20110331

靜著望




等候





靜著望






怕驚了它





八年

等候另一個八年

Thanks yanyan for the beautiful poem and the inspirations.
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20110329

MORE AND LESS
































papa & mama

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The contrasts, tone on tone and details ...
She had made these boring "flash cards" into not so boring artworks ...



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More vivid colors ...
Simpler composition ...
Thanks for your inspirations, my dear.

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20110328

MY EMBROIDERED CLOTH





From the talk by Sir Ken Robinson (a shared link on my last post), I was struck by his quote on dreams:

Aedh wishes for the Cloths of Heaven
by W.B. Yeats

Had I the heaven's embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet;
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.




" And, everyday, everywhere, our children spread their dreams underneath our feet. And we should thread softly. " said Sir Ken Robinson in the talk.
" ... We have to go from what is essentially an industrial model of education, a manufacturing model, which is based on linearity and conformity and batching people. We have to move to a model that is based more on principles of agriculture. We have to recognize that human flourishing is not a mechanical process. It's an organic process. And, you cannot predict the outcome of human development; all you can do, is create the conditions under which they will begin to flourish ... "


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These images were taken before last summer (early June 2010) ...
After a rainy and windy day, unripe fruits were found everywhere on the ground. Iza picked them up and opened to see what they looked like before fully grown ... They were green and sour ...
The fruits had not yet begun to flourish before they were taken down by the wind.






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20110326

SWIM GALA







Sports day and swim gala are your favorite events in a school year.
Last year, I haven't put them down. This year, I try to do a little record.



(A shot during freestyle contest)




It was surreal to watch you standing on platform to receive your medals. I still remember how astonished I was when I received a call telling me that you were "selected" for a special swimming program in 2009 spring. We (parents and children) didn't know there was such a program. Yan, a coach you had never met before, had been staying by pool side for days to screen children of 5-6 years old. We did not know how a girl who could hardly coordinate her body and limbs was shortlisted with the other 3 children. It was a total mystery. During the training, Coach Yan told me that you had a feel with the backstroke style. Feel. Such a magic word. When I sat by the pool side to watch you all practicing, I learnt to watch water patterns created by the children. When one is in rhythm with water, you can see beautiful streamlines of water current around the body and whirling of water under the surface ... Swim is about in tune with water, how beautiful. After Coach Yan left the team and went back to Beijing for study, we also quitted the training after the summer 2009, just staying in regular class till now. But her words are still whirling in my head, like a spell.

At this year's swim gala, you break the school record of 50M backstroke (junior girl). Last year, you have broken the record of 25M backstroke (junior girl). We shouldn't be too serious about the records because your school does not have a strong swim history. But, obviously, backstroke is your strongest style among the four styles. I recall, the magical words: "you had a feel with backstroke".





Remember the days you four young kids trained with the older kids, you were always the one who left far behind?
Remember the days of strong sunshine, the pool was like boiling?
Remember the days of heavy rains, the coach didn't get her umbrella ... she was as wet as you all?
Remember the days when there was typhoon signal no.3, the wind roared so hard?
Remember you said that she was not fierce, she just had a loud voice?
I missed your smile without front teeth.
All are surreal.






1,2.....Mar 2, 2011
3,4.....Mar, 2009 The first day of training
4,5.....Aug, 2009


P.S.


I am so honored to be on the list of Stylish Blogger Award presented by Linen and Milk. I am so touched! Thank you!!!!

An interesting talk :

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20110322

SUNDAY










Sunday * Violin Class





I found pleasures in these "inconspicuous" moments ...
Seeing iza showing her self indulgent nature in front of her beloved teacher ...
Feeling secure and at ease ...
Less and less, she can be so relaxed in front of people ...
More and more, she needs to stay alert ... conform ... well behave ...





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Though she may not demonstrate a serious manner, she is a sincere student who learns by her heart.





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20110321

SPRING






Hills are veiled in morning mist.
Spring is in the air.

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"Uplifting sights and sounds surround
New life at every door
Birth of Spring reminds us all
That life renews in us once more.

Flowers dormant underground
Push through earth, reveal
Brilliance in the light of Spring
Warmth for all to feel.

In thankfulness we lift our eyes
With loving thoughts in heart
We give thanks for all things good
For blessings the Creator imparts.

Let our hearts be ever glad
For beauty that abounds
And gives a taste of heaven's glory
Where Spring is all around.

By caring, sharing gifts on earth
With those who need a blessing
We'll one day reap eternal Spring
In the presence of our Creator
Living a divine blessing."

A spring prayer
Susan Helene Kramer









Dress : suvi ainoa
Brooch : mra
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