Somewhere Safe with Someone Good #SOL16

I am currently reading Somewhere Safe with Someone Good by Jan Karon. I have read all the books in the Mitford Series and love them. They are very sweet. The story always makes me wish we lived in simpler times. It's full of rich characters and interesting plot-lines. The characters are caring, kind, and thoughtful, living in a small town where everyone knows each other - which is sometimes good, sometime bad. I am looking forward to bedtime, so I can snuggle up and escape for a little while.

Saying Goodbye #SOL16

The funeral was yesterday.  My mother's best friend died on Friday.  She was the wife of my father's best friend. My father is almost 85, and they've been friends since they were young boys. When Uncle John married Aunt Martha, Martha and my mother became best friends. Years and years of friendship - making a home, raising children - the trials and tribulations of that - experiencing an empty nest, children getting married, loving on grandchildren, all the ups and downs - the happiness and sadness of life. Aunt Martha was sick for a long time. She had pancreatic cancer and went through radiation and chemotherapy. She was clear for a while, but the cancer returned. She came home from the hospital about seven weeks ago, and the doctor gave her seven days. We went to visit her, and of course, she was sweet as always and in good spirits. My parents went to visit her and Uncle John regularly over the last seven weeks. They saw her the day before she died. I know everyone is glad she is not suffering anymore, but we're sad to not have her here. My mother said goodbye to her sweet friend and had the chance to tell her how very much she meant to her and how much she loved her. When my mom told me Martha had died, she said, "I had the chance to say goodbye to Martha. I gave her up one spoonful at a time."

Hard Work #SOL16

Silence.

two heads huddle close -

whispering and sharing,

helping and suggesting.

Pencils scraping the paper.

Fingers tapping the keyboard.

My students are busy writers.

Laundry - #SOL16

Laundry

"Why?" you ask. 

Well, it's never ending. 

There always seems to be a pile 

of laundry somewhere - 

in a basket in a bedroom, 

on the floor in the bathroom, 

piled by the washing machine, 

stuck in the dryer waiting to be folded, 

in a basket patiently waiting to be put away, 

it's never finished, 

it's always waiting,

Laundry.

Bedtime #sol16

I was looking for inspiration for my Slice today, and I looked at the link provided by the Two Writing Teachers. Looking at the different topics in the wordle, I honed in on bedtime. That word immediately conjured up sweet memories, both from my childhood and as a parent.

When I was little and bedtime rolled around, I would stand in front of my dad, stepping on his feet. He would hold my hands, and we would walk together, my feet on top of his. Every step he took, I took. We moved around the house checking to make sure the doors were locked. Then we'd go to my room and lay down on my bed. We would read. I know we read many, many books, but we had a few favorites: Eloise at the Plaza, the Teeny Tiny Woman, and Madeline. He read to me until I was old enough to read to him. Often I remember him snoring away before the story was finished.

When my children were young, we would snuggle up in their beds at night. They would pick out three books. We read these together, and my daughter would often "read" to us. She had the books memorized. When they got older I read chapter books with them. I can remember reading Holes with my son and both of us staying up later than we should have because we were so entranced with the story - just one more chapter is what was often said.

These are sweet memories for me. My father is now 85 and cannot read to himself anymore because of macular degeneration. Although he listens to books on tape and my mother reads to him, he misses it terribly. My children are almost grown, one 17 and one 21. Although we don't read books together anymore, they both have a love of reading and always have a book of some type going.

Rituals and reading - both bring back sweet memories.

Feeling Bad #SOL16

There have been students out of my class because of the flu and a stomach bug over the last two weeks. I don't usually catch things, but this morning I woke up and knew I'd caught the bug. Fortunately, I didn't catch the flu, but the stomach bug. It's been a long time - my sweet daughter took care of me today, while I lay in bed and watched an entire season of Project Runway. I wanted to make sure I posted my slice, but it's short and sweet. Back to bed I go.

South Africa Country of Study Celebration SOL#16

The excitement is palpable.

Children running around.

Parents helping set-up.

Searching in a safari,

for the Big 5.

Elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo, and rhino.

Enter through Table Mountain,

Handmade musical instruments,

Walk through the mouth of a shark,

Painted sea scenes and research,

Dig for bones in the cave,

Listen to folktales being told,

Learn about myths and legends,

Wildlife, nature, sea life,

Traditional clothing, dance and food,

Tribal history and national symbols,

Education, sports and games,

God's Window and the Cooling Towers.

These are just a few things

Our students researched and created.

South Africa, Country of Study Celebration.

Parents, grandparents, and friends came.

They wandered from here to there,

The children were so proud

of all their hard work and learning.

All were eager to share.

The night was a big success.

South Africa, Country of Study Celebration.