Had a really kind email from May in response to a weblog I’d posted for Tuesday’s chat (see the post below) discussing the learning outcomes. It was lucky I posted it as Jonathan made some points and highlighted some issues with it. Here’s the chat:

‘ there are several slide show options including my favourite option, which is to upload your pics to flickr (I have this theory that flickr host photos, that is all they do so why should we host them on our sites and fill up the space, just use flickr, same with video, use youtube or vimeo) anyway, once pics on in flickr you can them get a feed from your photos and create a slideshow in worpdress and if you make any changes to the flickr pics, like new tags or extra pics in automatically updates

….Susan i realise it was an experiment, the work and the use of the slide show but maybe you could comment more on how you think the experiment went, at the moment you simply describe the work which is fine but we also need to see a little more comment about how ou felt making it, did you feel it was successful, if so why, what worked well, what would you develop further; and if it didn’t work well how did you feel about that, what would you change, what did you change, etc etc…. ‘

So I have updated the post in italics to show the amendments.

And here’s is May’s email:

‘Something related to your work … whilst I was in think airport catching a flight back to London, there were these art pieces on display in the departure lounge. They were done by recent graduates. One graduate did a series of items of clothing – gloves, socks, shirts. The clothing pieces were each dipped into wet clay and then the pieces were put into the stove (sorry… I don’t know what the process is called when u fire clay to dry). Anyway, once that process was done, the heat would burn the clothing material so that all that was left was the clay casts it made.
The artists’ concept was that the clay left the impression of the person as the item was gone and all that was left was the essence of it.
There was also a shirt that exhibited that was made up of several square pieces of clay attached together to make up the shirt. I think each piece was from a different item of clothing belonging to the person that wore the shirt or something like that. If I recall correctly, the meaning behind it was the garments that were a part of the person’s life – their essence formed part of the person/ person’s life.

I saw your pictures of the skirt and the walking idea and it reminded me of the exhibit I saw
I like the concept of the items leaving their essence and imprint into the cast that was left behind… kind of like footsteps left behind after walking ’

I was really grateful to May for this email. The theme of exhibition she describes  deals with some of the ideas I have been looking at. Also it gave me the incentive to start making some practical work again.

Tried continuing this thread of ideas from White Sheet and August Steps 2009 in these 2 photos below:

The top photo, wearing pointe shoes that are no longer used, no longer a part of my daily life, and the second of the marks left on my feet from having worn them. This idea follows on from earlier work where I drew on my body causing urticaria. Showing the impact on my body of a particular physical history

In the essay (apologies it will get posted am behind and need to catch up with a few things including learning outcomes.), I refer to common phrases about walking E.G.  ‘Walking on egg shells’.

What does it feel like walking on egg shells? Started taking some photos and filming video sketches today.

Made the following slide show (not yet on flickr sorry … next one will be) to be viewed as though a flick book to generate the movement.

My worth is measured in units of momentum along my path of self-righteousness. I’d feel more secure with a standard based on Truth, which seems immutable. BRB.

Yep. According to the pictionary, Immutable is precisely what I meant. It is like a long river where the water goes on forever. I dislike being mistaken for my Most Base Possible Motive (MBPM). In My Humble Opinion (IMHO) this is one of the Worst Mistakes a Best Friend Forever (WMBFF) can make. It hurts. The more I Trust my bff Pain, the more I Trust the Truth of his Highest Possible Motives (HPM). There is a simple formula of not many variables, here.

My bff Pain is capable of the Highest Possible Motives. This is a Pilgrim’s road toward the Blue Sky of Heaven. Each step is a treasure with your name on it that belongs to Everybody Else. What we hold at the core of our Hearts is not delusion. The momentum and direction of our hope is a sign of our character.

I have a bad chest cold. My routine got messed with by molecular gravity. The worst is not walking on hot coals or eggshells. The worst is when I think the only ladder out of the pit is that snake, self righteousness. I know the Devil is not just a figment of my memory. Maybe it was the Devil that wrote my name on all that treasure I meant to be Immutable and for Everybody Else.

When I have a cold, it gets too complicated to think about.

Did you know……?

* The colour of an egg shell depends on the breed of hen that laid it. It has nothing to do with quality, freshness or what the hen eats.

* Egg shells are mostly composed of calcium carbonate plus some magnesium carbonate, calcium phosphate and other organic matter, including protein.

* If you leave an egg sitting in vinegar, within a couple days the acid will dissolve the calcium in the shell. The skin or membrane of the egg will be left to hold the egg together.

* There are approximately 10,000 tiny pores in the shell of an egg. As an egg ages, these pores allow moisture and carbon dioxide to move out of the egg and air to move in. Over time, the air collects at the wide end of the egg. (If you hard-cook an older egg and then peel it, you’ll likely find evidence of this air space. The wide end of the egg will be flat because of the air in the egg.)

* Odours can be absorbed through the pores in the shell, so eggs should be stored in their carton in the fridge and kept away from strong-smelling foods such as onions or fish.

* The strength of an egg shell is affected by the quantity and type of minerals and vitamins (such as calcium, phosphorus, manganese and Vitamin D) in a hen’s diet. For example, if the hen isn’t getting enough calcium, she will lay thin or soft-shelled eggs or, on rare occasions, an egg with no shell at all!

* The thickness of an egg shell is related to egg size, and egg size is related to the hen’s age. As a hen ages, egg size increases. But the same amount of shell that covers a smaller egg must be stretched to cover a larger one. This means the shells of larger eggs are thinner than those of smaller eggs.

* The shell accounts for 9 to 12% of an egg’s weight, depending on the size of the egg.

* Together, the two halves of a large egg shell will hold about 1/4 cup (60 mL) of liquid.

* Crushed egg shells can add valuable nutrients to soil. The calcium in the shells will help plants grow. Just be sure to crush the shells before you add them to your garden, otherwise they will break down very slowly. (Same advice if you’re adding egg shells to your compost!)

Just a few days from my last post and, even though it is still very warm, you can feel fall coming. I don’t know if it’s the colour of the light, the angle of it, or the slightly shorter days but it just feels different. So I’m getting excited about the winter gardening and thinking back to what worked this past spring and summer.

At the beginning of this season, we were plagued with slugs eating tender young leaves on our beans. Libby found out that egg shells sometimes help. They really do! We crunched up washed egg shells and spread them as a perimeter around each plant. It stopped the slug damage immediately.

I have planted arugula in the last week and I know the slugs will be looking for it, so I’ve been saving egg shells for a few weeks and just putting them in plastic bags in the freezer. It will give me a great stock of them right when I need them. I’m thinking about putting some arugula under my kitchen window as well. Might do that this week.

The other growing problem at the community garden is the less than ideal soil. We’ve taken two actions on this one. One was to get my daughter Cass, who works at Starbucks, to save me coffee grounds every few weeks. We used these to side dress plants and, just like the rest of us, they seem to thrive with the coffee! We can also get inexpensive compost at the solid waste facility in Delta. We do compost at home, but the harvest is meagre and I generally use it in my home gardens. At the dump, we drop off some junk, then pick up some compost in the empty garbage can. Libby worked this in around the plants and that has helped a lot.

I found out from New Moon Acres that one mustn’t plant garlic beside onions…so I’m sizing up the lay of the land, deciding where I can put the garlic where it can lay undisturbed through the spring and into next summer, without taking away real estate we’ll need next spring. It’s a bit like garden chess…

Meanwhile, I made yummy bruscetta tonight with some of our beautiful tomatoes and basil which I grow here at the house. And even with using up quite a few tomatoes, I have a lot left, so tomorrow we make sauce again!

geek chic.  embrace your inner nerd and go geek chic!  put a spin on geek by pairing glasses with something more stunning than geeky

mini hats.  so cute and adorable!  it’s a breath of fresh air to the old traditional hat.  it’s also a bonus for bad hair NIGHTS!  you can wear this to the club or an event and still look classy

Cold, wet weather struck yet again. It was too wet to be in the garden, so we had inside activities.

The younger kids used a grinding stone from Ghana to begin to grind the egg shells that we will be using to feed calcium to plants in the garden, such as the broccoli and collards.

The older kids did soil testing. They were excited to learn about pH and nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. They measured these for two different soil samples. Check out Casey’s report about their findings.

ALL the different kinds of lettuce and dressings were big hits. Try the African mint tea as a refreshing alternative drink when the hot weather finally arrives. Recipes available in the recipe section.

Inspired ideas for home decorating may come from many sources.  Today, many people are inventing their own accessories to make decors more exciting.  There are many low cost or reusable materials in the kitchen which you can use.  One example is the egg shell.  You can do many things with an empty egg shell.

Materials:

Clean and dry egg shells

Colored tissues

Decorative ribbon

Small plastic beads

Baby rickrack

Gold card

Dried mall grass flowers

Glue

Procedure:

1. Cut a two cm hole on one side of the raw egg.  Remove the egg white and yolk.
2. Wash the empty egg shell with warm water and detergent.  Let it dry.
3. Glue colored tissues inside and outside of the egg shell.
4. Glue rickrack around opening on the inside.
5. Glue bead at opening on the outside to hide any irregularities.
6. Attach the hanging card from the top of the egg down the center and back.
7. Arrange the dried flowers as you see fit.

Source:  Gifts to Make

photo courtesy:  aeb

dramatic lengths.  long hair is hot, period.  who wouldn’t want long, wavy, sexy hair? cure for girls with short hair: extensions

go green.  now it’s even fashionable to go green!  these eco friendly bags are cool and help the environment and if you don’t want to participate in green-fashion… then at least recycle, please <3

Phlox Nest

Four day, Purple reigns.  Purple four-lobed wild phlox is in bloom, tall and simple. A blossom is upside-down and becomes a pathling, a natural object or assemblage that occurs naturally or by accident in the path.

Two-toned slate and black catbirds in the trees. A black and blue-slate heron flies under the red covered bridge, skims the two feet of airspace above the creek for a smooth ride.

 A portion of robin’s nest fallen from its aerie, blue shell bits in the grass of it.

 Abandoned goose eggs at the locks; the geese, feeding in the swampy locks pond, fail to defend the nest when I step close enough to be a shutterbug. Fail? Hold it; they don’t even try.

   The letter “M” is written in the path. An “H” which is linked with the name Hun*ter, as it is written and spoken, broken into two syllables. Another ‘M’ and another. Each one about three inches by three inches.

   On my way back something unpleasant if entirely natural, a half eaten fish regurgitated or lost in transit. The bones of the filet stand out, some flesh, the tail and some innards. Orange roe. I sense a change in conditions.

   The GIANT PAID sticker that’s been on the path for several days is now deteriorated. Once it was whole, round, sticky and fluorescent orange-red. Now it is distressed, pale orange and white, and too limp to lift intact. It could not have been regurgitated. How it was lost in transit here, found here?

It’s four-letter day, the 13th, and a letter 4 day. $$$$ Bird’s nest soup! 4getmenot.

stockings are the thing.  stockings add just that little “oomph” to almost any outfit.  go from one look to another just by adding stockings to an outfit, i’m not kidding try it

Looked around the yard today and saw the devastation of Easter Egg shells everywhere, so I’m taking the day off to clean up.   Hope your Easter was memorable.  New Wordless Wednesday tomorrow!:)

nude lips. are so hot!  you can wear as much or as little makeup and you look good without overdoing it.  simply alluring <3

Esteem News - Self-esteem and intuition

Special News – Food for health: How healthy is sugar?

Innovative News – Egg shells as green garden tip

Society of Esteem – Society of Esteem: Etruscan gender equality

adding length.  who doesn’t want longer lashes?  eye lash extensions is my personal fix.  but others have sworn by revita-lash & mascara

let your roots show. while everyone wants to look perfect and put together, why not let your true colors show. now imperfection can be cool

happy birthday barbie.  barbie came to life on valentine’s day in this special runway theme that celebrated barbie’s 5oth anniversary!  this is just too cool <3

big bow theory.  i don’t care what anyone says, bows were not just meant to be worn in your hair.  i love adding bows to all my outfits… with one condition: they are oversized!!!

art at your fingertips. art that is modifiable and attractive.  positively exquisite.  miniature details that are fashionably large.  accents that impact unexpectedly.

chunky jewelry. i love love love betsey jewelry.  super chunky.  brilliantly gaudy.  powerfully captivating.  cute, chic & femine accessories that accentuate everyday wear.

Ok, I couldn’t help but want to share our COMPOST today!  I opened the buckets to bring them to our compost pile in our garden and though… AH, summer (of course it is COLD here…) But the colors were such SUMMER like! (spegh. squash, red peppers, egg shells, banana peels, orange rinds, lettuce leafs, pear cores, etc… all such pretty colors!!!!!)

We started composting 2 yrs ago when I finally decided that we through out so much produce /compost waste, that WHY would we NOT do it!!!!!

Either way…. here is less than a weeks worth of compost at our home….

we keep a bucket on our counter by the sink and when it gets full, we just set the second bucket on top of the first (they have covers of course!) and since it is winter, it gets run outside about 2 times a week (sorry, it is cold up here in WI/MN and the garden is WAY out in the back yard…LOL!)  In the summer we do have one of the kids or ourselves run it out their daily, but then again, it is HOT in the house too!!!!

We have 2 piles in our garden, fenced on 3 sides… the first section is where we put our NEW stuff…. the second is where LAST YEARS compost is… We did think about a compost bucket/roller, but decided against it, because
A- We didn’t like the idea of our food scraps rotting away in PLASTIC
B- Had we done one in metal, the can would eventually rust… and we didn’t want the rust in our compost!

Besides the normal food scraps, we do put things like human hair, coffee grounds (we have clay and it helps to make our soil more acidic), cow poo, news paper at times and some other things into our compost piles!

If you want to read more on composting, I love this site , this one, and this one has some great answers to questions people ask!!!!

TIP FOR THE DAY: START A COMPOST PILE!  EVEN IF IT IS SMALL!  YOU CAN EVEN  START THIS IN THE WINTER…. JUST START YOUR PILE AND IN THE SPRING WHEN IT WARMS UP, IT WILL START TO ROT AWAY!  COMPOSTED SOIL IS THE BEST THING THAT YOU CAN ADD TO YOUR GARDEN!  IF YOU DON’T GARDEN, COMPOST ANYWAYS, YOU CAN ALWAYS ADD IT TO YOUR POTTED PLANTS!!!!!!!