Scribble Picnic - One of a Kind

This time we're to bring something One of a Kind to the Picnic.  I was tossing around a couple of ideas and thought I had something to go with but I should remember not to do that at work and not write it down because by the time I got home I couldn't remember that "good idea" I thought I had.  Luckily, as I was catching up with some posts on Facebook, a friend posted a story about a rare bird sighting - a yellow cardinal - in Alabama.  Here is the link to the story, I can't seem to be able to post the video.

According to the write-up, this is a very rare, one-in-a-million bird which I'm stretching to say is currently one of a kind.

I'll be heading over to see what the other Picnickers have brought this week.  You can join me by clicking here.  And should you endeavor to join in next week, the theme is OPERA.

Mini Scrap Collages 29-35/365

Backyard Visitors

Some backyard bird visitors from the last week or so.

Cardinal 

Robin 

Purple Finch 

Northern Flicker  

Pair of Flickers 

Purple finches at the feeder. 

Scribble Picnic - Fill in the Blank

This week at Scribble Picnic we have a Fill in the Blank - a "stumpy" rectangle.  So if we were looking at envelopes for example:

we would not be looking at a #9 or #10 but rather an A-2, A-6, or A-7.  At least that's the way I've interpreted it.  And I chose something on the line of A-7 - my new Marquee Lightbox Sign that I have on my counter at work.  It was an impulse purchase from Zulily - very inexpensive and fun.  I put it out for the first time last week and have gotten a lot of positive feedback from it.  Even the superintendent liked it.

This was the message today "Kindness Matters".  The letters slide into the rails and it has a USB cable that when plugged into my computer (behind it on my desk) lights it up.  I've been changing the message daily and I'm keeping a list of what I've done and ideas for more.  I did wind up ordering more letters (which actually cost more than the original box and letters!) so that I can have more freedom with the messages.  Of course, working in a school, they would have to be age-appropriate and they also have to fit in the space provided.

It's been a rough week, at least for me, learning about and thinking about the recent school shooting in Florida.  There are all kinds of emotions that get stirred up each time this happens and each time I seem to get angrier and angrier that more isn't being done to stop these senseless killings.  I'm not looking to debate the Second Amendment  - I don't think anyone's Second Amendment rights should supersede the safety of our children - I want to see people working together to find ways to help this from happening again and again.  President Roosevelt said "In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing".  We have to decide to do something.  

So I guess maybe I should have filled in my blank with a stumpy rectangle soap box, but I'll get off it now and head on over to the picnic to see what the other Picnickers have been up to this week.  You can join me by clicking here, and should you wish to join in next week the theme is One of a Kind.

Jingle Belles: A-Coloring We Will Go / Or, What Do You Call a Group of Snowmen?

Ooooooo, it's been such a busy week.  I almost didn't make it with this entry to the Jingle Belles coloring challenge.  This is what happens when you have Monday off and forget that it's Monday while you're doing things you want to do on your day off and think that Tuesday is Monday and you have more time than you think to get something done for Wednesday.  

Anyhoo, I was coveting this background stamp before Christmas and when I decided to order it it was sold out everywhere.  So I put myself on a waitlist and then, when I was notified that it was back in stock, foolishly waited until the end of the day to order it and guess what?  Of course it sold out again.  So I waitlisted yet again and fortunately I saw the e-mail notification very early and wasted no time putting that order in.  

So, I did some research and could not find a collective noun for a group of snowmen so I'm officially, with all the authority that I have on Earth (which between all of you reading and me is basically none, unless you're a member of my family and even they would probably challenge that), naming a group of snowmen a CHILL.  

Newton's Nook Frozen Fellowship is the background stamp and the extra snowman is from Flaky Friends by HoneyBee Stamps. (Do you like his rainbow hat?)  I used the new alcohol markers from Stampin Up to color them.  I use some old blush makeup on a q-tip for the cheeks.  And I think I am going to go back and add some flakes in those larger margins on the right and bottom, or maybe a little handwritten sentiment in white gel pen.  We shall see.

We shall also see what the other Jingle Belles have treated us to this week if we click here.  Won't you join me to see some fantastic coloring?

Mini Scrap Collages 22-28/365

Happy Birthday to Our First Born

Great-great grandson of a first born.  Great grandson of two first born.  Grandson of three first born.  Son of two first born.  Married to a first born.  Father holding his first born.

Happy Birthday

Duck Hunting with a Camera

Yesterday we woke up to a beautiful sunrise.  There's something about those colors that just give promise to the new day.  And it was a good one.  

 

The swans were back behind the condo.  There was a bevy of at least 10 of them.  HWNSNBP started his morning by checking out a "Fishing Flea Market" at one of the local schools.

And then we headed out to the lighthouse on a "duck hunt" with the camera.  Along the way we captured some swans playing hide-and-seek.  We actually passed them in a similar position to this and I did a double-take because I had never seen any buoy or flotation device in this general shape.  HWNSNBP was willing to turn back for some quick photos.  

I think she knew her picture was being taken and was asking him if it made her butt look big.

And he just told her not to be silly and they swam away.

There weren't very many cars at the lighthouse when we got there.  And upon further inspection, there weren't very many ducks either.  It wasn't too cold to walk down the concrete path at the inlet for a bit to check things out.  But these two red-breasted mergansers were the only ducks in view along with a couple of seagulls riding the waves.  We were hoping to see the harlequin ducks that had been spotted there a few days earlier.

The only boat in the whole inlet was this State Police boat which came back almost as soon as it went out.  

Walking back to the lighthouse we caught a glimpse of a common loon.  But it was poor showing of ducks day - although being outside was a plus.

We got back home home just before the snow started falling here in Central Jersey.  We had about 5 inches in a relatively short period of time and when the temperatures started to rise in the morning it was quickly melting.  

Scribble Picnic Valentine's Day - MUSHY

So what makes me MUSHY is this little love of mine any day of the year.  (Two hand coloring - gotta love it!)

Taking my cue from his coloring session, I used the direct to paper technique for the background of his Valentine card.  Looks a little MUSHY don't you think?

My initial thought was to illustrate this Valentine poem which leaves much to be desired with the handwriting.  It looked so much better on the practice sheet - doesn't that always happen to me!

And as long as I'm being MUSHY, here's my card for HWNSNBP.

The two of them...... yep, they get me MUSHY!

Happy Valentine's Day!  I'll be heading to check out the picnickers and all the MUSHY stuff they've brought this week.  You can check it out here.  And should you care to join in, the theme for next week is going to be a Fill In The Blank which will be revealed very soon I'm sure.

Crossing Guard Appreciation Day

We've talked about doing something special for our Crossing Guard Norman the last couple of years, as he's always going above and beyond in making sure not only the students are safe, but that the bus lane is clear of stray cars and letting us know when the lot near his station is full.  However, it never came together until this year.  This past September I looked up the date for Crossing Guard Appreciation Day and although I don't know where I found it at the time, it listed February 8th as the appointed day so we put that on our internal school calendar.  As we got closer to the day, we took up a collection from the staff for a gift card and I made this card using some clip art I found on the internet and everyone signed it.  

Our custodian asked him to come in for coffee and donuts when the buses left in the morning and our principal presented the card to him.  I think he was a little embarrassed at the attention, but he was much appreciative.  Here's to you Norman for a job well done!

Mini Scrap Collages 15-21/365