Monday, May 30, 2005
France, Italy, Other
Books about French and France, the Louvre, Italy, Rome, the Vatican and more. One of our favorites at present is Travelers' Tales PARIS edited by James O'Reilly and Sean O'Reilly. The story Monsieur Fix-It by Coleman Lollar has Chris convinced he must see the BHV, 'the world's greatest hardware store', according to the author. Only 23 days before we leave for Europe!
#54
We are all laughing and trying to sing FAST because the tall skinny taper candles kept bending down closer and closer to the cake.
Don't Worry, Be Happy
Seattle could not have asked for more lovely weather this Memorial Day weekend. Friday was a real scorcher which left us all wondering if this wasn't August instead of near June. It was not easy to get through the day in a kindergarten classroom with no air conditioning but we did our best by making cooling accommodations; we taught with the lights out which is very do-able in most of our building since we have lots of skylights. They were allowed to bring books outside at recess and they could sit in the shade to read. We are fortunate to have what is probably the most wooded elementary school in the city. Then, after lunch recess we soaked paper towels in cold water and passed them out to the kids and they thought that was great fun. It was quite a sight too; imagine a class of five and six year olds with their faces plastered with wet paper towels, sitting in a near dark classroom! We sang a song about sea stars, octopus and the like to end our day and they were off; eager to ask their parents to take them to a beach. The hot weather was a great primer for the 3 days to come which became cooler by about 10 degrees each day. Today I doubt that it got much past 70 which is perfect in my opinion. It has been a lazy weekend which I am trying to convince myself is OK. The patio table umbrella is up and I put new bamboo shades on the deck windows. We ate both lunch and dinner on the deck on Saturday. I went to Costco and priced luggage. I do not write much about our trip planning but suffice it to say we are going 'hard at it'. I had purchased 2 pieces of Eddie Bauer luggage from Target but decided it was too expensive so took it back.
The pieces which I thought were on sale at Costco, were NOT. Finally on Sunday morning I found 3 pieces on sale at Fred Meyers for 50% off! The selection was great; I had trouble deciding amongst all the colors, sizes and shapes. But this is it, I am not doing anymore luggage shopping! Sunday afternoon was fun! We went to our friends house and skated the Soos Creek trail then came back to the house and were treated to Valerie's excellent cooking. We had Copper River sockeye on the grill, and two very tasty salads and these great mango tortilla chips with mango salsa. I had made and brought along a cheesecake and ice cream for dessert. This was to celebrate Chris' birthday which is actually on Wednesday. I wasn't about to make a cheesecake just for the 2 of us! Besides, I think the Happy Birthday song needs to be sung by more than one voice to be official. After eating, Chris went outside and played frisbee with Lindsey and he had huge success teaching her to catch it behind her back. He thinks it is attributable to her dance training. She caught it 5 times in a row behind her back! Meanwhile we played Euker in the house. I did NOT do so hot. Fortunately my partner, Valerie, does not play 'for blood' and she didn't seem annoyed at the ridiculous errors I made. I like the game, just don't have much of an opportunity to play. The time just flew by, it was 8:30 before we left. Once at home I read my e-mail and was happy to find a newsy letter from Anna Rae. It is very hot there too as of late. She has been to a pool party and she has been boating; even got picked up from a party on the lake by her host parents. She has been invited to go to Paris again (in a couple weeks), this time with her host family. She continues to make new friends and with every day she realizes more and more how close she has become to so many people in Annecy. It is an emotional time and I feel for her.
This morning I weeded one flower bed and emptied the rain barrel on a few thirsty plants. In the afternoon I went on my St. Vincent De Paul calls with my friend and fellow Vincentian, Billie. Delivered food to 2 families, gassed up one person's car and made out 2 clothing vouchers. And now I think I will get up the energy to vacuum or write up a few report cards.
Oh! The title to the post. Father Mark said mass this weekend and he brought Billy Bass again to help him sermonize. How a fish ties in with Corpus Christi Sunday?...Don't get me going!
The pieces which I thought were on sale at Costco, were NOT. Finally on Sunday morning I found 3 pieces on sale at Fred Meyers for 50% off! The selection was great; I had trouble deciding amongst all the colors, sizes and shapes. But this is it, I am not doing anymore luggage shopping! Sunday afternoon was fun! We went to our friends house and skated the Soos Creek trail then came back to the house and were treated to Valerie's excellent cooking. We had Copper River sockeye on the grill, and two very tasty salads and these great mango tortilla chips with mango salsa. I had made and brought along a cheesecake and ice cream for dessert. This was to celebrate Chris' birthday which is actually on Wednesday. I wasn't about to make a cheesecake just for the 2 of us! Besides, I think the Happy Birthday song needs to be sung by more than one voice to be official. After eating, Chris went outside and played frisbee with Lindsey and he had huge success teaching her to catch it behind her back. He thinks it is attributable to her dance training. She caught it 5 times in a row behind her back! Meanwhile we played Euker in the house. I did NOT do so hot. Fortunately my partner, Valerie, does not play 'for blood' and she didn't seem annoyed at the ridiculous errors I made. I like the game, just don't have much of an opportunity to play. The time just flew by, it was 8:30 before we left. Once at home I read my e-mail and was happy to find a newsy letter from Anna Rae. It is very hot there too as of late. She has been to a pool party and she has been boating; even got picked up from a party on the lake by her host parents. She has been invited to go to Paris again (in a couple weeks), this time with her host family. She continues to make new friends and with every day she realizes more and more how close she has become to so many people in Annecy. It is an emotional time and I feel for her.
This morning I weeded one flower bed and emptied the rain barrel on a few thirsty plants. In the afternoon I went on my St. Vincent De Paul calls with my friend and fellow Vincentian, Billie. Delivered food to 2 families, gassed up one person's car and made out 2 clothing vouchers. And now I think I will get up the energy to vacuum or write up a few report cards.
Oh! The title to the post. Father Mark said mass this weekend and he brought Billy Bass again to help him sermonize. How a fish ties in with Corpus Christi Sunday?...Don't get me going!
Sunday, May 29, 2005
Lupines in Colors of Sorbet
What do you see? The Lupines are the obvious. But do you see the WWII Memorial Rose bud? How about the rhubarb leaf, the sage, the thyme, the lillies soon to bud,
the tubular bells, the Geum, just what do you see?
the tubular bells, the Geum, just what do you see?
Peony
At long last I have peonies! I inherited about 6 plants from my neighbor Helen (a magnificent rose gardener who is now within the gates of heaven, I am sure). Finally, after 5 years of waiting, I have two magnificient flowers with heavenly scent. So I will give them garden space and mulch one more year.
Poppy
The persistance of poppies rivals that of weeds. I must keep one or two but 'heaven forbid' that they should take over a whole bed!
Saturday, May 21, 2005
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Nearly every year my team teaching partner and I take our kindergarten classes to the Center for Wooden Boats on Lake Union in Seattle. It is a fabulous field trip! The children are each outfitted with a life jacket and they set sail in an oomiak (Native American skin boat similar to a very long canoe). Half the class is paddling in an oomiak and the other half is making wooden sailboats inside the center. They use an already formed wooden hull, hand drill, dowel for a mast, hammer, nails, string, ripstop nylon for a sail, and 'Presto!", it's a model sailboat! Each child gets a turn at being a sailor and a boat builder. It is the best field trip for photos unless of course your camera gets wet. It only took a second but, a child yelled' "I dropped my paddle!" and I leaned over to retrieve the paddle and my camera slid off my lap into the 4" of water in the bottom of the boat. The camera actually dried out and I did not loose any of the photos I had taken but it did put a 'damper' on my photo enthusiasm for the remainder of the field trip.
Sunday, May 08, 2005
Happy Mother's Day
It IS a wonderful Mother's Day even though my one and only 'honey girl' is far, far away in Annecy, France. She sent a sentimental (quite uncharacteristic of her) card which she translated and then added her own 'from the heart' message. Then today she called. She sounded SO happy. She has just moved in with her third and last family of her exchange and it is a move she arranged on her own, outside of the Rotary Club (but approved by them). By all accounts it is the most compatible arrangement of all. She says the family is very warm and conversation flows freely. They had a sit down breakfast today as is their Sunday tradition and for lunch they had a barbecue and when she called me the family was watching a DVD together. Today is not Mother's Day in France; this family togetherness is all just a Sunday pattern. She also tells me her bedroom is the biggest in the house and it has doors that open onto the patio which faces the pool. And she has her own bathroom; she is sure going to have some readjusting when back here in our little one and a half bath house! She is also delighted to be with this family because the son, Hugo, goes to her school and Colombe, his girlfriend, is also a close friend to Anna Rae. So,her social circle and family circle mesh nicely. It is really true, all a mother wants is for the well being and happiness of her children. So for me, my Mother's Day is complete.
Saturday, May 07, 2005
Starting My Weekend Right
On Friday after work I went to the Fauntleroy Y for a Pilates class with my favorite instructor, Beth. Since the sky was blue (at least at that moment) she opted to take us outside for the class. As I inhaled "wide to the side" and exhaled "completely"
while gazing up at cedars, maples, sweet gum trees, and the fading flowers of dogwoods, I was able to let less pleasant events of the week slide away...even the student who stuck a carrot up his nose and then ate it upon the suggestion of his lunchmate. Eewww! Yes, it really happened.
while gazing up at cedars, maples, sweet gum trees, and the fading flowers of dogwoods, I was able to let less pleasant events of the week slide away...even the student who stuck a carrot up his nose and then ate it upon the suggestion of his lunchmate. Eewww! Yes, it really happened.
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