Saturday, January 4, 2014

Celebration Saturday


Discover. Play. Build.
 I'm so happy that Ruth Ayres started a Celebrate Link-Up on her blog!!!  I will be joining the celebration every Saturday!!

1. Megan Ginther and I met Louise Borden for brunch this morning at the Bronte Bistro at Joseph-Beth Booksellers.  What a wonderful visit!  We talked about the writing process, collaboration, one word resolutions, teaching, families, projects, conferences, etc.  Megan and I stayed afterward to write and work on our book project.  Sometimes this project is daunting, but it's mornings like today that inspire us to keep going.  We have a lot to say, teach, and learn, and that's exciting!

2. New Year's Eve was fun this year. Last year it was too quiet - the girls were at their own celebrations and holiday guests went home. While it was kind of nice to be curled up on the couch in jammies watching the ball drop in Times Square on t.v., I didn't really want to do that again this year. We had our traditional party with friends, family, and kids, and brought the New Year in between dart games, air hockey, pool, and flutes of champagne! Fun! Unfortunately, my father-in-law took a tumble on our front sidewalk on the way home, but besides some bumps and bruises, he's okay. Later that night, we talked about choosing OLW for our New Year's resolutions. I'm keeping my word JOURNEY since I only picked it at the beginning of the school year, and I feel like I'm still using it.  Libby, my oldest daughter, chose FEARLESS. I love that one.

3. My best friends from high school and college took me out for my birthday (a slightly belated celebration). It had snowed quite a bit, but we didn't let that stop us! We had a great time talking about the past and future and enjoying each other's company like we always do.

4. My students and family gave me a lot of gift certificates to bookstores for Christmas/birthday, so I've been having fun spending them this holiday! It will be fun to bring them back to my classroom on Monday.




5. My daughter, Libby, gave me some blank journals and a set of colored pencils for my birthday because I was inspired to do some sketching again (I used to draw a lot when I was a kid) by Look Up! Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard by Annette LeBlanc Cate. One morning this week, I took up the pencils and watched beautiful birds come to one of our feeders on the deck. I tried to stay in the moment and sketch them as they perched there. I used my bird handbook to help me. The sketch was very rough around the edges, but it was fun. I hope to do more sketching and journaling this year. Have you seen Paul Hankins's sketch journal on Facebook? I love it!


I hope you all have a wonderful week. It will definitely change a bit since we'll be going back to school. I didn't get as much done to prepare for that as I would've liked. I really did rest, relax, read, and celebrate a lot instead! I need to get back to work, but I will have enjoyed these two weeks immensely! Happy New Year and CELEBRATE in 2014!





12 comments:

  1. Holly, I love the sketch book idea! I wish I could draw. Perhaps you will create something to go with your OLW. Congratulations on the gifts to buy more books for your classroom. I am sure your students will be excited!

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    1. After seeing what Ruth Ayres creates, it definitely makes me want to do something with my OLW! I can't really say I can draw - I'm out of practice. I hope I get A LOT better. However, I'm not sure that's the point. The point is to rediscover something I once enjoyed and to create, think, and connect ideas. Try it! :-)

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  2. Love the new books, so fun! your brunch sounds wonderful. Whatever you are writing, I'm sure it's great! I am mulling around my olw still, nothing sticking quite yet.

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  3. That Paul Hankins! I love his sketch journal almost as much as his illustrated note-taking!

    Lucky you to have lunch with Louise!

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  4. Your two pics have "celebration" written boldly on them. Your first three celebrations sound merry and fulfilling. I hope that your first week back to schol will make you smile.

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    1. I know it will! Right now, though, we're watching the weather report! Will we be going back tomorrow? Not sure....

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  5. Hi Heidi! I am a friend of your Mom's from the Pulaski County Public Library in Somerset. I am so sad that she has moved, but so glad that she introduced me to your blog in the fall. I look forward to getting my daily Reading, Teaching, Learning email every day. Inspired by you, I have challenged myself to read more Junior non-fiction this year and have read many of the books you have recommended. What is the name of the book that you have displayed with Teddy Roosevelt's picture. I just read Teedie today (working towards my goal!) and I love the art. Take care and keep telling me what Jane and Walt (I bet it's a western!) and reading every Monday.

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    1. Hi Kelley! Mom talks so highly of you, and I know she misses Somerset already! I LOVE that you're inspired to read more children's nonfiction. What I love about it is that it can inspire you to read/learn more about topics and people that you're interested in. The Teddie Roosevelt book is Doreen Rappaport's TO DARE MIGHTY THINGS: THE LIFE OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17428635-to-dare-mighty-things?from_search=true. I recommend ALL her books. They're wonderful! Teedie Today is on my list! :-) Happy New Year and thank you so much for being a follower and reader of my blog!

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    2. I meant Teedie. Ha. Not Teedie Today. It's by Jon Brown, right? He's another author that I would recommend whole-heartedly!

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  6. When I read Look Up! I wanted to sketch also. I might have to find a blank book to fill even though I haven't done that much. Have fun!

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