This Halloween season I’ve decided to water color my own pumpkins to use for embellishments. These can be printed and cut for use on gift tags, scrapbook layouts and other paper crafts. Free pdf download can be found here
It’s that time of year again. Last week I shipped a stack of Valentine letters to my mom. This past weekend she took them along with her own cards to the Valentines, Va post office. The Valentines post office is well off the beaten path. It’s located inside an old country store surrounded by tobacco fields.
But if you love unique post marks it’s worth the adventure to find it. The postmaster is lovely and if you go in early February you are likely to stand in line and meet people from distant lands. Happy Valentines my friends. I’m starting Paper Tams back up again and this is my first post of 2024.
Weekly garden journal entry inspired by Tasha Tudor
Lots of things are shifting in my life. It’s a good thing. I’m giving all the credit to my 30 Habits project. It’s changing (or shifting) my perspective. I thought I’d attempt a weekly update on where things are in an effort to document the changes.
This week I weighed in both physically and figuratively. Thanks to my goals around whole food eating, more walking and hiking I’ve managed to shed 15 pounds since starting the project. I’m feeling lighter both in body and spirit. Nature is such a healer.
Weekly 5 mile hike check in.
Celebrating friends and family came easy this week. I had a house full of out of town guests and we celebrated the birthdays of two family members. Nothing fancy - just lots of good food, conversation and beautiful weather. My garden showed off a little for everyone with some beautiful buds here and there. Friends commented on how far along I’ve come with the garden project which started three years ago.
Out of town family members visiting Hollis Gardens in Lakeland, FL.
As far my letter writing and journaling endeavors, I received multiple letters this week and have several to catch up on in the coming week. One of my pen pals sent the most impressive Jane Austen mail - it really got the creative juices going. I’ve got so many ideas swimming around in my head, its’ hard to stop and focus long enough to implement them.
Mail art by Michele Cano.
Speaking of inspiration, I’m really enjoying learning more about writer and illustrator, Tasha Tudor. Her garden and artwork speak to me and I look forward to reading more about how she dealt with the shifts of life. The following quote is enough to pique my interest:
“Life isn't long enough to do all you could accomplish. And what a privilege even to be alive. In spite of all the pollutions and horrors, how beautiful this world is. Supposing you only saw the stars once every year. Think what you would think. The wonder of it!” - Tasha Tudor