Don't You Just Hate That?

My friend Madelyn loaned me a little book, Don't You Just Hate That? by Scott Cohen, which comprises 738 annoying things collected for your bathroom break reading enjoyment. Here are a few samples ... see if you can add any to this list:

Walking by the same person you've already walked by in the dairy, produce, and frozen food sections.

When you try on a garment in a store and think, "I wish I could wear this," and then think, "I can. I can wear this." So you buy it and never wear it.

That it would be socially unacceptable, at your age, to wrap a Fruit Roll-Up around your pinkie and suck on it for two hours.

That nailing a Triple Lutz in the Olympic figure skating finals is one of the many joys you will never know.

Politicians who believe that any economic problem can be cured by opening a casino.

An opening parenthesis that is never closed. (Like this

When you're paying for something at a store and they ask you what zip code you live in.

When the driver pushes the unlock button but you pull the handle at the same moment and remain locked out.

When a friend says, "I have good news for you!" and it concerns her.

Not being able to throw out an old magazine because it has an article you want to read that you know you're never going to read.

Receiving a birthday card in the mail 8 days before your birthday.

Pretty good stuff, huh. Well, are there any little "Don't You Just Hate That?" moments you'd like to share?

Sunday Safari – Some Like It Cold

Watching you, without me by Robert Hunter

Polar Bear by Camilla Engman

From behind the glass we watched him play for hours

and He was showing off to a captive audience by Leia Bell

Polar Bear print by Eleanor Grosch

Polar Bear print by Sebastiano Ranchetti

After the flood by Chiho Makino

Cover of The Little Polar Bear by Rudolf Lukes,thanks to Grain Edit

Illustration from The Wild and woolly animal book by Dale Maxey, 1966

thanks to Bonito Club's flickr illustration collection

White Bear by Jane Mount

Global Warming by Kun-Jum Park

Bear stencil by Simon Oxley, thanks to Share Some Candy

Lesson Plan- (Pre K - K): Ash Wednesday & Lent

Ash Wednesday & Lent


Objectives: The children will be able to
- discuss what happens on Ash Wednesday and where the ashes come from
- discuss what abstinence and fasting is
- discuss what we are supposed to do during Lent and why



Review:
Prayer and questions from last week’s lesson.



Vocabulary Words:

Lent Word Wall- Word wall templates are large flash card printables that you can hang on the wall to aid children when they are learning or using new vocabulary words. (Explain each card to the children. Example: Ash Wednesday- What is happening in this picture? The priest is putting blessed ashes in the shape of a cross on the boy’s forehead. This happens on Ash Wednesday. Pray- What is happening in this picture? We pray more during Lent. Fast- What is this a picture of? Would you normally have more than a hotdog for lunch or dinner? What would you have? To fast means to eat less or to go without certain foods. Give- What is happening in this picture? The boy wants to give his teacher an apple. During Lent we should try and do more good things for others.)



Plan:


Circle Time:


1. Ash Wednesday (write it on the board or hold up Word Wall card)

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent. On Ash Wednesday, blessed ashes are put on your forehead in the shape of a cross. These ashes are made by burning palm leaves which have been saved from last year’s Palm Sunday.

Ash Wednesday is also when we begin to do penance for Lent. Penance is self punishment. We do this to improve our relationship with God and others. The Church suggests three special practices of penance for Lent:

(Write the bold words on the board or hold up Word Wall card).

Pray- go to Mass more often, pray more often.

During Lent the Stations of the Cross are said at our church every Friday. My family goes to this every Friday during Lent.

Can you think of other ideas?


Fast- going without food or eating less. It can also mean giving up a certain food or treat.

My husband is giving up Diet Coke during Lent. My son is eating less sweets during Lent.

Can you think of other ideas?

During Lent people older than you must do abstinence which means not to eat meat. They do not to eat meat on Fridays during Lent and on Ash Wednesday. What can they eat? They can eat fish and other seafood, vegetables, eggs, milk and other dairy products.


Almsgiving- means doing good for others. That can be giving gifts of money or help to others.

The money my husband does not spend for Diet Cokes he will collect. At the end of Lent he will give the money to the poor.

Can you think of other ideas?



Activities:

Introduce activities: What are we supposed to do during Lent? (We are to change and become more like Jesus.)

Read the story “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle and ask questions from below.

What happened to the caterpillar? He changed into a butterfly.

Which life do you think is better, the caterpillar of the butterfly life? Why?

During Lent we are to try to “change”. We need to be kind to others and improve our relationship with God.



Songs and/or Finger Plays:

Introduce songs and/or finger plays: What happened to the caterpillar?

preschooleducation.com- Roly-Poly Caterpillar (finger play)
Scroll down to this.

Into a corner crept, (place right pointer finger in left cupped hand)
Spun around himself a blanket (spin around)
Then for a long time slept. (place head on folded hands)
Roly-poly caterpillar (wiggle right pointer finger)
Wakening by and by, ("stretch" right pointer finger)
Found himself with beautiful wings
Changed to a butterfly. (flutter arms like wings)


thevirtualvine.com- The Little Caterpillar (song and finger play) tune to Itsy Bitsy Spider
Scroll down about halfway.


The Fuzzy Caterpillar (song)- Scroll down about half way.

You can easily act this song out as well.

Sung to the tune of "Eensy Weensy Spider"

The little fuzzy caterpillar,
Curled up on a leaf.
Spun her little chrysalis,
and then fell fast asleep.
While she was sleeping,
She dreamed that she could fly,
And later when she woke up,
she was a butterfly.



Crafts:

Introduce craft: What happens to a caterpillar? He changes into a butterfly. What are we supposed to do during Lent? We are to change. We are going to make something to show us how the caterpillar changed into a butterfly to remind us that we are to change during Lent and become more like Jesus.

hhmi.org- Butterfly
Where do butterflies come from?



Curl the butterfly's wings and slide it into the chrysalis.

Pull the stick to make the beautiful butterfly come out of the chrysalis.






enchantedlearning.com- Egg Carton Caterpillar
This is an easy way to make caterpillars using egg cartons, crayons or markers, scissors, and pipe cleaners. You could also have the students decorate the caterpillar by gluing small objects like beads, craft foam, cut out paper shapes, etc. Googly eyes are a nice touch also. I use this craft to emphasize that they are to change during Lent. I then at Easter use a butterfly craft to show how the caterpillar changed and became a butterfly.


Introduce craft/activity: What are alms? Long ago money given to the poor was called alms. We are going to make an Alms Jar to take home to remind us the importance of almsgiving and giving to the poor.

Alms Jar

Need: Jar with lid, sticker with “Alms Jar” printed on it, various things to glue on jar, glue

Directions: Have students decorate alms jar. Have them put sticker “Alms Jar” on the jar when they are finish decorating the jar.

The whole family can enter into the spirit of saving for alms. A glass jar is placed at the center of the table on Ash Wednesday, and all the money each family member saves as a result of self-denial from smoking, eating candy, going to movies or similar activities is put into it. Whatever you are sacrificing during Lent, that money you would of spent goes into the jar. The mother, buying simpler and cheaper foods for Lenten meals, puts the difference into the jar at meal time — so all can see where the cost of the dessert went! The children spend the first weeks of Lent investigating needy causes and charitable organizations and missions. They will have the responsibility of determining who gets the alms-fund. (Print this out and glue on an index card. Attach it or put inside the Alms Jar for the students to bring home for family to read).

catholicculture.org- Lenten Sacrifice Beans
A wonderful way to help younger children remind them to do penance during Lent, lima beans in a jar record each Lenten sacrifice.

Prayer Jar by paperdali.blogspot.com- Instead of just writing down a petition for our Lenten prayer jar, paperdali decided to draw the little petitions. Each strip has a picture and the beginning of a prayer for a child (or adult, actually) to finish. To enjoy, just download the page, cut along the dotted line, put them in a jar, and then put it in an accessible spot. During Lent, a child (or adult) can take out a strip during breakfast and begin the day with a prayer.



Games:

Introduce game: Who needs lots of food so they can build a cocoon and become a butterfly?

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

The caterpillar is very hungry and must have lots of food so he can build his cocoon. Let’s play a relay race to see which team can collect the most food for the caterpillar.

Divide the class into teams and line each team behind a chair. Place a basket of plastic fruit for each team on the other side of the room. Place an empty basket on the chair in front of each team. When the teacher says “GO!” the first person from each team runs up and gets one piece of fruit and puts it in their team’s basket. They then go to the end of their team’s line and the next team member goes and gets a piece of fruit. When the teacher says, “STOP!” all players must stop what they are doing. Each team then counts how many pieces of fruit they have. The team with the most fruits wins.


The Very Hungry Caterpillar Game (board game): A Game of Counting, Colors and Contrasts- Emerge from a rainy day cocoon, gather up some friends, and enjoy this wonderful game based on Eric Carle's delightful children's book. In The Very Hungry Caterpillar Game, children go on a journey of learning and transformation as their caterpillar develops from egg to beautiful butterfly. Includes game board, four feedable caterpillar pieces, 40 food pieces, spinner, and instructions. For 2 to 4 players ages 3 and up.


dltk-teach.com- Story Sequencing Cards
Have children color and cut out cards. Then have the children put the cards in the same order as the story "The Very Hungry Caterpillar”. *You can also make 2 copies of the cards and have the children play Memory.


Chutes and Ladders- This would be great game for teaching about rewards and consequences for your actions. As kids travel along the game path, they encounter situations that reward them for good deeds by letting them climb the ladders or punish them for misbehaving by sending them down chutes.



These games are free, however they are only to be used for classroom and personal use. They may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit.

Introduce games: During Lent we are to try to “change”. We need to be kind to others and improve our relationship with God.


Random Acts of Kindness: Children identify Random Acts of Kindness as they move around the board.




Place your marker any where on the game board. Roll the die and move clockwise that many spaces. Read out loud whatever is on your space and say whether it is a Random Act of Kindness or not. If it is a Random Act of Kindness, receive 1 Random Acts of Kindness token (or milk cap, poker chip, etc.). If it is not a Random Act of Kindness, lose a token. When the player receives 10 Random Acts of Kindness tokens, they work their way around the board to “Spread Kindness”. Players must roll the exact number to “Spread Kindness”. Continue playing to find out who comes in second, third, fourth, etc. place.








The Golden Rule File Folder Game: This game helps promote why someone would use proper manners and etiquette in our daily lives.



Introduction: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. What does this mean? It means we should treat others the same way you want them to treat you. That is easier said than done. Do you respect everyone and treat them kindly at all times? During our daily contact with others we can show compassion and generosity by treating them with respect and courtesy. This dignified and respectable behavior that we give to others is part of what Jesus was talking about. Try your best to treat others as you would like to be treated and you will find that it will help you so much in everyday life with getting a long with others.



Directions: Put the colored Game Cards in two different small baskets and set near the game board. Place your markers at START. Roll the die and move that many spaces. Follow the directions on the space you land on. If the space has a Roll Play activity on it, perform it to the best of your ability. If needed, the teacher will help you understand what to do and coach you how to do it correctly. If the space has True or False or P’s & Q’s on it, draw the corresponding card and read it out loud. Answer the question to the best of your ability (the teacher can coach the student if necessary).






Snacks:

Introduce snack: What is supposed to happen to us during Lent? We are to try and be more like Jesus.

dltk-kids.com- Popcorn Praises

Lenten Hot Cross Buns- Story with song and directions to make Lenten Hot Cross Buns. (Kids Explore American's Catholic Heritage, page 165).


Introduce snack: What used to be the Lenten bread in the early centuries of the Christian era? (The pretzel.)

catholicculture.org- Introduction: We are going to make pretzels too (recipe included).

catholicculture.org- Pretzel Recipe

pillsbury.com- Mini Soft Pretzels with Dip
Make these easy pretzels with or without dip. A great reference for Lent.

pillsbury.com- Soft Pesto Pretzels
Make this easy pretzel recipe without pesto and cheese using refrigerated breadsticks. Sprinkle with caraway seed and coarse salt before baking.



Coloring/Puzzles:

Prayers while students are doing coloring and/or puzzles.

christiancoloring.com- Ash Wednesday (coloring)

Printable Lenten Calendar for children- by catholicicing.blogspot.com

sadlierreligion.com- We Believe
Lent- Use a purple crayon to color every space that has a cross. What is the special time of year when we try to live as Jesus did? Grade K, Chapter 20, (Pick the grade, type of visitor, and click on Go To. Look under Printable Activities and click on Chapters).

Lent (handwriting sheet)

sadlierreligion.com- We Believe
Worksheet- Draw a picture of something you can do during Lent. Then, use a purple crayon to trace the words below. Grade 1, Chapter 20, (Pick the grade, type of visitor, and click on Go To. Look under Printable Activities and click on Chapters). A booklet you make to share with others what you know about Lent.

sadlierreligion.com- We Believe
All About Lent- Grade 3, Chapter 20, (Pick the grade, type of visitor, and click on Go To. Look under Printable Activities and click on Chapters). A booklet you make to share with others what you know about Lent.

beginningreading.com- Butterfly Book
Count 1 to 10 butterflies as you learn to read. Very neat book to print and make!

comingtofaith.com- Lent (maze)

bry-backmanor.org- Help the Caterpillar (maze)

bry-backmanor.org- Which butterfly is different? (find the difference)

Harshbarger Probe 1991-1995

Lost Timeline



In the early years of this century when prominent figures in Springfield's Democrat Party machine were going down in a hail of indictments, some observers had a strong sense of deja-vu. They had good reason to, since it was only a decade earlier that another corruption probe resulting in a round of indictments had been undertaken by then Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger.

Unlike the more recent probe, in which nearly everyone charged was found guilty, the Harshbarger probe produced fewer indictments or convictions. In fact, critics at the time accused Harshbarger of showboating, bringing indictments primarily to attract headlines that would help in his planned run for Governor. It was true that Harshbarger had a reputation as a publicity hound, in particular for his prosecution of the infamous Fells Acres Case, in which many critics accused Harshbarger of prosecuting the defendants even after it should have become obvious that they were innocent.

However, the fact that so many who came under a cloud in the Harshbarger probe resurfaced in the federal probe a decade later, left many wondering whether Harshbarger, whatever his motives, was truly on to something.

Recently going through the vaults I came upon this timeline of the probe that appeared in the Springfield Republican in May of 1995. In the interest of preserving the record of that important episode in Valley history, I am reprinting it here.



Jan. 16, 1991
L. Scott Harshbarger sworn in as attorney general.

Spring, 1991
Department of Revenue begins examining tax returns of then-Springfield City Council President Francis G. Keough and former Parking Clerk Stephen Phillips, who were partners in some property deals.

January, 1992
AG Chief of Staff Donald Davenport writes memo indicating there could be widespread political corruption in Springfield. Memo was in response to Department of Revenue report on an interview with defeated City Councilor Mitchell Ogulewitz.

Feb. 18, 1992
Lawyer Roy H. Anderson, Keough 's cousin, indicted on two counts of attempting to evade taxes and one count of filing a false tax return; later charged with five counts of aiding Keough in filing false tax returns.

March 24, 1992
Developer Robert L. DelPozzo, who owned a building with Anderson, indicted on one count of failing to file a tax return.

April 15, 1992
Then-School Committeeman Edward D. Friedman, who owned property with Anderson and Keough , indicted on five misdemeanor counts of failing to file personal income tax returns.

April 20, 1992
Keough indicted on five felony counts involving tax returns and one misdemeanor.

May 29, 1992
Phillips indicted on one count of willful failure to pay income taxes on $10,000 earned in a real estate deal.

June 9, 1992
Phillips pleads guilty and is fined $2,500 and sentenced to a suspended, one-year jail term and two years of probation.

Jan. 11, 1993
DelPozzo convicted on a single count of failing to file a state tax return. Sentenced to serve seven days in jail, spend one year on probation and pay taxes plus interest.

Feb. 17, 1993
Grand jury convened in Hampden County on consulting contracts between businesses that received contracts from the city and former political consultant Charles J. Kingston Jr. No indictments resulted.

Feb. 18, 1993
Kingston indicted in on five counts of willfully filing falsified tax returns from 1987 to 1991.

Late February, 1993
Harshbarger touted by supporters and the media as future gubernatorial candidate, partly on basis of high-profile Springfield cases.

March 1, 1993
Anderson acquitted in Suffolk Superior Court in Boston on criminal tax charges. Judge criticizes AG's office for lack of evidence. Five counts on aiding Keough continued and later dropped.

March 16, 1993
Friedman pleads guilty to five misdemeanor tax counts, is fined $25,000 and given a suspended one-year sentence.

April 5, 1993
Leslie F. Dinsbach, a real estate lawyer, who handled a property transfer for Anderson, indicted on five counts of willful failure to file income tax returns between 1986 and 1990. No disposition. He has failed to respond to a summons and the AG's Office has been unable to locate him.

April 30, 1993
Keough pleads guilty to one misdemeanor. Four felony counts dismissed, and fifth dismissed 18 months later. Councilor sentenced to pay $31,250 in fines.

May 13, 1993
Harshbarger criticizes Mayor Robert T. Markel for questioning his investigation.

June, 1993
AG subpoenas records of dealings between Worcester-based consultant Insurance Cost Control Inc. and several communties around the state.

Oct. 14, 1993
Details of sealed indictments issued in AG's case against ICC owner E. Paul Tinsley and Springfield Personnel Director Joseph D. Dougherty appear in The Boston Globe.

Nov. 12, 1993
Dougherty indicted on 16 charges including larceny, attempted larceny and accepting a $500 gratuity from an insurance consultant doing business with the city; Tinsley indicted on 22 counts, including stealing $800,000 from the city attempting to steal another $200,000 and making a gratuity to a public official; ICC indicted on 20 counts of larceny, attempted larceny and presenting false claims to the city; Carolan Sharry, ICC employee, indicted on six counts of presenting false claims to the city.

March 11, 1994
Tinsley and Group Benefits Strategies Inc. of Worcester, formerly ICC, indicted on charges of corporate tax evasion. Case has not gone to trial.

Aug. 30, 1994
Kingston found guilty on three counts of willfully state income tax returns in 1987, 1988, and 1990.

Sept. 21, 1994
Kingston sentenced to serve four months in Hampshire County Jail, and pay $30,000 in fines. An appeal is pending.

Nov. 8, 1994
Harshbarger re-elected.

Dec. 13, 1994
Judge dismisses 24 of 64 indictments against Tinsley, Dougherty and ICC.

May 11, 1995
Details of a letter from AG's office allegedly relating to insurance trial appear in The Boston Globe. The letter alleged that ICC employees made improper campaign contributions to U.S. Rep.Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, and state Sen. Linda Melconian, D-Springfield.

May 17, 1995
Judge dismisses 18 charges in insurance case. Sharry cleared of all charges.

May 18, 1995
Hampden County Superior Court Judge William H. Welch lashes out at AG's office for inappropriate conduct in commenting on the court case. His comments followed a complaint by defense lawyer Richard Egbert that the letter on contributions had been leaked to the Globe.

May 22, 1995
Dougherty cleared of all charges; Tinsley convicted of one count of submitting a false bill for $54,000 and acquitted on all other charges, his sentencing set for June 16 with appeal pending; ICC convicted on two counts of false billing.


Celluci and Harshbarger
Epilog: Scott Harshbarger ran for Governor in 1998 and was defeated by Paul Celluci. Francis Keough is currently in prison on parole violations. Richard Neal is a member of Congress, and Linda Melconian was defeated for Mayor in 2003. Charlie Kingston never served a day in jail and remained a prominent figure in local politics, even serving as campaign manager for former Mayor Mike Albano. Joseph Dougherty was removed from his position as Personnel Director by Mayor Charles V. Ryan. Mitch Ogulewicz now resides out of state.

So the question remains, could the terrible scandals that rocked Springfield in the new century have been avoided had the Harshbarger probe of the 1990's been more successful?

Old News

Speaking of the Springfield Newspapers, here's a rare photo of the staff in 1915. Dig the papers all over the floor.



Despite the overwhelming advantages of today's internet media, it is hard not to mourn the passing of print newsroom culture. Today's young journalists will never know it.

This is a badge that newspaper boys had to wear when hawking papers in the 1930's. That was when my Uncle John was a paperboy. Starting at the age of ten he walked from Pine Point to stand outside the Indian Motocycle factory on State Street, selling to the factory workers as they went in and out.



Today's Music Video

This video set to Irish music was filmed primarily in Amherst.

Must. Love. Wine.

Hello everyone! Thought I'd share a few junky, funky, repurposed ways to display your favorite wine collections! Here are a few show-&-tell wine creations of mine. This first one was an old three drawer oak dresser. It was quite unsturdy, but nothing that a bottle of glue wouldn't take care of. There was no hope for saving the damaged top drawer, but that was okay since I had other plans for that space...After I said bye-bye to the top drawer, I added a board along with a trim piece on the front to cover up the space between it and the middle drawer. I covered the board with some scrapbooking paper (I love its faded old look), along with a rusty flat grate for holding bottles so they don't roll around. I decided to make this piece a two-tone color, if you will. I mixed black paint and a walnut stain together with some glaze and painted the body. I decided to stain the two drawer fronts a light walnut so the vinyl letters would be visable. My sister-in-law gave me this neat vinyl saying for Christmas, and I decided to put it on this "new" wine buffet rather than adhere it on my dining room wall. Another thing I like about turning old dressers into wine buffets is 99% of them are on wheels...don't you just love wheels?

This next wine display is a re-post, but I thought I'd show it again. Here's a perfect example of thinking outside the box. Let's face it, if you look carefully, you will find almost anything can hold wine accessories! This piece was an old heater...crusty, rusty and cruddy - yum, yum! I cut all the extra components off and was excited to find the top grate was removable.

Low and behold, wine glass stems and the neck bottles nestled perfectly on the grate. I attached old pages from a yellowed, damaged dictionary to add some interest to the bottom shelf and hung a wine towel...perfection!And last...I acquired another old oak (very heavy) dresser which I painted a great avocado green.

After painting, I sanded the piece and applied two coats of a polystain. To add a new twist, I decided diamond shaped openings cut in the bottom drawer to house wine bottles would be just the right look. Lots of storage in this piece.

Please join one of our favorite links for some great redos at Funky Junk Interiors and remember, "Wine is Bottled Poetry"...don't you agree?

Stolen Art Watch, Oops, Casson Case Cracked !!!!!!!

Missing painting is the real deal

It was the old switcheroo. All that remains at the Barrie

Art Club is a copy of AJ Casson's 50-year-old gift to the club.

Barrie Art Club members have a sneaking suspicion that sometime during the last couple of months someone replaced their original AJ Casson painting with the copy they kept on display.

When members wanted to show visiting Orillia-area artist Dave Beckett the original last week, it was nowhere to be found.

On Thursday, Gary Owen of Gary Owen Custom Framing, examined the one that they do possess.

"It's the print," he confirmed. "They mixed up some wires."

AJ Casson was a later member of the famed Canadian artists, The Group of Seven.

In 1959 he conducted a workshop for the Barrie Art Club, creating the 9x12-inch 'House and Hills' oil sketch. When he was done, he signed it and donated it to the club.

It has since remained in the Barrie Art Club's permanent collection, with about two dozen other paintings.

"There are a lot of possibilities," said art club vice-president Carol Mueller. "We had the original in safe keeping and the copy was on display."

Or so they thought.

Casson was a prolific painter and he lived a long time. He died in 1992 at the age of 94. His catalogue is filled with paintings of landscapes and towns throughout Central Ontario.

"I think he was pretty active, so there's a lot of them around," said Owen, who has framed some of Casson's originals over the years.

Barrie police expect to conduct an exhaustive investigation.

"We have a fairly heavy task of: A -Determining when this painting was stolen; and B - Who stole it," said Barrie Police Sgt. Robert Allan.

What police believe may have happened is that someone took the original out of storage and replaced it with the copy.

Police expect to talk with members of the club to help find some of those answers. But they're also hoping to reach out into the local art community for help.

The painting was assessed at $25,000 in 2002. Allan said its value has been estimated at anything between $25,000 and $60,000.

"It's going to be a long, difficult road unless we get co-operation from the public and the art community," said Allan.

Interestingly, Casson often leant his expertise to investigators with the Ontario Provincial Police. An enterprising counterfeiter in the 1960s realized there was good money to be made on Group of Seven paintings, even if they weren't really done by the artists.

An OPP inspector by the name of Erskins teamed up with Casson to look at paintings that were attributed to the Group of Seven.

"Erskins and Casson would show up to authenticate a painting and there would be a dinner party going on, in their honour," said Chris Jackson, a freelance Orillia curator who has worked with Kleinburg's McMichael Canadian Art Collection, the Art Gallery of Hamilton and the Glenbow art gallery in Calgary. "Casson said he never found a fake Casson."

Jackson curated an exhibit of AJ Casson three years ago. When it arrived at Barrie's Maclaren Art Centre, he met with the Barrie Art Club and Casson's 'House and Hills' went on display for the show's duration in Barrie.

The Group of Seven subconsciously divided up the country among themselves. And other than their focus on Algonquin Park and Algoma, Casson thought Ontario was under represented.

"He basically carved out Ontario as his bailiwick for all his career," said Jackson.

He considered himself a recorder of small-town Ontario. And along his travels, he would put on demonstrations for art clubs, like the one he did in Barrie in 1959. And, often, he would leave a memento of his visit behind.

While the painting would be valuable to the club, it's not likely Casson would have considered selling it, because it was more of an oil sketch completed for demonstration purposes than a complete painting, said Jackson.

But since the members have all passed on, all their work is considered valuable.

The painting also provides a direct connection between Barrie, the art club and the famed painter.

The value of the art of the Group of Seven has steadily increased in the past decade alone, Jackson said.

Art Hostage Comments:
-
Sometimes it's not good to be right, says Art Hostage smiling like a Cheshire Cat !!!!!

Show Me St. Louis Valentine Crafts

I have to admit...this was a fun show to work on!

How can you not like hearts, red, white, pink and yes...CANDY!

Here's information about the crafts and projects shown today on Show Me St. Louis. And as always if you have any questions..please don't hesitate to email me at Buzybunny@gmail.com!




Sweet Love Valentine Pocket




My Little Yellow Bicycle “Sweet Love” Papers (available at www.scrapbook.com)
Felt Heart , Ribbon & Puffy Red Heart (available at Michael’s Craft Stores)
Marvy Large Scallop Heart Punch
Glue Arts Glue Glider Pro Adhesive & Ribbon Adhesive
Fiskars Scallop Border Punch
Imaginisce Fabric Brad
Heart Shaped Eyelets
Cricut Expression Diecut Machine
Cards made from My Little Yellow Bicycle “Sweet Love” Card Kit
Colorbox Chalk Inks (available at your local Michael’s Craft Stores)
Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L Foam Squares

1) Select the papers you like for the background heart and front pocket heart. Cut the background heart about one inch smaller than the felt heart. Ink the edges of the paper heart.
2) Next cut another heart from patterned paper. Cut heart in half that when placed over background heart it will form a pocket. Ink edges of the heart. If you have a sewing machine…using a heavy duty needle stitch the top paper heart onto the background paper heart. Stitch only along outside edges of heart leaving middle open for pocket. If you don’t have a sewing machine…consider handstitching or simply glue the hearts together adhering along the edge.
3) Cut a strip of paper from the striped paper. Use the Fiskars border punch to make a decorative edge. Ink the bottom edge and then adhere the paper strip onto heart pocket top edge. Next using the ribbon adhesive, add decorative ribbon to heart edge. Decorate with puffy heart and brad.
4) Using the scallop heart punch, punch out 20-24 hearts. Ink edges of the hearts. Glue hearts along felt heart edge. (If you are unable to find a felt heart…cut another large paper heart as the background.) Next adhere background heart with pocket.
5) Last, punch two small holes at the top of the heart. Insert and knot ribbon and your ready to hang and receive Valentines!
6) The Valentine cards shown were made using the Sweet Love Card kit and additional embellishments from the Little Yellow Bicycle line.








Love Letter Blocks

Bo Bunny “Persuasion” Papers, Cut Outs & Stickers (available at www.scrapbook.com)
Making Memories Slice Diecut System & Seasons Cartridge
Wood Blocks (purchased at Marshall’s)
Glue Arts Glue Glider Pro Adhesive
Red Stickles
Colorbox Chalk Inks (available at your local Michael’s Craft Stores)
Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L Foam Squares

1) Cut the background papers to fit the block size. Ink edges and adhere. Use the Persuasion Cut Outs as they perfectly fit these block sizes. Cut out from sheet, ink edges and adhere.
2) Select font and use Slice machine to cut letters and hearts. Ink edges and adhere to blocks!
3) Add red Stickles and Rhinestones to finish off!
Super easy, fun and really great decoration!!


Did you notice the amazing plate and glass set?! These are made by my good friend Mary Beth! She lives here in St.Louis and sells them through her Etsy store and the Purple Pickle in Kimmswick Missouri! These are fantastic pieces to add to you home servingware and perfect as gifts! Mary Beth makes all types and styles and colors! For more information here's a link to her Etsy Store! Let her know Julia sent you!

And did you see that cute heart necklace and those drop earrings I wore? Yes..it's for once not one of my pieces of jewelry but these were made by Celia from Glitz Glitter on Etsy! Here's a link to her amazing, amazing jewelry store! The heart necklace is part of her inventory however those long drop earrings she made just for me! Let her know Julia sent you...I'd love a discount on a future order!lol

Well that does it for today's show...I will have the absolutely adorable PaperTrey Ink Fortune Cookie craft coming up along with the stinkin cute PaperTrey Ink stamped suckers and heart tin next week!! Be sure to check back in! Also I will post on Monday the lip and mustache templates for the suckers too!

Brown in Chicopee

Rock Star Welcome

U.S. Senator-elect Scott Brown got an enthusiastic welcome this morning in Chicopee, where he came to greet and thank his Western Mass supporters. These photos by Joshua Clark captures some of the action:

The nation's most famous pick-up truck parked outside the Hukelau.



The local media goes wild as Brown enters the room.



Even Democrat Mayor Mike Bissonette couldn't stay away.



The star attraction.



A pad of paper with the Senator's autograph.



The Senator holds the camera at arms length so that his fans can get in the picture.



I don't know if I can stand to hear another word about Scott Brown, and how his election trashed the Kennedy legacy and crippled the Obama presidency. However, I can endure a few cartoons.







Al on Zinn



I was not an admirer of Howard Zinn, the Boston University professor who died yesterday and who was best known for his fantasy novel "A People's History of the United States." However, rather than say sarcastic things about the newly departed, I'll just let former Valley journalist Al Giordano (below in 1990) remind us of Professor Zinn's role in local affairs.



In 1986, when students at the University of Massachusetts occupied school offices to block CIA recruiting, joined by my pal Abbie Hoffman and presidential daughter Amy Carter, and went to trial (a case that I was involved in at least to the extent of getting my attorney Tom Lesser to represent Carter and advise Abbie and the others how to turn the tables and put the CIA on trial in what was meant to be a mere criminal trespass case), Howard came to Northampton, raised his right hand, and swore to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. His testimony - about the patriotic and fully American traditions that the occupiers had practiced - was key in convincing the jury to acquit the defendants.

In 1990, when Boston University president John Silber sought and won the Democratic Nomination for Governor of Massachusetts, Zinn drove out to Springfield regularly to co-captain my WSPR radio show and explain to the populace in the western part of the state the authoritarian nature of this bizarro-land political candidate whose autobiography, Howard quipped, should have been titled Mein Campus. Howard understood the inspiring power of humor, too.

Yesterday in Wales



Today's Music Video

Oh cool, Phish is on the cover of the Valley Advocate!

John Sendelbach graphic