photo friday

lake michigan, photo by sarah

thoughtful thursday

bandy x lee:

cherish your own expertise: what you have spent your life honing. the best kind of expertise comes from a well-lived life, not from books. 

whimsical wednesday

we are celebrating world art day for whimsical wednesday! here are a few activities to consider:

*if weather permits, take a walk and look at the emerging signs of spring. take a photograph of anything that catches your attention. 
*color a page in a book or print one from the internet.
*bake and decorate cookies. perhaps bake roll out cookies to cut out for that extra artistic step.
*create a collage using pictures and/or words from a magazine. consider a theme: all the pictures on a particular subject like trees and words that describe them.
*if you enjoy needlework, knit, crochet, embroider, cross stitch. if you haven't worked on a project in awhile, begin one. learn a new stitch or technique.
*create a new recipe using what you find in the kitchen.

what did you do for world art day? share your art with the whimsey project!


as i walked through the kitchen, preparing to go outside to look for subjects to photograph, i found the perfect scene through the window! the guineas stopped by to say hello and i knew that was my picture!  

trivia tuesday

from merriam-webster:

opsimath: a person who begins to learn late in life.

miscellaneous monday

several times i have written about being a member of the postcard community, postcrossing. learn about postcrossing here:

https://www.postcrossing.com

when i send a postcard to a member, they register the unique postcard number i write on the card to indicate the card arrived at the intended destination.  recently, i received confirmation of a postcard i sent as the recipient had registered the number. what was unusual about this particular card (that traveled 4393 miles to the netherlands) was that it took the postcard 187 days to reach its destination!  one can only wonder the adventure that postcard took.

during this time of isolation for safety and protection in the midst of a global pandemic, consider joining the postcrossing community. the program is open to all at no costs. it's a pleasure to send and receive postcards and you might enjoy it too. 

solitude sunday

happy easter!

silly saturday

twenty-two words offers a look at food guaranteed to make us laugh:

https://twentytwowords.com/people-who-deserve-some-sort-of-award-for-food-ingenuity/?utm_source=deck&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=influencer&utm_campaign=dm3

photo friday

photo by sarah

thoughtful thursday

yiddish proverb:

he who is aware of his folly is wise.

whimsical wednesday

we are preparing for easter for whimsical wednesday. it will be different this year due to the coronavirus and every one in isolation. however, that means we must make the day all the more special. 

you might: 
*make a list of people to call on easter
*send cards to those who really need a note of cheer
*plan activities with and for children in your household
*instead of shopping for groceries just for easter dinner, take up the challenge of looking in the cupboards, refrigerator and freezer to see what's already available and build a meal.
*check your local activities calendar from appropriate sources. many locales are encouraging residents to decorate their windows and such for easter. residents can then drive around town enjoying the decorations just like during the christmas holidays. be sure to participate in both the decorating and sightseeing parts!
*bake a treat to put on the porch of someone who lives alone. let them know you are coming so you can arrange to greet them with a smile and a wave through the window. if you cannot bake, arrange to visit someone to smile and wave to through the window from your car. this can be done in combination with any easter decoration sightseeing you might do.

trivia tuesday

from quite interesting facts:

if you are seated at the rear of a boeing 747, the walk from your seat to the front of the plane is longer than the wright brothers' first powered flight. 

miscellaneous monday

the audobon society's 2019 photography contest featured baby birds:

https://www.audubon.org/news/15-awww-inspiring-photos-baby-birds

solitude sunday

solitude sunday at the whimsey project. our day to spend time with a book. i continue with carol stickland's, the annotated mona lisa: a crash course in art history from prehistoric to post-modern. what are you reading? share your book with the whimsey project.

silly saturday

just when you thought life couldn't get any more confusing, read all about how mixed up, jumbled words can still be read!

https://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/stories/why-your-brain-can-read-jumbled-letters

photo friday

cher. photo: amanda

thoughtful thursday

winston churchill:

the truth is incontrovertible. malice may attach it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is. 

whimsical wednesday

the first whimsical wednesday of the month of april! our day to turn our attention to this year's on-going project to learn something new. your project can change from month to month or you can, like me, build on the same learning skill.  what are you learning? i am learning to play the ukuele! 

trivia tuesday

from quite interesting facts:

one in five beatles' songs mentions the weather.

miscellaneous monday

as the worldwide pandemic from the covid19 virus spreads and deepens in the united states, people across the country are stepping up to assist in any way possible. one such project is: 

 www.MakeMasks2020.org

make masks designed an on-line data base that connects those sewing masks to medical specifications with entities in need of masks.  if you sew, know people who sew, and want to assist in this effort, please visit the link and join. every mask helps every one, especially our medical professionals.  

my buddies: fierce mask makers!

solitude sunday

solitude sunday at the whimsey project. our day to spend time with a book. my book continues to be carol strickland's the annotated mona lisa: a crash course in art history from prehistoric to post-modern. what are you reading? share your book with the whimsey project. 

silly saturday

from glowwordbooks.com:

Q: when do people jump on trampolines?
A: spring time!

photo friday

smudge

thoughtful thursday

thoughts of dog:

nobody ever told me. when you wake up from a nap. you can immediately start another one. that was something i figured out. all by myself.

whimsical wednesday

we are undertaking an art challenge for whimsical wednesday! create something, anything, out of any material, using any medium using only the following colors:

*red
*orange
*purple
*green
*black

share your creation and process with the whimsey project.

trivia tuesday

from uber facts:

people with a keen sense of smell can tell when it is about to rain. (atmospheric chemicals begin to interact with one another, creating ozone, which has a sweet and pungent aroma.)

miscellaneous monday

words! from mental floss:

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/52672/11-nouns-only-have-plural-form

solitude sunday

solitude sunday at the whimsey project. our day to spend time with a book. my book is carol strickland's the annotated mona lisa: a crash course in art history from prehistoric to post-modern. what are you reading? share your book with the whimsey project.

silly saturday

bored panda offers comparisons!

https://www.boredpanda.com/cool-comparisons/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=BPTwitter

photo friday

lil mouse celebrating st patrick's day

thoughtful thursday

swedish proverb:

those who wish to sing, always find a song.

whimsical wednesday

it's national sloppy joe day! for whimsical wednesday make sloppy joes.  use an old family recipe, try a new recipe, have the kids help, invite people over and have a sloppy joe party; ask them to dress sloppy, try a non-traditional base, like a tortilla or naan. however you celebrate, enjoy your sloppy joe! 

*later...

the world is currently experiencing a health crisis that experts have deemed to be a pandemic. we are all self-isolating in order to protect each other from possible infection from a novel virus.  as a novel virus, it is new so no one has an immunity to it and there is no vaccine to protect against it.  as a result, plans to cook sloppy joes with my young friends were cancelled. and, being in a high risk group, i have not ventured to the grocery store (which i am told is rather empty these days). thus, sloppy joe day was one of complete improvisation and just by myself. 

i found a package of hamburger in the freezer and a can of crescent rolls in the refrigerator to use to create a new version: sloppy joe pizza! the crescent rolls were patted onto a pizza pan then covered with a blend of four cheeses. the meat was cooked with bacon, worcestershire sauce and ketchup before spreading on the dough. it was baked for twelve minutes at 400 degrees. it made a great lunch and, hopefully, sooner than later, my young friends and i can make sloppy joe pizza together.

tivia tuesday

from hello giggles:

there are 10,000 three-leaf clover for every four-leaf clover.

miscellaneous monday

from national geographic; the badlands:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/national-parks/badlands-national-park/?cmpid=org=ngp::mc=social::src=twitter::cmp=editorial::add=twt20190728travel-resurfbadlands::rid=&sf216449454=1

solitude sunday

solitude sunday at the whimsey project. our day to spend time with a book. i continue with james a. michener's, the world is my home: a memoir. what are you reading? share your book with the whimsey project.

silly saturday

from country living:

Q: why do people wear shamrocks on st patrick's day?
A: real rocks are too heavy!

Q: why do leprechauns like to garden?
A: they have green thumbs!

photo friday

kaskaskia dragon (vandalia, illinois)

thoughtful thursday

indian proverb:

there is nothing noble about being superior to some other person.

whimsical wednesday

it's national stapler day, that valuable item of office equipment that holds everything together! get creative and celebrate the stapler for whimsical wednesday; be silly just like for national (eye)lash day. then share your activity with the whimsey project. 

trivia tuesday

from omg facts:

almonds are more closely related to cherries, plums, peaches and apricots than nuts. 

miscellaneous monday

from atlas obscura! this is what once came in a box of oatmeal:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/depression-era-glassware-colorful?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=atlas-page  

solitude sunday

solitude sunday at the whimsey project. our day to spend time with a book. my book continues to be james a. michener's the world is my home: a memoir. what are you reading? share your book with the whimsey project. 

silly saturday

from merriam-webster:

gibbous: irregularly rounded.

photo friday

thoughtful thursday

arabian proverb:

examine what is said, not him who speaks. 

whimsical wednesday

it's the first wednesday of march! our day to learn something new! are you working on the same learning process like me or learning something new each month? i continue with learning to play the ukulele. what are you learning? share with the whimsey project. 

trivia tuesday

from uberfacts:

according to research, dog "parents" have healthier hearts and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.

miscellaneous monday

are you adding items to your 2020 time capsule? if not, today is a great day to begin. select any container in which to place items that represent events, happenings, and such that you wish to be able to look back on at the end of the year. on new year's eve or new year's day, we'll be looking at the items we placed in our 2020 time capsules and remember! it's just the beginning of march and i already have several items in my time capsule.

are you writing in your whimsical moments notebook? if not, today is a great day to begin. in any notebook, calendar or loose leaf paper, record a daily whimsical moment; a moment that caught your attention in some particular way, be it thoughtful, funny, unique, gave you pause. if you have more than one such moment in a day, record them all! there are never too many whimsical moments to enjoy.

solitude sunday

solitude sunday at the whimsey project. our day to spend time with a book. my reading continues to be james a michener's, the world is my home: a memoir. what are you reading? share your book with the whimsey project. 

silly saturday

happy leap year day 2020! from jokes4us.com: 

Q: what do athletes wear on leap day?
A: jumpsuits!

Q: where do most people eat on leap day?
A: ihop!

Q: what kind of music do you listen to on leap day?
A: hip hop!

Q: what do kids play on leap day?
A: hop-scotch!

Q: what is a frog's favorite day?
A: leap day!

photo friday

biscuit

thoughtful thursday

thoughts of dog:

for your convenience. i have made a list of the times. i would appreciate your attention

always 

whimsical wednesday

saturday, february 29th, is leap year day! for whimsical wednesday we are making preparations for a leap year celebration. 

what is leap year and why do we have it?  the old farmer's almanac explains: 
https://www.almanac.com/content/when-next-leap-year

leap year celebrations and traditions from around the world: 
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/leap-year-traditions

leap year activities:
https://www.realsimple.com/work-life/entertainment/leap-day-activities  

https://www.mnn.com/family/family-activities/blogs/29-fun-things-to-do-on-leap-day   

https://howdoesshe.com/its-a-leap-year-21-fun-leap-day-activities/

share your leap year celebration with the whimsey project!

trivia tuesday

from quite interesting:

the state of colorado is not a rectangle. it has 697 sides, making it a hexahectaenneacontakaiheptagon.    

miscellaneous monday

from colossal, handcrafted animals of felt that are the essence of whimsey:

https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2020/01/nastasya-shuljak-wool-toys/

solitude sunday

solitude sunday at the whimsey project. our day to spend time with a book. my book is james a michener's, the world is my home: a memoir. what are you reading? share your book with the whimsey project.

silly saturday

from mother nature network! when buildings are animals:

https://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/eco-tourism/photos/13-animal-shaped-buildings/big-sheep-wool-gallery-and-i-site-visitor#top-desktop

photo friday

lil mouse and friend

thoughtful thursday

river phoenix:

run to the rescue with love and peace will follow.

whimsical wednesday

it's national lash day! what is lash day? a day to celebrate the eyelash. why there is such an event is beyond me. however, it makes for great whimsical wednesday activity because it's, well, whimsical. get creative! and share your eyelash adventure with the whimsey project.

behold! eyelashes!

trivia tuesday

from merriam-webster:

a teardrop shape is called a lacrimiform.

miscellaneous monday

water works! from mental floss:

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/64577/how-do-water-towers-work

solitude sunday

solitude sunday at the whimsey project. our day to spend time with a book. my book continues to be h.m. tomlinson's the sea and the jungle. what are you reading? share your book with the whimsey project.

silly saturday

sweet, silly dogs from uberfacts:

https://uber-facts.com/this-artist-created-an-adorable-illustrated-guide-to-the-dogs-of-the-world/ 

photo friday

just a few of my many peeps!

thoughtful thursday

rinpoche:

the roots of dissatisfaction: always looking for the next thing.

whimsical wednesday

it's national penny day! for whimsical wednesday let's go penny hunting. look everywhere you might have lost loose change such as under the cushions of the furniture, in the bottom of a tote or handbag, under the seats of the car, pockets of clothing, anywhere there might be money lurking for you to find! what did your search yield? how many pennies were collected in your search? did you find enough change to buy an ice cream cone?

trivia tuesday

from quite interesting:

the keys used to unlock the vaults at the bank of england are three feet long.

miscellaneous monday

when the grass is greener! explained by mother nature network:

https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/climate-weather/stories/why-does-my-grass-look-greener-after-it-rains

solitude sunday

solitude sunday at the whimsey project. our day to spend time with a book. my book continues to be h. m. tomlinson's the sea and the jungle. what are you reading? share your book with the whimsey project.

silly saturday

as read on a sign:

dogs have owners.
cats have staff. 

photo friday

waif

thoughtful thursday

eagle fan:

when i retreat so eventually does my courage and heart. when i act i feel the worth in the action, the people and the causes i act for, and that contains a fierce joy. 

whimsical wednesday

it's the first wednesday of the month so it's learn something new for whimsical wednesday.  i will continue learning to play the ukulele. what are you learning? share your efforts with the whimsey project.

trivia tuesday

from welcome to nature:

harvest mice love the smell of pollen and often fall asleep inside flowers.

miscellaneous monday

are you keeping a daily whimsical moments notebook for 2020? what is a daily whimsical moments notebook? it's any recording system that suits in which to record a daily moment that pulls attention; that brings a moment of delight, pause, thoughtfulness. some days more than one moment catches attention so record more than one! if you aren't yet keeping a daily whimsical moments notebook, today is a great day to begin.

from time to time throughout the year we offer something we have written in our daily whimsical moments notebook. let's do so today. for january 6th, i wrote: cold morning, seeing waif doggie's breath as she barks! for january 22nd, i wrote: bald eagle on the frozen lake. the first was recorded because it made me giggle and the second was recorded because it was so impressive i was enthralled by the bird's presence.

share whimsical moments from your notebook with the whimsey project.

solitude sunday

solitude sunday at the whimsey project. our day to spend time with a book. my book is h.m. tomlinson's the sea and the jungle. this volume was first published in 1912 and is the account of the author's two year voyage aboard the tramp steamer, capella. tomlinson dedicated the book to "those who did not go". what are you reading? share your book with the whimsey project.

silly saturday

from quite interesting:

in the 16th century, a HUFF-SNUFF meant a conceited person who gives airs and is quick to take offense. 

photo friday

photo by libby

thoughtful thursday

e.h.

you are not your age,
nor the size of clothes you wear,
you are not a weight,
or the colour of your hair.
you are not your name,
or the dimples in your cheeks,
you are all the books you read,
and all the words you speak,
you are your croaky morning voice,
and the smiles you try to hide,
you're the sweetness in your laughter,
and every tear you've cried,
you're the songs you sing so loudly,
when you know you're all alone,
you're the places that you've been to,
and the one that you call home,
you're the things that you believe in
and the people that you love,
you're the photos in your bedroom,
and the future you dream of,
you're made of so much beauty
but it seems that you forgot,
when you decided that you were defined,
by all the things you're not.

whimsical wednesday

we'll be attending to our valentine's day cards for whimsical wednesday as the day of sending cards will soon be here. whether you purchase cards or create cards, today is the perfect day to prepare. as you consider your recipients, add those who might not receive a valentine and brighten their day. 

trivia tuesday

from mental floss:

what do old books smell like? according to a team of chemists who researched the question, old books smell like "a combination of grassy notes with a tang of acids and a hint of vanilla over an underlying mustiness".

miscellaneous monday

from the modern farmer:

man finds needle in a haystack!!

https://modernfarmer.com/2014/11/man-finds-needle-haystack/

solitude sunday

solitude sunday at the whimsey project. our day to spend time with a book. my book continues to be david graeber's bullshit jobs. what are you reading? share your book with the whimsey project.

silly saturday

from twitter:

Q: what kind of dr is dr pepper?
A: a FIZZician!

photo friday

biscuit

thoughtful thursday

poppy mathobela:

be wise enough to listen to what people are not saying.

whimsical wednesday

we will be undertaking an investigation for whimsical wednesday. look in the kitchen cupboard and select an item that is sold by weight, such as a can of vegetables, a box of dry pasta, a bag of chips, anything you wish to select that has not yet been opened. open the package and count how many chips, green beans, spaghetti strands. how many is contained per weight of the package? report your findings to the whimsey project. (did you munch any while counting?!... *giggle*)

*this morning counting commenced when a new bag of chocolate chips (weighing 1 pound, 14 ounces) was opened in order to move the chips from the bag to a container. the bag contained 907 chips. a discovery in the counting that was somewhat satisfying: the chocolate chips were irregular in shape and size. and, yes, i did munch while counting!

trivia tuesday

from uberfacts:

earthworms have been ranked as the most influential species in the history of planet earth; above humans, dinosaurs and bacteria. 

miscellaneous monday

my 2020 time capsule is already underway! what is a yearly time capsule? a yearly time capsule is any container in which to hold anything an individual wishes to place therein. the items placed in the time capsule represent special occasions, events, adventures, every day undertakings; anything you might wish to recall at the end of the year. on new year's eve 2020 or new year's day 2021, a fun activity will be to look through all the items placed in the time capsule to remember, recall and enjoy the past year.

my 2019 time capsule

solitude sunday

solitude sunday at the whimsey project. our day to spend time with a book. my book, written by noted anthropologist, david graeber, is bullshit jobs. this thoughtful and revealing volume explores the nature of work and the jobs that societies deem necessary in order to ensure that people "earn their keep". 

silly saturday

photo friday

thoughtful thursday

michael done:

do it now. you become successful the moment you start moving toward a worthwhile goal; whether that goal be quickly achieved or long term.  

whimsical wednesday

it's journal writing day for whimsical wednesday; an endeavor we undertake in months that have five wednesdays. if you don't keep a journal, today is a great day to begin.  what type of journal should one keep? for reference here are my journals:

*a personal journal.
*a memories notebook in which i record random memories. since i don't write in this notebook every day or all that often, really, when a memory comes to mind i write it on a list of memories i keep for when i do write in the memories notebook.
*a themed notebook in which i record life on my farm.
*a notable notebook in which a record random ideas, thoughts, quotes, etc.
*the daily whimsical moments notebook in which i record a moment (or moments) each day that particularly caught my attention; moments that provoked thoughtfulness, a smile, a laugh or something to share with others. 

keeping any journal is a wonderful way to pay attention and connect with life, self and others. what manner of journal do you keep that is unique to yourself that others might employ? share with the whimsey project.

trivia tuesday

from welcome to nature:

cheetahs are the largest cats capable of meowing. 

miscellaneous monday

new year's resolutions are a thing of the past for me. however, as of today, i resolve to refrain from liking anything else on twitter to share with fellow whimzees. i just spent a few hours getting to the "end" of the 8,165 likes that i have saved dating back to may 17, 2011.  no doubt that is more than enough whimsical finds to share. 

solitude sunday

solitude sunday at the whimsey project. our day to spend time with a book. what are you reading? my book continues to be stefan klein's, leonardo's legacy; how da vinci re-imagined the world.

silly saturday

from atlas obscura:

when korea discovered cheese! 

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/imsil-cheese-theme-park?utm_medium=atlas-page&utm_source=twitter  

photo friday

lil mouse christmas 2019

thoughtful thursday

buddhist proverb:

those who are free of resentful thoughts surely know peace.