Dolls by Shirley D

I hope you enjoy my tribute to my mother who went to her rest in 1998 at the young age of 68.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you who stop by.

My mother loved her kids and grand babies, loved old folks and was an animal lover. She enjoyed bowling (got a 200 once) and golfing later in life. She was a bit of a tomboy, liked camping, road trips, cruises and  hanging out at the beach on the week-ends. Our family bonded and ate easy prep can food dinners as we went on family sand buggy trips.

She entered the doll making world after all the kids were grown and gainfully employed. She made sculpey dolls, created porcelain dolls from scratch as she poured them in molds, sanded and cleaned them, painted them, fired them and sewed all the clothes. You will see what beautiful work she did. Now that my children are grown and gone I have more time to be creative myself, yes there is life after young kids.

It would have been nice to have enjoyed that season of my mom’s life, but…what ya gonna do, I was a very busy young mother with small children and 3000 miles away.

Shirley D, my mother

My mother also made baby blankets for my children besides all of the dolls you will see below. She loved her dolls and bears. I do not know how many dolls she made, these are the ones I inherited and she made for my kids. I have three other siblings with kids. When my mother passed on, my father was really drowning in her collection. He was going to miss her, but he was very happy to shed a small stadium of peering eyes.

The first set of pictures are peasant dolls, the toy seller’s head turns so you are able to change back and forth to the young or old face, very cool.

The bottom two pictures are sculpey dolls. They are made from scratch, not molds and the surface feels waxy. 

Doll in a box, Campbell doll 

Clown & Flapper doll, Stevie doll

Baby dolls 

Oriental dolls, I believe one of these belonged to a royal family and my mother made a mold from the original doll.

Pinkie, Blue Boy & Little boy doll. 

The Pinkie and Blue Boy dolls are really beautiful, they have so much detail. The Pinkie & Blue Boy dolls were a set, she would give one away & of course the doll dealers would want the set, so they would purchase the other doll. 

How has your mother made her imprint on your life? Is she or was she creative, loving, or a woman of God? What example has she set for you? I would love to hear from you. Please make a comment below.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Ms. Dawn

Other posts you may enjoy…

♥ Woman of God-Song

♥ Doing What They Do-Song Lyrics

♥ SMA Child’s tribute to mom 

 ♥ Tissue Paper Vase for Mom

Lonely Horse

The Lonely Horse

Dawn Ginese 4/29/12

When you feel the need to roam

Try and take the wrong way home

You never know what you might see

You never know who you might meet

Well I gazed up, and what did I see

A lonely horse stood under a tree

He stood like a statue, he stood really still

The lonely horse, upon the hill

I called to him, I knew he could hear

His head perked up, he wiggled his ears

He turned towards me, his head and broad shoulders

I snapped a few pictures, he stood a bit bolder

You never know, what you might discover

The loneliness that you may uncover

When you feel the need to roam

Try and take the wrong way home

The Less Lonely Horse

I hope you enjoyed my little lonely horse poem, it could have been an old farmer or a bird who fell our of a nest. Sometimes you just never know what you will come upon when you decide to take another route. I could not decide whether to use the word “long way home” or “wrong way home”. I picked “wrong” because there really is no wrong way home, it’s just another way. I do believe in right and wrong don’t get me wrong, but as far as exploring and making new discoveries go, our paths may twist and turn and the unknown which includes an element of faith, makes it all the more exciting.

Have you met any lonely souls lately or have a favorite horse comment? Please comment below.

You may also like:

Singing Nurse Singing Nurse Where did you go? Another Spring pictoral poem

If you look around and like what  you see, sign up for my e-mail updates, I usually sent out 4-6 a month so I will not clog up your inbox. Have a great Spring and Summer.

For Healthy Nurtured Kids,

Ms. Dawn

Ticks on a Stick!

I prepared ticks on a stick for my visit to my grandson’s early learning center, Natural Wonders in Poughquag, NY. He really enjoys his class and my daughter in-law who is a Spec Ed teacher is very satisfied with the program.

I decided to make the ticks on a stick because I felt the children might be too young to participate in the full Tick Disease Prevention activities.

The adults raised the Ehrlichiosis, Babesiosis and Lyme signs as the children raised their little ticks on a stick when we came to the words in the song, ”Stay away from that Tick, He’ll make you feel sick…”. It worked great and the children were able to take the ticks, color them and share the information when they got home.

 I also recommended that the teacher place a magnet on the back so the child could place it on their refrigerator and use it to fan themselves during the hot summer. 

Lyme Disease Prevention Poster

This is a picture of my grandson and I at the end of our visit. We are posing in front of the poster I have been adding to as I educate children about Lyme Disease.

Before our session the children each made a thumb print on a small sticky note pad with their names and I added the legs and called them up one by one to place their little tick on the Lyme Disease Prevention Poster.

We had fun!

I also visited Acorn to Oaks, a quality early childhood program in Hopewell Juction NY on the same morning. It was good to see old friends and share with the children about Lyme Disease and how to protect ourselves from those pesky little eight legged ticks.

“Stay away from that tick, he’ll make you feel sick.”

Be Healthy, Ms. Dawn

Update:  Awwww, A Thank-You Poster from Natural Wonders-It is beautiful! Thanks…..I especially love the socks tucked in the pants pic.

Thank-you poster from Natural Wonders

Lyme Disease Prevention is lesson # 5 in “The Singing Nurse-Health Lessons for Kids”

See other posts about Lyme Disease Prevention:

♥ Beware Lyme is Here!

♥ Lyme Disease Prevention for Kids

♥ Hear “The Tick Song”

Don’t forget to sign-up to receive all our healthy kid posts , info on free stuff and other creative ways to teach kids about healthy living. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Please comment below, what is your Lyme and Tick experiences….Send us your child’s drawing about Lyme Disease Prevention.

I like you, you're fun!

Kids love games and challenges, attention and bonding and unknown to them we can craftily teach them what they need to learn. Here is a simple game to play with kids to help foster good hand washing or hand sanitizing practices, preventing the spread of germs that make us sick and creating an atmosphere of learning and laughter.

Safety pin game:

Remember the games you’ve played at baby showers, this was one of my favorite, it really keeps you on your toes.

1. Collect 5 small safety pins for each person who will be participating. 

2. Attach the pins on outer clothing, you can connect the pins to each other if you like.

3. Set the rules for playing.  Make rules simple for younger children. The older children 5-8 yr olds will enjoy this game the most. Play this game as you go out shopping.

A. Remind the children that when they touch things and then touch their mouth, nose or eyes, this is when germs get into their bodies.

B. The object of the games is to not touch your mouth, nose or eyes with your bare hands, it is OK to use a clean tissue to scratch an itch or wipe a runny nose, just no bare hands.

C. When you see a participant touch their mouth, nose or eyes, that person must give one of their pins to you. You call out-You touched your _____, give me your pin & sanitize. Mom-your job will be to help with the sanitizer after the child touches his forbidden mouth, nose or eyes, a little dab will do ya. Later when you make a potty stop everyone can give their hands a good washing, another teachable moment.

D. The one with the most pins at the end of the shopping trip gets to pick the special activity or treat that you will all enjoy together.

Sooo, items you will need: safety pins, tissues (let each child put a couple in his pocket) and hand sanitizer. 

I like carrying one of the Purell hand sanitizers which has a niffy easy to get to plastic holder that straps to your shoulder strap or a ring on your handbag. The little bottle is easy to refill with your favorite sanitizer.

Hand sanitizer helps prevent germs.

 Other activities you may enjoy to re-enforce learning. Sing a hand washing song.

Name surfaces that may have germs, have an older child write the list as you shop.

Read more posts about hand washing and germ prevention:

♥ H2N1/Swine Flu

♥ Rhinovirus/The Cold 

♥ Strep Throat

Sign up to our posts to receive fun crafty projects, health tips for kids, inspirational thoughts about life and family and TSN musical adventures and more.

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Let us know if you enjoyed this post, we would love to hear from you. Let us know if you and your children enjoyed the germ prevention bonding game. Comment below.

Ms. Dawn, The Singing Nurse

Tick color sheets and graphic sample

Well it is true, the reports are coming in that Lyme and other Tick borne diseases will be higher than ever. We need to protect and teach our children lyme disease prevention. The tick cycle, the small acorn crop and the low count of mice may be some reasons for the increase of Lyme disease this year. Less mice means the ticks will be looking for other ways to feast and that means our children and us.

 Here are a few links that are reporting on Lyme.

Why this year’s tick season will be really bad.

By April Hussar-Today Health

Bracing for a hungry tick season.

By Deborah Weisberg-NYTimes

Don’t forget to stop by our music page to hear “The Tick Song”. Our Lyme Disease Prevention lesson includes a Lyme disease bookmark craft, tick coloring sheet, a full musical production project with signs, costume and props, the kids love learning the silly disease names, Erhlichiosis, Babesiosis and Lyme of course. All of our lessons include TSN sing-a-long songs.

Below is a sample page from “TSN Health Lessons for Kids”, Lyme Disease Prevention-lesson # 5

The Singing Nurse-Lyme Disease Prevention Lesson for Kids

Make sure and sign up to receive our posts.

5 Reasons to connect with TSN:

1. Be inspired and learn to see with a creative eye to nurture kids.

2. Learn how to make artistic projects by recyling home and medical supplies.

3. Learn how to bring the outdoors inside to create beautful art.

4. Receive helpful resources on how to teach kids about life and healthy living.

5. Be the first to know when new songs, animations and cool products are available.

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Let us know your tick stories, comment below.

For Healthy Kids, Body, Mind and Spirit,

Ms. Dawn

You may like our last Lyme disease post and the adorable toddler in the picture.

 What others are saying about The Singing Nurse music and health lessons.

Having hand sanitizer available for you and your children is a great second choice, have it handy as washing with soap and water is not always accessible. 

Three of the kid hand washing songs are animated, and all the songs are easy to learn. Kids learn well while involving arm movements, melody and rhythms.

Singing a song is like hearing a sermon a thousand times, it will sticks with you as you and your children hum it all day long.  Enjoy!

Happy Hand Washing Song-CDC

Hand Washing Song-Miss Leslie

Rubba Dub Dub, Animated Handwashing Song for Kids-The Singing Nurse

Handwashing Song-Poder Pao

Hand washing is one of the lessons included in “The Singing Nurse Health Lessons for Kids” curriculum. It includes a germ to color, games, the above Rubba Dub Dub video and of course the Rubba Dub Dub song.

Click here for more info.

Click here for curriculum overview.

For Active, Inspired, Healthy kids,

Ms. Dawn

Which one of the songs do you like? What do you do to help your children learn to wash their hands? Please comment below, would love to hear from you.

Tissue Stain Glass Cross

We are going to an old folks home tomorrow so I pulled together a craft for the  kids at church to make that will be used to decorate for our visit. Our friends love anything we do for them, love our visits and are always very appreciative. So sad to be lonely.

Make a pattern for cross.

1. Make a pattern for the cross by folding a piece of paper in half and cutting it as shown in the picture.

Trace pattern to plate.

2. Trace cross pattern to the inside near the top of your paper plate, you will be adding words to the bottom. After you cut out your first cross use it as your pattern now, it is easier to handle.

Adult cuts cross with small razor.

Remove cross cut out.

Cross cut out.

3. Cut with a small razor knife, this of course is done by an adult. I prep all of the parts of the project so the kids only need to glue, color and tie a string. Now flip your plate over to the eating side to get ready for tissue paper.

Cut tissue in 1x3 inch strips.

4. Cut tissue paper in 1 x 3 inch strips. Cut various colors, I chose, pink, purple and sparkle white.

Glue tissue across opening.

5. Glue tissue strips across cross opening. Glue in different angles overlapping a bit each time to create a stain glass look. Add more glue as needed to make edges stick.

6. Final touches:  Add a greeting, I said Happy Easter and added a flower graphic to each side which I found on the web. I made several copies of my greeting in a word doc. and cut them in strips with a paper cutter. You might also find a nice one in sticker form. I drew a little grass at the bottom of the cross, green makes things look like they belong. I  added a small sun made from yellow tissue paper, colored the edges with purple, pink and green, punched two holes and added a string.

You can hang your Easter plate in a window which will catch the light nicely or you can hang it on a wall, cabinet knob or wherever you like.

Tissue Easter cross on wall.

Light shines through Easter plate.

Hope you have a blessed Resurrection Easter Sunday. Thank God for His awesome love.  Easter wouldn’t be Easter without all that Jesus has done.  Have a great day with family and friends, enjoy the warmer weather and be healthy.

Dawn

You may like:   ♥ Spring Tissue Paper Vase

Sterile Water Bottle Tissue Paper Vase

Over the years while working with my little SMA 1 patient (he’s 5 now) we have made some fun crafts from items that would otherwise be thrown in the recycle bin or thrown away. I love looking around and seeing what can be made of these insignificant items that were very important when they were being used for there intended purpose.  My little friend is on a bipap/vent continuously as part of his treatment to sustain his life. Wow, that was painful to say. He needs moisture in his vent tubing to prevent nose bleeds and a dry mouth as you can imagine air is blowing through his nostrils nonstop (we also apply ayr, a saline moisturizer to each nostril for the same purpose).

Our tissue paper vase today is made from one of his sterile water bottles, the sterile water goes in his humidifier that is connected to his bipap/vent, he uses about 2 liters in a 24 hr period.

Sterile H20 Bottle and Tissue

Pick any color tissue paper you like and rip into small manageable pieces. Remember to let the kids do the ripping, they love to experience the cause and effect of the process, feeling and hearing the paper rip is stimulating to the senses. If you are in the home care setting you may have to do hand over hand as I did with my patient.

Add Tissue Paper with Glue

Place a towel over your child’s lap or cover the work area with wax paper (helps it not stick later). Apply the tissue paper to the bottle with liquid glue, you may need to thin it a little with a few drips of water so it is easier to work with. Add layers to the bottle and vary the colors, remembering not to add too many layers because the sun will shine through your vase which gives it a stain glass effect. Again, let the children feel the slimy glue, this is one of the components that makes creating art therapeutic and fun. Adults need to apply a coat of some sort of clear acrylic or it will be sticky each time you get it wet.

Add a Bow to Tissue Paper Vase

After the glue is dry add a bow, pick some flower and you are good to go. Easter is coming and the flowers are blooming, what mom, grandmother, aunt or sister would not appreciate such a special gift created by your child’s hands.

I have added some links below that I thought you might enjoys.

♥ Meet my SMA1 Patient Kian      ♥ Kian’s Tribute to Dad      ♥ Kian’s Tribute to Mom     

♥ Candy Wrapper Recycle Craft     ♥ Pipe Cleaner Paint Craft     ♥ Easter Tissue Cross Craft

Don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss any of our posts about:

*Tools for teaching kids about healthy living…

*Recycling craft ideas…

*My thoughts on life, family and friends…

Have a Wonderful Spring and Happy Easter!

Dawn

I was straightening up my bedroom recently and found a letter from a dear friend. You know the kind, the friend that will stick with you through it all. The friend that nails the situation perfectly and helps you see things the way they really are. The kind of friend you can trust your very soul with because you have never heard her utter a gossip, so you know your most vulnerable self is safe with her. These are the kind of friends that develop over time as you experience their actions and words. These are the kind of friends my father-in-law has said, in your life time, you are a rich man if you can count true friends on one hand.

Well I reread the letter written by her and the first words that came to mind, and out of my mouth with an affirming “yes” fist in the air were,  “Woman of God”. Her words were truthful, easily entreated(kind, but cutting), you know the kind that are selected carefully after praying and asking God if you should share them.

The words in her letter resonated a bit different this time because some time has lapsed, the tough time is fading and healing, and she, a few others and God have been part of that healing. Sooo, all this to say, this “Woman of God” inspired this simple song I would like to share with you.  She is a true woman.

Woman of God

Woman of God, seeking His face

Pour out your heart sharing His grace

Woman of God, thank you, for being a friend

Sharing the truth, always in love

Simple kind words, even when they’re tough

Woman of God, thank you, for being a friend

Strength and honor, wisdom and kindness

And a woman, who fears the Lord

Let her be praised, let her be praised     

Though others may doubt, you lift me up

You remind me, in God I am free

Woman of God, thank you, for being a friend

Your words are like oil, healing my soul

You are so full and you overflow, on me

Woman of God, thank you, for being a friend

Dawn Ginese, 3/9/12

Click below for PDF of word only and lyrics with chords

             “Woman of God” by Dawn Ginese 3/9/12

I would that all of us would strive to be a true friend to someone.

Tell us about a true “Woman of God” in your life.  Please tell her too.  Comment below and pass along this post to a few of your true friends.
One of His,

Dawn

Original Painting in Video by Erin Dertner

I admit as a Christian I have felt that twinge of disappointment when a fellow follower that is in the spotlight wonders off the path. But I also know after being a Christian for nearly forty years that life can really be difficult at time. I have just finished a book by Brennan Manning, while he has affected so many people and has always pointed them back to the grace of God, he was dealing with his own demons of alcohol. I suppose the more we know we are wretches, the more we can agree we need Jesus.  And if not for Jesus we would all receive what we deserved and I hope you know it is not what any of us would want.

The funeral celebration for Whitney Houston was amazing and the songs were truly uplifting. It was an awesome send off. I agree as one close friend of Whitney’s wanted to convey, that we should remember the good and the legacy,  and not dwell on the muddy side roads. I pray we will withhold the judgement and leave that to a loving heavenly Father who knows absolutely everything about us, our thoughts, our struggles, our reasons, our choices and most intimately our innermost prayers and longings.

I wrote a song for a friend back in 1999 and wanted to dedicate it to Whitney Houston and her family and to anyone who has lost someone dear to them. My prayer is that the family will be comforted with the words and spirit in which it is shared. I hope anyone who hears and read the words will be encouraged as well. Until we all meet again.  Dawn

On the Day I Came to Say Good-bye D. Ginese 1999

It was snowin, on the day I came to say good-bye

And it reminded me, of the way He looks at you and I

How He washed away our sin And how He made us white as snow

And how He made us clean So we can stand before His throne

1. We are clean, not because of what we’ve done

I know you’d agree with me

That’s just not the way it comes

We were searchin, searchin for a long, long, time

And He reminded me, of the way He looks at you and I

How He washed away our sin And how He made us white as snow

How He made us clean So we can stand before His throne

 2. Well I know, this is really not good-bye

I know you’d agree with me

Life here’s but a moment in time

3. And we know, you are bowing at His throne

I know you’d agree with me

Before long we’ll all be home

It was snowin, on the day I came to say good-bye

And it reminded me, of the way He looks at you and I

How He washed away our sin

And how He made us white as snow

And how He made us clean

So we can bow before His throne

Lord you made us clean

So we can bow before Your throne

Make a comment… How has the life and death of Whitney Houston affected you?