Monthly Archives: December 2014

Solid beauty suffices

Posted on December 29, 2014 by jyourist

I took my mother to a beauty shop today. Bonnie washed my mother’s hair with something called Glimmer and Shine which supposedly makes gray hair look less dull and has purple bubbles. “But you don’t want to wash twice with it. … Continue reading →

Posted in beauty, justice, truth | Tagged beauty, beauty shop, hair spray, hairdresser, justice, spirituality, truth | 1 Comment

1953 Suburban Creche

Posted on December 28, 2014 by jyourist

Posted in Holidays, photography | Tagged Bob lerner, Christmas, creche, Holidays, home, Jim Hansen, Look Magazine, photography | Leave a comment

JB as the “Bricklayer’s Mate” via August Sander, 1928…

Posted on December 26, 2014 by jyourist

…while one of three farmers stares at me.

Posted in photography, time | Tagged art institute of Chicago, August Sander, farmer, photography, portraits, time, virtual reality | 2 Comments

Celebrating the holidays in traditional fashion

Posted on December 25, 2014 by jyourist

Gut Yontif!

Posted in Holidays, Judaism | Tagged Being Jewish on Christmas, Birdman, celebrations, Chinese food, Gut Yontif, Holidays, movie | Leave a comment

Michael is Santa

Posted on December 24, 2014 by jyourist

Over the years, Michael has become more portly and now sports a long gray beard, nearly all white. He has shared on more than one occasion how strangers have stopped him and called him Santa. Once a small child was … Continue reading →

Posted in Alzheimers, Holidays, winter | Tagged Alzheimers, assisted living facility, Christmas, Holidays, Jewish Santa, Santa Claus, Simchas Torah | 3 Comments

Who are we

Posted on December 22, 2014 by jyourist

After a delicious pancake breakfast at home (including using organic coconut flour—oh yeah!), I worked in my studio, mainly organizing some of the clutter that has accumulated since summer. In a pile of random supplies and stray papers I found … Continue reading →

Posted in poetry, transformation | Tagged fire and ice rose, Liartes, poem, poetry, spider mums, sun, transformation, winter solstice | 2 Comments

The harbinger of life and warmth to come

Posted on December 21, 2014 by jyourist

On this longest night of the year, we potted some paperwhites that a student gave me on Friday and brought up three amaryllis which have been hibernating in pots inside of closed paper bags in the basement. The amaryllis were … Continue reading →

Posted in flowers, nature, winter | Tagged amaryllis, flowers, light, nature, paperwhites, winter solstice | 1 Comment

Fahrenheit stream of consciousness

Posted on December 17, 2014 by jyourist

When we read Fahrenheit 451, I have the students (8th grade) write a response to each of the parts, right after they have read it. I encourage them to let it be stream of consciousness about their reactions to the … Continue reading →

Posted in reading, Teaching | Tagged communication, Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury, reader's journal, responses, stream of consciousness, student, teaching | 2 Comments

First Night of Chanukah

Posted on December 16, 2014 by jyourist

After devouring sweet potato latkes and baked apples, IB takes a photo of first night candles in a menorah carefully crafted by JB from a branch of a tree. (Note the layers of wax from many previous Chanukahs spilled and dripped on … Continue reading →