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For a fun springtime look, turn boots into planters. Slip plastic pots of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths right in. For longterm use, poke holes in the boot bottoms for water drainage. Or merely tip them occassionally to drain off excess water from the watering can or rainfall.
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A mother's love
By MELODY PARKER, Courier Arts / Special Sections Editor
On Mother's Day, it's tradition to show appreciation to Mom for her love, support, kindness and hard work.
Mom will enjoy the attention --- the flowers, sentimental cards and special breakfast the kids prepare along with their promises to take out the garbage, not stomp through mud puddles in their good clothes and pick up their rooms without being asked. Of course, there's the pledge of a standing dinner date with Dad and his help around the house.
And this year, two moms in the Cedar Valley will receive extra-special gifts from Riddle's Jewelry.
Rhys Talbot, 17, and Cody King, 10, are winners in the "Win It for Mom" essay contest. The first-person essays spelled out why their moms were special, and entries were judged on creativity, story content, sentimental value and quality.
Talbot's mom receives a white gold circle pendant with round brilliant-cut diamonds. Retail value is $1,425 (1 1/2 total carat weight in diamonds). The circle symbolizes unity.
King's mother receives a white gold heart-shaped Journey diamond pendant in white gold with side details. Retail value is $500 (1/2 total carat weight in diamonds). The Journey diamonds signify "With every step, love grows."
Steve Hammer of Riddle's Jewelry in Crossroads Center thanked all children and young adults who submitted essays in two categories, ages 8-12 and 13-18, as well as teachers who volunteered to read the essays.
"The local teachers who volunteered to grade the essays found it difficult to select a winner, as there were many in contention for the grand prize," Hammer said. "I hope that all mothers written about receive a copy of this from their children on Mother's Day. Diamond pendant winner or not, they were all special and meaningful."
"A Letter To My Mom"
Cody King, 10
Dear Mom,
From the moment I was born you've been there in every way for me, you're there to care for me, you're there when I'm sick, you're there to teach me all I need to know for my future.
Mom, you have taught me many things. You taught me how to ride a bike. The first time was hard, but you held on to me, and then I got the hang of it. You have shown me that money doesn't grow on trees. I have to work hard to earn it. I have seen you work hard when you go to work. When it came time to learn to get dressed, you made it fun and exciting. Lay the shirt on the ground, find the big opening, pop the head, sprout the arms through the little holes: Poof! The head pops out and you're dressed.
When I am a little under the weather, you make me feel warm and cozy. You give me warm and bubbly pop that tickles my nose, and you give me Popsicles to make my throat nice and cool.
I don't always like the school's lunches, so you make my lunch. There is always a surprise inside. I always can't wait to see what's inside. Lunch doesn't come that fast.
You're not there to see me go off to school in the morning, but every night you make me take a shower, scrub my toes and between my toes, wash my underarms and scrub my head.
We read and do my homework and then you put me to bed and kiss me good night; that is to watch over me for tomorrow.
When I was still in my mommy's tummy, her mom got very sick. She cleaned her house, made her supper, did the laundry and made sure she got a bath and clean clothes every day. But most of all, she cared for her with love and caring. And all of these show you are awesome.
Thank you for what you have done. I love you.
Love,
Cody
"This is MY American Idol"
Rhys Talbot, 17
Every year, Fox goes through six months of competition and over 100 million votes to determine who is the "American Idol." I can save them a lot of time if they simply headed to my house once and got to know my mom. Although one of 12 hopeful contestants will be crowned "American Idol" this year, in my eyes, my mother, Leesa Talbot, is the real "American Idol."
When it comes to personality, my mom is a triple threat. She has a fun personality, a motherly sense of right and wrong and is also a theatrical triple threat when she uses her singing, dancing and acting skills to co-direct the annual school variety show. Wait --- wouldn't being two triple threats make her a sextuplet threat? Beat that, Kelly Clarkson.
My mom is like the three judges, Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell, all wrapped into one. My mom is like Randy in the sense that she tries her best to act hip and contemporary with catch phrases as "dog," "molten hot" and, my personal favorite, "Yo yo what's up?" My mother is similar to Paula in the sense that even if I or my two sisters have a horrendous performance in music or math, she will always have something nice to say about us, relevant or not. Finally, my mom resembles the infamous Simon in the sense that she's never hesitant to be tough but fair in her decision-making.
Although "American Idol" may be on air for five months of the year, my mom never sleeps and fulfils her duties 24/7 for 365. Being a mother of three, a junior high English teacher and part-time homemaker is no easy task, but somehow for the last 19 years, she's managed to keep a smile on her face while giving 100 percent.
One of the trademarks of the "Idol" television show is the ability to vote for your favorite Idolist via telephone voting. On average, around 36 million plus votes are cast each week. Thirty-six million calls divided by 12 contestants roughly equals out to be 3 million calls a contestant. Bah! That is chump change to how off the phone rings of the hook for my mom. My mom receives multiple phone calls from friends and family every day. My mom also gives out our home phone number to all her students in the beginning of the year so they can give her a call if they ever need any help with school work.
Another way my mom is a real "American Idol" is her simple hobby of photography. Superstars such as the American Idolists are dogged night and day by paparazzi and cameras galore. Although my mom doesn't have People magazine taking photos of our garbage, she is an active photography enthusiast. My mom has spent countless hours with me pursuing photography from finding a contemporary shot downtown or simply being at the right place at the right time getting a photo outside in the woods.
Because how my mom has a great personality, shares her opinions and wisdom with her family, is ever vigilant in her maternal duties, can handle phone calls around the clock and takes more photos than a Hollywood paparazzi, it is quite plain to see how my mom could throw down with the likes of Clay Aiken, Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry for the coveted title of one of America's Idols. Although she may never win the official title on the television show, I'll always be there to catch her next "hit single" or simply listen to a kind word of wisdom that comes out of her mouth. My mom's no "idle" idol - and that's why I love her!
Mom will enjoy the attention --- the flowers, sentimental cards and special breakfast the kids prepare along with their promises to take out the garbage, not stomp through mud puddles in their good clothes and pick up their rooms without being asked. Of course, there's the pledge of a standing dinner date with Dad and his help around the house.
And this year, two moms in the Cedar Valley will receive extra-special gifts from Riddle's Jewelry.
Rhys Talbot, 17, and Cody King, 10, are winners in the "Win It for Mom" essay contest. The first-person essays spelled out why their moms were special, and entries were judged on creativity, story content, sentimental value and quality.
Talbot's mom receives a white gold circle pendant with round brilliant-cut diamonds. Retail value is $1,425 (1 1/2 total carat weight in diamonds). The circle symbolizes unity.
King's mother receives a white gold heart-shaped Journey diamond pendant in white gold with side details. Retail value is $500 (1/2 total carat weight in diamonds). The Journey diamonds signify "With every step, love grows."
Steve Hammer of Riddle's Jewelry in Crossroads Center thanked all children and young adults who submitted essays in two categories, ages 8-12 and 13-18, as well as teachers who volunteered to read the essays.
"The local teachers who volunteered to grade the essays found it difficult to select a winner, as there were many in contention for the grand prize," Hammer said. "I hope that all mothers written about receive a copy of this from their children on Mother's Day. Diamond pendant winner or not, they were all special and meaningful."
"A Letter To My Mom"
Cody King, 10
Dear Mom,
From the moment I was born you've been there in every way for me, you're there to care for me, you're there when I'm sick, you're there to teach me all I need to know for my future.
Mom, you have taught me many things. You taught me how to ride a bike. The first time was hard, but you held on to me, and then I got the hang of it. You have shown me that money doesn't grow on trees. I have to work hard to earn it. I have seen you work hard when you go to work. When it came time to learn to get dressed, you made it fun and exciting. Lay the shirt on the ground, find the big opening, pop the head, sprout the arms through the little holes: Poof! The head pops out and you're dressed.
When I am a little under the weather, you make me feel warm and cozy. You give me warm and bubbly pop that tickles my nose, and you give me Popsicles to make my throat nice and cool.
I don't always like the school's lunches, so you make my lunch. There is always a surprise inside. I always can't wait to see what's inside. Lunch doesn't come that fast.
You're not there to see me go off to school in the morning, but every night you make me take a shower, scrub my toes and between my toes, wash my underarms and scrub my head.
We read and do my homework and then you put me to bed and kiss me good night; that is to watch over me for tomorrow.
When I was still in my mommy's tummy, her mom got very sick. She cleaned her house, made her supper, did the laundry and made sure she got a bath and clean clothes every day. But most of all, she cared for her with love and caring. And all of these show you are awesome.
Thank you for what you have done. I love you.
Love,
Cody
"This is MY American Idol"
Rhys Talbot, 17
Every year, Fox goes through six months of competition and over 100 million votes to determine who is the "American Idol." I can save them a lot of time if they simply headed to my house once and got to know my mom. Although one of 12 hopeful contestants will be crowned "American Idol" this year, in my eyes, my mother, Leesa Talbot, is the real "American Idol."
When it comes to personality, my mom is a triple threat. She has a fun personality, a motherly sense of right and wrong and is also a theatrical triple threat when she uses her singing, dancing and acting skills to co-direct the annual school variety show. Wait --- wouldn't being two triple threats make her a sextuplet threat? Beat that, Kelly Clarkson.
My mom is like the three judges, Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell, all wrapped into one. My mom is like Randy in the sense that she tries her best to act hip and contemporary with catch phrases as "dog," "molten hot" and, my personal favorite, "Yo yo what's up?" My mother is similar to Paula in the sense that even if I or my two sisters have a horrendous performance in music or math, she will always have something nice to say about us, relevant or not. Finally, my mom resembles the infamous Simon in the sense that she's never hesitant to be tough but fair in her decision-making.
Although "American Idol" may be on air for five months of the year, my mom never sleeps and fulfils her duties 24/7 for 365. Being a mother of three, a junior high English teacher and part-time homemaker is no easy task, but somehow for the last 19 years, she's managed to keep a smile on her face while giving 100 percent.
One of the trademarks of the "Idol" television show is the ability to vote for your favorite Idolist via telephone voting. On average, around 36 million plus votes are cast each week. Thirty-six million calls divided by 12 contestants roughly equals out to be 3 million calls a contestant. Bah! That is chump change to how off the phone rings of the hook for my mom. My mom receives multiple phone calls from friends and family every day. My mom also gives out our home phone number to all her students in the beginning of the year so they can give her a call if they ever need any help with school work.
Another way my mom is a real "American Idol" is her simple hobby of photography. Superstars such as the American Idolists are dogged night and day by paparazzi and cameras galore. Although my mom doesn't have People magazine taking photos of our garbage, she is an active photography enthusiast. My mom has spent countless hours with me pursuing photography from finding a contemporary shot downtown or simply being at the right place at the right time getting a photo outside in the woods.
Because how my mom has a great personality, shares her opinions and wisdom with her family, is ever vigilant in her maternal duties, can handle phone calls around the clock and takes more photos than a Hollywood paparazzi, it is quite plain to see how my mom could throw down with the likes of Clay Aiken, Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry for the coveted title of one of America's Idols. Although she may never win the official title on the television show, I'll always be there to catch her next "hit single" or simply listen to a kind word of wisdom that comes out of her mouth. My mom's no "idle" idol - and that's why I love her!
More Stories from Features » Lifestyles
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