I am a retired elementary school teacher who has always loved crafting of many kinds, but, mostly needlework.

When I taught, it was mostly second graders in public school.

I also taught in the Home and Hospital School from 1978 through 1985 part time when I was a stay at home mom. In the H&HS, I went to the home or hospital to teach one on one students who were unable to attend their home school for at least 6 weeks. My students could be from public, private or parochial schools. I taught children from kindergarten through ninth grade. Most had physical reasons for not being able to attend their home school; a few were expelled from their home school.

I also privately tutored several students.

Once I retired, I became a part time 2nd Grade Calvert Advisory Teacher. This was a home schooling program. Children from all over the world participated. I graded materials mailed to me from Calvert School. When I assessed that the child needed reteaching, I would create materials for the student to do with the help of the parent or other adult who was the home teacher. My students were from all over the USA, but also from United Arab Republic, Egypt, and other countries. I advised a brother and a sister who were home schooled because their parents were circus workers traveling across the country. I even had two different students who were traveling around the world with their parents on their family yachts. (I got a lot of interesting stamps from their mailed packets to me.)

I taught in these different capacities for a total of 36 years.

After retiring, I also volunteered as a reading tutor at the last school in which I taught. I tutored one on one and in small groups of four. I did this for four years.

After retiring, I have had much more time to craft. I have made over 30 pictures that I have had framed and hung in rooms of my home. I have also made small gifts--bookmarks, small pictures on tiny easels, stitching on towels and napkins that were prizes for Xmas bingo that I played with family members--lots of fun and laughs--on three different holiday occasions. I have crafted presents for weddings, baby showers, graduations, Xmas presents, clothing for little ones, toys for little ones--blocks, dolls and doll clothes, picnic basket with foods, plates, utensils--and continue to do so.

Currently, I am volunteering at the Senior Craft Gallery in their shop and at road shows where we sell handmade items that we volunteers make. I make items to sell and after the gallery commission is taken, I donate my profits to World Central Kitchen.

I continue to read a lot and belong to an online book club. We meet via Zoom once a week. One of our books was written by a member of the group. He added much information and anecdotes to our always meaningful, insightful discussions. One book was about the Lost Boys of Rwanda; one of our members is from Rwanda and has family still living there. He added much insight and history to our discussions. In September of 2023 we had a guest speaker, Paul Raushenbush, President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance America speak to us about Christian Nationalism followed by a question and answer segment. This Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023, we will have another Zoom lecture speaker, Larry McIlvain talking about the Middle East. Our meetings are always current and full of new learnings and insights shared by members. Often they are also depressing as the topics we choose to read about concern the sad, often tragic events occurring in our world. We support each other in our sadness. Overall, this is a unique book club of caring, supportive persons. I thank my identical twin sister for asking me to join.