Con-tain-ers

con·tain·er

/kənˈtānər/

Noun

An object that can be used to hold or transport something.

I am attracted to and notice containers, vessels, receptacles. I am usually drawn to the shape, the size, the lines, the curves, the color or a combination thereof. I will share a few containers in and around my home that just make me smile. This first one makes me smile because the hubs and N made it. What bird would not want to eat out of this?

Lego Bird Feeder

This second vessel also houses bird seed and is a new addition to the outdoors. The birds (and squirrels) seem to love it. My Canon will definitely be capturing some little birds feasting on the sunflower seeds.

The 3rd one usually sits in my kitchen window. The yellow band around the top definitely makes me happy.

I bought this owl because I adore owls but also because it reminded me of a special friend. I just love the contrast between the white container and the colorful pencils it holds.

The next one also now contains pencils. I preserved the Andy Warhol Campbell’s cans for N to house his pencils, colored pencils, pens, scissors, etc.

Preserved Andy Warhol cans

The 6th one (if you are keeping count) most of you may notice from IKEA. I love this one for it’s shape, curves, and color. It usually houses fresh fruit and sits on my kitchen counter.

#7 OK, the next two are my favorite containers that hold beverages. This first one is one of those mugs you can freeze. I love to take it camping on the rare occasion when we have electricity. A nice chilled glass of white wine with frozen raspberries sprinkled on top definitely makes me smile. This picture was taken in Kansas where we camped one night on our trek from NC to our new home in CO.

The 8th container also holds another one of my favorite beverages…COFFEE! This photo was taken at a campground in TN on our trek from NC to CO.

The 9th one is hanging in N’s room and houses some of his Lego figures. It is one of the Old Printers’ Type Cases, and I bought it from an Etsy shop several years ago.

And I may as well add a #10. I enjoy this one more than N even though he uses it every day. I love the color combo, the design, and the fact that it came with reusable plastic containers…no plastic bags needed.

Are you drawn to and notice containers, vessels, receptacles? Do you have a favorite one or two that just make you smile? Sometimes…it is the little things.

Apr 2

St. Augustine, FL

One of my photos is featured on the Toemail blog today. It is a photo of my hubs and N walking along the beach in St. Augustine early one evening. Grandma and Grandpa live in FL. When we lived in NC, we would hook up our camper and make a leisurely drive taking a couple of days. St. Augustine was always one of our favorite places to stop and camp. I thought I would post that featured photo here today, along with other St. Augustine memories.

I hope you get a chance to visit one day. Do you have a little place that you return to time and time again? Where is it? Please share.

Apr 1

Breaking Up with Routine

RoUtInE…I always tell myself that I thrive when my life revolves around routine. My son was on Spring Break last week, and we enjoyed everything BUT routine. We broke up with routine and loved it! I think that you have to be submersed in routine from time to time to appreciate the moments when it doesn’t hold you hostage. One way we broke with routine was to go to Winter Park skiing for 2 days!

Winter Park, CO

Thursday’s skiing was definitely “spring skiing” with the sun beaming down and the warmth coursing through our bodies.

Loving skiing in CO

I am fairly new to skiing. I am sure seeing my skis flailing through the air as I head towards the snow covered ground does not remind anyone of gracefulness. On one of my falls, this was my view. So to take it all in, I sat there, took off my gloves, reached for my phone, and clicked the button. All the while, my hubs and N were waiting on me at the bottom.

Falling in Beauty

Maybe next time, I will invest in one of these.

When the lifts closed on that first day, we rode the cabriolet back to our home for the night, changed out of our winter gear, revisited the cabriolet and landed in a Belgium restaurant in Winter Park Village called Cheeky Monk.

Cheeky Monk

I enjoyed what seemed like a cauldron of mussels and a Blonde Beer. It was such a nice way to end such a nice day!

Mussels and a Cold Beer

The next day brought a few snow showers and a few more clouds, but a lot more great memories. What a treat that my little guy gets to learn to ski at a young age. Never has my age been so prevalent in my head as when I see him “fearless” flying down the mountain, making quick S turns, skiing through the trees, and making small jumps. Oh, to be fearless again. Oh, and the hubs…fearless and an amazing skier.

Contemplating the JUMP

Going for the JUMP

I walked around a portion of that day just taking in the scenery that is not the slopes.

I welcomed the break up with routine. I look forward to summer break even more!

Do you thrive in routine? Do you occasionally like to tell routine to take a hike? What do you like to do when routine is not holding you hostage? Please share the little things that you enjoy and that make you smile.