Mini puppet stage.

  

  In a school setting, a helper , used this paper activity to encourage interaction with the child.    The child cut out a circle, and used the large paper as a stage.  The  child used her very special stuffed animal to talk and play.   A  hand puppet could be used in the same way.  

HollyhockJunction 

   
  

fresh corn

Living high off the hog eating fresh corn on the cob.

Pass the salt and the butter please.

Or Uncle Ron counting calories off and on

Do you want the stuff in the bottle that you squeeze?

"Hand lotion? Naw."

I can't believe it's not...

Canning corn with my mother and sister:  They  (and some of the  old cook books)  suggest the ears of corn be   blanched 4-6 minutes before cutting it off the cobs.  Blanching brings out the flavor.  Then it's  important to stop  the blanching process and cool down the corn  by immersing it in cold water. Otherwise it continues to cook and that  lessens the nutrients, color, and flavor. )  "Cool" corn for  the freezer.

Contrasts.

 Daisies reaching into  shade on a hot summer day.

 


Early in the morning at dawn, or when the clouds roll in in   thunderstorm fashion, the sky in Minnesota reminds me of the sky in Montana.  Yes, there is a difference in skies.  I think it has to do with light and shadow. 
  Shadows create a contrast.  Against the sky, the trees become more distinct,   separate from the hills, the hills from the lake, the lake from the horizen.  The picture seems  greater.

  If I were a water colorest or an oil painter, I  might have a better  understanding of shadow and light.  
  I sew tote bags with light and dark fabric, smooth and rough texture, new and vintage, all working together.


  A child peering  out an airplane window,  exclaimed,  "Clouds have shadows!  (Pockets of water vapor have shadows.)

  In a curio cabinet of a very rich man, the objects of his enjoyment,were behind glass.   Military photos.  Medals.  Bronze statues. 
  He reached for,  and lifted out what looked like a clump of mud that fit in the palm of his hand - coarse hairs sticking out of it.  
  Some other country tribal ritualistic relic, I surmised.
  "Can you guess what this is?"  he asked. 
  "No."
  "It's a clod of mud found caked on the end of  a cow's tail.  You're  farm folks, you should know about that."
  My husband laughed.  A ball of mud caked on the end of a cows tail. 
  Yes,  we had seen them before,  but not on display.
  He never did say why it was signifigent to him.   Maybe it just tickled his fancy.    I was  struck by the contrast of dirt clod showcased behind glass and varnished wood.

Contrasts:
worthless and valuable
old and new
smooth and rough
heavy and light
past and present
light and dark


Kathleen Norris, In her book Amazing Grace (chapter  on "Blessing and Curse" ) takes note of the contrasts.      What do we do with them?  
"Apply prayer to all the contrasts, if  that be the hard  requests, or giving simple thanks for the easy blessings."  DM

Small Donkeys

Small donkeys.  Not the minatures, but almost. 
My grandaughter wanted to go and see the small donkeys.  Me too.  They were pastured  on a nearby farm just down the road.
  "They aren't  much use",  Henry, the owner said, shrugging his sagging shoulders.
  I said to him, "But they scare the wolves away." 
  "Come to think of it,"  he said,  "I haven't seen a wolf around here in a long time." 

John 12:1(Amplified) And Jesus, having found a young donkey, rode upon it, (just) as it is written in the Scriptures,
15  Do not fear, O daughter of  Zion!  Look!  Your King is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt! (Zech. 9:9) 

Sehla (pause, and calmly think of that)

What of Flea Market Cookie Cutters?

Cookie Cutters:  
A bit rusty.  Small shapes. 
Tree, moon, wise man, chicken, and a pig.
"What do you suppose this is I ask?"  as I  lift an odd piece  out of the basket.   
"A cupid or an angel,"  an onlooker pipes in.  
  
I plan to buy them to make primitive Christmas ornaments.  To each, tie a bell, and  colorful beads.   
But wait,   a boy of grade school age takes interest and reaches into  the basket for a lion, a snowman, and the pig.  What he has in mind, he doesn't say.  Does he want them for cutting play dough  or  to help bake cookies?  Do  kids still make mud pies?   Or does he plan to study the engineering of tin shapes?