thoughtful thursday

a twitter friend introduced me to @poetshouse.  visit their site at   www.poetshouse.org
the poems most enjoyable for me are those written by children.  today's thoughtful thursday is one such poem:

a ride on the 6 train will get you there.
no, do not take the A train.
don't miss your stop.

max, first grade, ps 2763 nyc

what better advise is there?  a metaphor for life!  *giggle*

whimsical wednesday

we undertook a challenge this whimsical wednesday.  we gathered an envelope received in the mail,  a toothpick, a button, a paperclip and a length of string.  after we gathered these items we used them to be creative.

the challenge was completed in the form of a collage in the art journal.  note the button on the string between envelope and toothpick.  it slides up and down!  

(a photo to share?  email to:  thewhimseyproject@gmail.com)

not something you see every day!

tuesday!  we await your hilarious, ridiculous, interesting, unique experience of NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE EVERY DAY!

get ready.....

get ready for a challenge this whimsical wednesday!

gather:

*a piece of string, less than a yard in length
*a used envelope, preferably one that came in the mail that would be recycled
*a button, two or four holes
*a paper clip, any size
*a toothpick, round or square

what will you create with these five items?!

miscellaneous

back to the weather; always the weather.  it was too hot, a storm brewed, bringing along a cold front and now it's too cold!

suddenly everything is green!  leaves that were barely visible as buds are now full blown and gorgeous.  while tiny now, they will soon blanket all the branches of the trees and other vegetation. the grass is not just green, it's emerald!

two of the mama kitties no longer look "full" however who knows where they have the nests for the newborn kittens.  they'll all appear sooner than later, no doubt. then it will be time to double the amount of cat food purchased!

more and more of the spring bulbs are in bloom.  they are so joyful.

photo friday

jovey and michael at the blue tree art installation (children of windy and mike) 

read more about the "paint the town blue" art project in their hometown of norcross, georgia.
http://norcross.patch.com/articles/paint-the-town-blue-this-friday#photo-13856891

thank you, windy, for sharing the photograph with the whimsey project!

thoughtful thursday

there's a reason i live in the country.  close to nature.  this time of year i am particularly fond of my yard, lawn, grass; whatever one would label it.  by the standards of most, my green space is a mess.  definitely not pristine.  that's why i love it so much.  as spring approaches, the blades of grass begin to turn green and grow.  there are a multitude of wildflowers mixed in with the grasses, in all colors: yellow, pink, white, violet, red; with all manner of foliage.  the wildflowers emerge one variety at a time so each is highlighted before giving way to the next one's entrance.  they, then, are all mingled together like guests at a grand party.  it's always sad for me when the grass gets cut for the first time in the spring because all the "guests" leave.  so the grass doesn't get cut until almost may. country living at it's finest!

whimsical wednesday

we are writing in our memory books or notable notebooks this whimsical wednesday.

dialogue from movies that pique my interest must be written somewhere for posterity!  the notable notebook serves that purpose.  recorded from the movie "up the downstairs case" just watched.  the school nurse to a teacher:  "i gave her a cup of tea.  at least that's something!"

not something you see every day!

tuesday and time for NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE EVERY DAY at the whimsey project!  please share your unique, interesting, unusual, funny experiences.

get ready.....

we'll be writing in our memory books or notable notebooks as we do once a month for whimsical wednesday.

if you haven't begun either as yet, this whimsical wednesday will be a great place to begin.  use any bound notebook of paper or loose leaf to put into a binder.  a memory book is just that; entries of any memories. mine is a jumble of me as an adult, a child, memories about my children, grandchildren, friends, experiences.  these are written in no particular order, just when i think about them and decide to write them in the memory book.  a notable notebook is a place to record all sorts of fun stuff:  definitions to neat words, quotes, ideas, anything you encounter that you want to record!

miscellaneous

this sunday past felt like the first real day of spring.  every element that evokes spring was present; sunshine, blue sky, gentle breeze, warmth without hot or cold mixed in.  the birds were singing joyfully as if they had just been set free.  it was indeed a perfect day and it was savored.  by midweek, it was 84 degrees!  the rise of heat collided with the underlying cold air, producing storms.  now it's colder again. the next "first" real day of spring is eagerly awaited.

as the weather is discussed so very much in every venue possible, it's amazing we talk about a facet of life we have absolutely no control over.  perhaps that complete lack of control is precisely why we talk about the weather so much!

when megan and jacob were toddler/preschool age, family friends gifted a train set that the dad had built for their young son.  it was given to me to have here for the grandchildren when they visited the farm. the train board was built on a low table-like structure at the perfect height for a wee one.  and for a little one, it's huge as it's about 4 ft by 8 ft.  jacob instantly fell in love the moment he was introduced to it. megan liked playing with it as well.  the train set passed along from one who outgrew it has now been outgrown by the recipient.  my daughter's friend brings her children to visit when they are in town.  her little guy, like jacob, immediately bonded with the train set.  and her daughter enjoyed it too, just like megan. yesterday the train set began the journey to move to their home.  and, when it's time, no doubt the train will find a new home with other children.  legacy toys; best ever!   

photo friday

 my submission to new york city's, art house challenge: create a collage of the moon on a 4x6 postcard.

thoughtful thursday

love that includes like is the fullest love there is!

whimsical wednesday

it's explore your junk drawer for whimsical wednesday! we are counting any one particular item, determined before digging into the drawer.

my junk drawer is a small kitchen drawer next to the telephone.  items i don't know what to do with or need close, i toss in the drawer.  before i opened the junk drawer this morning, i decided to gather pencils.  from back to front then front to back, i dug through the drawer, nabbing pencils as i searched.  it was a very productive search as it yielded 66 pencils of all colors and sizes.  what to do with all these pencils now that they were gathered?  it was decided to keep only those pencils that had not yet been sharpened.  perhaps the keep criteria could have been narrower as, after sorting all the pencils, there were 20 that had not been sharpened!  (there was also a bunch of pens and keys.  maybe someday i will count those as well.)

what did you discover in your junk drawer for whimsical wednesday?

not something you see every day!

yay!  it's tuesday.  whimsey's day for NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE EVERY DAY! time to share your unique, interesting or hilarious experiences that just doesn't happen every day.

get ready.....

everyone has a junk drawer (or two or three.....) but we often really don't know what's contained therein!  for whimsical wednesday, we'll take a journey in a junk drawer.  before exploring the junk drawer of your choice, determine an item you'll likely find. gather as many of the selected item that is present in the junk drawer. count!  how many? will you put them all back in the drawer?  do something else with the items?  can't wait to find out!

miscellaneous

easter sunday started out cold and dreary.  the afternoon was warmer and more pleasant.  that allowed sarah and i to sit on the porch for homemade cookies, tea and conversation.  sarah was so pleased to be able to enjoy the porch during her brief easter visit that she snapped a photograph.  her picture was featured for yesterday's photo friday.

it was warm enough to sit on the porch easter sunday but several days the rest of the week i awoke to frost!

the canada goose pair are visiting just about everyday.  it's most likely that they are nesting, those two!  along the the three pregnant outside kitties and a few of the mama ducks, there'll be babies on the farm soon.

at night the frogs are croaking with great enthusiasm.

the grass between the house and barn is populated with crawdad mud towers.  a hilarious looking housing subdivision for the green creatures.

the ducks and geese are not yet attuned to the sound of the new wind chime. recently they were on the land eating their corn when the wind tugged the clapper and music ensued.  startled, the feathers scattered; flying low over the land until they were safely on water.

the turkeys can be heard gobbling in the woods at first light.

photo friday

easter sunday. the first day of sitting on the porch! fresh baked cookies, tea and conversation.
 photo courtesy of sarah

thoughtful thursday

a recently read quote:

if tea can't fix it, it is a serious problem!

whimsical wednesday

it's share an activity with someone far away for whimsical wednesday!

my activity with far away someone(s) will be enjoyed later today.  my daughters and i are having tea together after they are both home from work.  tea in manhattan.  tea in chicago.  tea on the farm.  with tea biscuits.  i shall spend the entire day looking forward to tea with my best friends.

what was your activity with someone far away?

not something you see every day!

it's tuesday!  time for NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE EVERY DAY! what will readers share in the way of unique, curious, funny, interesting today?!

get ready.....

we are sharing an activity this whimsical wednesday!

arrange to do something at the same time with someone you are connected to but lives far away.  you could have tea together, watch a movie together, do an art project together, take a walk together, shop at the same store together.  anything the two of you would enjoy.  if you wish to communicate with each other during the activity, please enjoy that as well.

looking forward to reading about what you did with someone else far away this whimsical wednesday!!

it's easter!

HAPPY EASTER!!!  
THE BUNNY HOPPED THIS WAY!  DID HE VISIT YOU?!   

miscellaneous

it's easter weekend and nothing about the weather indicates it is spring!  after the snow melted earlier in the week, there were a few days that seemed promising; with blue sky, sunshine and temperatures a tad warmer.  then clouds and colder.  this morning it's so foggy!  with a touch of icy moisture, no less!  the easter bunny will just have to hide all the eggs and treats inside this year.

the spring bulb blooms are relatively hardy.  the snow of last weekend knocked them flat.  they recovered well enough and more blooms have emerged.  a happy sight amid the gray fog and sky. a happy sight when the sun is shining and blue sky!

the heron flew overhead while i was outside one day this week!  he was flying low so was very close to me.  it was thrilling and i called a greeting, "hi, mr heron!  so good to see you!".  because it is always grand to see him.

photo friday

footprints in the early spring snow (human, kitty, bird)

thoughtful thursday

it is a lovely spring day.  sunny, cool but not cold, blue sky.  the sunshine is streaming into the house through all the windows facing south.  at every window within their reach, the kitties and the doggie are lazing sleepily in the warmth of the sunshine.  their peaceful snoozing makes the house feel calm.  i admire (and somewhat envy) the way in which they revel in the art of relaxation.  it is undertaken fully, without attention to anything else, as the most important (in)activity of the day.  in this regard, persons should take note and follow the example of their animal companions.

whimsical wednesday

it's whimsical wednesday!  today we are looking at labels on the front of our jars, bottles, cans!  why?  just to see what's there!

of course one container of something wouldn't be enough for me so i randomly selected three items from the refrigerator:

ketchup bottle:  the brand is the cheapest store brand, value.  the v shaped like a check mark. it's definitely cheap ketchup because it's made from concentrate (of tomatoes, hopefully).  a picture of a hamburger is placed under the word ketchup. it's a nicely appointed hamburger with lettuce, cheese, tomato slice, pickle and onion.  one problem with this "serving suggestion" as stated next to the hamburger (it would be funny if there were an arrow under the words serving suggestion pointing to the hamburger).  i don't like ketchup on hamburgers.  ketchup is for the fries!

salsa bottle:  another store brand.  this one has to be of better quality than the ketchup because there's no value, v as a check mark, anywhere on the label!  the salsa is mild and traditional.  the serving suggestion offers a photograph of a bowl of the salsa with a half tomato and garlic cloves next to the bowl, resting on a cutting board.  i would say that chips would make a better serving suggestion.  while the tomato and garlic are obviously in the salsa, i would not be munching these along with the salsa.  and to prove just how garden fresh this bottle of salsa must surely be, there's a photograph of a mom and young daughter under the bowl of salsa.  they are outside, picking veggies from the garden.  that's a LOT for a small label on the salsa bottle.

capers bottle:  why do i have a bottle of capers in my refrigerator in the first place? (family likes to add capers to tuna and chicken salad.)  another store brand, this one is premium quality.  no check mark shaped v for this bottle!  the bottle lets me know the capers are imported.  and the capers are NON-PAREIL!  that description sent me on an internet search for it was necessary to know more. the meaning of non-pareil is having no equal, peerless.  in the world of capers, however, non-pareil is the size of the caper (usually from 7 to 16 mm).  those under 10 mm are considered the best.  capers over 10 mm, by the way, are called surfines.  capers come from a bush, i discovered. the flower buds and fruit berries are what are pickled to become the capers.  the plant that produces the capers is quite lovely. maybe i'll grow a caper bush; aka capparis spinosa.  no doubt capers will taste tastier now that i know more about capers.

and that's my whimsical wednesday adventure in examining labels on food containers from the refrigerator!

not something you see every day

tuesday! time once again for NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE EVERY DAY!  what do you have to share with whimsey readers about your interesting, unique and/or amusing experiences?

get ready.....

we're reading labels this whimsical wednesday!  at random, pull out a jar, bottle, can from the cupboard or refrigerator.  it would be great if you could grab one without looking!  after you have secured your product, examine the label.  not the nutrition label on the back of the container but the label on the front.  really examine it.  what do you see?  did you know what you found was on there or was it a huge surprise?! enjoy!!

miscellaneous

oh, it's more springlike everyday.  last week a single daffodil bloomed. now the crocus are blooming and more daffodils have unfolded.  the wood ducks have been swimming with the home flock.  the heron has been here as has the pair of canada geese that have been visiting for years.  today there are turtles sunning on the banks of the lake.  the kitties laze in the sun and roll around on the driveway. the doggie wants to be out more than in. the air has a touch of warmth that can't be mistaken for any time of year except spring.

a friend came to the rescue by giving me a length of indigo colored ribbon for my corrected rainbow.  as i was assembling the new rainbow i discovered i also had misplaced the yellow and orange ribbons as well.  you would think someone as old as i am would remember the order of the colors of the rainbow! there's a way to remember, i've discovered:  mr ROY G BIV (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet).  perhaps now that i have become acquainted with the rainbow gentleman i shall remember the correct order of the rainbow!

my art journal now has four more completed pages.  i've also been working on a few other projects.  that spark was all it took.  thankfully there are sparks!

it's been fun to read the entries on NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE EVERYDAY tuesday.  it's great that readers are participating; looking forward to more!

photo friday

a hint of spring 2013

thoughtful thursday

a spark.  sometimes that is all it takes to get on with something; any type of project or activity.  anything can be the spark.  even something as simple and seemingly uninspired as used wrapping paper.  i had not created in my art journal for several months because of responsibilities and then extreme fatigue.  it was sad that i couldn't or didn't feel like creating.  then along came a gift from friends, wrapped in paper that really caught my attention.  it was of a simple floral pattern but different. when i opened the gift i opened it carefully because i wanted to save the paper.  the gift was lovely.  as the days passed, i admired my gift and the paper it came wrapped in.  soon i was inspired to at least cut out the flowers on the paper.  a pile of flowers sat on the table.  each time i walked by the table i looked at the flowers.  soon i was formulating a creation for the art journal.  and then i was working in the journal.  i had created a page!  from that page, i continued to work; completing three more pages in a short period of time.  now that i am creating again, i feel relieved and grateful to be able to put all the ideas in my imagination on paper.  a spark. sometimes that is all it takes.  

whimsical wednesday

besides being the first day of spring, it's make an entry in our memory books or notable notebooks for whimsical wednesday!

my entry was in the memory book. during the summer, after a hard day of playing outside, if we needed a snack before supper, mom made a special treat:  sugar sandwiches!  those were sooooo good and my siblings and i loved them!  it is doubtful the same treat would be as eagerly anticipated now but then; oh what a treat sugar sandwiches were.  here's the recipe:

sugar sandwiches  (per sandwich)

one slice of dull white bread
soft butter
sugar

spread soft butter on the slice of bread.  sprinkle sugar over the butter.  sugar sandwich.  enjoy!

not something you see every day

it's tuesday!  time for NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE EVERY DAY!

share the unusual, the unique, the surprises that make us say wow or laugh out loud! 

get ready...

...for whimsical wednesday, when it'll be time once again to get out our noteable notebooks or memory books and make an entry!

miscellaneous

winter isn't finished, despite signs of spring, as the temperature the last several days has attested.  brrrrr.....  however, spring is coming and it won't be denied! 

there's a new wind chime hanging on the screened porch, a lovely gift from friends.  the tones it makes when the wind blows the clapper are lovely.  a grand addition to the farm.

not long ago we created a rainbow for whimsical wednesday.  i goofed when making mine i have discovered!  the blue and green are in reverse order and the indigo was left out completely.  that particular day i was very distracted.  making a rainbow from (faulty) memory yielded a rather non-traditional rainbow.  i have revisited my rainbow in another art endeavor and that one is correct. 

photo friday

thirsty little mouse!

thoughtful thursday

pooh:  what day is it?
piglet:  it's today!
pooh:  my favorite day!

.....a.a. milne

whimsical wednesday

it's free rice day at the whimsey project; a great website that allows people to play games and earn rice grains that feed hungry people around the world.  come along and play today!
follow the link:  http://freerice.com/#/english-vocabulary/1470

while there are many games to choose from at the free rice site, i enjoy the vocabulary.  my goal was to earn 1000 grains of rice.  i did that readily then determined to continue until i made an error.  after 200 additional grains of rice earned, i did select the wrong meaning for a word i should have known the definition of.  i won't make that mistake again!  i enjoy playing even on days NOT whimsical wednesday!  heehee.....

not something you see every day

it's tuesday!  time for NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE EVERY DAY!  looking forward to your unique, funny, interesting experiences and observations! 

get ready.....

free rice!  free rice!  free rice this whimsical wednesday!   play the vocabulary game (or other games, the volcabulary is my favorite).  earn at least 1000 grains of rice to feed others while having fun!  here's the link:

http://freerice.com/#/english-vocabulary/1400

miscellaneous

miscellaneous moves to saturday!

it's lighter longer at the end of the day; almost six pm last night.  with daylight savings time beginning this weekend, evenings filled with light will be with us until fall.

after this week's snow melted, the evidence of spring bulbs was revealed.  it won't be long until there are blooms.

my daughter has taken to feeding the birds on her juliette balcony attached to the window of her manhattan apartment.  we now bird feed and watch together, comparing notes on who visits our respective feeders. it's neat knowing that new york city birds enjoy being fed just like the birds here on the farm! 

photo friday

garden hose art on patio canvas!

thoughtful thursday

to paraphrase harry wormwood (matilda by roald dahl):

everyone is good at something; even if it's only making jello salad! 

whimsical wednesday

we're getting ready for easter this whimsical wednesday!

my activity was to make post cards for my far flung friends (and family) that i remember with a card for all major holidays (and lots of minor ones as well.  heehee.....).    my favorite spring motif is flowers so floral stickers were used to create the decoration on the post cards. 

card making didn't take all that long so i moved on to another activity.  i assessed craft projects/supplies just in case the grandchildren visit for easter.  there are several potential projects we can enjoy together while they are here.  we'll even let their parents play too!  

not something you see every day!

there's a new feature here at the whimsey project.  tuesdays now offer an opportunity for readers to share the unusual, the unique, the surprises that make us say wow or laugh out loud!  please feel free to share each and every tuesday.  looking forward to being amazed and awed!  welcome to....  NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE EVERY DAY!

my inaugural NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE EVERY DAY! was during my recent stay in tennessee.  there was a white squirrel in mom's backyard.  he sure stood out among the brown and grey squirrels.  every day, after the initial sighting, i looked for him but never saw him in the yard for the duration of my visit.  unless you are from olney, illinois "home of the white squirrel" a white squirrel is not something you see every day! 

get ready.....

easter is early this spring!  we'll be creating something to use during our holiday celebration.  i think i'll make cards.  what will you make for whimsical wednesday? 

photo friday

a grand homemade christmas gift from a friend.  it's already on the porch!

thoughtful thursday

inquire about someone's day and the response is often, without thought, OK.  that reply might be considered as blah, mundane and just so-so.  however, OK is really a good day.  there's nothing inherently negative about OK.  and an OK day did not bring with it any unpleasantness or difficulty.  there's nothing OK about that; it's remarkable and a day to celebrate!  here's to the OK day! 

whimsical wednesday

it was birds on a wire activity for this whimsical wednesday.  in other words, bird watching.

while on a three hour trip this afternoon, i watched for birds along the roadside.  perhaps it was the strong wind.  perhaps the wintery snow/rain mixture that fell during most of the drive. perhaps they were just hiding from me.  but there weren't many birds to behold.  i spied a few in nests in the crooks of the highest branches of tall trees.  i saw several crows congregating on the median, pecking and chattering.  there was a row of what appeared to be doves huddled in a row on a telephone wire.  once in awhile there was a huge bird soaring in the sky.  all very nice and a very pleasant way to enjoy a road trip.  however, the bird sighting i was after was the large bird of prey; tall, alert, majestic, perched on a fence post or a road sign.  i'll keep looking.....

get ready.....

whimsical wednesday will find me on a road trip.  that means a road trip game for our activity.  birds on a wire!  as you travel along the roadways (or walking as the case may be) pay attention to telephone poles, sign posts, trees.  we are looking for birds that perch very close to the road and watch the world as it passes them by.  how many will you find?  even one will be grand! 

photo friday

waif doggie

thoughtful thursday

wisdom in 140 (or less) twitter characters.....

 Zoë Quinn @ZoeQuinnzel
I’ve got 99 problems and 86 of them are completely made up scenarios in my head that I'm stressing about for absolutely no logical reason

whimsical wednesday

this whimsical wednesday's activity was to write in our memory books or enter something neat in our notable notebooks.

my memory book gained an entry about a whale.  when cruising on the caribbean sea, i was sitting on the deck looking at the usual scenery; sky meeting sea, waves, white caps, sea foam, fish and birds gliding a short distance above the water.  then i spied a whale swimming in the opposite direction of the ship's path.  i followed along the railing of the ship watching the whale until there was no more ship to traverse.  at that point i stood, watching, until the whale was no longer in sight.  wow!  it was an incredible experience.

get ready.....

this whimsical wednesday is our february wednesday to write in our memory books or add something fun to our notable notebooks.  so much to write, so little time.....

(see january 20, 2013, post for details on the memory book and notable notebook)

photo friday

two of my sweet kitties snoozing in the sunshine. 

thoughtful thursday

saying i love you is very special.  showing love through action means even more.

happy valentine's day! 

whimsical wednesday

it was celebrate spunky old broads for whimsical wednesday! 

my sister and i, bordering on old broad status, enjoyed together.  the local VFW post, of which my sister is a member, has happy hour and free supper on wednesday nights.  we decided this had to be our whimsical wednesday activity.  a few of the regulars saw us come in and said, "since you are here, it must be taco salad night!"  yes, it was.  we munched on a huge mound of taco salad as we sipped iced tea and dr pepper, both drinks with lemon no less.  we talked and laughed and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  it was grand.  we had such a wild night for spunky old broads day!  giggle...........

get ready.....

february is spunky old broads month.  let's celebrate this whimsical wednesday!  gather up a few spunky old (or young) broads and have some spunky old broad fun!  and if you can't get together with others, have a spunky old broad day just for yourself!  (guys, you have can fun too!)

photo friday

recently retired, the old swing in mom and dad's backyard was the site of a yearly photo of megan and jacob.

thoughtful thursday

say yes.  a friend of mine told me that "say yes" became his motto several years ago.  say yes to doing things his kids wanted to do with him.  say yes to what his wife wanted to do.  say yes to friends.  say yes to what he wanted to do. say yes to all manner of new experiences.  in the intervening years he shared with me that "say yes" was one of the best resolutions he had ever made.  say yes yourself. 

whimsical wednesday

valentines!  valentines!  we made valentines this whimsical wednesday.  because i am with family, i enjoyed making my valentines with my sister and my mom.  suzi, the papercrafter that she is, provided the supplies and tutorial for us to create simple post card style valentines.  it was a very enjoyable afternoon.  next week many will receive happy, happy valentine's day greetings from all of us!  did you make valentines today?

get ready.....

we're making valentines this whimsical wednesday!  it matters not if the valentines are a post card with a heart shaped sticker stuck to it or an elegant sheet of designer paper covered with glitter and ruffles.  share part of you with others on valentine's day. 

photo friday

my ribbon rainbow

thoughtful thursday

my father died yesterday after several months of medical complications.  he was 88 years old.  through it all, i continued the whimsey project.  there were moments when i questioned this decision.  a few times i wavered; thinking to suspend the blog and activities or asking a follower to keep it going while i took a break.  but i persevered.  doing so never interfered with caring for my father and mother.  not so very long ago someone remarked to me that life was sure full of difficult experiences.  she was sad over the death of a friend, a much younger person than my father.  without forethought or hesitation i responded that the difficult experiences are the very reason why we should make the rest of living as wonderful as possible.  that must be, without my realizing it, why i have continued active participation in the whimsey project. 

whimsical wednesday

it's rainbow day at whimsical wednesday; creating a rainbow simple or elaborate in any style or form.  the goal of creating a rainbow for whimsical wednesday was to brighten our day amid winter's dreary.  my rainbow was formed from ribbons.  strips of ribbon, in the colors of the rainbow, were placed on the tines of a card holder; something of a ribbon rainbow tree.

a symbol of hope, the rainbow creating activity for this whimsical wednesday took on a very personal meaning for me. i dedicate my ribbon in my father's honor who died early this morning at the age of 88. 

get ready.....

long winter days can be very dreary.  days can pass without the sun shining.  we will brighten our environments this whimsical wednesday by creating a rainbow.  elaborate, simple, paper and crayons, flowers arranged in the colors of the rainbow.  whatever shape and style your rainbow takes, create one this whimsical wednesday. 

photo friday

oatmeal day for a recent whimsical wednesday; i created oatmeal confetti!

thoughtful thursday

my sweet daughter, libby, shared this quote with me today and it just had to be used for thoughtful thursday.

"never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. time will pass anyway."
                                                                                      -earl nightengale

isn't this thought an eye-opener?  how often do we do nothing because we are overwhelmed by the enormity of a project, goal, dream?  the days pass and nothing can be looked back upon that evidences progress; rendering us all the more discouraged and sure what we are after can never happen.  fortunately there is a remedy for this condition.  small steps.  every day give yourself 15 minutes to focus on the project.  it isn't a great deal of time in the larger scheme of time, but you will have accomplished something everyday.  the small steps of accomplishment build to a larger and larger accomplishment.  you WILL have something to show for your efforts, even small.  often this gives the boost needed to put in more time on the project on some days to build even more accomplishment.  and don't worry about whether it's great or you love it or it's your best effort.  effort in and of itself matters!  go for it! 

whimsical wednesday

it was memory book or notable notebook entries for whimsical wednesday.  nothing of note caught my attention today so the notable notebook received no attention.  however, i did make write an entry into my memory book; all about my dad's favorite christmas cookies, his mother's boston cookies.  not only did i write about dad and his cookies but i included grandma's recipe!  if my children and/or grandchildren read my memory book, they will be able to make boston cookies just like their great-grandmother or their
great-great-grandmother!

get ready.....

beginning with 2013, we will be paying attention to our memory books and notable notebooks one whimsical wednesday a month.  let's start this whimsical wednesday!  write an entry into the memory book or the notable notebook or both!

if you haven't begun either as yet, this whimsical wednesday will be a great place to begin.  use any bound notebook of paper or loose leaf to put into a binder. a memory book is just that; entries of any memories.  mine is a jumble of memories of me as an adult, a child, memories about my children, grandchildren, friends, experiences.  these are written in no particular order, just when i think about them and decide to write them in the memory book.  a notable notebook is a place for all sorts of fun stuff:  definitions to neat words, quotes, ideas, anything you encounter that you want to record! 

photo friday

a kindness from libby and sarah bestowed upon dad, mom and me on whimsical wednesday

thoughtful thursday

there are few absolutes that can be counted on in life.  one we can absolutely be certain of is CHANGE! 

whimsical wednesday

it's accept kindness day for whimsical wednesday.  i am visiting family in another state due to my father's serious illness.  we have been exceedingly busy with attending to all his needs.  when my sister arrived at mom and dad's house this morning she presented me with baked spaghetti without onions or celery; one of my more favorite meals ever!  i was soooooo excited to get this treat as i never make it for myself.  and, even as busy as we have all been, she took the time to make baked spaghetti without onions or celery for me!  (i will share, although i could eat it all myself!) 

get ready....

this whimsical wednesday, if someone offers you a kindness accept it graciously and with gratitude.  pay attention to that which constitutes a kindness.  what you least expect might be the grandest kindness of all. 

photo friday

the ugly christmas sweater looks good from the back as well!

thoughtful thursday

that quiet little voice inside that speaks to you?  LISTEN!!!!

whimsical wednesday

it's oatmeal day this whimsical wednesday!  the get ready post on monday offered several suggestions for whimsical wednesday oatmeal activities.  several of those activities were very appealing.  however, sometime between monday and wednesday, it came to me to dye oatmeal with food coloring!  why, i have no clue but it sounded like fun so why not?!

oatmeal was poured into four paper cups, enough to cover the bottom of the cups.  food coloring was added to the oatmeal; one color in each of the cups:  red, yellow, blue and green.  the oatmeal was stirred to coat all the oatmeal. it looked like confetti!  confetti is one of my favorite happy words so that oatmeal outcome was exciting! 

after the food coloring dried, the oatmeal needed a taste test.  the red oatmeal tasted RED.  the yellow oatmeal tasted YELLOW.  the blue oatmeal tasted BLUE.  the green oatmeal tasted GREEN!  the blue oatmeal was my favorite. 

it seemed the birds would enjoy confetti oatmeal so it was thrown out into the yard for them to enjoy. 

what was your oatmeal activity for whimsical wednesday? 

get ready.....

january is oatmeal month!  this whimsical wednesday let it be a day of all things oatmeal!  eat oatmeal for lunch or supper; adding different ingredients to make it a new taste for you.  bake oatmeal cookies.  take an oatmeal bath.  give yourself an oatmeal facial.  make an oatmeal suet cake for the birds to enjoy.  put a flake of oatmeal in a glass of water and watch how it puffs up.  have fun with oatmeal!  it's not just for breakfast anymore! 

photo friday

megan models the "ugly christmas sweater" i created for a holiday contest.  i won!

thoughtful thursday

in the spirit of the new year, here is WISHFUL THINKING by janet mowat, published in the 11.1.02 FAMILY CIRCLE magazine.....

today:
i will allow the beds to stay unmade all day.
i will let the kids dress themselves and tell them they look wonderful; no matter what they choose.
i will invite people over even if the house isn't white-glove clean.
i will focus on the things i already have rather than the things i want.
i will indulge in the serenity and sanity of an afternoon nap.
i will relax and read a book when sense is telling me to do laundry.
i will forget about my extra pounds and wear something that makes me feel great.
i will call an old friend who always makes me laugh.
i will take a long, luxurious bath using the scented bath beads that i've been saving for a special time.
i will play my favorite music and sing along as loud as i want.
i will treat myself to a slice of apple pie a la mode and skip the guilt.

what uniquely you I WILL could you add to the list?  no doubt there's at least one I WILL you wish for!

whimsical wednesday

it's a look back to 2012 for whimsical wednesday; to discover all the good we experienced during the year.  a month by month inventory revealed that i had a year filled with lots of wonderful and whimsey.  here's my 2012:

january:  rang in the new year with family and friends in tennessee.

february:  crafting sessions with craft buddies (on going throughout the year).

march:  visited tennessee to help mom and dad as well as visit with family and friends.

april:  looked after friend's dogs so she could go away for spring break and not worry about her pets.

may:  flew to new york city from chicago to visit libby for her 35th birthday.  upon return to chicago attended performance of swan lake in which sarah was a lead dancer.

june:  two wedding celebrations in tennessee; mom and dad's 64th wedding anniversary and the renewal of vows for friends on their 40th wedding anniversary.

july:  back to chicago to attend the performances of sarah's dance company, the luna troop, perform sarah's original work, PLACES. and celebrate sarah's 37th birthday.  another anniversary: the whimsey project!

august:  megan and jacob visited the farm for three weeks!

september:  a wonderful labor day picnic with friends here on the farm.

october:  back to tennessee to help mom and dad.

november:  thanksgiving holiday weekend with libby, katherine, sarah, megan, jacob and scott here.  the most wonderful time of the year.

december:  my opportunity to be secret santa to those in need or to offer special appreciation.  lots and lots of holiday activity with family and friends; ended the year in tennessee with family.

miscellaneous

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

get ready.....

the new year begins tonight at the stroke of midnight! for whimsical wednesday, take time to reflect on the year we will have just left behind.  think of something wonderful that happened in each month; be it a special celebration, something you did for someone else, anything that was positive in your life!  (if necessary, use a calendar to nudge your memory).  list what you have selected as your year's wonderful. see what you accomplished?  achieved?  provided to someone else?  it all adds up to a year well lived.  resolve to do even more wonderful in the new year!  happy new year! 

photo friday

jacob found a green tomato in grandpa's garden on december 28th!

thoughtful thursday

reunion.  persons, separated by distance and time, reunite.  the happy excitement that bubbles up upon greeting one another.  the non-stop talking; several conversations at once.  laughter, reminiscences. parting, with endless hugs and goodbyes, glowing of renewal and reconnection. reunion.

whimsical wednesday

our whimsical wednesday activity was family time.  we had a day of family time.  with last night's snowfall we had fun playing in the snow after brunch.  friends visited this afternoon, making the day feel like another christmas day.  after a lovely dinner, where conversation and laughter accompanied the meal, we sat by the fire.  while eating christmas cookies and other treats we played apples to apples, a game we all enjoy. after a bit of conversation and enjoying the fire, it was time for the children's bedtime.  our whimsical wednesday was filled with lots of family time, quiet and not so quiet time. 

miscellaneous

I don't know if you believe in Christmas or if you have presents underneath a Christmas tree.  but if you believe in love, that will be more than enough for you to come and celebrate with me.....

so sings john Denver and the muppets; expressing how I feel at Christmas time!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

  

get ready.....

whimsical wednesday is the day after christmas, a day of busy activity filled with family, friends, fun!  for whimsical wednesday, make the day after this christmas a time where family engages in quiet activity together.  look at all the christmas cards together, play games, work on a puzzle, watch your favorite christmas movie on video, make hot chocolate, make an after christmas treat, cook dinner together; maybe try homemade pizza for the first time!  whatever you do, do it all together! 

thoughtful thursday

what if there were no Christmas trees? 
what if there were no Christmas decorations?
what if there were no Christmas carols?
what if there were no Christmas cookies?
what if there were no Christmas parties?
what if there were no Christmas concerts?
what if there were no Christmas presents?
is there still Christmas?
if there are people who love and care for one another, Christmas is alive, with us and in us.

whimsical wednesday

it's secret santa this whimsical wednesday; offering a gift in any form to someone without them knowing who the gift came from.  at once I knew who and what I wanted to offer as secret santa. my gift was actually gifts.  every year I participate in a holiday cookie exchange.  today the cookies were presented to the firemen in the two fire houses in town.  I was seen but unknown therefore still secret!  the firemen were very pleased to have an array of christmas cookies to enjoy. as soon as the cookies were handed over they began to munch, munch, munch them.  the second secret santa gift went to a person who is having a rough time so is very sad this holiday season.  she will have returned to her workplace after lunch today to be greeted by a lovely plant festooned in holiday regalia.  hopefully her secret santa gift gave her reason to smile. what was your secret santa gift this whimsical wednesday? 

get ready...

be a secret santa for someone this whimsical wednesday.  your "gift" can come in any form you wish to offer.  just make someone very happy today!

photo friday

the poinsettias made out of old christmas cards for this week's whimsical wednesday!

thoughtful thursday

one is never too old to enjoy all the whimsey.  one can be grown up, as in responsible, and still be goofy!

whimsical wednesday

happy poinsettia day for whimsical wednesday.  until i did the research (see website links posted monday of this week), i did not know that poinsettias were of special significance to the mexican culture.  what to do for my poinsettia whimsical wednesday activity?  after looking through the information on the links, the craft of creating poinsettias from old greeting cards caught my eye.  so i pulled out a box of old cards, glue stick, pencil, scissors and packs of glitter glue (different colors). a poinsettia petal pattern from a scrap of paper was made and tested. then i spent what became several hours making poinsettias. while i didn't intend to spend all day making poinsettias out of old greeting cards, i enjoyed the process of selecting just the correct cards to combine as well as carefully cut out just the most perfect area of the greeting card to get the look i was after.  the resulting flowers will be offered to a select few.  the recipients can decide if they wish to make a poinsettia pin or ornament (the flowers will be given with a length of ribbon and a pin back). looking forward to sharing my whimsical wednesday poinsettias.

get ready.....

according to the calendar i have that informs me about such events, this whimsical wednesday is poinsettia day!  so let's do something of a poinsettia theme for our whimsical wednesday activity.  do whatever you wish.  here are links that might provide inspiration:

http://www.aboutflowers.com/flower-holidays-occasions-a-parties/christmas/poinsettia-history.html

http://www.bhg.com/christmas/crafts/christmas-card-projects/#page=10

http://www.ehow.com/how_5793173_make-paper-poinsettias-school-project.html
this one suggests a pencil decoration but it could be used as a napkin holder

http://www.bhg.com/christmas/ornaments/felt-poinsettia-christmas-ornament/

http://www.ehow.com/list_6716166_mexican-poinsettia-crafts-kids.html

photo friday

memories of thanksgiving past filled this year's thanksgiving dinner conversation. 

thoughtful thursday

amid the many items on your santa wish list, be sure to include those items that are priceless and make life all the more precious.  wish for patience, understanding, caring, concern for others; giving of self and treasure freely and often.  wish for these qualities for all persons everywhere.  the foundation of true peace on earth.

whimsical wednesday

we are preparing for st nicholas day this whimsical wednesday.  as explained in the get ready.....  post of monday, when we were children, my siblings and i hung our socks (mostly set them on the kitchen table) before going to bed on december 5th. when we awoke on december 6th, the feast of st nicholas, we ran to the kitchen to see if anything was in our socks.  we found a bit of candy, a nickel or dime and a piece of fruit; usually an orange.  such excitement this simple treat brought. because it was such a fun holiday tradition for me growing up, it was also celebrated with my own children.  my grandchildren are now, too, enjoying celebrating the feast of st nicholas, the original santa claus.

the link offered on monday was full of great ideas on how to celebrate st nicholas day.  i read through all the recipes, activities, crafts before encountering SEND AN E-CARD.  i knew immediately this was the activity i wanted to undertake for whimsical wednesday.  because i have been thinking about memories of celebrating st nicholas day with my siblings, children and grandchildren, it seemed just right to share the memory with them through the e-card (which are free to send). tomorrow my siblings, children and grandchildren as well as a few friends will be greeted with a happy st nicholas day e-card from me.  we shall share celebrating st nicholas day together via the e-card!

get ready.....

whimsical wednesday is the eve of the feast of st nicholas!  the "original" santa claus, st nicholas is an important figure during the holidays around the world.  when my siblings and i were young, we "hung" one of our socks before bed on december 5th.  the next morning, we looked in our socks for anything that st nicholas might have left for us!  for our whimsical wednesday activity, let's prepare for a visit from st nicholas.  here's a link for ideas:  http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/how-to-celebrate/