Quilting and Praying for Zacaria

 One of the little girls in the group I am helping in the Kindergarten class has a little girl named Zacaria.  All of you former teachers out there know that was a pretty hard name to learn to read and write when you are a five year old.  But Zacaria has learned to read and write her name, can say her numbers to 100 and write them to 20.  She has had some trouble saying them backwards from ten but we are working on that.

 One of the hardest things to do has been to get her to talk.  We know she can but is reluctant to do so at school.  She hardly talked at all last year in our 4 year old class.  I talked to an expert in reading and writing and she said it is because children and adults of her ethnicity don't converse.  I think it may have something to do with the fact she is the only black child in the class.  Oracity is what they call the ability to talk fluently with well formed complex sentences.  The better they talk; the better they will read, according to research.  I now spend more time in conversation with Zacaria; not just working on skills but talking.  She is talking more.

I'm not sure who looks happier in this picture taken by her teacher.  I think maybe it is me.  Despite the closed eyes (she took two pics, my eyes are closed in both :(  it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see I am deliriously happy.   This little girl lives in a mobile home with many adults and many children.  Her Mom works second shift, 3-11 PM so she doesn't see her much.  So when you think about the Zacarias in this world.  Pray a prayer; and pray their teachers have the love and knowlege to light their pathway.....one step at a time.  Oh, and if someone asks you to give to Haiti, to Compassion International, do that too.

Honey Bees

 Last week I visited a quilt group called the Honey Bees. 

Alice who has been a friend for 35+ years is a member.

This is Sonja who has endured four back surgeries but is still sewing :)

At the rear is Nancy Callahan a friend for at least ten years.  My Best Buddy Rita is in the black.

Front and center is Helen, a new friend and behind her Graham Baker a friend of a couple years.  Graham and Rita taught a class on an art quilt technique.  Everyone in the group was so sharing and kind; I really enjoyed being with them.  I normally sew alone so it was a treat to sew with other people and get their suggestions for the piece I was working on.

One of the best parts of the gathering is that they meet in a small church fellowship hall.  I love the reminders of Jesus on the walls and in the hearts and actions of these lovely ladies.  In fact, I'll be buzzing down the road tomorrow to officially join the Honey Bee Society!

Jack's Cosmic Hot Dogs and Awendaw

Saturday Hubs talked me into accompanying him down to Mount Pleasant to pick up a mother of a child at a facility in Awendaw. We decided to make a day of it and met our Charleston friends at Jacks Cosmic Dogs.  I had never been so I was delighted to see all the neat vintage ephemera and sample their hot dogs.

As you can see it is a humble place with plenty of business.

Don't you love the Cosmic Rocket?  I bet it really shows up at night.

Lots of young marrieds with children were there Saturday and every child wanted a turn on this vintage convertible.

It's a good thing the toy plane was hanging from the rafters or the children would have climbed on it too.

They offer more than hot dogs on the menu but we stuck with the dogs, fries, and of course a chocolate/vanilla swirl top cone.  I had a true Cosmic Dog which comes with sauerkraut.  I know only a Yankee likes sauerkraut on a hot dog instead of chili.

 I love the old signage on the door.

Another vintage toy car was inside.

Love all the decor on the way to the bathroom. Even the bathroom had cool vintage stuff in it but I resisted taking a pic.  You will have to go see for yourself!

This is the school at the boy's home (Winwood  Farm for Children).  The boys helped build the building; which is an excellent way to teach building skills in my book.

This is the dormitory at the home.  Lest you think this is all too fine for boys who are neglected or in trouble, let me assure you their life is not rosy.  But it is better than the one they left behind at home.  Please pray for this boys home and my son's, Billie Hardee Home for Boys.  It is not an easy "business" to be in at any time, especially during a recession.

100th Day

Tuesday, Grandson Gates got to go to work with me at my alma mater Plainview Elementary.

The first order of business was putting Froot Loops on a 100 chart.  Any misshapen ones were allowed to be eaten.  The Gator seemed to have an inordinate amount of misshapen loops, LOL.  The children then strung the loops onto yarn to make a necklace.  They were allowed to eat the loops off the necklace.  Gates' was bare in a matter of minutes.....he said he had grits, gravy and biscuits for breakfast....hmmmm.

Gates and Mrs. Anderson, the Ktg. teacher had quite a conversation. 

The children had brought 100 Day Projects which I wish I had taken close ups of....so clever. 

 All kids wore colorful glasses made with the number 100.  How very cute.

Mrs. Anderson baked a 100 Birthday cake and we sang "Happy 100 Days to US!" very enthusiastically.

I missed getting a picture of their ten blocks of ten...each made with a different food item....10 mini marshmallows, 10 pretzles, 10 Skittles, etc....Pop Pop and I helped Gates eat his bounty when we got through playing basketball, golf and climbing Dead Man's Hill, and exploring the "pond" ie old waterhole. Gates thinks Swamp People is filmed there....if it is we need royalties, people.

It was my first Hundreth Day Party....but hopefully not my last!