We took my youngest daughter out to eat for her 24th birthday in the middle of Finger Lakes wine country.
Thought about you guys as I stared out the window at a field of grape vines. Sorry. Forgot my camera. The trunks were noticeably old and thick. The leaves small, tender, new. These are fairly young wineries.
The vinier had surely cut out all the dead wood that didn't bear any fruit and pruned back the branches that did. Someone who went to college in wine country on Lake Erie once told us how the smell of the grapes in the fields before harvest hung heavy in the air.
They'll be picking lots of ripe grapes in the fall and crushing the grapes and letting the juice mellow and age ...
Made me think of old traditions and new ideas, old folks and children, good fruit, bad fruit, crushed fruit and dead wood...
Went back and read John 15 .
If you're driving through wine country use the opportunity to ponder God's thoughts about vines and grapes and vineyards and wine...new wine...aged wine... Take a tour. Go back and read John 15.
Behind the restaurant was an abandoned field of grapevines, unpruned, unkept, obscured by all the other plant life left to take over the field...The vines are still there. They just won't bear the quality or quantity of fruit that the other field will.
Lots to ponder...
Showing posts with label local. Show all posts
Showing posts with label local. Show all posts
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Friday, December 18, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
You discover the oddest things when you read through the referrals on your site meter. . .
Anyone local still reading this blog? Anybody know that they're doing research with infants and toddlers at the U of R "to understand how normally developing infants achieve such remarkable levels of skills in different domains within the first two years of life"? I know nothing about this except that the picture of the baby is very cute!
Thursday, November 06, 2008
holidays at Artisan
Quick, before they change seasons, Artisan church has some great pictures of the Spooktacular event they did for the neighborhood. Keep going past the portrait pics to see some of the fun things they did.
Then stay tuned for their Advent Conspiracy. Another very clever approach!
Then stay tuned for their Advent Conspiracy. Another very clever approach!
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Book Festival this weekend!
This is what I'm working on this week. Actually, I've been working on it since July. If you're local, you'd better come!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Fun discovery!
I knew there are many many many kinds of service dogs and therapy dogs. I knew there are organizations training dogs for autistic children. There are dogs who warn children (and adults) of seizure and low blood sugar. I didn't know there are organizations training service dogs as "ministry dogs" - check this out! If you have a wonderfully obediant social dog and you take him/her literally everywhere you go, including worship services, even loud worship services, you are probably creating your own ministry dog.
Service dogs are social but one person dogs by necessity. Most therapy dogs love everyone. I met a staff member from a children's resident rehab facility a few months ago who has a dog who is both and she said it's unusual to find both qualities in the same dog as needed, intuitively and at her direction. Her dog is a dog like that.
If you live in the area where the [NEADS] Laura J. Niles Early Learning Center is located and you don't want a dog for yourself or your kids but you and your kids love dogs, check this out! They have a puppy petting program. Looks like you can go for an hour on a weekday afternoon and just pet and play with puppies! (You're actually helping the organization socialize their dogs. It's called puppy socialization - one of, if not the best thing, you can do for your dog.) How cool is that!
(see tags below - "local" to someone but not to me! kids in community as in "out in the community", serving? no! too much fun - this is a service to the people training service dogs and to those who will someday own and use these dogs, and random speaks for itself!)
Service dogs are social but one person dogs by necessity. Most therapy dogs love everyone. I met a staff member from a children's resident rehab facility a few months ago who has a dog who is both and she said it's unusual to find both qualities in the same dog as needed, intuitively and at her direction. Her dog is a dog like that.
If you live in the area where the [NEADS] Laura J. Niles Early Learning Center is located and you don't want a dog for yourself or your kids but you and your kids love dogs, check this out! They have a puppy petting program. Looks like you can go for an hour on a weekday afternoon and just pet and play with puppies! (You're actually helping the organization socialize their dogs. It's called puppy socialization - one of, if not the best thing, you can do for your dog.) How cool is that!
(see tags below - "local" to someone but not to me! kids in community as in "out in the community", serving? no! too much fun - this is a service to the people training service dogs and to those who will someday own and use these dogs, and random speaks for itself!)
Monday, September 08, 2008
RCBF 2008
Rochester Children's Book Festival 2008
MCC
Save the date! Free unless you buy books but if you buy books and pick a time of day when the lines are short you can get them signed (for free) and meet. some fun people. Lots of presentations and workshops all day, including teen authors in the afternoon, and the activity room for kids. If your kids like art, there will be illustrators there, too.
I'm in charge of BBWP this year. Lots to do. Prayers would be nice!
MCC
Saturday, November 8, 2008
10 am to 4 pmSave the date! Free unless you buy books but if you buy books and pick a time of day when the lines are short you can get them signed (for free) and meet. some fun people. Lots of presentations and workshops all day, including teen authors in the afternoon, and the activity room for kids. If your kids like art, there will be illustrators there, too.
I'm in charge of BBWP this year. Lots to do. Prayers would be nice!
Friday, May 09, 2008
What's up at Artisan?
This info came directly from the Artisan e-news. I looked for the same info on the website so I could just send you there but didn't find it. Hopefully they won't mind the advertisement! The second part looks particularly fun for kids in worship. (You can still check out their website!)
|
a
mock
We've got something messy planned for Sunday's services. Which is great, because messy, more often than not, equals FUN. As part of our Walk the Line Between Sacred and Secular theme, we'll have an art canvas that people will be invited to paint on during the service. And of course we will allow children to participate in this part of worship with appropriate parental guidance.
So: if your kids will be painting, please have them come prepared. The paints are water-based and washable, so it will come off skin very easily, but it will stain clothing, so kids should either wear old clothes or bring some sort of apron or smock.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
But not during vacations...
Ok. The museum is still worth visiting but very crazy and very loud.
Oh yeah, this week all the kids are out of school!!!
So don't go Spring break unless you don't mind mild chaos or walking a block or two when all the parking spaces are taken. And next time I'll stop and read all the quotes about "play" on the wall so I can share them here!
My friend and I had a really good time trailing her 3 and 6 year olds around. So much to see and do and hear. I'm out of shape keeping track of kids in wild stimulating environments. I haven't visited the museum in a very long time. They've added so many activities and spaces. I haven't been around ALOT of kids having a really good time going in all different directions in a very long time either.
Did I use to have 5 kids 2 years apart give-or-take? Did I use to take all five of them to wildly stimulating places like that on a regular basis by myself without blinking an eye?
And how did I do that? Good question.
Probably at off hours, not at rush hour. Probably in lifeguard mode counting 1-2-3-4-5. My math skills stink but I was really good at counting to five.
And I didn't lose anyone?
Well . . . only a couple of times. It was usually momentary - give or take 30-40 minutes. My daughter will probably never forgive us. Ever. She loves to tell the stories. And do you think there's a reason that it was usually the same child?
We didn't lose anyone - not permanently, anyway. We still have the same five we started with. Ok, they've changed a little.
I may be spending too much time alone with two quiet puppies and I may be enjoying those long periods of quiet aloneness WAY too much!
Oh yeah, this week all the kids are out of school!!!
So don't go Spring break unless you don't mind mild chaos or walking a block or two when all the parking spaces are taken. And next time I'll stop and read all the quotes about "play" on the wall so I can share them here!
My friend and I had a really good time trailing her 3 and 6 year olds around. So much to see and do and hear. I'm out of shape keeping track of kids in wild stimulating environments. I haven't visited the museum in a very long time. They've added so many activities and spaces. I haven't been around ALOT of kids having a really good time going in all different directions in a very long time either.
Did I use to have 5 kids 2 years apart give-or-take? Did I use to take all five of them to wildly stimulating places like that on a regular basis by myself without blinking an eye?
And how did I do that? Good question.
Probably at off hours, not at rush hour. Probably in lifeguard mode counting 1-2-3-4-5. My math skills stink but I was really good at counting to five.
And I didn't lose anyone?
Well . . . only a couple of times. It was usually momentary - give or take 30-40 minutes. My daughter will probably never forgive us. Ever. She loves to tell the stories. And do you think there's a reason that it was usually the same child?
We didn't lose anyone - not permanently, anyway. We still have the same five we started with. Ok, they've changed a little.
I may be spending too much time alone with two quiet puppies and I may be enjoying those long periods of quiet aloneness WAY too much!
only in my yard
Ok. I am the emerging kid here . . . the ongoing saga of my city yard . . . apart from the kamakaze squirrels who dare show their squirrelly faces in my yard when the dogs are off-leash . My dogs are quite good, considering. But they are in fact dogs. No more generalizations or observations about my dogs. They inevitably prove me wrong. But I digress
I drive in my driveway and I notice the cat. My neighbor feeds cats so it's not unusual to see a cat in my yard . My husband is so allergic to cats (and my daughter), otherwise I'd probably have a couple of my own . . .
I see the cat. The cat is facing south but looking at me (we'll call that looking west) . Lo and behold not 15 feet from the cat facing north but looking east the woodchuck has emerged from under the shed. First time I've seen him this season. I'd take a picture to prove it but they were a little too far apart to get in close enough, amateur that I am. Besides, they would have run away. They're about the same size, wild and domestic, that close together, staring in opposite directions, oblivious to each other (I think) . . . a good thing, probably . . . but hey, maybe they were playing together before I drove in the driveway and they were just angry. Who would know, right? The stuff of tall tales, I mean tails.
Seriously, somehow I think this could only happen in my yard.
When you read about the lion and the lamb, think of us.
And think of my Lollypop Farm quilt, too. If you look closely you'll see little children here and there. Not all that creative but it was a fun idea. (and The Craft Connection has lots of fun animal fabric.)
I drive in my driveway and I notice the cat. My neighbor feeds cats so it's not unusual to see a cat in my yard . My husband is so allergic to cats (and my daughter), otherwise I'd probably have a couple of my own . . .
I see the cat. The cat is facing south but looking at me (we'll call that looking west) . Lo and behold not 15 feet from the cat facing north but looking east the woodchuck has emerged from under the shed. First time I've seen him this season. I'd take a picture to prove it but they were a little too far apart to get in close enough, amateur that I am. Besides, they would have run away. They're about the same size, wild and domestic, that close together, staring in opposite directions, oblivious to each other (I think) . . . a good thing, probably . . . but hey, maybe they were playing together before I drove in the driveway and they were just angry. Who would know, right? The stuff of tall tales, I mean tails.
Seriously, somehow I think this could only happen in my yard.
When you read about the lion and the lamb, think of us.
And think of my Lollypop Farm quilt, too. If you look closely you'll see little children here and there. Not all that creative but it was a fun idea. (and The Craft Connection has lots of fun animal fabric.)
passion for children
A Writing Tip from Journalist Peter P. Jacobi that came from the Highlights Foundation. They're gearing up for their annual Chautauqua conference - a wonderful experience for aspiring children's writers. But this isn't just for children's writers. Anyone who works with children does well to remember...
Mr. Jacobi said, "Passion. That's my P word. Boris Novak, in celebrating International Children's Reading Day in 1997, said: 'Adults look at colors, yet do not see them. Adults perceive shapes, yet do not understand their speech. Adults live in light and from light, yet do not notice it at all. Adults cast long shadows, yet do not play with them. Adults take up much (indeed too much) space, yet never just for once marvel at it spaciousness. Adults look at the world with closed eyes. This is why space shrinks, shadows die, light darkens, colors fade, and shapes fall silent. Children are different. Children, with eyes wide open, gaze out at the world and marvel at things. Children play with colors and with shapes. Their play blows away the dust from the faded colors and returns to them the sheen with which they were born. Play brings to life new shapes, unseen and unheard before, fresh in their beauty.' For children particularly, we must have passion."
Isn't it a great quote? Never underestimate the power of play for children - maybe even for adults. Don't we rehearse things or process situations over and over in our minds when we're trying to figure something out?
I'm going to Strong Museum soon The National Museum of Play with some young friends. I haven't been there in a long time. If you're ever in this part of the world it's a very cool place to take your kids. A lot of history and VERY kid - friendly.
Mr. Jacobi said, "Passion. That's my P word. Boris Novak, in celebrating International Children's Reading Day in 1997, said: 'Adults look at colors, yet do not see them. Adults perceive shapes, yet do not understand their speech. Adults live in light and from light, yet do not notice it at all. Adults cast long shadows, yet do not play with them. Adults take up much (indeed too much) space, yet never just for once marvel at it spaciousness. Adults look at the world with closed eyes. This is why space shrinks, shadows die, light darkens, colors fade, and shapes fall silent. Children are different. Children, with eyes wide open, gaze out at the world and marvel at things. Children play with colors and with shapes. Their play blows away the dust from the faded colors and returns to them the sheen with which they were born. Play brings to life new shapes, unseen and unheard before, fresh in their beauty.' For children particularly, we must have passion."
Isn't it a great quote? Never underestimate the power of play for children - maybe even for adults. Don't we rehearse things or process situations over and over in our minds when we're trying to figure something out?
I'm going to Strong Museum soon The National Museum of Play with some young friends. I haven't been there in a long time. If you're ever in this part of the world it's a very cool place to take your kids. A lot of history and VERY kid - friendly.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Not true!
God (and my dogs- another story) are making a liar out of me this week. Did I say spring is coming to upstate NY? Did I say something about geese flying back? Let's blame it on the geese. The geese lied.
As of this writing (March 29th, 7:30 am), it's 29 degrees outside and it looks like this:
If you look at these pictures you might think, "Someone had a snowball fight,"
If, however, you had been walking your dogs in the same place yesterday you would know that the trees are the ones throwing, or rather dropping, the snowballs
My parents are 4 hours away. They lost electricity and heat for a few hours. And they stayed home.
But here it was just enough to make the painting without destroying the canvas. The temperature must have stayed constant for more than 24 hours and we must have had almost no wind because the same snow covered branches were still staring at us last night at 7:30 . It was still light outside! Still light outside? Yes, it's supposed to be spring.
So you can look at all this scientifically or you can use the opportunity to imagine yourself 400 years in the past and think of some wonderfully mythical story explanation for a midnight snowball fight and trees that magically look like this overnight.
Either way, of course, marvel at God's handiwork.
I wonder if we choose the scientific explanations because we want our kids to grow up or whether it's because we understand the truth of science but we don't understand the truth of story. I wonder if 400 years ago stories of snow fairies and leprechauns helped grown-ups keep their sense of wonder - their only defense against losing childhood so quickly to their hard-scrabble existence.
I may wonder about odd things. It's fun! Take time to wonder with your kids. Better still, listen to your children wonder. You could share your wonder with them. Let them share their wonder with you.
As of this writing (March 29th, 7:30 am), it's 29 degrees outside and it looks like this:
If you look at these pictures you might think, "Someone had a snowball fight,"
If, however, you had been walking your dogs in the same place yesterday you would know that the trees are the ones throwing, or rather dropping, the snowballs
My parents are 4 hours away. They lost electricity and heat for a few hours. And they stayed home.
But here it was just enough to make the painting without destroying the canvas. The temperature must have stayed constant for more than 24 hours and we must have had almost no wind because the same snow covered branches were still staring at us last night at 7:30 . It was still light outside! Still light outside? Yes, it's supposed to be spring.
So you can look at all this scientifically or you can use the opportunity to imagine yourself 400 years in the past and think of some wonderfully mythical story explanation for a midnight snowball fight and trees that magically look like this overnight.
Either way, of course, marvel at God's handiwork.
I wonder if we choose the scientific explanations because we want our kids to grow up or whether it's because we understand the truth of science but we don't understand the truth of story. I wonder if 400 years ago stories of snow fairies and leprechauns helped grown-ups keep their sense of wonder - their only defense against losing childhood so quickly to their hard-scrabble existence.
I may wonder about odd things. It's fun! Take time to wonder with your kids. Better still, listen to your children wonder. You could share your wonder with them. Let them share their wonder with you.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Spring is Coming!
Remember it's spring. Lots to look forward to!
Sunshine! (If you don't live in upstate NY)
Warmer temperatures.
Mud.
More mud.
Geese are coming back!
Maple sugar vats are out. (Visit Cummings Nature Center)
Sheep shearing is coming. (Check out Springdale Farm) . You can also watch for Farm Day at Lollypop Farm but I don't think they shear the sheep during the event. Not sure. If you ever get a chance to run your hand over a sheep the wool will feel greasy. Lanolin, I think. If you're going to talk about sheep in Sunday school, go meet and greet some sheep!
When you start to rake watch for new plants just starting to grow and bugs, of course!
Watch for buds on the bushes and trees. Stop and look when you walk by and watch them grow. Play a guessing game. Guess what they'll be!
If you have older kids they can begin to anticipate what plants and fruits and vegetables will be growing in your yard each year. Especially the berries!
Plant seeds, or plants, or trees, or bushes. Somehow we always manage to plant alot of something the year we get very little rain. Do yourself a favor and pick a rainy year! You never know 'til it happens. I know.
Watch for baby ducks. The baby birds and squirrels will show up later.
You get the idea! Enjoy whatever season God has provided in your part of the world! Read a Psalm! Praise the God who makes it possible!
Sunshine! (If you don't live in upstate NY)
Warmer temperatures.
Mud.
More mud.
Geese are coming back!
Maple sugar vats are out. (Visit Cummings Nature Center)
Sheep shearing is coming. (Check out Springdale Farm) . You can also watch for Farm Day at Lollypop Farm but I don't think they shear the sheep during the event. Not sure. If you ever get a chance to run your hand over a sheep the wool will feel greasy. Lanolin, I think. If you're going to talk about sheep in Sunday school, go meet and greet some sheep!
When you start to rake watch for new plants just starting to grow and bugs, of course!
Watch for buds on the bushes and trees. Stop and look when you walk by and watch them grow. Play a guessing game. Guess what they'll be!
If you have older kids they can begin to anticipate what plants and fruits and vegetables will be growing in your yard each year. Especially the berries!
Plant seeds, or plants, or trees, or bushes. Somehow we always manage to plant alot of something the year we get very little rain. Do yourself a favor and pick a rainy year! You never know 'til it happens. I know.
Watch for baby ducks. The baby birds and squirrels will show up later.
You get the idea! Enjoy whatever season God has provided in your part of the world! Read a Psalm! Praise the God who makes it possible!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
What? Vet School Open House?
Why would someone put a Vet School Open House on an Emerging Kids Blog? Why all the local resources and field trip ideas? Crazy? How many Christian Ed programs do you know who go on field trips? Service trips, yes. Let's-marvel-at-how-amazing-God-is-trips? Probably not. That's why I post some of the things I post - to get you thinking outside the box.
Maybe it's to make you aware that there are lots of opportunities out there to acknowledge how big and amazing God is with your children - sometimes in places you might not expect. How would you know God is there, unless you're there, too?
You can't be everywhere but if you or your children have an interest in something and you gather to do things that you're interested in with other people who enjoy the same things you'll grow friendships. Sometimes kids will end up with a career. Vet School Open Houses, Planetariums, Horticulture, Engineering competitions, Art exhibits, fishing derbys. Some of them cost money but not all.
The Memorial Art Gallery here is finishing up a quilting exhibit. [that link might not be current in two weeks] Local quilters did art quilt interpretation squares for some of the artwork in the gallery. Inspiring! I was actually starting to see artwork as potential quilt squares!
You don't even have to start a club, just latch on to one that's already going. Cheaper and less time consuming. You get to learn from more experienced people by just being around them and watching and asking questions. There are a lot of organizations serving youth in this city. Bring your interests and ask about teaching a class. Coach a Little League team or a soccer team. If you're in a fairly relaxed league I can almost guarantee you know more about baseball than most 7 year olds.
Out of the box in it's most simple form - Last Sunday we were recovering from a snow storm. A younger person who wasn't going to church helped shovel out an older neighbor who was going to church. She didn't share the gospel. She didn't say, "Come to church with me." She just kept lavishing thanks and blessings on that poor young soul after the shoveling was done and every time she saw the unlikely Good Samaritan over the next couple days. How fun is that? No, I wasn't the older person.
Whether we actually fall into the Emerging or Emergent school of thought remains to be seen.
Living things don't live very long in boxes.
[look at all those tags!!!]
Maybe it's to make you aware that there are lots of opportunities out there to acknowledge how big and amazing God is with your children - sometimes in places you might not expect. How would you know God is there, unless you're there, too?
You can't be everywhere but if you or your children have an interest in something and you gather to do things that you're interested in with other people who enjoy the same things you'll grow friendships. Sometimes kids will end up with a career. Vet School Open Houses, Planetariums, Horticulture, Engineering competitions, Art exhibits, fishing derbys. Some of them cost money but not all.
The Memorial Art Gallery here is finishing up a quilting exhibit. [that link might not be current in two weeks] Local quilters did art quilt interpretation squares for some of the artwork in the gallery. Inspiring! I was actually starting to see artwork as potential quilt squares!
You don't even have to start a club, just latch on to one that's already going. Cheaper and less time consuming. You get to learn from more experienced people by just being around them and watching and asking questions. There are a lot of organizations serving youth in this city. Bring your interests and ask about teaching a class. Coach a Little League team or a soccer team. If you're in a fairly relaxed league I can almost guarantee you know more about baseball than most 7 year olds.
Out of the box in it's most simple form - Last Sunday we were recovering from a snow storm. A younger person who wasn't going to church helped shovel out an older neighbor who was going to church. She didn't share the gospel. She didn't say, "Come to church with me." She just kept lavishing thanks and blessings on that poor young soul after the shoveling was done and every time she saw the unlikely Good Samaritan over the next couple days. How fun is that? No, I wasn't the older person.
Whether we actually fall into the Emerging or Emergent school of thought remains to be seen.
Living things don't live very long in boxes.
[look at all those tags!!!]
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Theater Camp for Kids
I missed this in 2007 Push Theatre camp for kids. If you're local, even if you're not I guess, check this out next year! I think you'll find yourself on the 2nd page of the brochure. Push the back arrow to find the first page.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Local: Pop Up Books and Book Festival
If you're local to Rochester or if you have an institute of technology in your neighborhood check out exhibits like The Artistry behind pop-up Books, It opens at RIT’s Bevier Gallery on Oct. 19. I'm guessing there will be something interesting for any age. It's called paper engineering by the way.
You could make pop-up books with older kids. Doesn't it get your creative juices going? If you plan and prepare just right you might even be able to do a project like that with younger kids or with your own kids at home.
And (again, locally) save the first Friday in November for the Rochester Children's Book Festival. If you have an active Children's Writers/Illustrators or SCBWI group in your area you might find one locally. Sometimes bookstores and libraries sponsor them, too.
It's apple (Hilton) and grape (Naples) season up here. Festivals, corn mazes (yes, and haunted hayrides).
You could make pop-up books with older kids. Doesn't it get your creative juices going? If you plan and prepare just right you might even be able to do a project like that with younger kids or with your own kids at home.
And (again, locally) save the first Friday in November for the Rochester Children's Book Festival. If you have an active Children's Writers/Illustrators or SCBWI group in your area you might find one locally. Sometimes bookstores and libraries sponsor them, too.
It's apple (Hilton) and grape (Naples) season up here. Festivals, corn mazes (yes, and haunted hayrides).
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Birds of Prey
Friday, March 09, 2007
Kid Friendly and Kids Eat Free!
For locals...actually some of these places are all over the country . . .
If you can afford it and want to take your kids to dinner or have out of town visitors to take to dinner, here is a list of kid-friendly restaurants I came across today (looking for something else, of course.)
Kid-friendly restaurants courtesy of Kids-Out-And-About, a local website or publication, not sure which. There's a separate sub list for Kids Eat Free.
I don't think this is the home page but lots of great resources.
If you can afford it and want to take your kids to dinner or have out of town visitors to take to dinner, here is a list of kid-friendly restaurants I came across today (looking for something else, of course.)
Kid-friendly restaurants courtesy of Kids-Out-And-About, a local website or publication, not sure which. There's a separate sub list for Kids Eat Free.
I don't think this is the home page but lots of great resources.
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Wool Works
Do you knit, crochet or have yarn to give away? Do you need to be convinced that you will really never use up all your yarn? Do you need to be convinced that finding someone else to recycle it for children, cats in shelters and other worthy causes is better stewardship than saving it? Check this out.
Friday, January 05, 2007
Wierd Weather
For the record: It's one thing to see wild garlic and crocuses popping through the dirt on January 4th, 2007 in upstate NY. But today, it's 54 degrees and the ants are up and running!
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