Papel Picado Pumpkin

Thanks to my dad for the nomination for next year's pumpkin carving contest.

Here's this year's:


Inspired by the traditional Day of the Dead art papel picado, planned and executed between the time I got home from work and before the first trick-or-treater arrived, my pumpkin did receive a few compliments from parents. One asked me how many hours it took me, which makes me think that if I actually had the opportunity to spend hours on a pumpkin, (it took me longer to post this picture than it took to carve the pumpkin) it could result in some success. But then again, knowing myself, it would probably spiral out of control into a mess of complexity.

Still, I think I'd better start now if I hope to hold a candle (so to speak) to the competition in Minnesota and L.A.

Joan's New Job

The following news release was published about Joan and her new job:

20-Year Nonprofit and Child Welfare Veteran Joan Richardson to Lead East Denver Family to Family Site

Denver’s Family to Family collaborative has appointed Joan Richardson as its newest site coordinator. Richardson brings 20 years of experience in nonprofit work, including child welfare experience, to the collaborative.

She is based in the east Denver Family to Family site, Denver Children’s Home, and will work with families and children residing in Northeast Park Hill, North Park Hill, South Park Hill, City Park, Montclair, Hale, Hilltop, Goldsmith, Indian Creek, Southmoor Park, Kennedy, Hampden, Hampden South, University Hills, Virginia Village, Washington, Virginia Vale, and Windsor neighborhoods.
“Child welfare is near and dear to my heart,” said Richardson. “As part of the Family to Family collaborative we have a common goal of strengthening families and nurturing children. This practice looks beyond putting a band aid on both a child’s and family issues. It’s about continuing to think strategically about how to help better serve families in the long-term.”
Richardson has experience with infancy and early childhood programs, parenting classes, bridging community relationships, starting family support centers, working with local and state government agencies and advocating on behalf of better child welfare practices.
“Joan is a very approachable person, and I think anyone needing help can seek her out and feel comfortable having a safe, confidential conversation with her,” said Patricia Garcia, Family to Family Program Administrator at Denver Human Services. “She also has a complete understanding of how to bring both the community and human services together to strengthen programs for families and children.”
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About Family to Family
Family to Family is a shared effort between Denver Human Services, Colorado Human Services, seven neighborhood partners, hundreds of community liaisons, and the Annie E. Casey Foundation. These organizations collaborate to improve results for children and families. The practice focuses on safe, stable and educational services that improve the outcomes for families and children.
About Denver Children’s Home
Denver Children’s Home is the oldest nonprofit in Colorado. Throughout its 131-year history of service to the community it has adapted to meet the needs of the children and families who have turned to it for help. The mission is to provide a therapeutic, safe place for emotionally distressed children, adolescents and their families to heal and grow. The goal is to provide the highest quality mental health care to children with the greatest financial and emotional needs in a safe and stable environment.

Chicago!

Thursday Phil and I went to the Chicago Cultural Center.

I think this is the world's largest Tiffany dome.








We also went to the Art Institute. This time I saw American Gothic, The Child's Bath, several paintings by Winslow Homer, etc. that I hadn't seen previously. I revisited the Manets, Monets, Van Goghs, and Toulouse-Lautrecs.

On Friday, we went to the Field Museum, which was really full of kids. In retrospect, we should have done this on Saturday. There we saw Sue, the world's largest and most complete T-rex.

Then we went to the Glessner House, designed by Henry Hobson Richardson in the historic Prairie Avenue district. The docent wasn't so great on this tour, but the house was interesting.

We also went to the Lincoln Park Zoo, one of the nation's oldest and free to the public 365 days a year.


Saturday we took the El to Oak Park where we visited the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio. Very interesting. Just walking around Oak Park we spotted six other FLW homes and the Unity Temple.

We came back to Chicago and took in the Shedd Aquarium. I think the highlight there is the baby beluga whale!

As we were walking back to the loop, we fortuitously passed the Berghoff and stopped in for a homemade brew. We finally ended up at Daley plaza to see the local Halloween celebrations, which included jugglers and acrobatic jump-ropers, and sliding down the Picasso statue on your coat.

On the way home, I had a moment to visit with the Blues Brothers.

In preparation for the great carving contest of 2008.

Hi gang! The Minnesota McGuire/Rohlfsen clan would like to start an annual pumpkin carving contest/challenge starting next October 2008. A grand prize winner will be determined by votes on the blog.

The competition looks steep...

Can't wait to see what next years pumpkins will look like.