Winter Photo Scavanger Hunt - My First Finds

Eileen at: Bracelet of Days & her good friend Joy  are co-hosting another Winter Photographic Scavenger Hunt.  Please check their sites for the end of month link in & to see what others have found.   

 

I knew that I wanted to participate, it's just finding time & weather that matches up on the same day or two ...

Here are my first finds

 

#4 A Winter Tail

#6 Wrapping Paper

#7 On The Water

#8 Silver

#13 A Line Of (grocery carts)

#14 Stones

#16 A Sense of History (old Woollen Mills)

#17 Many (windscreen washer)

#25 A Heart (potato)

#24 Steam

Me on A Monday - January 29th

And here we are again, arriving at Monday.

Source: Internet

Oh my, the buzz over the last week about this book has been popping up on SO many blogs & F/B posts.  Another book in the arsenal of how to live a good life in spite of having the suggestion of death in the title.

Source: from the internet

I have the ebook on request from the library & will add this to my Winter Reading List.  Both my parents were pack racks & it's a gene I fear more than the other genes of illness & disease.  Thankfully Mr Man & I are both neat, tidy & order kind of folks, but still I worry about what can only be described as breeding that goes on in my cupboards of plastic food containers.  I must go through this pile at least twice a year & each every time there seems to be more.  You can check my purchase receipts & you will find no purchases made but how are they getting into my cupboards, into my life?
 
Earlier in the year I signed up for email Merriam Webster's Word of The Day - increasing your vocabulary.  See, I was ahead of the clutter free zone, no desk top paper calendars with a word to learn each day.  It's all clutter free electronically sent.   There have been some interesting words.  This ties back to last year when I couldn't settle on One Little Word for the year but resolved to pay attention to my choice of words. One of my favourite words showed up this week.

          synchronicity 

noun | sing-kruh-NISS-uh-tee

 
 
At work last week when I was once again interviewing for reception at the clinic, I interviewed a lady that is a private yoga instructor; she does not work out of a studio but comes to your home to work with you & her focus - are you ready? - is restorative yoga!  Yes! Once again when you put it out there, The Universe will deliver but not always in the fashion you had in mind.  Anyway, this lady has wonderful energy, although because of her schedule, not a good fit for reception. 

Source: the internet

And while I speak of interviewing, the boss man put it upon me to find a replacement for our RMT (registered massage therapist) as ours was moving on as of Jan 30th & when I was reviewing resumes (CVs) I came upon someone applying for reception but was just qualifying as an RMT, so I reached out to her, said forget reception, what about massage;  boss man interviewed & we have hired her as our new RMT.  Some days you win ...
 
I'll see everyone on Wednesday with some of my first WPSH finds.  Hope everyone has a neat & tidy week.

 "We should be choosing what we want to keep, not what we want to get rid of.  The moment you start focusing on how to choose what to throw away, you have actually veered significantly off course."  Marie Kondo

Take Three Thursday - January 25th

In an effort to notice more of the ordinary in my life, I have decided to share what I have noticed this week in Take Three Thursday.   The idea is to take photos that are linked some how; by theme, by colour, by date, by moment,  by points of view. There is no formal link in but please feel free to join in. What have you noticed this week?  

Have a look at what others have noticed this week:
Karen at Random Reflections 
Melissa at Daily Life-Bits & Pieces
Maggie at Farmers Wife Day by Day

This week what I have been noticing that Mother Nature paints with some intense colour during the winter months.  I am sure that because the winter daylight hours are brief & animals & birds need to find food easily, Mother Nature paints many of the seeds & berries left about in red.  I know a tiny bit about the science of red & the vision wave length of birds.    I am seeing red this Thursday.
 

Mountain Ash Berries

Burning Bush Berries (Winged Euonymus)

Staghorn Sumac Cone

 "... the winter is kind & leaves red berries on the boughs for hungry sparrows."  John Geddes

Me On A Monday - January 22nd

Hello & good morning - a brief check in on this fine day. 
 
On Sunday it was mild enough to take a walk outside or at least I thought it was mild, after only 20 minutes the weather changed from sunny to foggy, the wind picked up & the temperature dropped - well at least I got a brief walk outside - lots of deep breathing. The last 10 minutes of my walk were at rather a brisk pace.  

The last couple of days have been above zero so some of the snow has been melting.  I'm not too excited because the forecast is by mid week more snow.

 

On this brief walk I saw a number of things that made me smile & I must admit I was looking for such things for the WSPH.  I saw on someone's front lawn at least 50 wood skunk cut outs.  These type of lawn ornaments are placed there to celebrates someone's significant birthday, such as 50.  They made me chuckle a little.

The other things I found to smile about was since it had been milder the snow turned to good packing snow & perfect for building snow things such as this snow cat.

I also saw that this tree ornament, which I had posted about in the summer, was still wearing her Christmas attire.  While I don't want in any of my trees, Tweety made me smile.  Mr Man says that such things making me smile is a symptom that I have been inside too long.   Could be.

Don't forget that next Wednesday the 31st is the mid-point link in for the Winter Photo Scavenger Hunt (WPSH).  For the links please visit either  Eileen or Joy to join in and/or see what others have captured.   

One thing that doesn't make us smile is that tax season is upon us & we loaded up the tax software for 2017.  April 1st comes ever so quickly when thinking tax ...

 
 Hope everyone has a good week ahead.  May you all find 1 or 2 things to make you smile & chuckle.

"From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere."  Dr. Seuss

 

Take Three Thursday - Fallen Snow

In an effort to notice more of the ordinary in my life, I have decided to share what I have noticed this week in Take Three Thursday.   The idea is to take photos that are linked some how; by theme, by colour, by date, by moment,  by points of view. There is no formal link in but please feel free to join in. What have you noticed this week?  


Have a look at what others have noticed this week:
Melissa at Daily Life-Bits & Pieces
Maggie at Farmers Wife Day by Day 

This week the only thing I could notice was snow & I find it most interesting the way the snow settles on some of the things in my garden. Based on weather forecasts for the rest of the winter, this might be a recurring theme for Thursday!
 

Snow In Money Penny's Arms

Snow Occupying A Seat

Hummingbird sundial's confirmation - no sunshine

"A snowflake is one of God's most fragile creations, but look what they can do when they stick together!"  author unknown

Me on A Monday - January 15th

 

Morning Sky

 Greetings and good morning.  Hope everyone is well & had a weekend of delights & pleasures.

I have worked on my Winter Reading List & I have a final selection list, all I can borrow from the library.  Several books I have on my list I got from others' blogs - so in advance thanks for the reading referrals.  In no particular order, certainly not in reading order & some were on the list early on &  I have now read:

Tanya Talaga - Seven Fallen Feathers, Racism, Death & Hard Truths in a Northern City
Jeffry Archer - This Was A Man
Ian Rankin - Set In darkness
Ruth Hogan - The Keeper Of Lost Things (read)
Doublas Coupland - Eleanor Rigby
Meik Wiking - The Little Book of Hygge (Read)
Meik Wiking - The Little Book of Lykke (Read)
Jamie Ford - Love & Other Consolation Prizes (Read)
Anne Frank's Diary
Alexandra Kuykendall - Loving My Actual Life (on request)
Alexandra Kuykendall - Loving My Actual Christmas (on request)
Elizabeth Buchan - The New Mrs Clifton
Rachel Jeffs - Breaking Free; Escaping FLDS Polgamy (read)
Raquel Jaramillo - Wonder
Rick Yancey - The Last Star

I just finished "The Keeper of Lost Things" by Ruth Hogan. (thank you to Ruth at:This West London Life, for recommending the book).  This is a delightful book, one that you wish the people were real & could enjoy tea with.  I particularly like the little short stories within the story, which help to tell the main story.  

 Last weekend Mr Man & I decided we had been too cooped up & the weather was not pleasant enough for any outdoor fun, so off we went to wander the closest mall to us.  After a couple of laps around, we got cups of tea & decided to sit & people watch.  While we sitting in the food court area, an older gentleman asked if he could sit with us.  We gave each other that knowing look of "oh boy" but it turns out Wilfred was a delightful stranger.  He is 81 years old, been a widow for 8 years & was once a professor at the university teaching plant biology having retired 6 years ago.  We chatted with him for about an hour & in that time he told us all about his research which Mr Man found most intriguing because Wilfred used lab equipment that Mr Man's company built/builds, services & installs.  A most delightful hour & we both thanked The Universe for such a diversion.  Wilfred reminded me of the character, Anthony, in the book "Keeper of Lost Things".

Another hot topic in my life is that I am exploring hypnosis for my anxiety issues. It's part of Focus & Intentions for 2018.  I know a couple of people that have done hypnosis for smoking cessation & had much success with the process. I cannot find anyone to give me their experience with hypnosis for anxiety.  Have any of you ever done hypnosis?

In the shopping cart this week I bought this DVD, on sale: Restorative Yoga.  I have been looking everywhere locally for an actual yoga class that has restorative elements.  Right now everything is hot yoga and/or stone yoga, neither of which appeals to me.  Makes me wish that teleporting was a real method of travel so I could participate in Deb's yoga classes;  My Yoga Friend Deb 

Also this week in the shopping cart my latest craze & crave:  Baked Original Goldfish, not the flavoured kind, the plain delicious ones!

"Lasting change does not happen overnight.  Lasting change happens in infinitesimal increments, a day, an hour, a minute, a heartbeat at a time."  Sarah Ban Breathnach

Take Three Thursday -

In an effort to notice more of the ordinary in my life, I have decided to share what I have noticed this week in Take Three Thursday.   The idea is to take photos that are linked some how; by theme, by colour, by date, by moment,  by points of view. There is no formal link in but please feel free to join in.  

What have you noticed this week?  

Have a look at what others have noticed this week:
Karen At Random Reflections 
Melissa at Daily Life-Bits & Pieces 

This week the fur girls have been allowed into the living while we were taking down Christmas decorations & the tree.  Sooty made friends with a black squirrel that seemed as fascinated by her & she was with him.  

The squirrel discovered just after we put up the Christmas Angel (outside) that her arms provided a safe & seemly comfortable spot to sit & eat his peanuts.  The cats were intrigued by all the squirrel activity in the front garden & it took several moments before Sooty & The Black discovered each other.  Then it was them chasing each other back & forth along the window ledge; Sooty inside, The Black outside. Smokey just sat in the chair & watched.  This game went on for about an hour.  Now every morning Sooty & Smoke cry to go into the living room to visit with their friend.  I love cats.

Me On A Monday - January 8th, 2018

Good morning - another exciting wild ride on the roller coaster of life.

I'm not going to moan on about the cold, although the good news is that we have had a break in the cold snap & it is warming up to snow.

Last week when  I mentioned using Angel cards, several of you were interested to know more.  I cannot stress enough, that there is no science behind my methods, I felt that the Angel cards were just as good a place to start.  One of my sisters has a set of "Healing With Angel Oracle" cards.  She was kind enough to loan me the manual of how to use the cards & the accompany explanation of each card. 

Instruction on how to use Healing With Angels Oracle Cards

 I don't have the actual cards, she wouldn't loan those, so I made up slips of paper with the corresponding numbers on the actual cards & placed them inside an Angel tin. 

 I sat with the tin for many minutes Focusing my mind on what I needed throughout the coming year & what should I use as my overall theme for the year.  Then I drew out 12 slips plus 1.  Then I sat with those slips & asked each month which slip I should pick for it ... and that's how I came up with my Angel suggestions for the year.  My word for the year, Focus,  is being supported by the Angel card I chose for overall,  Study.  My other three supporting words for Focus are; Attention, Observe & Mindful.  

For January my Angel focus is on Friendships (Relationships). Jane Christmas, an author, who's book, "What The Physic Told The Pilgrim", (her  story of her walk on Spain's Camino de Santiago de Compostela), has expressed pretty close to what I feel in several if not most of my friendships. 

"For as long as I can remember, I have existed  uncomfortably on the periphery of belonging.  I don't have problems making friends or being a friend; I have a problem feeling like a friend who matters. "

So being mindful of my friendships, I have a couple of friends that I need to focus on & come clean with, I need to tell the person(s) of how I am feeling within our friendship.  Lots of stuff has gone into my morning pages about these feelings.

My style with "K"  has been to retreat when she is unkind in her remarks or treatment of me. She has often cancelled arrangements when she has a better offer to do something with someone else.  

In my relationship with "P", I definitely feel as a definite after thought.  Just before Christmas we arranged to meet for tea at my house at an agreed upon time & when she didn't show up or call, I was first worried that something happened.  Once I got hold of her, she said she forgot, no apology.  I didn't say anything to her about how hurt & angry I was, I just said, well at least you're OK & not in a car accident.  

I have made arrangements to meet both these ladies some where that we can quietly discuss our friendship.  I would like to keep these friendships but just in a way I feel more respected & valued.

I also have a lunch date this week with a friend who I know values our time spent together & I am going to give the attention to her & tell her how I value our friendship.

Have you ever given any friendship or relationship a tune up?

"True friendship isn't about being there when it's convenient; it's about being there when it's not."  from Heart Felt Quotes

 

Five in Five On The 5th - January 2018

Five in Five On The 5th -

Joining in with Sandie's Five in Five On The Fifth at: Sandie At Itchifingers

Today when we woke the temperatures were unbelievably cold, with the wind chill factor it was -33(c).  The news is filled with warnings about the bitter cold, telling us how quickly unprotected skin will freeze - takes less than 5 minutes of exposure for you to receive serve frost bite!  So with all that in mind, the clinic is closed & no Saturday appointments to prepare for, I'm indoors for the day. Even looking out the windows is too cold a thing to do.  So what's a girl to do - craft of course.

My five this month are some of my newly purchased or gifted templates to use with my Big Kick die cutting machine - this would be my best purchase of 2017.   I can use these metal die cuts for scrap booking, calendar (daytimes) or card making.

My Five in Five On The 5th;  Shapes ...

Nested Shapes - stars

Numbers - so useful

Letters, upper & lower case - new- on sale - 55% off

Seasonal Shapes - the package that started the die cutting "need"

Phrases - so very useful

 

Take Three Thursday - Hoar Frost

In an effort to notice more of the ordinary in my life, I have decided to share what I have noticed this week in Take Three Thursday.   The idea is to take photos that are linked some how; by theme, by colour, by date, by moment,  by points of view. There is no formal link in but please feel free to join in. What have you noticed this week? 

My threesome this week are from a recent Hoar Frost.  It makes the most interesting patterns on things & gives everything a ethereal affect.  Reminds me of a scene from the movie, The Witch, Lion & Wardrobe. 

Bare Maple Branch

The Bell At Our Garden Gate

Further Down The Garden Bell

Hoar frost (refers to white ice crystals, deposited on the ground or loosely attached to exposed objects such as wires or leaves. They form on cold, clear nights when conditions are such that heat radiates out to the open sky faster than it can be replaced from nearby sources such as wind or warm objects. Under suitable circumstances, objects cool to below the frost point. of the surrounding air, well below the freezing point of water. The name hoar comes from an Old English adjective that means "showing signs of old age".

In this context it refers to the frost that makes trees and bushes look like white hair, which is exactly what the horse in the garden gate bell looks like. In the horse world there is great debate going on whether "one" should trim the muzzle hairs of a horse.  The show ring has always been about looks rather than practicality or what nature intended. 

Me On A Monday - January 1st, 2018

Happy New Year

 

Source: Internet

I do hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas & a good start to the new year.  WOW 2018 already - surely a gift.

I think Father Christmas was better to me that Father Time has been.  So now we start with resolutions to a better self, a better waistline, a better bank balance, better relationships, better everything.  Of course there are many who pick one guiding word for the the year.  

"What is necessary to change a person is to change his awareness of himself". - Abraham Maslow

Before Christmas the word Joy found me as my theme to observe the Christmas season with.  It was wonderful company & I did indeed find so much Joy in the season.  Although it's not a word that has settled to guide me through 2018.  

I sat quietly just after Boxing Day to see if a particular word would shed some light upon me.  What came up for me was a verb of action; focus.  I need to focus, to pay attention to a number of things in my life as I move in with 2018.  I pulled out my long forgotten Angel cards because I thought it's just a good a place to start as any.  I drew 12 cards, one for each month of where & what I need to focus on or study for that month & one card to be my overall guiding thought.  As focus is a word of action, it means I need to make some changes on things I bring into focus.  Scary although I am feeling quite comfortable with this choice & I look forward to seeing what plays out in the months to come.  
 

Source: Internet

I will leave you now with my favourite toast to a new year.

A Happy New Year!              

Grant That I May                                                

Bring No Tear To Any Eye                                    
When This New Year                                    

In Time Shall End,                                         
Let It Be Said I've

Played The Friend, Have

Lived & Loved & Labored Here,

And made of it a happy year.
               …Edgar Guest