Here Comes the Sun: Part 2

the sky west of Sherman Creek Orchard "Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting Little darling, it seems like years since it's been …

Writer's Meme

painting by Georgia O'Keefe I found this meme on Rondi's blog May's Day. I thought it would be fun to try. What’s your favorite genre of w…

Cold!

How many ways can you say it? How many ways can you explain it? How many ways can you illustrate it? It has been really, really cold. Last Friday the he…

Reading Like a Writer

" An absolutely necessary addition to the personal library of anyone who is a writer or dreams of writing, but it's also a terrific choice f…

Creating A Community: Leave No Writer Behind

Every day I read good writing. I read it as my students imprint their thoughts to paper. I read it on blogs that fill me with appreciation, laughter,…

Things

Things The hen flings a single pebble aside with her yellow, reptilian foot. Never in eternity the same sound- a small stone falling on a red leaf. The ju…

Everyone Needs a Spot: Makeover Project #3

Just as we are completing the third makeover project around our house I finally see the sun peeking out from behind a gray cloud cover that has been …

Hope Is The Thing With Feathers

This is a photo image JEJ captured from the deck a couple of weeks ago when we had a sunrise. I am holding on to hope we will see another one this wi…

Beating the Winter Blues: Makeover Project #2

“I can't think of any sorrow in the world that a hot bath wouldn't help, just a little bit.” -Susan Glasee When I moved into this house, the ma…

Beating the Winter Blues: Makeover Project #1

When it is gray and cloudy outside and the weather is too cold to appreciate an outdoor activity, it is time to move indoors and plan some makeovers.…

Teaching and the Many Hats I Wear

I have now taught my students almost ninety days this school year. Some of you have asked "What do you teach all day?" Being in a school …

Praise Song for the Day

photo by Callie Shell/Time magazine Inaugural Poem, January 20, 2009 Praise song for the day. Each day we go about our business, walking past each othe…

Winter Tour: Fortunately, Unfortunately

I love the picture book Fortunately by Remy Charlip . This week-end I was finally home when it was light outside so I could tour the property and sur…

4X4 Photo Meme: Bucket of Fire

I saw this meme in many variations as I visited blogs this week-end. My sister Silver Valley Girl sent it this way so I'll try it. The only diffe…

Sibling Assignment #88: Fog

Raymond Pert gave the sibling assignment this week. It was one word: Fog . You will soon find his here and Silver Valley Girl's here. A found poem…

Stay Gold

One of my classes is reading The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. When students have time to read in class you can hear a pin drop. Students really relate t…

Surrounded by Angels

"The magnitude of life is overwhelming. Angels are here to help us take it peace by peace. " ~ Levende Waters My mom has an incredible colle…