Everything is Froggy

This past week we had a driveway TOAD!  We live next to a runoff retention pond, and it is home to many frogs and this giant toad.  Back in 2008 is the first time I ever spotted a toad.  I even called my neighbor to check it out.  She thought I had spotted a small frog. Every couple of years we have a giant toad visitor even one named Frank. 

Weekly Roll

 

Linky Love

Kahuna the Elk found dead in Rocky Mountain National Park - Estes Park is one of my favorite places to visit which is the town at the entry to Rocky Mountain National Park

The Best of Skagit Valley - from Floret. If you are up in Western Washington, visiting the tulips is a springtime must.

I am so excited to see Where the Crawdads Sing turned into a movie.  The book was excellent. my book review

Deep Thoughts

Until I am carried out, I will carry on.

- Madeline Albright

Poinsettia Update

Asking for a friend - Is it okay to ditch a poinsettia after the first day of Spring?  I tell ya what as long as you give poinsettias lots of water and proper light, they hold on for a long long time. I have had this one since the end of November. The color is supposed to be pink.  

Decluttering Challenge

 Well I have been doing Creating Mary's Home Decluttering Challenge since it started this year. This is a 13 week challenge.  I try to do this every year it is so helpful. My mom has been giving me a bad time, but I thought it would be good to share some before and afters.

master closet - this is the floor of the master

floor in closet - BEFORE

After

Before Laundry Room

Laundry Room After

kitchen junk drawer - ashamed to admit I don't think in all the years I have lived here I have seriously ever worked on this drawer

After - I did buy some baskets to fit in here.

Weekly Roll

 Happy First Day of Spring

Art by my Youngest.  I found it pinned to my magnetic board 

Linky Love

Beef Empanadas - I made these for Pi Day - It is a meat pie, right. These were pretty delish.

Bread Machine Bierocks/Cabbage Rolls - We had these St Patty's Day.  Thought I would reshare.

Inappropriate Thoughts

It is really sad when you get really excited over a new vacuum cleaner. I was influenced and my old vacuum died.  Go Clean Co recommended the Cleanview Swivel Pet Rewind Bissell Pet.  It is awesome and love the huge canister. It is a heavier vacuum.

Deep Thought

If you're 

ever scared 

you're a 

bad person

remember 

that 

bad people

don't care

about

being better

50 Sun Project - 25/50 officially halfway

 

I texted my sister that the sky was LIT!.  February 26th sunrise. At the halfway point in this project and officially 6 months in.  Time is slow and fast.  I hope to add some diversity to my sunrise location pics. I also would love to do some beach sunset photos.  

Details about 50 sunrise/sunset aka 50sun project HERE

Wordy Wednesday

 

Our local gas station sign is on point. This made me laugh.

What I Read March

I am linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy.  Check out what everyone else is reading!

I had a really good reading month.  I read a lot of variety. 

The Secret Life of Dorothy Soames by Justine Cowan

Justine had a difficult relationship with her mother. Her mother seemed to suffer from some mental health issues. In her later years her mother revealed to Justine she was a foundling in London. After her mother's death, she searches out her mother's origins. This is part a genealogy search and the history and inner workings of the foundling system. This is an interesting and a heart-breaking rue story Even after Justine's search there were unanswered questions about her mother. But what she learns explains so much she couldn't understand about her mother.

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Finally got my hands on this book.  This is a great read. I understand the hype. Who doesn't love a family saga set in a surf town? 

How to Host a Viking Funeral by Kyle Scheele

Kyle is a wonderful speaker. I discovered him through Instagram.  He built a giant cardboard Viking ship and invited people to send in their regrets. Then he burned it to the ground. Kyle is hilarious and profound and that is a rare combination. I think we all have regrets and Kyle writes about this subject in such a relatable approachable way.  I wish I could follow through with my creative thoughts like Kyle.

Spring Shelfie

 I finally took down the Valentine decor. It is so hard for me. I am struggling a bit with this shelfie. I don't like the bottom shelf left side.  I of course shopped my house. Below is what I came up with.

All the brass is figurines from Kevin's Nanna's collection.  Amber bottle my husband found at work. Black clock is from Target long ago. The print is a digital download, but I am not entirely sure from where I downloaded it from. Green vase was found in our last house. Green glass vase with greenery is from Hobby Lobby last spring. The glass plate is a reproduction of a madrid glass pattern. The jars are filled with green seaglass and green buttons. 

I am always inspired by My Weathered Home displays.  I will keep tweaking this until I am entirely satisfied.  

Weekly Roll

Linky Love

Dahlia Breeding Update Floret Flowers - Last year was my most successful year with dahlia's. I am getting spring fever. 

1950 Census Release Date- This is for all of us genealogy nerds

Leprechaun Gold Hunts - In honor of St Patty's Day, a throwback post on all the gold hunts that I hosted.

 inappropriate thoughts

The picture above is from 2013.

Good to see you go, Russell Wilson. Don't let the door hit you in the behind. I have been a  Seahawk fan since moving up here. I couldn't watch last year. It wasn't team play. I think Russell Wilson is awesome athlete and he really launched the Seahawks into the spotlight. I just think this era is over.

I am into sports than most people know. I know really nothing about football and basketball, but I watch a lot of it. I am really there for the stories and the underdogs. I don't care if a team loses but go down fighting. Hey, I am a Blazers fan, so I know a lot about losses. When it ceases to be a good story, or the person becomes a villain. I am out.

Deep Thoughts

Aways persevere, always have a great perspective, and always have great purpose in your life. - Russell Wilson

50 Sun Project - 24/50 New Mexico Sunset

 

I really couldn't decide on just one photo so you are getting multiple photos of this sunset. I love in the first one you can just barely see the cactus. I can't wait to print that one out.

We of course took a selfie with sunglasses.  One of my mother's pet peeves is pictures with sunglasses. So, we took the selfie below in honor of my mother because we are just wrong like that.

Wordy Wednesday - Messed with Again!

 

My son struck again.  He is so pleased with himself.  I have to say this could be our family motto.

Weekly Roll

Saw this video and after cleaning some of my craft supplies up gave it a go. Marsha Valk's rainbow's are fabulous but this is a very accessible project. 

A gelli pad is great for print making. This was the result of playing around for about 10 minutes.  It was great to use up some craft paint as well.

Post from when I first got my gelli plate back in 2016. I think now Hobby Lobby, Michaels and Joann's all carry this product.

Inappropriate Thoughts

I had a colonoscopy this past Friday.  No words!

Deep Thoughts

A book and one little word

I have decided to revisit my one little word.  My word of the year is pursue. I am in pursuit of the life I want to live. I want to live in a more authentic and creative way. This better reflects who I am as a person.

I am a huge fan of Kyle Scheele.  I found him through Instagram.  Kyle is a creative aka artist and motivational speaker. He built a carboard Viking ship and burned it.  He wrote a book How to Host a Viking Funeral. The book is about regrets and leaving them behind. It is very inspiring.

One thing I like I like about Kyle he never says this idea is too crazy or too big. He follows his creative instincts. I would like to be more like Kyle.  

50 Sun Project - 23/50 New Mexico Sunrise

Carlsbad NM

February 20th Sunrise

 

Wordy Wednesday - Messed with Letterboard

Well, I was gone for a few days and certain young adult changed my letterboard. I actual thought it was kind of sweet.  I don't know who needs to hear this, but one is the loneliest number. Find some friends or a significant other to help you enjoy this ride called life. 

The pic below is something I saw on a friend's Instagram and it fits here too.

Sunflowers for Ukraine

I heard the country flower of Ukraine is the sunflower. Art Projects for Kids has a tutorial on how to draw these. I felt a creative urge so here is my version. 

Link to Skip to My Lou's Sunflower Coloring Page