com:

america's only native pepper, which grows in the southwest, is the chiltepin. 

miscellaneous monday

u.s. state silliness for miscellaneous monday! from mental floss:

http://mentalfloss.com/article/68266/all-50-states-reimagined-food-puns

solitude sunday

solitude sunday at the whimsey project. our day to spend time with a book. my book is candice millard's destiny of the republic: a tale of madness, medicine and the murder of a president. the story is of the rise of james a. garfield to president of the united states. along with the story of garfield is the story of his assassin, charles guiteau. reading this book has revealed garfield to be a very decent individual and guiteau to be a very evil, though most likely mentally ill, person. the surprise in the book is discussion of what is going on the country/world as the garfield/guiteau story unfolds.

silly saturday

they use the name you give!

photo friday

curious.

thoughtful thursday

ev:

like wildflowers you must allow yourself to grow in all the places people never thought you would or could.

whimsical wednesday

we are honoring national "cheer up the lonely" day for whimsical wednesday. everyone knows someone who is lonely due to isolation, depression, health issues, family concerns, the list is long. do something for them today: call, email, text, send a card, a letter, bake brownies, visit. make someone else's day! share your activity with the whimsey project!

trivia tuesday

from sunflowerguide.com

the number of seeds in a sunflower ranges from 1,000 to 2,000 seeds, depending on the size of the flower.