Redleaf Ramps-up: REALLY!

So in the middle of all the huggin' and picture-takin' I happened to remember one of my personal blogging goals, was to get a photograph of our Redleaf Press team. So I left a note there to please come find me when the two major personalities were gathered together. Voila!! In the first picture you have me surrounded by our amazing Minnesota team: David Heath (editor-in-chief) and Laurie Herrmann (our-hands-on-editor.) 2011 sounded so very far away when we were years ago plotting with Redleaf over possibilities of combining Connie Dow's dance expertise with my recorded music. Now it's just around the next corner..... 2011, that is...... and the ever closer release of this exciting project.

I have conjured up a photo of Connie and I back from last spring with a Redleaf rep at our own OAEYC spring conference. Connie's dazzling in her blue t-shirt. Can't wait to share this project, when it rolls off the presses!! I am sending a dozen of my sing-a-long songs and a TON of my instrumental arrangements for use with Connie's wizardrie. She has a gazillion ideas of 'what to do' to bring my music to dancing extravaganza fun, even for the 'non-dance' personnel in early childhood. Progress!! We're making progress!!

"Makes Me Laugh"

................................. l-o-n-g exhale ................................. whew, made it to the conclusion of my two hour presentation, with a golly good introduction to Ohio of my alter-ego & friend, Jo-Jo the "Tall Giraffe." Plucking a helpful teacher from the front row to turn the pages of my book, leaves my hands free to demonstrate the sign language to support the text. The in-action pictures were taken by my musical friend, Annie, also of the front row, who popped around all afternoon capturing the participants in action.

After the 'tall giraffe, makes me laugh' rendition, I had just enough juice left to lead a heart-felt and tear-filled version of my "Family & Friends" to conclude our time together. Allen was on hand by the absolute conclusion. He brought up the inventory, snapped the group hug photo and scooped me up for the next leg of our journey. He had already packed the U-Haul truck that morning and it was awaiting our early evening departure for the DC-Baltimore area. It's a good thing all I had to do was sit and be a passenger. Wow. That was some week!!

*****An enormous thanks to our OH ZB reps: Nancy & Joan who made my appearance a possibility thru their generous support. I know those lucky recipients were grateful for the door prizes and the welcome bags. Fantastic!!

Slanting, Slanting

The big ending. You know how I like a big ending. Everyone participating. Everyone singing. Everyone slanting. It's a wonderful day in the neighborhood, a wonderful day, indeed!! Ya just gotta love early childhood teachers. Ya just gotta!! (That's me in the orange skirt, with the gigantic white polka-dots. I'm wearing my pink "SURVIVOR" sash.)

Muscles Down

Here comes all of the support for fine-motor development. "Hands up high, to the sky. Muscles down, go to town." We're playing follow the leader and it looks like everyone's doing a great job of keeping up. There's always a big fan base for my Slant Dance: think, The Chicken Dance meets Y.M.C.A. and you have a bit of an idea how it unfolds.

It's a "Whoop" Day!!

"It's a Whooop-day. I'll be your Whooop-D.J." We really whooped it up on Saturday. Lots of freezing-frozen, too. It was an enthusiastic group of participants. It was good to have such a responsive crew. I borrowed their energy from time-to-time. There were a couple of faces that were in perpetual smile mode and that rejuvinated me at critical junctures. Thanks to one & all.

On the Handwriting Road

These are the most committed, the most professional of all the committed and professional teachers in attendance @ OAEYC 2010. They have stayed till the last workshop of the three day conference. They have stayed for the last presentation of the entire event. They are to be commended for staying till the final whistle sounded. Let the celebration begin!!

Saturday Morning Greetings

Every now & then you meet someone who blesses you.

This center director bought every single one of my 'products.'

She'd never heard of me before.

She'd never heard a single one of my songs.

She had never seen anyone sign either of my books.

She just bought the package deal, because she trusted me.

She trusted me when I told her that they were good.

An hour later I was running between my booth & my workshop, feeling just a weeee bit weary.

There she was reading my book to her grandson.

I nearly tripped over myself getting to my camera.

It was a moment that blessed me.

(Talk about instant gratification!)

And then my exhaustion was all worthwhile.

Thank you!!

Saturday Gets Underway

Another bright & early day gets underway at the Convention Center. Greetings & hugs. There's our upcoming president and various other dignitaries from around the state. The registrant to catch me by surprise is the teacher from AZ that I met thru working with Enrique out west. She has relocated here to the Buckeye state, joining our efforts here on behalf of children.

Exhibit Hall Hugs

Friday was just one big festival of love and celebration. Old friends. Dear friends. New friends. Friends-of-friends. Sharing my new book. Giving my original book, "You're Wonderful" as a door prize, only to have it's happy recipient tapping my shoulder minutes later to have me personalize it for her. I LOVE coming home...... where it all started. Where my mentor reigns as queen. Where my teacher buddies are coming up and down each asile ready with new stories of a year gone passed. It's such an exciting time!!

REDLEAF: Ready or not....

Believe it or not, the year 2011 is not that far away. Connie B. Dow & I met Inga over at the Redleaf booth in anticipation of signing our work there next year about this time. That's "God willin' & the creek don't rise" -- as my dear ol' dad has always said with a great degree of regularity. Connie's gotten her manuscript well written & it is in the editing department. I'm so looking forward to seeing this unique effort come into fruition: Connie's dance & movement ideas set to my music & instrumentals. Whoooohooooooo. It was great to see each other, even tho the time flies by in the midst of all the mini-visits.

OAEYC Mimi Returns

What a reunion. What an amazing reunion!! Mimi is just about 6 months from being hit by a truck, having had too many bones crushed to count, me with a new diagnosis of breast cancer and BILAT mastectomy in Januray. Our mutual friend Connie Dow who emerged from a car accident with a broken neck. Goodness sakes that's a lot of healing going on. The final picture is fellow music-maker Colleen, getting caught up on our lives on the road over the last year.