Leave No Child Inside

"All television is educational television. The question is: what is it teaching?" ~Nicholas Johnson

"I wish there were a knob on the TV to turn up the intelligence. There's a knob called 'brightness,' but that doesn't work." ~Author Unknown

TV? Cell Phones? Computers? We have limited ourselves to a 2 dimension life in a 3 dimension world. Not to be a hypocrite, I plead guilty to watching too much TV. I was watching some (crap) TV a few nights ago – and was just frustrated with myself – would have got more out of cleaning the garage. So – you have my permission to constantly remind me there is something better to do.

I’ve learned through Scouting that outdoor activities and interactive activities can lead to tremendous individual growth. This works for both youth and adults ~ we are all kids. There are several similar programs that can help. Another that has peeked my interest is Leave no child inside. ( http://leavenochildinside.org/ or http://kidsoutside.info/).

Here are a few notes from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF):

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that kids under 2 years old not watch any TV and that those older than 2 watch no more than 1 to 2 hours a day of quality programming.

The first 2 years of life are considered a critical time for brain development. TV and other electronic media can get in the way of exploring, playing, and interacting with parents and others, which encourages learning and healthy physical and social development.

As kids get older, too much screen time can interfere with activities such as being physically active, reading, doing homework, playing with friends, and spending time with family.

Of course, television, in moderation, can be a good thing:
Preschoolers can get help learning the alphabet on public television, grade schoolers can learn about wildlife on nature shows, and parents can keep up with current events on the evening news. No doubt about it — TV can be an excellent educator and entertainer.

But despite its advantages, too much television can be detrimental:
Children who consistently spend more than 4 hours per day watching TV are more likely to be overweight.
Kids who view violent acts are more likely to show aggressive behavior but also fear that the world is scary and that something bad will happen to them.
TV characters often depict risky behaviors, such as smoking and drinking, and also reinforce gender-role and racial stereotypes.

So - get outside!! Hike. Fish. Play golf, tennis, or horseshoes. Take the dog for a walk. Better yet - take somebody with you!!

"TV. If kids are entertained by two letters, imagine the fun they'll have with twenty-six. Open your child's imagination. Open a book. " ~Author Unknown

"The smallest bookstore still contains more ideas of worth than have been presented in the entire history of television." ~Andrew Ross

Jewelry class

~ Not on one strand are all life's jewels strung. ~ William Morris

~ All art is autobiographical; the pearl is the oyster's autobiography. ~ Federico Fellini

OK - so our jewelry class is over. We've got mixed feelings. The weather is getting nicer - so the Saturday afternoon class was a time buster - would rather have a winter class. BUT - we learned a lot in just 4 sessions - and realized how much more we'd really need to learn. At first glance, we were advised maybe we should keep our day jobs. We certainly are more appreciative of the work of real artisans.

We will probably try this again - although we will be better prepared next time. There is another teacher that may offer a Bronze class - that'd be fun too!

Here are a few pictures of our class projects - and the process:

~ I think men who have a pierced ear are better prepared for marriage. They've experienced pain and bought jewelry. ~ Rita Rudner

Happiness

“No one can pass through life, any more than he can pass through a bit of country, without leaving tracks behind, and those tracks may often be helpful to those coming after him in finding their way.” Lord Baden Powell

Troop 777 had an Eagle Court of honor for Trevor this past Sunday. (Please note that I avoid last names in most of my blogs for security reasons.) I’m not as involved with Scouts as much as the past, but attend meetings and ceremonies occasionally. Eagle Ceremonies are quite an endeavor – as Trevor’s Dad said to me, “I can’t imagine there is any more work in a wedding”.

Trevor had an ambitious Eagle Project, building racks for the drum room at Pendleton High School. He is very involved in music – and will be studying music at Oregon State University this fall – Go Beavs. Congratulations to Trevor!!!!



















I’d read a letter at the ceremony from Lord Baden Powell – which caused me to think a little more about happiness. I found the following notes from another source about Happiness:

HAPPINESS
Step 1 - We are our own creator for our own happiness. Happiness is the soul's joy and the possession of that which you cannot see but feel. Happiness is neither of the body nor the mind.

Step 2 - Happiness has a number of relatives such as gratification, satisfaction, contentment and pleasure. All of these are temporary. Gratitude is thankfulness within the heart.

Step 3 - Happiness is continuous. Happiness is like an orchestra where every instrument is part of the whole. It is true living. It is calm and peaceful. It never lives in an atmosphere of worry or struggle.

Step 4 - The basis of happiness is the love of something outside of self. The constant thing here is love. Love of parent, love for child, love of man and woman for each other, love of humanity in some form or a great passion for one's life's work. Happiness is the voice of optimism, of faith and of steadfast love.

Step 5 - No cynical person can be happy is evidenced by Prince Bismarck, one of the greatest statesmen of the 19th century. Eighty-three years of wealth, fame, honors, power, influence, prosperity and he has said, he has never known a 24-hour period where he has ever been happy in eighty-three years. He had a serious distrust of people.

Step 6 - Happiness comes from within and radiates out to others. Dedicate your life to some noble service to others and consecrate your life as such. An unselfish, kind and helpful person forgets himself sometimes to help others. When you consecrate yourself, it dignifies a humble life. It's a short cut to simplicity. It brings calmness and serenity to us. A step toward happiness is success. You rise above jealously, worry, pettiness and reside in a place of love.

Step 7 - The cure for unhappiness is to stay conscious. Stay alone with your consciousness then you can hear your Inner Voice's guidance and feel your steps. You will begin to know what real happiness is then. True happiness, outlives sorrow, and transmutes it to love. Give happiness not to yourself but to others. New strength each day should be your goal. Simple acts of kindness. Seek to radiate kindness and happiness to others. It nourishes your soul and cures your unhappiness.

Have a good Day!!!!!

A special Easter

"Easter is the demonstration of God that life is essentially spiritual and timeless."-- Charles M. Crowe

"Let the resurrection joy lift us from loneliness and weakness and despair to strength and beauty and happiness."-- Floyd W. Tomkins

It's a special Easter this year.

We volunteered to be mentors for a 8th grader, Caleb, at church during his confirmation process. The class is designed around workbooks called Making Disciples. There were about 10-12 work sessions where we discussed everything from Jesus to God to church membership. I met with Caleb after school one day each week. Connie was involved with after school programs - so she mostly went to church with us. The hardest part of the program was meeting with all the Elders of Session. The kids were VERY quiet - hard to do for 7th graders.


Caleb is a great kid. He had great questions - and we worked well through the lessons. Our scripture readings included all of the book of Luke. I am grateful for the experience. I was able to see faith through new eyes, and hopefully showed Caleb that we all have a faith journey that is filled with surprises, but must start somewhere. I got along well with Caleb because we share a joy of the outdoors. It will be a joy to see Caleb's activities over the next 4 years.

The culmination of the confirmation process was Caleb joining the church on Easter morning along with 2 other great kids; Morgan and Jake. What a great Easter!!!!

"He is risen; he is not here."-- Mark 16:6

"He takes men out of time and makes them feel eternity."-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Spring has Sprung at last!!!!

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome." - Anne Bradstreet

Anne - it's going to be a glorious spring because winter was hellacious!

It's been a loooooooong winter. Tooooooo long!!!!!!!


We finally have a few days of Spring in Eastern Oregon. This past weekend was a break from sitting around the fireplace reading books. The lawn was mowed - yeah, the mower started - flower seeds were planted - and yes, we played golf. I still need to wash the cars - ah, if there only was a little more time. Oh well.


The golf game is a little rusty - but we sure enjoyed getting out for a nice walk. The pace of play on Saturday was a little slow - lotza other golfers - but I didn't mind - at least we were outside. Sunday was much better.


Connie and I started a new class at the Pendleton Art Center. The Art Center offers several art classes each quarter - very relaxed atmosphere. It's interesting how life makes a full circle. While in college, I'd worked in a jewelry store for a few years. Much of the work was in the back room - engraving and minor watch and jewelry repair. Sooooo, I was excited about the class Connie wanted us to take - jewelry making.


Our first project is a relatively simple piece of jewelry - I'm making a broach for a necklace. We plan to make rings in a few weeks. It's just a four week class. I'll probably make a neckerchief slide for Scouts. ?? There was an elderly gentleman, Lee, that was sitting in our class. Lee was just observing the class, he'd apparently made a lot of jewelry in the past. Lee had a centrifugal casting devise used to make rings. We weren't too sure why he was in the class - just observing. So after about 20 minutes the teacher asked if he wanted to do anything. He indicated the reason he was there was to give the centrifugal devise (I'm sure there is a formal name) to somebody in the class that had a lot of interest. He apparently like what Connie and I were doing - so he gave it to us. WOW. The teacher said this is worth a lot of $$$. So, I'm planning to make Lee a Bolo tie with a western theme.


I'm also planning to help Scouts make a neckerchief slides for themselves. It'd be great to have individualized slides. Who knows - maybe we'll really get into this. I'm not sure there is room in the garage for another hobby. Good thing they don't have a garage cleaning class - I'd fail!!!


We'll post pictures of our ~fine~ projects in a few weeks - hope for the best.

"The music that really turns me on is either running toward God or away from God. Both recognize the pivot, that God is at the center of the jaunt." Bono

Grain elevator deconstruction

Here are photos of a deconstruction project in Weston, OR. This is a grain elevator that has not been used for several years. It was amazing to watch the activity over the last several weeks. There were thousands of 2"x6" boards that were nailed in several locations. The building was constructed at least 70 years ago. There was apparently no way to save the boards - so all was chipped except a few major beams. It was sad to see the boards converted to chip - but the building had become a safety hazard.