Five on Friday

1.  Quote

source

2.  What kitchen stories could you write?  This idea fascinates me - I think I need to let it incubate awhile.

3.  I love Nicole Johnson's message in this video - thanks to Ann for the link.



4.  Our faith community has had 3 deaths in the last week and today over 500 people filled our church to overflowing to say good-bye to a dear friend, who died tragically in a traffic accident just half a mile from her home.  Life is precious - hug those you love tonight.

5.  Photo of the week:

Winter Card Party 

(so enjoying these bi-weekly 

gatherings with friends)

Creative Writing

From Creativity Portal, today's prompt:

Name 5 things in your freezer.

1.  Chickens - about 35 of them.

2.  Bags and bags of frozen saskatoons, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and beans.

3. Just a few packages of beef left from December when we put in half a beef.

4.  Salmon steaks and halibut fillets from Bob's fishing trip.

5.  2 loaves of 12 grain bread, 1 package of English muffins, and a gigantic package of whole wheat burger buns just added after going to Costco today.

6.  (just because I know it!)  4 cookies sheets full of cut yellow beans that were blanched last night and will be put into plastic bags later today.

Writing

Linds linked to The Gypsy Mama and her Five Minute Friday project today, which inspired me to write on her prompt "Dance".

I first learned to dance when I was 16 and began dating the man who would five years later become my husband.  I was raised in a home where my parents weren't dancers so the world of music and motion was a new one to me.  But I had an awesome teacher :) , community dances were popular at the time and so I soon learned how to waltz, polka, and two-step.   We spent many Saturday nights whirling around wooden dance floors and having a ton of fun.

In my first year of university, I audited a social dance class and was introduced to square and round dancing.  Classes were led by a pair of senior citizens in the gym and my roommate convinced me to sign up.  The girls had to wear red skirts and white blouses and even had a year-end dance evening.  It was fun for sure and I still remember some of the techniques we learned.  Bob and I took dance classes in our community one winter so we could learn to jive together.

I love to watch ballroom dancers and "Dancing with the Stars" is one of my favourite TV shows.  When we visited Argentina, the tango dancers were fascinating with their dramatic moves.

I wish we danced more often these days but the occasions to do so are few and far between.  The memories I have of all those long ago nights when my feet so easily followed my love's lead still make me smile and I'll follow him onto the dance floor whenever he might ask!

Bob dancing with Helayna

at D & K's wedding

New Thinking

Lately I've been thinking alot about my writing on this blog and pondering the direction I should be pursuing with my writing.  I know that I need, and want, to challenge myself to do it better and when I read Ann's post yesterday, the message penetrated my soul.  Pierced right through the simple and the easy and the smooth to lodge in that part of my heart that I keep locked and buried and safe.   So now I am processing and pondering and wrestling with the voices.   This may take some time and real effort on my part.

Have you seen - -

Wordle? That's how I created this amazing collage remembering the wedding we were at today. I think it would be a fun way to add words to scrapbook layouts.

It's an amazing place to visit and spend some time playing! I had fun creating several word collages and modifying the text, font and colors. I even learned how to save PDF file! Go over and try it out. I guarantee you'll enjoy it :)) I think this could be an excellent vocabulary word kind of game.

Check this out!

Sometimes the most creative thing to do is see what other scrapbookers and artists are up to. There are so many seriously talented people out there, sharing beautiful ideas and projects. And I am constantly amazed at what treasures and inspiration can be found online! Erica Hernandez posted a link to this site today and it's really cool!

One Word is a great place to develop and improve your writing skills. You can check out what other people have written too. Go on - give it a try - it's fun!!!

In This Skin

Morning Glory and her friend Lei have started a new series of writing challenges. I decided to challenge myself to write down a few thoughts this week and hopefully each time, I'll be able to think about some of life's deeper questions as they relate to me, in this time, at this place. So the first challenge was

"In This Skin"

In this skin,
I view life with more tolerance, patience, respect and compassion than ever before. I see the joy of small daily wonders - tulips gracing the kitchen table, a pretty envelope in the mail, a steaming cup of tea. I see a few (but only a few!) wrinkles - thanks to the many glasses of milk I've drank over the years. I don't see many grey hairs - thanks, E., who's the only one who really knows for sure!

In this skin,
I smell fresh buns baking and candles burning, spices and herbs simmering in soups and sauces, laundry fresh from the dryer, logs burning in the fireplace, silage and animals on our farm and the sweet baby powder softness of our 2 granddaughters.

In this skin,
I touch papers and thread in my studio as I retreat to play and create while preserving pieces of our life story. I smooth clean clothes and my early morning bedhead. I caress my husband's beard and his strong arms that offer me a safe retreat from the day's stresses.

In this skin,
I taste delectable treats - chocolate, cheesecake, chai lattes, pizza and fruits. But more importantly I taste the good things God has blessed me with so very generously - health, family, friends, all I need day to day, beauty in nature and goodness in people.

In this skin,
I hear the voices of loved ones as they call from their own homes now scattered further away. I hear the joyful sounds of our 2 sweet grandbabies as they play serenely and discover their voices. I hear myriad questions from my grade three students and their cries of wonder as they discover new things. I will soon hear the cries of new baby calves searching for their mama cows.

In this skin,
I am serene in my fifties, a child of God, seeking new challenges, striving for gains in personal fitness, happy with the little things, studying God's word, blessed beyond measure, immensely grateful, motivated to help others and eager to embrace the next stage of life.