School's Out For Summer.....

Yes, that was me you heard whooping it up. I have never been soooooo ready for summer break! I have 2 workshops next week, then I can let the fun begin................

Personal note: I will be teaching 5th grade next year instead of 3rd. I am already packing up my stuff again to move across campus.




Happy Birthday Liam!!!!

The Mayhaw Man

Moma and Daddy at the Starks Mayhaw Festival

Recently my hometown, Starks, held its annual mayhaw festival. My dad always has a booth, and this year was no exception. Daddy makes all kinds of jelly, but mayhaw is his specialty. The past few years he has claimed that each year was his last. It is getting harder and harder for him. Moma helps him sell the jelly, and she has always done this even when she was working full time as a postmaster in Starks. Note, I said she helps him sell the jelly. He makes the jelly. They do make a great team. In about a month, he will be selling watermelons there in Starks. Look for him there on highway 12 east in Starks. He will make you a great deal on a watermelon. He will talk your ear off as well, and you will leave with a friend.

I Found My Thrill.....

Our first blueberry crop!


Back in March Randy and I went to the Forest Hill Nursery Festival in Forest Hill, LA. We set a budget before we left, and stuck to it. Actually, I think we spent $30 less than we were going to allow ourselves. We bought azaleas, camellias, live oaks, witch hazel bush,bridal wreath, and Indian Hawthorn. I also decided that I would like to try my hand at blue berries. We bought two bushes. They are really doing well, and today we picked a whole bowl full. I am excited about them, and next year I plan to add to my orchard!

It has been a while....

It has been a week or so since I blogged anything. Several reasons...we are one step from dial up out here with an AT&T air card. We have the best service we have ever had, but it still takes forever to upload a picture. I just do not have the patience at times. Another reason I have not written anything is that I guess I have not felt like I have done anything notable. I went to Greg's graduation last Saturday, but Sarah told about that as she should. I enjoyed the day though seeing Greg get his diploma and getting to see Liam who is now WALKING!!!! Where did the time go? Liam will be one year old in a week. Not only is he walking, he is also saying a few words and darn it all I think he said Paw Paw the other day. He thinks Randy is great and actually follows him around. Could it be that Randy is the chief 4 wheeler ride giver? No, he just loves his PawPaw!

This week marks an anniversary of sorts. It will be a year tomorrow that our little school out here at Fields closed its doors forever. I have been reflective this week as I finish my first year at DeQuincy Elementary. The closing of our school was a death that I still grieve like the loss of a friend. I worked there for 15 years. I had a sweet little comfort zone. I still harbor anger at those who made the decison to close the school. I use to say I was going to school every morning. Now, I go to work. I have lost my joy for teaching. It has now become a job. That is never fun.

I miss my coworkers. I still see them. We meet every two months to stay in contact. We call it our support group. Most of them are at Singer High School. I was offered a job there, but chose to resign. That is how I ended up in Calcasieu parish. I know I was blessed with the job I have. It is 11 miles from my home. Althought that is twice as far as I use to drive, it is not a commute at all. My new coworkers are wonderful, dedicated educators who are kind to me.

So why am I still struggling so? It is me I know. I just need to "get over it". Like I say, my joy for teaching is gone. I have been a cheerleader sponsor, various club sponsor, and was the school fund raiser chairperson the last few years. Some years I wore all those hats and was a classroom teacher as well. Now I struggle just doing what is expected of me in the classroom. I am teaching at the lowest grade level(3rd) I ever have, and I struggle daily with my effectiveness there. I use to never doubt my teaching ability, but as I said I doubt my effectiveness to these children. Every morning during "quiet time", I ask for patience and kindness towards all. I am hoping that the summer renews me, and that all the new procedures I struggled with at the beginning of last year will not seem so new.

Everyone, forgive my whining and selfishness. I know my life is blessed and from where those blessings come.

Mother's Day II

After reading all the different posts about Mother's Day celebrations(especially Sarah's) I had to describe mine. Friday night, Randy and I were in Walmart and he said,"Mother's Day is next weekend, right?" I knew then I could forget about any gaily wrapped fantasies. Saturday evening, we went out to eat...my pick....I did not care, so I told him to pick. We went to Logan's which is great. We called Daniel to see if he could meet us, and he could. We enjoyed the evening with our youngest who is moving to Baton Rouge this summer and will be going to LSU in the fall. I treasure the times we get to see him for I know when he moves we will not see him as much. We again, stopped at Walmart(my car will not pass it up). Randy told me to pick myself out some flowers, but you know....it just isn't the same. Sunday, I visited my mother. Sarah called me and wished me happy Mother's Day. Right before 11(we were already in bed) our oldest, Jacob called to wish me happy Mother's Day as well. He told me he had been thinking about me all day....that was the greatest gift of all!

Randy runs hot and cold on gift giving. I might get showered one year or on one occasion, and it is dry on the next. I have learned to take it in stride. Randy has rubbed my feet every night since Sunday....I think that is a pretty good gift! I have the smoothest feet in the parish!

At Christmas Randy said if there was something I want I should say it twice.....Willow Tree makes a grandmother angel...........Willow Tree makes a grandmother angel.

Speaking of gifts, last week was National Teacher's Appreciation Week. Some of my students were really generous to me. I received a LSU bag, a $20 gift card to target, a picture frame, a paper weight, a key chain, a cup with a B on it, and I won a $15 gift card to Subway in the drawing for all the teachers. I felt really appreciated and was touched by the generosity.

These are two of the gifts I received last week during National Teacher's Appreciation Week.

What's blooming

A potato vine and petunias.
Impatients that volunteered. I love something that blooms for you with no help.
Butterflies like cannas too.
Magnolias....my favorite...our state flower...a symbol of the South.

My first calla lilly.

Spring has been beautiful this year. Here are some pictures of what is blooming right now at 316 Bruce Hyatt Road.

Happy Mother's Day

This is my mom with her first great grandchild, Sarah's Liam.

Being a mother has been and is the greatest joy of my life. Happy Mother's Day to all!

Shhhhh...I played hooky!

Yesterday, I took the day off to stay home to visit with Sarah, Greg, and Liam. They came over Monday evening to bring a friend to her parents...see Sarah's blog for the details.

I enjoyed the random Tuesday off. I took a morning walk, played with Liam, rode Liam on the 4-wheeler, took a nap when Liam took one, and grilled some burgers for supper. My mom came up and ate with us too. The only bad part to the day was when Sarah, Greg, and Liam left that evening at his bedtime.

It was back to work today. I had hoped the day off would recharge me, but I was dead tired again when I got home. Third graders wear me completely out!

Newsflash.....Liam can say thank you. He said both words several times yesterday evening. I am thinking of changing my name to Thank You so that I can say he said my name first!

17 school days and counting...................

Name Game

Everyone has names for their family pets. We have had dogs named Jackson, Callie, Mandy, Meme, and Roxie. We had a poodle mix show up here that I named Captain Scruffers because he looked like an old sea captain. For some reason I have named most of our animals. We have had cows named Mama, Ginger, Darcy, Beoncee, and Baby Boy. We have had cats named Gracie, Fuzzy, Sam, and my childhood cat was named Big Mama.

I also like to name vehicles. My car is named Dr. Phil. Why? I don't know, that is just what came to me. Randy's truck is named Blanco Grande. Yes, it is large and white. The 4wheeler is Little Red and the motorcycle is Traveler. I suppose I try to make everything part of the family.