End of Summer

I have really enjoyed the late summer decorations I put up around the house for August.. They are a tribute to my pioneer ancestors, bees and sunflowers.  

But yes, I've seen some colorful leaves on the ground at school and was excited to point them out to the kids. 

So today we invited Julia & Lester's family to come over for the beginning of pumpkin baking season. Julia made a pumpkin cake for us to eat right away, and I made pumpkin bread and gingersnaps for them to take home for snacks throughout the week. I was sure to wear my autumn apron and use the autumn oven mitts I got from Hobby lobby recently. Little things like this are a big thing to me, and keep me going. I guess I'm not the only one, as I keep seeing cute posters like these on Facebook.

My window overlooks the ocean, and I couldn't be more content.

So goodbye summer - you've been good to us.

Goodbye Dolly Parton

 "Is there anything we can agree on? Yes, Dolly Parton." The New York Times. 

I've been listening to news about Dolly's passing today. So many reports are saying that she was a unifier. That the far right, the far left, and everyone in between admired her; she will be remembered for her positivity and kindness, generosity and optimism, more than anything else: more than her music, more than all the things she accomplished. She brought goodness into this world. 

Obviously I love her music. But more than that, I have come to love all the things mentioned above. She was not a prophetess; she was not perfect; but she was a good example of so many things, and made this world a better place. I hope we all can carry on her light.

 I would like to follow her examples in my own way, of being more brave, more optimistic, more excited about life, more kind, more strong, more confident and more humble. 

Thank you Dolly for being you. 

Thank you God for giving us Dolly Parton.

New children to love

 One funny story from work last week: I changed 15 diapers in a row, in the 2 year old class, assembly line style! Took me more than an hour! 

The state ratio for 2 yr olds is 7 per teacher, with a maximum of 14 in a classroom (meaning 2 teachers). As a resource teacher I still move from class to class, spending a few hours or a whole day or more in one class. I am getting to know a lot of kids of multiple ages which is such a sweet experience.

I am also getting to know a lot of teachers. When I am in a room of 2 year olds, after nap time, I suggest that I do the diapering while they do the snack and put the cots away - because I cannot lift the cots due to arthritis in one of my shoulders. They usually respond with a happy "okay!" - I am happy to be of use and give them a break in changing diapers. 

Even though the diapers are changed one after another, I try not to rush through it. The kids deserve the proper attention for cleanliness/health reasons. I have also realized that even though it only takes a few minutes per child, it is a teacher's chance to look into their faces, individually, and give them a smile, a "hello!" and a comment on what cute clothes they are wearing. In fact, that is when they really get excited, and look down at their clothes, and happily talk about them.

So, on a day last week there were thirteen 2 yr olds in my classroom, and some of them were "repeaters" ha ha!, meaning, by the time I was almost done changing all their diapers, the teacher sent a few back because they had pooped and needed to be changed again. It was tiring, but fine.

It is a real self-esteem boost to me when any of the children, in any of the classes, recognize me; when they remember my name, ask me if I've brought a book, or feel comfortable sitting with me. For example, one almost-3-year old girl in particular likes to sit with me and sing songs. When I started all the diaper changing that one day, she was still asleep. Then, all of a sudden she came running into the bathroom area with a big smile on her face - I think she heard and recognized my voice, which melted my heart. 

As a resource teacher I am lucky enough to still see the same children as they get older, and move up to the next classes, because I help in classes of all ages. So I was looking forward to this "new school year". But, I just found out that, starting Monday, I will be working at the center next door, for at least 2 weeks - maybe longer. I go where I am needed. I feel a little sad and disappointed. I feel like it's been a lot of work, which I can now see the happy results of,  getting to know these children, their parents, and specific co-workers. But it is now time to move on. Hopefully not for too long. But I know there are other children to meet, help, smile at, talk with, sing with and read to and love. 

It's times like this that my testimony of God's love really does help me. I do trust that He is watching over me, and even the little things in life that are so huge to me are not insignificant to him, and he will help me be in the right place at the right time. 

I also can't adequately express how much it helps me to write this down. Sometimes I question whether I should be taking up so much precious time in doing these blog posts. But I know I will be re-reading this post as I head to work next week. I will look at these cute pictures and be brave and carry on.

Wonderful, Beautiful, Important

 I've been looking back at the blog lately, feeling grateful for the things I've recorded - like what the pandemic was like and what we experienced with my Mom's passing. But I am SO disappointed that I don't have anything about my Dad's last 2 weeks of life. I know I did write all about it, in real time, on my Mom's computer when I was spending so much time with them at their apartment. I know she was happy about that, so it could be saved for her to look back on, and for their posterity. But I don't think I printed it, and as her computer is long gone, I don't have access to it. My brother Tom did inherit her hard drive, or whatever it is called - so he might be able to access it for me. 

But, I realize I need it here, on the blog. So, I think I will just start writing, as soon as I can, what I remember about those last 2 weeks. It is quite a story. 

I am also feeling a bit panicky about losing access to this blog someday, when technology changes too much. And it is just too big to print. Maybe I need to start printing "the best of the blog", or what seems the most important to remember. 

I know I also have the goal to get my Mom's stories printed up, before we lose access to to them.

LOTS TO DO! Lots of wonderful, beautiful, important projects to do.

July's post for Golden Gate Park

 THE WINDMILLS - They are pretty impressive, if you are headed down the Great Highway (towards the end) and look up to see these massive windmills peeking above the trees, off to the side. 

There are two of them. Here is a little bit of their history, from Wikipedia:

In the 1870s and 1880s, Golden Gate Park was planted on sand dunes and required substantial irrigation.^[4] In 1902, the Park Commission authorized the construction of two windmills to pump groundwater for park irrigation rather than purchasing water at exorbitant costs from the Spring Valley Water Company.^[5] The Dutch Mill was completed one year later and pumped 30,000 US gallons (110,000 L) per hour.^[6] The Murphy Windmill was completed in 1908. 

Electric water pumps replaced the need for windmills in 1913, and they fell into disrepair. By the 1950s, they were in a state of ruin. The Dutch Windmill was restored in 1981, and hosts the Queen Wilhelmina Tulip garden as a tribute to the Queen of the Netherlands in the late 1800s. She, and the history of the royal family is fascinating and worth a read. 

The Murphy Windmill began in the year 2002 and became a functioning windmill by 2012. Since then celebrations honoring the Netherlands' "Kings Day" happen there every year. 

A quote wall for 2026

 I don't think I've done any quote wall additions for 2026! So here are some I've been thinking about. I might have included them in past posts, but I'd like to have them here now:

"Happiness can be found even in the darkest times, if one only remembers to turn on the light."

(picture of stargazing from Yosemite National Park, from the internet)

"If you're going to be a dreamer, you better be a do-er".

"Negativity is poison to the brain".

"Do not weary in well-doing".

"Hold onto the light."

My Back To School shopping

I am happy to say that, though the center I work at is year round, it still has that seasonal feeling. Summer has been pretty good, with fun activities, and so many kids coming and going because of vacations. Especially with the TK and School Age kids - they are all getting ready to go back to school, or to school for the first time. 

Therefore, this has put me in the mood to do some back to school shopping for myself, and start clothes shopping for my birthday & Christmas. I've become an almost exclusive online shopper now, which has been great, time wise and rest wise. After being on my feet so much at work, it's nice to shop from home. Amazon is my favorite - especially considering I can order, try on, keep or easy-return each item. Here are my 2 back to school purchases, and I've added a few items to the present closet for me.

 Reggie & I love our system: I pick stuff out, tuck it away, he chooses which is for my birthday or Christmas, and then wraps them up. Therefore, I get exactly what I want, which makes us both happy. And with his encouragement, I am thinking of myself and spending a little more than I usually would, because it is for presents. 

 

HOWEVER

Facebook gave me an online store suggestion which is just killing me!

 The t-shirts and sweatshirts - and even logo - have wonderful artwork, representing classic books. I wish they had the pictures in greeting card form or something - because I just can't stand to spend $40 for a t-shirt, especially when it might get sand and paint on at school. And I love so many of the pictures! Here are some examples; can you guess the books they represent?

So anyway, posting some of the pictures on the blog is the next best thing to owning every one of them! I think there will be a part 2. 

Happy Back To School Season!

for such a time as this

 The story of Esther gives me courage, which Mordecai gave to her as he spoke those words to her. (The Book of Esther, 4:14).

 So . . . . .where I am, what I am doing, who I am with, the challenges I face - I was "born for such a time as this". 

The Japanese Tea Garden (entry #6 for our GGP theme)

Catching up on our 2026 GGP theme: We visited The Japanese Tea Garden.

It hosts 3 acres of sculptures & structures influenced by Buddhist & Shinto religions. It is designed with water and rock formations that create a calming landscape to help people slow down and feel peace. We arrived when the garden opened and it certainly did the trick of helping us slow down and enjoy a peaceful morning.

It is full of many plants, birds and koi fish imported from Japan. Some signature features are the Tea House, Treasure Tower Pagoda and Drum Bridge.

The statue of Buddha, below, fascinates me. It was cast in the 1790s for a temple in Japan, and given as a gift to the GGP Garden in the 1940s. Because of our theme, we decided to buy an annual pass that gets us into "The three gardens of Golden Gate Park" - The Japanese Tea Garden, Botanical Garden & Conservatory of Flowers. I plan on going back quite often.

Below are pictures I took on site of information about the history of The Japanese Tea Garden, which was built in 1894 when San Francisco hosted The World's Fair.

Recent Artwork

My GGP theme is going well as planned, and so is my unexpected "Year of the Butterfly". Do you know how many songs associate butterflies with hope and optimism? Well, I am finding a lot of them, which is just what I need.  It has also morphed into art projects at school & home (I especially smile at Reggie painting butterflies with the grandkids) and the plan to include a butterfly of some sort in every Christmas present this year (because, you know, all roads lead to Christmas). Butterflies also have me thinking about my 2027 theme and I am pretty excited.  But, 5 more months to go of Golden Gate Park, and I am loving it!

In the school agers room we made a wall of symmetry, regarding butterflies.

And in the TK class they used just about as many colors as possible, which turned out really pretty - and some kind of creepy!

And, on a side note - we decorated a wall in the school agers room with origami paper

airplanes.