good things today . . .

More origami cranes today . . . this time with Mr. Ford's 4th graders.

I wish I could post a picture of all of the their faces . . . so instead I will go with some of their t-shirts.  I love all the t-shirts I see everyday at school.  I am thinking there may be a photo project there . . . I will have to give that some more thought. 

This group really caught on . . . and were finishing cranes in record time.  

PEACE ~ LOVE ~ CRANES

GOOD THINGS TODAY . . . 

1. Folding paper cranes with Room 11

2. Making smoothies with our Ninja (I love this thing)

3. Fresh zucchini from the garden

4. Someone doing me a big favor . . . going above and beyond

5. My work family - they really are amazing!

6. Coctel de Camarones . . . thank you Jessica!

7. Sleeping baby photo . . . our dear little Avery Rose

8. Coming home . . . 

9. Making some time to paint

10. Finding a boysenberry cobbler on my desk this morning . . . made by my boss

Let her sleep, for when she wakes up

she will move mountains.

finally finished . . .

 I started these blankets ages ago . . . and finally got them finished.  I would work on them for awhile - then get doing something else . . . then get them out again and work on them for while.  I guess some projects are like that.  I think it took my daughter-in-law bringing her t-shirts over to finally get me moving to finish all three of them.  I think Jake has all of his baseball t-shirts somewhere also . . . so I may have to make another one.  :)  

It feels good to have them finished!  

 It dawned on me while I was making Kasey's quilt . . . that I probably watched her cheer all those years ago - when Jake's team played against her high school.  

 Some of these t-shirts are sort of old . . . especially on Luke's blanket. 

I think some of those he wore in Jr. High.

Such a simple way to re-purpose old t-shirts.   

4th graders make me happy . . .

Every year I fold origami cranes with the 4th graders at the school where I work.

Every year I enjoy it a little bit more.  I think 4th graders are wonderful!

You can see more of their paper cranes here.  I started my paper crane project a few years ago . . . not intending for it to take me so long - but I am still at it. I am pretty sure I have folded over 1000 cranes outside of the ones I have folded for my project . . . and usually after I do this with the 4th graders - some of the kids go "crane crazy" for awhile . . . so I will probably be sitting with some of them at lunch recess folding more.  

always reading . . .

"So many books, so little time."

~ Frank Zappa

I really need more hours in every day!  So I can read . . . and paint . . . and sew . . . and play . . . and take care of all the ideas whirling around in my head.  So I try to make the most of my time each day.  It is hard for me to sit and just do nothing - so there is always a book and journal in my purse to keep me occupied while I am in the car or waiting for an appointment.
I cannot a imagine my life without reading.
 I have had several people try to convince me to switch to reading on a Kindle.
I just can't seem to bring myself to do that.  There is something about the feel and smell of a book . . . turning the pages . . . taking pictures of your stack of books you want to read . . .  and bookshelves packed full of stories and magic.
What are you reading?

"Reading is like thinking, like praying, like talking to a friend, like expressing your ideas, like listening to other people's ideas, like listening to music, like looking at the view, like taking a walk on the beach."  ~ Robert Bolano, 2666

Today I choose JOY!

Challenges are what makes life interesting ~

Overcoming them is what makes it meaningful.

I have been away from here for too long.

It hasn't been by choice . . . life keeps getting in the way.
But along with life getting in the way . . . . life is also giving me plenty to enjoy and celebrate.
I refuse to let life's challenges get the better of me.  I look at these beautiful children and know for sure that life is precious and wonderful . . . and meant to be lived with joy and passion.
Life doesn't always make that easy . . . but attitude makes that possible.
Today I choose JOY!

happy busy . . .

I am reading . . . and making things . . . and painting little girls nails . . . and painting . . . and planting flowers and a few vegetables . . . I am just not documenting any of it very well. 

I am hoping to be better about that . . . but for now I am just enjoying being "happy busy".

I am reading etta and otto and russell and james.  A friend recommended it to me and so far I am really enjoying it.  I bought six new books to read last week . . . I've been in that sort of mood - two down . . . four more to go.

I am also working on some t-shirt quilts that I started ages ago.  I decided that since I was in the mood to finish them that I would also make one for my daughter-in-law with some t-shirts she had kept.  So fun and easy to make . . . I am not sure why it has taken me so long to finish them.  It will feel good to get them done and start on something new.

Have a wonderful day . . . 

Find JOY in the small stuff! (like this wonderful tin full of pins)