Photo #243: Mailbox

This is another photo I took I my neighborhood walk. Actually, I go past this mailbox every single day, and the contrast between the white mailbox and the purple grass always catches my eye. It sure looks better than my mailbox, which got hit by a snowplow a couple years ago, so it sort of sits at a cockeyed angle.

Photo #242: A Sunny Disposition

I decided to take a walk around the neighborhood to find a photo for today. This cheery face is hanging on a neighbor's fence around the block from me. The dark weathering just makes it all the more interesting.

Photo #241: Sunday Breakfast

This morning, I turned on the oven for the first time in a long time. I have hardly cooked at all this summer. Besides the fact that it has been too hot, after parenting for all these years, cooking just for me is a very different experience. I decided to make my Denver Omelet Pie. This is a breakfast casserole that I used to make frequently. Not only is it delicious for the first meal, the leftovers are great warmed up in the microwave. I really enjoy a nice leisurely breakfast on a Sunday morning, with a pot of my favorite Absolute Almond tea, buttered toast, and the Denver Omelet Pie. It's a great way to start the week.

Here is my recipe. It is adapted from a recipe from Taste of Home's, Quick Cooking Magazine.

Denver Omelet Pie

Ingredients
• 6 eggs or 2 cups of Egg Beaters or other egg substitute
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 3 cups frozen shredded hash brown potatoes
• 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup diced fully cooked ham
• 1/2 cup chopped green pepper

Directions
In a large bowl, beat the eggs, salt and pepper. Stir in the potatoes, cheese, ham, onion, and green pepper. Pour into a greased 9-in. pie plate. Bake at 350° for 4 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Yield: 6 servings.

Photo #240: Class Blog

Here I am hanging out again at Caribou Coffee. This time I'm working on a new post for our class blog. The kids decided what should be included, and I'm doing the writing. My job will get much easier next week, when they collaborate to write our weekly post.

It was out with the old and in with the new. We've only been in school two days, but I was able to take lots of photos, so I could update the blog with photos of this year's class.

Once again, my trusty little netbook handles it all. And my Mango Black iced tea, keeps me going,

Photo #239: iPad Joy

My school purchased ten new iPads at the end of the last school year. Today I introduced them to my class. While I worked on problem solving with the rest of the class, students rotated through the iPad stations. We used only the four math apps that we have installed. You could not hear a peep! They loved it. Each child had just ten minutes today, but I managed to put an iPad in the hands of all 28 kids in my class. They did not want to stop.

Photo #238: The First Day of School

Today was the first day of school, and it was a resounding success. Everyone was excited to get back to school. Of all the photos I took today, this is my favorite. We created a social contract after talking about how we wanted to be treated. These kids are signing the poster indicating their agreement. I love the collaboration that is going on.

Photo #237: Me

Every now and then, I try to get a decent photo of myself, to use as an avatar. I employ the "hold the camera in front of yourself with one hand method." I have to take a lot of shots, sometimes on multiple occasions to come up with something I can live with. Usually I try it in the house, but I generally get better photos outside. I always hope none of my neightbors are looking out the window when I'm doing this. This one is pretty good.