a random collection of interesting finds and good reads (at least I think so…)

This is my cousin Mark playing his piano after his home was flooded with mud in Colorado. Beautiful yet haunting. So proud of him.  It was written about on a few news sites as well like Fox News Denver, Upworthy etc making it go viral.

I love this article from the Huffington Post on kids in church.  I’m STILL self conscious even with a 6-year old.

“I know it’s hard, but thank you for what you do when you bring your children to church. Please know that your family — with all of its noise, struggle, commotion, and joy — are not simply tolerated, you are a vital part of the community gathered in worship.”

The Best of Craigslist. This just made me lose it one night.  These are so funny. Some not suitable for the wimpy or easily offended.

Boy Writes Letter to Santa. I loved this story.  What a sweet brother to want his sister left alone.  His early letter to Santa made me laugh and cry.

I don’t get to read a lot of blogs but there are a few that I try to get to almost everyday. I thought I’d start sharing a few posts here and there that resonated with me:

One is Hollywood Housewife. I love that she’s so down to earth but I can vicariously live through glamorous Hollywood side too.  A few recent posts I loved:

Rest and Expectations

Keep your Home Clean Enough for a Police Raid

And Shauna Neiquist. Love her.  I lend her books out right and left.  She has a beautiful way of writing about faith. A few recent posts I loved:

On Marriage, Music, & the Fire Escape

It’s all about the Heart, Not the Hustle.

Um, that’s it for now. I don’t get out much….even on the Interwebs.

a random collection of interesting finds and good reads (at least I think so…)

I love the Google Art Project. You can zoom in on famous works of art to see up close detail….closer than you’d ever be allowed to get in a museum. Here’s a closeup of my zooming in on a  necklace in Renoir’s Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette:

Looks kind of like a peacock feather:

If I baked….this is what I would make:

Here is the link to the Earth Cake.

Here is the link to the Jupiter Cake.

And here is the link to the Spherical Concentric Layer Cake tutorial.

I do not condone vandalism….but at least this graffiti is done where no one can really see it right?  Check out the rest of the hotel graffiti art here:

Never heard of a cucamelon and now I know I’ve been looking for them all my life. Miniature rocks. I wish they were actually little watermelons so I could slice them into wedges and serve to a family of ants.

“Incredible, small cucumber-like fruit are shaped like baby watermelons. They are good added to salads or can be pickled. They have a cucumber-like taste with a touch of lemon.” – Rare Seeds

…a random collection of interesting finds and good reads (at least I think so…)

At night I think about things like: how is a Triscuit made? or how do they get that cherry goo in the perfect chocolate casing? …and I found this old article from 1987 with some great answers.

I’m having some serious creative envy right now. I love the lettering and illustrations of Mary Kate McDevitt:

Images via Mary Kate McDevitt on Etsy

If you could read my recent placemat survey you might have noticed that my biggest fear is the ocean beyond the beach….yep, I don’t go in.  I don’t think I’d even venture in with this wetsuit….but maybe if Boo insisted on going in the ocean I’d outfit her with one.  Very cool invention via Mental Floss:

Photo credit YouTube.

These hand drawn detailed murals are incredible by artist Charlotte Mann:

I’ve talked about my obsession with orphaned photos before. Check out this film on Mark Kologi. Mark has collected and sold millions of forgotten personal photos of complete strangers.

If you get a chance check out the new issue of Somerset Home (there’s an LBB project too!):

Updated: If I won the lottery I think I would splurge on this….just so I could stare at it’s miniatureness all day. An Underwood typewriter for ants: