Life of the Party

       True friendship is hard to come by, and when you discover you have it, cherish it!  I'm one of the lucky people who has two best friends. They were not always in my life, but perfect timing and good memories have brought them closer.         I took out time today to truly appreciate what I have. Hopefully, one day when we are old, we will see that all this wasted time of hanging out and cooking will be worth the laughs and jokes. It's not the time that matters, but the people we choose to spend it with. Thank the people who are in your life and make sure they know that they matter. I would rather have two best friends than eight "so called friends." 

Oh how I miss the beach!  I want to go back and stay. I'm fully aware that it isn't in my finical budget, but it would be really nice. With all the recent shark attacks being displayed on our local news channel, I was almost deterred from the ocean. Shark week has really helped fuel the negativity too! With SPF 50, I think I was more than prepared.  Maybe some time soon I will return to the sand and waves? Yes, I included a question mark!   I want to go back NOW!!!

     As summer comes to a close, a feeling of anticipation begins to unfold. I love the first few days back as a teacher, when the kids are there. The first days back is a sacred time for me. I map out my "teaching year" and reorganize.        I cannot wait until the first day of school, and I'm dreading open house. I never know what to say to my new students and their parents. Meeting new people is always a plus, but often I become dumbfounded. Hopefully this year will start out great and end well. 

       Vacation is such a simplistic word that defines itself wholly.  I have had to most wonderful carefree week ever. First off my incredibly adopted sister had the perfect “get away” at Myrtle Beach. This was my first adventure to the ocean without being on a field trip. I relished in the grainy sand beneath my feet.         Being away from home was a delight and a burden at the same time. I felt sensations of guilt for not taking my parents for me, but at the same time I felt like I deserved it. The sound of crashing waves surrounded me and swept me away in vast sleep. The calming sensation was and is so alluring.     I would really like to return and spend the whole summer in that hot steamy sand.   The sky was breathtaking and so was the scent of salt. The week was quickly spent collecting seashells, laughing, sun bathing, and site seeing. I really didn’t want to ...

      First of all, I would like to thank the community in which I work. I'm thankful that they provide for their children a summer school of crafts and learning experiences. Our staff strives to make our children aware of their rich background.  I was blessed again this year to be  participating in cultural summer school. I was placed in the gourds class. Below is a mask that I made during our training session with the lead teacher. I'm not very artistic, so hopefully you can identify it as a bear.      After two weeks of extreme fun, I'm very tired and ready for regular school to start. My summer will consist of gardening and lesson planning. Maybe I'll be extra active and have my first weeks of school planned out. I want this coming school year to run smoothly. 

        My poor orca plants have lagged behind, but all hope isn't lost. I will be dumping the Miracle Grow in this tire. Research is in my near future. If any of you have ideas of how to effectively grow this plant, please feel free to email me.   The squash is blooming and I'm super exited.       The green beans have been picked, peaked, and boiled.   The steam coming from the stove fogged up my camera. My mom decided to help. She said you needed to add onions, bacon, and salt to make them eatable.           Gardening is such a rewarding hobby to have. I'm pretty much excited anytime I get to take in the food. I know this winter I will appreciate all this work. I will be bagging them up in freezer bags. Hopefully, I will have around fifteen bags. 

                            I know this seems juvenile, but I was completely ecstatic about reaping my harvest. My green beans will soon be mature enough to take also. The only complaint that I have to make is the fact that I didn't have the opportunity to expand my small garden. The insects are still being pests, but the SEVEN Dust has really accomplished its task. Now, if only I can keep the plants watered and my dogs out of the tire S.   :)  The smile across my face is currently priceless. I was decked out in my camo gardening clothing.    My first tomato is super small, and will continue to ripen in my window sill. I was poised and ready first thing this morning to water, weed, and take inventory of my garden. In all honesty, I was avoiding the squelching humid heat that seems to bear down constantly during the summer. I understand that it is a small tomato, but the joy of this new hobby ...

It's the End of the year, and we are trying to get into gear. As the EOGs are finished, the students are soon to diminish Laughter in the hallways die teachers breath a big sigh Scores are in and they aren't good but we thought they understood The last days with out the kids are like open bids we sit and work in our rooms putting away our witch brooms Silent hallways fill my ears and all the laughter has turned to fears Did I lock my classroom door, or did I forget that daily chore? No more long papers to write, the TURN IN box is a sight. We smile as the eighth graders are promoted, while we smirk at the demoted.

     I have ventured into the world of squash. After my first attempt of failure, I was reluctant to try this again. Squash needs plenty of moisture and care. My first attempt resulted in a dried up plant and anger on my behalf.      You need to also keep in mind the space that this plant requires. It will branch out and neighboring tires will be eclipsed. I usually keep the the ratio to two plants per tire. This allows the nutrients to be equally distributed and there will not be any overlap.      Miracle Grow seems to also help the plant take root. Soon my little plants will be blooming and creating the squash.      Purchasing a water hose was the best idea I have ever had. Carry water via a pail was completely crazy and very time consuming. I make sure that the tire is brimming in water before I move on to the next one. I water the tomatoes briefly. The duration for growth is three to four weeks, and you wi...

      Now that I have fully shown my planting process, I will share photos of how to string the beans up. This takes time and patience, but it's worth it. Having the beans climb will allow you easy access for harvesting. Patience is always the key.       Recently we have been having heavy rainfall and this has in retrospect created a burden. The tires if not properly placed will wash out.  I have now started to place small rocks at the bases of all my tires before adding dirt to them. This process seems to really make a difference in the appearance and effectiveness of the tires. The rocks allows the water to flow out without loosing precious dirt in the process.       Discovering other uses for my tires has been an enjoyment. I think my next step in fully understanding the alternatives to tires will be to explore the prospect of composting. I'm not sure how effective this may be, but I'm willing t...