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Out to Lunch

I love going out to lunch.  Even more than dinner at a fancy restaurant.  Even more than a down-home eggs-n-bacon breakfast.  Just take me to lunch.  I think it’s because, for most of my teaching life, lunch was an elusive luxury.  Now that we’re retired, my husband Ed (also a former teacher) and I go out for lunch often, usually frequenting our neighborhood sandwich shop. We go there so often the staff knows our names and our order. Always on the lookout for a good story, I’ve observed our fellow lunchers and grouped them into four categories.  I couldn’t help myself. It’s a teacher thing…

The Toddler Lunch

The Toddler Lunch 

  • Prefers outside tables away from the crowds
  • May include high chairs, wet wipes, juice boxes
  • Menu: Mostly finger foods
  • Adult lunch is secondary to the feeding of the young
  • Duration: until the toddlers loose interest and become “free-range” Children

The Kindergarten Lunch (aka the rhyming lunch)

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Dr. Seuss Door Decor

Melanie’s ABCs

As a teacher, one of my favorite times of the school year was Read Across America Day,  celebrated on March 2nd, the birthday of Dr. Seuss. Teachers love a good theme to get their creative juices flowing and with Dr. Seuss as our muse, we let our imaginations run wild! Reading and writing activities, dress up opportunities and, in recent years, classroom door decorating contests abound. All you have to do is search Pinterest for ideas. 

My Star-Belly Sneetch costume retired when I did four years ago. No more Dr. Seuss fun for me, I thought. Then my daughter called.

My granddaughter’s ABA (applied behavioral analysis) center was having a Dr. Seuss door decorating contest. Melanie was given the theme of Dr. Seuss’ ABC book and she could decorate a door in her home to win a contest. “Do you have any ideas, Mom?” Kelli asked. Of course I did!

You have met Melanie in several of my blog posts. She is a bright, energetic girl who loves Disney Princesses. Melanie has autism and is mostly nonverbal. She attends school virtually and works with Elizabeth, an RBT (registered behavior technician) from the ABA center who comes to her home each day.

“I just need a visual.” Kelli said. I found a copy of the book cover online, made up some alphabet pages and Kelli, Melanie, and Elizabeth took it from there. They used photographs of Melanie along with alphabet pictures Melanie worked on to complete the project.

Melanie thinks of something that begins with W. Waffles! Her favorite!

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New Girl in Town

A Husqvarna Viking machine joins my sewing family

Meet Ingrid

There’s a new girl in town. She’s sexy, sophisticated, and Swedish. I named her Ingrid.

Ingrid is a Husqvarna Viking Sapphire 835. She was “born” somewhere around 2010 and my husband’s aunt Wanita purchased the machine shortly thereafter. Aunt Nita was a lively, exuberant personality, always ready for fun and adventure. I didn’t know her sewing habits , but she was impressed by the machine and took a few sewing classes. Maybe she wanted to quilt. Sadly, Aunt Nita passed away before she could use the machine much and it was given to my mother-in-law. In Norma’s spare bedroom it sat on top of her treadle sewing machine cabinet. Occasionally she would use the Husqvarna to hem slacks.

 This Christmas, Norma gifted the machine to me. Ingrid joins me in my sewing studio with my other machines, Kendra (my 1970s vintage Sears Kenmore) and Joy (my mother’s machine, a 1990s Kenmore)

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Rock On!

Painted Rocks Tell the Story

found on the Nature Trail at Catalina State Park

The first one appeared two weeks ago when Ed and I were hiking at Catalina State Park. “Never Give UP!” This small, black rock was perched on the top of a boulder encouraging us as we climbed the  steep hill on the nature trail.  We left it for other hikers who might need motivation. 

on the sidewalk in front of our house

A few days later, this one appeared on the sidewalk in front of our house. “Hey, You matter.”  The rocks were definitely talking to me. It seams like a story and for some expert help I called on my friend David to be my guest blogger this week. David R. Davis the author of two books, https://www.davidrdavisauthor.com and writes a blog.https://desert-writer.blog/ Here’s what he has to say about his rock painting hobby.

In David’s Words:

The logical first question is – Why? For me, it’s a simple three-part answer. It’s fun. It is another way of creating something tangible, and its great fun to leave them on trails or at parks hoping someone may find and enjoy them.

I love this cowboy!

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The Desert Snowman

Against all Odds

The weather reports from family and freinds in the midwest came in last week with tales of ice and snow. It was in the 60s here in the desert, but I was reminded of a surprising snow we had a few years ago. I know, the 2 inches we got that year was pretty pittiful in comparison, but it inspired this story:

The Desert Snowman

by Debra VanDeventer

The sound of the rain hitting the adobe tiled roof had stopped during the night. I open the blinds to reveal the morning sun blocked by gray clouds and crystal white silent snowflakes.  One, maybe two inches are piled up like foolish frosting on the brightly colored cushions of the poolside chaise lounges. We had moved to the Southwest to escape the winter snows …and yet… I pull on yoga pants, boots, and a sweatshirt and scurry out to our desert garden.

 The unexpected rush of cool air delights me. I scoop up a handful of the wet, sticky snow and fashion a small ball, then another, and another to form a tiny snowman.  I know I must work quickly. Returning to the house, I gather a baby carrot, two raisins, a scrap of ribbon, and race back outside to add the final touches that bring my creation to life. Although short in stature, as snowmen go, he stands courageous and defiant among the cacti.

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