In a small wooded area in the middle of our suburban neighbourhood, are the remnants of a farmer's wall. Bits of walls can be seen all over the older neighbourhoods, especially the ones that still have older homes. This old wooded area was a favourite hangout for us as teens in the 80's, back when … Continue reading The Old & Forgotten Walls of Suburbia
Soft Serenity
Everything about this brings me calm. The soft greys, the light that looks painted onto the surface of it all. The tiniest hints of colours and tones. The focus and clarity could have been sharper, maybe, but would that have distracted from the calm? There are very few stones as smooth as these in the … Continue reading Soft Serenity
Beautiful Indigenous folk tales for everyone!
Book Review: Papagayo: The Mischief Maker Beautifully illustrated.A fun story about ... The moon... or is it more.Amazing use of vocabulary. I'm guessing an Aztec or Inca tale. It would be wonderful to share this in any class and ask my students to discuss what they think it's about.What's the significance of Papagayo in this … Continue reading Beautiful Indigenous folk tales for everyone!
Petrified Ooze
The way the tree is bent makes it look like it might have melted, or as if the wood has flowed like lava to it's resting place, or like extruded clay that breaks at leather-hard dryness. The grain of the wood was visible with the natural colours and sunlight but became really oozy when I … Continue reading Petrified Ooze
Cute, but what else do I need? You be the judge.
Book Review: Yes Day! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal Please keep in mind that I consider books as teaching tools, especially children's books. I look for one's that offer teachable moments and morality questions that could stimulate discussion. This one could, but I'm not sure it would be obvious to the students. The illustrations are cute.The … Continue reading Cute, but what else do I need? You be the judge.
Natural Architecture – For Humanity
Upturned roots, crumbling rocks, tossed-around branches... all combine into fantastic structures. I would love to see a city built from such an inspiration. Massive edifices twisting and intertwining; made of steel, concrete, and glass. Giant sustainable living spaces, fled with living plants, greenhouses, and walkways for people to live healthy lives. No more stress-inducing strait … Continue reading Natural Architecture – For Humanity
Letting You Be … You
Book Review: Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor Adorable.A parent's guide to having fun while allowing your children be themselves.A great message about how parent's can show their children they respect them for who they are. Follow Nancy and her amazing family as they nurture her self-expression in the cutest and most supportive way... by being … Continue reading Letting You Be … You
Just So… Beautiful
It's really easy to walk by certain gifts from Mother Nature and take them for granted. Macro photography has been allowing me to, well, stop and smell the roses. There is so much beauty always around us that I can't help but feel my soul soaring in happiness and gratitude for it. The fragility of … Continue reading Just So… Beautiful
Everybody Can Change
Book Review: The Bad Seed by Jory John Great illustrations and the moral is very clear, at the end: everybody can change. Not sure if I'd read this to my class of kids, but one on one, it could be a lovely story.It's just a little long. The protagonist makes a beautiful transformation in self-awareness … Continue reading Everybody Can Change
Flying Through – A Bee’s Eye View
Taking macro shots throws my imagination into film mode. I feel like I'm suddenly seeing the world from the perspective of a bee or a fly. I had to get down close to this clump of broken branches to see the ground, fallen-desiccated leaves, and mosses. The branches formed a tunnel from my plain eye's … Continue reading Flying Through – A Bee’s Eye View
The New Renaissance Mindset 