We all scream for ice cream!

I happen to think that every month should be National Ice Cream Month, but alas, it's only in July.  At the following website, you can find ice cream history, folklore, the "scoop" on ice cream headaches, how to find science in ice cream, how to make  homemade ice cream, and much more:    https://www.uoguelph.ca/foodscience/ice-cream

The Ice Cream Recipes site offers recipes for all the traditional flavors of ice cream, and recipes for very unusual ice cream flavors, like avocado, bacon, Earl Grey, rhubarb...  I'll stick with traditional.  It's interesting reading though, and they have some good recipes for toppings.

http://www.ice-cream-recipes.com/

Speaking of ice cream toppings, years ago, a friend of mind gave me a rather smelly (it improved with age), and icky looking concoction, and told me that it was Friendship Fruit Starter.  She, also, gave me a set of instructions detailing what to do with this starter.  It can be used as an unusual, but tasty ice cream topping, or added to cakes, muffins and other recipes.  To learn the whole story about this interesting mix, visit:  baking.about.com/library/weekly/aa011198.htm

Fun ideas for boring days

Some people, especially in that 8-13 age range, seem to spend a lot of time thinking they are bored.  Just in case, there's a bored person living at your home, I thought I would write an A-Z list of fun activities.  You can tell I'm not easily bored, because it took less than 5 minutes for me to come up with the following ideas....

A. With or without a telescope, look at the night sky, and brush up on your ASTRONOMY skills.  How many constellations can you find?

B. Blow big BUBBLES.  Let them pop on black construction paper, then measure their circumference to determine which one was biggest.

C  CAMP in your backyard

D. DANCE a happy dance!  Remember Snoopy's happy dance on top of his dog house....

E. EXERCISE

F. Look for FOSSILS

G. GROW some flowers

H. Have a HOPPING contest

I. Make homemade ICE CREAM in a coffee can.  It's fun and delicious!  You can find the recipe and the method at this site:  homeparents.about.com/od/recipesandcrafts/r/icecream.htm

J. Create a sculpture from JUNK

K. Create an imaginary KINGDOM.  What does it look like?  Who lives there?  What is the weather like?  Are there any unusual plants or animals there?  What do the inhabitants eat?...

L. LEARN Morse Code with a friend, and send each other secret messages.

M. MEASURE the length and width of your foot and your hand, the circumference of your head, your neck, your waist, your thigh.  How do the measurements compare?

N. How many states can you NAME?  How many U. S. Presidents?  How many South American countries?

O. How many layers does an ONION have?  Be sure to count the very thin layers.

P. Use a large rock or hammer to POUND on a small rock until it cracks.  What does it look like inside?  What does it smell like?  Is it sparkly or dull?  Was it hard or easy to break?

Q. Find a bird's feather, and make a QUILL for writing.  Try using blueberry or raspberry juice for ink.  What else might work for ink?

R. ROLL down the biggest hill you can find.  Have a race with a friend or sibling.  

S. Using only things you find in nature, make a SAILBOAT.  How long does it float?  How fast does it go if you blow on the sail?

T. Can you TOUCH the tip of your nose with your tongue?  Can you touch your chin with your tongue?  Can you touch your toes without bending your knees?  Can you put your hands flat on the floor without bending your knees?

U. Create a comedy act called Crazy UMBRELLA Tricks.  Make your umbrella roll over, stand on its "head," stand on it's "toes."  Remember, this is a comedy act...  Entertain your friends with as many "tricks" as you can.

V. Get a new point of VIEW.  Draw a picture of what you wish you could see when you look out your window.  Use a piece of paper the same size as the window.  You may have to tape several pieces of paper together.  When you finish your picture, tape it over your window, and enjoy the VIEW!

W. How many different kinds of WHALES are there on our planet?  Which one is the largest?  Which one is the smallest?  

X. Draw a big picture of yourself   The picture should show you standing alone.  Now use another sheet of paper, the same size as the one with your picture.  Trace the outline of your body on the clean piece of paper, so that the outline is exactly (or nearly) the same size as the first picture you drew.  Now, draw an X-RAY of your body inside that outline. In other words, draw your skeleton.  Be sure to show as many bones as possible, and they should "match" your first picture.  In other words, if you were holding your arms up in the first picture, your X-RAY picture should show your arm bones 'up' also.

Y. Can you YODEL?  It's a unique sound.  The Swiss are quite famous for their YODELING.  If you're not sure how to begin, check out this online course:  www.yodelcourse.com

Z. Are there different types of ZEBRAS?  Are all ZEBRAS black and white?  How many stripes does a ZEBRA have?  Are they all striped the same way?

Painless Journaling

I've always loved Twitter, because it is short and to-the-point. Posts on Twitter, known as "tweets," are required to be less than 140 characters. Perfect! I don't like wasting hours of time reading lengthy articles and posts, to find helpful information. In less than 5 minutes on Twitter, I can easily find 30-40 helpful tips, articles, learning resources, recipes, news updates and more.

I've, also, always loved journaling, but sometimes my days are so busy that I don't have time to write as much as I would like. For that reason, the micro journaling site, 280Daily.com, is just perfect for me, and maybe for you, too.

At 280Daily, entries are required to be less than 280 characters, but you can include links and photos. All your entries are private, unless you choose to share them. You can indicate entries which include something momentous, by ticking the box next to "day of note." You can even save all your entries, and have them printed in book form!

If you're looking for a quick and easy way to journal, or to get your child or teen to journal, in an almost painless way, check out 280Daily! It's quick, easy and fun!

Spring Is Coming!

Winter in northeast Ohio has never been my favorite season, but I tolerated it. Sometimes I even moderately enjoyed it. This year, I'm just not in the mood for it.

It just started, and it already seems like it's been here too long.

I enjoy being at home, but when I have some place to go, I want to be able to go. I don't like having to check the weather forecasts for my house, plus for wherever I'm headed. You can't just check the current forecast. You have to check the entire day and evening, if it's a long trip. It may be fine in the morning, and clear in the evening, but if the afternoon includes a foot of lake effect snow, it's a major problem...

This morning, however, I discovered two bits of news that are very encouraging.

First, the Lake Erie Nature and Science Center sent me a copy of their SPRING 2012 Program Guide! Did you notice that lovely word... SPRING?! Oh joy, oh joy!

Second, on our trip to the post office this morning, I saw a sign in front of the local Dairy Queen... "Opening February 1st!" The opening of Dairy Queen each year is a sure harbinger of SPRING!

Yes, I know that Spring doesn't officially arrive until March 20th, but the feeling of Spring always arrives much earlier, and I'm ready!

Are ya feelin' it?

Working with Passion

My oldest daughter, Kylia, now 22, has been following her passion in work since she was 11 years of age. At that time, her passion was make-up. She decided she wanted to be an Avon Representative, because Avon offered everything she loved. As she was explaining to me why I should sign up as a representative so that she could sell the products, she stated with great enthusiasm, "Mom! It's make-up, clothing and jewelry! Everything I love!" Although she has taken a few breaks, she continues representing Avon, on a part-time basis, today, 11 years later.

When Kylia turned 13, she went to a local coffee shop with a few friends, and called me, while there, to say, "Mom, you've got to see this place. It's the coolest place ever!" The coffee shop was run by a man named Jimmy, who was not only the shop owner, but also, quite an artist. He was busy covering every square inch of the place with paint, mirrors, glitter and unique artifacts he seemed to discover everywhere. He invited the young people to paint with him, and Kylia's passion for Jimmy's Café was ignited. She convinced Jimmy that she could help out at the café, and she did just that with great enthusiasm for 4 years.

When Kylia was 19, she visited me at my weekend job at an art gallery in Peninsula, Ohio. While I worked, she sat outdoors, at the nearby train station, reading. As luck (fate?) would have it, she was offered a job working for the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. She started by selling tickets, which she thought was really cool, because she worked in an old caboose. It wasn't long before she was working on the train itself, running the café car with passion and enthusiasm. She loved the train!



She had to wake up at 5:00 am every morning to get to work by 6:30 am, but she always bounced out of bed, with a big smile on her face, and announced "I work on a train!!!!" Every day was fun and exciting, even when the work day lasted 12 - 14 hours. She would work until she was exhausted, and then wake up the next morning ready to go again.

One day, when I was working at the gallery, a pleasant couple stopped by to browse. They said they had been on the train, and met my daughter, and that they loved her enthusiasm and friendliness. I told them how she woke up filled with enthusiasm every single morning, and the husband looked at me, and said, "I know what that's like! I love what I do, too, and I just can't wait to get to work."

"Really?" I seldom heard anyone say they were as excited about their work as Kylia was. "What do you do?"

"Concrete! I love it! I hate taking time off when the weekend arrives. I just love what I do!"

"Concrete? Are you serious?" I asked with an amazed expression on my face.

"Oh yes!" the man answered. "Concrete has unlimited possibilities. I can make driveways, buildings, stadiums...so many things. And they last, and they're strong! It's great! And I feel like an artist when I'm working with concrete. I can create all kinds of great patterns and structures with it."

I agree with the concrete guy, and with my daughter: I love what I do! I love learning, and sharing my passion for learning with others! I love when parents tell me that their children and teens are excited about my classes! There's no feeling like it!

There are all kinds of passions, and following those passions can make a huge difference in your life. Think about it! It's never too late!

What's your passion?

It's A Book - By Lane Smith

I love this video! Simple and profound.

Clarity!

One of my greatest lessons, this past year, has been the importance of clarity. In thinking about what I want to accomplish, my natural tendency seems to be to jump from one thing to another. I start a task, and then see something else that needs to be done, and I stop what I'm doing and begin working on the other task.

I obtain far better results when I take a few moments to create a plan for my day. I list all the things that need to be done, and then organize them by priority. As I work through them, I check them off the list, and find I am seldom side-tracked. (Notice I said, "seldom" rather than "never.")

Use this same method for your short-range and long-range goals. Put them in writing! Read your lists every day! This will help you keep your focus on your goals. And that focus and clarity with bring results! Do it!

What's Your Answer?

Learning is...... at AnswerGarden.ch.

Questions

My mind generates questions faster than I can find answers. I think that is what makes the world such a fascinating place.

Children have lots of questions, too. Often, we tire of helping them find answers, or we tell them to stop asking questions. Personally, I believe that by fostering a questioning attitude in our children, we practically guarantee a lifetime of learning for them... a true and comprehensive education.

Right now, I'm wondering why the clouds I saw last week were so huge, and so breathtakingly formed. They were the largest clouds I have ever seen. They looked like hundreds of clouds had combined to form megaclouds. They were white, cream, gray and some even had splashes of pink and blue and yellow. They definitely were not billowy, which to me implies light and fluffy. These clouds were dense, and looked to be the consistency of egg whites that had been beaten until they were stiff and "formed peaks."

Another day, there was an even bigger storm cloud overhead. It seemed to cover three-fourths of the sky, and it was shaped like a flying saucer, smooth and dark. Why was it so smooth, and how did such a large cloud form?

Why do sun rays shine from behind the clouds in straight lines? Why aren't they simply a glowing aura around the clouds?

These are things that I am pondering. What questions are you thinking about today?


Photo by Tumble Fish Studio
Used under Creative Commons Attribution License

Are You Paying Attention?

One of the most important characteristics of a lifelong learner, is attentiveness. Every activity you perform offers the opportunity for learning, but it is necessary to pay attention!

Often we are so caught up in our own thoughts that we miss thousands of interesting things around us. Instead we are focused on problems, schedules, work, planning, even rehashing past discussions or arguments.

Of course, our minds are capable of processing tremendous amounts of information, but as Adam Sandler's movie, "Click" illustrated, we fast forward through things that are everyday events, and seldom notice the little things that make life worthwhile.

So, take a deep breath... Take another... Did you take a slow, deep breath, or just a quick quasi-breath? Were you thinking about other things you have to do, and just tried to do this quickly to show yourself that you can relax, even if it's only for a micro-second?

Take a real, deep breath this time...

Now, look around. Look for something interesting... something you may not have noticed before. You don't have to do anything, but see it. It can be anything from dust patterns, to the many shades of green leaves on a single tree, to the tiny sparkle of light in your child's eyes.

Decide you will take a mini-break from hustle and bustle, several times a day, and take notice of things you hadn't seen just a minute before. I'll be posting reminders, periodically, to help you remember to take these moments of awareness. You'll be surprised what you learn!

A 12 Year Old With A Message

Note: Adora Svitak is lives in the state of Washington, is homeschooled, and is a busy writer, speaker and teacher.

Don't Miss the Magic!

Image by Andrea_R via Flickr

 

I found this quote today, and it really captured my feelings perfectly:

Sometimes when your kids comprehend something new, it happens after a lot of effort and study. Sometimes it has to wait until their mind is ready to grasp the concepts. When my daughter has trouble fully understanding a math concept, for example, I’ve found it’s helpful to just leave it be, work on related but different lessons, and go back to the trouble topic in a couple of months. Always, she then understands the concept with no effort. I’ve been lucky to have been able to have so much time to study how my kids learn. Because of this, I am always on the lookout for those telltale signs of learning. Passion for a subject, paying attention with no difficulty, asking unexpected but completely relevant questions.wired.com, Keep Watching Your Kids Learn, Mar 2010

I hope you will read the entire article. It espouses exactly what I love most about the entire homeschooling adventure!

Not everyone enjoys spending time with their children. Not everyone gets excited about learning. Not everyone notices the unique abilities, interests, passions and gifts that their children possess. Too bad! They're missing so much!

 

 

Lifeskills Lessons

Too often, education focuses on traditional school subjects. Life skills don't always receive the attention they deserve. Our children may be able to function quite well in the world without having spent a year learning algebra, but they will not do well if they aren't able to prepare food.

Ree Drummond, better known as "Pioneer Woman" is a homeschool mom and a multi-talented, fascinating woman. Her website is filled with tons of useful, interesting information about her life on a ranch, her fascinating family, their homeschool experiences, her talent for photography AND her amazing culinary skills!

Ree has added a new area on her site, called Tasty Kitchen, Favorite Recipes from Real Kitchens! The Tasty Kitchen is filled with a wide range of recipes, from various contributors.

A recent post, by Erika, was titled The Theme Is … Homemade Ingredients! In the post, Erika shared links to numerous recipes on the Tasty Kitchen blog. Included were recipes for homemade baking mix, homemade brown sugar, homemade vanilla extract, and many other mainstay ingredients.

I immediately thought that this is something that young cooks should learn. So little attention is given these days to creating your own ingredients when your cupboard is lacking. I remember the surprised look on a group of teens faces, when I explained that I had to use applesauce in my brownies, because I had no vegetable oil in my cupboard. They had just been discussing how tasty the brownies were, but now they stopped mid-bite, and stared at the brownies in their hands. "You mean there's applesauce in these?" Total shock!

I reminded them that they had just been saying how good they were, and that applesauce can easily be used to replace oil if no oil is available, or just to make the brownies a little healthier.

Knowing how to create these homemade ingredients can, also, inspire young chefs to be a bit more creative. They will start to notice food textures and tastes, and may begin to experiment with making some substitutions of their own. It's a great learning experience!
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Photo by Kylia Radney, used with permission.
Salad created by Chef Katie

A Change for the Better!

I have been writing a lengthy monthly newsletter for lifelong learners, for almost 12 years. This past November, I realized that it was a struggle for me to keep up with all the work that was required to make the newsletter what I wanted it to be. In addition to a monthly article relating, in some way, to learning, each issue included events, resources, ideas, lesson plans, holiday celebrations, announcements of upcoming classes and workshops, auditions, opportunities for volunteering and a few other sundry items.

Each month, I spent weeks preparing the newsletter, usually resulting in at least 30-35 pages of information. The entire issue was then emailed to each of my subscribers. It was a popular newsletter, and something I loved to prepare. In November, I finally realized that as much as I loved writing the newsletter, it required more time than I had to offer.

Because my subscribers had been so loyal and supportive, I wrote to them, explaining my situation. I indicated that I was working on a new and better way to prepare the newsletter, and that when I resolved the problems that I was currently facing with its publication, I would again publish, and at that point, all subscriptions would be free, rather than paid. Most of the subscribers enthusiastically thanked me for making the newsletter a free publication, and most, also assured me that they didn't care how often they received it, they just wanted to read my articles. I was relieved to have a bit of time to play with the format, and to develop a better method.

Over the past 4 months, I have considered about 20 different approaches to newsletter publication. Finally, I have settled on a method that I think works well. I'm still making the final tweaks and adjustments, but I'm pleased. I hope my subscribers will be pleased as well. I'm expecting to have everything ready for the debut next week. I've very excited, a bit nervous, and ready to get this show on the road again! It's been far too long! Stay tuned!

A New Perspective on Writer"s Block

I've been stewing for several weeks about my lack of posts on this blog. Why can't I think of anything to write about, I wondered. Today I realized that the problem has not been that I can't think of anything to write about... instead I have had too many ideas for posts!

In the past month, my mind seems to be a never-ending fount of ideas and inspiration. I try to write down as many as I can, but they just keep coming. I don't happen to think that's a bad thing, but it has made it very difficult to focus. I haven't been producing any posts, because my mind has jumped from thought to thought.

Today, I spent time sorting and categorizing some of my ideas. That seemed helpful. Getting them down in black and white, and then arranged in a somewhat manageable order, made it seem less overwhelming.

I'm going to get a good night's rest now, and look at my list with fresh sight in the morning. As uncomfortable as this deluge of inspiration has made me feel, it has also made me smile to realize that I can stay busy for years, just with the ideas that have flooded my brain this month!

Hopefully, I'll wake in the morning with a bit more of a direction in mind. Good night!

What did you learn today?

Every day is filled with hundreds of learning experiences. How many of them do you notice? Most of us are so busy trying to complete the items on our to-do list that we fail to see situations that hold important and helpful lessons.

My mom always kept a journal. It wasn't something she wrote in at length each morning or evening, rather it was a stenographers pad, in which she jotted brief notes about things she noticed during the day. She wrote titles of songs she enjoyed, quotes that inspired her, recipes that sounded tasty, books that tickled her fancy and intriguing and funny things she saw and heard.

Because my mom paid attention to what was happening around her, all the time, she was an interesting and intelligent conversationalist. As a teacher, she always had new ideas to share with her students. Most of the time, she could solve problems that arose, quickly and easily. If it was beyond her abilities, she knew who to call to assist her. She paid attention to the world around her, and her life and the lives of her family, her friends and her students were enriched because of it.

I began keeping a "learning journal" many years ago. I note many of the same types of things that my mother did. Because I am self-employed, I also pay attention to things that will help me become more efficient, more productive and a better business person.

I jot down ideas, questions, insights, problems, the names of people I meet, places I hear about, and websites that sound interesting or helpful. I pay attention to situations that arise or conversations that I have, and note my actions, reactions and fears. Sometimes I jot things down when they occur. Other times, I may take a 5 minute break and write what I have seen, done and heard recently.

For example, in a recent conversation with a married couple, the wife said, "My husband is a very talented woodcarver!"

"That's fascinating!" I said. "What do you like to carve?"

The husband answered, "Oh, I never actually carve anything, because I don't know if I would be happy with the end result."

That made me wonder if there are things that I hesitate to try because I am unsure of the outcome. Are my fears holding me back? I made a brief note about the conversation in my learning journal. Once a week, or whenever I am waiting for an appointment or have a few minutes to spare, I read through my notes to refresh my memory, and to see if I am making use of the information I have learned. Have I implemented new ideas or techniques that I meant to try?

My learning journal has helped me to find positive solutions to problems that occur in my life and in my business. It has enabled me to complete more of my goals, and to reach them more quickly. Reading about funny things that happened brightens my day, and reminds me not to take things too seriously. I am more organized and have better focus, because I remember helpful tips and tools that I may have forgotten if I had not noted them in my learning journal.

Many people have told me that they prefer to keep their notes electronically. If that works for you, then do that. I have found that I am not as likely to reread electronically filed notes, and without rereading, much of the benefit of the journal is lost. I also think that writing, as opposed to typing, seems to make information more memorable. For those reasons, I recommend a small notebook, that fits in your pocket or purse, so that you can access it quickly and easily, to make notes, and to reread notes you have previously written.

I hope you will give this a try! You may be surprised by what you learn!

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Think you would like to try a Learning Journal, but not sure that you would remember to use it? Why not join the 15 day Learning Journal Challenge at Ruzuku.com! There you will find support, encouragment and maybe even a few new friends! To learn more, visit: http://ruzuku.com/group_challenges/39/challenges/new

Shhhh... Don't Say A Word!

It seems that today most people spend their time running, doing, hurrying. It’s a fast-paced world. Conversations are filled with descriptions of errands to be run, tasks to be completed and places to go.

Several months ago, I read a quote related to listening, and it struck a chord. Although I don’t recall the exact words, the essence was that to increase what we learn, we must increase the time we spend listening.

As I paid attention to my own actions, and observed the actions of others, I found that there is very little time spent listening. We listen while we are doing other things. We are not really focused on listening. I am very guilty of typing at the computer, and telling my daughters, “Keep talking. I’m listening.” Type, type, type... “I can listen while I’m cooking dinner. Oh, now, I spilled something. Give me that dishcloth. Keep talking. No, not that dishcloth. I’m listening.” That is what passes for listening in many homes. And we do hear much of what is said, but we also, miss a lot.

When we are in a conversation and someone says something to which we can relate, we often wish the other person would hurry so that we could tell them our experience. I know that I am guilty of this. What I have to say usually relates to what the other person just mentioned, but often I notice, too late, that my comment or experience shifted the direction of the conversation, and the other person may have had more that they wanted to say. Now, it’s difficult, if not impossible for them to return to the point where they stopped.

I once heard someone say that there is no such thing as a conversation these days, only long monologues told by different people who happen to be facing each other. Is that the way it should be? I don’t think so. I am resolving to become a better listener. I, actually, love to listen to what other people tell me, I just become overeager to share my own stories. If I can stifle that need to talk, and instead, just listen, I think I will learn some very interesting things.


“Listen or thy tongue will keep thee deaf.” ~Native American Indian Proverb

“Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you'd have preferred to talk.” ~Doug Larson

Photo Credit: "you're not listening" by kalandrakas.

A Change of Space

A little over a month ago, my oldest daughter began working for the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. She owns her own Avon business, and loves it, but it really didn't take all her time, so she had been looking for something different and fun to do, and she found it. She is a people person, and the number and variety of people who ride this historic train through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park fulfills her need for personal contact and inspiring conversation.

We are a one car family, and that means I need to take her to work every morning. Our van is an older model, and I'm trying to baby it and make it last as long as possible, because it is such a wonderful vehicle. Taking my daughter to work, and then returning at the end of the day to pick her up puts more miles on the van than I like. I decided to cut down on those miles, by spending the day, a few times a week, in a small town near the train station. As a writer, I have some flexibility.

I usually start the day at Panera's, one of the few places to be open early in the morning. With a cup of coffee and a bagel, I set up shop in a small booth, and get to work. After a few hours there, I move to the local library, just a few blocks away. I have noticed that since I began following this routine, I am accomplishing more than I do when I work from my home office. At first I was perplexed, then I realized that, although there are distractions at Panera's and at the library, they are different than the distractions I have at home.

At my home office, I begin to work, and then notice a library book on the table. Is it due today? Are there other books that need to be returned. I stop working to check the status of the books. I gather the ones that are due and put them in a bag to take with me later in the day. As long as I have stopped, I might as well make some coffee. I go back to work.

Is the coffee ready? As I go to pour a cup, I see that there are dishes in the sink. Since I'm in the kitchen, I will just wash those quickly. I take my coffee and go back to work.

I give my eyes a break from staring at the computer screen by glancing around the room. Oh no! There are three pairs of dirty socks in the living room. I'll just throw those in the laundry basket. As long as I'm up, I'll just grab a quick bowl of cereal, since I haven't had anything to eat. When I get the bowl, I notice the dishes I washed are now dry. Might as well put them away while I'm here.

Ahhh! So this is why I am so much more productive when I am away from my office. A change of space can be a very good thing!

The Bounty of Nine!

Today is September 9, 2009... 9-9-09! Although I could probably list 999 great things in my life, I thought I would limit this post to the top nine:

1. I have two lovely, thoughtful and caring daughters. They encourage me when there are challenges, and make me laugh when I feel sad. When we have experienced difficult times, they have never complained. They see that we are rich, no matter how much or how little money we have.
   
2. Although my parents are both deceased, the lessons they taught me and the love they gave me lives on, encouraging me in so many ways. There is not a day that goes by that I don't remember their words, their actions and their caring.
3. I love my crazy, kind and funny family... brothers, sister, aunts, uncles, cousins. So many caring, loving people, most of whom live life with a twinkle in their eyes and a smile on their face. The sense of humor I learned from my family has carried me through every difficulty.
4. I earn a living doing things I love to do! I teach enrichment classes to wonderful, caring children and teens who are interested in learning. I help families find resources to enrich their learning experiences. I write and publish a newsletter filled with ideas and events that inspire learning. And on the weekends, I am surrounded by beautiful sights and wonderful people, when I work at Elements Gallery, which is owned by my friends, Steve and Debra Bures, and located in the quaint village of Peninsula, Ohio, in the middle of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park! What could be better!
5. My friends are my second family! They are supportive, encouraging, loving, caring, kind, understanding, thoughtful and FUN! Without them, I may never have started my learning resources business, and I definitely would not have experienced the success I have enjoyed.
6. I amazed by the number of wise and wonderful teachers I've encountered. Some teachers I met in school; others I met at sports events, workshops and churches. Some of my greatest teachers were past supervisors or co-workers, and many were people I just happened to meet. People from all walks of life have shared their insights, their understanding and their passions with me. They have enriched my life!
7. When I was in college, I thought every person I met had a fascinating major. As a result, I changed majors frequently. At one time, I was embarrassed by my inability to "just choose one." Now I see that my indecision was actually perfect for my current vocation. Students and parents seeking resources for learning and careers, ask me how I know about so many things. It's because I thought everything was fascinating. My "lack of focus" was perfect for what I now do. I can teach classes in many subject areas, and I'm told they're usually fun and interesting. I'm sure the reason is because I think all these subjects are "fun and interesting."
8. And where would I be without the powerful writers whose works have influenced me in so many ways. Their writings have inspired me to cry, laugh, shout and grow. Newspapers, magazines, books, blogs and tweets... so many wise and wonderful writers!
9. The ninth thing? September! In Ohio, September is a time of clear blue skies, crisp fall air and breathtakingly beautiful fall foliage. It is the busy season of harvest. In this ninth month of the year, I consider what I planted earlier this year, how I cultivated what was planted, and what harvest I am reaping. Did some of my plantings need more care, a longer growing season, a more hospitable climate? I can't change what I have done in the past, but I can apply what I learned to the future, so that the next growing season will be even better. I am enjoying the bountiful harvest of those plantings that flourished.

And I can be grateful for all of these things!

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The number nine is the center of attention at the Joyful Jubilant Learning Community this month. Stop by and read the wonderful postings on this intriguing number.

Thinking Inside the Box

Recently I wrote about the challenges that too many choices can present. Ken Robert, at Mildly Creative, recently addressed this issue, from a creativity standpoint. I think you will find his ideas interesting and helpful.

Read his article here: Thinking Inside the Box - An Exercise in Limits