"The Lion Lady" + Delayed Gratification

Yes. I am the "Lion Lady!!" I am the one who wrote and recorded the original children's song entitled "Lion Prowl." It's on my second album and is a favorite for everyone who has ever heard of me -- and certainly for EVERYone who has ever come to one of my concerts or staff development events. 


Lion-lady you ask? I just told that VERY poignant story for the first time on my blog, earlier this year. You can click back here to read the touching journey of a family's perseverance with their son with profound special needs. You might bring a tissue. Spoiler alert: there is a happy ending!


It is because of that consignment shop brown tutu, around my face above, that my contribution in their documented 'Oprah medical miracle' gets to unfold.... for a dollar! Tune in on the miracles-in-your midst! Profound opportunities are at every intersection of your day. 

I've been telling you about my visits to the 'local' VPK program, right around the corner here in Florida. They are the ones with the 7000 books. [If you want to see the amazing way that they organize 7000 books, you need to click back to this article and trust me, I think you'll find their library-system inspirational.] 

Anyhow. Imagine our cackling laughter at reviewing my pictures from my visit the other day, to find the two captured at the beginning of this article. Some days its the little surprises and happy glimmers of unexpected mirth that delight me beyond all reason. 

Like cleaning out the box of stuff on Sunday to find a long packed away, day of their birth button -- on the fourth anniversary of the Twinzees arrival here in our midst. Like putting on my lion's mane tutu and performing under the watchful eye of the Lion King himself. Celebrate laughter where ever you find it + how ever you can create it

Here are some lion crafts your children -- from preschool through kindergarten could enjoy! I hope that these help to get you psyched for your next zoo field trip!!! 

                              -- Debbie --
*Has anyone besides me noticed that we're sneaking up on a BIG blogging milestone? As of this moment I'm poised at 997 FB Networked blog followers. I think its time for a P.A.R.T.Y!!!!!!!!!!! 

Butterflies in Children's Art

HAPPY EARTH DAY TO THE PLANET!!!!!!!!! 
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our TWINZEES!!!

Do you think that image is as glorious as I do?
Do you LUV the quotation? LUV LUV LUV it! 

I've been waiting a long time to use this photo. My daughter Sarah took it last summer in their backyard... and yes(!!!!) that is indeed Little Red's hand reaching, ready to awaken in her own time. Like mother, like daughter you ask? 


So an Earth Day Birthday on a SUNday is a perfect celebration!! REJOICE!

Having your camera ready at the precise instant as the one Sarah snapped is what turns you into a photographer. Capturing your first breath taking image starts a whole new transformation.... a desire to learn, a desire to anticipate, a desire to be prepared. A desire to FOCUS on the 'Rainbows-within-Reach.'


I was attempting to savor the sunflower thru my camera's lens, when at the precise instant the monarch came to pose for me on that very platform. That was my instant of metamorphosis to hence-forth FOCUS on photography. 


Let's celebrate this profound and delicate walk in the very midst of beauty. Let's make efforts to protect this planet and its finite resources. Let's make today a celebration! Let's make today a day when we AWAKEN in our own time!!! 
Let's make this an AWAKENING DAY!!!! Jubilation Jubilee!!!!!

Is there a more amazing sign of spring than the butterfly? 
Is there a more uplifting experience than tracking the color flight, fluttering by? 
Is there anything more delightful than children's Art work?

I've been saving up these images of my favorite inspirational creatures-of-wings and thought it would be helpful to have them all grouped here together for your delight and insight on this fine Earth Day celebration. 

How cute are these 'foot-er-flys'? Simple smiles for spring.
A certain keepsake for the future. Go ahead: PIN it!

The classic marble running through paint concept. 

Open-ended. Fail-safe. Cut the paper to butterfly contour and VOILA!

There's also the classic folded paper symmetry lesson. 

Here's a version with some happy 'hot' paint in Florida.

Here are tissue paper-thin winged creatures.

Did you get a chance to read about our visit to the conservatory? 

Click right here to go back in time. 

As the photograph portrays, there really are butterflies with special needs.

We are each unique. 

We are each special. 

We are each attempting to use our own gifts and fly. 

[Classic 'Pinterest' butterfly: baggie with snacks and clothes pin closure... above that wittle left-hand.]

We all get excited on New Year's Eve to 'transform' ourselves. 

• What if we use today as a brand new starting point for transformation? 
• What good things could you do for yourself starting today? 
• What metamorphosis could be wrought by new behavior today?
• What action might you take TODAY to emerge new + improved? 
• What changes would become apparent to the whole planet if you took the small action of emerging from your chrysalis and showing your colors to fellow Earthlings?  
• What would it take? 
• What gift do you have that could use an awakening?

I'd LUV for you to leave me a comment and tell me!


I've had two earlier posts this month with ideas for Earth Day and its certainly not too late to refer to those projects as we continue tuning into our Mother Earth. 

Click here for the first installment. 

Click here for the second article.

METAMORPHOSIS Ahoy!

-- Debbie -- 
GREAT GOOGA-LA MooGALa!!!
I'll tell you the whole story in my next blog post..... 
but here's the ending....... 
I JUST this instant at 1:56 p.m. found this button!!!!!

I'm so excited, I'm gonna host a blog-hop!!! 
Stay tuned. 
Things lost, things found. Amazing co-incidences.
The bottom of the box..................
Get your engines running!!!!!!!


Happily linked to Sunny Days in Second.

Fine Motor Leads to Fine Arts (Part 10)

It's Friday! That means it's FINE MOTOR FRIDAY!
I'm thinkin' Fine Motor!! I'm thinkin' FINE Arts!! 
LUV me this piece! LUV Mondrian!!
The master-piece above is my own WonderBoy's kindergarten art project.
So simple. GEOMETRY + FINE ARTS + KINDERGARTEN = SO BRILLIANT! 

I've referenced Mondrian here before (need further Wikipedia insight?) A reflection of his characteristic geometric style is easily referenced in art projects for children of all ages! 

It's not a big leap back from Mondrian to a 'geometric' look at the letters of the alphabet. Here's a playful X to mark the spot: tactile gluing of cut bits of paper. 

Every time we make letters 'meaningful' through interaction for young children -- we lay a stronger foundation for all reading experiences of the future. 

Speaking of cut bits...... did you see my post from yesterday all about Earth Day? I LUV'd watching the serious efforts with scissors. We have to allow time to master the 'basics' with children, in order to be able to help them apply these foundation-skills in Fine Arts investigations together as they mature. 

Bring on the SCISSORS!

                        

               BRING ON THE CRAYONS!!!

BRING ON THE MARKERS!!!

Children are so proud of their efforts.... recognize their work! 
Kindergarten-kiddos were THRILLED to share their projects during my author-visit.

We start when they're young by encouraging story-telling within children's art. We can 'transcribe' the details of their stories -- saving the story's meaning -- to share with other loved ones after the fact.

When you can share your emotions..... you are empowered indeed!

Pinned to a child's back at the annual Komen Race for the Cure -- to find the CURE for Breast Cancer.

If we want this type of masterpiece upon maturity in elementary school..... 

We need to support these efforts from the very beginning.... 

and as we see growth -- we celebrate!!! 

When I arrived for my music-lady show, the 5 year old children were all working studiously on their handwriting skills: working on their name, the day of the week, the alphabet and numerals. 

It takes time to develop the fine motor control for pencil-paper skills: time!!!!

Investing that time from the beginning reaps enormous rewards!!

and from last week.......

REMEMBER!!! 

Have the children see you in the process of writing -- 

share your hand-written ideas!!

Today marks our tenth article in the series. Click on the Fine Motor Friday label in the side bar..... or click right here to see the first nine issues, ideas and inspiration! 
    
                                                   -- Debbie -- 

Earth Day Collage Collaboration

WELCOME to RainbowsWithinReach!!
Welcome to COLLABORATION!!! 
WELCOME to an EARTH DAY Celebration!!!
How incredible is that picture? It may be my all time favorite picture -- ever!! 
Or certainly my favorite picture this month!! Take a look at how this unfolded.......

This morning I 'volunteered' a visit at my local VPK program as I had promised. (We are winding up our hiatus season here in Florida and the time was now!)  

After we got done singing all of my happy 'Ditties-by-Debbie' I went with the oldest class. I had a project to follow up my original children's song, "Care of the Earth." 
I had planned ahead(!!!) and brought lots of tissue paper in blues and greens. 

        Out came their scissors + all the five year olds got to work! LOTS of work!

           Cutting was easy-peasy for some and others? Not-so-much!

After the work came all of the fun!! I had taken my standard issue green, one dollar, 'pool-noodle' to the school. [Dear hubby had sacrificed an old golf-club grip that was laying around the garage as an 'insert' to create the permanent circle.] The school had a roll of white bulletin board paper for the backdrop + the glue sticks.  

I LUV'd watching the children work together in creating their puzzle-of-colors! Everyone got a turn to get up close and add some of their pieces to the work of the others already in progress. There was much oooooohing & ahhhhhhhing midst the glue-sticking.

The big reveal............................. (I'll miss you Piknik!)

I'm certain that you could replicate this idea for under $5.00!!!! 
It's the perfect bulletin board for your EARTH DAY observation!

*** Would you be a 'helper-bee' and pin or tweet this project? I know others are searching for a simple idea!! 

This is the simplest..... yet has all of the tenets of a winner: fine motor skill development, working together, and a glorious open-ended outcome!!! 

                                                  -- Debbie --

I had an earlier 'round-up' of ideas and added them to several blog hops for Earth Day. Here's the link to my earlier article.

I also have a HUGE Pinterest collection of Earth Day ideas that you can go to directly for additional ideas. 

My song, "Care of the Earth" is on my second CD, "Debbie's Ditties 2 Much Fun." As a little incentive you can always use the promo-code "Great" to receive 10% off of your order. You'll have to hop over to my store for ordering at RainbowsWithinReach.

***I have just become an 'Amazon Affiliate' which means whenever you click from my blog and go shopping on Amazon, you contribute to my retirement account! I've done some window-shopping for you and have gathered up some Earth Day picture books below. ENJOY! 

I've added this idea to my friend Denise's Earth Day blog hop right here. 

I've add this also to the Little Blogfish Educational bloghop at this link.

It's also on the collaborative blog hop at Greening Sam and Avery at this link.

I've just added this article to the hop over at our own PreK+K. I did repurpose that pool noodle!!!