I am so looking forward to our “cool” fall days! I felt a bit inspired after passing a colorful display of mums at the market yesterday. Oh, and those caladiums? I bought several bulbs and put them in planters when I put my previous house on the market. When it sold, I moved the planters to my new house and put the bulbs in the ground. Several years later, they are growing in three different places at my house (that is now on the market). I think I’ll dig up a few bulbs and bring them to the apartment.

Just a thought for Sam. You might try asking her to illustrate comic book style. For example take a Shakespeare play like “As You Like It” have her draw scenes and interpret some of the dialogue into modern English depending on the drawings she did. That way you get the art, Literature and Comprehension in an acceptable package plus an understanding of how language changes over the centuries, and words change their meanings etc. Plays are easier to interpret in this way than a book because they are broken down into scenes but the same method can be done for any of the classics.

Your photos are great!! What program do you use to edit them?

If you want to encourage Sam, take it seriously. Treat her writing as you would the work of an adult you are friends with and want to encourage. If she is writing anyway then why bother making her do book reports? The only reason they do those in school is to make sure the kids are reading the books and know what the plot etc are and they can’t do that verbally in a class of 30 something kids.