This year, my students achieved many accomplishments by participating in the Save the Frogs Art Contest. Below is an example of student work. The organizers sent us a wonderful certification below.

Please spread the word about the SAVE THE FROGS! Art Contest !​

​In a world where finance and life are intertwined, teaching children about stocks and investing becomes an important life skill. Navigating the complex and sometimes risky world of finance can be a daunting task, even for adults. However, it is important to build a foundation of financial literacy from an early age. In this sense, I completed 'The Risk Weather Forecast of Sunny Savings', which will be the last picture book of the year.

This educational and engaging book aims to simplify the complex concepts of stocks and investing, providing a unique perspective that will resonate with children. The story unfolds through the eyes of Sunny Savings, a young protagonist who stumbles upon the magical world of investment. The storyline is inspired by real-life insights provided by a finance expert and professor at Stony Brook University.

The central metaphor of the book begins with the introduction of Sunny Savings, a cheerful sun living on Wall Street. At its heart, the book is about the importance of risk management. This story illustrates the similarities between risk management in stocks and the weather. Through this, we learn that investors must also approach the stock market with risks in mind.

​This metaphorical journey teaches children to recognize the dual nature of investing: the potential for growth and the need for careful exploration to avoid risk.

​ Amazon Author Central primarily provides tools and resources for authors to manage and promote their books on Amazon. It includes features such as author profiles, book listings, and sales data.

This time, we collected students' works and created a wonderful calendar for each season. For printing, I used Canva Company's calendar printing service.

The printing service costs $24.50 with delivery (Delivery fee is free).

​Using this service, I sent calendars instead of cards to my VIP customers.

​Below is an example of a calendar printed with students' work.

​I entered anniversaries and holidays myself. I listed the font size as 10 as recommended in the calendar, but personally, I think 9 would be better.

​In the enchanting embrace of winter, my neighbor Michelle's yard transforms into a breathtaking spectacle. Adorned with a magical touch, it becomes a mesmerizing wonderland, evoking the sense that winter fairies are orchestrating a celestial feast. The landscape, gracefully decorated, exudes both beauty and mystery, inviting onlookers into a world where each snowflake is a jewel and every glimmering light a testament to the season's enchantment.

Since I am the next door neighbor, I know very well how hard Michelle works to create such a beautiful wonderland. I also participated in a local art event this year: making a scarecrow and decorating a Christmas tree. Through this contest, I was able to experience firsthand the passion of hidden artists who work hard to improve the beauty of the local community. This is because the biggest variable in outdoor events is the weather. I hung up the scarecrow and tree decorations and had to worry about them blowing away every time it rained or blew. If I hadn't tried, I wouldn't have had to worry.
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However, by participating in this contest, I was able to participate in the passion of artists who want to share beauty with people without expecting anything in return. The same goes for my neighbor Michelle. Michelle works in the yard for several months, preparing for Halloween and Christmas. Every time we meet, she always talks about the weather. “Anna, it’s going to be rainy and windy tomorrow. I need to tie up the decorations better.” Also, clear away the leaves so that the decorations can be seen clearly and always keep the surrounding area clean.

I sometimes feel sorry that Michelle has to clean up more and more because of my big oak trees that border my house and Michelle's house. But she always does it cheerfully and happily without complaint. Her decorations are something more sublime and beautiful than a simple community service, and have a reverence that makes you feel like you are looking at a work of art.

​Like Michelle, there is another neighbor who links his entire house to a radio frequency and turns it into one large Christmas decoration. This neighbor is one of the famous people in our neighborhood. Every year during the Christmas season, people pass by the house or stand and look at it. Of course, they do this for the community for nothing in return.

​Local residents are always grateful for their work. This year they even invited Santa for the kids.

What is art? I always worry and think. Especially these days, when artificial intelligence tries to invade human sensibility and the artistic realm, these concerns inevitably become deeper. However, whenever I meet passionate people around me, I think that art is like nature slowly coloring the world around us.

Like nature, art can breathe life into the mundane, elevating the ordinary to the extraordinary. Just as the changing seasons bring forth a symphony of colors, passionate individuals infuse vitality into their surroundings. They are the artisans of existence, weaving stories, sculpting emotions, and composing melodies that echo the beauty inherent in the human experience.

They inspire me to embrace the vibrant spectrum of life, appreciating the diverse shades that passionate individuals bring to our world, much like nature's slow and continuous process of adorning the Earth with its breathtaking beauty.
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