Blown-Glass Flowers

McKayla and her Knowledge Bowl team went on a field trip last week to the Thanksgiving Point Art Institute. They had the opportunity to watch a glass artisan blow a glass vase, see how they make stained glass windows, and see the original art of Eric Dowdle. At the end of the tour, she got the chance to make her own blown-glass flower! She picked two colors - a cobalt blue and a cranberry pink - and then helped him shape the flower petals and stem.

After it cooled down in the special kiln for a day, we went and picked it up, and this is what she made!

It was fascinating to see such cool art going on right here in our little town! If any of you are this direction sometime and would like to see it - or make a flower of your own - I would love to take you! They have a website that shows how they made a tree for the Festival of Trees all out of glass platters. My kids watched it about 3 times in a row! http://www.holdmanhotglass.com/

Signal Soldier of the Year

A couple of weeks ago, Joe attended a conference at Camp Williams for all National Guardsmen involved in communications (signal). He was surprised and honored to be awarded the First Annual Signal Soldier of the Year. He received this really cool sabre that is engraved with the words "America's Heroes - First Resonders". This is meaningful to Joe because he works so closely with the Police/Fire/EMT Departments all across the state.

We are so proud of the hard work and dedication Joe has for his job and for our country! It's nice to see that other appreciate him as well!