May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun

And find your shoulder to light on,

To bring you luck, happiness and riches

Today, tomorrow and beyond.

~Irish Blessing

Engaging Learners through Artmaking

Yesterday was like Christmas...receiving an autographed copy of

Kathy and Diane's book "Engaging Learners through Artmaking".

I am so proud of them and amazed by all the hard work it took to finally get THE BOOK published!! Congratulations! Kathy and Diane: You are amazing, inspiring women!!

This morning I had a chance to start reading the book. Great forward by George Szekely. Wonderful Preface by John V. Crowe (one of my amazing college prof.). Then I started reading the text. So wonderful to reconnect with parts of my brain that were lurking under topics like "potty training" and shopping lists.

Then, what a nice surprise to read a quote from our research for the Brown University Knowledge Loom with Kathy, Diane and John in the summer of 2002. And look...my name as a source for the quote!! Okay, so it's just "Brannigan", but how cool is that. I got more excited showing the kids, so we took a picture of them holding the book that Mommy was so excited about:Here is a picture from the Reference page at the back of the book:



And the quote that caught my attention:

My ego is on cloud 9...okay, it was...before Bridget knocked over Patrick's building, then a dirty diaper and now off to unload the dishwasher...back to reality, but what a nice diversion! Thanks, Kathy for sending me my very own copy of the book!

I am so proud of my mentors and friends! You rock!

Bridget's First Haircut - Memories of My Memere

Back in June

Mom went upstairs.

Children were crafting

with safe scissors.

Laundry lured me.

It deterred me.

When I made it back

down the stairs,

I found a house

sprinkled throughout

with tiny bits of yarn.

As I began to scold,

Patrick looked up.

This is what I saw:


He was proud and smiling.

I knew this day would come.

They all do.

I wasn't prepared.

"You cut your hair?!"


"No, Bridget did. Doesn't it look great?"
Yes, Bridget takes after my Memere...

The hair dresser.

The hair dresser who always wanted curly hair.

So much that she'd get in trouble at school

in rural Canada, for going to bed

with curlers in her hair.

She didn't care.

After lights out

She kept curling.

She curled her hair and her clients

for many years.

She would just love Bridget's curls.

I scolded .

This is nothing to smile about.

I didn't realize it right away,

but Bridget cut her hair, too.

I can smile now.

Hair grows back.

Scissors are hidden.

Only with constant adult eyes.

and stern warnings.

Paper only.
Yarn only.
No hair.
No clothes.
::Sigh::

Mothers Day Tea at Scituate Early Learning Center preschool

I wish I could have captured the volume and controlled chaos of this heartwarming celebration!
The monkey bread Patrick's class made...hey, that's Memere sitting there...and I barely see the top of Bridget's head...LOL!
Patrick and Miss Naomi

Bridget and Miss Jackie

Wish I had gotten pics with ALL their teachers...my bad...too much going on.
Thanks to them all for this super special morning!