Happy Birthday to my Seester Rose!

It is Rosie's birthday today and I just wanted to give her a special shoutout!!

Lots of selfies!  :)

I hope you have a fabulous day!

I can't wait until I see you in June!  Just a year and a month until our next big adventure, too, and that is something to be joyful about as well.

She is always making me do stuff.....  ;)

We've been know to share some amazing memories

Rosie and that amazing hubby of hers, right Bill??  :)

Emily and her mom

Sister love forever...

I didn't post all the embarrassing ones- lol.

I hope you have a wonderful day!  See you soon, and love you to pieces sweetie.

You are absolutely one of the premier joys of my life.

Friday!!

I don't know if I was setting myself up yesterday, but I maintain that Thursdays are (and surely were yesterday) the hardest day of the week.  I mentioned to a friend that I was feeling an undercurrent at school yesterday, and I was a little worried about the day.  Well, saying that was either a BIG mistake or it was a nasty coincidence.  I started the day with a moment of sadness with a colleague that yet another friend of ours will be leaving the area, which is giving me all sorts of sads. This one was another shock- not from our school, so don't worry people.  

My school day then was fast, busy, intense and upsetting to a degree.  I rarely have moments of head butting with students, but yesterday was my day for that apparently.  You'd think I would get used to this sort of thing, but no.  AND it was one of those days where things continued through the entirety of the afternoon as well.  I can't go into it of course, but I am sad to admit that my day was kind of a bust.  I am not sure why students think that we as teachers are trying to be unreasonable, when really all we want is to do the right thing.  Or in the case of the elementary school, let the other students learn in spite of a few children's wishes for extra attention.  It was a difficult day and I let it get to me way more than I should have, but I did.  I left both of my rooms in states of disarray as I just couldn't deal with anything other than my feelings of helplessness and frustration.  So I have that to look forward to this morning....

HOWEVER, I had a pedicure planned for the late afternoon and it was the first time I have been to this location and I was delighted and thrilled when they offered me a lil glass of white wine!  Between that and a prior little chat with a friend, my upsets of the day melted right away.  It was so nice to have these things break my mood, as it would have taken about 5 miles of walking to do that, and then I would have replayed everything in my head again and again.  ANYWAY, now I have pretty pink toes and had a really good evening..... wine, it helps everything!  And of course friends.

So FRIDAY BABY!!!

First of all, my little sweet grandboy Greggy turned 1 already!!  How does this happen so fast??  I will be seeing the Mad Middle son and his sweet Sarah and Greggy coming up at the end of the month and I am beside myself with excitement.  I can't wait!!

SECOND, I get to see my Ella TONIGHT!!!!  Jon and Sarah will be heading up here for Mother's Day, and to visit, after work!!  I am SO HAPPY to have them here for Mother's Day.  A grandkiddo is just icing on the cake.  I can't wait for this too!!  (I am filled with I can't waits, believe me)  

And today, we have a lovely breakfast that will be served by the National Honor Society for Teacher Appreciation Week.  It is always such a nice event, the kids are awesome and all we need to say is pancakes.... then apparently we will be having a pizza lunch courtesy of our principal!  So this girl doesn't have to even bring one thing to school in my lunch bag!  Strange indeed.  

I am going to just go ahead and assume this is going to be a great day, and I want someone to remind me that Thursdays do not have to be unpleasant - next week that is.  May is a hard hard month in school, so I think I have to put a smile on my face and the thicker skin with which to let difficult moments roll off a little more quickly.  That last thing is something I just have such a hard time doing.  Fortunately, I have a nice bottle of white in my frig for those unfortunate days of the week when that doesn't happen. 

So one way or another, I will find my joy!  I do have a lot of patience and always a lot of hope.

Have a lovely Friday everyone!!

A random Wednesday morning in May

Last night was not a very good sleep night for me.  I have to learn to shut down my brain, but that isn't always possible.  The MA suggested at 2:30 in the am when I tried a 3rd different place to sleep that maybe I need to get more exercise.....  isn't he cute??  He was kind enough to let me sleep alone the last few hours so I could actually have a couple hours of shut eye.  I used to be able to sleep like him- lay down, shut eyes, drift off....  must be nice.  I know that this is a cycle, I've gone through this before.  It is just annoying.

So, in other random news, I started riding my bike again!  YAY for nice weather.  I am way more comfortable and confident on it.  I don't feel like I am going to take a header onto the road or have a stone tip me over.  Cars coming up behind me still bug me, but I assume that is a rational fear! I am very grateful for the mirror I had installed.  Speaking of which, if you are in the Park Falls area and want a bike, I cannot recommend Lucky 13 Power Sports enough!!  They got me a new dealie for my handlebar that allows me to tilt it back so I don't lean on my hands and elbows for now, and they considered it warranty work!  First year check up/tune up free!  I was blown away and so impressed.  I will say that although my arm gets sore when I ride, it recovers quickly- so win!!

Today is our last early dismiss day, hopefully forever.  We started having early dismiss days when we had to learn new technology things back in the day.  And they have been used heavily since, but apparently the calendar committee got the message that there are better ways to hold inservices, which is really nice.  Our time is much better used with full days, so we can collaborate with our colleagues and actually get some of the things we are needing to do- done.  So much "stuff" that needs to be documented and researched and uploaded and all.  oy.

I am looking outside at some sprinkles on the window.  It is nice to see that, as the Northwoods is a bit dry.  While we had a really nice rain Sunday, it was of the scattered variety.  The next few days has rain in the forecast, so that will help the green overtake the brown.  When you live this close to forest, you can get a little nervous about the dry.  Visitors don't always take the burn bans seriously.

Mother's Day is coming up this weekend and I am thrilled to have Jon, Sarah and Ella coming!  All I want for Mother's Day is breakfast!  :)  IE: I don't want to make pancakes on Sunday I want to go somewhere.  I don't care how busy it might be.....

Well, I better get this day started.  Hope you all have a great Wednesday!  Be a joy giver today!  :)

Happy Teacher Appreciation week!

Being a teacher, it feels weird to wish myself a happy week, but at this time of the year, you just never know!

Most people do not understand the dynamics of school and May.  The last few years there had still been some cold and snow and other yuck that kept spring fever from hitting so hard.  Well this year, as nice as the weather is to experience on the weekends, the kids are feeling the call of summer.  And we still have half a quarter to go!

This is a time of great stress for everyone.  I am speaking here as a High School teacher.  Teachers are trying hard to get through the material that is part of their curriculum and battling a whole HOST of distracting events.  You wouldn't believe the number of athletic events that take kids out of school in the afternoon.  PLUS there are standardized tests occurring in the mornings, scattered through the next week or so.  Throw in seniors just getting to the end of the month, students trying to get caught up/passing so they don't have do recovery credits in the summer, the stress of trying to find jobs, and all the personal things that we only have a passing knowledge of.

Every day you go in hoping that the kids are doing well, that the day will be smooth and everyone is cooperative.  This does not always happen, but we do what we can.  The same exact thing happens at the elementary school, but with slightly different behaviors.  Whether they want school to be done or NOT be done for the summer (there are some who apparently do not look forward to the summer off) there is some acting out that is going to happen.

So every day I go into the building with the hope for a good day.  And regardless of whether that comes true or not, the kids need to know that I will still be there for them even if they are behaving in a way that defies reason and logic.  Because you never know what is really going on in their lives or their head.  And I hope that I can find a way to remember this and always be a joy giver in their day.

Clinging to things with not much to cling to- the lake edition

So in a spin off of a recurring clinging to trees segment, I present you with the less obvious clinging of the height fearing art teacher in question.

This first chapter is when I BRAVELY volunteered to walk across the rocks to get to that concrete landing that you see behind me.  The first several rocks were not too much of a problem.  They were flat, they were not too far apart, but then from there things got a little more dicey.  Really it was not that dangerous or anything, but the heights and the gaps in the rock were more than I could stand.  I did not make it all the way across.  I was just shy of a panic attack when I turned around, thrust my phone into the hand of the Mad-English teacher and told him to take the picture.  He is a good guy. I look just a little uneasy, don't I??

The second segment involves sitting about 5 feet away from the edge of that rock, and that is about as close as I could manage.  Gives me shudders just thinking of it right now.  Like my sister said on Facebook, she knew that my fingers were digging into the rock on the left side over there.  She knows!!

Be brave and find your joy in unusual places!!

Bayfielding and waterfalling at its finest

The urge to head north is really strong at the time of year.  The weather has gotten mercifully warm, the now has gone and the bugs are not out yet- it seemed like a perfect time to go for a day trip.  And it was!  Perfect for going on a Bayfield and waterfall adventure.

The Madeline getting spiffed up for the summer season

The Mad-English teacher and I began our journey on Saturday morning, and was I ever excited to be getting out of town.  The MA, now that apparently the new deadline of April 30 has passed- (Idk what the heck is going on.  Always the working late stopped on April 15, but not this year... this year it has mysteriously stretched out a few more days.  Mmmmkay) - is firmly entrenched in his yardwork clothes.  Meaning, he isn't going anywhere far from home.  So, I have to find partners in adventure and I have a few to count on!

The statue of liberty in Bayfield

The lake was so clear 

It was cool to see these sailboats out of the water- SO BIG

We drove on up to Bayfield for some luscious rhubarb/ginger scones and coffee/hotchocolate at the always amazing Big Water Coffee Roasters Coffee shop.  It is the best way to start one's adventure on a Saturday morning, I only regret that it is not about 60 miles closer so I could get there every Saturday.  The last time we walked onto the Bayfield City Dock and looked out onto the lake and watched the ferry (actually the ice breaker boat) it was REALLY cold and was the first or second day that the ferry was running to the Island.   SOOOOO much nicer in May!  A little adventure on the dock, and then a walk along the beach and to the other dock area and off we went (after maybe a short stop at a store front for a new Bayfield hoodie!!  :) ) to Houghton Falls.

The primary reason (other than the obvious coffee, scones and lunch at Coco's) was to get in some good hiking and see some water falls.  Mission accomplished!!  The first water fall area was Houghton Falls north of Washburn.  I was there for the first time when the ice breakup had just begun.  It was much more scary for me, as there was all the ice and snow and slippery and yikes!  With the proper hiking boots footwear and less slick underfoot, it was a good hike!  I had a great time climbing down the sides of the dells area and got to get down to the cave that I had seen last time. There was actually still ice in a couple parts of this dells area!  Pretty cool---- get it!!  HAHAHA

The ice left in the darkest part of the Dells area

Got down to the cave!

Anyway, we ended up sitting out on the rock that overlooks the big Lake and my compadre shimmied down to the lake.  I knew that I would never make it back up if I went down- I could tell that my height, or lack of it, would cause me problems.  So being an intelligent being, I stayed put.  HOWEVER, on the way back, we discovered another way down to the lake and I did get myself there.  I went and stood in the lake for about 30 seconds- long enough for photo proof- and then got out of there.  THAT is some cold water.  The "falls" part of Houghton Falls is sort of secondary to the rest of the experience.  I LOVE sitting on that rock landing overlooking Lake Superior.  It is just beautiful!

OH that was some cold water

Part of the overlook at Houghton Falls

After refreshing ourselves with lunch at Coco's (YAAAAAY), we headed on over on Hwy 2 to Hwy 169 to Potato River Falls.  Now THAT, boys and girls, is a waterfall..... 2 of them actually.  And if you want to hike, there are two trails and both of them involve a lot of steps.  There are several flights of stairs to the lower falls, some of them a little sketchy, and there was quite a bit of erosion here and there.  A water fall website said that you can cross the river below the falls--- they were not there in the spring, obviously.  We did not cross the river.

Lower Falls at Potato River Falls

After going and hiking around, and then regretting our decision to go down so many stairs when one is in rotten post-broken-arm shape, one finds out, we stopped at the car for some water (yeah, we left it in the car.  We are not too bright sometimes) we moved along to the upper falls area.  Well, now that was worth the trip down even more stairs.  Magnificent.  Just magnificent.  Lots of photos were taken, oooos and ahhhhs were said and then totally tired and happy we drove on Hwy 169 (wheeeeeeeeeee!!!) to Hwy 13 and then home.

Upper Falls

Not sure what this little yellow flower is. 

Beauty about to burst

These are the days that recharge my batteries and make me truly appreciate living in the place that I do.  And is also leading to more research for waterfalls in northern WI, and planning a few more trips north, and the next time (the day after school is done, you bet your life) it will involve a ferry and a car and a picnic on the beach...  And summer will be here at last.  And we have been waiting for it for such a long time.

Gorgeous Potato Falls

What a  joyful day it was!  Hope you can find your joy in what ever adventure you are embarking on!

Daffodil days

I went outside last night when it was somewhat overcast and found perfect lighting for my daffodil pix.

These were all taken with my phone and I threw together this collage without any editing at all.  So they are slightly over exposed, but you can see all the different kinds!  A couple look similar to each other (you have to really look to find the differences) but they are all different sorts.  AND then I forgot that I had some other kinds elsewhere, like by Lola.....

There are more types to bloom yet, too!  :)

These are among my favorites

Lola is looking lovely, isn't she!

These peach and yellow ones are not super easy to find, but they are worth the search

It was very soul satisfying to inspect all of them up close!  It was a good afternoon.

TODAY!!!!!! Today I am Bayfielding!  If you need me, I'll be eating and hiking and waterfalling and softly weeping at the end of the dock looking towards Madeline Island.....  jk.  Well, I will be wishing that the ferry ran more often so we had time for an Island run, but not today.  We have some new waterfalls to inspect!  Big Water Coffee, Coco's and the Chequamegon Food Coop will be our stops in civilization, otherwise we will be walking and hiking and possibly wading, baby!

And THAT, like my daffodils, will give me all sorts of joy!