Friday, July 29, 2011

Banana-grams


Did you ever draw on bananas with your fingernails when you were younger?  OK, maybe yesterday?  Well, I'd forgotten all about banana art until I saw this over at Come Together Kids.  So, I made one for the hubster and you can, too (and you don't even need long nails)!

All you need to know to be a banana artist:
  • Use a pretty yellow banana with very few spots so your design shows up clearly.
  • Use a light touch-- you don't have to apply much pressure at all.  
  • Drag the toothpick or skewer gently across the skin as if painting so you don't tear it.
  • Try not to handle it too much so you don't bruise up your design.
You can go coocoo bananas with your bananas-- write jokes on them, wish your child good luck on a test, or play tic tac toe when you're waiting at the dentist.   It's super fun and super easy; in fact, if you are trying to be sneaky, the hardest part about drawing on a banana is keeping it secret!

Have fun playing with your food and...



Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Plantervention Update


Remember Audrey, the crazy mutant plant?  Well, she has been successfully living on her own for a full year!  And her suffocating roomies are doing great, too!  I'm ecstatic!  With my track record, it's nothing short of a horticultural miracle.




Look at all the new growth!  They aren't perfectly symmetrical as they were pretty lop-sided when I separated them and they lost some of their outer leaves from the transplant.  But, I think they have come a long way!  I returned two of them to the office and kept Audrey for myself. We're pretty tight. Wink.
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Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Why I love Mister Rogers


Like many 70s kids, I watched Mister Rogers' Neighborhood every day.  Saturday mornings were all about Hanna Barbera, but during the week, PBS was "where it's at".  While I sat quietly in front of the tv, I learned how to make believe, how to make friends, and how to be. 

Mr. Rogers taught us that we were all special, unique and fine.  He told us it was ok to be glad and sad and mad.  He said we didn't need to be perfect, we didn't have to know everything; we just had to be ourselves.  That is powerful stuff, neighbors, and he was singin' it long before Lady Gaga.  (No disrespect, Mama Monster.)

After Fred Rogers' passing in 2003, I found myself itching to learn everything I could about him.  What was his secret?  How did he captivate young and old?  How did he magically soothe people's hearts? How did he become so trusted and respected?

Well, guess what.  I learned his secret. Shhh...

When Mister Rogers wasn't Mister Rogers, he was Mr. Rogers.  On and off camera, he was the same man, with the same voice, with the same laugh and the same gentle demeanor. The Presbyterian minister who dedicated his life to working with children and families, who advocated on our behalf to the US government, who was a pioneer in public television broadcasting, was the very same man who sang to us and colored with us and showed us how crayons were made.  

That's why I loved Mr. Rogers, and why I still do.  He was never a caricature of himself.  He loved children so much that he was his true self with them and with everyone he knew.  I love him for what he did for kids, what he did for families, what he did for mental health and for what he did for me.  He was truly humble, truly kind, truly honorable and truly loved





This clip of Mr. Rogers in front of the Senate Subcommittee on Communications is a beautiful example of his gift. I am amazed (but not surprised) at the way his calm and honest demeanor won the respect and consideration of one very grumpy Senator Pastore.  Can you imagine being in Mr. Rogers' presence?  What a gift he gave Capitol Hill that day!

To honor his legacy, I thought I'd share Mister Rogers' wisdom with you in a new little feature called, "Mister Rogers Said..." because we all need that neighborhood expression of care.  So, be on the look-out for the little blue sneaker in future posts.



If you'd like to learn more about Mr. Rogers, I recommend the following books:

 

Friday, July 15, 2011

Crafty Sneak Peek!


Hi, chickadees!  Sorry I've been missing lately.  Summertime is certainly busytime around the nest!  I've been working on some fun projects and plan to get some tutorials up in the following weeks.  Here's a sneak peek of my latest crafty work in progress. Tutorial on the way!