Steal Like an Artist & Show Your Work

Recently, someone suggested that I get and read the two books, Steal Like an Artist and Show Your Work, both by Austin Kleon.  These books have opened my eyes to a whole new possibility of expression!

Fuzzy Eyes

For the last few years, lately, when I watch too much TV, too much time on my computer or phone, or worst of all, too much time reading a book, my eyes get "fuzzy."  Everything around me looks out of focus, like this:

It's like a cramp in the muscles behind my eyes - the ones that control the focus - and I can't see anything well, even with my glasses on!  I asked my eye doctor about it, & he told me the muscle cramp theory.



Sometimes, I can get it to settle down by exercising my eye muscles.  The most fun exercise is rolling my eyes - that works best if my kids are watching! lol!!

The Atomic Age

The Atomic Age in the United States caused not only a plethora of scientific inventions, expansions, and new knowledge - it also brought about new ideas, new styles, and new ways to do old things.

Check out this clock from the 1950's - typical of the Atomic Age style that was prevalent in those years.

Or who could forget those glasses - who ever thought that THIS was a good idea??!!

Books mentioned in Winter 10



Photo by teresia



Last year, during the Winter Semester, most of my classes and teachers mentioned several books that I simply did not have time to read.  I wrote a note about each book, hoping that I would have time later to revisit the subject.

I thought it might be of interest to see the classes & books I took:

Classes I took:

   Honors Biology 100

   American Heritage100

   Honors Book of Mormon 122

   Introduction to Mechanical Engineering 191

   Western American History in the 20th Century 361

Book Report

As mentioned in Megan’s Hot Chocolate News our group read Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, the story of Nathaniel Bowditch, the man who revised the standards for sailing ships around the world.

Set just after the Revolutionary War period, tall sailing ships sailed around the world, trading spices, clothing, machines, and ideas, young Nat Bowditch grew up in Salem, Massachusetts, part of a family of sailors.  When he was only 12 years old, he was indentured at a Chip Chandlery – a sort of hardware store for ships and sailors.  While there, he discovered that he had a knack for learning on his own. 

Our selected book

Our group met at the LBLL today to choose our book - we had a lot of great books to choose from - some from reads in years gone by, and others from the Honors Reading List, and still others that just looked interesting.  All were great selections, which made it hard to choose!

Book Review ideas

Since I HomeSchooled our children for 18 years, whenever I think of a book to read regarding some historical event, my mind automatically turns to the Juvenile section of the library.  There I can always find short, interesting, colorful, fact-filled books that are fun to read  and look through!  Jean Fritz is always a great author.  I love the Newberry Award books (even though they usually aren't historical - but sometimes they are!).  And there seems to be a recent flood of historical books that have awesome picture-book presence!

So ... my suggestions are ...