So Many Questions

Paul found the most unusual....and creepy object ever. He was on his bike when he got a glimpse of the hair.....and he had to stop to see what it was. And whatever it was....was stuffed into a little pink plastic backpack....with broken straps. It all looked a little suspicious.

What was inside was strange and creepy....but also made Paul laugh for hours.

I have soooo many question.

And just because it's Halloween week...I will allow this creepy found object to join the gang at the puzzle table. I moved tiny Jesus close by to keep an eye on her. But after Halloween...I know exactly where she will find a new home. I'll fill you in when the time is right.

And on a more positive note....look what I dropped off at Maine Needs today. They put out a call for feminine hygiene products last week...so that's where I spent the money I made from my cyanotype cards sold at Winslow Farm this summer. I'm thinking of Margie as I work on this puzzle...and I thought about her as I made my donation today. I had a powerful experience last year donating tampons.....you can read that story here: https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2025/03/margies-bookshelf.html

Late Summer Garden.....

....and a fish!

Paul found this red plastic fish while he was out and about today....

and I tucked her in the garden. 

My texture garden is that it's just as pretty in the late summer/early fall as it was in the middle of the season....just a little bit of browning.

Joyful Abundance!

Happened Upon

I happened upon a fabulous garden on my morning walk...these are some of my favorite shots1 

Zinnias and dahlias are such great pops of color in a late summer garden. Every time I see them I have to stop and take a closer look. There are so many petals tightly packed in....I love to catch them in this unfurling stage. 

And isn't this globe amaranth spectacular! It looks fiberoptic.

I do love the bright summer colors of zinnias.

And just look at all that's happening here. Isn't this dahlia amazing. 

I'll be visiting this garden path again!

Paul happened upon an unusual found object while out on his bike ride.  

This tiger will dominate my puzzle gang...but we'll see how he does for a while. He's a little aggressive looking.

This new Liberty wooden puzzle was gifted to me from Alyson. Wooden puzzles are such a delight to put together...but this one is going to be a challenge. 

But I'll happen upon the right strategy!

Carry It Home!

On our way to Monson I did a little paper cutting in the car. Just a few simple things....and just the inside cuts. 

Today I enjoyed some time on the patio and did the outside cuts with a pair of scissors.  They will come in handy in my joy journals or on one of my tags. You can never have enough leaf shapes.

 

I also made a few photo montages to send to Alyson...and Janice and Patsy....so why not share a couple of them here. This first one needs a little explanation. Janice, Patsy and I walked a mile or so into town on morning. It was a lovely day and downtown Monson is cozy and quaint. There's a pottery shop, a little general store and a very nice art gallery with all kinds of magic from local artists.

Patsy and Janice bought beautiful handmade baskets. Janice's was small and easy to carry....but Patsy bought a handwoven hamper. Yes...a hamper. Luckily it had two handles so she and I were able to walk it the mile back home. We had to switch hands every 10 minutes or so...but we were pretty tickled with ourselves not going back with the car.

I've carried many things home over the years and I still have several of them in my home that have been painted or rehabbed. I love repurposing other people's cast offs! 

This was a great find that I carried home with the help of Anita and Janet:

https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2015/04/one-persons-trash.html

And this repurposed table is in our entry way that Paul carried home:

https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2023/08/another-table-project.html

And this found coffee table is still in our living room...it got driven home:
https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2021/04/no-1123-12-d.html

One more montage with the truckload of stuff from the boat house that went to the dump the next day. It was so nice to help with a camp cleanup project!

Hydrangea

Magic exists where you choose to find it!

It was a glorious summer day with just the right mix of chores and play.

I'm not sure if this was a chore or play...but I got the papers cut and folded for 50 more match boxes for Folly 101. It was a picture perfect afternoon on the patio while I folded...and I was hoping to get a glimpse of the baby bluebirds that fledged while I was gone. No such luck.

Look at this fabulous found object Paul found while was gone! And the best part is that it lights up when you bounce it.    

 

I had a good visit with Patty today....and her hydrangea were gorgeous...coming and going.

I ADORE her peace flag...that color is just perfect!

We could sure use a little world peace right now!

Speaking of hydrangea...going with my now and then idea...here's a few little arrangements I did a while back that still make me smile. I'm choosing to find magic in hydrangea today!

Everyday Art

Hang on to people who find joy in your joy! Case Kenny

And I would add....find joy in other people's joy...and maybe they'll hang on to you!

Tracie sent me this photo calling it a fun found object! She knew I would love it...and I do!

It seems odd to find things like this at the very beginning of summer....but they remind us that nature is constantly in motion.

Don't just scroll by the photo. Zoom in. Look at the colors and patterns in the leaf. It's a work of art!

Then notice the placement of the leaf and the shadows and backgrounds. Did you notice the stark shadow of the stem? Everyday art! 

Well done Tracie. I'm celebrating your joy and I'm hanging on to you! 

 Caught this bee on the foxglove on my walk...natures everyday art!

Centerpiece

Our house good friends John and Sue arrived today....and we had an absolutely joy-filled day. 

I wrote the draft of this post this morning before they arrived:
 I could have bought flowers for the dining room table....but instead I'm using some of our found objects as the centerpiece. 

I'm certain there's a rainbow in there!

I can always count on Lynn Giunta for a rainbow...and a little joy.

Found Rainbows

Because of the Consciously Creative class I took from Philippa Stanton back in 2017 I started collecting found objects. 

These were some of my very first finds....and I happen to have a whole rainbow. I was hooked. There are interesting things out there in the world...and everything has a story and connection to someone you don't know. 

Paul has been helping me for years....this photo was taken in 2020. We're a little more particular these days...but we're still picking up interesting and unusual found objects.

This morning I was working on my rainbow puzzle and got through the pink pretty quickly.

I pulled the Pink Panther and the pink rubber ducky up for a closer look.....and that gave me an idea.

I had to search for a few extra found objects to fill in the full spectrum...but why now have a rainbow on my puzzle table for the month of June! Silly? Yes. But sometimes you just have to be silly and find rainbows.

We're Here!

"Hey world...we're here!" That's the text I got this morning from Patty along with this first photo to alert me that the baby house finches hatched! One was ready for some food!

I walked down a little later in the morning....and they were sound asleep....just a little pile of feathers. It will be fun to watch them over the next few weeks. 

I walked back down later this afternoon and caught momma bird in the nest. The only thing better than having this little family right down the street is having a good friend right down the street. Lucky me!

And look at this fabulous found object! Thanks Paul!

It was a good day to be here!

Your Knew it Was Coming

You know what's attractive? Gallivanting through life like joy is the whole point. Case Kenny

It didn't take long to pull out all the littles from my found object jar...you knew it was coming. The only requirement was that it had a face....with the exception of the soccer player in front of the Pink Panther who is missing an arm and his head.....but I didn't want to hold that against him. These littles can all hang out until I have to move my puzzle up on the table. Taking a few minutes to play today...was good for for me soul. Joy was the whole point!

When I went to grab the found objects jar.....

I found Paul's sock monkey comforting the not so little found dinosaur. Does it get any cuter than that! 

All are welcome and cared for here! 

This little shelfie shot tells such a wonderful story of some of our precious possessions. From left to right: My large jar of Adam's stars, There's an Elephant in the Bathtub....the only momento I have from my childhood, Paul's childhood sock monkey comforting the found dinosaur,

It Fell From the Sky, a gifted book from Jane about a found marble, a vintage fruit puzzle from Margie, my jar of found objects, and just a few of the beloved board books from our family children's library. 

Who knew such a lineup could bring such joy today. You probably knew!

I do love that all these sentimental childlike things are curated in one place! 

I like to gallivant through life as if joy is the whole point!

Late this afternoon I saw an ad for an app called Colorify. I checked it out and I could have signed up for a free week...then then there would be $40 a year. I didn't sign up...but I did get one free coloring sheet...and this was what I chose. It's actually pretty cool! I bet you didn't see this coming. I didn't!

Littles

Today just flew by! After taking two journals to the post office I spent most of the morning in the kitchen doing food prep and a good chunk of the afternoon on the phone with my lifelong friend Becky....with just a bit of this and that in between. ALL of it helped make the world feels more hopeful....despite the news. Tomorrow I'll be back in the studio working on journals!

Thank you to all the thoughtful comments yesterday. I loved hearing what made you feel more hopeful! 

I got an email today from Alice in Maryland who stumbled on the blog just a few weeks ago. She was surprised that I was giving my art away....and quite taken with my puzzle gange...which she referred to as littles (she has some too)...and she loved the new Gee's Bend quilt puzzle and wanted more information. If you are reading this Alice....welcome to the Joyful Puttering blog family. You're going to fit right in! 

But what Alice might not know is that I've been collecting found objects and littles for years. With the exception of the Pink Panther and the orange cone....everything on my puzzle table is a found object.

So on this "where did the day go" day....I'm going to celebrate my found objects...especially the littles.

I found this photo of a few that aren't on the puzzle table. And I have a feeling I am going to be compelled to go through ALL my objects to find all the littles. That could be fun!

A few arrangements I've done over the years of my found objects...

and there are soooo many more. Including littles.