Wordless Wednesday: Short-lived crabapple blossoms

The blossoms were gorgeous, then very rainy weather came in and knocked all of the blooms from the trees. We enjoyed their beauty for the short time that they were here, though!

Smiles in my day:
- Getting atagirls from our boss. She had written a letter to all of us letting us know "how proud they were" of us in regard to the show opening on Saturday. Later, another letter was sent around in regard to an issue that she had come up against at the end of last week. She hand delivered the note and let us know that it didn't apply to us. She told us that she doesn't stop in that often and check in on us not because she doesn't care, but because she knows that she doesn't have to worry about us. She knows that we'll do what needs to be done. We thanked her and my heart smiled big.
- I got a call at work today. "Is this Amy - - - ?" "Yes." "This is the school nurse at - - Elementary." [Insert concern.] "Yes." "K-'s teacher sent her down to me because her cheeks are really red." "Yes, well my guess was that she was just running around chasing the boys at recess." [Insert chuckle from nurse.] "That is EXACTLY what she just told me!" "K- is just one of those kids that get rosey cheeks. The warmer the weather gets, the rosier the cheeks become. Did you check her temperature?" "No." "Does she seem okay?" "Yes. Well, there was some concern since 5ths Disease seems to be going around." "Oh! Well, she already had that!" "Great! Okay then! Bye!" Glad that it was a false alarm! And yes, her cheeks do get that rosey when she is very active, very tired, or very sick.

Have a great day!

Tales from the Trenches: Something I never knew existed

Unschooling.

Now, I never knew this existed.

I know nothing about this other than what was represented in this report. I know that it doesn't make me happy. It makes me sad for the kids, as my husband and I feel that a formal education (we're speaking of public/private/homeschooling . . . ) is necessary. We have a child who is in need of boundaries. She needs to have a firm, but loving hand. This style of learning would not work for her at all. Given the choice of how to conduct her life on her own, she would live in a too small Hannah Montana shirt with a Tinkerbell skirt, leopard print Halloween socks while eating dry cereal and living on PBS kids all day.

I admit that children that are left to their own devices without structure make me worry that they will grow to be extremely flaky and unreliable adults. I worry that they are missing the chunks of education that they might not find appealing, but in a more formal setting (this includes homeschoolers as in many cases, they do many things to socialize their children) opportunities, experiences and whatnot are required of the children-- even for a limited amount of time.

Experiences with their peers is just invaluable. While Hubs and I certainly agree that we don't want K- to be picked on, learning to stand up for yourself and your friends is necessary in life. Learning to do so within the confines of a school or a school type atmosphere is essential. Life isn't always going to be a bowl of cherries. It is up to us to shelter K- to a certain extent while young, but to have her use the skills that we have given to her to advocate for herself. School provides the opportunity to do this in bits and bites.

Children learn with and from each other in a school setting. In homeschooling settings, the younger children learn from their siblings, as they advance in their paces in learning. It is important to learn from their peers, as not everyone learns the same. Learning from peers gives an opportunity to help to problem solve. "This isn't working for me this way, but Zoe works these problems out like this. Let me try to do it her way."

We absolutely love K-'s elementary. We bought a house in the area that we did for several reasons, including the quality of schools. We wouldn't change our choice for anything in the world, but we know that our choice is not a choice for everyone.

How do you feel? I am aware that the news piece is biased. I know that I don't have the full scoop. Honest opinions are always appreciated.

Smiles in my day:
- My friend, Laurie, was able to tweak on my purse so that it stops falling off of me. She put some grommets on my bag to secure the strap. Hooray!
- K-, Hubs and me doing a play with the McDonald's Madame Alexander version of the Wizard of Oz. K- remembers the details much better than us.
- Hubs found the source of the cat smell in our basement. Smudge is mad at us for leaving her down in our very nice, very clean and very spacious basement. She is in a fit of disobedience and we are letting her know who her "pack leader" is. (Thank you, Caesar Milan.)
- The doctor called my mom and confirmed that her test results came back fine. Hooray!

Art openings always have the best food and other fine, fine stories that you don't care about.

Our weekend was jam-packed. My Friday was the point where I couldn't take it any more and I stripped the garden window of all the plants that decided to pass by way of our very cold winter and on to compost heaven. They just hadn't reached their place in the compost heaven yet. I rolled up our city issued gigantic garbage can and just started dumping plants. Don't worry. I saved the pots to refill. I had a lovely pot that died just from being root-bound. I didn't realize! The shamrock died because of the intense cold in the window. I had a few that lacked proper moisture and the cat decided to dig the aloe up and spread all of it's baby parts and pieces all over my faked out console table that I had behind the couch.

Death was around us. It was so sad.

The window was stripped and cleaned. The pots are now in storage on my newly built shelving unit in the shed. (I organized and made my very own potting area in there.) I do have two plants left that were fairly well taken care of during the winter. They were not in the window. Mentally noted for next year.

The dead plant clearing inspired me to go out to the back beds and clear those. Yes, I realize that I should have done it about a month ago but I didn't have the time. As I was clearing one particular section, apparently I frightened a critter that shot out of the hole and bounced off of my leg. I never did find it or what did it, but my guess is a chipmunk.

I folded the laundry I had hung on the line.

K- wanted to go on a walk. We did that, got her ready for bed and I continued to stay up to tend to the pesky task of readying my supplies for the leaded glass demo I was scheduled for the next day.

I had nothing cut out.

I had nothing gathered up.

Diet Cherry Coke took me to where I needed to be.

Hubs had gone to bed early since he had to get up at 4 AM to ready himself for a fishing derby he was overseeing. After I got all of my studio work done, I snuggled up on the couch, so as not to disturb sleeping beauty. I did wake to the smell of coffee at 4 AM, something that neither one of us drink, but Hubs volunteers do. They would withhold work if they didn't have coffee.

Y'all, even though I don't drink it, I have to tell you that the coffee did not smell good. I guess I'm used to the smell of gallery coffee. It is so strong that it would make you peel your eyelids off the ceiling.

Very sweet-like, Hubs o' mine gave me a kiss on the head and whispered, "Honey, you can go to bed now." I staggered to bed and fell asleep to something on TV that I turned on and don't even remember.

I dropped K- off with my friend, Laurie. Laurie took her to her Lowe's building workshop. I went onward to work and hung out there for over four hours. I made three frames, all the while on the clock, ate some lovely food, talked to people, showed them how to solder a smooth, straight line and went back to get K-.

A side note: Taco Bell's Cherry Limeade is FANTASTIC. 'Nuff said.

K- had such a great time that she didn't want to leave. She never does. I swear, I don't know what Laurie does with the child but I think K- would live there if we told her it was okay.

When we got home, Hubs was there! His fishing derby went well, despite the rain that both he and I experienced while doing our outside work things. (I was undercover, don't worry.) It was 3:30 PM when I walked in. I smelled of soldering smoke. I was tired. We were all tired. I took a bath. We did a catch-as-catch-can dinner and we sacked out with Storm Chasers videos and our end-of-the-evening flick of Twister.

I think that K- may grow up to be a storm chaser. I just don't think that she knows it yet. Driving down the road today, she yelled, "Step on it! There's a tornado!" Then, she was just laughing and laughing. Who knows? She used to want to be a vet.

Anyhow. That brings us to today. K- and I went to Sunday School and church. Hubs met up with me at church later. We ran home for lunch, then on to the last swim lesson of the season (PRAISE JESUS!), onward to an early dinner at Bob's, then on to activate our gifted-to-us swim pass (which required more time than getting a drivers license and even required K-'s birth certificate!) and since we skipped getting K- the celebratory ice cream at Bob's, we waited for digestion to take place and took her to our favorite home owned place. Yum. After that, we decided to have a good chuckle at the "aisles of misfit products" that Big Lots had to offer.

We giggle at some things that didn't make the cut. We laugh at the winter packaged products that are still priced the regular "mark down" Big Lots price regardless to the regular products in the same pile with the items. I did find Kashi Cinnamon Wheat Square cereal, Terra Stripes and Blues Chips, Kashi Apple Bars, Curious George Band-Aids, a car wash mitt, a new litter mat for Smudge and a replacement paint pan for church since I think we pitched the one I used last year. Yes, the food is well within date. I love finding good food at a good price. It made me smile!

K- and I busted out the rest of the Geronimo Stilton book that we were reading. Frankly, Geronimo Stilton is not my favorite (this is the first book, so I should give it more of a chance since she liked it well enough.) The book was K-'s prize for getting to 700 on the 100 book challenge.

That brings us to the end of my day. We're all bushed. But, here is a picture of my baby on her last day of swim class. Smiles in my weekend:
- Sprinkled in above.

Have a great day!

A voice for many

Another building meeting was today. This one featured the little troll of a man that is a part of the school board. I tell you, he is just a nasty, mean old guy.

The meeting went on, as usual, with the architect discussing the few bones that they changed slightly to basically meet halfway with our needs.

Parents and teachers brought up the additional space in the kitchen. It is a warming kitchen. Gone are the days of the "lunch ladies" actually assembling food products, cooking them and serving. What our school system sees fit is heat and eat food. The Librarian brought up our need for Jamie Oliver and to that I said, "Amen!" (I'm a good Baptist, what can I say?) I said that we could defend all of the additional space allotted to the kitchen by giving them food that didn't make my child vomit, I would be thrilled. (The lunch women told the visiting parents and teachers that the new school kitchens were equipped with extra freezers and garbage disposals that they don't need since they don't actually assemble food.) I told them considering that we have 75 extra children than what the plans allow for, go ahead and allot some of the space to the learning. Many people said several different things regarding the stated size of the new school. In the end, Mr. School Board Troll said, "Well, we could always put the project on hold."

WHAT?! All the librarian could do was yell, "That's a real nice threat!"

Instead of trying to work with us, which is the reason for these community meetings anyhow, he wants us to conform, shut up, have them tell us how it is to go and we are to say, "Oh thank you kind sir."

During the hub-bub, a note was slipped to me by one of the teachers.

"Would you consider writing a letter to the editor of the paper?"

"Oh, yes."

So there you have it. I'm the voice for the teachers, staff and principal of the school. People who can't speak up for themselves for fear of losing their jobs. I've given my e-mail address to be passed around. The principal will be meeting with me and writing me notes, as all e-mail from his box is tracked.

All my husband could do was laugh.

Smiles in my day:
- Two loads of laundry dried on the line.
- A bathroom scrubbed, shower liner changed, floors swept, and kitchen and bathroom mopped.
- The back beds have been cleared. They are not completely weed-free. They may never be completely weed-free. I have piles of yard waste to scoop up tomorrow. I just didn't have the energy tonight. K- and I spent our walking time in the back yard tonight as opposed to our typical bike walk. I didn't have it in me to do both.
- I'll be transplanting my seedlings tomorrow. Long ago and far away they grew out of their holding cells.
- Knowing that I'm going to bed this evening feeling very satisfied with my accomplishments today.

Tired. Have a wonderful weekend!

A few Earth Day deals

Target:
Enter to win a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
Recycle = Reward. Rewards for turning in old electronics, a 5 cent per bag credit on your bill when you use reusable bags and they will send you a $1.00 coupon toward a reusable bag worth $1.49 or more when you mail 5 Target bags in to them using the post paid page from your Sunday circular. They advertised free bags on Sunday, but they ran out of them by the time I got there. :(

Ace Hardware:
My local Ace Hardware will be giving 5 packages of free seeds with any purchase on Earth Day. I might add that they have wonderful rebate deals through April 26. I plan on buying tree spikes (tree food), organic plant food, evergreen food and work gloves (gloves completely free on rebate.)

Because I Said So:
Earth Day Disney Giveaway. Just leave a comment to be entered to win.

Seventh Generation coupon for $1.00 off.

Yahoo Earth Day deals. Offers for some places not in my area, but perhaps they are in yours!

I admit that I was having a hard time finding Earth Day promotions. If you know of one, feel free to post it in the comments. I reserve the right to ditch any spam or anything that is inappropriate or unrelated.

Smiles in my day:
- I got all of my display duties done today. I plan on giving my house a deep clean tomorrow, as it has been getting the short end of the stick for the last few weeks.
- My brother got his driver's license today! He is legal for the first time in YEARS! Hooray!
- Our evening bike walk. We have some great conversations while we walk.

Have a great day!

ETA:
When I was at Ace earlier, I found that my wonderful heavy-duty and brightly colored tomato cages went on sale. Instead of 6.99 each, which I realize is a lot of money for a tomato cage, but they are heavy duty, painted with heavy glossy baked-on paint so that they'll last, they were 4.99 each. I returned the two cages and bought an extra. (The green one that K- wanted.) The extra cage only cost me 1.00 more and now I can put some of my tomato cages out of their misery. I will recycle the really beat up ones.

Since I made two separate trips and bought things both times, I ended up getting 10 packages of seeds for free! I have:
Sweet William
Dianthus
Hollyhocks
Alyssum x 2
Shirley Poppy
Portulaca
Zinnia
Oregon Sugar Pod
Nasturtium

I'm so excited! Many of the seeds I selected will come back again, and the extra peas can be planted for a second sowing in late August.

:)!

Wordless Wednesday: The Horse That Needs a Hair Cut

Smiles in my day:
- I just got a call that my brother's job is going very well. That would be my brother, Billy.
- I had a productive day at work and made money to boot.
- Though I have a co-worker "stuck" in Switzerland, she is with a previous co-worker, so lodging isn't an issue. She'll be well fed and taken care of until she gets back to the states. Sadly, she is to demo leaded glass at the opening on Saturday. Maybe she'll be back in time!

Have a great day!

Tales from the Trenches: A realization

My niece went through an evaluation for ADD the other day. The results are that she has ADD. She's functional, but they need to tweak a bit with her learning here and there.

This child is basically me. She looks like me. She acts like me. She is functioning in school like me.

I've tossed it around for a while, but I seriously think that I can say with certainty that I believe that I would be diagnosed with ADD, as well.

My mother and my co-workers agree. In fact, it's been suggested that I probably have the H portion, as well. I don't know about that. I can be manicky from time to time, but it isn't a constant thing.

My mind has and always runs in 12 directions. There is not just one thing on my mind. There have always been several different processes running all at once. Like a computer that you can layer screens of different applications running-- that is my brain.

There are days, like today, that I know that I'm a goofball. At the end of today, I apologized to my co-worker for my manicky behavior today.

I dropped things all day long.

I believe that my volume was overly loud, though she did bring that to my attention.

I accidentally ripped an earring out of her ear.

Folks, I'm not generally that much of a pile, but I was one hot mess.

When on our evening walk tonight, I was discussing my possible revelation with my husband. "Um, honey? Of course you are ADD. Did you consider it is perhaps ADHD? If I only had 1/4 of your energy, I'd be good."

There are days when I literally feel the swing kick in. I know it, I can tell it and there are days that I can't control it. I do the best that I can do, but I'm probably considered to be that spazed-out Mommy.

I know that I'm only 36, but the ADD thing wasn't as much of a thing when I was little as it is now. My mom said that my brother, Dumpy, tested borderline. She said that without a doubt, I would most definitely be.

It would have been a helpful thing to know about myself a long time ago. My mother, just as my sister, wouldn't have gone the medication route. A diet tweaking seems to be helping my niece. Since my day was so out of whack, I may consider doing a bit of a dietary tweak myself. We'll see how it changes things.

Smiles in my day:
- Rachael at Life with Hannah and Lily welcomed the arrival of her daughter, Ellie, today! 6 lbs 9 oz and 19 1/2" long. Gorgeous with a head full of hair! So happy for Rachael, Lily and Brien!
- K- had her Kindergarten Writing Assessment today. She said that the subject was "A Rainy Day." They didn't know the subject prior to the test, but we've written about rainy days, so she seemed to feel as if she nailed it. They also had to draw a picture to go with the writing. (4 sentence paragraph with introductory sentence, 2 supporting sentences and an ending sentence with appropriate capitalization, end punctuation, writing from left to right, top to bottom and though correct spelling wasn't mandatory, the correct beginning and ending consonants were required, as well as the correct number of syllables presented.) She was nervous this morning and had a belly ache. She didn't want to go to school, but I pressed on and she pulled through. She ate Cheerios on the way, but not many. "I'm listening to my body mommy, and it says no thank you." All the other parents that I talked with today reported the same belly ache problem with their children this morning. Seems as though our pool of 6 year olds were an absolute bundle of nerves. Poor kids!
- Mom's testing today seems to have gone well. There was some thickening found after some bleeding that she experienced, but apparently it is just her body being fine. The doctor still did a biopsy just in case, but he said that everything looks great and seems well. Because there were no cancer or pre-cancerous cells present, he kind of had to carve out a bit more than he originally suspected. She also found out that the fibroids that she has are about the size of a pea and he said that he believes that they will never cause her a problem. Still, she was on my mind a lot today. I prayed much for Mama Mia.
- K-'s reading level has been raised. It's always a little more difficult for the first few weeks of an increase in reader level, but she gets it figured out. Bless her heart, the child has a hard time with "what." She wants to sound it out as w-at.

With that, I'm going to take me and my overly running brain, wind down and settle into bed. K- had a rather long day which resulted in her turning into an absolute pile this evening. She hasn't done that since school started but she totally fell apart. I had to use my whispering voice, but we assured her that we love her and she just needs to sleep.

I'm there with her. 'Night! Have a great day!