Monday, December 12, 2011

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Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Small Musical Frog Playing Guitar : Recycled Metal Garden Art Sculpture

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Add more personality to your garden with a colorful band of musical frogs. There are four musicians sold separately including: trumpet, violin, cello or base, and guitar. These colorful characters are sure to be a point of interest and conversation among friends and neighbors. You must see the rest of the farm including Roosters, Pigs, Ponies, Goats, Cranes, Swans, Bunnies, and even Old Timey Trucks, Tractors, and Biplanes. Plus much more. Because they are hand-made from 100% reclaimed metals, no two are alike. Each is hand-picked on our buying trips for good colors, posture and form. The colors represented in the photos are a good example of the variation and selection. Yours will be different, but that's what makes them so charming. Adding to their character, you can also expect rustic metals, burnt edges, some rust patina and possibly rough edges. Use caution when handling. Protect from frost.

Colorful, fun, and full of personality and character.
Crafted from 100% Recycled Metals with original colors, logos, and Patina.
Because they are created from "found" or "Reclaimed" objects, no two are exactly alike.
A gift that will make you Smile.
Size: 8" x 11" x 17.5"

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Thursday, November 24, 2011

Invisible - NOT CYBER - Bullying in School: Part I - The Hallways

!: Invisible - NOT CYBER - Bullying in School: Part I - The Hallways

Let's start with several illustrations to "paint the picture". Sometime in your life you watched- as a child- or with your children, a Charlie Brown one hour special on TV. They were, of course, always well done, and they included subtle humor which adults could appreciate. However, do you remember how adults- or more precisely- the voices of invisible adults were depicted? The sound was that of a muted trumpet going, "wanh- wanh- wanh-wa-wa-wanh...", to which one of the child characters- often Peppermint Patty, would reply, "Yes Maam!" The adults were invisible. The kids were in a world of their own.

On other occasions, you may have read the comic strip "Calvin and Hobbes", where Hobbes, a mere small, stuffed toy tiger in the presence of adults, became a real tiger when adults were not around.

Finally, if you were a bit of an original Star Trek freak like me, you may remember the one episode where the Captain, Spock, the Doctor, and a few gratuitous crew members likely to be killed in that hour were standing on some far-away planet and nothing living was there. Spock asserts that his detectors show that there are life forms on the planet and very close-by. The life forms were the rocks which were moving so slowly that humans could not see them, and to the rocks, the people were moving so fast, that the rocks could likewise not see them. The presence and the doing of each group were imperceptible.

OK- enough illustrations... let's see if an actual point can be made here! When we speak of Invisible Bullying, one kind is clearly the obvious Cyber variety- the kind that the media loves to cover. We aren't going to talk about that. The other, less understood or perceived type of invisible bullying is the kind that occurs virtually right in front of adults, and because the life forms around those adult are different, the adults are completely unable to perceive that bullying is happening. Impossible, you say? How can a diligent adult, supervising the play ground, the cafeteria, the auditorium, the playing field, or their own teaching space have bullying occur right in front of them and not see it? We hope to paint that picture for all of you in this short article that will be low on scientific data and high on real life examples with the hope being that when you enter the school building tomorrow, you will be more in touch with the zeitgeist in which you and the students operate.

THE HALLWAYS

Lets begin with some examples of things that go on every day in the hallways that you are completely unaware of even while you are in the midst of it... Is the demographic makeup of your school diverse such that there is at least several different races and ethnicities represented? Well, remember when you were young? You fell in love. It still happens every day to young people. In a diverse setting, young people often fall in love with someone that they would have a hard time bringing home to meet "Mom" because Mom - not to mention the folks in the neighborhood- might not approve of the child's choice. What happens? Students stay late after school walking the hallways and finding the great nooks and crannies that one can only find in a school building. That is why young people spend a lot of time walking the hallways after school. Bet you never thought of that. Also, young people in love can be in and out of love in days- perhaps hours- and there are spats, fights, and jealous friends and acquaintances who join forces at times and the school building, as we said, is a wonderful provider of the necessary nooks and crannies to carry out a variety of plans- amorous, hostile, or otherwise. Oh, like the people in the central office- do you think that the superior hardware on the panic bar doors will protect you from outsiders? Imagine a person with a gun coming up to my new forged steel super- dead bolt,locked panic bar doors. Then imagine that person's friend inside the door giving the panic bar a simple tap- that's right folks, even the world's best metal detectors have just been rendered useless by that little tap on the panic bar- think about it next time all things seem to be under control.

Did your Principal ever tell you to try to be standing in the hallway near your classroom when classes change? It's a great idea for a number of reasons. For one, you get to talk and interact in a less-than-serious way with students and they are able to see you in a different light- always a good thing. The second reason is that your mere presence can be a deterrent to inappropriate pushing-shoving- running- loud talking, etc. and therefore helps to keep some semblance of order in what for some kids, is a very scary adventure- that of simply making a class change. However, you could be a mere three feet away and not see certain events that occur on a daily basis. Did you know that all ethnic groups are abused both physically and verbally to an extreme in the movement from one class to another? Here are some ways it happens: 1) Students are sucker- punched on a regular basis by students of other races as they pass thru the hallways. It happens with lightening speed and the abused student finds himself in a heap on the ground and dazed while everyone calmly keeps walking along as if nothing happened. You don't see it because you have no expectation of such a thing happening in a place where there are many people and where there actually are teachers standing around. When the abused child stands up and asks who did this, no one says a word and if the child asks a teacher, the teachers shrugs his shoulders and says that he or she can't help without any proof, etc. You don't think this happens, right? Ask some kids "in the know" to tell you confidentially not who- but if- such a thing goes on- you'll be surprised. When the child tells his parents, the parents come storming in to the office to confront the principal who is at a loss to provide the parents with a shred of satisfaction. When the lawsuit occurs, your name will be in it if this event happened near your classroom. It will take a lot of your time, but you will likely prevail because the abused child will not be able to pinpoint who did this to him. Still think its easy to walk those hallways? To conclude with a graphic example- inmates doing hard time occasionally are stabbed in the back with a very sharp object. Does this event occur when everybody is sleeping and a bad guy sneaks into someone's cell at night? No, it happens right in the lunch line or as the group is walking in close order to their next responsibility with plenty of supervision around.

Let's keep it more benign. On a regular basis, bullied individuals are given "flat tires" which occur when someone steps on your heal. Books are knocked out of the hands of students, hair is pulled, racial epithets, slurs, and threats are made- soto voce, in small written notes, or out loud for other s to hear. "Kick me" signs are old school- you can see them when you watch "Back to the Future."When a teacher is asked by a student to help out in this matter, the other student denies the accusation leaving the teacher to create the convenient "false equivalency" which brings on the admonition, "I want all of you people to act appropriately when you walk through the hallways, etc... sort of sounds like "Wanh-wanh-wanh", doesn't it? That's right, nobody gets caught, and nobody is listening to the teacher. This happens inches away from adult supervision and it goes unseen. Insults of a racial, ethnic, sexual, disability nature are passed back and forth all day long and regardless of how alert the adult is, it is never seen or heard. The media goes off the proverbial deep-end when a person is threatened or insulted or "ganged-up" upon electronically, but things are being whispered in your child's ear or stated more openly right in the middle of the hallway every class change causing kids great stress and making them, for example, late for class as they take the long way to avoid a bully or certain group of bullies. Merely going to school at all loses its appeal quickly- especially when a child "looks different" in some way- whether that be because of dress- hair-skin color- disability, etc. The world we live in is a difficult place. Life has never been more difficult in the United States than it is today for "Different" people. Just look at all of the American Flags on stores of Mid-Eastern and Indian People. Before you make the usual assertion about how nasty kids are, take a look at how the adults are acting. I don't know about you, but I do not even recognize this country I grew up in. Civility is in short supply these days- especially by those charged most seriously with exhibiting it. People in the arts like Dr. Seuss (The Sneetches), James Michener, and Oscar Hammerstein railed against the hatred years ago. Here's what Oscar Hammerstein wrote as the lyrics for the song in South Pacific entitled "You've Got to be Taught."

You've got to be taught to hate and fear.
You've got to be taught from year to year.
It's got to be drummed in your dear little ear.
You've got to be carefully taught.

You've got to be taught to be afraid.
Of people whose eyes are oddly made.
And people whose skin is a different shade.
You've got to be carefully taught.

You've got to be taught before its too late.
Before you are six, or seven or eight.
To hate all the people your relatives hate.
You've got to be carefully taught.
You've got to be carefully taught.

Listen for a moment, parents. Often without even trying sometimes, you have "carefully taught" your children. Does your child stay late at school to "get help" or participate in something slightly undefined- just remember that they might have a new friend that you would not be happy to meet! We in the schools, try as we might, are not going to make the hate and fear disappear. It's a battle every day, and the most effective bullies are the ones that do their business right in the midst of everybody, and we adults, not being able to conceive of such a thing happening in such a place at such a time, are completely blind to it. You are usually not negligent, teachers, but you can't supervise in a decontextualized manner either. Talk to the "bad guys". Become friends with some of them. Enlist their help with the promise of anonymity. They will tell you shocking stories of things happening right in your midst that you are clueless about. This strategy works. School employees who have tried it speak of heading incidents off because of advance warning from certain students. Don't be appalled by this strategy- the police depend on their contacts from the dark side too.

Constant vigilance is all we have folks- the fancy cameras, metal detectors, dead bolt locks, and legally perfect discipline codes are minor inconveniences to skilled bullies- and that's not counting the one we see on the news each night!

Invisible - NOT CYBER - Bullying in School: Part I - The Hallways

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Saturday, November 19, 2011

How to Organize Your Home School

!: How to Organize Your Home School

So you homeschool - that is great! Homeschooling is wonderful, we have been enjoying it ourselves for a number of years and we love it. The big question - I have all this great stuff - where do I put it? How do I organize the papers, and pencils and pens and those little tiny bears and don't even get me started on the books, oh my the books. I have the stuff, now I need to know how to organize it all.

First - take a deep breathe and know that you are not alone, either in your homeschooling journey or in your quest to manage the madness and learn how to organize.

The Steps to Organization (a.k.a. How to Organize) are fairly straight forward. Imagine you are putting together a puzzle. What do you do first? (Well, first you open the box, but I am figuring we got past that part.) So what do you second? Depending on the kind of person you are, you start by sorting the pieces. The pieces with the straight edges go into one pile and the pieces without the straight edges go back into the bottom of the box. So our first step in learning how to organize is:

HOW TO ORGANIZE STEP 1 -- SORTING (woo hoo, yeah, think trumpets and fanfare -- this is exciting, we know where to start learning how to organize)

After you are done sorting your pieces, we move on to step two. (I know, I know - I didn't tell you how to sort or what to sort or how to organize anything yet - that comes later in the article. Just hang in there.)
So what is the next thing that you do when building a puzzle? Do we sort it out and then just walk away? Do we put all the middle pieces (i.e. pieces without the straight edge) together first? No, first we build a border for our pieces. So step two is:

HOW TO ORGANIZE STEP 2 -- BUILDING A BORDER (more fanfare, sounds of cheering)

The border is now built, but we are not done yet. If you left the puzzle with just a border you never get to enjoy the beauty of it. The same goes for learning how to organize. Building a border is great, but now you have to use it. How do you use a border? I am glad that you asked (OK, I am glad that I asked, but if you were here I am sure you would have asked.) We use a puzzle border to give us information about the puzzle. The border tells us how big the final product will be. It helps us to determine where the interior pieces should go and it also lets us see a light at the end of the tunnel. (I went from puzzles to trains, and soon I will go back again. It's a mixed metaphor, but I digress.) So step three of how to organize is:

HOW TO ORGANIZE STEP 3 -- FILLING IN THE PIECES

This makes sense when you are thinking about a puzzle, after all you have this pile of non-straight-edge pieces just sitting there and waiting. How does this work with organizing? Do you recall way back in how to organize - step one where we were sorting? Those are our missing pieces, so filling in the pieces means that you are now putting stuff away. (Yes, another light at the end of the tunnel) So that's it we are done, right? After all, we sorted the pieces, we built the border, we filled in the pieces, our puzzle is done. Right? Wrong! Sorry, but there is one more step before you are organized. (Actually, I am not sorry, but it sounds nicer to say it that way rather than - tough luck bucko, quit being a whiner.) So then what is the last step? Take a minute and think about it - when you are done with a puzzle what do you do? Do you leave it where you built it? Do you take it all apart so you can do it again another time? Do you smear goo on it so that is will become a work of art for you to hang on the wall? For the purposes of our analogy (i.e. comparing building a puzzle with learning how to organize) We are going to so no, no, yes. No, we don't just leave it where it is - that just adds to the clutter. No, we don't take it apart (What? Are you crazy? We just did all this work getting organized, for goodness sake, don't take it apart.) Yes, we smear goo on it so it is a work of art. Now, before you go get actual goo and really make a mess of things remember - this is an analogy. The goo is basically the stuff that holds the puzzle together and keeps it looking nice. That is what we need - we want our newly organized area to look nice. So the final step is:

HOW TO ORGANIZE STEP 4 -- THE FINAL STEP - KEEP IT ORGANIZED (I forgot the fanfare for step three so let's just add it in here - fanfare, fireworks and a laser light show, and a skywriter writing out "you just learned the basic steps of how to organize".)

Now that we have climbed the "Steps of Organization" (aka how to organize) together, let's look at an example.

Note: if you have only short periods of time to work on your organizing project then still work your way through the steps, however organize in small sections. For example, organize the floor first, then organize shelves (one at a time), etc.)

Step 1: Sorting

This is the hard part, but if you want to learn how to organize and stay organized, it really is necessary. Let's head off to your homeschool room / area / closet and bring some boxes with you. Begin by labeling your boxes in the following way - trash, donate / sell, doesn't belong in this area - depending on the amount of stuff that you have you may need multiple boxes. Once you have gone through your initial sort, take the trash away, and move the donate / sell boxes to another place (preferably out of your house). Now we get down to the nitty gritty of learning how to organize - in the next step we will start building our border so that we are able to put things back in an organized way. Keep a box or two around so that any items you decide you no longer need can be placed in the box. If you have a lot of items you no longer need, consider selling them at a local convention or online homeschool books site.

If you are limited on space in your school area, take a look around your home to see if you have storage spaces anywhere. To keep the number of school items to a minimum you can choose to keep out only what you will be using immediately (within the week, month, semester or year). For the items you are storing organize them on a shelf (if possible) or in labeled boxes. Label your boxes with the contents so when you need to retrieve items they will be easier to find. An idea for how to organize the storage boxes are to label them with the approximate year (i.e. first grade, middle school, etc), the subject (math, science) and the date of when you put the box into storage. If you find that you have one or more boxes that you do not use for a while, consider if you need to keep the items in the box, or if you can sell or donate the items.

Step 2: Building a Border

Since I have yet to see two homeschool rooms that look alike I am going to go over some of the basics of how to organize your homeschool items, from there, you should have a pretty good handle on things and can continue on. If not, send me an email through our contact us page and let me know your question on how to organize your homeschool (or any other area) and I will try to be of some assistance.

Books:

Living books, textbooks, workbooks, lab books, notebooks, chapter books, first reader books, picture books, puzzle books, teacher books, student books, books about homeschooling, books, books, books - if you homeschool, you have books. The question is how to organize all of those books?

One option, depending on space, is a bookshelf. We have used kit built shelves as well as have custom bookshelves built into a closet by using shelf brackets and wood from our local hardware store. Homemade shelves are fairly simple to make and if you don't have the equipment to cut the wood at home, most hardware stores will cut pieces for you (for a small fee), just make sure you measure before you go. (Measure twice, cut once - otherwise it is measure once, cut once, buy some more...)

If you want other shelf organizer options, you can look at the cubbyhole shelf options, or a wall mounted book shelf. There are a number of options available so take your time and look around to determine the best idea on how to organize your books. (after all, you have to live with it, I don't)

Supplies:

Supplies tend to multiply, you start with a few pens, then they somehow grow into dozens of pens. Deciding how to organize these supplies will vary from homeschool to homeschool. Below you will find a variety of drawer suggestions and other ways to organize various supplies. Use these items as a spring board to style your own border. Be sure to read through step 3 for information on using a label maker to help you learn how to organize your bins, boxes, and drawers in an easy to use way.

Wide drawers will organize paper, pens, even workbooks. I discovered these drawers when I was trying to decide how to organize lab supplies. One of my drawers is for live experiments, this doesn't mean that I keep frogs or bugs in there, instead I use it for organizing food for fish and frogs, seeds for plants and other supplies. Another drawer is our Explorer Gear drawer, that one contains binoculars, small nets, a small bug habitat as well as other supplies. Wide drawers are can be found in the plastic storage section or the craft section. These are generally 12 x 12 so they are great for books and papers.

Mini drawers are great for organizing pens, pencils, paper clips, rubber bands and all of those little office supplies. When looking at drawers be sure to check the information on the drawer sizes before buying online. For example, on some websites the mini drawers look larger than the wide drawers, this is however, not the case in real life. Check your space allotment by measuring, then find drawers that will fit. (Great homeschool project - make the kids measure then figure out the area of the space and which drawers will fit best)

Shoe boxes may not seem to have a space in your homeschool space, but they are wonderful for organizing. When you want to discover how to organize math manipulatives, various games and science equipment think shoe boxes. Items can be easily organized and as the boxes have lids they can also be stacked. When looking for storage boxes, be sure to look for clear boxes for ease of identification of the items within, if you constantly have to take the tops off of boxes to find out what is in the box you will soon give up on your organizational system. You also want boxes that have lids. While having baskets may look prettier, they do not stack and if something is taken off of the shelf incorrectly it make a big mess. Another reason to have boxes with lids is that you are learning how to organize, and it is very easy in the beginning of the learn how to organize process to fall back into old habits. A box without a lid becomes a dumping ground for little things.

A decorative way to organize includes the use of baskets (I know I just said don't use baskets, but after you have learned how to organize, you can begin to look at other options, like baskets. Just be sure they are used for very specific things. We have three baskets under a long table by the front door, these are our library baskets. Only library books and the check out slips are placed in the baskets. You can also utilize door space, by using something like a 15-Pocket Over Door Organizer or a file folder holder. We have also used the Kids' Toy Organizer and Storage Bin, but not in the schoolroom. It started in the schoolroom, but then I have found this doesn't work as well since there are no lids. In the kids rooms, toy organizers work fairly well to keep toys organized, but it all depends on the ages of your kids and the variety of your supplies. Teaching your kids how to organize their own things now will save you time later.

Step 3: Filling in the Pieces

Now is when you start putting things back. An item that I have found to be a great organizing tool is a label maker. Some examples of label makers are the DYMO Personal Label Maker or the Brother P-touch Electronic Labeling System. You can even use printable Avery Mailing Labels. The whole point is you need a way to label. What are you going to label? The short answer is: everything. All of the boxes, drawers, and pockets should get a label. This way if you find an empty box, you know what was supposed to be in it. Also, when you look into your storage area you can see at a glance what you have. Where else can you use these labels? 3 Ring Binders! If you want to know how to organize multiple binders in the same space (I usually buy them as a multi-pack so they all look alike) without getting having to open each binder to determine its content, put a label on the spine and eliminate this issue.

Step 4: The Final Step - How to Organize to that You Can Stay Organized

Once you have learned how to organize you need to learn how to keep it organized. A simple organizational system will make it easier for you to keep organized. One of the ways I do this is by labeling my boxes on both ends, that way when the kids put them back onto the shelf (see - teaching kids how to organize) backwards it doesn't matter, because the boxes are labeled on both ends. Another way I keep organized is by having a Mommy section and a kids section. In the kids section there are the items that the kids can use and learn with on their own, in the mommy section are the things that I think they need help with. This will vary based on the age of your kids. Remember unless you live alone (and if you homeschool then you don't live alone) you are not the only one who needs to know how to organize. If everyone knows how to organize then your life will be a lot easier.

The bottom line - have fun turning your school area into an organized place to be, that way you will all enjoy spending time there. Organizing doesn't have to be hard - take time to look through your things. Keep what you want, get rid of what you don't and organize what is left so that you can find everything when you need to.

How to Organize Your Home School

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Monday, November 14, 2011

Funny Gifts and Joke Presents - Because Life is Too Short Not To Have a Good Belly Laugh

!: Funny Gifts and Joke Presents - Because Life is Too Short Not To Have a Good Belly Laugh

In this fast paced and stressful life that we often lead, one can have the tendency to forget how to laugh. The adage 'laughter is the best medicine' could well be true as there is strong evidence to suggest that laughter can actually improve health. I have read that laughter therapy (also known as psycho-neuroimmunology) can actually reduce stress hormone. The psychological benefits of humour are being recognised in the healthcare field. People often store negative emotions, such as anger, sadness and fear, rather than expressing them. Laughter provides a way for these emotions to be harmlessly released. Laughter is cathartic. Laughter also triggers the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers, and produces a general sense of well-being.

There are of course many reasons why a person laughs, but it is often as a response to what is said and what is seen. When choosing a gift for your friend or family member, would it not be an excellent idea to buy a funny gift, joke gift or a gag gift. Of course the funnier the gift, the bigger and louder the laugh! In this short article I want to highlight 5 top amusing and affordable funny gifts.

Executive Gentlemen's Ball Scratcher- this really is the ultimate funny gift for men, boyfriends or husbands. This is definitely the present for the man who has everything! Aimed at the "Busy Male Executive" is the Gentleman's Ball Scratcher! For the days when your own hands are just not precise enough, the Gentleman's Ball Scratcher is in the shape of a delicate female hand, for those hard to reach places. The 9 inch handle provides excellent extra length to help get around difficult obstacles (beer bellies, old pizza, empty beer cans etc.) and provide the relief so many crave...not he can do it with style. This is most certainly not a gift for the ladies.

Crazy 8 Ball- the crazy 8 ball is perfect for those who play ball but often looses. This 2 inch diameter ball feels and looks exactly like a normal Pool ball but it has one fun difference which makes it wobble and go in all directions except the one intended. Just watch the amazement on your opponents face, as after you have discretely substituted the 8 Ball, he tries his pot! A really fun gift idea that will give you many laughs.

Remote Controlled Fart Machine- We all remember the good old fashioned Whoopee Cushion do we not? Now take this hilarious farting gag to a whole new level with this remote controlled fart machine. The remote works at impressive distances and the machine produces a variety of realistic sounds, from polite little "boom-sa-lars" to a "morning after baked beans" trumpet.

USB Missile Launcher- The ultimate weaponry gadget in office warfare, the USB controlled Missile Launcher with sound effects is controlled by your PC and fires foam darts. Next time someone annoys you, take aim, and fire. Your PC can control the aim and will also fire the dart.

Beer Alarm- Protect you precious pint with this Beer Burglar Alarm System. Attach the little "sucker" to the side of you beer glass or bottle, set the proximity alert and walk away. Whenever someone comes within 30cm (12 inches) of your beer the mafia style voice alert sounds: "Keepa Da Hands off ma BEER!" The alarm can go off as a Siren or as the Mafia Voice.

These are only a minute handful of the large range of funny gifts available. However, one common purpose they should all have, is to make the person laugh.

Funny Gifts and Joke Presents - Because Life is Too Short Not To Have a Good Belly Laugh

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Saturday, November 12, 2011

Wonder, Amazement And Thumping Drums: Semana Santa in Jerez de la Frontera

!: Wonder, Amazement And Thumping Drums: Semana Santa in Jerez de la Frontera

Never have I experienced anything so, if you'll excuse the cliche, spine-tingling, as Easter in Spain. I have read about the atmosphere, seen photos of the immaculately decorated floats (Tronos) and watched the emotive processions on TV. But none of that prepared me for what I was about to experience on arrival in Jerez de la Frontera, in the heart of Andalucía.

We arrived in Jerez on the night of Maundy Thursday and were instantly drawn into the overwhelming ambience which had been building up with daily processions since Palm Sunday. We followed the din of the pounding drums, not really knowing what to expect as we approached the crowd ahead. There were hundreds of people all seeming impatient, children on the shoulders of their fathers blowing toy trumpets, women dressed as if going to a funeral. The volume of the music grew to a thunderous level. And then there it was: the first Trono we had ever seen in real life: Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. It was lit with hundreds of candles which cast shadows on the face of Our Lady, and as she drew closer, she seemed to look me straight in the eye. She was so beautiful, dressed in her exquisite, flowing burgundy and gold velvet gown. The first of many shivers prickled the back of my neck as the spicy scent of incense infiltrated my nostrils.

We finally retired to bed in the early hours of Friday morning after following the procession and then joining hundreds of hungry Spaniards for tapas. As the processions go on all through the night, our sleep was disturbed on several occasions by trumpet blast and thumping drums outside our hotel! But it didn't matter; it was an accepted part of the celebrations.

The morning of Good Friday was spent darting from street to street trying to head off the processions to get a full frontal view. We saw three different brotherhoods that morning, each parading their own spectacularly ornate Trono. I read that the brotherhoods spend months preparing for the Easter processions; practicing their marches and polishing those amazing floats. You can see the evidence of this as soon as you lay eyes on them.

The Good Friday processions are followed by penitents who wear the renowned pointed headdresses and flowing gowns. Men, women and children were marching in these costumes, carrying large candles and heavy crosses. Some of them were barefoot.

The morning processions subsided around lunchtime and all fell quiet in Jerez, leaving us to visit some of the sights.

At around 5pm, that now familiar beating drum stimulated a distant band to strike up their notorious sound. We joined the hundreds of eager onlookers lining the streets just outside our hotel. The distinct and mesmerising sound of the band drew closer in a gradual crescendo and we saw, in the distance, the first of many Tronos approaching. A feeling of wonderment came over me.

The Tronos were led by priests, dressed in immaculate purple robes trimmed with crisp white lace. The priests swung their incense burners continuously, bellowing the intoxicating aroma into the warm evening air.

Just before it reached us, the parade came to a halt. The band stopped playing, and so began El Silencio. Everyone was quiet, even the young children. The silence lasted for a few minutes and was incredibly moving. At this point, on two or three occasions over the weekend, we witnessed a member of the crowd breaking into a saeta, an impromptu Flamenco style song. The singers' passion was profound; tears fell and hands pounding their chests. They sang praise, and heartfelt applause and tears from the crowd followed.

When the procession was ready to move off again one of the brethren would tap three times on the front of the Trono, then one drum would start beating slowly, joined by another, then another, and then all of a sudden, the Trono would be lifted with a mighty gasp from the crowd and a cry of guapa. The band launched into one of its emotive numbers, and the march started again.

One of the most emotive sights we witnessed was when the Tronos would sway in time with the music. Imagine being totally indulged in the rhythm of the band so that you subconsciously start to move in time with it. You see the Trono approaching, filling you with awe. The brethren carrying the float have an arduous job just lifting it, but now they are moving from side to side, making it sway so that the statue on it appears to be walking towards you, one shoulder in front of the other. They don't do it often, but when they do, the brethren are rewarded with heartfelt applause by the crowd.

There were no processions on Easter Saturday which gave us the opportunity to enjoy even more sightseeing in Jerez and take the smooth and efficient Andalucía Express into Cádiz.

On the morning of Easter Sunday, we excitedly left our hotel and followed the crowds to one of the main squares where we could see the procession approaching in the distance. The mood in the crowd was different from Good Friday: upbeat, not sombre. Everyone was dressed to impress in vibrant colours rather than the black of the past few days of mourning.

The music was triumphant instead of sombre and the church bells resonated their passionate chimes whilst the parade marched past. The parade was a real patchwork of colour and people: women wearing white mantillas held in place with ornate brooches; immaculately dressed children carrying candles and ringing little bells; local dignitaries flaunting their pristine banners.

The procession lasted two hours and culminated at the Cathedral, where the achingly heavy Trono bearing Christ of the Resurrection was carried, with utter eminence, up steps and slopes, to the entrance, where in a rapture of applause, it disappeared inside and all fell quiet around Jerez.

At around 5pm, crowds started to reconvene outside the cathedral and with a solo trumpet blast, the doors of the cathedral opened wide and out came every Trono that had been involved in the week-long processions. This Easter Sunday evening we saw some of the best parades of the weekend. The feeling in the crowd was uplifted, the mood one of hope, happiness and joy, and even the incense smelt different - sweeter.

This weekend was a tremendous experience. I would recommend Semana Santa in Spain to be in the top five on any Traveller's Wish List.

I did some homework before deciding in which Spanish city to spend Easter. It was clear that some of the best processions were to be witnessed in Seville, but the sheer depth of the crowds would make it impossible to get the close-up views I wanted. From my research, it seemed that Andalucía would be a good choice, and that a weekend in Jerez de la Frontera would also give me the chance to visit the bodegas of the sherry-producing giants and also witness the Flamenco and Equestrian heritage for which it is famed.

Before we left for Jerez, I obtained a timetable from the Tourist Office website, so that I could see which Brethren were marching, where and when. This proved very useful. Information booklets were also available from the Tourist Office in Jerez.

Now I have experienced the breathtaking atmosphere. I have witnessed the spectacular centuries old Tronos graced with statues of religious figures, overflowing with fresh and silk flowers, mighty candles oozing molten wax stood in gleaming gold and silver candelabras, all set on intricately carved and highly polished wood. I have merged into the processions and indulged each one of my senses in the music and rhythm of the parades.

Now I really feel like I have been a part of true Spanish culture, albeit for just a few days.

Wonder, Amazement And Thumping Drums: Semana Santa in Jerez de la Frontera

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Thursday, November 10, 2011

Small Musical Frog Playing Violin : Recycled Metal Garden Art Sculpture

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Post Date : Nov 10, 2011 12:03:07 | Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Add more personality to your garden with a colorful band of frogs. There are four musicians sold separately including: trumpet, violin, cello or base, and guitar. These colorful characters are sure to be a point of interest and conversation among friends and neighbors. You must see the rest of the farm including Roosters, Pigs, Ponies, Goats, Cranes, Swans, Bunnies, and even Old Timey Trucks, Tractors, and Biplanes. Plus much more. Because they are hand-made from 100% reclaimed metals, no two are alike. Each is hand-picked on our buying trips for good colors, posture and form. The colors represented in the photos are a good example of the variation and selection. Yours will be different, but that's what makes them so charming. Adding to their character, you can also expect rustic metals, burnt edges, some rust patina and possibly rough edges. Use caution when handling. Protect from frost.

Colorful, fun, and full of personality and character.
Crafted from 100% Recycled Metals with original colors, logos, and Patina.
Because they are created from "found" or "Reclaimed" objects, no two are exactly alike.
A gift that will make you Smile.
Size: 8" x 11" x 17.5"

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Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Song Max HMP-138 Keyboard w/New Wave/Swing/Waltz/Rock/Disco/Twist/Blues/16 Beat Stop/Piano/Music Box/Bass/Trumpet/Flute/E. Piano/Oboe/Jazz Guitar Buttons

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Post Date : Nov 08, 2011 15:43:10
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Song Max HMP-138 Keyboard w/New Wave/Swing/Waltz/Rock/Disco/Twist/Blues/16 Beat Stop/Piano/Music Box/Bass/Trumpet/Flute/E. Piano/Oboe/Jazz Guitar Buttons

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Monday, October 24, 2011

Amazing adolescent Guitar Player

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Check it out: itunes.apple.com Amazing young Guitar Player , jazz jamming banjo "solo guitar" harp "musical instruments" acoustic cover violin classical lesson toy play electric piano flute folk organ orchestra duo toys accordion quartet traditional cello polka trio strings trumpet plays instrumental clarinet concert brass viola percussion recital played improvisation waltz trombone chamber hammond harmonica composer bass fiddle composition contemporary keyboard quintet musician saxophone notes band tune mandolin

Amazing adolescent Guitar Player

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Saturday, October 22, 2011

The Toy Trumpet - 2006

!: The Toy Trumpet - 2006

This is theEast Peoria Symphonic Band performing The Toy Trumpet at the annual Prism Concert. The Prism Concert is the first concert of the season and showcases all of the ensembles the band has. Our Band Website: www.epd86.org Thanks to Video Dream Productions, Mr. and Mrs. Frick, and all those who provided pictures and video to make this possible. You guys are the best. Enjoy

The Toy Trumpet - 2006

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Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Crescent B Flat Yellow Brass Trumpet with Case

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B Flat yellow brass trumpet by Crescent Industries. Includes case.

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Friday, April 15, 2011

Where is That Walking Wooden Man?

There are lots of natural wooden toys to be found on the web and in retail shops. There are rocking toys such as the wooden rocking horses and there are different designs of motorbikes and rocking animals. There are kids wooden toys too which include articulated lorries, bouncy people, helicopters and lots of different buildings.

Just recently though I had an email asking whether it is possible to find a wooden figure (man) that could walk. Now having quite a few wholesalers that I can turn to worldwide I thought 'no problem you can buy any type of natural wooden toys and gifts nowadays'.

Toy Trumpet

So over the weekend I got down to emailing, checking websites, wholesalers and even retail shops. I will start close to the vicinity of the person requiring the product, that will make it cheaper and delivery will be quick, not a chance, they had already gone down this route to no avail. Not being discouraged in the least, I tried closer to home and there were some figures that could be manipulated into poses, but this isn't what was asked for. Again I drew a blank.

Where is That Walking Wooden Man?

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Nice Design by :RINOver All Rating Reviews :

Great Deal : $3.99Date Created :Apr 15, 2011 19:27:08

This miniature toy trumpet emits a loud high-pitched sound when you blow into it. Each piece packed in a poly-bag with printed header.

No worries, I know where to go and not be disappointed, they make anything, even the unusual. Japan here I come. No I didn't get on the first plane out there. Let me trawl those websites instead and then contact them to order the walking wooden man. Two hours later and I couldn't believe it, Japan had failed me too.

The only wooden toy that was close to being anything like what I was looking for was on Utube and that wasn't even up for sale. It was a a man sat down moving his arms and legs by manually rotating a prop shaft underneath using rods whilst he played a trumpet to music. Not quite what was in mind.

Can you answer this question then? Is there anybody out there that knows where a wooden walking man can be purchased from?

Where is That Walking Wooden Man?Bob's new toy Video Clips. Duration : 0.28 Mins.

Bob bought a pocket trumpet on impulse. That's him playing in front of the store in the mall.

Keywords: music, brass, horn

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Tuesday, March 29, 2011

The Business of Classical Music Concerts - How to Keep Babies and Toddlers Quiet and Interested

Parents who love music want to expose their children to the joy of these beautiful sounds as soon as possible. Introducing children to music as early as possible is great for their overall personal growth and personal development. However, there is often a stigma associated with taking a young child to a classical music concert. Also, it is often quite a business to get a young child to sit still for long periods of time, and this in turn can cause a fair amount of stress to both the parent and to the audience.

I was at a music concert that had been organised specifically for parents and their young children, i.e., for toddlers and babies. Sitting at the edge of the aisle at the back of the auditorium I had a really clear view of what parents and children were doing throughout the concert.

Toy Trumpet

Toddlers actually need sounds to be at a stimulus level of approximately 75 dbHL (Hearing Level) at their ear in order to attract their attention from whatever they are doing. In the absence of the usual loudSpeakers, from about half-way back the music was not loud enough to gain the toddlers' attention and this half of the room appeared to be in its own little world. Toddlers were making up their own Games and were not part of the action at the front.

The Business of Classical Music Concerts - How to Keep Babies and Toddlers Quiet and Interested

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Great Deal : Date Created :Mar 29, 2011 19:24:15

Get some friends together for a real stage band show! Trumpet is accurately tuned and includes an easy to learn song on the box. Kids learn to play in minutes by following easy color or number patterns! Made in Italy of high impact plastic material. Trumpet size 16.5"l x 5"w x 3.75"h. Age 3+.

The organisers had placed several boxes of toys at the front of the audience to help to keep the young children relatively quiet during the music concert. However, this meant that only the first few rows of the audience had access to the toys from the box. At one point a little girl ran from the front to the back of the room with a toy trumpet which caused absolute mayhem as all the other toddlers tried to leap off their parents' laps (and many succeeded) in order to chase the toddler for her trumpet.

It would have been more interesting (and certainly quieter) to give each parent a coloured handkerchief or scarf as they entered the auditorium so that their child could play with this 'silently' to their heart's desire. Scarves are also good from a health and safety point of view as children are renowned for having accidents with even the safest toy. Also, the babies present who were not developmentally mature enough to see small toys would have enjoyed watching the movement of a colourful scarf being waved in front of their eyes.

When the musicians were playing the more soothing pieces of music, the parents rocked their children and there was an air of real peace in the auditorium. When the music switched to a more upbeat rhythm that one could almost march to, the parents began to move their head and limbs in time to the music and the children followed suit. It was this music that elicited the most smiles and body-activity in the audience.

Children of all ages habituate to new sounds in approximately three to four minutes. We take this through to adulthood - this is believed to be one of the reasons why most pop songs are generally three minutes long! Regarding the young children attending the concert, it was interesting to watch how the pieces of music that over-ran this time period produced more disruptive and ratty behaviour from the toddlers and babies.

It is a wonderful idea to introduce not just classical but all types of music to children from birth, and also whilst still in the womb. From a parent's point of view, one of the best things about concerts organised specifically for young children is that they do not have to worry about trying to keep their youngsters quiet. Concerts for toddlers and babies are a great idea and should more accessible to wider audiences.

The Business of Classical Music Concerts - How to Keep Babies and Toddlers Quiet and InterestedMozart Toy Symphony Tube. Duration : 2.72 Mins.

Video of a few years ago, Chelmsford Recorder Orchestra + a few extras on the back

Keywords: CRO, Mozart, Toy, Symphony, Trumpet, Recorders, Chelmsford

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Thursday, March 24, 2011

4 Key Trumpet

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Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Toy trumpet virtuoso

Toy trumpet virtuoso Video Clips. Duration : 1.20 Mins.

Darude hit dance song "Sandstorm" on a toy trumpet playing the game. Sounds almost as good!

Keywords: Sandstorm, Toy, Trumpet, Techno, Cover

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Thursday, March 10, 2011

Silver Plastic Toy Trumpet 16.5" by Bontempi

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Nice Design by :BontempiOver All Rating Reviews :

Great Deal : $12.99Date Created :Mar 10, 2011 23:52:06

Bontempi's toy trumpet has four keys that can play different notes. The keys are color coded with seven different colors and have three easy to play songs printed on the back of the box for instruction. Trumpet is 16.5" long. Great for pretend play musical fun! Recommended for children 3 years and up.