In America, Memorial Day is when we take time to remember all the men and women who died during military service. My grandfather died in 1944, leaving behind a young widow (my grandmother who was pregnant with my mother). 
Perhaps there are support groups. 
The sun is shining. I'm almost caught up on the laundry. The house is clean. And the banana bread came out perfectly.
Mili heard my son and his girlfriend in the driveway cleaning his car. After a spell of barking, she plopped down to wait for them to head to the backyard. 
Once again, the dead pomegranate tree makes an appearance - this time as a place of respite for a young cardinal learning to fly. The parents were circling around and fussing at me for trying to get close enough to take a picture. Once I put (barking) Mili inside, the parents seemed less worried.
My oldest son stopped by tonight and stayed for dinner. He has sustained himself with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches since he moved out a little over a week ago. I think he missed our cooking more than he missed us. 
A couple of miles from where I live is the remnants of a mill town. The cotton mill is closed now and the water tower no longer used. Some of the company houses are still standing and are currently being used as novelty shops or restaurants/bars.
It is time for the teachers to go home. There is one of me and 60 of them - and they were all clamoring for my attention today ("Can you sign off on this?", "I don't think you really wanted little Johnny to be in Mrs. __'s class.", "How many gifted students did I get compared to Mrs. __?", "You might not know but ___'s parents and I don't have a great history.", "I need to get a new teacher's desk because there is a rust spot on mine.", "I think Mrs. ___ is mad at me because she won't speak to me." and on and on...). Tomorrow is the last day of post planning. That is a good thing because I can't take too much more of this being needed ALL. THE. TIME.
Several years ago, my husband made this wind chime. Since it doesn't really chime, we hung it under the sky light on our porch. After a frustrating round of trying to photograph water dripping from the outside faucet (I can NOT figure this one out yet), I noticed how the fork and knife were glowing in the sun.
Today was my son's graduation. Since all administrators in the system are invited to be on the stage, I got a close view of my boy - which was especially cool when he was giving his speech. He and his girlfriend each had a speech to give. Although I couldn't take my camera on stage with me, I'll have to settle for the visual ingrained in my memory. They both made me so proud!
We had a graduation party/dinner last night. My son's sweet girlfriend blushed and laughed while her godfather told the stories about them. 
I love dragonflies! I remember when my son called them "flagondries." 
It might be time to throw in the towel on the pomegranate tree. Everything else in the garden has leafed out and bloomed. In fact, things have been in bloom since March.
A dust-filled house. Broken tile on the floor (and in the trash). Furnishings crammed into nether regions of the house. Leak under the shower floor. Forgotten bill not paid (my fault - so sorry - so truly sorry). Laundry piled high. Son slowly moving out. Books, clothes, remnants of his childhood not so long ago. Graduation looming. Emotions tucked away for another time. 
It's official! My son made salutatorian of his senior class (out of 600-something students)! 
I love these fuzzy leaves - even when the African Violet isn't in bloom - on my kitchen windowsill. 
Teabagging. It sounds innocent and grandmotherly but trust me when I say it is not.
My cell phone rang approximately 72 times today. From the superintendent to the curriculum director to an angry parent to a concerned grandparent to the PTO President to my sweet husband to a worried teacher... 
When the parent of a habitually tardy or absent student called to to tell me the kids had missed the bus (again) and her car wouldn't start, I decided to go to her house to get the kids. While there, we called someone to come jump start the car so she could go get another battery. 
Most of the time, Miss Poopy is a real treasure. 
Got up and ran in a local 5K. When I got home, I realized a bird was trapped on the porch. She must have gotten in when the door was slightly cracked for the dog.
Sometimes I have to remind myself not to get too focused on the small things. It is important to never lose sight of the big picture.
Three Rules of Work: Out of clutter find simplicity; From discord find harmony; In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity. ~ Albert Einstein 
We prefer it over Cinco de Mayo in our house. After our Mexican feast, my son played his last jazz band concert. 
Just playing around with the inversion tool on Picnik. 
What a gray Sunday this has been! After going for a run (and hoping all the while it would rain because I LOVE running in the rain), I came home and decided to turn on the sprinkler and play. 
I'm worried about my husband. He has been so stressed lately and overworked (guess where he is right now.... yep... at work!). 
