Happy Birthday to the first love of my life :)

Ever since I was 12 years old (1973!)I have LOVED John Denver. In honor of his 64th birthday here's a little something I want to share!

take care,
Dawn

For Mackenzie

This is Mackenzie's favorite Christmas song. :)


I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas Lyrics

Fa la la la la

Tim's 3rd grade concert was tonight. I hung around school until it was time for the performance. It really didn't seem wise to drive home just to turn around an hour later to go back to school. All in all I was at school for 12 hours today. The upside is that I did get some work done :)

The concert was just wonderful. One of the songs that they sang was Don Gato. I remember learning that song in elementary school a LONG time ago. It's always been one of my favorites :) It was all I could do not to run up to the stage to start singing with them. Those of you who know me know how hard it was to control myself LOL!

One little boy sang a solo part in the Beatles song Blackbird. He sang so beautifully it brought tears to my eyes. I was so proud of him. (I had him in kindergarten and just love him!).

After the concert we got pizza so there was no cooking for me. I still have two days of school to get through and then I can enjoy my vacation. The time can't go fast enough for me.

take care,
Dawn

How I've spent my December

Why is it, knowing full well when December comes every year, I find myself working until the last minute making gifts for friends and family. This year it is knitting. Here's my recent stash of books I have been pulling my projects from. I am about 2 hours away from finishing what I thought was my last gift, and I have decided that I can squeeze just ONE MORE project in! Each year I promise myself I will spend my summer vacation getting ready so I don't put this pressure on myself. Last summer I promised to get all of my Christmas cards made. If you are on my list you should have received your lovely store bought card by now! :) :)

I'm getting ready to print out the pattern for the next item I am hoping to make...by Thursday! Wish my luck.

take care,
Dawn

It's now December and I still haven't blogged.

I am making it a resolution to be better about blogging. Sometimes I feel that I am so behind that I don't know where to begin.

So...I'll begin with this week!

What a stormy few days we have had. The weather was so bad on Thursday that school was closed 45 mins early to get the kids home quicker. Sadly, it took 35 mins to dismiss the kids 45 mins early! Go figure. By the time the high school and middle school kids were home the buses came back for the elementary kids. You'd think they would take the little guys home first. Today we woke up to snow but by late morning it was all rain! It has been raining all day. I hear it will freeze up tonight!

I am thrilled that there are only 5 days left of school before our Christmas vacation. I am looking forward to the time off!

Britt got pictures back of Mackenzie last week. Oh she is so adorable...(that's the grandma in me speaking!) Here, take a look for yourself.

I promise to be back soon!

take care,
Dawn

It seems like I am just a monthly blogger!

Well, let's see. This time change has really taken a toll on me. Here it is only 6:30 at night and I swear it feels like 9:00!!! I'm home for a couple of extra days this week. I have the respiratory illness many of the children in my class have had! I went to the doctor's yesterday and I already feel a bit better!

Last weekend we had one doosey of a storm. We lost power at 4:00 last Saturday afternoon and didn't get it back for 11 hours. There were many people here on the Cape that were without power for days! We settled into the dark evening with a game of Trouble and then a card game (Addition War!) After a while Tim and I decided to put on some Christmas carols and he and I had a sing along. Rich wasn't joining us LOL! When I got up Sunday morning I noticed that a tree was down in the back yard. It was sad! Rich was outside right after breakfast cutting it down, chopping it up and cleaning up the mess. Next year we'll be able to use it in the fireplace. It will be sad come next summer to see the shade that tree gave us gone.

Last weekend was also the anniversary of my father's death. It's hard to believe it has been 12 years. I think about him everyday and miss him very much. While I was thinking about him I found this picture of he and I from 1962.
I still have my Halloween decorations up. My plan is to have them all down by tomorrow. I don't even know if I'll get Thanksgiving ones up. Before you know it Christmas will be here.

I have been busy knitting and knitting and knitting! Right now I am making a blanket for my new grandson to be and a pair of fleece lined mittens. I want warm hands this winter while I am doing my recess duty!

That's my update for now.

Take care,
Dawn

Pumpkin Patch

Today was a beautiful fall day. I decided it was time to go get our pumpkins. We went to a local farm and picked out some pumpkins to carve and some to draw/paint on. Timmy picked out four pumpkins that he wants. He has plans to make the small one an alien LOL!

I picked up some cornstalks, bales of hay and some mums! The cornstalks and hay wouldn't fit in my car so I came home and had Rich (and his truck) come back with us. Fortunately the farm is very close to our house. It was so pretty there with all of their mums on display. I love how pretty fall mums are. We got our "goodies" home and I put them around the yard. I think I still need to head out and buy a couple more pumpkins. I also have to take a trip to the attic to find the scarecrow.

While I was in the store paying for the things we bought I left Timmy and my camera outside. He decided to take a few pictures. I thought they came out pretty well!!

take care,
Dawn

A tragic loss

This past Sunday I learned that the daughter of my cousin lost her life in a car accident. She was 28 years old, a wife and mother of an 11 month old little girl. I hadn't seen her in years but the tragedy of her death is still heartbreaking. I think of my own 27 year old daughter and don't know how I would be able to cope with such a sudden and tragic loss.

Today was the wake and there were hundreds of people there to honor her memory and support her friends and family. The obituary in the paper was one of the most tender, loving obituaries I have ever read.

My heart is so heavy for her family right now. I just feel so sad!

take care,
Dawn

It's been a month!

As I have said before the beginning and the end of the school year simply exhaust me!!!! It's been tiring for sure. It seems like every week there is a meeting, and then after school I've been busy with the dentist (yes, again) I just got crown #13! It seems most every day there is something after school that I need to do.

Most days I get home in time to start dinner, get ready for the next day, do a few "chores" and get to bed! On Friday's after school I watch Mackenzie and then again all day on Saturday. Sunday is shopping (for my mother as well as my own family) and laundry and then it starts all over again! I have been good and made it to our knitting club meeting every week :)

A couple of weeks ago I came home to see police across the street. Our neighbor had suddenly passed away. Poor Tim was just distraught! It's very sad to look across the street and see it so empty.

The good news this past month is that Britt went for an ultrasound and it looks as if she is having a boy! She's goes back at the end of the month for another u/s and hopefully there will be a clearer picture to remove all doubt!! :) :)

I have really enjoyed this long weekend. I actually had a two day weekend. I liked it so much in fact, that I am looking forward to Veteran's Day next month LOL!

Well, there's my brief, and boring update.

take care,
Dawn

What a whirlwind week!

Wow, what a busy week it has been. Last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday we met with the kindergarten children and their families one on one to get to know them all and welcome them to kindergarten. I really enjoy getting to meet the parents and having the special time to get to know each family and their child.

Even this weekend was busy. After school Friday I went to Britt's to watch Mackenzie while she worked. I also had Mackenzie on Saturday. I love how independent she is and I can understand most everything she is trying to tell me.

Yesterday was the first day of kindergarten. I came home from school so TIRED I couldn't even move! Bedtime was such a joy! Today was easier. It is so hard trying to help the children just learn school rules. They need to be taught how to walk in the hall, how to use the cafeteria, playground rules, classroom rules, listening and even how to sit in a group. It is not only mentally exhausting, but it's also physically exhausting.

Brittainy was such a good daughter yesterday. She came to my house while I was at school and did my ironing for me! I so appreciate her doing that. I wonder if I can make this a habit? Britt if you are reading this consider it a subtle hint LOL!

This weekend (Saturday) Timmy is having his birthday party. I still haven't really planned what I'll be doing with him. He wants a Star Wars birthday party. I read somewhere online about using pool noodles cut in half as light sabers and trying to keep balloons in the air. I have the supplies for that. I just need to come up with another idea or two. Sunday Jay and Mackenzie are having a combined birthday party so we will be attending that get together.

I think I'll have a day off on the 23rd this month LOL!

take care,
Dawn

Turn around and you're nine!

Where are you going my little one, little one. Where are you going my baby my own. Turn around and you're two. Turn around and you're four. Turn around and you're a young man walking out of the door!


This song always makes me weepy! I can't get over the fact that my baby is 9!!!!! I looked backed on some older pictures the other day and it made me miss that little baby boy he used to be.



Timmy got some Star Wars Legos (we had to remortgage the house LOL!) and he is in heaven right now. In a little bit we are headed out to Outback Steak House to have dinner.

Only 366 days (leap year and all!) until the double digits!

take care,
Dawn

It wasn't meant to be

I had a dishwasher given to me at the beginning of the summer. Yes, I'm one of those people who do not have a dishwasher. I asked a friend of the family to come put an electrical outlet in so I could start the process of installing the dishwasher. He stopped by this morning to get started. He and Rich measured and it sadly will not fit! I was so hoping to have a dishwasher this year. The washer itself was not in the best condition so I sent it off with the dump fee to find its new home!

Now, I need to decide if I want to go look for one that will fit (even with all the carpentry work that Rich will have to do) or just go without. Or....win the lottery and remodel my entire kitchen!!! So my dear friends when you have your dishwasher running, picture me washing mine by hand!

take care,
Dawn

Time is drawing near

With just a day left of my summer vacation I am left to wonder where the heck the time went!!! I had (as I do every summer) grand plans for what I would accomplish. I didn't get everything done that I wanted to. The last few weeks I have been trying to savor EVERY moment. I also have been to school to work on setting up my classroom. I'm done with the set up. I just need my official class list to start writing names on the hundreds of items that need to be labeled.

I had the twins that were in my class last year for a couple of days when their mom was working. Oh, they just make me smile :)

I have been asking Rich for about 2 years to fix some shelves that were slanted. Finally with the promise of making him an orange cake for his birthday it was finished!!!

I used my newly cleaned scrap area to work on a circle journal I'm doing with some friends from the OT board at 2P's. This is our second round. My theme this time around is Attic Treasures. I finished it just under the wire!

I also have been working on some knitting projects. I still have two unfinished projects to finish. I have half a sock to knit and a handle for a basket for my friend Beverly.

Brittainy and Mackenzie have been spending most every day with me. It's been nice. I'll miss our time together when I go back to school. Maybe that will prompt Mackenzie to actually say my name!!!

Timmy is beside himself with excitement. His birthday is Tuesday and he just wants to wake up and have the day here! Oh, to be young again.

Well, that's my last few weeks in a nutshell.

take care,
Dawn

Happy Birthday Brittainy!!!!

My baby is 27 years old today. Where has the time gone? It doesn't seem that long ago that she was born. Now she is having her second baby! How come she has gotten older but I still feel like that young thing in the picture?

Brittainy was the first grandchild in my family. For eight years she was the only grandchild. For 18 years she was my only child!

I just wanted to say a great big happy birthday! I love you!

take care,
Dawn

What's wrong with this picture?

I don't know what is up with Timmy! On Monday he asked/begged to sleep on the couch. It's summer. There was no school the next day so I let him. On Tuesday he asked to sleep on the sofa bed here in my computer room. I let him! On Wednesday he wanted to sleep with us. He's just getting too big and the three of us in the same bed all night is very uncomfortable so the answer was no! Then he asked if he could sleep on the floor. Again, no. But...I remembered this little foam chair that opens up to a bed. He slept on that right next to my side of the bed on Wednesday night. Thursday night the same. It just reminded me of when his bassinet used to be there!! I think I was feeling a bit nostalgic! Maybe it's because in less than a month he'll be 9 and the time is just going too fast. I don't think he'll want to be sleeping in our room with us much longer, though he assures me that even when he's in high school he will! Maybe I should save this post to remind him of that in 6 years LOL! Tonight, it's back to his own room and his own bed!!

take care,
Dawn

My morning surprise!

On the last day of school two of my students (they are twins) each gave me a hibiscus plant. I put them in the little garden bed off the deck. This morning when I woke up I went out to water the back yard and noticed two HUGE flowers. One of the plants has bloomed. It still has quite a few buds on it and the other one is about a week or two behind. I'm expecting that to bloom next week sometime.

Thank you Mackenzie and Rachel for such a pretty plant with beautiful flowers!!!

take care,
Dawn

Still shopping!

I picked Brittainy and Mackenzie up today and headed out to Staples to hit more of their school supplies sales. I bought some crayons, notebooks, and markers. Then we headed to Toys R Us to buy some watercolor paints. While we were at Toys R Us Mackenzie got a My Little Pony. Timmy used some money he had to buy some Star Wars toys. He has been forbidden to buy anymore toys until after his birthday next month! I took everyone to lunch at The Old Country Buffet. Timmy didn't like anything. Mackenzie liked it all LOL!

I stooped at another local store and picked up a few more things and then brought them right to school so I wouldn't have to store it at home for the next couple of weeks.

I think I need to add school supplies to the list of things that I hoard!!!

take care,
Dawn

No Excuses I know.....

I am not a good blogger! Sometimes I think I am just too boring to write anything to keep any one's interest!

I thought my sciatica was under control and then a couple of weeks ago it came back full force! As I type this I am sitting on an ice pack on a cushion on my chair. It's been hard to sit for an extended period of time.

I've been reading a lot of Jodi Picoult books this summer. I'm on my sixth on (Keeping Faith). I have really been enjoying them all.

I have also been working of school plans. Those that know me (especially my school friends) know that I have OCD LOL! I typed up my plan book for the entire school year. It includes the books that three groups a day will be reading. I am so excited about this because all I have to do each year is print a new copy. Our reading program is divided into 6 units and there are six weeks in each unit. Oh, the things that make me happy.

I've also been meeting with my knitting group every week. We have all become good friends. I love our weekly get togethers.

I also like that I have been able to spend lots of time with Mackenzie this summer. She finally has said "grandma". I had to trick her into doing it though LOL!

Timmy has decided he is now a Star Wars fan. That is ALL he talks about. Hmmmm....other OCD'er in the family LOL!

That's my update. See you haven't missed much!

take care,
Dawn

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

For school supply shopping that is! I went to Staples and bought my teacher allotment just can't believe all the money I saved. I guess saved isn't' the best word because I wouldn't have bought this much to begin with. I should say, I can't believe how little money this cost me. I even went back to another store yesterday and bought more.

It saddens me to see how the schools are forced to cut so much each and every year. When I can find deals like this for my classroom I am thrilled. I remember two years ago there were no pencils left to be found. Glue sticks are like gold! I ask each child to bring almost nothing! During the course of the year I might ask for tissue, paper towels etc., but no child has to send in supplies.

Take care,
Dawn

Driveway Rage!

The house next to us is a summer home and the neighbors don't come down too often. This weekend they did and our neighbor brought her grandson with her. Timmy has been waiting almost a year for Donald to come play with him. They spent a lot of time playing together the last few days and having a good time. Yesterday they were racing down the gravel driveway and poor Timmy fell.

Now comes the bad mommy part of the story. I heard the door open and deathly wailing! My first reaction is to say, "Timmy, calm down!" He is, shall we say, very dramatic when he is hurt. Unbeknownst to me he was accompanied into the house (I was in another room) by the neighbor who must think I'm just the worst mother, reprimanding my son for crying, when he was obviously in pain!

When I finally calmed him down enough to listen I had to convince him to hop in the bathtub. The scrape was just too BIG to wash down. Oh, they must have heard the crying miles away. It was quite the show! I know it had to hurt him and in real life his leg looks awful!! (worse than the picture) His knee was just recovering for a fall on the patio the week before.

Rich had just come home from camping and miraculously enough Timmy's wound earned him a trip to Toys R Us with dad.

I feel badly for the poor boy. I know how much his leg must have stung. Twenty four hours later and he is on the mend.

take care,
Dawn

What color are you?

You Are A Gold Girl

You're dependable and hard working. You never miss a deadline - and you're never late. You have a clear sense of right and wrong. You're very detail oriented. You get frustrated when your friends are sloppy - or when they don't follow through. You're on top of things, and you wish that everyone else was!

What Color Girl Are You?

I found this on Debi's blog.
So....what color are you?

take care,
Dawn

7-7-07

One of the ladies on the OT board at 2peas suggested we take 7 pictures today in honor of 7-7-07. I decided to add another 7 theme to it. Every picture has something to do with the number seven. I took each picture today.

The first picture I took is of my car. I have made 7 car payments on it so far. :)

I bought some wooden plant barrels and thought I would get some flowers for them and I ended up spending $70 at the grocery store for these flowers.



This is my house. If you count the two bathrooms, it has seven rooms.

This is Timmy. He is the 7th (and last) grandchild of my mother's.




Mackenzie and her Uncle Tim are 7 years apart in age.

I just knit this purse this weekend and it is 7" long.

And....last but not least. This is Brittainy just about 7 weeks pregnant, due in just over 7 months.

take care,
Dawn

God Bless the USA

Happy 4th of July!!

take care,
Dawn

Monday Madness

I found this on Stacy's blog, that I found from Debi's blog LOL!

MONDAY MADNESS

1. Do you do your own laundry or do you send it out? Ha! I always do it myself!
2. Do you laundry at your home or a laundromat? At home. When I was a younger we always went to a laundromat. I'm so glad those days are over!
3. Are there certain articles of clothing that you need to have dry-cleaned on a regular basis? Not on a regular basis. I do have some dry clean only clothes sitting in the trunk of my car that I need to drop off.
4. How often do you do laundry? Is there a certain day of the week that you consider "laundry day?" I usually do it on the weekend. I like to start the school week with my clothes all cleaned. Sometimes I do it when the urge strikes.
5. Do you iron your clothes as you pull them out of the dryer or do you wait until just before you wear the clothing to iron? I try to pull them out to avoid ironing. I do like my clothes without wrinkles!
6. Do you hang your clothes outside to dry or do you dry them in a dryer? I use the dryer. We took the clothesline down a few years ago when we did some work in the yard and it never went back up.
7. Do you own things that need to be hand-washed or do you try to avoid buying things that you can't wash in the washing machine? I have some socks that I knitted that need to be hand washed. That's about it.

take care,
Dawn

What a great boook!

My OT message board on 2Peas has started a book club. This was our book for July. I started it a few days ago and really liked it! On Saturday Timmy went to Britt's and Rich went camping. I was thrilled to have the day to myself! I spent the whole day reading this book. I couldn't put it down! My friend Beverly was reading it at the same time. Several times during the day she would call me to see what page and I was on and we had many "OMG" conversations about what we had read. I was going to put the book down and do something "more constructive" with my time but I couldn't! I ended up finishing the book that night! I have never read a Jodi Picoult book before. Last night I ended up ordering three more books. I can't wait to read them!

take care,
Dawn

Do you have a famous double?

Brittainy came over my house one day a couple of months ago and asked me if I'd seen this commercial. Well, yes, it was on EVERY DAY! She asked me if I noticed that girl that breaks her heel looks like my niece Stephanie. At first I thought she was crazy. As soon as that girl walks through the door she is the spitting image of Stephie. How could I have seen this commercial all these times and noticed that.

take care,

Dawn

Out of the mouths of babes :)

One of the things I like to do with my kindergartners at writing time is to let them pick a picture to write about. I have folders full of pictures with lots of different themes. (In case you can't read "kindergarten" writing, prite means pretty!!!) Well, imagine my surprise to read what one of the little girls wrote one day. So insightful :) :) If I could I would have sent her right to second grade. She's obviously gifted LOL!

The little girl that wrote this is a twin and her sister was also in my class. I just LOVE those girls. They are full of life, always laughing and you can't help but smile when they are with you. Their mom (a secretary in our school system) has to work two weeks past the close of school and I offered to watch the girls if she needed the help. Today they are over (as well as tomorrow and Friday).

Right now the girls and Timmy are out in the back yard playing in the sprinklers. Life is good!

take care,
Dawn

119 years ago

Today is my great grandmother's birthday. Mary Elizabeth Frizzle was born on June 26, 1888 right here in the same town I live in. She met her first husband Edmund Burliegh Ryder in Chatham MA, picking cranberries. They both were born on the same day, and I believe the same year! He was a lighthouse keeper and died early in their marriage of TB. She later married Frank Lynch who she also outlived.

When I was a child my sister and I would spend weekends with my great grandmother. I called her Nana, people in the neighborhood called her Miss Lizzie, but she was Lizzie to her friends. There are lots of things I remember about her.

We would walk down the street every Sunday morning to church and come home to a big Sunday dinner.

On Saturday she would do her baking. She'd make fresh apple pie almost all the time. I remember her getting out the paring knife and peeling the skin off the apple. I used to get to eat the apple peel. When it was cold out she would take the pie out of the pantry and put it on top of the kerosene stove that was in the living room to heat up. The whole house smelled wonderful. She was a wonderful cook. I still have some of her cookware and recipes that I use. She had a great recipe for orange cake. It had a marmalade like filling and an orange glaze frosting. It was so good, but I never got the recipe for that.

My Nana taught my sister and I how to play croquet in the backyard. She also taught us how to play Parcheesi and Checkers.

I remember the big old tin of buttons she had in the spare bedroom. We would open that tin and play with those buttons for the longest time.

I also remember on Sunday afternoons watching a Shirley Temple movie with her. I still love Shirley Temple movies.

My great grandmother died when I was 16 years old. I still think about her all the time.

Happy Birthday Nana.

take care,
Dawn

My creating update

Debi asked me to post what I've been creating since I haven't done it in a while. These are the projects I've made since I last posted an update.

The first two are sweater sets for a Bitty Baby. I made one for a little girl I had last year. (Hi Livia!!) to thank her for some things she made for me. The other I made for Shauna (another friend's daughter).
Then I started a baby blanket. I went to a local yarn store to buy the pattern but they wouldn't sell it (give it) to me unless I bought the yarn. I already had the yarn I wanted so I went home and figured the pattern out myself :). A friend of mine told me that her daughter was having a baby this June so I knit the blanket for her. The baby was born on Friday, so my friend picked up the blanket today and is flying to Florida tomorrow to see her daughter and new granddaughter.

I also finished an Irish Hiking scarf that I started a while ago.

Lastly is a sweater that I made for Mackenzie for her birthday. It's a little bit big but it should serve it's purpose this fall and winter :)

I think there is a bit of a pink theme going on here LOL! Now I am working on the mates to two different socks that I made.

take care,
Dawn

There's GOLD in them thar washing machine

I couldn't wait for Rich to come home at lunch time today. I had used the new washer and dryer for the first time today. (Imagine being excited to do laundry!). I did a load of towels and they washed and dried so nicely! Then I did a load of dark clothes. (SIDEBAR: Do you sort your laundry to wash or throw it all in together? I'm a sorter!)


When I took the jeans (etc.) out of the wash, there in the bottom I spotted GOLD!


I told Rich when he stopped home how very fortunate we were to get a washer that spun dirty clothes into gold! He looked a little surprised and asked what kind of gold....so I showed him the gold band that I found in the washer.


The funny part was he said it was his wedding ring he lost yesterday. Imagine loosing your wedding ring and not telling your wife!


Rich has this thing about wearing his ring when he works (construction). He said he once heard that a guy lost a finger. I told him I've heard of THOUSANDS who haven't. He still won't wear his ring to work, or to wash dishes, or mow the lawn...well, you get the picture!


take care,
Dawn

My expected delivery

Brittainy and Jay just moved from their apartment to a house this month. They have no washer or dryer so....I gave them my old one and bought this new one. Did you think I was going to say I bought this new one for them? :)

I'm waiting for the delivery men to show up. I've got another three hour window to wait.

I bought this simple washer and dryer because the old ones were Maytag's...nothing fancy, but they served me well. Now, if Brittainy could only get the outlet situation fixed she'd have her dryer running now. My poor impatient daughter has been waiting two whole days now to get it fixed! (a three prong cord with a four prong outlet!)

I selfishly wanted a top loader so I could do felting. I hear it's a bit tricky with a top loader. On Tuesday I did every bit of laundry I had before Rich and Jay took the old ones out.

So here I sit waiting......

take care,

Dawn

How "Tweet"

Last Saturday I was out in the back yard with Tim and Mackenzie trying to finally weed my little garden. Several years earlier I had bought a bird house I saw at a craft fair. My only purpose for getting it was that it was cute :) While I was weeding I kept hearing swooshing by my head. When I finally stepped away I saw a bird flying back and forth. After it left I got a flashlight and looked into the bird house and saw at least two little babies. All day long the bird would fly to the bird house and bring worms! I don't even know what kind of bird it is. I'm awful that way! Tim and I have been watching the birds and they are still alive and, I hope, protected in the home they have.

take care,
Dawn

School's out for Summer!!!

I don't know who gets more excited, the children or the teachers!!! I am thrilled to have summer vacation. The hardest part is saying goodbye to the children. I had a WONDERFUL class this year and enjoyed every child in my room. Some years are more of a challenge than others but this year was just the best group of kids. I will miss them! Yesterday before the end of school I read Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the Last Day of Kindergarten and got all choked up reading the story. We ended our year together with root beer floats and a few rounds of the Limbo dance. The principal came in and joined us for a few minutes!

I have started my vacation by scheduling too many things today. I went for a mammogram this morning, followed by grocery shopping (I still have to put much of it away) and later this afternoon I have to take my mother for a hair cut bring her home and go back to get mine colored! Tonight Rich and Jay are taking our washer and dryer out and bringing it to Jay's. I gave my old ones to Britt and Jay and bought a new pair for myself.

My house is a COMPLETE DIASTER so I am going to try to accomplish something. I hope to be around much this summer so if you have missed me (and I hope someone has!) I'll see you around.

take care,
Dawn

Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher

Two years ago I had a little boy in my kindergarten class who struggled with some issues. Even though there were times when it was, to say the least, trying I found that he had a BIG heart. I remember there were times when he didn't get to have those "special" things others were able to have. That was the year the tsunami hit Indonesia. Our school collected pennies and loose change. The week of the collection this boy lost a tooth and gave his tooth fairy money to the Tsunami Fund.

Last week I was out of school on Tuesday and when I returned on Wednesday I found this book on my desk with a note that said this same boy had returned it and really liked it. Well, a few days later I saw him in the hallway and let him know that he returned the book to the wrong person. He said that he knew that. He had read the book, really liked it and thought I might want to read it! How could I say no, that I am too busy.

I started the book last night and am looking forward to returning it and having a discussion about Jeremy Thatcher with this little boy!

take care,
Dawn

I've been tagged!

Debi tagged me a while ago and I'm late in answering. 7 things you didn't know about me!~

1. I am such a picky eater that I don't like my foods to touch!

2. When I get really angry about something I cry.

3. Rich and I joke that "our song" is the Chicken Dance LOL!

4. I learned to play the guitar when I was 12 years old. I sat on my great grandmother's front porch for weeks and weeks learning to play Take Me Home Country Roads.

5. I can't swim (even though I live on Cape Cod) and I am very scared to be over my head in the water.

6. I don't like driving fast and I am afraid to drive in the city

7. I have had a glass eye since I was 22 months old.

I am tagging Beverly and Nancy and Mackenzie (via her mother :) )

take care,
Dawn

I am taking too long between posts!

This is such a hard time of year for me. School keeps me busy until the last day! We've had a lot going on. I spent my "spare" time putting together a power point presentation for the parent night we had at school. I had a long day that day! I was there from 6:30 in the morning until 8 that night. The end of the school year is fast approaching and the amount of work of work to get done is great!

I've also been going to physical therapy (where I need to be in an hour and a half!) for my sciatica. I only have 5 more appointments left before my insurance runs out! Today I went to the doctor for my 6 month blood pressure, cholesterol check up and things are going well on that part. I do need to loose weight. (There's a surprise LOL!!!)

I have a big project I PROMISED I'd do for a fellow teacher that I need to get done ASAP! I also have a couple of stamping and scrapbooking club projects to do.

Rich and Timmy went camping last weekend and I had a day to myself. I caught up on my sleep (oh, how I love my sleep!) and worked on some knitting projects.

My friend's daughter is having a baby next month and I am trying to finish up a blanket for her. I went to a yarn store and saw a blanket that I liked but they would only give me the pattern if I bought the yarn. I already had the yarn that I wanted. I came home and tried to recreate the pattern. I think I figured it out. (It was pretty simple). I am almost 1/4 done! I also started a sweater for Mackenzie that I want to give her for her birthday. I think I have enough time for that :)

I have also been spending way too much time with my dentist!! I have an appointment tomorrow to start my 12th! (Yes, 12th!) crown.

Hopefully when school is over and I'm done with all of these appointments I have, I'll have time to spend here.

take care,
Dawn

My Creating Update

I like Debi's idea of posting a creating update so I am following in her footsteps. I have been busy this week.

I joined the stamping club at my LSS and this month we needed to make sympathy cards. The scan is a little wonky but here is what I made (x6)

We also had a challenge to make a monochromatic card. This is what I ended up with.

At the same LSS I joined the scrapbooking club and part of the club is making an all about me book. We've been given the assignment of two layouts so far. The first is My Home Town. I made something similar for a Circle Journal I did. The flap lifts to house a CD. The song is Patti Page's Old Cape Cod. The idea for the left side came from a calendar kit page at my LSS.


The second layout is My Family. I used a picture from Brittainy's wedding day.


On the knitting front I made a Nantasket Basket that I felted. Here are the before and after felting pictures. (That's a five pound coffee can inside!)




















The last project are a pair of clogs I made for myself about 2 weeks ago. They are so WARM to wear. I've worn them several times already.


That's my update for now.

Take care,
Dawn