Yesterday and today I have been intermittently working on applying to the local junior college--still all the same standard stuff (application forms, transcripts from previous schools, etc.) but far quicker, easier and less expensive due to the marvels of modern technology. The state junior colleges have a unified application and transcript system, but interestingly the state colleges do not. The University of California probably has a unified system, but since I only attended one campus I can't say for sure.
Stimulated the economy of an art supply store just now...
I will be taking my evening constitutional a while after dinner, but not pulling any weeds today--giving my hands a bit of a rest. We made [Santa Rosa] plum jam today. This evening I mean to start preparatory drills for drawing study; those go on the front of a small sheet of multimedia paper, with watercolor brush practice on the back. If I fill the entire spiral bound notebook, that should help.
Oh, I have a raft of them; I repurposed a small, surplus, handled, zip-up/lay flat tool carrier as a field kit for pen, ink and watercolor sketching. The only thing that won't fit into the field kit is the folding tripod stool. Even hat, sunscreen and mosquito repellant (in season) have their places. One last thing is on the way--a proportional divider from Jerry's Artarama. I'm not sure just how and where I will fit that in, but where there's a will there's a way. If you would like photos of my field kit, I can oblige. For when I get going, I have purchased a selection of good-quality watercolor papers, in books and blocks. For just beginning I am using cheap wire-bound pads that were on sale. YouTube videos and sketching blogs are very helpful. Brushes from the UK, ink from Germany, all rag papers from the UK, France and India, and professional grade watercolors from Russia (the company predates the Revolution). Where possible, supplies from my local art store. I expect that I shall prefer the Indian paper--the sizing is not absolutely uniform, but that can add interest. The price is good, and it is handmade. The UK and one French paper I bought to get free shipping on the proportional divider.
Tomorrow we'll have two grands for the afternoon. Then meeting with 5 grands (and 3 of our kids) at dinner. Then two older grands overnight! A very grand day!
"The single biggest predictor of his academic achievement and high ACT scores is reading to children. Not flash cards, not workbooks, not fancy preschools, not blinking toys or computers, but Mom or Dad taking the time every day or night (or both!) to sit and read them wonderful books."
And one surprising thing thing that was discovered by studying the boat people refugees from Indochina was that the language of the bedtime stories made no difference whatsoever. Whatever the language, the kids came to understand not only that their parents loved them, but that wonderful stories came from books, if one could read them. Another discovery that came from studying the boat people and comparing them to earlier studies in the UK and US was that culture governed the correlation between family size and academic performance. UK and US studies showed that kids in bigger families didn't do so well--Mom and Dad were spread too thin. In the SE Asian families, bigger was better academically; the older kids helped the younger kids as they all did their homework together.
Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteI won't be around for a few days as I'm heading to Chattanooga for Libertycon.
Traveling Mercies, Bill!
DeleteHappy Anniversary, you two.
ReplyDeleteA good start!
ReplyDelete--Alan
Yesterday and today I have been intermittently working on applying to the local junior college--still all the same standard stuff (application forms, transcripts from previous schools, etc.) but far quicker, easier and less expensive due to the marvels of modern technology. The state junior colleges have a unified application and transcript system, but interestingly the state colleges do not. The University of California probably has a unified system, but since I only attended one campus I can't say for sure.
ReplyDeleteStimulated the economy of an art supply store just now...
I will be taking my evening constitutional a while after dinner, but not pulling any weeds today--giving my hands a bit of a rest. We made [Santa Rosa] plum jam today. This evening I mean to start preparatory drills for drawing study; those go on the front of a small sheet of multimedia paper, with watercolor brush practice on the back. If I fill the entire spiral bound notebook, that should help.
Alan
Go Alan!
DeleteWhat supplies did you choose?
Oh, I have a raft of them; I repurposed a small, surplus, handled, zip-up/lay flat tool carrier as a field kit for pen, ink and watercolor sketching. The only thing that won't fit into the field kit is the folding tripod stool. Even hat, sunscreen and mosquito repellant (in season) have their places. One last thing is on the way--a proportional divider from Jerry's Artarama. I'm not sure just how and where I will fit that in, but where there's a will there's a way. If you would like photos of my field kit, I can oblige. For when I get going, I have purchased a selection of good-quality watercolor papers, in books and blocks. For just beginning I am using cheap wire-bound pads that were on sale. YouTube videos and sketching blogs are very helpful. Brushes from the UK, ink from Germany, all rag papers from the UK, France and India, and professional grade watercolors from Russia (the company predates the Revolution). Where possible, supplies from my local art store. I expect that I shall prefer the Indian paper--the sizing is not absolutely uniform, but that can add interest. The price is good, and it is handmade. The UK and one French paper I bought to get free shipping on the proportional divider.
DeleteAlan
Thanks for the sweet messages!!!
ReplyDeleteWe went out to eat, then to see a musical called "Once." Amazing talent!!
Tomorrow we'll have two grands for the afternoon. Then meeting with 5 grands (and 3 of our kids) at dinner. Then two older grands overnight! A very grand day!
ReplyDelete"The single biggest predictor of his academic achievement and high ACT scores is reading to children. Not flash cards, not workbooks, not fancy preschools, not blinking toys or computers, but Mom or Dad taking the time every day or night (or both!) to sit and read them wonderful books."
ReplyDelete~ Huffington Post
And one surprising thing thing that was discovered by studying the boat people refugees from Indochina was that the language of the bedtime stories made no difference whatsoever. Whatever the language, the kids came to understand not only that their parents loved them, but that wonderful stories came from books, if one could read them. Another discovery that came from studying the boat people and comparing them to earlier studies in the UK and US was that culture governed the correlation between family size and academic performance. UK and US studies showed that kids in bigger families didn't do so well--Mom and Dad were spread too thin. In the SE Asian families, bigger was better academically; the older kids helped the younger kids as they all did their homework together.
DeleteAlan
computer ate my post
ReplyDelete