Well Easter is here again. A day that means so much more than a bunny and a basket. The consumerism around this holiday is so bothersome. Children seem to have absolutely no idea about the true meaning of Easter. Being spiritual by nature we have talked a lot about what Good Friday means and what Easter is about. It is interesting to have a conversation about such topics with an 8 year old and a 10 year old. They have a definite perspective.
Today was a quiet day for us due to the fact that n was ill. She awoke at about 2:30 in the am with the stomach bug. Unfortunately the illness continued throughout the day and into the evening. I'm hoping she will be better tomorrow as we were expecting Auntie A to come and spend the evening. We had also hoped to go to the Boston Ballet School's presentation of Peter and the Wolf at the Duxbury Performing Arts Center. We will have to see the presentation another time as n will certainly not be up for that tomorrow.
I hope everyone is having a restful and reflective weekend.
Happy Easter.
Peace!
Friday, April 10, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
Reconnecting
Well I have been remiss in posting here. Have a lot to share but not enough time to compose a good post.
So enough about that, let's move forward.
I'm not sure if I have ever talked much about my Dad's side of the family. As a young child I didn't spend time with my paternal Grandmother. She died when I was a young girl. I don't know the year but I do remember going with my father and my brother to the hospital when she was dying. I have a recollection of being left in the lobby of the hospital when my father went up to see his mother. For some reason I do not remember my mother being with us. I think there was little love lost between my mother and her in laws. Not entirely sure why that was the case but it simply was. So I'm guessing her death would have been in the mid to late seventies, I would have been anywhere from 6 to 9 years old. I think probably on the younger end of that spectrum. Would it have been customary for children of that age to be left in a hospital lobby as I seem to remember? I wonder... So the history is complicated on this side of the family. I think part of the lack of communication or connection to Dad's side of the family had a lot to do with the relationship between my Mother and her in laws. After my Grandmother passed away there was a rift in the family that had to do with the sale of her house and the disbursement of her moneys and things. I think that my Aunt actually remained in the home rather than selling it and splitting the proceeds with her brothers. The details are foggy but I do know that we didn't stay in touch with my Aunt and her family. We kept in touch with Dad's brother J and his wife for many years but later in my early teenage years there was another falling out with that family due to complex matters that I won't go into here. Many years passed and we got the news that Dad's sister R. had passed away. Well off we went to her funeral. At the wake I met my cousin D who is probably 10 to 15 years my senior. Well looking at her was like looking in a mirror. It was uncanny. She is actually the reason for this rambling post. We have exchanged Christmas cards for years and before Christmas this year she contacted me regarding photos she found packed away in her attic. She planned to copy and send them along. Well last week I received the package and a lovely note. Included in the package were photos of my Dad with his sister and her first husband, my Grandmother and my Grandfather as well as photos of Dad with his brother. The photos were fascinating. There were a couple photos of Dad with his Sister and if I didn't know better I would think that she was his Mom. They had a stunning resemblance. I'm planning on reconnecting with D. We have a date and time to talk by phone and hopefully that will lead to more. I'll let you know if anything interesting comes from our conversation.
So enough about that, let's move forward.
I'm not sure if I have ever talked much about my Dad's side of the family. As a young child I didn't spend time with my paternal Grandmother. She died when I was a young girl. I don't know the year but I do remember going with my father and my brother to the hospital when she was dying. I have a recollection of being left in the lobby of the hospital when my father went up to see his mother. For some reason I do not remember my mother being with us. I think there was little love lost between my mother and her in laws. Not entirely sure why that was the case but it simply was. So I'm guessing her death would have been in the mid to late seventies, I would have been anywhere from 6 to 9 years old. I think probably on the younger end of that spectrum. Would it have been customary for children of that age to be left in a hospital lobby as I seem to remember? I wonder... So the history is complicated on this side of the family. I think part of the lack of communication or connection to Dad's side of the family had a lot to do with the relationship between my Mother and her in laws. After my Grandmother passed away there was a rift in the family that had to do with the sale of her house and the disbursement of her moneys and things. I think that my Aunt actually remained in the home rather than selling it and splitting the proceeds with her brothers. The details are foggy but I do know that we didn't stay in touch with my Aunt and her family. We kept in touch with Dad's brother J and his wife for many years but later in my early teenage years there was another falling out with that family due to complex matters that I won't go into here. Many years passed and we got the news that Dad's sister R. had passed away. Well off we went to her funeral. At the wake I met my cousin D who is probably 10 to 15 years my senior. Well looking at her was like looking in a mirror. It was uncanny. She is actually the reason for this rambling post. We have exchanged Christmas cards for years and before Christmas this year she contacted me regarding photos she found packed away in her attic. She planned to copy and send them along. Well last week I received the package and a lovely note. Included in the package were photos of my Dad with his sister and her first husband, my Grandmother and my Grandfather as well as photos of Dad with his brother. The photos were fascinating. There were a couple photos of Dad with his Sister and if I didn't know better I would think that she was his Mom. They had a stunning resemblance. I'm planning on reconnecting with D. We have a date and time to talk by phone and hopefully that will lead to more. I'll let you know if anything interesting comes from our conversation.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Time Goes By
Wow I can't believe that it is already March 19th. This month has been very busy and I have not posted as much as I like. The time just goes so quickly. I also have to admit that I now have a facebook page that has been a huge distraction. It is the 'fast food' of the blog world, at least that is how I look at facebook. I am going to try to be better about finding a balance between both. We'll see how that goes.
So let's catch up. ..
On March 5 I had a big birthday. I turned 40. It's odd to think of myself as a forty year old when I still feel like a twenty something inside. I guess in all honesty I don't think of age so much. It is just a number. I do become reflective around my birthday. I wish that all those years when my mother told me my birth story that I had had the presence of mind to write down all the details. I remember some of the story but not all of it and unfortunately I don't have anyone else who can fill in the gaps. Let this be a lesson to all the moms out there, young and old that you should record your child's birth story in writing because some day they will want to have a written record of that piece of oral history.
My work with Stand has been very busy. We are in the midst of a postcard campaign that will deposit about 10,000 card stock postcards to our local legislators at the statehouse. We are advocating for
No more lost ground, Efficiencies and cost savings, Long term funding,
and Innovations and investment to help all children succeed.
Check out this link if you live in MA and are interested in helping us reach our 10,000 card goal.
http://www.stand.org/postcard
We hosted an Information Meeting at my school this past week and were happy to add two new members to our ranks. Very exciting to have new blood in our organization.
School has been busy on all fronts as well. My children are constantly working on one project or another. N is also in prep mode for MCAS . He will have to do the test booklet as well as the long composition this year. The entire process has him stressed. All 4th graders are expected to write for 6 hours on long comp day. How developmentally inappropriate! I would like to meet the adult who would sit and work on the same project at work for six hours straight without the added support of coworkers, computers or conference calls. I just don't understand why more parents don't find this requirement unreasonable. Why don't people stand up for their children?
Work is also busy. The children are beginning to anticipate the end of the year. Most of the children have been to Kindergarten registration and know that they will be at a new school next year. It is a very unsettled time.
That is all for now.
Peace!
So let's catch up. ..
On March 5 I had a big birthday. I turned 40. It's odd to think of myself as a forty year old when I still feel like a twenty something inside. I guess in all honesty I don't think of age so much. It is just a number. I do become reflective around my birthday. I wish that all those years when my mother told me my birth story that I had had the presence of mind to write down all the details. I remember some of the story but not all of it and unfortunately I don't have anyone else who can fill in the gaps. Let this be a lesson to all the moms out there, young and old that you should record your child's birth story in writing because some day they will want to have a written record of that piece of oral history.
My work with Stand has been very busy. We are in the midst of a postcard campaign that will deposit about 10,000 card stock postcards to our local legislators at the statehouse. We are advocating for
No more lost ground, Efficiencies and cost savings, Long term funding,
and Innovations and investment to help all children succeed.
Check out this link if you live in MA and are interested in helping us reach our 10,000 card goal.
http://www.stand.org/postcard
We hosted an Information Meeting at my school this past week and were happy to add two new members to our ranks. Very exciting to have new blood in our organization.
School has been busy on all fronts as well. My children are constantly working on one project or another. N is also in prep mode for MCAS . He will have to do the test booklet as well as the long composition this year. The entire process has him stressed. All 4th graders are expected to write for 6 hours on long comp day. How developmentally inappropriate! I would like to meet the adult who would sit and work on the same project at work for six hours straight without the added support of coworkers, computers or conference calls. I just don't understand why more parents don't find this requirement unreasonable. Why don't people stand up for their children?
Work is also busy. The children are beginning to anticipate the end of the year. Most of the children have been to Kindergarten registration and know that they will be at a new school next year. It is a very unsettled time.
That is all for now.
Peace!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Checking In
Well I have a lot to say but no energy in order to type a lengthy entry. As with everyone things have been busy. Children, school, Stand, birthday, Dad and so much more. So when I have more time and energy I will put together a post to catch up on all my news.
Hope you are all warm, safe and happy.
Peace!
Hope you are all warm, safe and happy.
Peace!
Monday, March 2, 2009
So we had another snow storm up here in the Northeast last night. It was just starting to snow more heavily last night around 9:15 as I left the Stand meeting in Waltham. It looked like we might just get enough snow to garner us a snow day. We have had lots of snow this year yet not a single true snow day. Sure we have had early release days and 2 hour delays, but nothing is so precious to a 4th and 2nd grader as an authentic snow day. So this morning as I lay sleeping just before my alarm was set to go off R came in and told me the good news...they cancelled school for the day. He also informed me that N was downstairs dancing a jig! Very exciting stuff this snow! Not long after R went to work and I rolled over to catch up on some extra shut eye N appears beside the bed. I looked at him with one eye as he informed me yet again that we had now school! I again went back to sleep. Aahh! to sleep late on a Monday, certainly one of my guilty pleasures. It was a pleasure to get up on my own schedule and enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee as the children played and I watched a bit of the Today show. Reality set in shortly however as I dressed for the weather and the task at hand: shoveling the driveway! YUCK At first glance the snow looked light and fluffy, however as I began to shovel I quickly realized that under the top layer of fluffy snow was a thick layer of frozen slush, sleet and icy snow. What a workout! I was able to get through about 2/3rds of the driveway and the mailbox before needing a break. There is enough room for both cars to park so I'm all set with shoveling. I'm hoping R will finish up the little that is left. We'll probably need to de ice as well. We'll see.
So I want to share some exciting news from Stand. First we are well on our way with our postcard campaign. We are using this new tool to show the legislators how much their constituents truly care about education. Our goal is to hand deliver at least 10,000 postcards to the state house at our rally on March 24th. I hope we have even more than 10,000. We are using all methods available to pass the word including web links, a facebook postcard page and physical postcards out in the field. Check out this link and fill out a postcard if you are vote in MA
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Connections
So have you ever felt dis connected? I have been feeling that way lately. Today I spent time with my Dad and saw a man who is different than the man who raised me. He is old and feeble. His mind is changed due to alcohol. He is no longer the provider and caregiver but the one who is being cared for and watched over. He is not the person who is in my mind's eye when I speak with him on the telephone. At times I have glimmers of what or who he used to be but then he goes on to repeat the story he just told me or perhaps even asks about his age. Dis connected. or Differently connected. I am not sure.
To be honest I have felt a sense of dis connection since I learned of the tragic death of my cousin Coley last week. I googled him because I needed more information and found his Myspace pagehttp://www.myspace.com/colemanmellett . Coley was a young, talented jazz musician. I listened to his music and looked at his photos and even though I was looking at a virtual stranger I saw something in his face. Last night I looked at his MySpace page again and clicked over to his wife's page http://www.myspace.com/jeaniebryson. I guess I should call her a widow now. She is an accomplished Jazz singer. I listened to her music and looked at her photos. I read the messages left on both of these pages and was struck by the fact that this man was my second cousin yet I did not know him. After reading the messages and looking at the photos and listening to the music I realized how much I would have enjoyed knowing this young man. Even though I had never met Coley when I looked at his photo, one in particular I saw myself and my brother, my uncle, his uncle, my other cousins. I saw my family in his face. Just typing these words brings up so much emotion. He was part of me, my family yet I never knew him. Knowing how I am feeling about this tragedy I can only imagine how his family feels right now.
Dis connected.
As a child my mother's family was a huge part of my life. My brother and I were the youngest of the cousins. According to our age we fit more with the second cousins than with the first. Yet I always gravitated toward my older cousins. It was with them that I belonged. I remember many family get togethers. These were happy times when we were all connected. We were connected through our mothers and fathers. They were the Mellett clan. Strong and loyal. We were connected. Over time with the loss of one brother and sister at a time the connections changed. I don't want to say they weekend because I still feel so drawn to this clan but things change. In my mind I understand that large families don't always remain in touch and that lives are busy. I get that but even with that conscious understanding my heart aches for those connections. Maybe they would make me feel the way I felt when I was young and carefree maybe not.
I wept today; feeling dis connected, longing to hear my mother's voice- her wisdom- her advise on how I can re connect. I wept today wanting to wish away the tragedy that has struck Coley's family. It seems to me with every new death I experience I find I am less able to manage. I have had much experience with death since I was a very young child I should be able to manage it by now, yet I don't.
I know that emotional upheaval is temporary. I know that I am blessed to be connected to my children and to my husband. I wish that I didn't yearn for more than what I have. But perhaps that is only human nature?
To be honest I have felt a sense of dis connection since I learned of the tragic death of my cousin Coley last week. I googled him because I needed more information and found his Myspace pagehttp://www.myspace.com/colemanmellett . Coley was a young, talented jazz musician. I listened to his music and looked at his photos and even though I was looking at a virtual stranger I saw something in his face. Last night I looked at his MySpace page again and clicked over to his wife's page http://www.myspace.com/jeaniebryson. I guess I should call her a widow now. She is an accomplished Jazz singer. I listened to her music and looked at her photos. I read the messages left on both of these pages and was struck by the fact that this man was my second cousin yet I did not know him. After reading the messages and looking at the photos and listening to the music I realized how much I would have enjoyed knowing this young man. Even though I had never met Coley when I looked at his photo, one in particular I saw myself and my brother, my uncle, his uncle, my other cousins. I saw my family in his face. Just typing these words brings up so much emotion. He was part of me, my family yet I never knew him. Knowing how I am feeling about this tragedy I can only imagine how his family feels right now.
Dis connected.
As a child my mother's family was a huge part of my life. My brother and I were the youngest of the cousins. According to our age we fit more with the second cousins than with the first. Yet I always gravitated toward my older cousins. It was with them that I belonged. I remember many family get togethers. These were happy times when we were all connected. We were connected through our mothers and fathers. They were the Mellett clan. Strong and loyal. We were connected. Over time with the loss of one brother and sister at a time the connections changed. I don't want to say they weekend because I still feel so drawn to this clan but things change. In my mind I understand that large families don't always remain in touch and that lives are busy. I get that but even with that conscious understanding my heart aches for those connections. Maybe they would make me feel the way I felt when I was young and carefree maybe not.
I wept today; feeling dis connected, longing to hear my mother's voice- her wisdom- her advise on how I can re connect. I wept today wanting to wish away the tragedy that has struck Coley's family. It seems to me with every new death I experience I find I am less able to manage. I have had much experience with death since I was a very young child I should be able to manage it by now, yet I don't.
I know that emotional upheaval is temporary. I know that I am blessed to be connected to my children and to my husband. I wish that I didn't yearn for more than what I have. But perhaps that is only human nature?
Sunday, February 22, 2009
February Vacation
Wow did February vacation go by quickly! I can't believe we are going back to school tomorrow. I think we are all ready to go back. That being said it is always so nice to linger each morning when we are on vacation and enjoy unscheduled time together. Having a week of leisure makes it challenging to return to the mindset so that we can get back into our routine. We really did have a restful vacation. N had a friend over a couple of days and that was enjoyable for him. n doesn't seem to have as much luck in the play date department but she and I spent some quality time together. I always enjoy being with her. I guess I am lucky in that I truly do enjoy spending vacations with my children. I know that this time is fleeting and that it is important to not only enjoy this time but savor every second.
So we spent one afternoon at our local bowling ally with the cousins. It was fun. I'm always amazed by the muscles that I use when I bowl. They always hurt the next day. Even with all that effort it turns out that I haven't an ounce of talent in the bowling arena. We spent another day playing board games. We played Life, Connect Four, Checkers, and Clue. It was so much fun! n was the big time winner in the game of Life. N enjoyed more bowling at a friends birthday party yesterday. Today we all had an 'at home' day I prepared a turkey dinner and worked on portfolios for school with n's help while N tried to finish the book Dear Mr. Henshaw. He does not like this book yet it is assigned so he has to finish reading it tonight. Sigh...he is a procrastinator like his mother.
Now I must go and supervise reading and bed time.
Peace!
So we spent one afternoon at our local bowling ally with the cousins. It was fun. I'm always amazed by the muscles that I use when I bowl. They always hurt the next day. Even with all that effort it turns out that I haven't an ounce of talent in the bowling arena. We spent another day playing board games. We played Life, Connect Four, Checkers, and Clue. It was so much fun! n was the big time winner in the game of Life. N enjoyed more bowling at a friends birthday party yesterday. Today we all had an 'at home' day I prepared a turkey dinner and worked on portfolios for school with n's help while N tried to finish the book Dear Mr. Henshaw. He does not like this book yet it is assigned so he has to finish reading it tonight. Sigh...he is a procrastinator like his mother.
Now I must go and supervise reading and bed time.
Peace!
Friday, February 20, 2009
Friday Fill Ins
1-3 are courtesy of Mar this week.
And...here we go!
1. Give me lemons and I'll make lemonade.
2. Whenever I read Kyra's posts over at This Mom I am inspired.
3. I wish I had enough money to make life easier, no simpler for me and mine.
4. Broccoli Cheddar Soup with Chouriso was the last thing I ate that was utterly delicious.
5. To live in this world you have to be resilient and have faith in yourself, in a greater power and in human nature.
6. Other than this one, This Mom is the last blog I commented on.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching a movie with the fam, tomorrow my plans include bringing the kids out to buy birthday gifts for friends and having seafood for lunch and Sunday, I want to see snow and cook a turkey dinner!
And...here we go!
1. Give me lemons and I'll make lemonade.
2. Whenever I read Kyra's posts over at This Mom I am inspired
3. I wish I had enough money to make life easier, no simpler for me and mine.
4. Broccoli Cheddar Soup with Chouriso was the last thing I ate that was utterly delicious.
5. To live in this world you have to be resilient and have faith in yourself, in a greater power and in human nature.
6. Other than this one, This Mom is the last blog I commented on.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching a movie with the fam, tomorrow my plans include bringing the kids out to buy birthday gifts for friends and having seafood for lunch and Sunday, I want to see snow and cook a turkey dinner!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Impromptu Visit
Well we had an unexpected visitor last night. Auntie A was off island and was able to spend the evening last night as well as most of the day today before going off to do errands and spend tonight with a friend who lives nearby.
Auntie A is the cool, pretty, fun Auntie. She is what I used to be to my nephew long before I had my own children. She is also what my Mom was to all of her many nieces and nephews before she married and had her family.
N enjoys Auntie's visits but n loves them. She has fun hanging with the big girls even if it is just sitting at the table together swapping stories as the grown ups enjoy a glass of wine or two. That is how we spent last night and then after the children went to bed A and I stayed up talking until well after midnight. It was such an enjoyable evening.
Today we had a leisurely morning. I made pumpkin bread and coffee and then mid morning we had a late breakfast of bread, fruit and scrambled eggs. All the while we were talking about what we would do for the rest of the day. We decided on going out with our cameras to take photos. A and I have SLR's and n used my point and shoot digital. It was so much fun. I learned how to use my RAW option on my camera and then edit the photos. It's like having a dark room in the computer. Very Cool. We even drove down to the beach. It was sunny but very cold and windy! I have missed the beach. I really wanted to plop down on the sand and sit but it was too cold for that kind of activity. So we took lots of pictures and vowed to bring Auntie back to the beach on a warmer day so that we could really walk and take some more pictures.
So when we got home it was time to eat lunch. It was decided that toasted peanut butter sandwiches would be had by all. Yumm! Auntie and I thought a drizzle of honey would be a nice addition to the sandwiches. Well let me tell you it was delicious! but there was a hitch to the yummy lunch......about 15 minutes after we ate I started getting this strange feeling in my face. I ignored it at first but then my face got increasingly hot, tingly and a bit itchy. The feeling went from my cheeks down under my chin and to my neck. I looked in the mirror and it was apparent that I was having some kind of allergic reaction. Yuck! I have to say I was a bit distressed by the whole thing. I searched for adult benadryl but of coarse the only thing we had in the house was chewable grape kids benadryl. I took it. I had to. I was getting nervous. The medicine was gross!!! To top things off n was getting me a glass of water an ended up falling and hurting herself...to the point that she was crying on the floor. Sigh!
N went to play at his buddy's house down the street so n and I just hung out an rested.
A good day all in all. I wonder if I'm allergic to the honey. I hope it isn't the peanut butter. I have had both foods many times before. Very strange. Any thoughts?
That's all for now.
Peace!
Auntie A is the cool, pretty, fun Auntie. She is what I used to be to my nephew long before I had my own children. She is also what my Mom was to all of her many nieces and nephews before she married and had her family.
N enjoys Auntie's visits but n loves them. She has fun hanging with the big girls even if it is just sitting at the table together swapping stories as the grown ups enjoy a glass of wine or two. That is how we spent last night and then after the children went to bed A and I stayed up talking until well after midnight. It was such an enjoyable evening.
Today we had a leisurely morning. I made pumpkin bread and coffee and then mid morning we had a late breakfast of bread, fruit and scrambled eggs. All the while we were talking about what we would do for the rest of the day. We decided on going out with our cameras to take photos. A and I have SLR's and n used my point and shoot digital. It was so much fun. I learned how to use my RAW option on my camera and then edit the photos. It's like having a dark room in the computer. Very Cool. We even drove down to the beach. It was sunny but very cold and windy! I have missed the beach. I really wanted to plop down on the sand and sit but it was too cold for that kind of activity. So we took lots of pictures and vowed to bring Auntie back to the beach on a warmer day so that we could really walk and take some more pictures.
So when we got home it was time to eat lunch. It was decided that toasted peanut butter sandwiches would be had by all. Yumm! Auntie and I thought a drizzle of honey would be a nice addition to the sandwiches. Well let me tell you it was delicious! but there was a hitch to the yummy lunch......about 15 minutes after we ate I started getting this strange feeling in my face. I ignored it at first but then my face got increasingly hot, tingly and a bit itchy. The feeling went from my cheeks down under my chin and to my neck. I looked in the mirror and it was apparent that I was having some kind of allergic reaction. Yuck! I have to say I was a bit distressed by the whole thing. I searched for adult benadryl but of coarse the only thing we had in the house was chewable grape kids benadryl. I took it. I had to. I was getting nervous. The medicine was gross!!! To top things off n was getting me a glass of water an ended up falling and hurting herself...to the point that she was crying on the floor. Sigh!
N went to play at his buddy's house down the street so n and I just hung out an rested.
A good day all in all. I wonder if I'm allergic to the honey. I hope it isn't the peanut butter. I have had both foods many times before. Very strange. Any thoughts?
That's all for now.
Peace!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Reading for Fun
So things have been a bit crazy over the last several days. I received word from my Uncle that one of my second cousins was in the crash in Baltimore. Even though I didn't know this person or his immediate family well; the news sent me reeling. This young man was an accomplished musician and a joy to his family. I feel just awful for his parents who are now grieving the death of their son. I can't imagine what they are going through. I've found myself drawn to the news about this crash as well as the memorial sites that have been set up for my cousin. News like this tends to stop me in my tracks.
In an effort to remove myself from this mindset I started reading a book for run! I have little free time these days for reading for enjoyment. Now that I have a week off I intend to set a good example and show the children how much I enjoy recreational reading. So on Saturday I began reading The Friday Night Knitting Club. 
I finished it last night at 12:30. What an awesome book. The characters were interesting and felt like friends by the end of the story. It was truly one of those books that I didn't want to end. The good news is that there is a sequel called Knit Two. I'm going to get it today and I'll let you know if it is as good as the first.
I'm hoping to get back to my daily writing practice this week. We'll see..
Peace
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Celebrating
So we're celebrating Valentine's day with the children at school today. They have been very excited. We've had themed materials out all week so that the children could create valentines for family and friends. They made beautiful watercolor paintings and then used glue and heart shaped cookie cutters to add glitter onto their cards. The children created beautiful collage art by cutting wallpaper samples in red and pink colorways. I'll try to take photos and post them here. You'll be so impressed by there creativity.
Yesterday I posted a picture of the wax print process that I use to create my cards. This is similar to what I used to create many of my Valentines. Maybe I'll set them up and take a quick photo to post. Anyway I hope the families appreciate the time and effort that went into creating each of the cards.
Happy Thursday.
Peace!
Yesterday I posted a picture of the wax print process that I use to create my cards. This is similar to what I used to create many of my Valentines. Maybe I'll set them up and take a quick photo to post. Anyway I hope the families appreciate the time and effort that went into creating each of the cards.
Happy Thursday.
Peace!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Wow! I have been so neglectful of my blog over the last week. I haven't even been keeping up with my blog reading. I guess I've just been very tired. The last weeks leading up to school vacation usually feel this way. Vacation always comes in the nick of time. This week we've had storms come through our area and we have been observing a waxing moon that will be full on Feb 9th. Anyone who teaches will confirm that these two things apart can influence mood and behavior in a class never mind when they happen together. So I'm tired. But it's OK because after next week we have a week off to rest and recharge for the next six week stretch.
I have some exciting news with regards to my Stand for Children work. Over the last year we have really been working on building our relationship with the local school department. Well the persistence has paid off as I have been invited to represent Stand on the Strategic Planning Committee that will be looking at our school district, researching best practices and deciding what needs to be improved so that we best meet the needs of all the children in our town. It means more meetings and work for me but I am so excited. I attended my first meeting last week and came home with a 5" thick binder and materials from the first meeting that I didn't attend and homework from this meeting. The group is thoughtful and positive and my first meeting left me feeling hopeful. The process is being facilitated by an outside company that has done this work in other school systems. I'll keep you updated.
So today I saw the strangest thing when I went over to visit with my Dad. Driving up his road, in a small cluster of trees, there was a flock of robins. There must have been at least 30 birds in this group of trees. It was very strange. I wish I had my camera so I could have documented what I saw. Any thoughts?
Well that's all for now.
Peace!
I have some exciting news with regards to my Stand for Children work. Over the last year we have really been working on building our relationship with the local school department. Well the persistence has paid off as I have been invited to represent Stand on the Strategic Planning Committee that will be looking at our school district, researching best practices and deciding what needs to be improved so that we best meet the needs of all the children in our town. It means more meetings and work for me but I am so excited. I attended my first meeting last week and came home with a 5" thick binder and materials from the first meeting that I didn't attend and homework from this meeting. The group is thoughtful and positive and my first meeting left me feeling hopeful. The process is being facilitated by an outside company that has done this work in other school systems. I'll keep you updated.
So today I saw the strangest thing when I went over to visit with my Dad. Driving up his road, in a small cluster of trees, there was a flock of robins. There must have been at least 30 birds in this group of trees. It was very strange. I wish I had my camera so I could have documented what I saw. Any thoughts?
Well that's all for now.
Peace!
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