Say Yes!

Two wonderful friends offered me a complimentary ticket to a play at Parramatta's Riverside Theatre. It clashed with parent-teacher night, it was raining (as usual, lately) but I said YES - and I am so glad I did. As well as having a lovely dinner with two good friends, I saw an amazing production. It is very topical, sadly - about a missing child - and the two actors play several parts. The set was foreboding and very cleverly done. See the review here: http://www.riversideparramatta.com.au/performance.asp?pID=370

Don't prepare...

I found this amazing leaf on my Sunday morning walk - an artistic bug had chewed a lovely lacy pattern in it. So it became the subject of a few sketches. I think this is my favourite - no Degas, but fun to do! This time, White Stripes were playing in the background, rain was falling and the heater blazing. After over seven years of drought, this constant rain is both welcome and monotonous. Walking in the light rain alongside the river over on the west bank was really nice!

Stay on Course

I've been hanging out for the weekend because I bought a box of 36 creamy, beautiful, delicate pastels last Sunday and I can't wait to use them. I don't know what I'll be sketching - maybe something I'll find on my morning walk tomorrow. I was quite inspired to discover that Degas used pastels for his beautiful ballerina (above). He used to dampen a fine brush and use that to work into the pastel for details. I'm not comparing myself to Degas of course!!- just someone who loves to draw and colour. I used to be paralysed by perfectionism, but Cal from ilovelife (see sidebar) has totally inspired me to just DO IT!

Wake up to the Gifts

Yep, it's raining....and we sure needed it. Sadly, people have died due to this record wet ( wettest June on record after the hottest May on record). The dams are filling, the gardens are greening up. Sporting events have been cancelled for three weeks in a row, and more rain is to come.So I shouldn't be upset about jumping into my car this morning and suddenly finding myself ankle deep in WATER - yes, water in my car, covering my feet near the accelerator and brake pedals. Of course, I was upset, jumping out (into the rain) and jumping around and swearing like Daffy Duck. (Of course, I was running late for a before-school meeting already). My sensible daughter suggested I take her car, so I arrived at school on time but with very wet feet. Tonight I bailed it out (in the dark and rain) and mopped up with beach towels. I hope it starts tomorrow! I'm not quite sure how a bucket-load of water actually entered the car - the seat was dry......I feel like I am in a monsoon in Singapore.

But the dams are filling!!

Say Yes

YES! (punching the air) It's the weekend!! I must be getting "endoftermitis" if I am so pleased to see the weekend when it is already week 8 (holidays again at end of week 10) WOO HOO! HOORAY! Yesterday my class presented their "assembly item", which has taken a lot of our time for the last few weeks. It was a melodrama, complete with hero, villian, heroine and chase scene. Everyone had a job, because we had the signs prompting audience participation (BOO, HISS, etc). Fancy lighting and music from Fantasia added to the excitement, which was considerable. I am once again reminded of the many skills a primary teacher requires:

artist in residence, producer/director, script consultant, maths expert, reading guru, writing consultant, scientist, social scientist, counsellor, behaviour management genius, football/netball/soccer/softball/volleyball/hockey coach, fundraiser, administrator, learning difficulties expert, gifted & talented expert, Aspergers and Autism expert, indigenous education expert, parent liaison diplomat, health and nutrition educator, excursion organiser, classroom cleaner, computer and technology boffin..........................AAACK, no wonder I'm tired. I love it, though!!

Make Mistakes, please!

I made a fatal error this morning - I ate my subjects before I sketched them! Hence they look like they are wearing toupees. Real strawberries have their green "hat" much closer to their "head". Anyway, I enjoyed the exercise, with Sarah McLaughlin singing in the background, sunshine at last, and a barbeque lunch on the agenda. Back to work tomorrow - feeling refreshed.

Just Show Up

Well, we wished for rain - and we are getting it! In bucketloads, in fact it is causing a lot of damage. I lay in bed this (Saturday) morning, so pleased that I did not have to get up except to make tea and get the papers. Eventually, though, I heard a break in the rain and decided the doggies and I really did need to get some exercise. I rugged up and off we went - and I was so glad we did. The dogs ran and jumped in puddles, the pine needles held the raindrops like little diamonds, I ran around the baseball field, stretched and felt fit and virtuous. Back home for a hot shower then out for brunch. Thanks, Beavis and Butthead, for getting me out! This is one of my favourite pics. of them, saying goodbye to Paull the day he left for New York.

Be Average

Thank you Cal (via Kate i's blog) for giving me a Sunday morning art exercise. I grabbed an eggplant (aubergine??) then added two mandarins for contrast. I followed Cal's procedure and was pleased with the result - but especially pleased with the opportunity to create, with music in the background and no distractions. My class at school will be getting a pastel lesson some time soon!

Act Now

The "Blogger" Sisters! Is this some kind of record? Probably not, but unusual in Australia at least to have four sisters blogging. We are far-flung, so it is a great way to keep up. Somehow, time for a chatty phone call rarely seems to happen, and you can't CC a phone call! Australia is only just beginning to adapt to social media - certainly the younger "digital natives" are embracing it, but amongst older people it is a matter of "what's a blog??". A straw poll in my staffroom last week found nobody knew about blogging, nobody had a Myspace page and nobody listened to podcasts, let alone made them. Teachers run the risk of being left behind by their students.........so Hooray for the Blogger Sisters!!!