Central Journal 13
Spring Break - The Work Continues

March 15th- 19th, 2004

Working, working, working on the final stages of the project - grouting and sealing

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This mosaic is a literal and symbolic interpretation of our own close-by community but it could almost be any village or small town in the world. It truly does take a village to raise a child and we are all intricate parts of a whole!

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Tuesday we came to remove the taped piece in the ground. The mortar was not dry and so we left the grouting until Thursday just to be sure!

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The mortar is mixed.. by the professional....

and put down onto the mosaic....

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We began grouting the mosaic from the sun end.

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After all the mortar was down we rinsed the area 3 times

1st .

2nd

3rd

4th

Beauty

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Zoë has spent many days and nights with her mom on this most excellent project!

Here Zoë can see the light of spring!

This little light blue butterfly represents Donna's little daughter Zoë, she resides in the "spring of life section" The big dark blue butterfly represents Crystal her oldest daughter; she is entering the "summer section of her life" and resides just by the school.

Both of these girls symbolize the love and the light in Donna's life. The butterflies in the mosaic are to meant represent the personal transformation and metamorphosis that each and everyone of us has to undergo as we travel through the "seasons" of our lives.

Even though I (Donna) am entering the "fall cycle" of my own life I am beginning to collect those nuggets of wisdom that the ladies from the Craigdarrock Care home talked to us about. I am happy that our community has the caring hands of all those around us; like the firefighters, always on guard for our personal safety. I am also happy we celebrate and honor our rich cultural heritage with the First Nations imagery and wisdom. The personal faith that each one of us has can be seen in the visual representation of the little church in our mosaic inspired with Pastor Ron and the Grace Lutheran Church across the road. I am also truly inspired that there are still men in this world who can, and do build castles in the sky! (Thanks Mr. Piercy!)

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The grouting is about half way.....

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Each time the sponge must be rinsed thoroughly.

The rinsing unveils the most beautiful imagery!

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We had a very busy spring break with not much of a break, Saturday spacing, Sunday Taping and Monday laying, and Tuesday removing tape and cleaning work area and rooms--- then Thursday mortaring and Friday checking and cleaning then Saturday Sealing it was quite a week!.....

But the rewards are intrinsic!

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All in all, the work produced the most wonderful final product that each and every one of us get to enjoy each time we pass through this threshold into Central Middle School. Mrs. B thanks everyone for all of their efforts energy, patience, diligence and dedication to excellence that she demands! ...

And to the hardest working 5 year old in history Zoë you are the best!

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"The vision has been FINALLY been realized! After 3 years of visual manifestation this beautiful and functional piece of artwork is truly here in all of it's glory!

FABUOLUS!!!!

Journaling written by Donna Beacham and entered by Shylene Schlackl