Harper's Ferry

Our escapade to Harper's Ferry proved to be an absolute delight! As avid hikers, we have always harbored a secret dream of conquering the Appalachian Trail in its entirety. Alas, the demands of our jobs and the responsibilities of parenting leave us wondering if this ambitious goal will ever come to fruition. However, we did have the privilege of hiking the final leg of the trail, Mount Katahdin, back in 2016. The memories forged during that extraordinary experience remain etched in our souls.

Nestled in the picturesque landscapes of West Virginia, Harpers Ferry beckons with its winding paths that meander through the hallowed grounds of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. This trove of 19th-century buildings, a captivating Civil War Museum, and the iconic John Brown's Fort, a poignant testament to the 1859 abolitionist raid, paints a vivid tapestry of history. Standing at the meeting point of the mighty Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, aptly named The Point, the vistas extend to embrace the borders of Maryland and Virginia. The Appalachian Trail Visitor Center serves as a gateway to knowledge, with its engaging exhibits dedicated to the famed long-distance hiking trail. Even with the river's water levels running low, the majesty of the mountains and rivers captivated our senses, a symphony of natural beauty.

Ah, the allure of the locked bridges beckoned, evoking a pang of nostalgia for the forgotten lock we failed to bring. Enamored by the legend woven within the tradition, we marveled at the initials adorning the bridge, whispering tales of a woman who sought solace in fixing padlocks after losing her beloved during the tumultuous times of World War I. Each lock became a testament to unbreakable love, transcending time and space. Indeed, a small yet poignant reminder to pack a lock for our future explorations.

Regret mingled with awe as we strolled along the enchanting bike path that traced the river's edge. Oh, how we yearned to have our bicycles with us, ready to embrace the freedom of the open road. Our leisurely walk was not without its moments of excitement, as an unexpected encounter with a small orange snake almost caught us by surprise. Thankfully, Rudy's keen eyes spotted the reptile, and with a lighthearted laugh, we were spared from any venomous encounters. Such moments remind us to treasure the harmony between man and nature.

The nourishment of both body and soul beckoned, leading us to a charming little restaurant where we savored a delectable lunch. A journey through time awaited us at an old-fashioned candy shop, where the tantalizing aromas of Elderberry and Earl Grey tea caressed our senses. There, amidst shelves adorned with treasures of Licorice root and vintage gum, we reveled in the nostalgia of days gone by. Of course, the whims of our kiddos could not be denied, as they indulged in the cotton candy ice cream that left them with sticky smiles and joy-filled hearts. 

In retrospect, our jaunt to Harper's Ferry proved to be a magnificent interlude, weaving threads of beauty and adventure into the tapestry of our lives.

Virginia Vacay Day 3

Happy Summer Friends! Here is my AI enhanced journal for our summer vacation - so much better than I could have wrote. 

" Our exhilarating summer adventure in 2023 has been an absolute blast! Embarking on an epic road trip all the way from the sun-soaked lands of Florida, accompanied by our lively kiddos and an adorable new furry addition to the family, Rosco the spunky 6 month old havanese, the drive was undeniably lengthy. However, I must give credit where it's due, as my incredible hubs took charge of the wheel, sparing me any cause for complaint. Ah, the mention of future excursions has piqued our interest in soaring through the skies on wings of anticipation.

To our sheer delight, my husband unearthed a captivating haven known as the "Green Hill Cabin" nestled in the heart of Front Royal, casting its enchantment upon us. This magical abode boasts proximity to his uncle's residence, adding an extra touch of familial warmth to our sojourn.

With a fire pit at our disposal, we yearned to indulge in the delightful pursuit of crafting delectable s'mores. Alas, our quest for prime firewood proved more arduous than anticipated, leaving our tantalizing treats for another time. However, fear not, for our spirits remained aflame as we created a modest bonfire to celebrate my beloved son, Mason's birthday. A bittersweet moment, for he would have turned 22, yet Front Royal's deep-rooted significance to our family rendered it a hallowed place of remembrance. This hallowed ground, where stars aligned and destiny played its hand, witnessed the inception of our grandparents' love story, etching within us an indescribable bond.

Amidst this journey of self-discovery, where the search for our ancestral tapestry consumed my thoughts, I found myself adrift in a sea of uncertainty. The loss of my dear father, grandmother, and other estranged relatives left me at a crossroads, unsure of where to begin piecing together the mosaic of our lineage. However, a beacon of hope emerged when I reached out to my aunt, whose benevolence shone through as she shared a precious link to our ancestry. Through this virtual portal, I stumbled upon treasure troves of captivating photographs, unveiling hitherto unseen portraits of my father and grandmother, bridging the gap between the past and the present.

And so, our escapades continued to unfold, each day presenting a fresh canvas upon which to paint vibrant memories. Yesterday, we embarked on an exhilarating horseback ride, the sheer exhilaration permeating our beings. Little Emmie found her equestrian companion in the form of a miniature marvel, aptly named Sugar, while I mounted a spirited Arabian beauty christened Angel.   Our mischievous Rudy, in all his youthful exuberance, dared to tame a magnificent brown steed known as none other than Bud Light. Oh, the laughter that echoed through the air as we teasingly reminded him that he was indeed too young for such an audacious ride!

Today, our wanderlust guides us to the alluring allure of Harper's Ferry, an exclamation of joy escaping our lips. The heavens have bestowed upon us the gift of idyllic weather, gently caressing our souls with its resplendent beauty. The balmy embrace of Front Royal proves far more temperate than the sultry climes of Florida, bestowing upon us a respite from the relentless humidity. As twilight descends, a gentle chill whispers through the air, further enchanting our hearts.

Oh, the stories we shall weave, the memories we shall create, as we immerse ourselves in the tapestry of this unforgettable summer escapade.

Our first summer vacay of 2023 has been great!  The drive was super long coming all the way from Florida with kiddos and a new pupper- but since my hubs drove the whole way I can't complain!  I know he mentioned wanting to fly if we make the trip again. He found us a super cute cabin to stay in Front Royal. It is very close to his uncles's house 

The cabin has a fire pit but we had trouble finding good firewood so we still need to make the smores we bought on the first day. 

We did make a little fire for my son's birthday. He would have been 22. Front Royal is a town that holds a lot of significance for my family. It's where my grandparents first met and fell in love, which makes it a really special place for us. I have been trying to find out as much about my ancestry as possible lately but really do not know where to begin since my dad, grandmother and other relatives have passed away or I am no longer close with them. So I messaged my aunt and she shared our ancestry link. I found some really great pictures of my dad and grandmother I had never seen before.

Yesterday we went on a horseback ride and it was so fun. Emmie got to ride on a miniature horse named Sugar. I was on an Arabian girl named Angel. Rudy rode a brown horse named Bud Light . LOL, we told him he was too young to ride that horse! 

Today we are going to Harper's Ferry. YAY. The weather has been so beautiful. Not as hot or humid as Flroida and a little chilly a night.

Oil Pastel Poinsettia Drawing

 Merry Christmas from the Artrageous Art Studio.  The latest lesson /video I posted on my youtube channel turned out AWESOME!!!  I've done this project a lot in the past with my students during the month of December.   I found the lesson from the Masterpiece art lesson website - which recommended using chalk pastels which I love but they can be pretty messy and a lot of students may not have access to them - so this time I used oil pastels and it turned out AMAZING!!! Here is the video and info: 

Poinsettias are such a beautiful symbol of Christmas and the legend of the Poinsettia is a wonderful story and message for everyone regardless of your religious beliefs. It is the legend of a young girl who wanted to give baby Jesus a gift, but had no money to buy a present. So she gathered some plants and weeds to lay next to his bed. She was nervous, embarrassed and ashamed that people would think her gift was not enough but as she got closer, the weeds turned into beautiful red 'flor de Nochebuena, meaning Christmas Eve flower." Which is what we know the poinsettia as today! I think that is something that we should all remember especially this Christmas that it is the thought that counts- not how fancy the gift is or how much it costs. The way this flower is drawn is also inspired by the beautiful flower paintings of Georgia O'Keeffe. The composition is zoomed in to just the center of the flower- so much that it almost becomes abstract, which also looking very realistic. This project covers so many great elements of art, from line , shape, texture, color (complementary colors)and value . It turned out beautiful and I can't wait to hang it up and share it with others! Merry Christmas all my art friends! I also added a bonus- Jib Jab video I made of my family and I getting our house decorated for the season. (LOL) Have an ART FILLED safe and fun Christmas ! Love, The Artrageous Art teacher.

Here is the Lesson on google slides and the Bitmoji Classroom that you can copy and edit if you like! https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1MtgI2mrY60yY0FUHlOjpi-FnyKuJ2K-0IWD7fVmzYAw/copy?slide=id.gb23067ea59_0_232 https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1MtgI2mrY60yY0FUHlOjpi-FnyKuJ2K-0IWD7fVmzYAw/present#slide=id.gb23067ea59_0_0

My Sculpey Kids Tryazon Party (DURING A PANDEMIC) How to safely host a kids party during COVID Times

 

I was so excited about getting to host my first Tryazon kids party!  I won the Kids Sculpey Bake Shop Party.  The first thing I did when I got the box of goodies from Sculpey was try out making some the adorable sculptures that the kids would be making.  I think as an art teacher, creating my own example is always an important step in the planning process because then I can try to anticipate what the kids will need to know and do in order to be successful.  I made one of the glow in the dark monsters and a panda bracelet.  They were so easy and fun !  The directions made it simple and I could tell that the kids (who were my son's age; 9) would have no trouble with it.

I created an invitation using PicsArt and then I created a Facebook event so I could send the invitations electronically.

I invited about 10 kids (4 parents).  

But as the event grew closer, I realized that Trying to host a party in the year 2020 is VERY difficult ! I had a few parents mention that they were hesitant to come because of the COVID-19 virus.  It is July,  as  I am writing this and there has been A LOT of tension focused on what schools are going to do in August.  Being a teacher, I see both sides of it.  I think a lot of teachers are terrified and upset about being forced to return to school for in person learning.  Each state has the authority to decide what type of school setting will be enforced so there is a lot of variance throughout the country.  I get the feeling that a lot of (but not all ) parents want their childrent to return to traditional school.

  I think in our county, parents are being given the option of traditional in face school or virtual school.  We are very fortunate here that there have not been as many confirmed cases and deaths because we are a relatively small county.  With that said, we will be sending our 9 year old son back to school in the traditional face to face setting.  Am I scared about him or my youngest daughter catching the virus?  Yes- of course I am.  But I honestly, I think we all had it back in February.  We all got sick, had the symptoms, tested negative for strep and flu but because testing was not as available back then, we were not sure.  I have an appointment to get tested AND get the antibody testing in August.  We also do not have any pre-existing conditions or immunity issues. Parents of children with these issues (or even spouses/ family members) may feel differently - and understandably so.

With all that being said, I decided that if I was going to host a party- it was going to be the safest party possible, to hopefully quell any fears that parents might have.  I started by reading the CDC guidelines for schools and gatherings.  The first thing I wanted to ensure is that the kids would have 6 feet of work space to comply with social distancing.  So I held our party in the clubhouse of our condo neighborhood.  It is a large area with several long tables and chairs, bathrooms, and a kitchen area right next to our community pool.

  It is also recommended that kids do not share supplies - so I opened the sculpey packages and cut them into the correct sizes for the project directions (after washing and sanitizing my hands ).  Then I placed the clay, toothpicks, the coupon card and a plastic knife into each ziploc bag.  I also covered the tables with brown paper and got a container of baby wipes for each child.   The baby wipes alone won't kill the virus /germs but i made sure each table had a bottle of hand sanitizer.  I laminated the directions in case they got wet/ clay on them. 

I got water bottles, individual bags of chips and fruit by the foot for snacks.  We also had popsicles .

  

I sent a message ensuring that all the CDC safety measures would be put in place but unfortunately, we still only had four kiddos show up! So with my two kids that meant that we only had a total of 4 kids.  Our clubhouse is bigger than the typical classroom and even with only 4 kids and 5 adults, it was still hard to ensure 6 feet of distance and spacing.  I can see why teachers are so stressed out about trying to logistically start school while ensuring they are complying with safety measures.  As I was setting everything up, I thought about how hard it would be to prepare all this for 18- 25 kids.  The time it took is just not time that teachers have.  It is going to be difficult and I can understand why they are very anxious about the upcoming school year. 

Our party started at 3:00pm and ended at 5 pm.  The kids had a blast making their creations and got to make at least two items each.  We play4ed music and were going to swim but they were so focused on their sculptures that they ran out of time for swimming!  That's always a great sign!  

While I wish more of my son's friends could have come, I understand parent's hesistation.  I hope that this virus goes away soon so we can socialize and enjoy the company of our friends and family like we used to without fear for our health and safety. 

I WON A TRYAZON SCULPEY PARTY

Do you ever feel like at times the universe just aligns in your favor the right things start happening for you!? Well that was me- when I got the email that I had WON A KIDS SCULPEY TRYAZON PARTY! I never win ANYTHING! On top of that I have trying to practice getting better and better at using Sculpey clay. I have watched tons of tutorials, joined a sculpey facebook group, ordered some special sculpting tools and I still feel like I have more to learn. I also get pretty frustrated when my pieces do not turn out AT ALL like I was hoping. It can be so frustrating learning something new and not being any good at it but I think it is a helpful feeling and experience especially as art teachers because it helps us sympathize with our students when they are trying something new in the art room and taking a risk. I had heard about Tryazon a few months ago and I have been applying for every possible party I could- and the sculpey party was the best I could have imagined. When the box arrived, I couldn't wait to open it up and see what was inside. I set up a Facebook event for the party and planned on inviting some of my 9 year old son's friends. The party is scheduled to happen on Friday, July 17th. So this video shows you the UNBOXING of my sculpey Bake Shop kits and we get to make AN ADORABLE easy panda bracelet together!

Bored in the house- ART BOARD GAME! ARTOPOLY

As an art teacher, I was always looking for fun art games for kids to play if they finished their art work early or on shorter days before holidays or the end of the school year. Now that we are under quarantine and still have to find ways to keep busy and have fun at home - this project was more needed than EVER! I couldn't find any 'Artopoly' games that I could buy so like any good artist- I MADE MY OWN! and it was SO MUCH FUN!

I started by taking an old board game that we didn't play anymore (Chutes and Ladders) and I primed it by painting over it with flat white acrylic paint. Once it was dry I sketched and measured the spaces on the board (they are about 3 inches in height and 2 inches in width but some spaces vary) . Then I sketched the artist palette desgin in the center and the Artopoly letters. Once I finished that , I mixed the signature monopoly mint green color (using white and green ) and painted the background and spaces. Then I looked up and sketched the drawings for each of the pieces of artwork using an art history timeline. I started with cave paintings after the 'go' space and ended with Op art in the modern art section. I couldn't fit ALL the artwork I wanted (I didn't get to add the Scream !! :( ) but I tried to make sure that I had at least one space for each major art movement in the art history timeline. I added the dates for the artwork and the artist's names as well. I painted the artwork using acrylic paints and a VERY small paintbrush. I am not used to painting on such a small scale so that was pretty time consuming. You could definitely save time by saving and printing thumbnails of the artwork you want and then gluing it to the spaces on the board. I sealed the board with modge podge. For the playing pieces, I used sculpey clay to make 4 pieces of famous art work. I made Van Gogh's ear, a Warhol Soup Can, a Dali melting clock and an ancient Greek amphora. 

I really LOVE how it turned out and can't wait to play it!

Jasper Johns Alphabet art lesson for k-1?

Is it just me, or do all art teachers struggle with finding successful kindergarten /first grade art projects !?  I love being able to find lessons that are not only developmentally appropriate but also are engaging and related to literacy.  I went on a search to find some art lessons that incorporate letters and found some really great ones that go along with books like Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and also related to the contemporary artist Jasper Johns. 

So I threw together a google slide show with some facts about Jasper Johns.  Here 

  Then I found an example that I like the most to try for my own demo. I found a really great lesson from a blog that used only one letter. I still want to try that one but I wanted students to be able to practice the whole alphabet.  So I made a video of my attempt and it turned out great! 



I used oil pastels and acylic paint (because thats all i had on hand) but I would use tempera with  k-1 kiddos in the classroom.  I definitely think this would work great with tempera cake paints as it involves learning some techniques like dry brushing (which is pretty advanced for kindergarten!)

I made an art alphabet poem to go with it- so I could read it as we drew each letter together!

A is for ART the best class of the day

B is for black the color that will stay!

C is for Create – we’re creating all the time

D is draw- we draw every line!

E is for exciting- art always is

F is for FUN we never want to miss

G is for GREAT- our masterpiece will be

H is happy your work is always making me

I is for imagine- all the things we can make

J is for JOY from rules that we will break

K is for kind- we will treat ourselves and others

L is for love we have for our sisters and our brothers

M is for masterpiece- that’s what we make each day

N is for No- something we promise to never say

O is for outside- we can color outside the lines

P is for paint- we can do it all the time

Q is for QUESTION- why do we love to make our  art

R is for red- a primary color we’ll use to start

S is for second- the next color that we’ll use

T is for the tons- of colors we will fuse

U is for understand – understand how to mix

V is for violet that red and blue will fix

W is for which- what will we add now

X is for excitement- and we know how

Y is for yet- we haven’t finished yet

Z is for zero- we don’t worry what we get!

Here's the video: