Monthly Archives: December 2018

moonbeams.

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it was truly an honor and my pleasure

on a chilly december evening

 to gather with hundreds

of friends and strangers

from all parts of the community

reaching out with lights and song

to wish children sweet dreams.

WHAT IS “MOONBEAMS FOR SWEET DREAMS”?

“Moonbeams for Sweet Dreams,” is a program created by the Beaumont Children’s Pediatric Family Advisory Council at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI.

Every evening at 8 p.m. during the month of December pediatric patients will shine flashlights from the hospital windows and look for people from the community who are standing outside the hospital to flash them back. It only takes a few minutes, but it will mean a lot to these young patients and their families.

“Many children are unable to leave their rooms and can feel isolated in the hospital as the rest of the world continues without them, and have trouble falling asleep” Beaumont Children’s Child Life Supervisor Kathleen Grobbel said. “With the help of the community, we can make sure they go to bed with smiles on their faces.”

If you want to put a smile on the faces of some kids that are spending the holidays hospitalized … it’s time to grab a flashlight and head to Beaumont Children’s Hospital in Royal Oak.

That’s where you can help by being a part of Moonbeams for Sweet Dreams.

“deep in the meadow, hidden far away 

a cloak of leaves, a moonbeam ray

forget your woes

and let your troubles lay.”

-suzanne collins

 

credits: beaumont children’s hospital, wwj radio

https://www.beaumont.org/health-wellness/moonbeams

golden.

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feeling grateful

for a wonderful surprise

from two of my friends

who gave me their set of original golden books

something i have always wanted 

since i was a young child.

they knew i would treasure them.

“life is always bringing unexpected gifts.”

-mary sarton

soup.

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time well spent

on a cold and sunny day

 listening to music, reading words, and making soup.

 

“there ain’t a body, be it mouse or man, that ain’t made better by a little soup.” 

-kate dicamillo

 

 

 

image credit: jess stockham, illustrator, flip-up fairy tales

 

fly.

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this crew has built their own airplane.

they are flying to australia.

it will take them “70 miles long” to get there.

i have no doubt they will arrive safely and on time. 

“to invent an airplane is nothing. to build one is something. but to fly is everything.

-otto lilienthal

do more of that.

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where hobbies, hijinks, and capers go bad = my childhood #8

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as the youngest of 3 daughters

it took me a while to realize

that i was often being used

as the canary in the coal mine

sent in first to check

if the mud was sticky

if the place was scary

if it was wet

if there were spiders or alligators

if the others could squeeze in somewhere

if we were going to get in trouble

for whatever crazy scheme we thought up that day

i was curious and relished the adventure

excited to try things first

only to realize time and again

that it generally

had not

been a good idea in the first place.

whoever thinks they can fool me 267 times or so

has got another thing coming….

“a younger sister is someone to use as a guinea pig in trying sledges and experimental go-carts. someone to send on messages to mum. but someone who needs you – who comes to you with bumped heads, grazed knees, tales of persecution. someone who trusts you to defend her. someone who thinks you know the answers to almost everything.

~ pam brown

 

image credit: lets feast.feast-ed.org

 

de-lovely.

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just. yes.

there are good ideas and then there are great ideas—

these are clearly in the latter category.

“Renowned for its indulgent blend of fresh, premium Irish dairy cream, the finest spirits, aged Irish whiskey and a unique chocolate blend, the iconic Bailey’s Original Irish Cream flavor profile pairs magically with rich, semi-sweet chocolate to create this decadent treat,” a  press release states. “Eat them by the handful on-the-go or mix into your favorite baked good recipe, these chips deliver on the flavor and smell of Bailey’s.”

 

“it’s delightful, it’s delicious, it’s de-lovely.”

-cole porter

 

 

 

 

 

credits: my recipes.com, well done

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re-imagine.

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when you combine

dots, pencils, whales, glitter, markers, acorn caps. and glue

and make them into a good day.

“the visionary starts with a clean sheet of paper, and re-imagines the world.”

-malcolm gladwell

dramatist.

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olive the cat not the oil

cooly waits beneath the tree

acting as though she has not even noticed 

this new 6-foot thing in our living room

with lots of moving and dangling and twirling things on it

after i put it all up and walk away

she plans out her next day of play

knowing that i’ll be leaving for school

early in the morning. 

“the cat is, above all things, a dramatist. ”     

-margaret benson

 

kindle.

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warm and friendly evening spent

at the annual kindlefest winter market

“christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality.”

— washington irving

 

 

kerrytown, ann arbor, mi, usa – 2018