Happy List: #156

Hello, hello!

This week I shared a belated progress report on the projects we’ve tackled at our Colonial Farmhouse. Thank you for your encouragement over the past six months. Every kind word and thought sent our way definitely bolstered our spirits.

I also shared the handkerchief art I made out of vintage handkerchiefs that used to belong to my grandparents. Handkerchief is such a funny word, don’t you think? It doesn’t really roll off the tongue easily.

Here is the Happy List!

LEATHER HEADBOARD

This portfolio of Banda Property in the U.K. is amazing, but check out that bed. The headboard portion would be completely doable as a DIY.

You’re thinking about it now, aren’t you? ME TOO! A long time ago I did DIY a faux leather grid headboard, but it didn’t go all the way to the ceiling.

(image: Banda Property)

FREE IMAGES

The Biodiversity Heritage Library has over 150,000 biological sketches and illustrations that you can download and use for free. These images are now part of the public domain and would make great art for you home!

Some of the illustrations are from Charles Darwin’s personal library.

I found it easier to look at the library’s Flickr page first. Then if you want to download the high resolution image to print, there is a link that will take you back to the original image on the library’s website.

This illustration is gorgeous and it’s just the tip of the iceberg!

(image: Biodiversity Heritage Library)

FREE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN LUXEMBOURG

We have traveled to Luxembourg and LOVED it. The kids and I have only been to Luxembourg City, but Handy Husband has traveled out into the countryside.

Luxembourg is a landlocked country. Many people commute into Luxembourg from other countries to work. Traffic has become a nightmare, so now public transportation will be free for everyone in the hopes that it will reduce road congestion.

I found it interesting to learn that according to this article rider fares only covered 8% of the cost to run the transportation system. By offering free rides, it really isn’t costing them much more. This could end up being an interesting case study for other governments to follow.

Plus, this article was a good excuse to show you a picture of Luxembourg from the top of this glass elevator you can ride…for free!

If you want to read about our trip to Luxembourg, click here.

DO YOU HAVE AN INTERNAL DIALOGUE?

In the last two months the Internet has discovered that some people have an internal monologue and others don’t.

I do have one. It’s very chatty. I think in complete sentences and hear my own voice in my head. It’s a constant one-sided, stays-in-my-head conversation. And before you make jokes, it’s only my voice. No other voices. Ha!

Handy Husband does not have an internal monologue. He does not understand why I don’t understand how he thinks or reads. It boggles my mind.

Do you have an internal monologue? My son doesn’t. My daughter says she can do both.

The baffled college kid in this video interviewing his friend who doesn’t have an internal monologue is completely me.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY IDEAS

Every year I have to remind you that I have a whole bunch of St. Patrick’s Day celebration and decor ideas on the blog.

One of my favorites DIYs that I use year-round is this horseshoe.

CONTINUOUSLY PREGNANT

Let’s all raise our collective glasses to the swamp wallaby of Australia. This is the only known animal that scientists believe is CONTINUALLY PREGNANT.

Did you hear that gasp of horror? That was coming from my shocked uterus.

Swamp wallabies have two uteruses each with its own cervix and ovary. Apparently, there’s a whole mating ritual that insures there’s always one bun in the oven. Mind you, she’s nursing the other bun at the same time.

Talk about a superhero.

(image: Wikipedia)

If you want to learn more about this, of course you do, the details are in this National Geographic article.

THICK VANITY TOP 

I’ve had this idea in my head for a thick vanity top made from wood and then I stumbled upon this picture.

(image: Decorpad)

My idea is a bit different than this, but I’m still showing Handy Husband this picture as a reference. Somehow that works better than me gesturing with my hands when I’m trying to explain my vision. Imagine that.

I’d also love to have a trough sink like that one, but our whole goal is not to mess with plumbing. Installing wall mounted faucets would definitely mess with our plumbing.

STILL TRUE TODAY

In 1947, Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote a letter to school children. 73 years later and her quote is still spot on. You can find the link to the entire letter here and the actual letter here.

“The Little House books are stories of long ago. The way we live and your schools are much different now, so many changes have made living and learning easier. But the real things haven’t changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures and to be cheerful and have courage when things go wrong.” – Laura Ingalls Wilder in 1947

In another letter in the 1950s, she wrote a similar letter to school children, but added a bit to the ending paragraph.

“The “Little House” books are stories of long ago. Today our way of living and our schools are much different; so many things have made living and learning easier. But the real things haven’t changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with the simple pleasures and to be cheerful and have courage when things go wrong. Great improvements in living have been made because every American has always been free to pursue his happiness, and so long as Americans are free they will continue to make our country ever more wonderful.”

Happy Friday! I hope you enjoyed this week’s Happy List.

Go forth and enjoy the heck out of your weekend!