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Friday, May 8
HAPPY
MOTHER'S DAY!
This Sunday May 10th is the holiday where we celebrate all of the mothers, caregivers, role models, and special individuals who helped take care of us and shape our lives for the better. We can always reach out and show our appreciation any day of the week, but this is their very special designated day!
Cards, Crafts, and Creations!
A lot of us just can't make it to the store these days to pick out the perfect card, but that's not a problem when you can create something special and even more personal using the materials you already have at your house. Here is a collection of simple, unique, and downright impressive custom card ideas to make for Mother's Day or any celebratory occasion!
If you don't have a specific material on hand it's okay to customize and adapt! Have fun!
Some of you might remember the 25 Gorgeous DIY Paper Flower Projects from a while back. Here is another extremely simple flower bouquet you can make out of tissue paper and string or zip ties that can be used as a decoration or a gift all of itself!
With toilet paper becoming a hot commodity, toilet paper roll dandelions might just be the next big thing! These easy yet gorgeous painted flowers can be made with just the simplest of tools and would look great on a card or hanging on the wall.
(Would even make great fireworks come Fourth of July!)
Exercise Club
All are welcome to join us next Monday at 11 AM for the very first Zoom meeting of Exercise Club! All forms of exercise are urged and welcome! Yoga, biking, walking, sit ups, kickboxing, Frisbee, Wii Fit, the works!
E-mail Lauren (LrRafal@gmail.com) if you would like to participate.
Let's get those bodies moving!
Friday Movie Recommendation!
"My favorite movie is Mamma Mia. It's about Amanda Seyfried (Sophie) finding her real dad because she has 3 potential dads before her wedding the next day. So Sophie's mom, Meryl Streep (Donna), ends up getting married to one of her boyfriends, Sam, instead of Sophie and her boyfriend Sky. Donna ends up finding out that Sophie sent invites to her 3 dads during the wedding and they end up celebrating Donna and Sam's wedding. So Sam is now Sophie's step dad and she's so happy for her mom and Sam. I also love all of the songs in the movie too. " -Mary
Thursday, May 7
Practicing ABC's That You Can See
We've been making slow but steady progress in learning the ASL alphabet during our Wednesday Zooms, and eventually we'll know how to fingerspell! Here is a graphic of the entire alphabet to refer back to any time you think you have forgotten a sign or to brush up on what you remember. If you're feeling ambitious you might want to even jump ahead a bit.
Image is courtesy of our good friends from Lifeprint.com! Click the link for even more reference images of the ASL alphabet.
Final Supermoon of the Year!
Werewolves beware! Tonight is yet another full moon. This moon is named the Flower Moon and is the last of the supermoons to occur this year. Another supermoon won't happen until April 2021, so get outside and take a look while you can!
Lauren spotted this during her daily walk and couldn't help but snap a picture to share!
Wednesday, May 6
Here Comes the Sun!
Garden Adventures and Video Watch Assignment
Last Monday morning Phyllis, Eric, and his mother took the first steps in prepping our annual LES garden! They tilled the soil and applied fresh nutrients and manure so that the plants have the very best conditions to thrive.
If you would like to be involved with the Garden Club then e-mail Cindy (cindystewartjp@gmail.com). They meet every Thursday mornings at 11 AM on Zoom!
If there's ever a more appropriate Beatles song to be singing these days it's this one, Here Comes the Sun! We are welcoming in Spring and the warmer weather with wide open arms. This short video explores the history behind the unusual Beatles classic hit.
Everyone is invited to watch the video so that tomorrow we can discuss it during our 1 PM Zoom meeting after the Blessing Bowl!
Arashi says: "Nobody can appreciate the sun more than a cat."
Tuesday, May 5
Weekly A-SIGN-ment!
Tomorrow during our Wednesday 1 PM Zoom meeting we will be sharing another word we've learned in sign language. This week's word theme is The Edible Garden! Find the sign for how to say your favorite garden fruit, vegetable, or herb!
As usual, feel free to refer to HandSpeak for reference and guidance in finding your word!
Happy
Cinco de Mayo!
Today is the Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo which literally translates to the Fifth of May! Every year on this date people celebrate the Mexican army's victory over the French, but in America the holiday has evolved to be more of a celebration of Mexican culture.
Pinatas are a staple of Mexican parties, or fiestas. Here are two simple ways you can make your own using common household crafting materials. Fill it up with candy, paper notes, flower petals, or whatever you'd like!
Papel Picados are a decorative paper craft much like making paper snowflakes. They are used to decorate during Mexican celebrations and special events. Also like making a paper snowflake, you can cut out any design you like and string them together into long, decorative banners!
What's that in the sky?
It's a bird... it's a plane... it's...
A Meteor Shower!
If you're looking for a bit of quarantine entertainment then look no further than into your own night sky. This week marks the annual appearance of the Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower.
Set to reach its peak between Monday to Wednesday of this week (we're right smack dab in the middle!), the meteor shower is bits of remaining ice and space dust left over from Halley's Comet. Look up into the dark and clear night sky to the East to catch a glimpse of these rare shooting stars!
Monday, May 4
Sunny Salutations!
Welcome back, everybody! We hope you enjoyed that gorgeous weekend!
We know one person who got outside and gave us all the very best greeting. Cindy took a stroll over to a very special neighbor's house and, from a distance, said a little hello!
New Greetings to Replace the Handshake
In the age of social distancing we've been asked to change our habits and find new and unique ways to do things we never even had to think about before. One such habit is shaking hands.
Can't do it.
Here is a short list of some silly alternatives to handshakes that may or may not actually be helpful at all. But hey, they sure help us laugh!
Friday, May 1
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RUTHANNE!!
Today's a very special day for a very dear person!
The Git Up Challenge with Toaster the Mustang
It's the viral sensation that's hitting the nation! Well, the internet at least. Blanco Brown's song The Git Up has ushered in a new dance craze and a wave of "challenge" videos, some more unique than others.
And as all of our horse riders at LES know from experience: A horse never backs down from a challenge! Yeehaw!
Clubs Clubs Clubs!
This week the Garden Club as well as the Book Club met through Zoom and got down to business. The Garden Club worked to plan out this year's crops to grow in our little garden and the Book Club continued their reading of Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach.
If you would like to join and take part in these activities then e-mail Cindy (cindystewartjp@gmail.com).
Garden Club meets Thursdays at 11 and Book Club meets Fridays at 11!
The Ian and Lauren News Hour (With Coffee) will have a slightly altered schedule!
Rather than being streamed live on Saturdays they will be pre-recorded on Saturdays then uploaded immediately after. So if you're looking to satisfy your News Hour fix do not fret, the podcast will still be available to watch that afternoon!
Friday Movie Recommendation!
This weeks' movie recommendation comes from Matty whose pick is the movie Secondhand Lions! It is available on Hulu and can be rented through Amazon.
"The movie has a very likable main character, Walter, who goes to stay with his uncles, who are eccentric and fun. They do adopt a lion that Walter loves very much. There is a backstory that has a lot of adventure. It does have a happy ending too." -Matty
Thursday, April 30
Dog TV
Us humans weren't the only ones enjoying the bird call video from the other day! A certain lovable yellow canine was also very entranced by the chirps and whistles she heard on the screen!
NASA 360° Virtual Tour:
The Hubble Space Telescope's Home for Missions Operations
If last week's Earth Day livestream of the Earth from space got you excited then you might enjoy checking out these interactive and intergalactic virtual video tours brought to us once again by NASA!
"Take a 360-degree, virtual tour of the Hubble Space Telescope’s home for mission operations, the Space Telescope Operations Control Center (STOCC) at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Begin in the lobby to learn about the orbiting spacecraft. Visit the Mission Operations Room, where the flight operators command and monitor Hubble. Step into the Operations Support Room, where the flight team investigates spacecraft anomalies and verifies new procedures. Then explore the exhibit hallway to view hardware that once flew in space aboard Hubble as well as tools that astronauts used to repair and upgrade the observatory."
https://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/hubble-360-degree-virtual-tour
Wedneday, April 29
Rockin' Robins!
With Spring time upon us, I bet you are finding the outside world has become a lot louder. Birds of all shapes and sizes have reappeared to spread their wings and sing us all a Spring time song!
This video will help you identify some of the bird calls you are likely hearing in your own backyard, and possibly even right now!
If you find yourself looking for something relaxing to do then enjoy this Serenity & Peaceful Words word search.
You can play it entirely online here or download and print it out onto a piece of paper from the same page.
Arashi says: "I am the master of my own jungle."
Tuesday, April 28
Weekly A-SIGN-ment!
Tomorrow during our Wednesday 3 PM Zoom meeting we will be sharing another word we've learned in sign language. This week's word theme is SPRING!
As usual, feel free to refer to HandSpeak for reference and guidance in finding your word!
Would You Like Cream and Sugar with That?
The history of these tiny hyper-caffeinated beans we've come to know and love is a long and fascinating one. If you or someone you know is a coffee-holic then learning the past and present of this incredible African wild plant, and how it's made its way into our homes and Keurigs, makes this worth a watch!
Dancing goats may or may not be included.
Lockdown DIYs and Other Craft Ideas
It can get awfully boring during these long days inside. Why not get crafty?
This video shows you three crafty tutorials for things you can make using items commonly available in your house (my favorite being the little quarantine sock piggy!).
Also check out this list of 25 Ways to Repurpose Plastic Bottles!
Monday, April 27
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PHil!!
Be sure to wish him a happy birthday today!
Let Us Focus on Hope
Turn up your volume and enjoy this author reading of Kirsti's newest poem about Hope, a very appropriate and important topic in all of our lives.
This poem will also be featured in our April/May edition of the LES Newsletter.
Friday, April 24
Happy Ramadan!
Last evening marked the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, a month long observance of fasting, prayer, and reflection. Fasting takes place from sunrise to sunset, and the holiday lasts from one sighting of the crescent moon until the next. Ramadan is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
The traditional greeting during the holiday is "Ramadan Mubarak" which is Arabic for "Blessed Ramadan." "Ramadan Kareem," or "Generous Ramadan," is sometimes used as well!
The Peace Abbey
Native Land Preservation Action and
Native Land Reparation Forms
There are two new ongoing projects from the Peace Abbey that address injustices affecting the indigenous Native people of the land we currently call our home. Signing the Native Land Preservation Action is one way to demonstrate you stand with the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and their rights to their ancestral land which was taken out of trust, disestablishing their reservation. The Native Land Reparation Form allows individuals to voluntarily donate 1% of the sale price of their home to a Native tribe whose land their home occupies.
Please check them out and sign if you would like to show your support!
Tune in tomorrow at 1 PM on Facebook to view the first ever live podcast of The Ian and Lauren News Hour (With Coffee!)
They'll discuss news, music, cartoons, and just about anything that pops into their heads!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEfidH7tjnSFY_WCkRs5bKg
Friday Movie Recommendation!
Does it just feel like every day has been no different than the last? Is it Monday, no... Wednesday? Didn't I do this same thing yesterday too?! If you are finding your days blurring together then you might appreciate the hilarious 1993 movie Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray.
"A cynical TV weatherman finds himself reliving the same day over and over again when he goes on location to the small town of Punxsutawney to film a report about their annual Groundhog Day. His predicament drives him to distraction, until he sees a way of turning the situation to his advantage."
Thursday, April 23
Far Apart But Still Together
Last Tuesday, Cindy swung by Maureen's house for a special social distancing hello! Here she is giving her greetings to all of her well missed friends from The Life Experience School. We miss you too, Maureen!!
Since yesterday was Earth Day, I would like to remind everybody that they can visit our Peace Abbey Projects page to view our registry of people's hugging trees. All are welcome to submit their own through the form on the page! If you would like to include a picture with your submission then please e-mail the image to LrRafal@gmail.com.
Wednesday, April 22
Happy
EARTH DAY!
"Earth Day is an annual event celebrated around the world on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First celebrated in 1970, it now includes events coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network in more than 193 countries." - Wikipedia
Today's the day we celebrate Mother Earth and all she gives to us. Starting today at 9 AM and going until 8 PM is an array of digital programming from speakers like Anil Kapoor, Bill Nye, and Pope Francis among many, many others.
You can use this map to find digital Earth Day events occurring all over the globe and in multiple languages!
All of this and more can be found on Earth Day's official website.
What better way to view and fully appreciate our big, beautiful Earth than through NASA's International Space Station 24 hour livestream? It will show both live and pre-recorded footage of Earth from outer space!
Today at 12 PM noon time will be a livestream lecture and healing visualization hosted by Gita Brown in celebration of Earth Day. Tune in to harness "the power of the natural world" and help you bring balance to your mind and daily life.
It can be watched on Facebook or on her YouTube channel.
https://www.facebook.com/events/s/healing-visualization-inspirat/226904015292856
https://www.youtube.com/user/GitaBrown
Tuesday, April 21
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Finn!!
Tomorrow is Earth Day, and we thought a great way to celebrate and show our appreciation for our wonderful planet was for each of us to learn a word in sign language that has some correspondence to nature and our mother Earth.
Think about the outdoors, your favorite plants, animals, science, recycling, or even some foods!
During tomorrow's 3 PM Zoom meeting we will all share the words we have learned with one another.
Here is a link to Handspeak again for those looking for a resource to help you find the right word!
New A-SIGN-ment for Earth Day!
While we're on the topic of nature, enjoy this video of a wild African leopard teaching their cubs how to safely cross a road for the first time!
Monday, April 20
Happy Patriot's Day!
Another maah maah Monday!
Here's something cute to start your week off right. Just last week Bobby became a goat daddy to two precious little kids, Lenny (brown) and Squiggy (black and white)!
Last Saturday's mid-April snowfall was really something else. It made our beloved LES hugging tree into a flowery and icy spectacle!
Friday, April 17
Stuck Inside With Nothing to Do?
Have a
DANCE PARTY!
Or are you yearning for a vacation or just a breathe of the outdoors? Here is a list of 5 National Parks offering virtual tours of their incredible sights.
Areas include the glaciers of Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska, an exploration of Calrsbad Caverns in New Mexico, and a fly over of an active Hawaiian volcano!
Friday Movie Recommendation!
This Friday's movie recommendation isn't a movie at all; it's a series! Magic For Humans is a two season series on Netflix created by and starring Justin Willman, a comedian and a magician who performs incredible feats of magic for people right there on the street!
Netflix bio: "Magician Justin Willman blends good-natured magic with grown-up laughs in this series that sends him out on the streets and into locations like schools to baffle unsuspecting people. He aims to wow the marks as he performs the tricks and illusions in front of them, with no camera tricks to assist him. Along the way, Willman squares off against a robot in a magic battle and delivers a surprise proposal to a woman who married herself."
Thursday, April 16
Since Nancy was unable to lead us in our Tuesday Zoom yoga class this week, here is a Bingo game that will help you feel almost as rejuvenated as if you had just finished a full Nancy session.
It'll have you saying,
Shavasan-ahhh~
Arashi says: "Cat Pose is overrated. My favorite yoga pose is Shavasana!"
Wednesday, April 15
ABC's in ASL
No, your speaker isn't malfunctioning and your volume is actually up. There is just no sound in this video! Come learn along with Bill Vicars of ASLU (an online sign language resource page) as he teaches a new student how to fingerspell for the first time.
From the Youtube video description:
"Learn the American manual alphabet with Dr. Bill of "ASLUniversity!" (Lifeprint.com) You can be doing (basic) fingerspelling after this one easy lesson. This is a real student. She did not know how to fingerspell prior to this session."
For further clear reference images for signing the alphabet click here!
Tuesday, April 14
Sign Language A-SIGN-ment!
Individuals are encouraged to pick one word and learn how to say it using sign language. We will be sharing our words and how to sign them with each other during tomorrow's Wednesday 3 PM Zoom meeting.
Here is a resource you may use if you would like.
It is called Handspeak and is an online dictionary for those looking to translate spoken words into ASL (American Sign Language), complete with video examples.
https://www.handspeak.com/
Happy Birthday
Anne Sullivan!
Born: April 14, 1866
Monday, April 13
We hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend! Here are a couple things to welcome you back and help make you smile on this glorious Monday.
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