Tied to Lake Roosevelt

I find beauty in Lake Roosevelt during all seasons, all types of weather, and any time of day. Here is a series of photo images I created today from morning to late afternoon. The above photo is what greeted me when I woke up this morning.

Later the sun came out and we drove south along the lake Barnaby Island/ It looked gorgeous in the late winter sunshine.

 Another view of the island from the shoreline. 

 In this photo I faced north toward home. The blue beauty of the lake and sky today was unbelievable.

In this last image I was looking toward Kettle Falls. You have to look close to see a small image of the lake.

Tied to Simple Pleasures

Today I spent about seven hours researching, reading, and writing on my National Board project while listening to every song I have downloaded on I Tunes. Finally I looked out the window at the gentle rain, a fire blazing in the gazebo, JEJ , one dog and two cats enjoying the simple pleasures of the moment. Do you blame for me for deciding I needed rest?

Tied to Rest

Our school district scheduled a mid-winter break day which is tomorrow. I have much to do the next three days, but this evening I have devoted to just resting. I read a magazine, checked email, will watch the Zags, and read a book before bed. It is such a treat to be able to rest. Ahhhhhh!

Tied to The Geek Squad

Tonight I became a junior member of the Geek Squad. About a week ago at school I got this big warning on my computer screen about my identity being stolen, trojan attacks, worms and who knows what else. I was on a safe teacher research site. When I clicked the warning it said to get rid of it all I needed to purchase some program. I called my tech guy in the library and he came to the rescue. These are showing up on many computers in our school and after I did some research found out they are showing up all over. I knew I had updated security software and figured the messages were bogus. They were. It is just a big, horrible virus which can override your own security system. It doesn't go away either.

The other day when I arrived home JEJ had the exact same message on his computer. Oh dear I thought... here we go again. His took the sound off the computer, slowed it way down, and stopped him from downloading certain things.I asked my tech guy what to do and by the end of the day he had a step-by-step sheet for me to take home and try. After an hour of work on the computer tonight I got rid of the scary virus. I really felt like a junior member of the Geek Squad. I was so glad when that bogus shield disappeared.  An anti-malware download helped so much.

These are called Rogue Security Tools. This was a new term to me, but when I researched more about it I learned they are a real problem. Another term is rogue security software because people buy these programs online after the warning and they are buying a virus for the computer.

I just did a scan on my own computer and it came up clean. There are enough real health viruses out there. I don't need these annoying ones that creep into computers.

Tied to William Stafford

After a busy teaching day and a hectic evening grading student work it is nice to end the day with some poetry. Today I chose to read William Stafford. I don't remember ever reading this poem, but really like it now.

Our Story
Remind me again- together we
trace our strange journey, find
each other, come on laughing,
Some time we'll cross where life
ends.  We'll both look back
as far as forever, that first day.
I'll touch you- a new world then.
Stars will move a different way.
We'll both end. We'll both begin.

-William Stafford

Tied to Black and White Photos

Last year as I was  studying the work of photographer Ansel Adams I began to see distinct beauty in black and white photos. I gave my brother a book for Christmas on black and white photography and now wish I had a copy of the book also.  Most of the time I change the photos to black and white after I take them. I don't really look at a subject in terms of black and white.

 I made photo calendars for family and friends for Christmas. It was interesting to look at photos changed to black and white and also to revisit those already in black and white. I made calendars for my brother and myself using only black and white photos. Here are a few favorites I found today while organizing photo files.