Follow Your Bliss

Turkey Day

I'm still recovering from our Thanksgiving feast. Self-control just doesn't happen on this holiday!

What a delightful evening.

Family... the best, don't you think?

On Wednesday my fourth graders visited our Early Childhood Center for our annual Friendship Feast. It is such fun to see my ten year old students interact with three and four year olds. An entirely different side of their personalities shines through.

They sang, made macaroni necklaces, friendship paper dolls, had ice cream sundaes, and DANCED!!!!

Boy did they DANCE!!! A good time was had by all.

There were some fantastic turkeys in attendance as well....

I hope everyone's Thanksgiving was filled with gratitude, love, fun....

And DANCING!!!!

Busy days...

Phew...

Busy days in the classroom! Assessments... conferences... lessons...

And these...

Visual journals. Inside are some of the coolest things! Thoughts and creations by amazing children...

And this... inspired by this sweet lady...

Many discussions about how we can help make a peaceful world. Wonderful insight by my 10 year olds... they always surprise me with their wealth of understanding.

And these...

Just for some October fun.

I love having a colorful classroom!

Snow White

This is what I woke up to today... October 10th! And it's still coming down...

I'm thinking a hot pot of chili tonight. I love making soup on cold, snowy days. I am definitely NOT a cook, but soup making is one thing I do enjoy.... you really can't mess up.

I want to thank everyone for your kind words about our sweet Chloe'. We still miss her dearly... especially Lucy, our other beagle. Lucy is 11 and has never been without Chloe'. I realized she has never been left alone in all those years. Chloe' was always with her. Lucy is struggling... she cries when she is left alone and now has a raspy seal-like voice. Poor baby. When I am at home, she doesn't let me out of her sight. The vet says it will take her awhile... Grandpa visits her daily while I am at work and she is now on anti-anxiety meds... who knew!? Anyway, I hope she becomes the peppy, bouncy beagle she once was soon.

I am going to snuggle in and do some knitting, creating and nesting today. It's a good day to stay home!

Here's another snowy photo for you.... just heard... the western part of Nebraska got over 15 inches! UGH!

Have a great day!

Goodbye...

This is very difficult for me.

We said goodbye to our sweet Chloe' today.

She gave her love unconditionally to us for almost 15 years.

Oh my goodness... how I will miss her.

Goodbye my beautiful Chloe'.

You are so loved. xxoox

So blessed...

Sometimes you just have to thank your lucky stars!

I am so blessed...

I have the most wonderful people in my life.

And to come home to these...

 

From my two most precious creations on my birthday.

Aren't they beautiful?

Dreams...

Well, Labor Day has arrived.

I always feel in the swing of things at school when this nice long weekend arrives.

This year is no different.

Other than quite a few kids being out with the flu...

Things are running very smoothly.

Every year I share a peek into my classroom...

So here you go...

The Henry David Thoreau quote is one of my favorites. It is displayed prominantly in my classroom so all can see and do!

Keeping with the theme of following dreams...

This is a bulletin board the kids and I created...

What a cute bunch!

And some of their dreams...

 

And this one....

Cracks me up!

 

Yep...

Dreams.

What are yours?

With every little drop...

"Drop by drop fills the pot." Duala Proverb

Yep... a drop here and a drop there.

The pot is filling back up...

This sweet fella...

Helped add lots of drops...

And I bet he didn't even know it.

A wonderful evening last night.

I've been waiting for this...

The family together!

Thanks sweet Boone.... and Grandpa... and Grandma.

xoxoxo

The Invasion...

I survived my first week back at school. A week of meetings and creating a welcoming classroom. More of the same this week...

And then on Thursday....

"The Invasion".

 

Yep... on Thursday...

Real life.

Whatever doesn't get finished between now and then will wait... no stress allowed this week!

On the homefront...

A torrential rain this morning...

And a dark cloudy day...

It felt fallish...

Except for the 90 degree temps.

There were a few peeks of sunshine...

So I snapped a few photos...

I like this one...

 

I like how the top resembles an artichoke.

Hope your day is terrific!

Where the wind blows...

My last day of vacation...

I was asked what I was going to do on this day...

Well...

I think I will just let the day unfold...

No concrete plans...

I do plan to lounge by the pool one last time (at least on a weekday) and finish my book. Other than that, I don't know.

I was looking through some old photos and found this...

 

It is a page from a journal I did over a year ago. It struck a chord with me.

grow...grow...grow...

That's what I have done this summer.

My horizons... my understandings... my patience... my circle of friends... my sense of well-being.

I feel as though so many parts of me have gone through a growth spurt.

And it feels right.

I am in a good place right now...

Isn't summer grand?

I'm off to enjoy my last hours of unstructured bliss.

I'll let you know where the wind blows me...

Enjoy your day!

August???? Already????

Man oh man!

It's August 1st.

Why does time seem to fly by so quickly?

I am enjoying my last weekend of summer vacation. The weather is beyond beautiful! We had a wonderful thunderstorm last night that seemed to refresh everything! The air was crisp and clean this morning. I love that. Coffee on the patio.

I go back to school Tuesday. My mind has been busy thinking of how to make my classroom inviting for my new crew. I always have to get the physical space "just right" before I can think of all the other stuff... like lesson plans... projects... etc.... etc....

I think I have a few great ideas... just need to get the "stuff" and get it turned into reality.

Hope you all have a great weekend. Enjoy your surroundings!

Has it ever happened to you?

Some things have been weighing heavily on my mind the last couple of days...

Nothing earth shattering...

But still...

It was bugging me.

I was with some friends last night...

All of us sharing ...

And on my way home...

I had the radio on...

I always have the radio on...

Usually I don't really pay attention to what's playing.

But last night...

This came on...

When I find myself in times of trouble, mother Mary comes to me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree,
there will be an answer, let it be.
For though they may be parted there is still a chance that they will see,
there will be an answer. let it be.

Let it be, let it be, .....

And when the night is cloudy, there is still a light, that shines on me,
shine until tomorrow, let it be.
I wake up to the sound of music, mother Mary comes to me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be, .....

It just hit me...

Let it be...

There will be an answer...

I felt a peace come over me...

Has that ever happened to you?

*artwork inspired by Donna Downey

Don't you agree?

Looking forward to seeing some trusted friends tonight...

We can open our hearts to one another....

Anytime...

Any place...

My kitchen is a mess...

I haven't been cooking...

But I have been creating!

Such fun!!!!

Colorful Days...

I am enjoying my last days of summer vacation!

Teachers go back to school on the 4th of August.

I keep telling myself that structure is good...

Yeah...

But.... I have to tell you...

I have really enjoyed this summer. Lots of time to myself... hours spent bicycling and swimming. Long afternoons reading at the pool. I have read more books these past few weeks than I have in years. Lots of different kinds of reading...

I have finally gotten the bug to get my hands dirty again... both in the garden and with paint, ink, glue, etc. Creativity  is back in the house.

The past few days I have taken the time to look through some of my old photos... I haven't taken many lately. It was fun to revisit... certain photos remind me of things that were happening in my life at the time... how things change...others made me long to create again.

I realized how much I need color in my life...

Yep... color just makes me feel alive and kicking. How about you?

Moonwalk...

I remember it so vividly....
"One small step for man...
One giant leap for mankind."
The idea was to take inspiration from a favorite artist....
I am ALWAYS inspired by the work of my dear sister...

It's my take on a technique of hers. I printed the moon on a transparency so my journaling could be read.

Another rainy, cloudy, cool day here. Love this!

A brisk morning...

Ahhhh... the windows are open...
The air is fresh and clean...
Hard to believe it is the middle of July!
Today my wonderful parents celebrate their 56th anniversary!
Happy day, Mom and Dad.... I love you! xoxoxo

I have had a great week.
Swimming almost daily...
Creating again!

Joined a journal group offered by this sweet friend.
For some reason I am finally getting the drift of this journaling thing...
Maybe it's the examples and the step by step instructions...
Maybe it's just that I am filled with the need to create again.
Don't know for sure...
But I do know that when I PACKED... yes I packed away my art stuff... I did a great job...
Unfortunately I can't find some of my favorite things... uggggh!

So... I have been challenged to use what is available... maybe that's part of the secret...
Maybe I had too many things in front of me before and became overwhelmed by the choices.
Anyway... here are a couple shots of what I've been doing...

The cover of my journal...
A couple of years ago I made the paper that covers the book. I want to add more...not sure what, I'm sure it will come to me.

And the inside cover and first page...
The quote is one of my favorites... and seems to fit my life.
As I was making the bookplate on the left, I thought it would be fun to have a journaling center in my classroom... have wanted to do that for so long... anyway, I made a variety of bookplates for the kids to choose from. Such fun!

With each page I feel more confident about what I am creating. That feels good!

Hope you all have a terrific day.

 Breathe in the fresh air!