Some Thoughts About Teaching....

Some random thoughts, really.  

• I don't know if I've said this before, but I really love my job.  I teach small children (3 and 4) in a lab school setting at a university.  I realize that in some ways, it's an ideal situation--for example, I have lots of help in my classroom in the form of an assistant every day, work study students who  work with us for several years at a time, and volunteers who are usually education students getting practicum hours, but kids are kids, and this age is really awesome.  They constantly surprise me with how excited they are to learn.
• I've been looking around online for some resources, and I have to say, I am very disturbed by what is out there that is completely inappropriate.  Some of it is cute...but that doesn't make it appropriate.  Or real.  I'm a big fan of "real" in my classroom.  For example, we are working on an apple project right now, and we have real apples to count, sort, compare, weigh, sink or float, paint, draw, write about, observe, cut open and whatever else we come up with (to include my class of three-year-olds, me, my assistant, and the college students).  No worksheets.  
• I love the people I work with.  We are all in sync and work together well.  
• I love to do presentations.  
• I am not a good singer.  A little pumpkin in my class went home and told his parents that I am the best singer he ever heard.  I think I've said before, what I lack in talent, I make up for in enthusiasm.  Unfortunately his parents believed him and asked me to sing something for them.  They won't be making that mistake again.  
• When I got divorced (10 years ago or however long ago it was), I got a job at this great preschool in the office, part time.  The day I walked in there, I fell in love with the place, and told my boss that I hoped she liked me because I was never leaving.  And I haven't.  I changed to full time, became the office manager, went back to college, got a teaching degree and license, and now I'm teaching at the school.  
• We all learn together in our classroom.  That again includes the children, me, my assistant, work study students, volunteers and anyone else who might want to join us.  

I'm Dreaming of Key Limes....etc.

One key lime seed sprouted today--isn't that exciting?   Maybe someday I can pick my own 23 key limes from this little tiny tree.  

GOODNESS, it's hotter than hot in Orlando today.  I left work early today for an appointment, and I cannot believe how hot it is outside!

My great friend Chicken Noodle came to visit me at work today, and many of my coworkers told me that it made them laugh to hear us laughing...  she absolutely is my partner in crime.  Next time I see her, I will get a picture of us together, and post it.  She's a pretty good sport.  

Kaleigh is sitting in the living room, making bracelets out of beads.  She is also singing to herself, which is so cute I can hardly stand it.  If only she understood how adorable I think she is....

I think I'll do a little reading this afternoon with my extra time off.  Then I plan to work in the garden when it cools off a little bit.  It needs to be watered.  And I need to look closely for weeds, it amazes me that I don't see any for a long time, then all of a sudden they are everywhere.  Maybe I need to mulch better.  I'll think about that.

I wish I had made some decisions about the chicken quilt yesterday so I could work on it today. But I need to let things stew in my mind a little bit before deciding, and I don't like to rush things or I might not like the outcome.  This is true for a lot of things.  

No pictures today--do you want to see pictures?  Nobody is leaving comments, in spite of the many visits to this blog each day, so I can't tell what people want to see.  If you let me know, I promise to deliver it...(within reason, of course).

I've been thinking about making a challenge for myself--any ideas out there about what it should be?  So far, I've come up with the following possibilities, and of course, I would blog about it daily.  

1. Blogging every day for a month (I can start small, add later if I want to).
2. Money-saving--keep a running total of how much money I can save in a month.
3. Do-One-Thing----I can do one thing to simplify my life each day, and post about it and decide if it's worth continuing.  

Any votes?  Or other ideas?  If nobody comments, I guess I'll consult Chicken Noodle and ask her what she thinks, but I already KNOW which one she'll choose....

My Favorite Books.... A List

I'm a crazy reader.  I will read almost anything.  This is a list of books I adore (not a complete list, will add as I think of them) and why I love them.  These are not in any particular order.

1. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.  This book warms my heart, although the subject matter is hard.  I found it super comforting that after people die, they might go to their own ideal heaven and keep an eye on us.
2. Lucky by Alice Sebold.  This is Alice's true life story about a horrible thing that happened to her when she was in college and how she's come through it, good and bad.
3. The Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer.  Okay, I admit it, I'm a nerd.  I'm being brutally honest.  The books are so much better than the movies.  
4. Frugal Luxuries by Tracey McBride.  This might be out of print, but it's a great book about simple living.  
5. The Secret Life Of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.  Maybe my all-time favorite book.  Just a great story, with everything you want in a book.  
6. The Quarter Acre Farm by Spring Warren.  A woman decides feed herself and her family from her yard.  And her chickens.  Her goal was to provide 80% of their food by weight.  What's not to love about that?
7. Little House in the Suburbs by Deanna Caswell and Daisy Siskin.  This is a book about backyard farming and home skills for self-sufficient living.  Love this book.
8. The Feast Nearby by Robin Mather.  A woman loses her job and her marriage within two weeks and moves to a rural cabin.  She decides to eat locally and writes about her year.
9. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden.  Another one of my very faves.  It's exactly what it says it is.  Very believable, it's almost difficult to think a man wrote this--is that sexist?
10. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak.  Great book.
11. Wicked by Gregory Maguire.  What's not to love about flying monkeys and defying gravity?
12. The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom.  Great book about how we are all connected.  The funny thing is that I didn't think I liked it very much as I was reading it, but it comes to my mind all the time since then (maybe ten years ago).
13. It by Stephen King.  Pennywise the clown.  Need I say more?  Stupid movie, but the book is scary as crap.  I used to read this now and then when my ex-husband was in the field or deployed, and I'd have to stash it in the freezer so I could sleep.
14. The Kite Runner  by Khaled Hosseini.  Awesome book.
15. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.  It's just a great book.
16. Mind in the Making by Ellen Gallinsky.  This explains the seven life skills that children need to learn, but it's pertinent to adults as well.  VERY interesting.
17. The Help by Katheryn Stockett.  If you've seen the movie I don't need to explain.  
18. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin.  This author took a year to explore various myths and ideas about what makes people happy and kept stringent records (which is fascinating in itself, worth reading the book to figure out how she did this) about what worked and what didn't.  For example, does money make people happy?  She concentrated on one thing at a time and has some interesting things to say on the subject.

Seed Packets... a tutorial.

I'm sitting here folding the most adorable little seed packets!   I will use these to trade seeds or give gifts of seeds.  Aren't they pretty?

These were made out of a notepad I got at the dollar store--I learned how to do them out of post-its, but these are so cute I might just keep making them this way.  I get a lot of those notepads as little gifts and always seem to have some around.  I know I'd like to get seeds in one of these!

I'll try to show you... (this seems way more complicated in writing than it is, so I suggest you get a paper and follow along--it's really simple)  These are the kind of notepads I used.  Sorry about the change in background.  

1.  With the paper wrong side up, fold the bottom of the paper up, leaving the part you want for the flap above the bottom part.  (If you are using a post-it notepad, make sure the sticky part is on the flap at the top.)

2.  Fold both sides in about 1/4 inch.  This step might not be necessary, but I found that it makes the envelopes a little more sturdy and makes a little wiggle room for the seeds, so I do it.  

3.  Open the flaps you just folded, and cut where I have indicated below.  You don't really need to mark this, just cut it away.  (The paper on the left has it cut away, the one on the right shows where to cut.

4.  Now open up the paper so it's flat, wrong side up.  Fold the flaps toward the wrong side.  

5.  Fold the bottom up keeping the flaps inside.

6.  Tape along the sides.

7.  Fold flap down.  If you used a post it notepad, this would be resealable.  

Super cute!  If you have any problems or something isn't clear, please leave a comment--I will get back to you!

  

Happy Labor Day!

Doesn't it seem ironic that most of us have the day off on "Labor Day"?  Just a thought.  For everyone who labors every day, even if you have to work today, have a great labor day.  

Today is a new day.  It does no good to dwell on the huge, steaming shit pile of yesterday, it's gone.  (A friend reminded me of this last night--thanks MB!)  So today I'm going to smile, put on some lipstick and make this day better.  

The coffee's on, laundry is going, the sun is shining.  My plants look fabulously happy after last night's THUNDERSTORM and I definitely don't need to water them this morning.  (I love it when I don't have to pay for the water for them)  I think I'll give myself a mani-pedi today so I feel like a million bucks when I go back to work tomorrow.

In my classroom, we are starting on our apple project tomorrow.  It will probably last three weeks, or until my little friends lose interest.  This is one of my favorite projects that I do in my classroom because the kids are learning the kinds of things we are going to do this year, and you would absolutely be shocked at how interested they are in something they are all familiar with.  We do lots of experiments, write about our observations (either by drawing pictures or dictation, or both), practice writing and reading apple vocabulary words from cards with pictures and words, count various things, add (how many red apples, how many yellow apples, how many all together), sort, weigh, measure, compare (apple seeds to other seeds, apples to apples), ask questions and research the answers, make charts, taste, cook, bring apple things from home, and generally do all things APPLE.  Really looking forward to it.

I think I'll make some seed envelopes today--I watched a YouTube video on how to make them out of post-its, and I think we all know that office supplies are one of the great loves of my life, so this is a perfect fit.  They are tiny and cute, and I'd like to trade some seeds at some point.  

I've been looking at my chicken quilt blocks (from a LONG time ago).  Realistically, I am probably never going to finish the rest of those blocks (pictured below), but maybe I can make the ones I have work.

These blocks are hand appliqued--meaning that every piece is individually cut out and the edges turned under a tiny bit and stitched by hand.  I don't have that kind of time any more, so that probably isn't going to happen for the remainder of the blocks.  So I'm thinking about how I can use the blocks I have--maybe adding a border with some flowered vines around it.  I can't see how I'm going to avoid doing at least one more block though.  Love those chickens!  And I will hand quilt the finished product, of course.  I've been thinking a lot about how I need a project to work on.  I don't watch much tv, but having something to work on when I do watch makes me feel like I'm not wasting time.

On a side note, I know I'm not a very good photographer, and I'm slowly learning more about how to use my camera properly, so sorry for the non-photo shopped pictures.  When I look at other blogs, the photography takes my breath away sometimes, but this one isn't really about the photos, they just help to tell the story.  

I'm finding it very exciting and funny that my blog is getting so many visits these days.  When I opened it up to the world, I had some reservations--it's very difficult knowing that all your stuff is out there to be judged and read by whoever, or worse, by nobody.  In the past some of my personal stuff has been misused by others, but I figure that's their own karma, not mine.  But it's been very pleasant to see how many visits I've had.  So thanks to all of you who are visiting and reading what I have to say--I really appreciate it.   And if you have any comments or questions, please feel free to comment, I welcome feedback as well.

I have a huge pile of library books on the subject of gardening, compost, etc. waiting for me so I think I'll do a little reading out in the sun this morning before officially getting my day going.  An extra day off is a lovely thing.

  

My Birthday Lunch

 I had a great lunch with Bianca, Bridgette, Brett and Tara yesterday.  Here is my big girl and me! 

Below you can see my son and Tara--love them.  Baby Bridgie was a whirlwind of activity so the pictures I took of her were blurry--I'll get one next time I see her.  

Frugal Gardening...

As I've mentioned many times, I'm very frugal.  I don't have unlimited funds to finance my dream garden, so I need to work at it slowly and find cheaper ways to do things.  Having said that, I am willing to spend where necessary to get the best outcome.  I thought I'd share a few ideas I have about how to keep gardening costs down.  (I love a good list!)

• Don't try to do everything at once.  Think about what you want to do ultimately.  Make a list of what you have to do to get there.  Prioritize.  Do what you can now.  Work toward what you can't do right now.
• Example--I knew I wanted a large garden with several (unspecified number) garden beds.  I didn't want to get overwhelmed so the first year I made two beds.  I handled those easily, so the next year, I added two more (larger) beds, and some pots.  Over time, I felt confident enough to dig into the yard to make a small flower bed and a small herb bed so I did those things.  If I had done them all at once it would have been a disaster.
• I like free materials.  When someone offers me scrap wood, I take it.  At least half of my raised beds are made from free wood (untreated).  
• Reuse!  Can't stress this enough.  When I buy a large plant (like a tree) and replant it, I save the pot it came in.  Chances are good I'll be looking for a pot to plant lettuce or a tomato in soon, so I wash it out really well and set it aside.  I don't keep too many though, it would be easy to get overrun by seedling planters.  
• ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS check the marked down area at the garden center.  I have found incredible bargains there.  Sometimes it's a single plant, sometimes trees, sometimes a flat of something.  
• Also, check if your garden center recycles pots.  I have found large black pots (as big as 3 gallons) suitable for planting herbs or whatever that I can take for free (make sure to ask).  They look just like the pots the garden center sells for around $10.  
• I save kitchen scraps to make my own compost.  Best thing you can do for your garden.
• I also make my own fertilizer tea.  I keep a large jar on my counter by the sink, and crush up egg shells, cover them with water, add coffee grounds and tea bags, and after a few days, use it on my plants.  I add a lot of water to use it on my houseplants, but outside, I just dump it on whatever is looking puny.
• Buy good tools the first time.  I used regular scissors for a long time to prune plants and cut herbs because the Fiskar's Garden Pruners seemed super expensive, but my son finally bought me a gardening set with those, hedge trimmers, loppers, and a machete, and they are WONDERFUL!  I wish I had just spent the money earlier.  
• Lasagna beds!  Start them in the fall where you want a bed in the spring.  Dig out the sod--use it somewhere else in your yard, maybe low spots.  Layer cardboard boxes and newspaper (many layers) at the bottom, then add leaves, yard waste (which I'm willing to pick up from my neighbor's curb), and compost and keep adding until it's very thick (6 inches or more).  Cover with mulch and let it sit.  When spring comes, you shouldn't be able to identify much in there and you are ready to go.  Rake the mulch away to plant, then re-mulch.  Keep it mulched for weed control.
• Mulch with DRIED lawn clippings.  Free!
• Get compost at the landfill.  Free! (Check to see if your community has such a thing)
• Save and trade seeds.  I might never use a whole envelope of seeds, so I trade.  You can trade with friends, find a garden club or check with your extension office.
• Reuse stuff you have around.  You can poke holes into the bottom of a gallon milk jug, set it behind a plant, fill it with water and it can take care of slow watering your plant for you.  It looks funny when the plant is small, but when the plants grow, you can hide them.  (Half gallons work too)
• I keep my regular tools outside near the garden, and my pruners go in a basket with my gloves and some plant ties and some twine which I bring in and out of the house each time I work outside.  If your good tools get rusted, you will have to buy more--NOT A BARGAIN!
• I keep a bunch of five gallon buckets around.  I got mine from Firehouse Subs for $2 each, and they have lids to them.  They're bright red, which I love.  I mix potting mix in them, store vermiculite, peat moss and planting mix in them, and mix compost tea in them.  I drilled some holes in one to fill with water and drip slowly also, but I don't think that was really necessary.  I also collect rainwater in them to use to water the garden.  
• Starbucks is very environmentally friendly, and whenever I go to one, I ask for coffee grounds.  They save them in a huge plastic bag and give them to me or whoever asks first.  I throw them in the compost, mix them in my planting mix, and sprinkle them around my plants.  They seem to repel pests, and add nitrogen to the plants.
• If someone has a plant that I admire, I always ask them if I can take a cutting.  Generally, I just clip a small piece of new growth, pull off all the lower leaves (leave three or so) and either root it in water or just push it into the dirt.  I baby it a little to get it going, then plant it where I want it.   I also propagate my already-established plants this way.   I've been very successful with this.  If something grows well in your yard, it's baby will too.

That's what I can think of so far.  I'm sure I'll add more as they come to me.