Surprise Outings

Sunday afternoon has held some surprises. Hubby suggested an outing after church and as I hesitated he said he wouldn't take no for an answer.  You see between teaching daily, and working on my Masters by night it hasn't left a lot of down time so off we went. Our first stop was the Rubbarb Festival. It was held at Govener Small Park which is a park, a museum, and  an art gallery.  There was music, ice cream with fresh rubbarb sauce, art and craft dealers, a pie baking contest, a barbaque cook off and of course the grounds themselves.

But saddly Buddy had to stay home. The park does not allow animals on the grounds.

So, he enjoyed some time on the balcony while we had coffee and english muffins with apple pie jam.

Our first stop on our visit to the festival was the one room classroom. What else would a teacher visit!

The desks were adorable and the students seemed to be having a fabulous time. Notice the slate boards, the children jumped at the opportunity to work on arithmetic.

In the corner of the classroom was the imfamous but ever dreaded dunce hat. I am so glad they don't exist in the classroom any longer.

Ths comcrete sign was salvaged from the original schoolhouse in Kankakee, Illinois.

This fountain is at the beginning of the gardens around the museum.

Make a wish!

     The columns in this deplay are from the First Bank of Kankakee.  They were salvaged as renovations took place in the downtown area, stored and were finally placed in this garden as their final place of rest.
It was a beautiful afternoon.  We finished with a late lunch, early dinner out and then home. Two weeks remain of the school year and I can't believe how fast the time has flown.  Our seniors will  be graduating next Saturday, the underclassmen will have exams the 27th and 28th and then June 2nd we will say so long until. next August. Whatever will I do with all the free time! Let's see...decorating projects, cleaning, crafts, restoration of some antique toys, travel, mother-dauther weekend, sisters weekend, walks, pleasure reading, time with John...oh the possibilities are endless! But for now I have a task or two to attend to. I must go and grade some student worknow. Have a marvelous Monday!

Be Your Own Travel Guide

You know how I love to travel. The idea of a new place, new people, culture, cuisine, and all the special things to be discovered has such a strong draw. But, alas I can not always hop a train or a plane and go. However, the images here can take you to anyplace you'd like to go!

The trolley car is beautiful. The seats comfortible and the scenery captivating.
Come on take a seat, relax, and enjoy the ride!

This beautiful trompe l'oeil trolley is the entrance to a unique little mall in Frankfurt, Illinois.
Since I'm on the topic of travel I'd like to move onto another opportunity for travel.

A good book is like taking passage on a fantastic trip.

Reading has taken me to England while absorbed in Pride and Prejudice, to any junior

high school in Zen and the Art of Faking It, or on a journey across America with the photography book by Jake Rajs.
There is nothing better than a cup of tea or fresh brewed coffee, a comfy quilt, and a book to get lost in.

Where will your travels take you? I'm on my way to a rural community in small town USA with Things I've Learned Lately, by Danae Jacobson.

Until later...read on and enjoy the journey.

Celebrating Amanda's Graduation...

Last Sunday we had the honor of celebrating our Amanda's graduation from Graduate School. She has earned her Masters Degree in Social Work. We are all so proud of her and her dedication to helping others to improve their lives. Aren't the roses just beautiful?
The cake her husband Brad ordered for her. So awesome!

And here is the first picture that caught her joy and surprise as she realized we had all gathered to help her celebrate. Her father-in-law is beside her and Hubby, Brad is in the doorway behind.

Grandma, John(Dad), her sister Emily, Brian, her Mom-in-law, assorted other family, friends, and I were in the kitchen yelling SURPRISE!

And boy was she ever!

I just love celebrations! Here's hoping you celebrate something special today!

Ist Grade Wisdom

It's almost Monday and for all of you who feel the need to laugh and giggle read on...
Subject: 1st graders
1st grade school teacher had twenty-six students in her class. She presented each child in her classroom the 1st half of a well-known proverb and asked them to come up with the remainder of the proverb. It's hard to believe these were actually done by first graders.. Their insight may surprise you. While reading, keep in mind that these are first-graders, 6-year-olds, because the last one is a classic!

1.Don't change horses...until they stop running.
2.Strike while the...bug is close.
3.It's always darkest before...Daylight Saving Time.
4.Never underestimate the power of...termites.
5.You can lead a horse to water but...How?
6.Don't bite the hand that...looks dirty.
7.No news is...impossible
8.A miss is as good as a...Mr.
9.You can't teach an old dog new...Math
10.If you lie down with dogs, you'll...stink in the morning.
11.Love all, trust...Me.
12.The pen is mightier than the...pigs.
13.An idle mind is...the best way to relax.
14.Where there's smoke there's...pollution.
15.Happy the bride who...gets all the presents.
16.A penny saved is...not much.
17.Two's company, three's...the Musketeers.
18.Don't put off till tomorrow what...you put on to go to bed.
19.Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and...You have to blow your nose.
20.There are none so blind as...Stevie Wonder.
21.Children should be seen and not...spanked or grounded.
22.If at first you don't succeed...get new batteries.
23.You get out of something only what you...See in the picture on the box
24.When the blind lead the blind ...get out of the way.
25.A bird in the hand...is going to poop on you.

And the WINNER and last one!
26.Better late than...Pregnant

I can hardly believe these came from 1st graders. I hope it gave you a giggle!

Buddy...Just One of the Creatures Great and Small

This is a wonderful selection to truly illustrate the joy of animal friends and the dedicated man who cared for them, as well as their owners...
All Creatures Great and Small
A Review by Rosanne Welch
You don't have to be a future veterinarian to appreciate James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small. You just have to be human. That was the key to Herriot's sixty year success in the field he so loved. Whether it was secretly replacing an elderly woman's dead parakeet or putting down an expensive race horse, Herriot treated his patients and their owners with respect and dignity.
In college in the early 1930's a teacher once told the young student, "If you decide to become a veterinary surgeon you will never grow rich but you will have a life of endless interest and variety," and this proves a fair review of All Creatures. It is based on the diaries Herriot kept as a young veterinarian working in the Yorkshire Dales and is filled with many interesting aspects of early veterinary medicine. It is also chock full of a variety of every day experiences, vividly brought to life.
All Creatures begins with Herriot's first interview out of college for the position he so desperately wanted as assistant to Siegfried Farnon. Siegfried is enthusiastic about all the new medical practices, from vaccinations to cow cesareans, and is pleased to have Herriot aboard. The book follows their exploits and mishaps while introducing us to a myriad of colorful characters, some human, some not. Siegfried's younger brother, Tristan, frequently fails his exams at veterinary college even though he is preordained to share his brother's practice. His favorite pastimes are sleeping and "popping by the pub of an evening," but you can always count on him when an animal is in distress. Herriot's favorite client soon becomes Mrs. Pumphrey, a rich widow who pampers her precious Pekingese, Tricky Woo, by overfeeding him and who pays Herriot back with little gifts of cigars and kippers and thank you notes signed by her dog.
Once Herriot masters the names of all the local farmers and their amazingly varied accents, he's only halfway there. Siegfried's genuine desire to see his new assistant "settle down" leads to Herriot's first date with his future wife, Helen Alderson, where everything that can go wrong does. As an author, Herriot doesn't flinch at recalling the details in any of his failures, socially or professionally. All Creatures reads as a wonderful combination of history and romance, full of wit and packed with personalities.

This review and more information about the author can be found at the following web address: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/3907/herriot.html

Let me introduce you to our little guy "Buddy". He has been with us for over six years now and has been the source of so much joy. You see when we rescued Buddy he was malnourished, and had been abused. His owner had taken a lighter to his right ear and burned about an inch off.

He had a horrible life his first 18 months but that has all changed. He is no longer malnourished as you can see. But as a result of his tragic beginning he has asthma, a thyroid condition, and a heart murmur. We have had great Veterinarians and Buddy is a very happy camper these days.

(And we are affectionately considered his support staff!) He is a 48 lb. Blue Tick Beagle but we are certain it's because he has at least 45lbs of HEART! I suspect he's had it with my photo op and is anxious to go outside. If he could talk he'd probably say, "Enough already I want to go play, visit the other neighborhood dogs, and I'm tired of waiting!"
I have no idea how anyone can mistreat animals.
They are God's creatures too and deserve to be cared for.

Please help end senseless abuse of animals.

Here are a few websites that may shed light on what we can do:

http://www.hsus.org/

http://www.animalfair.com/aboutus_contact.html


http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

Back to School 2009

It's back to school time! And I have been working hard to get my room prepared to invite my students into a wonderful learning environment. I have much more to do but, as I took these photos at the end of the day on Thursday I have tomorrow to finish up. My head is swimming with ideas, new literature, grammar programs, independent reading experiences,writing, journaling and so much more...

This is the beginning of our classroom library and resource center. It will be well used on a daily basis. The new books will fit well in the empty shelves. They'll be ready for my students to take adventures, learn of new cultures, visit places they've never been before, study a concept or topic of personal interest. The best part is I have the privilege of sharing in their discoveries.

My work space and our new elmo projector. This will allow us to do some really awesome interactive lessons.
This motivational bulletin board will be a place for students (11th graders) to set personal goals

in preparation for their ACT experience.

Our desks face each other. I find it allows for greater participation in all aspects of the learning process. I don't like traditional rows. There is much to do yet but tomorrow is another day!
My freshmen students will set personal goals every 41/2 weeks. They will be keep in the pockets on the bulletin board. We will work together to plan and put into practice what they need to do to be successful and meet their goals. Most importantly we will share the journey to achievement together!
"Who dares to teach must never cease to learn."
-John Cotton Dana

Please take a moment to visit my website at http://www.munschsmusings.synthasite.com