Snowy Owl Invasion

http://youtu.be/Ufkcx-UqljM REPORT THE BIRDS YOU OBSERVE.

THE LOCATION, NUMBER....CHECK OUT:

Found some Pics: First OT Internship Maine

ANN, SANDRA & me; an O.T. INTERNSHIP

(the pictures we find when going through boxes: aka: this entry. Found more

pics of my Daddy with Grandpop and ''the cow," us girls in our dairy outfit for working

in the store-

oh brother were they ''uggggg-ly" and major ''static cling." Thank heavens for better fabrics today!

I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT EVENT THIS WAS: SOMETHING ANN SUPPORTED MOST LIKELY TO BENEFIT THE HOSPITAL. (above: 1st picture is cheerful, encouraging Ann. 2nd picture left to right: me, Sandra, Ann)

Sandra, my roommate for the summer; a great listener and friend when you really need one. Wish I could remember her last name to contact her.(okay, let's laugh at the sweater: does that date the picture or what? So many thoughts go into a picture....what a really difficult time/scarey internship/so ''not confident'', depressed....yada yadah........wanted to be rescued.......Sandra provided some of the hugs I needed.......Ann let us go on a week camping/canoe trip skipping work (oops): couldn't wait, though, for the summer to come to an end.                                                                                                             

YOUR HAND HOLDS ME FAST

Somehow I erased my entry. 

will have to re-enter later..man...and I liked it. 

Ps. 121: 1-4 and Ps. 139: 1-12

both Psalms fully memorized b/c I need(ed) it**: do you need words during difficult

times to try and plunge through dark times.....take a look at the entirety of both Psalms.

(colored pencil: a practice lesson)

I really liked how the fingernail came out: very surprised actually that it looks kinda real. There is

hope yet for exploring this medium.

_______________________

**"b/c I need(ed) it": I have come back July 2012 to explain what I mean by that statement to encourage anyone about memorization. Now I know there will those who balk at this and just say my brain did this b/c I wanted/needed so badly to memorize it so it happened. But, I know me, I know my limitations and I know what I know..how do you explain the unexplainable that ''you know is true.?" 

Okay: During a very dark length of time the lines of Psalm 139 were like a balm to my soul; the words were a life-line to hold me from sinking deeper. I wrote it all down on paper and went for a very tearful

walk. With paper in hand I told the Lord how I need this "Psalm 139"…

So I set out and walked for what I discovered later was 40 min. and had it all set to memory; like fluid it  could roll off my tongue aloud or in my head and it was in my soul..how do you explain when something is in your deep down spiritual place…your soul.? And I have had that still today along with all of Psalm 121 (a thankful praising psalm etc.)…when times get tough…...God gave the words to me.

And when I force myself to know it/say it I cannot completely unless I am in need….

I have tried to memorize other things with some success. I have found that I can only memorize what I truly need and I know it is not from me; you can say it is this or that scientifically/psychologically and explain it away. .....but it is the Lord who gives…..so hopefully i explained that well. Ask.

PASTELS: My First Try

ASSIGNMENT: learn pastels: paint my 2 adirondack chairs in a scene in my yard. THAT WAS TOO MUCH FOR ME TO THINK ABOUT...I saw an apple in the kitchen with beautiful leaves still attached so I asked the teacher if I could do that instead. ''YES." Thus began the apple and leaves....well, that morphed into the crazy hair-brained idea to practice ''a hand'' and of course that means its Eve's hand (my hand.) I didn't plan a background/composition so the problem presented: WHAT TO DO WITH THE BACKGROUND? man. I made up what is in the second picture and DO NOT LIKE IT. 

So, this is a work in progress or I might just put it away and chalk it up (ha ha- get the joke ''chalk'' ) as a practice of pastels...I DO LIKE THE RESULTS THOUGH OF THE APPLE.

PASTELS ARE NOT MY CHOICE OF MEDIUM AT THIS TIME.

COLORED PENCILS: PRISMA - A NEW ART FORM

COLORED PENCILS: I was given, as my first project, a small statue of a ceramic clown to paint.
                                                             (I don't like clowns)
My first idea was not to render it as ''ceramic'' and to put into the painting my expression/interpretation of the character.
Of course this photograph does not show the clown as vivid or detailed as I would hope; but then, that
is my old Rebel camera which I do not want to part with at this point.

(apologies: the picture is too dark and does not represent his clothing well)

By the end of the project I came to enjoy this little fellow: I like the expression I put into his face and would like to believe it is a little bit of ''me": whimsy, playful, spontaneous, mischievous and fun. 

I FELL IN LOVE WITH COLORED PENCILS!

The painting at the top of my blog page (***pumpkins and flowers- removed it june 2012 posting at bottom of this page) was my second assignment. I have not signed them yet as I do not feel they are ''complete."  My next post will feature some small tutorials I used to practice colored pencil; books taken from the local library. 

COLORED PENCILS ARE NOT CONSIDERED, YET, A TRUE ART FORM similarly to pastels  which were not established as such until the 1980's! Imagine that! 

To think that Rembrandt et. al. used pastels as an art medium! There was a ''modern pastel renaissance," so to speak, around 1987 and then in 1994 The International Association of Pastel Societies was formed to unite the world in recognizing ''pastels'' as an art form. This was then followed in later years with The Pastel Journal. 

This blog entry however, is about Colored Pencils.  Continuing with the study of colored pencils I am affording myself the opportunity to be introduced to pastels, oils and watercolor pencils. I did dabble in watercolor a few years ago. It is my hope to establish the mediums that will be ''my passion" and study those in detail. 

Any comments, critique's, recommendations for workshops, etc. are encouraged/WELCOMED.

I LOVE MY PRISMA COLORED PENCILS!!!

***

I was not happy with the flower pot she chose and the haphazard arrangement (?) in it but had to go with what was there….would love to have free license to change the contents of the pot. But I was to represent it as is. Showing you some progression of the pencil. Notice the 2nd picture: it is missing something on the left so she did allow me to put in a leaf that I made up from memory...

The pot held a leftover geranium that survived the winter indoors along with nasturtiums.
Photo doesn't show the full colors unfortunately; nor depth really so I guess I need more darks!!!!!

FALLING LEAVES

Have you ever fallen in a pile of leaves
   or read a book lying deep within?
Have you ever dove through a pile of leaves
   or crawled and curled hidin' deep within?
Have you ever kissed in a pile of leaves
   or hugged snuggling tickling kids?
Have you ever thrown a pile of leaves
   or blown them about to watch'em twirl?


I have,
     and its fun,
          OH, there's so much to do,
               in a deep pile of falling leaves!
      
                          ***********


Have you ever said, "I'll rake those leaves,"
   but found you played instead;
      or, put it off by taking a walk,
          through wood or quiet glen?


Have you ever said, "I can't stand all these leaves,"
   but found you loved instead;
      the sights, the scents, the cackling geese,
          those awesome colors beneath your feet?   


........... (to be continued?) we shall see.... 
                                                                      -suzie   11/3/2011

FLOWERS MAY FADE

(poem to follow)

MANY THANKS TO THOSE WHO PUT THIS VIDEO TOGETHERhttp://player.vimeo.com/video/27920977?title=0&%3bbyline=0&%3bportrait=0href=

HOW DO I GET A GREAT PICTURE?

 is your CAMERA READY & in a CONVENIENT location?
                                        (EASY ACCESS AT THE DROP OF A HAT?)  
          
               - battery, no..... BATTERIES CHARGED!!
                        - sufficient CF card & previous photos downloaded/backed-up then deleted
                                - (optional): tripod stand and/or stick
                                       -(optional) HD video/ still camera on hand
                                            -clean lense

This is one of those shots I could not believe I got!

LEARN TO SEE

AKA: anticipated his next move - the camera is

always in the room where he plays just an arm length away.

Isaac rolled under here for a split second, peeked at me

and immediately rolled out. I DIDN'T THINK I GOT

ANYTHING WHEN I TOOK THE PICTURE. 

MAN WAS I SURPRISED.

LEARN TO SEE

learn to see colors within colors; parts of wholes; shapes within objects; angles & perspective; "anticipate" for example,  the flight of a bird; relax and enjoy the process.....etc. etc.

     -willingness to bend, lie down, whatever it takes....dirt/wind/rain.. doesn't matter

           -playful, fun, serious, time doesn't matter, patience, boldness..you get the idea.

                - never get discouraged, play with your camera and just enjoy the taking

                    -adventurous spirit 

                         -spontaneity 

                              -ITS NOT ABOUT YOU but everything OUT THERE

AND MY WORST NIGHTMARE? IS, FORGETTING TO TURN IT ON!!! AND I MISS THE PICTURE...man, do you know how many times I do it immediately laughing at myself....man...''turn it on Suzie, dahhh"

              

WHAT IS A SECOND?

What is a second, I thought last night

when I couldn't sleep a wink?

     A clap of the hands,

          the blink of an eye,

               or a bird taking flight on wing?

“Can one second” I'm here, the next I be gone

without a clap or a blink?

     “Assuredly” I KNEW

          “in less than a wink,

               with Christ Jesus, I would be home.” 

What made me think, these random thoughts

as I lay on my bed in the dark?

     Last night in the news,

          the death of a man,

               headlining national news.

Whether moments or seconds, I thought last night

when he passed with his final breathe,

     “His spirit took flight,

          his body lay still

               just a man, headlining national news.”

Where has he gone, I thought last night

when I couldn't sleep a wink?

     "Assuredly, I don't know

          in less than this blink,

               with Christ Jesus, is this man home?"

Well, here it is MORNING ALREADY. It seems no sooner I closed my eyes after writing those words
and a new day dawned. Everyone is going about what they do or don't do. This man is no longer here along with billions of others. "They" say, 150,000 babies are born each day (2011).

Many of you have heard of Job in the Bible and/or read about ''vanity of vanities'' from the Ecclesiastical book.  Perhaps you have heard yourself say/think:
                                                               "why bother"
                          "is this worth it?"                                         "what's the use.."
                                                               "I'm bored..."     
          
                              you fill it in  "_______________________________"
                                        



...I  am asking, .WHERE does YOUR spirit go in that second or less at death? 
                 WHAT HAPPENS to the part of you that makes you YOU?

I could never really say before age 30. But now most assuredly I KNOW. 


How do I express that?...........................,,,I know what I know what I know.....


that "neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, north depth, nor any other created things will be able to separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.."
who died for me on the cross, shedding his own blood for my soul. Through that act He paid the price (the debt) for my sins by his death and resurrection (conquering death once and ''for all".) AND FOR ALL people -that is you.

 Assuredly and unashamedly, I say in great joy, that Christ, the Lord will take me home at my final breath! How did I come to know that I know what I know I know?
I sought after God with all my heart, talking to Him whether He really was there or not;  cause I wanted to know, I had to know; I was compelled to know; I was tired of not knowing.......... and HE ANSWERED. It didn't happen all at once....it took TIME,....

So yes, this is written at the death of Steve Jobs obviously, b/c of the date written. But its not about Steve Jobs; 

                                            its about YOU 

----where does your YOU go at the moment of death? Not a popular topic but it will come.  

----what will be your thoughts?   You can say:

                                        'oh I won't care because I'll be gone..."  and then laugh or say,    
  

                      ''this is all there is..." and flatly move on to......whatever is next in your day.

              Steve Jobs knows what is after.....and he can't change his choice on the subject.


                                        TO NOT DECIDE IS TO DECIDE!

       

     

BIRTHDAY'S

                  WHAT DO YOU DO ON YOUR BIRTHDAY?
                                                        Our Traditions
~~everytime I say ''traditions'' I start to sing the song from FIDDLER ON THE ROOF- in my head of course; well, sometimes outloud ~~     oh brother,
                                                        Does anyone else?

1) Night before: Child (makes a crown out of construction paper, Mommy gets
to write the number on it and he/she decorates it whatever way they choose. Hang
it on the bedpost and wait till morning for breakfast in bed!~~ Adults: no crown
although they made me one when I turned 40 something along with our usual
movie and photos...oh great; burn that up!

2) Day starts with breakfast in bed (thank you Sarah for chatting and loving me today!)
Child is woken or is already sitting up with his/her crown on waiting for all of
the family to come in with video/camera. Everyone has to get up and go into child's room,
sing Happy Birthday. Candles are either melting in the pancakes, waffles, etc. oh my.

Then the rush to get to school etc. Summer? play play play...do whatever he/she likes
within reason. (one year I took Jonathan out of school and we went ice skating-of
course the school didn't know that-shhhh!)

3) Mom cooks whatever dinner you want! (what should I cook today?)
4) Scavenger hunts for the kids; now they are adults; rats. But they still do it and love it.
    (rhymes are made up and the clues get harder with age; sometimes they
     have to do what the rhyme says (e.g. cartwheel to the ''shed") Gifts are
     hidden at some of the locations.
5) cake or icecream cake,,,their favorite.
6) play games during day if possible AND ALL THINGS ARE FILLED WITH
LOTS OF LOVE AND HUGS AND GOOFY ACTS OF THE SILLIES.
                                   
                                  BIRTHDAY VIDEO IDEA
    Once Michael's birthday was during our drive to Florida and he was bummed
that we would be in the car all day! So, I got this crazy idea~!

I videoed tons of people all over town that I did and DID NOT KNOW; they either
sang Happy Birthday to Michael or spoke something. The people who did not know
Michael at all pretended to know him when they spoke, like he was an old buddy.
Let me tell you. There are some pretty creative people out there who can come up
with fun things to say at the drop of a hat!!!!

---One man pretended to be "Tim the Tool Man Taylor" and stood behind the hood
of a car while talking to Michael (Tim's voice and all....)

---A woman made up, in seconds, a long rhyming poem while I videoed her standing
in her kitchen (I never met her before this-that is an interesting story how I ended up
in her kitchen~) wishing him Happy Birthday- then sang.

---A nursery school class used puppets singing him happy birthday....

---Using the "Michael's" Craft Store sign I welcomed Michael
to ''Michael's". The manager allowed me to video at the entrance
while he is welcomed to the store and told Happy Birthday. Lastly,
using the voice from the TV show The Price is Right she said "Come on Down"...

(will add more ideas as they come back to me...)

it was fun and crazy.        HE LOVED IT!!!
Happy Birthday to everyone who's birthday is today!~


    THE GARDENS TODAY ARE LOOKING LIKE FALL
and so are the weeds, they're mighty tall.
    MANY BEAUTIFUL AREAS, WHERE SHALL I SIT
I believe woodland aster's and Tricytris do the trick.

    
   WHILE BEGINNING TO SIT ON THAT YONDER BENCH
  I spied little flowers peeking every way and which.
   BREAK OUT TINY BOTTLES, VASES & "THINGS,"
  fill up each one, varied colors, its better than BLING!
            (oh man, I don't like mentioning Bling but it is the only thing that works here....)

     WELL, Here are some arrangements.


Suggestion: 
Often I will place 5 different shaped and sized bottles 
in the bay windo, fill with water to top and put one single
flower in each (all different varieties); or, I put 5 of the same flower in each, having them at varied heights or the
same height. Here I have chosen to use all glass for every room. But, use anything! Salt cellars, miniature sugar or creamers...oh! next time I have to photo the ''frogs'' that I use
to hold little flower arrangements when something really matters- aka: giving away to cheer someone's day.


The black background pictures above were done
earlier when the lighting was not that great.  The carrier
with tiny bottles were creamer holders from my father's
farm from the 50's. Remember those?    


Well, enough playtime. (will put the FROG device I use on here tomorrow! If anyone knows where I can find a couple more of these let me know; I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO HAVE MORE TO GIVE AND USE.)


PS: dumb? Do you ever sing Happy Birthday to yourself? I always did at 10:08 am in Band Class in middle/highschool; the exact time I was born-oh brother! The Band director thought I was playing right along but I pretended. Sang the song,   "Happy Birthday to Me....etc.'' and then went back to playing my flute! I still do it; YOU ARE NEVER TO OLD TRY. 
                                       TRY IT, YOU'LL LIKE IT.

FIRST TIME OUR POOL HAS OVERFLOWED--- EVER!!!

SING: THE RAIN IN SPAIN FALLS MAINLY ON THE PLAIN...click click, click, click (snap your fingers to the song: ha haha)                                                             NOT!
                                                 IT IS FALLING ON US!!!

t;
(July 2012: didn't realize that this does not upload after so many days sorry about that: basically it shows the sheering winds that bent our trees in 1/2! literally!)
APOLOGIZES FOR THE COMMERCIAL....CAN'T GET AWAY FROM THOSE CAN WE!!
(two days later: I did not realize the station streams directly to my blog: I had wanted a specific weather
report here from two days ago: oh well, it remains the same or worse! so this will not apply in the future when the sunny days return.

Rain Rain Go Away
Come Again Some Other Day......little Suzie wants to play, Rain Rain Go Away.....

The Good Old Days (under construction as photos are found)

KINDERGARTEN 

in a two room school house

THOROFARE, NJ

(names to be added)

When I look at this little girl I think of her wonderful fairytale life in Thorofare and Greenfields, NJ: ....
time marches on: this picture is a .tiff  file so it is not coming out clear...gotta learn how to change it to JPeg...want to post pics of Dad with Granpop, the milktruck, Uncle Windy...   commentaries

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER IN JULY?

 IT'S HOT, HUMID, STICKY AND YOUR HOUSE HAS NO AIR CONDITIONING

SOLUTION?

RECIPE #1: PAINTING:
Take one sweet blue-eyed squeezable toddler in diaper only (cause their little bodies look so cute that way), a used 2" wide house paint brush that's just lying around, a tad of water in plastic container.** (see alternative below) You paint a smiley face on your deck and PRESTO! THE FUN BEGINS.  Stir in a cat and/or dog to the mixture on a whim....sniff some flowers in the process and allow toddler to pluck a few....don't forget the ice cream cone...and AWAY YOU GO FOR FUN IN THE SUN!

ACTIVITY: learning how to paint ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING (gross motor skills); CREATIVE/IMAGINATIVE PLAY, RELATIONSHIP BUILDING; EXPLORATION; ART LESSONS.....AND ON AND ON.....(note: now be flexible: kids love to paint walls,,just about anything, so, "'go with the flow......!"

ISAAC JUST LOVES THE OUTDOORS
This picture doesn't show it but the walkway
in this garden has tall plants and he thinks
he cannot be seen by me!

RECIPE #2: JUNGLE SAFARI
Teach them how to smell flowers and look for
bugs; play ''I'm hiding, I'm hiding and
no one knows where...for all they can see
are my toes and my hair...." 

(ISAAC PAINTING MY CHAIR)
NOW WE KNOW ONE ACTIVITY DOESN'T LAST
TOO LONG WITH TODDLERS,
      SO, WHAT'S UP NEXT ON SUCH A HOT  STICKY DAY? HOW ABOUT......

A JUNGLE SAFARI !

ISAAC OF THE JUNGLE)

(toddlers love to just walk

and talk or make noises telling you what they see or talk to animals- so curious.  I follow Isaac,

he leads the way, and off he goes up through the woods. Its great to see his confidence growing. Be careful though, they pick up anything and put it to there mouth to check it out. The woods holds poisonous things, choking hazards and poison ivy!!!)

RECIPE CONTINUED: provide an unbreakable spoon and small plastic cup- (Isaac has a spoon that looks like an ice cream cone and a tupperware 2 oz. cup for digging in the dirt and collecting stones or big finds!!...they love it! 

and do I see a piggy in the background? What is he doing in the jungle?

"So much to see and do!"

WATER FOUNTAINS are a BIG DRAW!!! 

 THEN MIX IN SOME CATS OR A DOG

that is, if a fox, squirrel or groundhog doesn't appear!

BY NOW YOUR TODDLER SHOULD BE RATHER TIRED AND NEED A REST

with SOME REFRESHMENT

SOOOOO-

RECIPE #3: IT'S INTO THE SHADE or HOUSE YOU GO, GIVE HIM HIS BOTTLE

ALONG WITH LOTS OF HUGS, KISSES AND SING HIM A SONG....but...

Isaac chooses to move his chair to the screen doors; it appears he just can't get enough of the out of doors.

"He-Man"
Where is Battle Cat?
''oh, that's right, we saw him a few
minutes ago in the woods!"

Settling down,  I capture him listening to the birds, the katydids and watching
the tall poplars sway to the beautiful breeze. Does he looked relaxed or what?
RECIPE #4: SKIP THE NAP? WE ARE HAVING TOO MUCH FUN...ISN'T THAT WHAT NANA'S ARE FOR? (to be continued: Swimming with Nana)
OH NO! I NEVER CHECKED THE DIAPER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MAKE PILLOWCASES for CHRONICALLY ILL CHILDREN

                                 "ConKerr Cancer": making a difference for children
                                      www.ConKerrCancer.org
                        
As of January 2010:  40 states in U.S. , 79 Chapters:  delivered almost 60,000 pillowcases to
                                                     CANADA AND SOUTH AFRICA
                                "we are just a small group of people trying to make a difference.."

                                                             CHECK IT OUT!

                                        LAZY DAYS OF SUMMER rain or shine?
SEW AT THE PICNIC TABLE after cooling off in the pool....OR, SEW UNDER A ROOF TOP ON YOUR DECK during RAINY DAYS...kids in 4th grade and some younger have a great time learning
to sew..make it a neighborhood event with swimming and games....it is limited only as you choose to limit it.......

These cases were made January 2010 and I never got to publishing this: wanted to put it out there as a reminder to myself and share with you...there are so many other options on the web to research and donate your time and talents.....happy choosing!

WHEN APRIL SINGS

WHEN APRIL SINGS Robert Stolz (m) Gus Kahn (l) 1935 as rec by Deanna Durbin w Orch dir by Charles Previn August 28th 1940 Hollywood The countryside is green again, The world id seventeen again, My heart awakes when April sings. The skies above are blue again, The daffodils are new again, These are the joys that April brings. Songbirds are whispering down by the stream, Telling our weary world, "Wake up and dream!"; For love is new again, And one and one are two again, My heart awakes when April sings. Spring is here, Not a mere January thought, But a little robin I saw told me it was so, And so I know! Spring is here, Summer's near, How can I tell? I know every sign of Spring So very well! The countryside is green again, The world id seventeen again, My heart awakes when April sings. The skies above are blue again, The daffodils are new again, These are the joys that April brings. Songbirds are whispering down by the stream, Telling our weary world, "Wake up and dream!"; For love is new again, And one and one are two again, My heart awakes when April sings.
MY MOTHER SANG THIS OVER AND OVER EVERY SPRING: IT WAS TRULY WONDERFUL