FAVORITE FLOWERS OF THE SUMMER SEASON

It amazes me that roses can survive the snowy winters cold,

and will come back so beautifully year after year.

My very favorite, 

this 4th of July variety.

Petals are so few and fragile that Ive learned not to try to cut and put into a vase.

 

I don't have a name for this next beauty, 

but these are it's first buds of the season.  

They are hardier,

 and I cut them and hang them upside down to dry and enjoy the rest of the year.

What I've learned about this rose is that it's first blooms are the most vivid,

the next bunch that opened up last week are much more yellow then orange.

Those I cut and place in water to enjoy.

TAKING A BIT OF A BREAK

A lot of sleeping,

going to the gym (got a good 20 to loose with 4 down and 16 more to go),

gardening and keeping plants at three homes hydrated thru this already hot summer,

hanging out with Little Guy Syd and teaching him to swim,

sunning at the pool, 

with lots and lots of reading.

But I'll be back to finish off the 2016-2017 school year.

Soon.

CONGRATS CLASS OF 2017!!!

What a perfect ending to your 6 year journey here at Whitney High School.

I'm so glad I was able to be here to cheer you all on as you walked across the stage.

I'm one very proud mama and art teacher.

Thank you for taking the time to drop by to say good-bye

 along with your touching heartfelt notes and gifts.

It was an honor to have taught this very special group of students from 7th to 12th grades.

I'll be posting more of you and your artwork this summer,

but am taking a bit of a break this week  and probably next to rest.

Much love to you all

Debra Agrums Sposa

REST IN PEACE SWEET ALVIN

Recently our dear neighbor Chris up at the cabin

rescued the sweetest baby chipmunk he named Alvin.

Alvin had been mauled by some nearby animal and had been left in front of Chris' home.

He was still alive so Chris put him in a box,

gave him water and food,

cleaned and put neosporin on his cut,

then researched chipmunks and what wonderful pets they make.

I was surprised by how tiny he was.

Chris wasn't sure if he had opened his eyes yet since he ran into the walls of the box several times.

 Sadly Alvin just didn't have the strength left in him to make it and passed away.

I don't think I've ever seen anything so tiny and helpless.

It was heartbreaking.

Bye baby Alvin.

HAND IN HAND

Besides being a highly visual person,

I also love many different smells.

These Freesias that came up in the late spring succulent garden at school had both the visual

 and the smell factor going on.

They brought so much joy to so many.

GETTING BACK TO THE LITTLE ONES

CHARCOAL CONES

7TH GRADE ART WHEEL - 3RD QUARTER - 2016-2017

charcoal on paper

Really missing this wonderful group of adolescents.

 It's such a welcome sight when they stop in to say hi.

As you will see,

their charcoal work is just as special as they are.

The eye loves diagonals,

they create movement and lead your eyes thru the art piece.

Well we all loved this one by Madison M.

I was also impressed with how she knew to break her cast shadow up the wall. 

Great job kiddo!

Love the simplicity of this next one by Anisha H.

And the way she styled her background is so beautiful.

This one by Bianca P. is just too cute,

and check out her smooth style,

lovely!

But it was Ashley L's backdrop that really got the kids oohing and ahhing.

Simply AMAZING!!!!

What an inspirational piece!

MANY THANKS

To senior Ashley Iseri and her sweet & thoughtful mother for this lovely lei made for me.

Ashley brought it to school for me last Friday

and I was thrilled with this handmade gift.

I told Ashley that carnations are one of my all time favorite flowers.

In fact,

I loved it so much that it rode with us up in our jeep between my husband and I 

to the cabin,

and made the most fragrant addition to our little place over the weekend.

Now I will place it next to the lei 2015 Alumni Kaili Hamada's mother made for me 

in my home office so I can enjoy it for years to come.

Thank you Ashley for the gift you shared with all of us this year,

you,

and your innate designs and skills with the clay.

You were an absolute pleasure to teach and a joy to get to know.

I'm hoping you will keep arts & crafts in your life as you continue on your next journey.

Much love to you Ashley.

A VERY SPECIAL VISITOR

At our recent Open House,

the terrific & supportive Superintendent of our ABC Unified School District,

Dr. Mary Sieu,

stopped by to check out the student art.

She fell in love with 8th grader Loren Kim's lovely Dreamcatcher and

wanted to purchase it for her son & daughter-in-law who collect them.

Loren was thrilled and agreed to sell it.

However,

Dr. Sieu was not able to take it with her that night

because the show runs for a couple of weeks,

so she agreed to come back at a later date to pick it up.

And true to her word, 

she dropped by last week to meet the artist and have their picture taken together.

I have known Dr. Sieu now for the past 37 years.

She has held many positions on her way up to Superintendant at the District Office.

I even taught her son art back in the day.

And I have never seen her in jeans and sneakers.

Always she is in a very professional business suit,

but she was headed over to one of our other high school sites to help them out 

with something that was going to require blood, sweat and tears.

So it was really fun for me to see,

 for the very first time,

 her looking so adorably comfortable.

We love you Dr. Sieu!

And thank you for always supporting us!!