ELA Library, Lake Zurich

As I travel about, on some happy occasions I get to "meet" my fellow BCO sisters. What a thrill to put up a post on Facebook that I was headed to Chicago-land suburbs to share my songs at libraries, and then to receive the news that LauraGTO lives just a heartbeat away from the Ela Library in Lake Zurich. We started plotting immediately to get together. I was sooooooo excited to have sweet Laura putting my event on her calendar. I was soooooooo excited when she walked into our workshop space. I was so excited to get a hug-in-person. I was so excited to put a face to a name. I was so excited to get a super condensed version of her journey while I finished pre-signing some of my books. I was so excited, I forgot to take a picture of the two of us together, smiling. Bummer. Super crummy buttons.

Imagine my excitement to download the shots and find that Kay, the Children's Librarian in charge, had captured the two of us in one shot. Not exactly the photo I wish I had, but at least some evidence of our being in the same room at the same time. I'm the one in the striped green tights, Laura's the one in the bright orange sweater having fun! I can't wait for feedback from Laura as to how she implements using my book as a prompt for projects in her teaching young children about art. How amazing does Laura's work sound?? I look forward to learning more of her first life in arts/advertising&marketing morphing into directing children with art materials. What a great way to contribute.

Fall in Door County

We've been looking forward to the fall leaves in Door County since we drove away at the end of the summer season. This is our first fall fest.... and I've been eagerly anticipating all the colors for the last fifteen years of our adventures up here. In our week of exhaling up here in the great north, I have taken HUNDREDS of pictures of the leaves, of the trees, of the pumpkins, of the pathways. Here's our flag flying in the midst of our humble little hide-away parking lot and some of the surrounding sights.

Shopping, Time for Shopping

The morning's over. Let the shopping & hugging begin! Thanks Phyllis & Pat for all of your planning & for providing such a great opportunity for me to be with our local early childhood community.

Great Higgeldy of 2010

The one of my nearly 100 original songs that truly benefits from a participatory experience is my "Higgeldy Dance." The song emerged on our trans-Atlantic speaking tour to England (thank you Renee and Susan,) which evolved to include a bus trip to Scotland...... which is where I heard our tour guide utter such happy phrases as 'higgeldy biggeldy' and 'shiggle da boot' in the mist of Edinburgh Castle. Mix it all together and you've got a "Higgeldy Dance." The main ingredient is to cross the mid-line with your feet for the engaging chorus. The verses themselves are fairly self explanatory. It makes for a rousing conclusion to a thrilling morning workshop. Every now and then the room lends itself to a group experience. Columbus State provided the perfect space to have everyone involved.

First Professional "Reading"

Were you there? Were you in the audience? Were you part of the celebration -- the unveiling -- the inauguration?? This was the day. The moment. The supreme occasion. The sharing. The long awaited event. Drumroll. Applause. Excitement. Adrenalin. Enthusiasm. Energy. More excitement. More applause.

In case you weren't able to be in Columbus for the great historic reading, you need not despair. This is what it looked like from the big stage --for the first time to share my book with teachers and with my daughter Sarah at the Canon -- we have plenty of documentation to share. Megan, from the front row volunteered to join the act for the sake of posterity. Thanks to both Megan & Sarah for sharing in this monumental first turning of the pages in a professional setting.

These are the first sequential pictures of the interior pages. I get all ticklish just posting the pictures and having the opportunity to relive it..... all over again.

Work it, Work it, Work it

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