Tag Archives: pets

Early Bird – Weekly Photo Challenge

Sunday, April 19, 2015, @ 7:51 amChallenges, Family, history, Life in General, postaday, teaching, Teaching and Learning, Weekly Photo Challengeseducation, hard work, history, making the days count, pets, teaching, writing, WWIIClay

Ivy’s head rests on my knee and she gazes through the window, watching the shadows in the yard searching for movement protecting her home. Her warmth and the coffee help bring the day to life for me.

I enjoy getting up early, sipping coffee, and catching the day’s first lights as it creeps across the yard and illuminate the trees. It is quiet in the family room, at least on Sunday morning. Usually, on weekdays, W and I are out the door on our way to school and O is just rising readying for school. However, Sunday morning is different – the day begins much slower and quieter. It is just Ivy and I, peaceful and serene.

There is irony, too. Continue reading Early Bird – Weekly Photo Challenge →

Chocolate bunnies

Sunday, March 1, 2015, @ 10:25 amFamily, Learning, Life in General, pets, teaching, Weatherchildren, Easter, Family, hard work, making the days count, pets, weather, writingClay

A month ago, our area got its heaviest snow of the season, 19 inches, and this winter rivals last winter for being cold. According to our local weatherman, this February tied the record for being the coldest on record. We have had snow cover since that early February snowstorm and the snow has thawed, frozen, thawed, and refrozen leaving the backyard a crust of frozen icy snow. I don’t venture out into the yard often, just occasionally to quiet a barking Ivy, our Brittany Spaniel, or to toss Ivy a ball, or clean up after her. It is rather perilous tramping through the frozen yard. It doesn’t seem to bother Ivy – she has smaller paws and is much lighter than I am, so she can walk across the yard without sinking in as I do. Last Wednesday night we got another three or four inches of snow and the driveway was covered Thursday morning. I cleaned it off and the bright sunshine finished what I didn’t clean or clear; it’s evident spring is on its way and the days are getting longer again. Continue reading Chocolate bunnies →

Weekly Photo Challenge – New

Saturday, January 3, 2015, @ 9:50 amadventure, Challenges, Family, Life in General, pets, postaday, Teaching and Learning, Weather, Weekly Photo Challengeseducation, Family, Grayling, great days, making the days count, pets, weather, writingClay

It’s a new year, with the some of the same responsibilities. Perhaps, I need a new outlook?

ivythesnowdog — new fallen snow and Ivy the Dog – the wonder dog

Normally, January 1^st is not the day I choose for resolutions, usually my resolutions fall in early June when school lets out for summer and I have more time to reflect, rest, reset, and restore. But, that is summer or rather ‘some ‘er’ which sounds like summer but means some are – as in some are and some aren’t. Some summers I am more successful with the ‘reflect and reset’ than others. This past summer was one of those in which the reset was not complete. Now, I find myself in the beginning of winter and new fallen snow is beginning to cover the landscape. It brings a new outlook to the world; it’s fresh, clean, pure, and powdery. Ivy tested it earlier and came inside, curled up on the hassock, and went back to sleep. It’s a new beginning, sort of.

new snow – looking north, sort of

new snow, looking south

Continue reading Weekly Photo Challenge – New →

Blame the dog

Sunday, September 8, 2013, @ 9:14 amadventure, Family, jobs, Life in General, pets, Reading, teaching, Writingchildren, education, Family, Grayling, great days, hard work, high school football, making the days count, pets, reading, seventh grade, softball, sports, Summer Vacation, teaching, writingClay

I am up north for the weekend. It’ll be the last weekend for a while and I enjoyed the sunset last night and the morning view with my coffee for one last time this summer.

I drove up by myself Friday after school. B and the kids stayed home; W had a football game Friday night and again Saturday morning along with loads of homework, I do hope he is making a dent in it, and O had softball Friday and Saturday, too. It’s strange being here alone. I had a long list of things to do and I added to it as I walked around yesterday. The boats are out and stored for the winter, the dock and boat lifts, too. The patio furniture is in the garage and I have shuffled the organization from summer to winter mode with snow shovels and the snow blower ready for action when we come back this winter. I have a few more chores before I close up and leave this afternoon and I am debating about leaving the vents open and scheduling one more trip before winter sets in to close them. Continue reading Blame the dog →

A New Morning

Monday, July 22, 2013, @ 9:37 amadventure, Cooking, Family, Life in General, pets, Reading, Scouting, teaching, Teaching and Learning, Weather, Writingchildren, Family, Grayling, great days, Lake Margrethe, making the days count, moonset, pets, scouting, sunset, weather, writingClay

I didn’t sleep well last night. I woke at 3 and went back to sleep. A couple of hours later, Ivy was up and wanted to go outside and I stumbled to the door, clipped her tether, and opened the door. The full moon shone brightly over the lake and I could see ducks on the water in front of the cottage. I am sure it was more than the ducks that woke her but she silently inspected the yard and was at the door, wanting to come in, moments later. I went back to bed, but couldn’t get back to sleep. I grudgingly got up and took a few photos of the moon hanging over the lake. I took the photos below with my iPhone, couldn’t get the camera to take a snap, too little light. But the iPhone didn’t care.

the moon slips down across the lake

my view from grandma’s chair

I’ve been up ever since. Continue reading A New Morning →

Cottage Time

Tuesday, July 2, 2013, @ 9:29 amadventure, Cooking, Family, Life in General, pets, Reading, sports, teaching, travel, Weather, Writingchildren, eating, Family, Grayling, great days, making the days count, pets, reading, Summer Vacation, teaching, water sports, weather, writingClay

I am at the Michigan cottage now, it has been 1600 plus miles in one week. That’s how far I driven since my trip to Mississippi and back and to the cottage last Friday morning. That’s a long way. The drive down to Mississippi didn’t seem to faze me, but the drive back took its toll. I was whacked, the following day. All I wanted to do was sleep, I would sneak off to lie down and catch a short nap, if I could. It only frustrated B because there was much to do, there always is, especially when we were packing and heading north for a week. Continue reading Cottage Time →

Lazy Saturday afternoon

Saturday, June 15, 2013, @ 2:49 pmadventure, Family, Life in General, pets, Readingchildren, Family, Father's Day, hard work, making the days count, Paris, pets, reading, teachingClay

It started out as reading and ended up as a nap for both of us. I recovered in time to mow the grass, but not much else.

Today is Father’s Day and it is a beautiful morning. I am working in my backyard office and B and O are sleeping late. Like always, my trusty companion Ivy is with me. O ran the yard with her friend last night playing with glow sticks and having a great time. Summer nights, there is nothing like them. Continue reading Lazy Saturday afternoon →

A walk in the park

Saturday, June 8, 2013, @ 8:54 amadventure, Family, Life in General, Reading, Scouting, Weatherchildren, exercise, Family, hard work, making the days count, pets, scouting, Summer Vacation, writingClay

gratitude with my 'Superhero' pen — gratitude with my ‘Superhero’ pen

It rained Thursday morning, at least part of the day, when the rain ended, it left a beautiful afternoon. W and I made it to school and got all of my teacher stuff moved to my new rooms. It took only a couple of hours, having W move the boxes made it easier for me to work on the pitch, the pitch where I looked through stuff and tossed into the recycle bin. It felt good, but there is more to toss, but that will have to wait for another day.

Friday was beautiful, the kind of early summer morning when it is not quite summer and yet, still not quite spring, either – cool crisp air, bright sun, a sky so blue that it makes the green deeper and brighter. A perfect day for a walk in the park. Continue reading A walk in the park →

Another Saturday evening post, on Sunday evening

Sunday, February 10, 2013, @ 7:48 pmFamily, Life in General, pets, Reading, teaching, Weather, WritingBell's Palsy, children, education, Family, great days, Guys Read, hard work, Ivy the dog, making the days count, pets, reading, seventh grade, teaching, weather, writingClay

I started writing this Saturday morning and I never finished, such is life.

It’s Saturday mid-morning and my plan to post in the middle of the week was foiled, yet again. Honestly, I do have ideas during the week, but I never have time to actually sit down and write them. Looking back on my week, it was a blur. I had to think back long and hard to remember all of the big rocks, small rocks, pebbles, sand, and water, which filled my week to recall all that I did and or more importantly, did not do. Continue reading Another Saturday evening post, on Sunday evening →

Here comes the sun…

Saturday, January 26, 2013, @ 10:34 amFamily, Life in General, Music, Reading, teaching, Weather, Writingchildren, education, Family, great days, hard work, making the days count, pets, reading, sunrise photos, teaching, weather, writingClay

It’s another Saturday morning and here I am. It was a good week and in the blink of an eye, it was gone. In last Saturday morning’s post, I posted a picture of the sunrise and a couple of folks, Ellie from Emerald Pie and Coleen from ColeenPatrick commented on the sunrise. Their comments truly made my day and reminded me of the power of the sun, sunlight, and the symbolism of light in our lives.

Here in northeastern Illinois, we don’t get much sunlight at this time of the year, Continue reading Here comes the sun… →