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Oranges & Blossoms

(a re-post from September 2010)
Folks, I’m revamping my blog a bit and getting rid of “pages” from my early days of blogging that featured multiple posts. I don’t want to lose the posts altogether, though, so I’m re-posting them. Makes no sense, huh? Believe me, if there was an easier way…!!! So, if you’ve never seen this one before it’s all new to you. If you have seen it, I apologize for the rerun but hope you can enjoy it all over again! There will be additional reruns coming into your box every couple of days until I’ve emptied these pages from the early days. Who knows…maybe what’s old can be new again with ideas. Let’s hope! Meanwhile, all new posts are on the way, too!!!
Some get-togethers are just a little more relaxed than others, but that doesn’t mean the tablescape has to suffer!
 Bright colors can go a long, long way to bring a summer tablescape to life!
With about 24 hours notice, I was able to construct this casual but inviting tablescape. Atop a white cotton linen, the brilliant orange matchstick placemat really stands out. The next layers are a simple white Corelle dinner plate, a bright pink & orange melamine salad plate from Burlington, and a fun little orange slice plate for the appetizer. The place setting is finished off with a folded white napkin and fun white handled flatware from TJ Maxx. Nothing fancy…just pure fun!
 When it comes to centerpieces in a hurry, let your imagination kick in. A couple of white cake stands (Ralph Lauren “Pavillion”) did the trick in this case, stacked high with oranges from the fridge (tomorrow morning’s orange juice!), and dotted with waxflower and brilliantly hued plumeria blossoms. Any small flowers will do that match or complement your tablescape colors. (See the cake stands used for other displays at “88 Years & 88 Keys” and “Blushing Bridal Shower“.
 Tiny orange glass vases from Hobby Lobby repeat the floral theme of waxflower and plumeria from the main centerpiece with impatiens from the side yard landscape tossed in for good measure.
Simply using items from around the house, the fridge, and the yard, a jaunty little tablescape is born!
This easy, breezy tablescape was quick to assemble and, thankfully, quick to take down as we were chased in just before dessert by a rain storm!

Luscious Layers of Lavender

INSPIRATION: A beautifully-crafted and much-cherished quilt in shades of purple received from wedding clients way back at the start of my wedding design career.

INSPIRATION: A beautifully crafted and much cherished quilt in shades of purple received from clients way back at the start of my wedding design career.

Thank you for stopping by! This is a short and sweet post this week. (I know many of you are cheering and doing the happy dance! ) I’m getting ready for CHIEFS football tonight and a very busy week ahead!
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Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Luscious Layers of Lavender: Full tableThis casual table for 4 began with a 108″ round white tablecloth on a 48″ table for full-length coverage. The table was then topped with the pretty quilt in varying shades of purple on a white background. This tablescape would be perfect for an evening in with the girls to celebrate a birthday or any relaxed occasion.

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Luscious Layers of Lavender: Place setting

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Luscious Layers of Lavender: petal pink "Bread & Butter - Lola" bowlThe place setting begins with a grape-colored Bormioli Rocco glass charger. The dinner and salad plates are simple white Corelle. The crowning touch is a petal pink “Bread and Butter – Lola” bowl with softly curved and generously beaded edges found at Home Goods.

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Luscious Layers of Lavender: Flatware, flatware detailing, napkin collageThis Oneida flatware – my everyday service chosen way back in the 70s when I married my 1st husband – has floral detailing that mimics that of the tiny florets in some patches of the quilt. The napkin, like the bowl, is a soft petal pink and coordinates with the pink patches in the quilt.

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Luscious Layers of Lavender: Purple stemwareThe stemware is 2 different designs and in 2 slightly different hues, but they work well together. The taller stem is from Stein Mart and the shorter wine glass is a recent purchase from Home Goods. I was bummed they only had 6. I could have easily used 12-20 of these! (“Art of Tablescaping” students: Remember what we discussed about considering using pieces that complement rather than match.)

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Luscious Layers of Lavender: Centerpiece

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Luscious Layers of Lavender: Centerpiece from overheadI like to occasionally do something a little dramatic in the center of the table. (Seriously? Who do I think I’m kidding??!?!  For me, a day without drama on the table is like a day without sunshine! 🙂 ) In this case, it’s a large, curvy white glass vase filled with flowering branches. Note that the floret shape complements the flowers in the quilt and on the flatware. (Note: This part of the centerpiece is great for showcasing the table as guests arrive, but can be easily transferred to a side table once the meal is about to start.)

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Luscious Layers of Lavender: Small floralsA trio of smaller white ceramic vases can be left on the table during the meal should you opt to remove the larger piece. This continues the look without compromising it and allows guests to freely converse across and around the table.

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Luscious Layers of Lavender: purple glass votiveI found these beautiful purple glass disc votive holders at Hobby Lobby. At 50% off, they were just $1 each. Quite a bargain with a lot of impact when strategically scattered at the base of the centerpiece.

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Luscious Layers of Lavender: squatting ceramic white frog

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Luscious Layers of Lavender: slithering white ceramic frogWhy frogs you ask? Because I saw one out in the yard, had these white ceramic ones in my stash, and figured, “Why not?”. That’s the long and the short of it! Nothing too deep! 🙂 (“Art of Tablescaping” students: you may recall our discussion about bringing something unexpected to the table for whimsy.)

That’s all folks! I hope you have a wonderful week ahead, and I so appreciate your visit!

Other tablescapes on this site featuring quilt toppers or runners:
“Summer Luncheon for Two”
“Midsummer Shabby Chic Apple Tablescape”
“My Sister’s Wedding China”
“Kaleidoscope Christmas”
“Casual Fall Harvest Tablescape”
“Love’s Arrow”

Other tablescapes on this site with purple:
“Purple & Pastel”
“Pink & Purple Chocolate Christmas”
“Purple for Spring”
“Easter Floral”
“Purple+Green=Happy Birthday!”
“Planning in Purple”

This week I’ll be joining Christine at Rustic & Refined for “Table It!” (goes live on Sunday evening) and Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for “Tablescape Thursday” (goes live on Thursday morning).

Picnic Ants

INSPIRATION: A tea towel/napkin with all the fun & whimsical elements of a summer picnic.

INSPIRATION: A tea towel/napkin with all the fun & whimsical elements of a summer picnic.

Today was the hottest day of the year so far with the mercury toeing the 100° line. The humidity was so stifling that, combined with the scorching heat, you could boil an egg  just by tossing it in the air. But that’s summer in Kansas City for you, and we intend to suck it up and party on!
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Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Picnic Ants - picnic table from the distance

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Picnic Ants - Full table

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Picnic Ants - Full tabletopSome readers may recall a tablescape (Ants In My Pants Picnic) I did on this same picnic table along the walking trail in our subdivision awhile back. (HUGE thanks to neighbors Lynn & Barbara for their help on this one!!!) Some of those same elements are used here, but in a different way. For starters, rather than covering the table with the red & white checkered fabric, it is folded and serves as a runner. (Note to my Art of Tablescaping Students…this is a great example of what we discussed about saving money by changing up the look without changing all the pieces.)

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Picnic Ants - Centerpiece picnic ants collageThe main attraction is the Pied Piper-esque single-form line of metal ants down the center of the table. I bought the giant ones several summers ago at Hobby Lobby. The smaller ones were purchased at a wholesale place I frequent here in the Kansas City, Mo., area. As you will soon see, the parade of ants theme will carry out in other elements on the table. The checkered runner is topped with 3 watermelon slice placemats found in a clearance bin years ago.

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Picnic Ants - Offset centerpiece picnic basket, fruits, flowers & Coleman lantern

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Picnic Ants - Picnic basket & poppies collage

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Picnic Ants - Picnic fruits collage

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Picnic Ants - Coleman lantern, cookies, condiment collagePart of the centerpiece is off-center on one end of the table which adds interest to the overall look. Centerpieces can be utilitarian like this one which includes the picnic basket (found in pristine condition at a local thrift store for just $7) filled with a tangle of red poppies, various vessels brimming with luscious summer fruits, a mound of peanut butter cookies on fun dessert plates, colorful condiment bottles, and a vintage Coleman lantern to light the area as afternoon fun rolls into evening. Notice another giant ant surveying the bowl of fruit. This detail visually connects the off-center part of the centerpiece to the elements in the center of the table, and this fun factor could possibly be the catalyst for kids choosing the healthier fruit option over the cookies. (Students…please recall our conversation about the importance of visual connectors.)

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Picnic Ants - Place setting

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Picnic Ants - black faux bamboo flatwareThe place settings here are simple: a black dinner plate from Dollar Tree, a practically indestructible white Corelle salad plate, and a fun Pier 1 red & white checkered plate covered with ants to throw those rib bones on once they’re picked clean! (Kansas City is KNOWN for its fabulous barbeque, and no picnic is complete without a slab of meaty ribs!) Faux black bamboo flatware adds a touch of class to the setting, but fits right in with the natural vibe.

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Picnic Ants - Mason jar of iced tead

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Picnic Ants - Mason jar collageMy Southern sisters will attest to the glory of sweet tea, and one of the easiest ways to sip it on a hot summer day is from an old-time Mason jar. Here the jars are dressed up a bit with a bit of earthy green raffia tied to place cards fashioned to complement the dessert plates, napkins and runner. Looks like my blog buddy Jamala from VivaLaVintage for Your Home has a seat at the table! If you’ve not visited Jamala’s blog, you really should check it out. She’s all about decorating with vintage & collectible items, and she has an uncanny knack for scouting unimaginably great bargains! Jamala waves her wand (very often that wand looks like a can of spray paint!) and turns the most practical items into fabulous!

Peeking out from behind the computer-generated place cards in a purely decorative capacity is a wooden watermelon slice napkin ring found at Bed, Bath & Beyond several years ago. (Students…remember our chat about unexpected elements…don’t be afraid to use things in unusual ways!)

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Picnic Ants - Watermelon & ants picnic napkinMy inspiration piece – a fun tea towel/napkin with vintage appeal from Tuesday Morning – really rounds out the place settings. The checkered design and trail of ants spelling out the word “Picnic” is an extension of the centerpiece runner and dessert plates. The slice of watermelon is a repeat of the runner, the Mason jar embellishment and summer’s signature fruit available in abundance for dessert.

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Picnic Ants - Cooler, Pellegrino, grill collageStaying hydrated is an essential part of hot, hazy summer days in Kansas City. Make mine something a little special like ice-cold Pellegrino with a twist of lime!

Other posts on this site featuring off-center centerpieces:
Lemonade From Bill
Summer Luncheon for Two
Midsummer Shabby Chic Apple Tablescape
Planning In Purple
Hot Fun in the Summertime!
Black & White Barnyard Breakfast

Other posts on this site featuring a picnic setting:
Grill It Up!
Blue & White Family Picnic
Oopsy Daisy!
Ants in My Pants Picnic

Other posts on this site using towels as napkins include:
Popsicle Party
Black & White Barnyard Breakfast

Most Egg-cellent Fall Breakfast
Grill It Up!
Italian Honeysuckle
Picnic Ants

Other posts on this site featuring checkered elements:
Life Is Just a Chair of Bowlies
Checkered Christmas – A Snowman Theme
Black, White & Red All Over Christmas
Apple Green Luncheon
Blue & White Family Picnic
Grill It Up!
Ants in My Pants Picnic

If you want to see another REALLY cool picnic idea, pop over to my blog buddy Jenna’s site, The Painted Apron, to check out her “Portable Picnic for 2” post. I guarantee you’ll really like it! SO creative!

I am joining Christine over at Rustic & Refined again this week for “Table It” (live now) and Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for “Tablescape Thursday” (goes live at 9:00 a.m., CDT on Thursday). Join me, and I guarantee you’ll be able to find lots of summertime tablescaping inspiration!

Valentine Tablescape – Queen of Hearts Card Party

INSPIRATION: Dessert plates found in the clearance section at Tuesday Morning. Just $1.99 for each set of 4!!!

My Mom and I were out scouting after-Christmas bargains and ended up spending nearly an hour in the clearance section at one of our local Tuesday Morning stores. I saw these fun, modern “Queen of Hearts” dessert plates had been marked down 60%, so I scooped 2 sets right up. Imagine my surprise and sheer delight when I checked out and they were actually 90% off!!! I knew I had to do a fun and really different Valentine’s Day luncheon tablescape for my card shark pals. Yes…you people know who you are! (If you’re looking to buy some, I’ve seen them on for $13.99.)
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Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Queen of Hearts Card Party: Full tableThe rim of the otherwise pink, red & white dessert plates is chocolate brown. Valentine’s Day definitely = chocolate, so chocolate brown 85-in. tablecloth over a 108-in. round one it was!

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Queen of Hearts Card Party: Place setting

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Queen of Hearts Card Party: Flatware, stemware, napkin & rim shot collageThe place setting begins with hot pink Bormioli Rocco Inca glass chargers purchased in a frenzied shopping spree a couple of years ago. Plain white Corelle plates for the entrée come next, topped off with the dessert plates in 3 of the 4 designs. A starched white cotton napkin drapes off the side of the table from beneath the stack. Simple stainless flatware and curvy Dollar Tree glassware completes the place setting.

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Queen of Hearts Card Party: Full centerpiece

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Queen of Hearts Card Party: Centerpiece from overhead

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Queen of Hearts Card Party: Queen crown, chest amulet & Modern Queen collageLong story short: I found this standard card deck queen figurine on 80% off clearance at a nearby Hobby Lobby. Put her and a King in my basket, and then decided against them at the last minute. Slept on it, realized my huge mistake, got up at the crack of dawn and waited in the parking lot until the doors opened only to find out someone apparently much smarter than me already took them. Horrors!!! Drove to THREE other Hobby Lobby stores that day. Third time was a charm! Not only did I find the King & Queen, but also a Jack! Bent down, kissed the floor (not really…more like a Hollywood air kiss!), thanked the Lord, and hustled on home with my treasures. Interestingly, she was a Queen of Clubs, so I just used Hallmark heart stickers to give her crown and amulet a quickie makeover. Notice how staid she looks compared to the modern, curvy, sexy Queen on the plates. Still, both quite regal! (Seriously…these must have been created by some man with a Sophia Vergara fascination. Just look at “the girls” on that modern Queen!!! 😉 )

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Queen of Hearts Card Party: Card handAfter lunch, the dishes and centerpiece will be cleared and IT IS ON like Donkey Kong as we used to say back in the day!!! (Back in what day?!?! I’m going to be chewed up and spit out. I have no idea how to play Hearts or any other card game!)

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Queen of Hearts Card Party: Dessert buffet on vitrine

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Queen of Hearts Card Party: Gummie, marshmallow, M&M, cookie collage

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Queen of Hearts Card Party: Pretzels & popcornThe vitrine holds plenty of sweet and salty snacks to munch on during the card playing portion of the afternoon.

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Queen of Hearts Card Party: Tarts on Ralph Lauren pedestalThe dessert plates do quote the 1782 poem that begins, “The Queen of Hearts, She made some tarts, All on a summer’s day…“, so what would this luncheon/card party be without a few tarts? (OK, those of you with randy little minds! Don’t go there!!! 😉 ) Faux tarts are used here for demonstration purposes, but I’ll be making some using mini phyllo dough shells for the luncheon.

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Queen of Hearts Card Party: Side table with score card

Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One,, Queen of Hearts Card Party: Score card & cloisonne heart collageI have created score cards for the occasion using my PC. From the looks of it, scoring is very complicated! A pretty red and pink cloisonné heart jewelry box serves as decoration for the side table.

So if you have no plans for Valentine’s Day or just want to do something fun with friends, a Queen of Hearts card party might be right up your alley!

More Valentine’s Day tablescapes on this site:
Should Have Put a Ring On It
Platinum & Pink Valentine
Diamonds Are a Material Girl’s Best Friend

Be Still My Heart
Peonies and Pearls
Chocolate Traditional
Days of Wine & Roses
Love’s Arrow

I’m linking up with The Tablescaper for “Seasonal Sunday” this week and Laurie for her annual Valentine Blog Party. This Thursday I’ll be joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for “Tablescape Thursday” once again. Check it out to see what I’m sure will be a bevy of wonderful tablescapes from talented bloggers all around the world who join these weekly blog parties!

♠ ♣ ♥ ♦ Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!!! ♠ ♣ ♥ ♦

Quick & Casual Plaid & Paisley Fall Dinner Tablescape

I’m going to say it just this once, and then I’m going to leave it alone: dear, sweet, lovable husbands…get a clue!!!!!!!!! To be fair, this does not include all husbands, but I think the vast majority have no idea what kind of time, effort, and preparation goes into a dinner party. Even if it’s a casual dinner, there’s a measure of thought and toil necessary to pull it off. I’m not saying it was my husband who was the most recent offender…….but it was MY HUSBAND who was the most recent offender!!!

OK…enough bellyaching about something that is just as inherent on his end as it is incomprehensible on mine. Given only about 12 hours notice and already beyond knee-deep in other tasks, this is the quick & casual fall dinner tablescape I pulled out of my… I created (and photographed just minutes before everyone arrived!).
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This is the way the table looked before I went into panic mode…my “regular centerpiece” just hangin’ out, mindin’ it’s own business, not hurtin’ anyone.

No time for ironing a table linen! No time for creating a fabulous centerpiece…use the one that’s already in there (you’ve been looking forward to pairing plaid with paisley anyway!), and just adjust it to make room for all the dishes.
RUN, Forrest…RUN!!!

Rust-colored metal chargers work well as the foundation to this beautiful 222 Fifth “Maharana” paisley patterned dinnerware. I used a plain white Corelle salad plate to break up the color a bit and work with the white of the bowl’s center. Using a bit of white or ivory helps to brighten your fall tablescape and prevent color saturation that can make darker tones seem to disappear into the table.

The burgundy brushed cotton napkins (Pier 1) are folded across the salad plate and “zhushed” on each side around the bowl just to make them look a bit more interesting.

Olive green stemware from Dollar Tree picks up on the olive tones in the centerpiece fabric and paisley dinnerware design.

A length of lightweight plaid fabric in fall shades of pumpkin, burgundy, olive and cream is carefully “zhushed” around a massive faux pumpkin. Faux bittersweet vine meanders around and across the pumpkin while a small smattering of votives provides ambient light.

The votive candles on the buffet behind the dining table were already assembled from my tablescaping class earlier in the week, so I just left them there and served everything from the kitchen. (If all else fails, just design your room with tons of candlelight. Everybody looks good in the glow of it, and it adds a lot of pizzazz without a lot of effort!!!) Pumpkins, also used in a classroom demonstration, are plopped down across the china cabinet and on the tea cart to add another touch of fall in the room.

Thank goodness for Costco!!! Dinner done, dining room decorated, dressed, and smiling like a Cheshire Cat for guests in under 12 hours. Feelin’ pretty good about myself right now. Hubby’s still wearing a steak over his eye! 😉

Check out more Fall tables on this site:
Autumn” page (10 fabulous fall posts on this page!)
Casual Fall Harvest Dinner
September Harvest Breakfast
Pumpkins & Peacocks
Wondrous Wheat
Pheasants & Peacocks
Best Laid Plans
Serape High Style
Sunflower Simple
Raining Orchids
September Wine
Autumn Blues

You still have about a week to sign up for my “Tablescaping a Winter Wonderland” class through Longview Community College. Click HERE for more information, or contact the Community Education Department at 816-604-2030.

I am joining Cuisine Kathleen for “Let’s Dish!” starting at 6:00 p.m. CDT on Wednesday, the Style Sisters for “Centerpiece Wednesday“, and Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch for “Tablescape Thursday” staring Thursday morning at 9:00 CDT. If you want to get an eyeful of great fall tablescaping ideas, join me!

Apple Green Luncheon

Thank you to all the new subscribers who have come on board in the last couple of weeks! I welcome you!!! And for those who have been around for a while, you know I thank you and appreciate your continued subscription!

I wanted to post what will be our Easter brunch table, but it’s too early for me to get started on it. I won’t start building it until Friday. I’ll post it next week, for sure! Click here if you missed the Easter brunch tablescape requested by a reader last week.

Meanwhile, I am so happy to be able to post a fun and colorful apple green luncheon tablescape. I apologize that I don’t have a person’s name to identify with this post request. The request came in about 2 months ago, and I am just getting around to sharing these ideas. I’m sorry it is coming so late, and I hope it is still useful!

If you’d like to see another tablescape using green, click here!

I have had lots of requests for pink & green tablescapes, but this is the first for an apple green & white tablescape. What better way to interpret that than with actual green apples!??!?!

Spring luncheon tables are always so much fun to create! This one is great for a spring or summer luncheon, indoors or out. (It could also work well in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day with a little tweaking!) I started with a crisp white cotton linen. Next comes a gorgeous Pier 1 apple green and white cotton placemat with a fabulous houndstooth pattern. Just for fun and a little added dimension, a clear acrylic square is set atop the placemat. Next comes a simple white ceramic charger, a clear luncheon plate, and finally a plain white salad plate from Corelle. An apple green cotton napkin from Bed, Bath & Beyond adds color to the dish arrangement. The stack is topped off with a Granny Smith apple under a miniature clear cloche bell jar from Hobby Lobby. Clear everyday stems for water and limeade along with contemporary J.A. Henckels “Bellaserra” stainless complete the look.

The centerpiece consists of three separate elements. First, for height, is a pair of clear square floral cylinders filled with Granny Smith apples and fresh Bells of Ireland, topped with a puffy green-tinged hydrangea head. I have used faux hydrangea and apples here for demonstration purposes, but the real thing looks absolutely incredible! If you go all fresh (and I sure hope you do!), fill the container with water to totally submerge the apples and Bells of Ireland stem. Submerged fruit and floral arrangements are so cool!!!

The second and third components of the centerpiece are small clear square votive holders with clumps of cheery green viburnum and a densely packed white kalanchoe plant from the flower nursery.

On the buffet behind the table is the beverage and dessert. Limeade served from a fancy glass decanter such as this makes it look a little more special. I bought this one wholesale some years ago, but check out places like Pottery Barn, Costco or even K-Mart. Float lime slices, Granny Smith apple slices, or a combination of both.

If your luncheon includes gifts for an honored guest, ask your other guests to wrap them in colors that correspond with the luncheon colors. Add a few random florals throughout the gifts for more color and texture so they look to be a part of the overall look and tie in with the table florals.

If you can spring for white chairs to gather ’round the table (ladder back cane chairs or garden chairs), consider weaving a length or two of apple green ribbon through the back of each just for fun.

Well, there you have it. Again, I am so sorry not to be able to say who exactly requested this tablescape. Please step forward and remind this old head, will you? 🙂 It was my distinct pleasure to work this up for you, and I truly hope it lends some inspiration for your summer luncheon. Let me know how it goes!

I am gleefully joining my fellow tablescapers at Susan’s Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday. Won’t you please join us anytime after 9:00 p.m. this evening?

Have a Happy Easter, everyone!

Frosty the Snowman

ME: “Hi. I’m Alycia”

GROUP: “Hi, Alycia!”

ME: “I’m a tablescaper for adults.” (Group collectively gasps in horror. OctoMom and Kate Gosselin both reach for their cells to dial 911.)

There you have it! The truth is finally out. When it comes to tablescaping with children in mind, I’m like a man in Victoria’s Secret at closing time on Valentine’s Day: I haven’t got a clue and I’m desperate at best! Yes, I have a child for whom I threw parties of all kinds when he was growing up, but I never felt quite comfortable with the whole process. Kids are fickle. What’s “fly” today is “whack” tomorrow. (Even those terms are probably “whack” by now!) Who knows what will make me the cool grandma?

This week I am challenged…and I do mean CHALLENGED…with creating a tablescape for a group of “tweeners.” (For those of you like me who would have to look that up, that means kids at that age somewhere between little kids and teenagers. Middle schoolers, I suppose.) These kids don’t want to be babied, but they’re not ready for a glass of wine with dinner, either. They don’t believe in Santa Claus, but they still have a bedtime curfew and have to be reminded to wash behind their ears. You get who I’m talking about. So…..

Here’s the result for a tweeners’ Christmas luncheon to be held here on Thursday! Pity these children, for I assure you…I know not what I do! 🙂

Frosty sits in his sleigh at the front door to welcome our young guests!

Cheery red, snow-white and chimney black are the predominant colors used for this “tweeners” Christmas luncheon.

 Each place setting consists of a black acrylic charger topped with a white plate, a frosted snowflake, and a cheerful red & white Hallmark salad plate in one of four designs. A happy little snowman with a sprig of seasonal greenery tops it all off.  White cotton napkins, everyday stemware, and simple white flatware complete the setting.

I used these same red buckets over the summer for a picnic. For these photos each is filled with faux snow, but we’re expecting frosty weather to move in so each will be filled with the real thing to keep the Coca-Cola icy and refreshing. Using foods or containers with coordinating hues (like the red, white & black of the Coca-Cola bottle) is a great way to add color to the table.

Shiny black buckets with tasty candy canes are decorated with faux snow and shimmering snowflakes that are smaller versions of the snowflakes at each place setting. The buckets are placed on opposite ends of the table.

The tablescape is filled with 2 sizes of decorated miniature trees, bright red lanterns from Pier 1 , and more snowmen all on a carpet of cottony “snow.”

Snowmen in the lanterns, clad in jaunty black & white gingham scarves, are surrounded by mounds of snow and other seasonal elements.

On the outside of each lantern are additional snowflakes that resemble falling snow. Styrofoam “snowballs” are scattered about the blanket of glistening snow.

I bought a dozen or so of these tabletop trees in 2 sizes a few years back. A couple of years ago I handwired in all of the red & gold ornaments which took several hours and a couple of tubes of arthritis cream! 🙂

The luncheon table is fun for the young people with all the red & white. The miniature trees decked in red & gold coordinate perfectly with the red & gold-laden lighted greenery on the buffet behind the table. After the luncheon, we adults can enjoy the buffet decor on into the evening with the help of warm multi-level candlelight.

A few other winter tablescapes on this site include:
“Kaleidoscope Christmas”
“Merry & Bright – Multi-Color Christmas”
“Christmas Through the Red Door”
“Life Is A Cabaret – New Year’s Eve”
Waking Up to Christmas – Bedroom Decor
Black, White & Red All Over Christmas
Christmas 2012 – Red, Black & Silver
Checkered Christmas
Pink & Purple Chocolate Christmas
Sugar High Payback
Contemporary Christmas
Gentlemen’s Winter Retreat
Cranberry Christmas
Cranberry Christmas Squared
Get Me To the Church On Time
Christmas Progressive Dinner
White Hot
Winter Brunch
Really Red Christmas

I am once again this week pleased and proud to join Susan and tablescapers from all over the world for Tablescape Thursday. After you check out my photos, feel free to slide on over to get more great tablescaping ideas!

Pears and Pine Cones

It was a dark and stormy night, and….wait. This isn’t a mystery novel. It’s a dinner party! Sure, it was dark and stormy, but inside all was cozy, a little bit casual, and a whole lot of fun…even with a power outage that hit right after I snapped the above photo.

Humble clear glass hurricanes take center stage enveloped in wreaths of grapevine and pinecones, spiked with fall berries. The pine cone theme is gently repeated in the salad plates.

This is one of my favorite salad plate patterns! With a motif that is suitable year-round, this pattern from Pier 1 is not just for the birds! Paired with unembellished white dinner plates, a mustard-colored napkin ties the suite together. A simple gold charger and Revere style flatware lends a stylish touch. A crunchy, sweet Bosc pear – one of autumn’s many gems – is tonight’s guest favor.

I am head over heels with these chunky amber goblets from Z Gallerie!!! They are perfect any time of year, but especially in fall as the leaves begin to turn a similar color! The clear stem on the goblets opens the door for the colorless wine glasses.

On the buffet behind the dining table are a pair of obelisk centerpieces I used again for the “Ap-Pear-ently Autumn” tablescape.

This is the first of many autumn tablescapes to come. This season will feature everything from soft and subdued (tonight), to haunting beauty (Halloween), to sheer elegance. The rich hues of the season allow for so many decorating opportunities, and I look forward to sharing a few of my interpretations with you! And just so you know, I’m not real big on Halloween, but this year I’m going to give it a try just the same!

Cheers, everyone, and best of the fall season to you and yours! And don’t forget to visit the new “Table Tips” section for lots of nifty ideas!


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Competition – sponsored by SAGE

The Pontydysgu team are in Cadiz at ECER 2012 (European Conference for Educational Research). We have been keeping our eyes open for new resources for Taccle 2 teachers and were really impressed by a new book from SAGE publications Using Social Media in the Classroom  by Megan Poore.  It is packed with practical ideas for classroom teachers together with some useful generic ideas and methodologies that provide a grounded intellectual framework without drifting off into theoretical research.

SAGE were kind enough to give us their pre-publication proof copy of the book which is due out at the end of October. Even better, they are sending us some copies of the book that we can give to Taccle 2 teachers. So if you want to get your hands on one of the best books we have seen recently, all you have to do is send us ONE idea for an e-learning activity we will publish on this site together with your postal address and we’ll send you a copy as soon as we get them. First come, first served!

Check out some of their other publications on the use of technology and digital media in the classroom.

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You should start any company so you are now living in a state in which health-related filter can be utilized by law nonetheless have no concept in which can you commence? There is certainly actually nothing at all a whole lot for being concered about.

Health-related filter Denver Co could be official as the 12 weeks 2000 and also a year ago 2010, a couple of brand-new laws and regulations with regards to making use of health-related filter was given. As a result of which usually debate medical marijuana, treatment centers along with dispensaries are in reality increasing in a very logarithmic approach. Undoubtedly commencing the particular health-related filter dispensary is a superb opportunity for business in addition to increasing numbers of people acquiring permitted filter cure.

Making use of health-related filter is in fact validated useful by means of study inside of taking care of several prolonged along with disastrous health problems as an example Many Sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, most cancers, HIV/AIDS, glaucoma, along with gastrointestinal disease. Study evidences in addition support the specific analgesic final results connected with filter inside of unpleasant forms of distress as an example neurogenic along with spastic distress. Filter even so will be largely applied being a psychoactive treatment in addition to final results connected with depressive disorders, hallucinogenic, in addition to being the particular stimulant methods. The specific treatment was in fact applied being a fact serum on earth Struggle II.

Basically makes use of start the particular health-related filter Denver Co dispensary, several treatments along with licensing strategies must be performed. Inside of Ca, the particular filter dispensary needs to be official due to the fact non-profit however in Co you could and even may well not achieve this. Due to the fact you’re intending so that you can start the particular dispensary, you may need to consider a debate heart mainly because typically gather. Patients can not receive health-related filter without developed advice along with forms from your qualified health practitioner. Ultimately, patients will need to get a health-related filter identification greeting card. It’s important that you can are thinking about can be a full comprehension of the specific authorities along with problem laws and regulations in order to avoid legitimate liabilities.

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12 Certain Ways To Ruin A Conference Call

Email may be the predominant form of communication in business, but it’s not the only medium. Moreover, it’s not used for the most important moments. Face-to-face meetings or live phone calls are required for urgent problems or significant planning issues. … Read more

How to ensure that your online conference calls are successful

Hosting a successful meeting takes a certain amount of skill. You need to be sure that you have the attention of all the attendees, and that something productive result from the meeting. Otherwise, what was it for in the first … Read more

Collaborative Learning: Web Conferencing Tools Made Easy

Computer technology has progressed in amazing ways, providing a seemingly endless list of tools to make life, work, and even learning easier and more available. In reference to education, electronic learning (e-learning) successfully utilizes electronic media in the pursuit of … Read more


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How The Wrong People Get Promoted And How To Change It

Research reveals that companies consistently choose the wrong people for management roles. Here’s what you can do to avoid the same mistake.

Have you ever quit a job just to get away from a bad boss? If you have, it … Read more


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Prakasam District Recruitment 2020:For 396 Post.

Prakasam District Recruitment 2020 Details

Prakasam District Recruitment 2020:Prakasam District invites applications for recruitment of 396 Posts.This is the great opportunity for all of you who interested to work on this field. Here you will get all the information regarding this job. Candidates can get her brief information like Educational Qualification, Selection Process, Eligibility Criteria, Location, Age Limit, How to apply details, and job salary information of this Prakasam District Recruitment 2020.Last date to apply for this following application is 22.07.2020.For more information regarding this Recruitment, read below post carefully before applying and avoid mistakes in filling an application form.

So, please read below post carefully before applying for these vacancies to avoid mistakes in filling an application form or applying for the post. For more information or if your finding jobs like this so go to the Home page of and checkout all job details. if you have any questions about this particular job so don’t hesitate to comment down below.

Prakasam District Recruitment 2020

Prakasam District

Notification Details

  • Organization Name – Prakasam District
  • Vacancies – 396
  • Apply Mode – Offline
  • Start Date – 13.07.2020
  • Last Date – 22.07.2020
  • Location – Andhra Pradesh

Vacancies Details

  • Post Name –
    • Staff Nurse 342
    • Lab-Technician Gr.II 33
    • Pharmacist Gr.II 18
    • Child Psychologist 01
    • Radiographer 02

Eligibility Criteria (Educational qualification & age)

  • Qualification –GNM Course/ B.Sc/ M.Sc/ P.G. Diploma/ B.A/ M.A/ equivalent
  • Age – 42 Year

Selection Process / Fees / Salary

Process –

  • Written exam
  • Personal Interview
  • Document Verification

Fees –Nil

Salary –Rs.28,000/- to Rs.39,250/-

Address to send the application form

  • District Medical & Health Officer, Prakasam Bhavan, Prakasam District, Ongole,

Application Important Dates

  • Starting Date Of Application: 13.07.2020
  • Last Date Of Application: 22.07.2020

Official Notification Details

For Notification Click Here

Application Form

Check Official Website

Note : Candidates are Requested to Read the Detailed Advertisement before Applying for the post.


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Data recovery
« on: February 18, 2018, 02:29:13 PM »
Does anyone have a suggestion for a data recovery program for Mac? I need to get a file off an sd card I formatted in my mixpre6
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Benha University – Egypt

In spite of difficulties with the Internet, in 2016-2017 Gihan Salem managed to organise a series of TA webinars by Julie Hay for professionals at the Faculty of Nursing at Benha University, Egypt, which were also translated very competently by Gihan. At that time Gihan was a lecturer at the University and was also completing her CTA studies – she went on to pass the CTA exam in May 2018.

As a result of the programme of webinars, we were able to issue TA professional development awards to several of the students. A lot more of them settled for attendance certificates, understandable because many of them already had long lists of professional qualifications.  They confirmed, however, how valuable the programme had been and how much they appreciated Gihan for arranging it and being the interpreter.

Gihan Salem, Certified Transactional Analyst (Psychotherapy) is the National Co-ordinator for Egypt, as well as for Saudi Arabia.  She is currently an Assistant Lecturer in Bisha University Applied Medical Science Faculty in Saudi Arabia. Gihan also provides private psychotherapy for individuals, couples, or groups.

She can be contacted on [email protected]


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No. 1 : Quick Recipe

YUMMY! and Better-for-YOU Chocolate Chip Cookies

  • 1 Cup Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
  • 3/4 Cup Almond Meal
  • ½ Tsp Baking Soda
  • ½ Tsp Fine Sea Salt
  • ¼ Cup Unsalted Butter
  • ¼ Cup Canola or Grapeseed Oil
  • 1/3 Cup Turbinado or Raw Sugar
  • 1/3 Cup Brown Sugar
  • 1 Large Egg
  • 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1 Cup Chocolate Chunks (at least 70% Cocoa Solids)

Step One

Preheat the oven to 350F. Line two baking sheets or sheet pans with parchment or spray with nonstick spray or oil.

Step Two

Whisk together the almond meal, flour, baking soda and sea salt in a medium bowl.

Step Three

Beat the butter until fluffy in a large bowl. Add oil, sugars, egg and vanilla to bowl and beat until smooth. Add in the bowl with dry ingredients and beat on low speed until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chunks.

Step Four

Drop the dough by heaping teaspoonful onto the prepared pans, leaving about an inch between the cookies. Bake for about 15 minutes until firm around the edges and golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.

No. 2 : Kitchen Smidgen

You can find almond flour at almost any grocery store – but you can make your own, too! To make almond flour, toast your nuts in a 400F oven for about 8 minutes, then cool and pulse in a food processor til finely ground.

No. 3 : Get Creative

Love chocolate chip cookies? Me too! That’s why I created this recipe. There are FIVE reasons these cookies are better-for-you! Check them out at

No. 4 : Wine FIND of the Week

Offley Ruby Port
Port Portugal
Total Wine around  $15.00

While the kids are enjoying a big glass of milk, you can break out a bottle of port and enjoy it with these deep dark chocolate studded cookies. RUBY Port is a super partner for chocolate that is 70% Chocolate or higher. Made with indigenous grapes from Portugal like Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa and  Tinto Roriz (Tempranillo) more than 80 grapes are authorized to make Port! You’ll taste sweet black fruit, deep red cherries and juicy ripe plums.

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The Three Fiefdoms of Saint Paul

[Map here.]
People tend to think that Saint Paul is Saint Paul, by which I mean that land and space within the borders of the city of Saint Paul are, in some real way, controlled or shaped or regulated by the city government.

Well, that's true sort of. For the vast majority of the city's territory, the local government can do things like use police, charge taxes, design the streets (sometimes!), regulate the buildings and how people use land, and other things like that.

However! There are three exceptions, places where Saint Paul has very little power even within its own boundaries. These are the mini-kingdoms in our midst, places where Public Works or the assessor or the zoning code dares not tread.

#1: The State Fair (230 acres)

So, yeah, what city is the State Fair in anyway?

Most people would say Falcon Heights, but they are sort of not even in Falcon Heights either. They are their own government.

Como Avenue at the south edge of the Fairground is technically part of Saint Paul, however every year for two weeks the powers that be at the State Fair just do whatever they want to the street, without so much as consulting or maybe even informing the City. Often that means erasing the bike lane, even if cars don't use the extra traffic lane.

Basically, the State Fair does whatever it wants with their land and is accountable to nobody. Falcon Heights has no say over the Fair either. They are controlled by a shadowy cult, and nobody can criticize them lest they be declared un-Minnesotan and banished.

#2: The University of Minnesota (.62 square miles)

As any administrator will quickly tell you, the University of Minnesota is older than the state itself and they basically do whatever they want with their two campuses. They have their own police force, their own transit system, and their own private street (the "transitway") which they control. They also have vast sums of money with which to buy up property around their campuses.

God help the poor planner who has to reach out to anyone within the University's Byzantine bureaucratic administration if they want to coordinate on something like street changes, a bike lane, or anything else. They do whatever they want, and the best that a city hosting the U can do is to pray for their favor.

#3: The State Capitol Area (.5 square miles)

Back in the late 1960s, the State Government and the City of Saint Paul agreed to bequeath a large portion of the city on the northwest edge of downtown into the hands of a state government committee called the Capital Area Architectural and Planning Board. This extends, by the way, into downtown proper and all the way over to the Cathedral doorstep. From that point on, the vast majority of the land became parking lots, grey office buildings connected by tunnels, and empty green grass with statues in them.

There's nothing the city of Saint Paul can do about it either. Huge areas like the Rice Street Sears site are simply out of the hands of city planners. Historic buildings like the Ford Building are prone the whims of administrators who work in a brutalist structure accountable to some Greater Minnesota  legislators and maybe, if you're lucky, the Lieutenant Governor.

In Conclusion

These are the three fiefdoms of Saint Paul, parts of the city that play by their own rules, where the city staff or mayor's office can only beg for favor. There are smaller less-powerful or contiguous kingdoms and duchies as well, like the University of St. Thomas, Bill McGuire, the Metropolitan Airports Commission, the Mississippi River Critical Area, the Ford Motor Company, the Mancini family, or the Canada Pacific railyards.

One only hopes that the nameless rulers of these vast swaths will be beneficent.

Notable Quotes #19: Fred Kent on Minneapolis Skyways, c. 1986

Skywalks should be severely limited, and if I had my way, I'd tear them down.

I can't believe how internalized this city had gotten. You want to reinforce Nicollet as a main street, but if you put in more skyways, no one's going to be on Nicollet.

I'd feel like an undesirable waiting for a bus in your city. I don't think there's one piece of furniture on the Nicollet Mall that should remain, and there's not a building on the Nicollet Mall that does not need to be redone.

Your buildings are not related to the street; they're monuments to the architects who built them.

You have one popcorn stand; that's sort of your token vendor. Any how about newsstands instead of those crazy news boxes?

The city is void of interests for people to come downtown, except as a place to work .... It's a business community, not a family place.

[Fred Kent is an urban designer and public space designer who visited downtown Minneapolis in 1986 to provide feedback on the downtown streetscape. Here are the highlights from his visit, where he told downtown leaders what he really thought.]

After 58 Years, J.W. Hulme Disappears from West 7th and St. Clair

[The old West 7th factory.]
Last year, I was happy to finally lead a bike tour of "factories" along St. Clair Avenue, which I'd been thinking about for quite a while. It's a street that boasts a surprising number of manufacturing institutions, both large and small, and it was fun to visit a bunch of these places in an evening.

Well as sometimes happens with my tours, they can be a bit of a "kiss of death." Businesses, bars, or institutions occasionally disappear right after I bring a group to visit them. In the case of the St. Clair tour, it was J. W. Hulme, a leather bag manufacturer that had been on the corner of West 7th and St. Clair since 1960. They announced they'd be closing their factory last October, right after the tour. They stayed open for a few more months, but the building has been in mothballs for the last half a year.

Here is some info about J.W. Hulme that I'd found out in my research:

  • The company was named after John Willis Hulme, who started his first business in 1905 in downtown Saint Paul making a bunch of different canvas items. The company specialized in canvas awnings and tents.
  • The building on West 7th was built in 1960 when J.W. Hulme expanded. As a publicity stunt to celebrate the new factory the to camp out on the roof of the building for a weekend using Hulme material whenever possible.
  • In 1988 a bookkeeper “swindled”  $33K from the company.
  • In the 1990s through the early 2010s, Hulme specialized in high-end canvas and hunting gear that was made specifically for Orvis, the fly-fishing brand.
  • J.W. Hulme was bought by an awning and canvas company guy named Gary Buermann in 2002. In 2005, a new CEO named Jen Guarino a former brand manager turned around the company. They received a boost when a couple of very influential people promoted the bags, and they were sold at places like Barneys Department Store in New York. With lots of debt, a private equity firm bailed them out in ’09.
  • As recently as last year, they employed dozens of highly-skilled sewers making their leather goods.

Sad to see a Saint Paul business close! It was a good run for J. W. Hulme, though. You can still visit their retail location on Grand Avenue, though their bags are now made elsewhere.

[Historic clippings follow.]

[Want ad, 1954.]
[c. 1960.]

[Want ad, 1978.]

[Want ad, 1998.]

[Ad for Orvis equipment, c. 1990s.]
[Current Grand Avenue shop.]

My Study on Public Space in the Rondo Neighborhood is Now Available

By now, you might have heard of the Rondo land bridge project, the efforts by people in Saint Paul's historic Rondo community to build political momentum, and raise funds, for a one-mile-long "freeway cap" over I-94 in the central part of Saint Paul.

Thanks to a grant from the Knight Foundation, I was able to put together a study of how the I-94 freeway has affected public space in the Rondo Community, and how a land bridge might change the neighborhood. It took me quite a long time to gather historical information, present-day quantitative data about things like noise and air pollution, and to write up the report, but I finally am able to share it with you. I'm happy with how it turned out.

The report has dozens of historic and present-day photos of public space in the Rondo community, some analysis of what public space is and why it's important, lots of historic info about the neighborhood, and some thoughts and data points about how public space might be impacted with any future changes to the freeway.

I'm excerpting the introduction, and you can download the entire thing at the link below.

[Introduction follows.]

Chapter 1: Introduction

Who’s street?
On the evening of Friday June 17th, 2017, a group of people gathered at the edge of Saint Paul’s historic Rondo Avenue neighborhood made a collective decision that challenged social assumptions about public space in Saint Paul. Protesting the police shooting of Saint Paul resident and school worker Philando Castile, a group of demonstrators marched down the Dale Street onramp and onto the Interstate 94 right-of-way, “blocking” the movement of cars traveling through Saint Paul’s Rondo neighborhood for a few hours.
In a bit of tragic irony, the controversial demonstration on the freeway that evening took place on precisely the land that was once old Rondo Avenue, the diverse heart of Saint Paul’s African-American neighborhood. Decades prior to that night, the contested ground for the demonstration was literally seized for “public purposes” during the freeway construction era of the 1950s and 1960s, when thousands of people were forcibly removed from their homes and businesses in the heart of Saint Paul.

Apart from raising awareness about systemic police brutality, the demonstration, which led to a police stand-off and criminal charges that were later dismissed, illuminated key questions about the relationship between free- ways and public space:
What exactly is the difference between a public sidewalk, a public street and a public freeway? Do governments and public institutions have responsibility to redress the wrongs of the past?
These questions lie at the heart of the issue of public space in the United States. Everywhere in American cities, freeways have blended into the background of everyday life. These infrastructures allow thousands of cars to speed past the homes, businesses, walls, and trees of historic urban communities. The effects of the freeway blur into a vague urban landscape. For many people, these massive pieces of public infrastructure become almost invisible, the sounds of the cars almost inaudible, the speeding traffic to and from the freeway ramps almost insensible. And yet the presence of freeways, frontage roads, noise walls, pedestrian bridges, on- and off-ramps, and tens of thousands of cars that rely on them, continue to make a material difference in the lives of people who live near them every day.
As always in urban life, individual and collective well-being rely on quality public spaces for sociality, mobility, and recreation. In an era when governments are beginning to examine freeway infrastructure more closely, look- ing at impacts on public space should be an important step in the process of reconsidering and rethinking the historical and present-day relationship between freeways and nearby communities.
This study uses public space as a lens to think about the past, present, and possible future relationship between freeway infrastructure and public space. As government and institutions weigh the costs and benefits of potential changes to freeways for future generations of city dwellers, it is important to consider how changes might impact the parks, playgrounds, streets, and sidewalks on which communities rely. The focus here is on describing the importance of public space for a community, examining narrowly the 1.25 square mile historic Rondo community surrounding the Interstate 94 corridor in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The goal of the study is to look at the size and quality of public space within the study area, both before and after the construction of the freeway that dramatically and irrevocably transformed the neighborhood over 50 years ago.
Chapter 2 describes the overall purpose and methodological approach. This part of the study focuses on key reasons why public space is important for neighborhoods, outlining the connection between quality public space and physical, mental, and social health. Secondly, this chapter describes the mixed qualitative and quantitative methods that are used in this study to examine public space, both in the past and in the present-day.
Chapter 3 describes in general terms how this study defines public space. Here it describes the typology of categories, the difference between formal and informal public spaces, and the fundamental role that streets and sidewalks play in the landscape of public space for an urban neighborhood like Rondo.
Chapter 4 looks specifically at the historic landscape of the Rondo Community Study Area (RCSA), how public space might have existed before the freeway construction period radically transformed the neighborhood. Drawing on historic documents and accounts, this part of the report describes the different types of public space that might have existed in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Much of this public space landscape was informal in nature and, in many cases, relied on bottom-up institutions such as social clubs, businesses, or individuals to fill important roles in the community. Meanwhile, streets and sidewalks were largely oriented towards local uses, as opposed to regional users and traffic patterns that emerged after the freeway was built.
Chapter 5 examines the neighborhood’s public spaces in the present day, specifically focusing on size, type, and some specific measurable qualities. These include noise pollution, air pollution, and a basic proxy for safety and comfort along the street and sidewalks within the area.
Finally, Chapter 6 offers a few conclusions based on potential changes to the freeway infrastructure. Here, the study attempts to think about how changes to the 94 freeway corridor might affect public spaces in the future, largely in positive ways.
The goal of this report is to focus closely on the role that public space plays for the health and well-being of a community. Specifically, this study tries to look at the how construction of the I-94 freeway system and related changes that occurred during the construction years impacted everyday public spaces. Using public space as lens, it is compelling to think about the past, present, and future of public space, and the history of stability and change in the historic Rondo Community. Hopefully this report is the beginning of a larger conversation around the relationship between urban communities, historical inequity, and publicly-owned freeway infrastructure. No matter what happens next, no matter the future of the historic Rondo community and the freeway that divides it, public space will play a critical role.

I hope you enjoy the full report.

Open Letter to the Saint Paul City Council about Ayd Mill Road

[Rendering of one possible design for Ayd Mill Road, from the Saint Paul Bicycle Coalition.]

As someone who grew up next to Ayd Mill Road, and have been using it my entire life, I was thrilled to hear that Mayor Carter and the city’s Public Works Department are going to commit to reduce and reconfigure Ayd Mill Road when they repave it this year. I believe this decision reinforces and reaffirms many of the city’s values, puts Saint Paul in a better place fiscally, and will not create major traffic problems on Saint Paul’s streets.

For those reasons, I think you should support this decision.

First, a key criteria for deciding the future of Ayd Mill Road has to be costs versus benefits. Ayd Mill Road is a 100% city-owned street, and city taxpayers are on the hook for any long-term maintenance of this infrastructure. This makes it very different than other freeways or major traffic arterials, and for a sixty-year-old road with deteriorating surface conditions, we should think carefully about how best to spend precious city dollars.

As you know, the long-term maintenance picture for Saint Paul streets is a bleak one, and when opportunities arise to downsize overbuilt streets and roads, we should seize that chance. This unique street, a four-lane divided roadway that connects with walkable city streets on one end and a freeway on the other, is a the most obvious of these kinds of projects. Reducing the road’s footprint will save the city millions of dollars in both the long- and short-terms.

Second, I believe the traffic impacts will be minimal. A grade-separated two-lane road with few intersections can actually handle a lot of daily traffic, and in cases like these, reducing lanes affects speed more than overall volume. The problem with Ayd Mill Road has always been its intersections with the regular street grid, rather than any congestion problems on the road itself. I would encourage you to keep an open mind about how this transition might work out well for all parties involved.

Finally, this decision reflects our shared values, especially those in the draft Climate Action Plan. Facing the existential problem of climate change, the Climate Action Plan lays out the ambitious goal of reducing city vehicle miles traveled by 2.5% each year. If we hope to achieve meaningful action on climate change, reducing and reprioritizing space given to roadways is an absolutely necessary step.

Ayd Mill Road is a decades-long saga, the kind of “third rail” that few political leaders want to address. Debates over the road began in the 1940s and continued vehemently throughout many lifetimes of political leaders, neighbors, and advocates. In 2002, the decision to “connect” the road to 35E was done as a “test” by then-Mayor Kelley with very little public input. On the other hand, the most recent Council action was the 2009 vote to adopt the current proposed configuration.

This is to say that Mayor Carter’s bold action on Ayd Mill Road reflects a long-process of deliberation and indecision over the future of this valley. I am thrilled that, at long last, the City of Saint Paul will be taking steps to transform this polluting liability into a public space that reflects and amplifies our shared values.

Please support this process as it moves forward this fall.

Bill Lindeke
Chair, Transportation Committee of the Planning Commission

Twin City Lampposts #21

 [South St. Anthony Park, St. Paul.]

 [Milwaukee, WI.]

 [Milwaukee, WI.]

 [Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis.]

 [Washington, DC.]

 [Washington, DC.]

Signs of the Times #157

[Sidewalk. West Bank, Minneapolis.]

 I might have some
Mail for you

[Door. Baltimore, MD.]

 bdé ote

[Path. Downtown, Minneapolis.]

 10 out of 10 Teds agree

[Window. Baltimore, MD.]

[Fence. Baltimore, MD.]

the whole damn system is corrupt as hell!

[Rooftop. Baltimore, MD.]

 CROWN Don't Run Lot If you
Park there and Don't Pay the $5
Your Car will get towed.

Thank you

[Window. Baltimore, MD.]

across Street
310 Park AVe
Thanks Cookie

[Door. Baltimore, MD.]

Reading the Highland Villager #240

[Villagers find a sunbeam.]
[Basically the problem is that the best source of Saint Paul streets & sidewalks news is the Highland Villager, a very fine and historical newspaper. This wouldn't be a problem, except that its not available online. You basically have to live in or frequent Saint Paul to read it. Until this newspaper goes online, sidewalk information must be set free. See also: Three Reasons Why I Re-Blog the Highland Villager.]

Headline: Highland, Mac-Grove committees consider proposed Starbucks; Drive-thru coffee shop planned for corner of Randolph-Hamline
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: A chain coffee place wants to make a drive-thru coffee building at the site of a former gas station. There was a public meeting. Article includes a reference to "Carbucks." Neighbors are concerned about traffic and pedestrian safety. Quote from neighbor: "Regardless of what your traffic studies say, it's going to be a mess." It requires a conditional-use permit. Quote from a guy who owns a nearby coffee shop without a drive-thru: "I would guess this is a done deal."

Headline: Coast-to-coast trip is latest in long line of family's bicycling adventures
Author: Anne Murphy

Short short version: A family is bike touring. [They seem nice. Their kids are 13 and 16. Let's make this more normal.]

Headline: St. Paul struggling with street maintenance costs; Public Works study detects $1 billion backlog in upkeep
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: Article about how far behind the city is on paying for roads. It should cost $51 million for 20 years to fix all the roads up to where they should be. Article mentions the city-wide PCI. Article mentions how much more money they have for this in Minneapolis. Quote from CM Noecker: "I don't think we can rely on the general fund." Quote from CM Tolbert about a state gas tax increase. [What is needed is a reprioritization across the city away from so much car-first infrastructure, and brainstorming about funding. That means both things like parking meters and not spending millions on projects like Ayd Mill Road or parking ramps or other big projects like that that exacerbate street costs.] Article includes some context about sewer separation and the history of street funding. [Does not include the "terrible twenty" thing with Mayor Coleman, though. Nor does it mention the non-profit maintenance issue.]

Headline: County budgets for improved racial equity
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The County is going to try and send more money on helping address racial equity. Specific ideas include "health service models", changing how the County has its offices, housing, and how it does hiring. They will also close a golf course, future use of the land TBD. [Not subsidizing golf would seem in character with improved equity.] However they are spending millions on other golf courses. [Whoops. Looks like a whole bunch of money for old well-off white people after all.]

Headline: Rail Authority eyes 14% increase in transit levy
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The Rail Authority is going to get more money from people's property taxes to fund things like the Gold Line and Riverview streetcar. [One of which is legitimately useful.]

Headline: Speaking of impacts; Highland council raises concerns about the toxins in old Ford dump
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: Neighbors are concerned about what might be down by the river, referred to as "so-called Area C." [I see an X Files episode here.] Quote from developer: "it's an encapsulated dump." ["Encapsulated: 1. to express the essential features of something succinctly; 2. to enclose something in or as if in a capsule." Wait, isn't is what I do every two weeks with the Highland Villager? If so, it's a fitting metaphor!] Article references "paint sludge" and "scrap metal" and a list of chemicals which includes: antinomy, barium, chromium, and cadmium. [Yikes.]

Headline: Police chief takes aim at funding for tracking gunshots in St. Paul
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The SPPD is trying to get money to get technology to detect where guns go off, like they have in Minneapolis. There is . grant from the Feds for this, but Congresswoman McCollum is mad that they used the light rail line to justify the request. [The transit = crime thing does parrot MN GOP talking points, so yeah. Good work Rep. McCollum.]

Headline: Council signs agreement for Midway stormwater district
Author: Jane McClure

Short short version: The City will allow the soccer team and others to collect and filter stormwater around the stadium site.

PS: There's a lovely profile of local blogger and sci-fi writer Naomi Kritzer as well!

Twin City Doorways #51

 [Milwaukee, WI.]

  [Milwaukee, WI.]

  [Milwaukee, WI.]

  [Milwaukee, WI.]

  [Milwaukee, WI.]

  [Milwaukee, WI.]

  [Milwaukee, WI.]

 [Milwaukee, WI.]

Twin City Bike Parking #39

 [Milwaukee, WI.]

 [West Side, Saint Paul.]

 [Milwaukee, WI.]

 [Milwaukee, WI.]

 [Location forgotten. Downtown, Saint Paul.]

 [West Bank, Minneapolis.]

 [Somewhere in University Avenue, Saint Paul.]

[West Bank, Minneapolis.]


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Acceleration Nation

There it was—an ad for dealing with imaginary learning loss. Nope—your kid doesn’t need remediation to bring him up to speed after this year of screen-based semi-school. He needs acceleration! Sure he’s, umm, fallen behind somebody, somewhere. But the solution is not reviewing what he may have missed—it’s accelerating. Going faster. Catching up, then presumably surging ahead. Winning.

I was so struck by the totally American nature of this language—We Must Compete! No remediation for us!—that I googled the company’s motto and found that there are several pre-packaged learning systems and books using the same theme and jargon.

Acceleration, it appears, is having (another) sexy moment. It may even be sexy enough to tap into some of that federal funding this summer, if education vendors hustle and enough media figures wring their hands while bemoaning ‘learning loss.’

If your kids have been moping around, griping about not seeing their friends and the head-banging monotony of Zoom lessons, it’s logical to be a little anxious about what they have not learned in the past year. Things that might have been not only interesting or challenging, but important for future coursework and plans. It’s OK to worry about their emotional health, their need for exercise and socializing.

But while I have absolute faith in well-prepared, caring teachers to do their best to move students forward, there are still a lot of balls in the air. Will enough people, old and young, be vaccinated in time for a new school year? What curve balls might the virus still be capable of? How will we re-evaluate most critical uses of instructional time with our overstuffed core curriculum—and how much permanent impact will a year of uncertainty and danger have on what ‘school’ looks like, this fall and all future school years?

Hard to say, but I am fairly certain that simply prescribing acceleration rather than remediation is an example of rhetorical flourish over substance.

My Masters degree is in Gifted Education. In my introductory courses, the foundational thinking in every article and text was that there were two basic streams of instructional practice designed to address the needs of gifted children—enrichment and acceleration. In short, going deeper or going faster. Or a combination of both.

The drawback of enrichment was that providing unique challenges for very bright kids meant you had to diversify learning, custom-tailoring lessons for differing ability, something that has always been available, but is a classroom management challenge. With acceleration, you could move children through existing structures faster—taking HS Algebra in 6th grade, for example. If you were willing to put your 11 year old in a class with high school freshmen, that is—and had a plan for what happened when her ability to the do the work outstripped her emotional maturity.

Working in the field of gifted education, it turned out that most parents didn’t care much about going deeper. What they wanted was not in-depth exploration but getting ahead of other students. Accelerating. The idea of extensive, hands-on digging into something Bright Child was passionately interested in was not appealing, especially if there were no tangible identifying markers of giftedness in the process.

I don’t remember much about elementary school, but I clearly remember my reading instruction in 5th grade. Instead of traditional reading groups, we were using brand-new SRA reading kits, color-coded 8 x 11 cards featuring stories or non-fiction articles. You moved up through the colors by passing little comprehension tests at the end of each card, until you reached aqua (or maybe it was gray). Then you started at the beginning of the next box.

You could accelerate by acing colors quickly. Miss a few questions, however, and you were stuck in purple for weeks. I remember scanning the room, or meeting someone at the box to exchange a card and noticing, hmmm—too bad, she’s on orange.

My teacher, Mrs. Wildfong, let me breeze through the first box. Then one day, instead of starting me on the 6th grade box, she pulled me into a corner of the room and showed me a small bookshelf. Quietly, she told me that for the rest of the year, I could read anything I liked on the lowest shelf. After I read the book, I was supposed to write a page in a small spiral-bound notebook about what I’d just read. There were no questions about POV, themes or characters—just my opinion, or what I’d learned.

I read every book on that shelf and filled several notebooks. After that, I had a permanent pass to the library, and permission to go during reading class whenever I needed new reading material. I read completely through the Beany Malone series, the Cherry Ames series, and a group of biographies with blue covers featuring black silhouettes. I also recall that other kids in the class wondered, with some resentment, why nobody else got to go to the library whenever they felt like it.

I remember the year, and Mrs. Wildfong, with great fondness. I tell this story not because I was ‘gifted’—I wasn’t—but because Mrs. Wildfong improvised enrichment, tailoring my reading curriculum without shorting her other students. For the rest of the day, I was doing long division and coloring maps with everyone else. Deeper, not faster.

In the 6th grade, I started at the beginning of the SRA box with everyone else, and when I started moving ‘too fast,’ my teacher made me stay for weeks in one color, reading all the yellow cards then all the brown cards, because heaven forbid any child should outstrip The SRA Box. I did not resent this—I really loved my 6th grade teacher—and my parents did not go to school to complain, to demand that a child reading at the 12th grade level be given special privileges, blah blah blah.

There are lessons in this completely ordinary story.

One is that the pandemic, for some children, may have been like my reading shelf and library pass—a chance to do something educational that they’re good at and enjoy, without the constraints of a large classroom full of kids who are good at and enjoy vastly different things, and a teacher trying to maintain order.

Another lesson is that some—again, just some—children will move forward on concepts or skills they normally would have encountered in the previous year very quickly, once they are given a bit of personal attention from a teacher who is not trying to teach 15 live children and 15 tiny, boxed heads on a screen simultaneously.

This is not about ‘acceleration’—it’s about a caring adult who has experience teaching this particular skill to children. We need teachers (and, importantly, school leaders) willing to dump pacing charts and incessant testing in favor of knowing their students–their personal goals and challenges, not their test scores. We need to reinforce skill- and knowledge-building, confidence and healing after a very rough year. There is no need to ‘set a high bar’—kids have always cleared learning bars at their own pace and feeling OK about yourself is a prerequisite.

A third lesson is that public education has increasingly become a consumer product, and advertising for that product now uses commercial language and advertising techniques. This doesn’t bode well, and probably lies under the insistence of many education nonprofits that standardized testing be done now, so the ‘data’ generated allows them to present a picture of deficient kids who need to go faster rather than deeper.

Let’s stop asking about learning loss and catching up. It’s not a race. Let’s provide the resources to move kids forward.

    1. I only recall using SRA kits (as a reading program) for two years–in 1961-63. Before that, it was basals and reading groups. I suppose Mrs. Wildfong might have been labeled lazy or distracted today, because besides reading my little spiral-bound notebook, she basically let me fly free for a year. But I LOVED 5th grade, and looked forward to the 90 minutes every day when I got to just sit at my desk and read. I have no idea what ‘acceleration’ might have looked like–or how teachers today are going to ‘accelerate’ through ‘learning loss’ for a 5th grader who is already a strong and enthusiastic reader and writer. More pre-packaged curricular crapola, I’m sure.

  1. “We need teachers (and, importantly, school leaders) willing to dump pacing charts and incessant testing in favor of knowing their students–their personal goals and challenges, not their test scores. ”

    Liked by 1 person

  2. So much great in this, but why the parent bashing … “and my parents did not go to school to complain, to demand that a child reading at the 12th grade level be given special privileges, blah blah blah.” Gifted kids have rights and it isn’t “blah, blah” to address their needs. I have an autistic fully included so I 100% agree with you “improvising” teachers and enough teachers together is everything. I totally agree about pace, acceleration, competitive parenting, etc. Would you say parent concerns about his needs are blah, blah, too? Teachers are partners and part of a team with parents and admin. It’s important that work is approached with an open attitude and respect. Little disappointed if I am interpreting this meaning correctly.

    1. Not parent bashing–just a reflection on the fact that parents have become vastly more vocal about what they think their children need and deserve. Some of that is good. Some of it is opportunity hoarding.

  3. You prompted me to refresh my own SRA memories – we had the boxes in 7th grade, which I discovered today was spot on… the “inventor” came up with the idea (1950) while teaching 7th graders in a rural school, using scissors, paste and a tomato crate. Audrey Watters enlightened me:

    Thanks for continuing to write in public spaces and expanding our perspectives.

    1. I linked to Audrey’s article somewhere in the blog. And seriously–the inventor of the kit was a genius, because he was custom-tailoring curriculum. Good on him, because he was demonstrating the golden rule of teaching: know your students. I think SRA kits made me suspicious of short, same-length articles and stories. Even today, I prefer long-form writing over the little generic 200-word nuggets of information.

      The point remains: going faster, level by level, is seldom better than going deeper, relaxing into the beauty, intrigue or inherent problems in whatever you’re studying. Nice to hear from you again.

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SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING: Friendship; Courage; Teamwork.

MORAL-ETHICAL EMPHASIS: Trustworthiness; Respect; Responsibility; Caring.

AT A GLANCE: Age: 5 – 8; MPAA Rating — G; Animated Drama; 1998; 96 minutes; Color; Available at Amazon.com. For children ages 9 – 12 see Learning Guide to this movie. Available for sale on Amazon.

A colony of ants struggles to free itself from domination by a group of grasshoppers while Flik, a non-conformist ant, tries to find his place in the colony. Flik’s differences from the other ants allow him to find a way to help the ants defeat the grasshoppers.

“A Bug’s Life” teaches respect for those who are different from the group, teamwork, and owning up to your mistakes. Children can find inspiration in the character of Dot, the youngest and smallest ant, who does amazing things. The film can also be used as an occasion to learn about ants and insects.

ant, ladybug, butterfly, caterpillar, black widow, flea, grasshopper, praying mantis, beetle, potato bugs (also called pill bugs or roly-polies), experiment, queen ant, worker ants, colony, hibernation, swarm, circus, cooperation, teamwork, spawn, hapless, desperate.

Which character was your favorite? — If you could have any of the characters in the movie as a friend, which would you choose? — Why is that?

→ Always encourage your child to form opinions and to share them.

→ Open-ended questions will help get a discussion going.

What did Flik contribute that was helpful to the colony?

Who were some small bugs in the movie that made a big difference?

What would have happened to the ant colony without Flik?

→ Just talking with your child fosters verbal, social and emotional learning.

→ Exercise memory skills by asking about the story, the characters, and the plot. Keep it light and fun.

Even someone who is small can be part of the team and make a big difference. Have you ever seen an example of that?

→ Young children love Story Time.

Select questions appropriate for your child.

1. Did the ant colony free itself from the domination of the grasshoppers because of Flik alone, or did all of the ants have to work together? Why is working together important? Talking About It — No single ant could beat all those grasshoppers. Flik tried to stand up to them at first, but he was alone, and he lost. By rallying the ants and enlisting the help of the Circus Bugs, Flik and the other ants were able to create a plan (the bird made of leaves), trick the grasshoppers, and defeat them. Another example of working together is when Dot and the Blueberry Scouts teamed up to make the bird fly.

→ When a parent takes a concept from the movie seriously, a child will start thinking about the lessons of the film. Often, it only takes one comment to start a child’s mind going.

2. Flik made a big mistake when he accidentally knocked over the food the ants had been collecting. What did he do when he made this mistake? Talking About It — He tried to tell the princess so that everyone would know what had happened and so that it could be corrected, if possible. Talk to your child about how everybody makes mistakes. Share some of your own experiences, especially events that occurred when you were young. Talk about how it made you feel and ask how your child feels when he or she makes a mistake. Discuss why it is important to report the mistake, fix it, if possible, and say that you’re sorry. Talk about how most mistakes will be forgiven, just like Flik’s, if you are honest about it.

→ You can talk about a movie at any time: right after it is over, in the car on the way to school, during quiet time, or before bed.

3. Flik made another mistake in this movie, when he mistook the Circus Bugs for warriors. This mistake he tried to hide. Was this the right thing to do? Talking About It — When you make a mistake the right thing to do is to admit it and try to correct what has gone wrong. Lying and trying to avoid responsibility for a mistake usually leads to other problems that are more serious than the original mistake. Often, the lie itself is more hurtful to your family than the original mistake. In this movie, Flik was very lucky that he was able to avoid some very bad consequences for lying and trying to avoid responsibility for his mistake. Real life is usually not so forgiving.

→ Don’t feel obligated to cover everything in this Guide. One or two questions are all that some children will tolerate. However, if your child watches the movie more than once, on each occasion start a new conversation or pick a new activity. This will enhance verbal development and increase the number of lessons your child takes from the film.

4. The ant colony was not very nice to Flik in the film. Should he have continued to help the colony? Talking About It — Yes, because the colony was his community, his home. Ants can’t survive on their own. People can sometimes change communities, too.

→ You can talk about a movie at any time: right after it is over, in the car on the way to school, during quiet time, or before bed.

5. What did Flik say to Dot about being small, about being a seed? Talking About It — “Seed to tree”. It may seem that you can’t do anything right, but you just have to give yourself more time to grow. It takes a long time for a seed to grow into a tall and mighty tree.

6. Who in this movie was different from the other bugs? Was being different good or bad? Talking About It — Flik was different from the other ants because he was creative and loved to invent new things. He was trying to make life easier for the ants, while almost all of the other ants were just content to stay the way they were. The Circus Bugs were also different because they were seen as weird and untalented. At first, it seemed like everybody’s differences were big problems; nobody liked them or respected them. But, in the end, their differences saved the day!

1. Take a nature walk — Carefully look around in the grass, plants, trees and dirt to find bugs. Take a pencil and paper with you. Either you or your child should make a record of how many different kinds of bugs you can find. List the bugs you’ve seen and, if you or your child can draw, sketch some of the bugs.

If you have a magnifying glass show your child how to use it. Explain the importance of leaving the bugs alone, and just observing them. Ask your child to describe the insect. How many legs does it have? What are the colors in its body? Can you see any antennae? To learn more about ant colonies, and how ants live, visit sites like The Ant Colony Cycle and Ant Behavior.

2. Look at pictures of bugs online — Go to websites like Gakken’s Photo Encyclopedia. Many of these sites have blank coloring sheets you can print. Ask your child about his or her favorite bug. Find websites about that bug or get books about it from the library. Cut out different parts of a bug’s body from paper (head, antennae, legs, etc) and tape them together to make a great big bug!

3. In a playroom or bedroom (with soft surfaces and no sharp edges), lay some small pillows randomly across the floor. Have your child close his or her eyes and stick his or her arms out. (You can also use a blindfold.) Talk about how lots of bugs feel and sense objects with their antennae. Have your child navigate around the room trying to find as many pillows as he or she can using only their “antennae” arms. (Watch carefully to make sure no injuries occur.)

4. In the evening or at bedtime, sit together outside or open the windows in the bedroom and listen for bug noises. Can you hear crickets chirping or frogs croaking? Look around, do you see fireflies?

Stories are essential tools for verbal development, social-emotional learning, and character education. Intentional parents can use family movies as a basis for storytelling.

Repeat the story of the movie at bedtime, on a rainy day, or at any quiet time. Let your child correct you if you make a mistake and, better yet, encourage your child to tell you the story. Both of you can invent new adventures for Flik and his friends. Your child’s imaginative and verbal capacities will be enhanced if you invent new characters and create situations that are not in the movie. To learn more about enhancing growth and development through stories told to children, go to How to Tell Bedtime Stories . . . Any Time.

Here is a story to read to your child. If you read it at bedtime and your child falls asleep before you are finished, complete the story some other time.

The first official meeting of the Spring Scouts had ended. Abby turned off the television and turned to her scouts. “And that’s the end of ‘A Bug’s Life’. So… how’d you like the movie?”

“Oh, it was great!” said Lily, “I wish I was an ant!” Everyone laughed.

“Alright, Scouts,” said Abby, “Let’s get our gear together and take our first nature walk!” They gathered up their hats, sunglasses, backpacks and water bottles. They walked quietly and slowly, in one long single line, just like the ants in the movie.

After hiking and exploring under the summer sun, the Spring Scouts were getting tired. They decided to take a break underneath a big shady tree and drink some water.

After they had been resting for awhile, Coco shouted, “I have an idea! Let’s build a fort to play in!” The other Scouts all stood up with excitement.

“That’s a great idea, Coco,” Abby said, “We’ll need some branches and sticks, big leaves and long ferns. Let’s go!”

The Spring Scouts scurried around, collecting all the things they needed for their fort. Everything they collected was thrown in a big pile and then the scouts hurried off to find more building material for their fort. Abby had found a dead tree and was dragging a heavy branch toward the pile. As she was just about to heave the branch onto the top of the pile, she heard a little voice saying “Help!” She followed the voice and found Lily, the youngest member of the Spring Scouts, stuck under a pile of the leaves and sticks. Abby called over some other Spring Scouts, and together, they lifted the leaves and sticks off of Lily.

“Are you okay?” Abby asked.

“Yes, just a little sore,” Lily said. She looked very sad. “I tried to carry all of those leaves and sticks over at once. I thought it would be useful. I’m sorry I’m not much of a help. I’m not big enough to do all the things that you big kids can do.”

(Stop here and ask your child what he or she thinks is going to happen next.)

Abby called over the rest of the Spring Scouts. “It’s okay, Lily,” she said. “I used to think I was too little to do anything too.”

Abby poked around on the ground until she found something. She picked it up and held it out.

“A seed?” Lily asked.

Abby said, “Remember the movie? Remember what Flik said? He said that we’re all still little seeds, but over time, we’ll become big, strong trees! You just need more time to grow, Lily. And you do help us in other ways, like drawing pictures for our secret meeting house and by being a great friend!” Lily smiled.

“Okay, Spring Scouts! Let’s get back to work!” Abby said. “And you can help, too, Lily. You can tell us where to put everything, and make sure we have enough supplies.”

Lily nodded happily. The Spring Scouts worked together all afternoon, and built the biggest, shadiest and coziest fort they had ever seen!

The end.

There are thousands of books on ants. Ask your local librarian. “A Bug’s Life” was based roughly on Aesop’s fable “The Ant and the Grasshopper” which you can read online here.

Written by James Frieden and Lauren Humphrey.


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Tag Archive | identity

For your weekend…..

20130606_074808May your weekend be filled with constant reminders that the world can spin without your help.

May you make peace with weakness, inadequacy, and uncertainty and welcome the unique gifts they carry with them.

When you find yourself in a situation where anxiety threatens to overwhelm you, take a few moments to breathe in truth and breathe out belief.

Rehearse the companionship of Jesus.

Practice your new identity.

Carry around the stunning, remarkable truth that God is a friend and you have not been left alone.

Enjoy your weekend, friends.

Emily P. Freeman

What’s your name?

מחול = forgiven

חנינה = pardoned

לחוס = spared

מכוסה = covered

This morning during my quiet time with the Lord I came across this verse in Revelation 2:17 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.”

This verse really spoke to me about my identity; what do I believe about myself, and do I believe what God says about me, and to me…..what is my name….. All too often I am still held captive and bound to the lies I have believed.

 Our enemy, the devil, is the accuser and he often uses others to generate his alias identities over us. Maybe like me you were called names at home by those who were supposed to protect you and care for you, or maybe you were teased or bullied at school, or maybe you are in a relationship and the person who professes to love you continually puts you down, calling you names…no matter where or by whom we’ve been labeled, all too often we take on the names we were given….maybe we even find ourselves repeating these very names to ourselves. Many of these labels where placed on us through deep wounds from our own wrong choices in life, and  the wrong choices inflicted upon us from others

We don’t do this intentionally but names can be prophetic declarations that can define a person’s identity. Why, because we can act according to who we believe we are, we can eventually act out these lies in our behavior.

It has been said that we respond to our environment according to the way we see ourselves. Words spoken to us and over us become the names we carry in our hearts, often painting a photograph of ourselves in our imagination and becoming the lens with which we view our world.

The enemy gives us names in order to disempower us. How many of us have spent too much of our lives playing by his rules because we have believed the wrong name? How many of us have acted out of who we believed we were.

I grew up in a home where fierce jealousy and anger were displayed openly. Yet the very one who was jealous of his wife was the one who lusted after other women and flirted openly in front of his family. It sent mixed messages to me and the other women in the family….as a young girl if I painted my fingernails I was considered trash…yet when I would see the women he flirted with they most always had painted fingernails. Too many women, who are called a whore for no reason as young girls, simply because they are female, can quite often spend their lives struggling with immorality.

Throughout Scripture you will find many people who were insignificant until their names were changed. Simon wasn’t an apostle until his name was changed to Peter. Saul wasn’t an apostle until his name was changed to Paul. I like the story of Jacob in Genesis 32 where we find him wrestling with an angel of the Lord. The name Jacob meant deceiver and we see that indeed he acted out his name. But when he encountered the angel his name was changed to “Israel” which means “a prince of God”. The new name released him into his prophetic destiny.

I read once that “grace as well as disgrace is released by name calling. Grace is the operational power of God…grace is the God-given ability to become what we couldn’t become before we received the declaration. Whereas disgrace, also has the power to release curses from the dark side.”

And this brings me back to the verse in Revelation. It is very important that we all hear the name the Lord has given to us and allow that name to define our identities. When we get to heaven we will be given a new name written on a white stone that only we will know!! This name will be birthed from a foundation of purity (white stone) and intimacy (no one will know it but you and Jesus). We will need a new identity that is fitting with our new calling.

As I’ve continued through this study on Grace for the Good Girl; letting go of the try hard life, I am finally coming to know the truth in my heart that I am good because I have received a new heart and a new mind. (Ezekiel 36:26; 1 Cor. 2:16)

When I received Christ as my Lord no longer am I a sinner….no longer do I need to struggle with being good enough, or trying to always do the right thing, because then I am still putting my faith in my ability to fail instead of His work on the cross.

I could spend the rest of my life living under the curse of my old name or names, or I like “Israel”, can receive my new name that has the power to alter my very DNA.

When I fail or make a mistake I don’t need to beat myself up because I am just not good enough, I can quit striving to get it right, and I don’t need to run and withdraw from life because it is just too hard….because this is where God’s grace and mercy come in. No longer do we need to remain trapped by the names imposed on us by others, the names we  take on ourselves, no longer do we need to feel at a loss for identity.

Grace is God’s ability at work within me, not my own strength or ability. I am a daughter of the King and when our Heavenly Father looks at me and looks at you, He sees the image of the Son he loves!! That is Amazing Grace!!

I hope that you will take a moment to watch this video short clip from Kary Oberbrunner based on his book Your Secret Name; discovering who God created you to be.

Your Secret name