Bouncy ball #SOLC

 

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Two Writing Teachers

Today was a bouncy ball day.

I bounced from one activity to another, finishing nothing.

                                                    Up the stairs and back down.

            Putting the bedroom back together (new carpet!)

                                                                                    Type, sit and read, go back to email.

    Jump into the group text (teachers on break!)

                                                            Answer the phone, make a call to dad

                                    Chat with daughter

Zip over to PT appointment (my knee is feeling better!)

                    My spring break is spent bouncing from one thing to another.

                                                        I'll have to go back to school to relax (NOT! Hahahaha)

Ice cream #SOLC

 

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Two Writing Teachers

Today it was 70 degrees in the Chicago suburbs.  Some of my students had spring fever (7 days til spring break!) and my classroom was warm and stuffy. This made for a long day.

After dinner, I mentioned that the whole town would probably go out for ice cream today, especially since it's the warmest day so far in 2022.

"Ice cream?" asked my husband.

Even the 23-year-old daughter's ears perked up, "Ice cream?"  she replied.

I sent them to the new Dairy Queen a few miles away with orders in hand.  They returned with a bonus Blizzard.  "I think they are still training people - we will just put this in the freezer!" announced my husband.

Dairy Queen cones always remind me of a favorite book, Duke the Dairy Delight Dog, by Lisa Campbell Ernst.  I no longer have a copy (I need to fix that) on my shelf, but this delightful story was a pure joy to read aloud to the kids at elementary school.  The vocabulary was super-duper, so I bet even my middle school kids would not feel like it was too babyish.

In a nutshell, the story focuses on the very detailed, cleaning Darla (ice cream store owner) as she deals with a dirty and determined Duke, a stray dog who has found his destiny at the Dairy Delight.  The two don't see eye-to-eye, but an encounter with wax and a floor cleaner manages to nudge Darla to more acceptance of Duke.

Here's to more ice-cream filled 70-degree days this spring!

Spring! #SOLC21

 

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Two Writing Teachers

I'm SO excited for spring.

Sure - there will be rain and cool temperatures and mud ... lots of mud.

But I'm excited to get the garden ready for growing vegetables and native plants, trim the prairie grass, and spread some fresh mulch.

We are focusing on fixing up the backyard this year:  build a new shed, fix up the deck, and create a walkway to the shed.

I'm ready to get started!!!

Any big plans for spring at your home?

Waiting for the butterflies #SOLC21

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Two Writing Teachers

My Instagram feed is FULL of caterpillars, butterflies and flowers, and I'm grumpy!

That's what I get when I follow the hashtags #butterflygardening and #raisingbutterflies.

Too bad I live in Zone 5b and we still have snow on the ground.  Plants are still frozen and brown and crunchy.

When a coworker asked me about raising butterflies today, I got a little hopeful.  

I explained how I have swamp milkweed plants where the monarchs will lay eggs. 
I went on to talk about how I collect the eggs to raise in little containers so they have a better chance to survive.  I babbled on about how my neighbor has common milkweed plants that come in handy when the eggs have grown into full, fifth-instar caterpillars that eat through a large leaf in one day.

To feel better, I came home and ordered more swamp milkweed and coneflowers that will arrive when it's warm enough to plant them.

Back to the Instagram feed to feel a little more hopeful for spring's arrival, as I wait for the butterflies.

 

C'mon spring #SOLC19

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Two Writing Teachers

The mountains of ice remain.

High of 39 degrees today, with some sunshine.

The wind blows across the yard, shaking the tree boughs.

Our trees are growing tiny stems for future leaves.

The grass is a dull shade of brown.

In March it's hard to be patient,

The warmth doesn't come soon enough.

C'mon spring!

Soggy Spring #SOLC17

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Write every day in March.
It's the final week!
Two Writing Teachers

The rain has made the ground squishy and soggy.

The birds are excited to pull juicy worms from the dirt.

The green sprigs of daffodils and snowdrops peek up, some flowering.

The trees are covered with moss, their leaves beginning to bud.

The water in the stream gushes, splashes and flows over rocks.

The air is sticky and fragrant and gentle.

The rain brings new life to the earth.

Calm before the storm #SOLC17

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Write every day in March
Even when you lose an hour of sleep
Two Writing Teachers

This morning it was really chilly, but beautifully sunny.

I haven't walked much since last summer for a list of reasons:  unmotivated, hurt feet, walking buddy moved, crummy weather.

I decided to lace up my shoes and just go.  I turned right instead of left.  Past the street I would usually turn on.  Then I trodded up the hill.

The sun was shining, but it's warmth didn't do much against the fierce, cold wind.  I was glad for my mittens, but I was missing my scarf and hat.  The wind kept pushing my hood farther back on my head.

I was the solo walker out this morning.  Few neighbors drove by in their cars.  

I walked to clear my head, listen to the birds and move my legs before I came inside to do homework and other computer work.

Tonight we expect a snowstorm.  I can't belive the lack of snow this season, but winter still has a tight grip.  We are in for 3-6" by Tuesday.

I enjoyed the blue, brilliant sky.  The calm before the storm.

Spring #SOLC17

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Write every day in March.
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Two Writing Teachers

Spring is approaching

The sun is warm but the air is cold

I step outside, gloves on hands

and pull down the dry, jagged branches 

of the monster clematis that clings to our fence.

Spring is approaching

I try to connect the hose

failing more than once.

I finally line up the treads

twist, twist, turn on,

big spray, wipe eyes,

now the water is flowing.

Spring is approaching

I take in the sights and sounds

of my yard.

Birds chirping,

grass turning green,

plants pushing through the soft dirt.

What will I plant this year?

Spring is approaching

Time to finish up the indoor projects

and move to the outdoor projects.

Some planned, some spontaneous.

Some long overdue.