Blogging from A to Z April Challenge- Letter G

WELCOME, EVERYONE:

 to my second year in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.

Since I plan to retire shortly, I thought an alphabetical look back at my paying library career and a look ahead to my crafting and writing career would be a good use of my 26 days in this challenge, 26 wonderful words for retiring me. Hope you enjoy. I am looking forward to reading whatever you share this month on your blogs, too.

LOOKING BACK: 
Grateful- (warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received.)

• for all the years I've earned a salary and benefits at the library.
• for all the enriching conferennces I've attended. I've met many children's and adult authors- Eric Carle, Nancy Tafuri, Doug Florian, Gail Carson Levine, Bruce Coville, Miriam Grace Monfredo, Lawrence Block and Carol Goodman to name a few. None of them would remember me, but, they all made an impact on me.
• for the opportunities to learn new things, show children the beauty of books, work with a great group of ladies and men.
• for the room to grow.

Looking ahead: 
Gesso- (a fluid acrylic prep that seals, stiffens and provides "tooth" to painting surfaces.)

Any of you who are familiar with paper crafting are probably very familiar with gesso, gel medium, modeling paste and more. I am just wandering into this area and am loving what applying these preps can do for your watercolor and media art paper. I have been taking online classes from Joanne Sharpe, www.whimspirations.com and Donna Downey, www.donnadowney.com and learning all about texture in backgrounds and what that can do for my finished project. There is much to pursue at my craft table.