A couple of years ago I graduated from art school. After graduation I was unsure of what to do with my degree. I had majored in Illustration（插画专业）and loved it，but didn't really feel interested in doing illustrations for any companies. This left me with few options other than freelance（自由职业的）jobs and nannying.

I spent two years working as a nanny doing freelance illustrations on the side. It just wasn't quite enough to pay rent, but I loved it, so I worked well over 50 hours a week, trying to keep up with both.

Just under a year ago I went to a friend's wedding. I couldn't think of a gift for them and really didn't have a lot of money to spare so I used my talents to create a portrait for them. It wasn't much, but I hoped it would be a good gift. When I handed the portrait to them and they unwrapped it, the looks on their faces were something I did not expect. There were joyful tears in their eyes as they cried, "That's us! This is so beautiful!"

It's funny because when I was in art school portraits were always my least favourite assignment. I hated drawing people and was always so much more interested in drawing little furry creatures. Once I saw the looks on my friends' faces after giving them their portrait, it was all over. I suddenly loved portraits and wanted to do more.

I now take portraits to every wedding I go to and have given them as gifts to the families I nannied for. Every time the reaction makes all of the hard work and time I put into them so worth it.

I' ve just started offering couple, family and pet portraits as an item on my Etsy shop.

   Chester Greenwood was freezing. It was in 1873 and Chester was _________ a new pair of ice skates. The 15-year-old was getting _________because he couldn't keep his ears _________ or protect them from the bitter cold. He tried wrapping a _________around his head but it was too _________and itchy. Besides，who can _________ with a scarf tied around their heads？

To _________his problem，Chester made two ear-shaped rings from wire and asked his grandmother to sew beaver fur and cloth _________them. Over the years his new invention，the earmuff，improved-a steel band was added，so it became _________and tiny chains were added so it would ____________in pockets. Finally Chester had his own ____________，Greenwood's Ear Protector Factory. He made a ____________providing ear protectors for the US soldiers during World War I.

Chester ____________over 100 products during his lifetime. Some of them are the wide bottom kettle，the spring steel rack，the folding bed，the shock absorber（减震器）that ____________today's airplane landing gear（起落架）and bearings to keep ____________from being pulled off，ensuring that they touch the ground safely. The Smithsonian Institution named Chester one of America's 15 ____________ inventors.

The town of Farmington, Maine, where Chester was born, has an annual holiday to ____________the inventor. December 21st is Chester Greenwood Day and people all over the state of Maine ____________in the celebration. Farmington has a parade on the first Saturday in December and everyone from kids to old people shows up ____________earmuffs. He invented over 100 products ____________Chester will always be remembered for inventing the earmuffs when he was 15.

How to Create a Mind Map

Most of us think visually but write textually. 【小题1】It also makes the information we list more difficult to process，remember，and share.

【小题2】It combines the brain's visual nature with our tendency to write down words. We end up with a diagram that combines logic and order in a less structured manner. This promotes clearer thinking and better comprehension. 【小题3】

So，how do you create a mind map？The most basic method is to just use a pen and paper，or a marker and whiteboard. It begins with a central topic or idea，then flows outward. 【小题4】 The next level of topics is represented by branches extending from it.

There aren't really any rules for creating mind maps. While most flow outwardly from the central topic，some users prefer to build mind maps in one direction. 【小题5】This can make groups of ideas easier to identify（识别）and remember. It also makes a mind map more enjoyable to create and use.

Mind maps are extremely effective for taking notes, planning a project, brainstorming an idea, presenting information to others, and many other uses. Take out your pen and have a try.