Necessary Chocolate

The end of an era

Today I'm thinking about endings. One of my favorite places around is Hoffman's Playland. This may be its last year in operation. Thank goodness the AZ kids are visiting, so that we could take in a few last rides.

Now I can't get Frontier Village off of my mind. I loved it so much. 

 

The Hudson

Last week, my office trecked over the Hudson. We haven't had a summer party in a long, long time. After what seemed like weeks of rain (look how high that river is!), we lucked into a sunny break. It didn't start to rain again until we were driving away.

If I ever move away, there's a lot that I'll miss. The Hudson River will be the landmark that I'll miss most. I look at it and imagine Henry Hudson sailing up in the Halfmoon. I see the first steamboat, and the Erie Canal, and Gilded Age yachts. So much history in that river.

PRIZES.

Hard to believe guys. It is, after all, only June! I am so sorry that the prizes for your reading achievements have taken this long. On the other hand, it's a prize. Any time is good, right?

For many, many years my summer list included making a book bag for the summer reading. At long last, I've made one. 

Okay, I've made many. And a few more are underway! My timing is not so bad - you can use them for your books this summer.

They fold up and fasten with velcro (as you can see in that oh-so-artistic top photo)! They're lined with colorful tickets!

I hope that you enjoy them! You should all receive them by the end of the month.

Here's the list that I compiled:

Alyson, Emma, Jen, Petria, Elsa, Glee, Roxanne, Sylvia, Mary

If I left anyone out, don't feel shy! Let me know!

This year's chart  will be out in the next couple of weeks. Or by the 1st of July, since the Arizona family is going to arrive on Friday. IT"S SUMMER!

 

 

 

The end of another class year!

Decorating cookies.

Trying out new, gimmicky Crayola art kits.

Playdoh!

All those activities, with some Kinderegg toys thrown in, means that the last week of class is done. Let the summer (and regular sleep habits) begin!

It was a long, hard winter for me. I felt like such a failure as a teacher, as an employee, as pretty much everything. But there were lots of great moments, and these students provided many of them. Yesterday morning, at the end of class, we had a closing prayer. And then we all just sat there, in my house, and no one got up to leave. Okay, it was raining and miserable outside. But still. I didn't want them to leave, and they were reluctant to go. I wanted to put a big blanket around all of them and hug them till they squealed. 

Five years down! Whew!

Still here!

Okay, I managed to seriously overcommit myself this spring. In the midst of the deadlines for work, church, community, and friends, here are a few favorite moments, all deliberately put through trendy filters to look over/underexposed.

Crabapple blossoms! Last year, the winter was weird, so the trees didn't have many blossoms. I did have a few in July. As I said, weird. But this year, everything is throwing out blossoms like crazy! 

Speaking of blossoms. For the first winter ever, creatures did not eat the tulips. 

Speaking of blossoms again. I'm in town to see my peonies bloom! I love peonies so much. There are a couple bushes that bloom over Memorial Day weekend, and I've usually missed their blooms. So I've seen them for the first time this year. Again, everything is blooming like crazy.

Speaking of Memorial Day, my parents came to visit. We wandered through many nurseries in pouring rain. But we were able to plant in beautiful weather. Followed by ridiculously hot days and rain. So more blooms!

The project that's been haunting me at work? The first draft is done. Sort of. And I'm at peace about it now.

Oh, and another project that's been haunting me...

READING PRIZES ARE ALMOST DONE. Full reveal by Friday!!! Thank you for your patience.