Currently Listening Corner Grocery Store & Other Songs By Raffi see related

Beans Trying on Jeans....

Raffi...ah yes, Raffi.  There is something about this kid's singer that makes me smile.  I guess it is the memories of my Kindergarten classes OR maybe the memories we had while riding the Chautauqua Bell and singing songs with a guitar player while on Chautauqua Lake OR maybe it was all those Sharon, Lois and Brahm's Elephant shows that I loved even as a 4th grader OR maybe it was all my Aunt Lucy's funny new songs that she always taught and sang with her second graders. 

This week - my last week with a class that I have had for nearly a month - we are going to sing.  Sing silly songs with Raffi, sing, sing, sing.  I think that is what I miss most about teaching school.  Singing songs to learn things like counting money, the letters and their sounds, the action songs to wake you up - everything like that.  We are going to have fun and sing this week while learning stuff too. 

When I use music while I teach, I am less stressed.  So today on the way home for errands in town...what did I put in - Raffi's I Like to Go Bowling with my Friend Bert, Bowling Ball and a Bowling Shirt. 

Auugghhh! March is almost here.  I guess I am a one post a month kind of girl now.  With teaching and my vacation last week, blogging has been put on the back burner.  What is going on here, you ask?  Nothing really.  Working on my master's course, doing class observations for it, filling out applications AGAIN! 

I have also renewed my love for drop cookies.  I have a new recipe from Giada....Hazelnut Biscotti Cookies - oh yeah...they are delicious!  And did I mention, using a cookie scoop (like the ice cream kind) cuts the making and baking in half.  Let's hear it for those people that created the smaller scoop - Yay!!!!  The scoop also renewed my love for eating them too...ok...I am off to ride a million miles on the bike...

Currently Listening Awake By Josh Groban see related

Home for the Day

I love Saturdays...

Starting out the morning knowing you don't have to get up and get ready for the day until the day is half done is such a comfort after many long days of getting up at 5:30, biking and then getting ready for school.  Yesterday, my parents and I spent the day in town before the big snow storm and got different supplies that we would need for the week.  After our quick shopping, we went to Tim Hortons for a great bowl of soup, a coffee with the perfect amount of cream and sugar and an angel cream doughnut.  Oh that angel cream doughnut has now become my favorite. 

Driving home, we sang some good old oldies (off tune of course) with the radio.

I have also started to knit a very cool scarf for one of my friends.  It is so easy and very pretty.  Aside from the scarf...I did some more tax work and made scones.  This was a first for me.  I have never made scones before, but when and if I open up my own coffee shop...they are going to be on the menu as a weekly special. 

Satrudays also warrant a person to read a whole book in one setting.  Thanks to Kelly's library of books, I was able to just that yesterday.  I read an entire book while riding my bike.  it only took 2 hours, but the 2 hours were not only exercising my mind, but body too. 

Currently Listening Pride & Prejudice By Caroline Dale, Benjamin Wallfisch, William Lyons, English Chamber Orchestra, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Aidan Broadbridge see related

***Falling of Snow on a Frigid Day***

The snow has finally come to New York. 

I love how it seems to sift down from the sky on to every open surface...nothing left untouched by its soft and billowing beauty.  It makes everything dirty clean and actually adds sparkle where once it was ruddy and muddy. 

Take some time today to praise Gods  for his awesome creation.   

Currently Listening To Drive the Cold Winter Away By Loreena Mckennitt see related

'Twas the Teachers' Night Before Winter Break

'Twas the days before Christmas
And all through the school,
The teachers were trying

The hallways were hung
With Chrismtas Art
(Some made in November to get a head start).

The children were bouncing
Off ceilings and walls,
And seemed to forget
How to walk in the halls.

When out of the teachers' lounge
With "Holiday Shirts"
And jingle bell jewels
The teachers looked festive
Enforcing the rules.

Suddenly, from down the hallway
There came such a clatter
The principal went in
To see what was the matter.

The teachers were hiding
And trying to refuel
On coffee and cookies
And treats from the Yule.

When what to their wondering
Ears do they hear,
But the ringing of school bells:
It's the children they fear!

More rapid than reindeer
The little ones came
And the teachers all shouted
And called them by name:

Walk Vincent, Walk Tanner,
Walk Tyler and Sammy.
Sit Jamie, Sit Laura
Sit Tara and Tammy.

To your desks in the room,
To your spots in the line,
Now walk to them, walk to them,
No running this time!

So straight to their places
The children all went
With fear of detention
Where they could be sent.

With manuals of lessons
Cradled in arms
The teachers began
To use all their charms.

But the lessons presented
All fell on deaf ears
The children were thinking
of Santa's reindeer.

With a toss of their hands
They put manuals aside,
Went straight to the cupboards
Where videos hide.

And laying their finger
On the TV remote
They sat back to write
Their last Christmas note.

But you could hear them exclaim
At the end of the day
Have a wonderful, happy, and LOOOOOOOOONG holiday!!