Hello ED, TY for the Golden Dragon and PD. Re. the Elf, here we call it Elf on a Shelf. The idea is to place the Elf in a different position each day and the children have to find it. My Sarah has been doing it for some years. The local Supermarket here do this for children. When a child spots it and tells the Cashier the get a sweet for finding it. Home from visiting Mum today. I had planned to go yesterday and join her at her Art group but the heavens opened up and poured rain. I don't like driving in pouring rain. Mum has a colouring in book and last time I was there I taught her to use the side of the lead rather than the point. She told me that she shared this with the group and that they were happy. It seems that they all colour in. One lady draws and Mum thinks that she is quite good. No one paints. I took my Art Group bag with me and showed mum 2 of my paintings. Naturally she was impressed with her talented daughter. HaHa. Mum then showed me her almost completed colouring in project. Then I had an idea. I wondered if my water colour pencils would work on the paper of her colouring book. I only use special paper for water paints. So we experimented. I found a page in the book that was lotus sitting on water. I coloured some of the water in 2 different blues using the water colour pencils. Mum kept asking how is this water colour? So I then got a bowl of water and pulled out a brush. Wet it and ran it over the the colour. I only did a bit and then handed the brush to Mum. "Your turn." She was excited by how it turned to paint. I suggested that we wait to see if the paper copes with the water. It seemed to. So I left a tin of water colour pencils with her and some brushes. I also suggested removing the page from the book using a stanley knife and to have a tray or something under the painting to protect tables etc. Mum was delighted! "Haha!" I said, "Now you have  something else to teach to your Art Group."

Sprinkles

Splashed-- I am up and waiting for Kevin to arrive and I just hope things go well and I can get done. Because my mood is not very good. Yesterday with no notice they emptied out the storage lockers and when I went out to see what the racket was was told my stuff had been moved up to a floor above me--nice I can really get up there and carry stuff down--It was hard enough with the locker being on the same floor but now it will be get it out come down in the elevater and then get it in the apartment. I don't know whos bright idea it was but obviously they are totally mobile on their own. Daughter is now telling me to get on the waiting list for the one up where the St. Josephs hospital was and is not seniors apartments and continuing care. It would probably be cheaper as it is geared to income but they are itty bitty apartments and I don't really think my walker would work well in. We shall see. Have a good day

Ty x

Hello Ed, going to bed splash.

Hello Ed, TY for the Mallard. Dinner now done, cats inside and night is falling. It has been raining here most of the day and I even put the heating on again. The outside solar light that I put out the other day seems to be working. Just not sure that I want to bother with the rest of them. I cannot recall why I purchased them? It may have been for the Jamieson house? That makes sense to me. Well now that I know they work I think that I will donate them to the OP shop. I love the photo of your house lit up for Christmas. Well done! People here at the back beach don't seem to bother with outside Christmas lights. Almost my bed time. Enjoy your day.

Hello Ed, TY for the Golden Dragon. No message from me? That must have been the long one that I wrote to you about teaching the alphabet. I am assuming this as you asked the question again. In Steiner / Waldorf schools we teach the alphabet. In Grade 1 we tell a story each morning that has something to do with the letter of the day that is being taught. For example, B might be a story about a butterfly. Then the children copy a drawing of a Butterfly that is on the chalkboard and the wings look like the letter B. As a teacher I would also do  painting of the same and it was placed above the chalkboard. We would also sing the well known alphabet song. In Grade 2 for a bit of fun and a challenge we would say the alphabet backwards. 

Sprinkles

Mallard, ty  xx

Lovebirds, ty  x