Needle felted board and tour

As part of my school visits, I have developed some activities to go along with my book, so we can explore this farther, in a very tactile, interactive way. Well, It was a HIT. The kids loved it, we had a great time, they were hooting and hollering right along, Here are some shots of the board and some of the different questions we explored.

Tour Kick-off!

So, this morning I did my very first interactive play reading. That is what I am calling it anyway. Sixteen Kindergarten kids, and a whole lot of fun!

All the kids know me as Mowat's mom, and when I told them I made books, they went crazy. As I read, they were so nuts about the pictures and the story I could not believe it. I thought I needed gimmicks, I thought they would be BORED. But they were not. It was the best. It is the reason I do what I do - I just did not know it.

They were engaged and curious, respectful and bright. And did I mention INTO it?

I made a felt board and all sorts of creatures and veggies etc for talking about the book and gardens in general. My plan for interaction. This is the part I need to sort-of rethink. They loved it, but it was a little haywire. Some kids are so good at waiting their turn and others want in right away... I am thinking we will talk about the stuff - silly and not, and then I will put it up and then afterwards they can play with it in smaller groups. I will post a picture, it actually turned out pretty well. In small groups it would be rocking.

Then we talked about seeds, and we planted some. It got pretty dirty. I really want to be able to send the kids home with a little seed in dirt, so have now come up with a plan to make it more accessible, less messy and still get the same results. One little guy was convinced his magic bean had already started to grow.

I love this part.

New Art for MArch issue of Ladybug Magazine

a musing on growing up

Ok, let's just say in the last few years I feel like I have grown up - but in this, pieces of myself seem to have disappeared. Now and again I am reminded of who I was, and wonder, how did I become who I am? Does this happen to everybody? Sometimes I feel like a kid, but minus the freedom I used to value so highly. So, I am stepping out here for a second, to take a glimpse back about 9 years to when I was footloose and fancy-free. Working in the bush as a cook after a wicked crazy early-season coastal plant. I treasure these memories so much. It is always at this time of year when I wake up to that smell of muddy frost - and a whiff of mountain air brushes past me - faint, since its been awhile since I have lived among them. But it takes me back, much like a song, or that particular BO that only a planter can have. I miss my old friends, parties and working like a dog. I miss the strange feeling of earth and duct-tape mixed together. I even miss that cooking smell of 200 eggs before 5 am. That time in the morning, when all is silent, the fog sits over everything and you feel like you are the only one awake - save the owls. And then, that start-up of the generator at 4:15 am, quiet music and soft light in the cook shack. First coffee. Watching the bleary-eyed planters stumble up. Hugs, smiles and bacon. This time of year makes me want to go back. I sit at my computer at work and dream of these days!

I found this pic from Nose mountain, AB in the summer of 2000 when I was cooking. Simon and Heidi beside me... now we've got kids(or have one on the way), partners, houses and have all grown up - well - sort of ; )

Yeah for Snow Days!

For anyone out there driving - good luck to you, drive safe (I am working from home today). We are in the grips of a lovely winter storm. Right now, it IS lovely, it is refreshing the snow in our backyard, which had gotten icy and not very useful over the last week - now it is fort, snowman and sled worthy - And BOY are we excited in our house. Even the shovelling, with three of us, is fun.

Happy New Year!

Yes folks, this is where I work. For now. We are in the process of beginning a renovation that could mean much more space for me and my work in our tiny home. This is so embarassing. But if it is out there - I am so much more likely to fix it!


Okay, so it is time for resolutions. Here are mine.
- get more sleep. right now I am averaging 5 hours a night. Not good for me or anybody else!
- get a studio space built and organized (see pictures - this I NEED) though I did clean my desk yesterday and I feel like a new woman... I can actually work.
- Finish the two books I am working on by next week - did I say that? Yep. And then on to the next ones...
- get that teaching job I have always dreamt about that has suddenly appeared
- get back into going to the gym, even if just for sanity's sake
- laugh more
- give more
- worry less
- get my website up and running (and the other I am working on as well)
- buy less needless crap. Buy less period.
- eat more vegetarian fare
- pay attention

That's it really. All things I have been striving to do anyway in my life, but we all need reminders once in awhile about what this stuff means to us.

Peace to you in 2009.

Zoo - part deux

Here are the FRASER Pegasus zoo animals - two of them, and a picture of ALL of them.
Fun job. Very, very fun job. But I do think it is neat to see these and then see the plushies from Tallula's Atishoo and StorySack. Produced by Smith and Associates of Calgary, AB.