What I Have Learned So Far

images of Lake Roosevelt, winter 2009 (click to see larger) What I Have Learned So Far Meditation is old and honorable, so why should I not sit, every…

Stopping At The Cataldo Mission

Every time I drive to my hometown of Kellogg, Idaho I pass the Old Mission State Park and look at the oldest standing building in all of Idaho perch…

Three Simple Pleasures: Church, Birthday Celebration, Facebook 101

1. Twice in the last few days I have worshiped in the church I grew up in. It was very comforting to sit in the same sanctuary, participate in simil…

Three Simple Pleasures: Flip, No Disasters, Good Night's Sleep

1. It was a day to count our blessings as the family exchanged gifts, prepared a wonderful feast, and laughed through our first family videos with th…

Images of the Christmas Holiday

Here are some festive images of the Christmas season with my sister, my mom and her family. Merry Christmas!

Home for the Holidays

The presents are wrapped, the bags are packed, the goodies arranged, the Christmas music in the case, my to do list written, phone charged, camera re…

Top Ten Signs It is Almost Christmas at Our House

Top Ten Signs It is Almost Christmas at Our House 10. The house is empty of tags, wax paper, Peppermint Mocha creamer, and Almond Roca. 9.  The missing…

Christmas Gift Suggestions

Christmas Gift Suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer,service. To all, charity. T…

Three Simple Pleasures: All About Red, Cat Companions, Dog Companions

1. Sometimes there is something I really want to have. Yesterday it was the colander set in red on sale at WalMart. JEJ found it while getting the ca…

Three Simple Pleasures: Afternoon Nap, Reverence for the Everyday, Winter Break

another Christmas with family back in the day. 1. School for 2009 ended today at noon.  I tried to do a few tasks when I got home, then realized I n…

Three Simple Pleasures: Cookie Cutters, Frosted Sugar Cookies, Joy's Cookies

1. I started reminiscing tonight when I got out my cookie cutters. I have been collecting cookie cutters for over twenty-five years and each of them …

Three Simple Pleasures: Holly, Careful Drivers, The Lightbulb Coming On

1.I am happy I grow holly. Usually I almost forget about it because it gets covered with snow. This year I was able to catch some images of the fest…

Three Simple Pleasures: Snow Falling in Evening, Snow Dogs, Science with Young Learners

1. This evening the snow really began to fall after I returned home safely from school. The view from the front door illuminated by the porch light w…

Three Simple Pleasures: It's Looking Like Christmas, the Sounds of the Season, the Talents of JEJ

1. I always try to take the time to sit and appreciate the Christmas decor in my house. Many decorations remind me of special memories and special pe…

For Tracy: William and Kit Waiting to be Filmed

My friend Tracy got our two cats Kit and William to do amazing things when she followed them around with the camera when she was here to visit. I thi…

Three Simple Pleasures: Classroom Video, Popcorn Bars, Background Noise and a Keeper from the Recipe Box

1. Part of the requirement for earning my National Board Certification is to have two videotapes of my teaching  submitted in my portfolio. Thursday …

Three Simple Pleasures: Early December Sunset, Beauty at Barnaby Island, Peaceful Setting at French Rock

1. Today I was pleased I had the camera when I drove along between Inchelium and home close to a very early sunset. The sky close to Inchelium was lo…

Three Simple Pleasures: Water, Candy Canes, Time With Bonnie

1. Today when we lost water again in our building at school I was relieved we were only without restrooms for about three hours. It wasn't as di…

Three Simple Pleasures: Bah! Humbug! Stay Gold, Earthquakes

1. Every year during December I teach an adapted play of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol to my seventh grade class. It is such a good vehicle …

Three Simple Pleasures: Grocery Store Sales, Pizza and Beer, Comforter

1. Today we did the monthly shopping trip to the grocery stores. In December that also includes "the baking list" and I loved finding ingre…

Three Simple Pleasures: Ornament from Friend, Ornament from Family, Ornament for Inspiration

1.  I use a red and white theme on my Christmas tree in the garden room.  One exception is this beautiful green beaded ornament made by my friend Che…

Three Simple Pleasures: Poinsettia, Chutney, Healing

1. The poinsettia that almost died over the summer in the greenhouse has not only revived itself, but the leaves are again turning white. 2. We had a…

Afternoon Walk Along Sherman Creek

Today we took a brisk walk along Sherman Creek along Highway 20. We explored the newer trail from the Log Flume which led us along the creek. The sno…