Tag Archives: weather

Testy, testing, whatever…

Thursday, March 8, 2012, @ 5:44 pmFamily, Reading, teaching, Weather, Writingchildren, education, hard work, making the days count, race to the top, reading, seventh grade, standardized tests, teaching, weather, writingClay

Snapshot_20120308_5 — plugged in, late afternoon coffee - just for fun! See Author's note below!

It’s springtime – or pretty darn close. The days are getting longer and slowly warmer. Yesterday it was in the sixties and windy with gusts in the 30-40 mph range. It’s been a pretty lame winter and I’m glad it’s getting closer to spring. There is that feeling in the air when it smells like spring. The wind howls and you know, really know, that warmer days are near. Right now, it is that time in the day when the sun seems to hang in the air and make the afternoon linger and seem to last another hour, or two. Continue reading Testy, testing, whatever… →

President’s Weekend – 2012

Saturday, February 18, 2012, @ 9:58 amFamily, history, Hobbies and Fun, Life in General, model railroads, pets, Scouting, teaching, Weather, Writingchildren, education, making the days count, reading, stamps, thank you notes, UP 1989, UP Heritage units, UP Railroad, US commemorative stamps, weather, Wonders of America - A land of superlatives, writingClay

It is the second long weekend of the calendar year and I am home, Beth and the kids are skiing in Michigan and having fun. They took off Thursday evening because the kids had no school Friday or Monday, making escaping the city and running off to the north woods a three-day fun-escape and much more inviting than staying home and cleaning the basement or other chores. I won’t be cleaning the basement, either I have a stack of papers to grade and get back before next Tuesday and I have time to make it happen. Continue reading President’s Weekend – 2012 →

What a difference a year makes

Wednesday, February 1, 2012, @ 11:21 pmFamily, jobs, Reading, teaching, Weathereducation, Family, football, high school football, making the days count, pets, reading, scouting, seventh grade, weather, winter 2012, writingClay

snow_corridor — a year ago I had to rescue Ivy – today the deck is bare! Might as well be spring!

A year ago, I was climbing into bed dreaming of sleeping late, really late – past seven, eight, maybe even nine in the morning – which is unheard of for a middle school teacher. Except, we had been pummeled by 20+ inches of snow beginning Tuesday night and school had been cancelled for not one, but two days! Fast-forward to this year and we have had hardly any snow, yesterday it was in the upper 50s, and except for a few patches in shady areas, there is no snow on the ground. Continue reading What a difference a year makes →

Winter Break is over

Sunday, January 8, 2012, @ 6:26 amCooking, Family, Life in General, pets, Reading, teaching, Weather, Writingchurch, eagle scout, eating, education, Family, Grayling, great days, Guys Read, hard work, making the days count, pets, reading, scouting, seventh grade, teaching, weatherClay

moon0105 — Thursday night's moonrise and the sunset highlights the trees

Winter Break is over. I suppose that is a good thing. I need to get back to work and have a bit more structure in the day, but I have certainly enjoyed the time to rest, relax, and restore. I have enjoyed cooking, reading, and spending time with family. I have my regrets – I didn’t accomplish as much grading as I wanted, I didn’t clean up my desk and organize my personal office like I planned and sadly, I have been restoring my waist line and not vice-versa. Continue reading Winter Break is over →

Let it snow – part 2

Monday, January 2, 2012, @ 8:01 amadventure, Cooking, Family, pets, Reading, teaching, Weather, Writingchildren, eating, education, Family, Grayling, great days, hard work, making the days count, pets, reading, teaching, weather, writingClay

ivy_stairs — Ivy looks down from upstairs

It is still snowing and I hope it doesn’t stop, or at least doesn’t stop until I want it to. I was up late, too late, last night and when I woke up this morning, I peered out the front window and was relieved to see a blanket of fresh snow covering the front yard and extending out into the lake Evidence Ivy’s and my walk had been erased.

Olivia is sleeping and I hope she sleeps for a bit longer; she was up late, though not as late as I was. This morning, Ivy barked and wanted out and I was afraid she was getting up, but she went back to bed. Ivy went outside did her business and came back inside and snuggled up on the blanket by my feet and went back to sleep, too. Continue reading Let it snow – part 2 →

Let it snow!

Sunday, January 1, 2012, @ 10:31 pmCooking, Family, Life in General, pets, Reading, teaching, travel, Weather, Writingchildren, Family, Grayling, making the days count, reading, sports, teaching, weatherClay

It is New Year’s Day and I’m still in Michigan and I’m loving’ it. It has been a peaceful break. The kids have enjoyed the slopes – despite the lack of snow. And I’ve enjoyed watching them, taking pictures, and being close enough to go home and cook dinner and have it ready for them when they’re finished skiing and ‘boarding. And yes, I’ve been able to play with MtDC.org or Making the days Count dot org.

Yesterday, the weather service pronounced a Winter Storm Watch, which changed into a Winter Storm Warning, and today turned into reality. Continue reading Let it snow! →

Making Time

Thursday, December 29, 2011, @ 8:44 amFamily, Life in General, pets, Reading, teaching, travel, Writingchildren, Christmas, church, education, Family, Grayling, great days, making the days count, reading, seventh grade, weather, winter sports, writingClay

moon_margrethe — A sliver of a moon slides across the sky as a frozen Lake Margrethe sees the last part of day

@MakingDaysCount and MakingtheDaysCount dot org, on many occasions, I have written about time and using it wisely; and if you have been looking for an update and wondering where I have been, I’ve been here, or there, seemingly everywhere – but not on the internet and certainly not at MakingtheDaysCount dot org. It has been a long three weeks. During that time, I have started a couple of entries but they have died on the figurative vine and been left unfinished. Continue reading Making Time →

Thanksgiving Eve

Wednesday, November 23, 2011, @ 8:38 amcountry, Family, Life in General, Reading, teaching, Writingchildren, eating, fall in the Midwest, Family, hard work, making the days count, reading, scouting, seventh grade, Thanksgiving Eve, Thansgiving, weatherClay

People do not call it that, but that’s what today is, the day before Thanksgiving. Hence, Thanksgiving Eve, I am calling it!

I have today off and there was the ‘Friday’ feel in the building yesterday. The kids were giddy, the teachers were too and it was a day when learning and leisure collided. My kids, on the other hand, have been off since last week and have the entire week off. Continue reading Thanksgiving Eve →

Elementary, my dear Watson

Sunday, November 20, 2011, @ 12:28 pmFamily, Life in General, Reading, Scouting, teaching, Writingchildren, education, fall in the Midwest, Family, hard work, high school football, mysteries, reading, scouting, seventh grade, Sherlock Holmes, teaching, weather, writingClay

Another busy weekend, full of choices: what to do, what to leave undone, unfinished, or unstarted. It had been a busy week at school and home. For my kids – William and Olivia, it was the last week before Thanksgiving break. They get the entire week on vacation. For me, it was the end of the narrative unit and the beginning of the mystery unit and Sherlock Holmes. I like Sherlock. I like how he helps me think at a different level and I marvel at his ability to see things others do not. Continue reading Elementary, my dear Watson →

Part 5, the conclusion, and the ride home

Wednesday, November 9, 2011, @ 5:16 amFamily, Life in General, Reading, teaching, Writingchildren, Coleen McGregor, Dulles Jr. High Class of 1976, education, Family, hard work, history, making the days count, reading, seventh grade, teaching, weather, writingClay

The gentle rain on the roof, rolling into the gutters outside my bedroom window was soothing and I slept well last night, perhaps, too well. I had a hard time convincing myself it was a good idea to get out of bed and start the day. I finally got up went downstairs, started the coffee, and made lunch for William and me – salads. Continue reading Part 5, the conclusion, and the ride home →