Day 92 - Periodic Table of Videos

During a wrap up session about the periodic table, I introduced my students to this fabulous website based in Nottingham, England.  Do not be fooled by appearances because the guy on the far right is far from the absent-minded professor.  He was a big hit with the kids - they were all chatting about how they were "so going home and checking out that site again".  It made me chuckle.

Day 91 - Wood Stove

The federal tax rebate combined with a big sale was the inspiration I needed to replace my old pellet stove.  It's all picked out and paid for.  Added bonus - manufactured locally in Mukilteo.  Hope to get on the schedule to have it installed before Christmas.  Now if I can just get somebody to buy my old one.

Day 90 - The Huntress and the Hunted

I waited as long as I possibly could before putting the birdfeeders back up but the recent snow and bitter cold were too much.  My cats are natural born killers so I have to try and put them out at times when my little feathered friends are not feeding.  These are two of my daily visitors - the chestnut-backed chickadee and, one of my favorites, the red-breasted nuthatch.  I took the liberty of including some pictures I took a few days ago (notice the snow) because they were better shots.  Skye is nearly beside herself at this point. . .

Day 89 - Small Business Saturday

Been avoiding the malls and the mad rush by patronizing favorite local merchants in Snohomish and Everett. Today seemed like the perfect reason to stop by Wicked Cellars, a great wine store in Everett with weekly tastings.  Check out the "cabinet of champagne"!

Day 88 - My New Range

It seemed fitting that yesterday, Thanksgiving, was the final day of cooking in my aging Whirlpool oven which has always been approximately 50 degrees off.  My new range was delivered today and it has 5 elements (inc. one for warming and one for turboboiling) as well as a True convection oven with three racks and 2 cubic feet MORE space than my old one.  I can't wait to cook something up!

Day 87 - Thanksgiving

I never did take any pictures of the meal during preparation or on the table.  The next best thing - leftovers!  I assure you the can of cat food was not part of the meal.

Day 86 - Foreign Cinema

Thinking about having my own foreign film festival this weekend.

Day 85 - No School Today

After cancelling after school activities yesterday and monitoring the hazardous driving conditions, my district decided last night to cancel school today.  Temperatures were frigid but once the sun came out you barely noticed how cold it was.  Just look at that fresh blanket of snow on the Cascade Mountains.

Day 84 - "It's Snowing!"

Again and again, this exclamation was shouted as students entered my classroom today.  How is anybody expected to teach when that's going on outside?  On days like this I am actually thankful I do NOT have a window like my friend Anne.  That's her classroom pictured below. . .notice how engaged the children are.

Day 83 - First Snow of the Season

I awoke this morning to see snowflakes floating down.  As the day wore on, the flakes got bigger and my plants got quite a dusting, especially my royal purple smokebush which is pictured here.

Day 82 - The Tire Store

Last night I went online and scheduled my appointment to have my snow tires put on.  This morning the weather reports were full of predictions for snow and freezing temperatures which prompted lots of folks to come into Discount Tire.  I watched the line get longer and longer but people were in good spirits.  I've been coming here for several years because the guys are always friendly and polite no matter how busy they are.

Day 81 - Friday Drive

A typical drive home on a dark, rainy, stop and go Friday night.

Day 80 - Chinese Birch

While looking for multiseason interest trees to plant in my yard, I had to scour quite a few nurseries before locating this specimen at Emery's Garden in Lynnwood.  The latin name is Betula albosinensis var. septentrionalis.  I just love the look of the peeling, cinnamon bark in the sunlight, especially from November to February when things can be quite dreary here in the Pacific Northwest.

Day 79 - November Team Meeting

It was time, once again, for a team meeting and Eric suggested Lot3 in Bellevue.  While we have fun no matter where we end up, this establishment definitely had some pros and cons.  Pros were comfy chairs in a spot overlooking the downstairs.  Cons were bizarre dungeon-like restrooms and an unpleasant tasting, small happy hour cocktail called Seventh Heaven.  It was a nasty combination of gin, grapefruit and marachino which, apparently,  they were out of because we got mint leaves.  Eric made the best choice for food and drink.  He had the porter of the day and 3 different "sliders".

Day 78 - Religious Freedom

I pass this church everyday on my way to work.  What is it with church reader boards nowadays?  Is there some service they all subscribe to that provides a book of these catchy slogans?  What ever happened to just posting the times of your services?

Day 77 - Meal Planning

Today I pulled out the cookbooks and magazines in search of some interesting recipes for Thanksgiving.  The Victory Garden Cookbook (based on the PBS series years ago) has never failed me when it comes to vegetables and I always find interesting recipes, whether traditional or new creations, in my Yankee magazine.

Day 76 - Dinner Out

Grabbed dinner out tonight down at Lombardi's on the waterfront with my good friend Paul.  Enjoyed a Cosmopolitan and some calimari fritti with red pepper aioli before my dinner of lamb polpettine pappardella (rosemary scented meatballs, oven roasted tomato sauce, gorgonzola and fresh pappardella pasta).  It was delicious but sadly, I was too full for dessert.

Day 75 - Sky High

We took a break during our marathon Natural Helper retreat to head over to Sky High Sports in Bellevue whose website slogan asks the question "Are you ready to bounce off the walls?".  Most of the kids come here on a regular basis but it was the first time for some of us teachers.  Very hard to get a clear shot of everybody because each person is moving at a different pace, speed and direction.  I liked this shot because it shows Bethany who is one of the co-leaders of the program along with a number of our kids.  I did jump and it was great fun - my lower back and ankles are feeling the effects now.

Day 74 - Natural Helpers

While I cannot take credit for this shot, Shannon Bleek took the shot with my camera.  As you can see, I'm kind of busy trying to disentangle myself in this hysterical activity during our Natural Helpers training retreat.

Day 73 - Veterans Day

I have to admit, I've always enjoyed walking through cemeteries.  They tend to be peaceful places with lots of interesting and historical things to see.  I couldn't think of a more appropriate way to honor some of our veterans than to walk among them.  While I found headstones and markers for veterans from the Spanish American War to our current conflicts in the middle east (and everything in between), I was struck by the ones pictured below.

While you may be able to read the writing on the nearest marker in the picture, you probably can't make out everything on the far marker.  The amazing thing is that a wife and husband who both served in the military are resting here together.  James Hunter was born in November of 1915, he served in the US Navy in WWII and died in 1988.  It made me wonder where they met.  Had they always known each other or did they meet because of their military experience?  Several years ago, I read Tom Brokaw's book The Greatest Generation and as I stood among these soldiers, I envisioned this couple to be like so many others who were honorably captured in that book - "men and women whose everyday lives of duty, honor, achievement, and courage gave us the world we have today."

Day 72 - Party Animals

As a staff, we do love a good party and a "Wednesday, early release, end of the quarter, grades are almost due day" seemed like a good reason to celebrate.

Day 71 - Assembly

The Inglewood Junior High orchestra as they get ready for their performance during our Veterans Day assembly.

Day 70 - Dramatic Clouds

As I was passing through Redmond on my way home tonight, I was amazed by some very dark, dramatic clouds.  It looked almost as if there was a huge fire somewhere nearby.

Day 69 - A Pumpkin's Next Life

My pumpkins served their primary purpose by lighting my steps for the trick-or-treaters on Halloween. They are now hanging out in my green garbage bin.  Next stop - a composting facility in Snohomish County!

Day 68 - Ferns

Some ferns growing on the remnants of a tree that had been cut down in a city park by the Everett Arboretum.  I loved the look of the spores in the sunlight.

Day 67 - Alternate Route Home

Occasionally, I choose to take the back roads home instead of I-405 and I-5.  It can be a great deal more relaxing to wind my way home through Redmond, Woodinville, Maltby, and Clearview instead of sitting in gridlocked traffic.  I especially enjoy passing by some of the remaining farms along the way like this one just outside Everett called Glen Gyle Farm.

Day 66 - Painting Home Stretch

The painting is nearly done and although the color looked quite a bit more green on the sample, it appears almost gold on the house.  I still like it and the neighbors have commented on how nice it looks. . .just don't look too closely at how rough some of the clapboards are.  I guess if you are 80 years old, that is to be expected.

Day 65 - Indian Summer Day

View of Mt. Baker from the edge of Legion Park in North Everett.  Spectacular sunshine and record high temperature of 73 degrees this afternoon.

Day 64 - Funny Student Email

This email was waiting for me when I arrived at work Tuesday morning.  It made me laugh out loud and provided a great start to my day.

Day 63 - Christmas in November?

Seriously Starbucks?  It's November 1st and the "holiday" cups are out.  Can't you develop a cup with turkeys, pilgrims or native americans on it?