A Quiet Corner of a Busy World
A good dancer often has natural balance, rhythm, and coordination. However, you don't have to have a lot of skill or natural ability to be the kind of dancer with whom people want to dance. Here are a few guiding principles that can help anyone be a better dance partner and enjoy dancing more. I've [...]
It started with a yard sale find and a spool of thread. I have always found patchwork quilting a beautiful art. Though modern day quilting can also be very beautiful and require skill, there is something even more lovely about the humble and simple patchwork tradition. Patchwork quilts were a way of making the practical [...]
We are gearing up for the beginning of school. I will see students this week! For me, the most important things I need to have before I can really jump into my preparations are my schedules and the student roster. I am amazed by the complexity of the master schedule which tells each class when [...]
On the day before I had to report back to school this year, I accomplished a goal I set about five years ago. I was starting my first year teaching 1st grade and I was impressed that the history curriculum included memorizing the names of all the presidents (in a song). Of course, the [...]
I was thinking recently about how blessed I am to live in such a safe, pleasant place. My country, my state, my city, and even my specific neighborhood offer relative safety and more than a fair share of comfort. I love where I live. It is a beautiful neighborhood with interesting history, a friendly community, [...]
What is the big draw of movies? Why do I frequently encounter people who don’t read books, but hardly ever encounter someone who doesn’t watch movies? Why do even avid book lovers still enjoy movies though not all movie lovers enjoy books? Of course, there are some obvious reasons on the surface. A lot of [...]
I have helped keep the weeds at bay in my school’s garden for several years now. I often pull a few weeds when I’m passing through (it is conveniently between my classroom and teacher’s lounge), but I sometimes do more significant weeding. Sometimes my students help me which is always cute (and occasionally helpful). They [...]
My 1st grade students recently learned the fable The Ants and the Grasshopper. The ants worked hard all summer to gather grain while the grasshopper was making music on his fiddle. When winter comes, the ants have plenty to eat, but the grasshopper is sent away starving. The moral of the story is, “There’s a [...]
I have a love/hate relationship with Friday afternoons. I love the feeling of the whole weekend before me and the weight of my teaching job rolling off my shoulders for a bit. I hate that I’m so exhausted, all I feel like doing is scrolling through Facebook or watching YouTube videos. Turning to social media [...]
I have not had very much mental space to write the last couple of weeks. We are coming to the end of the school year, just three more weeks! In the meantime, take this timeless advice. Mothers, protect your family's health with Lysol! Your home will "radiate an air of sunny well-being" that even your [...]
Welcome To The Carriage House 