Medieval Smiley Face

Medieval smiley face

This is a true feel-good doodle, drawn by a medieval reader and found in the lower margin of a 13th-century page. The surprisingly modern-looking smiley face is wearing glasses and seems to float towards the text in a balloon, quite content. This little scene made my day.

Pic: Conches, Bibliothèque municipale, MS 7 (main text 13th century, doodle 14th or 15th century).

Have you ever come across a homeless individual and felt totally uncomfortable?

You see them and you know they are in need, but you are not sure what to do. You know that handing them money is not the best thing. But, you also see that they clearly have some needs. Their lips are chapped. They are hungry. They are thirsty. They are asking for help.

How can you help?

Here is a simple idea - blessing bags.

This was such an easy project. We are now going to keep a few “Blessing Bags” in our car so that when we do happen to see someone on the streets who is homeless, we can hand them a Blessing Bag. I first learned of these bags from my friend, Julie. I am using the picture of her bags (see above) because the ones we took were taken in horrible lighting and turned out really grainy and hard to see what is inside of them.

If you’d like to make your own Blessing Bags, this is what you would need:

Gallon size Ziplock bags

items to go in the bags, such as:

chap stick

packages of tissues

toothbrush and toothpaste

comb

soap

trail mix

granola bars

crackers

pack of gum

band aids

mouthwash

coins (could be used to make a phone call, or purchase a food item)

hand wipes

you could also put in a warm pair of socks, and maybe a Starbucks gift card

Assemble all the items in the bags, and maybe throw in a note of encouragement. Seal the bags and stow in your car for a moment of providence.

This would be a great activity to do with some other families. Each family could bring one of the items going into the bags (ex: toothbrushes). Set up all the items around a table and walk around it with the ziplocks and fill the bags.

http://kwavs.blogspot.com/2011/05/blessing-bags-how-to.html

“No one will see me with the lights off,” Tom said darkly.

LOSING ALTITUDE KICKSTARTEEEER! 

Just about 600$ away from the half way funding mark!

These samples are so pretty!! Losing Altitude is a small project set to produce an art book and a deck of cards of threatened bird species. The art book (available in soft and hard cover) will feature a quick blurb of information about each depicted bird that will include conservation efforts being made for them.

I don’t believe kickstarter allows direct charity projects? But many artists in the project are choosing to donate the proceeds of their work to a bird focused charity (the charity is not chosen yet, I guess we’re crossing that hurdle when funding actually happens.)

My bird of choice will be the Ivory Gull. Rough drawing of that is in the works, hopefully soon, before the kickstarter is over I can post that.

The funding goal is 5,500!

So please go look at the kickstarter.

Please reblog in addition to or in place of donating if you’re unable to donate? Spreading the word would be so helpful!