Catching up on books from the summer

What with moving to a new house, unpacking, spending time at the gym, playing with grandchildren, and setting up my new sewing room, one might think I haven't been reading a lot.

Wrong!

I just haven't posted about what I'm reading lately.

So here goes in reverse order.

Son-in-law Ben was reading the sequel to the book above when my NYC bunch were visiting in August. Ben recommended reading The Circle and then The Every. I found both at our excellent public library. Both were very captivating in a dystopian kind of way.

There are five Highland Bookshop Mysteries by Molly MacRae.

Read the 5th one first because it was featured as a new book at the library.

All of them were fun reads.

Catriona McPherson is a favorite recent discovery.

She wrote the Dandy Gilver series set in the 1920's.

The Last Ditch series is a present day comedy/mystery similar to Janet Evanovich's

Stephanie Plum Books. Can't wait for a new one.

I read one of her stand alone novels, Quiet Neighbors, that was very enjoyable.

So what am I reading today? 

All the Queen's Men by SJ Bennett recommended by Martin.

I have joined two book clubs at the library.

September Celebrity book club is reading Mika in Real Life.

October Book to Film book club is reading The Gray Man.

When not reading I'm sewing, swimming, doing yoga, and picking up grandkids from school.

What's going on with you?

 

Family Fun Time

The first week of August we had our grandsons, Liam and David, visit from NYC.

They had time to play with their cousins, Ava and Kenton.

Dinner at our house on Monday.

Cook out at Joey's house on Tuesday.

Liam is so kind and helpful with his little cousin Kenton.

In between playtimes with cousins this guy tried his creativity skills in my sewing room.

There were 'magic' shows, dress up time, music explorations, and races around the house with Liam leading the pack and Kenton bringing up the rear.

General silliness prevailed.

I loved having them all together.

There was also some sewing for Emily - two jackets and a skirt.

After a flight delay on Friday these guys made it back home Saturday.

Dressed in their scientist lab coats (made by Gran) they are trying a science experiment involving carbonated beverages and TicTacs.

Have fun and see you in a few months.

 

Five Decades Pass in a Blink

Just the other day I realized that it was about fifty years ago that I was finishing up my degree at Mississippi State University. I had accepted a job in Lafayette, Georgia teaching fourth grade at Armuchee Valley Elementary School.

The school had grades 1-8, one class for each grade.

There were no special classes like music, art, or physical education.

It was a great place for a twenty year old to start her teaching career.

The photos that follow are blurry from a point and shoot camera circa 1972.

I know the second girl from the left below is Gwen.

Below the older students are playing the faculty in volleyball.

I am in dark blue and have my hands on my waist.

Vicky Crews is in the red shirt.

This is Gleen Gilbreath with his goat at his family's farm in the valley.

He had a great smile and a lovely mother.

My green Plymouth Duster - brand new - no air conditioner.

I am petting either a McKnight's or Neal's hound dog.

Not sure where this was taken, maybe Cloudland Canyon.

Those fourth graders will be turning 60 soon.

I hope they have good memories of their very young and inexperienced teacher.

I have good memories of them.

 

Progress on the new sewing room?

ONCE AGAIN I posted a sewing update in my reading/family memory blog. Guess it could belong here.

We are still opening boxes and moving heavy items up to the second floor.

My main sewing cabinet has made it up to the sewing room.

Here is the unsorted mess.

Above is the desk area and a view of the hall closet that will hold some fabric stash.

Three sewing machines are on the desk and one is on the floor.

I traded an inexpensive, poorly made fabric cabinet for the white Danish modern chest of drawers.

It will hold fat quarters and some in-progress projects.

The white shelves have plastic containers with scraps and small projects.

The treadle sewing machine is waiting upside down for a space to be cleared.

The door above will stay closed.

The bags hold yarn projects.

Somehow my fabric has multiplied in the move.

I am determined to use what I have, finish projects, and try to organize a little every day.

I have visited two local quilt groups and joined one of them.

Hopefully I will get back to work on the primer quilt soon.

This weekend we are going for one last trip to MS to dig up heirloom plants.

Happy Sewing!

And reading and making memories.

 

Notes to remember April and May 2022

It has been a busy couple of months.

We found a house close to our son and his family and signed the papers in April.

We look forward to being close enough to attend all the school programs, ball games, recitals, 

and Friday movie & pizza nights.

Ava's dance recital was a fun walk down memory lane for Gran and Grumps - Songs from the 60's.

Yesterday we enjoyed the Junior Kindergarten Circus featuring our favorite Tall Clown.

After the show Ava said in an aside to Martin, "I'm wearing a wig."

So cute.

Monday was David's birthday - a big SIX year old.

We sent him a Star Wars play set with baby Yoda and his protector.

It was a hit. Em says he plays with it when he eats, when he does his homework, 

and has told brother not to touch it!

He and his kindergarten friend are going to have a combined birthday party in the park this week end.

So, this is Amber wearing one of my vintage 1969 dresses.

I am thrilled to find someone to share my favorite vintage clothes.

I hope to find homes for more items when we move.

Also in May our niece Kimberly finished her doctorate in pharmacy.

Hope this is the beginning of a great adventure.

Had to save this photo sent by Joey.

Twenty month old Kenton wanted to ride on the back of his stroller with sister.

Get Ready! The Two's are ahead.

These two visited Washington, DC, on their Spring Break.

I hear they are experts at ordering food in restaurants.

And I have to end this photo diary with Martin reading to Ava and Kenton.

They love to read books with their Gran and Grumps.

We are in the midst of packing and doing all the things.

Boxes are everywhere.

Excited

Enjoying the process

 

Treasure found while packing to paint

 

Martin has been painting the house and getting it ready for our move in a few months.

He is down to the last bedroom which is the one with most of my hoard.

I found this as I was going through a school messenger bag.

Last Will and Testament of Janice C., member of the X Team - Extremely Special Exiled Teachers of the Spann Trailer Park.

With the Extraordinary powers that all X Team members share by virtue of teaching many grade levels and content areas and being of extremely exhausted mind, I hear by bequeath and bestow the following powers to my fellow Spann travelers:

To the Kindergarten team I leave the ability to ignore tattling and the joy of being presented with tiny bouquets of wild flowers by eager little learners.

To the First Grade team I leave the ability to negotiate 'she says she's not my friend' disagreements and the thrill of working with beginning readers. 

 To the Second Grade team I leave the ability to doctor extensive paper cuts, stomach aches, head aches and other maladies and the fun of helping competent learners dig into engaging content.

To the Third Grade team I leave the ability to separate hot heads into opposite corners so they can cool off and the excitement and challenge of students working together in teams.

To the Fourth Grade team I leave earplugs to block out the incessant chatter and the lovely sight of engaged students who are beginning to work independently.

To the Fifth Grade team I leave blinders to ignore inappropriate flirting by budding romantics and the relief of working with willing student leaders.

To the X team I leave the ability to guide groups of students to class, the buses, and the car rider line in all kinds of weather.

To the Assistant Teachers I leave the ability to identify the correct buses for the English Learners (hint: the White bus is a short bus.)

To the Custodial Staff I leave their favorite get-away spot for the summer, otherwise known as Portable 067, the farthest away from the boss ladies.

To the Office Staff I leave the ability to understand English Learners' parents (hint: talk slowly and listen patiently.)

To Mrs. M. and Mrs. T. I leave my empathy for parents who struggle to communicate about their most precious possessions - their children.

Thank you for being a great staff and understanding that I'm an introverted extrovert.

Thanks for graciously listening to my 'research says' reports.

But most of all, thanks for loving my kids.

It has been almost six years since I left Spann and almost three years since I retired from teaching. Most of the days were rewarding and I'm glad I chose teaching all those years ago.

End of a Chapter

Just a few memories.

I started this post the day we signed the papers selling Dennis & Helen's home.

I looked for a photo of the house and yard and found this recent one.

I have many more photos of the house, flowers, and fun times we had here.

We found so many treasures as we sorted through all the cabinets, closets, and drawers.

Below is an early photo of Dennis around the time he and mom married.

Mom's engagement photo in black and white.

Emily made an interested drawing of this pose

that we displayed at Helen's memorial service.

I found these Easter eggs above the kitchen stove.

Mom blew out the eggs through holes made with a pin, washed them out, then colored them.

She used these for egg huts with grandchildren and visiting kids.

Egg hunts and treasure hunts were favorite outside activities.

Anna Sabree took this photo of mom reading to her great-grandsons, Liam and David Sabree.

I took this in the garden. Mom was instructing Liam in how to water the garden.

Martin and I were married in Dennis and Helen's new place in July 1975. 

It may have been one of the first special occasions at their Highway 18 house.

There were many other good times with family and friends through the years.

Love, Janice