They say here in Texas, if you don't like the weather.... just wait a few minutes.
We were bestowed this beautiful winter gift yesterday.
Because no one is equipped with salt or plows for icy conditions, driving and walking become dangerous. Most people just hunker down and stay holed in for a snow day.
Simultaneously, we had an electrical outage and while wandering around with a candle in six layers of clothes, I realize how much I depend on electricity. After a short while when the power was restored we all felt grateful!
A snow day is one of the only times I don't feel guilty reading during the day...and read I did. I devoured the new Fanny Flagg book, I Still Dream About You. It was the perfect book for yesterday.
Hope where ever you live you are having a good day! If you are reading this, at least your electricity must be working!!
xox
Constance
This amazing encaustic painting of twin mermaids, swam into my life by way of Susanna & now hangs in my studio~
Fabulous textile from Malaysia
& amazing hand woven necklace from Borneo, came by way of M. Kate of La Vie est Belle~I visualize a skirt sewn with the fabric, worn with a black turtleneck, black tights this fab necklace!
This stunning bouquet in a turquoise tea cup, by Hasmin in Hawaii, has also just graced my life!! (Her website coming soon), I'll keep you posted!
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Pretty sites to check out:
All found through The Paris Apartment! Did you know Claudia has written an article in the new issue of Travel and Leisure Magazine! Congratulations, friend!!
Finally we have a sweater day here in Texas !!
Have a beautiful weekend everyone~
xox
Constance
School has officially started everywhere in the U.S., which prods me to reflect upon my own childhood memories and experience.
The Little Red Book, was my first reader in school, starring Dick and Jane. At this time the technique of teaching a child to read had just been changed from learning "phonics" to "sight" reading. Caught in between, I was placed into the "slow reader" group. This event may have changed the course of my life. Perhaps I gave up, because my teacher Mrs. Early, gave up on me and my potential, one day in first grade.
Besides the excitement of new clothes, I always felt a deep sense of dread as the new school year approached. Today, I still feel deep gratitude and relief, that I don't have to go back to school!
As a child I felt frustrated at school, never really learning how to read, but still able to pull it off, so that others thought I did. I knew enough to recite out loud, yet unable to comprehend series of thought patterns. The further along I got in school, the more left behind I felt. This was my well kept secret to all, yet my normal.
I got through school days, including college, by going to class, listening to teachers and asking questions.
When board (often), I used the power of my imagination. Lots of doodling ensued, (usually girls faces) and I passed plenty of origami fortune notes to friends to make the time fly.
I seemed to excel at recess and this is no lie! Jacks, Jump Rope, Chinese Jump Rope, Tether Ball and the list goes on!
A miracle happened in my life, after turning age twenty~five. Jean and Jane, my twin girlfriends (extremely bright), infused into me that I could read and gave me courage, that I would be able to do it! Somehow, they got me excited about reading, never belittling me or making me feel less~ than, that I was unable to read.
(painting above by Reginald March)
The first book I read, is The Color Purple, by Alice Walker. It was F A B U L O U S !!! Before this, I read word by word, so this was actually the very first time, I lost myself in into a book....... ever!
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All this to say:
READING IS A TRUE GIFT!
1: I never thought I would learn to read, nor did I think I cared. It is truly one of the two biggest miracles of my life! I give thanks to my friends Jean and Jane, who had faith and infused into me: I could do it!, then shared in my joy once I was able!
2: I love reading so much, that I watch tv rarely, I'd rather read! I love to read!
3: Sometimes people who read my blog, don't realize that while they were learning in their way in school, I was learning in my own different way. That I became me because of my lack of school skills. I still make PLENTY of mistakes, but writing a blog is great practice! Blogging has helped me grow in areas that I am week.
4: It saddens me when I hear about Art and Music programs being pulled from school, since these were truly the only areas I excelled in! We are all hooked up differently and need to honor this. And thank God we are all differently because, we ALL need one another!
Why I titled this post:
In the Out Door
My brain still doesn't recognize many signs. For instance, if an entrance to a store is on the left, not on the right side, I usually walk into the wrong door.
Also, I never realized grocery stores had signs above that indicated where food is, until a few years ago (I was a caterer for many years, remember). Isn't this crazy?
I don't follow written instructions well.
I learned how to read a map at age 40. Still don't have a good handle on North~South~East~West when I'm walking or driving, but I'm learning and ever SO GRATEFUL !
Just glad I don't have to go back to school this fall! How about you?
How did you all do in school?
Did you like, or dislike school?
xox
Constance
