Corner View - Out Your Backdoor or Window

The theme for the Corner View this week is "out your back door or window." When we first moved in to our house so many years ago, there were no other houses around us in all but one direction. When we looked east, we could see the mountains (what we call mountains anyway). That was thirteen years ago, though, and things have changed. A lot! But we knew that they would, and, for the most part, we still like where we live.

When the weather is nice, we spend a lot of time outside -- planting flowers and pulling weeds and all the general upkeep that a yard requires. And we have turned our patio into an outdoor room of sorts. Weather permitting, we have our coffee out there on weekend mornings, and sometimes during the week when there is time. We feed and watch the birds, read books and magazines, and drool over seed catalogs. We take our granddaughter for rides in her wagon, blow bubbles for her to chase, run races, and create wonderful pieces of artwork with sidewalk chalk.

We cook outside a lot, and a lot of wine and beer has been enjoyed there. We've had three wedding receptions in our yard, and many Easter brunches. And in between, I've even napped out there on occasion. Unfortunately, it's getting too hot now to spend much time out there, but I do sit at my desk and have my coffee while looking out the window.

For other corner views, visit here.

jane, ladybug-zen, ian, bonnie, esti, sophie, cele, modsquad,caitlin, joyce, ani, kim, a day that is dessert, natsumi, epe, kaylovesvintage, trinsch, c.t., jeannette, outi, schanett, ritva, francesca, state of bliss, jennifer, dana,denise, cabrizette, bohemia girl, ruth, dianna, isabelle, amber, a girl in the yellow shoes, mister e, janis, kari, jgy, jenna, skymring, elizabeth, audrey, allison, lise, cate, mon, victoria, crescent moon, erin, otli, amy, ida, caroline, lisa, dorte, kimmie, la lune dans le ciel, nicola, malo, vanessa,britta, virgina, april, rebecca, b, kyndale samantha, karen, kristina, angelina, dorit, goldensunfamily, sophie, janet, mcgillicutty, desiree, di, travelingmama, aimee, sunnymama amanda, ali, jenell, guusje, britta, juanita, pamela, inna, daan, myrtille, cris, ibb, susi, jodi, lily, jillian, doobleh-vay

Full Moon Dreamboard

The Full Honey Moon


To celebrate the Full Moon tonight, here is my full moon dreamboard. May all your dreams come true!

Altered Art - Altering Me

I love collages. Of all sorts. I love the layering and textures of papers. And if there are bits of lace or string, or any little unexpected treasures to discover, it's just the sprinkles on the icing on the cake.

And I love altered art - books, journals, what have you. I remember the first time I saw an altered book. It was only in a photo in a magazine; even so, I thought it was just the coolest thing. But I've never tried one myself. (I even have a book that I read years ago and saved especially to alter.)

I've scrapbooked - always on paper, never digitally. I need to be able to touch it and feel the edges of the papers, and the layers of paint on the chipboard, and the other embellishments. That's a large part of the appeal for me.

I have discovered so many great artists and photographers since I began blogging. And there are heaps of opportunities and invitations to explore and expand my creativity. And I love jumping right in. Usually.

But I haven't ever been able to sit down and just start an altered project. And I don't know why. I know that there is no right or wrong; all I have to do is start.

So I finally did.

I chose a magazine that had some page spreads that just seemed perfect to use as a starting point (since I have plenty of magazines). I painted on one page, around a word that I liked. And it looked pretty good. Then I decided to add a second color over the top of the first color. Also pretty good. But then I started free-handing some swirly vine thingies. Not so good. More paint to cover it up. Not so good. But I really wanted to use that page, because I really liked that word. So I added some paper over the top of the page, but cut out a window so that I could still see the word. Now, time for paint again. Pretty good. Now some writing. Alright. (except for one misspelled word, drat!) Some free-handed drawing/painting. And I think I'm done.

I am not in love with it, although it's grown on me some today. But I did it. And so I'm putting it up here. It is a part of me -- my artwork, for what it's worth, and my words. And that makes me happy.

Wreck This Journal

Where to begin in this book? This is not a serious question, as I know there are no rules and we can begin anywhere we want to. But I am one who can get overwhelmed with too many choices. Thirty one flavors? What? I'll have vanilla.

There are a couple of pages that will be no-brainers for me. (I can write backwards as easily as I can write forwards. Perhaps i should try vlogging that?) And I admit that I've already done one page - writing a single word over and over again. But I think I know which page I'll do first. Isn't there a page where you're supposed to put it under your pillow and sleep on it? Isn't it in the back of the book somewhere? After all that dropping and dragging and burning and staining? Gross! I'm sleeping on it tonight! ;)

Go here for other "wreckers."

Happy wrecking!

List Lover's Thursday - 5 Minutes

What a difference five minutes can make!

A few mornings ago, I was a few minutes late getting out the door to go to work. Not enough at all to make me late to work; I always arrive early. But what a difference it made in the traffic! It's usually very light in the morning, but not this day. And I remember saying to myself, "But it's not even five minutes later than I normally leave!"

That got me thinking - what a difference five minutes can make in other situations.

• making or missing a flight


• getting to the post office (or bank or . . .) before the doors close


• giving birth on December 31st or January 1st


• waiting for your nails to dry


• a perfect piece of bacon or a house full of smoke


• a tie score in a basketball game (more like 5 seconds really!)


• a successful surprise (or not) party


• nabbing the last PS3 (or Wii or Xbox) on Black Friday


• the choice between pancakes and a hamburger
  
• saying "good morning" or "good afternoon"
  

I'm a Junkie

I am an addict. A junkie. A freak. A fiend. I admit it, and I'm a little ashamed. I have periods when I'm strong and don't cave in to my need for a fix, but they never last more than a couple of months.

I have a problem with magazines. I love them. Food magazines, gardening magazines, decorating magazines, travel magazines - almost anything with a pretty picture on the cover. There are only a handful that I subscribe to; I have had a little bit of self control there. (After all, the mailman must not find out my secret!)

At least once a week, I spend my lunch hour at the bookstore. It's quiet and cool, and somehow I just feel safe and cozy when I'm standing in between the tall shelves of books. I don't eat out often, so I figure that buying a magazine or two every once in a while is a (more than) fair trade. I can stop and get a coffee or an iced tea (and sometimes a red velvet cupcake!) to take back to work with me. And somehow that always is a bright spot in my day.

I keep my magazines longer than I probably should (shouldn't share this, but I have a few from the 90's). I rarely throw them away (I couldn't bear it!); I take them to work to share, or drop them off at the hospital, or give them to charity. But before I do, I do go through them and pull out the pictures and articles that I love. I have a couple folders full of those clippings and I love sitting down and looking at them from time to time.

My friends would never believe that I have as many magazines as I do. I am rather organized and have "places" for everything. (I am MFS after all.)

There are those that appeal to the practical, domestic side of me,



and those that inspire me to be a better person in one way or another,


and those that bring out the romantic in me.

Then there are a few that are just too beautiful to part with. Even the paper feels special.

They can, sometimes, serve a purpose too. Getting down on the floor with scissors and glue and letting the creative juices flow is very therapeutic.

So . . . Hi, my name is Janet and I'm a magazine addict.

Happy reading!

Happy New Month! This Month's Intention

Happy New Month!

In the past, I've explained how I'm not a fan of New Year's Resolutions. However, I do like the rejuvenation of feeling like I have a fresh start at the beginning of every month. And so at the beginning of each month, I set an intention.

I've been thinking about this month's intention for the last several days. I had several ideas, all of them worthy -- to take a vitamin every day, to do yoga at least three times a week, to learn a new word in French every day, etc. But I'm traveling for a short period this month, and I knew that those were probably not practical and should wait for another time. By this morning, I was feeling a little anxious because I had not yet decided on an intention.

When I sat down to read my e-mail, however, I had my answer. (Perhaps my intention should be to trust that the universe will give me what I need everyday!)

In my inbox, I had an e-mail titled "Seven Tips for Giving up Gossip." I'm certainly not the world's worst gossiper. In fact, I'd say that I am perhaps more cognizant of it, and therefore cautious of it, than the average person. Nothing good ever comes of it. If you work in a building or an environment of any kind in which more than a handful of people work, though, gossip is hard to avoid. But I'm going to try. I know there will be days when I'll fail, and I'll feel terrible, but I won't beat myself up over it. I'll just set my intention again the next day, and the next day, and the next day. And I'll try to do like Thumper said, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."

Happy New Month!