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Elephant artists? If I hadn’t seen the video of an elephant creating a beautiful portrait of another elephant holding a flower, I never would have believed it. This alone should give anyone pause, especially those who don’t believe the protection of these beautiful animals is worthwhile.

How can an elephant view the world with such an aesthetic eye if he does not have a soul? I believe the ability of an elephant to create an image on paper should put this to rest. It really makes me wish we had a decent way to communicate with elephants. I mean, REALLY communicate. Wouldn’t you love to know what they are thinking?

After viewing the art work they have created, I shall never view an elephant the same way again. Perhaps they are all elephant artists!

Posted March 30, 2010 Comments(0)

Creativity exercises , what exactly are these? I find this concept fascinating, and always was amazed by people who could come up with solutions to problems in a very creative way. But now I find out there are actual drills and things you can do to help develop this ability, and I am amazed! It doesn’t surprise me, however, that anyone can improve his or her ability to expand their ability for creative thought.

My mother worked on crossword puzzles until she was 92 years old. Her mind remained sharp as a tack, and her ability to problem solve was brilliant until her very last days. In fact, she was so well known for this ability, that everyone in the family would go too her when they had something come up in their lives that seemed difficult to solve.

Old age doesn’t have to mean senility. My brilliant mom was living proof of that! And if you can drill yourself on creativity exercises, who knows how far you yourself might go!

Posted March 23, 2010 Comments(0)

When I was a child, every school day had a period when we kids raised our voices in song. Remember “Drill Ye Tarriers Drill”? I honestly think that music class and art class kept me sane. Growing up creative in the suburban 1950s could be rather tedious at times.

I worry about children today. Diagnosed with ADD or ADHD in grade school, taught progressive politics from kindergarten on, given sex education that might potentially steer them into relationships they neither need nor can handle; all these factors are, in my opinion, leading our country into dangerous waters. And when you up the ante by ignoring the artistic side of life, your children may be teetering on a precipice. Maybe I’m being overly dramatic. On the other hand, maybe I’m not.

Posted March 16, 2010 Comments(0)

Have you ever heard of a quilting bee? In the past, women in the community would get together and work on a quilt, thus having time to gossip, discuss the latest recipes and what the kids and grandkids have been up to. These days, much of the time getting together means watching a ball game, going to a movie or some other distraction. Why not bring back the concept of a quilting bee?

When I see my female relatives, we have so much to talk about we never even consider turning on the television. Come to think of it, most of us don’t even own an “idiot box”! I suppose building a cheesecake together or working in one of our gardens is our version of the quilting  bee.

I long for simpler times. Perhaps an economic downturn will open our eyes to the basic needs of life; communication, love and the mutual realities we share with our relatives, friends and neighbors.

Posted March 6, 2010 Comments(0)