Embroidered Cards

 It's a brand new year, and in spite of the pandemic, it is still an opportunity for new goals and new endeavors.  I had expected to be spending a lot of time at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Center.  I haven't been able to do that, but I am still taking classes, learning new things, and volunteering from home.  Right now I am learning how to make embroidered botanical cards.  I used to do quite a bit of embroidery, but always on fabric.  It never occurred to me that you could embroider a card.  This last week I learned how.  I participated in a training with other volunteers to learn how to do this, and it is fun!  Eventually our cards will be sold in the Botanical Garden gift shop.  Here is my very first attempt.

My Gratitude for Today

1. The opportunity to learn new things.

2. Being creative.

3.  My comfortable home.

Finding My Way

Like everyone else, I am trying to find my way during this unprecedented time of an international pandemic.  Here in Des Moines we have been out of school for three weeks now.  We learned last week that we will not be going back to school during this school year.  We will be moving to distance learning, though we don't yet know what that means.

I am retired from the classroom, but I still work at the same school where I taught.  I am now in my thirtieth year.  I work as an AmeriCorps reading tutor.  This was my fourth year on an AmeriCorps contract.   I knew this would be my last year in this position, so I had already been thinking a lot about what I wanted to do with my time in the future.  This wasn't quite the way I had expected this year to unfold. But it definitely is an opportunity to practice and explore a more relaxed version of retirement.

I also volunteer at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.  The Garden is closed as well.  However it is spring and I have been taking time to start seeds, plan my garden, and begin clearing flower beds.  Instead of trying to fit that in with working at two places, I can work at it a little each day, at least when the weather cooperates.

Strawberry plants I ordered arrived, and I planted them in a raised bed.  Unfortunately we went from 60 degrees to 26 in a matter of 2 days, so I covered them with tarps and screens.  Today we are back up to 63 degrees, and hopefully they will flourish.  I have never grown strawberries before.  A lot of my seeds are beginning to sprout and grow, and it does make me happy to see them. I have started tomato, peppers, and zinnia seeds so far.

Usually I live alone with my two little dogs.  My mother and her dog, Abbey, are staying with me right now.  That definitely helps to alleviate the feelings of isolation.  It also cuts down on the worrying I would be doing if she was staying at her own place.  Along with companionship, I am cooking more and eating healthier than I might be doing if I was here alone, 

Yesterday my church streamed the church service online. It was Palm Sunday, so we even had communion.  That is cranberry/cherry juice in that cup, not wine. My son, who lives in Madrid, Spain, watched the service with me.  I just loved seeing the notification that he was watching too.  Afterwards, we used Facebook Messenger Video streaming, so we could talk to and see each other.  It was such an amazing way to start my week, and it is something we had not done before.

I do feel there is good that can come from this time.  I am learning a lot about what makes me happy as I spend time here at home. As I watch the news, I am so grateful that I have a comfortable home, and that I have food and the things I need.

Staying at home, demands that we be creative with solving problems.  I am shopping on line, using things I already have, and being more creative with materials on hand, instead of running to the store to buy more.  This afternoon I picked up my grocery order.  I never thought I would be so excited to get groceries.

Gratitude for Today

• I love my home and my neighborhood.
• I am enjoying spending more time with my dogs.
• I love walks with the dogs, and they sure love it too.
• I am getting excited about growing things in the garden.
• I am communicating more with friends and family.
• I am using things I have instead of buying new.
• Mom and Abbey are here and I do not have to worry about them.
• Technology makes it possible to keep touch with my kids.
• I love the creative music videos that people are creating and posting on line.  

A Good Night's Sleep

A few weeks ago I had a sleep study.  I have never been much of a sleeper.  I usually go to sleep by nine thirty or ten at night, but I don't stay asleep.  I wake up multiple times during the night, and if I have a lot on my mind, I sometimes cannot go back to sleep.  I rarely sleep until my alarm goes off.  I am usually up by four thirty or five a.m.

I never really thought a lot about it.  I figured this is just the way I am.  I viewed myself as a morning person.  My daughter and my sister thought otherwise, which is what prompted us to discuss my sleep patterns with my cardiologist and pulmonologist.

Turns out I have sleep apnea!  I am now getting used to using a CPAP machine.  It is not an easy adjustment, but I am already sleeping longer than I was.

I have to laugh at myself, because I have several friends who use CPAPs, but never once did I wonder if I had similar sleep issues.  Well, live and learn!  Now I am asking these friends a lot of questions about their experiences.  Oh, and I've had to start setting the alarm clock when I need to be up at a certain time.

My Gratitude for Today

1. I slept 7 1/2 hours last night without waking or getting up once.  I am beginning to adjust to the CPAP machine.
2. Time with friends, and their willingness to share their wisdom and experience with me.
3. I have a wonderful and caring daughter.
4. We are having some nice weather with warmer temperatures and beautiful sunshine.
5. I am getting in the mood to start some seeds for my garden.  
6. My work at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.  It is such a beautiful place to spend time. The pictures above are from the Gardener's Show House.

Learning, Growth, and Nature's Surprises

When I am feeling stressed and worried, I am more likely to make mistakes and forget things.  Okay, that might be lots of times, but it really shows up when I am feeling stressed.  Today is a good example of that.  My mother and sister are on their way back from Arizona.  They will be here tomorrow.  I have been working on getting Mom's place ready.

As I wrote in my last post, my mother has been ill and was hospitalized.  My wonderful sister flew to Arizona, and has been driving my mother back home.  Normally they take three days for these trips, but my mom tires easily, and they are taking five days this time.  Thus the worry and stress.

I have been working on getting Mom's place ready for winter living.  I put warm sheets on the bed, bought groceries, and shoveled the snow drifted patio for her little dog.  I was almost ready to leave today, when I decided to walk around the corner to get her mail.  I pulled the door shut and managed to lock myself out.  My purse, my car keys, my cell phone were all sitting on her kitchen island.  They were all safely locked inside, while I was locked out.  Her kind neighbor called for help, and about 45 minutes later someone came to let me in.

Lesson learned!  Never go anywhere without my cell phone, keys and ID!  I also learned that my mother's townhouses have really good security.

All of this definitely added to the stress, but since I can't undo it, I might as well laugh at myself. . . . before other people do.

Life does have it's little moments of beauty however.  A few days ago I noticed that my little snake plant cutting had finally sprouted a new leaf.  Back in April I helped with the Spring Festival at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.  We taught people how to plant a piece of leaf cut from a Snake Plant, sometimes called Mother-in-law's Tongue, in a newspaper pot.  The correct name is Sansevieria.

I remember one of the other volunteers said that it takes a really really long time to grow.  Well, it's been nine months, and I had pretty much given up hope that it was going to ever do anything.

And there it was!  Growing!  New life!  And right in the middle of a very stressful two weeks of my life.  New life!  New hope!  Second chances!  Never give up! And just from a small piece of leaf and a little bit of potting soil.

Mom and Jacci are staying with my aunt and uncle in Kansas tonight.  They will be home tomorrow.  Mom is doing better.  Jacci is awesome and I am so lucky to have her for my sister.  I will be so grateful to have them both back at home.

My Gratitude for Today

• Second chances!  Mom is doing better.
• My wonderful sister, who works hard, and makes things happen.
• New chances to learn and grow.
• Tenacity!
• Plants.  They are life, beauty, mystery, and so much more.

Hidden Beauty

Back when I was in my twenties, I had this idea that as I got older, I would get things figured out, and I would fully understand how the world works and exactly how to live my life.  Now that I’m in my sixties, the one thing I know for sure is there is always more to learn, and it is unlikely I will ever understand other people when I’m still trying to figure out myself.  The positive in that is, I get to keep growing and learning and trying new things. 

All summer I have been trying to get control of my yard.  The flower beds and garden were totally overgrown, by the time I was able to work on them.  I have been working on them almost every day, except on those days when the weather won’t cooperate.  This week it is expected to be in the nineties every day, so that will limit my yard work time. 

Over the weekend I began cutting down weeds and brush in the flowerbed by my garage.  As I cleared away the unwanted overgrowth, I discovered these beautiful Day Lilies and Purple Coneflower, hidden among the brush and weeds.  Now that the clutter is gone, these beautiful plants will be able to flourish.  No matter how much the weeds tried to take over the garden, these flowers prevailed

I think that can be true about us as humans as well.  Get rid of the negative thoughts.  Get rid of the self doubt.  Be willing to take risks, try something new, and learn.  Discover the beauty within ourselves, and let it grow.

I have been trying to do some of that this summer by working at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.  I have taught at the same school for 29 years, and it is still home.  But I am enjoying this new adventure in this new setting.  It is an opportunity to meet new people and try new things, and I am learning something new every day that I go.

   

• I am grateful for beautiful flowers.
• I am thankful for strength and perseverance.
• I am grateful for all the opportunities to grow and learn.

Summer Vacation

Gratitude Day #12

I haven't written a gratitude post in quite a while.  Now that it is summer vacation, hopefully I will find more time to blog.  We are actually three weeks into summer vacation, but the first week was devoted to helping my sister move.  I'm not sure what happened to the second week.  I have been spending a lot of time working in my yard.  I am way behind on weeding and planting my garden, but I will get there.

I also started volunteering in Horticulture at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.  I have helped with some events and classes.  This summer I am helping to maintain the Ruan Alee Walkway.  Each Wednesday morning I am spending two hours weeding and working on the flower beds.  These first few weeks that also involves deadheading the irises.

This morning was cool and cloudy.  We are there before the garden opens, so it is peaceful.  It is hard physical work, but I enjoy the beauty that surrounds me.

I love the beauty of the gardens, the river, and view of the downtown Des Moines skyline.

Another bonus is walking through the water garden.  I love all the water lilies.  If you go, however, please don't throw money in there.  It isn't helpful.

1. I am grateful for having the time and freedom to do something completely different during the summer.
2. I am grateful for the opportunity to spend time in a beautiful place.
3. I am thankful for another chance to learn new things.

Sunshine and Flowers

Gratitude Day #11

I love all the flowers that are beginning to grow and bloom.  These are spring flowers that are blooming in my front yard right now.  Okay, I guess technically the violets and dandelions are considered weeds, but they still add color to the landscape. Not to mention the fact that dandelions were originally brought here for medicinal purposes.  On the right is my one and only tulip.  I did not plant it.  I assume it was planted by the people who owned this house before me, and I have lived in this house for 18 years. This tulip is determined.

It is amazing what a little sunshine and color can do for my disposition.  Just getting outside and walking with the dogs lifts my spirits, and makes me thankful for my home and neighborhood. After our walk we enjoyed sitting together on the back deck.

1. I am grateful for the spring flowers.
2. I am thankful for the sunshine on my face.
3. I am incredibly grateful for my home and neighborhood and the little dogs who share it with me.

I am noticing it is also time to break out the mower.  In parts of the back yard, the grass is getting as tall as Lola and Chloe.  Guess I will add that to my "to do" list for later this week. Notice that mowing did not make my gratitude list.  

Earth Day Celebration

Gratitude Day #10

Today was the Earth Day Celebration at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.  This afternoon I helped with a Propagation Activity.  I hadn't volunteered there since spring break.  I'm always nervous when I am about to do one of these activities, but I am so glad that I did it.  I always learn something new.  The people who work and volunteer there are so nice, and the people coming through are happy and enthusiastic about trying our activities.

It was a truly gorgeous day, so it was fun to walk around in the outside gardens.  Daffodils and tulips are in bloom, and they are so beautiful.  I did a little tour of the gardens before I went into the Kemin Plant Sciences Lab for the propagation activity. 

For our activity people took a pot that I learned how to make out of newspaper.  They filled it about half way full with potting soil.  Then they planted a cutting from a Sansevieria plant.  This plant is commonly called a Snake Plant or Mother-in-law's Tongue.  We had lots and lots of people who came through the lab, so it was a busy and fun day.

I loved this little tool for making the paper pots.  I think I need to get one of these.

1. I am grateful for the knowledge of the people who work and volunteer at the Botanical Garden.  I learn from them every time I go.
2. I am thankful for the opportunity to spend time in such a beautiful place.
3. I am grateful for my little Snake Plant cutting. I hope it grows into a big plant.

The Greenhouse

Gratitude Day #9

On Sunday I drove up to the Earl May in Ankeny, just to look at what they had.  I am in the planning and hoping stage for my garden.  The minute I walk into a greenhouse in spring, a smile spreads across my face.  The same thing happened today when I checked out the gardening section at Lowe's.  This time of year, before the heat, bugs, weeds, and hot weather set in, gardening is full of hope of what you may be able to grow and accomplish.

I am especially excited for this summer, because I will not be teaching summer school.  Hopefully I will do better at keeping up on my garden work, especially the weeding.  Every year, I try to expand a little.  I just ordered two more raised beds.  This year I am hoping to try my hand at strawberries.

I always refer to my garden as a science experiment, because I really don't know what I'm doing.  Every year I learn a little more, and this year I will be volunteering at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, so I'm sure I will learn a lot more.  As it is, I grow and can tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers that last me all year.  I feel really proud when I eat something that I grew.

1. I am grateful for the hope and beauty of my garden.
2. I am grateful for having space to grow food and flowers.
3. I am thankful that I learn new things about gardening every year.

Family Dogs

Gratitude Day #8

I cannot do gratitude posts without talking about my dogs.  Anyone who knows me knows that I am a dog person. I grew up with dogs.  In fact, the only time in my life that I didn't have a dog was when I was in my early twenties, moving around a lot and living in apartments.  Chloe and Lola are not only the family dogs, they are family.  I like having two dogs, so they can keep each other company when I have to be at work or go other places. 

My dogs are wonderful companions.  They are affectionate, silly and they make me laugh.  They also encourage me to be more active.  They are deliriously happy when I take them for walks, and it does me a lot of good as well.  I love my little dogs!

Now that my mom is back from Arizona, I also get to spend time with her dog, Abbie.  Abbie is a Yorkie.  My sister and I take turns visiting Mom and taking Abbie for walks.  Abbie knows how to give us the look that says, "When are we going for our walk?"  As you can tell from the photo above, she does not like having her picture taken.

The football playing dog pictured above is my sister's dog, Scout.  This picture was taken a couple years ago.  He loves it when he can get you to toss the football for him.  He is a senior dog now, and he can't get around as well as he used to.  We were broken hearted, when Jacci's dog, Boone, passed away a few months ago.

Boone

Please note that Chloe, Lola and Abbie are also very well dressed dogs.

1. I am grateful for our wonderful little dogs.
2. I am grateful for beautiful sunshiny days that let us walk the neighborhood.
3. I am grateful for the security these ferocious little dogs provide as they bark at everyone who dares walk down our street.

Guard dogs! 

Morning Time

Gratitude Day #7

This has been a very different week.  It was a week of testing at school.  In order to help out, I started work an hour earlier each day.  I usually start work at nine, whereas the rest of the staff begins by seven.  I have only been officially retired for four years (this June) but I have gotten spoiled. 

I am an early riser.  I rarely sleep later than 5:30.  Getting up is not the issue, getting out of the house is.  Most days I get up, and am showered and dressed before 6:00.  Then I make a pot of tea, and settle into the den with my little dogs.  I use this time to journal, plan my day, pet my pups or just stare into the fireplace.  It's fake fire, but it's still very comforting.  It is a great time to sort out emotions, think about events going on in my life, and set my priorities.  It helps me begin my day more centered and calm.  I am extremely grateful to have that time in the morning.

I first got into writing my "Morning Pages" when I read The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron.  I have probably been doing it for the past twenty years, not every day, but most days.  It really helps me.  If you have never read her work, I highly recommend it.  I also enjoy her poetry. 

Tomorrow is Friday.  I don't work on Fridays, so I can even stay in my pajamas to enjoy my morning time and write my Morning Pages.  Another benefit of working part time.

1. I am grateful for the flexibility of having quiet morning time at home.
2. I am grateful for my comfortable home.
3. I am grateful for the gift of writing.  and
4. I am grateful for my fake fireplace.

Beauty and Tenacity

Gratitude Day #6

It was a harsh winter!  There was lots of snow and lots of cold, and it seemed like it would never end.  When everything was frozen and buried in snow, it was hard to imagine that we would see green grass and flowers again.  For this reason I was a little concerned that the Autumn Radiance Maple tree I planted last spring would survive these cold temperatures.  It is exciting to see the branches beginning to produce little buds.

I was also concerned about the lilac hedge that borders my driveway.  It had become badly overgrown, so last October I had it cut way back to about a third of its height.  It was late in the season, so I worried that this drastic pruning might have been too much of a shock for it to recover.  I won't have lilacs this year, but I was happy and relieved to see it beginning to leaf out.

With each day that goes by, plants begin to sprout, the grass becomes greener, and flowers begin to bloom.  The gorgeous flowers above are blooming in my neighbor's flower bed.  While I like to garden, I tend to lose interest by the time fall comes, when I should be planting daffodils, crocus, and tulips.  Maybe this year I can build the strength and tenacity to get that done.

1. I am grateful for the beauty that surrounds us.
2. I am grateful for the tenacity of nature and people that makes us grow and thrive.
3. I am grateful for the renewal of spring.

Summer School

Summer school begins on Monday!  The room has been arranged, the plans are written, and I am excited to begin.  This summer I am working as an AmeriCorps Tutoring Member, which is a new position for me. I already know a lot of the kids I will be working with.  Unlike most summer school situations, I will be meeting with students one at a time.   In my volunteer work, I have really enjoyed working with kids individually or in small groups.  It is a much different situation than being a classroom teacher with 25 or more students, and it gives a teacher the opportunity to connect and get to know students.

I have a lot of people who tell me that when they retire, they won't be going anywhere near school. That's the cool thing about retirement, you get to decide for yourself. I feel very blessed to be at a point in my life where I can choose my own path.  I love being able to connect, teach, and learn with kids, because I am always learning something new.  This is my idea of retirement, at least for now.  I am very grateful for this new opportunity.

The Garden

The vegetable garden is about two thirds of the way planted.  The tomatoes and peppers are in, and a few things are beginning to sprout in the raised beds.  This year I am trying "Lasagna Gardening"  I put down ground cloth in the fall, and covered the garden with leaves.  The leaves have broken down over the winter.  I left the ground cloth, and will put down layers of mulch as we go.  I read about this on a gardening blog.  It should help me control the weeds, and there is less damage to the soil.

I started the tomatoes, peppers, and some other herbs and flowers in the house about six weeks ago.  This year I ordered my seeds from Henry Fields.  I was frustrated with how long it took them to ship my seeds, but I have to say, the plants have done well.  

I built my raised beds out of 5 hole brick that I bought at the Habitat for Humanity Restore.  This is my first time working with raised beds.  I'll let you know how it goes.  One has been planted with Yukon potatoes.  The other has green beans, radishes, lettuce, carrots and beets.  They are covered with net for the time being, to keep the bunnies and squirrels out.

Along with the vegetable and herb garden, I have lots of flower beds, which have been overtaken by weeds and grass.  I am working on them a section at a time.  My next door neighbor has raspberry bushes along the fence.  Some had crept into my garden.  I transplanted the volunteers to a corner of the flower bed.  They are looking pretty stressed right now, so I hope they will make it.  My sister also gave me lots of Day Lilies from the house they just moved out of.  It will be interesting to see what I get in the way of blooms.

I have a love/hate relationship with my garden and yard. A lot of times I have to force myself to go outside to work, but I find it deeply satisfying as I begin to make progress.  I feel proud of myself when I can feed myself with vegetables that I have grown. Nothing tastes as great as homegrown veggies!  I am grateful that I have the time and space to do this.

Wow!  There is cause for celebration.  This is my 1,000th post on this blog.  Amazing!

Change and New Possibilities

The new dog steps, and I would like to point out that those are dog toys on my bed.  

My bed is tall, and the dogs need steps to get up there.  The ones I had were only 16 inches tall, so I recently purchased a new, taller set.  The dogs were not too thrilled with this change, and it has taken them about three weeks to get used to them.  I've been frustrated with the new steps too, because they took up more space in my already crowded bedroom.

I was sitting in church yesterday, and I started thinking about a different room arrangement.  Sorry, Pastor Dave.  During the afternoon I rearranged the room, and I am thrilled with the new set up.  There is room for the steps, there is much more room to walk around and get dressed.  For the most part it is the same furniture, except making this change also made it possible to move our childhood dresser into my bedroom, which is something I absolutely cherish.  There's even room for a dog bed!

So why did it take me so long to make this change?  I have lived in this house for 16 years, and I have never rearranged my bedroom.  The way the movers placed the furniture when I moved in in 2001, was the way it stayed.  I complained that the bedrooms were small, and this was just the way it had to be.  I hadn't even considered changing things and exploring other possibilities.

It was a good wake up call to embrace the changes that come my way, and there are several changes in the air right now.  My sister recently moved to a new house near Dexter.  It is a beautiful house on a lake, and I am very happy for her, and yet it is farther away, so I have had tinges of sadness.  On the other hand, it is because they were downsizing, that she shared some wonderful pieces of furniture with me, like that cherished childhood dresser.  I also get to sit on their wonderful deck and gaze at the lake, or walk out on their dock.  Another bonus was that my niece and nephew came home to help with the move, so I got to see them as well.  This a great change for my sister and brother-in-law, and the whole family will benefit from these changes.

My niece and nephew taking a break from moving furniture and unpacking boxes.

I begin my new AmeriCorps tutoring job on Thursday.  I am excited about teaching summer school and working with the kids, most of whom I already know.  It is mostly familiar, because it is at Phillips.  It is a bigger time commitment, so I guess I am not really retired any more.  It will be a change to work all summer, but I am ready for this change.

New Job

Phillips has been an important part of my life for the past 27 years.  During my first year there, I taught second grade.  The next year, I moved to first grade, which I had also taught at Edmunds Academy of Fine Arts, and Granger Elementary.  Later I moved to third grade for a year, and then on to fourth grade, which I taught for 17 years.  My connection to Phillips actually goes back before those years.  At the very beginning of my teaching career, I often subbed at Phillips.  That was back in 1987.  Even before that, back when Phillips Traditional School had grades, kindergarten through eighth grade, I looked at enrolling my daughter there. It didn't work out, because at the time, I worked downtown and I couldn't work out transportation.  Later, my son was a student there.

Officially, I retired from Phillips two years ago.  I often joke that apparently I do not understand the concept of retirement, because I am usually at Phillips three or four days a week, either as a substitute teacher or a volunteer.

The past two years have provided me with a wonderful opportunity to try new things, and really reflect on who I am and what makes me happiest.  I am a planner, not a punter.  I love the creative aspects of education.  I like to take an educational objective, and create materials and projects to engage students.  I like to get up in the morning and have a plan for how I will be spending my day and the rest of the week.  I like to feel like I know what I'm doing.  I enjoy seeing how the lessons I am teaching today, fit the overall picture.  I like to have an ongoing relationship with students.

Pretty much all the things I just mentioned have nothing to do with substitute teaching.  I have been very blessed in that I only sub at Phillips, and many teachers have given me license to bring my own ideas into their classrooms.  I have very much appreciated that.  Most of my days have been successful, but I go through a great deal of anxiety prior to each substitute assignment.  What will I be teaching?  Will the kids listen to me?  How will I be doing things?  Will I be able to find what I need?  Will I understand the lesson plans and how to teach the skills?  Ah, yes!  I am a planner and a worrier.

On the other hand, I have really loved my hours spent volunteering.  I tutor kindergartners.  I work individually with them to improve reading and writing skills.  Teachers let me know about the student's needs, and I look for ways to address and support those needs.  I get to be creative.  I get to know the children, because I work with them on a regular basis.  I get to see them grow and learn, and that is wonderful.

Fortunately, I am at a point in my life that I get to make more choices.  If I'm not enjoying substitute teaching, I have the flexibility and opportunity to do something different.  I decided it was time to make a change.

It's official now!  I have a new job for the summer, and hopefully, into the next school year.  I will be an AmeriCorps tutor. . . .  at Phillips.  I am so excited and grateful!

Shades of Purple and Pink

It is that time of year, when my driveway smells wonderful.  That's because it is Lilac Season.  The hedge was barely budded a few days ago, and now the flowers are almost fully bloomed.  I really love lilacs, and I am very grateful to whoever planted these bushes years and years ago.

There seems to be a lot of purple and pink in the neighborhood right now.  I'm not sure what these other flowers are, but we found them along our walk tonight.

They are all so beautiful!

Tulips

We had a pretty easy winter around here, relatively speaking.  Even so, it is such a treat to see all the beautiful flowers blooming.  These tulips were growing in front of school today.  Beautiful red tulips, the sun was shining, and I even got my mower started for the first time this season.  In fact it started on the first pull.  What a wonderful day!  Mowing wasn't that much fun, but at least the mower started and everything else was good.

My Dad

A few days ago I was cleaning out one of the file cabinets in my craft room.  I decided it was safe to get rid of tax returns and teaching contracts from eighteen years ago, along with warranties and instruction books from appliances I no longer own.  I did a lot of sorting, reading, and shredding.  At the bottom of the drawer under all that clutter, I discovered this photo.  It's my dad!

He was so incredibly young!  He joined the army to serve in World War II when he was only 17 years old.  In fact he wasn't legally old enough to join yet, so he lied about his age.  Anyone that knew my dad can tell you that he was an incredibly honest man, so he must have learned his lesson after that.  Dad was in the infantry and fought in the Philippines.  After World War II ended, he also spent time in Korea.

As I looked at this picture, I was kind of amazed by how much you can miss someone who has been gone for such a long time.  We lost him in 1986.  I found myself getting emotional as I shared the photo with my sister.  He was a wonderful loving father, and I am so grateful to have had him for the time that I did.  He is with us still, and I think about him often.  He has been a profound influence upon my life, and he helped me to be who I am today.  I love you, Dad!

Field Trip

My plans for today were changed, so I decided to go tour the Des Moines Art Center. I have been taking art classes there this year, but my classes were on Mondays, and the Art Center is closed on Mondays.  I have been touring the art center every year for seventeen years on field trips.  It was very nice to go without 50 to 60 fourth graders.  I could go where I wanted, when I wanted, and I didn't tell a single person not to touch the art.

As you can see from the photo, the building itself is a work of art.  I was grateful to have my own little field trip.