4 the arts

4th of July at the Cleveland Indians Game, Cleveland, Ohio

2011-07-10T11:01:00.001-07:00

2011-01-27T08:45:00.001-08:00

think I could turn and live with animals,
they're so placid and self-contained,
I stand and look at them long and long.
They do not sweat and whine about their condition,
They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins,
They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God,
Not one is dissatisfied,

not one is demented with the mania of owning things,
Not one kneels to another,

nor to his kind that lived thousands of years ago,
Not one is respectable or unhappy over the whole earth.

("Song of Myself", Walt Whitman, 1819-1892)

Viet Nam Virtual Wall

2011-01-12T10:13:00.001-08:00

Click above to search for names of our fallen heroes.

You're Number One in My Book by Gladys Knight - Great Music!

2011-01-03T19:56:00.001-08:00

Billy Ocean - What is the Colour of Love?

2010-12-23T15:02:00.001-08:00

Quote from Lennon's last interview

2010-12-14T19:33:00.000-08:00

John Lennon revealed at age 40, during his last interview, that he no longer believed the world owed him something. He believed that we are all one with the universe and that "all you need is love."

I also believe this is true. Love can solve so many problems and prevent so many misdeeds among humans. How do those who feel this way convince the "haters" and those who deny that love exists, that love really is the solution to human problems? There can be no denying that we are all one. It makes no difference what ethnicity or culture we are from. We breathe the same air, think, feel, create, work, attend, or not attend, the church we wish. Our belief systems may differ, however we are all human, therefore we are all one.

Love is kind, therefore more love will create a kinder world.

Be kind!

Paul Gauguin - Horse on Road - Tahitian Landscape, 1899-Oil on Canvas Love his colorful style!

2010-11-30T17:43:00.000-08:00

Camomile Tea

2010-11-16T13:51:00.000-08:00

Camomile Tea by Katherine Mansfield
Outside the sky is light with stars;
There's a hollow roaring from the sea.
And, alas! for the little almond flowers,
The wind is shaking the almond tree.

How little I thought, a year ago,
In the horrible cottage upon the Lee
That he and I should be sitting so
And sipping a cup of camomile tea.

Light as feathers the witches fly,
The horn of the moon is plain to see;
By a firefly under a jonquil flower
A goblin toasts a bumble-bee.

We might be fifty, we might be five,
So snug, so compact, so wise are we!
Under the kitchen-table leg
My knee is pressing against his knee.

Our shutters are shut, the fire is low,
The tap is dripping peacefully;
The saucepan shadows on the wall
Are black and round and plain to see.

"Life's Not the Breath you Take" beautiful song by George Strait - listen carefully to the words, they are so true.

2010-10-19T19:30:00.000-07:00

Solitary Man-Neil Diamond You're the Best Neil1

2010-09-29T18:15:00.001-07:00

Oh yeah, sing it Barry!

2010-09-29T17:54:00.001-07:00

THE YOUNGSTOWN PLAYHOUSE

2010-09-15T17:46:00.000-07:00

A great place to go! The cast of Chicago - great talent.

The Charge of the Light Brigade by Alfred Lloyd Tennyson

2010-09-14T17:00:00.001-07:00

The Charge Of The Light Brigade

by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Memorializing Events in the Battle of Balaclava, October 25, 1854
Written 1854

Half a league half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred:
'Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns' he said:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

'Forward, the Light Brigade!'
Was there a man dismay'd ?
Not tho' the soldier knew
Some one had blunder'd:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do & die,
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volley'd & thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred.

Flash'd all their sabres bare,
Flash'd as they turn'd in air
Sabring the gunners there,
Charging an army while
All the world wonder'd:
Plunged in the battery-smoke
Right thro' the line they broke;
Cossack & Russian
Reel'd from the sabre-stroke,
Shatter'd & sunder'd.
Then they rode back, but not
Not the six hundred.

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon behind them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
While horse & hero fell,
They that had fought so well
Came thro' the jaws of Death,
Back from the mouth of Hell,
All that was left of them,
Left of six hundred.

When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wonder'd.
Honour the charge they made!
Honour the Light Brigade,
Noble six hundred!

Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas

2010-06-07T16:10:00.001-07:00

Zach having a "Splashin Good Time"

2010-06-07T16:09:00.001-07:00

Coco Cay Bahamas - a tropical paradise

2010-06-07T16:08:00.001-07:00

"LOVER" The Michael Stanley Band

2010-05-15T21:36:00.000-07:00

A good version of "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" originally done by Jimmy Ruffin in 1966

2010-04-15T04:25:00.001-07:00

2010-04-13T16:33:00.000-07:00

The Little Green Orchard
by Walter de La Mare

Some one is always sitting there,
In the little green orchard;
Even when the sun is high
In noon's unclouded sky,
And faintly droning goes
The bee from rose to rose,
Some one in shadow is sitting there
In the little green orchard.

Yes, when the twilight's falling softly
In the little green orchard;
When the grey dew distills
And every flower-cup fills;
When the last blackbird says,
'What - what!' and goes her way - ssh!
I have heard voices calling softly
In the little green orchard

Not that I am afraid of being there,
In the little green orchard;
Why, when the moon's been bright,
Shedding her lonesome light,
And moths like ghosties come,
And the horned snail leaves home:
I've sat there, whispering and listening there,
In the little green orchard.

Only it's strange to be feeling there,
In the little green orchard;
Whether you paint or draw,
Dig, hammer, chop or saw;
When you are most alone,
All but the silence gone...
Some one is watching and waiting there,
In the little green orchard.

I Do Love you by GQ - You Tube Video - This is a 1979 remake of the original Billy Stewart song

2010-03-02T07:10:00.001-08:00

Claude Monet's Water Lillies

2010-01-10T14:12:00.000-08:00

The Artist at the Window by Paul Klee

2010-01-04T15:24:00.000-08:00

Disco Nights by GQ Remember this one?

2010-01-04T15:22:00.000-08:00

"My Love" Paul McCartney, written for his soul mate, Linda

2009-11-25T11:01:00.000-08:00

2009-10-17T07:58:00.001-07:00

HAPPINESS by Raymond Carver

So early it's still almost dark out.
I'm near the window with coffee,
and the usual early morning stuff
that passes for thought.

When I see the boy and his friend
walking up the road
to deliver the newspaper.

They wear caps and sweaters,
and one boy has a bag over his shoulder.
They are so happy
they aren't saying anything, these boys.

I think if they could, they would take
each other's arm.
It's early in the morning,
and they are doing this thing together.

They come on, slowly.
The sky is taking on light,
though the moon still hangs pale over the water.

Such beauty that for a minute
death and ambition, even love,
doesn't enter into this.

Happiness. It comes on
unexpectedly. And goes beyond, really,
any early morning talk about it.

Zach and me at Whitehouse Fruit Farms on a class field trip-

2009-09-28T19:11:00.000-07:00

2009-09-04T10:33:00.000-07:00

STOPPING BY WOODS ON A SNOWY EVENING by Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Coming down the hill! Camping - July, 2009

2009-08-23T12:14:00.000-07:00

Marge and me at the "Almost Queen" concert, July, 2009

2009-08-23T11:41:00.001-07:00

click this to read Eliot's poem - one of my most favorite poems

2009-08-08T06:04:00.000-07:00

Time past and time future
What might have been and what has been
Point to one end, which is always present.
~ T.S. Eliot from The Four Quartets-Burnt Norton

ILLUSION
Time waits for noone, as many have said;
distrust for the clock always moving ahead.
Exchanging each moment, what next must we do?
Looking askance at that which is new.

Puzzles arriving for us to complete;
Troubles and worries alight at our feet.
The joys of each moment go by us unseen;
as pieces of puzzles don't fit in our dream.

For time's an illusion, that we can see;
Tomorrow's not certain, today we must be.
The moment is here for us to embrace;
Live in the present..the past can't erase.

Jan Luoma

The elusiveness of time-it's not always easy to focus on the moment, particularly when our dreams are so important.

How to Plan a Mad Hatter Tea Party

2009-08-05T11:08:00.000-07:00

How to Plan a Mad Hatter Tea Party

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
Article Rating: (37 Ratings)
When the Mad Hatter throws a tea party in "Alice in Wonderland," it is not the sedate and dignified affair we usually associate with a tea party. It is a let-loose, crazy, fun time. Planning a Mad Hatter tea party can be almost as much fun as actually having one, from the crazy hats to the table settings. Plan your Mad Hatter tea party with the following steps.
Difficulty: ModerateInstructionsThings You'll Need:
Invitations
Tables
Chairs
Croquet set or horse shoes game
Decorations
Playing cards
China
Refreshments
Step 1Choose a location. Choose somewhere outside that has plenty of green lawn and places for tables. A location with a lot of flowers or trees will also help when it comes to transforming the space for the party.

Step 2Plan a menu. A tea party is just not a tea party without finger foods. Plan a menu that is both easy and appetizing. Guests must be able to talk and eat, so finger-food is the best option. A variety of small desserts and several teas and punches will add just the right touch to your final menu.

Step 3Arrange for entertainment or games. Since this is a Mad Hatter party, hats would be fitting attire. Arrange for guests to decorate their own crazy hats to wear at the party. Include a game of croquet in your party plans as well as other lawn games, like horseshoes or bocce ball. A few card games set at individual tables will give those who don't want to participate in a physical game something to occupy their time.

Step 4Decorate for the party. Fresh flowers are always a good idea at a tea party, and this one is not exception. Move your armchairs outside, or decorate plain straight back chairs with covers and large ribbon bows. A Cheshire cat in a tree and a few plastic flamingos will set the stage for your Mad Hatter tea party.

Step 5Set the table. Use nice white tablecloths on the table along with good silver and mis-matched china. Tiered dessert plates and large glass punch bowls can be used as centerpieces, and a single playing card with a guest's name can be set on each plate to reserve their spot. Use cloth napkins tied with large ribbon bows.

Step 6Send out invitations. Use handmade cards to invite all your guests at least 2 weeks in advance. Ask guests to R.S.V.P within a week.

Afternoon on a Hill - Edna St. Vincent Millay

2009-07-25T06:46:00.001-07:00

I will be the gladdest thing
Under the sun!
I will touch a hundred flowers
And not pick one.

I will look at cliffs and clouds
With quiet eyes,
Watch the wind bow down the grass,
And the grass rise.

And when lights begin to show
Up from the town,
I will mark which must be mine,
And then start down!

Website about the unique Italian town on a hill, Civita, Bagnoregio

2009-06-30T20:44:00.001-07:00

People are now visiting there because of the quiet and seclusion it offers. A walk up the hill to get there takes about 30 minutes!

YouTube - "Waiting for You" - Kenny G - Una Bella Canzone

2009-06-03T19:41:00.000-07:00

2009-05-19T17:56:00.001-07:00

Shall I compare thee to a summers day
Sonnet 18
William Shakespeare

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate.
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date.
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimmed;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance, or nature's changing course untrimmed.
But thy eternal summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st;
Nor shall death brag thou wand'rest in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st,
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

"Alone" by Heart - Performed at Covelli Center on August 20th

2009-05-09T13:09:00.000-07:00

They were awesome!

"Love Comes to Everyone" George Harrison

2009-04-19T11:42:00.001-07:00

A beautiful Tabebuia tree in Naples Florida

2009-04-01T17:41:00.000-07:00

'Harlem" by Langston Hughes

2009-03-22T08:00:00.001-07:00

Harlem

What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raising in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over
like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

"April Rain Song" by Langston Hughes

2009-03-15T14:39:00.000-07:00

Let the rain kiss you.
let the rain beat upon yor head with silver liquid drops.
Let the rain sing you a lullaby.

The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk.
The rain makes running pools in the gutter.
The rain plays a little sleep-song on our roof at night-

And I love the rain.

Rock With You - Michael Jackson

2009-02-17T17:49:00.000-08:00

Roses in Elizabeth Park, Hartford, Ct.

2009-02-17T17:47:00.000-08:00

"Wanderer" - Andrew Wyeth

2009-01-18T19:07:00.000-08:00

"Sea Joy" by Jacqueline Bouvier - taken from "A Family of poems" published by Caroline Kennedy

2009-01-16T02:53:00.000-08:00

SEA JOY

When I go down by the sandy shore
I can think of nothing I want more
Than to live by the booming sea
As the seagulls flutter round about me

I can run about--when the tide is out
With the wind and the sand and the sea all about
And the seagulls are swirling and diving for fish
Oh-to live by the sea is my only wish.

This poem totally defines my spirit - "to live by the sea"
One day, not far away, I shall live by the sea. Jan

What poem defines your spirit? Send it to me and I will post it on this blog.

NAPLES PIER - 2008 (click to see full view)

2008-12-09T01:43:00.000-08:00

2008-11-05T20:09:00.000-08:00

A beautiful sunset in Naples, Florida

2008-11-05T19:43:00.000-08:00

"Daddy Fell into the Pond" by Alfred Noyes

2008-11-05T19:21:00.000-08:00

Everyone grumbled. The sky was gray.
We had nothing to do and nothing to say.
We were nearing the end of a dismal day,
And there seemed to be nothing beyond
THEN
Daddy fell into the pond!

And everyone's face grew merry and bright,
And Timothy danced for sheer delight,
"Give me the camera, quick, oh quick!
He's crawling out the duckweed." click!

Then the gardener suddenly slapped his knee,
And doubled up, shaking silently,
And the ducks all quacked us if they were daft
And it sounded as if the old drake laughed.

O, there wasn't a thing that didn't respond
WHEN
Daddy fell into the pond!

"You and I" by Mary Ann Hoberman

2008-10-28T17:32:00.000-07:00

Only one I in the whole wide world

And millions and millions of you,

But every you is an I to itself

And I am a you to you, too!

But if I am a you and you are an I

And the opposite also is true,

It makes us both the same somehow

Yet splits us each in two.

It's more and more mysterious,

The more I think it through:

Every you everywhere in the world is an I;

Every I in the world is a you!

Collier County Public Library -Branch in Naples Florida

2008-10-24T07:42:00.000-07:00

Of course I had to check out the local library while on vacation!

Zachie and Me-Summer 2008 -showing off his potato plant and Family Night @ Cleveland Zoo

2008-09-09T18:17:00.000-07:00

2008-08-29T19:28:00.000-07:00

Ahhhh... - vacation in beautiful Naples, Fla. Nov. 2008 - I may retire here as a Snowbird!

2008-07-31T09:58:00.000-07:00

Touched By An Angel by Maya Angelou

2008-06-18T17:59:00.000-07:00

We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.

Love arrives
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.

We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love's light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love
which sets us free.

A really cool coffee shop in Naples - the name actually comes from donkeys carrying coffee down the mountains in Hawaii - but the coffee is too!

2008-05-07T18:04:00.001-07:00

2008-04-29T15:53:00.000-07:00

E. E. Cummings
may my heart always be open to little
birds who are the secrets of living
whatever they sing is better than to know
and if men should not hear them men are old

may my mind stroll about hungry
and fearless and thirsty and supple
and even if it's sunday may i be wrong
for whenever men are right they are not young

and may myself do nothing usefully
and love yourself so more than truly
there's never been quite such a fool who could fail
pulling all the sky over him with one smile

"To the Censors" by Jan Luoma - poem defending Intellectual Freedom

2008-04-03T17:55:00.000-07:00

Don't tell me what I cannot read,
The Color Purple, or perhaps Candide.
Don't tell me that The Grapes of Wrath
will lead me down some obscene path.
Or perhaps you believe The Catcher in the Rye
is nothing but an implausible lie.

Don't take the books I adore,
Of Mice and Men or The Chocolate War.
And then there's Beloved or perhaps Christine,
the great Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.
I know you banned And Tango Makes Three,
because it's not about a "normal" family.

Don't take my books down off the shelf,
no, not Chris Crutcher or Sylvia Plath.
Or perhaps you thing we should conceal
the truth about Anne Frank that her diary revealed?
Nor should we dream or understand
of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

There are many more books that I must note,
Death of a Salesman and The Crucible,
The Call of the Wild and Arabian Nights,
The Martian Chronicles and Athletic Shorts.
There's Uncle Tom's Cabin, Ulysses too,
and Joseph Heller's satire, Catch 22.

The list goes on, there is no end,
to all the books you think will offend.
Whether they conform to your ideas or not,
when reading a book, we learn a lot.
So whenever you think it's time to heed,
stop and remember, it's our right to read!

When You Come to Me by Maya Angelou

2008-03-26T07:31:00.001-07:00

When you come to me, unbidden,
Beckoning me
To long-ago rooms,
Where memories lie.

Offering me, as to a child, an attic,
Gatherings of days too few,
Baubles of stolen kisses,
Trinkets of borrowed loves,
Trunks of secret words,

I CRY.

Where We Belong by Maya Angelou

2008-02-13T12:23:00.000-08:00

In every town and village,
In every city square,
In crowded places
I searched the faces
hoping to find
Someone to care.

I read mysterious meanings
In the distant stars,
Then I went to schoolrooms
and poolrooms
and Half-lighted cocktail bars.
Braving dangers,
Going with strangers,
I don't even remember their names.
I was quick and breezy
And always easy
Playing romantic games.

I wined and dined a thousand exotic Joans and Janes
In dusty dance halls, at debutante balls,
on lonely country lanes.
I fell in love forever,
Twice every year or so.
I wooed them sweetly, was theirs completely,
But they always let me go.
Saying bye now, no need to try now,
you don't have the proper charms.
Too sentimental and much too gentle
I don't tremble in your arms

Then you rose into my life
Like a promised sunrise.
Brightening my days with the light in your eyes.
I've never been so strong.
Now I'm where I belong.

Recognizing Value - Art Therapy for Seniors

2007-12-20T07:34:00.000-08:00

It's on the strength of observation and reflection that one finds a way. So we must dig and delve unceasingly.
~Claude Monet~

It is no secret that the creative process of art can provide a healing stimulus to us all, whether we are children or adults. Young children create art naturally, and this artistic spontaneity often results in the makings of amazing stories created from unaffected imagination. This knowledge, combined with early theories of art and its potential as a healing agent, led to an actual health and human care discipline known today as Art Therapy. Today, Art Therapy also includes the use of music, drama, poetry and other forms of creative expression.

While art can be therapeutic to everyone, the benefits to seniors are countless. According to the Alzheimer's Association, "art activities provide pleasurable activity, assist in socialization and contribute to the individual's sense of well-being." At London House, we have found that this is indeed the case. One particular class, floral arranging, was recently conducted at a local senior center. The ladies who took the class enjoyed it immensely, in part because it was challenging but not difficult, and also because it provided additional opportunities for them to socialize and compare each other's work. An added benefit came about because the instructor provided them written instructions to take home, therefore they are now able to make their own creations as gifts or for themselves.

If your organization is interested in our floral arranging class, send an E-mail to
jscottluoma@neo.rr.com.

"THE STORYTELLER"

2007-11-17T13:57:00.001-08:00

The Storyteller, at London House Art Center, offers programs for children ages 1-12 for special events. Programs are theme-based and can be held at our location in Girard, or at a place of your choosing. We offer special themes that may include stories, art, crafts, and more. If you are interested in The Storyteller for your event, please click on the above Title Link and then click on "post a comment" or send an E-mail to: jscottluoma@neo.rr.com, along with your name and phone number. Jan

2007-11-10T06:56:00.000-08:00

http://www.hillaryhub.com/

2007-10-19T07:39:00.000-07:00

THE LATEST INFORMATION ON HILLARY'S CAMPAIGN.

London House Classes

2007-09-03T05:37:00.000-07:00

London House offers classes to groups of six or more in air-dried clay and collage to children ages 6 and older. We also invite pre-schools to schedule a play morning or afternoon. Children can visit our art rooms and also create with paint and other materials.

To schedule your visit, call 330-502-1770 and allow 3 weeks advance notice.
Thank you for your interest in London House.

Serenity

2007-09-01T05:29:00.000-07:00

ANTICIPATION OF SPRING

Whenever life gets you down, turn to nature. It can help restore harmony in your life and bring peace to your soul.

Favorite Poetry

2007-08-28T17:25:00.000-07:00

Metaphors by Sylvia Plath

I'm a riddle in nine syllables.
An elephant, a ponderous house,
A melon strolling on two tendrils.
O red fruit, ivory, fine timbers!
This loaf's big with its yeasty rising.
Money's new-minted in this fat purse.
I'm a means, a stage, a cow in calf.
I've eaten a bag of green apples,
Boarded the train there's no getting off.

2007-08-14T06:14:00.000-07:00

Online productivity-Take a look at Zoho Writer for word processing. I found it to be easy to use because of all of the icons at the top. I also looked at the Google Docs Spreadsheet which is easy to use for math computations. I will most likely be using these in the future. http://writer.zoho.com/index.do

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=puSGKSYtAa7fU4-vcpAaxCg&hl=en#

Click here for Biblio.com to search for out of print books.

2007-08-10T12:06:00.000-07:00

Jan's Life and Favorite Places

2007-07-24T20:16:00.001-07:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10229985@N02/
These are some of the places and things we saw when we visited in Europe during a 21 day trip, the summer of 2003. There were four girls, including me, and Peter, a former bus driver from Belgium, riding around Europe in a van. One of the girls, Deanna, is his wife. We would stop to eat lunch outdoors in several of the towns we went to, and Deanna would stop at a local market and buy fresh food, breads, cheeses, wines, etc. wherever we went. They were wonderful hosts, and it was sad when we had to say goodbye. They still continue to travel, and Deanna is teaching in Okinawa this school year. Peter and Deanna are true adventurers.

Montmartre

2007-07-19T11:40:00.001-07:00

Montmartre, (Mountain of the Martyr), is the highest hill in Paris, 130 meters high. It is north of Paris and is home to the famous Sacre' Coeur Catholic Basilica. The steps you see in the photo are amazing and you can ride up rather than walk! View more photos on this blog @ Jan's Favorite Places.