Thankfulness through my lens

I have been following Ann Voskamp's blog; she inspires me and I hope you will be inspired too.  Check out her blog here.  I am currently reading her book titled one thousand gifts - it is a beauty to read.  I wish I had read this years ago.  After reading the first 53 pages I was taking photos at the Mississippi river this past weekend when I thought, I know I can't write like Ann but I could photograph things I'm thankful for.  But wait, a thousand things?  I will need some accountability - that is why I'm blogging right now.   So we come home from the river and I continue reading and wouldn't you know - I  read on page 56 of the book "some days I pick up the camera and it is the hammer". ( Read the book and you will get the hammer reference.)  Anyway, I thought, "hey maybe that is a sign for me."  So I did some math......I figure 7 weeks of 2011 have passed so I would have to take an average of 21 photos every week by years end to compile my "list" of 1000 (ok, so I might have to write some).  So here goes, the first of many thankful photos.  I hope you are inspired, to make your own list and if nothing else to slow down and see the beauty in every moment. 

 1. Fresh Flowers - especially from my Valentine!

 2. These gum balls... found this one on my walk/run today - makes me think of being a kid

 3.Warm clean dishes with the push of a button

 4. A husband that can fix anything - although I hate the trouble of a wrecked vehicle - I always know he will take care of things - ahhhh!

 5. & 6. Bacon frying -love that smell, and an iron skillet handed down to me when we married that I've fed my family from for nearly 28 years.

 7. Country fences especially at sunset

 8. Winter woods with nothing but the sign of the life that must live there.

 9. Winter plants waiting with the same anticipation as I for Spring!

 10. Swans!  Amazing how they can find the only unfrozen part of a giant river

 11. Small towns where flags wave high and large

 12. Trains..almost everywhere I've lived in life I could hear trains even now in suburbia, makes me feel connected to the past

 13. Holes in trees - one day I will catch a critter peeking out at me

 14. The Mississippi - even in her frozen state - majestic and powerful

16. Wild ducks basking in the warmth of late winter sunshine

17. the moon in the middle of the day!

 So this means I'm on a roll only 4 more to go this week!!
  I'd love to hear how you are enjoying the small things in life, feel free to post a comment.

Valentines Day Decorations

When I saw this FREE (seriously) printable at the fabulous Eighteen 25  I just knew I had to have it for my mantel of love!!  I just printed it using a Walgreens coupon in 11x14 poster size, popped it in a frame and there you go! After I shared the coffee filter wreath I started decorating the mantel for Valentines Day.  And here is the finished project.  Please ignore the outdated fireplace, updating that is a project we are starting on this week(insert a major woohoo and happy dance here) - come back to see the before and after pics.  I'd love to see what you have done for Valentine decorating (feel free to post your pics and comments) and go share some love with the girls at Eighteen 25 .

Happy restful Sunday to you all.

I confess - I'm addicted to coupons!

Seriously, it has become a bit of an obsession - but a very good one.  While helping three incredible kids get through college I've found sites like this one.  And.....I just figured out the coupon database this week on her site - what!!!  Savings galore!!!!!!!!!!!   Feel free to leave a comment on ways you save money.

What the birds have to say about winter.

It has been said that birds don't sing in the winter.  Since I noticed over the last week (before this crazy freakin winter storm blizzard) the birds were singing more and more each morning - I'm encouraged that Spring isn't far off!! :) 

 

Although this is what I see outside my window, I'm planning to get busy like the birds and make something for Spring!!

If you are looking for a fun little bird project you should visit here.  I might try this today.  Not really a bird person?  You can also use fabric scraps to make a fabulous camera strap cover.  I made several as gifts this year at Christmas and kept this one for myself. 

There are many tutorials out there for this, pick the style you like best and get after it! Just google camera strap cover. Make the most of being stuck inside, bake something yummy, I'm thinking about these yummy looking cupcakes!! Pour yourself a hot cup of something tasty and CREATE!!!
 PS: come back and share a photo of what you create today!!