Happy Birthday, Beth

My little sister turns a year older today. I made this block in honor of her-- as a mom and all of the wonderful things she does in her life. It is loosely based on a Theotokos (or Mother of God) and Matryoshka doll combined. And, the pocket for the baby sports a log-cabin square.

A strange fact, while I was block printing yesterday, I found out later that she and her daughter had been carving potato stamps to make a t-shirt for the first 100 days of school. How is that for a convergence in the universe? It also illustrates the kind of person she is. Always creative and willing to spend time with someone.

I'll bet our mother was looking down at us with the same smile on her face as the mother above.

Weekend creativity

On Friday, I bought the necessary supplies to do real block-printing-- a set of Speedball lino-carving tools and some Speedball Speedy-Cut blocks. I've been doing Styrofoam printing learned at LifeShards for too long! I made two blocks-- one in honor of someone getting ordained to the priesthood tomorrow (A.C.) and one for someone having a birthday tomorrow (B.L.). I have been inspired by Rachel and Emmie's block-printing! They are both wayyyyy better than me, but it is fun to start something new and learn how to use new materials. I watched this YouTube video this morning to get me started.



I've also knitted here and there-- finishing one more square for whatever the natural, green, and blue log cabin project will become (a blanket or a table runner?) and starting a log-cabin dishcloth for someone special (C. O.) who will help me with the children next weekend.

The exploration into sewing and quilting continues. I bought some new fabric on Friday, and I can't wait to turn it into something. Sometimes, I go shopping with a project in mind. Sometimes, I let the fabric tell me what it wants to be. I found myself buying primary colors-- red, yellow, and blue. I liked the old-fashioned look of these fabrics. And, I loved the red fabric with cats, dogs, ducks, chickens, and rabbits reading stories. It may be hard to see, but the butterflies also look like little flying books. I'm thinking this might make something nice for my library.

Carpool knitting and thinking

On some days, this is the only time during the day that I am able to knit-- either sitting in a carpool line or passing time while a child is at ballet, choir, or some other activity. I try to remember to keep a portable project with me always for these little windows of time.

These times are also good for reflection, dreaming, and planning, and there is always so much to think about. Yesterday, when on the way to pick up my son from school, I had an idea for an essay I would like to try to write about how the lives my children have in school have changed and are changing my life. More later.

The practice of blogging is giving me the courage to think, say, write, imagine, and do.

As I have started tentatively sharing with more and more people about my blogs, I am often asked, "Where do you find the time? How do you have time to knit, sew, and upload all of those photos, and then write about it, too?'

Well, I can't say that my house is the cleanest or most organized, but it passes. I'm lucky enough to work "outside the home" half-time. I don't watch much TV. I multitask a lot. I don't go shopping very often. As my husband says, "People make time for what is important to them." I make time for this. Other people make time for gardening, or working out in the gym, or going to football games. We all have interests and passions.

But, blogging, knitting, sewing, doing art with my children or students, reading with my children or students-- all of this informs my evolving sense of vocation. I'm not sure that I could put a label on it. But, I know that it all feels right, and that it is all linked together.

Just out on a walk

I've been eying the Jasmine down the street for several days now and finally remembered to bring the camera along when Bailey and I took our Tuesday after-work walk. It is a warm, blustery day, so it was difficult to find a moment when the flowers were still enough to photograph.

How can spring be so close when it seems like I was just photographing red maple leaves and holly berries? I also saw a fully displayed daffodil in the yard on the corner. It seemed to be crying out, "Look at me, look at me! I'm the first one!"

It is only January, and we will have more cold days. But, today, it is starting to look and feel like a new season is on the way.

Tea

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.”

-- C. S. Lewis

My daughter and I are in the middle of reading The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis. Lucy has agreed to be the ambassador between the invisible ugly people (or thumping things-- what are they, really?) and the Magician. Since we still have several more books to read together in the Narnia series, I don't yet feel like we have to ration the words each night. We read until we are too sleepy to continue-- or until "Mom knows best."

I had five cups of hot tea today. It takes me two cups of Assam Breakfast to be ready for the day each morning. Then, it was cold in the St. Therese basement library during work (3 more-- one herbal and two Darjeeling).

Now, before bed, I'll have my sixth cup of something herbal with the sweet, summery taste of Tilia (a holdover from my days in Portugal).

“May you always have walls for the winds,
a roof for the rain,
tea beside the fire,
laughter to cheer you,
those you love near you,
and all your heart might desire.”

-- Irish Blessing

Blogging Self-Portrait

This is the third blog post I am writing this rainy Saturday morning. I have done nothing beside make two cups of tea, play with photo software to combine and upload images, reflect, and write. I am still in my pajamas.

The images above were taken yesterday at Casey Elementary. I had spent the morning with several other parents hanging up student work. When we were done, a couple of us walked around and really looked at what students from kindergarten through fifth grade had done. Because the cut-out collages above were framed, the sunshine from the courtyard windows reflected off of the glass. You can faintly see my shadow taking the photographs with my little digital camera. Taking photos is something I am often doing-- at home, at school, at work, at church, or walking the dog.

This week I have re-vamped what was my first attempt at blogging that never got off of the ground. So, yes, I now have three blogs! My Art Smart Parents blog will be used to document and reflect upon ways that parents of students at Casey Elementary support and enhance arts integration. Tiger Tales is where I document what happens in "my library" with students at St. Therese Catholic School. This blog is the catch-all for everything else, and it is my response to turning 40 and wanting to make sure that I live the next 40 to the fullest.

So, why am I doing all of this? It does take up a significant chunk of time, and I may not always be as disciplined as I have been lately. But, I have created a rhythm of taking photographs as I am inspired, reflecting upon what has happened in the many aspects of daily life, downloading and uploading photographs while I transition from community life to home, and using the activity of blogging to be more intentional about what it is that is important in this life. And, I am finding that it feeds my creativity, connects me to people who care about similar things, and makes my life richer in ways that I didn't expect.

Teaching

Today, I read a wonderful book, Riding to Washington by Gwenyth Swaim, about the March on Washington to first through second graders. I read the same book last week to third through sixth graders. I tied it to the inauguration by talking about the many obvious parallels.

Looking out at twenty fidgety bodies and eager faces, I was humbled to realize the tremendous responsibility and power that I have as a teacher to shape young minds who know little about what came before this amazing inauguration day. And, because I teach four-year-old students through sixth graders, I am privileged to have this conversation about the intersection of history with the present day and our future with students who, year by year, increase their knowledge and depth of understanding. Through the questions and thoughts of my students, I am equally aware of and humbled by how much I am daily transformed. My own understanding grows and is shaped by my students, other teachers, and my own children.

My hope for the future certainly springs from young minds and their passion for life. I cherish being in a vibrant learning community, and I can't imagine that I ever wanted to be anything other than a teacher.