Monday, June 25, 2012

Kids Today: Kids Clean up Sports Fan Graffiti

     We all saw the disgusting images of the wreckage left by Canucks hockey fans this past Winter.  Too bad the media didn't give as much play to this bunch of schoolkids, who cleaned up after them.  Good job, guys!  And thank you to the adults that banded these kids together and supported them in their efforts.  I understand this clean-up is an annual event, and I sure hope some of the players drop by and thank the children personally, hint, hint...

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Kids Today: Boy Scout Builds Bocce Court for Seniors

     Matt Deneff of Troop 71 Cowessett (RI) has completed an Eagle Scout Project in which he created, from scratch, a bocce court for his local senior citizens center.  It took 175 hours, several volunteers, a discount from Lowe's home centers, and a lot of backbreaking work to complete this project.  Anyone who has ever tried to dig in our rocky New England soil can just imagine what I'm talking about, especially considering that the entire court had to be level.
     For the full story, go to:

http://www.warwickonline.com/stories/Eagle-project-has-scout-on-bocce-court-at-Pilgrim-Senior-Center,63436

Friday, June 15, 2012

WeekendTunes

     In honor of the end of the school year, what song could be more appropriate than See You in September by the Beach Boys? Click that link, it awaits you on iTunes.... But I'll see you right back here on Monday!


Platinum & Gold The '60s - Various Artists

Friday, June 8, 2012

WeekendTunes

     New this week on the Positively Gail  playlist: The Doughnut Song by Burl Ives.  The iTunes link below will get you to the download page for this happy song.  Watch the doughnut, not the hole!  Speaking of doughnuts, Allie's in RI is my fave place to get them.

 See you on Monday!


Ultimate Burl (The Very Best of the Legendary Burl Ives) - Burl Ives

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

An Inspirational Poem

     Sometimes, when I feel discouraged, I like to recite this poem.  I made my son memorize it, as well (someday, he'll thank me!) (artwork by my 8-year-old daughter)

It Couldn’t Be Done

by Edgar Guest

Somebody said that it couldn’t be done,
But, he with a chuckle replied
That "maybe it couldn’t," but he would be one
Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.

Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you’ll never do that;
At least no one has done it";
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle it in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That "couldn’t be done," and you’ll do it.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Sweet Dreams: sfogliatelle

     This amazing, clamshell-shaped pastry is a total crave food for me.  It features dozens of crunchy pastry layers wrapped around a custard or riccota filling, slightly cinnamon flavored.
     If you're an adventurous baker, here's a recipe:
http://www.mangiabenepasta.com/sfogliatelle.html
     Lucky you, if you live near Providence, RI, because they have them at:
http://www.scialobakery.com/

Monday, June 4, 2012

Kids Today: 7 Girl Scout Friends Earn Gold Award Together

   
   

     These seven young ladies have earned Girl Scouting's highest award! That's not easy, even for one girl, so I was delighted to see seven from the same troop.
        To earn the Gold Award, Elizabeth Higgs, Kate Robertson, Amelia Poore, Tessa Swanson, Emma Lustig, Caroline Perkins, and Sarah Merten of the Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline Council each had to spend at least 65 hours on a community service project. The girls chose to serve the VA Hospital in Salem, creating a Family Garden space: a restful, outdoor alternative to the traditional waiting room. The girls split the space into smaller areas, affording more privacy to waiting families, and providing each girl with a "canvas" for her vision. The scout and 35 volunteers gave $3,500 and more than 1,270 hours to complete the projects. CWT Greenhouse donated the plantings.
     Thank you, Elizabeth, Kate, Amelia, Tessa, Emma, Caroline, and Sarah!  You have made the world a better place.  And thank you to all the adults who supported them, especially  Diane Higgs and Ruth Robertson, leaders, and Pat Montgomery, and the South Roanoke United Methodist Church.
     For the full article, including details of each project, please visit:
http://blogs.roanoke.com/sosalem/2012/05/girl-scout-gold-award-projects-benefit-va-hospital-in-salem/

Friday, June 1, 2012

WeekendTunes: Blackbird (The Beatles)

      Time to break out that iTunes card again!  Don't spend it on some mind-dulling game app; enjoy a good song instead: the Positively Gail Song of the Week(end), Blackbird, by the Beatles.   I adore birds, don't you?  They're always there, always so carefree.   How many of these birds can you spot this weekend?
Blackbird - The Beatles (White Album)