Monday, March 31, 2008

I knew her when


This is a story written by one of my former students. She is currently in 2nd grade and well on her way to being a very accomplished story teller. I promise to forward any congratulatory comments to her.
I added the graphic, just for the sake of visualization.

The Opposite Zebra

By Caroline McS.

Hello my name is… Well… You could say… White
stripes… But some people call me… Whitey… Oh and some
people call me… Stripes… Ok ok my real name is Kelly. I
don’t really care what I am called. Did you know I am a
black zebra with white stripes? I know that sounds
impossible but it happened so. You may think I am
popular. But you’re wrong. I am actually made fun of. I
am the opposite of all the normal zebras.
I would like to tell you how my mom died. The story of
how my mom died by Kelly. It was a hot summer day
when smoke filled the air then BAM! Fire shined in my
mom’s eyes and she gathered her children and ran. The
fire traveled quickly behind. At last she made a help
signal. An eagle swooped us up and carried us to fire free
land. My mother’s tail was on fire. She ran to cool it off.
But the fire got bigger. Then it was over she put her head
down and died. The End.
My eyes hurt from crying. I was miserable. I stood up
and wabboled. I didn’t want to move but I knew I had to.
I walked forward and fell face first. I banged my head in
the silky grass. I thought in my head bummer. I got up
and you know what? I fell again but this time I fell
sideways I rolled and ran into a tree. A short furry tree.
I looked up and screeched! I had ran into a lion. But it
was asleep. I ran and ran but I stepped on a twig. The
lion woke up. He stared at me for a long time. I knew he
was trying to figure out if I was grass or an all you can
eat buffet. I also knew if I ran I would give away the
blendness. Then I would be an all you can eat buffet.
Finally the lion walked away. I started running again. I
found a nice cave it looked like no one lived in it. I curled
up in a ball and went to sleep.
I had a horrible dream. I dreamed I was being tossed up
like a pancake and salt was being put on me. I woke up
and that was happening! A bear was tossing me in the
air like a pancake and pouring buckets of stolen salt on
me. I jumped up and ran for my life. I went back into the
woods. I turned right and sat down. It was getting dark.
But before I went to sleep, I wished on the brightest star I
saw. I said “I wish My life was easier”. A little 1 foot
angel zebra came floating up. I rubbed my eyes and
stared again. The angel zebra was still there. She said you
have wished upon the right star. She snapped her fingers
and twirled. Then she vanished. I rubbed my eyes and
curled my legs and closed my eyes. I fell asleep.
In the morning there was a zebra that looked exactly like
me. The angel zebra appeared. She said, “Your wish has
been granted”. The two of us zebras went back to our
herd. We showed up and everybody started laughing. I
felt stronger with a friend. I started to ignore them. It
was working! Everybody started getting bored of
laughing and left. We went to the pond and the hippos
started laughing. I started to ignore them. After a while
they got bored and left. But my fight to be treated like
everyone else was not over. We walked over to the
flamingo’s bay. They pointed their feet and laughed.
These were the last animals I had to go thru. But they
were the hardest. I held my head high and flicked my tail
down. I sat there ignoring them. I sat there until it was
down to two flamingos. One of them left. It was down to
one. I started to lose hope. I put my head down and
started to cry. My friend stood in front of me protecting
me. I felt greatful for her. I stood on my feet. My feet
wabboled but I did not dare fall. I put my head high
again. I straightened my legs and flicked my tail down. I
made my chest look bold. Finally the flamingo nodded her
head and left. I felt good. I finally could live without
being laughed at. I smiled at my new friend and said
thank you. I looked up and smiled. I closed my eyes and
said thank you.
THE END

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Cool new discovery



One of my challenges has been to learn Photoshop. Just can't seem to get the hang of it. The abundant tutorials I start never quite seem to address my issues, but here's something totally new - no layers in Adobe Photoshop Express! adobephotoshopexpress
btw - it's free
I already learned how to do one thing - sketch a photo - would be so fun to embroider a 'sketched' photo.
Off to new learning adventures....




Thursday, March 27, 2008

Obama buds for this Obamamama


I think I qualify as a techie and here I am doing my little part to help Obama.
You can order buds for your ipod ipodbuds to advertise your favorite candidate, or if you'd like to support Obama I'll share as I had to buy a pack of 10 and I don't even dare to think who Rod might be supporting...
first 9 to contact me - I'll send you a pair.



I discovered this lucky find at coolstuff!.
I also found a great b'day present for Rod there, but I'm not telling what that is. Hold on to your pocketbooks:-) Be sure to check out the architecture and the gadgets.

A submission from Robin

Knowing your love for Hearts, I wanted to share this pic with you! I was making shakers one day last year, looked down on my desk
And found this Magical Heart. It just happened naturally! I had to take a picture!!
Robin


Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Every girl needs red shoes, especially our new granddaughter!

and look, they even have hearts!


one more heart

now that you're in on one of my obsessions - here's another one:


This is part of the poster created by several artists to advertise an auction for artsurvive a free arts program for kids facing challenges. The portion in the lower left hand corner was done by JaneLaFazio. It sold for $450 and all the money went to Arts-A Reason to Survive.

Mail Art

Another new delight: post card art.
Can I really call mine art - I think so.
Some recents attempts:






Here's a great site if you want to see some really clever mail art:
mailart

heart walk

One of the many things my dear friend Sherry and I have in common is our love of all things hearts. I'm guessing mine started with my cherished time at Immaculate Heart High School way back when. I'm not sure of hers,but we've traded many hearty things over the years.
With my newly acquired talent for discovering meaningful (to me) blogs, many by artists, I found KelliRaeRoberts, also a heart lover. She takes many fun photos of hearts wherever she finds them. She led me to this book: (why didn't I think of that?!) heart stones by josie iselin.
I've since rebegun my hobby of collecting rocks shaped like hearts and am amazed, when taking my daily walk, how many little holes in the concrete are shaped like hearts. Next time you're walking - take a look and see if you don't spy a heart and think of me.




Monday, March 17, 2008

Happy St. Patty's Day


It's very odd to not be in a classroom sharing the legend of Finn McCoul on this day.
This blessing on you all:

May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Observing


Grand Prairie, Texas at first light. Photo by Linda Crawford

This is from my daily post from Daybook, Faithstreams Community Daybook

Paying attention is to be present.

Otherwise, the only thing we're present to is the internal dialogue in our mind, which is usually dragging us somewhere into the past, or somewhere into the future, or laying a grid on top of what's actually happening.

So to really be present in the moment is what paying attention is all about.

I think it's the most important aspect of what we can learn to do with our minds, and how we can learn to be peaceful and joyful and have great relationships.

—Joan Borysenko
New Morning Treasury

Eckhart Tolle could not have said it better himself.

Sunday, March 9, 2008

two things I love

Look how these changed with photoshop express




Wow - putting a border around these, an application from Easy Frame, sure makes it look better.



this quote and my sweet peas

Monday, March 3, 2008

Perfect Wyanne


She was great visiting Jane's kindergarten class today. What fun! The kids were terrific listeners.

this morning's critter

On my shirt this morning. Should I worry? My EnV phone sure does take great pictures though.


Sunday, March 2, 2008

26 years later





26 years ago, my talented friend, Sherry embroidered these overalls for Michael. My friend Joanne, a longtime overall wearer ( no one ever looked cuter in them) just had a new baby grandson. I wanted to carry on the tradition. What fun I had doing these. Welcome PCK, Patrick Chad Krenkler.

Eckhart Toole


Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have.


I was extremely grateful to Carol for giving me The Power of Now. I found it to be life-changing.
I'm in the middle of The New Earth, given to me by Rose, which is an extension of The Power of Now, changing our lives collectively. Over 250,000 people have signed up for the Oprah/Tolle webinar beginning tomorrow night.TolleWebinar I hope for more understanding. I hope some of you will join me on this journey.

New Wyanne pics

This is her very relaxed sib Winslow, living in Ohio.


These are from puppy play yesterday.
I love the one where the older lights are checking out the newbie black.


A mystery


Where do you suppose this funny little bee came from?
I found it on my sleeve when I was sitting in the kitchen with Wyanne at 5 this morning.
I know ladybugs are good luck, what about bees?

He got to sweeten my just starting to bloom sweet peas. Can't wait for
Rose to be in a regular room so I can fill it with sweet peas!