No this doesn't have anything to do with the Jonas Brother's but it does have to do with family. Recently there has been a lot of talk about ancestors at our house and my husband and I have begun to search for our missing ancestors (a.k.a. genealogy) , and through that found a family history challenge for all ages on wiki. family search.
https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Main_Page from there click on the highlighted words "family history activities page" in the News and Updates section.
The Summer of Sleuthing Challenge has links to make family trees (standard or Tigger-iffic versions), as well as a coloring page and tips on interviewing relatives. That could get awfully creative! Maybe you could make a book, or a family newspaper, or a video, or a slideshow with pictures and music? I have even seen journals that have questions in them so one can write things down. Sometimes it is hard to think of things on the spot, for the interviewer and the interviewee. The important thing is to start asking questions like any good sleuth would do!
They also suggest keeping a journal of your finds and experiences, perhaps with your family.
Several years ago my dad interviewed his mother over the period of a few days. He thought of some questions to spark her memory and just let her talk while the video recorder ran and if they needed to they checked dates and added it the next day. That is really priceless to me now, especially since none of my children got to meet my paternal grandmother. She passed away when Lauren was a baby and we lived overseas.
Here comes a story (forgive my wordiness).... I didn't get a long well in my teenage years with my maternal grandmother.Later in my teens one day, just as an experiment - you know, the kind that adults tell you to try to bridge the generation gap - I asked her what she did when she was a teenager for fun. I think she was a bit surprised, and I didn't know if I really wanted to hear, but as she told me about her and her friends gathering up things from their homes and riding horses to the beach and roasting corn in a fire, I found myself very interested and realized my grandma was kind of cool. She had done a lot of things that I could see myself being interested in. I knew that I got some artistic talent from her, but didn't think, or refused to think, there was anything else until then - we were actually kind of alike! (Including the fact that we both thought we were right. My mom, wisely already knew this. :) Not that I ever went and roasted corn on the beach, but the way she described her outings with friends reminded me of myself and my group of friends. I was able to see her in a way I never had before and my heart softened towards her from then on, even if we never became chums. I just kept finding more and more things we had in common. Even after she passed, going through her things with family (a lot of rocks- no wonder we all love rocks- it must be genetic!) and then reading some of her journal and a paper she had written about cats for a class she took in her 60's. I realized there are a lot of things I admired about her life, from her fearlessness to her unashamed quirkiness. Quirky is okay- we are all quirky in our own ways, aren't we?
Perhaps you might have time during your family vacation to ask a few questions? It doesn't have to be a huge production, but learning a few things about our family members can really help us appreciate them. Not to mention, it gives us a glimpse at ourselves that we may not see. A-AND using the dates from your family tree can direct you to some historical fiction at the library that might give you a better idea of what life was like when your grandma was growing up. What if she was a little girl when Kit Kitteridge was? Everyone has a story...
Monday, June 22, 2009
What the Dickens?
(Lauren, sorry - I'm not trying to take over your book/reading section either) I recently "read" a book on tape that was share-worthy it's titled "What the Dickens". It's the story of one of the tooth fairies. What? You didn't know there was more than one?! Shhh! Don't tell anybody! Humans aren't supposed to know. What the Dickens is the name of this particular fairy. He's very curious and has quite a story as he gets to know the world around him. His story is told to some children hunkering down during a horrible storm.
What are you reading this summer?
Suz
What are you reading this summer?
Suz
Saturday, June 13, 2009
"Oh.My.Gods."- Good Greek Gods Book!!
I have just read the most amazing book. I'm sorry Laur, I know this is usually your section, but i can't not share this amazing read! The book is called "Oh.My.Gods." and it is by Tera Lynn Childs. I know you guys must think I'm a total geek, but I love Greek mythology! I have been in a major phase lately. Anyway, this book is about a girl in high school who has to move to an island in Greece. I can't believe I just said has to, I mean what torture. But apparently, it is for Phoebe. She has to deal with all the snobby little godlings. She is one of them... or is she?
I really hope you'll read this book, it's amazing.
Emily :)
P.S. There is a sequal if you like this book.
I really hope you'll read this book, it's amazing.
Emily :)
P.S. There is a sequal if you like this book.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Dear Fellow Bookworms...
Summer reading season is here! When I was a kid, my big sister and I would read while on road trips through California, Idaho and Oregon. We would read while we did our daily or weekend chores. The library was a regular Saturday afternoon destination. Here are some summery reading ideas that you might like:Summer Reading List
Have you heard about summer reading lists on the radio? If not they're simply lists of books that are "must-reads". The list just makes it easy to remember what you want to read. Try making you own list and keep it somewhere handy, like the fridge door, or the computer desktop (digital - that's what I do) or keep it in the tote bag you take to the library.
Book Club
We tried pulling together a book club earlier this spring, but it fizzled. So Emily and I have decided to carry on. Em's choosing the books. Here are our starter books if you want to read along: June Reads: Molly Moon, Twilight
Books on Tape (or CD)
Reasons books on tape are a must in the summer:
- Listen to a book while weeding
- Listen to a book while doing your chores
- Trouble getting to sleep? Throw a book on tape in your CD player
The Library
Check in at the info counter for the summer reading programs. This year in Salt Lake there's a program for kids and parents. AND if you're like me, you might want to check out the book renewal option over the phone or the internet. Those smart thinkers at the libary (in Salt Lake) have set up a program to let kids under 18 read-down their fines, so check into it, if you have a problem returning your books on time, like me.
Cool BookmarksI love funky bookmarks and these are really cute: Family Fun bookmark craft. Have you seen the magnetic bookmarks at Barnes and Noble, also very cool! (Cat bookmark picture from barnesandnoble.com)
TweenCraft bloggers are going to be turning pages all summer long so, dear, friendly you, could you do me a favor? Ack... no I'm not asking you to log your reading time, or anything painful. Will you comment and share what you're reading and any fun you're having with books and the library this summer! We love to hear what you think!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Photoshop - Lesson 1
Are you not totally excited that school is almost out? One thing I'm super grateful for, besides the sunshine - is that I can go barefoot outside without getting frostbite! Oh such grateful toes!
So are you ready for Photoshop Lesson 1: Layers? Your mouse in hand? Ok let's let 'er rip!
Have you ever made a montage or collage for school? Hunting through magazines for just the right images to get your message across or to tell a visual story with? Maybe it's a theme like "Oranges" where you might have used an ad for orange soda, navel oranges, orange perfume, summer beach towels that are orange, sunsets... ok you found a few images then it was time to arrange them on paper (or a poster). Each image that you cut out of the magazine would be a "layer" in Photoshop. The "background" layer - or the layer you start working on - is the paper level where you're going to glue the images to - layering everything on top. Shall we get started?
1. Open up Photoshop (I use Photoshop CS3 so if you use Elements these steps might be a little different)
2. Using the dropdown menu at the top of the screen click "File" then click "Open" and browse to a photo that you would like to use for this class. Before we continue working on a really big image, lets make it web friendly. We'll make an image for a blog. Go to the dropdown menu and mouse over "Image" then "Image Size" and set the "resolution" to 72 and change the width to 400 and click "ok". Next got to the dropdown menu and mouse over "view" and click "actual pixels".
3. Using the dropdown menu click "File" then "Save" and name the file as "psclass1.psd". Change the extension from jpg or gif to "psd" - this is the file type that supports layers in Photoshop. Saving first will make sure the original photo doesn't get written over as you are learning.
4. Lets add a layer. There's a toolbar on the left of the screen. Look for the icon or picture that looks like a capital "T" and click it. We're going to add some text. Click on the photo and drag to the right creating a box. Next type some text, it can say anything you want. Don't worry if the text is not where you want it to be. We can move it.
5. On the right side of the screen there are a couple of windows. One is the "Layers" window. If you take a closer look, you'll notice your original photo and a new line with the "T" icon. That is the layer for the text you just added. You just created a layered file. Double click where it says "Layer 1" and you can name it if you want, you can name the photo too. Something that will remind you what the layer is about.
6. Next lets choose a color. Click on the water dropper icon, on the left menu. Then click on a shade of color that you like on the photo. Just hover over the photo and click. Notice the color on the bottom of the left toolbar matches your selection?
7. Lets add a shape to your picture. On the left toolbar click on the square shape, then right click the tiny triangle on the right. Choose the ellipse (or circle) tool. We're adding a circle. Left click and drag - hmm, getting an oval? Press "ctrl+Z," that will take you back a step. Lets try again. Click and hold, then press the shift key and drag your mouse - you should be seeing a circle this time. Release the mouse button when the circle is the size you want. Check out the layer window, you should see a new layer for the circle. (you don't have to add this step, I skipped it on the image below)
8. If you would like to add a drop shadow to a layer, go up to the dropdown menu and choose "Layer, Layer Style, Drop Shadow." Play with the settings for a minute - paying attention to opacity, distance, spread and size (this is a fun menu to come back to) Click "Ok" when you're done.
9. Now click on the text layer, select the arrow from the left menu, and click and grab your text and drag it over your circle. We're putting the text on top of the circle. Now you can't see it? On the Mac Press CMD+] two or three times, to bring the text layer to the front. You can also do this by going the to dropdown menu and then selecting "layer" and "arrange" and bring to the front.
10. If you want to use your final image on the web I'd recommend saving it as a GIF because text seems to stand up better in gifs and pixelates/goes fuzzy as a jpg. To save choose "File" then "Save for Web and Devices" then select GIF or JPG in the preset section (right area of screen) name your file and click save.
If you have questions just comment and I'll try to help.
Suzanne
So are you ready for Photoshop Lesson 1: Layers? Your mouse in hand? Ok let's let 'er rip!
Have you ever made a montage or collage for school? Hunting through magazines for just the right images to get your message across or to tell a visual story with? Maybe it's a theme like "Oranges" where you might have used an ad for orange soda, navel oranges, orange perfume, summer beach towels that are orange, sunsets... ok you found a few images then it was time to arrange them on paper (or a poster). Each image that you cut out of the magazine would be a "layer" in Photoshop. The "background" layer - or the layer you start working on - is the paper level where you're going to glue the images to - layering everything on top. Shall we get started?
1. Open up Photoshop (I use Photoshop CS3 so if you use Elements these steps might be a little different)
2. Using the dropdown menu at the top of the screen click "File" then click "Open" and browse to a photo that you would like to use for this class. Before we continue working on a really big image, lets make it web friendly. We'll make an image for a blog. Go to the dropdown menu and mouse over "Image" then "Image Size" and set the "resolution" to 72 and change the width to 400 and click "ok". Next got to the dropdown menu and mouse over "view" and click "actual pixels".
3. Using the dropdown menu click "File" then "Save" and name the file as "psclass1.psd". Change the extension from jpg or gif to "psd" - this is the file type that supports layers in Photoshop. Saving first will make sure the original photo doesn't get written over as you are learning.
4. Lets add a layer. There's a toolbar on the left of the screen. Look for the icon or picture that looks like a capital "T" and click it. We're going to add some text. Click on the photo and drag to the right creating a box. Next type some text, it can say anything you want. Don't worry if the text is not where you want it to be. We can move it.
5. On the right side of the screen there are a couple of windows. One is the "Layers" window. If you take a closer look, you'll notice your original photo and a new line with the "T" icon. That is the layer for the text you just added. You just created a layered file. Double click where it says "Layer 1" and you can name it if you want, you can name the photo too. Something that will remind you what the layer is about.
6. Next lets choose a color. Click on the water dropper icon, on the left menu. Then click on a shade of color that you like on the photo. Just hover over the photo and click. Notice the color on the bottom of the left toolbar matches your selection?
7. Lets add a shape to your picture. On the left toolbar click on the square shape, then right click the tiny triangle on the right. Choose the ellipse (or circle) tool. We're adding a circle. Left click and drag - hmm, getting an oval? Press "ctrl+Z," that will take you back a step. Lets try again. Click and hold, then press the shift key and drag your mouse - you should be seeing a circle this time. Release the mouse button when the circle is the size you want. Check out the layer window, you should see a new layer for the circle. (you don't have to add this step, I skipped it on the image below)
8. If you would like to add a drop shadow to a layer, go up to the dropdown menu and choose "Layer, Layer Style, Drop Shadow." Play with the settings for a minute - paying attention to opacity, distance, spread and size (this is a fun menu to come back to) Click "Ok" when you're done.
9. Now click on the text layer, select the arrow from the left menu, and click and grab your text and drag it over your circle. We're putting the text on top of the circle. Now you can't see it? On the Mac Press CMD+] two or three times, to bring the text layer to the front. You can also do this by going the to dropdown menu and then selecting "layer" and "arrange" and bring to the front.
10. If you want to use your final image on the web I'd recommend saving it as a GIF because text seems to stand up better in gifs and pixelates/goes fuzzy as a jpg. To save choose "File" then "Save for Web and Devices" then select GIF or JPG in the preset section (right area of screen) name your file and click save.
If you have questions just comment and I'll try to help.Suzanne
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