Me, Enjoying the Weather...

Me, enjoying the weather...

PRAYERS

Slow changing of heart
calms the storms blocking seasons; 
forgiving the past.

ARGUMENT!

ARGUMENT!

Fall awaits her door
opening to early snow
summer holds on tight!

PUSHY FALL

Tries to force entry
banging upon the stage door
yet summer finds peace.




RED FLOWERS

Nursed by sweet summer
bloom in the raining of tears
showering beauty.



PEACE

Sun sets upon strife
bringing divine colors in;
stars will shine on blues.


skb

RUBIO and BANJO



2 Bettas (from a photo I found online)



My fish tank now has a Betta. He's bright red and I named him Rubio! So, now I have 2 fish, Banjo (my banjo catfish) and my Betta, Rubio. They are so relaxing to watch, better than medicine in so many ways!



A banjo catfish (from a photo I found online)


These handy fish clean your tank so well you hardly have to clean it at all, except vacuum and change the water. They eat algae off the glass, rocks, plants... and they are so much fun to watch!

Both these fish have plenty of "personality!"

Some days you just have to grin and take it...

We had a power failure of 16 hours recently. Several of my fish died right after the power went back on! I was shocked about this until I realized that they must have hyper-ventilated. They got over-drunk on oxygen, the poor things! They had been breathing so heavily, gulping air during those 16 hours (probably unconciously) that when the power and their "air" came back on, they sucked in so much oxygen that it killed them, poor li'l things.

I guess I'll have to get some surface breathers like the Betta from now on. My Banjo Catfish did survive, he's a surface breather and did so during the whole 16 hours. I love him so! He's so much fun to watch.



My Daddy's Lentil Soup

My Daddy's Lentil Soup

This is a 24-48 hour recipe in some ways! That is because it tastes best after having simmered for that long or there abouts. What you'll need to make it the best way are the following, though some things can be substituted:

1 onion
(medium, medium pot size, large, larger pot size, etc.)
1/2 to 1 bag of dry lentils
2-3 carrots
cellery tops (leavy parts)
1 Daisy Ham (or Polish Sausage)
1-2 bay leaves
peppercorns
salt to taste
water

A crock pot can be used, or stove top pot.

Fill your pot 1/2 full with water. Soak lentils for 24 hours in the pot. Fry the onion to a golden brown. Slice the carrots and cellery. Place the pepper corns and bay leaf(s) into a tea ball or some other thing that separates them from the main soup. Then boil the water and add all the other ingredients. Bring to a rapid boil for 10 minutes and Simmer 24 hours. Enjoy!

My uncle worked for the UN



"TWO OF MY COUSINS WERE BORN IN AFRICA"
(My uncle worked for the UN)

To see this page and entry your own stories...
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151018787391424&set=a.350753881423.192087.202273991423&type=1

Or your own photo and story:
https://www.facebook.com/art.com?sk=app_95936962634

 I never had the chance to meet them until I was in eighth grade. When I told my social studies teacher they had come home to the USA, she wanted them to come to our class and answer questions. I had to inform her that they lived in NYC, a 3 hour drive from where I went to shcool. She acted like she didn't believe the whole thing then!

My cousins were so into everything that was new to them here, swingsets on the school playground, our dog, the forest behind our house, etc. I really did not get a chance to ask them much.

Over the years I understood that their having been born and raised for many years in a war torn country made it not too much what they wanted to talk about. That country had been torn apart; it was called Nigeria by some and Biafra by others...

I wonder if they ever saw any elephants, I never asked.

I do observe that their birthplace influenced their lives a lot. The older of the two boys joined our army and after many terms of service, is now studying CAD on the Post 911 GI Bill. The younger one plays the drums professionally and obviously heard many a drum in his early childhood.

Africa is still mostly unfamiliar to me. Thankfully, though, my cousins have shared a bit of their memories about it here and there on their Facebook Pages. I'm always impressed!

~

My Daddy the Chef!

Photo complements of
a CHOPHOUSE in
Murphy, NC

( COOKING WITH DADDY AFTER MY SCHOOL DAYS )

My daddy was the chef and connoisseur in our family. He LOVED Italian restaurants and was known to take Sunday afternoon drives two states away to find the "bestest" ones! Mom was a world famous computer programmer, and a pioneer in her field too.  SO daddy was our chef extraordinaire.

Daddy would make steamed clams with me every day after high school. It was my job to watch them and let him know as soon as they slowly opened... then we enjoyed them with real butter, YUM!

He had a PASSION for spaghetti and sausage; he made some mean baked beans and the BEST home-made soups and stews! Everything was done the old fashioned way, no cookbook, a pinch of this, hand full of that, etc.

He had some awesome pots and pans with copper bottoms.

These days I use cast iron pots when I can, or the ones he liked to use with the copper bottoms. I find these in thrift stores. I have built a bit of mean arm muscle with the heavy iron ones too; lifting them is tough!

He didn't use crock pots or a microwave because they had not been invented yet! I use my crock pot quite often, but my microwave seldomly.

Last night I made some popcorn the old fashioned way, no microwave. You have to shake it the whole time you cook and fry it in a bit of oil, or it will stick and burn!

Soups and Stews: 

Daddy would fry the onions to a golden brown (uncovered) before adding them to these. This way we'd be sure the "onion gasses" would not overpower the more gentle flavors of other veggies.

Baked Goods:

He didn't do cakes or cookies, so I did those. I liked the simple ones you drop by the spoon on cookie sheets and bake. I do them that way even today. He liked to get things from the local bakeries best though. And eclairs topped his list (mine too)!!!

We had a huge dining room table that seated maybe 12. Daddy and mommy both enjoyed dinner parties and entertained often. We were not rich; daddy was a plumber. We were just comfortable and that is the kind of life I try to live these days in their honor, God rest their souls.


Photo complements of
a CHOPHOUSE in
Murphy, NC

Living "Outside the Box"

"Mountain Sunrise..."



Sometimes it's so hard to deal with being "way out in the middle of nowhere" (as I've been told so many times that the phrase echos in my sleep and dreams sometimes.) None the less, most days it is pure pleasure to live here. The air is fresh, the birds sing every morning, stores are available that are needed or just even wanted, galleries, rustic furniture, basketry, places to enjoy life and parks too. In fact, this IS a National Forest: The Nantahala! Then there is the Cherokee Reservation...   

So far, the only person who is making plans to visit me is my dear friend Betty from Florida. She's coming for my birthday. I CAN'T WAIT!!!

However, generally and too often, when I ask folks if they'd like to come visit, the answer is "No..." (with enough excuses to blow out six tires on the way here, should they ever finally brave it and actually decide to come).

Well... I'll just live it up in this sweet beauty, lovely natural setting and enjoy my life here. If no one other than Betty wants to share this wonderful gift of God, so be it!

~

Life "Ain't" Always What it Seems

Life "Ain't" Always What it Seems


Sometimes one expects life to be a certain way. Then it proves over and over that things "ain't" the way you want them to be.


Case in point:


One expects help, care, love and actions that prove these things exist from a certain group of folks. Usually, in good fiction books, TV and movies, they come to the rescue.  Instead, another bunch of people (strangers even) steps up to the plate, thank God!


"The Lord Shall Provide!" needs to be my LIFE motto.


Help me to know this and trust in You, my Lord, remembering this EVERY day of my life!


Amen. Thank You, Jesus.
"li'l one" 

To my Beloved



"Delicate littlest ones swimming downstream..."



To my Beloved

Oh! Sacred Spirit
to You I up my thumbs!
As I play my flute
I listen to ancient drums.

Nature calls, birds sing...
reminding me my name is "li'l one."
Everyone has a name
just as You are "The Great One."

Water ever clings to bedrocks
washing the lands clean;
everything is so beautiful
especially all You created in green.

Rainbows of color swim

gracefully downstream

knowing about Your Love

makes their eyes gleam.

Cardinals above, land in trees
settling in... once the day is done;
they always remind me
of Your precious Son.

I pray to You, Oh! Sacred Spirit
For all my dear friends;
I hope they too enjoy Your Love
so sweet which never, ever ends!
li'l one

WHAT WAS YOUR FAV SONG?

What was your fav song?

We'd sit with a root beer for hours and listen to whatever everyone chose to play because we only had enough money for the soda, if that! So we sipped it 

V-E-R-Y  

S-L-O-W-L-Y...

My fav song was "Stairway to Heaven"  by Lead Zep.

I Was Robbed While In The Hospital!

"?"

I was robbed while in the hospital! Want to talk about what it is like to be kicked when you are down? No?? I don't want to talk about it either! However, it did happen and it "ain't" fun! 

I will say it is tough living without a digital camera, computer, my favorite CD music (Deep Forest - with sounds of the rain forest in Brazil and the Native folks there too, calling to one another, drumming and singing) and all sorts of other things...

Believe it or not, that CD is what I miss MOST! There are computers and friends at the local library, I bought an old 35mm Pentax at a thrift store, but the CD? I'm going to need to search for it a lot, I have a feeling... I'll let you all know how the search goes. If I find it, I'll share it with you!

Here goes my search, be back later...

AMAZON has it!

$0.78 cents used!!! ( in very good condition)

(Here's the link below)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0000029IH/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used

THANK YOU, JESUS!

(For making and rescuing my day).

Sunrise or Sunset...

Smokey Mountains (~click here~) Info Link

Sunrise or Sunset

Sunrise or sunset

my favorite times of the day

pleasure awaits

as the day comes or passes away

Love of nature surrounds me

love of friends

the Love of God

it never ends!

His Love is in the little things

best of all

the birds during sunrise

as they sing sweetly and call

Call to their mates

call to me to feed them

call to God saying "thanks"

for the new day is such a gem!

sheilshel

My Guppies Have Been Doing Their Mating Dances!

"Little Ones Hatching!"
(this is a borrowed photo I grabbed from Facebook, I'd give credit if I knew to whom!!!)

My guppies have been doing their springtime mating dances. They are so beautiful as they flitter and flutter round 'n' round in delicate circles. There are 2 fancy tiger tailed males and 3 silky purple black females. I'm going to be a GRANDMA!  Some days I  just feel like dancing too!

I'll be reading in my new blue/ brown, recliner/ rocker chair this afternoon. Then I'll do more pastel drawings this eveing. My environment can sure get into my blood and bones... so it has to be very ME so I stay happy and my art that I create is rewarding and beautiful...

Powder Fresh From The Shower

A Lady needs to start her day in a nice way
chasing the shadows of her nightime dreams away...
those ones that haunted just a tad
maybe remembering and missing her mom and dad.
Daddy and Mommy, I miss you and LOVE you so!
Your "li'l one" sheila

I STARTED MY FRONT DOOR GALLERY

I STARTED MY FRONT DOOR ART GALLERY
Just like we did as children (on the fridge door with our moms' help), I started putting my newest "Not-Yet-Framed-Works -of-Art" on my apartment front door. I won't sign them until they are being framed. This way, if someone has the nerve to steal them, these would not be worth much! But those who love my art can stop by (even if I'm out) and "vote" by giving me a call and saying which one(s) they like best.

THANKS!

sheila

Sometimes you have to let those things AND PEOPLE you love most go... not to mention those whom we've been family with! My hubby, I miss you so, but I know you had to go. Now your pain is all gone. I await our journey in Heaven... until then, my love. I remember all the wonderful times on the boardwalks celebrating each of our Anniversaries together. Walking barefoot in the waves, sharing dinners by the big picture windows of our favorite restaurants, riding the circus rides, ice cream cones...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, ONCE AGAIN, DEAR! (JUNE 16TH 1985 - MID NOV, 2005).

Some days you get brave enough to try for a dream you've had for over a year; today is that day!

Some days you get brave enough to try for a dream you've had for over a year; today is that day!

I walked into a local Real Estate Office and asked about getting a storefront here on Main St. in the town where I live for my very own art gallery! Also as a place to live. This was very brave on my part, but it was time. I've been praying an unspoken prayer about this for a long time now...

As it turns out, there was a lady from Florida who just called that same Real Estate Agent looking for just such an artist yesterday!

GOD IS AT WORK...

SELF PORTRAITS

These are every artist's duty, to help folks 
understand the arts and artists in general! 
They communicate things about us that maybe we 
just cannot put into words, but that maybe 
need to be known or understood.



"I Wonder What They Think Of Me Now That I Spoke My Mind..."




"Ah! Well... It's Okay Whatever They Think!"
(Sometimes ya just gotta speak your mind...)




"I Know You Love me anyway,  my Lord,  no matter what!"
(So thanks.)


In the next few days, I plan to do some 
remembrances of childhood self portraits. 
Then we were unaware that was what these were 
called! We just drew pictures and used 
whatever color(s) of finger  paint or crayon 
expressed our mood of the moment!

AN OUTING & RETAIL THERAPY WITH BABYGIRL

"Look outside, Babygirl, sunlight and fresh North Carolina mountain air. Let's go!"

"I THINK THERE'S A TASTY BUG DOWN HERE, MOMMY?"
"MOMMY says NO!!! Let's get going."

Sometimes all it takes is a nice day out and about to feel better. Especially when that day includes shopping and eating out with some friends and my li'l doggie! She got the royal treatment everywhere, but then she is from a long bloodline of excellently bred dachshunds.

Everything I bought was for her, the little princess!

"SEE HOW CUTE I AM!"

However, I've not been able to find my camera for several days now, so you will just have to imagine her in her brand new bright orange vest, drinking from her special water bottle that is designed just for her and her K-9 cousins!

BABYGIRL PRAYING

She had a wonderful time and is sleeping like a baby now (she gets pooped trying to keep up with mommy on her short little legs, so I have to remember to slow down!) I've always walked quite quickly. This may have been from trying to keep up with my grandaddy when I was a little girl. We'd be out on the forest paths when he picked wild mushrooms... I suppose all my years of hiking in the mountains and forests later on just added to this even more. I guess I was always curious about what was just beyond that next bend, hill or valley...

"SLEEPING LIKE A BABY"

SHE'S MORE THAN A COMPANION!

She's My #1 Helper, Best Friend And My Sweetie!

She takes her time when I call her sometimes, so she's still "IN TRAINING" to be a Service Dog, technically. Though she sure is much more than a "PET" or "Companion" to me as some folks have tried to say when attempting to refuse us entry. My philosophy is simply to move on to another similar place where they have a heart, but! Not if that place which has tried to refuse us entry is the only one like it in town. I'm not one for uneeded confrontation, but I will stand up for my rights if and when the need does arise.

She helps me to remember to eat (and take my meds in that way by default, as I take them with my meals and that is thankfully ingrained in me for many years now).

My (Sheila's) needs are many, though not at all recognisable by the your average shop owner or restaurateur, or untrained/ unaware  person (re: ADA regulations) from the usual places around town and so on. The judgemental and those looking for any excuse to refuse us entry will even go out of their way to try and find such excuse(s).

So far I've not had to call any officials, the Police or like persons, but I wonder how far some folks will go in their attempts to refuse and/or trouble and stop us... I pray I never find out!

Babygirl dispels my fears and anxieties first and foremost. At many times and in many a way she's accomplished this: I suffer from several emotional and mental conditions as well as Lyme Disease. PTSD is at the top of the list in relation to my needing her with me at all times. By no means is that all of it. Depression, Bipolar, directional inabilities caused by Dyslexia play a huge role in all of this too.

BABYGIRL WITH A PET THERAPY "PATIENT" AT A NURSING HOME

Fear of getting lost sent me into the worst panic attack I think I ever experienced. That was back in 1988. My hubby, God rest his soul, was at work; cell phones were rare in those days and we'd just moved into a new house in Central New Jersey. We had resided quite near to New York City before that, and I'd never needed or wanted to learn to drive, fearing my dyslexia would make it difficult if not impossible.

I finally braved getting my driver's licence after much coaxing and begging by my hubby. Soon thereafter I was out exploring for the first time. I wanted to see what was around, to discover (BIG MISTAKE IF ONE HAS NO MAP AND SUCH DISABILITIES AS I)! However, I often lack the ability to "think ahead or predict outcomes," and so I really had no clue as to what I was getting myself into!

MY MOTHER WITH HER FAVORITE DOG

There I was, out on some country farm road a couple hours later and the sun was beginning to settle a way into the west... so I decided to turn back thinking of home. (Yeh right...) I had not thought about this part of my adventure at all! Soon, I was hopelessly lost, the adventure was long behind me and I was scared. As time went on, I became more frightened. Then came the full blown panic attack about a mile later! My hands were so sweaty it was difficult to hold the wheel, there were no cars or houses in sight, nothing but winding, curving mildly hilly roads. There was still some light, but the sun had set.

As I progressed, I came upon a road which was labeled "Rahway Road" if I recall. "GREAT!" I thought to myself, "I'll just take this and it will lead me back to Rahway, where our new house is."

NOT!

I have no sense of direction, so (of course) I turned the wrong way!!! I finally ended up in a small farming community. Finally in desperation, I dared to go and ask someone in one of the farm houses. They informed me that Rahway was the opposite direction from the one I'd been travelling (of course). So I turned tail...

An hour later or so, if I recall, I entered Rahway from the opposite side of town where I'd left it many hours earlier. I was not able to recognise any landmarks! Still panicked, I kept driving until finally I recognised the Avenue upon which our new house was: Hazelwood Avenue.

SERVICE DOGS NEED TIME TO PLAY!

 Unfortunately, I was coming from the opposite direction and missed my house! Almost. I backed up, pulled into the driveway and vowed to NEVER leave the house to go on an adventure again!!!

From that point on, I took my car to the grocery store once a week and that was it. No adventures. No nothing else, except maybe to visit a friend who lived about 10 blocks away. Often I would walk there with my dog rather than take the chance of getting lost EVER again.

I went for walks all around that town with one or another of my five dogs often. At least I was able to do that without panic, thank the Lord!

ME WITH 2 OF MY FAVORITE PUPS IN THE MID 80S

A BLOG I ONCE STARTED, But Accidentally Lost Track of...

Pastor David and his sweet wife Glenda, myself and friends...
(Glenda is seated, her hubby is behind her to the right and I next to his right)

A BLOG I ONCE STARTED, But Accidentally Lost Track of...

Finally ending up eventually (in a round about way) restarting this new one at my other email address without realizing it!

This is what I get for having two (2) similar email addresses, being very forgetful these days, AND confusing them one with the other as well! (Not to mention the other BLOG I recently DELETED...)

THIS WAS MY FIRST BLOG:

http://spicedmochajavaforthezany.blogspot.com/

This one you are currently reading is my third (3rd) BLOG.

And if you are thoroughly confused now, it is time for a cup of  *"Spiced Mocha-Java For The Zany" (my first BLOG's inspiration and namesake!)

*At this time I would like to take a moment to thank my dear friend and prayer partner, Glenda, for her help, inspiration, and assistance in naming that first BLOG!

Thank you, Glenda!

Homeward Bound From A Sunday Drive



Twilight In The Vermont Mountains

 After we'd all settled into the car and gotten comfortable, we'd start the long journey home...

Mom and my sis would have had lasagna for dinner, daddy his favorite spaghetti and sausages (or maybe meatballs) and I would have been happy to be savoring the memory of meat my Ravioli. Daddy would have had a mug of beer, maybe mommy too. I always had milk; I just loved how the tangy tomato sauce and milk blended together to make a somewhat cheese-like flavor linger on my tongue... My sis always had spumoni and I Bisque Tortoni for dessert, while mom liked pie with ice cream and daddy probably the same. They often had a coffee too, so they'd be sure to stay awake for the drive home.

Usually something funny would have happened during dinner. One time, for instance, Daddy noticed that he had been given only one sausage. Usually there would have been two or even three in some of the better restaurants. He waited patiently to see if maybe another one would arrive late from the kitchen or something. When this hadn't occurred in a couple of minutes, he called the waiter over and shined his ever handy flashlight onto his plate, asking if the waiter noticed anything was missing. The poor fellow stared at daddy's plate with a dumbfounded and  puzzled expression on his face... daddy finally told him, after he'd made the fellow squirm, that he was missing a sausage and would the man please bring it to him!

If I recall, the fellow tried very hard to convince daddy that there had been two on the plate, without going so far as to actually accuse him of telling a fib. Daddy didn't take kindly to this, needless to say, but he did eventually get his other two sausages!

My sister and I always kept some deodorant or mouthwash coupons to leave under our plates as "tips" when we'd had such a waiter or waitress. Needless to say, this feller got both!



The Glow After Sunset


We'd all have a good laugh about what had occurred at dinner, as well as which "special" coupons my sis and I had left under our plates...

Midnight Moon Kissing The Predawn To Awaken It

My sister and I would be gazing out the windows, sleepy-eyed or even dozing off... after a wonderful family dinner at some distant Italian restaurant in the mountains of Vermont or maybe the Adirondacks. We might even have been coming home from Canada on the newly complete Northway! Dad was usually driving while mom would be assuring our way home with a handy flashlight and the AAA Road Atlas she always kept nearby.

SUMMER VACATIONS

We were on the Canadian National Railroad that transported the old family station wagon, as well as our family, all across Canada! My sister and I had our own bunks and all, it was so much fun! Our beds were up above us, while we had places to sit and look out the windows. We each had our own private facilities with commodes, sinks, mirrors, etc. Mom and Dad had their own shared room in another train car up front a few cars ahead; my sister and my bunks were in a car that maybe had a dozen or so private sleeper rooms in it such as ours. I was probably about 12 years old.

Mom would come and fetch us when our family's shift for dinner was on. The food was great, as was the service, but we kids were far more interested in exploring than such amenities then. We had plenty of time in which to do so too, for the train took some three (3) days to traverse Canada.

We made good friends with the Caboose man as we called him. It was such a great adventure watching everything disappear behind us as the train moved forward. We'd never experienced anything like it. I think we even got a tour of the front engine once, but I don't recall a lot about it other than there being so many dials that it seemed beyond me how anyone could keep track of them all!

We had toys with us, books and magazines to read and all the usual things you'd expect kids to bring along, of course. I had a slinky toy, which was like a 3 inch wide spring made of metal; you may remember these although they seem to be made of plastic these days. I think it was the second day we were on board that I discovered I could let it hang down off my top bunk and it would bounce right back up! Well, I was doing this when a lady walked by through the isle, which was not very wide. I waited while she went by... just as soon as she was past me, I let it bounce on down into the isle again. On its way back up, it caught the back of her dress and pulled it way up almost covering her face! She didn't see me above her at first! She was too busy trying to "unruffle her feathers" so to speak. Meanwhile I was up above her trying my hardest not to move, and not be seen nor heard, while at the same time trying my hardest not to burst out laughing hysterically!

Needless to say, I failed at trying not to be seen, as she looked around frantically for what or who on earth had been so fresh with her. I had a short hairdo, and this was around the time of the Beatles with their penchant for long hair then being popular. I think she may have thought I was a young boy! I'm not sure. Anyway, she gave me a look that could kill, needless to say! Then she said, "HARRUMPH!" as she walked off in a huff. I was still trying not to laugh my head off and so was unable to say a word!


I was most thankful that my parents were not around at that moment, nor staying in the same car as we were, or I would have caught "it" for sure! Thankfully, I never saw her again.

As time went by, the novelty of all this wore off.  My sister and I became maybe a bit bored. Anyway, when the train stopped early one morning, before our parents were awake, we decided to get off and explore a bit. We often did this when staying in motels, because our folks liked sleeping quite a bit later than we did. So, there we were off away from the train a bit when the conductor asked us if everything was alright. We assured him that it was, not realizing that there were not any folks scheduled to disembark at that stop. I'm not sure what the stop was for, probably just to take on supplies.

There we were standing a ways off from the train and he again asked us again if we were OK. We assured him that we were. He looked at us rather strangely and said that the train was about to leave. He didn't say the usual, "All Aboard!" or anything, so we had not known! Needless to say,  we got our little tails back on that train faster than speeding bullets!

Oh! The things we never shared with mom and dad...

WAITING FOR VACATION

WAITING  FOR  VACATION

Sitting in class, listening to yet another boring lecture, something about do's and don'ts... wishing I was out on the horse trails at old Mr. Whitey's Farm with my favorite horse...

The Neighbor's Horse Barn

The teach' asks me some question... I stare at her with blank eyes, still daydreaming... she calls on the teacher's pet once again. The one who always has all the answers, except how to enjoy life, live life or even dream about how to enjoy it to the fullest or live it at all for that matter! How could she even dream of that! With her nose in all the books, she never even looked out the windows, let alone dared to sneek off the playground into the woods or "play hookie" (skip class altogether or even better yet: the whole day!).

Under every leaf is a treasure. Sometimes a pretty rock, sometimes a metalic green bug or even a coin someone dropped! Best yet are the arrowheads from way back when the warriors hunted and brought meat home for their squaws to cook.

Under Every Leaf is a Prize!

One day I found a spearhead! It was really too large to hide under a leaf. Actually, I'd been digging to find it. What a wonderful day when I did! I showed it to my teacher and she asked if she could "borrow" it to show to the local museum director. I handed it to her, assuming that since she'd said "borrow" that she would return it. Ha! Although I asked and asked, she never did return it. Finally, after I'd made a huge fuss, she claimed that it belonged to our community and the museum would be keeping it! Needless to say, I felt betrayed.

Lost Dreams, Forever...

And she was the same one who'd just taught us that, "Honesty is the best policy," yeh right...


I guess she never did understand that kids learn by example, not empty words!

Classroom World Map?