Spring Break

My much anticipated spring break, started out with a huge high but unfortunately sputtered into a week of illness.  What's the deal with 2015?  I have been sick, not the walking around sick that I am used to, but sick, in meds (five!) and mostly in bed that I've gone through three times since January.

My high was the surprise birthday party my kids threw for me on Saturday. I wasn't really suspicious although I did notice a few out of the ordinary occurrences (Alissa not being available the weekend I thought I could get up her way, Barbara veering from her very established early Saturday morning shopping and coffee with me routine, Barbara texting when approaching her house--she knows that makes me hysterical).  I am pretty stunned by the spy skills of my friends who had taken me out for wine on my actual birthday on Wednesday and never let on at all).  My three brothers who were very oddly quiet on my birthday did not trust their spy skills so our phone calls were extremely abbreviated (odd) or absent (unprecedented).  My darling niece Emily came with them.  And Michael who was playing a gig in Omaha (6 hours away) the night before really shocked me with his appearance. Jeff's family, who I have not really seen in over a year, were there which was a very nice surprise.  I wish I had time to connect with everyone, but I was pretty stunned and then the time really just flew by. One of the best birthday surprises I can ever remember.  I don't have pictures yet- apparently my kids think I did some sort of Mick Jagger impression as I walked in--hopefully all video evidence will stay put.

I didn't really have exciting spring break plans, but wanted to touch up the woodwork I had painted last summer and do some purging and organizing.  Also had hopes of repainting and mini overhaul of upstairs bathroom. I had worked really hard to have all my end of quarter grades, assessments, and reports done when I left on Friday so that I could walk away without anything to complete during the break. I have a testing project coming up in April to which I have to commit to 20 hours a week (on top of school and my tutor kids) so looks like thee projects are going to be on the back burner for a while.

But it's Spring!

Rough Weeks

Our Christmas season was tinged with sadness having just lost our darling Josie.  The reality sets in and I have found that so much of my daily life was intertwined with hers- hurrying home to see her waiting for me at the door, sharing food with her (I find that every morning I have part of my English muffin or bagel still on my plate), being careful not to let my restless leg syndrome clunk her during the night- I know these seem silly, but each time these things crop up it's a fresh pain.

I think being a bit run down and stressed out led to every opportunistic germ out there to find me in January.  TERRIBLE stomach virus (too hideous to describe) which caused me to miss two days of school and in my rush to return I left myself open for laryngitis and a horrible cold to keep me home another day--two Fridays in a row of misery. I am trying to throw myself into healthy habits- really eating actual food and trying to manage a full night of sleep. Plus- vitamin C drops.  Going to work in Germ Central can't be avoided but I Clorox wiped down desks and tables to give myself a fighting chance.

Today my beautiful Alissa celebrates her birthday in far off Chicago. I wish the weather wasn't so unpredictable and restrictive, but I am definitely heading her way in the spring. She was such a happy little baby- we had so much fun with her! I am so proud of her.




Finally got in to my hair stylist- way over due.  I'd post a picture, but my selfies tend to be disasters- but here's a glimpse of what I left behind:

Loss

It's been a sad few weeks. Our sweet Josie had a sudden onset of seizures without warning and within two days had to be released from her suffering. I am so crushed with this loss. For non-dog lovers I know it's hard to understand, and even for dog lovers my reaction might seem to be excessive but unless you received the kind of unconditional love and joy that she brought to my life, I don't blame you for not understanding. When the kids all moved out, when Jeff was hospitalized in 2012, when Jeff had open heart surgery and spent a summer recuperating in 2013, when I had some very sad, dark days she was my company and my comfort. I am trying very hard not to be the holiday downer, and having the time with my kids and family for those few days last week helped but I am back to my new normal life and feeling the crushing pain of her absence. I hate hearing that I should get a new dog  because it makes me feel like she is replaceable and that is not the case.  I am not saying I will never have another dog, but right now I can't even imagine it.

It's the Holiday Season!

Poor Josie is going to be on the receiving end of a lot of my holiday efforts, but it actually looked like she enjoyed her elf costume.

I am following my own rule: "No Christmas before Thanksgiving" but I am off to a bit of a late start.  Thanksgiving was wonderful- all my kids were home and Bob, Julie, Emily, and Bobby were with us for the day.  Alissa brought her boyfriend to meet Jeff, Barbara, Nick, and Michael and he seemed very comfortable with us.  This can be a challenge because invariably at some point conversations in our family veer into something controversial that can involve a spirited exchange of ideas- which we love, but I'm sure other families do not.  As usual reviewed the family plan for some catastrophe- this year it was the zombie apocalypse (these people watch Walking Dead- I do not so many of my suggestions are dismissed). Love my family.  Can't wait for all of us to be together with Gino and Andy's families at Christmas.

I had hoped to get pictures, but I was 100% occupied with cooking dinner and enjoying the time with my family and no one else got pictures.

I AM that type of blogger....

Once a month.  Can't believe that I can't manage more than once a month.  But, to be fair I did know from the get go that as soon as we get the first quarter of the school year under our belts it's crazy-busy until Christmas.

So to recap.  I got through parent-teacher conferences. It kicks up  such a conflict of emotions for me- the difference between the parents who are so devoted to their children (almost always to their benefit--sometimes not) and the parents who we can never get to spare the time to talk about their child. It's heartbreaking- kids who are really raising themselves. It's hard to realize you can only do so much without any support in the rest of their lives.  That is the part of being a teacher that I have never been able to really accept.

Followed up conference week with a trip to Chicago to see Alissa with Gino, Amy, and their girls. Traveling with three year old twins....well, actually they were pretty darn good for 99% of the trip.  Predictably, coming home was when the weekend caught up with them but it was fun to experience the city through their eyes.  Grant Park Zoo had a Halloween celebration going on and we had a great time.  And seeing Alissa--always the best time and I always wonder why we don't go to see her more often. And, I got to meet her boyfriend, who we all thought was very nice.

Lily enjoyed Alissa's bathtub with the Jacuzzi feature

I am enjoying this fall so much.  The first frost basically frees me from captivity.  I've been harvesting herbs to freeze and dry and  trying (in vain) to reclaim our gardens. I used to spend so much time working outside so it's great when I can get back out there.  I was just out in 30 degree sleet getting five dozen milkweed seeds in the ground. Those Monarch butterflies better show up.


Finished the pillows for all my grandma-friends.

And for the non-grandma friend who is our world traveler, I'm starting to chronicle her travels. She's been all over the world, but I'm starting with her latest trip.

  Oh- big family news.  Barbara and Nick adopted an adorable Boston Terrier, Gibson. They've been so anxious to get a dog and this little guy just fell into their hands. Meant to me.

Yes, I made him a pillow.

Completed Set for B&N (not Barnes and Noble)

100% handmade and I have the gnarly looking hands to prove it.

Autumn

I love the beginning of  fall.

Unlike 99% of the teachers I know who are breathlessly anticipate summer vacation, summer vacation for me (although very needed) means that I am at the mercy of heat and humidity which are two of my worst triggers for asthma. So I although  I enjoy some summers when there is a nice mix of good and bad days, there are  summers where I am a prisoner of air conditioning.

I don't know if I've revealed myself as a list maker, but it's a habit bordering on a compulsion.

 Fall to Do and to Enjoy list:

Update wardrobe-  the summer purge uncovered some hidden clothes that have come back into style.
I knew it would happen!  But fall clothes- yes!  I'm sick of sleeveless tops and bare legs.

Spice cookies- I love that Susan Branch recipe.  Those cookies freeze so well and I generally don't freeze cookies, but 10 seconds in microwave and it's like freshly baked.

Tights- I love wearing tights. Time to scout out new ones, unearth the old.  I scored a bunch at Old Navy for 99% off this summer, so it's time to get 'em out!  I've always had skinny legs, so I am all about tights. And- under the heading too much info- my leg shaving schedule gets pushed back. Waaaaay back ...McGilla Gorilla back.


Fall food- My family knows this and tolerates this and I think they secretly agree with this- but I think certain foods should only be consumed during certain times of the year. Fall foods to me means comfort food- which covers a wide variety of the foods I love cooking and consuming. I am all over this.

School- Once those first hellish weeks of school are under our belts, I love this time of year with the kids. We've established our procedures, there are so many fun activities I can sneak into our day, books to read to start building enthusiasm for reading, getting to know kids individually....I especially love teaching at this time of year.

Pillow project- Still deep into designing, needle working, and sewing pillows. After the set for Alissa I am just finishing up a set for Barbara and Nick's new home.  I've started making pillows for my friends with grandkids- a pillow for each child with their name and birth date.  Mentally I am designing pillows for winter and Christmas. I actually have a callus on my thumb. If this continues unchecked in two years everyone I know will be hiding from me for fear of a drive by pillow drop.

Pumpkin Patch and Farmers' Market- Haven't been down to our local farmer's market since the  first week of June, but definitely going to get in a few visits. we have such a cool location right next to the Mississippi River. And then trips out to the old pumpkin patch!  We had so much fun with our kids at the pumpkin patches over the years, maybe I need to borrow some nieces and go again.

Michael and Barbara- October 1993

And enough of sundown at 8:00.  I love that enveloping feeling of  an early evening.