and even more paper cranes . . .

I spent my lunch break folding cranes out on the playground . . . 

One little girl was very excited to show me the small crane she had folded . . . and to tell me that her and her friends were numbering them and putting words on them.

FEARLESS . . . good word!

walking and other good stuff . . .

"Joy is what happens to us when we allow

ourselves to recognize how good

things really are."

~ Marianne Williamson

Yesterday was full of good stuff . . . 

. . . walking home with Lily.  Oh, the conversations we have while we are walking.  She is full of questions and wonder, and knows that if she asks for something Clare Helen is apt to say yes . . .  

There is a lot to be said for spending time with a child.

. . . a letter from Aunt Sue

She wrote her letter on ads that she cut out of the newspaper.

I love this idea!

I have had so many students from room 12 stopping by my desk for help with folding paper cranes.

PEACE ~ LOVE ~ CRANES

 . . . and MadBum was brilliant. 

"Hitting is timing.  

Pitching is upsetting timing."

~ Warren Spahn

Weekend . . .

I believe I started this doll back in February . . . with good intentions of getting her done way before now.  I'm so happy to finally have her finished that I am posting pictures even though she doesn't have a name yet . . . and I still have to write a story about her.  

It has been a busy weekend . . . but a productive, fun, relaxing kind of busy. 

"Music always sounds better on Friday."  

~ Lou Brutus

we bought a dragon . . .

 

Yes, he is in the truck on the way to our house.  Now . . . where are we going to put him?

Also . . . he needs a name.  

I have to laugh - because when I say that to people almost everyone starts coming up with names or get on their phones and start searching for name ideas. 

 It isn't like I am really into dragons, but I just liked this the way this guy looked.  

Sometimes when something speaks to you . . . you just have to listen. 

 I can already see the look on Jacob's face . . . 

April doodles . . .

room 12 and paper cranes . . . .

"I will write peace on your wings

and you will fly all over the world."

~ Sadaku Sasaki

Once again this year I folded cranes with one of the 4th grade classes at the school where I work.  These kids were on it this year . . . they did a great job and what a pleasant (although somewhat noisy) group of 4th graders.  I so wish I could post pictures of their faces.   

 She managed to get this folded with those pretty long fingernails . . . 

 One little mishap . . . 

 This young man made my day!  If you could see his smile,

he would make your day also.  

Thank you Mrs. Crow for letting me fold origami cranes with your students.

things that made me smile . . .

"The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance;  

the wise grows it under his feet." 

~ James Oppenheimer

This is how I found my skeleton this past Saturday . . . which makes me like him on that shelf even better.  Thank you Pam . . . this made my day!

What a great couple of days it has been . . . 

I can't say I am getting done what I want to get done . . . life seems to be getting in the way or I simply just run out of time - but that's OK.  I am a little frustrated that I am not creating things regularly, but it is a busy time of year for me and that just seems to happen sometimes.  I am going to have to change that though . . . .  Can I please just have more hours in every day!

LIFE IS GOOD . . . just because!

yesterday was fun!

"Do what makes you happy, 

be with who makes you smile,

laugh as much as you breathe,

and love as long as you live.

~ Rachel Ann Nunes

We had a couple of hours to waste yesterday . . . so spent it walking around Old Town.  

For some reason . . . I really like this.  I especially like his chipped up blue paint.   If I wasn't in the process of cleaning out and getting rid of stuff, I may have even bought it.  The tag said it was a gargoyle . . . but I think it looks more like a dragon.  One grumpy dragon to say the least - but I like the way he looks.  In fact - I am thinking I should go back and get him . . . 

. . . and this old Cleveland Indians button for Jake.  

Afterwards I thought it would be fun to use in a bow on a gift for him. 

Do what makes you happy!

He is always up for hat photos . . . 

. . . and I'm always up for taking pictures of him in hats!

Be with who makes you smile!

Sometime I have inside jokes with myself . . . 

. . . and Ursula just makes me laugh.

Laugh as much as you breathe!

. . . and love as long as you live!

just because I want to post something . . .

I love those random memories that make me smile 

no matter what is going on in my life.

My coffee mug for today . . . 

I decided while getting rid of things that I really don't need or want anymore . . . that I did need to keep and use this coffee mug .  I remember having a lot of fun on that trip . . . although if I remember right it rained most of the week we were in Colorado (camping in the rain is always interesting), we found out that Elvis passed away (we were actually sitting in the car while it was raining when we heard the news), and my boyfriend's brother did get us into a slight fender bender.  At first I thought this was from one of the DCI competitions we competed in, but realized it couldn't have been.

1977 . . . what were you doing?

I mentioned in a previous post that Charlotte and I planted sunflower seeds . . . no they were not magic seeds and did not grow this fast.  I have this one lone sunflower that started coming up in the middle of one of my raised flower beds . . . I can't wait to see it bloom!

"The sunflower is mine in a way."

~ Vincent van Gogh

sunflowers and hearts . . .

Charlotte and I planted sunflowers seeds yesterday.  How she loves to work in the yard and garden.  Her little fingers poked holes and dropped in seeds . . . then she had to water them of course.  I think I had as much fun as she did.   Her pink fingernails look like they could use some new nail polish after all of our yard work . . . we may have to do that tonight.  

We also cleaned out our garden shed this weekend.  I am not sure how it gets so full of things we don't need - or in such a state of disarray, but it is now in pretty good shape . . . except the outside needs painting.  That will have to be a job for this summer.  I forgot that Richard had put this in the concrete when we built the shed  - that has to have been about 10 years ago.  It made me smile.

Sunflowers and hearts . . . add in some beautiful weather, throwing out all kinds of stuff,  Jennifer and Lily coming over to eat, and watching Goonies outside on the big screen . . . that all adds up to a good weekend!

Friday afternoon . . .

"I've loved another with all my heart and soul,
 and, to me, this has always been enough."  
~ The Notebook

A week full of work . . . walks . . . talking with Charlotte - those are always delightful conversations that often end with hugs and giggles.  It has been a long week in some ways, but I am relaxing just knowing it is Friday afternoon and the weekend is finally here.  In spite of what seemed like a long week, the days were filled with flowers and sunshine, color everywhere I looked, and simple little pleasures that made me smile.  Spring Fever is my guess . . . and the best medicine for that is a relaxing, fun weekend.