Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Didn't Your Mother Read to You?


Another fun thing we did in Boston was to go over to the Public Garden and find the sculpture of the ducks that honors Robert McCloskey. His book, Make Way for Ducklings, won the Caldecott Medal in 1942.

I've been disappointed by a few people who have told me that they have never heard of this book! (including my husband!) Luckily all three of my children knew exactly what I was talking about when I mentioned the book. In fact, it was Allen who insisted that we go find the sculpture. Makes a librarian proud!

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

The Old State House

This is the Old State House in Boston. Right in front of it is where the Boston Massacre took place in March 5, 1770.
Here is Alicia standing next to a model of it. I should have thought these posts out better. I would have put the picture of me with John Hancock's outfit here because it was taken inside of this building.
This is Priscilla Melvill. She was married to Thomas Melvill, a participant in the Boston Tea party. He was present during the Boston Massacre.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Following the Freedom Trail

We went on a trip to Boston a few weeks ago. I highly recommend you visit the city if you haven't before. They have this really cool freedom trail that you follow through the city. It takes you to several places of significant U.S. history.
Here I am looking at an outfit that was once owned by John Hancock. He was quite a nice dresser I think!
This is Paul Revere's house. It is the oldest residence in Boston. It was slated for demolition in the early 1900's, but luckily a group of people worked to save it.
This is the Old North Church. It is the church where lanterns were lit from the church's steeple to warn the people of Boston that the British were coming.
A statue of Paul Revere.
Audra and Allen encounter a minute man.
More to come!

Friday, December 10, 2010

Rolling!


Here are my children rolling down Bunker Hill in Boston!

Tuesday, December 07, 2010

Desperately Seeking Order!



This is what happens when you must empty an entire bathroom of it's contents...plus that of another room into your living room. All this was done just prior to Thanksgiving in order to begin the gutting of an old bathroom and construction on a new full bathroom in it's place, along with a brand new half bathroom that never existed before. Was that a run-on sentence?
It reduces you to a much smaller living space and a pile of toiletries in your kitchen.

In the mean time, I really love my functional new tub and shower! I know it will all be worth it in the long run. I have waited 10 years for nice bathrooms...so I suppose I can endure this.

Today my job includes setting up a mini Christmas tree in the one room where we are able to gather together...and straighten and clean what I can.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Second Practicum

Like I said in my last post, I have not blogged in forever. I know I am letting countless people down lately! Seriously, for all four of my faithful readers, I shall do a recap of my life this fall beginning with my second practicum placement. This recap probably will take a few days.
I spent four weeks at this high school and absolutely loved it! I really enjoy working with high school students. The staff here is wonderful and I learned so much. During the majority of my time here, I worked with tenth grade students who were doing a research project on environmental issues. I helped teach them search techniques, how to evaluate sources (particularly websites) and how to cite their sources. I felt much more comfortable with this age group than with the younger children...although I know I could do that job well too.
The librarian I worked with has a wonderful sense of humor. You really must have a sense of humor to work everyday with students. She is a collector of amusing sayings and fun little toys that she has at her desk. Here is a picture of one of her favorites (and mine too)...the stress reduction kit that is necessary for every school librarian. Click on the image to read it. She has a great collection of toys at her desk that the kids enjoy playing with. She says it is a wonderful way to get kids to come to the desk and talk with her. They play with the toys (wind up toys, a shushing librarian action figure, bean bags with faces that talk upon impact, etc.) and stand at her desk and just chat with her. The kids really respond well to her sense of humor.
While I was working there, Halloween came and went. It is a tradition in this school for all the staff to dress up and parade before the student body on the morning of Halloween. Every year there is a theme. This year's theme was "fairy tales, folk tales or fables." Here we are dressed up as one of Aesop's fables: The Fox and the Crow. Click on the title of that fable if you are not familiar with the story. Jacquie (the librarian) is dressed as Aesop and is holding a fox puppet. Kathy who works in the library too is the crow. I am dressed as a piece of cheese...thanks to my second cousin, Kim who lent me the cheese hat. I wish I had a group picture of the rest of the teachers. We had Little Red Riding Hood, Granny, the Witch, Paul Bunyan, many of the seven dwarfs, Snow White, the troll for Billy Goats Gruff,...I can't even remember what else. It was a lot of fun.
Besides having fun and really loving coming to work each day, I learned so much. Jacquie has a wealth of knowledge after over 30 years of being a school librarian. I hope I managed to soak up at least some of it. I enjoyed working with the students and with the teachers. I just cannot wait until i get a job of my own one day. I have completed my studies in School Libraries...and am now eligible to get a job. I do know of a few possibilities for next fall. Please say a prayer for me that I will find just the right job for me.
I have technically finished this practicum, but next week I get to go back to this same library because the ninth graders are doing an interesting project that Jacquie thought I would benefit from seeing. I can't wait to go back there!

Friday, November 19, 2010

One woman's battle against dust and clutter

I have not blogged in forever and I thought of this great idea this morning. Post something! Let the world know you are still alive!
My brother-in-law has been redoing our one and only bathroom...and creating a new powder room besides. So to sum up my life in just a few sentences.
  1. Jamie, the kids and I empty one entire room into the living room. We need room for boxes that house bathtubs, toilets and also room for bro-in-law to put his tools and work.
  2. Next, we empty the bathroom of everything in it that is not nailed down-into the living room.
  3. There is dust and grime everywhere in the house because old plaster and lath walls have been demolished.
  4. A toilet...covered in grime sits alone in an empty shell of a room...TP in a zip lock freezer bag. Makeshift dusty curtain covers the window.
  5. No internet connection.
  6. Showers arranged at various homes of friends and the YMCA for two days.
  7. Lowes becomes our second home. We are on a first name basis with the guys who work in the kitchen and bath department. (Thanks Ken and Jeff!)
  8. I cannot find my favorite lotion anywhere.
  9. There are many things that no longer have a home-like toothpaste and contact solution.
  10. We take a family trip to Boston to "get away" for 4 days. Had a fantastic time!
  11. We come back to a functional new shower and a half dry-walled room!!!!
  12. Still washing our hands in the kitchen after using toilet, but I'm not complaining. I am so happy to see our old awful bathroom getting redone!!!!
  13. There are boxes and piles all over the house...has anyone seen the dictionary?
  14. Drywall dust is NOT the worst kind of dust in the world. (Dust from 150 year old plaster and lath IS)
  15. Luckily I have had a high school library to escape to every day...until Tuesday, when it ends. (bwah ha!!!! I miss it very much!)
  16. We have internet connection again!
  17. Drywall is all up in downstairs bathroom.
  18. We finally get a permit to start construction on the powder room.
  19. Walls of PR are being framed.
  20. I decide to download all the wonderful pictures I have taken of the school I have worked at, Allen's X-country sectionals and our trip to Boston...and then blog about my adventures.
  21. I cannot find my camera anywhere in this cluttered house!
  22. I settle for a pictureless blog entry instead.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Some things are way more important than medals

Today my husband and several of his friends competed in the Black Diamond Duathlon. He has competed in this race for several years in a row and it is one he looks forward to.

Today during the last leg of the race, he saw a man laying on the trail ahead of him. A few other runners were crouched around the man. As Jamie came up to them, he overheard one say, "Does he have a pulse?" Jamie is a certified lifeguard and has taken courses in CPR. In fact, he just took a refresher course a month ago. God is good, because Jamie was called upon to administer his skills to this man, who certainly would have died otherwise. Another runner friend of ours, Sarah, is a nurse. She ran up shortly after Jamie did. The two of them administered CPR on him for about 15-20 minutes until some paramedics were able to come and intervene. The man was rushed away in an ambulance. None of us know the man's name, but he looked to be in his fifties and was believed to be taken to Strong Memorial Hospital. Perhaps you could say a prayer for him.

The photo is from last year's race. Jamie is not in this photo but Sarah is. She is second from the left. Pale green shirt and black hat. (My son Allen is #11)

I am very proud of Jamie and Sarah for rising to the occasion!

Photo source: Ed Martin

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

The Invisible Blogger is back

Things have been crazy busy. I honestly don't know how I can accomplish everything that I need to do successfully. I would appreciate your prayers. My library internship is going very well. I feel a little overwhelmed at times because there is so much to know and learn. I vacillate between a strong confidence and being completely filled with fear of taking on this role, several times a day.

This is "Library Gator" as he is affectionately referred to by my supervising librarian. He's also a favorite with the kids. Several years ago, he was won at a fair by one of the teachers in the school. She donated him to the library and he has been here ever since. I really wish that I could take a picture of the kids, but I think there are some rules about that and needing to get permission from parents to put pictures up of them. They are gorgeous children of every race. I just love the mix of colors and cultures of the children in this school. Today I got a chance to use my extremely limited Spanish on a child who just moved here and does not speak English. I was able to establish her name and to communicate that she is only allowed to take out 2 books, not 3 as she wanted. I think if I was to get a job here, I would definitely try to become much more fluent in Spanish than I am now.

I had one observation so far and it went very good. So that makes me happy.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

"Good, but busy"

I sent a message to a friend last night. This friend is a classmate of mine and is doing her internship at an elementary school library in the city of Rochester. I wrote, "How are you doing?" She wrote back: "Good, but busy." Yes, that about sums it up, folks!

So far, it has been great. I am trying hard to soak up all the knowledge that I possibly can and make a good impression! I want to take a picture of the school, but haven't managed to do so yet. Maybe tomorrow!

Sunday, September 05, 2010

Changes...

I just found this picture on my computer. It was in a folder marked "photos by Allen." I think he did a good job. I loved our trip to New Hampshire last year. This was taken from a mountain top less than a week before Dad went into the hospital and our lives were changed forever. I really miss my father very much.

This week school starts for the kids. Audra is looking forward to it. Alicia will be going to a new school and is a little apprehensive. Allen has been very busy with the cross country team already. Next week, I start my first library practicum at a primary school in Geneva.

Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Grime's Glen...twice

Yesterday I went to Grimes Glen for the first time with Rachel and her boys. Allen came along and brought his friend, Sam. It was such a beautiful place and I enjoyed it so much that I decided to go back again today with Alicia and her friend Elise. Of course Sherman came along both days. He loved it, but is exhausted now! I can't believe that I've lived near this beautiful place for 18 years now and never went to it!
Yesterday I took photos and Rachel sent me even more. Today I didn't take any because I had left the camera home. I am sad that I didn't get any pictures of the girls. They had so much fun and I missed so many great photo opportunities!

Here are pictures from yesterday. Grime's Glen is my new favorite place to go!


Tuesday, August 31, 2010

These last days of summer

I've been trying to enjoy these last days of summer. They are quickly coming to and end. On Sunday we went up to Charlotte for a BBQ to benefit a little girl with cerebral palsy. She is the daughter of a client that my husband's company works with. The weather was absolutely gorgeous. Here's the old Charlotte beach house. Click on it to see the details of people on the beach.
We walked to the end of the pier and back. The pier is about a half a mile in length.
On the way home we stopped in Pittsford for ice cream at Ben & Jerry's. Allen did not come with us since he spent the day with some friends in Hopewell. Next week is the first day of school for the kids.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

A day out

Went to Corbett's Glen yesterday with Martha and some of our kids.
Corbett's Glen is a little nature oasis in the middle of the busy suburbs of Rochester. It is a pretty little place that seems like a secret to me.
After having a picnic lunch, Martha showed me where the dog park is in Ellison Park.
It was great to be at a place where I could let my dog off of the leash, see him romp freely in the water without having to look over my shoulder for whoever might come along and scold me for taking him off of his line. There were about 5 other dogs there besides him. I will definitely take him back there!

Photos are thanks to Martha!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

New Blog

I have created a new blog...if anyone is interested. I have been having very poor quality and inconsistent quiet times with God. I am challenging myself to do at the very least, a devotional each day. I would like accountability and that is why I am inviting you to come look at it and comment. Any encouragement is welcome. Here is the link to it.

My Utmost

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Winding down

Do you like my "new" porch furniture? Amazing what a few cans of spray paint can do.
I am trying to spend a little more time out here...just enjoying my summer because the time is winding down. Soon I will be starting my final semester of library school. I will be doing a practicum in the library of two local schools. Both schools are within a half an hour drive of where I live.
I'm looking forward to this time of learning under some very experienced and good school librarians. Soon my degree will be completed and hopefully I will find a position of my own.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Allen...home from teen camp

Went to get our handsome teenage son from teen camp on Friday.
He stayed in Red Pine...one of the older cabins. He had such a great week that he didn't want to come home and is seriously considering doing the teen leader in training next summer. I am very proud of how my boy is turning out. He truly has a heart to follow the Lord!

Monday, August 16, 2010

Hiking in Lowville area

On our way up to pick Allen up from Beaver camp, Jamie and I went hiking. My only regret is that we didn't bring Sherman along. He would have loved it. However, it is a tradition that we stop at Cracker Barrel for a bite to eat on the way home and figured having the dog along wouldn't work well. Here is Jamie looking over the edge of a rock cliff. You can't tell from the photo, but it was about 30 feet up. There was a nice waterfall at the end of the hike.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Had a wild time...

Got many cool pictures of the animals at the African Lion Safari. One of my favorites was the dancing camel! He moved at the very second I snapped the picture and this is how it turned out! LOL!






And then there was this strange animal that we saw towards the end of our tour! She was friendly, so we took her with us when we left!