Zoo Be Or Not Zoo Be

Are you a Zoobie? Someone who loves going to the zoo and goes often enough to know the names of the animals and their particular habits. I would like my grandchildren to be Zoobies. 

    I have a grandparent pass that allows five grandchildren free admission each time I go. We often go in shifts and mix families.

  The two elephants there are awesome. The keepers have told me they defer to all their particular tastes.

               Here is a sample of breakfast. Organic and wholesome; it should be my breakfast, as well.

                             And God created all creeping things on the face of the earth…..

               To meet the measure of their creation...

And have joy therein.

This 1000 pound Polar Bear was joyful in the water with his ball. I loved his gigantic tooshie!

                                            Our zoo has a baby Sumatran tiger born in April. 

Kali was only the third born in North America this year. 

                  I purchased a little stuffed tiger to remind us of our visit to Kali. Gabi is in love.

                       The older cousins have a love and patience for the youngest in our pack.

                                                I love their kindness and special caring way.

It was especially nice to have our Auntie from Dallas along.

To be a Zoobie is a good thing; it keeps me hoppin'.

Story Starters

   When it comes to teaching children, the truth is they need continuity and review. Some will say that we've heard these stories a million times but they are not carried to the heart unless the heart is open. When we are bored by scripture stories it is likely that they are have not reached our heart.
   My summer project of illustrating my favorite stories in the Book of Mormon is not finished  but I have made some story starter cards to use in my teaching. I like to share, so if they seem helpful here are PDF's in a 8X5 format. I feel a little like Moroni who is unsure of his writing ability. My drawing is amateurish but it is, what it is.

No. One 1 Nephi
No. Two 1 Nephi
No. Three 1 Nephi
No. Four 1 Nephi
No. Five 2 Nephi
No. Six 2 Nephi
No. Seven Jacob and Enos
No. Eight Omni
No. Nine Mosiah
No. Ten More Mosiah
No  Eleven Mosiah and Alma
No. Twelve Alma
No. Thirteen More Alma
No. Fourteen Alma and Sons


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Colored Pencils

   I recently purchased more colored pencils at my local office supply store. The problem is I keep buying the same colors because I love them, again. That is a universal problem with shopping. We are attracted to that which we were attracted to before.
   This is a drawing summer. I have my art supplies on the kitchen table so that I do some sketching everyday. I looked at some older sketches and found some I loved.

     I love this one because the old maple tree in the front yard is still there. It was removed more than ten years ago and although I love more light and less fall leaves, I miss the tree.

        This one reminds me of my little girl Genny. She had a shoe fetish when she was small. We actually found her in someone else's apartment trying on their shoes.

      More girl moments that bring back my two girls. Why are hats such an attractive prop to play with but a pain to wear?

     This sketch attracted me because of the gift bag. I cherished it for years and finally decided to draw it alongside my favorite candle, geode-stone, and hand lotion.
   You know you are getting old when your artwork comes out of hiding because you don't give a fig about being great.

Book of Mormon Summer- Mosiah 18-23

    Sketching my way through the Book of Mormon has brought back to mind the complexities in the Book of Mosiah. This simple diagram, which you can get here, sorts out the storyline. I know Joseph Smith did not write this book because he would have simplified the plot in this section.

        I marveled at Ammon 1, different from Ammon 2, and his abilities to teach Limhi's people. Note that he taught them the teachings of King Benjamin, These sermons of "the mighty change of heart" had power to bring Limhi's people out of bondage. He must have memorized them and tried to live them.

    The "two escapes" are often taught as comparisons. I feel that limits the power of the message. Each escape from bondage is worthy because the pathway led them to God.

   I pray often that the Lord will aid my escape from issues in my life that bind me down and make me feel helpless. My troubles feel just as disabling as anyone else's and require as much petitioning to the Lord. There is no reason to compare, just to rejoice when the way is opened.
   Find more on my thoughts about this section, here.
 Here are 8X5 versions of my illustrations to copy.

Toddlers

   Who invented the word toddler? I toddle about and it has been a month of Sundays since I was three. Actually, my mindset is a little like a toddler. I relate to their thinking. In observing my granddaughters I decided to present them with a few treasures and watch their reactions. I created some mystery surrounding their value and some instruction in how to play with them.
 

   I have a snail fossil which I hide in a clam shell on my mantle. It is smooth and mysterious and Emmaline likes feeling it. It is only given for short periods and it must be returned to it's home properly.

   A second treasure are the Russian nesting dolls. Now they make all toddlers giddy. The taking apart is a joy. The putting back together requires some serious coordination. We played with these many times a day….until….some parts went missing. I looked under tables, couches, toy bins,….everywhere.
   What would a toddler do with these when Grandma turned her back? Hmmm…

                                                 Duh!!! They were riding around town.

                                         I should have seen that coming…and going!

Die Heimat

More info about our Silesian roots can be found here. This time I am writing about Hirschberg, now Jelenia-Gora.

Visits to Poland

  My brother's family will be visiting Poland this month to see some ancestral sites. I was there in 1998 and have many memories which I will try to share. Firstly, a visit to my Great-Grandfather's village Nimmersatt, which is adjacent to two other villages, Streckenbach and the larger one, Ketschdorf, now Kaczarow, Poland. Find more here………..