Assemblage of Pentecost Flowers ....

Each year, our Church sends a flower arrangement, to the area Churches we work closely with in ecumenical events, for Pentecost Sunday.  Pentecost is recognized as the time the early disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, so much so, that thousands were added to their numbers, it is therefore known as the "birthday" of Christian Churches.  We send them the flowers to show we are all One Body in Christ, and to wish them Happy Birthday and Happy Pentecost.

Today Susanne and I put together the flower arrangements, and we, along with help from Deb, delivered them to area churches.  They are very Pentecost colored (red = fire of the Holy Spirit), and turned out looking pretty nice.

Another Old Art Piece from LOOOONG ago.... Clown Hall of Fame Donation

Found another Polaroid photo in some old boxes, and an old Clown Hall of Fame brochure featuring a picture of it in use.  The Clown Hall of Fame got it's start and used to be in Delavan for many years before moving to Milwaukee many years ago.

I made, and donated, this wooden clown in a barrel photo thing.  John helped me with putting together the barrel part of it. 

I wonder if they still have it and use it in the Clown Hall of Fame in Milwaukee?  I recall seeing it at their first Milwaukee headquarters long ago, but have no idea where it might be now?

Art that I USED to do LOOOONG ago....

My school and me
circa 1958.

My family - Dad, Mom,
sister Chellie, Me & Brownie
our dog - circa 1958.

Big brown bear in the woods.
circa 1958. (my bear art
seemed to have continued
in later years too...ha!)

I was looking through old boxes of photos and stuff for an upcoming Father's Day project I'm working on, and came across some old art that my Mom had saved from my kindergarten days.  I was a budding artist even back then....  I'd like to think my art abilities have grown since 52+ years ago, but, maybe not??  Ha!   When I'm dead, and then a famous artist, these pictures may be worth MILLIONS!! *LOL*

I also found some old Polaroid photos of art I used to do 35 - 40 years ago.  These I called "buck burning" - I used a wood burning tool to burn pictures into deer hides, then stretched them on a frame.  I don't think my art work is so spectacular, but back when I used to do these, they were not common, and so they sold pretty good.   I used to go to art fairs and art shows with these, and some of my other wood working projects and crafts ... hinged fish, nursery rhyme characters, candlesticks and more.

Bear in the wood - buck burning, circa 1973 or so.

I made several vests with pictures
of bears too!  Circa 1975 - 1978 

It seems doing art with bears in it continued in my "old" age....

Buck Burning, deer head on deer
hide shaped like the State of WI,
circa 1974 or so.

Buck burning of doe and fawns.
This was before it was stretched to
a frame.  Circa 1976 or so?

Indian head on deer hide. Circa 1970's.

 Here are a few other buck burnings I did back then too .... ahhh memories of burning deer hides ... *lol*....

Wooden, jointed fish & buck burning
Indian picture.  Circa 1976 or so.

Butterfly Habitat Enlarged - More Hatched!

Almost all of the butterflies have emerged from their chrysalis'.  Only about 5 - 6 are left to hatch.  After they emerge, we take the empty chrysalis shells off the netting, to make more room for the butterflies.



Empty feeding pods that the
larvae, then caterpillars lived in until
forming chrysalis'



Empty chrysalis shells removed from
the net habitat after butterflies emerged.



Since so many have hatched now, I made one of our Nets4Life into their new habitat .... not sure how I'll be gathering them up for release on May 27th yet... but I did find out the little butterfly nets I have for an upcoming kids event DO work well when one escapes from the net.. *L*  It just may take awhile to swoop up all 75 of them on Pentecost though?  Guess we'll see....

 

  

 

So here's a few more photos updating our butterfly babies ... and their delicious feast of cantelope and sugar water sprinkled carnations.



Violence at Churches Rare - Ministers Remain Vigilant ... Episcopal News Service Article

Two weeks ago, a horrible tragedy occurred at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Ellicott City, Maryland... the parish administrator and one of the rectors (both women) were killed by a homeless man, who then took his own life too.  I read the many articles on the very sad events at the Episcopal Cafe (The Lead), where they asked for responses:  "We would like to hear from those of you who have wisdom to share about keeping church members who work with people struggling with mental illnesses safe from harm. Please join the conversation in the comments." 
So, I responded.  In response to my response, Mother Mary Frances Schjonberg contacted me and asked if I would be open to a phone interview.  I said yes, but also asked our Church Secretary, Deb Weber to be part of it too.  So last Thursday Mother Mary Frances, Deb and I shared with each other for about 30+ minutes.  It was a good conversation, and we shared resources with each other about precautions, security and why we minister to others, I'm sorry it had to come about due to the deaths of others however.

At our Vestry meeting last Tuesday, we also discussed some things we might be able to have written guidelines for at our Church to help with security and safety, not only from violence, but for any emergencies.  We have some people willing to help by sharing manuals and info from the local schools and from online resources as well.

The Episcopal News Service article on the interview Deb and I did, as well as comments from others that were interviewed can be found here

Butterflies are Born!! I'm a Mother of ELEVEN (so far) and Counting!

And the mothering saga continues.....  Our babies are hatching!!  Some of them have decided to come early!  We weren't expecting them for another 4 - 5 days or so...  and so far there are eleven hatched and slowly trying out their wings... only another 64 to go!

 

 

 I snipped some lilac branches and sprinkled them with sugar water, and added sliced apples ... a feast fit for newborn flutter-ers!

These are "Painted Lady Butterflies".  The red stuff that comes out of the butterflies is NOT blood... it looks like blood, kinda gross... but it's called Meconium and is a red fluid that butterflies and moths eject after they leave the chrysalis, a metabolic waste product from the pupal stage.

Here's a short video of my 11 newborns so far... only 64 more births to go!  *lol*  And then to keep them alive, well fed and growing until Pentecost Sunday, May 27th!

MORE UPDATES TO COME LATER.........

Image3D - Made my own Viewmaster-like Reels! VERY COOL!

Last week I found this website Image3D, where you can submit your own photos to make a reel for viewing in a Viewmaster-like viewer.  The site allows you to type in text, that will appear 3D on the photos you choose.   It also has places where, if you are a good photo-shop graphic design person, you can convert your 2D photos to 3D, or they will also do that for you (I have yet to check that out, but plan on it!).

You can also send in 3D photos if you have a camera that takes those kind.

 

 I was excited to try it out and I ordered one viewer and reel for each of the 3 grandsons for their birthdays, each had their own personal photos, so they can also have fun looking at each others too.

I received them a couple of days ago, and they were GREAT!  I am so happy with them, and the grandkids LOVED them too!

So, I just ordered a few for our Church, and may order more soon too, for my art, more family ones, for Father's Day, etc.

Once others see how neat they are, I may have to do some re-orders as well!

Thanks Image3D!!!

Butterfly Momma Update ... THIS you've GOTTA see!

The continuing saga of Deb and I being butterfly mommas!  *lol*  We transferred the 75 chrysalis' from the feeding containers they've been in since they were larvae and moved them to the net container that would be their butterfly habitat when they hatch in 7 - 10 days.

We had to carefully open the containers where the chrysalis were attached to the tops and then pin the container tops, or the paper they were attached on, to the inside of the butterfly habitat. 

As we did it, the chrysalis' would shake and rattle, which the pamphlet said they do to ward off predators. 

Check out this short video of them shaking - it's pretty cool! (Turn off my playlist music before playing the video to hear them)

So, now we wait ... in about 10 days the butterflies should start to emerge ... and then we feed them sugar water sprinkled on carnations, or melon pieces, which they drink the juice from.

MORE UPDATES TO COME IN A WEEK OR SO .................

Mother's Day - What a great day in so many ways!

Kasey helping with Sun. School.

I am thankful for such a great day today!  Starting with the Sunday School kids and Kasey's helping me in our Mother's Day gift project the kids made.

Gifts for MOM!



Christ Church Men who put on the Mother's Day Brunch

and Basket Drawing.  Thanks guys!










 

And following Church the men of the parish hosted and served a pot-luck brunch and basket drawing raffle.  Great food, great fun!!  I even won a couple of things ... a haircut and style gift certificate and a large potted fern plant. 

After the Brunch the kids and grandsons all came over for the afternoon and evening to celebrate Mother's Day, and the three grandson's birthdays that were coming up this week and in the next couple of weeks.

The boys opened their gifts ...  Jake had wanted a memory foan mattress for his bed - ever since his parents had gotten one he decided he liked how good it felt and he wanted one too... so we went in with his parents on one.  He also had other gifts from us all too.  One favorite he brought along was an airsoft gun that he showed us as he put it together.

Jeff was excited when he opened his first gift from us, until he saw that it was just an empty plastic container... heh heh ... we told him all the things he could do with it, and sounded all happy about the empty container, but he was puzzled as to why we would give him such a gift and what was so fun about an empty container!? *lol*

Then we gave him the other gift... which was a Lego playset,  and the container was to put all the parts in ... he was much happier then!

Then we gave Josh his gift ... which was a new desk that his dad and grandpa made together.  We also added some desk things, folders, tape dispenser, colored paper clips and holders, colored pencils, glue and more.  He was excited to store all his art materials in it and to use it.  It is not all the way finished yet, but in another week or so it should be done.

Son John grilled pork grillers and Kasey made up roasted veggies and a veggie salad to go along with it too!  YUMMMM!

Afterwards we had our ice cream cone cakes and played a Disney headbanz game that Josh had gotten the day before... a fun time too!



Thanks to the kids and grandkids for a great day!!  One of the best Mother's Day EVER!

And it was fun celebrating the grandson's birthdays too!

Ice Cream Cone Birthday Cakes

I saw a cool idea to make these on Pinterest ... and since we were going to be celebrating the grandsons birthdays on Mother's Day too, I decided to try it out.... they turned out GREAT!

I used a dark chocolate cake mix, followed package directions, but since I had some over-ripe banana's, I also mashed one up and added it to the batter ... and it was YUMMY!!

I mixed up the batter, added it to "jumbo" ice cream cones, set into a baking pan.  I was afraid the cones would burn from being in the oven, but they turned out fine!

These took longer than I thought to bake... about 30 minutes.

I thought these would be good with whipcream topping and sprinkles to look like real ice cream cones.

Kasey and I had to taste test one ... I think they are going to be a GREAT hit for Sunday birthdays!




+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

UPDATED LATER TONITE:  I also made some more of those famous apple pies in an apple for the Mother's Day Basket Raffle at Church tomorrow during the Mother's Day Brunch.  2 Sets of 3 baked apples in some nice serving trays, along with the recipe to make them too!

SOOO, now that it's almost 2 a.m., I'm off to sleep!

A Tribute to Mothers, with Love....

~ TRIBUTES TO MOTHERS, WITH LOVE ~

My Mom, circa 1935, she was
about 4 years old.

(especially to MY Mom - xoxoxox)

My Mother taught me about justice.

"One day you'll have kids, I hope they turn out just like you. Then you'll see what it's like."

Did your Mom ever say something like…

"If you fall off that swing and break your neck, you can't go to the store with me."

Wisdom from Mom (& Dad) - Never mow the lawn barefoot!

“When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me.”

The purpose of a child's middle name according to Mom...

So he or she can tell when they are really in trouble!

Mom’s Wisdom….

NO!  You can’t have THAT!   You just can’t have everything you know - where would you put it anyway?!



Dad, Me and Mom - 1954



"When your mother asks, 'Do you want a piece of advice?' it is a mere formality. It doesn't matter if you answer yes or no. You're going to get it anyway."  ~ Erma Bombeck ~

Mothers of teenagers know why animals eat their young.

"I want my children to have all the things I couldn't afford... then I want to move in

with them!"   ~ Phyllis Diller ~

"Some are kissing mothers and some are scolding mothers, but it is love just the same, and most mothers kiss and scold together.”  ~ Pearl S. Buck ~

One of those many miracles that Mom did!

“The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found.”  



Mom with sister Chellie, Me (on the trike)
and Uncle Jim being goofy!



~ Author does not want to be identified ~



“I regard no man as poor who has a Godly mother.”  ~ Abraham Lincoln ~



“The mother-child relationship is paradoxical and, in a sense, tragic. It requires the most intense love on the mother's side, yet this very love must help the child grow away from the mother, and to become fully independent.”  ~ Erich Fromm ~

"The happiest families are those in which the children are properly spaced...about 10 feet apart.”   ~ Unknown ~





"Raising a teenager is like nailing Jell-O to the wall."   ~ Unknown ~



Mom, Me, Daughter Kasey

"If a mother's place is in the home, why am I always in the car?"  ~ Unknown ~

"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body."  ~ Elizabeth Stone ~

"If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands?"  ~ Milton Berle ~