I can hear you all now, nodding and murmuring, "Ah, yes, Stonehenge." And yes, well done you! Stonehenge was (we suspect) built to mark the seasons as well as a place to bury your (most important) dead. However! Stonehenge is not my favorite. My favorite is a place far north of Stonehenge, built on the Orkney Islands. It's called Maes Howe. 

And every year there is a live webcam of the sun penetrating the long tunnel into the chamber on the Winter Solstice. Before you roll your eyes at me, there are a few things you need to know. 

1. It was built around the year 2800 BCE (How did they engineer this thing? HOW?)
2. It is a burial chamber, and can fit 15 people comfortably inside with plenty of head room. 
3. When the sun shines fully into the chamber, there is a display shelf on the rear wall that gets bathed in sunlight (What?!
      HOW DID THEY DO THAT?!)
4. There is graffiti on the walls, in RUNES from when some Norsemen got snowed in one winter. It's fairly vulgar, and thus
​      hilarious.
5. Maes Howe and surrounding neolithic monuments are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

The Maes Howe website has some great information (and pictures!). The website itself was built a while ago (and thus lacks bells and whistles), but it is my favorite thing this time of year. 

I should mention that I have BEEN there, but all of my photos are analog and around here somewhere. If I can locate them, I will share with the class. 

I would be remiss in my librarian duty if I didn't share at least one title with you! I found two delightful nonfiction picture books that cover both the scientific reason behind the Solstice and the ways it was celebrated. 

The Winter Solstice by Ellen Jackson

Covers both the scientific reason for the Solstice and folklore associated with it. Offers historical perspectives from Europe and South America. 

The Shortest Day by Wendy Pfeffer

Discusses the holiday traditions that are tied to ancient Solstice traditions from all over the world. Includes a clearly illustrated explanation of why winter in the Northern Hemisphere has shorter days. 

I am a creature of habit when it comes to starting my day. I set my coffee pot to start my coffee before my alarm goes off so that I can start my day with the least amount of fuss possible. I also don't like making decisions about breakfast, which is why I eat granola almost every day of the year. I can hear some of you gagging now, but hear me out. The result of year-round granola is a variety of recipes that I can rotate through the year. And from December to February, the winner is gingerbread. It's slightly sweet, slightly spicy and very much like having cookies for breakfast.

You know you want cookies for breakfast.
It could not be easier to make AND making your own is super thrifty.

Are you ready? Of course you are.

Gingerbread Granola Recipe
Makes 4 cups

Preheat oven to 350 F

3 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1 1/4 cup nuts, chopped (use whatever floats your goat. I'm using a mix of walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts)
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cloves
2 large egg whites (this is what makes the clusters in the granola)
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 cup molasses
2 Tablespoons agave nectar (or honey)
1/4 cup olive oil
1 cup dried fruit (I like cranberries, but you do what you like)

It's almost time for the kids to go back to school! I love back to school time. For me the start of a new school year signals new beginnings and new opportunities. It's the chance to learn new things, make new friends, and wear my favorite sweaters again.

If you have kids who dread back to school, it may be that sitting still isn't their favorite activity. I hear that. It may be that their attention wanders before the lesson is over. Been there too. It may be that being talked at doesn't match with their learning style.

I'm here to offer alternatives!

My favorite YouTube channels for learning! This list is geared towards kids in grades 3 and up.

Up first is Crash Course Kids, a site that offers short videos to give kids a basic understanding of the world around them. The enthusiastic host and fun animation make this channel a go-to for me. The script is well written and engaging for all ages.

SciShow Kids is much like Crash Course kids (both are produced by one of the Green brothers) in that there is fun animation and the information is broken down into easily digestible bits. Whereas Crash Course Kids examines systems and relationships, SciShow Kids answers questions one at a time, such as "What Are Clouds Made Of?"

For your animal lovers, I recommend Animal Wonders Montana. The host, Jessi Knudsen Castañeda, runs an animal rescue and rehabilitation center in (surprise!) Montana. She covers training, behavioral enrichment, and of course introduces a wide variety of animals to the viewer.

You know that I had to include something about art in here, right? Artrageous with Nate is aimed at an elementary to middle school audience. I like the enthusiasm of Nate and the field trips that he takes. The series is part art history, part art instruction. Nate explores a wide variety of artist and their work from Michaelangelo to Dale Chihuly, there's a lot to see here.

Now for your high school kids and curious adults, I have a few favorite channels of my own.

Veritasium focuses on science and engineering. If you have ever wondered: What's the deal with DNA? Or, How radioactive is Chernobyl? Veritasium has answers for you. The channel is aimed at people who have a basic grasp on scientific concepts and knowledge of historical world events.

Minute Physics does what it sounds like: explains physics and the world around you in a small amount of time. For me, it takes the scary out of physics. (I took it twice in school and I still can't say I understand it) The format is fun, the host Henry Reich knows his stuff and can make it accessible to the rest of us. Definitely recommended for anyone in a physics class.

SciShow is one of my favorites. It has short explanatory videos as well as talk show sessions, and it was here that I discovered Animal Wonders Montana. Hank Green is the host, and he is enthusiastic and entertaining. There is something for everyone here.

And lastly, Crash Course! Hosted by John Green. Divided into history, philosophy, science, and literature. The fun, often irreverent, animation and short format offers just enough information to give you a basic understanding of the subject matter and the global/historical context. It is a great resource for anyone who is interested in the world around them. The channel is aimed at high schoolers and adults.

YouTube's search offers further ability to seek out new educational content. Just type #education into the search bar and click on the channels tab at the top of the results page. There you can find channels dedicated to just about everything under the sun, from poetry to face painting.

Just a reminder that in order to have a YouTube channel of your own you must be 13 or older. There's channels and subject matter that are not intended for children, which is why YouTube has a sister app called YouTube Kids, available in your friendly App Store.

Happy learning!

It is a thing and I am certain that I have it.

It is being full of good intentions and having no motivation.

It is feeling like you are swimming in a circle.

It is also known as ennui. Not boredom, not depression, just feeling listless. Embodying the meh.

How do you get your groove back?

I have determined that burying myself in books is enjoyable, but not the answer.

I am trying to get back into a daily art practice, which I am finding helpful.

I am also working on some projects that I hope to turn into tutorials.

And I am trying to learn some new things, spend time with loved ones, and remember that ennui never lasts.

I have been loving the art journal backgrounds that I created in the online class I took. I love the idea of pulling color combinations from life and mixing them up in new ways. The background above was inspired by a geometric print throw pillow I saw. But once I saw the colors in my journal, I knew that the pages needed an octopus.

And this page was just where I was getting rid of excess paint that was on my brayer. But how great does this pelican go with those shades of green?

And lastly, I received this gem in the mail on the same day that I got a gift of sharpies from a dear friend.

I am enjoying working my way through the compositional prompts. I have some ideas for holiday gifts that need a little polish and I think once I get through this book I will be good to go.

What are you working on?

I went and got myself a ukulele a few weeks back and have been enjoying it tremendously. I was able to play the Happy Birthday song for my youngest on her birthday (which is both incredibly cheesy and incredibly fun). I know about 7 or 8 chords and can play a bunch of different silly songs (I totally rock the Hokey Pokey). The ultimate goal is to be a ukulele playing Storytime librarian, so I am going to keep plugging away until I have the confidence necessary to play to a room full of small, eager faces.

There are few things in life that make me happier than painting. Over the past two weeks, I have been working on prepping a new art journal. I'm taking Alisa Burke's online Art Journaling class (because learning new things is good!) and some of the stuff I already knew but some of it is brand new.

When you have been painting for most of your life (I remember getting my very first watercolor set when I was 5), you feel like you have tried everything there is to try. It is really exciting to learn a new twist on an old technique or (as is common in Alisa Burke classes) to see techniques combined in a way that makes them feel new and fresh again.

The best part about taking a class is that it rearranges all the stuff you know. It's like somebody flipped a switch and now I am able to make new connections and bring together things that I wouldn't have considered before.

If you are even a little bit into making stuff with your hands, I highly recommend checking out Alisa Burke's website ( http://alisaburke.blogspot.com ) and classes.

I have this life rule about learning new things. And the rule goes something like this: DO IT.

So when my friend Jenny offered to teach me how to make lamp work glass beads I said yes. Actually, first I said "that would be cool" and then a few months went by and then I was ready to learn.

So one sunny Friday afternoon, I got to play with fire and molten glass.

Once the beads are made, they go into a kiln to be annealed. Then you have to removed them from the mandrel with a special tool.

At first it was intimidating because that butane torch is both loud and REALLY REALLY hot and I was sure that I was going to make a huge mess.

My first bead was a sloppy lopsided melted lollipop looking thing. I asked Jenny to make another so I could watch her and figure out what I was doing wrong.

My next few beads turned out better. Obviously to be proficient I would need to make more than five beads. I had fun and it was really cool to see the finished product.

For the record, working with fire and molten glass is really satisfying.

Hey guys! I have been working on painting and planning and figuring out this whole work/art/life balance and it has taken me a few weeks, but I think I have got it.

Maybe.

We will see.

I recently purchased a whole mess of new Sharpie markers and needed a way to move them from room to room (as I am a migratory doodler). I did what any of you would do--I went to the art room and looked at what I already had to work with.

I present to you: a washi tape marker caddy.

This morning at 6:30am, I was woken by the sound of my youngest crying. I went into her room and asked what was wrong.

"It's MONDAY!"

I feel ya, kid. I feel ya.

I graduate from grad school on May 9. I will be a Master of Library and Information Science. The following week, I start a new job. I am thrilled to be done with homework and thrilled to be working in my chosen field. And I am thrilled to have time once again to MAKE STUFF.

For the past few days, I have been cooking and crafting like a fiend. I have missed baking! I have missed leisurely cooking! I have missed creating things with my hands.

I have been doing all kinds of real-life things (see that tab up top that says Bologna2015 ? Take a gander there); including finishing an internship at a great library, being a Girl Scout leader, working, and planning out the summer. And I love to be busy and work with people and make things happen.

But the making of tangible objects recharges me in a way none of that other stuff can.

I miss drawing!

I miss baking!

I miss making jewelry!

But all of that will start again shortly, as will regular blog upkeep.

Grad school has ended! (all hail grad school!)

Until later, lovelies!