This week I am lovin' on t-shirts... crisp little white t-shirts and even tinier little onesies... a whole stack of them, just waiting for some dye this week-end. We have big plans for these little shirts...
Thursday, August 31, 2006
TILT
This week I am lovin' on t-shirts... crisp little white t-shirts and even tinier little onesies... a whole stack of them, just waiting for some dye this week-end. We have big plans for these little shirts...
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Take a closer walk with me
One of my favorite things about our new home is being able to walk Mollie (without a leash) and swim her and relax me all at once. Last night's walk, to capture my photo in the loblollies, was a trip through the barn, taking pictures in a stall... followed by a walk through the corn, just for fun... then, with Mollie's new friend Midnight, we walked to the pond and swam after some sticks... then off to the bay for some swimming with the jellyfish. With a stick in each hand, taunting my four-legged friends...
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Self Portrait Challenge
My self portrait among the lob lollies. These tress surround our new home and often house colorful birds, deer, foxes, or turkeys that come to visit us. I love the long needles. They make me think of the days in grade school when we would scoop them all together on the ground in fall and make ourselves birds in nests, surrounded by their scent and prickly texture.
Monday, August 28, 2006
A lesson in crafting
I attempt to make many things... and often the first round is just... shall we say, its a nice attempt? Most recently, I endevoured to make a hat. It was going to be a birthday gift... however, I strongly advise against having you first attempt at a project being a gift idea... start off slow and make one for yourself. That way, when you have to laugh out loud at your results, you can smile at the memory each time you think you might be brave enough to wear said project into public.
So, attempt number one was laughable. Laugh out loud until my gut hurt while I looked in the mirror laughable. The brim covered my entire face and there was so way to wear it without walking into walls. So attempt number two was cutting off half the brim and then sewing it back up in a very sloppy, circular kind of way. I think its fun, and admittedly, I do wear the hat... whether I should or not.
I just hope attmpt number there will actually be giftable item. :-)
So, attempt number one was laughable. Laugh out loud until my gut hurt while I looked in the mirror laughable. The brim covered my entire face and there was so way to wear it without walking into walls. So attempt number two was cutting off half the brim and then sewing it back up in a very sloppy, circular kind of way. I think its fun, and admittedly, I do wear the hat... whether I should or not.
I just hope attmpt number there will actually be giftable item. :-)
Sunday, August 27, 2006
School and the (almost) South
Well, its Sunday night... which inevitably leads to Sunday night anxiety. I am not sure right now whether I was more anxious last week before school started when I wasn't in the know, OR if I am more anxious now that I am in the know. This job is tough. These kids are tough. All I can do is hang in and hope things continue to get a little better each day. So far, I am having minimal luck training them simply to sit still and listen to me for more than two words before they start conversing among themselves. Apparently, I have gotten VERY boring over the summer.
On a more positive note, the almost south is suiting me quite well. I have begun a new addiction to iced tea and BBQ. Even the crabs are suiting me. We had dinner on Friday over a new friends house who treated us to the delights of the Eastern shore. He caught about 30 crabs himself and boiled them up right there on the porch for a delightful meal and an unintimidating lesson is "picking crabs"... getting to the meat. I am already improving and I actually left the meal full. :-)
Wish me luck in the days ahead and sleep in the nights.
On a more positive note, the almost south is suiting me quite well. I have begun a new addiction to iced tea and BBQ. Even the crabs are suiting me. We had dinner on Friday over a new friends house who treated us to the delights of the Eastern shore. He caught about 30 crabs himself and boiled them up right there on the porch for a delightful meal and an unintimidating lesson is "picking crabs"... getting to the meat. I am already improving and I actually left the meal full. :-)Wish me luck in the days ahead and sleep in the nights.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
SPC
Spiral staircaseI love how bleached out I am yet how dark my eyes appear...
I think I came home today about this color today from my first day of school.
I will survive... that it what I can say at this point... the worst is over and it can only get better from here. I have a class of 16 now, but five were absent, probably for lack of knowing that school started today. Its a whole new world compared to where I was teaching before. I am in for a whole new adventure, but the first day jitters have subsided for this year.
Wish me luck!
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Transformation
Well, its my one year blogging anniversary and my day count was way off... so as I enter year two of blogging, I have decided to use real titles for my entries.
This is my first.
Welcome to Maple Elementary School. I thought you might like to see the classroom transformation of my room. I love this process and I love these before and after shots... Its shows just how much work it takes to get ready.
This is the first angle of my room... with Todd as a not-so-happy first grader. :-) When I first arrived all of my furniture was piled up high in a corner, so of course, my first step is to figure out where I want it all... Then, I have to scavenge other classrooms to see if I can steal the furniture that I don't have but I want. I had a few hits but eneded up blowing some budget money on a bookshelf, too.
This is another shot... new this year are a teacher's desk (I never had one of those before) and a t.v. that hooks up to my brand new computer. yeah! I will be all wired up this year. Now, I just need my password and I'll be all set.
I am so grateful to have this one small window. You can also see bulletin board transformation in this shot. I covered with huge blue and green paper and then decorated with a ribbon border... Half way through I decided that my subconscious must be missing the hills of home because the landscape is not rolling here as depicted on my boards... its flat, flat, flat.
This is a big, black metal wall that is magnetic, so that helps... but I was at a loss for what to do to cover its bigness and blackness. I tried to use as much furniture as possible on that wall and then added my "word train" to the top... of course, there's no words yet, that comes later. :-)
Cross your fingers and eyes for me on Tuesday... the first day of school!
This is my first.
Welcome to Maple Elementary School. I thought you might like to see the classroom transformation of my room. I love this process and I love these before and after shots... Its shows just how much work it takes to get ready.
This is the first angle of my room... with Todd as a not-so-happy first grader. :-) When I first arrived all of my furniture was piled up high in a corner, so of course, my first step is to figure out where I want it all... Then, I have to scavenge other classrooms to see if I can steal the furniture that I don't have but I want. I had a few hits but eneded up blowing some budget money on a bookshelf, too.
This is another shot... new this year are a teacher's desk (I never had one of those before) and a t.v. that hooks up to my brand new computer. yeah! I will be all wired up this year. Now, I just need my password and I'll be all set.
I am so grateful to have this one small window. You can also see bulletin board transformation in this shot. I covered with huge blue and green paper and then decorated with a ribbon border... Half way through I decided that my subconscious must be missing the hills of home because the landscape is not rolling here as depicted on my boards... its flat, flat, flat.
This is a big, black metal wall that is magnetic, so that helps... but I was at a loss for what to do to cover its bigness and blackness. I tried to use as much furniture as possible on that wall and then added my "word train" to the top... of course, there's no words yet, that comes later. :-)
Cross your fingers and eyes for me on Tuesday... the first day of school!
Thursday, August 17, 2006
TILT
What I love this Thursday
As much as a I grieve the end of summer, there is something very exciting and energizing about the beginning of the school year. It is a time to prepare, to decorate, to learn, to prepare some more... a time of anticipation. I love the little (albeit time consuming) activities, writing names on cubbies and tables, hanging bulletin boards and materials, making materials to organize and simplify the day. This week has been full of it. Each day was new training, in new curriculums and getting to learn the school. I have met lots of new people and now I get to look forward to meeting my new kids... My new class of 14. There will be lots of trial and error in the year to come, but lots of successes and lots of joy.
I love my job.
As much as a I grieve the end of summer, there is something very exciting and energizing about the beginning of the school year. It is a time to prepare, to decorate, to learn, to prepare some more... a time of anticipation. I love the little (albeit time consuming) activities, writing names on cubbies and tables, hanging bulletin boards and materials, making materials to organize and simplify the day. This week has been full of it. Each day was new training, in new curriculums and getting to learn the school. I have met lots of new people and now I get to look forward to meeting my new kids... My new class of 14. There will be lots of trial and error in the year to come, but lots of successes and lots of joy.
I love my job.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Self Portrait Challenge
Shattered
So, I am off exploring the barn construction outside, looking for enclosed spaces... I crawl around on some dirty loaders, crawl into a few movers and then I find this broken window on a back hoe. Now, I have always loved the look of broken glass so I was intrigued... intrigued until I balanced my way up and in through a window and then tried to take the picture. Kneeling in broken glass and awkwardly reaching around to take my photo out the window, dangerously balancing the camera 6 feet above the ground... This is my artistic feat.
So, I am off exploring the barn construction outside, looking for enclosed spaces... I crawl around on some dirty loaders, crawl into a few movers and then I find this broken window on a back hoe. Now, I have always loved the look of broken glass so I was intrigued... intrigued until I balanced my way up and in through a window and then tried to take the picture. Kneeling in broken glass and awkwardly reaching around to take my photo out the window, dangerously balancing the camera 6 feet above the ground... This is my artistic feat.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Day 348
On the animal front...
Mollie has been loving on her new pond here. She loves the swimmin', in the pond and the creek, chasing after sticks and stones. She's a water hound for sure. We even put her doggie PFD on her to let her swim after us in the kayaks. What joy that little girl brings to her papa and mama.
The other news is that the horses have arrived. Two beautiful irish horses with lovely stature and personality to boot. I have never been around horses at all, so it has been a real experience for me. They just crack me up- and they are HUGE. Mollie has no fear at all and gets a bit jealous if we pet on the horses, but she is adjusting too. We can hear the horses clip clop in the barn below from our apartment and its a rather pleasant sound... more pleasant for sure than the traffic of route 20. I will never miss jake brakes.
Mollie has been loving on her new pond here. She loves the swimmin', in the pond and the creek, chasing after sticks and stones. She's a water hound for sure. We even put her doggie PFD on her to let her swim after us in the kayaks. What joy that little girl brings to her papa and mama.
The other news is that the horses have arrived. Two beautiful irish horses with lovely stature and personality to boot. I have never been around horses at all, so it has been a real experience for me. They just crack me up- and they are HUGE. Mollie has no fear at all and gets a bit jealous if we pet on the horses, but she is adjusting too. We can hear the horses clip clop in the barn below from our apartment and its a rather pleasant sound... more pleasant for sure than the traffic of route 20. I will never miss jake brakes.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Day 345
You are jealous of me because...
You love my new crafting center. Once an old "silver chest" this fabulous piece of furniture has found a new life with me and my crafts. The small drawers are perfect for all of my fabric scraps and other crafty doodads. The cupboards on the bottom house my sewing machine and sewing box of goodies. I am so enamored of this furniture I could cry. It is perfect and inspriring.
I was able to unpack all of my crafting goodies and put them away inside, which has meant new found inspiration for all that is crafty. I immediately began working on this newest baby quilt for a baby who will be arriving into the family this fall. I am filling it with love and wishes. I have inscribed "love, peace, harmony, joy, happiness, health, laughther" into its fabric. The best part is that its a scrap quilt made with all the love from the neices and nephews who have come before.
Oh, and our apartment is big enough that I don't have to clean up everytime I work... I can actually leave things out while I am working on a project. I love this the most. :-) My work in progress:
You love my new crafting center. Once an old "silver chest" this fabulous piece of furniture has found a new life with me and my crafts. The small drawers are perfect for all of my fabric scraps and other crafty doodads. The cupboards on the bottom house my sewing machine and sewing box of goodies. I am so enamored of this furniture I could cry. It is perfect and inspriring.
I was able to unpack all of my crafting goodies and put them away inside, which has meant new found inspiration for all that is crafty. I immediately began working on this newest baby quilt for a baby who will be arriving into the family this fall. I am filling it with love and wishes. I have inscribed "love, peace, harmony, joy, happiness, health, laughther" into its fabric. The best part is that its a scrap quilt made with all the love from the neices and nephews who have come before.
Oh, and our apartment is big enough that I don't have to clean up everytime I work... I can actually leave things out while I am working on a project. I love this the most. :-) My work in progress:
Thursday, August 10, 2006
TILT
Things that I love, love, love
First off, I love summer. I love everything about the hot days and the sweat and the days off and the time to laze about in the sun. I am currently experiencing the end of summer blues, beacuse while it is still far from fall (particularly now that I am living a bit further south) I do return to work next week. Today I went in and pushed around furniture and unpacked boxes and already the classroom has begun to feel like my own... but still saying good-bye to summer and these lazy watermelon days is distressing.
I am also loving watermelon and fruit and carrot juice, squeezed freshy-fresh here at home and served up in my new cutesy juice cups. Polka dots don't get much cuter and a beverage doesn't get much healthier.
On another note, I am digging my new hair cut. All ready for back to school like in the good ole days. Jenna took good care of me today and I am feeling light-hearted and light-headed with the loss. I am loving the feel and the freedom, knowing that I will not have to blow dry my hair ever.
First off, I love summer. I love everything about the hot days and the sweat and the days off and the time to laze about in the sun. I am currently experiencing the end of summer blues, beacuse while it is still far from fall (particularly now that I am living a bit further south) I do return to work next week. Today I went in and pushed around furniture and unpacked boxes and already the classroom has begun to feel like my own... but still saying good-bye to summer and these lazy watermelon days is distressing.
I am also loving watermelon and fruit and carrot juice, squeezed freshy-fresh here at home and served up in my new cutesy juice cups. Polka dots don't get much cuter and a beverage doesn't get much healthier.
On another note, I am digging my new hair cut. All ready for back to school like in the good ole days. Jenna took good care of me today and I am feeling light-hearted and light-headed with the loss. I am loving the feel and the freedom, knowing that I will not have to blow dry my hair ever.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Day 343
My project in triangles
I saw the shape idea on someone's blog (forgive me, I have lost track of whose...) and thought it sounded like fun. It certainly gives you a new perspective and forces you to look at things in a different way. I chose triangles while mom and I explored the Maritime Museum- apparently a great place to find triangles. These are my favorites from the day. Enjoy.
I saw the shape idea on someone's blog (forgive me, I have lost track of whose...) and thought it sounded like fun. It certainly gives you a new perspective and forces you to look at things in a different way. I chose triangles while mom and I explored the Maritime Museum- apparently a great place to find triangles. These are my favorites from the day. Enjoy.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Self Portrait Challenge
Enclosed spaces, week 2
Enclosed in feathers.
How fun to be wrapped up in colorful feather boas just for the sake of it.
The boa collection is remaining from the Club Med days when Todd and I dressed up a couple of times a week for theme parties. We had Halloween and show nights, each with its own costume for performing and dancing the Crazy Signs. Oh, those were the days...
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Day 340
The Maryland experience
Mom has been here visiting this past week and we have had a super time exploring and hanging out. Some days were lazy days and on others we found new experiences to entertain. (isn't it crazy how much we look alike in this photo??? I am becoming my mother...)
Mom on the boat ride around Dixon Creek and beyond.
Todd taking a lesson on driving the boat on Dixon Creek and beyond.
A walk through Annapolis. What a beautiful city. We found Marshalls and Trader Joe's (the shopping essentials) and then took a stroll through lovely downtown to find lunch. It will be a great place to go back and explore and its just under an hour away.
The Maritime Museum was a beautiful museum, full of lovely boats and lots of information. We spent a lot of time in the air conditioned buildings as the weather here has been about 100 degrees for the past week.
We learned all about crabs... after we had eaten them the night before. I actually liked them, which is a new experience. I tend not to like seafood. I think I might be forced to learn considering my new surroundings. :-)
I'm on board in the galley of a oyster ship. Check out the coffin sized bed in the backgroud.
Ahoy, Captain Linda.
Mom salutes Mr. Jim.
The view from St. Michael's... so many beautiful sailboats.
The most Maryland experience of them all was the local horse show, BBQ, and jousting tournamant. The day was hotter than heck but it was a new experience and pretty fun to watch. Its been happening for 137 years so we got to be a part of history. :-)
Lots more pictures to post this week of all things at home and beyond.
p.s. Please feel free to comment when you read. Its fun to have comments on here so I know you're out there and what you're thinking! Thanks to my regular commenters, its appreciated!
Mom has been here visiting this past week and we have had a super time exploring and hanging out. Some days were lazy days and on others we found new experiences to entertain. (isn't it crazy how much we look alike in this photo??? I am becoming my mother...)
Mom on the boat ride around Dixon Creek and beyond.
Todd taking a lesson on driving the boat on Dixon Creek and beyond.
A walk through Annapolis. What a beautiful city. We found Marshalls and Trader Joe's (the shopping essentials) and then took a stroll through lovely downtown to find lunch. It will be a great place to go back and explore and its just under an hour away.
The Maritime Museum was a beautiful museum, full of lovely boats and lots of information. We spent a lot of time in the air conditioned buildings as the weather here has been about 100 degrees for the past week.
We learned all about crabs... after we had eaten them the night before. I actually liked them, which is a new experience. I tend not to like seafood. I think I might be forced to learn considering my new surroundings. :-)
I'm on board in the galley of a oyster ship. Check out the coffin sized bed in the backgroud.
Ahoy, Captain Linda.
Mom salutes Mr. Jim.
The view from St. Michael's... so many beautiful sailboats.
The most Maryland experience of them all was the local horse show, BBQ, and jousting tournamant. The day was hotter than heck but it was a new experience and pretty fun to watch. Its been happening for 137 years so we got to be a part of history. :-)
Lots more pictures to post this week of all things at home and beyond.
p.s. Please feel free to comment when you read. Its fun to have comments on here so I know you're out there and what you're thinking! Thanks to my regular commenters, its appreciated!
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