Tag Archives: great days

Monday night summer storm

Wednesday, August 1, 2012, @ 7:23 amFamily, Life in General, pets, Reading, teaching, Weatherchildren, Family, fishing, great days, lightning storms, making the days count, pets, reading, teaching, weather, writingClay

Twenty days, less than three weeks, Monday felt like a Monday. Summer vacation seems like a perpetual weekend, almost like Groundhog Day or the book I read earlier this summer, 11 Birthdays, where the day is repeated over, and over, again. It’s not quite like that but there is no break in the week and if I am not careful the line between one day and another blurs.

There is a difference between the weekend and the week here, the lake is much calmer, there are fewer boats, and there are fewer people along the lakeshore, but for me there is little difference.

Sunday had been a late night watching the Olympics and Monday night would likely be no different. Continue reading Monday night summer storm →

Summer Olympics

Monday, July 30, 2012, @ 7:38 amcountry, Family, history, Life in General, Reading, sports, teaching, Writingchildren, Dulles Jr. High Class of 1976, education, Family, Grayling, great days, making the days count, patriotism, reading, seventh grade, sports, Summer Olympics, teaching, writingClay

July 1976, it was the summer before high school. It was hot, as only southeastern Texas could get. It was the summer of a lot of things for me; growing up, figuring out who I was, figuring out what was ‘cool’ and what was not, who was cool and who my friends were, and getting ready for high school. It was also time for the Summer Olympics.

The Summer Olympics come around every four years, which is fortunate because if they came every summer, they might not mean the same thing, they might not be as special; because, the Olympic Games are something special. I have no memories of the Olympics before 1976. Continue reading Summer Olympics →

Is it Wednesday?

Wednesday, July 25, 2012, @ 6:08 amadventure, Family, food, Life in General, Reading, teaching, Weather, Writingamazing sunsets, children, eating, education, Grayling, great days, lake sunsets, making the days count, pets, reading, Summer Vacation, teaching, weather, writingClay

It seems that the weather this summer has been on again, off again. It’s been warm and sunny, but each day it seems the wind is up one day and gone the next. Almost, every other day the lake is calm and then, the next, churned and frothy. Yesterday was one of the calm days.

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

I let the kids sleep late in the morning; Continue reading Is it Wednesday? →

Weeding, fishing, and a mean sunburn!

Tuesday, July 24, 2012, @ 8:44 amadventure, Family, Life in General, pets, Reading, Weather, Writingchildren, eating, Family, fishing, Grayling, great days, making the days count, reading, Summer Vacation, sunburn, teaching, weather, writingClay

ivy_sleeps — Ivy’s nest in the corner by the front window

It’s mornings like this one when I truly appreciate the cottage. It is quiet and the lake is calm, much calmer than yesterday when the wind whipped the lake into whitecaps, the trees rustled in the wind, and the sun beat down through the clear blue sky.

Grandma and grandpa left almost a week ago and I miss grandma and our early morning coffee together in the front room looking out upon the lake. Ivy’s curled up on her pad almost as if it is her nest, sleeping. I got up much earlier and it was cool, crisp, and clear I decided to sit out on the deck and invited Ivy to join me, she decided to stay inside and curled up and went back to sleep. Continue reading Weeding, fishing, and a mean sunburn! →

Sunday morning by the lake

Sunday, July 22, 2012, @ 10:13 amadventure, Cooking, Family, Life in General, pets, Reading, teaching, Teaching and Learning, Weather, Writingchildren, eating, education, Family, Grayling, great days, making the days count, Paris, pets, reading, Summer Vacation, teaching, weather, writingClay

survivor_bracelet — my survivor bracelet – courtesy W

I have been in a writing funk for almost a week, now. I started to write Thursday and stopped. I started, again Friday, and again Saturday and stopped both times. Honestly, the summer has been a whirlwind and lately, I have been having a hard time keeping up.

After a week in the hospital grandpa came home and my in-laws returned to Ohio late Wednesday; and grandpa is recovering, slowly. Beth returned with them and is helping where she can. The kids and I stayed back at the cottage and I feel, sort of guilty enjoying summer at the cottage. Though, I’m not really enjoying summer as much as I would or could. Continue reading Sunday morning by the lake →

Friday

Friday, July 13, 2012, @ 8:45 amadventure, Family, pets, Scouting, sports, teaching, Weatherchildren, education, exercise, Family, fitness, great days, hard work, making the days count, pets, reading, seventh grade, sports, Summer Vacation, teaching, weather, writingClay

mile_swimmers — four-fifths of the Troop 35’s mile swimmers – 6/29/12

I have been up for almost two and a half hours and I have yet to start writing. Yikes, where did the time go? I spent some of it reading a couple of blog posts, some of it wandering the yard and watering the plants, and I just finished working to resolve an technical issue I have (and have had) with the teacher association website I run. I have ignored the issue for a while, telling myself, I will get to it in the summer. Well, it’s summer and I am on to it. It’s probably some setting or something simple, but I haven’t been able to figure it out; I e-mailed tech support and I replied this morning. Maybe, hopefully, it’ll be resolved and then I can move on to other things I have been ignoring for a while. Continue reading Friday →

Friday morning, early

Friday, July 6, 2012, @ 7:12 amadventure, Family, history, Life in General, Reading, teaching, Writingbaseball, children, Cincinnati Reds, Family, Grayling, great days, history, Houston Astros, making the days count, sports, Summer Vacation, teaching, weather, writingClay

I skipped writing yesterday, too much goin’ on, in-laws arrived and I had a bunch to get done. Though momma might dispute that – I did take a nap yesterday afternoon before they arrived.

This morning, I came downstairs and grandma and grandpa were up. The morning culture at the cottage is sipping coffee in the front room and enjoying the lake view. It’s been that way as long as I we’ve been coming here. It is an amazing view. Continue reading Friday morning, early →

Independence Day – 236 years later

Wednesday, July 4, 2012, @ 7:30 amcountry, Family, history, Life in General, Reading, teaching, Writing4th of July, 4th of July fireworks, children, exercise, Family, freedoms, great days, history, Independence Day, making the days count, parades, patriotism, politics, reading, teaching, writingClay

‘We hold these truths to be self-evident…’

Originally, I planned to sleep in and skip today’s post. I figured most people would be busy at parades, barbecues, picnics, or fireworks; which just about describes what we’ll be doing here. Maybe even a bit of weed pulling and there are a lot to pull, or cleaning, organizing, and getting ready for grandma and grandpa to arrive Thursday.

But, I awoke at 5.15 and decided to get up and start the day; Continue reading Independence Day – 236 years later →

Lying low…

Monday, July 2, 2012, @ 9:54 amadventure, Cooking, Family, Reading, Scouting, teaching, Writingchildren, eating, Family, Grayling, great days, hard work, making the days count, pets, reading, scouting, Summer Vacation, teaching, weather, writingClay

us2_lake_michigan — hugging Lake Michigan’s northern shore on US 2

Sometimes it is good to slow down, now is one of those times. William and I rolled out of summer camp Saturday morning about a quarter to eleven, Wisconsin time and pointed the Tahoe north, then east, then south. It’s a long drive through forests, over hills, along the Lake Michigan shoreline, and across the Mackinac Bridge down to the cottage. William slept while I drove; he needed the sleep, I did, too, but I could wait, I’d have to wait. Continue reading Lying low… →

Thursday’s camp update

Friday, June 29, 2012, @ 12:46 pmadventure, country, Family, Life in General, Reading, Scouting, teaching, travel, Weather, Writingchildren, education, Family, great days, hard work, history, making the days count, reading, scouting, Summer Vacation, weather, writingClay

Troop 35 begins Thursday with the Flag Ceremony

I have been blogging all week from Troop 35’s spot on the web – Wheaton Troop 35 dot org, chronicling the troop’s adventures for the folks back home. I have been writing and I’ve had help with the photos from the other assistant scoutmasters. It is great to be part of such a wonderful team, I know the scouts can feel it, too. Below is today’s post to save you time. Today is truly gonna be a great day. Making the Days Count from Scout Camp, one day at a time! Continue reading Thursday’s camp update →