Love, Laughter, and Life

Adventures With a Book Lover


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Tic-Tac-Toe in the Garden

Tic-tac-toe in the garden! The wood chunk topped by an unfinished wood circle is complete and ready for play. The battle is on!

I came home one day to see that my honey had added a table top to the gorgeous log I’ve been hoarding. Yes, cool wood logs are hoard-worthy. πŸ™‚ Thanks to some good friends who shared their haul, I’ve been hanging on to several for just the right project (besides being used as extra seats).

I showed my honey the size and placement of the tic-tac-toe board I was imagining, and off he went to wood burn the game board. Once the top was burned in, play immediately commenced, though the rocks wear not yet ready. My creative grands figured out a plan though, smooth stones versus pointy stones (river rocks and gravel). Perfect!

But Nana just had to have painted river rocks for playing pieces…

A pleasant side benefit is that the tic-tac-toe table also works as a garden table, just right for reading books and eating snacks.

I used mineral oil on top of the unfinished wood, to add just a bit of weather protection. I’m still not sure if I will add more, perhaps wood wax. But I love the mix of bark and unstained wood.

And surprise, as I was oiling the wood, I discovered a praying mantis egg mass on the bark! This table is all around good for the garden!

Ready for the next garden project. Any ideas? What’s in your garden?


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Haiku Moment: leaking love

upon reflection

holes dripping lost connection

my heart leaking love

leaking love by Angie Quantrell

photo by Angie Quantrell, Tieton River Nature Trail, Washington state


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Sunday Inspiration

Photo by Angie Quantrell

Little Naches, HWY 410, Washington

Believe it or not, this was taken on February 19, 2022. No snow, ice, or signs of winter. But winter it is. This rock faces the late sun, so all evidence of the season has melted to rest at the base, along with showers of fallen rocks. It’s not a safe place to stay for long-snap the picture and move along down the road!

Taken before the next winter storm hits with a predicted 12-24 inches of new snow.


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Haiku Moment: broken

a heart, a country

seems indestructible, yet

words wound deeply: heal

broken by Angie Quantrell

photo by Angie Quantrell, Yakima Valley


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Haiku Moment: river rocks

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ancient, speckled orbs

water smooth, sand-polished gems

glisten, river rocks

 

river rocks by Angie Quantrell


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Haiku Moment: morning frost

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spikes of glass reflect

shimmer, glow in morning beams

frost swaps dull for bright

 

morning frost by Angie Quantrell


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Happy Hump Day Haiku Challenge: stone heart

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there you are, my heart,

stone captured, frozen mid-beat

how to get you out?

 

stone heart by Angie Quantrell

 

Join the Haiku Challenge. Write and share a Haiku poem about stones or hearts. Thanks!


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Holiday Haiku – 25 Days of Christmas Haiku: gift

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pinterest attempt,

Baby, Christmas gift, story

told in painted rock

 

gift

by Angie Quantrell

 

Thanks for joining me on a Christmas Haiku journey as I celebrate with words, thoughts, and photos that take me deep into my family’s Christmas traditions. Read more Christmas HaikuΒ here.
May this Season of Light brighten your life and fill your heart with true gifts.

 


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Clay Tiles + Wood Benches = Fun for Kids

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Did you know that:

  • Dried-up markers make excellent painting tools when dipped in clay saucers of water?
  • Water color makers make pretty cool paintings on the clay tiles of a patio.
  • Chalk is another fun tool. Water, chalk, clay tiles. That’s it.
  • Dirt. Always fun. Anyplace. Dig out the gardening tools and construction toys.
  • Wood benches also make the perfect canvas for dried-up markers and water and chalk and water.
  • River rocks, those flat, smooth sorts that are so awesome to hold and touch, make wonderful stacking blocks. Add them to clay saucers to experiment with how they change colors. And paint them with chalk and markers.
  • Add some off-roading or construction vehicles for a different type of exploration.
  • Turn the tiles over. Bumpy road! (My tiles have ridges on the back.)
  • Cut fallen branches into logs for building. BirchΒ trees areΒ a personal favorite. My kiddos love peeling the paper off (extra fine motor practice) and I can use it for crafts. Or they can.
  • All of the above? Leave as is and let the rain or sprinkler wash away the traces. Or spritz the clay tiles and benches with water and TA-DA, clean, fresh canvases for more fun!

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So go ahead, enjoy those dried-up markers, clay tiles, rocks, branches, and benches. I love watching my grands explore, create, make a mess, and explore. Me? Not a care in the world since it all washes off.

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