get ready.....

this whimsical wednesday we are creating a memory book.  the book can be composed of anything you wish it to be, simple or elaborate.  you could take a purchased notebook and make a cover for it. or you can make a notebook that you build from various materials.  after completing your memory book, make an entry. and then, over time, write memories as they come to mind; for yourself and for others to enjoy.

photo friday

what's better than a wee bunny under a wee bridge?

photo source

thoughtful thursday

yesterday's whimsical wednesday activity was so delightful i have spent today thinking about it.  this has prompted thinking about whimsical wednesday generally.  i'm pleased to have instituted whimsical wednesday for the whimsey project.  it has become a date i have with myself and/or others once a week doing fun or relaxing activities.  sometimes i have not felt like thinking of something to do.  sometimes i have not felt like actually doing what was thought of.  however, the commitment to the project, thus whimsical wednesday, motivates me to carry on regardless of mood.  after the day's activity has been completed; i have shared with others and they have shared with me, my spirit is lifted.  whimsical wednesday is good for our health!  i am looking forward to many, many more whimsical wednesdays.  hopefully so are you.

whimsical wednesday

what an amazingly full whimsical wednesday.  today we were to share time with someone else doing anything together.  because i am visiting family, i spent all day with them.  in addition to them, completely unplanned, we had visits from friends!  and we also had time to do a craft together.  i like this whimsical wednesday activity (sharing time with others, doing whatever together) so much i do believe we will do it again and again on a regular basis.  it's good for the spirit. 

miscellaneous

wheeee......  spied a license plate from the state of virginia! 

did you see the northern lights last evening or tonight?  weren't they beautiful!

get ready.....

for whimsical wednesday, share yourself with someone(s) else.  do anything you like for as long as possible.  just enjoy the pleasure of company, be it family or friends. 

photo friday

Nothing beats a whimsical tea party!

photo source

thoughtful thursday

this week, while in downtown with mom and dad, i looked around at familiar sights and thought of all that was wonderful about the area.  growing up in a small southern town so many years ago had advantages.  the freedom to be able to roam or travel to a destination alone was special.  downtown was just about my favorite destination.  my bicycle would take me to the public library where i would spend many hours reading whatever caught my attention before checking out a few books to take home.  the drug store across the street from the library featured an old fashioned soda fountain.  but before enjoying a cherry soda, a walk along one side of main street from the library and then along the other side to the drug store was mandatory.  only a few blocks in length, main street bustled with shops and services, the court house square and people.  while slurping the cherry soda through a straw and taking bites of the vanille ice cream at the bottom of the tall, frosty glass with a long handled spoon, one of the newly checked out library books was eagerly read.  then it was back on my bike and home again. 

whimsical wednesday!

it stormed overnight bringing a great many leaves to the earth for today's activity of creating leaf rubbings.   there were so many to choose from it was difficult to decide which to gather.  ultimately five were selected for their sizes and shapes.   instead of making a rubbing of each leaf, a single rubbing was created.  the leaves were arranged to look like they had just fallen in a random pattern on the grass.  (the stems were taped to the table for stability).  a sheet of yellow paper was laid over the leaves.  these were rubbed with a piece of brown sidewalk chalk and, as the chalk moved across the paper, the outline of each leaf magically appeared on the paper.  another sheet of paper, red, was used to create another single arrangement of the leaves.  this time, however, each leaf was held on top of the paper and a copper colored crayon was used to rub around the outside of the leaf.  the effects were what would be called a positive and a negative relief of the leaves.  both rubbings turned out well and these shall be used in a future craft. 

miscellaneous

on the road again.  time in the car allowed me to see lots of license plates.  it amazed that two from alaska were observed within an hour of each other.  many others already checked off the list, such as washington, texas, arizona were also spotted.  it confounds that plates from so far away are right under my nose but the few remaining that are closer geographically aren't anywhere to be found! 

learned a new craft last week that could very well become a whimsical wednesday project.  it would make a great stocking stuffer! 

get ready.....

aren't the fall leaves beautiful?  this whimsical wednesday gather a handful of leaves from different trees and make leaf rubbings.  to make a leaf rubbing, put a piece of paper over a leaf then rub across the leaf with the flat of a crayon.  another way to create a leaf rubbing is to put the leaf on a piece of paper then rub across the leaf with the flat of a crayon.  with both ways to create a leaf rubbing, be sure to color beyond the leaf's outer edge all the way around the leaf.  a leaf over or under the paper will create a different effect so try both.

photo friday

we had a great holiday weekend over columbus day.  jacob and megan fished for the first time.  they each caught two fish out of the farm's lake.  such excitement!  the fish were happy as well.  after being snagged and admired, the fish were returned to the water.

thoughtful thursday

in several diverse locations, i have been observing squirrels preparing for winter. they scamper about, gather all variety of nuts (here it's hickory nuts and acorns), then bury these for cold weather munching.  people need to be like squirrels.  we need to think ahead and be prepared for all the seasons of life.  being prepared helps keep the whimsey in full force.

whimsical wednesday!

hello a week later!  the internet was out here for almost a week.  we pick up where we left off, whimsical wednesday; last week's holiday card making activity.

my card creation was made with postcard sized card stock.  the card was embellished on one side with stamping (ink and pattern in stamp form) and spica glitter pens.  simple yet very effective.  i'm looking forward to sending them to family and friends for christmas 2011.

did you create holiday cards for whimsical wednesday?

get ready.....

this year, make your own christmas cards.  to help get this process started (with october upon us it's not too soon to begin) we will create christmas cards this whimsical wednesday.

tips for card crafting:

1.  card stock can be purchased in packages of various quantities; in colors and white.
* one sheet of card stock folded in half becomes a large card requiring an envelope.
* one sheet of card stock cut in half along the width makes two pieces that, when folded in half, makes two smaller cards requiring envelopes.
* one sheet of card stock cut into quarters becomes four post cards.

my favorite card size and style is the post card.  not only is less paper used but post card postage is cheaper than first class postage.

2. decorate your cards with stickers, markers, stamps/inks, personal messages, anything you desire to use. if you have children, involve them in the process.  each year i look forward to receiving holiday cards that children have helped to craft. these cards have a delightful simplicity that convey the joy of the season unlike any other cards that come my way.

each year my goal is to mail christmas cards the monday after thanksgiving.  not only does this put me in the holiday mood but it's fun to be the first to greet family and friends with a heartfelt merry christmas. i'm already thinking about my holiday card creating for whimsical wednesday!

coming in the comment section of this post will be additional christmas card ideas and tips from a paper crafting expert, my sister!

october!

it's the first day of october!  it really feels like fall once october arrives.  veggie soup bubbling in a huge pot on the stove.  leaves beginning to show brilliant colors. cool morning. hot tea.  HAPPY OCTOBER everyone!

photo friday

presenting the kittens i wrote about tuesday; two of them at least!

the kittens making their first approach toward me since mama (on the other side of  kittens) moved them to the porch.  

second photo taken of the kittens first approach toward me.  the third kitten remained just beyond the camera, being a bit more shy than the siblings.  (shy kitten has been dubbed YOU) 

thoughtful thursday

do you ever find yourself thinking about where you were, what you were doing and who you were with a year (a month, a week, several years) ago from the present day?  newspapers publish columns proclaiming "on this date in history" in which we walk back in time while reading.  if we do this for ourselves we can think about our own history in the same way (and be glad it's not published in the newspaper; at least to my way of thinking!).  i find that i think about a specific time most often when that experience was full of happiness, exciting and/or with wonderful persons.  of course, the sad and rough times in life can bubble up unbidden as well. however, it's the good that really comes to mind more often.  it's a wonderful way to keep the best of our lives ever present.

whimsical wednesday!

my favorite emoticon was learned from a new twitter friend, heather.  presenting..........

\0/

miscellaneous

there are a bunch of kitties who have decided to call the farm home.  they aren't pets or companions.  they just want a place to live and something to eat.  they get both. they entertain (if they don't know they are being observed) and surprise. when i returned home from travel last week, it was revealed that one of the kitties was mama to three kittens.  she must have been raising them behind the grandchildren's playhouse in the tall, bushy decorative grasses.  now that they are older they run around the playhouse and the "lawn" in front of the playhouse. currently they are on the front porch as mama must have decided to move them to new digs in the last few days.  the mama is the only outside kitty that will actually come near me and allow me to touch her.  with the kittens intently observing, i have been talking to, stroking and picking up their mama.  hopefully, as this process continues, they will allow me to do the same with them.  no doubt megan and jacob would love having a few more kitties to play with.  and the naming of said kittens will be top priority.  mama i call little bit because she is small for an adult cat.  she and all the kittens are orange.  i'm looking forward to the names the three wee ones will get.  (one has to be named YOU.  it seems that even if critters get names when i talk to them they all become you.  one might as well actually have you for a name!)

shopping is a task i do not enjoy.  it is only undertaken when necessary.  it was necessary last week.  goodness!  going into the store for cat food and being confronted with halloween, thanksgiving and christmas all at the same time (on shelves next to each other on both sides of the aisle!) was disconcerting.  and it's only september!  if i walk into a store and hear christmas music, i will exit immediately!!!!!!!

get ready.....

for whimsical wednesday, let's display our favorite emoticons.  post them on the blog.  send them in tweets and emails to others.  have fun with them.  do they match your mood?

photo friday

HAPPY GOOD NEIGHBOR DAY!!!!!  my gift of homemade jam was shared with my nearest neighbors.

thoughtful thursday

slow, gentle rain makes for a lovely day.  the grayness of the sky casts quiet, low light in the house.  perfect for candle burning.  in addition to the aroma of the candle filling the air, the flickering glow of the flame becomes a dancing focal point. along with the candle, classical music playing softly in the background completes a warm, cozy atmosphere.  a cup of hot tea, a good book; both savored while snuggled under a blanket.  a day of slow, gentle rain is something to look forward to and eagerly enjoy when present.  

whimsical wednesday!

friday is good neighbor day.  our whimsical wednesday activity centered on creating something to share with a neighbor or neighbors.  (and we defined neighbor very broadly in order to accommodate everyone participating.)

when the grandchildren were here we made freezer jam, strawberry and peach.  one batch of peach jam was put into baby food jars with the intention of giving these as gifts.  peach jam will be given on friday to the neighbors for good neighbor day.

enhancing the jars of jam was my whimsical wednesday activity.  labels, PEACH JAM, were made to put on the top of the jars.  the jars were put into small sandwich bags and tied with a ribbon.  attached to the ribbon were gift tags, HAPPY GOOD NEIGHBOR DAY!  the papers, pens and ribbons were all colorful thus creating very festive gifts for the neighbors.

i'm looking forward to passing these out on friday.  tell me about your whimsical wednesday preparations for good neighbor day.

miscellaneous

travel last week had me on the road for several hours.  absolutely there was license plate hunting!  one drawback i have discovered with this game;  it's not as easy to read those small letters as it used to be.  no doubt i have missed a few needed plates just because i couldn't read them.  despite this impediment, another plate was sighted:  virginia.  amazingly, i saw two plates from the state of virginia within an hour's time.

driving along the interstates of america brings sights that provoke surprise, disbelief and laughter.  while driving the last 50 miles of interstate before my exit, i found myself behind a large pick up truck pulling a horse trailer. i had to study this vehicle for awhile to register what i was actually looking at.  along the road side of the trailer, three horse heads were poking out of the windows!  their manes were blowing in the wind, their heads lifted slightly.  horses on a journey of their own!  as i passed them, a single word came to mind; sublime!

get ready.....

friday, september 23rd is good neighbor day.  this whimsical wednesday, create something to share with a neighbor or neighbors.  (the term can be applied literally or figuratively, as neighbors are where we find them!)

photo friday

this sweet little doggie belongs to the grandchildren.  she rooted around in these blankets until she was completely buried then popped out again, quite comfortably arranged for a snooze.

thoughtful thursday

i've just returned home from a week away.  while it was very pleasant to be where i was and who i was with, it is so good to be home.  because there's no place like home!  more another day......

whimsical wednesday!

to observe national classical month, our whimsical wednesday activity was to listen to classical music!   currently i am visiting mom and dad.  their cable tv programming includes music channels.  last night before going to bed i set the tv on the classical music station.  i woke very early, it was still dark, and turned on the music.  drowsey, i listened to whatever was offered until i fell back to sleep.  upon awakening a bit later the sounds of a lovely piece greeted me. because i wasn't paying attention to the tv screen, i have no idea what specific pieces or composers i was listening to.  what a wonderful way to begin the day!  because it's a lovely way to begin the day (and it will still be whimsical wednesday when i go to bed) i do believe i shall end the day the way it began....listening to classical music!  hoped you enjoyed as well.

get ready.....

september is national classical music month.  for whimsical wednesday, take time to enjoy listening to something classical.  perhaps you have a favorite or would like to explore and hear something new!

photo friday

flowers are very whimsical to me.  flowers painted by a child brings an overabundance of whimsey!  this painting was created by my grandson, jacob.  he was privileged to have the painting featured in the center's catalogue where he and megan take classes.

thoughtful thursday

will smith stars in a movie entitled "seven pounds" in which he plays a character who is trying to atone for a huge mistake.  while speaking with one of the characters he said, "i haven't treated myself very well in the last few years".  to which she replied, "start now".  if you haven't treated yourself very well, start now.  if you know someone who hasn't treated themselves very well, urge them to start now. when we treat ourselves well, it becomes more possible for us to treat others well. start now.

whimsical wednesday!

the day began with enjoying pages in the grandchildren's activity books.  most of the dot-to-dots were already completed but a few appeared for me to enjoy.  bonus! i was able to do my favorite feature in the activity books.  there were mazes, decoding, circling the missing components of an object, which item is different from the others.  and my other favorite feature: color by number!  besides spending a pleasant hour playing with the activity books, i enjoyed looking at the pages already completed by the grandchildren.  because these books have been on the shelf for several years, it was great to look at how their drawings, coloring, letters and numbers changed as they aged.  the best pages were the side by side ones that we had done together.  when i was a child, my sister and i did pages side by side. and my children and i did pages side by side.  of course these would be my favorites in the grandchildren's activity books.  what a great way to begin the day.  now i'm ready for the appointments and errands....

miscellaneous

there's nothing of note to offer today so i'll just say hello to everyone!

hi!!!!!!

get ready.....

let's play this whimsical wednesday.  purchase an inexpensive kids' activity book, if you don't have one already at home, and enjoy what it has to offer (i love dot-to-dot!).

photo friday

surprises in nature are awesome!  there is a wee tree growing in the fork of this old maple.  a tiny home for all manner of creatures.

thoughtful thursday

even though it's the first day of september, summer continues to assert its presence as it's 101 degrees today. however, a touch of fall can be felt in the air; especially in the cool of the very early morning and late evening.  as soon as that first tinge of fall is noticed, i begin to watch for more signs that summer will leave and the earth will prepare for the long winter's nap.  it won't be long until the leaves become bright with color and fall to the ground (when i was a child, i thought autumn was called fall because the leaves fell off the trees!).  the squirrels and birds, most notably the woodpeckers, will begin to store the hickory nuts and acorns that seem to be available just for that purpose.  soon the hummingbirds will leave for their winter home and they will be missed until they return next spring.  even though the gold finches will remain (i recently learned) their feathers will lose the bright yellow that sets them apart.  but i now know the finch feeders need to remain in place and kept filled during the winter.  and suet cakes.  i actually make these for the birds and enjoy sharing something homemade with them.  the farmer across the road will cut the hay field at least once more before allowing the cows to graze there through the winter.  and the woolly worms.  i love the woolly worms that are everywhere in the fall.  they make me giggle.  as summer wanes, there's so much to look forward to as fall arrives.

whimsical wednesday!

new taste sensations!  that's what we are about today for whimsical wednesday.  my sister enjoys a mix of peanuts and candy corn (brach's brand ONLY!).  dad puts whole green grapes in his cereal and milk for breakfast.  a friend likes cool whip on pickles!  many enjoy ketchup on scrambled eggs.  growing up in the south, people loved pouring a small bag of salted peanuts into a coca-cola (a 10 ounce bottle!) and downing both.  we also drank hot dr pepper with a lemon slice in it.  the grandchildren like bananas with peanut butter and chocolate chips.


a great deal of thought about what my food combinations would be occurred over the last few days.  by last night i settled on three combinations.  the combinations were:


apple and pickled ginger
carrot and orange marmalade
peanuts and whipped cream


a big deal was made of my food combinations as they were arrayed on a lovely plate.  a glass of water
accompanied the sample plate in order to have a palate cleanser in between tastes.  (giggle.....)  the food combinations were tasted in the order written above.


the apple and pickled ginger was a burst of sharp and mild that melded into a wonderful taste.  this combination was surprisingly yummy!  the carrot and orange marmalade was subtle with the marmalade taking the edge off the bitter aftertaste that can come with munching raw carrots.  the peanuts and whipped cream was "dessert" and came together with that great balance of sweet and salty that makes foods particularly delightful to me.  my choices for new taste sensations might have to be developed further into recipes!


what new taste sensations did you create for whimsical wednesday?

miscellaneous

the few weeks the grandchildren visit in august is packed full with fun, adventure, happy times and lots of love.  it's my favorite time of year (after thanksgiving weekend when all the family comes to the farm).  because those weeks are everything grandchildren, not much else beyond the bare minimum gets attention. thus, no miscellaneous entries for the last few weeks.

one of the activities megan, jacob and i do every year is make jam.  this year we made jam with strawberries that we grew here on the farm.  and peach jam made with locally grown peaches.  besides preparing the fruit for jam, we had our fill of tasting the fruit (there's always more fruit than is necessary for jam just for nibbling).

they enjoy whimsical wednesday so activities are selected during their visits that they will especially enjoy.  there are several acitivies that are reserved for doing when they are with me and i am looking forward to doing those together.

on the journey back to their home we saw a license plate from oregon.  and another one from nevada.  that leaves seven state license plates to spy on the road.  it's amazing we have seen 43 states in less than a year's time.

get ready.....

this whimsical wednesday try a new food combination.  select foods that wouldn't be typically paired.  what were the results?

photo friday

the little mouse, who lives in my tote, met new friends on our recent visit to chicago.  (the bowl they are nesting in was made by one of the grandchildren but i can't remember which one!)

thoughtful thursday

one of the highlights of visits to my daughter's home is spending time with the grandchildren in their bedrooms.  while the house reflects the family, the bedrooms are unique to each child.  these wonderlands are such fun to share because these spaces are definitely them.  each visit brings something new to discover and i look forward to being surprised by what i find of them in their bedrooms.  

whimsical wednesday!

today for whimsical wednesday we looked for the anything purple.  since i was on the road for five hours, there was a lot more purple along the route home than i imagined there would be.

i saw purple:

as an accent on 10 trucks.
2 sport utility vehicles (suv).
a balloon.
a banner.
2 billboards, the produce on one and the background on the other.
a car windshield reflector (for the sun).
14 cars.
a bin of plums.
a boat.
one pickup truck.
2 bowls.
the cabs of 24 tractor-trailer trucks.
an afhgan.
the trailers of 2 tractor-trailer trucks.
2 mugs.
2 books.
2 quilts.
1 ball.
1 vase.
a sign.
a trailer being pulled by a truck.
5 paintings.
a rig attached to a huge truck.
a lid.
design on a milk carton.
an ad in a newspaper.
a houseplant.
dvd/vhs tape covers.
flowers.
a design on a cream and sugar bowl set.
flower pot.
eeyore!

it was amazing that there are so many purple vehicles of all shapes and sizes on the road.  it must be the new favorite color for vehicles.
it was amazing that that much purple could be seen in 6 hours.  it was expected that purple would be less accessible than more typical colors.

get ready.....

this whimsical wednesday we shall look for the color purple.  where did you find it throughout your day?

photo friday

kid art!  refrigerator magnets!

thoughtful thursday

there is nothing as grand as time shared with very special people.

whimsical wednesday!

it's play your favorite kid game this whimsical wednesday!

when i was very young my favorite kid game was pick-up sticks.  the goal was to move sticks away from the others (that had been released onto a table to fall into a random pattern) without disturbing any of the other sticks.  one could pick up as many sticks as possible until another one was disturbed.  then it was the next person's turn.

with the grandchildren visiting we played pick-up sticks with 500 toothpicks!  that made for a challenging game as well as one that would last longer.  we laughed at each other's attempts to move the sticks without disturbing any of the others.  they laughed at me when i missed the simplest move.  we laughed just for the joy of having fun together.

play a few favorite kid games today and laugh, laugh, laugh!

get ready.....

we will play our favorite kid game this whimsical wednesday.  there was one i loved as a kid and played it over and over and over again......  

photo friday

this little critter was found in a parking lot while i was traveling.  he lives in my tote and gets his photo taken from time to time.  this photo was the first, taken at mom and dad's in tennessee.

thoughtful thursday

i looked out the window this morning to find megan in the hammock.  she was gently swinging, humming to herself and looking at nothing in particular but seeing everything the farm has to offer.  she was doing what ten year olds do; actually enjoying the moment without a thought beyond being right there.  i stood at the window and savored watching her doing seemingly not much but she was actually doing a great deal.

whimsical wednesday!

whimsical wednesday and magic carpet rides!  this activity is something i have thought about since monday.  where to go?  where to go on a magic carpet?  i would like to go to places on the earth that are natural and mostly devoid of human activity; wherever in the world these places are. places like easter island, new zealand, the galapago islands.  i want to see the world of plants and animals and breathtaking environments so wonderful it's difficult to believe these exist on planet earth.    (also, i would like the magic carpet to take me to visit family and friends quickly and without my need to drive!)

miscellaneous

the grandchildren have arrived.  the house is a mess and kid created chaos abounds. it's grand!

last week i beheld the most amazing "ugly" truck ever.  a dump truck as rusty as i've ever seen a truck.  that the truck was somewhat ugly wasn't the amazing aspect of the vehicle.  the dump truck was being utilized as a moving van.  it was completely overflowing with household items that were mounded in such a heap that it looked as if any bump or jarring would send it all spilling onto the roadway!  if a rusty dump truck filled with furniture wasn't amazing enough, it became even more amazing indeed!  behind the dump truck was a huge boat in tow.  ok.  rusty dump truck filled with household items pulling a boat isn't that amazing.  however, the boat was also filled to capacity with stuff!  the entire assemblage continued along its determined way looking like a very unique self-contained parade.  had an artist conceived of this for exhibit, it would have been roundly dismissed! sometimes that saying, "fact is stranger than fiction" is absolutely true.  life as art in the form of a rusty dump truck filled with household items pulling a huge boat also filled with stuff!  and i got to experience it!

get ready.....

for this whimsical wednesday, imagine a very windy day that takes you away on a magic carpet.  where would you go on this ride?

photo friday

revisiting a happy moment of spring!

thoughtful thursday

when younger, it was distressing to me if any of the items in the home, such as the furniture or dishes, were marred.  it seemed the only way for these items to be of value they had to remain pristine; perfect.  items didn't have to be expensive or rare, as that doesn't impress, however, they had to be nice.   as time passed and life brought children, pets and grandchildren, a discovery was made.  the dins, chips, scratches actually represented that the home (and what it contained) was lived in! as i look about my current home after fifteen years of living, i find the typical wear comforting instead of distressing.  there are stickers on windows, cupboard doors, in the closet courtesy of very wee grandchildren who thought stickers were the best ever and of course their grandmother would want them everywhere!  the front door frame is scuffed as are a few of the window sills.  evidence that the various dogs and kitties have been doing their dog and kitty thing; romping on the porch and using it as a chew toy, on hind legs with paws on the sill in order to look out the window or sitting in the sill to enjoy the view beyond the window for long periods of time.  the new teapot's spout was chipped slightly when my daughter was filling it with water. she was horrified and apologetic.  but every time i use that teapot (which i do daily), i look at that chip on the spout and think of her!  these are just a few of the many reminders that are present in a house that is lived in.  these reminders make a house a home; reminders of life lived that always bring a smile.

whimsical wednesday!

over tea this morning, i attempted to blind draw a frog, dog and hog.  all three were drawn side by side without peeking in between the figures.  when i did look, i was surprised at how well the frog, dog and hog turned out.  they were wonky but i could tell that each figure was a frog, a dog and a hog!  giggle....  a great way to begin the day; laughing over the silly results of blind drawing.

miscellaneous

the grand list for all the 50 state license plates and when they were sighted has been misplaced.  that prompted a look through the blog to recreate the list.  while looking for license plate listed as sighted, i paused to reread some of the entries. the year has been full and lots of fun!  it brings great satisfaction to be involved in the whimsey project.  back to license plates.....  another was seen in the grocery store parking lot late last week; west virginia.  that brings the total sighted to 42 states!  only eight more and all 50 state license plates will have been seen!

get ready.....

this whimsical wednesday, draw blind!

-- Choose frog, dog or hog-- Open the PAINT program on your computer [or similar program]

-- Make your tool choices [brush type, color of the line you'll make, all that]

-- Close your eyes and "draw" the animal you've chosen -- no peeking!

-- Only lift your finger off the mouse controller after you are finished with the drawing

-- Share your results!

or you can be very old-fashioned and use paper and pencil!

photo friday

twitter is a grand vehicle to spark creativity!  take a look at the art of twitter:
http://irkafirka.com

thoughtful thursday

there's something about the feeling that swells when returning home from a journey.  the anticipation that grows as home nears, is palpable.  once through the door, the envelopment of the familiar environment embraces.  then the ritual of settling in again begins.  when all is as it should be, a cup of tea and a visit with the kitty cats (who are so happy to see mommy again) completes the welcome home.

whimsical wednesday!

snatched sentence poetry.  my submission, composed of selected tweets:

got anything to perk me up?
i would like to eat 345 plums.
an exceptionally sharp type of cheese.
two lawn tickets should never cost $70.
i can speak some french, lady!!
real names can cause real damage.

a little music, a little dance, a little salsa in your pants!

keep 'em coming, guys, this is fun.....

i'll send it in a minute;
drinking coffee at benzhaus.
emma looked stunning.
unimpressed cat is unimpressed.
risk it;
luckily no damage inside.
maybe he was holding out for some ranch dressing.
words fail the civilized.
this made me feel smart today.
does anyone want to go halfsies on a giraffe with me?

get ready.....

everyone reads a great deal of bits of prose from various sources in the course of a day.  this whimsical wednesday, pay closer attention to what is read.  snatch sentences that really grab then assemble the sentences into a poem.  share your poem on the blog.

photo friday

what is more whimsical than to find a sunflower growing where none was planted? not planted by humans that is. but definitely planted when sunflower seeds in the bird food fell to the earth from the porch rail and sprouting!

thoughtful thursday

it's been so hot, the temperature almost pushes away everything wonderful about summer.  summer brings an abundance of everything! there are fresh fruits and vegetables, often fruits and vegetables we grow ourselves.   the art of gardening brings such satisfaction.  there is also the opportunity to makes pies, ice cream, jams, pickles, spaghetti sauce, salsa and other delights as well as "put up" fruits and vegetables to enjoy during the cold months of the year.  the variety of flowers that bloom is breathtaking.  flowers are everywhere.  gardens burst with shapes, sizes and colors that fill the senses like nothing else seems to.  particularly joyful are the wildflowers along the roadsides; happily growing where a flower shouldn't be able to grow.  the birds sing louder, the frogs croak and the insects scratch out their music incessantly, fireflies wink, butterflies playfully flutter midair, young animals learning about their world abound.  activities that are typically only enjoyed during the summer are eagerly looked forward to.  the summer evenings stretch into forever making the cares of the world fall away if only for awhile.  when it's cold and gray, the memories of the abundance of summer sustain.

whimsical wednesday!

home again from the excursion to town for lunch, errands and, the most important task of the day, looking for an ugly truck for whimsical wednesday.  my day was almost over before an ugly truck was spied.  it seemed i wouldn't have seen one at all when this one appeared.  it was old with a dull red color.  it looked as if the body had had the paint removed (perhaps rust?) and painted with a yucky orange colored primer.  the tailgate was black.  all the chrome was pocked and marred. overall, a decent ugly truck but also somewhat disappointing as i was primed to find a really ugly truck.  soon after i saw the ugly truck an extremely ugly car came into view.  wow was it ugly!  it was a large older car.  the original color was white.  all along the sides of the car were several different colors of paint.  these colors also seemed to be primer covering removed rust.  the windows were covered with cracks and decals of very shapes and sizes.  it's doubtful either of my ugly vehicle sightings would win any prizes in ugly vehicle competition, however, i had fun looking and was glad to have seen even one slightly ugly truck.  no doubt i stop searching for ugly trucks because i'm still on the lookout for the rest of the state license plates that have yet to be spotted!

miscellaneous

it is sooooooo hot!  we do what we can to stay cool.  choosing foods like salads, ice cream, fruit, popsicles and iced tea are just some of what we consume during the summer to be refreshed.  to add to the summer menu choices here are beverage recipes from my daughter, libby:

Frozen Hot Chocolate (makes about 6 cups) - 1.5 c milk - 1/4 c chocolate chips [or approx that amount chocolate of your choice] - 1 packet hot cocoa mix [or 1 oz from a can] - 3 trays ice [around 3 cups or just keep adding if you like the mix freezier] Melt chocolate chips in 1/2 c milk. Add cocoa mix & a bit of sugar to taste as milk heats; continue to stir & blend while everything melts. As with cooking of things dairy, don't allow to boil or singe, just cook on low until all ingredients are uniformly blended. Dump chocolate mixture in blender with the remaining 1 c milk. Give it a few whirls to mix. Add ice, as much at a time that your blender will happily crunch into, until all ice is gone. Whirr a bit longer to fully blend. Pour into containers of choice. Serve with a spoon, as it does separate a mite once resting. This recipe is easy enough to tinker with to your preferences. A bit more chocolate if you like it more chocolaty, more cocoa mix if it doesn't have enough of that cocoa flavor, add in mint liqueur or some other sort of alcoholic deliciousness.   (recipe inspired by frozen hot chocolate advertisement at dunkin donuts; saw the sign and thought I could do better!) Frozen Lemonade  (makes about 6 cups) Just lemonade and ice crushed in the blender. I start with 2 cups of lemonade, add lots of ice, and might add more lemonade if it needs more wet to blend easier.* *here's libby's fresh lemonade recipe to use as the ingredient in the frozen lemonade: 6 lemons, juiced 1 to 2 cups of sugar (to taste) 1 to 1 1/2 quarts of water (to taste) tip:  bring at least 3 cups of the water to a boil to pour over the combined sugar and lemon juice. stir until the sugar has melted.  add the rest of the water to the lemon juice/sugar/water mixture in a pitcher.  chill. ALSO....... check out the beautiful jewelry made by a twitter friend: http://www.etsy.com/shop/laurelmoonjewelry

get ready.....

wednesday is july 20th.  according to the calendar of daily observances it is national UGLY TRUCK day!  ugly truck day is explained as follows:

Ugly Truck Day
Today many States in the Union will be holding "Ugly Truck" competitions.  While the rules change from State to State, everyone agrees that Ugly Trucks deserve love too.  Entrants range from old wrecks hobbling along on three wheels to trucks ornately decorated with stickers, bugs and mud.


to celebrate, we will be on the lookout for ugly trucks!  happy ugly truck hunting and be sure to look for the whimsey!  

photo friday

today's photo features a card my granddaughter created for me when she was about four years old.  the drawing was so cute and happy, it was definitely a keeper.  about the time she gave me the card, i read the bit of wisdom written on the card.  that wisdom was also a keeper so the two were combined.  when megan saw that i had written on the card she asked me why.  my reply was that her card and those words were keepers so i decided to keep them together.  the card rests on a shelf in my room where it can greet me daily.  and megan is thrilled to find it there whenever she visits.  enjoy!

"don't get older, get better.  live realistically.  give generously.  adapt willingly.  trust fearlessly.  rejoice daily."
                                                                                                                 ........charles r swindell

thoughtful thursday

being interested in a wide variety of what is floating about in the world, everyday i discover something to be surprised and excited about.  because i want to hold on to as many of these discoveries as possible, i began keeping a "notable notebook" in which to record these gems.  the notable notebook is an eclectic blend of quotes, words and definitions, observations of experiences, comments on culture (art, music, theater, dance, books), interactions with others or nature, and anything else that inspires the reaction, "this must be written in the notable notebook!".   it is not uncommon for a morsel from someone i know to be inscribed in the notebook and they are told.  this usually prompts the necessity to explain what the notable notebook is all about and, once understood, they are pleased.  me too.  it's grand to browse through the notebook and enjoy moments all over again.  you can have a notable notebook too.  enjoy!

whimsical wednesday!

our activity for whimsical wednesday is to select the one word that we feel denotes HAPPY; then find related words in the thesaurus.

the word that most denotes HAPPY for me is CONTENT.

the related words to CONTENT found are:

blissful
satisfied
thrilled
comfortable
elated
gratified
delighted
fulfilled
tolerable
pleased
joyous
serene

the range of emotion encompassed within the words mined from the thesaurus to denote CONTENT is revealing as well as somewhat surprising.  my whimsical wednesday word hunt leaves me "content" with the outcome.

what's your word for happy?

get ready.....

words describe.   for whimsical wednesday, think of the one word that best describes any happy feeling you experience.  (please don't rely on the word happy!) after choosing your word, use the thesaurus to find the array of additional words that convey the meaning of your single selection.  you'll be thrilled at all the words you discover that describes your feeling!

happy anniversary!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY WHIMSEY PROJECT!!!!!!!

the whimsey project celebrates its first anniversary.  one year ago, an idea that had floated about for quite some time, became a reality with the first blog post at the newly created whimsey project blog.  over the course of the last year, the rhythm of the blog and what was to be presented unfolded.  a twitter and facebook presence was established.  whimsical wednesday grew to include many persons in many places.  whimsical happenings took place in the local community as well as in other cities such as chicago.  the list of future events and undertakings is long and continues to grow.  please stop by the blog and add your happy anniversary greeting!  thank you for sharing the whimsey project with us.  and remember to keep whimsey in your daily living.....

photo friday

http://www.wimp.com/catdolphins/

this is a very sweet video of a kitty and dolphin getting to know each other.

thoughtful thursday

yips.  noun.  a state of nervous tension affecting a person in the performance of a crucial action.

the yips is that uncomfortable, unsettling, nervousness that one feels in the buildup to taking action.  release from this state of being only occurs once action has begun. everyone has experienced this.  it's negative only if one does not heed the yips and take action!  create that art, write that book, call that friend, tidy that house, plant that garden.  it matters not what action one takes, just do it!  think not of perfection or the outcome or what others might think.  taking action is living.

whimsical wednesday!

an early rising friend was the recipient of my whimsical wednesday phone call. we haven't talked in awhile and it has been even longer since we have seen each other. as soon as i heard her voice i could "hear" her smile!  we had a lovely half hour conversation, catching up on each other's doings and vowing to get together soon. in the meantime, my hello to her and her smile to me will last until we are in each other's company.  "hearing" someone smile over the phone was so endearing that there just might be more calls throughout the day.

miscellaneous

along with the gold finches, blue finches have appeared.  blue finches are beautiful. blue finches and gold finches present at the same time are even more beautiful. guests and i saw many of both while porch sitting, along with the dog and kitties, during our july 4th gathering.  we also watched the hummingbirds vie for superiority at the feeders (even though there's always plenty of feeders that offer plenty of nectar for all of them) and the ducks laze on the calm, mirror-like reflective lake.  we cheered each time the fisherman caught, then released, fish. better than fireworks!  a wonderful holiday shared with friends, both human and otherwise.

get ready.....

call someone this whimsical wednesday.  make them happy and "hear" them smile over the telephone.

photo friday

this little guy is so whimsically cute, i giggle every time i look at him!

can you see me?

thoughtful thursday

summer is newly arrived.  the beginning of the season is when summer is at its best. if there has been enough spring rain, all the vegetation is lush; vibrant in various hues of deep green.  the flowers are vivid and perky.  the wee offspring of the animals that inhabit the land are beginning to emerge from nests.  they are so cute in their awkwardness in learning how to navigate the environment.  butterflies, lightning bugs, seasonal birds, lady bugs. frogs and insects making music.  most days are still comfortable as there isn't yet unrelenting heat and/or humidity, making it possible to enjoy being outdoors.  early summer is fresh and new yet with a fullness not present during spring.  welcome, summer!

whimsical wednesday!

our activity this whimsical wednesday was to pay careful attention to the sounds that occur around us as we go about our routine day.  the focus was on sounds we create or sounds that are made around us in the environment.

once the activity was posted on monday, it became impossible for me to NOT to hear those sounds that appeal to me; making my whimsical wednesday activity an ongoing process since monday.  no doubt others have also experienced this.

one of the twitter followers offered that listening to the sound of rain pinging on the roof and windows while snug in bed was a favorite sound.  that is indeed a grand sound.

these are my favorite sounds to date ("to date" for, as with other whimsical wednesday activities, this one will continue to be something something i am very aware of):

the sound of the refrigerator ice maker dumping ice cubes, then the ice tray refilling with water.

the sound of the ceiling fan whirring on high speed.

the sound of the dishwasher rumbling when it is washing the dishes.

the sound of a new email message to the inbox alert.

the sound of tea being poured from the teapot into a cup.

the sound of the screen door creaking as it is pushed open.

the sound of the scoop being plunged into the bin of shell corn when getting the ducks their breakfast.

the sound of chopping vegetables for a salad or stir fry.


what are your favorite sounds?

miscellaneous

the whimsey project also posts on facebook and twitter.

it was decided to stop posting on facebook, therefore, we have invited all facebook friends to follow us at the blog or on twitter.

the number of followers on twitter is approaching 150. thank you twitter friends of the whimsey project.  it's great to have you with us.  your participation in whimsical wednesday activities is gratifying.  and daily tweets together about birthdays, rainbows, sunsets and other happy experiences have been wonderful to share.  you are welcome to also post here on the whimsey project blog.  

get ready.....

there are everyday sounds that we hear but don't pay much attention to.  however, these sounds are often whimsically pleasing to hear; musical in fact.  listen carefully to the sounds created from your everyday actions and those that surround you this whimsical wednesday.  which ones made you smile, giggle, happy?!

photo friday

the bird feeding station that attracts all the birds i delight in observing.

thoughtful thursday

the big move for my sister prompted a discussion about the stuff a person has.  the conversation was a different take on the topic of possessions.  it was agreed that the items a person fills their home with is, in and of itself, a statement regarding the people who dwell within that environment.  she and i agreed that we both enjoy being in the home of others and observing what they have about them:  the furniture, the accessories, the wall colors, flooring and all the rest.  a home filled with an abundance of art, books, music, photographs of friends, family, places speaks volumes about a person's personality and interests.  so does a home that is devoid of any or all of these items.  of course, there is no value judgement associated with a home that is all, nothing or somewhere in between.  it is just another opportunity to get to know about a person.  it becomes an avenue for conversation as, when i visit someone's home and something catches my attention (curiosity), i want to know all about it.  my desire to know allows the host to share the history of the object and what it means to them.  a connection is made!  for me, it's a fascinating treasure hunt.

whimsical wednesday!

creating was the assignment for whimsical wednesday; in any medium with any materials.  this was given consideration for part of the morning until it was decided to create rose shaped pins with strips of fabric.  my sister, the fabulous paper crafter, had given me the directions for these and other flowers about a year ago.  while i have made some of the other flowers, the fabric roses hadn't yet been attempted; even though this was one of the flower projects i most wanted to tackle.  

here are the directions for the fabric flower:

cut fabric 1 1/2" wide and 14" long.  begin with the center of the rose by folding down one end of the strip on an angle and then fold fabric in half.  the flower is formed by twisting and folding fabric into a spiral formation.

those innocent seeming directions should have yielded several flowers in a short period of time given that i pulled fabric from my stash that was already cut into strips.  it would seem so.  however,  after two hours of attempting to twist, fold and roll the fabric strip into a spiral formation, only one fabric rose was created!
what it is about this particular manipulation of a single piece of fabric that i could not master is beyond my comprehension?  the effort has left me tired, perplexed and feeling somewhat defeated.  then i look at the little flower i did manage to create and think, "i did it!".

now my determination to master this craft is intense.  however, i will need reinforcements in the form of another person to create with me.  next time i am able to visit with my sister, we shall have a fabric flower creating session.  maybe mom will play with us as well!  =]

miscellaneous

summer begins today!  and it's the longest day of the year.  on the other side of the earth, it's the shortest day of the year and winter begins.  isn't that amazing?     happy summer!  happy winter!  today you both arrive having changed places from one side of the globe to the other.  on this day in the mid1990s i was in australia.  it was hot and steamy and didn't feel like winter at all but it was winter nonetheless. modern life afforded the opportunity to experience winter in australia while everyone at home was celebrating the coming of summer.  experiences are priceless.

get ready.....

create!  create this whimsical wednesday.  create anything that you desire; be it simple or complex, with any medium and any materials.  be surprised by what others create and surprise yourself!

photo friday

dragon/soda can pull tabs

as a found object artist, i am struck by how awesomely whimsical this piece is!

thoughtful thursday

thoughtful thursday is coming to a close as evening is here.  this is the last task of the day.  and it will go incomplete as i find i have nothing to talk about today.  not that there's nothing to talk about; there's just nothing i want to talk about.  see you tomorrow for photo friday.

whimsical wednesday!

the cosher planned for this whimsical wednesday was a small going away party for my sister, who is moving to another state in a few days.  wednesday is the usual day a friend and i have lunch at a favorite restaurant.  my sister sometimes joins us. since today would have been her last opportunity to participate we decided to make it special and surprise her. 

however, today was the day the moving company was to pack her belongings and load them into the moving van.  with this in mind we made the meeting time an hour later than usual, indicating we would wait for her even if she couldn't get there at the appointed time.  there we were with balloons and presents, anticipating her arrival so one of us could meet her at the door in order to pay for her meal.  alas, it was not to be.  she called to inform that the moving process would last much longer into the afternoon than would be practical for us to wait for her. 

we ate our meal, then gathered the goodies and made our way to her house.  if she couldn't come to the party, the party would come to her!  she wasn't surprised to see us as we said we might come by after lunch, however, she was surprised to see balloons and gift wrapped presents!  she liked the balloons and loved the presents.....the ingredients for m&m casserole and a wall hanging our mother cross stitched (and i framed) for her new house.  it was a special way of saying farewell; cosher "mission accomplished" this whimsical wednesday.  

miscellaneous

heat, heat,and more heat was ever present for the last few weeks.  it was summer before spring had an opportunity to shine.  over the weekend, the heat broke and it's been marvelously cooler since.  perfect weather for sipping tea and watching the hummingbirds, gold finches and other friends of feather that visit the farm.  imagine my excitement when, yesterday, i verified three hummingbirds visiting the feeders.  wow!  that's one more than has visited the farm over the last several years.  this morning i thought i saw a fourth hummingbird!  this has not yet been confirmed; it could be a wishful sighting on my part or just confusion in the very nature of how the hummers zoom from feeder to feeder and feeder to trees.  however, the time will come that will allow for independent verification of the new visitor.  my friend has over 200 hummingbirds visit her many, many feeders.  certainly there needn't be that many here for happy hummer viewing, however, more than one or two sure increases the pleasure of watching these amazing little creatures.  this time of year much of my conversation revolves around hummingbirds because they are so delightfully whimsical.  are you feeding hummers as well?

marvelous milestone.  the whimsey project has reached and exceeded 100 followers!  we love our twitter community and invite them to visit the blog!  everyone welcome!

get ready.....

COSHER (KOSH-er) verb;  to treat with special fondness.

isn't this a great word?  cosher someone in any whimsical way you desire this whimsical wednesday!

photo friday

the photo is a baby numbat, at the perth zoo.  before seeing this numbat i never heard of the creature!  the name of this critter is very whimsical to me.  there might be a future dog or cat or water fowl here on the farm graced with that name.  numbat!  numbat! numbat!  (say that three times fast! giggle.......)

numbat!

thoughtful thursday

just do it is more than a slogan.  it is an emphatic call to urgency (overly dramatic perhaps?  giggle!.......).  not an urgency that is hurried and NOW but the suggested necessity to live in a way that encourages doing; involving oneself in those activities that are valued as important to the individual.  there is so much that must be done, making the "want to" happen is the balance that life requires.  additionally, it is also important not to let the urgency make the doing a chore.  each day just do it, however briefly.  for even a few pages of that great book read or one row of knitting added to a piece or bird watching for five minutes is time spent doing what derives  pleasure..... which makes life whimsically grand.

whimsical wednesday!

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miscellaneous

travel over the weekend was very fruitful in the state license plate game department.  the list of sighted plates grew to include nevada, new hampshire, iowa and wyoming.  it was a hoot to spy new hampshire while driving through nashville instead of having spied it in the northeast during a recent visit there.  it seemed we had spotted alabama when going south  months ago, however, it hadn't been entered or dated on the list so when it came along this weekend, alabama was officially included as sighted.  i can't remember if i declared somewhere on the whimsey project site that new york, new jersey and massachusetts have been seen.

it's very hot.  licking sugar free fudgesicles like a little kid is one of the few pleasures of a very hot day!

should anyone have an idea for a whimsical wednesday activity, please share.

get ready.....

do you have a favorite punctuation mark?  i do.  this whimsical wednesday create a design or pattern using the punctuation mark favored.  it will make a neat yet simple blog post.  no words necessary! 

photo friday

my family enjoying the new hammock during memorial day weekend......

.  

thoughtful thursday

memorial day weekend was spent mostly on the screened porch.  meals, tea, visiting, watching the activities everyone was involved in, enjoying sunrises, sunsets and the wildlife.  so peaceful and relaxing;  so "other" time and the world disappeared.  each moment savored.

whimsical wednesday!

blind spinning photo taken in the living room

the living room, full of art, was selected as the site for blind spinning photo taking.  several were snapped and all that were captured were neat, however, this was my favorite.  enjoy!