Beauty and the Beast

 Whoa, back to the land of the living.  Last Sunday, which somehow seems like a long time ago, my day was full in a way it has not been for 15 months.  I started at Ms. Glitzy's so long SMK affair at school. I had to hurry home to get to Louisville to see my Annabelle and Emmeline wow us in their roles as Mrs. Potts and the Wardrobe in Beauty and the Beast.  Kudos to all for a job well done. I hate that I didn't get pictures in their adorable costumes.

Then it was off to a graduation for a former 5th grader of mine.  Good times.

Monday kicked off camp.  I do a math camp from 9 to 10:30, then reading from 10:30 to 12:30, for three weeks.  This is my kind of teaching, where they are up and moving every few minutes with creek play interspersed. I love it for a host of other reasons.  One, I love, love planning camps.  I don't why. This camp has been in the works for months. I also love that my daughter, older Gramerlings  and former students get on board to help out.  Some of mine not old enough to help come as campers.  Living the dream folks.  Then the bonus.  I usually bring some home with me, or they join for a special treat lunch date and maybe a trip to Michael's where we look and dream some more. I love the ideas and talents they bring to the table. What I don't like, worrying about weather and someone getting hurt, so lots of prayers going up for our little camp.  After two weeks of rain, last week's sunny weather was a God sent blessing! And a week down without a scratch- praise the Good Lord!  

This week I add an art camp from 1-3, so I'll be one tired ol' teacher by the end of this week. 

Tuesday afternoon was Playdate fun to prep for the art camp. We were making air modeling clay and fashioning things like jewelry, flowers, arrowheads, etc. 

The recipe was great for small things, but couldn't support itself to be a pot.  This one got the notion of letting it dry on her knee.  Great idea, didn't work, but nice try. 

Of course, the story and snacks, often not read by me any longer. 

  

An old school friend on FB was recently showing off a beautiful poppy field in her little village in Germany. 

Here's my poppy field. I've tried and tried to grow poppies, but they are not interested at all in my efforts. 

Now this shady spot under the pine tree is much happier. 

So, It Rained Today, Again

 This has been a super wet early summer. It is great for all the many transplants I have, but it is also dreary. 

Back in the day, we were neighbors with the Ledgers and spent a good deal of time together. Now everyone is all grown up, but a few years back I asked their daughter if she would like to join us for Playdate.  When I return to school, she and Rae continue to meet often for what they term Wild School Wednesdays and the kiddos, regardless of weather, play in the woods. Back to her parents, they were coming to join us for Playdate this week. I got a message from Deb asking if Playdate was still on with the rain forecast. I commented to Rae that worse things than rain didn't cancel Playdate.  

Glenda died six years ago at 7 am on the morning of the first Playdate of summer.  I had been at the hospital more than home the few days before and had nothing ready.  Still, I didn't want to cancel.  I found the crowd of kids soothing.

Then another three years passed and on another Playdate we learned that David was gone.  He's been on my mind all week as his birthday is Friday.

I love how unbothered the kids were by the rain. Off to the creek we went to play.  They know the drill, more showering from the hose with orange Dial Soap and then a towel, snack and story on the porch. It was great have dinner with old friends, three generations laughing, talking remembering.

Sometimes joy and sorrow seem to walk hand in hand. 

I thank the Lord for such days.

Indigo Dying 2

So more practice for my Nature Art Camp coming up in a couple of weeks with these cuties.

Tying things up.

It was day to visit school and show Lilli and Annabelle around campus and give a general idea about how camp will go.

I am a big daydreamer. My number one daydream has been to have my own school, where as much time and energy was spent on handcrafts, art and music and creating as typical academics.  Always, a huge part of the dream was Gramerlings being my helpers.  So, it isn't my own school, but it is a camp of my own creating and having their help is a big deal for me. I love how interested they are in what the kids are like, how to be a help and great ideas for things I didn't think of. 

I finally got to meet Ol' Mother Hubbard's new gigantic puppy. Handsome pants.  Sam was devastated that he didn't get to come out and play. Maybe next time.

I love summer for a lot of reasons. One is planting and watching and growing things old and new.  I first saw this tree at St. Paul's Episcopal Church.  It is a European Tricolor Beech. It has lots of space and doesn't grow too big. This tree has so much more color than anyone I've ever seen. It looks like it is in bloom all the time. 

I loved watching the woodpecker and reddest red cardinal flitting about the feeder. 

I enjoy having folks for dinner and meeting others for lunch.  And though I'm not known for being a hugger, I've especially enjoyed those hugs after the year we've all had.

And the morning to sit on the porch and look around, have my breakfast, a cup of coffee and enjoy the last of my roses and peonies while I study my Bible.  

These  things sustain me while I wrestle with grief and sadness over those who've gone on and things that are sad that I cannot control.

Thank the Lord for the sweet things. 

Opening Day at Playdate

 School was officially out on Friday afternoon.  Honestly, school is seldom ever off my mind.  I have   a three week camp coming up and then my focus will be on my next group of third graders. 

This year I really enjoyed team teaching with a sweet teacher, younger than my own kids.  We worked really well together.  She, sadly, is not returning to our little school, that is not such a little school anymore.  And my meet up after school, take a walk, or visit while we eat our daily apple, Ms. Glitzy, is not returning either.  Well, it's only been seventeen years.  Ugh.

Still, I'm all kinds of happy and will continue to be a big fan of her trying something new.  A few of us got together Friday evening to celebrate her.  My friend Min and I wrote her song, sung to Oh' Susannah, and serenaded her on the porch and then prayed for her to go in our love and the love of the Lord.  It was a sweet time. 

And today kicked off summer playdate. Two years ago,  I was scheduled to take a class in indigo dying with Rae and Gardener E., but my plans changed and I was needed in the ICU with the Handy Man that weekend.  I am having an art class, so I wanted to try it and then do it at camp.  We gave it a whirl today and I just loved the results.  So. Fun.

Just Rae and Claire in attendance today.  Funny,  every other thing I do brings a different Gramerling to mind. I miss them when they aren't here. I'm afraid that is a one way street.  Oh well.

So, tie up the cloth 

Dip in the dye vat and out it comes, neon green.

Then the oxygen creates a chemical change. 

Amazing!

When the indigo magic show was over, we headed to the creek!

After tasty tacos we enjoyed banana splits.  Yummo!

We were peppered on and off with a gentle rain.  The rains have been perfect these last couple of weeks for new seedlings and transplants.  

Thank the Lord for a lovely start to summer!