the smallest ones

in the last month, i've been sketching portraits of
the kids in our enrichment program
during outside play-time.
it's a precious thing:
to look at them carefully, so close up,
for generous amounts of time--
their dear and rascally selves balancing on my ankles
with eyes gazing into mine.
i like to spend time really looking at these children,
beginning to see the things I wouldn't, otherwise,
and letting them know that they've been seen
(at least for the 5-10 minutes they can bear to sit still-ish).
sweet and smart sarah
inspires me all the way from her pre-school in lesotho;
she wrote three posts full of thoughtful descriptions
of the children she wrangles.
i am feeling moved to copy her--
knowing that my careful attention to these sparkly little beings
can only help me respond better to their needs.
it's like looking at art-- the more you look,
the better acquainted you become,
and the easier it is to love- or, at least, appreciate-
and someday understand.

{i'll try to do a few descriptions this week,
and will scan some of the drawings, too!}

happily (and gainfully, mom and dad...) employed!

{just started my new job as the director of an arts-based, waldorf-inspired enrichment program at my favorite school in downtown anchorage! am feeling very, very blessed, and so glad to be back 'in the field' with an incredible community. click the logo above to learn more about winterberry.}

alaska agriculture

this week i'm taking an
agriculture in the classroom
course in palmer.
it's been dreamy to tromp around on farms,
speak with farmers
and other impressive agriculture experts,
and eat locally-grown food.
we met bison and barn cats,
picked our own salad for lunch
and ate celery cut straight from the ground.
and today we got to see a
precious, 5-hour old (new!) calf.
so amazing!

a sense of wonder

tonight, amanda and i
went to the loussac library
for the annual
rachel carson celebration
sponsored by ACAT
(alaska community action on toxics).
we watched kaiulani lee's
beautiful new film,
a sense of wonder,
which illuminates
carson's "love of the natural world
and her fight to defend it."
i was reminded of
waldorf education;
of eleanor duckworth's
"having of wonderful ideas" pedagogy;
and of a song i'm writing called
"wonders will not cease."
{so cool when things all
come together like that!}
i highly recommend
watching the film
when you can.

"YOU ARE BRILLIANT...

...AND THE EARTH IS HIRING."
if you have 20 minutes, read this.
it's paul hawken's may 3rd
commencement address
to the university of portland's class of 2009.
wow.