Winter-white.

Look what it was doing when I woke up this morning! I have been blessed by the snow-gods with all of this white stuff! I love it--can't get enough of it!!

What a wonderful way to ring in the New Year!!

Let's celebrate!

Fly me to the moon . . .

Lemma Blingbeil and Ling-Sing.

It's always so much fun to see my best friend, Emma. What a nut! I love her to death!

Snowshoeing . . .

My favorite part of visiting Wisconsin is the snow. I love being out in the snow. I love the woods. I love snowshoeing. The day we went for our walk in the woods, it was beautiful out: clear skies and crunchy snow! Can't wait to go again!

A night on the town, Medford-style . . .

So many trees!

I wasn't able to put up any decorations this year. I was traveling betwixt and between Nashville and Medford, so I tried to photograph all of the trees I came into contact with in both of these cities.

Coconut Cranberry Bars = YUM!!

My dad's wife, Dede, made these for us and I'll be damned if they didn't fly off the plate in a few hours!!

Coconut Cranberry Bars, makes 3 dozen

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

1.5 cups graham cracker crumbs
.5 cups butter, melted

Combine graham cracker crumbs and butter; press into a greased 13" x 9" x 2" baking pan.

1.5 cups drid cranberries (1, 6 ounce package)
1.5 cup vanilla or white chocolate chips
14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup chopped pecans

Combine the above ingredients in a bowl and mix well; gently spread over the crust.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 28 minutes, or until edges are golden brown. Cool on rack.

Place in the refrigerator to chill, cut into bars.

Serve with cold milk!!

My very own Snuggie!

One of the most surprising gifts I received this year for Christmas was a Snuggie. Not just any Snuggie--mind you--but a genuine, University of Texas Snuggie. Perfect for watching the big game between Texas and Alabama. Alas, I do not watch football. But it sure is perfect for movie-watching on snowy nights in Baltimore. And, my cat Sam loves it!!

Go Horns: Texas fight!!

NAEA: Let them eat C-A-K-E!

On December 22nd, I met with my friend and collaborator Andee Rudloff in Nashville, Tennessee. We are working on a project that has recently been accepted for presentation at the National Art Education Association's national conference in April 2010. Themed in social justice, this annual conference brings thousands of educators together from all over the world.

We will collaborate in an effort to address social justice, by creating a socially just world. By bringing groups of young people together from Nashville, Tennessee and Baltimore, Maryland, we hope to combine their talents and creativity in addressing issues of social justice and sparking change. NAEA participants will be invited to take place in this art-making experience!

Follow along in our process here.

Mural Arts in Philly.

This mural was created by inmates in Philly. They worked on it while serving life terms.

Philadelphia is home to more than 3000 murals.

It never gets old!

Big fat 'flakes fell today! And it was beautiful!!


Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Miracle on 34th Street.

So happy to be in the recording studio . . .

This is James (aka Andrew Calhoun), the founder and president of Marksman Entertainment. He's the greatest! Quite possibly the next giant rap mogul . . . You see, Marksman will be huge.

Some of my students are making an album for James' label. And, I'm excited.

I can't even explain to you how thrilled I am. I have been listening to and studying rap and hip-hop since I was probably 7 years old. In Dallas. in Nashville. In Wisconsin and New Jersey. On MTV.

I pushed it: I kept listening and searching for new beats, sounds, and stories . . . Rap is an amazing medium.

And, then, somehow/some way, I met my students at Wide Angle and they wanted to make a album. A rap and hip hop album. And MICA had a recording booth and mixing room . . . We were set.

I am in absolute heaven. We are all having a great time making this happen.


(James, Will, Quindell, and Mike)


(Q, Offasho)


(Mike, Young Hype)


(Jeff, Gunna)

More to come, people. More to come.

A thoughtful Thanksgiving with new friends.

I was not able to fly home for Thanksgiving this year. It was just too darn expensive.

I missed seeing my family, but I was very fortunate to spend Thanksgiving at Gin Ferrara and David Pepper's home. (You might recognize Gin because she is the executive director of Wide Angle Youth Media.)


The menu consisted of: turkey, Italian sausage stuffing, sweet potatoes, asparagus, squash, homemade rolls, a heavenly version of a cranberry sauce that was to-die-for, pecan pie tarts, creamy squash bars, and Berger cookies. It was perfect! I even got to watch part of a French werewolf movie and all of the most-fantastic Interstella 5555!!

I (heart) asparagus!

I think asparagus should be in season year-round and paired with everything. Aside from it's beautiful color and playful, pointed tips, asparagus tastes fabulous with very little effort!!


Soak 2 lbs of asparagus in ice-cold water.


Nip the ends.


Lay out on a baking sheet.


Toss with a good olive oil, coating each stalk evenly.


Sprinkle with Kosher salt and black pepper. Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes.

Yummy crunchy goodness!!