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Archive for the ‘Recycling’ Category

Friday’s Fresh Five! (2/6/15)

Posted in About me, Creativity, Environment and Ecology, inspiration, Photography, Recycling, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 6, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Steller's Jay

Calls of “shaack shaack shaack!” interrupt the peace and quiet of the creek area behind my house. My eyes follow the sound and see blue-feathered birds swoop elegantly from tree branch to tree branch. Behaving as if they own the area, these noisy birds parade on my deck like beauty queens and scare off smaller birds from feeders. Teasing me with their frequent appearances, I go inside to get my camera. Ironically, the moment I step back outside, they are nowhere to be found. “Just one good photo of a Steller’s Jay, that’s all I want,” I think to myself. After waiting patiently for that one shot and then viewing the image on my computer, I know that a single photo of these striking birds will not be enough for me.

#1 – Is it Blue or Cerulean?
Color Thesaurus What color is the bird in the lead photo above? If your answer is like mine and you said blue, you may want to check out a color chart that young adult writer and illustrator Ingrid Sundberg created. Her Color Thesaurus gives specific names to shades and hues of colors. So, instead of describing the bird as just being blue, we can now say that it is a deep cerulean blue-colored bird with touches of cobalt and aegean.

#2 – Photos for Perfectionists
The Perfect Snowball Imagine a snowball that’s perfectly round. If you are a bit of a perfectionist, you will appreciate the shape of this snowball and the other 34 Photos That Will Satisfy All Perfectionists.

#3 – Growing Onions in a Plastic Bottle
Growing Onions Vertically Because I hate putting plastic products in the garbage and because I hate cleaning out my refrigerator and throwing away limp produce, the idea of growing green onions vertically in plastic bottles appeals to me. Having fresh green onions available at a moment’s notice and re-purposing a plastic bottle at the same time sounds like a win-win situation. Click here if you would like to learn more about this subject.

#4 – Mysteries of the Unseen World
In this TED Talk filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg provides us with glimpses of the incredible unseen world around us.

#5 – Do You Really See?
“The more often we see the things around us – even the beautiful and wonderful things – the more they become invisible to us. That is why we often take for granted the beauty of this world: the flowers, the trees, the birds, the clouds – even those we love. Because we see things so often, we see them less and less.”
Joseph B. Wirthlin

Now go and spread joy!

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Friday’s Fresh Five! (1/16/15)

Posted in About me, Art and Crafts, Creativity, Entertainment, inspiration, Recycling, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 16, 2015| 3 Comments »

IMG_0275 Book Stack -T What do the books laying around your home reveal about you? Plenty. Are you a romantic, a gardener, a do-it-yourself-type of person? Looking at this short stack of my books, can you tell that I read books about history, like to cook, love dogs, collect books just for their titles and don’t like to clean my house, worship well-written classics, pretend that I can read French, and search for nuggets of wisdom?

#1 – Characteristics of Book Lovers
19 Things Only Book Lovers Will Understand This week a friend and I found we shared similar tendencies when we are around books, such as in libraries and book stores. Both of us lovingly run fingers down book spines and both of us enjoy feeling the heft of books in our hands. Odd you say? I think you would be surprised how many other book lovers do the same things. Check out the 19 Things Only Book Lovers Will Understand and see if you recognize any of the traits in yourself or in someone you know.

#2 – Searching For A Book?
Searching For Old Books If there’s an old book or a book out of print that you really want to get your hands on, consider searching for it on AddALL. I searched for several books on the site and within 20 seconds pages of sources appeared. You can also search AddALL for other things such as books in print and ebooks.

#3 – Ikea Versus Apple
While on the subjects of books, this Ikea ad is just too tongue-in-cheek for me not to share it:

#4 – DIY Creative Chandeliers
29 Magnificent Chandeliers Made Out of Crazy things To all the people who think, “What if . . . ,” please don’t ever stop thinking that way. The world needs your creative and outside-the-box way of looking at things. To that point here are 29 Magnificent Chandeliers Made Out of Crazy Things. Some are made from pages of books, plastic bottles, waxed paper, zip ties, etc. These projects would be even better, if they are fashioned out of re-purposed goods.

#5 – Reading Outside the Box
“If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking.”
Haruki Murakami

Now go and spread joy!

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From Old Sweater to New Beanie Cap

Posted in About me, Art and Crafts, Creativity, Kids, Recycling, Style and fashion, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 13, 2015| 2 Comments »

Beanie Cap Made From a Sweater The model napped during the construction and fitting of the garment, so a giraffe graciously stepped in to help. What? After using a sweater to make a Christmas stocking last month, I wanted to learn additional ways to reuse old sweaters. I searched for ideas online and found the site Make It and Love It, which had some cute examples. Making a “sweater” cap is easy. By the time my granddaughter woke up from her nap, I’d fashioned a beanie cap for her. It’s a little large for her right now, but it looks great on the giraffe. I’m going to make an argyle cap tomorrow. Hopefully the model will be awake!

How to Transform a Sweater into a Beanie Cap

MATERIALS
Old sweater with ribbing at the bottom
Paper and pen for pattern
Thread
Pins
Scissors
Sewing machine

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Using an existing hat that fits, flatten it out and place it on a piece of paper. Trace around the perimeter of the hat with a pencil or pen. Draw a 1/4″ seam allowance alongside the first outline. Cut out the pattern.

2. Lay the sweater on a flat surface and place the pattern on top of it. The bottom edge of the pattern should be flush with the bottom edge of the sweater hem/ribbing. Pin pattern in place. Cut around the pattern making sure to cut through both layers of the sweater. Note: In this photo, I used the half of a sweater leftover from the Christmas stocking project. That’s why the sweater looks so narrow. Using an old sweter to make a hat

3. To make the bow feature, cut an additional piece of sweater at least 1.5 inches longer than the width of the base of the beanie and about 3 to 4 inches tall.

4. Cut a smaller piece for the center of the bow.

5. Fold each bow piece in half lengthwise with right sides touching. Sew 1/8″ seams. Turn both pieces right side out. Place the small piece around the center of the long piece, making sure all seams are facing towards the back. Pin together and stitch the small piece as close to long piece as possible. Cut off excess length on the short piece. Turning an Old Sweater Into a Beanie Cap

6. Lay one of the cap pieces right side up on a flat surface. Place the constructed bow on top of it, making sure it is centered and the seam side is down. Pin it in place. Place the other cap piece right side down on top of the bow and pin all three layers together. Sew all layers together using a 1/4″ seam allowance. Trim excess bow fabric that sticks out beyond the seam. Making a beanie cap from an old sweater

7. Turn beanie cap right side out. Embellish with button, if desired.

LINNELL’S NOTES
1. I don’t have a serger, so I used a stretch stitch on my sewing machine. Working with a cable knit was more difficult for a first-time attempt. I recommend experimenting with a smooth knit first.

2. If you don’t want to include the bow feature, just omit the steps related to bow construction and placement.

Enjoy!

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Friday’s Fresh Five! (11/28/14)

Posted in About me, Art and Crafts, Creativity, Entertainment, Environment and Ecology, Holidays, In The Kitchen, inspiration, Kids, Recycling, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 28, 2014| Leave a Comment »

November 28, 2014 Edition The demolished turkey platter sits pitifully on the table. People, who once engaged in lively conversation, sit in food comas with their pants unbuttoned. The Thanksgiving feast is a thing of the past. But wait! One more course has yet to be served. Out from the kitchen comes the pièce de résistance, a sterling silver platter carrying an assortment of wishbones. Go ahead and take one. Surely, after a day of giving thanks, there must be one more wish you’d like to make.

#1 – Wish For A Greener Lifestyle
If you wish for a greener planet, you need to consider the amount of trash you dispose of on a daily basis. Inspiration for changing to a greener lifestyle and ideas on ways to reduce your trash output can be found at Zero Waste Home.

#2 -Storytelling
Pixar's 22 Rules to Phenominal Storytelling Oh, the tales I will spin for my granddaughter Charlotte. Since all children love to be told bedtime stories, I look forward to the time when Charlotte is old enough to snuggle up to me and say, “Grandma, please tell me a story.”  I’ll smile and recite a little story of my own creation, written especially for her. If you would like to do the same for your children or grandchildren, Pixar’s 22 Rules to Phenomenal Storytelling will give your storytelling ability a boost.

#3 – Holiday Garlands
24 Christmas Garland Tutorials Crank up the holiday music and let the decorating begin! Check out these 24 Christmas Garland Tutorials and before you know it, you’ll be singing, crafting, and wishing you had more areas in your home to decorate.

#4 – Baking Substitutions
Do you ever wish your local grocery store were just a little closer? The holiday baking season can be stressful, particularly if you are all set to prepare something and discover you are missing an ingredient. Before you dash out to the market, check out this infographic featured on Fine Dining Lovers or check out this link to Baking and Cooking Ingredient Substitution Chart from What’s Cooking America. A Guide to Cooking and Baking Substitutions

#5 – Wish
“We all have our own life to pursue, our own kind of dream to be weaving, and we all have the power to make wishes come true, as long as we keep believing.”
Louisa May Alcott

Now go and spread joy!

 

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Friday’s Fresh Five! (10/3/14)

Posted in About me, Aging, Art and Crafts, Creativity, Environment and Ecology, Pets, Photography, Recycling, Travel, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 3, 2014| Leave a Comment »

October 3, 2014 Edition Drunk on milk, Charlotte sleeps contentedly in my mother’s arms. My dad looks on and says to me, “Right now, under this roof, there are four generations.” Remarkable indeed. Charlotte is blessed with four great-grandparents who love her and who will share their infinite wisdom with her. And because life is a two-way street, these great-grandparents receive blessings in return. A new baby in the family invigorates spirits, brings new meaning to life, and expands the capacity to love.

#1 – For Children’s Sake
16 Simple Ways to Reduce Plastic Waste A recurring discussion in my household pops up every time my husband tosses out something that can be recycled, upcycled, re-purposed, or re-used. I used to say to him, “Imagine what the world is going to be like for your grandchildren, if the majority of the people in this world are not more conscientious.” Now that we have a granddaughter, I say to him, “Think about the world you want Charlotte to live in.” Start today. Do your share. The children are counting on us. To that point, here are 16 Simple Ways to Reduce Plastic Waste.

#2 – Iris’s World
Iris Grace: 5 Year-Old Autistic Girl With a Gift Iris Grace is not your average 5-year-old. With an eye for color and movement, Iris paints “masterpieces” that are sold around the world. She is also autistic. Despite the fact that she barely speaks, she expresses herself beautifully through her artwork.

#3 – It’s Autumn
12 Before-And-After Photos of Autumn's Beautiful Transformations In the northern hemisphere, the autumnal equinox or the first day of autumn occurred last week. With 90-degree temperatures predicted for this weekend, it’s hard to make the transition from summer to autumn here. To help ease the transition, here are 12 Before-And-After Photos of Autumn’s Beautiful Transformations.

#4 – Best Friends
With the help of his cat-friend Pudditat, an old, blind and partially deaf dog named Tervel, can get around and enjoy the rest of his life.

#5 – Your World
“Children reinvent your world for you.”
Susan Sarandon

Now go and spread joy!

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Friday’s Fresh Five! (9/19/14)

Posted in About me, Creativity, Entertainment, inspiration, Organization, Pets, Photography, Recycling, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 19, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Dog Dreams Sleeping next to her leash, my son’s dog Ruca dreams of going for a walk. There is much we can learn from dogs. One thing my dog taught me about life is that if you set your mind on something and work relentlessly at it, you might just achieve your goal. For my dog Romeo, it was chewing through metal containers of Altoids to get to the mints inside or deftly pulling all the files out of my husband’s briefcase, without messing up a single paper, to get to one pack of gum. Granted, dogs have very basic wants and needs. Humans have loftier and more complicated goals. We need to be like dogs and persevere at whatever dream we dream or goal we set for ourselves: finishing school, finding a job, kicking a habit, losing weight, etc. These all take dogged determination, but if dogs can make their dreams come true, why can’t we?

#1 – Never Give Up Charlie Brown
Charles Schulz and Perseverance No one knew more about persevering in life than the Peanuts cartoon character Charlie Brown. Charlie Brown reflected the thoughts and life of cartoonist Charles Schulz. He said of Peanuts, “If you read the strip, you would know me. Everything I am goes into the strip—all of my fears, my anxieties and my joys.” Despite all of the failures and rejections in his life, Charles Schulz never gave up. Read Charles Schulz and Perseverance for an insight into his life and where he got his inspiration from.

#2 – Life Hacks
41 Creative DIY Hacks to Improve Your Home I dream of simplifying my life, so whenever I see clever life hacks, I make note of them. 41 Creative DIY Hacks to Improve Your Home offers many ideas that I’ve not seen before. Having just inherited half a dozen magazine holders from my son, I will be transforming them into sandal and flip flop holders this weekend. Check out the ideas and see which ones will make your life better.

#3 – Aerial Photography and Designer Clothing
Aerial Photography and Designer Clothing In a series of photos, photographer Joseph Ford juxtaposes his aerial landscapes with designer clothing for interesting effect. Appreciate his use of the artistic elements of line, shape, form, space, color, texture and value in his work.

#4 – Head Up, Heart Strong
Cancer does not discriminate. We all know that. I sew blankets for an organization that supports children with cancer. Yet, when I learned several months ago that my cousin’s 17-year-old daughter had cancer, I was filled with disbelief. As Katherine or “Moi,” as most family and friends call her, began her senior year in high school this month, she reflected back on her recent battle with cancer. Declaring her mantra while going through treatment as “Head Up, Heart Strong,” she shared her thoughts in a touching and inspirational speech to her high school classmates. We can learn so much from her experience.

#5 – Lesson From Defeat
“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”
Maya Angelou

Now go and spread joy!

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Friday’s Fresh Five! (8/22/14)

Posted in About me, Art and Crafts, Creativity, Gift Ideas, inspiration, Kids, Parenting, Photography, Recycling, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on August 22, 2014| 2 Comments »

Reflections on Then and Now Then and now. One moment a baby and now soon to be a father. Where do the days go? Have you noticed how precious moments string together to create days that bundle into months that lump into years that stretch into decades. That’s where the days go. They grow and they flow and they circle ’round and ’round. Quick! Grab this moment and hang onto it for as long as you can. It will be gone soon. Sure, there are more moments headed your way, but how many of these will you appreciate and cherish? All of them, I hope.

#1 – Baby Clothes
Mementos From Baby Clothes Because I’m the sentimental type, I saved some of my children’s baby clothes. Not all of them, only the special pieces that were either made or embellished for them or that bring back special memories. I gave my son some of his baby clothes as a gift at a baby shower and it will be fun to see his children wearing them. If you have baby clothes that are sentimental to you, but not in good enough condition to be passed down, you may want to read 10 Ways To Make a Memento Out of Old Baby Clothing.

#2 – A Moment to Remember
Watching 15-month-old Kayden experience the feel of rain and listening to her say “Wow!” is a cute reminder of how there can be joy in simple things and how to truly savor a moment.

#3 – 100 Happy Days
!00 Happy Days The 100 Happy Days Foundation challenges you to identify, photograph, and share something that makes you happy each day for 100 days in a row. Whether you choose to participate in the program or do it on your own, it is a great way to train yourself to look for happiness.

#4 – Catching the Wave
PWave Photography by Clark Little Surfer and photographer Clark Little photographs waves, shorebreaks, and backwashes. His work is spectacular and his philosophy, “I just went out and did what I did; did what I loved and it just kind of happened,” is what more of us should strive to do. Watch how he got started in this creative endeavour:

#5 – Moments
“The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise. It is not that we seize them, but that they seize us.”
Ashley Montagu

“The way a book smells when you thumb through it. The way quiet winter air makes you feel like no one else exists. The smell of the woods after a thunderstorm. That split second before your chair tips back. The feeling right before you cry. The euphoria before the heartbreak. That moment when you wonder if they think of you the way you think of them. These things, I live for.”
— Katie Humphreys

“Plenty of people miss their share of happiness, not because they never found it, but because they didn’t stop to enjoy it.”
William Feather

Go now and spread joy!

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Friday’s Fresh Five! (8/15/14)

Posted in About me, Creativity, inspiration, Photography, Recipes, Recycling, Travel, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 15, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Flower with Bee During the time it took my camera lens to focus on a vermilion-colored blossom, a bee landed on it, dove into the center headfirst, and then flew off. Hurriedly, I pressed the shutter button. “Did I get the shot or not,” I wondered. On playback, I was pretty happy about getting a decent photo of the flower, but capturing the image of the bee made me even happier. Happiness comes into our lives in different degrees. Grab and appreciate every bit you can get.

#1 – The Science of Happiness
Called “An Experiment in Gratitude,” this video of a project from SoulPancake depicts the relationship between expressing gratitude and feeling happy.

#2 – Genius Ideas
Genius Decorating Ideas Discovering clever new ideas, especially those that involve upcycling, makes me happy. Check out these “31 Genius Ideas For Reimagining Home Decor.” It may be too late for me to build a Lego wall for my kids, but there’s still time to do so for my grandkids!

#3 – Just Peachy
Crab Salad With Peaches and AvocadosMaking homemade peach ice cream is a fun summertime tradition for my family. But after drooling over 62 Fresh Summer Peach Recipes, I’m going to make my family even happier. I’m shaking up my peach recipe repertoire. How does a Crab Salad with Peaches and Avocados sound to you?

#4 – Quiet, Please!
10 Most Beautiful Places to Read Books If you love to find quiet places to read, you’ll appreciate the Top 10 Most Beautiful Places to Read Books. They include both quaint and impressive libraries from around the world.

#5 – Your Choice
“For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Go now and spread joy!

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Friday’s Fresh Five! (7/11/14)

Posted in About me, Creativity, inspiration, Recycling, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 11, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Friday's Fresh Five! Someone sometime ago said, “Sometimes I sits and thinks and sometimes I just sits.” That’s it. Nothing more. Try it, you might like it.

#1 – Perfect Words
Eleven Untranslatable Words Don’t you think that among all the languages around the world, a perfect word exists to describe every situation? For example, the Japanese word komorebi expresses “the sort of scattered dappled light effect that happens when sunlight shines in through trees.” How wonderful to have a word for such a beautiful scenario. Read more about unique words in the BBC’s Eleven Unstranslatable Words.

#2 – What Makes You Tick?
Identify Your Passion Do you know what truly makes you tick? Can you identify your passions in life? If not, read Know Your Passion: 5 Identifiers of What Makes You Really Tick
and see if it helps.

#3 – Light Up Your World
12 Amazing Light Fixtures Made from Everyday Objects Light up your world using everyday objects or even better using gently used objects. Featuring globes, cheese graters, bike parts and more, check out these 12 Amazing Light Lamps and Chandeliers.

#4 – Listening Is An Act of Love
StoryCorps: Listening Is An Act Of Love Listening Is An Act of Love is an animated special which presents stories from the StoryCorps oral history project. The StoryCorps site states, “Each story reflects StoryCorps founder Dave Isay’s fundamental belief: ‘We can learn so much about the people all around us – even about the people we already know – just by taking the time to have a conversation.'” During the minutes you spend watching and listening to the video, you’ll be thinking about the stories you want to share as well as the story of your life.

#5 – Alone Time
“You cannot be lonely if you like the person you’re alone with.”
Wayne Dyer

“The man who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd. The man who walks alone is likely to find himself in places no one has ever been before.”
Alan Ashley-Pitt

Go now and spread joy!

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Friday’s Fresh Five! (6/20/14)

Posted in About me, Aging, Art and Crafts, Creativity, In The Kitchen, inspiration, Photography, Recycling, Travel, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 20, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Taos Turquoise Door Doors open and close. That’s their job. They let things in and they keep things out. Using doors as a metaphor, how well do you monitor the door to your soul? Do you allow joy to effortlessly blow in to your soul like a fresh breeze? Do you allow prejudice and hate to sneak in through your door? Do you lock and bolt your door never letting anyone or anything in? You do realize, of course, that you have the ultimate power over who or what enters and who or what you keep out. Be mindful. Be present. And yes, doors are better than walls.

#1 – How A-Door-Able!
60 Ways to Upcycle Doors Creativity rules when it comes to upcycling doors. Check out these clever ways to decorate your home and garden using old doors.

#2 – Joy of Cookies
The cookie monster that resides inside of me craves as much cookie information as I can get. Watch this animated TED-Ed video on the chemistry of cookies and if you’re like me, you’ll want to bake some cookies right away.

#3 – Photo Contest
National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest It’s not too late to enter the 26th annual National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest 2014. The deadline is June 30th of this year. Check out your competition by looking at 30 Most Incredible Entries on 2014 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest.

#4 – Beggar or Philanthropist?
When you look at this man in the photo, what do you see? Don’t be too quick to jump to conclusions. To some people, he may appear to be a beggar, but to others, he is an extraordinary man. What do you think? Inspirational Man

#5 – Follow Your Bliss
“Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls.”
Joseph Campbell

Go Now and Spread Joy!

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