Celebrating With Special Authors

 One of my favorite assignments at school this year is to be the elementary writing coach. I visit each elementary classroom once a week and do writing activities with the students. I have loved every minute of it. I got a special invitation Monday to be part of the Writing Celebration in second grade. They had each contributed a story to their first class book.

 The most important part of the celebration was hearing each second grader read their favorite story they had written first quarter. After each reader shared their story and picture the audience exploded in applause.

We ended the author reading with a toast (with yummy Fruit Punch) to all the talented second grade writers. We then enjoyed a feast of  Mrs. Potter's delicious pumpkin cake, Cheez-Its, gummy bears, and  cookies. 

Perfect Faith

 Leaving You

Just before I left we sat at the kitchen counter
and there was something very sweet
about your child's foot
on top of mine,
the way your arch curled around my anklebone
and cradled it there. I wondered
what you were thinking about, smiling as if the best thing in the world were right then,
our breakfast and the sun.

I was remembering when you were born.
I would hold you,
your eyes looking at me,
your hand touching my cheek,
my hair, and when sleep
took you, you lay in perfect faith
that I would hold you forever.
-Kate Schmitt

Kate Schmitt wrote this poem her younger sister. She said in a book I was reading recently that "we are poems ourselves- the poems of our parents." I loved that line. This poem reminded me of moments I shared with my younger sister that I revisited recently as I spent time scanning old photos. When Silver Valley Girl was a baby I think she did "lay in perfect faith that I would hold her forever."

Here Raymond Pert and I are holding her forever as we posed on the snow.

Cornucopia Lily

 When I wander around outside I never know which cat I am going to find where. Saturday was no exception.

One minute Lily was in the driveway, the next she was getting away from the dogs by running up the ramp to the cat door. She stopped to consider her next move.

Lily must have been in a happy harvest mood.  She just seemed to belong with the cornucopia. She couldn't decide if she liked the regal front pose or the casual side pose the best. Nevertheless, I got in the Thanksgiving spirit just taking the photos!

She had enough of that posing and decided to wait until the dogs found another activity. The dogs love Lily and would never hurt her, but their idea of playing doesn't always catch her fancy!

Acquainted With the Night

Last night I experimented with my camera out the front door at night.

Acquainted With the Night
By Robert Frost

I have been one acquainted with the night.
I have walked out in rain--and back in rain.
I have outwalked the furthest city light.
I have looked down the saddest city lane.
I have passed by the watchman on his beat
And dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain.
I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet
When far away an interrupted cry
Came over houses from another street,
But not to call me back or say good-by;
And further still at an unearthly height
One luminary clock against the sky
Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right.
I have been one acquainted with the night.

Memories of Summer: A Greenhouse Tour

I love Saturday because I can be home when there is light.  Even though it is gray and cloudy today I was able to return to summer as I wandered around the greenhouse. I think some plants are actually doing better now inside than they were outside in the summer!  Take a tour with me!

This poinsettia was all but dead this summer, but with some expert watering and fertilizing by JEJ the plant whisperer it is back to life.

I love this geranium color....

and this one

.... and this one.

Whenever I need to revisit summer, I just sneak in here and take a tour.

Memories from the Photo Box: Part 2

When I was backing up and organizing pictures I viewed all the photos I had scanned a few week-ends ago. I don't know if my mom ever intended to do it, but I spotted certain themes that ran through my memories from the photo box.

The first series is Silver Valley Girl and coats. The one above was during her Oliver Twist phase.

Next was her favorite pink poncho phase. I can't begin to tell you how many pink poncho pictures Mom took.

There was also cute pictures of another Easter here. I love the matching attire. I made the paper mache bunny in 2nd grade!

Another theme I spotted in the photo box was the big stick picture session. RP and I got Kodak Instamatics and had fun here. Now above RP is using a normal bat in the backyard.

I guess if you are already breathing in smelter smoke and have lead in the dirt, how is chasing your sister with a big stick going to hurt?

Where was my mom when we were playing this game? Actually we just had fun posing for pictures with our cameras!  I sure remember that rocking horse.