The Humble Bee

I have always tried to approach each day with a full heart, but today, my heart is completely broken and empty. No matter how hard I try, I cannot find a way to comprehend what is happening in our nation - once again. I have learned that my voice is hopeless in all of this. To live hopeless and heartbroken is a waste, but it's also the reality of every student and teacher in our schools. Hopeless and heartbroken - a portrait of American education.

Spending time with family is always one of my favorite ways to relax and have some fun, and this past weekend was no exception. My sister, my mama and two of my aunts came to visit and we spent our time playing Hand and Foot, shopping, chatting, exchanging stories and laughing. It was a weekend filled with warmth, joy and beautiful memories. If you've never played, Hand and Foot is an amazing card game that takes fun and competition to a whole new level. It's a game that requires strategy and team work, but it also allows time to bond and spend quality time together. In between rounds of Hand and Foot, we also spent part of our weekend visiting our local greenhouses and shopping for spring flowering bulbs and new house plants. It was wonderful to share our love and gardening and learn from each other about different plant varieties and growing tips. We each left with a few new plants to add to our collections and some fun memories of our time together. Of course, the mo...

Finally home after a long day at school, I walked in through my front door and was greeted with an absolutely disturbing stench.  "Oh my gosh! What the expletive could that be?" I sniffed around the house, trying to find the source - nearly gagging the entire time.  What could it possibly be? I round the corner to my living room, and there sits my dog.  Looking guilty as ever. And next to her sits my unopened bottle of Repels All .  In case you don't know what Repels Al l is, it is used outdoors, after it is diluted, on garden plants, veggies, fruits, flowers, shrubs and trees.  The primary use of Repels All is a repellant or deterrant for basically any type of animal.  The label says it "repels squirrels, deer, rabbits, chipmunks, mice, skunks, rats, beavers, raccoons, porcupines, birds, groundhogs and even more pests!"  Notice, it does NOT say dogs.  And it most definitely did not deter my dog. I guess I should be thankful, because Repels All ...

Violence, war, hatred. Bombs, guns, murder. Chaos, brutality, loss. 70 million people. A record number of people fleeing their homes in fear. They come from every corner of the earth. Seeking a land of peace. Seeking a land of calm. To build a life, that's yet unknown. Open your mind. Open your door. Open your heart.

Most people have seen the gorgeous Snapdragon flowers in gardens around their neighborhoods, but have you ever seen Snapdragon seed pods?  They are funny looking little things, resembling teeny tiny human skulls, holding new life for some of my very favorite blooms. There is something magical about watching a seed sprout and grow into a beautiful flowering plant.  As a new gardener, few things bring me as much joy as seeing the first green shoots of a new plant poking through the soil.  And one of my favorite plants to watch grow is the Snapdragon. Snapdragons are beautiful flowers that come in a range of colors, from vibrant reds and pinks to soft yellows and whites.  But it's not just the end result of the gorgeous blooms that makes growing Snapdragons (or any plant) so rewarding - it's the entire process, from seed to flower. Starting in the winter, I create a planting calendar for various flowers. By January, I've started growing some bulbs and almost every week,...

There is just something about Friday nights.  It is, by far, my most favorite time of the week.  After a long week of work, school and other responsibilities, it's finally time to unwind and recharge for the weekend ahead.  Personally, the joy of Friday evenings comes when I kick off my shoes and settle in for a quiet night at home with my favorite people.  I do everything I can to make sure I never have plans on Friday nights.  The way I see it, life it too busy to make plans on Fridays!  However, I know I'm probably in the minority when it comes to Friday nights.  I'm curious about every one else.  How do you find joy on Friday evenings?  By socializing with friends or family members?  A night out on the town?  Maybe time spent on a favorite hobby or passion? No matter how any of us spend our Fridays, the joy of relaxation after a long week is undeniable.  It's a time to let go of stress, connect with our loved ones, and rech...

For the last two years, I've been a multi-lingual teacher at a middle school in Ohio.  I love my job and I have so much respect for my students who work so hard to learn a second, third or fourth language.  I've attempted to learn a few different languages throughout my life, but I've never had much success.  My personal failure definitely contributes to the respect that I hold for my young scholars who outshine me in their capacity for learning languages. When new multilingual students transition into our middle school and my classroom, I always keep a watchful eye over them.  They have so many hurdles beyond aquiring a new language - from learning new educational expectations and cultural norms to forging new friendships in a foreign land.  For some kids, this transition can be overwhelming and frightening, and can almost swallow them whole.  When this happens, it breaks my heart.  I attempt to do everything I can to take care of their lost spirits....

I'm sure I'm not the only one to notice the two bright spots in the night sky the last few weeks.  To be honest, I had no idea what these were until I googled them!  Imagine my surprise when I found out I was looking right at the dazzling planets of Jupiter and Venus.  Upon further research, I discovered that these two planets won't shine this brightly again until 2032.  Aren't I lucky to have actually taken the time to look up?! To be honest, I rarely look at the night's sky,  but when I do, I'm often left in awe.  As a former ancient world history teacher, I'm reminded of our ancestors who spent every evening studying, learning from and memorizing the night's sky.  After all, it was their only entertainment once the sun set.  We are far removed from those ancient times, but I do wish that that was something we (I) took the time to connect with. Just like the rest of society, I find myself all too reliant on screens, so when I  notice the ni...

My oldest son just turned 20.  He is a sophomore in college and is loving the entire post-secondary experience.  He is following in his mama's footsteps and hopes to be a teacher someday.  As a sophomore, he's already had the opportunity for some hands-on experiences at a high school near his university.  My favorite part of each week, is the phone call to discuss his classroom experiences.  I love to hear about the kids he gets the opportunity to work with, and his excitement and  passion for the career are already palpable.  When he left for college, it wasn't an easy transition for the three of us (mom, dad and younger brother) that were left behind, but we all shared in his enthusiasm and slowly we became accustomed to the new normal and new quiet that grew in our household.  He would visit about once a month, and share his exciting stories of school, friends, professors and dorm life.  We always look forward to those visits and the cheri...

I've always loved hummingbirds.  They start to appear in early spring and they quickly remind me of the lazy days of summer, when I sit on my porch with a cup of tea to watch them flitter about, often battling one another for a drink of nectar at one of my many feeders.   I'm never alone when I relax on my porch with the hummers.  Either my husband, or one of my teenage boys or a friendly neighbor,  joins me for the spell-bounding quiet of our little nature preserve.   The tiny feathered creatures buzz around us as we share the stories of our days, our pasts and our futures.  These moments of calm, in the middle of summer, under the shade of our maple and birch trees, are my favorite.  There is no rush to plan a lesson, grade a paper, answer a phone or check off another item on my to do list.  I can just sit, and observe and talk with those who matter the most. In September, shortly after school starts, the hummingbirds leave for the sea...