An Adoption story

It's funny how you sometimes find out about things. I saw on FB that bookclub book of the month was a book from a series called Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins. So I googled the author to learn more from there I learned about cjredwine and the little girl she and her family are adopting from China. They are having a skip a Starbucks fundraiser to help cover the costs of the adoption. I was more than happy to make a donation.

Home on the Farm

We have grown vegetables and fruit in our yard ever since we've had a yard where we could plant something. Now it seems that the idea of growing your own vegetables is becoming more popular again. I think it's great. Nothing beats fresh vegetables and fruit. I just came across a site sponsored by Kraft: Home Farming which offers a lot of basic information to help people get started with their home farm. They also have a map which shows locations of home farms. IMHO when the big corporations start to get behind something then the idea has taken hold at least enough for it to trickle down to ( or is it up to) them.
Now if the native plant movement continues to grow I'll be cheering because maybe it will be easier to find native plants.

Getting Sticky with collage

Just started a new class today in collage. We started with painting tissue that we'll use when we create collages. The instructor indicated that we were creating our own paper. We also used newsprint today and will use a variety of papers, pictures and textures. Class was interesting because we could get started right away creating.

The instructor showed us some pictures of collages from previous classes and they were interesting but I see myself on a different path. I hope I learn enough technique to follow the path I'm leaning toward; a more detailed collage. I'm not explaining it well.

Right away I know I have a long way to go, I'm no instant Romare Beardon or Laura Breitman . I think, though, that this seems like a good way to get involved in a creative process without too much background and may be good to try with groups.

I have not been updating my blog obviously. I didn't really realize how long it had been. Work has really had me distracted from the things I enjoy doing : 0). I have not been updating the web site on time either. July is close to being over and the updates are just close to being complete.
July is ice cream month and there are some fun related activities on the site. Check out the Ice Cream Month Cook Create Cultivate page or the Get a Game page. The other pages will be updated shortly. Enjoy!
Currently Reading:
Foreign Babes in Beijing; Rachel Dewoskin (learning something about Beijing the Olympic site).
Just Finished:
Peony in Love; Lisa See
About to read:
Breakfast with Buddha; Roland Merullo

I have been so swamped with work that I have fallen behind on the web site update. Sorry everyone and thanks for your e-mail and calls. I am working on it and hope to catch up by putting in some extra hours over the weekend. The Therapy Resources site still looks like winter and since it was snowing in Ambler today that seems apropos.
Happy Passover and Easter to everyone.
Books:
Currently reading: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Lisa See (Main Characters book club selection)
Just Finished: The Lady and The Panda, Vicki Constantine Croke
On my night stand (still) A Light in the Window, Jan Karon

Web surfing is one of my favorite pastimes. Lucky for me because many of the ideas for activities on the Therapy Resources site have multiple links to sites for further information and resources. It can take hours and hours to search out reliable sites with good, accurate information. While surfing the net I have found many sites that have become favorites of mine. One of them is Jacquie Lawson's e-card site. Her cards are just so fun and creative. I have just finished sending some cards and renewing my membership. Another favorite site is The Journey North a wonderful site about migration. I have learned so much at that site. Happy surfing!

Winter has finally paid a serious visit here and while we didn't get much snow, the ice and cold certainly make up for any lack of the white fluffy stuff. We have to go to Orlando for a couple of days and I was hoping to enjoy some warm weather. However they are feeling the chill even there (Orlando Weather), it's been in the 40s and 50s, it will seem much better to us but certainly not warm. There's still snow on the Therapy Resources site but next month a touch of spring will appear again. The flower seeds are in the stores and the catalogs have started to arrive. We already bought some things to start seeds and we'll get them going soon.
This week is Fat Tuesday and Saturday we were at a Mardi Gras party. Did you know Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) is also sometimes called Pancake Day? There are lots of pancake and syrup recipes out there I think I am going to try and have pancakes on Tuesday.
I'm currently reading: Exile, Richard North Patterson (my book club's pick)
I just read: Special Topics in Calamity Physics, Marisha Pessl
On my nite stand A Light in the Window, Jan Karon.