This was originally posted by kkh Photos - Off the Desk. You can find the full list of ways to crank up your creativity on the kkh Photos blog.

I really like the randomness of taking 100 steps, as if you were a pirate following a treasure map. What treasure will you find when you stop after that last step?

Reading Toronto - Looking at the city through the eyes of the many designers, architects, writers, and artists in the city.

Imagining Toronto - A local exploration of culture and place, a lived geography of the city and region.

Imagining Toronto, the blog. -
Amy Lavender Harris- A geographer and environmental phenomenologist. Occasional rabble rouser. Known to be fiercely independent, curious, principled, persistent.

Jennifer Burns: Local Ruins - Abandoned and reclaimed buildings in Toronto.

Toronto Psychogeography Society - A loose collection of relentless flâneurs, explorers and walkers. Participants step out of their daily routine and explore the city's overlooked corners to imagine the dynamics of a better future urban environment.

Murmur Toronto - An archival audio project that collects and curates stories set in specific Toronto locations, told by Torontonians themselves.

Canadian New Media Awards - To recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of individuals and companies in the Canadian new media industry.

If you have a little money to spare and a full tank of gas, yard sales and community rummage/ bakes sales are lots of fun. They are a mini adventure, each one is unique and you really never know what odd thing you will come across. It's almost like reading someone's journal to see what's for sale in their yard.

Don't go expecting to find your fortune in what someone else is tossing out. It's rare that someone sells a priceless antique for a quarter. Though the most likely are the seniors who think the stuff they grew up with is just junk. Don't laugh, I bet you think the same way about a lot of that junk you've thrown out over the years. Lately, there is more talk about collecting. Which, of course, really makes all that stuff even more useless. After all, it's only worth something if it's hard to find. If everyone is collecting the same thing it won't be worth anything, not even what you paid for it in the first place.

Anyway, back to the pleasures of vintage driveway shopping. I like looking at all the junk. The books marked down to 5 cents from a dollar originally. You know those have seen more than just one garage sale. Then there is the priceless artwork. Some of it a pretty print that got boring, some of it homemade from that pottery class 3 years ago. Have you ever bought the homemade stuff? I find most of it unappealing. But I have bought a print or two. I especially like those big eyed girls from the 70's. I seldom see them though I did come across some on EBay. But, EBay isn't as much fun as a real garage sale. It's too easy for one thing. You don't get the full thrill of a "find!" on EBay.

I look at the clothes too. Not to wear any of them. Nope, I look at the fabric, the fastenings and the fripperies. I like to think of how I could adapt those old clothes into something new and magnificent. Maybe a backpack. I've yet to find or create the ultimate backpack. That isn't keeping me from going on with the project though. I've got tons of fabric and the odd, really cool zipper too.

All that kitchenware too. When we were newly married I actually did buy someone's used up pots and pans. I didn't like it though. It seemed so unsanitary. You can bet I scrubbed them well before I ever cooked in them. It's kind of funny though. It's not like they weren't using them to cook the same food from the same stores as I was. I just didn't like the idea of cooking in someone's leftovers I guess.

Of course, kitchen appliances and gadgetry are exempt from that. Haven't you always wanted a juice machine, a bread machine, a deep fryer, a steamer, an ice cream maker! How exciting to find them going cheap and never used at a garage sale! Of course, chances are they will sit, unused in your cupboard too. But, still...

Now I'm getting all nostalgic and percolating at the thought of yard sales to come. It won't be long now. Here at least, it should start up in the next couple of weekends. Likely in the south they are already deep into the drive by shopping scene.

It's a lovely day here today. The weather is clear and a little breezy. Just the right kind of day for a picnic outside. Bring a kite too, its also great kite flying weather.

Put together a picnic the easy way. Bring bread, cold cuts, cheese and mustard and make your sandwiches outside. That way there is less mess in the kitchen. Don't forget something to drink, juice is nice on picnics. If you have snacky foods like chips or peanuts grab them too.

Spread an old blanket out on the grass. Make sure the grass is free of things to stick you, like thistles or your Mom's garden! Sit on the blanket and have your feast. Chat, sing goofy songs, or play games. Enjoy the day and being outside.

When you're done, tidy up. Its pretty easy to tidy up a picnic. After you take the games, garbage and leftovers inside you just pick up your blanket and give it a shake. The birds and bugs will be happy to eat up all your crumbs.

Too bad you can't have a picnic outside every day.

Have you ever thought of all the people in the world? Each country, each town, each street and each house or apartment with each of the people in them. Kind of amazing how many people there are when you think about it.

I'm moving to a new town, in a new place. There is a lot you can find out about towns on the Internet. Its nice to see what they look like, what restaurants, local events, stores and services are in the towns. I like to look for garden clubs, history clubs and sewing groups. What would you look for?

Here are some of the towns I might move to. What do you know about your own town? Do you know where the local museum is? Have you been to the library? Where do the local sports teams play?

Have a happy day in your town, in your little corner of the world.