SOL Tuesday

Today is Slice of Life Tuesday - the weekly writing challenge hosted at Two Writing Teachers"

In March i was consistent in the March SOL challenge. In April, I tried a couple of challenges but was not successful. One wss an art challenge (A to Z), the other NanoWriMo writing challenge.
I know I am capable of a daily challenge - it is finding the one that resonates with me.

I have decided to create my own.

I receive a weekly newsletter from Austin Kleon and have read several of his books. (Steal Like an Artist, Show Your Work, Keep Going)

 As he says: "I’m a writer who draws. I make art with words and books with pictures."

I recently bought "The Steal Like an Artist Journal" , having read the original book and loved it. I really want to have fun with it.

So I plan to do a page a day and do something creative every day.
Some of his suggestions throughout the book sound like fun:
"Steal a title from a book you've never read and invent your own story"
"my top 10 guilty pleasures"
"Make a collage from items in your wastebasket."

I hope to post every day - and draw, write, collage in the journal - I plan to just have fun.
'Hope you'll join me.

SOL Tuesday

I have not participated for a while in Slice of Life Tuesdays. Today though, while reading Colby Sharp's SOL, I was struck at how similar our changes are. He had no desire really to leave his school - he loved teaching there and loved grade 3. But he made the decision to change schools and return to the school where he went as a child.
It is a difficult decision to leave a place where we love the children, our colleagues and just the teaching itself.
After 36 years in education, I finally made the decision to retire. I am not moving to another school but leaving teaching. I am already missing it!
I am slowly getting rid of books and files and units. As I was going through 2 units today, I remembered when I had done different activities with a class and the excitement of books read and crafts made.
I envy Colby in a way - the excitement of new beginnings, of returning to the classroom. He has many changes in store but his teaching background will hold him in good stead.
I know there is life after retirement - I just have to focus on what I want to accomplish and where my heart leads me.
Last night was the full thunder/buck moon and each full moon.  I create a dreamboard  every month on the full moon to help clarify my dreams. As I looked at last year's I discovered I had realized all the dreams I  had listed - I had written a children's book, I have retired and I have been creating. So. I know dreams can come true.

So on to new beginnings and big dreams!

Slice of Life Tuesday

Last week we ended Education Week with our own "Poetry Café". Lots of preparation but such an enjoyable time we had.

We have been writing poetry often throughout the year, as well as sharing poetry almost daily. April was Poetry month and we wrote  poetry often. I knew the children had done enough to create their own books. So we began to type up poems, create fancy covers and decorate all the pages. I laminated the covers and bound the books.

Then on Friday, parents, grandparents and other special guests were invited to attend our Poetry Café.

 The children decorated the room with balloons (the one time this year I almost lost my temper - but that is another story!), made flowers for centrepieces and moved tables to make 6 small groupings, complete with tablecloth and flowers.

As each guest arrived, their child met them at the door and got them juice and cookies (which the children had  brought in - we are still snacking on cookies!). Then they shared their books with the guests.
We then did a presentation of some of their favourite weekly poems we recited during shared reading. Bruce Lansky's "What I Found in My Desk" was their favourite - and they did it with such expression.

Then each child read one of their poems if they wished. We even used a microphone - a nice addition.
Everyone was so appreciative of these young poets and they were so proud of themselves.
It was a very special day.

Visit here to find special slices of life from around the world - created by Ruth and Stacey of Two Writing Teachers.

Be true to Yourself - SOL

As I read the new quote for  "Artists in Blogland",

it struck me that being true to yourself begins with your younger self. The dreams we have in childhood often get lost as we grow, mature and are impacted by the world around us.

My dream to be a teacher began in Grade 3 as an 8 year old. I lined up my stuffies and taught them their letters. later I sat my younger sister and brothers and tried to teach them. (Didn't work as well as the stuffies!)
I became a teacher in 1977, taught in the NWT for 3 years, in Alberta for 2 years and in Ontario for the past 25 years.
I love teaching and describe myself first as a teacher.
Even if I retire this year (as I hope to do), I I will still teach, hopefully art to children.

Art and writing are my new dreams - we are never to old to dream. But I must be true to myself and develop my own style and skills.

There are so many quotes that really reflect the need to "be true to yourself",

from Shakespeare
"To thine own self be true."
to
Steve Jobs:
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life". ~Steve Jobs

Here are a few more:

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."  ~Dr. Seuss

"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are."  ~e.e. cummings

"There is just one life for each of us: our own". ~Euripides

"Be what you are. This is the first step toward becoming better than you are". ~Julius Charles Hare

"The most important kind of freedom is to be what you really are."  ~Jim Morrison

"You were born an original. Don't die a copy". ~John Mason

Slice of Life Tuesday

The Tuesday Slice of Life  is hosted by  Stacey and Ruth  (Two Writing Teachers) every Tuesday. I have taken part a few times and am always amazed at the stories and words that are posted from all over the world.

This Friday, March 1, begins the March Challenge - where a slice of life is to be written every day.

 I am hoping to be able to complete this challenge.  November saw the PBIM - and I was successful in producing over 30 picture book ideas - 2 of which I have taken and written scripts for.

Do we choose a theme, focus on a daily event or like the morning papers (a la Julie Cameron) write about what we are thinking and feeling at that moment?
Not only the writing though - the visiting and reading others' slices is part of the process. It will be a commitment for sure.

The SOL community is a very supportive one .
So, yes I will try and take part in this new writing challenge.
Join in as well!

Slice of Life

 Two Writing Teachers hosts "The Slice of Life" each week. I have participated several times and enjoy visiting other blogs to catch up on others' slices.
This week I needed to unburden. I have been weighed down by a tragedy that I am still finding difficult to comprehend.

Saturday was my dear daughter's 28th birthday. While my husband and I were not able to attend her party on Saturday, we did get together on Sunday and had a lovely lunch .  After lunch though , my daughter had very sad news.

 A close friend's 23 year old son was was killed in the early morning hours on Dec. 1st.,  as the result of a mistake of a 20 year old woman who's car crossed into his path and killed him.   It was senseless; he  had no chance.


My children grew up with T-Mo and we were always at each other's houses while my children were growing up. He was always positive, always smiling and had a bright future.

We love you T-Mo. We miss you already. The world has lost a shining star..

Parents are not supposed to outlive their children. I cannot imagine how the parents and his siblings and grandparents are dealing with this horrific death.

My own children have really been shaken by his death. We will all be attending the service on Saturday.

Prayers do help. But,  it does make one want to hold on tighter to those we love. We never know when the end may come. We need to live life fully and with kindness. Loving well is the only defense.

Goodbye Fluffy

Goodbye dear Fluffy. I cannot believe you are gone. You have been such a wonderful part of our lives for so long.
We have had you for 20 years - you have had 9 lives for sure.
I remember when we got you - for 25c, from a local farm. You were only 5 weeks old and you had a tough time at first separating from your mom. You suckled on my crocheted afghans for a long time.
You also could not stop climbing screens when you wanted to come in. I don't know how many we had to replace. You were a great mouser, although you did like the odd chipmunk.
In the last few years,  since your special girl moved out, you had finally come to sit on our laps as we watched TV.
 You also were a wonderful alarm clock - heaven forbid if we slept in. We could hear your meows. I can just image you telling us to get moving and feed you!
You were also quite the guard cat. No matter which of our cars arrived home last, you were always there to welcome us home. Except today.
I am going to miss you so much (as will everyone in our family). You were such a lovely, ornery, special cat. So smart, so unique.
Goodbye Fluff.

Slice of Life Tuesday

Yesterday, which was a holiday here in Ontario, ended up being a perfect day of sunshine, not too hot and a visit to one of my favourite spots. Stratford is about an hour's drive away and we try to go there several times a summer. This was our first visit sine last August and it was  so good to be back.
We did a bit of shopping and then walked along the Thames River.

Stratford is home to the Stratford Festival, which hosts wonderful Shakespearean plays for several moths as well as other well-known plays. 

Walking along the river though is a favourite past-time. Swans, geese and ducks can be seen all along the river, swimming and coming ashore seeking food.

This year there were numerous pianos outdoors, begging to be played. It is an ambitious project.

"Eight pianos, decorated by local artists, were installed across downtown Stratford for everyone to play, commemorating the 80th anniversary of Glenn Gould’s birth"  They will be available from Aug. 1 -19. We found 5 of the 8 and even played at a couple.

We finished our day with a lovely supper and drove home, tired but happy.

Linking with "Slice of Life Tuesday" at Two Writing Teachers.

Slice of Life Tuesday

As our children grow and face challenges, we are always there to guide and help them. Once they become adults though, stepping in to help is not desirable. I know we may want to, but they have their own lives and their own solutions.

I know this and accept it, but this past week I have wanted to be a mother lion and come charging in and protect my daughter. She has been wronged by her workplace and I have to hold myself back strongly not to go in and demand restitution. That is one of the hardest things I have had to do - to do nothing. Not even a letter to the editor which I have written several times!

I admire her and hurt for her. She is a strong woman. I can't wait for her to be able to leave there and pursue employment that respects her intelligence and ability.

Slice of Life Tuesday participants can be found here.

Slice of Life Tuesday

While reading the newspaper Sunday morning, I came across an ad for a cottage timeshare at Chandler Point in Haliburton. It took me back 12 years, the last time I was there, before it became a time-share.

 

For 6 years, my 3 children and I travelled to Haliburton to stay at a cottage for a week or two and took art courses at Haliburton School of Fine Art. What a perfect holiday! We all separate for the day, meeting at the end of the day, sharing what we had experienced in our classes. Then we went back to the cottage, for a swim, supper and then exploring or more swimming.

 

I took a variety of courses over our time there - basketry, silk screening, collage, watercolour. My children had excellent courses as well, from jewellery making, to computer animation to papier mache.
My favourite day of the week was Thursday, when there was walk-about - a chance to visit all the classes to see what was created.
Haliburton became my refuge from a marriage that was soon to break apart for good. Those 2 or three weeks were a balm for my soul and chance to create and learn new skills. I even taught twice at the school, teaching young children's classes - something I loved doing.
Once I divorced though, I have never gone back. That refuge is no longer needed.

Be sure to visit Two Writing Teachers for more slices of life stories.

Slice of Life Tuesday

On Friday,  we celebrated our 10th anniversary. My husband had taken Friday and Monday off and we had toyed with the idea of going away. But in the end, we had a lovely day together, even though we had several challenges:  our air conditioning decided to quit on the hottest day of the year and a neighbour had severed the Rogers' cable so we had no phone, tv or internet for 2 days. We had to wait for the cable to be repaired on Friday so it was not until after 3 that we were able to leave the hot house!  But we wandered and shopped and reminisced.

Our wedding day was special. My husband started the day with dialysis while  a group of us decorated the hall. I felt like a princess that day and was blessed to have all our family and friends supporting us as we pledged to each other.

 From there we went to Calgary for 2 lovely weeks for our honeymoon. Watching the |Calgary Stampede on tv this weekend took us back to our time there.

Looking back it seems that we have been together a lot longer than 10 years. We have been through a lot - separation, operations, step families and their inherent difficulties, and  health issues. But we have dealt with all of these with love, faith and hope.

I look forward to many more years with this man.


Slice of Life is a weekly sharing through Two Writing Teachers.

Slice of Life Tuesday

Canada Day was July 1 - Canada's 145th birthday. I enjoyed watching the shows from Ottawa. I have been there to experience all the music but it was the fireworks that I went for. They were spectacular! My youngest was in Ottawa for the weekend and he enjoyed it all.

We took in the fireworks here and as always I loved them. The noise, the colour,  the designs. It was well worth the long lines to get there, the hunt for that last remaining parking spot, the walk to find a seat. And while we waited I enjoyed watching people!

I have seen fireworks in many places - Montreal, Ottawa, Lake George, Toronto. I have even had fireworks at  a couple of homes where I lived. It is always special, not matter how long the display. It is magical - I am always awed.

Happy birthday Canada!

Check out the great slices of life at Two Writing Teachers.

Slice of Life Tuesday

Tonight we held the Grade 8 graduation at our school It has been a group of kids that has been challenging all through their years and a group we are not too sad to see go.
As I watched them tonight, I had many thoughts:

*The outfits: so many of these young girls were totally inappropriate - too mature, too sexy, too short. Where were the parents in the choosing and buying of these outfits?

* Three awards were not given - most based on leadership and positive attitudes. Did parents realize that none of their children qualified for these awards?

* The valedictorian gave a speech that seemed to attack the teachers and supply teachers that are at our school. And the other students cheered at mention of certain incidents.

* Where will these young people end up? I am concerned with their attitudes and behaviour and their lack of empathy.

This year we have had little school spirit at our school. We had a new principal and vice principal and the tone of the school has changed. Many of use want to bring back some of that spirit. Maybe with these gr. 8s leaving and a new batch of gr. 8s with better leadership qualities coming up,  we can recapture some of the school spirit that has been missing.

Linking with Slice of Life Tuesday here.

Slice of Life Tuesday

Sunday was Father's Day, a day to celebrate our Dads. On this Father's Day, I realized that my Dad has been gone for 40 years. He died too young - at age 49.

As I thought back, I realized I have much to owe  my father. It is from him that I get my build, my thick hair, my love of reading, my math ability.
It was at his funeral that I heard what made him a role model for many people: The custodian at the bank said that my father always had a good word for everyone and treated everyone the same - whether he was a president or a custodian. He was most definitely not a "yes" man. If a person was an idiot, he told him so!

My mother became a widow at 43 - and raised 5 children on her own, never remarrying.
I always wonder where we would be today if my father had lived.  I know I wish my children would have known their grandfather.
Patty Digh wrote about her Dad this Father's Day and quoted a poem. Read it here.
It so made me remember our special summer vacations at Ocean Park, Maine. So many memories, so many to treasure always.
Happy Father's Day Dad! Love you always!

(I can't believe my Mom still had this - from when I was 10 or 11! It was in the box of photos I took home after my Mom died.)

Linking up with Slice of Life Tuesday at Two Writing Teachers.

Slice of Life Tuesday

My husband and I attended a memorial service for a an older lady from our church on Saturday. Her death came after a sudden diagnosis of cancer and then she had a blood clot, which led to hospitalization and complications.
She was a former teacher, a volunteer for years, a dynamo in our church. Her passing will leave a hole.
It was listening to her best friend that hit me the hardest. I heard so many stories of what they meant to each other and how they did so much together.
It made me miss that friendship I used to have before I moved here.
Her sons talked about the need to live in the moment and make each day count. Good advice for us all.
I need to get on the phone and reconnect.

Slice of Life Tuesday

I drive to work each day on a fairly busy 2 lane highway. I have seen animals occasionally, but most times they are on the side of the road.
On Friday as I came over a hill, I couldn't believe the sight ahead - a flock of 30 or more Canada Geese waddling across the highway. Theyhad  just reached the centre line as I came abreast of them.  I did make it by and then the highway was blocked. I flashed oncoming cars ahead and as I looked in the mirror,  I saw two long line of cars growing as the geese made their way - slowly - across that busy stretch of highway. Quite a comical sight really!

Linking up with "Slice of Life" at Two Writing Teachers.