Five Minutes of Small

Good Friday morning to you!  I'm linking up with Five Minute Friday over at Lisa-Jo Baker's blog today, and you're invited too.  Here's how it works...

Lisa Jo presents a one word prompt, and then everyone takes off running with it in whatever direction they choose. The catch is that you only have five minutes. Period. No editing, no over thinking, no backtracking. I set a timer because I like words and lots of them.

After you've sweated out the five minutes link back to Lisa-Jo's blog, and don't forget to add your own link to the party too. Finally, go visit the person who linked before you and leave them an encouraging comment. Trust me, that's the easy part!  Here we go-

Today's prompt-small

An old dog's tail wagging furiously as hubs key turns in the door. A daughter's name in caller I.D.  A cloudless blue sky. A cool breeze in the middle of August. A BLT with its ruby red tomato plucked right off the vine.  

Lunch with a friend from our across the pond life. Weekend weddings and little girls who not so long ago were playing dress ups in our den. Sweet memories. New experiences. Reunions. Friends who knew you when. Graduations. Family who cheer and love and celebrate. Hope.

Hot water and plumbers who make it so. Husbands weary from work who keep on keeping on. The shared language of a long marriage. Laughter at the kitchen counter. The good sigh of a weekend. A comfy couch on the patio beckoning you there.

Coffee and quiet time in the sunroom. Lindt chocolates in the pantry. Facetime phone calls from Target. Peeking inside a new teacher's classroom via photo texts. Pom Poms successfully hung from the ceiling. Excitement in a voice.

A bright yellow sun inching it's way up over the mountain. Sliding open the kitchen door to the promise of morning. Anticipation. Bumble bees stealing a drink from the hummingbird. Sparrows in the hedge and chipmunks hard at work in the rock wall they call home. Grace for the day.

Full days. A thousand interactions or maybe just one. Old friends and new faces. The dance of the ordinary, the symphony of the extraordinary.  A pinky gold watercolored summer sunset sky. Rest for the body and peace for the soul.

Small things.
Big life.

Zig Zagging Through the Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge...add your link and join the party!

1. My daughter earned her Master's Degree this past weekend....what's something you've 'mastered' in recent weeks or months?

Not sure I've actually mastered anything...the art of napping? 

2. What song most reminds you of your childhood?

Wow-how do I choose just one? I'm going with the first few things that came to mind, random as they may be... Lady Willpower by Gary Pucket and the Union Gap, Jimmy Mack by Martha and the Vandellas, and I'm into Something Good by the Herman's Hermits. My big sister would play these on her stereo, and let me and my little sister jump and dance on her canopy bed. Shhh...don't tell my mom. 

Hymns also make me think of my childhood and Sunday night sing alongs in our pew on the left. Give Me That Old Time Religion because we loved singing this one in family devotions, and then kind of the antithesis of that-House of the Rising Sun because my brother played it end.less.ly on his guitar. 

Really I could write paragraphs in answer to this one.

3. What do you think of single gender groups and/or events? Should every group/event be open to both genders?  If not, what sort of exceptions do you think are appropriate?

I am a fan of single gender groups and events, particularly in the tween and teen years.  I don't really understand this pc idiocy that says everything needs to be open to everybody. If we're talking about an employment situation that's one thing, but I think it's healthy for male and female alike to spend time with 'their own kind'.  

4. What's your favorite spice? Your favorite dish containing your favorite spice?

This is a really tough one for me, since I love spice of every kind. The first thing that popped into my head was basil, and my favorite dish made with basil is a caprese salad. Wait-no it's not, it's Thai Green Curry.  They're not made with the same variety of basil, but I like it all.   

5. I saw this question on Marla's facebook page, and asked if I could
stealborrow it for the Hodgepodge...thanks Marla!

Chevron patterns are everywhere!  Do you like it or think it's a little too much?  Do you own anything 'chevron'?

You know, back in the 70's we had chevron too...we called it zig zag-ha!  I do have one summer dress with a chevron print, and that's enough for me. It's really cute, but I don't think I'd want a whole house or wardrobe filled with the pattern.  A little bit goes a long way.  

6. What's something you disliked as a child, but can fully appreciate now?

Hmmm...brussel sprouts, day trips to Longwood Gardens, my super skinny self, and looking younger than my age.  

7. What can irritate you very quickly?

Slow drivers in the left hand lane...aka the passing lane.  It's called the passing lane because it's meant for passing, not for lallygagging.  In the UK they ticketed drivers for that!

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I love surprises except when I don't. Monday night hubs came home from work and went down to the basement to work out.  Surprise!  The water heater was leaking-ugh. The plumber kindly came out that evening to see what he'd need to order, and by noon on Tuesday the new one was in.  

Happy Birthday Hubs! 

Ha-his birthday is still a couple weeks away, but I like to shop early. 
A shiny, brand-spankin'-new water heater is an okay present, isn't it?

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 137

It's that time again...here are this week's questions for the Wednesday Hodgepodge.  Hop back here tomorrow to add your link and join the party.

1. My daughter earned her Master's Degree this past weekend...what's something you've 'mastered' in recent weeks or months?

2. What song most reminds you of your childhood?

3. What do you think about single gender groups and/or events? Should every group/event be open to both genders?  If not, what sort of exceptions do you think are appropriate?

4. What's your favorite spice? Your favorite dish containing your favorite spice?

5.  I saw this question on Marla's facebook page and asked if I could steal borrow it for the Hodgepodge...thanks Marla!  

Chevron patterns are everywhere!  Do you like it or think its just a little too much? Do you own anything 'chevron'?

6.  What's something you disliked as a child, but can fully appreciate now?

7. What can irritate you very quickly?

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Mastered It!

It's Monday, right?  How about a recap of our very full weekend?
Is there any other kind on this side of the pond?

Let's start with trying to get out of town. What a nightmare! Okay, maybe more of a first world problem than a nightmare, but still it was aggravating. We were supposed to fly out at 3 PM on Thursday afternoon, and when I checked the flight status en route to the airport everything was a go.  As hubs was checking the bags we happened to see the word Cleveland on the screen.

Cleveland? As in Ohio? We're not going to Cleveland.

In fact we were going the polar opposite of Cleveland.  Not precisely, but roughly because Cleveland is north and we were traveling south.  Trying to travel south.

I could go on and on (and on and on) about all the rigmarole we encountered, but suffice it to say we did not get out on Thursday night.  Boo. We did get on an early morning flight for Friday, and when they told us that was our only option hubs and I looked at each other and said, "Let's not drive the hour back home only to get up in the middle of the night to come right back."

We checked into a hotel near the airport and headed over to the Ironbound area for dinner. Newark NJ is not a city I'd put on my 'must-see' list...in fact I'd probably tell you to take a wide berth around it, but there is a section of the city known for great eating, called the Ironbound. It's chock a block full of Spanish and Portuguese dining and we thoroughly enjoyed our meal at Fornos of Spain.  If there's one thing we know how to do around here it's how to make lemonade out of lemons.

Sangria and Spanish omelet anyone?

Daughter2 picked us up on Friday morning, and after breakfast drove us out to the school where she'll be teaching. We got to meet the principal who is fabulous, and daughter2 showed us around the school and inside her classroom. Seeing my baby girl sitting in her official teacher's desk made my heart happy. There's nothing quite so special as seeing your child's dreams come true.

Friday night we met up with family downtown for a pre-graduation celebratory dinner, and then met up with more family who had come to town on Saturday for a pre-graduation celebratory lunch.

Our family likes to do everything in a pack...there's a lot of us.
Just ask the boyfriend.

Downtown Greenville South Carolina is one of my favorite places to be. Hubs and I went for a run both mornings we were there, and enjoyed strolling through their fabulous Farmer's Market on Saturday morning.

Falls Park is so pretty....almost makes me like running.

Almost.

Of course we took pictures on this gorgeous campus which never looks lovelier than with all it's many fountains flowing.

Look at that smile!  

Is it because she's finally finished with grad school? Has a brand new job? Or is it because her favorite boy came to town to celebrate all of the above?  I'm going with C.

Since this was a summertime ceremony, it was much smaller aka shorter,  than the springtime graduations we've attended.  

Not complaining. 

At all.  

This ceremony was held indoors in comfortable seats and air conditioning. There is definitely something to be said for an indoor summertime graduation in the south.

Daughter2 was beaming as she received her Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education. She has always enjoyed school, but she is so ready to get on with the business of teaching.

I think a good teacher is full of passion, full of heart, full of ideas, and full of resolve.  So proud of her accomplishments, and so excited for my girl and the year ahead...

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.  Live the life you have imagined."  

Henry David Thoreau

Simply The Hodgepodge

You know what they say-time flies when you're having fun, and summer around here is proving that to be true!  Here are my answers to this week's questions...be sure to add your link at the end of my post before you hurry off to see what the neighbors had to say-

1. The first week of August is National Simplify Your Life Week...what's one thing you could do this week to qualify as a participant?

I could tackle my office files.  

I won't, but I could....they need reviewing and purging and shredding, but you need to stay home to do that so here's my real answer-

This week I will not spend any time worrying about the files that need reviewing, purging or shredding.   

Ha-turns out there's more than one way to simplify a life!

2. It's also National Peach Month...peach pie, peach cobbler, or please pour me a Bellini? What's your peach pleasure?

Bellinis make me think of Venice, so if I can have mine served at Harry's Bar then count me in. Their Bellinis are famous and the price reflects that, but they are super delizioso.  Plus, you're in Venice so what's not to love? 

3. Eleanor Roosevelt once wrote, "Do one thing every day that scares you."Agree or disagree...explain.

Yeah, I kind of do agree. Doing something that scares you doesn't mean doing something stupid...after all, healthy fear is oftentimes what keeps us alive. I think Mrs. Roosevelt's words remind us to let go of the fears we carry out into the world every day that are not healthy. Fear of failure, fear of rejection, and fear of criticism to name just a few.  

When I try something new, do something outside my imagined comfort zone, put my toe in the water and swim, that's when I grow. Not just in confidence or in knowledge, but also in faith. I don't believe we have to face our fears alone.   

"When I am afraid, I will trust in You." Psalm 56:3...also a good 'quote' to remember.

4. What's your favorite household chore?  Yes, you have to choose one.

I'm stumped.

Does loading the dishwasher count because I'm a master at that?  Not so much a fan of the unloading, but I kind of enjoy the loading. I don't like dishes sitting in the sink so it always feels good to get them in the dishwasher. Hubs has taken to just setting the dishes in there any old way because he knows I'm gonna reorganize it to fit in twice as much as he thinks possible. 

5. Fodor's recently listed (what they've dubbed) the ten most beautiful sunset spots in America. Click here to read more or see pretty pictures, but this is their list...

Butterfly Beach in Santa Barbara CA, Mount Haleakala in Maui HI, Old Fort Marcy in Santa Park Fe NM, Laguna Beach California, Hopi Point in Grand Canyon AZ, Four Seasons in Miami FL, Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica CA, Gay Head in Martha's Vineyard MA, Ensign Peak in Salt Lake City UT, and Mallory Square in Key West Florida.

Have you seen the sun set from any of these spots? If you could choose to watch the sun set from one of the spots on Fodor's list, which would you choose.  Where was the prettiest sunset you've ever seen?

I've seen the sun set from Mallory Square in Key West...pretty sure it's the law of the land down there.   Okay, maybe not the law, but it's a big party come sunset time in Key West.   

I prefer a quieter sunset, more awe and less drunken tourist, so of the ones listed I think I'd choose Santa Fe.  My grandparents lived in New Mexico and my grandfather was a painter who captured the beauty of that state on canvas.  I remember how big the sky felt when we'd visit out there...it was the first place I ever saw a purple sky.  

My most favorite, and definitely some of the world's most beautiful sunsets, are in Marco Island Florida. We've spent a lot of time there and truth be told, the sunsets are part of the draw. When our girls were little we'd tell them to watch closely, because the sun was going to fall into the ocean.  

And it did.  

6. What's your favorite or most used app?  If you don't use apps, how about your favorite or most visited website?

Instagram.  No politics, no bickering, in fact there's not a lot of talk period, just lots of really nice pictures. I'm Daleyshots if you're a fan too.  

7. We've recently passed the halfway mark for 2013...write a seven word sentence that sums up your year thus far.

If you only knew how many times I wrote and re-wrote my sentence to get it down to seven words! Here it is-

Not a lotta blanks in the calendar!

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Sunday was a gorgeous day so hubs and I spent a few hours at the NJ State Fair.  I've been wondering about something we saw there, well lots of things actually, but for starters this-

Has anyone every tried it (the koolaid, not the funnel cake). Isn't koolaid powder? How do they fry powder?  Part of me wishes I'd tried it, and part of me knows there cannot be a single redeeming quality in something called fried koolaid.  Can there?

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 136

Here are the questions for this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge.  Answer on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to add your link to the party. The more the merrier...

1. The first week of August is National Simplify Your Life Week...what's one thing you could do this week to qualify as a participant?

2. It's also National Peach Month...peach pie, peach cobbler, or please pour me a Bellini?  What's your peach pleasure?

3. Eleanor Roosevelt once wrote, "Do one thing every day that scares you." Agree or disagree...explain.

4. What's your favorite household chore?  Yes-you have to name one.

5. Fodors recently listed (what they've dubbed) the ten most beautiful sunset spots in America. Click here to read more and see the pretty pictures, but this is their list:

Butterfly Beach in Santa Barbara CA, Mount Haleakala in Maui HI, Old Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe NM, Laguna Beach CA, Hopi Point in Grand Canyon AZ, Four Seasons in Miami FL, Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica CA, Gay Head in Martha's Vineyard MA, Ensign Peak in Salt Lake City UT, and Mallory Square in Key West Florida.

Have you seen the sun set from any of these spots?  If you could choose to watch the sun set this weekend from one spot on the Fodors List, which would you choose?  Where was the prettiest sunset you've ever seen?

6. What's your favorite or most used app?  If you don't use apps how about your favorite or most visited website?

7. We've recently passed the halfway mark for 2013...write a seven word sentence that sums up your year thus far.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

A Teacher? Why Would You Want To Be A Teacher?

It's a big week in our house, a week where a milestone will be marked and celebrated. A week where family will gather and cheer for a girl so precious to each one of us as she crosses the university stage once more.  She'll don a hood of blue to match her eyes, but also because its the color required for her discipline and graduate degree.

Next week she begins grown up life. Oh, she's been a grown up for a while now, but somehow finishing her Masters Degree and accepting a full time teaching position makes it all feel more official.

When people ask me what my daughter is studying, and I say teaching, I'm generally met with one of several reactions.

Teaching??? I don't know why anyone would want to be a teacher these days!!  

Teaching? How great...it means she'll have summers off.

Teaching? But your daughter is so smart and has so much personality. Shouldn't she be running a company or something?

Really.

I know there is much to complain about when it comes to our educational system. I know there are some truly awful teachers out there and some truly lazy teachers too. I also know that for every bad teacher who makes the news, there are fifteen good ones who do not. And isn't that that all the more reason to encourage the best and brightest to become teachers? To fuel their passion instead of trying to squash it? To pursue and recruit those students into the field of teaching instead of pushing them in some other direction?

My daughter2 has always always always wanted to be a teacher. When she was ten years old teaching pretend school in our basement I was teaching real kindergarten. She probably had more lesson plans written out than I did.  She loves and relates well to children of all ages, and she likes them too.  That may sound silly but let's face it, we all know teachers who don't seem to like kids.

My girl is responsible and organized. A wonderful role model for any child. Dependable and a self-starter to the nth degree, plus she's smart. Also strong, compassionate, and brimming with self-confidence.  She loves to plan, and loves it when a plan comes together. More importantly she excels at going to Plan B when a plan does not come together.

Aren't these the qualities we want all teachers to possess?

After learning she 'got the job' my daughter told me her head started spinning. I knew exactly what she meant. People love to comment on 'teacher hours', but what they don't always recognize is the way your students and your vocation are never far from thought.

That inside the head of every good teacher the wheels are always turning. How when you lay down at night you are thinking about the boy in the first row, third seat back who needs some new approach when it comes to reading. Or the mean girl in the second seat, second row, who needs to see in you an example of kindness and compassion.  Or the parent who hovers anxiously outside your door, wanting a tablespoon full of reassurance or maybe a whole bucket load.

My daughter is a new teacher. She won't be perfect, but her effort will be. She knows a lot, but she doesn't know everything. That's the thing about great teachers. They are always learning, always adjusting what they do to meet the needs of their students. They tweak and fuss and read and research. They talk to other teachers. They scour the Internet. They pray.

My daughter pinned something on one of her Pinterest boards recently and I'm sharing it here. I don't know who wrote it, but I know I love it. (You can find a cute printable of the prayer here).

Next time someone tells you they're studying to be a teacher how about you say-Fantastic! The world needs more people like you doing the job.

Once upon a time I was the mom of a third grader. A blonde haired beauty straining to exert her independence, but still needing plenty of snuggle time with her momma. Big blue eyes and a curious mind.

Adventurous. Hilarious. A heart of gold.

first day of third grade circa 1998

She is still that girl.

Dear Parents of soon-to-be third graders-

You are so lucky.  

Love, the teacher's mom