Last Day of School (Whew!)

So today was the last day of school and now Caroline gets some well-deserved rest for a while.

Only people who have spent time in a classroom can appreciate how stressful the job is, especially at certain ages.

Kindergarten and first grade teachers have tremendous physical and emotional demands put on them.

Teachers of adolescents - well - do I have to explain the stresses involved there?

Bottom line, though, is that kids will learn what they need to learn if they are in the presence of a good teacher in a safe environment. That means that they come to school rested and fed, and someone at home has taught them that they matter.

The teacher only needs respectful supervision and the physical and emotional supports necessary for the job.

All the rest - curriculums, committees, tests, buildings and so on - take second place to that all important relationship between the teacher and his/her students.

If governments and school boards ever get that straight we will see an explosion of knowledge and creativity like nothing this nation has ever seen.

And it won't cost a lot of money, either.

To the teachers and kids, and parents and grandparents, congratulations on completing another school year and enjoy your summer vacation. You earned it!

Here's another one of my critters for you:

Following myself (and meeting myself on the way back)

Well, now I've gone and done it. I was attempting to "follow" Dee's blog and I signed up instead to follow myself.

Gotta be somewhat dissassociative to do that. So now my crowd of followers is up to - yes - four!!!

Anyway, I'm trying to fix my mistake, and I'm sure I'll figure it out eventually. In the meantime -

here it is -

another drawing!!!!

Life

So - be your own fan today - even if you think no one else is!



Memorial Day - Part 2 (Picnic)

One week later, and I finally get around to this:

We had the best picnic on Memorial Day. It was an ordinary menu - ribs, dogs, burgers, 'tato salad, beans, grilled veggies, etc.

Thing is, Caroline wasn't feeling well, and I am not into this grilling business, especially things like - ribs?

But lookee:

Here's my marinade recipe. Easy to make. Do not measure (I didn't):

• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2-3 tablespoons minced onion
• 1/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 2-3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/8 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1-2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (I'm not rich, so I used 1 teaspoon dried)
• 1/3 cup olive oil

Marinate as long as you like - 2 to 24 hours - and take out of the fridge about an hour before you cook it.

That's it!

Oh, and the veggies - yellow squash, onion, green beans, and a few spices "grilled" in a pan in a little olive oil:

More drawings. Believe me, I never know what's going to happen when I put pen to paper!!

Hearts and Flowers

Great Outdoors



Hearts & Flowers Number 2




In the Garden