Over Long Island & NYC right now...
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Dove and chick
Late spring chicks are the treat of my week. On Tuesday, it was a treat to spot 3 killdeer chicks running around nearby a nest I'd been observing for weeks. Today, I went back to check on a white-winged dove nest I spotted Saturday. To my surprise, there was a dove and a chick sitting calmly next to each other!
Friday, June 3, 2011
Sleep little Kaila
"Mommy, you know what? You know when I'm at school and I don't have anyone to play with I sometimes will sit like this in the swing (rocking slowly back and forth) and sing "Dorme Kailinha do meu coração ...". I'll sing it very softly, nobody can really hear me. I like it."
Dorme Kailinha is a lullaby that my mom would sing to her when she was only days, weeks old. I continued to sing it to her into her toddler years as I put her to bed. To this day, when Kaila is having a hard time falling asleep she will ask - Mommy, can you sing Dorme Kailinha? She will drift off to sleep within minutes...
What a sweet and special gift on Mother's Day.
May 08, 2011
Dorme Kailinha is a lullaby that my mom would sing to her when she was only days, weeks old. I continued to sing it to her into her toddler years as I put her to bed. To this day, when Kaila is having a hard time falling asleep she will ask - Mommy, can you sing Dorme Kailinha? She will drift off to sleep within minutes...
What a sweet and special gift on Mother's Day.
May 08, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Spring Migration
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| Indigo Bunting |
 |
| Black-throated Green Warbler |
Spring migration is still going strong in High Island, TX.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Jane Goodall
This past March I had the priviledge to meet Jane Goodall who is celebrating 50 years of research at Gombe! She was 26 years old when she first started working with the chimpanzees in Africa. Today,
Dr. Goodall travels the world inspiring people to feel responsible and to be responsible for this great planet of ours; to work and to do their part to preserve the environment for today and tomorrow.
One amazing woman.
Dr. Goodall travels the world inspiring people to feel responsible and to be responsible for this great planet of ours; to work and to do their part to preserve the environment for today and tomorrow.
One amazing woman.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Bath time
Daniel has the cutest way of asking for a bath:
"Mommy, can you take me a bath?"
We've all tried to tell him that the 'correct' way to say it is Can you give me a bath? No success, he is convinced his way is the way, so we just let it be.
"Mommy, can you take me a bath?"
We've all tried to tell him that the 'correct' way to say it is Can you give me a bath? No success, he is convinced his way is the way, so we just let it be.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Kilauea in action Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park
The fissure between Pu`u `Ō `ō and Napau Crater on
Kilauea’s east rift zone erupts lava spatter up to 25 m (80 ft) high.
A fissure that opened on Kīlauea’s east rift zone after yesterday’s collapse of the Pu`u `Ō `ō crater floor continues to erupt lava. Activity along the fissure was sporadic overnight and throughout today, with periods of quiet punctuated by episodes of lava spattering up to 25 m (80 ft) high.
The fissure is located west-southwest of Pu`u `Ō `ō in a remote area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Due to the ongoing volcanic activity, Park closures remain in effect in this area.
Live views of Kīlauea’s fissure eruption are now possible via a Webcam installed by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) this afternoon. The Webcam images, which are updated every five minutes, can be accessed at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/cams.
The fissure is located west-southwest of Pu`u `Ō `ō in a remote area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Due to the ongoing volcanic activity, Park closures remain in effect in this area.
Live views of Kīlauea’s fissure eruption are now possible via a Webcam installed by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) this afternoon. The Webcam images, which are updated every five minutes, can be accessed at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/cams.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Dr. Maya Angelou receives Presidential Medal of Freedom
K is Maya Angelou on a school production celebrating Black History Month. Her teacher sent home a whole page of lines to memorize... It opens with:
"Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise, I rise, I rise."
and closes with the words President Obama quoted as he presented Dr. Angelou with the Presidential Medal of Freedom a few days ago:
"History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again."
Dr. Maya Angelou - poet, author, educator, dancer, producer, actress, historian, film maker, civil rights activist.
Photo: Associated Press
Sunday, February 6, 2011
It's Sunday
Today we went out in T-shirts. Yes, after the city shut down on Friday due to freezing weather and ice, today, Sunday, 2 days later, it is 70 degrees F. It's a sunny, warm, awesome day!
Super Bowl Sunday - game is on in a few hours...
Super Bowl Sunday - game is on in a few hours...
Friday, February 4, 2011
It didn't snow
The 2 feet of snow that was in the forecast for Houston did not materialize. We did have lots of ice everywhere, though. The low temps hung around all day. Icicles that formed with the freezing rain are still around the roof and the backyard umbrella.
No work today! Played at home with the kids all day.
Houston freeways were closed with iced overpasses. Some motorists were stranded half way over sky bridges when they found ice and could not find traction to go forward or turn back...
No work today! Played at home with the kids all day.
Houston freeways were closed with iced overpasses. Some motorists were stranded half way over sky bridges when they found ice and could not find traction to go forward or turn back...
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
In School for 100 Days
The 100th day of school was a big deal. A whole day of activities around the 100 number. It's fun to get a glimpse into Kaila's world - kids were asked to complete the blank spaces after the dots "..."
I can write 100 words.
I can write my numbers to 100.
I can count by 5's to 100.
I can count by 10's to 100.
If I had $100 I would... save money!
If I had 100 pencils, I would... use one every day.
If I had 100 mosquito bites, I would... put cream.
If I had 100 friends, I would... play with friends.
If I had 100 legs, I would... walk with them.
If I had 100 eyes, I would... look all around.
If I had 100... teachers, I would... listen very carefully.
If I had 100... mouths, I would... eat everything at the same time.
If I had 100... computers, I would... use one everyday.
If I had 100... books, I would... read one everyday.
When I'm 100 years old... I will travel.
I feel 100 feet tall when... I'm happy.
If I have told you once, I have told you 100 times... I love you.
I can write 100 words.
I can write my numbers to 100.
I can count by 5's to 100.
I can count by 10's to 100.
If I had $100 I would... save money!
If I had 100 pencils, I would... use one every day.
If I had 100 mosquito bites, I would... put cream.
If I had 100 friends, I would... play with friends.
If I had 100 legs, I would... walk with them.
If I had 100 eyes, I would... look all around.
If I had 100... teachers, I would... listen very carefully.
If I had 100... mouths, I would... eat everything at the same time.
If I had 100... computers, I would... use one everyday.
If I had 100... books, I would... read one everyday.
When I'm 100 years old... I will travel.
I feel 100 feet tall when... I'm happy.
If I have told you once, I have told you 100 times... I love you.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
100 Days of School
A challenge from Kaila's teacher...write 100 things you learned in the first 100 days of school! I'm helping Kaila with her project this weekend. She is looking back at the material from the past few months and wow, I can see so much change from when she started the school year. The handwriting, the spelling, the concepts taught - quite amazing how quickly kids can learn.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Remembering Challenger, 25 years
Today marks the 25th anniversary of the Challenger disaster. Like so many, I watched it happen, live, on TV. I was on vacation in the beach house in Brazil, the TV happened to be on. I walked by and stopped to watch, captivated by the moment, the anticipation of the launch. Again like so many people, at first instant I was confused. This does not look right...what's going on?...is part of the shuttle just separating from the main capsule?...where is the shuttle?...what happened?... silence... chaos... more silence... then confirmation came over the air. Yes, we lost Challenger.
No matter where in the world you where, it was a deeply sad moment...
Today we remember Francis Scobee, Michael Smith, Judith Resnik, Ellison Onizuka, Ronald McNair, Gregory Jarvis and Christa McAuliffe.
Photo: NASA
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_1850.html
"Maiden Voyage - Astronauts Story Musgrave, left, and Don Peterson float in the cargo bay of the Earth-orbiting space shuttle Challenger during their April 7, 1983, spacewalk on the STS-6 mission. [...] Challenger's service to America's space program ended in tragedy on Jan. 28, 1986. Just 73 seconds into mission STS-51L, a booster failure caused an explosion that resulted in the loss of seven astronauts, as well as the vehicle."
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Anecdote
Anecdote - using stories to make a point at home and at work. The blog www.anecdote.com.au has very nice business discussions about how stories can influence the workplace. It has several good discussions and ideas on employee engagement.
On their January 6 post they discuss the "Otis Redding Problem" and quote Otis Redding's song Sitting By the Dock of the Bay; “Can’t do what ten people tell me to do, so I guess I’ll remain the same.”
Anectode also refers to Bob Sutton's post on the Otis Redding Problem in the workplace.
On their January 6 post they discuss the "Otis Redding Problem" and quote Otis Redding's song Sitting By the Dock of the Bay; “Can’t do what ten people tell me to do, so I guess I’ll remain the same.”
Anectode also refers to Bob Sutton's post on the Otis Redding Problem in the workplace.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
The Freedom Writers Diary
An inspiring and eye-opening story about how a young high school teacher and her "at-risk" students used the power of writing to challenge themselves and change their lives into a success story. The book is a series of diary entries from the students anchored by entries from Erin Gruwell, their teacher.
"The Freedom Writers Diary" by the Freedom Writers with Erin Gruwell.
On my "to-read" list is the book that followed as teachers began using Erin's methodology.
"Teaching Hope: Stories from the Freedom Writer Teachers and Erin Gruwell" by the Freedom Writer Teachers with Erin Gruwell
I just realized Paramount has made a movie based on the book, starring Hillary Swank (2007). It's now on my "to-watch" list.
"The Freedom Writers Diary" by the Freedom Writers with Erin Gruwell.
On my "to-read" list is the book that followed as teachers began using Erin's methodology.
"Teaching Hope: Stories from the Freedom Writer Teachers and Erin Gruwell" by the Freedom Writer Teachers with Erin Gruwell
I just realized Paramount has made a movie based on the book, starring Hillary Swank (2007). It's now on my "to-watch" list.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Back to school, back to work
It was back to school and back to work today... we just wished we could've had many more days of vacation. The kids and I were not really quite ready for it to end.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
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