What I am loving right now . . .

Winter aconites again!
Warm sunshine on my face- but it is pouring rain today.
freshly baked Pizza
Good Wine
Fresh Parmesan cheese
Chocolate
First flowers of spring
Clean un-cluttered rooms
Quiet house
warm wool socks and sweater!
New books
Walking in the mild spring air
Maple sap boiling down

PS- went on a walk yesterday afternoon, the red-wing blackbirds at least the males are back, they were talking up a storm. Having a happy hour of sorts up in the tops of a yellow Birch. Spied a Oriole nest from last year - still swinging in the breeze!!

Friday Thoughts

“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today.
Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime”
—Author unknown

I was first introduced to this quote in College- refer to it often as it is a premise in good teaching, It is not enough to just put information out there, they must know what and how to use it. There is also a marketing theory- they need to see it, hear it and experience it and the retention of the information will be exponentially greater.
So go forth and teach in a Hands on fashion. You will reap the benefits.
Photo July 2008

The simple Womans Daybook ~March 5,2009

Please go to Peggy's to see all the Daybook Entries.

For Today...

Outside my window...Bright sunshine, cloudless sky and cold 15 degrees should warm up to 40 something today.

I am thinking... it will be nice when I totally understand how to get everything linked, uploaded etc...on this here blog and that I have more typing for Boy Scouts today.


I am thankful for...warm house, healthy bodies and jobs

From the kitchen... Bananas that need to be made into bread and muffins, spoiled milk

I am wearing... Old sweats/ T-shirt from exercising about to change to begin my day teaching Second Steps in Yoda's room

I am reading... Twilight, All minds learn differently,
I am hoping... to get a lot accomplished today-

I am creating... Card Swap for First Friday, Parent Handbook, Bookmarks
I am hearing... the dryer tumble and the water kettle on the wood stove sizzle
Around the house... pick up clean up, thank you notes

The most interesting thing I have seen outside right now . . . . Sap dripping Plunk plunk into our Buckets, love the Maple Season!
One of my favorite things... Earl Grey Tea in a big Mug
A few plans for the rest of the week... First Friday tomorrow, Mardi Gras for Middle school,

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you... Oren and Edna CatNapping or Dog napping?? I don't know.

Art Everyday

Yes, I do think that Art should be part of everyday. What defines Art?
Is it as simple as what we choose to wear, how we do our Hair, our accessories?
What about artistically arranging food or the display on a table?
It would be best to be something created with our Hands and our mind everyday but some days we all know that there just is not time enough for that. The best days are when my fingers and hands are all covered with ink and paint or my clothes are covered with threads. This is good, this is art everyday.

Stamping at Ronald Mc Donalds House

Here are the cards that I designed to make with guests at Ronald McDonald's House last week. I find that designing simple cards is best. When they require only 1-2 colors of Ink that is good. Simple layout is also good for people that have never stamped before and it is easier on the prep work and supplies. I also like to design something that there can be individual creativity utilized in it. So when I use double sided designer papers they have multiple pieces to choose from, they become the artist and make the choices they want. Often the designs I make can be done either vertical or Horizontal so they again have some choice in what they are doing. Combine that with choices in words to use for greetings and they have completed a custom card for their personal use. It is very rewarding to work with the guests at RMH. They are stressed out and tired and often just like to watch or talk but every now and then I will have those that want to give it a try. They particularly want to make thank you cards for them selves. I am often making cards that the Correspondence Club will send out to every guest 6 weeks after they have left the house.

Birthdays

Here is the infamous Chocolate Wafer Cake for Yoda's 9th Birthday.
It is made with Nabisco Chocolate wafers and in this case Coolwhip but making your own Whip Cream is also yummy. You just spread whip cream between 2 wafers and repeat, then cover the whole thing with more whip cream and decorate as desired. this must be made in advance as it needs refrigeration time to get the wafers to soak up moisture from the whip cream and for the flavors to mix. It is also excellent with Strawberries or raspberries on the side. Now it is traditionally made in a log shape but recently we have stacked the wafers up vertically and made it into a round typical cake size.
Yoda's birthday this year was on a Greek Mythology theme. Trojan horse invitations, Spears and Shields for Play, Pin the eye on the Cyclops etc... We did a Mythical Gods treasure Hunt, looking for pandoras box. That went really well. So we did a kids Party at lunch time and turned around and did a family party at night. It was a full day for sure.

February Nature Quilt

Here is my February Installment in my series of "What does Nature look like this month?" I am going for the colors that are displayed not what happens in the month. Hence there are not valentines. February was definitely brighter, the days grew longer, much of the snow melted. The weeds are very golden in the sunlight. The greens are still quite dull. The skies were a lot bluer than the gray's of January. Next comes Mud and Maple season around here. March has arrived like a Lamb- but a cold one- only 20 degrees today.
March is usually very changeable and often our worst storms although short in duration occur in March.