WWOCN Annual Employment and Training Conference

Madison, WI. The Wisconsin Women of Color Network, Inc. (WWOCN) will hold its annual employment and training conference on Saturday, September 24, 2011 from 10A.M. to 3P.M. at the Madison College, 3550 Anderson Street, Madison, WI 53704. The conference's main event is a MULTICULTURAL ARTS & CRAFTS EXHIBIT.
During the conference, WWOCN will recognize the recipients of the Women of Achievement Award and present the awardee of its a...nnual Mabel Smith Memorial Scholarship.
This is the first time that WWOCN will sponsor a multicultural arts and crafts exhibit that will present the work of women and youths of color artists from the community. The purpose of the exhibit is to bring awareness and understanding of the various cultures through art.
The exhibits will includes some or all of the following forms of visual arts: woodcarving, jewelry, metal work, needlework, painting, quilting, sculpture, textile and basket weaving.
We are inviting artists of color from the community to display and sell their artwork. The exhibit also will offer participants an opportunity to describe their artwork and relate it to their respective cultural roots, network and advertise the items they are offering to sell.
The MULTICULTURAL ARTS & CRAFTS EXHIBIT is open to the public. The doors will be open from 10A.M. to 3P.M.
A BUFFET LUNCH will be served at noon to honor the recipients of the WWOCN WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS and the MABEL SMITH MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP. Advance registration is required for attending the lunch. The cost of the lunch is: ADULTS -$25.00 and children under 12 years old - $10.00. Deadline for registration is Monday, September 19, 2011.
WWOCN acknowledges the conference support of the John Deere Credit Foundation and the Madison College. To encourage more participation from artists, WWOCN is appealing to our members, friends and supporters to sponsor an artist by donating $25.00 to cover direct costs for artist's registration. Conference brochures and registration forms will be made available on our website: www.womenofcolornetwork-wis.org.
For more information, please call Janet Saiz, WWOCN president at (608) 298-7150 or e-mail: wwocnagc@gmail.com

Simple Stitch and JBS Jewels

Warm smiles will greet you when you first walk into this little shop on Main Street and smiles are what you're going to leave with when you walk out the door. Not only are the hand-crafted goods in this shop adorable, they are affordable as well! Divina, fondly known as "Divine" to her friends, is the seamstress who does your alterations and tailoring needs while Janice's hand-crafted jewelries will complement any ensemble you have or plan to have. From earrings, bracelets to necklaces, purses, hair accessories to dresses, this shop has something that will surely tickle every girl's fancy.

SIMPLE STITCH and JBS JEWELS
1121 Main Street
Union Grove, Racine, Wisconsin, 53182
Jan: 262-930-6953
Divine: 262-806-2602
Hours of Operation:
Mon-Fri: 10am-5pm
Sat: 10am-2pm

Outdoor Wisconsin

Connor woke up early today and got ready to go with his dad to work. It's not everyday that he gets to go to work with Dad. A few times a year, yes. But today is not just one of those stay-at-the-TV-station-all-day kind of day. He gets to go out with the Electronic Field Production (EFP) crew (which includes Dad) to shoot a segment for the local TV show, Outdoor Wisconsin. Not only does he get to go with the crew, he's going to be in the show!
The Milwaukee Public Television's show, Outdoor Wisconsin airs on Channel 10.1 HD on Thursdays at 8 p.m. with repeats on Saturdays at 9 a.m. It's a half-hour show covering different outdoor activities in Wisconsin like fishing, hunting, etc...
Today's segment shoot is about bike trails in Wisconsin. Connor will get to ride his bike on one of the trails. He was so excited about it. He and Tom loaded his bike and protective gear in the car and off they went just a little after six this morning. I can't wait for them to come home and for Connor to tell me all about the experience.
For more information about Outdoor Wisconsin and other Milwaukee Public Television programs, visit www.mptv.org.

Twelve Foot Falls

Just northwest of the town of Crivitz in Marinette County lies the picturesque Twelve-Foot Falls along with other waterfalls nestled within a two-mile area. It is located inside the Twelve Foot Falls County Park where you pay a $3 fee to get in for the day. The day pass is good for all the parks in Marinette County in Northern WI.
We had planned to visit this park while on our way home from our place in Long Lake this time around but as of yesterday, decided not to do it for we just wanted to get back home. We thought we'd need at least a day to explore the park--which is very true.
We have not come upon this park by accident. I started noticing a sign for Twelve Foot Falls County Park every time we drove along the alternate route that we sometimes took going up North. I had always been curious about it. The sign is there on Hwy 8 and along Hwy 141. So I looked it up on the map one day and found that there are other waterfalls in the area. Since then, I've bugged Tom to take us there and check out the falls.
We started driving home this morning and as we came upon the sign, Tom decided at the last minute to check out where the falls is. Along winding dirt roads we drove, following the signs for the falls. It would be better if they tell you how many miles there are to go but anyway, we drove a long ways until we found the first sign for the Eighteen Foot Falls. We stopped. The sign told us that the falls is 300 yards (I think it was yards--anyway, we decided it was too far to walk along dense brush and steep hills and I was not even wearing the proper shoes for a hike!). So we kept on driving and followed the signs to Twelve Foot Falls. We finally found it and walked around a little. We decided to come back and go hiking (with the proper shoes!) next time. At least, we know where it is now and how far we had to go out of the main highways.

On our way back to Hwy 141, I spotted a good size turtle along the side of the road. I made Tom back the car up to go back to where the turtle was so I could take a picture. I told him we should pick it up and bring it to a water someplace but he said it probably knew where it was going. Besides, it looked like a snapping turtle and it did look like it was ready to snap at me for snapping a picture of it!
There is another park called Daves Falls located not very far from this cluster of waterfalls. We're going to check that one out next time. The park ranger said it's pretty there too.
I'm excited to go back and spend the entire day hiking, having a picnic and just enjoying the beauty of nature (with the proper attire and equipment)!

Father's Day Weekend

Tom had the best Father's Day weekend this year with doing what he loves to do best: going to car shows with his family! Not only did we get to do it Saturday, we did it Sunday as well!
On Saturday, we went to Linden Grove's Carnival and Car Show in Mukwonago where we met up with some friends and we got to take Auntie Evelyn with us who had a blast playing bingo with Connor and Colin. There was good food, music, games and show cars for Tom and the boys to feast their eyes on.

On Sunday, Connor got to be a part of the Father's Day Parade in Mukwonago where his football team, the Braves, had a float. They were handing out candies for the spectators (that would be the rest of the Bruce family with some family and friends) lining up the sidewalks. Tom's mom and my dad were there to watch the parade. After the parade, we all went to the car show where we stayed until it ended. The boys had a blast, so did their dad. And me? ...Exhausted! :o)

The Heart of Halsey

5x8 Paperback; 148 pages; Fiction

Published by iUniverse

Also available as an eBook

In the midst of the tranquility and beauty of the sleepy small town of Halsey is a heart that beats wildly with love, passion and heartache. All Addison Hoffman ever wanted was to get away from it all only to find out that no matter how far away you run, you will always come back to where you left your heart. From the author of A String of Pearls and Portrait of a Young Woman, comes The Heart of Halsey –a story of friendship, love, tragedy and faith that will touch every corner of your being.

“The Heart of Halsey is exceptional writing. Margie Tayone Bruce is an exquisite storyteller beyond compare…She has the ‘magic’ of being able to bring the characters alive in your heart as you feel and experience their interaction in this book! A must read…”---Vicki Fischer, Commercial Voice Talent, National Makeup Artist, Beauty Examiner for Examiner.com, Blogger at itsaglamthing.com and Author of Blue Yonder Tales for the Young at Heart.

“The Heart of Halsey is on blooming young love. I saw myself in Addison. I fell in love all over again, and the memory hurt even more deeply. This time, I cried.”---P. Emraida Kiram, nationally-elected Trustee, Filipino-American National Historical Society (FANHS) and Founder and past President of FANHS—Midwest Chapter.

Greater Milwaukee Auto Show

(Photo: The boys, entranced by this Indy race car as it swiveled on the platform at the Greater Milwaukee Auto Show)

We made it to the Auto Show this year at the Frontier Airlines Center. Thanks to Equitable Bank, our donor for the free tickets. March 6th, the last day of the show also happened to be free admission day for children! So off we went: saw old show cars, sat in brand new ones and left with lots of literature that the boys have collected, much to mom's dismay ;o) If you know my boys, then you won't be surprised to see them wide-eyed and going crazy over so many cars. One would think that with all the car shows we go to each year, they'd have enough of cars. Well, not really, especially being able to go inside the newest models was a blast for them.

We stayed there for three hours and covered all three floors of the exhibit. Then we went to Red Lobster for lunch/dinner (Connor called it lunch-er). Before heading home, we stopped by to visit Auntie Evelyn in Hales Corners. Then we finished off the evening gathered around the fireplace and watching the NASCAR Sprint Cup race. Too many cars in one day. I have a headache just thinking about it! :o)