Saturday, June 3, 2017

THE UGLY AMERICAN IN ALL OF US

OK, don't go thinking I am going to start weekend posting but the truth is I am going to have a week out of the End of the Rainbow Valley as Mom duty calls. I am not even sure if I will take my laptop with except what will I do when everybody is on their devices? Actually there's a 'to do' list so with a list that probably could take a month but with not even really an entire week, I can keep plenty busy.

Anyhow, I have been avoiding writing about the elephant in the room and another reason I took a break from writing. The politics have been so consuming and divisive. We all have been seeing the ugly side of people. 

To be referred to as an ugly American hurts yet deep down yet we know there is truth to the arrogant entitled demeanor we portray to others. At 14 and living as an exchange student in Mexico many moons ago, I began to understand what our country's greed has done to our neighbors south of the border as I was asked my opinion re; U.S. policy. Can you imagine a 14 yr. old having to defend what she had been taught was the wealthiest, the most powerful, the most democratic country in the world?  We had everything, right? But what I learned that summer and have continued to learn is all that comes at a cost to someone else.

This summer I will be traveling abroad and I have been told to not tell people I am from the U.S. Sad, isn't it? Understanding the flaws of our democratic system has to do with the human beings in charge and who put them in charge. After finishing reading the following article, it was obvious it needed to be shared as it embodies many of the ills of the ugly American. Yep, we can all do some work to be less of an ugly American. Maybe we had better get to work on ourselves so we can use our democracy to do good.

Here's the link:What Do I think of Trump? 

Friday, June 2, 2017

FOTO FRIDAY: PILE LOAD OF...

This FOTO FRIDAY finds us like many others with a lot of environmental work to do...

Rain, rain and more rain has delayed the inevitable. The creek didn't overflow but everything including the road has been very saturated. Now, after a couple of days of sunshine, this pile of brown stuff was able to be delivered and although you may be thinking it was DT's announcement of his decision to withdraw our country from the Paris Climate Accord which we will also be shovelling out of for awhile, it was our large truckload of about 25 cu yards of mulch.Think 6' high. 


Yep, we will be busy...

So do you have any environmental projects in your future? Do share. 

Last week's FOTO FRIDAY additions have been added:IDIOMS,NOT IDIOTS

Thursday, June 1, 2017

TIS THE SEASON , THEY'RE BACK & OPEN

Traffic on the River Road (35S) has once again picked up and so return some of our small town seasonal businesses. One of these, Prairie Glass Studio & Gallery is donning a colorful new 'open' sign as its owners do have an open door when working on their glass/bead projects outside of their regular weekend hours of noon - 6 (Fri-Sun)

As last October's introduction shared owners Gary and Christine live down the road in DeSoto and have opened their studio on Stoddard's Main Street.  Inside of course you'll find their beautiful work.






In addition to glasswork there are other media artists as this is also an art gallery. In fact, some new artists added their wares this season.  Take a look...


 
Mary Jenkins's colorful fabric purses now don one of  the gallery walls...


Owners's son John Bengtson is talented in his own right with lovely wood carvings...



Besides Rebecca Kobos being back sharing her wonderful fabric art and cards, Christine met another fabric artist who creates exquisite dolls with ceramic faces.    



 Whether you're interested in pottery, jewelry, photography, etc...   







Treat yourself to a visit to Prairie Glass Studio & Gallery at 144 Main Street, Stoddard, WI to see some beautiful handmade art, you won't be sorry...





PHONE : 608-790-7110



* BTW if you are at ARTSPIRE 2017, Sat. June 10, Gary and Christine will have a booth this year. 

Click on a previous link to see more about this new business:
Seeing Beauty in Prairie Style That Is

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

CELEBRATING is MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE DATE

Anybody who knows me, knows I love celebrating birthdays, especially my own.  My family always made a big deal out of birthdays and loved surprises so much they changed party dates to surprise us.  

In fact, last fall my Dad mentioned wanting to come visit us this summer for my birthday. As time went on I realized we needed to change his intended visit to a more convenient time in August as I was going with a girl friend on a trip in July. (More on that at another time.) Anyhow, when I told my Dad July wasn't going to work out. He said, "I was going to 'surprise' you for your birthday." Someone had forgotten he had told me. "Well," I replied, "That would be quite a surprise since I wouldn't be here." We both had a chuckle.

Yet, a birthday surprise was on me today in May as my students planned a birthday celebration for both the the other teacher, Joan, and myself since this was our last day of classes before summer break. 

They had ordered a beautiful cake and decorated the walls with balloons and a birthday banner. How sweet!





Our class had prepared delicious Tostadas de Pollo and special Hibiscus Ponche.









We were even given a birthday hat to take turns wearing.



Everybody sang Happy Birthday Mexican style. 'Las Mañanitas' never sounded better. We didn't even care our ages were reversed with the candles on the cake!


What a great way to spend our last class together! It was a wonderful surprise Birthday Party.


Joan and I both had a terrific time and to all the kids and students we say "Muchísimas gracias."

Past links RE: Centro Latino
BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME

GRACIAS

HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

HONOR THOSE WHO HONOR OUR NEIGHBORS

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

AND THIS IS WHAT MEMORIAL DAY IS MADE UP OF...


Our violets opened up just in time
for the holiday
 The very mention of Memorial Day conjures up time outside in the garden, parades, flags, music, cemeteries and food, right?


Ours included all of the above. We arrived a bit late to our local parade but we were able to catch the end.





 It's a small parade but we made it in time to see the bubbles... 






 the big boy toys donned with flags...





the  scouts,  both boy and




a new parade entry and perhaps a sign of the times, 
the local food pantry...


 The local fire department brought up the end of the parade and even had some leftover tootsie rolls for us old folk. 
Once the streets reopened, we made our way down Main St. Stoddard to listen to the fun music of Pigtown Fling, a group I've heard of but always missed. We couldn't stay long but we definitely enjoyed their tunes.
Then, it was on to town (La Crosse) to the memorial service to honor and remember those in the military who have served our country and are no longer with us. Union militia reenactors ended the short service in the Jewish Cemetery with a 3 gun salute followed by taps. It is always very moving.


                                     
The black bottom clouds and forecasted rain discouraged our possible picnic so we grabbed lunch downtown before our return home.  We were lucky to catch another musical group the Bus Boys as they were finishing their gig in Stoddard but those big rain drops started to fall and made them take cover. Electrified musicians don't need to risk their lives, right?  The rainfall was short lived. It was mighty kind of Hood Scoops to provide both groups as entertainment.

Sunlight was on our side and Natureman got in some more weeding here in the End of the Rainbow Valley and I finished my book in time for book club. 

A perfect Memorial Day even without the bar b que. Hope yours was memorable. 

Monday, May 29, 2017

MEMORIAL DAY, A DAY TO REMEMBER


My Dad who'll be 92 this Aug. served in WWII.


Memorial Day is a day filled with parades, speeches, family time, cook outs and cemetery visits. This holiday is to remember and be thankful for all those who have served and those who continue to serve for all their sacrifices being in our country's military service. To all these men and women and their families we say:

                                          "Thank You."


An interesting link from the New York Times:
Forgetting Why We Remember

Friday, May 26, 2017

FOTO FRIDAY:IDIOMS, NOT IDIOTS

FOTO FRIDAY:  Teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) sometimes provides  difficulty especially explaining idioms/ idiomatic phrases we use all the time in our daily speech. Then, there are those idioms that seem pretty self explanatory.  Such is the case I think for this week's FOTO FRIDAY.

Can you guess this week's idiom for my class from the photo below?


A bird's eye view...
Do you have any photos you can share using this idiom/phrase/ a different one? I will add the caption to this photo by the end of the day.

Here are the responses:

Colleen:  No thing comes to mind, I guess I'm such a bird brain.

Sara: A bird in hand is worth 2 in the Bush? 

Judi : Sparrow in a treetop? I realize it's not a sparrow but husband Ralph always sings that song.


Jennifer:  As the crow flies...

Charysse added:" I always wanted to have a dress like an idiom costume party for kids to take the place of the Halloween type events. Still might. :)"

Click on the link if you missed last week's FOTO FRIDAY : NEW KID VISITORS