Katy Dickinson

SEED Mentor Matching

The 110 new participants in Sun's worldwide Engineering mentoring program are now working on their Mentor Wish Lists, due on 3 December. 14 of them have already submitted their mentor requests. Creating the Mentor Wish List is probably the hardest part of the SEED program.

The SEED Engineering mentoring program takes a long-term view and does not have a preference for one kind of learning over another. That is, the mentoring partnership learning does not have to have anything to do with the participant's current job. Some people want to learn to be better technical managers, others want to know how to get their ideas to customers faster. Many want to improve their soft skills: public presentation or speaking, negotiating, conflict management, and coaching. Still others want to improve their work and family balance and still have a great career. It takes time and mature consideration to work through all of this. In creating their Mentor Wish List, each SEED participant needs to make two hard decisions:

1. What they want to learn
2. Who has already accomplished the kind of things they want to do
   (that is, who is already down the path that they see themselves walking)

SEED provides a list of over 430 senior and executive staff who are eligible and willing to be mentors. Most have provided their biographies, personal web page links, blog links, and other background information to give program participants context. Researching potential mentors is like writing a university paper - hunting for leads, backtracking, looking for key words, hunting again. Most SEED participants spend many days creating their Mentor Wish Lists.

Sometimes the fastest way to find biographical information on someone (both inside Sun's public web pages and on the public net itself) is to use an internet search. Search results will show if the potential mentor has a Facebook, LinkedIn or other social networking page and if there is a blog associated with them. I advise SEED participants to search for information about themselves first, to give them an idea of what is out there.

For example, a Google search of "Katy Dickinson" produced 3,590 results with links to individual blog entries plus:

1. Katy Dickinson in The People at Sun Labs/CTO
2. Blogger: User Profile: Katy Dickinson (not sure why this is hit #2 since I don't use Blogger and the page is empty)
3. Katy Dickinson » Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology (I am on the ABI Advisory Board)
4. Katy Dickinson | Facebook
5. katy.dickinson's Profile on icanhascheezburger (I didn't know I had a profile here but I do like that photo of my cat)
6. Katy Dickinson - ACM author profile page
7. Katy Dickinson's Public Profile on Plaxo
8. Katy Dickinson - LinkedIn (I have a LinkedIn account but this is someone else with my name!)

Which is to say, there is a great deal of public information available on anyone who has even a small presence in the world.

More?
More information on the SEED worldwide Engineering mentoring program is available at http://research.sun.com/SEED/

Posted at 12:26PM Nov 25, 2008 by katysblog in Mentoring & Other Business  | 

Wedding Reception

On Sunday, we went to a wedding reception at our old church. Two of our friends were married after living together for 34 years. They were married at home but wanted to celebrate with their church family too. The reception was a joyful event with little kids running around and long-time friends of All Saints' Episcopal Church catching up on each other's news. My husband and son and I had a good time and were happy to be invited to toast the "new" couple.

I served on the Vestry (Episcopal parish business committee) and outreach committee with both Jeff and John. I know them to be profoundly dedicated to making the world better for those less fortunate than themselves. I have deep respect for both as good men and good Christians. John wrote in the church newsletter: "After 34 years together, it is wonderful to have an actual anniversary day! We now know what others had told us: marriage *is* different from 'domestic partnership'."

Because of the social controversy and recent divisive public battles over California Proposition 8 (2008), this small community celebration of the lives of two good men had a little flavor of a political event. Spending by groups both for and against Prop 8 and same sex marriage surpassed that of every political campaign in the US except the presidential race. So, the topic was on our minds. Everyone I talked to was full of joy for Jeff and John but also concerned about the pending lawsuits over the Prop 8's constitutionality and their effect on the lives of our friends.

Posted at 11:05AM Nov 25, 2008 by katysblog in News & Reviews  | 

SMUM Book Club, week 3

Last Thursday started the third week of the new book club at SMUM Studio 17 (Santa Maria Urban Ministry). Tonight is our final meeting before the program's winter break.

How it works:
Every week, each of the older children in the after school homework program has the opportunity to check out a book from Studio 17's book shelf, read it, then give me an oral report. Prizes are offered! Credit will be given for each book read before Thanksgiving. (Studio 17 does not meet between Thanksgiving and New Year's.) Prizes to be paid today in a Target gift card.

Status:
Week two was slower. Many of the kids forgot to bring the books they finished back to trade in. But several more kids did trade in completed books. Also, we have two new club members (Edgar and Alejandro). Here is where we are:

• Roald Dahl The BFG
  reader: Robert - started 20 Nov
• James Howe The Bunnicula Collection (3 books in 1 volume)
  1st reader: Abigail - started 6 Nov (read most of book 1, passed it on)
  2nd reader: Jose - started 13 Nov (extended for a 2nd week)
• Madeleine L'Engle A Wrinkle in Time
  reader: Stephanie - started 6 Nov (extended for a 3nd week)
• C.S. Lewis The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
  1st reader: Jose - started 6 Nov (read half, passed it on)
  2nd reader: Abigail - started 20 Nov
  3rd reader: Edgar - started 20 Nov
• Jack London Call of the Wild
  reader: Alejandro - started 20 Nov
• Christopher Paolini Eragon
  1st reader: Robert - started 6 Nov (read half, passed it on)
  2nd reader: Carlos - started 13 Nov (extended for a 2nd week)
• Tamora Pierce Alanna
  reader: Leslie - started 6 Nov (extended for a 3rd week)
• Tamora Pierce First Test
  reader: Jocelyn - started 6 Nov (extended for a 3rd week)
• Louis Sachar Holes
  1st reader: Carlos - started 6 Nov (read it, passed it on)
  2nd reader: Robert - started 13 Nov (read it, passed it on)
• E.B. White Charlotte's Web
  reader: Abigail - started 20 Nov

The list by reader:

• Abigail: Charlotte's Web, The Bunnicula Collection, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
• Alejandro: Call of the Wild
• Carlos: Eragon, Holes
• Edgar: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
• Jocelyn: First Test
• Jose: The Bunnicula Collection, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
• Leslie: Alanna
• Robert: The BFG, Holes, Eragon
• Stephanie: A Wrinkle in Time

The Studio 17 kids liked the pictures I posted from the Make Your Own Kaleidoscope software toy. Even more kids requested that I take their photos so that they can play with their own images next time. Here are two more Kaleidoscopes:

Images Copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson

Posted at 09:07AM Nov 25, 2008 by katysblog in Church  | 

Community Abuse

My husband and I frequently go to lunch or dinner at Dashi, a good family-owned Japanese restaurant across the street from Sun's Menlo Park campus. Dashi has recently been the target of online community abuse, with an attacker using several names on the popular Yelp review system. Fortunately, the loyal and enthusiastic Dashi patrons have contributed positive reviews. Also, it looks like Yelp has recently taken down some of the racist negative postings.

In one sense, the community system worked for Dashi - valid positive reviews swamped hateful attacks. However, it was a painful process for Dashi's owners and things could just as easily have gone wrong for them. Listening to John, Dashi's owner, talk about his frustration with this difficult problem made me realize how vulnerable to abuse community-based rating systems can be. In his own words, John joined with Cassio of Shakespeare's Othello in saying:

Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost
my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of
myself, and what remains is bestial.
Act II, scene iii

Dashi's situation reminded me of why eBay recently changed their rating system. An Old House Journal magazine article by Tony and Celine Seideman in the November-December 2008 issue said of eBay's rating system:

"There are some not-so-nice people on eBay, as there are everywhere. But one of the site's more brilliant features is its rating system for people who buy and sell. We've found anything below a 97-percent favorable rating is getting into risky territory. Though that may sound like perfectionism, the reality is that once bad people start getting negative ratings, they simply create new identities. So a small number of negative responses can send a big, clear message."

This is good advice. I rarely even consider buying something from an eBay seller with less than a 98% positive rating. How did eBay's rating system get so skewed that 96% is too bad to consider?

EBay used to have a system where both buyers and sellers left each other positive and negative feedback. The system worked well enough but a small number of sellers would routinely bully buyers into giving them better feedback than they deserved by threatening to leave negative buyer feedback. (I had this happen to me when I dared to complain about a terrible packing job.) There are badly behaved buyers too - particularly people who do not pay after winning an auction.

EBay's new feedback system only allows sellers to leave positive feedback. Here is what eBay's FAQ says:

Why are sellers only allowed to leave buyers positive Feedback?
Buyers can only receive positive Feedback because of their role as a customer. In addition, when buyers received negative Feedback, they reduced their activity in the marketplace, which in-turn harmed sellers. If and when buyers abuse Feedback, sellers can notify eBay via the Seller reporting hub and immediate action will be taken against those buyers.
(from the eBay Feedback FAQ, updated July 10, 2008)

Community rating systems have great value. They provide a common vocabulary and provide a context for trust in the electronic world. But online communities are becoming as complex as normal human societies as more people join in. I am glad to see eBay's rating system evolve to protect buyers as well as sellers. There is another passage in Othello about reputation. In reading it, remember that Iago who says the lines is the greatest scoundrel in Shakespeare's plays and is using these fine words to lure Othello. In Shakespeare, as in eBay, things are not always what they seem.

Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,
Is the immediate jewel of their souls:
Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing;
'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands:
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him
And makes me poor indeed.
Act III, scene iii

Posted at 02:12PM Nov 21, 2008 by katysblog in News & Reviews  |  Comments[1]

SEED and PreSEED Selections Announced

Last night and today, we announced the worldwide all-Engineering PreSEED and Global Sales and Services (GSS) SEED Engineering mentoring program participants for the January-June 2009 terms. We picked 55 for each term.

Selection Metrics

About the 55 New PreSEED Participants:
======================================
103 PreSEED applications
14 disqualified for incomplete applications 
34 had complete applications but they arrived too late for inclusion
53% selected

    Location of Participants
	1 Belgium, 2%
	10 China, 18%
	1 Czech Republic, 2%
	1 France, 2%
	2 Germany, 4%
	9 India, 16%
	2 Israel, 4%
	1 Italy, 2%
	2 Japan, 4%
	1 Mexico, 2%
	1 Norway, 2%
	1 Korea, 2%
	1 Russia, 2%
	2 Singapore, 4%
	1 Spain, 2%
	1 UK, 2%
	18 USA, 33%
		8 California USA, 15%
		4 Colorado, 7%
		3 Massachusetts USA, 5%
		2 Oregon, 4%
		1 Texas USA, 2%

    Division of Participants
	21 GSS, 38%
	2 Marketing, 4%
	4 Microelectronics, 7%
	22 Software Group, 40%
	2 Storage Group, 4%
	4 Systems, 7%
	1 Worldwide Operations, 4%

    Gender of Participants
	10 Female, 18%
	45 Male, 82%

About the 55 New GSS SEED Participants:
======================================
98 SEED applications
19 disqualified for incomplete applications
56% selected

    Location of Participants
	Australia   4,   8%
	Austria   1,   2%
	Belgium   1,   2%
	China   5,   10%
	Finland   1,   2%
	France   1,  2%
	Germany   5,
	Greece   1,   2%
	India   1,   2%
	Japan   4,   8%
	Singapore   1,   2%
	Spain   3,   6%
	Switzerland   1,   2%
	Taiwan   1,   2%
	United Kingdom   4,    8%
	USA    20,    38%
		California   4,   8%
		Connecticut   2,   4%
		Florida  3,    6%
		Georgia  1,   2%
		Michigan   1,   2%
		New Jersey   3,    6%
		Texas   5,   10%
		Washington   1,   2%

    Gender of Participants
	2 Female, 4%
	52 Male, 96%

The 110 new participants are now thinking about their Mentor Wish Lists - due on 3 December. The first of two phone-in meetings with participants and their managers to discuss mentor choices is tomorrow morning at 8 am.

More?
More information on the SEED worldwide Engineering mentoring program is available at http://research.sun.com/SEED/

Posted at 08:56PM Nov 20, 2008 by katysblog in Mentoring & Other Business  | 

My Daughter Dressed as Open Solaris

My soon-to-be-20-year-old daughter Jessica is in her second (Sophomore) year at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is majoring in Political Science with minors in Music and Computer Science. We have been giving her Sun clothes and giveaways all of her life. For Halloween last month, Jessica put it all together in a costume: she dressed up as OpenSolaris, complete with blue hair. For pictures, see her blog: FeelingElephants. She is coming home for Thanksgiving in less than two weeks - hooray! Here we are together at the airport after attending the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing together last month.

Image Copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson

Posted at 08:34PM Nov 18, 2008 by katysblog in Home & Family  | 

Excellence in Preaching Series - Schell, Lyman, Countryman

On 4 September, I wrote about St. Andrew's Episcopal Church holding a three part Excellence in Preaching series. Three remarkably gifted, different, and distinguished speakers and authors each had one day to preach twice and then offer a ninety minute seminar. The series is designed to better equip the listener to recognize and respond to different preaching styles - and to appreciate even those styles that may differ from personal preference. Photos follow of the speakers:

• 14 September 2008: Rev. Donald Schell, All Saints Company Consultant and Creative Director and founder of St. Gregory's, San Francisco
• 26 October 2008: Rev. Dr. Rebecca Lyman, Professor Emerita of History, Church Divinity School of the Pacific (CDSP), Berkeley
• 16 November 2008: Rev. Dr. Bill Countryman, Professor Emeritus of Biblical studies, Church Divinity School of the Pacific (CDSP), Berkeley

This was an inspiring and thoughtful series! I learned from and admired each of the speakers. I hope that St. Andrew's continues to offer excellent education opportunities like these.

In the final series sermon two days ago, the Rev. Dr. Countryman considered three of the more difficult stories told by Jesus - the parables of the Ten Talents, Prodigal Son, and the Workers in the Vineyard. Each parable presents a question of generosity and fairness in human versus divine context. Every time I hear those stories, I secretly sympathize with the third slave who was cast out, with the older brother who felt ignored, and with the grumbling laborers who worked all day.

Rev. Dr. Bill Countryman

Bill Countryman

Bill Countryman

Rev. Dr. Rebecca Lyman

Rebecca Lyman

Rev. Dr. Rebecca Lyman

Series Brochure

Rev. Donald Schell

Rev. Donald Schell

Images Copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson

Posted at 04:23PM Nov 18, 2008 by katysblog in Church  | 

Big Awards for Greg Papadopoulos and Sun

Today, I attended National Philanthropy Day ("Change the World with a Giving Heart"), sponsored by the Silicon Valley Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). One of the Silicon Valley Philanthropic Leaders honored was Greg Papadopoulos (Sun CTO and EVP). Greg was nominated by the SETI Institute. On every chair at the celebration lunch was the November 2008 issue of San Jose Magazine which features a long article about the event and its honorees. From that article:

"Greg Papadopoulos
Nominated by the SETI Institute
Dr. Greg Papadopoulos has served on the board of the SETI Institute since 1998, including four years as chair. Papadopoulos and team developed the concept for a world-class radio telescope and made a leadership gift to make it a reality. He also inspires young people in math and science. Through Papadopoulos's funding, the Institute will disseminate the research of more than 90 scientists working on 120 projects to both the general public and specific programs targeting students. Papadopoulos is a role model for all."

In that same magazine issue, I was pleased to find an article called "Best Places to Work" which included Sun Microsystems among the fifty best, saying:

Nowadays, most companies in Silicon Valley provide competitive salaries and opportunities for advancement, but our 50 employers also lavish their workers with much more... Why the employee-friendly focus? Workers are much happier, leading to an increase in productivity and retention..."

Some pictures from AFP's National Philanthropy Day event:

Bagpiper to lead AFP honoree parade

Thomas Pierson, Greg Papadopoulos, Laurie Cantley, Frank Drake

AFP Distinguished Volunteer Fundraiser

Santa Clara County Recognition Certificate

Images Copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson

Posted at 06:49PM Nov 17, 2008 by katysblog in News & Reviews  | 

SEED and PreSEED applications now closed

The application periods for both the SEED and PreSEED terms are now closed. Human Resources records is now in the process of verifying key application information (performance ratings, hire date, grade level, etc.). The selection results for both terms of Sun's worldwide Engineering mentoring program will be announced on 19 November. The terms will run January-June 2009. SEED and PreSEED will accept a maximum of fifty participants per term (no minimum number). The Global Sales and Services SEED term received 98 applicants, 79 of whom completed their applications. The PreSEED term received 103 applicants; 90 completed their applications.

Where?

The applicants for these terms are very diverse geographically, working in:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, China, Dubai UAR, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, UK

USA: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia

More?
More information on the SEED worldwide Engineering mentoring program is available at http://research.sun.com/SEED/

Posted at 02:04PM Nov 14, 2008 by katysblog in Mentoring & Other Business  | 

SMUM Book Club, week 2

We are in the second week of the new book club at SMUM Studio 17 (Santa Maria Urban Ministry). Each of the older children in the after school homework program has the opportunity to check out a book from Studio 17's book shelf, read it, then give me an oral report. Prizes are offered! Credit will be given for each book read before Thanksgiving. (Studio 17 does not meet between Thanksgiving and Christmas.) Prizes to be paid in a Target gift card.

We did well in week one. Most of the books were started, some were finished. Several of the kids decided to trade books. Each child gave me a brief report on the book before passing it on. Here is where we are:

• James Howe The Bunnicula Collection (3 books in 1 volume)
  1st reader: Abigail - started 6 Nov (read most of book 1, passed it on)
  2nd reader: Jose - started 13 Nov
• Madeleine L'Engle A Wrinkle in Time
  reader: Stephanie - started 6 Nov (extended for a 2nd week)
• C.S. Lewis The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
  1st reader: Jose - started 6 Nov (read half, passed it on)
  2nd reader: Abigail - started 13 Nov
• Christopher Paolini Eragon
  1st reader: Robert - started 6 Nov (read half, passed it on)
  2nd reader: Carlos - started 13 Nov
• Tamora Pierce Alanna
  reader: Leslie - started 6 Nov (extended for a 2nd week)
• Tamora Pierce First Test
  reader: Jocelyn - started 6 Nov (extended for a 2nd week)
• Louis Sachar Holes
  1st reader: Carlos - started 6 Nov (read it, passed it on)
  2nd reader: Robert - started 13 Nov

Several more kids were begging to join the club this afternoon but I had no more books. Tonight, I went to the Recycle Book Store (1066 The Alameda, San Jose, CA) and picked up four more:

• Roald Dahl The BFG
• Jack London Call of the Wild
• J.K. Rowling Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
• E.B. White Charlotte's Web

The Studio 17 kids liked the three pictures I posted on 6 November from the Make Your Own Kaleidoscope software toy. (I gave the three girls color printouts of their pictures to take home.) More kids requested that I take their photos today so that they can play with their own images next week. Here are some of the Kaleidoscopes from today:

Images Copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson

Posted at 09:26PM Nov 13, 2008 by katysblog in Church  | 

San Francisco Bay Area Pictures

Here are some recent pictures from the San Francisco Bay Area:

San Francisco City Hall by Night

SF City Hall by Day

San Francisco Buildings at Dusk

Red Rose with Dew, my backyard

Fan Man-Air Dancer

Fan Man-Air Dancer

Fan Man-Air Dancer

3 Dolls, from: Russia, Louisiana, Tennessee

Folded Book Display Santana Row

Folded Book Display Santana Row, San Jose

Pigeons on a light Palo Alto

Small old railroad Semaphore Palo Alto High School crosswalk

Drippy Tree Bark Menlo Park

Images Copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson

Posted at 05:18PM Nov 12, 2008 by katysblog in News & Reviews  | 

SEED and PreSEED Application Update

We are in the midst of two Sun worldwide Engineering mentoring program application periods. The first is a SEED term for Global Sales & Service (see my October 22, 2008 entry, all material is due now, today - 12 November), and the second is for PreSEED (see my October 31, 2008 entry, all material is due 14 November). I am sending out daily summary reports in email to the applicants and their managers. Tanya Jankot and I are replying to many email questions. SEED and PreSEED will accept a maximum of fifty participants per term (no minimum number). Both mentoring terms will run from January-June 2009.

Mentor Lists?
We are getting many questions about the preliminary mentor list on the application form. This is not the final mentor preference list and the applicant's answer does not influence acceptance into the program. (However, since this is a mentoring program, leaving the question blank does not look good!) The question is asked to get applicants thinking about the qualities they want in a Mentor and to start their research about specific potential Mentors.

Program applicants and Mentees (Participants) are strongly discouraged from contacting potential Mentors directly before the match is formally made by SEED program staff. Some potential Mentors are requested by many Participants, while others have already communicated their preferences to SEED program staff. We want to respect the potential Mentors' time and preferences. Engineering staff who want to contact mentors directly can do so without joining SEED. Once applicants are accepted into the program, they have over a week to prepare their ten name "Mentor Wish List".

Status?
So far, we have 93 GSS applications (64 complete) and 86 PreSEED applications (56 complete). The applicants for these terms are very diverse geographically, working in:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, China, Dubai UAR, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, UK

USA: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia

More?
More information on the SEED worldwide Engineering mentoring program is available at http://research.sun.com/SEED/

Posted at 11:42AM Nov 12, 2008 by katysblog in Mentoring & Other Business  | 

SEED and PreSEED Application Update

We are in the midst of two Sun worldwide Engineering mentoring program application periods. The first is a SEED term for Global Sales & Service (see my October 22, 2008 entry, all material is due tomorrow - 12 November), and the second is for PreSEED (see my October 31, 2008 entry, all material is due 14 November). I am sending out daily summary reports in email to the applicants and their managers. Tanya Jankot and I are replying to many email questions. SEED and PreSEED will accept a maximum of fifty participants per term (no minimum number). Both mentoring terms will run from January-June 2009.

Status?
So far, we have 80 GSS applications (43 complete) and 81 PreSEED applications (51 complete). The applicants for these terms are very diverse geographically, working in:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, China, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK

USA: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia

More?
More information on the SEED worldwide Engineering mentoring program is available at http://research.sun.com/SEED/

Posted at 02:13PM Nov 11, 2008 by katysblog in Mentoring & Other Business  | 

SEED and PreSEED Application Update

We are in the midst of two Sun worldwide Engineering mentoring program application periods. The first is a SEED term for Global Sales & Service (see my October 22, 2008 entry, all material is due 12 November), and the second is for PreSEED (see my October 31, 2008 entry, all material is due 14 November). I am sending out daily summary reports in email to the applicants and their managers. Tanya Jankot and I are receiving many questions, corrections, and updates. SEED and PreSEED will accept a maximum of fifty participants per term (no minimum number).

Status?
So far, we have 66 GSS applications (23 complete) and 64 PreSEED applications (42 complete). The applicants for these terms are very diverse geographically, working in:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, China, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK

USA: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia

More?
More information on the SEED worldwide Engineering mentoring program is available at http://research.sun.com/SEED/

Posted at 01:20PM Nov 10, 2008 by katysblog in Mentoring & Other Business  | 

Caboose Art Tour

I am still decorating the inside of WP668, our backyard caboose. The last big piece of furniture, the Victorian fainting couch, is still not finished. Below are pictures of some of the art currently inside. Two of the artists are in my family: Eleanor Creekmore Dickinson is my Mother, and Evelyn Van Gilder Creekmore was my Grandmother. Elkmont is where our family cabin was in the Great Smoky Mountains, near Knoxville, Tennessee. Some of the furniture in WP668 was hand carved by my Great-Grandmother, Ellen Bolli Van Gilder.

"Gay Street, Knoxville" with Eleanor Dickinson 1951

"Gay Street, Knoxville" by Eleanor Dickinson 1951

Victorian Etchings - Shakespeare's Heroines: Katharine and Cassandra circa 1900

Dream of Evelyn V. Creekmore, Elkmont by Eleanor Creekmore Dickinson 1970

Elkmont, Tennessee, Creek Paintings by Evelyn Van Gilder Creekmore circa 1980

Inside WP668

Inside WP668

2008 WP668 Caboose drawing by Eleanor Dickinson

WP668 Caboose today

Images Copyright 2008 Katy Dickinson

Posted at 01:10PM Nov 10, 2008 by katysblog in Caboose Project and Other Trains  |