masters

After a long semester of hard work... I wanted to post a few favorites.







I have a learned a lot, which has already changed the way I teach. For that I am grateful. I have also learned that studio art courses are not a good fit for me and my family during the school year. I won't do it again. About once a week, I would go close to the whole day with no willow time. Just a few hours... and that wasn't enough for any of us. If getting my masters was just about money or prestige, I would never do it. But getting my masters is about being a better teacher. Just a few classes in and I am already seeing amazing results in my student's work. That is why I'm doing this. In the future, we'll save those studio classes for summer. On-line art history anyone? :)

willow specs

Well... Willow's cute occasional cross-eyed-ness got checked out today. She is far-sighted and needs glasses. Willow started wearing shades early... and she often steals Justin and my glasses to put on herself.....so hopefully things will go smoothly. I'm also hoping this isn't a HUGE expense. I am certain Willow will look even more darling in glasses and am trying to tell myself that this is an easy problem to fix. Better this than something else......

journals

In response to the weekly art think about- Have you met a professional artist? If so, who? What do they do? If not, what do you think it would be like to make art for a living?

"I think being a artist would be very fun and entertaining because Mrs. Marable seems so enterjetic and full of life. She make it seem like being art teacher is a fun job."

I also had a student write that art isn't nearly as bad as he thought it would be.

High praise. Now we just need to work on the grammar!

I went to the Kansas Art Education Convention this weekend in Hutch (got your christmas gift sarah!). I won two door prizes, presented two workshops, and learned a ton. Daniel Pink was the "key note" speaker. He talks about the importance of PLAY and discussed google's 20% time (where employees have 20% of their time to innovative without direction). That is where gmail and google news came from. I am inspired to give my students an Innovation Hour, every 5th class. This will be a time they can make what ever they want. At first I thought this might be a kind of lazy day for me... but I think they will need me more than ever, as they all will be going in different directions, needing different supplies... and all that jazz. If not, I'll use it for my our innovation time. Who knows what we'll come up with! First one is tomorrow. I'm excited.

Willow asked last week, "Would you like to see my drawing?".... so cute! She also said "I'll get it" when chasing a toy. It is amazing what is in her head just waiting to burst out.

Have a wonderful day... take some 20% time and make something!

This is my school picture. I learned early on that you don't want to miss school picture day as a grown up. If you do, someone from the yearbook staff will stop by, toss you against an aluminum wall (brick if you teach at the front of the building), and take a terrible (usually out of focus) picture.... with no warning. Standing in line, checking your hair, putting your feet on the x, turn one way, tilt your head another way, smile.... it is all still the same. I think I feel even more odd and self conscious about it now.

While you're feeling nostalgic, check out lunch!

Grandma Ruthie

My grandmother passed away last week. The week has been hard. Being with family made it easier... and having things to accomplish... like cleaning up the apartment and car... going through pictures... eating (a lot). Back in Topeka, it is harder. I have to work, cook, clean... all I really want to do is cry.

This was my contribution to the service:

It was a joy to have Ruth Kivett as a grandmother. She showered us with love in the form of hugs, kisses, leg pats, trips to the dollar store, delicious food, candy, and generous monetary gifts that got many of us through college and other tough times. She offered up her home for meals and sleep but also for so many hours of fun......the swing set, hide and seek, dance contests, pinball wars, plays and haunted houses, press cookies and sprinkles, big wheels, and unforgettable "secret passages." As we have grown to adults she has continued to be a huge part of our life. She has met boyfriends and girlfriends, attended weddings, met great grandchildren as tiny babies, heard about careers and all the ways our lifes change from day to day. She was the phone call you wanted to make on a commute home and the person I always wanted to share news of my latest cooking accomplishment with. Her faith was passed down in many ways, perhaps not the most concrete ones, but it is there in the mazzuzahs on our doors and the matza ball soup we all crave. We wanted to hear about how many quarters she had won or lost at card games in the days or weeks between visits. The calls that rolled in from Tunie and an endless stream of other friends always reminded us that friendships are made to last. Her door at the village was never closed and friends, family, and staff always knew that Grandma Ruthie would have an ear to listen and a candy bar to share. She will be greatly missed... and I hope that wherever she is now, she has many familiar soles to visit with and that the soup is hot!

My cousin Simone wrote up a sheet of memories... this is it:


Ruth, Ruthie, Winch, Grandma

When I think of Ruthie, also known as Grandma or Winch, I think of someone who was an incredible listener.

A friend, a mother, a grandmother, a great grandmother, a mentor, and a person to play cards with.

So many memories flash through my mind – sitting in the breakfast room table watching the Price is Right drinking a Diet Rite and cutting up ingredients for her famous Tuna Salad.

Grandma’s homemade bread, the frozen Thin Mint cookies in the freezer along with a variety of other frozen items.

You would never be hungry at 6801 Locust. The kitchen was always bustling with something yummy to eat.

Friday night dinners – these were always a fun time. All the guests would arrive early and stay late.

I remember Saturday mornings I spent in Ruthie’s bedroom with the other cousins watching TV while Grandma slowly got ready. She liked to go to bed late and wake up late.

She was an avid Chiefs fan and loved to watch the Royals. I remember the matzo ball soup, the burnt and crispy homemade chocolate chip cookies, the See’s candy box, and the never ending candy dish.

It was always fun to visit her house, since I did not grow up having cable TV. I was excited to watch Nickelodeon, Showtime, and MTV.

I recall those famous and exciting trips to McDonald’s and Winsteads. Bannister Mall and Ward Parkway.

We used to eat Nuway Burger and she loved Cashew Chicken at the Princess Garden.

And don’t forget the soup better be boiling hot and or it needed to be re-heated.
The toaster oven, the famous black pepper shaker…


Thanksgiving and Passover were always fun events as well. Grandma made sweet potatoes with sugar and marsh mellows. A family favorite! Don’t forget brownies and rugalah.

Grandma liked her card playing with her friends and enjoyed window shopping. Another memory was how she would shop at numerous grocery stores just to get the different specials.

I have fond memories of the numerous spring and summer vacations I spent in Kansas City.

On my last visit with her in August 2009, I remember sitting outside with my sister Valerie on the rocking chairs outside Village Shalom enjoying the beautiful sunshine. We talked about all kinds of subjects. It was a peaceful time.

We always talked about what meals we ate and if they were good.

Grandma will always be Grandma, and will always be in my heart as an amazing grandmother. I love you.

By: Simone Kivett
September 2, 2009

$1 menu

I pored a bowl of cereal today... only to discover we have no milk.

I went to make toast and found dry heals.

I visited the $1 menu on my way to school. Fruit and Yogurt Parfait did the trick.

I am obviously back at work! Why didn't I go to the store on the weekend?

occupational hazard

About 3 weeks into summer I realized I could stop wearing my watch. When days are spent cooking (scones, bagels, cookies, brownies, new vegetarian cuisine, jam), playing on the slip slide, hugging two very cute girls, dress making, traveling (to great wolf lodge, the farmstead, kaleidoscope, Indiana), visiting the pool, organizing play dates and dinner parties, and sleeping in... a watch just gets in the way. Now that school is back in session, and journaling time is about to begin, I really need my watch. I can't find it. Shoot!

The start of the school year has been great so far. I am excited about all the things I learned at the convention last April in Minneapolis. I have already changed so much about how I run things in my classroom. My students seems excited and I have missed them.

Willow is doing well with her daddy-o. She is also chattering away about more water and how hot it is outside. Her favorite things are balls and dogs... or she just says those words the most! Her smile and giggles are catching. I do miss her while on the clock. We are really missing Kassy too. She has been gone a week. Blah! I still feel like seeing her on 100+ vacation days is super fun. We are planning all the fun we'll have over labor day weekend. Birthday celebrations and such.

my work blog

check out what my students have been up to.....

http://rvhsart.blogspot.com/

Mediation

26 hours away from my baby + cost of 12 hours of driving (environmental, mental, physical, financial) + $75 in fees + one conference call + missing a full half day with Kassy + endless e-mails, compromise, and staying calm = NOTHING. So glad we made the effort... and agreed to a second session. That bought them a good 6 months of dragging this out. And another strike in the end. THE END... when is that?

new work

I have really been excited about making jewelry this year. The time I spent away from it seems so wasted. I updated my etsy page yesterday. I hope to keep that up every few weeks. Keeps my mind and hands busy!

spring break

There are many perks to being a teacher. Sharing my love of art, hearing students excited about learning something new, seeing what they create, having a relaxed work environment, caring for such great kids... and Spring Break!
We started at the city museum in St. Louis (on our way to Chicago).


The city museum is one of my favorite places. It is a old warehouse converted by artist into this amazing place. I suggest you take the photo tour a try.






Next we spent several days in Chicago.





We saw blue man, a comedy show, art museums, lots of fish, and lots of drunk people for st. patty's day. It was certainly an adventure.

We had a few days at home to take care of a dr's appointment for Kassy and to work on some spring cleaning! Grandma Bonnie came for a great visit, complete with several hours at the park.

Justin did some work on a book and the woman that hired him offered up her cottage in the flint hills for a family trip. We just spent one night there... and can't wait to go back! The first day Kassy needed a break from walking (we did a lot of walking in Chicago and had walked to the library that morning) so we just went a little ways into the hills and painted.




Willow played with the grass mostly.




The next morning we did a little hiking, read books, and enjoyed the day. What a beautiful spot!



What a great week!

This Recipe has changed my life!

It makes great pizza dough too!

Makes 4-1 pound loafs

3 cups water, lukewarm
1.5 T yeast
1.5 T sea salt
6.5 cups flour

Mixing and Storing the Dough:

1. Heat the water to just warmer than body temp (about 100 degrees F)

2. Add yeast and salt to water in a resealable lidded container (lift a corner, never seal to be airtight!) Don't worry about getting it all to dissolve.

3. Mix in flour (measure correctly, no packing it down in measuring cup). Mix with spoon. If it gets too hard, use wet hands. Do not knead the dough! Dough should be "loose" enough to conform to the shape of the container. (wheat flour does not do so well... it is really solid)

4. Leave out for min 2 hours, max 5 hours. Then put in the fridge (at least 3 hours before using). This can hang out in your fridge for up to 2 weeks. It taste better second day! The longest one has lasted in our home is about 1.5 weeks. It has tasted good every time.

On Baking day:
5. Prepare a pizza peal (or the back of a cookie sheet) by sprinkling it liberally with cornmeal. Sprinkle the surface of the dough with flour, then cut off about a grapefruit size piece. Make it round-ish.

6. Place ball on the pizza peal. Let it rest, uncovered for 40 minutes.

7. Twenty minutes before baking, put baking stone on top rack and cookie sheet or broiler pan on bottom rack. Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees.

8. Dust top of loaf with flour and slash a 1/4 inch deep scallop or tic tac toe pattern into the top.

9. This is the tricky part! "With a forward jerking motion of the wrist" slide the loaf off the pizza peel onto the hot baking stone." Pour about a cup of water (it says hot but I've used cold or room temp) into the pan below. Close oven quickly to trap the steam. Bake for about 30 minutes. (check after 20, look for brown and firm crust).



If you are making pizza, take the dough out, roll it out on pizza peel (with cornmeal), top, and bake on hot stone at 500 for about 8 minutes. So fast and easy!

gardening

We had a speaker at our last Green Dream Meeting (I am the chair of this group at my church) I took these notes and thought others might want to read them.... does anyone read this blog? :)

Minutes from Green Dreams Meeting- March 23- 7 pm- Fellowship



Alice Brooks, a master gardener from the extension office, spoke for about 30 minutes. She then took questions until a little after 8. A great deal was discussed in that hour. This is an overview (the best I could do, writing quickly!)

Our next meeting will be the last Monday in April at Bailey and Justin's home, 136 SW Kendall Ave. 7 pm.

Soil:

In the Fall- Till your land and then add manure, straw, and/or compost to the section you plan to use. During the winter, the nutrients will settle as the ground freezes and thaws. I don't think you have to "double dig" if you do this... but I may be wrong.

In the Spring- do a process called "double digging". I had to draw a picture of this process.... this may help. If that sounds like too much work, you can think about a raised bed. Then you don't have to dig as deep. (but you have to build the walls) Add about 3 inches of compost (manure, grass, straw, leaves).

After you think your soil is ready, do a soil test. Dig in several places, 6-8 inches down. Stir this around in a bucket, take 2 cups to the extension office. They will want to know what you plan to grow and how big your plot is. Then they can tell you what you need to add to your soil to have the best growth. This cost $10, but right now it is FREE... they have a grant. The funding could disappear at any moment.

Some ideas on how to feed and water your garden:
Cut milk jugs and fill them with manure. Bury the thinner end near other plants. Water the jug as you water the garden. Here are other ideas for using those jugs.

Dig trenches along the edge of your garden. This will allow water to pool and keep feeding your garden. A garden needs about an inch of water each day. Tuna cans placed around your garden will help you to know when you've done enough.

A garden needs 6-8 hours of sun.

Making compost- be careful what you add to compost and mulch. Black Walnut Trees hurt many types of plants. Even the leaves. If you use grass clippings, make sure they are untreated!

Weeds-

Raised beds are easier to weed and care for.

Keep unwanted weeds and insects from your garden area by creating a mulch path. This can be done with layers of newspaper (8-10 thick), covered with hay or mulch. Straw must be "ugly" not fresh. To create ugly straw, water it and let it sit in the sun. Fresh straw will burn up your plants.

Container Gardening- After we got over laughing about this being called "pot gardening" we learned these things: If you are doing a container garden, they sell dwarf varieties that work best. She mentioned bush zucchini, little eggplants, cucumbers. You may want to use 5 gallon buckets and drill 5 holes in the bottom. It helps to add half a tomato cage to the top of this. Fill with potting soil. If you use soil that is made to "retain water", be careful because if it dries out it is BAD.


Other random tips-
Think about what you want to do with what you plant. For example, if you are canning you may want a jet star or celebrity tomato. If your are making salad you may want a big boy or better boy.

You may want to plant a wind block for your tomatoes.

Want to save money. Buy tomato plants later in the season, take off most of the leaves, and plant most of the plant under ground. This gives the plant a head start on a rooting system.

If you are not canning, you may want to plant in succession... like a bean plant once a week, so you can eat them longer.

Got Rabbits- Cheyenne pepper or pepper spray help. Can make pepper spray by mixing hot peppers and water in a Cuisinart.

Cilantro grows early and late in the planting season.

Basil grows in hot weather. Plant in the middle of May.

Cut worms can ruin your plants. Think about using a toilet paper roll around the base of your plants... paper works too.

If you are canning, get a good pressure cooker.

She said that www.ksu.edu is a great website for gardening questions.

links

I have finally put some work on my etsy page.... check it out.

I have also discovered a blog that I love. This is so great and so random. I want to start a fun-a-day project.... maybe this summer!

eco-friendly birthday

This was the "earth minute" at sunday's service...

"Today marks several birthdays for our fellow UU friends. With that in
mind, we thought it was time for a green birthday minute. Here are a
few ideas:

If you throw a party, try to skip the paper plates, plastic table
clothes, and streamers! Get creative with your decorations…. What is
in your recycle bin? Online invitations are easy and also help
cutback on waste. If party favors are on the list, you could include
seeds or bulbs with other natural, eco friendly gifts.

Giving a gift? What about planting a tree, re-gifting something, or
wrapping with a re-used gift bag or today's comics!

We want you to enjoy your day… without making the earth pay!"

We tried to "put our money where our mouth is" as they say....

decorations with recycled goods


we requested re-used gifts... which willow is enjoying!


This doll was a HUGE hit!


We found these letters at a thrift store in Hays years ago... they have been used over and over again. I wish I could say the cupcakes were fair trade and organic... maybe next year!

Mail for Kassy

I make Kassy really great mail. This one was made only with things I could find on my desktop. What can you find? Clearly I need to clean my desk more! I had to document this one before it leaves my hands.

I do this every week... and I love it. It is fun to come up with the next way to let her know we love her. I hate that we have to mail things to communicate. I hate that she won't talk on the phone. I hate that I never really hear what she thinks of these things... or if she even reads them (sometimes they say a little more than this one). I hope that she keeps them. I would love to see them again some day... when this is all far behind us. When we can simply reach out and give her a hug to let her know we love her.

Ahh... but I do enjoy the creations.

willow's first year

Make a Smilebox greeting

priceline

I love priceline. Not only am I staying on Michigan Ave (chicago) next month for $80 a night, I have just secured a fancy hotel room in Minneapolis for the convention I am attending in March. That hotel room is costing my $60 a night. With fees, it is just under $350. In the same hotel, for the same dates, I had a reservation at $180 a night. I received a grant to attend this convention, if it wasn't for priceline, I'd have spent the whole grant just on the hotel, the same hotel. We may not have been able to go, as we still needed to pay for gas, parking, and food. Ahh, priceline is my friend. I'm getting very excited for these working vacations!

taxes

Justin and I traveled to Lawrence to get our taxes done yesterday. We go to this tiny, dingy office about a block from Borders. Jill and I went there the 2nd year of owning the Olive.... after paying a lot at H+R block for some fancy office with coffee the first year. I've gone back every year since... so like maybe 6 years. At this tiny office, a man named Jerradd takes care of us. He works like a mad man, and always has a line of people waiting. He takes calls one after the next for appointments. This place is a gem. Jerrad is a gem! Each year he deals with us not always having the right form or paper.... he makes calls. He lets us call in with additional numbers or information. He treats us well.

For as long as I've been employed, I have never seen a refund. I didn't really understand why people got excited about this... how could it be that big of a deal? Well... this year, with making a little less thanks to my maternity leave and Justin staying home with Willow... and being able to claim 2 children.. I have heard the words refund. And I now understand just how BIG a deal it can be. Our credit card will be paid off in full, thank you government. We have carried a HIGH balance on that thing for years and years. Wow. It still doesn't seem possible. Can any of you explain how I can get back more than I pay in? How do low-income folks use this windfall of cash? Is there not a better way for the government to do this? Well... this year we won't get to Play with these funds... but I'm already dreaming of next years refund... vacation? :)

Health Insurance

Willow was born on Feb 22, 2008. On that day, Blue Cross Blue Shield started insuring Willow and I, on Justin's policy. Within a month, BCBS had paid for about half of all the of the birth related expenses. On Feb 31st, my previous insurance was canceled. I paid them about $10,000 in the 3 years they insured me. After about 2 months, Preferred Health (what a joke), paid a few hundred dollors for the facility fees related to Willow's birth. Once every few months I call about the provider fees. I'm always left feeling defeated by the system and never know what to do. Call the birth center, call the billing office, call preferred health... the circle continued every few months.

Today is Jan 30, 2009. Today I spoke with a man named Brian at the Billing Office. Brian hadn't been around for the 6-12 previous phone calls about my insurance problems. Brian picked up a phone and called Preferred Health and I have finally received news that a check is in the mail. I can pay off the remaining debt we owe the wonderful people at the Birth Center... and can buy some groceries! And pay a few hundred on our sad credit card! Brian is my hero today.

holidays

These are images from our many holiday celebrations. We celebrated with Kassy about two weeks before Christmas. That was when we had her, and so that is when we celebrated. So that she wouldn't be the only one opening gifts, we went ahead and exchanged all of our immediate family gifts. I was pretty impressed at how much we were able to give, without buying anything new. I helped organize a toy swap at my fellowship.... that provided Kassy with some sweet (light up) snow boots, and about 5 really cool toys for Willow. A thrift store helped out with some giant blocks for both the girls. I made felted ornaments for each of them and a sweetheart necklace for Kassy. Justin traded art for a sewing machine and that lovely work of Kristin Morland art for me. I think trading is wonderful!

The weekend before Chirstmas we had "fakemas" at my parents. We had a great meal and some quality family time. Thanks to Justin and I's strapped finances, along with my dad's lay-off, we drew names for gifts. Joel got me a fat gift certificate for M and S grill on the Plaza. Justin and I look forward to that date! Mom and Dad got willow a new set of cloth diapers, the medium size... she was swimming in the toddler size, but we made do!

For Christmas eve we had a potluck in Topeka. This is the first time Justin and I have been in our own home for Christmas. We liked it. We liked it a lot! Celebrating with friends and my mom and dad was a great time. We had a white elephant gift exchange that many people went home from happy. :) Dad made latkas and I made some matzo ball soup... it was the closest thing we had to a Hanukkah Party this year. Our friends said it needed to be annual and that it was going on the calendar for next year.... we'll see.

On Christmas day we had some great breakfast with mom and dad and then headed to Hiawatha. We got there, just in time for breakfast. :) Aaron and Kendra had made a lovely meal, and we couldn't turn it down. After that we recieved really kind and thoughtful gifts from Justin's mom, Bonnie. She always does such a nice job. I got some clothes, some really soft pj's (that I wear as often as possible), and a novel that I am reading now. Willow hasn't learned to respect books yet, so it is missing it's back cover and the edge of a few pages! After that, we headed to Justin's aunt and uncles for some more great food, gifts, games, and gingerbread houses.

Whew... no wonder it took me a month to load photos and blog!