ARTFUL READERS CLUB

"THE ORPHAN TRAIN" by Christina Baker Kline

February 25, 2015 

Life was tough in New York City and the east coast during the late 1800's: there were at least 10,000 orphaned children living on the streets. The Children's Aid Society tried to help relocate these children through their ORPHAN TRAIN program... a program that transported more than 200,000  homeless, orphaned or abandoned children by train,  to the Midwest, over a period of 70+ years... 1854-1929. Ostensibly, the goal of the Orphan Train was to have each child adopted by a loving, caring family. But too often, the adoption became one of indentured servitude to people who wanted a worker...a farmhand or a housemaid... rather than a child to love. ORPHAN TRAIN by Christina Baker Kline is a good piece of historical fiction...it opens your eyes and tugs on your heart.
Weaving together the story of two abandoned children, one from the past and one from the present, this book explores the depths of emotion that children experience and the devastating consequences of abandonment, without dwelling on them. 
While the details of their paths differ and their lives seem worlds apart, the two main characters, Molly (age 17) and Vivian (age 91,) have much in common. Molly is an at-risk foster teen who has narrowly escaped a stint in a juvenile detention facility for stealing a library book. She's living with foster parents who've had enough of her...yet another family wanting her to pack her bags! Enter Vivian, the rich widow who lives alone in a waterfront mansion with too many unused rooms and a cluttered attic that needs cleaning out and organizing. Molly's boyfriend (whose Mom works for Vivian as her housekeeper,) arranges for her to work out her community service hours (instead of going to "juvie,") by helping Vivian organize her attic. As Molly and Vivian sort through boxes of Vivian's history, the heart of the story unfolds. They learn they have a great deal in common, form an unlikely friendship and together, learn the meaning of family.

The drawing above was published in one of the magazines circulating during the time of these Orphan Trains. It's a heartbreaking as well as  interesting part of our American history that's largely unfamiliar. (That's one of the advantages of Google... a great research tool.) 
I highly recommend this book as one of historical as well as heart value.

Hope to see you soon...for my next posting.
Stay warm...
Big Hugs,
abbyj

THANKSGIVING in NYC

December 6,2013

Hardly representative of all the marvelous food we had with our Brooklyn cousins, here's Patrick carving the turkey: 2 turkeys, many, many trimmings and a wide variety of desserts, not to mention all the mouth watering hors d'oeuvres to feed 28 souls... all eating and giving thanks...it was a PARTY!! This seems to have set the tone for our eating habits throughout our stay in New York City...we lived and ate LARGE!!

We drove a good part of our trip in the pouring rain...over the bridge and into the city.



The view from our room (on the 42nd floor) in mid-town didn't provide us with much of a view... but we didn't spend much time in the room.

Although it was windy and raining when we arrived, we were prepared for it and we went out and walked anyway! (The rest of our visit brought beautiful, sunny days!)

We passed by a GODIVA Chocolate shoppe where a very happy young man was whipping up some of their delicious confection...

   

Saw the beautiful Chrysler building in all its Art Deco glory, a NYC icon from the late 1920's... and the beautiful, and  equally iconic French Building from the same era...

Of course, we had many opportunities to take the Subway...hands down, the easiest and fastest way to beat the traffic and get where you're going in a timely manner...a good chance to people-watch and sometimes to catch some good entertainment!

The people who combine their sounds of drumming, strumming and singing with the screeching of trains are called buskers and they have one of the toughest gigs in show business...trying to get some attention and hopefully some tips from more than 5 million daily commuters who are famous for their "get-out-of-my-face attitudes!!

We braved the Macy's Annual (since 1924) Thanksgiving Day Parade in 30 degree (F) weather and got some great viewing in. Here's a poster I made for the last guest in the parade...Santa! This year's theme was BELIEVE!

Rockefeller Center had a few ice skaters,

while  all the shoppes in the area were spectacular...FIFTH AVENUE with Saks Fifth Avenue showing its best, most creative Christmas as they flashed the story of the Yeti (Abominable Snowman) on the side of the building and in their animated windows...

 

Look at this window display in the LEGO store on the walkway leading into Rockefeller Center...

 Of  course, Atlas continued to stand bravely by, overlooking the area!

 

There were gorgeous holiday displays in stores,  windows, buildings and along the streets wherever we walked ...like these!

 

The alive excitement of mid-town...

 

Actually this last photo of the bird man I took at Washington Square Park down near New York University (NYU!)

We grabbed the opportunity to see a Broadway  show ...NEWSIES. It's a musical about the Newsboys strike of 1899  in New York City...a youth-led campaign to force change in the way Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst's newspapers compensated their child labor force. It was an evening filled with marvelous singing and incredible dancing!!

Our mood changed with a somber visit to the 9/11 MEMORIAL. It was beautiful and very touching. We joined a large crowd of viewers late in the afternoon, but ended up seeing the memorial in the dark ...very dramatic and effective. The construction of the site continues to develop and grow.

Finally, the reason for our trip...our Michelle  performed at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall with her choir in a concert of Handel's MESSIAH! Her Canadian choir, Tempus Choral Society, was invited to perform, joining a few American choirs...a total of about 400 voices. The sound fed our hearts and souls...a combination of pride and a real appreciation for the artistry of Handel!!

 

 I hope you've enjoyed this rather lengthy jog through our few days in New York City. It was a time that appealed to all our senses...and our hearts.  We were grateful for the chance to spend such a special time together; filled with pride for our daughter; our stomachs were filled with tooo much good food and we were infused with the warmth, love and spirit of the season. Wishing you that same love, warmth and love for the season...for always.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!!

 

Big Holiday Hugs,

Abby

 

VERY MIXED BAG

November 8, 2013

 

WhooHoo! We had our first light dusting of snow this morning, but it's melted by now. Not worried...I know there's lots more to come! Has it snowed  yet in your part of the world?

 

This week, there's a variety of art requested by the online challenge blogs...all fun to create...like this one for INSPIRATION AVENUE. I remember venturing up to my Aunt's attic... always an adventure to see what surprises I could find...



SUNDAY POSTCARD ART asked to see art with a map... I imagined a picture of Central Park in New York City... in the snow, to make it season-appropriate for the Big Apple. If you look carefully, there's a map of the streets of New York beneath Central Park! You can see it if you click on the picture to enlarge it!

THE THREE MUSES requested a piece of art with a grungy background...my favorite! I used a photo of  the daughter of friends who dressed as a zombie for Halloween. Who would guess that in her alive life, she's a beautiful, bright high school girl?

Finally, for FLICKER's DIGITALMANIA group, we took our inspiration from the art of Joseph Christian Leyendecker, artist and illustrator. He did many magazine covers...a bit like Norman Rockwell. Having an ongoing fascination with the Roma (Gypsy) populations of the world, I turned to my stash of Gypsy pictures and photos. Many Roma men do work in the repairing and building trade.

Many thanks for your company this week... I hope you'll return for my next!

 

Have a good weekend and week ahead!

Hugs,

abbyj





NEW ART...and FLOWERS ON PARK

New Challenges...and SPRING? 
March 16, 2011 

It's been such a busy time...not much time in one place...NOT conducive to good and regular blogging!! Those art blogs continue to challenge my artistic soul so I managed to eek out a few responses...

THREE MUSES asked artists to create a piece around a FISH theme...and TAKE A WORD requested art around the color GREEN...I thought this piece worked for both!

SUNDAY POSTCARD ART's theme was NUMBER 1...

One of my regular online art groups, PAPER TRADERS, announced its current word prompt for our journals...COURAGE. I'm not sure whether the skateboarder (an image transfer) in this piece is COURAGEOUS or STUPID!!!

CRAZY AMIGOS asked that we create a "buttons and lace" piece... not a "buttons and lace" kid but cute, loving and perfect, nonetheless!!

 In New York City, SPRING has sprung on Park Avenue with beautiful, huge rose sculptures along much of the length of the street. In various shades...some with and without thorns and bugs, they certainly create the feeling that spring isn't far away. Take a look...

New York continues to be a most amazing, exciting and vibrant city...

EVEN in the rain!

Thanks for checking in...'til our next,  xox, abbyj