Fostering a new renaissance through creativity, authenticity, spirituality, and art
Polly Castor 
Yesterday I met the teacher that will teach my youngest daughter’s AP Drawing class next year. Unlike most AP classes where there is a test, this AP art class is a submitted portfolio. These kids do one drawing such as these per week with an estimated 15 hours put in on each one. The teacher … Read more
Today I went to the High School at Home Conference in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. It was a 4.5 hour drive from here, and I went with a friend who is also a homeschooling mom. We left at 4:15am and returned at 11:30pm, having shared a full and enlightening day. This is the first time either of … Read more
I loved this short book and give it five stars. Thank goodness we are not our mothers, and thank goodness for them. Women’s potential has been marginalized for thousands of years, but our mothers were the first generation where there were more opportunities for them and they could entertain the idea of having a career, … Read more
I’ve recently been speaking with some wonderful women about both parenting and homeschooling. This has underscored for me some differences in my approaches, which are serving me well. And while parenting three teenagers is not without its bumps and exasperating moments, I am not tearing my hair out, nor throwing up my hands, as some … Read more
This page represents July 1, 2011 through July 12, 2011. See close-ups of recent entries below. Enjoy!
As a Christian Scientist, I take my weekly Bible Lesson study very seriously. This is simultaneously grounding and elevating. I recommend it highly! Here in this post are some of my recent study notes; I limit myself to two pages of notes per week, wanting to squeeze the essence out of each topic. And of … Read more
A whole lot of you wanted me to read this book, and so I finally have. I must say, sales of five million self-published books is quite impressive. But I’ve had serious mixed feelings about it. I would have enjoyed the discussion of eternity more if I didn’t have to wade through tragedy to get … Read more
Secrets of Beauty “For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the goodness in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never … Read more
Our youngest daughter just got home from Adventure Unlimited Camp which was part of her National Leadership Council class of 2015 required leadership training. Their group is based on trust, love, respect, harmony and inclusiveness. They tried to push these kids past any limits with a variety of strenuous activities. They hiked to the summit … Read more
Pedal Downhill I like to coast effortlessly gliding, wind-in-my-face exhilarating – I’ll deal with that next hill when I have to. I like to float buoyant and restful, meditative and calm – I’ll get somewhere at another juncture. And some of this is good: a Sabbath one seventh of the time. But the rest of … Read more
When you have a lot of arugula growing in your garden, you are hard pressed to get it all eaten; there are only so many arugula salads you can eat! This recipe is great for cooking down volumes of the stuff in a delectable way. (Serves 2) Sautéed Arugula recipe 5 cups of Arugula … Read more
Sometime the potter’s wheel is a struggle, and other times it isn’t. This bowl was one of those that emerged effortlessly from the wheel and was a meditative joy to glaze. It is not surprising, then, that I like the outcome!
Happy July 4th! Yesterday in church we sang Hymn 83 in the Christian Science Hymnal and I was struck with the appropriateness of it for this holiday. Let’s cherish the freedom of all of God’s children today in every way, and not only those special privileges we exercise as fortunate citizens of the Unites States! … Read more
I’ve been following this issue for a long time as the unwitting use of genetically modified foods escalates. Genetically modified foods are unsustainable, environmentally damaging, unhealthy, and don’t even increase yield (other than financially for their creators.) The pushers of GMO products have powerful political lobbyists, and huge profit incentive to keep this issue minimized; … Read more
Even though I was recommended to see this film, I myself, would not recommend it to you. It is thought provoking, but I did not like nor agree with where those thoughts were led. This movie is searching for God within a Christian context, and does not find Him, in my opinion. (God is not … Read more
Gandhi quote on violence “The Roots of Violence: Wealth without work, Pleasure without conscience; Knowledge without character; Commerce without morality; Science without humanity; Worship without sacrifice; Politics without principles.” ~ Mohandas K. Gandhi ~
When a friend ripped this out of her yard years ago we took it on and are so glad we did. More frothy than a traditional globe hydrangea, it is quaint and more subtle. The periwinkle blue is outstanding.