2010-03-22T11:55:06Z http://kerirecommends.com/atom.aspx Quick Blogcast tag:kerirecommends.com,2010-03-01:d581414a-95dd-4733-8a6b-f3621bc00fd0 Keri Collins 2010-03-01T16:29:00Z 2010-03-01T16:29:00Z I love this story about a man passionately committed to books and kids. How many people would ride a donkey 8 hours *to give educational opportunities to someone else*?I love teachers and librarians. Crazy, wonderful, best people in the world.Hug a teacher or librarian today. Photo from the Nueva Granada Web site. ... tag:kerirecommends.com,2010-02-20:7fd61524-29e1-4455-a821-085e57f51f47 Keri Collins 2010-02-21T01:49:00Z 2010-02-21T01:49:00Z This afternoon Mark and I went to check out the trees that were planted on 2 acres of our property. Right now, they look like thin sticks, some with bright orange plastic tape tied to them to mark their location. Cypress in the wettest places, nuttall oak and other hardwoods in the "dry" places (which were extremely muddy, and the soil has a high clay content, which equals sticky). About 530 baby trees were planted today. The hope is that more than 50% survive.It will take about 10 years to see much progress in the hardwoods, ... tag:kerirecommends.com,2010-02-20:73200a83-e5d8-4430-a0c2-fc08bd4cfc7c Keri Collins 2010-02-20T12:59:00Z 2010-02-20T12:59:00Z One of the ideas from my college studies in the field of education is the difference between "schooling" and "learning." The former is what takes place in a building or classroom (though now of course it can take place in the virtual classroom as well!), the latter is what we pursue our entire lives. Education is a lifelong process, from the moment we're born, through our school years, and on.I'm fortunate, I think, in that I love to learn new things. This is not to say that certain topics aren't intimidating or challenging, but I very much enjoy ... tag:kerirecommends.com,2010-02-12:12abe64e-839b-45e6-b13f-13f3cc9a669b Keri Collins 2010-02-12T19:18:00Z 2010-02-12T19:18:00Z I've always wanted to write a book about cool jobs I never knew existed. There's the tv show about dirty jobs (blech, I wish those had remained unknown!).There's a bunch of jobs that didn't exist (most somehow connected with technology) when I was in 8th grade, toiling away in Mr. Haines's class, investigating and reporting on five future jobs I'd like to have. For the record, journalist, author, teacher, and floral designer were the four I can remember. Today, in Exchange magazine, a magazine for people in the early childhood field, I read an interview with one Sharon ... tag:kerirecommends.com,2010-02-07:88c0a6c0-0b62-42a6-87d4-7ae585b2630f Keri Collins 2010-02-07T23:14:00Z 2010-02-07T23:14:00Z Last night we watched The Sound of Music (Two-Disc 40th Anniversary Special Edition because Sarah insisted she's never seen it. Which, in my family, is akin to declaring you have some sort of horrid disease, but that's another story. We had a marvelous evening, which ended with the "sing-along" options on the DVD Special Features. This morning I grew philosophical about the movie, and came up with this list. Feel free to add your own lessons in the comments! Normal 0 ... tag:kerirecommends.com,2010-01-30:26435318-6b7a-4d38-93b9-e590910540ed Keri Collins 2010-01-30T14:24:00Z 2010-01-30T14:24:00Z When I was very young, my sister and I loved to play outside in our tiny, postage-stamp yard in California. One scenario I recall being enacted repeatedly was one I'll call the "damsel in distress." One of us would dig a hole in the garden (likely me as Kellie has always been dirt-averse), fill it with water from the green garden hose, then stand in it, pretending it was quick sand and we were slowly being sucked in. Cue the screaming and the dramatic save by the sister, who would pull the shrieking damsel to safety.I'm sure all ... tag:kerirecommends.com,2010-01-29:90a47675-0d91-47b5-8695-d025e92a11c7 Keri Collins 2010-01-30T00:40:00Z 2010-01-30T00:40:00Z I collect quotes. This week, I've been fortunate enough to see a couple that I've noted down in times of discouragement bear fruit."The greatest results in life are usually attained by simple means and the exercise of ordinary qualities. These may for the most part be summed up in these two: common-sense and perseverance." -- Owen Feltham"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Persistence and determination are omnipotent." -- Calvin CoolidgeWhat happened?I was offered a monthly column in the magazine I write for. Out of the clear blue.Encouraged, I offered to guest blog for the Children's ... tag:kerirecommends.com,2010-01-26:06cddbf7-a1cf-4856-b4f3-df7918965030 Keri Collins 2010-01-26T15:57:00Z 2010-01-26T15:57:00Z I read this at work today: "I still don't have the ability to look at a situation and figure out the effect of my behavior. I act on impulse. Please be sensitive and keep in mind the magic word, 'patience.'" No, it's not from the point of view of a teenager.It's a two year old speaking. Theoretically. Source of picture unknown at this time. Sorry. If you are the image owner, please email me! ... tag:kerirecommends.com,2010-01-26:d0cb4113-3d35-4382-9e9f-6f01fc999bcb Keri Collins 2010-01-26T14:19:00Z 2010-01-26T14:19:00Z A friend sent me a link to the blog For Love or Funny. Yesterday's entry, "How to Find True Love -- a guide for teens" was spot on, both humorous and insightful, with the photos of portraits from the author's recent museum excursion a delightful, old-fashioned illustration of the timeless truths proffered to teens, but that apply to lovers of all ages. The last line especially resonates: "For girls: You are responsible for your own happiness. Don't expect your boyfriend, your fiance or your husband to make you happy. That's your job!"I ... tag:kerirecommends.com,2010-01-20:358d6167-3cf7-4181-9b42-8ae155d717d4 Keri Collins 2010-01-20T21:05:00Z 2010-01-20T21:05:00Z One benefit of my job is finding a kindred spirit on the first floor. She is a writer/editor and we get to collaborate on publication projects. It's nice to have someone save me from making an idiot of myself in print. Or, someone I can discuss color palettes with, as in "This brochure looks great but we'd like to see it in bubble gum colors instead."Today she shared a link to a piece she wrote for an on-line magazine and it's *so funny* in a wicked, smart, and sassy way: "The Single Mama's Resolutions for 2010." ... tag:kerirecommends.com,2010-01-18:334085e8-d86a-4851-80d2-6dbe35edeea9 Keri Collins 2010-01-18T21:45:00Z 2010-01-18T21:45:00Z If you enjoy typefaces, there's a quick online quiz I took courtesy of Mari at What Maisie Knows. Note that the password to the quiz is "character."The quiz itself includes video, with the questions posed by a gentleman whose head never appears in the frame but who speaks to you and writes your answers on his notepad.I found my assigned type perfect, both in its description and in the assessment of my personality. What I found slightly creepy is that I believe Perpetua is the type I selected when I bought engraved note cards with my married name ... tag:kerirecommends.com,2010-01-14:0d63ffe5-0cd0-4362-a0e0-8ffd97d07fef Keri Collins 2010-01-14T20:42:00Z 2010-01-14T20:42:00Z Two things I do: review children's books and work in early childhood education. When I wrote my original review for Children's Lit (which is posted below and will eventually appear on the Barnes & Noble Web site), I suggested that it would be a good option for story time and reading aloud to groups because the illustrations are so BIG. On my Website, I indicate it's a good selection for preschoolers.Then, this week I attended a training on the Infant and Toddler Environmental Rating Scale (Revised) taught by one of the authors. To say she is ... tag:kerirecommends.com,2010-01-13:3d211dc0-e898-4171-aee5-682442361ebc Keri Collins 2010-01-14T04:56:00Z 2010-01-14T04:56:00Z The Benevolent Postcard Society is the creative project of Lori Langille, a collage artist and blogger at Automatism. I heard about this collaborative art project from my friend Mari. She's a member, and thanks to Facebook, two California friends are also members. Each month we receive the name and address of another member, and our task is to send him or her a postcard on the first day of the month. The first mailing was in September, and the project will last for a year. As members live all over the world, one major discovery has ... tag:kerirecommends.com,2010-01-12:66e4d128-f167-4190-bbd4-ba1c8b0077bf Keri Collins 2010-01-13T00:15:00Z 2010-01-13T00:15:00Z I *adore* baked goods. This photo by rogale marcinskie makes me drool. (Found it on Flickr in the Perfect Pastries Pool.)I also adore baking goods. Especially for people who enthusiastically receive them, and praise my cooking abilities. Sooooo, I laughed very very loudly when my dear friend Jana sent me the magnet below. It's so true. Food is love. Virtual coconut macaroons and a pan of shortbread to you, my friend. Thanks! ... tag:kerirecommends.com,2010-01-12:ca8bed25-53f7-4754-8a01-257b746729a3 Keri Collins 2010-01-12T18:37:00Z 2010-01-12T18:37:00Z (Time by Eric at http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikvanhannen/537167308/)I'm on my lunch break. I've given up my office space for colleagues to debrief after a training, so I'm sitting in the "lobby" of the suite, looking rather like an administrative assistant (except they get better chairs than the one I'm sitting in, which I stole from the seating area no one uses) or a student worker (if someone would be kind enough to think I look that young).I could spend my lunch break in the break room. However, in the break room there is a television. A very large screen tv ... tag:kerirecommends.com,2010-01-10:e86adcff-1672-4635-bee1-274dd5f82093 Keri Collins 2010-01-10T22:06:00Z 2010-01-10T22:06:00Z From Philippa's Photography, Incurable Hippie via Flickr: http://philippaphotography.blogspot.com/2008/11/sewing.htmlI'm diligent about sewing on buttons. I'm not terrible about stitching up small holes either. But big mending tasks defeat me. Part of it was the lack of a sewing machine; however, when my parents came to visit in October my mom brought me an *amazing* piece of equipment: a Bernina with a touch screen and embroidery attachment. Yes, in theory, I could be monogramming the fire out of all of our towels, pillow cases, and clothes. But what I've actually done with this sewing machine is ... tag:kerirecommends.com,2010-01-07:5d95dbda-df1c-42ba-b41f-742935d8d8ae Keri Collins 2010-01-07T18:27:00Z 2010-01-07T18:27:00Z As I write this, snow is falling in Mississippi. My workplace closed due to the prediction of icy roads and treacherous weather conditions. While people in other climates may scoff, we're simply not prepared to deal with this type of rare occurrence. Snow days . . . an unexpected gift in the middle of gray and icy winter. A day to snuggle under the covers, drink coffee at a leisurely pace, journal, and relax. A day to loaf without apologizing, without feeling guilty over the many tasks that *should* be done. A day for reflecting and ... tag:kerirecommends.com,2010-01-04:8af1e413-48e8-4717-b5ab-52c701998753 Keri Collins 2010-01-04T22:26:00Z 2010-01-04T22:26:00Z Today it snowed in Starkville, MS. When not digging a path out of my email Inbox due to the University being closed (blissfully, mercifully) for two weeks, I’d wonder at the white bits of fluff swirling past my window. Snowflakes are impervious to embarrassment or self-consciousness, so watching them is never a problem. People watching can be. For example, while in the Los Angeles International Airport on Christmas Day, my 16 year old stepdaughter’s eyes were as big as, say, 767 tires. Not only was her amazement at the glorious diversity of the general public visible, sometimes it ... tag:kerirecommends.com,2010-01-01:8e5a7a45-21b2-4e56-9865-8bdfbbc75aec Keri Collins 2010-01-02T03:13:00Z 2010-01-02T03:13:00Z Dear Mrs. R.L. Woods (I got your name from a receipt I found in the attic):I know you have been dead for over five years but I wanted to thank you for allowing me to go through your closet today. The care with which you crocheted coverings for all of the clothes hangers impressed me greatly, and it was actually the hangers that had my husband asking me to peek into the dark recesses of the "upstairs"/attic closet. (You would be appalled at the condition the rest of the house is in, but your closet is as though ... tag:kerirecommends.com,2009-12-31:a641c844-9261-4552-a864-a161b04d3c02 Keri Collins 2009-12-31T23:27:00Z 2009-12-31T23:27:00Z I don't remember how I stumbled upon The Happiness Project, but it's been several months and I like a lot of what Gretchen Rubin has to say. Her book should arrive any day! She repeats her main points enough over the course of time that the best bits come to mind, such as her "Secrets of Adulthood". On New Year's Eve, the first one feels true: "The days are long but the years are short." It's easy for me to be especially reflective on NYE, because January 1st is also my wedding anniversary. Tomorrow marks ...