Cool Factor

Sooooo Idaho gets pretty cold(for me). Last week our highs were in the 20's, and my job involves quite a bit of time outside supervising recess. I'm learning there are a handful of things one doesn't even fathom until really truly working/living in the cold. (No my time on exchange doesn't count. I lived in this happy on campus bubble.)

1.) Shoe SizeS 

As in more than one. I've got the shoe size for ballet flats and Tom's and dress shoes with thin socks or a little liner sock, I've got a shoe size for when I'm wearing my wool socks, and I've got a shoe size for when I'm wearing wool socks and have toe warmers. This has made the debacle of choosing winter boots all the more interesting. 

2.) Cool-Factor

Cool-ness is no longer a factor. Socks with Toms? Yes please. I don't care if I'm dorky. I'm warm and comfortable - ish.  (My Tom's do stretch over time. They're now wool sock size.)

3.)Wiggle Wit It

 Wiggle room. Be sure to have some in your clothes. When you're getting ready for a full frigid day outside one must be wearing long underwear (top and bottom) a long sleeve shirt and a sweater, pants for inside and snow pants for wearing over the top outside. Some people think I'm ridiculous on this one, but snow pants cut the wind and insulate. Cool factor is out the window peeps. So that sweater you got to wear with a cami...its now rather snug with so many layers underneath. And those pants that make your butt look great? If they show off your butt they're too tight for this layer business. 

4.) Frozen Wood Chips

This my dear friends is a bizarre sensation. Woodchips normally get everywhere. On the clothes, in the shoes... when they're frozen they just clump together! They can be broken apart, and even come away in chunks. They're like a dense, mildly spongy, mat. The beauty is that when they're frozen the cling factor of wood chips is reduced dramatically, and they don't get in your shoes!

5.) The Hair
Ah, the symptoms of cold weather hair are generally a result of consistent hatting.
-static (dry air, lots of wool, static!)
-consistently mussed looking
-even if I've washed my hair THAT morning, when I get home after a day of hat application and removal my hair looks like I haven't showered for a week!

Coping mechanism: Braids. Lots of braids. Especially french braids. I braid my hair damp, to keep all wispies in. I wrap my head in a scarf at night to make said braids last longer.

6.) Frosty the Windshields
We're back to parking our cars outside and now time is to be allowed for warming up the car and scraping off the windshield. This always evades my mind until I walk out to my car and it needs to happen. Our clocks are all set to be 6 minutes fast now.

Happy...Anniversary!

Let me remind everyone that I am not, nor have I ever been, good with dates. So when my dreamboat husband showed up on the last day of school toting beautiful flowers why wouldn't I thank him for the last day of school flowers. Then. When he smirkingly asked me if I remembered what the day was I scrunched my face, smacked my forehead and remembered it was our anniversary. There's one for the books folks. 

Then that chivalrous guy told me that he had help as a couple with our same anniversary had been out to eat dinner at the club the night before so he had help. I felt better. He went on to tell me of the triumph of winning a stem if hydrangea (my favorite) from the florist as they had all been designated for the next days wedding. What a guy. I should marry him.

Oh wait.  I did. On May 21st. Someone please remind me next year. Let pray it's not on the last day of school again. 

My First Year

This last week wrapped up my first official year teaching. 

7th Grade Science. 

If you had asked me 4 years ago, I never would have guessed. If you had asked my science teachers they'd be asking you if there would be flying pigs too. 

I learned so much. 

I learned which classroom management techniques work for me in middle school. (And which ones don't.)

I leaned to choose my battles. 

I learned to expect more because then the teacher and students will achieve more even if it wasn't quite what was expected. 

I learned to selectively grade. Grading everything is crazy.

I learned how vital weekends are to rest and recover. While I still created quite a bit, the blogging just didn't happen. I wonder if I will ever find a balance for that or if I will forever moving between school mode and blog mode. 

I learned the power of collaboration and professional development. 

I learned to find out what my students are  good at and give them the chance to be the expert. 

I learned the power of telling students that I don't know....but I can find out. (I also learned just how many resources I have in my phone book.)

I learned about teaching 6 of the same class a day. It gets better every time. If it doesn't, something needs to change. 

 

Oh and did I mention how much science I learned? 

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Seriously. 

It was a great year. I look forward to next year and how it will all go with a year under my belt! As I wrapped up this year I couldn't help but start planning for next year!

Proof that Goodness Comes From an Oven

Our baking day turned out to be a great success. 

 I am a firm believer that the the desire to learn comes from a knead to know. (I couldn't resist.)
Particularly in Junior High (or middle school as they call it here) when no one can see beyond there nose. (I can say this because I too have spent time in that state of mind.) Lessons must be relevant.
Through this lesson we were able to discuss qualities of an organism, cell division, limiting factors, carbohydrates, proteins and lipids and more!

It was also a lesson in patience, measurement, fractions and multiplication, culture and language, the idea that practice makes perfect (student tray on left, my tray on right, booyah) time management, and even hygiene and food safety. By the end of the day other adults on staff at my school had even come in for a lesson, to share a story, and to even grab a quick snack.  What a great way to continue to pass on my mom's legacy, both in teaching AND in baking.

A Perfect Storm, Mom, Cancer Awareness, and a Baking Day at School

This week is Health Awareness week. We've been having different "dress up" days. Yesterday was dress in the colors of your favorite healthy food. I wore red pants, a white undershirt, and a green sweater. We work a lot on re-stating questions in responses, and making "I think" science statements with lots of evidence to show reasoning. SO the bell work prompt was to tell me what healthy food I was and why. It was fun! Tomorrow is wear your "Cancer Awareness" ribbon color. I'm going to wear the maroon color for Multiple Myeloma. The kind of cancer Mom had. 

My friend Patti, who worked with my mom, at the school I grew up in and she taught at for 14 years just posted a picture of her name on the new building being built at the school. Someone wrote "Wherever you go, whatever you do, don't forget, Pinedale is YOU!" It is me. It was my mom. It is my family even though we're separated by a great distance I regularly think of things I learned there from my mom and all the incredible mentor teachers I have met there on my journey as a student, graduate and now a teacher.

Incidentally we're talking about Cell Cycles this week and yeast is a GREAT example so we're heading down to the "Home Ec" lab to bake some bread with yeast. The way my mom taught me. 

Yeast is a great example of living organisms. My mom would always talk to me about how "its alive" and talk about nurturing the yeasties when would bake.

As I'm preparing to take my "tools" to school, I thought of how my mom would cook with her students. One thing they always remember when I get in touch with them later. Whether it was math, science, or even the skills to write directions cooking is a great way to show how applicable skills are. 

Lastly I grabbed flour sack towels to cover the rising dough. The aprons are in the same drawer. All of my mom's special aprons that I'm so lucky to have. And I get to wear them. Tomorrow. When I cook with my students and teach them many of the things that she taught me.

My heart hurts because I miss her,

because I fell so blessed,

because I'm so proud that I learned so much from her,

because I know she's proud,

and because my only regret is that we can't debrief about it all, laugh a little and build on each others lessons, over a cup of tea and a good long phone call. 

and ahhhhh. None of this was planned. None of this was on my brain until it hit me. Like a truck. Say a little prayer I can keep it together. 

Really Random Thursday- Science, Sewing and such

I report back to school August 6 and I'm starting to let myself plan for school! I got these cool art cards from MeganLee.etsy.com and I love them!

I've been working on a knit dissected frog to display in my class.

Here he is with his organs!

I've also working on an anatomically correct-ish heart.

I can't wait to put this one in my classroom too!

I disguised a frozen California Pizza Kitchen Sicilian pizza with a fistful of basil and it was tasty!
Luke got back from a weekend of climbing 14ers in Colorado. Turns out he's as bad at applying sunscreen as I am.
I finally changed my rotary cutter blade. I always wish I'd changed it like a month earlier.

I used it to cut binding,

when I finished binding the quilt I began big stitch quilting the center star,

and the border of my summer sampler quilt.

While I am VERY excited about the upcoming school year, I am absolutely starting to feel the pressure to get my projects done eek!
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Wife's First Golf, Full of Hot Air, Underneath My Car, Growing Up

I golfed my first round of golf on Tuesday!! Sure it was a scramble (you pick the best ball from each shot and play from it) and sure the only two clubs I used were my wedge and putter, but man it was fun!


Many thanks to Wendy, Kathy and Sarah for not only putting up with me, but for helping me have a blast! I see many more "Ladies Night" golfing events in my future!


Wednesday afternoon was my last day of long term subbing for the school year and it ended on a high note with our very last class of hot air balloon flying! It was a pretty fun event! Teachers and students learn so much from practical experience!


Speaking of practical experience, I love how my new car place here lets me watch them work, they explain this while they're doing them and then have answers for all my questions. It's just nice to see what's going on, reminds me that my undercarriage is not indestructible and helps me learn more about science and the way things work which I hope will help me become a better teacher!
On a final note, I'm trying to develop a way for my cucumbers to not take up too much space. This is something I'm working out in my head. Taking some wire fence and staking it into the ground in an arch so the vines can grow up. Literally. Haha.


I'm linking up with Cindy at Live a Colorful Life and Really Random Thursday.
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Big News!

I've got a job lined up for next year and I'll be teaching middle school science! I'm really excited and am very lucky to be working at a long term sub job in the same school/subject area!
The posts have been few and far between as I've been working, going to interviews and took some tests last weekend. Yep more tests. Good thing I know "the system" SO well that I've even figured that I can take small knitting that doesn't require a pattern to keep me busy as the Praxis testing (Colorado and Kansas) requires that you stay the whole allotted time.

I have reclaimed the sewing room (not that I have time to sew in it) and the children (as we now refer to the seedlings) are now being  put outside for natural sunlight and cooler temperatures. (The gentleman at the plant store said they were too warm, and that I needed to baby them less so they would stop being so gangly.)

 In the evenings they have their own big seedling space in the garage under their new big seedling plant light that has more colors in it or something gimmicky.

 Additionally, their older cousins the herbs seem to be doing well in their pinterest inspired teared herb garden. They have some foreign exchange students living with them, the green onions. I started them with root stubs after making dinner one night and they're doing amazingly well!

 In the yellow pot I just planted a section of oregano my friend Pat divided from her thriving oregano at home!

These tractors just showed up in our yard today. I think it means we're getting closer to a YARD!

There's lots going on out here and we thank all of you who have been keeping us in your prayers as we enjoy this adventure!

Almost Tuesday Tidbits

The 49ers made it to the Super Bowl and boy did it make this guys happy. He wore his 49er red knickers in the golf tournament before the game.


We started watching the game at Luke's work but the golfers had chowed down on all the snacks Chef had put out and I was staaaaarving so when the power went out we headed home.


Where we discovered the 49ers were making a come back! And then had our spirits crushed. In case you have no idea the Ravens won. Luke was sad. Like...really sad.
On a brighter note, I no longer have to wear a visitor sticker when I sub as I have an official badge!


Also, my friend Mary introduced me to a new local restaurant called Pho ______. I honestly can't remember the name. Just the landmark blue wall that helps me find it.


I really enjoyed the lighter, fresher tasting flavors and textures so 4 days later, I took Luke....or he took me. He paid.


His fortune cookie is the top one. He's thrilled. I thought mine was appropriate. I'm going to help him with all kinds of advice. He LOVES my advice.

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Ice Ice Baby

So it snowed yesterday.


And through the night. But it was pretty wet. And everything that hit the sidewalks/roads melted, and then froze. I have a whole new understanding of ice. I planned to spend the morning at one of the 7th/8th grade schools volunteering and as I was pulling in saw students waddling like penguins with their hands out like surfers. My thoughts: "Gimme a break." Folks, I thought to soon. It was that bad. While in the building, the sun came out and so did the snow melter sprinkles. Walking to my car wasn't too bad. When I got to my car, I let my guard down forgetting that my car had provided a nice shade for the ice outside my car door.
I ate it. Full wipe out. On the ground.
I can't believe more of me doesn't hurt. Maybe because I was so caught by surprise. The only thing that hurts (and it really hurts) is my elbow. I conked it. I never realized how much I use my elbows til today.
Also possibly hurt: my ego. I wonder if anyone saw my. I was right the middle of an empty parking lot.
After that, I went home, where I stayed to wait for the rest of the ice to melt.


While I waited, I worked on a border for this quilt.


Why is it that piecing borders is not nearly as satisfying as piecing the main blocks?
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Gingerbread

My interest in gingerbread began this October when I decided to imitate some skeleton gingerbread men I saw on pinterest. I was in charge of the teacher snack the week of Halloween so these were snack and I brought a crock pot and mulled cider! It was tasty!

 Then I found this gingerbread tissue box at Target! (It was November.)

 Then I made some gingerbread to take to California for snacks!

 Below is the evolution of my gingerbread girls. They went from the syrup lady to kind of cute!

I was trying to get Luke to let me host a gingerbread night at the golf club. So then I decided I better make a sample to see what I would be getting myself into. It turned out pretty cute!


Next year I think I'm going to try to make one that looks like our house!
Through all of this I discovered and stuck with Eileen's Spicy Gingerbread Men recipe which I found on allrecipes.com. It was pretty tasty and sturdy enough for the house too!

Education and it's Credentials

This has been an interesting time. Today the school of education held its graduation ceremonies. A whole mess of people got their BA's and MA's and we got our credentials. I have mixed feelings about this because these last three semesters "merely" got me a credential and yet I'm proud of being done. I'm glad the three semesters are over.



At the start of the program our cohort head count was about 20. Finishing the credential we are now at about 10. (2 of us weren't able to be there.)
One of my closest friends, Destinie, and I started the program together.



I'm proud to say we finished it together too.
I had considered not going to this ceremony, but looked forward to the closure it might bring. Getting my credential was also sentimental as my mother was an amazing educator and life long learner. My mom made her way through a B.S. in Home Economics, a single subject and eventually a multiple subject teaching credential, and a MS degree in business.
I felt like today was a day of sentimental note in regard to my mom and I was missing her very much today. I wore a skirt I converted from one of her old dresses and of course it was her token color blue.



This was also a sentimental day as Destinie was in my moms class during her second year teaching. I know my mom is so proud of both of us. Did I mention I miss her? I so wish she had been there.



On a brighter note my nails were Ravenclaw (OPI Dating A Royal) blue in honor of "Wit beyond measure.
I have bumped up my departure date to ASAP. I hope that none of my local friends and family will take offense. I'm feeling particularly ready to be back with Luke and doing a bit of reflecting.

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Try and Stop Me.

Argh. These days. Spring is coming which means the stinky white trees are in full bloom. At night I take two benadryl, one claritin and one ibuprofen for my headache.
I almost fell asleep today...twice...at a time I shouldn't have. Also. I wore a cotton skirt. On one of the windiest days Fresno has seen. On a day I was responsible for escorting individuals to and from the restroom. Not a good decision.
I went to Jamba Juice for a pick me up lunch of Aloha Pineapple, no bananas, sub strawberries. On my way back it flipped over and spilled all over the floor of my car. I was rather upset. When I got to school the floor mat wasn't coming out easily (I wanted to shake all the smoothie out of my car) as I was bracing the door open against the wind. Then it snapped off and splattered the Jamba mess all over my front. (And they say Jamba means to celebrate.) I may have said a bad word in the parking lot. I also cried. I also wanted to call my mom. You know those moments where kids work themselves into a dizzy and the only thing that can console them in mom. Just kind of plug me into that image, snot included thanks to the allergies. Then I went in and watched a Big Bang Theory episode and stapled lots of things to the wall with my UH-Mazing stapler. I felt better and my eyes weren't so puffy.

Tomorrow I'm wearing pants. And a Sheldon-esque shirt. (Sheldon is my FAV-orite character from The Big Bang Theory.) I'm thinking Star Wars. Try and stop me.



Ps. My day was much improved with waffles for dinner and crafting with my cousins. They helped me make samples for an x y coordinate graphingu project that looks REAL pretty!

This Week

I've been indulging:



Eyeballing:


Doing:


And for my break?
Search Yeo Valley Official ad
(music videos by an organic dairy farm group in the UK)
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