Our Own Guitar Hero

As students worked away in class I had to catch their many "looks" for the day.  I couldn't help but wonder  if my Afro looked like this one when I went through my Afro phase in the seventies.

Yes, you have to do classwork today. In fact....  a double assignment!!

What ate your homework? You have to do better than that.

The three rooms in the middle school building are always the "happening places" when we gather for our afternoon holiday festivities. Our own students plan the party, but our former students from the high school walk over knowing there will be treats, dancing contests, and fun to be had by all. This year was no exception.

All it takes is an iPod with speakers and rock music, a former student, a yardstick, backup singers, and a classroom table then we had our own rock concert.

GG did not want to be outdone!

 The final encore!

 Then it ended. All was quiet, the room was clean, I found my stashed Vanilla Diet Coke, popped it open, put up my feet, and listened to a little classical music on my iPod!

A Side That is Beautiful

Today was our first snow.

 

"Things looked at patiently from one side after another
generally end by showing a side that is beautiful. "  

Robert Lewis Stevenson

I left for school before light, but JEJ was out with his camera at daylight to catch some snow images.

A Leaf Bouquet

It is always a pleasure to be surprised with a bouquet of flowers. I enjoy a bouquet picked fresh from the garden the best. Yesterday JEJ presenting me a special bouquet. It was a bunch of unique,colorful leaves brought in from the yard. Each leaf represented a different tree, vine, or shrub in our garden.

Here is one view of the bouquet.

Here is another arrangement of the leaves  laying atop the runner on the table.
I love autumn and the splendid beauty it brings us.

Saturday Road Trip: The Northern Lake Tour

We had not taken a twenty-mile road trip for months. We went further yesterday, but still kept with the ritual of loading up the dogs, lunch, and cameras with plans to stop at anything worth photographing. It was a long trip! The fall beauty was apparent as we drove over Sherman Pass through snow, headed north at Waconda to visit the northern lakes, and looped back around to Curlew and Curlew Lake State Park. Here are some of my favorite images of the day. (Actually my favorite is above on the banner.  I caught the beauty of the bright yellow tamaracks set off by the snow-covered mountain in the background. )

 

The trees lit up the hillside at Bonaparte Lake

 

The shimmering water was lovely at Beaver Lake.

 

Lake Beth was shadowy and calm as we drove further to view the lakeshore.

 

Heading down the highway toward Curlew we again saw blue sky and clouds.

   

 A scenic view  at Curlew Lake State Park

. 

This doe didn't hang around for the sunset.

A hundred and forty-two pictures later I was a happy traveler, but glad to get home so I could put up my feet and enjoy a warm fire.

Autumn Morning Leaf Tour

Friday Night Ritual: Pioneer Macaroni and Cheese

Reflecting back on my younger days Friday night meant meeting friends after work, making plans to see a movie, or having a game night at somebody's house.
Friday night is different now and it is just the way I like it. I usually stay a bit later in my classroom Friday to reorganize after a busy week and frontload the upcoming week. When I arrive home I am ready to regroup and rest. Friday night dinner at our house is a quiet affair. We gather to eat outside front of the fire or catch the last evening light on the deck. Now more of these Friday night meals will be inside at the table.
  Somewhere along the way homemade Macaroni and Cheese became a ritual. I think this happened mostly because it is a favorite dish of JEJ. I usually have the ingredients available and it is very easy.
JEJ also reminded me last night that "it is such a comfort food". Who doesn't crave comfort food after busy week. Last night I added a green salad with blue cheese dressing and I was in comfort food heaven.

 I have experimented recently with a variety of cheeses that I happen to have in the refrigerator. Last night it was cheddar, a bit of cream cheese, and shredded parmeson on top.  On another recent Friday I used Pepper Jack cheese which made it very yummy. The basic recipe is the old favorite from the original Betty Crocker cookbook. I have adjusted the amount of macaroni and make other adjustments along the way.

Looking at the page from my Grandma Woolum's cookbook, I think we have both have left a few food spots on this page.