The 365 Flowers Project

Hello Monday!

 

Last Monday I posted about how I was looking forward to spending the week working in my studio.

 

Well, that didn't happen. ( blame my husband) I did manage a few hours here and there but nothing very exciting came out of it. Except for the eviction of a stinkbug colony. Yes a colony, that's the only way to explain the mass number I found behind bookcases,  between and under anything where they could hide. All winter I have been finding them. It's my own fault, I left my French doors open one fine day late last fall. Yep, I left the door open and in they came, along with a hoard of lady bugs.

 

 

 

The wonderful piece of mail art feature at the top of this post was made

 by Corrine Gilman, of Sparkle Days Studio

 

Corrine even penned a poem on the back. I love reading Corrine's blog, she writes vivid  poetic verses. The woman can string words together and tell a good tale. Oh, and her art work rocks!!!

 

Corrine's Poem

 

Rain and then

some sun.

A flake or two.

 

Cold wind from

Canada blows in

frigid.

 

Welcome to Spring

in New England.

 

Corrine, thank you so much for putting me on your mailing list.

I am honored.

 

 

Other news:

 

This is rather exciting, I now own a smart phone!  ( I got it for the camera) I'm not a cell phone person so this is a big deal. I handed it over to Eva, after she learns how it works, she will teach me.

Such is my life...

 

We are also having a brouhaha over Eva changing schools. There is a performing arts school in our area that she would like to attend next year. I have not been in favor of the switching of schools due to the distance she would have to travel every day. Sunday we decided to drive over to the school and scope out the area. Three miles before we reached the school (according to my GPS) we pass a nuclear power plant. I don't mean in the distance, I mean from the road I could yell at workers on the power plant grounds and get their attention. Eva's bus would pass by every day.

 

Eva freaked, had me turn the car around. We never made it to the school. Further investigation on the internet turned up reports of poor air quality in the area. The school is very good, award winning, kids love it there. BUT, why on Earth was a school built in an industrial area?  The school is a PA Charter--not that old. The school sits near the Ohio River, a lot of industry and a chemical plant is being built up stream a stones throw away. USA Today did a report on air quality  near schools in 2008, this area was flagged as being hazardous. Again, why was a school built there?  Land was cheap? That's my guess.

 

We spend millions of dollars on tests, test to see how much our kids are learning and to evaluate if a school is teaching up to standard.  My question is, how come we don't have any standards as to where schools are located? I think someone  truly dropped the ball here. This school is a Charter School, but it is funded by tax dollars. Our school district would be paying my daughter's tuition to attend this performing arts school.

Okay, I'll get off my soapbox. --At this point Eva is not going to the school but since there are no other performing art schools around....we may revisit this option at a later date. God help me!

Have a great day and stop back soon!