from the porches

memorial day 2010

Today, Memorial Day 2010, was a great day. 

Merry Jennifer, Sam, Madeline and Oliver came out this afternoon for a swim in the pool and a cookout afterward.

My newest purchase was a webbed chair that fit perfectly over a noodle. We all took turns floating in it, and some of us sank it way to the bottom of the pool.  But it wasn't me!

However, Maddie, the fish that she is, found other uses for the noodle chair.

But Oliver. . . Oliver knows exactly what a noodle is for, and it's not to fit around a mesh thing that makes a chair.

Truett did a lot of horse playing with the grandchildren, and of course, made them yell, "Stop it!"

 But in our family, that's nothing new.  All you have to do is ask any niece, nephew, son, or daughter about Truett teasing them in the pool or out.

Sam, on the other hand, especially kept a keen lookout for Oliver.  Maddie swims like a fish and Oliver is learning, but he's not quite there yet.

After swimming we grilled out: hamburgers, homemade potato salad, cucumber/onion/cherry tomato chilled in red wine vinegar, baked beans and desserts.  Merry Jennifer brought her blackberry buttermilk cake with blackberry compote: http://www.merrygourmet.com/.

I made her take home the key lime pie in exchange for this cake which will make a great breakfast for Mom for several days.

And now, the good news:  I didn't do the dishes because I can do them on my official first Monday of retirement. 

Now all I have to work on is the waking up early thing. Someday I'm hoping I'll be able to sleep in until 7:00 A.M.
 
 
 
 
 
 

cheer up

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

This photo is so typical of Florida right now. . .blue skies . . .white clouds. . .storm clouds.

Don't let the threat of rain get you down.  Cheer up those glum faces and enjoy your day. 

 By the way, Truett took this photo while I was in the drugstore.  He thought it might be something I would photograph. . . and he was right.  Only he saw it first.

Have a great day. 

We will.
 

 
 

 

beating the heat

This Memorial Day weekend people everywhere in my area are trying to beat the heat. 

Some of us will will be cooling off  in swimming pools or at the springs or rivers.

Others will be shielding the sun off their bodies with umbrellas for a little relief.

 
  
Some of us will fight off pesky mosquitoes and gnats that come with the Florida heat.

How are you staying cool?
 
 

mom & the mask

When Mom first met the Radiation Oncologist, the first thing that was done was to build a mask of Mom's face, as shown above.

Since my mother is claustrophobic and requires sedation for MRI's and other scans, it was very frightening for her face to be covered in plaster with only nostril holes for her to breath out of through two straws.  Mom survived the mask making and has since finished fifteen rounds of radiation. 

Luckily, the area outlined in red was left open when the final mask was constructed; therefore, Mom was able to breathe just fine.

The raised left area above her lip was the site of said lymphoma. That area has now been shrunk considerably.

Now we're waiting for the blistering, swollen lips to return to kissable condition; and hopefully Mom will be healed forever.

PS.  I'm putting the photo of the mask on Facebook because many of my family members are my friends, plus Mom wanted everyone to see the mask.
 

a great last day

I had a great last day at school today.

The children were especially loving and kind.

One fourth grade girl had tears well up in her eyes as she hugged me.

"I don't want you to leave," she said. "I'm afraid I won't write again."

I reassured her that she was an excellent writer and she would continue to write well.

"But now I won't have anybody to push me," she answered.

Then she asked for my address and she agreed to write for me.

It was a great last day today.

 
 

longest holiday of all

Several years ago my twin asked, "Merry, do you remember playgrounds?"

I looked at her and said, "Sherry, I've never been away from playgrounds."  

Tomorrow I'll be saying good-bye to my oversized teacher's chair. . .

Warning codes of all colors. . .

jars of pencils. . .

and good friends on a daily basis.

Teachers and students alike look forward to the occasional holiday; and now I'm about to embark on the longest holiday of all.

"About time!" some people say. 

  
 
 
 
 
 

quick

 "Quick!  Call Mr. Fred!"

"Quick!  Call Mr. Terry!"

"Quick! Quick! Quick!"

 

Being an educator is not only about teaching children. 

Being an educator is about respecting all staff members of a school.

I could not do an effective job of teaching without a clean room, without empty trash cans, without clean toilets, without a caring Custodial staff.

Thank you, Custodians for making my job easier.

Thank you, Custodians for taking out that trash.

Thank you, Custodians for rushing to the cafeteria or a classroom to clean up vomit (especially during FCAT week).

Thank you Custodians for EVERYTHING you do.

I NOTICE!

 
 

 

 

well, good morning sun

I know you're probably wondering what in the heck this post is about. 

What on earth does it have to do with Merry's  retirement and all those memories she'll keep with her forever.

This photo is of the sun as I entered school this morning.  Right before. . . tah da!., . . Car rider duty!

 

 I know.  I've led you to believe that car-rider duty is the pits. . . but it's not!

I would have NEVER noticed the sun hidden behind the clouds had I not been standing outside this morning on car-rider duty. 

Aren't I one lucky woman?   

I had my camera with me this morning and took shots of the hawks way. . . way, far away.  I couldn't see them as well as I could hear them. 

 Scree!  Scree!

 And as the sun came out of the clouds, I took a photo of the bleachers at the football field.

Do you think I will remember the sour-puss parent faces in the months to come? 

No way.

I will remember the smiling parents that started my day off to a good start.

So. . .so long, car-rider duty!
 

 

pledge

I began my day with the Pledge of Allegiance every morning during my teaching career.  Then came a silent meditation.

What a great way to start the day!
 

color memories

I took my camera to school today in hopes of being inspired; and I was. 

You see, everyone knows how excited I am about retiring in four more days. What they may not realize is that when you've taught elementary school as long as I have, you can NEVER forget certain things. 

So the next few posts will show you things that will live with me forever;

 

When I began teaching third grade in 1965, I not only had to teach the 3 R's, but science, social studies, p.e., music and art.  In 1965 we did it because we had no other choice. I loved the art part, and for p.e. we played ball or jump rope games or free play.

But here's a little secret.  In music I sounded like a bull frog when I sang with the class, and I'm afraid I still do.  That's why I don't sing in public now, only at church.

COLOR!  GLORIOUS COLOR!  WONDERFUL, BRILLIANT EYE-POPPING COLOR!

Times certainly changed when highlighters were invented. I vaguely remember using highlighters during the 60's when I was in college; but since then educators got smart and did a little research; and by golly,their research proved that if adults could effectively highlight main ideas, etc., then children might be smart enough to do the same.  What an effective learning tool.

There was a catch, though.  We had to teach the children what a main idea looked like, as well as details.  Then we put the highlighters in their hands and scores raised! 

My students use to say they had fun that day, and when I asked what they learned, their answer would be, "Nothing."  Then I had to explain the whole main idea/detail concept as learned through highlighters. Ding!  Ding!  Ding!

Vivid colors from elementary school will always stay with me.