On this shining day
So Martin could walk
Martin walked
So Obama could run
Obama ran
So our children can fly.
Martin Luther King Day
Come along and see 
On the sculpted banks
and ice coated edges
Waves caught in a still frame
frozen froth.
A lonely feathered sentinel
Velveteen cloaked
A touch of grace, comings and goings
leaving ripples
frozen in time
Shards of ice, bully the fleet of
The bay was quiet
only an occasional snapping crack of ice as it shift to a more comfortable position or a goose eerily
honked searching for his mate.
Few were out in the grayness, the deep cold.
In the distance a biker stood on the edge of the pier, holding ever so still.
Did I dare interfere with his reverie?
With the slightly embarrassed "hi" I met Mike.
Mike: free spirit, world traveler, keeper of journals, biker, runner, reader, poet, reads Mary Oliver poetry and Terry Tempest Williams, thrives in ice and cold, looking for the next adventure, pursuing second career, loves architecture and numbers, grand talker, friendly and hopes we meet again.
As we spoke, the snow had deftly fallen,
sift like fine face powder
from a feathery puff.
Pure magic on Martin Luther's Birthday!
Dr. van Wyk arrived a little breathless and rumpled, but ready to go as soon as his slides were loaded in the projector. He took us on a voyage through the realities of war, politics, symbolism, pride, power and creativity found in South African bead work. The photos I have included are of beaded items in the museum. His talk focused primarily on glass beads.
This doll has been made from thousands of tiny glass beads imported from Italy. Dr. van Wyk had four main points of discussion: 1) beads used to channel ancestral spirits, 2) sacred signs through the use of color and design, 3) the social status, gender, and eligibility of wearer, 4) personal style as exhibited by the woman who did the beading.
After the lecture some of us had enrolled in the beading class to follow. In all honesty, when Howard and I signed up for this workshop, we thought we were PAINTING beads, as had been listed on the program.
Instead we walked into a large classroom, filled with women ( Howard the only gentleman), and a table LADEN, BURSTING with glass beads.
Thousands of beads strung on microscopically thin threads. This was far removed from painting the big chunky beads that we had envisioned!
Can you imagine the sound of hundreds of tiny glass beads accidentally slipping off of their thin filament of thread onto the table, then spilling like water cascading on to the floor? Hmm we quickly got used to the sounds of tinkling glass.
Here we are all concentrating on creating a design then sketching it on our little wooden plague. The object of the exercise was to design our own symbolic designs, apply STRANDS of beads to the boards with sticky glue and take home a stunning work of art.
Howard was a super good sport as he struggled to tie the tiny knots. He was more patient than I!
Despite the lack of agility and ability, we all laughed, talked and poked fun at ourselves...what else could one do? I suggested we show them to Dr. van Wyk and see if he would like them for his gallery in New York!!
Here is my humble START....no, you will not receive it for Christmas!
But the fun was sitting with the women as they laughed, cussed and chattered. I LOVE the Baltimore Women, they are unique! I sat by a woman (a strong Sheilah Dixon supporter) who kept me thoroughly entertained as I cheated by POURING my LOOSE beads into a puddle of gunky glue!
Individuality and Self Expression!
You are viewing the art created by youth participating in the Boys and Girls Club of Harford County. This evening an art exhibit and contest was held in the Havre de Grace club.
This Puffy Dragon was too fun loving to be spewing fire. Puffy looks more like a relaxed puppy waiting to be patted. Collage papers, bright colors and a fun relaxed pose made this a favorite of the viewers.
Children from elementary to high school age participate in the Boys and Girls Club. These display boards show off some of their best art pieces
using a variety of mediums.
The new county director, mayor and other invited guests viewed the art and decided the winners. Interestingly, the artists were not present to receive recognition.
This is the Havre de Grace art room that also serves as a place for tutoring. This club no longer has an art director, which is very unfortunate. There are no funds to hire someone.
Our second art community is the Towson Arts Collective in Towson, MD. The theme of this exhibit was Places I Have Traveled. There seemed to be a broad consensus on what constitutes travel. 
I entered Asian Parasols as shown here. The Asian theme, intense color palette and red frame made it difficult to ignore!
Besides viewing the art exhibit, there was a buffet of finger foods. Some absolutely divine hummus and pita bread, pinwheel sandwiches and tiny pastries were quickly consumed, but not as fast as the three boxes filled with hot pizza. 
Our family had the opportunity to attend the BSO Christmas Festival, as part of our holiday fun. The symphony coupled with an amazing singer/host Sandi Patty; dancers, and singers performed secular and sacred music; puppetry, dancing Santas and ever so much more. 
This is what they came from.
This is the reality of millions of African children and families. Everywhere you turn in Africa (and other places on this Earth) is the devastation of poverty, HIV/AIDS, civil war, faminine, genocide and sheer neglect.
Twenty-four years later, the African Children' Choir has changed the life path of thousands of African children. Numerous shools have been built; children educated and now these same children are giving back to their communities as teachers, doctors, engineers and social workers. 
These Dancing Santas probably worked hard to fill the stockings of these dear boys and girls, but more importantly spread Glad Tidings across this planet.
I met Deb after receiving a letter from the RiverView Gallery stating that a new, local coffee house was looking for art to hang on their walls. I thought everyone would have contacted them and offered their paintings. Surprise, no one had responded to the letter. So Deb was happy to meet me. 
We waited until after the holidays to hang paintings. It was worth the wait so that I could get paintings ready and properly framed and they had some time with which to hang the work. 
I love working with Deb and Colin. They are just really very special people. I have learned more about them, their children, work and future plans. I can only wish them the best in all areas of their lives. 
Each church and chapel was distinct and unique. One church had the true musty odor of a 200 year old building.
Chapels were gilded and adorned with painted flourishes, fresh flowers and pine boughs. Still other denominations were modest and moderate in decoration. What do you like?
We talked about the churches and how they differed from one another but yet, how each was a Christian church believing in Jesus Christ.
Twelve year old girls LOVE SLEEPOVERS, and this was in the plans for Emily and her friend, Alisha. It didn’t take long before the initial shyness evaporated and they were talking and giggling as though they had never been separated. There was a lot to catch up on…and perhaps “height” was the first thing they noticed. Both girls had grown taller and more mature, but Emily got the blue ribbon in the height category.
Alisha is very interested in art and loves to draw. She brought a portfolio of sketches for me to see; so glad that a painting project was soon under way. The girls were very excited to decorate headbands. This was taken seriously and lots of time was spent laying on gobs of paint, glitter and fake stones. It took serious over night drying, and they were still tacky… but nevertheless 
…the next step was to model them. What do you think? They could start a Painted Accessories business! Note their matching outfits. Pure coincidence!
That night ended with videos and pizza. Amazingly we all were in bed before midnight….hmm, when did the girls go to sleep? 
Behind a veiled curtain, Emily modeled herself in a sequin and chiffon frock! THIS WAS IT! She tried on many dresses and one “OVER THE TOP” neon-yellow, nylon peignoir set complete with corsage! (Aren’t you grateful mom and dad that she didn’t choose that one?) 
We crammed around a banquet table, spent way too much time reading the menu and then finally ordered…. 
Emily, was torn between ordering a crab cake her dad’s favorite, or what really caught her fancy: shrimp alfredo! Alfredo won the day!
Another crazy, fun Emily Day came to a close! 
Hannah, Esther Taylor and Emily have been friends from church. Emily was invited to their home where a lot of chatting took place.
Sophia and Olivia are friends from the apartment complex where Emily lived for a number of years. Eric and Tracy took the four giggly girls to see Bed Time Stories. Time simply flies when fun is being had, but the bewitching hour and preparations for New Year’s Eve were fast approaching.
We were in such a “HON” mood that the choice of the evening was to watch HAIRSPRAY and BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S…..yikes, TWO movies…..coupled with platefuls of mock Chinese food. It did seem a little “empty” without other family members gathered together, but we three made a terrific TRIO.
At midnight the duck dropped in Havre de Grace and fireworks blasted away. The winds were so strong, that it seemed like the fireworks were tilting!
We rang in a New Year!!!
