Simple Woman's Daybook: June

For today: June 29, 2009

Outside my window: Dusk slowly wending its way across the blue sky. Bald eagles are chasing each other over the field. Teenage hummingbirds are mock-fighting around the feeder.

I am thinking: which part of my house to-do list to start on first.

From the learning rooms: learning to play new songs on the kinderharp for next year's kindergarteners

I am thankful for: a lovely afternoon in the sun reading with my sweetie while the dog watched bugs flying around the grass. Quite relaxing.

From the kitchen: Persian Lemonade

I am wearing: my chinese-frogged blue shirt, black pants, stripey pink socks and the corgi sweatshirt I won from Christmas Corgi's site over my shoulders

I am reading: "Smart Play" by Barbara Sher and skimming through the new lot of Books By Mail library books I got today.

I am hoping: the sun stays for the whole week like the weather channel predicts.

I am creating: new watercolour nametags for next year's kindergarten class

I am hearing: The sound of my new hamster running in her wheel. The Law and Order two-note scene change percussion. The dog "flup-flup" whining in his sleep. The high-pitched cries of eagles outside and the squeaks of the hummingbirds fighting.

Around the house: The Frog is watching TV and sketching out a map. The dog is dreaming.

One of my favourite things: orange-coloured salmonberries right off the bush

A few plans for the rest of the week: reorganizing a lot of cupboards and closets now that I have some time. Enjoy the sun. Walk to the ferry terminal. Ride my bike.

Here is a picture-thought I am sharing with you:

The Simple Woman's Daybook

School End Blues

This past year was the first year that I taught Kindergarten. I worried a year ago that I might not be cut out for kids that young. Now, a year later, I wonder what took me so long to know how much I'd enjoy this grade. I'm a bit sad and miserable right now that I won't have my little ducklings anymore. I know I'll have a new set this September but I grew so unbelievably attached to the ones of this past year. There will be a whole new set of interests and games and make-believe that will make me miss the quirks and charm of my last set.

I'm going to miss the children marching around with stuffed animals and blocks on their backs, singing "The Ants Go Marching", pretending to pack food down to the ant home. Or setting up the chairs to play taxicab, arguing about which side the driver sits on. Or telling me that they couldn't find the body of the bird that we found on our walk, saying that 'God must have come down to take him home to heaven'. Yeah, I'll miss those little moments. Yeah, I know I'm moping. And yeah, I know that I'll be moping about this again next year.