Six More Mondays

See, I told you I like to countdown to things.  Now we are in the final countdown to summer break.  Which for teachers is our own slice of heaven.  I have 2 more purchase orders to use and I attempted to use them Sunday afternoon.  I had all my stuff picked out at Office Depot but we hit that dang snag of no credit card.  This time it wasn't my fault.  I did ask and was told there isn't a credit card and one wasn't needed.  I was so bummed because this week is buy one get one half off on ink.  And man let me tell you I use some ink. I also had 3 packs of the most gorgeous color paper.  I also use lots of color paper.  I hope Central Office gets this figured out.
Since I couldn't use my PO at Office Depot, I had to wait to use my Walmart PO.  Bummer.
But I did buy our weekly groceries.  It is so hard not to get in a rut and cook the same thing every night and every week.  I had a brief inspiration in the grocery store yesterday and we had shish kabobs for supper.  I bought chicken tenders, mushrooms and red and orange bell peppers.  I had onions and squash at home.  They looked so pretty.

Once I coated the veggies in olive oil and pepper then I skewered everything and then brushed Olive Garden Italian Dressing over them.

Paul grilled them and they were perfectly.  I mean yum yum!!

 We had enough so both of us could have it for lunch today. I also bought some small packages of fresh fruit and a bag of butter lettuce salad.  Man, it was all I could do to wait for lunch time.   Last night Paul asked if I could make a blueberry cobbler with the plethora of  blueberries in our freezer.  How can I say no?  So tonight it's spaghetti and cobbler for dessert.  But first I have to work late.  This week is progress report week and I have a workshop on Thursday, so I need to catch up or get ahead one.
Until next time,
love ya,

The "Lasagna" Garden

Beautiful day again. So thankful for this spring weather.  The morning was quiet and relaxing. I did venture outside to look over "lasagna" garden.   Actually it's the far side of our back yard just past our blueberry bushes.  Let me go back and tell this story.  Four years ago before Meme (Paul's mother) died we realized she was going down and we would need to sell the house soon.  I mentioned to Paul that the front shrubs were way over grown and fresh landscaping would be a good selling point. Paul asked me to work up a landscape plan. I did, but it involved removing lots of roof high shrubs; boxwood, red tip photinia, and lovely pink azaleas. Paul tried digging them up with a shovel but the roots were so deep and huge. The only thing to do was to put a rope around the trunk and use the truck to rip them out of the ground. And he did over and over on all the shrubs EXCEPT the azaleas. Those I had plans for at our house.  When it was time to go home only the azaleas were left. Paul went back later that week and I instructed him how to trim them back and then dig them up, put them in individual black garbage bags   Unfortunately we didn't get to finish the yard work because Meme passed away. I hated the yard was a mess when all the family came for the funeral. The next week Paul and his brothers in law planted the new shrubs and put out fresh pine straw. He brought the 10 azaleas home and we planted  them down the side of our yard near the pine trees.   We have lost a few of them but most are hanging in there. Last year my garden club had a speaker talk about Lasagna gardening  which is basically laying down layers of newspaper and then layering green and brown matter to compost. Some areas worked great other areas need weeding often. (And maybe more newspapers under the pine straw). We have added a purple magnolia, 2 pink dogwoods and 2 wisteria.  We also added 2 trellis for the wisteria, a bottle tree, 10 large stepping stones from the old patio and a bird house.  The bottle tree was Meme's, she asked for it as a Christmas gift so we put it near the azaleas.  Before we put in the pool 2 years ago Paul had the pines removed. Some were diseased and dying. In the Springtime this area looks so pretty.  I love this sweet section of our yard. I found several patches of wild Violet's

and some wild strawberry plants yesterday.

Also a bird is nesting in the birdhouse I bought at Canton Flea Market last spring.
So I pulled some weeds this morning and I need to pull some more too but my garden gloves are sadly worn out.  I did buy 2 new pair of gloves today. So I can get busy pulling weeds now.

Until next time, 

Love ya,

Saturday Shopping and Planting

I mentioned earlier that I love Saturday mornings because I can take my time getting out of bed and also getting started on my day. 

After a lazy morning we headed out to Jackson ( I know two weeks in a row). We needed to replace two of the  15 sweet olives we planted last year and get two more azaleas for the "lasagna garden". I also want two geraniums and hoped for two hanging baskets for my front baskets.
We had lunch at Beagle Bagel, which was where we were headed last week.  I got the chicken salad (it's not as good as mine but it is good) and Paul ordered the New Yorker. My sandwich was ready as we moved done the line and Paul was promised his would be right out.

But even after getting our drinks and a trip to the restroom no sandwich. I'm not very patient so I got up and after a few minutes I got our server's attention and asked about my husband's sandwich. Yep he had forgotten it. He brought it right out, although it had a little bit on the burnt edges. Paul said it was good though.

Then we headed to a great garden center off Highway 51. We got 3 sweet olives (I bet we have planted at least 50 of these)UPDATE we have 45 and have only lost 2.

 2 Pride of Mobile azaleas (these were always daddy's favorite) and I got 2 ginormous red geraniums.

I wanted pink but dang these were so beautiful. See aren't they beautiful by the pool?

I also got two hanging baskets of  pink wave petunias. I'm waiting for the sun to drop a little to put them out.
I also needed to exchange the outfit I got last weekend. The pants were huge (my fault I hate to try on clothes in a store) and the top was a tad bit snug. The store was very nice but no more pants in my size but I did swap the shirt and I have a gift card for later. I also needed some make up from Bobbi Brown at Belk's.  I like just a light coverage this time of the year  so I got the tinted moisturizer and best of all they had one case left of my favorite color of eye shadow, Lilac. Yay me.
We' re watching the Masters now and discussing supper ideas. I'm thinking crawfish or shrimp???
Until next time,
Love ya,

Friday Nights and Saturday Mornings

Good morning. There is a little nip in the air this morning. Old Man Winter is really having a hard time letting go this year.  Last night after a delicious meal of BBQ sandwiches and home made potato salad Paul disappeared outside. Usually  he goes to check on the pool, empty skimmers or clean out Creepy's bag but he was gone a long time. I peeked out and he was building a fire in the outdoor fireplace.  (I may have hinted this would be great night for a fire outside) so I grabbed us a glass of wine and headed out to join him. It was awesome. At first the stars were covered by the clouds but they began to clear out and the skies were so pretty.  Wwe couldn't sit on the hearth because the fire was quite warm. I started to run back in the house to take a picture but I didn't want to ruin the mood. As we finished the wine and the fire was dying down we headed inside.  I just love a quiet Friday night staying home.
But I also love Saturday mornings because most of the time we don't have anywhere we have to rush to, like work or appointments. I can wake up slowly. Hmmmmm just lay in bed and talk and plan our day. So either summer vacation or retirement better hurry up.
Until next time,
Love ya,

Friday Before Prom and Happy Moments

Saturday is our high school's junior-senior prom.   I knew LOTS of my students would be absent or leaving early but I really needed to give a test so I told them please come just to take my test.  And most of them did.  The test really didn't take them long, they are smart that way. I knew they really weren't open to hearing any new material so I just gave them the rest of the class to relax.  It was so much fun to see them interact.  Two tables played Jenga, (I need to get some more of these games) One table wanted to color and the others just sat and chatted.  It really warmed my heart to see them having fun in such a simple way.  I put on Beach Boys music at first I had a few complaints but soon they were swaying to the beat.  I Love Fridays!!!
I love my students and my heart is full.  I'd share pictures of them but that might not be a good idea.  Just take my word that they were super cute.
I don't have to work at the prom because I worked at homecoming dance.  But I am sure they will bring pictures on Monday.
Until next time,
Love ya,

School Contracts

One day last week the announcement came that our school contracts for next year were in the office.  I went up to the principal's office to pick mine up and as the assistant principal handed me my contract, I mentioned this could be my last contract.  She said she hoped it wasn't my last year.  So I've had it sitting in my passenger seat all this week.  Each day I look at it and try to decide if this could be my last contract.  Wow.  It's been 37 years since I got my first teaching license.  I taught one year of Home Economics and American History at a small first through twelve school.  The next year I got married and we were living in Starkville, I was planning to commute to the school when the Lord opened a door for me to teach two year old preschoolers at First Baptist Creative Learning Center.  What an eye opener for a youngest child, don't know much about babies person.  When Paul graduated from Mississippi State we moved to Port Gibson.  One of the parents from Starkville was from Port Gibson and called her mother to let them know I was moving there and that I was a great teacher.  High praise in my opinion.  At first I was just going to stay home but when September cam around I was bored and called them asking if they might need a substitute teacher sometime to give me a call.  I started work the next day at St James Episcopal Learning Center. I worked there until October of 1981 when I quit to stay home waiting for my first born to arrive.  Matthew arrived in February and he and I stayed home until he was almost 18 months old.  I went back as the Director  of St. James for a few months before we moved to Zachary, LA, then to Huntsville, Al. then to Fort Worth, TX.  and finally back to Mississippi. When Mark started kindergarten I started back teaching and have worked in education for the past 24.5 years.  December will make 25 years.  That has always been my goal.  It is so hard to believe it is almost here.  When I turned in my contract this morning I mentioned to my principal this could be my last contract.
 He didn't say much.
But for me it was mixed emotions folks.
Until next time,
Love ya,

Outage Is Finally Over

Paul returned to work last fall and then continued through the outage.  I hate outages!!! They are long, Paul works 6-7 days a week, 12-14 hours a day, he's tired, I'm lonely.  Not FUN.
But finally last weekend the outage ended, and Paul has been home more.   I already told you about our Saturday and Sunday together but we have a couple of other things coming up that I am so excited about.  One is a quick weekend getaway to St. Francisville, La.  Paul worked in St. Francisville years ago and we have been back a few time through the years.  Lately St Francisville has been in lots of magazines like Southern Living and Guns and Gardens.  Since it is only 2 1/2 hours from Vicksburg it is a perfect getaway.  We have our reservations and I am planning our itinerary.

Another thing I am excited about is we have tickets to see/hear Brian Wilson!!! oh you do know him, from the Beach Boys. Yes I thought that would help you.  We were watching TV last night and a commercial came on about his concert and I said I would love to see him (I am not a big concert goer).  Paul said me too, so I googled the concert info, found tickets, gasped at the price, and bought them.  I can't wait!!!
Eek, squeal, yippee.

Until next time,
Love ya,

Shopping for School

I LOVE to shop.  I really do.  I think the one thing I miss most about not working for MDE is the shopping I would get to do in the afternoons.  I traveled all over the state for 6 years and let me tell you I found all (well most of them) of the cute little gift shops.  Small towns, big cities, they all have that one store.
Anyway I mentioned I had some money to spend so I thought I would stock up on crafty supplies at Hobby Lobby,  I spent over an hour there on Tuesday afternoon, carefully picking out paper, rubber stamps, paint, markers, all kinds of cool stuff.  I normally will get these with my own money but it was great to use my budget money.  The only problem on Tuesday was I forgot to check out the Hobby Lobby credit card.  The manager was so sweet that he bagged all my stuff and held it until I could pick it up on  Wednesday.  Here is what my cart looked like as I left.

It may not look like a lot to you but to me it was just like Christmas!! Even better is I have two more purchase orders to spend at Walmart and Office Depot.  YAY!!
I am aware that my years of teaching are winding down and I am excited for a new adventure but I am also painfully aware that I will miss teaching.
What to do, what to do.
Until next time,
Love ya,

Countdown to ...

I am known around Warren Central HS for counting down.  I count down to holiday, breaks, tests, whatever it is, I am counting.  So this time of year when the kids are going crazy I start reminding just how few days we have to work.  I have a few seniors that will not be happy in about 26  days when they realize they have to take my exam.  My class won't keep them from graduating but...
So it is 36 days until the end of school, we have one 60 % day, one more day off.  If you subtract the 4 exam days that makes 32 and then you can just go ahead and subtract next Tuesday because the juniors take the ACT at school and the rest of the school sits in their 2nd period class for 4 hours.  Just shoot me now!!!
Okay I have been VERY frugal with my FCS budget money this year and I have about $500 to spend!!!
Hobby Lobby I am coming your way today!!!
I'll share pictures soon.
On a sad note my dear cousin, Janice Alderman Hood, was laid to rest today.  She was the sweetest thing to me when I was knee high to a grasshopper.  She was almost exactly 10 years older than me.  Please hug your family a little extra tonight and say a prayer for her husband and family.
Until next time,
Love ya,

Monday, Monday

Monday brought more sunshine YAY!  and a work day.   While I am glad to be back at school, these last few months are so hard.  The kids are at the point they are starting to shut down.
I tried to walk some at lunch time but oh my calves were sore.  Guess I need to get in better shape.  Paul was off and he ran some errands and enjoyed being home.  I ran to the grocery store (because I had put it off on Sunday) and got LOTS of fresh veggies for this week.  While I cook almost every night I am really trying to cook with fresh vegetables instead of canned.  Monday night was Pork Tenderloin with a Bar-B-Que seasoning, fresh green beans and baked sweet potatoes.  Yum.
My hot bath was really needed to help those sore muscles too.
Until next time,
Love ya,