Tuesday, August 03, 2010

Dawn and the no good, very bad day!

Where do I start? Yesterday I had a doctor's appointment (that the source of my bad day). I didn't eat breakfast because my appointment was in the morning and I was going to grab a bite afterwards.

On my way I was driving down a local road and all of a sudden I noticed the road was COVERED in broken glass. This picture I grabbed from the internet for effect. I didn't have a chance to stop and take pictures. It just came up on me. The glass was scattered across the entire width of the road so there was no way to avoid it.


Just about the time I got to my appointment I started hearing a funny sound. You guessed it. I had a flat tire! I parked my car at the hospital (where my appointment was). I called AAA and found that my membership had expired so I had to renew it over the phone and then set up a time for someone to come change my tire. (I've never changed one and don't know how!). I had to wait until my doctor's appointment was over to call AAA back to set up a time. In the mean time I called the local police department to tell them about the glass and they said that they were sending the highway department to clean it up.

Because I didn't have any thing to eat yet I went inside the main lobby of the hospital to grab a bagel from the little cafe that was no longer where it used to be. I walked across the hospital only to be told that it wouldn't open for another 25 minutes. I couldn't wait because AAA was coming. So, I walked back to the lobby to find out that the cafe serves food all day.

When the tow truck came and put the spare on my car (you know those donut tires) I saw a big piece of glass wedged into another tire. I ended up calling where my niece's husband works and set up an appointment with him. I needed 4 new tires!!!! It took about an hour after I got there for him to get to my car. Since I hadn't eaten yet and it was already 1:00 I waked to the little restaurant in the plaza to see that it was closed. I ended up walking further down the road to find a place to eat. "The diet be damned today!", I thought. I got myself some fish and chips but didn't eat all the fries. My tummy didn't feel well afterwards. UGH!

Then I walked a little further down the road to my mother's house to pick up Tim. He and I walked back to the tire store and waited about another hour for my car to be done...to the tune of $343! I think the town owes me that money! I've called the police department to see if there was an accident there and there wasn't one reported (Something happened because there was glass and a windshield wiper on the road!)  The highway department says they aren't responsible because they have 24 hours to clean up a road after it has been reported!!


Hours later I traveled back to buy some crayons that I needed (I saved $59) and walked out with two boxes of chalk I didn't pay for.  I went right back in to pay for them.  I certainly don't need bad Karma!

If you made it this far reading...bless you!  I hope today is better!

take care,
Dawn

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Technology

Hi there friends.  Yesterday I went to a workshop at school.  The workshop was Digital Audio for Classroom Presentation and Projects.  Through Google APPS I opened a program called Aviary and created this little audio clip.  It gave me the option to add this MP3 player so all you have to do is click on it and hear me.


I love technology.  I am excited by the possibilities this will give me in my classroom and with my school blog and web page.  A couple of weeks ago I went to a digital workshop, Working with Digital Images and Cameras and last week I gave one on the Smart Board.

What do you think?  Do I sound like you thought I would?

take care,
Dawn

Friday, July 23, 2010

Summer Reading

Tim finished fifth grade this year and next school year he will move over to the middle school.  This year our school district (where I teach and Tim attends) came out with a summer reading list for Kindergarten through 12th grade.  Tim's list is required summer reading.  Each of the fifth grade students were given a copy of Island of the Blue Dolphin from the PTA as a kind of "graduation" to the middle school.

Of course Tim was not thrilled to have to read this summer.  Is he truly my son??????  He is a good reader too.  He just never wants to start a book.  When he is done reading, he has enjoyed the book.  I told him that I would read with him.  So, every couple of days we sit and take turns reading a chapter to each other.  We should be done with this book next week.

He has two required books.  We will read the next one in August.

I haven't been reading much of my own.  I did read
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner:
An Eclipse Novella


I think I will read The Host next.  I have had it since last summer and haven't started it.  


take care,
Dawn

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Gangster!!


Doesn't this picture make a mother proud? 
Tim was so excited to get this picture taken yesterday.  I took Tim, Britt and the kids to the county fair yesterday and this was one of Tim's favorite parts of the day.  We went to one of those old time photo booths and this is what he wanted. 

This is so far from the little boy that would pin his blankie around his neck and become a super hero.  I guess it is hard deny that my little boy is growing up. 

I'm sharing more pictures of the fair tomorrow.  I'm just too tired from our long day to upload them all.

take care,
Dawn

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Oh how yummy!

Well, Tim made our dinner on Sunday and I have to say it was quite good! He made the Beef Roulade and the Chocolate Delight dessert in the crock pot. I have several crock pots and we had two of them working on Sunday.

Here is the Beef Roulade after it came out of the crock pot.  I showed Tim how to make gravy with the juices. 

He chose baked potatoes and green beans to go along with the dinner.  It really was very good.  Rich even said he'd like to have it again. 



The dessert.  Here are the ingredients Tim used.

 He mixed it all together in the crock pot.


And here is the final product with some vanilla ice cream on top.



I don't think I would hesitate in giving Tim the cook book to pick something else to make for us. 

Oh, and don't forget to vote for Brittainy's blog.  See the post below for more information.

take care,
Dawn

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Vote for Brittainy

My daughter Brittainy's blog is in a contest here at Life Without Pink.  Her blog is the Litany of Brittainy and if you enjoy her post, please vote for her.  I think she is quite funny and a talented writer.  Go check it out!



Oh, and for those of you who are interested, my post tomorrow is about the dinner Tim made us.

take care,
Dawn

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Let them eat...STEAK

My son Tim is a typical 11 (almost 12 :) ) year old boy.  He loves Star Wars, Legos, playing with guns (much to my dismay!) and crude humor LOL!  But, he also loves watching the Travel Channel and the "food" shows.  His favorites are Man vs. Food and Good Eats.


I think it was while watching on of these he was intrigued with a recipe for flank steak.  He asked to look through some of my cookbooks so I showed him where they were.  He found a recipe for Beef  Roulade  made in the crock pot.  He also found another crock pot recipe for a hot chocolate cake like dessert.



Today is the big day.  He is making this for dinner for us.  I went to the store yesterday and picked up all of the ingredients and he will be making the meal (baked potatoes included) and dessert.

I am excited that he has an interest in learning to cook.  All Rich can cook are burgers on the grill and shake and bake pork chops or chicken.  I would love to see Tim know how to cook for himself when he is old enough to be out of the house and on his own.  Who knows, maybe someday I'll get a thank you from his wife, who won't be the only one in the family to do the cooking!

I'll let you know tomorrow how the dinner turned out.

take care,
Dawn

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

My busy week

Yesterday I started a week's worth of school work.  The kindergarten teachers are meeting for four days to begin math curriculum mapping and revising our standards based report cards.  I know, I know...I live a wild and crazy life LOL!

I am getting paid for this time (and some time I am putting in next week) so I was thinking of using the money to buy a laptop for Tim.  I am selfish and don't like to always share mine LOL!  My desktop is on it's last leg I am afraid.  It over heats and shuts down a lot.  I'm sure he'll be needed to write reports and do research and it should get him through the three years that he will be there.  I use mine all the time so it will be hard to share.


On another note I got brave the other day and looked in the cabinet to see just how much of my corning ware was broken.  The big ones survived and I think I have three to replace.  Not bad.  I can live with that.  When I get a minute I am going to go online to see what I can find.


take care,
Dawn

Friday, July 09, 2010


I have a set of these casserole dishes that belonged to my grandmother.  I use them all the time and each time I do I think of her.  I remember going to her house and having holiday meals and she would use them.  I am reminded of how my grandmother used to have carrots, my favorites, in one of these dishes.  They would be oh so hot and swimming in butter.  I also think of here when I make butternut squash and mix it with brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and butter and bake it for Thanksgiving dinner.  I use the bigger one to cook stuffing and more often, Shepperd's pie.  These casserole dishes are very sentimental to me.

Last night Rich was putting something away and broke almost everyone of them. I am so very sad!!!  I know that they are only things but they are the things that remind me of my "Nana".  I suppose now I am going to have to be on the hunt to find replacements.  I feel as blue as the cornflower design!

take care,
Dawn 

Thursday, July 08, 2010

Not for the SQUEAMISH!!!

My niece was working at Dunkin Donuts Monday and spilled hot coffee grounds and hot water on her hand. It looks awful. I'm posting the picture at the end of this post. If you are squeamish don't look!

She went to the ER and they told her she has 2nd and 3rd degree burns. She said she was in so much pain! They dressed it and sent her home with some meds. She went back yesterday to have it looked at. She said she is feeling better but it looks terrible. Her normally slender hand is all swollen and red and blistery. I have burned my self many times in the past. Most are from ironing and cooking accidents. Just two Christmases ago I burned my hand with hot oil and was in pain for hours and hours. I couldn't take the ice off of it without it feeling like it was on fire. I remember once when I was a teenager reaching to turn off a light that didn't have a shade on it and got a huge blister on my wrist that hurt so much I had to sleep with my hand in a bucket of water.

I sure hope she is feeling better soon. I'm sure many of us have our own "war stories" about burns. None of mine compare to what her hand looks like.



take care,
Dawn

Wednesday, July 07, 2010

A Morning at the Beach

Last week Britt took Tim with her to the beach down the street from our house.  She packed up her kids, picked up Tim and spent about four hours there.  She told me that you need to get there early or the parking lot fills up and you can't get a place to park.  They were just about the first people at the beach that day.  Lucky for me I gave her my camera to take so I would have copies of pictures of the day.


Here's a close up of Jack.  He is getting so big and talks so well that I forget he is only 2 1/2.



Isn't he cute?


Mackenzie is getting quite grown up as well.  She will be five in September!




Here's a picture of Tim.  You can't tell from the picture but he is getting so tall!  I'm 5'5" and he is about three inches shorter than me.




And here is me!  I joined weight watchers at the end of February and have lost about 40 pounds.  I'm still working on the rest.  :)


There is a little update of pictures of the family.

take care,
Dawn

Monday, July 05, 2010

School's out

It was just over a week ago that we had our final day of school. We started late this past school year (right after Labor Day) and didn't finish school until the 25th of June. It is a tradition at our school that on the last day of school all of the teachers wait out with the buses and blow bubbles.


It seems like the last day of school takes forever for the buses to pull out.  I remember one year a teacher forgot to pass out her report cards so we waited until she visited all the buses to pass out the cards.

Us old lady mature teachers usually do the revised "queen wave".  That is to say we hold our saggy underarm skin and give our wave.  The buses pull out slowly all beeping their horns  until they reach the street.  We have in the past sung various goodbye songs, like Na Na Na Na Good bye and See You in September.

Every year seems to be harder and harder for Tim.  He leaves the Elementary School this year and heads next door to the Middle School.  He will be a 6th grader in the fall.  This year he absolutely loved his teacher.  The poor boy couldn't stop crying!  A few days before school ended he told me that his teacher was the best in the school.  He hoped that I understood how she surpassed me!

I always take Tim out to lunch on the last day since it is a half day of school for the kids.  We made our annual trip to A&W for burgers and root beer.  Speaking of root beer, Tim asked me today if you could get drunk on root beer.  When  I told him no he asked why it was called beer then.  Any insight on that would be appreciated!  :)


The Monday after school ended I was back at school writing a grant with some fellow teachers. Then last Friday I was back again for a workshop.  I have this week off from "school related" activities, but I'll be back all of next week.

Let's see what summer vacation brings me this year.

take care,
Dawn

Sunday, March 28, 2010

The Jolly Captain

Along a major road on Cape Cod, overlooking the Bass River bridge stands this Jolly Captain.  He has been there ever since I can remember.  The Jolly Captain used to be a motel and as many have done in the past it became condos.
 After traveling, when I see the Captain ,I know that it is not much longer before I am home.  My daughter's aunt came for a visit this past summer and took this picture of the Captain.  Now, in the summer time, what usually takes three minutes or so to drive by any other season, could be up to a 20 minute standstill with all the traffic.

This past month we had a bit of a storm and sadly the Captain did not fare well.  While Tim was in Truro, Rich and I took a little drive to see what damage the storm did.


The poor fellow lost his head in the storm!  He also took a bit of a beating. 
He is such a icon along Rt. 28  that I really hope he is repaired.  I would hate to see him go the way of so many memories of my childhood.

Just a mile or so down the road from the Captain used to be a motel that had a statue of a man in a black suit.  This man would tip his hat as you drove by.  I can't tell the excitement my sister and I used to have seeing it.  That man has long disappeared and all that remains are the run down motel sitting on a barren cement slab.

Britt, in her own humor, decided to photoshop the picture and added Jack to the Captain's body.  He doesn't look too happy about the situation does he?


take care,
Dawn

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Weekend chores


I know it is only Thursday but I am contimplating my weekend chores.  I've done most of my laundry already and have picked up the house.  My big chore this weekend is to tackle the HUGE pile of papers and such that need putting away.  I think they would fill about four brown grocery bags.  I get so overwhelmed when I think about doing this.  I just have to resign myself to take it in small steps and it will be done before I know it.  At least that is what I am telling myself.

Speaking of chores I can't imagine any house getting more dustier than mine.  It is everywhere!!!  I wonder how much of it has to do with my heating system.  I have a family of dust bunnies growing under my bed.  The bed is too heavy to move and I can't fit my vacuum under there!

It is supposed to be a cold weekend, a good time to work up a sweat cleaning don't you think?

take care,

Dawn

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

American Idol season 9

I am typing this about 15 minutes before the show begins on Tuesday night.   I am tired and grumpy....my computer was acting up and causing me stress!  I am going to take a break, get in bed and watch Cape Cod's own Siobhan Magnus sing.  This season she and Crystal Bowersox are my two favorites. 

It's really exciting to have a local singer on American Idol.  I love her voice and just know that she will do well weather she wins American Idol or not.

Are you watching this season?

take care,
Dawn

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Never in all my years....


I went grocery shopping this past weekend and picked up bananas.  Tim loves bananas!  On Sunday morning Tim brought me a banana that he took off the bunch to show me how BIG it was.  



To prove how big it looked Tim held it up next to a regular sized banana.  I am surprised that I didn't even notice the big one when I was shopping.  I was paying more attention to how ripe they looked.  Of course when he showed me I had to get my camera and take pictures.

When Tim peeled the banana I saw something that I have never seen in my life.  Inside were two bananas connected side by side. 

You can click on the picture for a close up look at the DOUBLE banana. 

I am curious.  Have you ever seen something like that before?

take care,
Dawn

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Tim in Truro

Last week Tim spent the school week in Truro.  For those of you not familiar with Cape Cod, Truro on near the tip of the Cape.  It is a fifth grade tradition to spend the week in Truro, at the National Seashore.

The National Environmental Education Development(NEED) Collaborative is a publicly-funded environmental science school, administered by the Dennis-Yarmouth, Harwich, and Falmouth school systems in partnership with the Cape Cod National Seashore. Created over thirty years ago to educate Cape Cod youth about their own unique environment, the Collaborative is a week-long residential school serving every fifth-grade class from the administering school districts throughout the school year. Located in the former Pamet Coast Guard Station on Ballston Beach in Truro, the director and a staff of naturalists teach a curriculum that emphasizes natural history, coastal ecology, and experiential education.

Tim left from school on Monday and returned on Friday.  He told me that he had a wonderful time there and was quite sad to leave.  I remember when Brittainy went in fifth grade.  She wasn't as enthusiastic as Tim was.  She doesn't like to admit it, but she missed her mom very much.

I gave Tim two disposable cameras to bring and here are a few of his pictures.




It was very quiet around here with him gone and nice to have him back home again.

take care,
Dawn

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Who Knew?



COFFEE FILTERS

Coffee filters. Who knew! And you can buy 1,000 at the Dollar Tree for almost nothing, even the large ones.

1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.

2. Clean windows, mirrors, and chrome. Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.

3. Protect china by separating your good dishes with a coffee filter between each dish.

4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.

5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.

6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.

7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.

8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.

9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.

10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.

11. Prevent a popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.

12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters.

13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. It soaks out all the grease.

14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great "razor nick fixers."

15. As a sewing backing. Use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliqueing soft fabrics.

16. Put baking soda into a coffee filter and insert into shoes or a closet to absorb or prevent odors.

17. Use them to strain soup stock and to tie fresh herbs in to put in soups and stews.

18. Use a coffee filter to prevent spilling when you add fluids to your car.

19.. Use them as a spoon rest while cooking and clean up small counter spills.

20. Can use to hold dry ingredients when baking or when cutting a piece of fruit or veggies. Saves on having extra bowls to wash.

21. Use them to wrap Christmas ornaments for storage.

22. Use them to remove fingernail polish when out of cotton balls.

23. Use them to sprout seeds. Simply dampen the coffee filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a plastic baggie until they sprout.

24. Use coffee filters as blotting paper for pressed flowers. Place the flowers between two coffee filters and put the coffee filters in phone book.

25. Use as a disposable "snack bowl" for popcorn, chips, etc.

26. Use to cover drain holes in bottom of flower pots, before placing soil in. Water still drains, but soil stays in.


OH YEAH, THEY ARE GREAT TO USE

IN YOUR COFFEE MAKERS TOO!

Saturday, January 30, 2010

It's Complicated

I'm sorry to have been a bit MIA this week. I've had a busy week at school and I have been exhausted this week. As a matter of fact I am writing this at 6:30 Friday night. When I'm done I'm heading to bed.

Two weeks ago Britt and I went out to lunch and the movies and had so much fun that we are trying it again today. She is meeting me for lunch at our favorite restaurant. Both of us are craving that french onion soup again.

After lunch we are heading to the movie theater to see It's Complicated. I am looking forward to a good laugh. Everyone I know that has seen this movie has loved it and said how funny it is. I like Meryl Streep and I think Steve


I have two more weeks of school before our February vacation. I have a week off. I am looking forward to a restful week.

I don't know what the weather is like where you live but it has been so COLD here. Yesterday it was 20º out for a high. The wind chill made it feel like 5º...yes I said 5º. It will warm up this weekend but not by much. I hope where ever you are you are staying warm.

take care,
Dawn

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

What is it with kids and ketchup?

My son Tim is such a picky eater. I have been trying to expand his repertoire of meals. He puts ketchup on EVERYTHING! This past Thanksgiving he ate turkey with ketchup. Sunday night I made a roast beef dinner and he ate it with ketchup. The worst so far has to be this past weekend. We got Chinese food last weekend and Tim ate beef teriyaki with ketchup!!!

I am happy that he is trying new foods but EWWWWW!!!!!!!!

take care,
Dawn

Monday, January 25, 2010

Happy Birthday Dad

This is a repost from Father's Day a couple of years ago. Today would have been my father's 76th birthday. He passed away in October of 1998 and I miss him so much. Tim and I made a birthday cake for him yesterday to have today in celebration of his birthday. Oh, how I wish he got to meet Tim.

So dear friends, here is my dad!





Here is my dad with me when I was a baby!

This is the way I remember my father most.

I made a small little scrapbook of my dad with a poem in it that says:

When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure



When I come to the end of the road,
and the sun has set me free
I want no rites in a gloom filled room
Why cry for a soul set free?


Miss me a little-but not too long
and not with your head bowed low,
Remember the love that we once shared
Miss me - but let me go

For this journey that we all must take
and each must go alone
It's all a part of the Master's plan
A step on the road home.

When you are lonely and sick at heart
Go to the hills we know
And bury your sorrow among the trees
Miss me- but let me go.



take care,
Dawn