Monday, May 31, 2010

Today, I stopped for a moment

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).

There are others whom I've known and loved who have made the ultimate sacrifice for America.

Today, I stopped for a moment. Today, I honored your memory.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Water may be an endless source of fascination to me

Perhaps there are support groups.

Still, I didn't get the splash that I have envisioned. It'll happen one day.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Dreams

The sun is shining. I'm almost caught up on the laundry. The house is clean. And the banana bread came out perfectly.

Now I need a nap.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Sitting in the shadows

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.

I love this creaky, old gate. Almost as much as I love the shadow it makes.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Hang on, little fluff ball

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.

Good call.

I think this is a young male whose feathers are beginning to turn into the trademark red. Females are brown with orange beaks.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Sonshine

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.

Still, he spent a minute bonding with Mili before he left (though he was worried about her business end messing up his shirt).


Tried out a texture for the first time! I can see that textures might be addicting.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Mill town tower

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.

I love the rustic look of the tower with the vines growing up the legs. It may be old - but it still stands proud.

Monday, May 24, 2010

It's time

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.

Sheesh.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Nonessential utensils

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.

It will have to do for now. Maybe one day I'll master the darn water drop. I'll keep trying.

At least it isn't another flower. :)

Saturday, May 22, 2010

The future looks bright

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!

It was hot, sunny.... and muggy! A typical south Georgia morning.

The Story of Them

We had a graduation party/dinner last night. My son's sweet girlfriend blushed and laughed while her godfather told the stories about them.

Today is graduation.

I'm so excited for them!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

The waiting

I love dragonflies! I remember when my son called them "flagondries."

They look like a small piece of a fantasy.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

The tree that spring forgot

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.

It is beginning to sound like we won't have homegrown pomegranates this year. Dagnabit!

Life is still busy, busy, busy....

Love,
bethwhobarelysurvivedthelastdayofschoolwithoutherassistantprincipalandhersecretary

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Flower therapy

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.

And that is just life on the home front.

Tomorrow is the last day of school for the children and I'm going to miss them.

Maybe I'll cry.

Monday, May 17, 2010

It is so cool to be the parent of a smart kid

It's official! My son made salutatorian of his senior class (out of 600-something students)!

Now he has a speech to write. He only thought he was through with school for the summer.

I'm so proud of him!

And I have no idea where he got those genius genes from. Maybe he was swapped in the hospital.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Better never to have met you in my dream than to wake and reach for hands that are not there.

Oh, no. Another flower picture.

This was taken early this morning and the sun came up over the garden wall. Still, I had grand plans for some various shots (read something different than flowers) to try out. Instead, my husband spent the day banging out the tile in the foyer to ready the room for new tile (yay!) while I declared war on the weeds in the backyard.

Can I put my foot down and slow down this merry-go-round called life?

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Calling out to the bees

Teach me how you do it. How you use your wings to propel your bodies through space.

Sometimes I wish I could just fly away...

Friday, May 14, 2010

It's all in the details

I love these fuzzy leaves - even when the African Violet isn't in bloom - on my kitchen windowsill.

We had our annual school dance for all the kids who met their reading goals. It was awesome! Then my (awesome, amazing, fantastic, outstanding, etc) husband came and cooked burgers for the top readers in each class. I love hanging out with super readers!

They make me smile.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

I learned a new word today

Teabagging. It sounds innocent and grandmotherly but trust me when I say it is not.

How is it that an elementary student can know about teabagging?

And why did I have to be the one who blushed when she explained it?

Replacement parts


Yesterday, someone left a basket of gummy body parts on my desk as a joke. It came with a label "Replacement Parts for when you get worn out." It had brains, feet, fingers, and arms in the mix (gross and kind of cool but definitely funny!). Ironically, I noticed it didn't have any hearts.

Last night, we celebrated both of the boy's birthdays by going to eat sushi. Afterwards, my husband and I helped my oldest son move furniture into the house he is going to share with two roommates. On one hand, I'm excited for him getting to move out. On the other hand, I'm sad that my sweet boy won't be living right down the hall.

I think I might need some replacement hearts.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Free to a good home: cellphone

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 I got home, the backyard soothed my soul.

Then I sat in mud. It was an accident. Oh, well... It's only laundry.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Joy is the simplest form of gratitude ~ Karl Barth

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.

This parent hasn't been the most cooperative over the past couple of years but today, I saw a different person. She is a struggling young mother living in poverty trying to do the best she can with what she has.

I need to make more home visits. They help me understand.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Yow!

Most of the time, Miss Poopy is a real treasure.

Except when she leaves us presents...

Happy birthday to my oldest son! He is twenty (and that sounds way too old for me to still be his mother)!

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Sometimes the way home isn't so obvious

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.

The poor bird was frantically calling out to other birds. She couldn't figure out how to get past the screen. Finally, she saw the door propped wide open for her and flew out.

All is well that ends well!

Friday, May 7, 2010

The big picture

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.

We have 8 more days of school with the students and the days feel like a whirlwind. I feel like I am being pulled in 72 directions at one time.

Today, I remembered to breathe.

And a student showed me his Top Secret notebook with his notes. When I asked what A.T. stood for, he said, "Alien Technology." When I asked what U.A.T. stood for, he said, "Ultimate Alien Technology."

This is why I love elementary school!

By the way, the picture is of the ring that holds up the wind chimes. It was glowing in the sunlight. Now I'm off for a *happy* time with my husband and some friends that may or may not involve libations. I just feel happy. Soon, I will be even happier.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

From acorns big oaks grow


Kids remind me of acorns (just because I need another analogy in my life). They start off so small and grow up so fast.

After dealing with a child who had yelled at the teacher for taking her scissors away during a lesson, I took her back to the teacher to apologize.

Me: "What do you need to say?"

Student: "I'm sorry."

Me: "For..." (I always make them say what they are sorry for because I'm mean like that.)

Student (who looks at me with a slightly irritated look): "I'm sorry."

Me: "For...." (At least I'm persistent.)

Student (who shrugs her shoulders as if defeated and then starts counting on her fingers): "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

These kids just crack me up!

Work

Three Rules of Work: Out of clutter find simplicity; From discord find harmony; In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity. ~ Albert Einstein

As I was leaving work yesterday (another 10.5 hour day... more the norm than not), I noticed the school reflecting in my bumper. For whatever reason, it gave me a moment to pause. I'm worn out but I'm thankful for my job. I want to be home but being at work helps provide for that home. I want to sleep but I keep thinking of work-related things.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Quatro de Mayo

We prefer it over Cinco de Mayo in our house. After our Mexican feast, my son played his last jazz band concert.

A tissue may or may not have been used.

The auditorium they played in is slated to be destroyed sometime in the near future. I remember performing in a couple of plays on this stage. There was even a beauty pageant I competed in (it may shock some people to know I didn't win... kidding... I didn't stand a chance). Still , the best memories are going to be of watching my sons' concerts and my step-daughters' dance recitals.

Maybe I'll be able to steal one of the cool aqua blue blocks when the demolition really occurs.

Monday, May 3, 2010

So, there IS life on Mars...

Just playing around with the inversion tool on Picnik.

And searching for intelligent life...

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Are you ever too old to run through the sprinkler?

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.

Too bad the dog wouldn't join me. She really needs a bath. :)

Saturday, May 1, 2010

In the garden, my soul is sunshine

I'm worried about my husband. He has been so stressed lately and overworked (guess where he is right now.... yep... at work!).

As I worked in the garden today, I really missed him. Working in the yard is so healing for both of us. I guess I just like to be healed with him.