Leftie

I do love knitting patterns by Martina Behm. They are so clever. The challenge and then float off the needles once you figure out the magic. So far I've knit The Hitchhiker, Lintilla, Trillian, Magrathea and now, Leftie.

 This yarn "spoke" to me in Fancy Tiger of Denver when I was there for the National Science Teacher Association conference in December.

It is knit on Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light. This yarn is a dream to work with, and even more so to wear. I get more compliments on this scarf when I wear it than any other scarf, and it's so EASY!

My only complaint on this pattern comes from all the ends that were left to weave in when I finished. Sigh.

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. 

One In Every Color- Clean My Phone Out Edition

My phone camera roll has1,035 pictures in my photo album and that's after my first 3 rounds of clean out today. My phone has too much to back up and all I want to back up is my photos and two apps. Sigh.
So.
Photo dump.
One in every color style.


From Cami. And in Dallas.


Popcorn.


Hangers.


Container Store.


Shoes. Two students who wear the same size swapped shoes.


Paper. In a mall in Dallas.


Swimsuits. In a mall in Dallas.


Slippers. By Carol.


Oh no!!! That's it? Ok time to delete some more! ;)
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The Twisted Sisters

That's what we call ourselves. Fiber art is the tie that binds. We get together on Thursdays and Saturdays. There is no RSVP needed. You come if you can. You create, you talk if you want.
Most of us refer to it as necessary therapy. If possible we schedule life around it.

I love how our group and groups like ours bring together people from many walks of life. They are multi-generational. These are people that will celebrate your triumphs with you, and share your sorrows. This is the place you are reminded that people all have different skill sets, and experiences both in knitting and in life. We learn from each other, and with each other whether in a "knit-along" or in making life decisions.

I am blessed by each group I become a part of and am proud of what our group here in Garden City has become.

Just a Spoon Full of Sugar

I'll be the first to admit, I very much enjoy musical Disney movies.
As a child I watched Mary Poppins more than once and was even more familiar with the musical numbers on our Disney Musical Collection CD's.
When I went with Aunt Audrie to see Saving Mr. Banks it took my study of Disney to a whole new level. All of a sudden I wanted to know and understand all of the perspectives that went into Mary Poppins. Where were these authors coming from? Was P.L. Travers as bizarre as they portrayed her to be or was she (as we wish many other authors had been) just trying to protect a sacred piece of literature.

So began my journey. I ordered myself a copy of her book. Which, I must say is a wee bit bizarre. I found it very amusing but I did not "laugh and laugh" as Walt Disney's character described his daughters doing in Saving Mr. Banks.This has led me to converse with people I know who would might have remembered the book and I find I have to clarify if their enjoyment was the first publication or in connection with the release of the movie Mary Poppins. 

Shortly after...or maybe before, my friend Violet got a hold of a documentary about the Sherman brothers. The Sherman brothers were the composers for Mary Poppins and many other successful movies. This led to a whole new level of insight on Mary Poppins and even other movies. What an evolving exploration of literature and history.

SPOILER ALERT

I think in Saving Mr. Banks, the flash backs are in fact from her perspective as a child. I think they are a bit weird and confused because as a young person, she really didn't have the whole picture. My sister and I talk regularly about our childhood and realize that she and I have completely different views on the same events. Or that I may have been very impacted by a certain event while my sister may not even remember it. 

I think that in the movie Mary Poppins, Bert represents P.L. Travers' father projection, Mr. Banks represents Disney's father and the kite closing represents the Sherman brothers' father.

What do you think? Have you done any exploration of your own?
*I reserve the right to add and alter as my exploration of the matter evolves.

TV Talk

Generally speaking, Luke and I have fairly different taste in TV but we've settled on some favorites.
The first is the return of The Big Bang Theory. It's back and better than ever!


The other is Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.


I was skeptical on that one but I'm kind of hooked. Right now there's a great balance of plot, action and squints. Yesssss. It makes us happy happy happy. Which brings me to the final show we've been enjoying together Duck Dynasty. I think the main reason I enjoy that one is because I know the stupidity is mostly staged.
Shows we watch on Hulu are New Girl and Modern Family.
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So Spirited.

It's football season again and Luke is happily sporting Duck's colors.


I am happily sporting my school colors ...


My friend crales9 made these pendants and earrings I got on Etsy! He's making them to raise and support Autism Awareness.


Check out the ensemble I'm working in.


Also, on football,was some awesome yarn bombing. On ESPN. Yarn bombing.


In my new school colors to boot.
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Growing.

I have been enjoying produce from my garden very much.


I put a new spin on bruschetta by adding cucumber. It kind of makes it more of a salad.


I've been harvesting peppers, tons of cucumber, these hot little peppers and finally TOMATOES!


And more tomatoes!!! Even the icicle and orange tomatoes pulled through! My carrots are getting large and I will harvest them all after the first frost.


Today I made a second batch of amazing tomato soup which I freeze in two cup containers for lunch!


Many thanks to Dan, one of my new colleagues who has a bit more expertise in gardening and has been helping me learn to trim and manage all the plants. He's sort of helped me survive the final garden push.


My garden experience has been very useful in teaching already as we have been taking about limiting factors and carrying capacity. Space was a limiting factor on my tomatoes as I planted many of them, close together. Climate was a limiting factor and many of them didn't survive the dramatic changes in temperature, etc. etc. etc. When we got started talking about food chains, producers, consumers and decomposers we references the garden a lot when we talked about the foods that grow, and the decomposers I find in my garden. Which led to a conversation about composting and worms, which led to me deciding our class needs a worm farm.



Not garden related but on a gardening note, my lawn mowing skills are getting so advanced that I've ventured into alternating weeks of diagonal and straight lines. Fancy shmancy!
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Wee Tiny Knits

Many friends and family are expecting wee ones in the near future so I have taken the opportunity to knit some wee tiny projects.


Here's one I made for Chef Shad's baby boy that is on the way.





Here's one for Cheri's son and Daughter in Law's baby boy.





Here's a super stretchy got forever hat.





I made this aviator hat for an Air Force baby that's coming soon.


I also made a purple version of the cables sweater for a friends new grand baby.


These sweaters are so stretchy thanks to the ribbed cables. Here it is on a size 12m baby boy.


I'm now working on a bigger version for sister! Whew lots of knitting! Throw in teaching...no wonder I've been such a slacker on the blog! The great news is I've taken pictures of everything so I can blog it. I'll try to get caught up!
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First Sickness

Warning: Husband Gushing I Follow
Last week I experienced my first sickness of the school year. I couldn't tell if it was severe allergies or a cold but I finally concluded I was miserable. When I got home Thursday this caring note was on the door.


This soup was all ready to go by the microwave,


the fridge was loaded with squirt,


my book, a blanket and pillow were waiting on the couch,


and Anne of Green Gables was queued up on the DVD player


Dude gets a gold star.
I stuck it out through school on Friday and spent my weekend on the couch watching episodes of Modern Marvels. I'm pleased to say I'm feeling much better now.
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Books- Ungifted, Chains, A Single Shard

A slave and her sister, who was supposed to have been freed after their master died and was instead sold. Takes place during the revolutionary war. It's interesting. I really like the author's use of primary sources at the beginning of each chapter. This shows that even though its historical fiction, research was still done and the story fits with what took place. I would use caution recommending to youngsters in that it takes place during the revolutionary war and many of the things discussed are those taught with the Civil War. I would want to make sure students had a basic foundation of knowledge of both before recommending the read. Also, I felt like the ending was very cliffhanger and my scheme made it worse.


This was a quick read about a boy with an unconventional family life who embarks on an adventure. For me it didn't stand out much from the other boy adventure books, but I enjoyed the listen.


Grand Finale. LOVED this book. Laughed so hard Luke and I began reading it together...and then he finished it that night after I fell asleep. I finished it, laughing the whole time and have loaned it to a co worker who is enjoying it very much. To sum it up, a kid who is always in the wrong place at the wrong time ends up in a school for "the gifted." What I enjoyed about this book, in addition to the humor, was how it addresses "gifts" and talents. Seriously, read this book.

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