Brainspirations

A wee tour of St Andrews with coldplay

2009-06-19T12:04:00.001-05:00

Saint Andrews

2009-06-19T11:54:00.001-05:00

Charmed by Pablo Neruda

2006-07-29T22:59:00.000-05:00

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

2006-07-29T22:49:00.000-05:00

"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)

2006-07-29T22:41:00.000-05:00

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

2006-07-29T22:38:00.000-05:00

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

2006-07-29T22:35:00.000-05:00

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?

2006-07-29T22:27:00.001-05:00

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.

You decide!

2006-06-06T18:03:00.000-05:00

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!

2006-06-04T22:50:00.000-05:00

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!

2006-06-03T15:21:00.000-05:00

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

2006-05-22T23:49:00.000-05:00

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

2006-05-05T16:00:00.000-05:00

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...

Whole Foods Cafe + Full Moon

2006-04-17T23:45:00.000-05:00

Dining Outdoors at the Wellspring Whole Foods Café on a warm spring evening in NC, under a full moon... Does life get better than this? :-)

Mourning Dove Easter Eggs

2006-04-16T13:28:00.000-05:00

Last evening Mama Mourning Dove started her second spring family as I observed from my kitchen window where I was sitting having tea. She was a vision of shuddering and quivering for what seemed like long periods with brief rest periods in between. Now the two "real easter eggs" call my large blue mint pot their home.
I have learned a lot about Mourning Doves recently... They are monogamous creatures as are most humans. They mate for life and are devoted parents. They feed their young milk (though a different kind of milk) for the first few days of their lives as humans do. They provide shelter and raise a family with whatever means they can. As people do, they care, provide for, and protect their young to help them prepare for a life beyond the nest. It is a story of devotion, a story of peace in an uncertain landscape. The story of these little doves too is not unlike the story that children deal with every day. A story of making one's way in a world that can offer harshness, but also a story of peace and love. A story of devotion to partner. A story of love for one's offspring. A tragic story of love and life lost. (7-8 mourning doves do not survive their first few weeks due to predators and unfavorable nesting locations.) A story of grief, sadness and sorrow, but also one of new life and rebirth. A story of grief and mourning loss. A story of gentleness.

Boa Pascoa!

2006-04-16T11:54:00.000-05:00

I found this lovely shot on FLICKR this morning. What delighted me most was the description of the easter holidays in Northern Portugal. Maybe where I will be heading this summer on vacation?

Here was the accompanying post:

"i wish all a lovely day of easter! when i was little i remember to celebrate easter at my grandparents house in Northern Portugal. we use 'rosmaninho' [Lavandula stoechas] to decorate houses and give a wild ambience scent. what it comes to eggs, we use them to make 'pão-de-ló'. rosmaniho has the purple colour wildly used in christian traditions in this period of time and eggs symbolize the birth and rebirth season. i remember all those things quite well and although i'm not a really christian i believe that was the celebration of nature itself... once again simple things!
boa páscoa"
View the author's photo collection here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brilho-de-conta/

Ukranian Eggs

2006-04-15T13:40:00.000-05:00

I took this at the International Festival at the NC State Fairgrounds. Hoppy Holidays, all!

Lake Pine in March 2006

2006-03-29T12:40:00.000-05:00

Lake Pine in March 2006
Originally uploaded by mmbooklover.

A lovely 2.2 mi walk and lots of pictures. Ahh spring...

Meghann's Handiwork

2006-03-29T12:38:00.000-05:00

My Llama

I'm the Queen of Portugal

2006-03-04T15:05:00.000-05:00

It's always fun to find out what your students think of you...

SheWho

2005-12-26T13:12:00.000-05:00

SheWho
Originally uploaded by mmbooklover.

Meeting Mona

2005-03-27T15:55:00.000-05:00

Meeting Mona
Originally uploaded by mmbooklover.

The crowd around the Mona Lisa was lively, yet moving past her very slowly-- if at all. The spot where I stood to take this picture was the closest I came to meeting her. It was not so much frustrating as it was fascinating to see human beings clamoring to get close to such an important work of art.

I now view the feat of getting 3rd graders into an orderly, respectful line for lunch as the remarkable accomplishment it really is. :-)

Under the Eiffel Tower at night

2005-03-26T16:46:00.000-05:00

Eiffel at night
Originally uploaded by mmbooklover.

Christmas Night in Paris- 2004

C'est moi...

2005-03-22T09:00:00.000-05:00

Moi
Originally uploaded by mmbooklover.

Hello from Mary!

Eiffel Tower

2005-03-21T12:34:00.000-05:00

Eiffel Tower
Originally uploaded by mmbooklover.

I was standing under the Eiffel Tower with my daughter Meghann on Christmas Night 2004. At that precise moment, a second layer of tower lighting began to make the tower shimmer magically. Unforgettable!

Audio Greetings from Mary~

2005-03-21T10:50:00.000-05:00

Human Brain Visits 3rd Grade Brainiacs

2005-03-21T10:09:00.000-05:00

Human Brain Visits 3rd Grade Brainiacs
Originally uploaded by mmbooklover.

What better way to empower children than to let them experience the awe and mystery of the human brain...