When I'm not at school. . .

Well, all my students have been writing blog posts and I have just been sitting back reading them and not writing anything myself. Shame on me.

I thought I would share some of the things I have been reading lately. I love food, as my students know, and I am going to have a very large garden at a community garden this spring. So, I have been reading a couple of memoirs my people who began to garden or farm on a larger scale.

As I read these two books, I am surprised by how appealing I sometimes find the idea of having a big garden or even a farm. I’m not sure why I am so drawn to it since I am also a big fan of cities. Love them in fact. And, since I also like nice shoes, this does not really work on a farm. Maybe I could have a farm right on the edge of a city where I could hop on a bus and be at a great museum, or restaurant, or store in 20 minutes.

I think it is interesting to think about the kinds of places and landscapes we find comfortable. I love to walk through Valley Forge Park in all seasons, even winter. I like how there are parts of the park that are trees and bushes and parts that are open rolling hills. The tall grass when the wind blows through it is my favorite I think. I wear appropriate footwear, bring snacks, and just walk as long as the kids will walk.

And, I love to walk through cities. I like to people watch (really, who doesn’t?). I like that I can sit on a bench and kind of stare at folks walking by and it’s not considered rude. You get to see what wearing, listen in on bits of conversations, and imagine entire lives for folks. Plus, you just never know what you will see. There are all kinds of interesting things to see:  buildings, shop windows, restaurants. There’s so much energy.

Such different places.

What do any of you think about places you might like to live or visit? What appeals to you and what does not?

Oh my gosh! You are going to want to make this recipe. I was given this book by my sister-in-law last time she was visiting.

Whoopie Pies

The entire cookbook is recipes for different cake parts and different fillings. You can mix and match.

My daughter and I decided to make the gingerbread cakes with the malted vanillla insides. What a good choice that was! It was such a nice day that we walked to the grocery store to get the ingredients we were missing.

The recipe is not hard. We made the cake parts first.

Cookie parts

Then we made the filling. It is less creamy than I would have imagined. It’s more like icing, really yummy icing.

malted vanilla filling

We had to wait for the cake parts to cool off, which was not easy, let me tell you!

Finally we put the pieces together.

the final product

Seriously, go make these or get someone else to make them for you. You will not be disappointed.

I have been sewing since I was in 4th grade, which was a long time ago. Over the years I have made a lot of different things.For a while I made a lot of reversible things–skirts and vests. As I said it was a long time ago. I am sure they were stylish then (maybe). Then I started making things that were just too complicated or the fabric was too hard to work with and I didn’t finish the project. This happened more times than I would like to admit.

My best project was actually a project that I did not make for myself. I decided to make my parents matching pajamas for Christmas one year. I can’t remember when I did this, but it was sometime after I had graduated from college. I really did a nice job on them. They had drawstring waists on the pants and button front tops. They were the right size and everything. The best part, though, was the fabric. It was red flannel with cowboy scenes on it! Fantastic! Whose parent won’t be warm, cozy, and fabulous in matching cowboy pj’s, I ask you?

Well, I have not done anything so wonderful in sewing since. Maybe I better start thinking about the holidays now.

What is the most memorable gift you have given someone?

Welcome to my brand new blog.

During the day Mondays through Fridays I teach 5th grade. My students are working hard to be know as 5E for excellent. This year I have all sorts of new plans for them. They are so lucky; they don’t even realize it.

In the evenings and on the weekends I am a regular person. I have a husband and 2 kids. A lot of times I do things that are totally unrelated to teaching or school or even education at all.

That is what this blog is going to be about–all the non-school projects and fun stuff that I like to do.