If You Find a Rock

      


Created over a year ago, I finally am posting my reading of this great children's (or anyone's) book!
This is what happens when you lay around sick for the better part of a week.
You get bored.
You try to get caught up.
You decide that 'good enough' is really good enough (I wasn't satisfied with this reading at the time I recorded it).

Wishing Rock ~ Emma Wood State Park

Anyway, I have a long history with this book.  I found it in the early 2000's at a conference for Early Childhood Professionals.  In the basement, downstairs in the vendor area, I stood digging through unorganized bins of books.  Suddenly, my eyes feel upon this cover....
If You Find a Rock.  As I stood there reading, I knew a treasure had been unearthed!  The bustling world around me faded away as I let the lyrical prose carry me away...
to my childhood...
to my own children...
to the children in my different classrooms...
and of course, to my mom who was a children's bookseller at the time.

I made a quick purchase, of course!




Over the many years since, I have used this book in my own classrooms and gifted it to others.  It has been the foundation for many lovely learning experiences with children aged 3 years to 5th & 6th grade.

My mom sold it like crazy at the children's bookstore where she worked.  Every customer that held it in their hands, ended up making the purchase.  My mom sold more copies of this book than anyone.  She sold out the publisher!  I always got a kick out of that!
All because I stumbled on this treasure.
All because I noticed and shared.

I love when that happens.
I love the bond we held together over this book.

Because of this book, I've been inspired to give many 'wishing rocks' to kindred souls.

I hope you've enjoyed it too.

Special thanks to Jenclair of Bayou Quilts for her recent posts of weaving and rock work (great link included), which inspired me to finally pull this post together!

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2013

The Heart & Mind and Sun & Moon

             

Sir Ken Robinson - Educating the Heart and Mind

Enjoyed some time, as I was stitching down the sun, today while listening to this excellent presentation.

I come from a family of educators, supporting the growth of infants to middle-schoolers, with some adults thrown in for good measure.  The women in my family & our friends have chosen to educate, nurture...teach.   This is something I am proud of.

This video made me reflect on how many of the children in my past may have enjoyed more success in 'alternate' learning environments.  Maybe I would have too.

Additionally, this was a thought provoking video to watch as 

I have just begun a new class with Jude Hill.  Her online style is a breath of fresh air, suiting my personal learning style to a T!

This piece should work it's way to complete by tomorrow. 

 



The moon, done in blue in honor of our blue moon last month has been waiting patiently.
I think now that these two elements are placed, I may need to pause and take a little look.  I may add a bit more, I may leave this cloth very 'open-ended'.
I'm thinking 'story starter' like Michelle's gift.  I like not knowing where I am going with cloth.  I like following along, exploring...being surprised.  It's pretty fun that way!

 Tra La La...off I go ~ to sew.....

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2012

*Note- Beautiful blue moon fabric by Deb Lacativa.  Find her work here:
http://randomactsofdyeness.blogspot.com/