Give a child (or anyone really) a clean sheet of paper and markers or colored pencils or crayons and ask them to ‘free draw’. (That’s drawing without any examples or instructions.) The first question is, invariably, “What should I draw?” “Draw what you see.“ I always answer. “But, everything I see is boring.” “Then see
Read MoreFrom within the black void, my radiant consciousness stirs. This flutter kindles a smoldering ember, fragile as the wisp of smoke that gently undulates around me. For I am the Ember! Flames erupt and transform me from glowing, white-coated ash to deep crimson to scarlet to yellow to blinding light that pushes back the darkness.
Read MoreThe charming Disney tale was inspired by a Danish Fairytale written by Hans Christian Andersen and published in 1837. (FYI: The original story makes no mention of the name ‘Ariel’ nor any reference to skin color of The Little Mermaid or The Prince.) The original Fairytale, written for children, is about a Little Mermaid, with a beautiful,
Read MoreI remember lifting the crisp cardboard, yellow and green, rectangular box top and thrilling to every Crayola Crayon color name:The Exotics like- Prussian Blue, Aquamarine, Sepia, Mulberry, Mahogany, Thistle, Terracotta, Cornflower, and Periwinkle. Or the comfortingly descriptive: Lemon yellow, Forest Green, Orange, Plum, Sky Blue, Grey, Black, and the exquisitely subtle White. Then there were
Read MoreThe Great Rocks My continuing fascination with glacial erratics began at 30 Janet Road in Chelmsford, MA.My family lived near the end of this sleepy road in a 1960s, residential development. At 40 Janet Road (the end of our street) was a weathered sign proclaiming ‘Thanksgiving Town Forest.’ A little, paved, parking lot, with 4
Read MoreThe Old Man in the MountainI remember reading in bed one night when the radio announcer said, “The Old Man in the Mountain has just slipped from the rockface and is now nothing more than a pile of granite rubble.” I was stunned! Not The Old Man in the Mountain? It had been carved by glacial erosion
Read MoreVictuals and Drink This character is described as an old woman and not an old wife I think she lives alone. “She lived upon nothing but victuals and drink”. Victual is a word meaning food. Drink, on the other hand, is not used here as a verb but as a noun. Without the preposition a
Read MoreMany old nursery rhymes are not as warm and fuzzy as they are today. Some might even cause nightmares! Take for instance… Poor Polly Picklenose “Polly, Polly, goodness gracious! Now you quit that making faces.” Polly laughed at what they said, Cocked her nose and went to bed. But the big black Boog abo heard,and he came without a word; Walked right in — you bet a
Read MoreMore: Rock Stars Home All images and writing are copyright Mary Lee Mattison 1/8/1981 All rights Reserved.
Read MoreI have always been an Excellent Student! I’m not saying I’m wicked smart…Just I have always been an Excellent Student. What makes an Excellent Student? Let’s look back…I’d consider My Excellent Student ‘formative years’ Grades 4th thuough7th. Before that Excellent Student’s status depended ENTIRELY on one’s Mother, and mine was exemplary! She chaperoned every single
Read More