Recently when this picture was found of Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan it reminded me of my lifelong interest in this remarkable woman. The old black and white photo shows her with a beloved doll that helped break the language barrier between words and objects.
"I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker." Helen Keller
Even though Helen Keller was deaf and blind I saw that humble person and honest worker. When I was in elementary school I recall reading my first biography about her. As I lived the lives of Clara Barton, Florence Nightingale, and Amelia Earhart through books, Helen Keller was the person that stayed with me.
I also remember watching "The Miracle Worker" and being in awe of the patience Annie Sullivan displayed toward Helen during the famous dining room scene. We didn't have many handicapped people in our town. Patty Duke so skillfully played young Helen Keller it almost scared me to see somebody with disabilities.
"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart." Helen KellerThe famous scene when she spoke "
wa wa" still brings tears to my eyes whether I am watching the original or the remake when Patty Duke played Annie Sullivan and Melissa Gilbert was Helen. As she continued to speak out for people with
disabilities and be a strong voice for women she had to have felt her passions in her heart.
I never lost track of Helen Keller. I wrote a research paper on her life in high school. I have used her as an example numerous times while teaching as somebody that showed courage and
perseverance. She learned
Braille, graduated from college, and did speaking engagements around the world. When I saw that old picture flash on my news page online this week it was a perfect time to reflect on a life of an extraordinary woman.
"When we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another. " Helen Keller
Each spring I visit nurseries in search of different types of geraniums. I love unique bloom colors, but also enjoy searching different color combinations in the leaves. The light caught this bloom in a way that it seems to glow. All of these geraniums are moving toward the light in the greenhouse and eager for spring also.
I love this chartreuse and dark green combination in the leaves.
It contrasts well with the creamy color in these leaves.
I still love the look of traditional pink geraniums in a summer basket. For other photo hunts on different go here.
Once a year our gym at school turns into a traditional carnival. Since we are a K-12 school the middle school and high school students set up booths that include games of chance, balloon sales, a lollipop tree,and Bingo. Elders that remember taking their children to the carnival are now watching their grandchildren and great-grandchildren enjoy the games and fun. I have been here long enough now that I have former students bringing their young children in strollers to try the Fish Pond or Tiger Basketball.
Of course there was also a cake walk, but now the cakes all have to be baked at school by people who are certified food handlers. It was a popular event all evening. There was also a jail that people used tickets to have someone thrown in . That also was very popular. Whew! I escaped being thrown in jail.
These are the booths our middle school students were in charge of tonight. They did an impressive job decorating them with bright colors. This was right before the doors were open for customers. 
My favorite booth decor was the Fish Pond done by a few of my artistic students. 
Each class in the high school has king and queen candidates. The king and queen are chosen by the amount of raffle tickets they sell. The stage is decorated beautifully for the crowning held at the end of the evening.
One of my students came to get the staple gun again, but had to show off his prizes: a great smiley face hat, pink sunglasses, and handcuffs. Bingo continues long into the night until all the prizes are given away. Kids go home with bags of prizes and tired smiles on their faces. A fortunate few will go home with raffle prizes. Staff members keep an eye on the clock knowing soon they can go home and sit in an easy chair and put up their feet!
The creek is still covered with ice and snow.
Snow is peeking through the trees.
