Friday, August 26, 2011

Pencils



I must admit. I buy notebooks though none of my children or my grand baby is in school. I love a blank book with lovely pages ready to record any fancy my mind wishes to expound upon. So I buy new notebooks. I mean they are such a good price. A down right steal. Right? Than sometimes I share them with a daughter here and there because she also loves a blank page full of promise of a beautiful thought or a delightful story or a beckoning list. It’s like I gave her a piece of the finest chocolate. And don’t even get me started on pencils. Lovely, lovely pencils.

Well, okay since you got me started. One of the best presents ever was pencils already sharpened from my friend Ellen. Delightful! You get them at Walmart they are a natural wood color and they come SHARPENED! Already! I know, you are scratching your head. But I'm a little challenged when it comes to being organized and I can never find a pencil sharpener. So pre-sharpened pencils rule. And even if you have a sharpener they don't have the same kind of point. I'm getting off on a tangent. Let's leave it that I love pencils and sharpened wood colored pencils especially. Though I may branch out and dally with pencils of other colors. As I have occasionally taken a stroll on the wild side and tried to draw with colored pencils. Alas, the only pictures I can paint are with words. But I'm good with that. But my heart for now, belongs to the natural, pre-sharpened pencils that record my thoughts, dreams and lists.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Give Them Opportunity







I have up on my wall some of that blank paper they wrap around your breakables from Hobby Lobby. Yes, two sheets. One taped to the wall and one to the door. They are there for when my sweet grandbaby, Bekki, who is 3 visits again. She had totally covered the last one we had up and I came across two more and replaced the other one. You see in our house we let them "write on the wall". Okay, not literally on the wall but when Mandi was little some 30 odd years ago. I heard someone say they were going to write on the wall why not cover it with paper and let them go at it. Trying to encourage them to stay on the paper. We had access to reams of used computer paper back when it came in long held together sheets that went on for miles. I tore some apart and taped them on the wall. Voila, the beginning of creativity in my children. I love their creativity. They will try so many things. Sewing, drawing, painting, crocheting, whatever hits their fancy. I WAS always so afraid but they inspire me. I remember one time one of the girls was going to decorate their flags for the flag group. One of her friends was like well I will have to go to town and get stuff to do that. But my daughter didn't. We had glitter, glue, paint, etc The other girl was so surprised. But if you want your children to be creative you have to have the supplies. Even if you pick them up a little at a time. Let them paint, cook, write, draw, put glitter on anything, every thing. I love glitter, don't you? And I love creating. And giving my girls creative license is something I'm so proud I was able to do.