Amamee Scott-Stephan: My Hero

My daughters are amazing women and they all have such amazing friends. They make me want to jump up and down and cheer for today's young adults. It makes me ashamed that we didn't/couldn't have done more so that they would have to do much less. I am proud and in awe as they articulate their beliefs and stand up for causes that effect us all.

I find strength knowing that they have the capacity and integrity to make this world a better place. I am inspired by how their morality guides their actions and their intentional use of their intellect and creativity. My daughter's friend Amanee has committed to walk in the Philadelphia 3 day walk for the cure. I have family and friends who have been impacted by this devastating disease and so I am touched by it it in a very personal way. I think this is an important issue facing all women. I have three daughters and am not naive enough think they are immune from this disease, but that is not the only reason I am supporting Amanee.



I am supporting Amanee because I know there are at least a million other things that this young women could be doing next week end. I am supporting Amanee because there are a million other things she could have been doing all of the evenings and days that she spent raising the $2200 that she raised. I am supporting Amanee because she asked for me to help her, and I am honored that she thought enough of me to think that I would. The walk in Philadelphia begins on Friday, October 5 and ends in Philadelphia on October 7. Even if no one asked you, I'm sure that is someone who could use your help, so I'm asking you to reach out. You can even help this cause without contributing a dime. Just click right here

Natures Own Way...
My Organizing...
&
"DON'T USE THAT PICTURE!!!"



We didn't "dead head" our cone flowers this year we just let them have there way, and go to seed. The joy of unintended consequences was watching what happens in nature when you let it... You get to watch the goldfinch ignore your bird feeders for more tasty treats.








And you get to watch the elders teach the younger goldfinch how to extract the delicious seeds from the cones. (Much tastier I suppose then the store bought Niger).
















And if you're real lucky... You'll get to see the elder birds feed the young. It just doesn't get a whole lot better then this.

But what really amazes me is how they balance themselves on these flowers. AND the whole while these flowers don't move. These guys must be as light as air.












And can you believe this hold out. I thought that all the Passion Flowers were done. But there she was, and this picture doesn't do her justice!









And there's a lot going on in my studio too. For my b-day this year I got new cabinets. We went to IKEA and picked them out. We even bought them home that day. I really needed them and was so glad to get them. Did I say that my b-day was in March? Can't rush into these things you know. I hated to stop working in my studio to give my darling hubby a chance to put them up. Plus I had to move stuff around and all. It just really meant doing a lot of reorganizing... Maybe more appropriately reorganizing. Well, they're up now and I've started organizing. I'm sooooo proud of myself.




I must, however, admit that I have quite a ways to go...

But oh when I finish, it's going to be GREAT!!! At least for a little while!

But you gotta check out these two cuties.

Notice the deer in the headlights look.

Well the conversation went something like this.

Melinda: "Wow, Dad can you really take pictures with the computer?"

Dad: "Oh yea. It has this software here. I'm not really sure how it works."


Melinda: (As she walks over to join her father) "Well let's see."


Dad: "Well this is the software, so maybe if we just do..."

Melinda & Dad: "Oh Wow!"

The Day After...

WOW!!! So wonderful. A good nites sleep, an evening of peeking in windows and absorbing the warmth, and light and oh the joy of being invited. Doesn't get much better then that.

Except....

Going to visit the GRANDbaby!!

That's where I am today and there is nothing like a good dose of ALEXANDER. I got extra lucky today because I got to see 2 daughters and a GRANDbaby!!

So that's why I'll have to catch up when I get home tonight. I really have enjoyed the experience and eb... YOU ROCK.

It's time to dance at the Bloglandia Ball

The MOON is really putting on a show tonight
So that we can dance at the Bloglandia Ball...

And if we can't dance...
At least we can we sleep.

After waiting all this time for the Ball, here I sit at home with a migraine. Just my luck. And I even cleaned the house, rented a limo and practiced dancing. My dress was ready and I had found just the right shoes. Maybe I'll have enough energy to at least go over and peek through the window. The moon, the moon, the moon has come to soothe me. I'll sleep well tonight. Thank you.

I've always loved a Party!!

Three More Days...

The Bloglandia Ball

September 26

I've always loved a party! So I'm going to be hanging out with some wonderful artist at the Bloglandia Ball. I'm sure that you can come to.
Check in at this site: Be... Dream... Play...: "Keep your eye on the Ball"...,
or here Be... Dream... Play...: The Bloglandia Ball... for all information. There really seems to be a lot of talk about it in Bloglandia. Please do come. The more, the merrier.

A Tribute to the Newark Eagles

I don’t really know where this whole idea originated, or where this week end began, but it was a BLAST!!! A week end full of warmth, respect and love. There were many stories about the former days of Newark. What it was like to grow up in a city that was vibrant, alive and rich in baseball. Stories were told of The Grand Hotel and of Ruppert Stadium.

There were many “knot hole” kids present. Boys and girls still resident in the bodies and memories of men and women who had grown much older.

Men like Congressman Donald Payne, and his boyhood classmate and friend, Amiri Baraka. Men who remembered peering through the holes in the outfield fences, or being able to gather together 10 cents for ten games. Men, who shared high school memories of playing the game of baseball, like Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo, Jr.. Yes there were many who came to celebrate, commemorate and pay homage to the men who played the game of baseball in Newark to sell- out crowds, when only the ball was white.

As for me, I think that it probably started with a man who told a story about a father and son and their shared love of game of baseball.

His name is Tony Schuman, and he serves on the Newark Historical Commission. Tony chaired the Commission’s committee that championed this 2-day commemorative event. The event began with a reception and dinner in the Ballentine House at the Newark Museum. During the evening, Tony shared with us how much baseball had meant to him and his father. He pulled out the treasured worn glove that was his father’s and allowed us to have a glance and reminding us of our own gloves, and our own treasured connections with our pasts.

Because the dinner was in the Ballentine House we had the opportunity to feast our eyes on some of the treasures in the Newark Museum.What a treat!! I haven’t been to the Museum in years. If you haven’t, and you live in New Jersey or nearby, make it your business to get over there. Heck, you could even make a weekend out of it and stay at the Robert Treat Hotel that is across the street. I can vouch for the service as well as the accommodations for guests with disabilities. The Museum is packed full of some wonderful treasures. They still provide classes and have some exceptional things that they do for kids. I wish we could have had more time but I tried to take advantage of the moments we had. We plan on getting back real soon.

On Friday morning we went to the dedication of streets in Newark to former Newark Eagles. It was a beautiful tribute to some great men who had been forgotten and who remained unknown to most of Newark until now. .

Thanks, Joe Fox.

This plaque will be replicated in Bronze and be placed at the entrance of the development.

And although there are only a few names, they represent the talent and strength that was the Newark Eagles.


Did you know that there are eight Newark Eagles in the National Baseball Hall of Fame that played on the 1946 Newark Eagles Negro League World Series Team?



Their names are all now a permanent part of the Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium as a part of the Ring of Honor.

Here are some of them.

If you can name the other three, send me an e-mail in the comments section with their names. If I get more then one correct answer, I'll do a drawing for the winner. I promise a prize for the winner that I know you will enjoy! The drawing will take place on September 28th.

I've tried to give you a little feel for the week end. I can't begin to tell you how magical and wonderful it was. It was one of those "gotta be there" kinda things. Thank you City of Newark! Thank you Newark Historical Society! Thank you Newark Museum! Thank you Newark Bears!

If you ever have a chance to spend some time with any of the men of the Negro Leagues, don't miss it. They provided a view of what it takes to create an alternate reality; to choose to live your dream; to believe in yourself and to live your life with joy, commitment, and without doubt. What a model!

Fortunately, my grand-nephew was able to come and accept my father's medals for him. I know that he would be proud. I know that he is somewhere smiling. It was a special time. As you can see Jules was quite happy to do it. And held them in his little hands as the treasures that they were.



















I've added some additional shots from the tributes and the final dinner that my family shared with Monte Irvin and his daughter and a very dear friend Pam Irvin-Fields. We went to the famous Ironbound section of Newark and had a wonderful dinner at Fornos of Spain. Yummm. The evening proved to be quite long for Jules, but what JOY! Young man, you did have a busy day!



I hope you enjoy the slides. (I may have to set up another blog after all)

New Dolls and A Mermaid almost done

Well, this girl is basically finished. She does need some sort of large shell or even an iceberg from which she can emerge. There are some things about her that I'm not quite settled about yet. Can't put my fingers on it. But when I do I'll feel a lot better about her. The blues have been quite difficult to work... together. I also never was able to find the hair that I wanted.. needed so we settled. One thing that I LOVE is how she sparkles.

Speaking of Sparkles, this little cutie sure does. Believe it or not the fabric came first. Found it in a new shop when I was looking for something else. (Isn't that always the way.) I'm still trying to remember what I was looking for. This was so lushes, I had to have a little bit. So we've been working together--to work it out. She is one that requires sunny days.

I got to try out some new tools. I used a textile tool to burn around the embroidery in the fabric to use for her clothing. I started off with scissors but they weren't as effective. I like tools anyway. This one has an xacto knife you can attach to the end. It gets awfully hot though. Guess how I know that? I'll post a picture so you can see it tomorrow.













And this is Fatima. Her story is still unfolding, but I know that it is about her feet. The miles that they have walked and how they have support her. So I'm paying a lot of attention to them. I had thought about making her a pretty pair of sandals. We shall see. Anyway it's real late now. I need to think about, thinking about sleep. It's been a challenging day.

POP Lloyd Weekend

I tried to upload pictures of this year's Pop Lloyd Humanitarian Award winners, as well as some pictures of previous weekends. The pictures are not as clear as I had hoped they would be. I'll try again tomorrow, or later this week. It takes a lot longer to do then I had anticipated. And, it has gotten pretty late. If you want to see some better shots, more information or are just plain curious about what this is all about then click on the link to your left under Negro League Baseball. You can also use this link, or any of the others that include the words "POP" Lloyd.