Whats on your mantle?

I just had to share this simple yet beautiful image of greenery for the holidays... or year-round. Kinda terranium inspired. Hmmm, off to collect little branches. As for the anklers... is it just me, or is there something a little creepy about them?

What The Naked Squirrel is reading...

Stumbled upon Hugh MacLeods book "Ignore Everybody, Keys to Creativity." Although I have been very busy lately in squirrel land Iam feeling a little in a state of mediocracy, needing a kick in the but. Funny how books and information seem to 'find us' when we need it most. Macleods book offers bite size pieces of his advice/experience, often humerous. Squirrels Are known for short attention spans! This book reminds me of an Oscar Wilde quote I have frequently reminded myself of "be yourself, everyone else is taken". The nature of creativity is a reflection of the creator. That is why the authour encourages readers to ...ignore everybody, climb your own everest, to avoid crowds and the limitations they impose, to "sing in your own voice" what you create.

His final page gives simple advice, he writes "Work hard, keep at it. Live simply, remain humble. Stay positive. Create your own luck. Be nice. Be polite.

Tea cup collection

Spent pretty much the entire day yesterday squirrelling around thrift stores for treasure. Let me show you what I got!
Bunch of vintage lace, cannot wait to create!
A pretty tea-cup for my collection... Iam up to four. Hunting for the perfect place to display them. I got a whole bunch of fabrics as well, yay!

Words Whats your favourite!

Words have the power to evoke any emotion in us. Striking me as interesting topic. I am very curious if people have a favourite word and what emotion it evokes for them.
Here is some interesting one to me...

ALAS - beautiful to say, but you generally hear something sad to follow.
OXYMORON - Uh ya. totally fun to say, can only be said when it fits context, cool definition too.
TUMULTUOUS - Sounds strange to the ear... I tend to think 'loud and confused'
BABUSHKA - Sounds either spy-like or potato picker with fabric headwear.
PROTOCOL - Not my fave, kinda gives me stomach knots... very orderly, clipboard-ish sounding. Makes me wanna go the other way. Cause chances are good I did not follow "protocol". yuck
AMOK - Liking that! Evoking that someone has taken off. I find it hard not to smile when I say it, also makes me feel much older than my years 'weird you say?" please try it. "They have all run amuck"

Thankfully Iam Thankful... My List

This time of year I like to reflect on things Iam thankful for. Tiny reminders to be thankful have somewhat recently become my habit. My rule for myself is to "just write a line a day". One line of something I was grateful for that day.
I am offering up a few snippets from my "line a day"...
Iam thankful for:

*onions and garlic cooking together
*chandeliers
*the smell of the woods
*when creative energy flows
*movie theatre popcorn, butter? yes please
*getting to know my parents as people
*realizing how small Iam in this vast world
*Christmas lights make everything pretty