YouTube Inspiration

For whatever reason, Caleb and I Googled the Top 100 YouTube Channels and found we have watched or subscribed to 5 of the Top 10. I scrolled down some and clicked on charlieissocoollike – number 43 and watched his video Don’t Break the Chain. He told me about a small calendar goal sheet he made and he puts an X on every day that he works on his goals. This inspired me to do a similar project. I have a rough draft now, but am really enjoying the idea.

Instead of just putting X’s I want to keep track of some things and see how my time devoted helps me progress – pages read, tutorials watched, rows knitted. His idea also says to commit 30 minutes to each goal a day that will add up over time. I have certain activities – cycling, that may take longer, but this concept is great for those days when you feel like getting lost on social media, staring at the TV, or feel too busy with work and kids. This is a way to see your days in a different way.

You can add things that you want to learn to do – another language, play guitar – for that rock star in all of us; things you have to do – dishes, laundry; and other things you think of – planning a family trip to Disney World, talking to family your mom on the phone, or sitting in the garage with dirty hands tinkering on a project or putting away your gardening tools. I’ve tried to-do lists and those work for shopping and errand reminders, but I thank Charlie for giving me a clear way to watch my time and make the most of it.

This idea can work with kids too. It can teach them more responsibility and time management. Maybe you don’t have to do everything on the list everyday, but you will be able to see what you are taking away from by doing something else. You can share this list with friends and it can make your schedule easier if someone has yoga on Tuesdays and another parent wants to golf on Thursdays. I follow some parent blogs and know a lot of parents and I know they all want more time for themselves.

This calendar goal is another way to help do that. You want 30 minutes in the garden – let them play outside, work beside you, or make it a fun lesson in science. You want to read for 30 minutes – do it while the kids do homework, clean their room, or take a nap. I think my post is starting to sound like a sales pitch, but this idea is cheap – and I’m not selling it – free ideas here. Piece of laminated paper – to save trees, and a marker and you are on your way to getting more out of your day. What do you plan on making time for?

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Just Keep Pedaling

Three thousand miles is a hefty goal to set when you know you will be moving, traveling, and getting adjusted to your new home. I set the goal none the less and am still working hard to meet it. I have to remember that my bike doesn’t always have to be just a mode of transportation to work or school, it can also be fun for exploring around town or for building up endurance while riding into the wind.

Riding my bike also gives me a reason to use my GoPro. I realize now how humid it really is in southern California. After 20 minutes of filming a fog appears over the center of my lens cover and blurs out my image. I have it stuffed safely in its waterproof case. This is fine for when I’m near the ocean with cold water and cool breezes, but on 80 degree days riding past standing water and exhaust fumes it’s not long before my camera gets too hot.

I ordered a skeleton case (holes for cable attachment and better air circulation) for my next ride and some anti-fog inserts for humid conditions. I replaced my yarn helmet attachment with an official GoPro Vented Helmet Strap Mount. I’m looking forward to the videos to be made as I continue to explore with different tools, angles, and settings. Below are some photos from the foggy video – before the fog set in.

me and my shadow waiting at the red light

Bayshore Bikeway – between marsh and suburbia

short red bridge over the marsh

sees my helmet GoPro as I notice his wrist GoPro

RV’ers enjoying free rent in the shade

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A Day at the Beach

swimming with the birds

flower gazing

learning to embroider

painting on the lines

painting on the roof

window shopping

what bananas do

what people drink

self reflecting

bath time on the boardwalk

changing settings

Posted in Animals, Art, Fiber Arts, Holidays, People, Photography, Places, Plants, Water | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

The Hummingbird Challenge

I recently noticed some hummingbirds around the neighborhood and last week saw one in my backyard looking for food. Of course I ran to the store to buy a special jug with pretty flowers on it to bring him back. Add water and sugar, tie in shade, and wait. He showed up while the dogs were playing and didn’t stay long enough for my excitement to overcome me to get a decent photo. Then three days later he comes back – today! I’m out in the yard, near the feeder, and I hear a bird singing. I look around trying to find the voice.

I move far enough away from the feeder that the bird stopped singing and ate lunch. I was super excited and just stared. And then, to make my day better, he lands on a branch that could’ve been made just for him and poses for a while. Again I stare. Then I run in the house – quietly, switch lenses, and sneak back outside. I am anxious to take a million pictures, but the more I move to get a decent shot the more nervous he gets. I finally moved too much – perfect angle, and he decides to leave.

I will, eventually, get a great photo of him. I’m sure of it. Until then, here are two photos. Perhaps next time I will get a video of him instead. I will keep you posted on my progress.

eating lunch

cleaning his wing

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The Tree? The Munstir? The Train!

The shape that started it all!

I turned that shape into this train. I would use my drawing to create the story.

I wrote this story when I was seven years old. Enjoy!

Translation of story:

Once there was a tree and I was the first one to find that wierd train. It could talk, walk, and see, smell. First I was scard [scared] of it and it was scard of me I thought it was a munstir [monster] at first and it thought I was a wierd munstir to but than I found out that it was a train in stad [instead] of a munstir and it found out that I was a person not a munstir. We where friends for ever one day some people needed to ride a train and found my friend train first and they got in and said ah no muchins [machines] this is alive and they said get moveing it didn’t move so they got out and shot it. The End

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