A wee tour of St Andrews with coldplay

Saint Andrews

Charmed by Pablo Neruda

graffiti Pablo Neruda- Lisboa, PT
Originally uploaded by mmbooklover.

Cemetery of kisses,
there is still fire in your tombs,
still the fruited boughs burn,
pecked at by birds.

I want to do with you
What spring does with the cherry trees.

Pablo Neruda
(poet and fiery political activist)

all washed up

"hung out to dry" over a penalty kick
Originally uploaded by mmbooklover.

I can't believe what a soccer fan I've become! In 2004, I followed the EuroCup which was held in Lisbon while I was there visiting Meghann and Diogo. Then, this year, there was the FIFA World Cup, held in Germany. Portugal's team did so incredibly well! I was totally in the spirit of things-- right along with the rest of the people of Portugal. :-) On a couple of evenings, after Portugal scored wins and entered the finals, we all walked into the center of the city. Everyone whistled, honked, and yelled "POR-TU-GAL!" I actually may have been the loudest one from time to time. *blush* What amazed me was how festive and safe it all was. [This wouldn't happen in the U.S., I'd be thinking as I observed the merriment. In the U.S. lots of people would be ugly drunk and someone would be shot. So sad, but highly likely.] Anyway, even though Portugal did not win the World Cup this time, that team has certainly, and unexpectedly, won my heart! POR-TU-GAL!!

pois, café (therefore, coffee)

pois, café
Originally uploaded by mmbooklover.

Meghann brought me here for lunch one afternoon. we had spend the morning walking through and snapping pictures in the Alfama area of Lisbon. Two Austrian women started pois, café and they offer a unique menu in this ample room with very high ceilings sustained by stone arcs. The desserts, coffees and tostas are delicious. A very cool atmosphere, simplicity, library, music, food, art, exhibitions of photos ... Fantastico!
I've made this photo my desktop picture on my computer.

illuminating

Gated Doorway
Originally uploaded by mmbooklover.

My photo of a doorway at Palacio Fronteira in Lisbon is my very favorite. I have blown it up to a 20 X 30 and had the mat cut this evening for a framing. Can't wait to see how it will look in my livingroom! Such amazing memories attached to this one picture.

heartless

heartless
Originally uploaded by mmbooklover.

I took about a bazillion pictures at the Palacio Fronteira in Lisbon. This has to be one of my favorites. It's so interesting how the part of the azulejos (tiles) that is missing is the heart area. I've know a few chaps like this in my lifetime... one more recently, unfortunately.

cats or monkeys?

cats or monkeys?
Originally uploaded by mmbooklover.

The guide who led us through the Palacio de Fronteira in Lisbon, Portugal, told the group that these characters in the azulejos (tiles) were created to portray satire. Since monkeys are close to humans in terms of physiology, and cats are independent, the two combined offered the tile artisans the characters they needed to tell the controversial tales. Many of the azulejos are both puzzling and whimsical. I miss Portugal so much already!

You decide!

This is the front facade of a creole restaurant in Paris. My daughter thought the woman looked a bit like moi... You decide! ;-)

Llama.. c'est moi!

a poem to my mother
by meghann ormond

Rare
She is a woman
Lover
Of things that deserve to be loved
She is sometimes
Traveling water through hands
Ever so opalescent
Pride
Eyes as monstones
And as sweet generosity
Her energy
Flows
From somewhere (she holds on tightly)
Eyes must close sometimes
Where is that pillow?
Stones
around trees
She makes them grow
But she has no time for harvest
She wants to fly south
West
North
You should see the colors
of moonlit feathers
Why does she, still,
crave dancing?
She silently howls
Invisibly sways
A woman
She is a lover
Rare
Alive.

He Has a Lovely Brain!

This student is holding his clay model of the human brain. In partnership with the UNC School of Medicine, I am implementing the Brain Explorers Program, along with my usual BRAINIACS studies about the human brain, the uniqueness of learning styles and strengths, and Howard Gardener's Multiple Intelligences theory.
Never underestimate the learning power of a 9-year-old's brain!

School Wall Curiosity

School Wall Curiosity
Originally uploaded by mmbooklover.

All day long, students made pilgrimages to have "just one more" view of a beautiful luna moth resting on an outer wall of our school building. As word spread about the beauty and size of this creature, entire classes came by to pay homage.

Nurturing Seeds of the Heart

Lately, while studying plants with my young students, I have been doing a great deal of reflecting upon a quotation by Carol Horos: "Seeds, like hearts must open to grow." This school year, as never before, I have witnessed the children's joyful hearts burning with the love of learning. My own heart is overflowing with melancholy observing another year come to a close. I've never been very good at saying good-bye...