Art in Nature

He has been looking forward to this morning all week... his first outing with the Young Birders Club- part of the Collier County Audubon Society. We woke before dawn, dressed in layers, and headed out on our way, full of anticipation... with hot chocolate to sustain us.


The morning sun skittered about the leaves... the shrill sounds of the slough came alive... the twittering birds said good morning. In every direction, there was beauty. Who but You could fill our senses with such amazement… Thank you for this beautiful earth, which is, in essence, art itself.

...Falling in love with the Earth is one of life's great adventures.
- Steve van Matre

spiral effect

Weekends are made for fun... but they always seem to pass without leaving time for relaxation! This weekend was no different, as we enjoyed a few of the activities around town- the Swamp Buggy Parade & the Band Show!

After a totally exhausting Saturday, I decided that at some point we had better think about Halloween. Typically, I am the Mom that everyone rolls their eyes at... because who makes Halloween costumes anymore! I do love to work with the kids and create something fantastic... but if those people only knew how close I always come to not finishing! The afternoon of October 31st usually finds me at my sewing machine, desperately trying to complete the costume of the year. This year, with my kids getting older, I have only one to dress up... and at 11, he certainly has his own ideas! He wants to be a hippie... with a tie dye shirt. Weeks ago, we searched for just such a shirt for a party. Without having any luck, we turned to Walmart and their $10 tie dye kit. The kit came with three colors of dye, rubberbands, gloves, and easy directions with great design tips. So we laid trash bags out on the table and we let the fun being!

Freshly washed white tees swirled and tied with rubber bands, vivid dye seeping down through the folds, zipped up neatly in plastic bags. I was surprised- not with how easy it was (very!), but with how tidy it was! I fully expected a mess, but we successfully dyed two shirts in the dining room without mishap.

It wasn't until later that I realized why there were two sets of gloves... they surely would've come in handy when it came time to rinse the shirts. But the blue dye is fading from my skin, and I'm sure it will be gone by tomorrow. And the trade off was certainly worth it-I'm sure the brightness of the dye is only outdone by the smiles on the faces of my kids.

big weekend ahead

The end of October is drawing near- and for Collier County, that means big excitement! If you are looking ahead at the weekend (I know, it's only Monday!) you will have your pick of things to put on your "to-do" list.

Bump in the Night: The Conservancy of SWFL hosts this fun Halloween event both Friday & Saturday night. Encounter some scary creatures up close! The night ends with a web of ghost stories and tales around a campfire- sounds like fun! You must reserve your space. 262-0304, ext 266.


The Swamp Buggy Parade: It's big! Our family has probably only missed one in the past 12 years- sometimes we watch, sometimes we participate. Find a shady spot along US 41 and enjoy the show- marching bands, gymnasts, politicians, church groups, swamp buggies and more! And don't forget to take along a bag for collecting C-A-N-D-Y! Parade begins at 10am on Saturday, Oct 25th.

Collier County Band Show: This year Naples High School will host the event, and if you enjoy the half-time shows at the football games, you do not want to miss this show! All of the high schools in the county will participate and show off the hard work they have been putting in since August- and they are fantastic! I may be partial to Palmetto Ridge's band, since a certain young lady I know marches for them, but all of the bands have their own great style. Saturday, Oct. 25th @ 7pm. Tickets are $5.

Cambier Park: Spend your Saturday (Oct 25th) in Cambier Park! Art festival by day and movie theater by night! Spend the day touring the booths of the Naples Artscrafters and then spread your blanket on the lawn to be ready for the Outdoor Movie- Astronaut Famer!

Boo at the Zoo: Get a head start on the trick-or-treating at the Naples Zoo! There will be treats as well as a costume contest- but the most fun? Watching the animals of the zoo carve their own pumpkins with the teeth and claws! The event is from 3-7pm with a discount for those in costume!

So... why stay home? With everything that is happening, you will have to pick and choose, but isn't that half the fun? The lawn and laundry can wait- get out and enjoy Naples this weekend. Make some time for family fun!

the arts must go on

There has been a lot of talk around Collier County about the arts in the school system- or more accurately, the possibility of losing the arts. Budgets are being cut, and sadly, the arts are not state mandated so they will be the first to go. On November 4th, we can make a difference- because our county stands to lose its young, creative voice, unless the flexible funding referendum passes. I do not want to imagine a school without the arts, but the reality could be just around the corner. No little voices singing, no masterpieces peeking out of backpacks, no tentative first sounds from a clarinet or horn, no bands marching in time to the cadence of the drum. No music, no art. The arts are where many students discover their chance to shine- on a stage, through a paintbrush, in a melody. It can be the fun in a school day when the academics are a struggle or it could be the beginning of a career. When I vote on November 4th, I will be voting yes for the flexible funding referendum- I will be voting yes for Collier students.

through their eyes

I have never been one to enjoy trekking through museums- that is, until my children fell in love with them. My kind of vacation would be one of relaxation, not education- but, at ages six and three, my children began their slow summer exploration of the Smithsonian Museums in Washington D.C. And how could I deny them these opportunities? I couldn't. So for one week each summer, I endured. Their endless curiosity and their faces filled with wonder slowed me down, and I began to see museums with new eyes- their eyes. And when my son, upon admiring the Hope Diamond, looked at me and said I buy that for you Mommy, there was no going back. Now, almost ten years later, I might still occasionally balk at the idea of visiting a museum, but the glow of adventure in the eyes of my children carries me through. The excitement they have for learning and for art is contagious. And so I am learning to see the art all around me- through eyes that see every opportunity as an adventure.