Grandma’s Sweater

With summer winding down and school starting, we have slowed our pace of work  on the playhouse. However, I thought I’d show you the front door (even though it’s still a work in progress).

Because it is not a regular size (it’s only five feet tall), Ken had to remake it from another door, but I think it looks pretty cute.  He also made it a Dutch door, by cutting it in half.

We took off the door knob when we painted.  Please squint and don’t pay attention to all the unfinished areas around it.  The floor is going to be painted, too.  (It was planned, but after having the kids help paint, it is now a necessity.) 

Oh…

The color on the door is called Grandma’s Sweater 

by Benjamin Moore (#787). 

Hopefully, before too long we can show the completed house (at least the outside)!

JoAnn

P.S.  Funny thought from one of my new students as he was returning to class following a nose bleed:

“The office told me not to inhale or exhale for a while.”

And you thought your kids were safe at school!  Ha ha!

How to Spend Your Last Weekend of Summer… (with no school projects allowed)!

The final count down to summer’s end had begun and we wanted to do something relaxing and fun. 

FIRST:  We got together with my sister Linda’s family and headed to the hills.  (In Utah we have REAL mountains!)

We saw clear blue skies…towering pine trees…

Fields of pretty wild flowers….

and lots of open, uninhabited space

(if you don’t count the deer, chipmunks, and mosquitos).

This was Bear Country, but thankfully, they didn’t show up!

SECOND:  We found a spot minutes from  a beautiful lake.

 

THIRD:  Of course, we had to pitch a few big tents.

FOURTH:  We took along all the important camping equipment.

FIFTH:  Every mountain retreat needed a campfire and some marshmallow Smores.  This one didn’t disappoint.

SIXTH:  Lots of game time was booked  (with plenty of nutritious snacks included).

We even celebrated a birthday!

Happy Birthday, Maddie!

SEVENTH:  We made sure we took lots of pictures so we could document our new memories.

FINALLY:  The best part of the whole deal was the

thirty minute drive from our own driveways! 

GOOD BYE SUMMER!

P.S.  The out-houses may or may not have been less than desirable.

JoAnn

Back to school….Am I ready?

The last two weeks have been busy ones as I have been getting my classroom ready for the new year, attending trainings, and sitting through too many meetings.  I have UNBOXED all the things that I was required to BOX up in May.  Everything is clean and scrubbed, new or redone (well, almost everything).   Bulletin boards are ready.  Papers are run off.  Supplies are set out.  Lists have been checked and checked again.

I have one more good day’s work tomorrow and then I should be ready. 

However,

I just keep thinking of one more thing that I could do.

(I AM NOT CAPABLE OF EVER BEING TOTALLY FINISHED!  HELP!)

Tonight Marcia (my sister-in-law) asked me what I had planned to do differently this year.  Every year I make my teacher resolutions and they are usually the same:

* try to be patient

* be kind

* be positive (yet firm)

*stay organized and caught up

* use time well

*keep my voice calm and soft

*etc.

Kind of like the teacher that Norman Rockwell depicted in his famous painting.

(No one captured life’s emotions better than Norman Rockwell.)

Every year there are those students that you can instantly bond with.  They want to please and they try hard to follow directions.  I like them and they like me.  They make it easy for me to keep my resolutions!

There will always be a few who like to test the boundaries-to see how far they can stretch the rules.  It takes a little longer to come to a common understanding with them, however, they are usually quite likable and often the class charmers, or clowns.  They are the friendly talkers.  (I have resorted to counting slowly under my breath and breathing deeply.)

A few students will come with more energy and wiggles than ought to be legal.  They are usually cute (probably their saving grace) and have caused many teachers to bite their lips, wring their hands, want to pull out their own hair, and  truly test the meaning of patience.  (Many of them really can’t help it.)

Sometimes, a child will have serious emotional problems and will test you on all accounts.  (If you don’t do anything bizarre like scream, tie them up, or “accidently” lose them on the way to lunch, do you think it still counts as being patient and kind?)

Some advice I once heard:

“You can’t dislike a child on company time.” 

I guess my resolutions should include finding something to like in every child, and making sure they know that I care.

Wish me luck as I start off this brand-new-haven’t-broken-any-resolutions-yet-year!

(I’ll need it!)

JoAnn

Summer’s last hurrah….

Aunt Mardene came to town! 

It is difficult getting her to leave behind her vegetable and flower gardens to come for a visit, but we managed to kidnap her for a few days.  (Thanks, Robbie and Liz!)

(Did I mention that she is 87 and still going strong?)

We had a nice time being with her.

One of our favorite places to go is to the Lion House Pantry for lunch (and some pie, of course) and to see all the beautiful flowers down town.  We rounded up as many of the grand/great nieces and nephews that we could get on short notice and met to enjoy one last summer outing.

Mardene and Linda

The Lion House Pantry is tucked in this little alley in the basement of an old pioneer house that Brigham Young built back in 1856.

The food is served cafeteria style, but it is famous for delicious recipes that have been handed down from one generation to the next.  Their hot rolls are heavenly!

While we were waiting for everyone I snapped a few pictures of the flowers.  (They didn’t forget to fertilize and water their flowers!)

I didn’t get any pictures of all of us (I know, I’m pathetic), but here is a recent one of three of the grand nieces.

Kate, Michelle, and Melissa

Thank goodness Liz took a few pictures.

Robbie and Brooklyn

Katie, Brooklyn, and Maddie

Movie star Maddie

Liz, Aubrey, and I were there, too, but we must have been camera shy (or the ones taking all the pictures)!

Check out this fun site about  Temple Square in down town

Salt Lake City 

 The best part:

While Mardene was here we helped her type up her life history.  Yeah!

Don’t you hate to see summer end?

JoAnn

What Did I Do To My Blog?

Yesterday I put a new post on and somehow I messed up my page.

I do not know what I did to cause only yesterday's blog post to show up.

(The rest are still there on older posts, but I don't like all the blank, black page at the end of my post.)

Can anyone help me?

Thanks,

Desperate JoAnn

?????

Zinnias

Do you like zinnias?

They are one of my favorite flowers.

I love the bright colors,

the varying sizes,

and the fact that they bloom during the hottest part of summer.

(These two pictures were taken from Google)

Not every one likes zinnias, however.

Anne Shirley (Anne of Ingleside and Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery) once said,  "We have no zinnias at Ingleside.  They're the only flowers we're not friends with."

She also said, "What struck the eye immediately, however, above all else, was the colour. It was painted a bright pink, the exact shade of Mrs. Andrews' hideous zinnias that flaunted themselves from her garden every year and quite overwhelmed the more delicate flowers."

The bright shades of pink, yellow, and orange and the way the flaunt themselves are the things that make me like the flowers!  Good for them!

So, why do I only have six lonely zinnias in my yard?

 Here are my feeble excuses:

1.  It was a very wet spring and I didn't get things planted early enough.

2.   We had a new baby this summer (well, Liz and Karl did), and I neglected my garden because I chose to sit and rock her.

3.  The snails got ahead of me (see #1 and #2)

4.  I don't really have a green thumb after all.

5.  The Miracle Grow is still sitting in the container.

6.  We need a sprinkler system!

Here is some great information about zinnias:

gardensablaze.comhttp://www.gardensablaze.com/Annuals/AnnualsZinnia.htm

 "If you didn't grow any Zinnias this year, put them on the top of the spring wish list for next year, and you will thank yourself over and over all season.  This is a plant that is started incredibly easily from seed, flowers very quickly, has a wide range of flower types and colors, withstands full sun and heat, makes an excellent cut flower, attracts bees and butterflies, and can make the difference between so-so garden bed and a spectacular garden showcase.  Whether a beginner or a seasoned gardener, there is a Zinnia out there for every taste, budget, and style.  Creating a Zinnia garden is the perfect way to teach children about gardening, and they will delight in the big, bright, bold colors."

Next summer!

JoAnn
P.S.  My sister is selling her time share in Hawaii. It needs to be used by Dec 17th. Needs to be booked ASAP. It is on Maui at Sands Of Kahana. It is a beautiful place on the beach and sleeps 6. Price $1800. (Saturday to Saturday) That is only 42.86 per night -per person! Includes kitchen, laundry , club house ,pool and sauna. Let me know if you are interested!