Photo #120/365: Hanging Baskets

There were lots of baskets with colorful flowers at the Hy-Vee Garden Center. Today's trip was just to look, but these would look great hanging on my porch.

Photo #119/365: The Garden Center

It was a beautiful day today with temperatures in the mid sixties, and lots of sunshine. I spent some time cleaning out one of my flowerbeds, and then stopped by the Hy-Vee Garden Center. I was looking at the annuals, but I never put any in until after May 10th. My grandma gave me this advice years ago, and I always follow it.

Unfortunately tragedy befell me while I was in the garden center. I dropped my camera and broke it. I ended up taking this picture with my phone.

Photo #118/365: Bagels

After I got off work today, I stopped at Panera Bread to pick up some bagels. They make the best bagels. Yum!

Photo #117/365: Making a Glog

My class is making Glogs. A Glog is an on-line poster that you create on the website, Glogster EDU. As part of our writing program, Being a Writer, we are researching and writing about countries around the world. I decided to give it a new twist and have them do their final draft as a Glog. We are learning how to do this together. I created this poster and checklist to guide our project as we get ready to publish.

Photo #116/365: Lock and Key

Along with Mom's key collection, she also has a couple very interesting looking locks and keys.

Photos 115/365: Mom's Key Collection

Ever since I was a kid, my mom has collected keys and displayed them on her living room wall. I've never seen anything like it anywhere else. Most are antique keys that she has collected over the years, and a few are decorative keys made for display. There is even one that actually has a corkscrew inside. It is a one-of-a-kind collection. When I was over there last night, I decided to try to get some photos of it.

Photo #114/365: Easter Breakfast

Michael was in Des Moines this weekend. On Saturday his room mate, Laura, was a model in the fashion show at the Hair Ball at the Art Center. Michael went to the ball to watch her and take photos.



Michael and I had breakfast together on Easter Morning. We went to IHOP in Ankeny before I drove him back to Ames. We had a delicious breakfast. I highly recommend the Multigrain and Nut Pancakes.

Photo #113/365: Mickey Easter Banner

My next door neighbor is a big Mickey Mouse fan. I noticed they had this new banner for Easter. This Mickey Mouse/Bunny is kind of cute!

Photo #112/365: Jacci's Hyacinth

My brother-in-law spends lots of time on their flowerbeds. He has 3 flats of mulch, just waiting to be spread around. I always enjoy seeing all their perenials return and bloom each year. These Hyacinth are a much deeper purple than most I have seen.

Photo #111/365: Turtle Magnet

This cute little magnet was given to me by colleague many years ago. I collect turtles.

Photo #110/365: Yellow and White Daffodils

These yellow and white daffodils are blooming in my neighbor's back yard. I just leaned over the fence and took a shot. It's been a chilly and sometimes rainy week, so it is really nice to see these spots of color reminding us that spring really is here.

Photo #109/365: Messy Desk

It was a rainy cold day here, so we had another day of inside recess. There was plenty of action going on in our classroom. We are learning how to make Glogs. I write pretty good lesson plans for lots of details. Unfortunately, my desk is always a victim of our busy days. It's a mess!

Photo #108/365: Chips

We use these chips for math or as markers when we play multiplication or division Bingo. I like the colors.

Photo #107/365: New Pencils

In March, when we were preparing to take Iowa Tests of Basic Skills, we received a large bundle of brand new pencils. Our class has enjoyed have pencils without the erasers worn away.

Photo #106/365: Hyacinth in Purple

Once again these are from my neighbor's yard. There's nothing growing in my yard yet. It's been a windy and chilly day, but we can still enjoy spring's color.

Photo #105/365: Make Mistakes!

I love school supplies! This bundle of unsharpened pencils with their brand new erasures are just waiting to be used by our eager learners. It's okay to make mistakes in this room.

Photo #104/365: What Are the Chances?

We use these ten sided die for math. This week we were using them to practice multiplication of multiples of ten. They're kind of interesting looking compared to a boring old cube.

Photo #103/365: The Magnolia Trees Are In Bloom

The Magnolia Trees are in bloom again. I love the beauty of these trees. You have to enjoy the blooms while you can, because they don't last long. This tree stands in front of school. Right now, because of wear and tear on the school lawn, it is surrounded by a fence, so you can't get very close. This tree was my subject almost exactly one year ago today.

Photo #102/365: When In Doubt, Photograph the Dog!

Bailey was my companion for the day. We did all his favorite things, mainly sleep.

Photo #101/365: For the Love of Mickey

I am still struggling with a respiratory infection, so I stayed home sick today, therefore, my photos had to be taken close to home.

My next door neighbor is a big fan of Mickey Mouse. She has lots of Mickey items that they display through out the year. My favorite is this sculpture that was carved from the tree that stood in their yard. You can see the full figure in this photo I took last year. Mickey Liberty

Photo #100/365: Grade In

In response to all the teacher bashing that's been going on, the Des Moines Education Association held a "Grade In" today to illustrate the time that teachers spend working weekends and evenings. I took my cart, filled with all the things I brought home to work on, and headed out to Merle Hay Mall to grade papers in the food court.

Education in Iowa is facing serious cuts again this year. A rally will be held on Wednesday at the state capital asking for 2% allowable growth in funding. Our governor wants to give us 0.

Photo #99/365: Wind Advisory

We've had unusually hot weather this weekend. Unfortunately, in Iowa that often means violent thunderstorms. There were a number of tornadoes in the northern part of the state, and we have wind advisories today. The flags are flying at half mast because of the shooting death of a deputy in a neighboring county.

Photo #98/365: Fever

My fever is gone now, but I've spent the past few days with another respiratory infection. The temperature outside was 89 today, so you don't expect to be dealing with a cold.

Photo #97/365: White Hyacinth

There's nothing going on in my yard yet, but I saw these beautiful white hyacinth blossoms across the street.

Photo #96/365: Rustic

I've been ill the past few days, so I'm playing catch up again with my photo blog.




This rustic glider would not be as rustic if I would take the time to sand it down and repaint it. It was in my back yard when I bought this house ten years ago. I have repainted it once, but it is in serious need of a redo.

Photo #95/365: First Daffodils

I guess it's finally spring. These are the first daffodils that I have noticed in my neighborhood. They are along the side of my neighbor's house. Last week I saw some behind the house which is next door to school, but I figured I shouldn't go traipsing around in their backyard. I might get into trouble that way.

Photo #94/365: Weather Change

Yesterday we had an unusually warm day, with record breaking temperatures of 87 degrees. By evening, however, the wind had picked up, and the temperature had dropped almost 40 degrees. Today our high is only 48 degrees with wind gusts as high as 50 MPH. One minute the sun is shining brightly, and the next minute the clouds roll in and hide the sun.

Photo #93/365: A Costco Treat

Stopping at the snack bar after I finish my shopping is a regular ritual when I go to Costco. It used to be the hot dog and pop for $1.50 that was my favorite, but today I tried the Hand Dipped Ice Cream Bar which is also only $1.50. It was a lot of creamy vanilla ice cream enveloped in chocolate and chopped almonds. I'm sorry, but I had to take a few bites before I could take the time to photograph it. It was delicious!

Photo #92/365: Sure Sign of Spring

There aren't any plants here yet, but the fence and shelters are up. They're already stocking up on soil and mulch. When Hy-Vee sets up their greenhouse, that's a sure sign of spring.

Photo #91/365: Owl Pellets

It been a busy week starting with my trip to Edcamp Omaha last Saturday, Iowa Test of Basic Skills, and presenting a technology PD on Wednesday. We wrapped up the week with one of the highlights of fourth grade, dissecting owl pellets. This is part of our Foss Science unit on The Human Body.

The actual dissection is done with toothpicks. Everyone works to identify the bones they find inside of the owl pellet. The kids had a ball, and they learned a lot.

By the time I got home, I was so exhausted that I crashed on the couch.