I've moved! New blog address.


My new website + blog is emilyneuburger.com.  Please visit me there!

If you have this site bookmarked in a blog reader, you'll want to switch to emilyneuburger.com.

Thanks, and see you in my new space!

xo emily

Red Bird Crafts Write-Along

Today's three Write-Along words:

beneath, owls, and tears

See below for details, and remember this all about process, not product.  Feel free to tweak the tense of the word!


*******************************************************

The plan:
1.  I will choose three words from the jar.
2. I'll post the three words here and on the Red Bird Crafts Facebook page where I'll use #redbirdwritealong.
3. The challenge is to use the three randomly chosen words in some kind of short creative piece. It could be a sentence, riddle, poem, haiku, faux advertisement, slogan, blurb, love letter, fortune and more, more, more.  Anything. The words can be tweaked slightly (ie: you can change the tense or make it plural.)
4. We'll make our short pieces public.
5. You are welcome to read the comments on the Write-Along posts to see what others have shared.


I plan to share my writing and I'd love it if you'd share yours as well.  I also encourage you to share on Instagram or Facebook (or Twitter).  If you choose to share on social media, be sure to tag it with #redbirdwritealong, so we can all read.  If you choose to post on Facebook, would you consider posting on the Red Bird Crafts Facebook Page, so we can all read?  Of course, you can keep your creation private -- maybe in your journal or taped to your fridge? You know that is ok too.

Some of the writing might not be kid appropriate, so it is important to screen the content before letting children read directly from the blog.

Anyone is welcome to join: adults, kids, elders, teens, and even children who are pre-writers (you can write their words for them). 

A Summer Kids' Craft: Nature Bundles

While we were away on our vacation, the children invented a Nature Bundles game where they found lots of different tiny bits of nature and packaged them up with gorgeous, natural wrapping.
Each one was unique and interesting, and each had a story to go along with it.  Some were spells, some remedies, and some extremely thought-out gifts.
Like, this one, which had a note explaining what each part of the bundle represented in me:

2 shiny leaves because you are also shiny
Unripened holly because it grows together like our family
Pine because it grows wild like you
Pink flowers because it is unique like you
2 sea shell pieces because they are to make your roads to home
Yellow flowers because they are bright like you
Wheat because it stands tall like you
Four pebbles because YOU ROCK

Did I almost die because of how much I loved it? Yes. 
Why not send your children off into the backyard, woods, wherever in search of bits of nature to wrap up in small packages.  It is just the kind of freestyle play that leads to imaginative storytelling play.

If you take photographs, will you share with me?

Follow Red Bird Crafts on Facebook for lots of posts and creative ideas for art&story.

Have fun!

Home

On Friday night, we arrived home from a week at the ocean. Considering how frightening and worrisome the past month and a half has been for my family,  I was sure we were ready for a happy adventure. A visit to the sea seemed like just the thing to recharge our spirits.  Looking back, I should have known that driving away from my town, the place where my father fell ill and is now recovering, was going to be nearly impossible. Nearly, but I did it!  I was shaky and teary when it was time to leave, but after a few good conversations, I found my place in our stuffed car.  And, I'm so glad I did.
This kind of beauty was so good for my mind.  The thing about the ocean is that it reminds me to just be in the moment because of how quickly everything changes with the tides.  Just when I think we've found the perfect wading spot, it becomes an island, and then dry land.  And, when we want to find the same swimming spot the next day, we'll have to come at a different time of day.  The ever-changing ocean is a lesson in letting go of what is coming next, and being at peace with what is here now.


But, hey, some things are always the same:  the wet skirts, the drippy hats, the splashing in the waves.
The chocolate.  (This was dark chocolate dipped at the Hot Chocolate Sparrow in Orelans, MA. I HIGHLY recommend a trip if you are anywhere nearby)
Here is my oldest, scanning for turtles.
And, my youngest, asleep after a long day.
Sister yoga at the Wellfleet Bird Sanctuary.

There was also fried fish, clams, margaritas, miniature golfing, bicycling, playing in waves, etc. etc.

And, now, onto the next summer adventure: camp for the two oldest and projects in the house for me and the baby.  Onward.

Most photographs are from my Instagram: @redbirdcrafts.


Red Bird Crafts Write-Along


Today's three Write-Along words:

lunch, sparrow, and office supplies

See below for details, and remember this all about process, not product.  Feel free to tweak the tense of the word!

*******************************************************

The plan:
1. Each week, I will choose three words from the jar.
2. I'll post the three words here and on the Red Bird Crafts Facebook page where I'll use #redbirdwritealong.
3. The challenge is to use the three randomly chosen words in some kind of short creative piece. It could be a sentence, riddle, poem, haiku, faux advertisement, slogan, blurb, love letter, fortune and more, more, more.  Anything. The words can be tweaked slightly (ie: you can change the tense or make it plural.)
4. We'll make our short pieces public.
5. You are welcome to read the comments on the Write-Along posts to see what others have shared.



I plan to share my writing and I'd love it if you'd share yours as well.  I also encourage you to share on Instagram or Facebook (or Twitter).  If you choose to share on social media, be sure to tag it with #redbirdwritealong, so we can all read.  If you choose to post on Facebook, would you consider posting on the Red Bird Crafts Facebook Page, so we can all read?  Of course, you can keep your creation private -- maybe in your journal or taped to your fridge? You know that is ok too.

Some of the writing might not be kid appropriate, so it is important to screen the content before letting children read directly from the blog.

This will happen weekly or bi-weekly.  Anyone is welcome to join: adults, kids, elders, teens, and even children who are pre-writers (you can write their words for them).