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T Tuesday: I ♥ plants edition

Hello and welcome once again to T stands for Tuesday. This week I’m taking a break from sharing my #junkjournaljuly updates to share the wealth of plants around me.

The abundance of rain has yielded huge plants! This morning I picked these beauties.

Fresh produce from the garden is the best. Especially since we aren’t getting a CSA box this year.

As I was trimming the flowers off my herbs, I realized that they are quite pretty and could be used as a base in a bouquet. I wandered around the yard and came up with a sweet little jar of flowers to brighten my kitchen.

When my neighbor saw me picking flowers she offered up her daylilies. 

They are lovely on my table. Thank you, neighbor!

My tea even had some plants in it. A little sprig of mint in my Darjeeling tea.

This one takes the cake though…I happened to notice my compost bin had some tall things in it. Since I knew I hadn’t thrown anything in there lately myself I walked down to investigate.

I have 2 tomato plants and 3 zucchini or ?? volunteers in the compost pile. I guess the organic soil is doing pretty well.  This is a better place for this sign. Time will tell as to what I’m growing.

T stands for Tuesday
What are you doing today?

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T Tuesday: JJJ part 5 edition

Typically I have this post up long before now. I was suffering from a migraine yesterday and wasn’t able to get much accomplished after the onset. So here we are late for the party or the after-party that is. T stands for Tuesday just celebrated its 6th anniversary. I raise my glass of water… “cheers”.

Without further ado, I’ll dive right into JJJ show and tell.

Day 14: postcard

I used washi tape to add a fold-out with this postcard. I cannot remember where I picked it up but I loved the colors and image so much I wasn’t able to send it out to anyone.

I used the back of the postcard to journal about the card.

I also couldn’t choose between vintage or modern so I added a glassine bag for a vintage card from my collection.

I decided on this one because it was sent to Walnut Grove, MN. A nod to one of my favorite shows when I was growing up. I read a few of the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder but I’m pretty sure I’ve seen every single episode of Little House on the Prairie at least twice.

Day 15: Lyrics

This one was hard for me…don’t get me wrong…I can sing along with pretty much any song out there but thinking about lyrics…ugh. Not my thing. I decided on You are my Sunshine because my mom used to sing it to me.

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Day 16: sketch

Kinda fun right?!?

This is how I made the watermark for all my photos on the blog.

Day 17: mail theme

I used a mish-mash of current and vintage for this one.

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after

Day 18: hidden

I used a tag in a pocket to go with the theme here…I also expanded on the theme by adhering a photo of just my eye to the tag as well. I don’t often share my image online unless you know where to look. Yes, it’s out there but I’m definitely not the selfie queen. 

Day 19: stamps

The day before this prompt I’d been cleaning purging in my art space and found a small tin of old postage stamps. It was the perfect fodder for this prompt. 

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I have one more set of pages but I think that’s all I can muster for today.

T stands for Tuesday
What are you doing today?

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T Tuesday: JJJ part 4 edition

I have taken the liberty of shortening #junkjournaljuly to JJJ for the sake of my blog and my annoyance of typing the hashtag with all lowercase letters over and over…hope that’s alright with you.

I do have to tell you what a great time with this challenge and it’s keeping me creating each day. I’m not working ahead even though it would make sense some days.

Day 8: minimalist

I struggled with this prompt. First I attempted to cover the original page with tissue and colorize it with distress paint. It was a complete disaster. After walking away for a bit I decided to use the back side if some textured wallpaper…or at least I think it’s wallpaper. Next, I grabbed a tiny souvenir postcard which went perfectly with the Tim Holtz word sticker I found. That’s as minimalist as I can do.

Day 9: favorite quote

I have used this quote in several projects over the years. It really holds true…and is always a good reminder for me. There were a lot of tears when I made the decision to return to the workforce after being home with my kids for 17.5 years. The tears were real some days thinking of all the change. Now I look back and think that it really was the perfect time to return to work. And guess what?!?! I love my job.

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Day 10: handwriting

I decided this one should remain fairly simple with my handwriting being the focus.

Day 11: unconventional

This is another quote that I absolutely love…and it is a very unconventional thought.

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Day 12: washi galore

 

I decided to use a selection of some of my current favorite washi tapes on this page.

Day 13: elements

It may be summer but my head was still in the classroom when it came to this prompt. How else could a science nerd take that prompt?!?

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Here in Minnesota, we are currently in the grip of a brutally hot and humid stretch of weather. Watering the garden twice daily from my rain barrels is completely necessary. I’m “watering” myself with a bit of local brew as well. 

Not too shabby.

I harvested the first of the green beans today…take that you thieving deer… We ate them before I even thought to take a picture.

This week has me driving Mini-me back and forth to work each day…her Jeep is out of commission for the week until Mr. G can get the part and install it.  So thankful for his previous profession and that this didn’t happen when he was traveling for work in his new profession because we wouldn’t have known it was critical that it not be driven…yikes!

T stands for Tuesday
What are you doing today?

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Junk Journal July part 3

So far so good with #junkjournaljuly. I’ve been keeping up each day. I was only late in posting once on my Instagram. I call that a win!

In previous posts, I shared the concept and prompts list as well as days 1-5. So I guess that makes this post part 3.

I knew I needed to add a couple of pages to make this journal last the full 31 days of July.  The page was quite flimsy so when I found a greeting card that I liked it seemed the perfect thing to glue straight down to add stability to the page.

I also wanted to add the list of prompts somewhere. This blank white page was the perfect canvas. I dug out my typewriter and crossed my fingers that the ribbon still had some ink.

The ribbon was decent but there was something else funky with the carriage. I had to really fuss with it each line. As you can see some lines I was more successful than others. Oh well…that’s what makes it eclectic and unique.

Day 6: Note to self

Fairly self-explanatory. I ended up covering the entire card on this one since it was pretty boring white.

Day 7: Florals

I covered the top of this page with a vintage look floral paper. I added a calendar cut out stamped with the date in proper placement.  Next, I stamped flowers with Staz-on ink. I loosely watercolored the blossoms with my used but new to me watercolor set. This really helped set the calendar back into the page. The words felt perfect.

This is what the fold out looks like both open.

I know I’ll definitely need to make another fold out perhaps two since I am still a few pages shy of completion with the journal.

 

I could have used the front of the card but those bunnies were just too darn cute.

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T Tuesday: #junkjournaljuly edition

Hello again! Welcome back to T stands for Tuesday!

Last week was a busy one with the Independence Day Holiday. Lots of activities including a parade, cookout, fireworks but not many photos to document them.

I thought it would be fun to share my #junkjournaljuly challenge pages here as well as Instagram. Here I can get a little more in-depth and frankly it’s easier for me to edit and organize.

Day1: Introductions

  I decided to introduce the journal and project…not myself.

I am using this journal in order even though I’ll have to add a couple of pages before the end.

I have most pages documented before as well as after but I know I did miss at least one set such as this next set…

Day 2: create a collage

This page I almost completely changed for the original.

Day 3: Use a tag

It was kismet that this page already had a tag on it. I added the sunflower paper and lace to fit with my vision. A package of old rub-ons came in handy as well.  I thought this page was the perfect place to document this old, well-loved photo.

Day 4: very vintage

This page is basically completely covered with pieces of a 1968 map of Hawaii.

I honestly loved the original page spread…but it wasn’t going to work.

Day 5: favorite color

You know it had to be pink! With a splash of orange…I do love orange too!

The only little bits of the original page showing through is the math text and the stems of the flowers. I don’t love those tissue flowers but they worked to cover the yellow without once again completely covering the page.

I’ll be posting more sets of these pages as I go along…not sure of the schedule but likely not waiting until T Tuesday either.

I do have to tell you about my garden pests once again…you won’t even believe it!!!! You may remember last week my garden was looking lovely…my green beans were lush and full of leaves…

Not so much any more. UGH!!! I found full grown deer tracks in the garden. Keep in mind this garden is maybe 5′ x 8′ and has a fence almost 6′ high around all but a 2′ wide gap where the gate is.

Well not anymore…it’s not pretty but it is functional. I’m hoping Mr. G will build me a proper full height gate before next growing season but for now, this will have to do.

Today has household chores in store…super exciting I know.

T stands for Tuesday
What are you doing today?

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A second look: summer photography wrap up

I haven’t been using my “big camera” (my DSLR) all that much lately.

Its a shame really since I love photography. Over the past couple weeks when the weather has cooperated, I’ve tried to get in the habit of using it again. I really need to keep up on my skills…I’ll be taking Senior pictures for Mini-me NEXT summer. Geesh…the time certainly flies.

Take a look…

 

9/23/2016

2016 Summertime Photo Scavenger hunt wrap-up

The summer has ended and so has the hunt for photos. I like to wrap things up with a recap of the old and any newly snapped photos. This year I only missed one on the list but got an alternative to takes it’s place. In the past I’ve gotten every single one including the alternates.

1. A “wild heart” – a naturally occurring heart (like the rock above, but it doesn’t have to be a rock)summer photo huntHostas in my backyard

2. A footprint or pawprint

paw-print

Husky paw print

3. A skeleton, bone or x-ray

bones-collageAt the orthopedist

4. A book or magazine read during 2016

books

Lots of books…can’t stop reading…

5. A porch or deck

deck collage

Trex Deck at the MN landscape Arboretum

6. A camper (caravan)

summer photo hunt

Camper trailer

7. A family gatheringsummer photo hunt

Independence day gathering

8. A drawing, art project, artistic photograph, scrapbook page, greeting card, or art journal page created by you.summer photo huntObviously this isn’t my only creation of the summer…if you’d like to see more just browse around the blog. :)

9. Someone playing with, in, or around water.summer photo hunt4th of July waterfight….a tradition

10. A bicyclebikeAt a parking lot next to a state bike trail.

11. Fresh producesummer photo huntBeans from my garden and CSA box

12. A windowwindowThe broken remains of my drivers side window…you can read about it here.

13. The moonsummer photo huntLucky low light shot of the moon over the house.

14. A buffet of foodsummer photo hunt4th of July gather again…

15. A team logoteamsSome of our beloved local teams…current and former.

16. A map showing a trip taken during the time period

map

Mini-me and I traveled to Alexandria over the summer for a girls weekend.

map-2This close-up map has both lakes that we stayed on…if you look closely you can see my reflection.

17. Twinssummer photo huntI took a bit of liberty with this one just because it made me laugh.

18. A supermarket cart, basket or trolley full of groceries cart

Back to school stock up at Target

19. A seasonal cocktail or beveragesummer drinkMoscow Mule…favorite summer drink!!

20. Someone laughing

This is the one I didn’t get mostly because I don’t show faces on my blog if at all possible.

21. A photograph of you with a newspaper or calendar page from the time period covered in the Hunt. Note: you may not use a substitute for this item.

timely-photoI believe this one is self explanatory

Alternatives – if you’re having trouble finding any of the above, you may substitute from this list (but you may not substitute for item #21):
alternative 1: a lighthouse

No lighthouse either

alternative 2: a baby (human or animal)

alt-baby

Can you see the baby? Cute little “O”.

That about wraps it up. I’m not sure what happened to Rinda’s blog as it hasn’t been updated since June but I do know that the Facebook group has been active so I’ll be posting there. I do hope to continue with photo scavenger hunts…they are really fun and a real challenge at times to get creative and think outside the box.

 

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Thanks for stopping by for Second on the 2nd.

Second on the 2nd

 

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T Tuesday: great outdoors edition

This weeks T stands for Tuesday is dedicated to the great outdoors. I wish I could take you on a current up to the moment tour but…its raining…again. You’ll have to settle for some photos that have been taken over the past week or so.

Shall we start with the pest that is digging up my garden?

Cute isn’t she…pain in my @$$ is what she is. Her and her now babies are digging up plants everywhere!!!! Did you notice she seems to be red and grey…I looked it up and there seems to be some crossing of the species. These squirrels are closer to grey squirrel size but with a red squirrel temperament. “Fantastic” she says dripping with sarcasm.

We’ve also had a bunch of deer around eating my tiger lilies…I can’t blame this little fawn…mama left him rest in the tall grass by the fence.

She’s looking at me like I’m the paparazzi….

Here’s some adorable and equally destructive critters in the patch of clover my neighbor has in their yard.

This robin and the cedar wax wings are busy eating the service berries from our tree like they do every year…the only problem is the berries seem to go right through them if you catch my drift.

Do you notice the netting over my patio tomato plant? Squirrel deterrent. My in-laws used to have a huge strawberry patch…this was the leftover netting. Thank goodness!!

I also have it on my deck boxes and the raised bed. Marvin is out on a supervised visit of the great outdoors on one of our non-raining moments.

He’s such a handsome guy. I love how he poses for me.

He enjoys sniffing the air, watching bugs and birds and generally lounging around.

How do you like my new signs….

My MIL bought them for me. There are a few more but I need to repaint to reflect what I actually have planted.

My garden is finally looking pretty good. I’m excited to see how the yellow pear tomatoes do in this garden vs the raised bed by the deck.

Yesterday I put up a few flags…immediately after placing this one atop the fence post on the garden this dragonfly landed. Must have been an excellent hunting position since he would not move even when I adjusted the flag.

Marvin doesn’t love the heat…even though we’ve brushed and brushed him…he still has quite the coat. We know he’s warm when he does this… His other position is belly up on the floor. Poor baby…he’s a winter cat.

Are you still with me…I know its a long post…

For my art/beverage tie in we have this journal page. I kept meaning to post it but it never happened…as you can see by the date it’s a couple weeks old.

I love how the book page shows through the napkin so much!!! The page really didn’t need a whole lot more in my opinion. A little recycled sari fabric and found text…done.

Tuesday has lots of errands in store getting ready for the Independence Day holiday.

T stands for Tuesday
What are you doing today?

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