by Cathy Baker | Ideas, Photography/Blogging |
We’re often encouraged to jot down in a journal the little things in life that we’re grateful for…and for good reason. Shifting our days into a lower gear allows us to notice the seemingly trivial details of life, giving us an opportunity to notice their value, and being grateful for them.
Taking photos is an excellent way to slow down and to focus on the details.
Recently I came across a Gratitude Photo Scavenger Hunt by Sarah Dawn Designs. (The only links I could find to her Web site were broken but I want to give her full credit for coming up with this creative and timely idea!)
Below is the “Something I’m Grateful For…” scavenger hunt list. Some photo ops include: Take a pic of something you’re grateful for in nature, in the city, in the workplace, etc. My favorite lands on November 30th: Take a photo of how you intend to spread the spirit of thankfulness.
This exercise in gratitude is not only fun and beneficial for us adults, but also for our children and grandchildren!
{double click to enlarge, save image to print}
Having trouble saving/printing this image? Go to
this Pinterest site {Sarah Dawn Designs, 2011} to download.
If you’re a novice photographer, such as myself, you too will love
Mary Denman’s site. She gives practical advice on taking the best pictures possible (even with our phones!)
So, which of these 30 ideas are you most looking forward to photographing in November?
by Cathy Baker | Ideas, Seasonal |
The spirit of gratefulness permeates the month of November like none other, and for good reason. Thanksgiving, filled community food pantries, families gathered, memories made, etc.
In celebration, every Monday and Wednesday during November, I’ll share specific and creative ways we can shift gratitude from a feeling to an action.
Today’s project will give us plenty of time to gather all our gratefulness into a glass jar before Thanksgiving. I touched on the subject back in 2013 and felt it was time to bring it up again because I know the impact it made on those who received my gratitude in a jar.
{Start A “Why I’m Grateful For You” Jar Today}
- Small Mason jar or any pint-sized jar (based on how many pieces of paper you use)
- Paper and Pen
- Ribbon, markers, or peel-off lettering to decorate jar
Cut paper into small tag-size pieces. On each piece of paper, write out one specific reason why you are grateful for that person. The more specific, the better.
It can be something small or seemingly insignificant. Share a memory or a specific way that person makes you feel. You can use a random number of tags to be opened at any time, or…
I made one of these jars for each of my grandmothers a few years before their passing. I gave it to them at Thanksgiving, filled with 31 tags, asking them to read one tag every day in December. They both shared how much it meant to them to read the specific ways they’d blessed my life. I didn’t want there to be any question in their minds as to how much they meant to me, how much I loved them.
Gratitude in action is a beautiful thing.
How can you put your gratitude in action through a “Grateful for You” jar this Thanksgiving?
Congratulations to Heather, the random winner of the tea mug filled with tea, and especially prayers. I just need your address! 🙂
by Cathy Baker | Ideas |
I am Cathy Baker and I love all things owls.
Let’s see, my purse is covered in owls, they’re displayed throughout my house, I have more notebooks with owl covers than I care to admit, and oh yes, my two softest blankets are smothered in owls.
You get the idea.
So when I thought of a love for this Fall, how could I not feature owls on one of these #write31days?
Felt and Pinecone Owl Ornaments
These are actually ornaments but as you can see, they make
adorable book props for this season. Easy enough to
craft with the kids!
Owl Candy Jars DIY
Check out this “Hoot-tastic” homemade gift in a jar,
courtesy of Club Chica-Circle {one uber cool site!}
Pom-Pom Owl
Are these adorable or what?
Be still my heart.
Do you consider yourself crafty? I don’t, but nowadays the tutorials make it possible.
by Cathy Baker | Ideas, Seasonal |
When I jotted down these fall ideas for this month’s challenge awhile back, this idea made the cut.
My plans included a walk through my yard, a pair of clippers, and lots of photos. But the weather has a way of changing things up, much like the seasons.
So I took to the internet to find ideas much more creative than I could ever dream up — and while there were many, none quite compared to this recent post on Houzz.
In Laura Gaskill’s article, Decorating With Nature in Fall and Winter, she shares sixteen unique and creative ideas, like this one with the clipped branches from a sugar maple tree. It serves to celebrate the season in all its glory like none other. Even the fallen leaves on the floor add to the celebration!
Other natural items used in the article above are feathers, branches (with lights — love!), leaves for natural fall garlands, etc.
Stop by and take a look! All the ideas are on one page so there’s no irritating pauses between clicks.
Enjoy!
by Cathy Baker | Gatherings, Ideas |
Top Three Trail Mixes
{Enjoy with family or scoop some into bags for gifts!}
Whether prepping for a hike during this Fall season or switching up your snack options, I’ve scoured the internet in search of the yummiest trail mix options. I found them courtesy of a newfound Pinterest {awesome} find,
Craftionary.Click on the links below for the recipe. The final recipe is listed, as the Web site where this recipe originated from is no longer available. (I like to give credit where credit is due whenever possible.)
Halloween Trash Mix
Combine party Chex mix and/or trail mix with candy corn, popcorn, and gummy worms. Serve in paper bag. Perfect for gifts!
Do any of the above mixes catch your fancy? Let me know which one you’re most likely to try first in the comment section. I’m going for the Halloween Trash Mix if for no other reason than I get to scoop them in paper bags. Shallow, I know.
by Cathy Baker | Ideas, Seasonal |
by Cathy Baker
There is a gratefulness often gone unspoken, relying only on assumptions between two people. Then it’s too late, and assumptions ripen into regrets never fulfilled this side of heaven.
It’s for this reason I decided to bundle six notes of gratitude together to slip into my hubby’s luggage for a recent trip to France. With our 25th wedding anniversary just around the corner {actually, it’s today!)}, it was the perfect opportunity to leave all assumptions behind.
So I purchased a pack of note cards and began writing one for each day he was to be away, spelling out why I’m grateful for him.
Sunday’s card shared what he could expect throughout the week. A Week of Gratefulness, if you will.
Monday focused on how grateful I am for his relationship with Christ, for it is from that relationship that all else flows.
Tuesday through Thursday were specific things I’m grateful for, character-wise, and I ended Friday’s note by sharing how grateful I am for how hard he works. I chose to end the week focused on work because it doesn’t define who he is…it’s simply what he does. And he does it well. He’s one of the hardest workers I know, and for that, I am very grateful.
Did anyone in particular come to mind as you read today’s post? Grab the phone or pen and paper…don’t hesitate another moment…let the gratitude flow.
You’ll never regret it.
