Friday, March 20, 2009

CELEBRATING SRING IN ARIZONA

Yesterday I had a most exciting trip to Phoenix with a friend. We were going to a special event at the Phoenix Desert Botanical Gardens. The renowned glass artist, Chihuly, had placed many of his artistic works in and around the gardens and they were there for 6 months. So my friend and I sat off at 8;00 in the morning admiring the wildflowers along the side of the road. We arrived at the Gardens shortly before noon for our noon to 4:00 reservations. We were so glad we had planned ahead as that time slot was sold out! It was a bit warm for Spring but in return the warmth brought out the wild flowers and the cactus blossoms in profusion. The glass art was placed around the gardens with great forethought and what wonderful surprises to turn a corner or look up to see a bit of bright colorful glass beckoning us on for a closer look. I have about 100 pictures in my Shutterfly account so if you are interested, let me know and I will share more.

Catch an exhibit if it comes anywhere near where you live.

Friday, March 13, 2009

Music Review

Clifford and I recently switched to dish TV and have found a wonderful station called Palladia. We have watched a few of the Crossroads performances and loved the pairings of Bonnie Raitt and Lyle Lovett and Robert Plant and Allison Krauss. If you haven't listened to Plant and Krauss sing together, you don't know what you are missing. Being a fan of ITunes, I have already downloaded some of my favorites from both shows.

Friday, March 6, 2009

SMOTHERS BROTHERS

Clifford and I took a trip to Laughlin, Nevada just to see The Smothers Brothers. We were faithful viewers in the 60's and loved their liberalism. They are still protesting, urging activitism and speaking their minds. But I don't think they will get fired by CBS this time. They were funny, musical and timely and ageless. If you get a chance to see them, do. If you have to make special plans like the couple who sat across from us, do that also. This couple from north of Milwaukee looked up the SMOBROS on the internet; saw they were going to be in Laughlin and flew out for a vacation planned around their show in Laughlin.

And our trip up was wonderful because we got to see all the wildflowers along the side of the road both coming and going.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

DOCUMENTARY TO SEE

We are all aware of the struggle women went through to get the right to vote. BUT how many people know how long it took and that the early pioneers for women's right to vote also aided the blacks freedom and then had to sit by and see them passed over once again.

My husband and I watched the very riveting documentary done by Ken Burns called "Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. I recommend it for every women AND man and remind all who read this to remember to vote every time you get an opportunity.

Monday, March 2, 2009

MOVIE REVIEWS

I still like recommend movies and books so will use this venue to do that. Right now I am reading an interesting book called "The Front Runner"; a true story about a gay track runner from a small collect called Prescott and his relationship with his coach, Harlan Brown.

I have become a great fan of Harlan Coben.

My sister and I were in Savannah and Charleston last fall and a wonderful book was recommended to us by a tour guide on the African Heritage Trail Tour. It is called "Hidden in Plain View" and is about the slave quilt patterns and the cultural significance of their patterns and how they facilitated their escape north.

More to follow

SHE'S BACK!!!!!!!!!!

I decided instead of ranting about things that were bad in the Bush era (just about everything), I would start the Obama era with good news about ways we can bring HOPE to America and abroad. I have collected a few items about ways we can share what we have with those who have a lot less. One is beadforlife. They have a web site, beadforlife.org. Please visit it. I had a jewelry party the other night and sold over $600 worth of the lovely bead jewelry made out of recycled paper by the women of Uganda. They then use the money to buy homes for their families, get much needed items like mosquito netting, malaria treatment, first aid kits, etc. It was so easy and fun to have this party.

And I just read a wonderful article in the Parade magazine of March 1st, about solar cookers for women in refugee camps in Africa. The web site is solarcookerproject.org and I intend to purchase one or two for the women to use. By cooking inside the camps, they are safer from being attacked and raped.

Spread it forward. Peace, Jean