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"Tell It Like It Is" Blogging and TPT Advice
168 comments:
Thanks for the advice. I am a new seller on TPT... I appreciate everything you wrote!ReplyDelete
Great advice Erica! I just started selling on TpT this past October and I am very proud of my $34.50 I made this quarter! I can't wait to grow and learn more and see where it takes me. You are definitely an inspiration for me!ReplyDeleteReplies
You should be proud! That is awesome. Thank you for your kind words.Delete
I made like $29 this past quarter, and I am super proud of myself. I think we should both be proud that we've taken the time to create something awesome that somebody else obviously liked too. Every time I get that email, I get giddy! I hope that you continue to make more money! :-)Delete
Thank you for your words. I am thinking of joining in the ranks and trying to start this blogging and TPT and I wil be checking out Google for help before I do.ReplyDelete
Such a thoughtful and helpful post! I agree 100%! Thanks so much for taking the time to share what you have learned! Happy New Year!ReplyDelete
Peace, Love, and First Grade
I really like the "tell it like it is" Erica! :) You are so right about everything. Selling and creating is a full time job and a ton of hard work. Sometimes I think that my old life (being a full time teacher) was so much easier than my new life as a full time blogger. Weekends and evenings are spent working and I find that I have less time with my family. It feels like I work non-stop. It's a huge commitment for sure. Great post!ReplyDeleteReplies
Haha! I don't know how you do it all Melanie! I am ready to give away my cats, because I cannot keep up with the litter box. Imagine if I had kids? I am so glad we became friends through our blogging journeys. Someday we will meet up!Delete
Thank you so much! I am a new beginner and this information helps. :-)Delete
Thank you for your posts and wonderful products.ReplyDelete
Great post Erica. I have been on this journey for just over a year now and it has been truly amazing- you are right, it is a lot of time and patience. I love every minute of it!! I think you have to love it to continue to do it day in and day out! Thanks for the inspirational post!ReplyDelete
JD's Rockin' Readers
Thank you for the great advice Erica! You gave great advice in a practical but kind manner. :) You are such an inspiration!ReplyDelete
Fun in PreK-1Replies
I "LIKE" your comment Jessica Fredrickson!!Delete
I loved your comment about I can't blog or figure out how to insert a graphic. As a newer blogger and TpT seller, my husband has heard me moan and groan at the computer many times as I try to play around with some of the programs and graphics. He always laughs at me, but I do always figure it out! Hard work always pays off!ReplyDelete
Mrs. Pauley's Kindergarten
Thank you for being honest!! This is my 3rd year teaching and I am trying blogging and doing tpt going to grad school and being newly married. It's hard work... As an outsider to it all it looked easy but I am learning you have to start from somewhere and just try you best..you inspire me. Thank youReplyDelete
fantastic. thank YOU.ReplyDelete
Thank you for posting this. I started on TPT late last year and noticed things were slow but I always told myself I would create things that were authentic and useful to me if someone else was interested, they were welcomed to it via my store. I agree with you on so many points and I do have to say that has become a bit strange getting random emails from people asking me to tell them how to make my files? Or, rating my stuff and asking me to rate things for them. I didn't think that was what TPT was all about so I'm not about to get involved in all of that. Thanks for sharing your insights!ReplyDelete
Learning In Wonderland
Thank you Erica for taking the time to write all of that. I am sure that being saturated with questions for advice can get frustrating. On a positive note, there are those of us who truly appreciate and admire what you do. A couple of years ago I moved from Connecticut to Texas. Teaching in Texas is another world and to be honest I absolutey hated it at first and just wanted to quit. I am still in the process of learning to deal. By lurking around blogs, Pinterest, and Teachers Pay Teachers for the past year I feel like my passion for my job and can do attitude has started to return. I attribute this to all of you inspiritional teachers sharing what teaching can be when you really put your heart and soul into it. I just started blogging this week and already have learned so much. THANK YOU!ReplyDelete
Literacy Spark
Thanks for your advice Erica. I just started my TpT store and blog this past summer. Since school started, I've began creating larger packages, but I haven't loaded them to my store yet. Instead, I'm testing the activities out with my own students and I feel like these packages are better than what I created over the summer. I plan to dress them up a bit and add them to my store this next summer. I've been concerned since I haven't added anything to my store since August, but I feel so much better about these items I'm creating now. I'm almost embarrassed by what I currently have in my store. I've learned so much since I started creating. All in all, I feel like it's helping me become a better teacher. After reading your post, I won't worry about going slow. I would rather provide quality items! Thanks again.ReplyDeleteReplies
That is an awesome plan. So many times I do something with my own students and then I find a typo or I have a lightbulb moment of a way to make it easier for them. I have a few of my first items still in my store. I leave them there because they are still solid products and I know I can always update them and buyers can re-download for free.Delete
I love the tell it like it is attitude. You were my first inspiration a year ago when I began this journey. Thanks for the support you gave me and all your wonderful ideas.ReplyDelete
You are welcome Sarah! I hope you are enjoying your time with your new baby.Delete
Very well-written and I agree with every word! I love reading your blog and it has definitely been a help to me as I've been figuring out TPT and how to blog :) I've used it several times to make sure I'm on the right track. Keep up the good work :)ReplyDelete
What awesome advice! Sometimes it's best to just tell it like it is. :) I'm a fairly new blogger and TpT seller, and this was a great post to read! Thanks!ReplyDelete
Andrea M.
I Heart Kindergarten
Great post, Erica. TpT is a lot of work, and there's a learning curve. Thanks for the advice.ReplyDelete
Take care,
Great post! I am so committed to this "second job" and when people ask how or when I find the time, I tell them "If you want it bad enough, you make the time!" Everything I have learned has been from reading forums, great blogs like yours, and googling. Thanks for the reassurance that we are on the right track!ReplyDelete
Karen (a fellow NYer :)
Mrs. Jones's Kindergarten
Well said Erica! I feel so fortunate to have found the blogs and TPT. When I began teaching, I had to buy books at teacher stores. The blogs,freebies, and ideas have opened an entire world for teachers. We are lucky for that. I have been teaching second grade for 12 years and I am thankful for the new ideas! Thanks for doing what you do and keep it up! I appreciate it!ReplyDelete
Great advice!!!! It takes a lot of time and you have to find and make the time to make it work.ReplyDelete
I love reading your blog and find lots of ideas here.
This was great to read. I am a teacher who benefits from lots of teachers' blogs & products on TPT. I truly don't have any desire to do it myself, but am so thankful for all of you who write blogs. I have learned so much from following blogs (yours being one of them). I love TPT & am constantly looking for new items to add to what I teach (this is my 20th year teaching). Thanks! CarolReplyDelete
Thank you so much for the wonderful advice, Erica! You're such an inspiration to us and you are our "hometown blog hero"(kinda...we're originally from W.I.). ;-) Have a wonderful 2nd half of the school year!ReplyDelete
-Jackie and Danielle-
Sister Teachers
Well said, Erica. Would love to hear your experiences with working with Scholastic as well!ReplyDelete
Thanks for the post!
Great post and super cute button, hehe! It is definitely a lot of hard work, and it takes some work to figure it all out! As a teacher and a mom, it is really hard to find the time to create all the lessons that jump into my brain, but I'm hoping to have more time to devote this summer. In the meantime, I spend more time blogging on my classroom blog because my students LOVE it, and I love them!ReplyDelete
You and lots of other amazing teacher bloggers are really helpful and an inspiration to many of us, and I appreciate your insight! (Also, thanks for linking to your board of tips and tutorials!) :D
Teach On.
Love everything about this post. Blogging and TPting is not easy. If you love it as much as you do teaching, you'll find the time.ReplyDelete
I blog after the kids and hubby go to bed.
I think it all comes down to why you blog. Blog for you. Everything else will come...patience is the one little word (Farley style!).
My Second Sense
Love that you posted about this. It's nice to have reassurance & advice every step of the way :) I get nervous about TPT and my own products, but this kind of calms my fears!ReplyDelete
Miss V's Busy Bees
Well this is awesome. You are so sweet to give this advice to others...definitely shows how genuine you truly are! I started my TPT store last march....coming up on one year! I think it is going well so far but I have pretty big dreams and goals for 2013. But good grief... It is sooooo much work. I am a newly married first year teacher .. TPT seller... And sorta blogger (not as good at this as I would like to be) it is stinking' exhausting but totally worth it.ReplyDelete
Wow! I can't believe you've been selling on TpT since 2008! I just discovered it this past year. Yup, I've been living under a rock. I'm a new blogger and seller and this post was super helpful. Well, your entire blog has been a blessing. I really appreciate you taking the time to share advice with us newbies.ReplyDelete
Thanks, Erica! You rock! :)
Bren P.
The Teacher Diaries
Erica you are an inspiration from afar. I have not really gotten my blog started yet but I have been following many of your blogging cohorts. I work at a small private school where there is not much professional development The teaching blog community, TPT and Pinterest have filled that void. I love your straight, to the point advice. "You get what you give" and I hope you are receiving blessing in all areas of your life.ReplyDelete
This is just one of your many posts I have learned from and gained inspiration. Your blog is one I check regularly. I have realized blogging and TpT is what you make it. For some it is just a hobby, that is how I started on the couch in the evenings blogstalking and then blogging myself. I then was considering getting a part-time job to help out more financially, but being a teacher, mom and wife the only hours I was free to work was between the hours of 10pm 2am. Then I decided to take my hobby and try to work at it like a job I enjoy. My biggest help I think was moving from the comfy couch to a desk! (I know it seems minor, but what a difference it makes in productivity!) Thanks for all you do and share!ReplyDelete
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Love this post! AprilReplyDelete
A Modern Teacher
Yate ore one cool chick! Love your blog and products and all you share! I have no interest to do it myself....I am soooo happy stalking, learning and purchasing!ReplyDelete
Thanks for all you do!
Thanks, Erica for telling it like it is! Your words of encouragement and needed advice are greatly appreciated. Still being relatively new to all of this, many of us get started without really knowing the depth of work that goes into it. With all of the success surrounding TPT, it can appear to be an instant "cash cow" and it definitely IS NOT.ReplyDelete
It takes a lot of time and hard work! BUT....the work is worth it. There's no greater joy in the classroom than seeing your students enjoy something you've created just for them! Beign able to share it with so many others is a great plus! It's so awesome! Thanks for your generous advice!I absolutely love reading your blog!
Mrs. Dwyer's A+ Firsties
WOW! I thought you were talking to me in this blog. I so want to take this plunge but am taking it slow. Not sure how to do a blog and I am waiting til the summer to start selling in TPT. Right now I am watching, learning and gathering information. You made me feel so much better about taking my time and figuring it all out.ReplyDelete
Thank you.
I love this post! January marks my TPT anniversary. I never imagined that it would be so much work to keep up my store but it has been so rewarding! I also have formed friendships across the country with kindred spirits I wouldn't have met otherwise. I love the extra income that comes from sharing my resources but also I am genuinely a better teacher for all of the connections I have made. Thanks for saying what needed to be said. :)ReplyDelete
Second Grade Math Maniac
Oh Erica,ReplyDelete
I do love this post! Great advice with no holding back.
AMEN Sista! :) When I grow up, I want to be like so many of you! :)ReplyDelete
I chuckled at the "like button".....do you have any idea how many times I have wished that? :)
First Grade and Fabulous
Erica, this blog was just the inspiration that I needed tonight. After being inspired by so many teachers online, I decided that I wanted to give something back... not to make money- which, let's be honest would be nice someday, but just to share. I just started a new blog and I find the experience exciting and overwhelming. I have always loved your resources and I respect and value the hard work that you put into your content and your products, so thanks for being an awesome bloggy role model!ReplyDelete
❀ Kate
Purely Paperless
Amen sister, love this post!! And you're so right about that like button!ReplyDelete
❤ -Stephanie
Falling Into First
Couldn't have said it better!ReplyDelete
Actually if I would have said it
it would have been more like a mini book :]
Thank you for posting this
It is much needed
Thanks for a great post Erica. I am new to TPT and to blogging. At times even when I put in the long hours to create something or post on my blog, nobody seems to notice, not even one comment. This can be disheartening. But as you said~ patience, success does not happen over night.ReplyDelete
You know people are looking at your blog but they do not bother to let you know that they noticed. I guess that's the reality and you should never give.
I am from Australia and there are not many bloggers down here. I love the connections that I am making with people like you from the other side of the world.
I have been been blog stalking for a long time and you are one of my favourite bloggers.
I always want to read your posts.
Thanks for the advice and encouraging words, I certainly needed it!
Classroom Fun
Amen!! This is a journey...not a race! I have already retired from litter box duty...the hubs is NOT happy...but the computer is calling!!! :)ReplyDelete
Cristy - (1/2 of Kindergarten Squared)
Thanks for the advice! I am new to blogging and the whole TPT thing. It definitely is a lot of work. For me...I am enjoying seeing all the creative teachers in this profession. It is so unbelievable. I am trying to organize a CA blogger meet up because I think it would be so much fun to meet and learn from others in my area. I love to hear when you guys blog about your meet ups. Thanks for being such an inspiration!!!ReplyDelete
This post is fantastic!!!!!! This blogging world is new to so many of us, it seems like its big in the USA but nothing much in Australia, I'm loving finding some ideas and advice, this blog gave me the push I need to venture out and publish by first blog post! Thank you so much Erica, valuable words of advice!ReplyDelete
Miss Peachs Class
Thank- you so much for this post! I couldn't agree more. I've been on TPT for a year now and I'm still learning as I go. It's definitely not a get rich quick thing and I worry some may have that impression. The friendships I have formed and the many wonderful things I have learned & implemented in my classroom are far more valuable to me.ReplyDelete
Erica I am pinning this to one of my blogging boards but I want to come back and pin this for TBA is that ok?ReplyDeleteReplies
Of course! I love pins. Pin away.Delete
Great post Erica! Thanks for sharing and inspiring so many! I'm hoping from the adorable button that this will be an ongoing post series....(or maybe it already is and I missed it because I was taking a techno timeout to spend some time with fam:) ) Happy New Year:)ReplyDelete
4th Grade Frolics
I can't thank you enough for this enlightening, inspiring post! My husband has been on my tail for the past year to give my teaching ideas life and share them with others on TpT. I think I've just been scared to death to this point! After reading your very honest thoughts, I see that I need to have confidence and get on the ball! Again, thank you! I look forward to reading more in the future on this topic!ReplyDelete
Very encouraging post. Thank you for taking the time to share. It is very helpful. Love all of your hard work!ReplyDelete
Simply Sprout
Erica - you were one of the first teacher-bloggers that I connected with 18 months ago when I started. You are a gem - a wonderful inspiration to us all, one of the sweetest people I know out there in "Blogland", and always willing to help out a friend (I know because you are always involved in my giveaways and have the kindest words for me). I have grown as a blogger and TpT seller because of the guidance from you and many other friends I have made online. Thank you for everything. I hope that our friendship continues to grow and I wish you all the best for 2013!ReplyDelete
Ѽ Alessia
Mrs. Albanese's Kindergarten Class
Thank you so much for posting this, Erica! These are tips exactly what new bloggers and TPT sellers need. If wish I would have read this a year ago when I started blogging. I like how you got to the point quick ;)ReplyDelete
LOVE you Nanny's saying, what a smart lady!
All Students Can SHINE
Thank you so much for posting this. Your tips are very helpful. I started blogging and selling on TPT last year. It has been a slow process getting followers, but I am hanging in there. The whole blogging and creating aspect is like you said a second job. Sometimes it is so hard for me to do, when I have my 2 year old wanting my attention. That's when I have to turn to my husband and have her entertain her so that I can get some work done. When I'm creating my activities or units, I have now set a goal of creating at least one or two a day. I also keep a check list next to me of what I want in my packets. Now with my new positions as an Instructional Coach, I am giving the activities to my teachers for them to use in their classrooms and then getting feedback from them, as well as, observing their students using the activities. Then, I can go back and tweak them if need be.ReplyDelete
The Teacher's Backpack
Thanks for posting this! I felt like I needed a refresher for the new year on blogging. I also love the blogging community. You are such an inspiration to others and are a wonderful blogger! Thank you for sharing all of your idea, tips, and advice.ReplyDelete
Rambling About Reading
Love it Erica, thanks for your insights. I'm starting a new blog and it has been really hard especially when I can't upload any pictures :) But as you pointed out if this is what I really want, I should try harder!!!!! Thanks a bunch you're a great inspiration.ReplyDelete
I appreciate your frankness and advice. I wish more people understood exactly how much work goes into blogging and TpT. I sat down and did the math for how much time I've put into one of my most recent products and the final figure astounded me. It's important for teachers and sellers to do it right. I hope a lot of teachers/bloggers took your advice to heart!ReplyDelete
Thanks Again,
Across the Hall in 2nd Grade
Although we have not talked previously, I want to say how much this post inspired me to keep blogging. I just recently started the whole blogging thing and let me tell you I was worried if I could do it. I know that it will take time and dedication, but I love knowing that I might give someone out there that idea that will make the day easier for them. That is what I strive for! So many bloggers/teachers have done that for me over the past year of finding the teacher blogger world and I want to return the favor. I also am slowly beginning to create activities for my classroom. I don't think I am ready for the TPT world quite yet. I want to share my ideas through my blog and let others see how it looks in action in the classroom and then progress from there.ReplyDelete
Thank you for this post and opening my eyes to it's ok for things to take time.
Thanks for the tips. I started blogging/ TpT in December. Over this winter break I have been working hard to create resources that I know I can use it my classroom. I'm hoping that they will be helpful to other teachers. I am hoping that my priced items sell a few, but I'm glad that you have shared your experience that it takes a lot of patience and hard work. I just celebrated my first sale, and I am happy with that. So after reading your blog post, I will continue to celebrate my little successes. =)ReplyDelete
Thanks for the awesome tips.
rock on Erica! there are so many new sellers and bloggers out there and they need this frank advice!ReplyDelete
the underpricing lately is really getting to me on TpT. I work just like you. It takes me longer and longer to create these days because I take the time to make them look good AND be useful! I spend forever changing backgrounds and fonts! have you seen http://wordmark.it/
it takes all your installed fonts and shows you how it would look!
I have also sworn that everything I post will be something I have used myself.
so amen sister!
Great post! My first payout was $3! And I STILL forward my sister my "sold a product" emails. I don't make a lot of money, but I do really appreciate the nice comments and encouragement. With our new teacher appraisal system, the feedback I get through fellow teachers is more meaningful and encouraging than my principal :) I love learing from you!!!! Thanks for a wonderful blog :)ReplyDelete
I am so glad you posted this! It made me laugh so hard when I read the part about googling how to insert a picture... I know how to do that but to link a picture. Oh My!! It seriously took me 2 hours to figure it out but after website after website and three YouTube videos I was successful!ReplyDelete
Thank you for your advise and tips. You are an inspiration.ReplyDelete
Fellow Long Islander and TpT seller
This is such a valuable post for any seller out there! Your common sense approach is just what everyone needs. Thank you for the insights, and know that you have a fellow cat owner friend who can't keep up with the litter box either! The time invested in quality work is definitely worth it!ReplyDelete
Maggie (Maggie's Kinder Corner)
Thanks for sharing your insights! I also just started blogging and opened a TPT store with a fellow teacher friend. At times, it's disheartening when we still have no comments and our freebies are the only thing that have been downloaded.ReplyDelete
We will take your advice and increase our activity on both sites and maybe the ball will get rolling!
2 Tech Chicks
Thanks Erica for the inspirational advice. I have been a follower of yours for awhile and you have been an inspiration to me each and every day. I now have a guinea pig in my classroom--because I loved reading about your sweet pig. Your post was timely for me because I am wanting to jump into the world of blogging and TpT (I set up an account with blogger 2 years ago and have been afraid to actually take the leap!)Anyway, thanks for the down-to-earth advice...and thanks for all you contribute to teachers everywhere!ReplyDelete
Erica, this blog post is such an answer to prayer for me. I have realized in the past week I have made TONS of mistakes. It is never too late to get good advice and change your ways. I need to remember why I started blogging and why I want to continue. =)ReplyDelete
YOU are an inspiration to so many out there because you are such a good role model about how to get where you are by doing things the right way and by being dedicated and hard working.
Thank you for helping and inspiring me to not just become a better blogger but a better teacher. YOU are a blessing. =)
Heather's HeartReplies
Heather, I really appreciate all your comments and not just the ones on this post. I am sorry I don't get to stop by your blog enough.Delete
Your bunny and cat are so cute! Hopefully, there will be that big TpT meet up in NYC and we can all meet. Or I think I may go to Vegas this summer.
Thanks for sharing Erica! :) I bet Nanny is glad she's inspiring a whole new generation to tell it like it is and WORK for what they want! :) Great post! :)ReplyDelete
Hugs! ;)
Mrs. Russell's RoomReplies
Thank you! My Nanny actually passed away last Thursday and my mother wrote this beautiful eulogy and reminded me that she used to say that. She once told my mother not to get off the bus unless she got an A on her test. Well she got an A- and would not get off the bus!Delete
So sorry to hear of your loss :( I'm so glad you have fond memories to keep with you!Delete
Encouraging words. Thanks so much!ReplyDelete
Wonderful advice! I've followed you for quite a while and even bought your polka dot classroom decoration packet when I got my first teaching job this year. I love it! So many people ask about it and I always sing your praises! I just recently decided to start blogging and I am going to use this advice for my blog. I don't think I'll start a TPT account anytime soon but I still love buying from there and seeing all of the wonderful things everyone creates.ReplyDelete
Also, I am so sorry that you lost your Grandmother.
This is such a great post! I just started my own TPT store and I feel a little lost and sooooooo afraid I am going to make a mistake! Like you, I have spent hours and hours googling how to do things. Right now it is taking me forever to create my products, but I love it!ReplyDelete
Thank you so much for this post....it and you are an inspiration!
Buggy for First Grade
This comment has been removed by the author.ReplyDelete
We LOVE this advice!! There needs to be more people to tell it like it is :) Have a wonderful, happy and healthy 2013!ReplyDelete
Lauren & Emily
Dynamic Duo 1 and 2
Thanks so much for the reminders. I started my TPT store in September and have been putting in A LOT of effort and time. I recently started my new blog and do become overwhelmed. I remind myself all the time that not everyone has instant success and all worked very hard for it.
And I definitely agree- feedback is not a place for marketing!!!
Drowning in Paperclips
Awesome advice!! :)ReplyDelete
Sugar and Spice
Great post Erica! Google is also my best friend. There is still so much to learn and I often spend hours watching tutorials and reading up on things through google before I can even begin working on a new unit! Great advice for us newbie bloggers and great reminders for more seasoned ones! Thanks.ReplyDelete
The Blessed Teacher
Awesome post, Erica! I think so many people think TpT is easy money...NOT!ReplyDelete
Love this post! Blogging came easily to me but TpT was something completely new to try. I took the plunge (I was quite nervous) and agree it's A LOT of work (finding the right font, clipart, layout, making sure you're following all the rules). I always try out the work with my kiddos first and then upload it to TpT.ReplyDelete
This is a great post!! Thanks for sharing.
First Grade Lyons' Den
I think you said SO much here in such a small amount of space. Thank you for saying it like it is. I feel like there is so much you have expressed here. I just hope the right people read it and take it to heart. I am new to this world too and I try to listen to advice like this as much as possible. I HATE the idea of people starting tpt and blogging as a get rich quick scheme but I see it in so many places! I feel like it actually takes a strong voice to stand up to it. Thank you!
Teaching and Tapas: 2nd Grade in Spain
Thank you for the sincere and helpful advice!! As a teacher who is new to teaching AND to the blogging/TpT community I truly appreciate it!ReplyDelete
Elementary My Dear
This post is exactly what I needed to find at exactly this time. Sounds silly, but I feel like it's a sign that I felt this nudge..ReplyDelete
I'm not sure if some of these bigger bloggers {like you} and one of my co-workers, Michele Oakes know how inspiring you are to teachers just starting out. It is beyond refreshing that we have a group of strong successful ENERGETIC veterans leading the way. The energy and passion that you all have matches what I feel now in my first year of teaching. It helps me keep going, knowing that my ideas are good ideas and that I really can do anything
I just started blogging and have been selling on TpT since last year and I just feel that I can down the road make it successful for me and my family. Thank you for being a source of inspiration for me and my big and for my future!
What wonderful advice. I am like some of the other replies in that I am just starting out on TPT. Your tips and encouragement are much needed. It also makes me feel better that as a veteran, you still spend a ton of time on your products. I only have a few out but have learned much in the process. I am not ready to attempt blogging just yet but will continue to read blogs like yours and others to gain advice and experience. Thank you again.ReplyDelete
I love this post! Great job Erica!ReplyDelete
Love the straight talk and encouragement. Thank you for the reminder that hard work does pay off. In the last year, I have grown so much. I am proud of my accomplishments and have made a goal sheet for each month. Baby steps…and when I get a comment from my principal saying, "I bet you found that on Pinterest," I just smile to myself because she has no idea that I came up with the idea on my own and I'm damn PROUD! It's awesome being a teacher!!!ReplyDelete
Thanks for the great post. I especially like "play by the rules". I have seen some posts on the forum for requests for pinners or begging for followers that I thought were a little inappropriate. I started TPT almost a year ago and have grown my store slowly with freebies and items I feel are of quality. I am thankful for each comment/ purchase because being apart of this online collaboration with teachers has helped me be a better teacher.ReplyDelete
Sample's Superstars
Those are really great and thoughtful pieces of advice. Thank you for sharing that.ReplyDelete
Darling Little Learners
Thank you Erica for this WONDERFUL post. It's funny that we have never talked or officially met, but I feel like I know you! I started blogging this summer after being inspired by so many people like you. The blogging and TPT world is exciting, overwhelming, scary and but very INSPIRING! I love seeing how you bloggers (now friends) meet up and form friendships! When I see pictures, I'm like, "I want to meet up with those adorable girls and hang out. I know I would love them and have a blast!!" So my goal for this year, is to hang out and meet you! If you or any other girls ever come to SUNNY southern california (San Diego), we MUST meet up!!!! Thank you for working it so hard. It definitely shows!ReplyDelete
woohoo!!! Go girl!! YES, yes, And DOUBLE yes!ReplyDelete
The Teacher's Cauldron
Hi Erica,ReplyDelete
Not only did I read through your entire post, but I also read almost all of the comments. I don't really want to write the same thing that everyone else wrote, but you are so inspiring to me and I appreciate the advice you shared. It's funny, because I just recently posted in my blog that sometimes I get frustrated that things don't come faster. But when I read that someone as talented as you takes their time when creating, it makes me think that what I am doing is fine. I just started my blog in October and selling things on TPT shortly after. It takes me a while-usually a week to make something just 20 pages long. I'm proud of my 3 blog followers and my 11 TPT followers. I hope those numbers grow, but Rome wasn't built in a day.
Thank you again!
What a fantastic post! Very well said!ReplyDelete
Adventures of a Third Grade Teacher
Thank you so much for sharing. The ideas of patience and hard work are encouraging.ReplyDelete
I also love the can't and won't quote from your nanny. I tell my daughter the same thing often.
Thank you so much for the great (and very timely)advice. Just getting started on my blog.
Merinda Powell
Pirate Girl's Education Invasion
As a new blogger, I am just beginning to realize how much work it requires. I enjoy it, but realize that I have a lot to learn. I am still not far from the using Comic Sans font. At this time, I don't have major inspiration to open a TpT store because I am only a second year teacher and don't feel like I can take on all that it requires. Plus, I am in the begging, borrowing, and "stealing" phase of my career. That being said, thank you for all that you share and create. I hope that the few things I do make and share can help some teacher in at least some small way, so that I can give something back to the blogging world.ReplyDelete
I also hope that as a new blogger, I do not "offend" other more experienced bloggers as I learn and try new things. I know that I might make some mistakes along the way, but I am committed to work hard and see what happens.
Compassionate Teacher
Well said! :) Thanks for sharing some great advice!! I especially agree with the use of Google to learn how to create your products. There are so many great resources out there to learn how to teach, create, and blog.ReplyDelete
Hello Mrs Sykes
I would call myself a "new blogger" - meaning that while I started my blog during this past calendar year, I am definetly new to being a "good blogger." I try to branch out and follow blogs that appeal to my interests and posts (not just for more followers for me) and leave meaningful comments. I also open my TpT store just a couple of months ago, and totally see your point about the correlation between hard work and success. I am always looking for others' success stories, because at times, I feel discouraged, having fewer than 100 blog followers, and fewer than 20 TpT followers, but reading your post has put things into perspective for me. One of my goals for the New Year is to increase my blog quality (and quantity) and certainly the quality of my TpT products. Thank you for this thought-provoking post.ReplyDelete
Thank you so much for this post! I am a new blogger, new teacher, and hoping to start with TpT this summer. It is helpful to hear that the bloggers that I started reading first and look up to (like you!) also struggled to get to where they are now. Thanks!ReplyDelete
Ms. Cranfill's Class
Well said Erica!! I am only 9 months in and I've never looked back! I love every single relationship I've formed and all the growth I've made as a professional! It has been unreal! Thanks for this post!ReplyDelete
Rowdy in Room 300
great advice! :)ReplyDelete
You were one of the first blogs I ever followed and your dedication to your craft is truly inspiring! Since I've begun actively creating products, I've found that I have a secret love of fonts, clip art, and backgrounds! It's ridiculous! I'm so humbled each time someone leaves a positive comment. That's what keeps me working hard!
My ultimate goal is to pay off my student loans with my TPT earnings. It's taken patience, but I'm taking things slowly and just giving it my all. I look back at some of the things I first created and have those "GASP-comic sans" moments! I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one.
Thanks for all you do!
Alisha Colon
First Grade Follies
I started way back in 2008 as well, and my store just took off this year after I started my blog. I noticed the same thing with the fonts and clip art and have spent a good amount of time researching both. I still make "little" games, but they seem to sell all right. I do find that I search TPT for things I need before I make them. If I find something I can use, I typically purchase it to save me time. If not, I do create what I need myself.ReplyDelete
Thanks for posting about this! It gave me the confidence to know that what I am doing is all right!
Reading Toward the Stars
This was a very helpful post! I am new to blogging, though I have followed for awhile, I just started my own blog and TpT store. Your advice obviously has touched so many of us! There is so much to learn, so every time a blogger posts advice like this, it is very much appreciated!! WOW! Since 2008?!? Where have I BEEN?!?! :) Have a good one!
Hey now...don't bash the comic sans....it was the cutest of the font choices at the time! Now looking at fonts gives me option paralysis! Thanks for all of your hard work. Your units are always fabulous and your blog is full of ideas...not just promoting your tpt items. I really appreciate the balance you have created. Your class must be a blessed group of kids to be around you all day!ReplyDelete
Chickadee Jubilee
Thanks for posting your advice! I agree that if you that blogging and creating tpt activities is time consuming and you have to want to put in the hard work and hours. But oh does it feel great when you are done with a packet and are just proud of it!ReplyDelete
-Lovely Nina
Amen!! You are exactly right!!ReplyDelete
First Grade a la Carte
Thank you so much for the guidance. I am also new to this world of blogging. I am taking baby steps and will eventually dip into the TpT and TN stuff. What I love about blogging is the reflecting. The followers and fans are just a bonus, but the comments are great too! I have a question on etiquette for you. Is it ok to "share" a FB post that has limited time freebie? I kind of felt like it was not, but I am not sure. Thanks again for the awesome post.ReplyDelete
Thank you Erica! Love this post. I have been on TpT for a little while. I only have a few products, but wanting to start a blog and produce more. Your post really has me thinking how seriously I should dive into the blogging/TpT world. When I start working on a creation I get so sucked into it, so I can't even imagine how much of your life is consumed by it. I am a 2nd grade teacher and mother of a 4 year old and a 1 year old and have a spouse that has been deployed and will be deployed until August of 2014. I may be getting into something I shouldn't! Love your blog and your TpT store. Thanks for your inspiration! You are awesome!ReplyDelete
Thanks so much for this post, Erica. I started my teaching blog last week!, and have been doing TPT for a month. My husband and I talk about how it truly is a second job. But I love it, and I'm so thankful for your advice.ReplyDelete
Thanks for the wonderful advice Erica. I agree that there are countless hours invested in creating valuable curriculum. My hubby at times thinks that I am having a love affair with photoshop!ReplyDelete
Bug hugs,
The Land of Glitter
PREACH IT, GIRL!!! Great stuff! I have been gone for the last week and as soon as I opened google reader and saw your post title, I couldn't wait to read it. I really appreciate that you wrote this, not just for newbies, but it is all a great reminder for seasoned bloggers, too. My favorite was "play by the rules and play nice!". I recently have been pretty burned. Be true to your word! Treat others the way you want to be treated, right?! It's just more than making a dollar....it's about making a friend, too. Connecting with someone who shares the same passion as you. You are so right...it's all a lot of work. I, too, have noticed that the more my blog grows, the more my TpT sells have grown. Imagine that! ;) Have a great Saturday!!ReplyDelete
Mrs. Richardson's Class
I came by this post through Deedee...she has been so helpful. All the bloggers I have met have been so kind. This has been such good advice, some confirming that I am on the right track...patience...I need patience...your words encouraging me to keep going. I love your Nanny's advice. I think last year when I wanted to start I thought everyone else was so professional. It wasn't until I got brave and said oh what the heck I just jumped in and started. Now I am on a path of slowly building a readers and a portfolio of freebies. I don't think I have enough product to open a store just yet. But that is my goal for this year.ReplyDelete
Terr Izatt
Thanks for the Great Advice! I really appreciate it!!ReplyDelete
You are, of course, amazing!!! I have been blessed with all of the online friendships I have made through blogging. I hope that one day, we will actually get to meet up :)
Wonderful post!!!!!!!!
Fun In First
Hi Erica,ReplyDelete
I love this post. It reiterates what I know and have heard in bits and pieces. You've said it so well. It's a great reminder.
First Grade Schoolhouse
Hi Erica!ReplyDelete
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this post. It is so uplifting and encouraging. After 30+ hours of creating a unit to sell and you finally post it, its hard not to be impatient. Patience is so important. For me, I like to think of blogging and creating lessons for tpt as my creative outlet. I'm in the middle of writing all of my national boards papers and I love to take a "break" and work on stuff for my blog, or cute lessons to make for my classroom. This was a great post for all of us to read! Thanks again!
First Grade with a Cherry on Top
Thank you for sharing your words of wisdom (in this post, and so many others). It helps remind all of us what it means to be successful--and how to create things we're truly proud of! Even though we have yet to meet in person, I'm SO HAPPY to call you my friend.ReplyDelete
Karen :o)
Mrs. Stamp's Kindergarten
Very well said!! You're so right about the time comment. I giggled to myself at the newsletter today when Paul said paid items take 4 hours or more. My Valentine's Day unit took me 40+ hours :) As for followers I prefer to have the ones I have who want to follow me than a larger number of people who probably will never purchase from me or read my blog. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.ReplyDelete
Teach With Laughter
I agree with everything you said, Erica...I am starting to see progress in my own store, and it definitely is/was a lot of hard work. This school year has been busy for me, so I haven't devoted as much time to building products or blogging as I would like. I have spent more time working on stuff for school. Balancing time is definitely a talent.ReplyDelete
Ms. K
Thank you for this post. It was just what I needed. I need to learn to be patient and just keep working hard to be successful. I just started blogging over Christmas Break and I really appreciate all your tips!ReplyDelete
Simply Second
Really enjoyed reading this post - it's great to learn a few things from a seasoned seller. My sister and I are new to TpT - we started in October - and we've been trying our best to absorb as much information as we can! Hopefully we haven't made too many mistakes along the way!ReplyDelete
Anyways, thank you for the post - it is very helpful! And btw, thank you for grabbing one of our clip art sets - I still remember that you bought one because when I saw the buyer name I recognized it from the top sellers list! So thank you :)Replies
You are welcome! I think your clip art is adorable! Keep up the good work. I am so happy it is on TpT now and not just Etsy.Delete
Erica, I'm sorry it took me so long to read this. You are so wise and inspiring and I'm very glad you shared this with our blogging community. I remember advice you have given before an d I've always held it in high regard, just as I do with what you've shared here. Thank you for always being there and always being someone incredible to look up to. Thanks for the link to my blog too, it means the world to me coming from you!! :)ReplyDelete
Erica, thank you for taking the time to list some important reminders to all of us. I was secretly so happy to see that you can spend and hour on one page. I know, that's so mean of me, but justifies all of the time I spend on my pages. Thank you for inspiring me (and many others) to be better:) I'm sorry to read of the loss of your Nanny. Prayers are with you.ReplyDelete
Thank you for those thoughtful words. I am trying to begin a blog and your advice was very enlightening :)ReplyDelete
Awesome post, Erica (sorry I am so late!)ReplyDelete
Finally in First
Your food for thought is ALWAYS practical and I can't tell you how much I have been inspired by you. Did you know that I started blogging after reading a post you did about the small steps you took towards bettering your teaching skills and increasing your sales on TpT?? Thank you for your knowledge & I thoroughly agree that there is a direct correlation between hard work and success. I too find that sales drop when I am not staying as connected as I should or blogging on a regular basis!!ReplyDelete
You ROCK!!
The 3AM Teacher
Thank you so much for your advice!!!ReplyDelete
Thanks for sharing your advice and thoughts, Erica! You have definitely inspired me to continue my blogging journey and not give up. My followers have been very slow coming, but I'm going to keep on keeping on! Thanks for your encouragement :)ReplyDelete
The Open Door Classroom
Wow! Thank you so much for this post! It was exactly what I needed tonight... I started my blog a few months ago and have been disappointed with myself for not investing more time and effort. Reading all the wonderful teacher blogs, such as yours, has always been such an inspiration to me and I so badly want to be able to do the same for other teachers! But as a new blogger, having only a few followers, I sometimes feel like I have no audience and have been at a lost for how to get more involved in the teacher blog community! Your words of advice were exactly what I needed to hear! Thank you so, so much!ReplyDelete
Thank you for taking the time to share with many the struggles and time it takes to starting a blog and a TPT store. I started my store a year ago and my first blog this past summer. I wish I'd had your message from the get go. It is a slow but steady process and I know many get impatient and want it to happen quickly. I'm amazed at how fast things are growing on TPT and even Pinterest. I've been in education for over 30 years and who would have thought we'd be sharing ideas on the internet way back when. Again, thank you for encouraging so many!!ReplyDelete
Great post! We all hear the big success stories from TPT and sometimes forget how much hard work and time goes into it all. It is defiantly not an over night process. I started blogging during my student teaching days and I maybe had 3 or 4 followers. More than anything my blog has been a neat place for me to look back and see how much I have grown as a teacher during my first year of this profession. Thanks for all of the time you put in online! : )ReplyDelete
Yeehaw! Teaching in Texas
Thanks Erica! This is such a good resource to share with others. I can see why you wrote it because I wish I had read it from the get-go! It is so much easier to read this than sort through a bajillionty TpT forum posts. Anyway, I think that we all start out with products that make us want to pee our pants when we first start on TpT and a minor anxiety attack on that first blog post. Hopefully, people will be forgiving with the mistakes us newbies make and try to remember how it feels to be "green". I also enjoyed Heather's (Heather's Heart) response post.ReplyDelete
My Teacher Friend
You should go in my store and try and find some of my old products! They are so bland. Even my first posts here were boring. It takes time to find your voice. And just like we tell our students, to get good at something, like making TpT products, it takes time and practice. I am still learning new techniques and it still takes me forever to finish a packet. The point of my post was to make people realize that you need to stick with it for results and that this is not a get rich quick plan. And don't worry I don't hold a grudge or blacklist people for saying "follow me." I understand what it is like to be new. The focus of blogging should be on writing blog posts and sharing ideas. When bloggers do that, then the followers will come.Delete
I SOOOOO needed this about a year ago! I hope you don't mind, I shared on my blog. I KNOW it will be such a help to others. Thanks for telling it like it is!ReplyDelete
2nd Grade Pad
Thank you SO SO SO very much Erica! I have started making TPT items and am too starting out with smaller items. I am trying to learn more and create better items. This post helps a TONS! I also love that I can relate back to all the resources you provided for future reference. I really needed this.ReplyDelete
Lovely Literacy & More
Hi Erika...I wanted to say THANK YOU for THIS post! I was wondering if I was doing something wrong, or if I was just not as competent as I need to be because it DOES take A LOT of time to create and blog. I am learning as I go and I have no friends who are blogging and selling unit on TpT so I don't have anyone to bounce ideas off of. After reading your post, I feel so much better...I had a huge weight lifted off my shoulders because I realized the time I am spending is ,is normal!!!!! I have said to my husband so many times that I could spend so much more time blogging and creating but I have had to learn how to balance family, kids, work, and TpT/blogging which had been hard to do. I do love creating and it is my "outlet" but I hope that it continues to be something I love and not become something I "have to do!" Again, thanks for the post, it was really helpful!ReplyDelete
First Grade Fanatic!
What great info, thanks for posting! I've been "selling" on TpT for a few years now but not really putting much time into it; I'd only uploaded a few items and was getting the occasional sale. Now I have some spare time to actually do something more so fingers crossed your wonderful advice will help!ReplyDelete
Hi Erica,ReplyDelete
I have been a TpT seller since September. I wish I would have seen this post then. Not only would I have been more prepared, but I also would have been able to get you a cut of Paul's paycheck!! I did just begin a blog and have slowly been learning the ends and outs of it. You mentioned some very helpful tips. I have also learned some great techy tips from Maria over at Kinder-Craze.blogspot.com
You are already a pro at all of this but I thought I could share something that I have found helpful.)
Thanks so much for sharing!
Kindergarten Boom Boom
I wanted to thank you for posting this. I am thanking you as a blogger and TpT seller. I am also thanking you as a consumer and blog reader. This is great info and advice.ReplyDelete
You Might Be a First Grader...
Excellent advice! Thank you for offering your words of wisdom :)ReplyDelete
The Techie Teacher
First off, I have to say, I AM A HUGE FAN!!!! You continue to inspire me in and out of the classroom! I just wanted to say thank you for this post. I have been selling on TPT since fall of last year, and have had moderate success. I love creating resources for my classroom and love that other teachers find value in what I've created! I've been toying with the idea of a "Teacher Blog" for over a year now, but always had some sort of " I can't" excuse. Even now, more than ever, I have the BIGGEST "I can't" excuse ( I just had a baby 3 weeks ago :)) After reading your post, I know I have to turn that "I can't" into an: I CAN!!! I only wish I became a seller after reading your post.... I would love for you to have 5% of my sales instead of Paul! Thanks again for your "Tell it like it is" advice!ReplyDelete
I just found your blog and I am now your newest follower! I love how you speak you mind. I completely agree with you. I just started a blog and just started selling at TPT and I get so excited when anyone even acknowledges me. I love knowing that I helped out other teachers or inspired them to create something in their classroom. Keep up the good and honest work! :)ReplyDelete
Pinkadots Elementary
This is awesome advice. I am new to blogging and have recently started creating products for tpt. Thanks fir the advice. You are an inspiration!ReplyDelete
I'm so glad I found this post! I started selling and blogging last year and it has been quite a learning experience. BTW - your blog was the first teaching blog I ever found and inspired me to take on the adventure :). You have made me feel so much better about how long it takes to make a unit. I had started to think that because it takes me SO LONG to make a unit(or a single page!) that I was doing something wrong. Especially when I get the notifications of sellers posting something new every week! (How do they do that???) Thanks again!ReplyDelete
Over the 1st Grade Rainbow
Happy to find this post. I just started a blog and rush home to see if anyone visited. It's sort of pitiful. I feel so much better after reading your post. Thank you for keeping my ego from plummeting too quickly. Great advice!ReplyDelete
Thanks for the pointers Erica. I just started selling on TpT last October(have made $35.55 so far, and I've been really excited about that.) I also have someone helping me create a blog, that will hopefully be up and running next weekend. I need all of the advice I can get so I'm glad I ran across your blog!ReplyDelete
I am blown away by how many comments you have. wow.ReplyDelete
Thank you so much for the advice.ReplyDelete
Math Central
I just read this post. Great, realistic advice! Thanks for taking the time to 'tell it like it is!'ReplyDelete
Elizabeth Tierney
Thank you so much for taking time to share what you have learned! I am fairly new to TPT and I love learning from more experienced sellers!ReplyDelete
Sweet Little Things
I am so glad I found your blog. I am just starting out (I am SUPER excited), but I feel a little overwhelmed and lack a lot knowledge. I cannot wait to look through your posts and tips! I had actually run across your blog when looking up fitness a while back and now I am taking the time to check it out! Thank you for taking the time to offer up help to those of us who are a teeny bit lost starting out!ReplyDelete
This is such great advice! I just started blogging, TPT, Facebook, etc. this January. It is completely overwhelming, but with great post like yours, it makes me feel a little more at ease. Thank you so much!ReplyDelete
Suzanne (CreateEducateInspire.blogspot.com)
This blog post is exactly what I needed to read today. Thank you! I will possibly be transitioning into selling/blogging full-time in the upcoming year. I too believe that hard work and dedication will pay off, even if it ends up taking longer than you think :)ReplyDelete
The Yellow Brick Road Blog
Thanks for the great advice. I have read a few of your blog posts and have found them quite helpful. I am brand new to the blogging scene and TPT. I take it quite seriously and feel like I am a sponge right now! I have followed you in many places. Thanks again!ReplyDelete


text:
Every couple of months, I meet my next-door neighbor at the coffee shop and we catch up. The first wrong thing is that, except for waves from the car, those occasional meetings are the only time I see her. The second wrong thing is these chats remind me of how much I miss books.
We'll sit down with our coffee and Suzanne will ask what I've been reading, and usually I have to scratch around in my head to come up with something. And then she'll name a whole shelf of novels she's read and I'll think: What's become of me?
I founded two book clubs, participated in discussions of dozens of novels both great and awful. I moved away from the first, and they're still reading. The second took a break when I got cancer. Every few days I rekindle thoughts of getting us back together, but I'm not sure I could read a whole book in a month. Teaching three college courses has left me with stacks of papers to grade and lectures to prepare. My reading pleasure these days is the New York Times Sunday paper, and even that takes me all week to munch through.
I was headed on a road trip during spring break last week, and I saw those hundreds of miles as book time. In a different universe, people like me would be able to read in cars without getting sick, but I live in this universe, and if I were to read, I wouldn't make it out of my zip code without having to give up.
Audio books! It's not the same as reading – I've never thought so – but it's words and imagination, and a girl can take only so much of '70s music on satellite radio. And so I went to the library and filled two bags. (It doesn't seem right that the boxes holding an audio novel would be so much larger than the novel itself, the words on the discs being tiny electrical specks and the words in the books being thick ink and heavy paper.) I started the trip with an array of choices: mysteries and history and Hemingway and a romance. What goes with gray morning skies?
Crime novelist James Lee Burke, one of my favorites. Reading his words on the page, I can see everything he sees, and he's never too beautiful. The actor doing the reading was gruff and clipped, and skilled at changing voices for characters. Chapter One set the scene, Chapter Two brought the return of Burke's constant protagonist Dave Robicheaux. Chapter Three brought the inevitable murder.
Chapter Four brought the eject button.
What was it? The plot was fine, the writing the usual Burke excellence. But as the miles passed and the ribbon of road spooled the story into my mind, it all felt too much. Maybe having a dark male voice tell me the details of a murder just felt harsh. Reading about crisis in my own head is softer; I can take it in as slowly as I want.
I tried another novel, a beachy romance written and read by a woman. The writing was not the kind I enjoyed, and I'd seen these characters a hundred times before.
By the time I got to Hemingway, I was driving through an icy rain and the "Snows of Kilimanjaro" was the last thing I wanted to conjure. There were five other audio books waiting in the back seat, but I ignored them and turned on the radio.
Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood to hear someone read me a book. Or maybe, as I suspect, hearing a book isn't the nearly the same as seeing it – both in your mind and on the page. The next chance I get, I'm returning the James Lee Burke CD to the library, and swapping it for the real thing.
Beth Dolinar can be reached at email@example.com.
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Tomato Success Kit
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- Gardener's Supply Exclusive


text:
CANONSBURG (AP) — Mylan Inc. said Monday that it has added two new members to its board of directors, expanding it to 13 members.
The pharmaceutical company's board appointed Melina Higgins, a former partner at Goldman, Sachs & Co., and Rajiv Malik, Mylan's president, to the board.
Higgins joined Goldman Sachs in 1989 and retired in 2010 after serving as a partner and in various leadership roles.
Malik has held important leadership positions at Mylan since January 2007, when the company acquired a controlling stake in Matrix Laboratories Ltd., now Mylan Laboratories Ltd. Malik was the CEO of the active pharmaceutical ingredients supplier.
Mylan Executive Chairman Robert J. Coury said the appointments deliver on the company's objective of strengthening Mylan at all levels.
Mylan markets the EpiPen, an epinephrine auto-injector for treating severe allergic reactions. Pfizer Inc. makes EpiPen, and Mylan markets it in the U.S. Mylan also makes generic and specialty prescription drugs.
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text:
After finishing third at the WPIAL Individual Rifle Championships Feb. 14, McGuffey's Courtney Stiles completed a strong junior season by capturing the PA State Individual Smallbore Championship with a score of 395.
Stiles, who shot a 200-19X at the WPIAL event, edged Trinity's Kayla Huffman, who had also shot a 200-19X at the WPIAL event. Huffman shot a 393.
Stiles is the sixth individual state champion from McGuffey since the state tournament began in 2002, joining Wes Lauff (2004), Joel Nuzum (2006), Stephanie Small (2007), Rebekah Ashbrook (2008) and Salena Helmkamp (2011).
Stiles also shot a team-best 197 in the team portion of the event, helping McGuffey finish in second place behind WPIAL champion Hempfield, which won the state tournament with a 974. The Highlanders shot a 969 to edge third-place Avella by one.
Avella's Brent Morgan finished fourth at the state championships with a 392, while teammate Cassandra Hamilton was sixth at 391.
Trinity's Tyler Miller rounded out the area's top 10 finishers, coming in ninth with a 387.
Stiles and Kelly McCosby earned all-tournament honors in the team portion of the event. McCosby fired a 197.
McCosby also won top honors at the WPIAL Senior Shoot, edging Bethel Park's Jim Lofstead with a 200-19X.
Avella had three all-tournament shooters at the state tournament, as Morgan and Hamilton were joined by Sylvia Dreistadt.
• Frazier-Simplex moved its record to 14-0 in the Greater Pittsburgh and Suburban Rifle League with a win over second-place Dormont-Mt. Lebanon Sportsmen this week, 1,481-1,476.
Dormont-Mt. Lebanon dropped to 12-3.
Frazier-Simplex dedicated the victory to former teammate Dave Cramer, who died late last year. Cramer, the 1967 and 1977 National Indoor Champion, shot for Frazier from 1981 through 2012.
Tom Santelli and Sylvia Dreistadt led the way for Frazier, both shooting 297, while Tom Morley and John Husk each shot a 296. Zac Szabo fired a 295 to round out the scoring for the winners.
Tom Gerner had high honors in the match with a 298 for Dormont-Mt. Lebanon, which also got a 296 from Dean Trew, 295s from Nicholle Benedict and Matt Piatt and a 292 from Tom Benedict.
• The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission stocking trucks began rolling through the area with trout last week, with more coming this week.
The waterway that was stocked last week was Dutch Fork Lake. The lake has begun refilling – it's about 5 feet deep in the middle right now – and Friday it received its first stocking of fish since it was drained in 2004.
• The Eastern Sports and Outdoors Show, which was postponed Feb. 2 after its organizer banned the display of certain weapons, will not be rescheduled this year, according to the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal.
A number of vendors pulled out of the show after the event's organizers, Reed Exhibitions, banned the display of assault-style weapons following the Sandy Hook shooting in Connecticut.
Officials who run the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg said they hope to hold a show of similar size in February.
Outdoors Editor F. Dale Lolley can be reached at email@example.com .
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text:
Entry tags:
Sepia Saturday: Great Granddaddy feeding his turkeys
George Washington Burris, Sr., feeding the turkeys...I'm just going to guess that this may have been taken in the early to mid 1920s. If that's the case, then they had turkeys in town (Russellville), which would not be out of the question.
George Washington Burris, Sr. died in 1929.
This is a Sepia Saurday post.


text:
Find olfactory creations KENZO Parfums in perfumery SATCI. It is a world that we invite you to discover. Each perfume tells a story, each fragrance has a very strong identity.
Come see the full range of perfumes in our store KENZO KENZO Parfums Tetovo and find the KENZO creation that suits you the best.
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Latitude : 42.007812
Longitude : 20.975402
You can enter the start point town or your full addressExamples: Annecy


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Mark Alan
From San Diego, Calif. I have to say one thing about my life is having had a chance to see many parts of the world, whether it be as vacation or through the military (served six years in USAF), or because of a new job. I have two daughters both of whom have graduated from college with honors ( they got their brains from me), Single ladies!! I went to Wright State in Dayton Ohio, also a graduate from Long Ridge Writers Group in New Britain, Ct. I am a SYFY freak, love horror movies, but no movie without popcorn. Love the ocean and surfing, Dallas Cowboy fan and NY Mets fan. Enjoy theater and have performed in many productions. Without listing every radio station I've worked at, I'll at least start with the first one which essentially was the Armed Forces Radio Network (1976-77) in Turkey. That adventure eventually led me to commercial radio. Some of my favorite markets that I worked in are San Antonio, Texas (KMMX) and the Twin Cities (KEEY, KLXK, KJJO). I have been in the radio business for about 36 years and it has been a thrill to entertain, whether it be on the air or on location or even on-stage with National recording acts. Thanks for listening!


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WAYNESBURG – For the second year in a row, a Carmichaels girl was named Miss Rain Day. Stephanie Mitchell, 16, the daughter of Jim and Becky Mitchell, was crowned by 2012 Miss Rain Day Kendall Lewis, 17, the daughter of Mark and Jennette Lewis of Carmichaels.
Mitchell was one of seven girls to vie for the title Sunday evening at the Waynesburg Central High School Auditorium.
Mitchell claimed the prizes for top interview, top sportswear and top evening gown categories for the night. She also received the 2013 Kelly Smotzer Memorial Award.
"I am just so proud to be the new Miss Rain Day. I competed with some amazing girls and was really overwhelmed when I won," Mitchell said. "I am so grateful to the Rain Day Committee, my parents, dance instructor Tricia (Ricco Lohr) and everyone who has helped and supported me."
Mitchell performed a lyrical jazz routine to "Come Wake Me Up."
Mitchell received $1,000, a trophy, crown, banner and flowers as the new queen.
First runner-up was Allie Christopher, 16, of Carmichaels. Christopher is the daughter of Kenny and Tammy Christopher.
Second runner-up was Amanda Frampton, 15, of New Freeport. She is the daughter of Stephen and Debra Frampton.
Christopher and Frampton tied in the category of top talent. Christopher performed a vocal selection to "The Prayer," in both English and Italian. Frampton performed the musical selection, "Praeludium and Allegro," by Kreiseler on violin.
Christopher also received the Miss Photogenic Award and Pageantry Spirit Award.
Frampton received the award for Academic Achievement and was named the 2013 Rain Maker.
The 2013 John O'Hara Award went to Morgan Voithofer, 14, of Carmichaels. She is the daughter of Jason and Heather Voithofer.
Christopher and Voithofer tied for Miss Personality as selected by their fellow contestants.
The queen and her court spent Rain Day in downtown Waynesburg meeting and greeting attendees of the event. They also took to the stage to reenact their performances from the pageant.
Other young ladies who participated in the 2013 Miss Rain Day competition were; Tanya Phillips, 17, of New Freeport. She is the daughter of Terry and Ethel Phillips; Carly Riggi, 14, of Rices Landing. She is the daughter of John and Josey Riggi; and Lesley Tift, 17, of Rices Landing. She is the daughter of Wes and Justine Tift.
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South Fayette modifies future land use map
Residents in South Fayette Township will have another chance to comment on the township's comprehensive plan. Commissioners announced at the board's April 10 workshop meeting that a public hearing will be held at 7:30 p.m. April 17 prior to the board's regular voting meeting.
Township Manager Ryan Eggleston said one modification to the future land use map in the comprehensive plan has been made since last month's voting meeting. He said that the modification includes a small change to the mixed office/residential area near the border of Upper St. Clair Township. A revised map is posted to the township's website, www.south-fayette.pa.us, under "Comprehensive Plan Information." At last month's meeting, the Rural Conservation area portions of the future land use maps were renamed Rural Residential Growth areas.
Also at the meeting, Eggleston informed the board that the township's new parks and recreation director, Miles "Butch" Truitt, will be starting his job with the township on April 22. Truitt is currently the parks and recreation and public works director in Oil City.
Eggleston informed the board at the meeting of a request for a community garden for use with the township's library. He said library director Rebecca Long came up with the idea for a "Pizza Garden" in the courtyard between the municipal building and the library. "I think it would be a neat learning opportunity," Eggleston said. Once approved by commissioners, the library will be seeking donations of plants, soil and tools for the garden. Eggleston said once the garden is producing, Long would like to have children make their own pizzas from the vegetables in the garden.


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Caroline May
Daily Caller [1]
October 10, 2013
With critics panning the Obamacare exchange website Healthcare.gov for its myriad technological problems, a tech news site has surfaced with a dollar estimate for what the glitchy website actually cost taxpayers.
According to Digital Trends, CGI Federal received $634,320,919 to construct Healthcare.gov — or more than the amount spent building Linkedin ($200 million) and Spotify ($288 million) combined.
The site also cost more than it took to initially create Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, according to the report.
The Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to The Daily Caller's request for comment.
The expense appears even larger when compared with the amount the company was originally slated to receive, as in 2011 CGI Federal was contracted to build the site for about $93 million.


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SF hears final construction update on school
"The building has turned out magnificently," Brennan said. In addition, he said change orders to the project were minimal at a total of less than $130,000.
Brennan presented a few change orders to the board that will be voted upon Aug. 27.
One change order included $5,124 from general contractor Massaro Corp. to install 48 square inches of overflow drainage scuppers on the roof of the building. Brennan said if there were no scuppers on the roof the downspouts would fill with water when it would rain. The scuppers will enable the excess water to flow off the roof. The change is a code requirement.
A total of $5,630 in change orders came from Merit Electric and included adding an access control panel for a door, a fire alarm monitoring system for the sprinkler system in Area C of the building, a pressure sensor for a fire alarm and power to a door in Area C as well as power for the pressure pump for the dry sprinkler system in a portion of the building.
Other items that still need to be completed in the new building are to touch up paint in some areas and switch out white boards in the classrooms for different ones and also to swap out stools in the STEAM rooms for shorter ones.
The digital sign for outside the pupil services building was set to be installed Aug. 21.
Brennan said the work will be completed after school and on the weekends if necessary.
"We will not interrupt school," Brennan said.
During his presentation, a couple of board members asked about the status of the athletic field behind the new school. Brennan said the field was in the process of being graded.
Board member Leonard Fornella asked if sprinklers could be added to the field and if it could be expanded so it could be used by more sports teams.
"Now's the time to do it if we're going to do it," Fornella said.
Board member Alan Vezzi agreed saying that if the equipment is there to do it now, "we should do it."
Vezzi added that before the field is hydro-seeded, the board should consider expanding it.
"I think it's worth a review," Vezzi said.
Fornella added, "Let's get an estimate of the cost to expand and put in sprinklers."
Superintendent Dr. Bille Rondinelli directed Brennan to get an estimate of the cost to expand and add sprinklers to the field for review at the board's Aug. 27 meeting.
Prior to the meeting, the board and administrators welcomed approximately 25 new teachers during a reception. New and returning teachers successfully completed a variety of opening day activities prior to the start of school.


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Damn! Thats beautiful. I would love to have one too.
Hello I dont know if anybody can help me I was wondering if any of you have info on the Person that made a very Filmation accurate Snake Mountain and i wanted to see if he would make me one, any information would be appreciated
Damn! Thats beautiful. I would love to have one too.
Ya Tengo El Poder!!!!!!
Not Filmation accurate, but an absolutely awesome interpretation of the MYP Snake Mountain!
Your support means more research for the Myostatin-challenged.
he's here on the forums his forum name is octavio so PM him allthough he's been quiet around here lately Good luck
Hello guys, i didn´t expect this. that was a work i made several years ago, i actually have or had the model (i don´t know coz i left it in my grandma´s house where i used to live) but after getting the attentión again, and testing metods for casting playsets recently; it´s just a matter of luck. I´m really hoping that my uncle didn´t trow it to garbage; i had it on the roof of that house but when i moved alone i left it there and totally forgot to tell my uncle to preserve it, the only thing that i have here is the snake wich is awesome coz knowing myself i´m sorpriced i didn´t forget as lot of things. At that time i wanted to make lots of SMs, but never made any list of people interested or got to much attention after i showed of boards, so i stop working on it, then i moved alone and i took less care.
As i also mentioned, i´m working on the Fright Zone playset and i love it, but i just don´t want to show anything yet, i want to make this with all the care, and things like this take lot of time, and remember this is not the only thing i´m working on, so having time for each project is not very easy, but i can tell you that i´m always working.
I´m going to my grandma´s house to find out if the model it´s still alive, or if i have to make another one... I´m really hoping for the first option... Let you know.
im glad u found him yosoyheman,
Octavio looong time that i want to see ur fright zone men! give me a peak!!
visit my albums:
awesome trades with: harold, krosfyah, bobtheodd, Agostinho, boggs32, sallah, beastor
Visit my facebook page 2917 likes already!!!!! XD
Well, if octavio starts to make a list for those who want aSnake Mountain, put me on #3 cuz I want one!
Ya Tengo El Poder!!!!!!
You are great Octavio!
Have you done also a Fright Zone Custom like this one?
Octavio primero que nada muchisimo gusto y te queria decir q te quedo bastante ca***n el Snake Mountain y yo te digo q soy tu primer cliente cuando puedas me gustaria platicar contigo sobre tus projectos y ver de la manera en q podamos hacer un equipo de fabricadores si te interesaria yo mas q nada ago customs de figuras.
Como te dije yo soy el primer cliente saludos.
Y Dark gracias bro por la foto y el info
Last edited by Son of Keldor; December 4, 2012 at 01:09pm. Reason: back to back posts
Te mando un mp.
Aww...sorry to hear your Snake Mountain bit the dust, Octavio. It really was an impressive piece
God, those are beautiful.
PoP Variants are part of the vintage line, too! Starburst She-Ra, Shower Power Catra, and Scratchin' Sound Catra for 2015!!!
I don't know why you are so surprised about your Snake Mountain. It was one of the coolest piece ever shared on this site. I recall telling you years ago that you should cast them and offer them for sale. I've been a fan of your work for some time now Octavio.
While it is sad that the original is gone, perhaps your skills have improved, and 2.0 will be even more fantastic. If you ever get around to casting the remake (and the price is reasonable) put me down for one. I would rather give the money to you than to Mattel.
Last edited by Sky Breaker; November 19, 2012 at 02:43am.
Read from you that you rather give your money to me instead to mattel, means a lot to me, coz i can not compete with a company that big, and the only way to get the sources to keep working is by selling my stuff, so when you guys do that, you also help to keeping me working on something that i enjoy so much, and i can´t never be enough grateful with you.
we must get a snake moutain in this line. just as bad ass.
Skeleton-Warriors, Ra-Jar, Spinwit, Rock Golem, General Tartaran, Hawke, Slob-Boar, King Agho, Hunga the Harpy, Sh'gora, Masks of Power Demons, Nocturna, Lizzor, Sagitar, Crimson Fury, Lodar, Vizar, Angast, Negator, King Miro, Melaktha, Crystal-Man, ABC Giants, Stridor, Road Ripper, Land Shark
Octavio, could you realize a custom Snake Mountain as that one in this topic, throught Kickstarter?


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Men's Nike KD Dagger Elite Basketball Shorts
Product Details
Stay dry on the court in the Men's Nike KD Dagger Elite Basketball Shorts. Stylish, yet comfortable, these athletic shorts are the perfect, lightweight gear to help you take your opponents by storm.
Made of 100% polyester Dri-FIT fabric, these performance hoops shorts will wick away sweat, keeping you light and dry throughout the entire game. A comfortable, relaxed fit ensures you have plenty of room to move during quick cuts and fast breaks, while the adjustable drawcord waist allows you to get the perfect fit every time. Screen-printing at the front, contrast panels, piping at the sides and an allover pattern at the back panel add signature, baller style.
Model height 6'3", waist 34" and wearing Size Large.
Product sizing may vary from brand to brand.
- FABRIC: 100% polyester Dri-FIT
- FIT: Adjustable waist and relaxed fit for a comfortable feel
- CARE: Machine wash


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Harmony society reaches 75
I love to sing! Whenever I sing, my worries disappear, the stress is gone! Our members have many similar interests and our friendships are welcoming."
I listened to these comments over and over during my visit with members of the South Hills Keystone Chorus last week as the men blended their voices at rehearsal in Bethel Park. Their pleasure was evident as the men entertained this Canonsburg girl with a few bars of the hit song "Melody of Love," made popular by Canonsburg's Polish Prince, Bobby Vinton.
Known for its membership of male singers, ages 20 to 92, Keystone's roster is made up of your neighbors and mine, residing in Bethel Park, McMurray, Upper St. Clair, Washington and Whitehall. Harmonizing together since 1957, the South Hills Keystone Chorus is a division of the Barbershop Harmony Society, celebrating its 75th year.
Members embrace audiences interested in diverse performances. Choose from country, jazz, rock, ballads and patriotic shows fitting each organization's timeframe, including holiday parties and corporate events. They also sing at retirement centers, community events and fairs as well as the group's annual show in November and our country's National Anthem at seasonal events.
"I've always liked to sing," said retired surgeon Dr. Keith Apelgren. "I'm semi-retired now. Since moving to Upper St. Clair from Michigan, time opened up. I joined the group in October 2011."
"More than six years ago I saw a Keystone Chorus announcement posted on the TV community calendar. I called the number and I've been singing with the group since then," said Dick Siebert.
"Our members love barbershop harmony. We hope to keep it alive generation after generation," said Bill Smith. "The Keystone Chorus sponsors quartets from high schools to enter competition. It's the only truly American form of music. We're happy to have W&J student Brandon Rauch singing with us now."
Barbershoppers are known to be dedicated singers. Visiting from Erie, barbershopper Clark Pease stopped by to join the South Hills men in singing a few tunes. "I'll be missing my group's rehearsals, so I'm happy to do a little harmonizing with the Keystone group. I hope to join the Cranberry barbershoppers and possibly the singers in the North Hills while I'm in Pittsburgh."
Upcoming Keystone Chorus events include:
April 23 – Rehearsal and guest (men who love to sing) night, Hamilton Church, Bethel Park
May 11 – Sing Out, The Galleria, Mt. Lebanon
June 5 – Sing Out, Mt. Lebanon Public Library
Nov. 9 – Celebrate 75 years of Harmony, St. Thomas More Family Life Center, Bethel Park
Barbershop harmony spawned in the 1840s, the beginning of the entertainment and recording industry. Minstrel shows and traveling concerts popularized the harmonizers, who reached their peak during the glorious days of vaudeville and burlesque.
The Barbershop Harmony Society was founded in 1938 in Tulsa, Okla., by a group of men who wished to rejuvenate the art of barbershop harmony after the decline of vaudeville and the growth of radio. The largest all-male singing organization in the world has its headquarters in Nashville, boasting 800 chapters and additional barbershoppers in affiliated organizations around the world.
Nashville is also home to the Old Songs Library, said to hold the world's largest privately-held collection of sheet music.
Singing and music are fun for kids of all ages and great enjoyment to listeners. So often we have friends or even family members whom we think we know well and never realize the vocal talent they harbor. For details on the SH Keystone Chorus, visit www.pghkeystonechorus.com
Barbershop Harmony Society International Convention will be held June 30-July 7, 2013, in Toronto, Canada. Pittsburgh will host the international convention in 2015.


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Bethel Park American Legion teams completes turnaround
Good grief was about all the Bethel Park American Legion baseball team could say about the summer of 2012. For Post 760 played pretty much like the Peanuts' gang and posted a 2-18 record.
However, 2013 penned a different script. Bethel Park knocked the socks off the competition. Post 760 won the Allegheny County district playoffs and qualified for the Region 6 Tournament. In the county tournament, Bethel Park blanked Elizabeth-Forward, 2-0, upset Peters Township, 5-2, and edged Upper St. Clair, 6-4.
"Not many people expected us to do well, especially after last season. Not many gave us a chance," said BP manager Jerry Obiecunas. "They underestimated us."
After starting the season with one win in their first four games, the Hawks certainly were overlooked by all but themselves. "Those were all close games," Obiecunas explained. "We lost games we should have won. Bethel Park was beating Bethel Park. No one else."
With a little work and additional experience, the club, which consisted mainly of players who had just completed their sophomore or junior years of high school, began to improve in a league that now featured wooden bats.
"Playing with wooden bats changes the game. Pitching and defense are the most important things," said Obiecunas. "Our goal was improvement. We realized we needed some work, especially with our gloves and defense and communication. So we started working on fundamentals and a lot of defensive drills. We worked on our craft and got better. We went from last to best in one year."
Bethel Park shot to the top because of commitment, desire and teamwork. According to Obiecunas, his players love the game, wanted to play and bought into the philosophy that no one single individual can take a team where it wants to be.
Additionally, Obiecunas said that 75 percent of the team had no other conflict with its allegiance to the club. In fact, he cited Tim Pauley as an example. The third baseman quit his part-time job at Dick's Sporting Goods Store to play for the Legion team. He batted .365 with an on-base percentage over .500
"He was at the field every day taking batting practice or working on his glove. He wanted to get better," Obiecunas said."
"Tim was just one of our 15 guys who love the game and wanted to play. These guys love baseball. Not a single one of them played varsity," he pointed out. "Some of them had played on JV last spring. This group of guys had been overlooked. They wanted to play. They worked hard and achieved their goals."
The initial goal was get into the playoffs. Then Bethel Park won the district.
"We were very focused and it showed," Obiecunas said. "We executed and scored runs. We got great pitching and clutch hitting. We were determined. Everything clicked on all cylinders."
In the Region 6 playoffs, nothing clicked. Post 760 dropped an 8-2 decision to Ambridge and a 15-1 contest to Connellsville to end its season.
"Things did not go our way," said Obiecunas. He took responsibility for the team's showing in the nine-inning games, two frames longer than those during the regular season and district playoffs. "As a coaching staff, we were not prepared. As a team, we were not as prepared as we could have been. But, Lady Luck certainly didn't smile upon us."
Bailey Fertig, however, did shine. Against Ambridge, he hurled seven plus strong innings. The rising senior led the BP pitching staff along with Mike Gronsky.
Fertig posted a 5-3 record with a 3.46 ERA. He picked up the playoff win against Peters Township.
"Bailey is a work horse. He'd run through a brick wall for you. He's a great player," Obiecunas added. "He does what's best for the team. He has a lot of heart."
Gronsky, who also played third base, posted a 6-1 record with a 1.34 ERA. He tossed three no-hitters during the season. A control pitcher, he recorded 18 of 21 outs on ground balls in a game against Chartiers Valley this summer. BP's clean-up hitter batted .328 with 23 RBI and one homer.
"Mike's a leader," Obiecunas said. "He was a timely hitter and a pitcher with great control. He finds ways to get people out. He felt secure and safe with the guys behind him that he relied on his defense to get the outs. Mike was like many players on our team. He stepped up. Plus, he has a lot of character."
A rising senior and captain, Gronsky is also a talented musician, specializing in guitar. A talented student, he is interested in attending Indiana University or Ohio State.
In addition to Fertig and Gronsky, BP relied upon Dom Bertan, Sam Polen and Joe Cinello for pitching. Bertan was 2-1 with a 3.43 ERA. He recorded a big save against USC, when he came in with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the sixth inning. A situational hurler, Polen is a southpaw with "good stuff" says Obiencus. At 6-1, Cinello sports a fastball clocked between 83-85 miles per hours. After his brief stint in the regional, an umpire told Obiecunas that his curve ball was the best he has seen in the district.
Behind the pitcher's success was Louie Ridgeway. The catcher called every pitch in every game. He built a great relationship with his pitchers, says Obiecunas. Ridgeway batted .315 with five sacrifice bunts. The rising junior threw out 73 percent of would-be base thieves.
While Chris Steeb, who had a .853 slugging percentage, and shortstop Josh Gramm, who had a .955 fielding percentage and went 8-for-12 in the playoffs, are also rising juniors, Bethel Park benefited from the play of soon-to-be seniors including Derek Lesnak, Jake Svitek, Austin Carrozza, Dan Deleo and twin brothers Carmen and Luke Jasante.
Of the guy that Obiecunas says 'nobody gave him a shot,' Carozza provided a solid glove at second base for BP. Deleo swiped six bases and batted .347. Despite injuring his ankle, Svitek returned to 100 percent and turned in a .425 performance at the plate during the post-season.
While Carmen started all games but one at first base and batted .336 with 20 RBI, Luke maintained a .725 on-base percentage. BP's lead-off hitter, Luke started in center field.
In left field was Lesnak, who as a sophomore captained the high school hockey team. Lesnak batted .400. He had two assists on putouts during the playoffs.
"Derek has so much heart and he knows what it takes to win. He knows what to do in stressful situations," Obiecunas said. He cited how BP's lead-off hitter took a hit by pitch to help the team win a game. "Derek gets on," he said. "He finds a way, whether it's by getting hit, walking or getting a base hit."
This summer, Bethel Park found a way, too. As a result, despite the disappointing showing in the regional tournament, future expectations are high for Post 760.
"We won't be so young and our main (players), if not all, will be back." Obiecunas said. "This year really was about the experience. Even though we lost, we still had fun and felt like we really accomplished something. That was a cool feeling considering where we were and how we worked so hard to get to this point."
"We were playing our best baseball by the end of the season. The team understood small-ball. Getting runners in scoring position, getting the clutch hits and finding a way to score them. That separates the good teams from the great team. We did not let too many games slip between our fingers."


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Lenin's words ring true today
More than 90 years ago, in 1921, Vladimir Lenin, first Premier of U.S.S.R. (1918-1924) spoke on How to Destroy the West. His words are printed here:
• Corrupt the young. Get them away from religion, encourage their interest in sex.
• Make them superficial by focusing their attention on sports, sensual entertainments and other trivialities.
• Always preach true democracy, but seize power as fast and ruthlessly as possible.
• Encourage government extravagance; destroy its credit.
• Produce fear with rising prices, inflation and general discontent.
• By specious argument, cause the breakdown of the old moral virtues – honesty, sobriety, self-restraint.
• Cause registration of firearms to leave the population defenseless.
Do you see a similarity to what America is today? Our credit is being destroyed with the $16 trillion plus debt looming over our fair land! Our moral values are evaporating. The most recent push by the Obama administration for registration of guns puts the foot in the door to take away our guns!
When so many countries have been forced into Communism, what must be accomplished first ... take guns away from the citizenry! There are no guns in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, China, Rumania, Cuba and many more.
Wake up America, before it is too late and we are enslaved!
Bethel Park
Lenin's words ring true today


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Scott Conservancy to offer pruning workshop
It's one of the least understood aspects of gardening, but it is critical for a healthy and attractive landscape. That's why Scott Conservancy is sponsoring a community education program on pruning, a favorite topic of the presenter, Penn State Master Gardener Martha Swiss.
Presented by the Allegheny County Penn State Master Gardeners, "Pruning: The Kindest Cut" will cover not only how to prune, but when to prune. When done correctly, pruning can rejuvenate overgrown trees and shrubs, increase plant vigor and improve appearance. Proper formative pruning also gets young trees and shrubs off to a good start, resulting in a healthier and more beautiful landscape.
Scott Conservancy Community Education Chair Jane Peart, a Penn State master gardener herself, said they have had a lot of requests for a program on pruning.
"People are afraid," said Peart. "They have trees and woody ornamentals in their landscaping and they know they should do something, but they're not sure what."
Fortunately, Peart said pruning is easier than people think.
The program will cover tools, safety and pruning techniques. In addition, soil test kits will be available for purchase, and there will be free take-home literature covering general topics such as edible landscaping, lawn management, composting and native pollinators.
Open to the general public, "Pruning: The Kindest Cut" will be held from 7-8 p.m. March 20 at the Lodge in Scott Park. The cost to attend is $5, which will be collected at the door. Since seating is limited, registration is required.
To register, email email@example.com or call 412-788-1361. Registrants need to supply their name and contact information – email address or phone number or both.