Tlhis and That

There are blogs I visit simply because they make me smile.  Odile Baillouel's blog is one of those.  I love seeing what her mice are getting up to.  

British Library Asks Nation's Children to Write Miniature Books in Lockdown

The Bronte's miniature books have always fascinated me, as does anything miniature (like the mice and their activities above).  Many kids would enjoy creating their own books,  then writing and illustrating them.   

"The library is asking children to share their homemade miniature books with its Twitter account @BL_Learning using the hashtag #DiscoveringChildrensBooks, or send them by email to learning@bl.uk. It will commission an illustrator to create a virtual bookshelf to display the work."

 This link has several tips on planning and creating a book for the project.  

Not that kids are the only ones making books.  :)  There are plenty of tutorials on youtube.
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Mail:  two letters I've sent haven't arrived weeks after I sent them.  I know a couple have, but I don't know about at least six more sent since mid-April.   An email from Connie mentioned that she didn't get her letter.  Bryce Eleanor didn't get hers.  

Reading:  These are my favorite reads from NetGalley recently.  Since they are ARCs, they haven't been published yet, but I enjoyed them tremendously.

Pandemic Activity

Embroidery.  When I get a little antsy about the news, I pick up the needle and work on the poetry quotes.

Garden.  I spend some time each day watching birds or weeding.  Overcast this morning, but blooms are cheerful.

Mother's Day.  Face time with Erin and Mila; Amelia, Chris, and Bryce Eleanor drove by with a gift and a Happy Mother's Day poster.   Fee made Eggs Benedict for brunch, accompanied by Mimosas.  I just miss hugging my daughters and grands.

Monday, I think...

 Bryce Eleanor had a school assignment that required an "older relative," so she emailed me for three pics and three childhood memories.  I'm certainly the oldest grandmother.

(Amelia says B.E. is keeping up with her online assignments.  That is something else that interests me--how teachers are doing with lesson plans and grading and other elements of online learning.  I like this assignment from one of her teachers.)

This is one of the pics I sent her.

People thought we were twins!

The photos and memories were from Beeville, TX and Casper, Wyoming,

and it was fun to think about memories from so long ago.

back of the envelope--with image from 

the sheet of dragon stamps.

postcard to Suzie

Connie sent me a bundle of old envelopes!  Some are making their way into collage, some will be going out to other snail mailers.  If you are interested in some old envelopes with interesting addresses and old stamps, let me know.  :)

I started this post a couple of days ago, and this morning, I saw a post on Margarete Miller's blog:  Inspirational Glue Book Artist:  Connie Rose.  Connie is, indeed, an inspirational collage artist and fortunately, a friend and correspondent!   Connie's Instagram.

This morning--watching the squirrel move straight down the fence!  This is the second time I've watched this and didn't have my phone to take a pic.  

I was reminded of images of Dracula climbing down the castle wall--but the squirrel has none of Dracula's sinister traits, just makes me grin at his antics.  Head first and very carefully, legs spread, he descends straight down.  (No, I've no idea whether the squirrel is male or female, but refuse to use the plural "they.") I wonder why the change from coming down the crab apple tree in the corner, which is much easier.   

So far this morining, I've finished one letter and started another.  I'm enclosing some of Connie's gifted envies for recipients.   Hope to get both in today's mail.

New stamp arrived; the others were pre-ordered but should be arriving soon.  The image doesn't have the metallic element that makes these so pretty.

And last, but not least, Teresa posted on her blog Views From My Highland Cottage.   I've posted about her library before--yes, I know it is house envy, but I can't help it.


Now back to finishing the letter.  Later, laundry.  And Snickers--bite size. :)

Mail, Trolls, Mighty Girls

Last Week's Outgoing Mail

These had to go to the P.O. for postage

I ended up sticking Max's book inside the package with Mila's embroidered pouch/envelope.

Embroidery

Started another white piece, but instead of using different threads and floss, 
I'm using the same fine pearl cotton thread all over.

I found this link on Iliana's blog:  

Reading Makes People Feel Happier and Smarter, According to New Poll.

I fell in love with Thomas Dambo's giant trolls.

There is a wonderful video if you follow the above link.

I discovered A Mighty Girl a while back and love it!  

Ignite Her Curiosity:  The Best STEM Books to Inspire Science-Loving Mighty Girls.  You have to scroll way down to get to middle-school books, but they all look great.

In a world that continues to emphasizes a woman's appearance, the effect on children has become even more evident.

"A study by the Girl Scouts found that 80% of 10-year-old girls are afraid of getting fat, and other studies have found that 85% of women and 79% of girls have opted out of activities due to a lack of body confidence. With kids and teens being exposed to narrow standards of beauty in media, marketing, and online, many adults may wonder what they can do to turn the tide."

Check out 7 Ways to Help Your Daughter Love Her Body 
I love "focus on what bodies do."   And there is
another list of good books for different ages.

I'm Already Tired of August

Need some good news?  Check out this link about the kindness of strangers.  In the midst of all the bad news, it was heartening to see some of the ways people illustrate the best of humanity in small acts of kindness.

Incoming Mail

from Teresa & Ricky

from Jacque

from Shasta

Outgoing Mail

postcards to the grands
Max

Mila

Bryce Eleanor

Garden

--The hummingbirds have enjoyed the obedient plant blooms.  :)   I've never seen them attracted to the blooms previously, but they like them this year.

Cosmos in the corner.  Notice the warped fencing.

--The Great Escape!  After transferring my worms to their prepared worm bin, I had to put the bin in the laundry room because of the heat, and Fee walked in the other morning to find that quite a few had decamped.  

Measures have been taken.  I'd been warned that after transferring them to a new bin this might happen. The worms seem more content now that they are more accustomed to their new home.

:) I'm quite excited about this project.  It is kind of like my compost pile in the back--I love seeing leaves, garden trimmings, apple cores, etc. turn into rich soil.   I like checking it and turning it.  (My husband finds me amusing: he thinks I'm a cheap date because he can make me happy with seeds, worms, and crafty stuff.
Much cheaper than jewelry.)

Feeding the worms chopped up banana peels, old lettuce, and past prime cherry tomatoes--then checking a few days later to find the food has disappeared is gratifying.  If I don't kill the worm hoard, I have a diverting activity that entertains me and will eventually provide plenty of black gold for the garden.

Upbeat

Sometimes when things get a little too depressing, 

I begin looking at things that make me happy.

Loudoun Rocks - what a fun idea for kids of all ages!  They even have a FB page.  Sort of a version of geocaching.  Paula at Little Scraps of Magic found one and posted about it. 

I love Tomoe River Paper!  I don't remember where I first read a review of it, but I finally ordered some--and it is awesome.

Steven Curry's wonderful photographs.

Well, you know, Snail Mail makes me happy.  

I had to hunt for this video that I posted in 2013, but still love.  He's pretty amazing!

July? Feels Like August

We are in a time once again
where our need for the arts is growing more and more apparent.
Controversy and anger and fear seem to swirl
around us these days in large supply.
This has happened plenty of times in our history.
We have needed and sought the healing and teaching power
of the arts for a long time, perhaps forever.” 
Robert Lynch,
President and CEO, Americans For The Arts
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In keeping with the links on my last post about the benefits of funding the arts in schools, the above quote suggests another purpose of the arts--healing and public health.

The Mental Health Benefits of Art Are for Everyone 

The Connections Between Art, Healing, and Public Health

I loved Rachel's comment:  Still, spreading the idea of creativity around the world in a subversive, extra-curricula fashion is good too....

Of course, I assume mail art qualifies.  Certainly extra-curricula and sometimes subversive.

Incoming

Jacque re-purposed some things on my last letter to her.  :)

Outgoing

to the grands

I am catching up on my correspondence, one day at a time.  

---

We are just hoping the heat wave ends

and that there will be rain.

There is a possibility in the forecast,

and I'd gladly give up fireworks for rain.

Meditation/Medication

I love this "recipe card" by Julie Kirk of Notes on Paper.  "Medication" comes in many ways!

As always, I love Claudia...

Like Claudia, my cardio may consist largely of books and snail mail, but I have

renewed my yoga practice.  The longest I've gone so far is 10 consecutive days before skipping a day.  I started with a 30 min. practice on January 5, but quickly moved back into an hour practice.  For several years my regular home practice was an hour and fifteen minutes, and a longer, slow practice seems to work better for me.

I'm rolling out my yoga mat each morning and setting the timer for an hour which feels about right, although sometimes I go over the hour.  When I finish, I feel relaxed, but energized.  Tai Chi was the same way, providing that unusual combination of physical and mental relaxation with  a sense of energy.

My goal is to manage 30 consecutive days of practice, but in the 19 days since I started, I've only skipped 4 days and that is encouraging.  Maybe I'll make 30 days at some point, but if can keep up a regular practice, I will be happy.

 I just read through 11 Amazing Thank You Notes from Famous People--if you have time check these out; they are funny and heartwarming. :)

This and That

I've followed Ronni Bennett's Time Goes By for years.  My favorite weekly post is Interesting Things and the following video is a great example of how the narrowness of some laws that can become self-defeating.  

"This is a video about what happened when the U.S. Department of Labor stepped in to enforce their employment regulations against piece workers in a retirement home.
It was produced last year by students in The Academy of Integrated Humanities and New Media (AIM), a two-year film program for juniors and seniors at Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley, California, which happens to be my alma mater,"  writes Ronni.

  Amazing the millions of women who marched--peacefully--yesterday!

Thursday

I was going to schedule this for Saturday, but...I'm posting it today instead.

Still playing with tea bags; experimenting with different techniques.  Different tea bags have different colorations and different folding methods.  Some are easy to open without tearing; some are not.  It doesn't make much difference as I don't mind the tears or ragged appearance of those that are more stubborn.

I'm almost through with the tea bags I'd been storing up.  The trip last week caused a quicker depletion than I expected since I wasn't drinking tea and saving the bags.  Should have started saving them earlier.  :)

Mail Art

from Jacque H.

 See what she included?

Beautiful lacy fabric, delightful items for decorating envelopes,

and cheerful stamps!

A vintage postcard from Naomi

A gorgeous shot of the lights 

along the Singapore River

from Melody.

Outgoing

To Jacque

 To Mila, and that is a pic of her on the tea bag.

To Max

 and another mini-collage on the back,a la Jackie Long

To StripyGoose,

a thank you for the pink-crested cello bird.

To Melody 

To Naomi

Some blogs that I've been enjoying, but haven't posted about:

Another 365 Days Around the Sun-- Cheryl marks her steps around New York City with photos.  This is a very personal NYC that brings it down to earth and makes it distinctive in a intimate way:  playgrounds, signs, trees in their spring glory, sidewalk art.  A New York in microcosm, making it feel familiar and unintimidating, another human space.  

Alisa Burke: Redefine Creativity-- This is my imaginary home.  My imaginary life.  Full of color and art and family.  Just reading her posts cheers up my day.  

:)