Halloween Stars

 What to do on a rainy day.  I have been wanting to make these stars for all my holidays so I got my Halloween stars done today.  They are like jelly beans you can't just make one.

Lila

 I sure missed with Lila. I thought for sure based on the age of the kittens who turned 5 months yesterday and reading all about the cycle of female cats she was pregnant. But nope she was not.  So that is good.  I must have fixed all the males she has access to.  She got fixed yesterday and turned into a snuggle girl.  She is still a bit not quite sure but today she gets the run of the house while BigBoy is locked up in my bedroom.  So she gets out during the day and he gets out during the night.  

She needs to heal from her surgery and she still has the 2nd shot of her FLV shots to get in 3 weeks, then I can slowly introduce them to each other.

Chunky Monkey has only had his rabies shot so when he comes in he gets quarantined as well for 3 weeks and then introduced to BigBoy.  Looks like my Fall is gonna be busy getting them to all get along.

Charcoal still remains extremely skittish but she is growing into her legs just like Licorice her dad.  Grayson is going to be a big tom and so beautiful. He let me touch his nose yesterday.

No I do not need 5 cats in the house but you know sometimes you just have to save what you can.  If Grayson lets me pet him and pick him up he will be in the house as well. I hate to leave Charcoal out by herself but Licorice is out there and they can bond.  

Stay tuned. 

Cursive Handwriting

 

"Have you ever wondered why children are no longer taught to write in cursive?"

And no, it is not by chance that they tend to use it less and less.

Writing in cursive means translating thoughts into words; it forces you to not take your hand off the paper. A stimulating effort, which allows you to associate ideas, link them and put them in relation.

Not by chance does the word cursive come from the Latin "currere", which runs, which flows, because thought is winged, it runs, it flies.

Of course, cursive has no place in today's world, a world that does everything possible to slow down the development of thought, to fill it.

I think cursive was born in Italy and then spread throughout the world.

Why?

Because it was compact, elegant, clear writing.

But ours is a society that no longer has time for elegance, for beauty, for complexity; we have synthetics but not clarity, speed but not efficiency, information but not knowledge!

In general, we know too much and too little because we are no longer (generally speaking) able to put things into relation.

Most people can no longer think.

This is why we should go back to writing in cursive, especially at school. Because this is not just about recovering a writing style, but about giving breath to our thoughts again.

Cognitive development

Writing in cursive can help children develop cognitive skills by integrating fine motor skills with visual and tactile processing.

Brain regions

Cursive writing activates different neurological pathways than typing or manuscript writing.

Brain connectivity

Handwriting can increase connectivity between brain regions, especially those involved in memory formation.

Kinesthetic stimulation

The fluid motion of cursive writing provides a different type of kinesthetic stimulation that helps different parts of the brain develop and integrate.

Learning and memory

A study from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology found that cursive handwriting helps the brain learn and remember better.

Functional specialization

Cursive writing can help train the brain for functional specialization, which is the ability to work efficiently.

The benefits of handwriting are numerous, especially for children's cognitive development. Here are some key advantages:

*Cognitive Benefits:*

1. Improved memory and retention: Handwriting helps encode information in the brain, making it easier to recall.

2. Enhanced focus and concentration: Writing by hand requires attention and engagement.

3. Better comprehension: Handwriting slows down the learning process, allowing for deeper understanding.

4. Increased creativity: Free-flowing handwriting can stimulate imagination and idea generation.

*Neurological Benefits:*

1. Brain connectivity: Handwriting increases connections between brain regions, particularly those involved in memory formation.

2. Functional specialization: Cursive writing trains the brain for efficient task processing.

3. Neuroplasticity: Handwriting exercises promote neural adaptability and development.

*Educational Benefits:*

1. Better learning outcomes: Studies show that students who take handwritten notes perform better academically.

2. Improved writing skills: Handwriting practice develops fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and writing fluency.

3. Enhanced literacy: Cursive writing helps recognize and write words, boosting reading skills.

*Emotional and Social Benefits:*

1. Personal expression: Handwriting conveys individuality and personality.

2. Emotional connection: Handwritten messages evoke feelings and empathy.

3. Tactile experience: Writing on paper provides a sensory experience, fostering a sense of accomplishment.

*Additional Benefits:*

1. Slows down digital overload: Handwriting offers a break from screen time.

2. Develops patience and perseverance: Handwriting requires practice and dedication.

3. Fosters elegance and beauty: Cursive writing promotes aesthetic appreciation.

By incorporating handwriting into daily life, especially in schools, we can nurture cognitive, emotional, and social growth in children, and rediscover the joy of putting thoughts into beautiful, flowing words.

She Is In

 Yesterday morning I sat with Lila off and on while I was getting ready for church.  I read a post on FB that said something about I asked God for help and now I had to wait for his timing.  I felt I missed an opportunity to bring her in yesterday.  However my conscience said get to church you have all week.  Sure enough  I got her in this morning with some tuna. She sat at the storm door for a few minutes crying and then she started exploring the  house, ate some tuna, we snuggled and then she got up on the couch and sat on my lap making biscuits.  She is exploring and going to all the windows.  She has a room upstairs where she will stay until she gets fixed and has had her shots and then gradually gets introduced to my tom. They talk through the storm door all the time and have nose bopped but she will be in his house now.  Stay tuned.

Chunky Monkey is next. 

Feral Update

 So I am pretty sure Lila is pregnant again and after trying to get her to just come in on her own, the trap is set to catch her and get her in and then get her fixed and she becomes an inside cat forever.

Licorice continues to come up in the morning, eat and sometimes nap on the deck and sometimes leaves after eating.

I think Lila moved the kittens again a couple of days ago. She has been hanging around in the back yard, looking for a new place to have kittens?  Anyway last night the kittens followed her and this morning she only came up with Chunky Monkey.  She barely ate and left.  She left him on the front porch crying for over half an hour and he finally left and went across the street like he is used to.  I have no idea where Charcoal and Grayson are. If she moved them where I think she did most of my ferals while outside (before coming in ) have lived in that area of a grove of trees and have been safe for many years.

Chunky Monkey now lets me pet him and this morning after he ate we sat on the front porch and we snuggled and I petted him.  I have a feeling he may come in soon on his own especially if Lila does.  The 3 are still so attached to her even though they are 4 1/2 months old. She on the other hand is slowly leaving them, probably cos she has a new batch on the way.

I feel bad about bringing her in and leaving them on their own, but everyone who works with cats says they will be fine, they know where shelter and food is.  They have been coming over on their own to eat, so.....we shall see.