Journal Prompt 20 Jan 2020 ~ Mornings

Today's Writing Prompt: Mornings

What's the first thing you do when you wake up every morning?

I am a creature of habit, especially in the morning. In fact, I get cranky if my morning routine is tampered with in any way. Don't worry, I will skip the parts you really don't need to know about.

When I wake up in the morning I go to my studio and turn on the light and my computer. Next step is to make coffee and throw bread into the toaster. I put butter and peanut butter on my toast, collect any other food items I plan to include with my breakfast such as fruit or cereal, pick up my fresh hot cup of coffee . . . and return to the studio where I leisurely read my emails and catch up with everyone on Facebook while enjoying my breakfast.

Only when these things are accomplished can I shower and get dressed and start my day.

This all gets thrown out the proverbial window if there is an early appointment on my calendar.

Book Review: A Tiny Bit Marvellous by Dawn French

This book is the perfect summer read -- light and funny.  It is the story of a mother turning 50 and totally out of touch with her teenage children which is rather awful since she is a child psychologist.  Surprisingly my favourite character was Denys.  I was almost done the book before I found out what his name was since he is most often referred to as Pater, Dad and Husband.  Denys is the glue that holds this totally inappropriate and dysfunctional family together with quiet strength and insight.  The story is mostly about the daughter, son and mother who are all floundering through some crises or another.  Funny.  Funny.  Funny.  And just a little insightful as well.

Scrapbook Album in One Day

Complete a Scrapbook Album in One Day

By Pam Hedden

View this Author's Spotlight

Paperback, 36 Pages 

Preview

Price: $15.57

Prints in 3-5 business days

Scrapbook Albums are a great gift idea for someone special to celebrate a wedding, graduation, birth or any important occasion. Scrapbook Albums are also a personal way to capture your own occasions as well. Creating a 20-page album may seem like an intimidating proposition but it is possible . . . . . . and I'm going to show you how. By using the instructions in this book you will be able to make a 20 page 12" x 12" scrapbooking album that will be perfect for whatever you need it to be.

Also available in Large Print and Colour versions.

Sketch Challenge 18 Jan 2020 ~ 1 photo 1 page layout

Journal Prompt 17 Jan 2020 ~ Random Act of Kindness

Today's Writing Prompt: Random Act of Kindness

Have you ever been on the receiving end of kindness from a stranger?

I've been on the receiving end of a random act of kindness many times in my life.  One that really touched me was 10 or 12 years ago.  I can't remember the exact date.  I used to run a bunch of craft related Yahoo! groups and the women I met on these groups were my company every day.  A couple of times we had made afghans to send to a group member who was expecting a baby or going through tough health issues.  It was during this time that I was having trouble with allergies.  You know the whole sinus pain, itching, runny nose misery.  And this went on for months and months.  I was so sick.  And one of the fun side effects was an eye infection that totally went out of control to the point I had to keep wet wash cloths handy because if I closed my eyes they would seal shut.  My eyes hurt like they were full of glass.  I'm sure I whined online once in a while about how lousy I was feeling and how much I appreciated my online friends since I wasn't able to get out anymore.  They were able to keep their plans top secret until the day my beautiful comfortghan arrived in the mail.  I still have that blanket and use it whenever I don't feel well and I'm curled up in my chair.  

At the end of November my husband had a heart attack.  Don't worry, he is recovering well.  But at the time I was so overwhelmed.  We had FINALLY moved my 103-year-old grandmother into a nursing home, I had a horrible upper respiratory thing going on, my house and life were a disaster after nursing my grandmother until the move.  Friends showed up at the hospital to keep us company, brought food and kind words, and made the time pass a little faster.  I spent most of my days at the hospital until he was released . . . at which point I panicked.  No food in the house.  The house an absolute disaster.   How was I going to get things in shape so I could bring him home?  In secret, a very special friend made arrangements with our kids to get into the apartment and take care of everything.  She stocked groceries, put some homemade meals in the fridge and freezer, cleaned the apartment, did the laundry . . . AND got the Christmas decorations out.  I have never been so grateful for anything in my life.

These are just a couple of the many times when someone's thoughtfulness made my life a little better.  I am a very lucky woman.  

Journal Prompt 16 Jan 2020 ~ Failure

Today's Writing Prompt: Failure

What have you ever failed at in life?

Wow . . . do I have a long list.  I think the failure that bothers me the most though is that I never finished high school.  Looking back I realize how much growing up time I missed out on.  I made myself a "grown up" at 16.  Not one of my brightest decisions.  I do have a college degree and a university degree though.

Journal Prompt 14 Jan 2020 ~ In Common

Today's Writing Prompt: In Common

What is something you and your spouse or best friend have in common?

My dear hubby and I are very very very different people but we actually do have a few things in common. We love movies especially if one of our favourite actors are in them like Meryl Streep (my fav) or John Wayne (Hal's fav). We love some of the same kinds of music like 50-70s rock. We both agree that our children and grandchildren are mostly perfect. We both love letterboxing but for different reasons. I love to carve stamps and solve clues and the social aspects of the hobby. Hal loves to drive me around and make me happy and he will pull letterboxes out of creepy places that might have snakes or bugs . . . even though we both have no fondness for snakes and bugs.