I decorated for Halloween.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Friday, September 29, 2006
Thursday, September 28, 2006
my strange school day
Homework:
I received this note from a parent today:
[My child] was too tired to do his homework last night. I did it for him after he went to bed. (And she did. It was all in her writing.)
After lunch:
The lunch aide told me that a child in my class threw up after lunch today, so she sent him to the nurse.
About 15 minutes later the child comes back to class with a note that says that they cannot get hold of the parent, and he seems fine now so they are sending him back to class.
I send a note back to the nurse with the child that says the whole class does not want the flu so he needs to stay in the office.
She sends a note back to me that says that if he is going to stay in the office, I need to send work for him to do.
I did.
I received this note from a parent today:
[My child] was too tired to do his homework last night. I did it for him after he went to bed. (And she did. It was all in her writing.)
After lunch:
The lunch aide told me that a child in my class threw up after lunch today, so she sent him to the nurse.
About 15 minutes later the child comes back to class with a note that says that they cannot get hold of the parent, and he seems fine now so they are sending him back to class.
I send a note back to the nurse with the child that says the whole class does not want the flu so he needs to stay in the office.
She sends a note back to me that says that if he is going to stay in the office, I need to send work for him to do.
I did.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
breadmaking
Tonight the Laurels made 6 loaves of bread...2 apple, 2 banana and 2 pumpkin. We are saving 3 loaves in the freezer for next week when we have our Young Women in Excellence Program. The other 3 loaves we divided and began eating. They are all delicious!
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
left-handed scissors
"The reason I ask is, that my mom is left-handed, but because left-handed scissors were not widely available when she was growing up, she learned how to cut right-handed (as my daughter is also learning). One year for Mother's Day my dad bought her a really expensive pair of left-handed sewing scissors and she couldn't use them. She had adapted fully to the right-handed world"
I used grokker.com to find this pair of scissors that Tricia wrote about above in an online class discussion. I still find it incredible that I can sit at my computer in Florida and observe a Rutgers Digital Libraries class discussion.
And furthermore...it makes me wonder what my grandchildren will find incredible?
Maybe the left-handed ones will find it incredible that we HAD to learn to cut right-handed.
Monday, September 25, 2006
now you don't
Yes...this would be a follow-up to Saturdays blog, only it's now you don't see it and now you don't see it. Doug took off half of the front door today. It is in the garage being sanded. He worked most of the day on it. Tomorrow he is going golfing--in Jacksonville--so I am not sure exactly how long I will be living with half of a front door.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Thursday, September 21, 2006
curriculum night
When I walked into my class this evening, I loved looking at the cute faces that my students made of themselves--they are all very special in their own way.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
blogging
Today marks six months since I started blogging. I have approximately 167 posts. I say approximately, because I think there are a few drafts in that number and some of the posts have more than one day on them, but I don't want to go back and count. Suffice it to say...this is the best I have ever done at journaling. I feel great about that!
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
back to the future
In the spirit of Melanie's Sunday, September 17 blog--Here is a picture of Brianna
Now:
and Later?
Now:
and Later?
Monday, September 18, 2006
jury duty
Today I am grateful for all the people that protect our land and our laws. I appreciate the people who can cope with all the filth and deceit and thereby protect me from it. I admire Spencer for his commitments among them.I prayed before I went to jury duty that I would be protected or be able to cope with whatever came my way. I was protected. I was not chosen to sit on jury. But I did enjoy my time in the jury selection room. They showed us a patriotic movie complete with rousing music about fulfilling our civic duty. The people were friendly. The system was efficient. And I thought about how thankful I am to be an American.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
have you ever seen a blue frog?
Well, you are not going to get to see one in this blog either because when I took the picture the flash made it look more or less grey.
Back to the painting update:
I painted all day Friday. When I say all day, I mean 9 hours. I literally felt as if I could not lift the paint brush out of the bucket and make one more stroke even if I had to do it. I painted yellow, yellow and more yellow. I like yellow, luckily. It was hot, hot, hot. I remembered that you are not supposed to paint if it is over 90 degrees. That is what the nice paint lady at Home Depot told me. I later found out that it was 96 degrees, but I am hoping that it was only 90 on the porch, it being covered and all.
I finished the side of the house where I took the previous picture and started on Shooter's side of the house, which at first he was quite excited about because he LOVES to lie around and watch me work. He was less enthusiastic when he realized that he now had to be tied up to prevent him from becoming a "painted" yellow lab..
The Ingalls came by around 4.30 and rescued me. After taking a tour of their "in the making" house, we went to the Goblin Market for dinner. They had never heard the story of Melanie finding the Birdhouse while we thumbed through a Homes and Land magazine at lunch. I have always associated that restaurant with that momentous moment, and now I can also associate it with the day I became a painter.
Saturday, I painted white. Briannaberry Finn and her friend Tom, I mean Jess, white-washed the fence. I was more than grateful for their help and they even managed to get a little paint on the fence!
Which brings me to the blue frog. Linda will be happy to know that I was keeping company with less-threatening repiles on Saturday. In fact, I didn't even see him until I was quite close. I painted the board white that is about one inch below where he is sitting. He never moved, which is good because I was afraid I might jerk back and fall off my ladder if he did. 
I painted for seven hours. I am tired.
Back to the painting update:
I painted all day Friday. When I say all day, I mean 9 hours. I literally felt as if I could not lift the paint brush out of the bucket and make one more stroke even if I had to do it. I painted yellow, yellow and more yellow. I like yellow, luckily. It was hot, hot, hot. I remembered that you are not supposed to paint if it is over 90 degrees. That is what the nice paint lady at Home Depot told me. I later found out that it was 96 degrees, but I am hoping that it was only 90 on the porch, it being covered and all.
I finished the side of the house where I took the previous picture and started on Shooter's side of the house, which at first he was quite excited about because he LOVES to lie around and watch me work. He was less enthusiastic when he realized that he now had to be tied up to prevent him from becoming a "painted" yellow lab..
The Ingalls came by around 4.30 and rescued me. After taking a tour of their "in the making" house, we went to the Goblin Market for dinner. They had never heard the story of Melanie finding the Birdhouse while we thumbed through a Homes and Land magazine at lunch. I have always associated that restaurant with that momentous moment, and now I can also associate it with the day I became a painter.
Saturday, I painted white. Briannaberry Finn and her friend Tom, I mean Jess, white-washed the fence. I was more than grateful for their help and they even managed to get a little paint on the fence!
Which brings me to the blue frog. Linda will be happy to know that I was keeping company with less-threatening repiles on Saturday. In fact, I didn't even see him until I was quite close. I painted the board white that is about one inch below where he is sitting. He never moved, which is good because I was afraid I might jerk back and fall off my ladder if he did. 
I painted for seven hours. I am tired.
Friday, September 15, 2006
scoutmaster's dinner
I received a very nice invitation to the Scoutmaster's Dinner. Nevertheless, I was unenthusiastic about attending. In spite of all my pleadings to the contrary, I agreed to go. Since it was a semi-formal event, I was clueless as to what to wear. Where are Stacy and Clinton when you need them. I have never seen that on any of their shows...maybe it's because I generally only watch Nick and Carmindy. Back to the dinner. I wore a church dress. Shelly Bush and I were the only ones in dresses, so clearly "semi-formal" has a whole new meaning in the scouting genre.
It was a very nice dinner and I met Doug's scouting associates. They were wonderfully nice and welcoming.After dinner the scoutmaster presented gifts and Doug received this really cool flashlight that looks like a pen, but it has super strong light and lasts for 600 hours or something crazy like that. I tried to swipe it immediately thinking that every woman needs one of these in her purse, but Doug put it in his pocket and I decided to try and lobby for it later. I mean, I do think I should get something for all my sacrifice to the scouting world.
The scouters also received a new, made for the occasion patch. Just when I was wondering where I would find room for it on Doug's patch jacket, the scoutmaster said that he had the patches mounted...so, I guess I am safe for a while.
The scouters also received a new, made for the occasion patch. Just when I was wondering where I would find room for it on Doug's patch jacket, the scoutmaster said that he had the patches mounted...so, I guess I am safe for a while.The evening concluded as the scoutmaster told us about a special letter he had received. It turned out that the letter was from Rusty. He explained that the bead ceremony was after the non-scouters left, but he wanted to read the letter while he had good light. He very emotionally read an extremely thoughtful letter that Rusty had written and told Doug that although he could not have the original, he would make him a copy. I will attach it to this blog when Doug returns home with it. Anyway, Rusty made the beads from live oak at Camp Anza particularly for Doug. It was incredible and Doug was surprised to say the very least.
I was glad I was there to share the moment.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
the cat is away
There is an old saying, "When the cat is away, the mice will play." I can't verify the validity of this proverb in real terms, but I do know that when Doug is out of town, I sometimes "find the time" to do some project that I probably wouldn't do for a whole variety of reasons, if he were home.
I did try and get Melanie to fly down and paint the house for me when I realized that Doug would be at Woodbadge for the next 5 days. She couldn't (see her blog dated September 7.) So...I decided that this would be the perfect time to learn how to paint. The project, of course, is to paint the house--a project that I have been waiting years to have finished. Since Doug started painting our house, Tricia has lived in three houses and owned 4 cars. Melanie has given birth to both of her children and Cherylyn has graduated from BYU, married and given birth to a son.
I really don't even like the idea of painting. It seems like a very messy job that could go quickly awry. I am not afraid of the messy part (see my blog July 2 entitled "the messy cook".) It's the going awry part. In the end, I decided that even a bad paint job would look a whole lot better than what I have got. I am sure that I will at some point take the fall for 12 decades of bad painters that preceeded me, but I decided to go ahead anyway.
This morning it was raining. I thought I remembered something in the back of my mind...Doug telling me that you can't paint in the rain...I mean, I could understand that if the surface you were painting was wet, but there was plenty of surface area on my porch that was not wet. I decided to call the paint people at Lowes Home Improvement Warehouse of Mount Dora. (I had to put their whole name as listed in the phone book, because it cracked me up.) I talked to the paint lady. She said that I DEFINATELY SHOULD NOT paint. I decided to called Home Depot. I talked to the nicest lady there! She said that she had painted in the rain just the other day and it was no problem whatsoever. Since I bought the paint at Home Depot (several years ago, before the Lowes of Mount Dora even existed), I decided to paint.
Shooter gave me the look that I usually get from my girls when I start one of these projects, and I was off and painting. I did notice a strange black rope on the porch fence. Since I just pressured sprayed it on Saturday, I wondered what Brianna could have left behind so soon. As I went over to check it out...oh! yes! my friendly neighborhood black racer snake. I decided to let him sit there and watch me. I checked on him every fifteen seconds the entire morning, just to make sure he was still there and not climbing up the ladder ready to strike at my legs like in some horror movie. He was very accomodating and minded his own business.
I found it quite peaceful (apart from worrying about the snake) painting and listening to the falling rain. After about 10 minutes, my hand and arm ached so badly, I seriously wondered if I could continue...but, of course, I did.
I painted for two hours. My hand and arm have still not forgiven me. I hope they get over it by tomorrow morning. I have all day off work tomorrow, so they are in for some brutal punishment.
Tonight, I went to Camp Lanoche to the "Scoutmaster's Dinner." (Check tomorrows blog for that exciting event.) Doug asked me what I was going to do since I have the day off tomorrow. I told him exactly what I was going to do..."work around the house!"
I'm painting the light yellow. Doesn't it look great, so far?
I did try and get Melanie to fly down and paint the house for me when I realized that Doug would be at Woodbadge for the next 5 days. She couldn't (see her blog dated September 7.) So...I decided that this would be the perfect time to learn how to paint. The project, of course, is to paint the house--a project that I have been waiting years to have finished. Since Doug started painting our house, Tricia has lived in three houses and owned 4 cars. Melanie has given birth to both of her children and Cherylyn has graduated from BYU, married and given birth to a son.
I really don't even like the idea of painting. It seems like a very messy job that could go quickly awry. I am not afraid of the messy part (see my blog July 2 entitled "the messy cook".) It's the going awry part. In the end, I decided that even a bad paint job would look a whole lot better than what I have got. I am sure that I will at some point take the fall for 12 decades of bad painters that preceeded me, but I decided to go ahead anyway.
This morning it was raining. I thought I remembered something in the back of my mind...Doug telling me that you can't paint in the rain...I mean, I could understand that if the surface you were painting was wet, but there was plenty of surface area on my porch that was not wet. I decided to call the paint people at Lowes Home Improvement Warehouse of Mount Dora. (I had to put their whole name as listed in the phone book, because it cracked me up.) I talked to the paint lady. She said that I DEFINATELY SHOULD NOT paint. I decided to called Home Depot. I talked to the nicest lady there! She said that she had painted in the rain just the other day and it was no problem whatsoever. Since I bought the paint at Home Depot (several years ago, before the Lowes of Mount Dora even existed), I decided to paint.
Shooter gave me the look that I usually get from my girls when I start one of these projects, and I was off and painting. I did notice a strange black rope on the porch fence. Since I just pressured sprayed it on Saturday, I wondered what Brianna could have left behind so soon. As I went over to check it out...oh! yes! my friendly neighborhood black racer snake. I decided to let him sit there and watch me. I checked on him every fifteen seconds the entire morning, just to make sure he was still there and not climbing up the ladder ready to strike at my legs like in some horror movie. He was very accomodating and minded his own business.
I found it quite peaceful (apart from worrying about the snake) painting and listening to the falling rain. After about 10 minutes, my hand and arm ached so badly, I seriously wondered if I could continue...but, of course, I did.
I painted for two hours. My hand and arm have still not forgiven me. I hope they get over it by tomorrow morning. I have all day off work tomorrow, so they are in for some brutal punishment.
Tonight, I went to Camp Lanoche to the "Scoutmaster's Dinner." (Check tomorrows blog for that exciting event.) Doug asked me what I was going to do since I have the day off tomorrow. I told him exactly what I was going to do..."work around the house!"
I'm painting the light yellow. Doesn't it look great, so far?
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Monday, September 11, 2006
grandparents day
Since we have over 1000 children at our school, grandparents day takes place over the course of a week. Today it was the 5th graders turn to invite their grandparents to lunch. Karla drove down from Ocala to spend the afternoon with Brianna.
Of course, this got me thinking about my own grandmother, who always insisted on being called grandmother when she got older. As a younger child, I called her Nana. I want to always be called Nana or Nanamoo. Someday I hope to have a picture of me and my granddaughters to go with this one. I'll be 90 something and they will be 40 something. When I have my picture taken with my grandsons, they will have to hold me! I will look forward to that someday.
Of course, this got me thinking about my own grandmother, who always insisted on being called grandmother when she got older. As a younger child, I called her Nana. I want to always be called Nana or Nanamoo. Someday I hope to have a picture of me and my granddaughters to go with this one. I'll be 90 something and they will be 40 something. When I have my picture taken with my grandsons, they will have to hold me! I will look forward to that someday.
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Friday, September 08, 2006
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
congratulations linda!
my teaching partner...
In a pair of stunning upsets that could dramatically change the dynamics of Lake's pro-growth course, county commissioners Catherine Hanson and Bob Pool were soundly defeated Tuesday by opponents promising to slow development in Central Florida's fastest-expanding county.
Linda Stewart (left) celebrates with friend Cindy Monell at the Round Courthouse as results in Tuesday's primary show her beating County Commissioner Catherine Hanson to win the GOP nomination. Stewart is a schoolteacher and political novice.
In a pair of stunning upsets that could dramatically change the dynamics of Lake's pro-growth course, county commissioners Catherine Hanson and Bob Pool were soundly defeated Tuesday by opponents promising to slow development in Central Florida's fastest-expanding county.Linda Stewart (left) celebrates with friend Cindy Monell at the Round Courthouse as results in Tuesday's primary show her beating County Commissioner Catherine Hanson to win the GOP nomination. Stewart is a schoolteacher and political novice.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
will work for food
It is true that we worked hard while we were in NC.
Nothing could be better than helping make dreams come true...
...and we did eat well!
Nothing could be better than helping make dreams come true...
...and we did eat well!
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Friday, September 01, 2006
morning time
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