Happy Birthday Baby Bear!

Well, not until much later in the day.  After all, you don't turn your new age until the time you were born.  And it's certainly not my fault you didn't arrive until almost tomorrow! 

We are just delighted that you made it in May (because after all, this is about me and I love emeralds!).

You have grown into just the person we expected.   You arrived wide-eyed staring at the world. . .and continued to be wide-eyed at night for years to come.  So you are a night owl.  That's not so much of a problem now as it was back at the beginning.

You treat others with kindness and compassion. . .never forgetting that they too are facing struggles.  While that may drive some people crazy, I love it.  It's what God hopes for us.

We'll have a summer of fun together.  Let's not waste any time.  Nothing but happiness and love for my Emerald Girl!

Rain Drops Keep Falling on my Head

Oh the beautiful sound of a roll of thunder followed by the patter splat patter splat of rain hitting the deck!

We've not had much rain in these parts for a while.  So while it was delightful to spend part of yesterday afternoon on the deck soaking up some sun and reading, we were thrilled to be driven into the house by clouds then thunder then rain.

Things around here have been drying out.  Even though common sense says "don't burn during high temps and no rain" people down the road from me were starting fires to burn off  twigs and yard waste.  Scary!

Might as well listen to the happy little tune that I started singing when the rains started.  We had a nice long soaking rain followed by a lingering drizzle.  Very nice.

Vacation all I ever wanted!

It goes without saying that I love my job.  However, when the year winds down and the days are hot and full of sunshine, I am absolutely ready for summer vacation.  At the end of May and beginning of June I have my list of things to do.  Might as well share.  Perhaps making it public will mean that it happens, right?

Home projects:

• Build those shelves I mentioned back in February
• Build the benches to go with the rustic farmhouse table we built in April.
• Sand and paint the kitchen chairs to match the table and benches we built
• Build the two walls to make the bedroom/storm-room in the basement
• Clean/organize/purge the basement
• Paint the laundry room, upstairs hallway and maybe part of the basement
• (Clean out the garage!)

Projects with the kids:

• Paint the desk chair--turquoise!!!
• Paint their name signs, an unfinished project from last summer
• Find a vet's office or animal rescue spot for my youngest to volunteer at a few times this summer
• Bake up a freezer full of breakfast treats for next school year!  English muffins, bagels and kuchens would be nice
• Work in the garden.  We really want to have more fresh vegetables and berries.
• (Build a playhouse/shed)
• (Build a campsite down in the woods perhaps looking into the cost of some canvas shading that would provide some measure of tick protection too)

Fun times:

• Swimming.  Lots and lots of swimming!
• Short road trips.  Right now I'm looking at trips to 3 or 4 nearby "big" cities for a few days at a time.  In three of those cities we have friends we can hang out with rather than have to stay in hotels. 
• Many trips to the library/long afternoons reading
• Take in a few baseball games.  Baseball was a huge part of my life when I a kid; I feel it should be part of theirs too. 

That looks like a pretty good list to get us started!

Memorial Day

Today is the day of the Great American Cookout to kick off the summer.

Not in my house.

We never had the cookout on Memorial Day.

No siree.  Today is the day to remember the soldiers who have fought for their nation. . .to protect democracy and people over the years.

Today we say thank you to those soldiers, as well as their families and friends, for the sacrifices they made for their country.

Thank you for your service.  Thank you for your devotion.  Thank you for your sacrifice.

Today we remember you.

We Just Have to Say Goodbye

At the end of a school year I get all optimistic about how next year is going to be different.  I get to a point where I'm just ready to be done--after all, my students are "just drillin' holes" after a while. 

But, it means saying a lot of goodbyes.  Some years it's incredibly difficult to send these young men and women on their way.  I have had the good fortune to work with some really incredible kids.  This year I was lucky enough to get to take one group of talented kids to state competition.  It was a very small group.  But it was the first time our school had sent a group to state for this academic competition so we were pretty impressed with ourselves. 

But now our good times are over.  It's time to send another group off into the "real world" (whatever exactly that means).  They are off to bigger and better things.  I always get a bit excited for my kids who didn't quite fit in because when they get to college they will find other kids just like them.  They will be happier than they have ever been before.

A few years ago I had a very special group that graduated.  The night of graduation I drove up to school listening to a song by Joey + Rory "To Say Goodbye."  You can listen to it on their website (scroll down to see it on the jukebox).  I cried.  It's a touching song on it's own.  But the last 2 lines really resonated with me on that night: 

"No it ain’t let that we can’t let them go,
We just want to say goodbye"

Graduation is important to me.  Those kids come in and for four years they are my kids.  I see them become young men and women.  It amazes me every time.  Most of the time graduation is the last time I see these kids.

So when I am sitting on the football field with my kids, someone else's precious baby that is graduating--sometimes after tremendous challenges--I am so honored to be there.  But I'm a bit of a tourist.  I take the picture their parents can't get.  The impossibly close up picture as they shake hands with their teachers after they have walked across the stage.  The picture of them signing for their diplomas.  The whole time thinking that it isn't that I can't let them go. . .I just have to say goodbye.

Speedy Mexican

Sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures.  One night I had limited supplies on hand, limited time and hungry people.  This was our creation.  They liked it well enough for us to put it into the regular rotation.

Speedy Mexican
3/4-1 lb ground beef
1 jar Newman's Peach Salsa
1/2-1 c frozen corn (as your family likes it)
Shredded Cheese
Tortillas (any size will work)

Brown meat then add salsa and corn.

Put tortilla on a baking pan. Spread meat/salsa corn mixture on and top with cheese. Layer another tortilla on top with the same mixture; repeat layers. Add another tortilla and top with cheese.. I make mine 3-4 tortillas deep with the last tortilla getting cheese only.

(Generally I use 3/4 lb ground beef and make 2 of this "tortilla pie/lasagna like" things which is enough for us.)

Bake at 425 until the cheese on top is melted or if you are really in a hurry throw in the broiler for a couple of minutes to melt the cheese

Cut like a pizza and serve with more salsa, lettuce and jalapenos.

Also, sometimes I fry onions in butter/sugar to top the tortilla stacks.

Six Weeks Muffins

It's about time to mix up some muffins.  Lazy summer mornings often require "food on demand" for kids who get up at different times.  Having this mix in the fridge means fresh muffins and easy mornings.

Six Weeks Muffins
This batter may be kept in refrigerator for up to 6 weeks. Make only the amount you need
1 (15 oz) box Raisin Bran
3 c sugar
5 c plain flour
5 tsp soda
2 tsp salt
1 c oil
4 eggs
1 qt buttermilk

Mix Raisin Bran and buttermilk. Add remaining ingredients. Spoon into the muffin pan.  Bake at 400 F for 15-20 minutes.

You may substitute oats or wheat flour for part of the flour. I generally use 2 c regular flour, 1 ½ c oats and 1 ½ c wheat flour