My Mask

A few years ago, I volunteered for a local Nature Center's celebration of Earth Day. Dressed in costume, I created stories for kids who made masks using paper bags, pictures from magazines and markers. It was pretty fun to tell the little ones about the story I "read" in each of their masks. As part of that event, I gave each child (or parent) a small copy of this rhyme.

I've always been big on the concept of "recycle and reuse". Call me a frugal suburbanite who hasn't lost complete touch with her rural roots. AND I hate the thought of huge landfills, litter in general and the vision of plastic bags eroding in our lakes, seas and oceans. Which, sadly, they appear to be doing -- along with ending up in bird and squirrel nests.

So let me tell you a little story about my love of nature.