Back to School

It’s so fun to be able to go into the kids’ school. Today, a beautiful Friday, I was able to walk up the hill to the younger kids’ school to volunteer in art class. It was fun to see the children drawing the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, Tidal Basin, etc. They all were in good…

What a Load Off

Finishing the semester did turn out to be a really good thing for me mentally. I’m at work teaching EN 101 online, and it’s going well–so much better than I expected. It’s smooth sailing having created a course designed to be online and then to have time with them in a synchronous (Zoom meeting) environment…

Cooking Update

We’ve been cooking a lot. Not that that should be a surprise. It’s 18 meals a day, and 12 snacks around here. We do takeout once a week. It’s a relief. The kids have gotten more adventurous in their eating, but it’s not all fun and games. The most exciting thing is our CSA has…

No Idea about Time Anymore

I know that it’s Friday, but I have no idea where I left off in writing. We have good days and bad days, as everyone does, I’m sure. Here are some things that happened this week. I made some masks, and then I got some in the mail from my mom, and they were much…

Time Marches Along

Looking back over what I had planned to do was interesting. So far, the two days of school were great. They had online learning on Thursday and Friday. Their teachers hosted a Morning Meeting so all the kids could log in and say hi to each other, hear each others’ voices, and check in with…

Planning for the Future

Today, the older boys school announced that they will be closed until April 14. By the afternoon, one of Harlan’s schools had come to the same conclusion. We are staring down one month of no plans. I still have to teach (online) until March 30, and I intend to do so, but it was blow…

Pumpkins Everywhere

One of our neighbors put up a spectacularly creepy set of homemade Halloween decorations while one party was out of town. Upon return, drama ensued and the decorations have been taken down. Interesting window into the lives of others. The boys are getting excited about Halloween, but I only have a full costume commitment from…

Spring is Here

The weather has been absolutely gorgeous the last few weeks. We have been outside every minute we can, which is why I haven’t been blogging. A few new things to report: We worked on the yard. Gilbert was lined up as my help and he did a great job, spreading fertilizer, grass seed, and straw.…

Updates

In no particular order: Running buddy. I have a new running partner, and his name is Seamus. We’ve been working on a new sticker chart system, and Seamus’s goal is to convince me to go for a run (before 7 am on school days), take a shower daily, and strip his bed weekly on Saturdays.…

CSA Cooking with Greens

We have gotten the CSA once so far, and it’s great! I’m sure I’ll lose some enthusiasm for greens soon, but right now, they taste delicious! In our first box, we got radishes, turnips, bok choi, lettuce, spinach, arugula, two hot house tomatoes, rhubarb, as I mentioned. I made strawberry-rhubarb crisp (Barefoot Contessa recipe), which…