not something you see every day

NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE EVERY DAY!  that's what we do on tuesday at the whimsey project!  tell us about your interesting, unique, funny experiences.

get ready.....

summer has arrived!  everyone has activities and/or experiences they enjoy only in the summer. let's celebrate the season by enjoying one of your favorite activities or experiences for the first time! whatever it is you enjoy during summer, enjoy it this whimsical wednesday!

miscellaneous

watch the sky this weekend for the supermoon!!  it is a very special celestial event! what is a supermoon?  national geographic explains in this link:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/06/130622-supermoon-solstice-biggest-science-space-2013-june/

want to email the whimsey project?  do so at  thewhimseyproject@gmail.com

photo friday

welcome summer!

thoughtful thursday

steve dutzy tweeted:

want to see something really cool?
look in a mirror!

whimsical wednesday

it's whimsical wednesday! writing in our memory books or notable notebooks or both today!

entries were made in both my memory book and notable notebook.  in the notable notebook, i made note of a few tweets read on twitter and one from a neat blog, www.craftinwithsuz.com.  suz wrote that her husband's thumb was so green he could grow rocks!  in my memory book, i wrote about memories of rain.  among the memories i recalled was that my grandchildren, when very young, called their rain boots splashy shoes.  why splashy shoes?  because their awesome mother allowed them to splash in every puddle of rain they encountered!

what did you write in your memory book and/or notable notebook for whimsical wednesday!?

not something you see every day!

tuesday and time once again for NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE EVERY DAY!  this is your opportunity to share amusing, jaw dropping, exciting, unusual experiences. can't wait to read all about it!

get ready.....

get ready for whimsical wednesday!  we'll be writing in our memory books or notable notebooks.

a memory book is any notebook in which random memories are inscribed.  mine includes memories of childhood, adulthood, family, friends, experiences.  a notable notebook is a place to write all the neat stuff one finds along the way; quotes, definitions, jokes, etc.

if you haven't begun a memory book or a notable notebook, this whimsical wednesday would be a good day to begin one or both!

miscellaneous

"glass women"
my #randomspark, @arthouse @michaelsstores, prompt created by @shaunaleelange
(the challenge included an artist's loft fundamentals colored pencil; used in creation)

photo friday

growing more lettuce from an existing romaine lettuce plant!

thoughtful thursday

audrey niffenegger:

love the world and yourself in it, move through it as though it offers no resistance, as though the world is your natural element.

whimsical wednesday

this whimsical wednesday we are preparing for father's day!  plan a surprise, bake cookies, make and send a card, whatever the dad in your life would enjoy.

this will be the first father's day observed without my father actually present as he died in january.  recently my sister gave me a bag of items that belonged to dad. among them are several of the multitude of his yearly pocket calendars; which are filled with daily entries about what happened each day.  on father's day, weather permitting, i will sit on the porch with a cup of tea and read what dad's pocket calendars have to offer.  and, if inspired, will create something about dad in my art journal.

not something you see every day!

if it's tuesday it's NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE EVERY DAY! at the whimsey project.  share your fun, amusing, unique, surprising experiences today!


a reader sent this wonderful photo for NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE EVERY DAY! for those of us who live in the land of flat, there is a bonus in this photograph: mountains!

get ready.....

next sunday is father's day!  this whimsical wednesday let's focus on preparing for celebrating dads!  maybe you want to bake cookies or create a care package or get a gift card from the hardware store.  you might want to honor someone special besides your father.  enjoy getting a surprise ready for your father!

miscellaneous

if you have a photo or something to share and would like to do so via email here's the address:  thewhimseyproject@gmail.com

it's great weather for sitting on the porch.  enjoy your weekend as well!

photo friday

windy at the beach; just blending in!

thoughtful thursday

new friend meeting new friend is a sight to behold!  one friend's doggie died last summer. as one who lives alone, she had lost her closest companion. although she was never pushed, in time she was gently urged to consider getting another doggie. this discussion ended with me saying, "it will happen when the time is right and when you least expect it".  another friend rescues dogs and cats.  she gets calls from everyone in town asking her to help them with getting them a dog/cat, getting a new home for a pet they can no longer care for, how to take care of their dog/cat.  just by chance the three of us found ourselves at lunch together recently. it just happened the friend who helps with animals knew of a doggie she thought the dog-less friend would do well with.  after lunch we visited the home of the person seeking to have her doggie adopted.  the wee doggie was presented to her potential new human.  after she was settled in my friend's arms, the two looked intently at each other.  the doggie was immediately calm and content.  with eyes half closed, the way a happy doggie does, she reached up and licked my friend's face. my friend accepted these licks!  this was amazing because she doesn't like doggies to lick her face!  instant love!  instant bond!  the three of us witnessing this moment were grinning from ear to ear.  new friends had found each other! we were all giddy with joy; although no more so than the two who were absolutely engrossed in each other. friendship when you least expect it!  a sight to behold!  

whimsical wednesday

it's zentangle day for whimsical wednesday!  we are to draw circles on a piece of paper up to six by six inches (6" x 6").  just circles on a piece of paper!

having to do computer work this morning, i drew circles on a three by three inch (3" x 3") while the computer was booting and in between screen changes.  it was very relaxing to have something to focus on while waiting for the computer to do what it does.  the time drawing circles was time well spent.  it was calming and pleasant so the computer work wasn't like work at all.  it was so pleasant i think i will doodle (which is all zentangle is) more often when tied to the computer!  did you doodle today?!

not something you see every day!

tuesday! ready to read about your NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE EVERY DAY! experiences.  share your hilarious, unique, gob smacking experiences!

i have one to share.......

rindfleischetikettierungsueberwachungsaufgabenuebertragungsgesetz

the longest word in the german language.  to read more about this and other amazing german words follow the link:

http://www.salon.com/2013/06/03/law_change_spells_end_for_germanys_longest_word_ap/ 

get ready.....

this whimsical wednesday we are going to create utilizing a relatively new art form called "zentangle" where art meets meditation!  for more information link to:  http://www.zentangle.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7&Itemid=111

all that is needed is to gather a writing instrument (whatever is most comfortable for you) and any type of paper no larger than six inches by six inches (6" x 6"). while true zentangle involves elaborate patterns, our zentangle will consist of circles.  draw as many circles as possible on your paper.  try to completely involve yourself in the process so that is all you focus on.  did you enjoy?  relax?  no need to count your circle total unless you absolutely must!

miscellaneous

"...and the rain, rain, rain, came down, down, down...."   a song sung in a winnie the pooh story that i always think about when it rains a great deal.  i am singing that song this weekend.

the whimsey project enjoys receiving photos and such to post on the blog.  have something to share?  email us at:     thewhimseyproject@gmail.com

photo friday

picking the first fresh strawberries of the season over memorial day weekend!

thoughtful thursday

so said mary oliver and i firmly concur...

“You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body 
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
call to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting –
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.” 
― Mary Oliver

whimsical wednesday

we had a challenge for whimsical wednesday!  we were to create something using the color yellow, tissue paper, words cut out of a magazine, stickers and clear plastic (the plastic from packaging).

mine!  words in black on white and pictures in the color yellow were randomly cut from one magazine.  the tissue paper is light yellow (under the plastic squares), as are the stickers.  when assembling the collage, the words found their way to one another!

 of course i created something in my art journal!  

suz of www.craftinwithsuz.com shared her creation for the whimsical wednesday challenge.  she utilized a disposal cup lid, yellow card stock, yellow button, white tissue paper, butterfly stickers and words cut from a catalogue.  it's lovely.  it could be worn as a corsage!

not something you see every day!

a reader sent a photo for NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE EVERY DAY!  she was in california and found herself taking a photograph of the catholic church used in the movie, the birds.  the movie is 50 this year.

thank you so much for sharing, loyal reader!  the rest of you......  it's tuesday!  time for NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE EVERY DAY!  share your funny, unique, interesting experiences!

get ready.....

we're having a challenge this whimsical wednesday!  begin to gather and think about what to create with the following items:

*the color yellow
*tissue paper, any color
*sticker(s) of your choice
*word(s) cut out of any publication
*a clear piece of plastic, any size (hint: food containers or packaging for other products work well, easy to cut with a pair of scissors and using them is recycling)

miscellaneous

it's a long holiday weekend.  may all have great weather so everyone can be outside to enjoy the holiday that kicks off summer.

if anyone has a photo or something beyond the blog's comment section to share, email the whimsey project:       thewhimseyproject@gmail.com

photo friday

the bittersweet perching kitty decided to come back down!

thoughtful thursday

graduation! everywhere young people are graduating from all levels of education. according to the dictionary graduation is the successful completion of a program of study; an academic exercise in which diplomas are conferred".  graduation signifies completion of one facet of life, but it also signifies the beginning of another.  the next step.  whatever that next step will be for the graduates, may the participants be fulfilled in the journey.  congratulations to graduates everywhere!

whimsical wednesday

it's plan a picnic for whimsical wednesday!  a real picnic, a fantasy picnic, any sort of picnic you might want to have.

my picnic is a blend of fantasy and reality.  since megan and jacob were wee i have been making up stories for them featuring a bunch of stray cats.  whenever these cats turn into the driveway of the farm in their old, worn pickup truck, an adventure is about to begin.  the stories often include a picnic and the main item of munchies is delivered pizza!  there could be no picnic that i could image that wouldn't include megan, jacob, the cats in the pickup truck and delivered pizza (including the delivery dude)!  the picnic i planned today will be an activity for us when they visit this summer.  

not something you see every day!

it's time, once again, for NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE EVERY DAY!  share your silly, crazy, unusual experiences with us today!

get ready.....

let's plan a picnic for whimsical wednesday.  plan with all new picnic items to eat and a new place to have a picnic.  plan a fantasy picnic that you'd take in a far away place or an imaginary place.  plan a picnic of all the usual favorites to eat at the most favorite picnic spot.  save the picnic plans for a later date, record a fantasy picnic in an art journal or have your picnic on whimsical wednesday!  whatever your plans and when, enjoy!

miscellaneous

the grass was cut before the red clover could bloom.  no worries, it's blooming in the meadow.

one of the mama kitties presented a single kitten for the first time yesterday.  cute, cute, cute.  seeing one causes me to wonder where the rest are as there is rarely one.  the neighbor called and announced kittens were on her porch.  those could belong to one of the mama kitties here.  it's amazing to consider, though, since the neighbor's porch would be quite a trek for a mama kitty to carry and deposit, one by one, kittens there.

a glance out the window became a session in observing a pair of turkeys, on the point, pecking, scratching, rolling in bare areas in the grass.  what they were doing was unknown but very interesting to watch.

mr birdie continues to sing, sing, sing about the nest he's created in the gourd birdhouse.  has he been successful in enticing a mate?  this has yet to be determined.  we're rooting for him!

photo friday

paris landing state park; perched on the lodge's fireplace.

thoughtful thursday

home is a small parcel of this very large earth. a section of this parcel used to be farmed.  now this section lies fallow.  recently someone asked what does the land do now that it is no longer farmed.  the answer was it does nothing. however, that response was inadequate.  the most accurate response would have been to state that nothing is done TO that acreage. the earth does what it does, without human assistance or interference, as the earth does not require the overt actions of humans to be what it is. often, it seems, the earth would do what it does even better if left alone by humans.  it's an (in)action that is working very well here at home.

whimsical wednesday

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

my entries were in the memory book.  entries because i wrote about mother's day and my eleventh wedding anniversary.  a very special day that created a very fond memory.

not something you see every day!

it's tuesday!  and when it's tuesday it's time for NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE EVERY DAY!!!  share your funny, unique, interesting, quirky experiences with us today!

get ready.....

this whimsical wednesday is memory book or noteable notebook day!

for those new to the whimsey project, a memory book is any notebook in which to inscribe random memories about your life.  doesn't matter the topic or time, just something you have thought of and want to preserve on paper.  a notable notebook is any notebook in which to inscribe random information that fascinates you; quotes, lyrics, ideas to name but a few categories.  enjoy!

miscellaneous

we have hummingbirds!

a birdhouse made from a gourd was a gift from friends.  it was hung last fall.  now a wee birdie is working to make it a home for a little family of birdies.  welcome!

it's been raining a great deal since the grass was cut the first time.  therefore, the grass is once again getting full of wildflowers.  the red clover, a favorite, is among them.  hopefully the clover will bloom before the grass is dry enough to be cut.

if you have a photo to submit for photo friday or activity for whimsical wednesday or something else to share beyond comments on the blog, email the whimsey project:     thewhimseyproject@gmail.com

photo friday

windy submitted this friday's photo featuring the world's largest rubber duckie!  here's the link:

http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2013/05/the-worlds-largest-duck-arrives-in-hong-kong/

thank you, windy! rubber duckies, even huge ones, are adorable!!

thoughtful thursday

friend:  "thank you for the thank you note you sent me.  you didn't have to do that."

me:  "you are welcome.  and.  yes, i did.  i have impeccable manners."

manners (kindness, really) makes the world a much happier place!

whimsical wednesday

it's get ready for mother's day this whimsical wednesday!

my preparations included sending homemade cards to a few ladies that are special to me.  they don't necessarily mother me but i admire them as mothers and decided to tell them as much.  my mom, of course, was sent a homemade card.  and my daughter received a phone call from me wishing her a happy mother's day. she's a wonderful mother and i wanted to let her know that i appreciate how well she takes care of and loves my grandchildren!  she was surprised to get a mother's day call in the middle of the week.  she told me she enjoyed it thoroughly and was very glad i called.  me too!

not something you see every day!

when tuesday rolls around, it's the day for NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE EVERY DAY! share something funny, unique, interesting, hilarious!  looking forward your NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE EVERY DAY!

get ready.....

whimsical wednesday will find us doing something to honor our mothers for mother's day on may 12th!  think  more broadly than your own mother.  remember your grandmother, aunts who were like mothers, friends who mothered you, mothers of friends, godmother.  make cards, make early telephone calls, an early lunch date or make plans with a mom for mother's day.  each mother's day should be just right for her.  (and you!)

miscellaneous

it's been raining for the last few days.  it's the type of rain that people enjoy and feel soothed by; slow and gentle.  great weather for sitting on the porch, sipping tea and soaking in the beauty of the earth; especially this time of year when the world becomes colorful.

the strawberries are blooming!  there will soon be fruit!

no hummingbird sightings as yet.  and certainly no baltimore orioles.  but the gold finches are now bright yellow and ever present.  and such a variety of birds munching at the feeders; including one of my favorites, red winged blackbird.

trees in bloom: dogwood, redbud, hawthorne.

wildflowers:  spring beauties, may apples and many others i can't identify by name but enjoy so much when they appear.

the grass was cut.  the scent of freshly cut grass is heady.  of all the wildflowers that were growing in the grass, only the dandelions remain.

if  you have something to share with the whimsey project, a photo, an idea for whimsical wednesday, email the whimsey project at thewhimseyproject@gmail.com.

photo friday

mango kitty loves to nap amid the vines of bittersweet!  

thoughtful thursday

sam lefkowitz:

"when asked if my cup is half-full or half-empty, my response is i am thankful i have a cup."

whimsical wednesday

it's may day on whimsical wednesday! we are celebrating may day in any way we wish, preferably with flowers.

my whimsical wednesday may day activity consisted of sowing daisy flower seeds on a bare spot by the dock.  the seeds were randomly scattered after a rake was applied to the earth to gently loosen the soil.  after the seeds were in place, the area was covered with a thin layer of potting soil.  we'll see what emerges! if any flowers grow, may day flowers will last longer than may day!

what did you do to celebrate may day this whimsical wednesday?

not something you see every day!

it's tuesday! and time for NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE EVERY DAY!  share your unique, wacky, unusual, interesting experiences with us!

get ready.....

whimsical wednesday is also may first; may day!  let's celebrate may day.  you might give the neighbors may day "baskets" of flowers or flowers for you and/or your family or plant flower seeds or make pretty pretend flowers or send someone a handmade or purchased card with flowers on it! you might even have a may pole! whatever you decide to do, enjoy!

miscellaneous

have a photograph to share for photo friday?  have an idea to offer for whimsical wednesday?  anything else?

email the whimsey project:      thewhimseyproject@gmail.com

photo friday

thank you, twitter friend, for sharing your lovely spring day with us!

follow the link:

https://twitter.com/trenchologist/status/327817723658792960/photo/1

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!