The Sunflower Commission is about to unfold

A few weeks ago I put out a cry for help. I was packing for a time at the Jesuit Center. It wasn't the choice of clothes or mug (that is for Michelle) that was causing me angst. It was the intensity of the commissions, which I was hoping to design.

The client, who hoped to bring peace to grieving parents, came by for the mandala he commissioned. The blue behind the symbol of the lost child caught his eye. May it truly bring peace.

Margaret has grouted the Celtic Tree wedding present. I think we did something amazing together and may it be a blessing to the two lives that will unfold together.

And now the sunflower. I first tried to hand the commission to Margaret, who has made mandalas inspired by the colors of various sunflowers. But as you can see the client wrote, "made by your hand," and then went on to share her connections. I took that note with me and read it prior to designing the suncather with the hope that I could capture what clearly is her totem plant.

The post card was sent to the Jesuit Center by Michelle. It came late, but it showed up here in Lansdale. Jesuits are kind that way (I owe the man a thank you). Michelle's card is in my studio as a reminder of all those who prayed for me.

My client also digs Jesuits and she believes our lives unfold like a sunflower. This is no typical sunflower. It is like us. Beautiful, but only emerging into our full splendor.

Three commissions that awed me. That took me to the hope that I could create them in the midst of prayer.

 

Infrequent Activities ~ hair cuts for Locks of Love and handling jump ropes

I came home, threw most of my hair on the porch and took a photo of this Dancing Lady before going inside our two studio row.

All in all I would guess my hair was shortened by 15 inches. It's still long.

So there I was helping out at our track and field and fun day, counting how many successful jumps were being made over the jump rope in my hand (60 was tops) when I realized I handled jump ropes infrequently, but more frequently than getting my haircut.

Four haircuts in 14 years since I first began to grow my hair out. I miss it. I love the easier showers.

 

Where did Wisdom emerge from?

Do you know that Nutmeg Designs has a blog, a collaboration between Mosaic Woman and myself. That is where the story of Wisdom was told.

 

Silently digging recent blooms

 

Strudelfest 2013

Strudel dude with his family

I am a bit toasty. But even before this busy weekend, I could not recall how long it had been since I had seen my parents and my sisters for three consecutive days. Well it didn't quite happen because one sister skipped the picnic on day two. But all made the drive to my place today for a strudelfest. Now I'm wishing this weekend could stretch on for a fourth day, but not necessarily with family. Just a day to be a slug.

 

The Differentiated Instruction of Playing Jazz in a Horticulture Classroom

I often have jazz playing inside my classroom. The other day I was listening to the Esbjorn Svensson Trio when the end of 7th period approached. I Thought about the next group of students and decided something a bit mellower was in order. I checked out my jazz stash and went with some Mel Torme.

It worked well.

Unfolding Outward From a Quercus Alba ~ the interconnections of a Pennsylvania forest

Every year we are asked to place something on a table and/or wall to celebrate learning in our classroom. So last week, my students entered my room to see Quercus alba written in the center of a large piece of paper. I told them I had an idea. I told them it wasn't that clear.

And so it happened. We discovered the ecology of a forest in Pennsylvania.

I said ~ Tell me organisms that connect with White Oaks.

They began to tell me things ~ Humans, and many others eat the acorns. Gypsy Moths eat their leaves. Great Blue Herons nest in them. And the forest unfolded.

What shelters? What eats? What parasitizes? What competes?

I would say ~ choose this or that organism? Find me five connections.

If they told me something general like, frogs, then In most cases I would tell them to find me one living in Pennsylvania. If I wanted a connection between two organisms, I told them to search one out. We discovered new organisms and strange connectors.

I need to do this again.