Spring has sprung

What a gorgeous weekend spent with family and friends. The weather was perfect and I was able to to pull out the scooter. I love that blue mobile...

I am officially making a pledge to put more of my thoughts here because I seem to have so many these days. I always feel as though there is nothing of interest to post but have decided that I just don't care. I am going to follow in a friends footsteps and just see what gets on here instead of overthinking everything all the time.

This next weekend mom is coming to town and that is always exciting. She rarely crosses the mountains by herself and so for her to get in the car and come on over is a treat. She is thinking, as I write this, that I am always trying to plan her time. That is partly true but I just get so excited about things. I have visions of pedicures or shopping or finding a new fun place for breakfast... I was recently told that I wear my excitement on my sleeve and it is amusing how giddy I get about things. That's ok with me, I think that will keep my young. I am excited to show mom a good time in the big city :)

Tomorrow is Monday and I am not that enthused to be heading back to work. It always gets so hard in the last weeks of the school year, but alas I will push on. Thirty some odd days to go. I am so ready for summer.. I have a feeling this summer is going to be a great one (I don't have any particular reason to say this it is just a feeling at this time) but again, another thing that I am super excited for. Here are a few pictures of the garden today. Happy Monday !

Jeesh...

Well, it's been awhile, again. Bygones... I was thinking about my to-do list tonight and it's getting kind of long. I would like to think that I don't totally waste my time but it seems that I don't use it wisely. For instance, I had all summer to do projects and instead I squirreled it away and can't say what I accomplished. I think my creative juices get flowing when the weather gets bad because that is all I can think of right now. (This may be due in part to the fact that some of the projects are home improvement things like replacing the doors which only get really noticed when the wind starts whistling through them...)

Last weekend I fulfilled the 2 year old dream of organizing my mom's 'office' space in the bodega. When they bought the house one of the best things about it was the second building on the property with a garage and several other rooms, one of which mom took over as her 'crafty room'. Until last weekend it was sort of a dumping ground for all things unaccounted for. A little of this and a little of that. I did some Ikea browsing and now she has a great space that is exactly what she needs and it looks terrific. I want to be that organized in my own house. It is just not the same, I need a personal assistant (or Amy to just boss me around again and help me get er' done).

To Do List:

• Fall yard clean up and plant that darn Porcupine Grass that is still in the pot
• Weather proof the outdoor faucets so I don't have a repeat of last year
• Organize the basement room that includes putting in some sort of GOOD lighting
• Put mulch around the flower beds
• Plant a winter garden (is it too late?) at least clean it up out there..
• Prune the weeping tree in front
• Clean the gutter (it's growing, no joke)
• Take the air conditioner out of the window
• Get the photo framed
• Find matching bedside tables that will finish the bedroom
• Find 2 lamps for new tables in bedroom
• Use the kitchen more
• Finish the kitchen (need some advice on the transition pieces)
• Paint the inside trim white (already started)
• Blog more (new goal to do it at least once a week)
• Find the perfect pair of winter pants that don't itch...

There's more but jeesh, that's enough. I bet only my parents read this anymore and that is on the list. Ok, To Do List work starts... tomorrow.

There goes my good sleep, for now

The city has an ordinance that states they must wait till 7 am to start projects (at least in residential areas). So, the efficient workers doing the Foster Sewer Rehabilitation Project in front of my house have decided that setting up for the day can start 5 mins. early. They aren't working, they are preparing.

This is what I heard today (at 6:58)...

beep... beep...beep...beep (big truck backing down the street)

BARK...BARK... BARK... BARK... (Bailey guarding the house)

"Damn, Ron, you knocked over my coffee!"

(second truck) beep... beep...beep... beep... with loud braking to follow.

BARF... (that was Lucy getting sick on the floor. not once, but twice.)

And then the morning angel, my sister! Coffee in one and hand and a boisterous "Helllloooo". That made it all better, thanks Steffie.

finally, a finished project!

I am not going to write a lot because that is what always causes me to get stuck and never hit the publish button. Instead, I will say that I have finally finished my bedroom .

I cleaned the carpet, installed floor trim, sanded/spackled/primed and painted the window trim, bought new window treatments this winter (blackout blinds), painted the walls Chocoloate Coco, caulked the trim and then finished touch up painting. The closet has never looked good, but now it does. In addition, I sold the old bed and replaced it with a firmer, larger bed and have accidentally slept in until 8 everyday since. I don't sleep in, ever. I love my room!!

My raspberries are kicking into high gear this year, I am getting a cup or so each day. I eat or freeze them and have made the best smoothies and muffins. This bowl is from today.

I love growing my own food.

8 days...

I am counting, I can't lie. Things got hairy this week after being told that there was a chance I might be assigned to teach the behavior classroom that is opening up in my district. "Well, Stacey, if you think about it, it is very flattering to you. They have every confidence in you..." was the positive that everyone kept coming up with. I heard it but really what I heard was more like " Blah, Blah, Blah".

I am thankful to have a job and have been preparing to do a different kind of the same job for next year but nothing had prepared me to hear this news... I think my bursting into tears was enough said ( I think they might be reconsidering). Our district has been threatening 20-50 teacher layoffs for months now and in the end... it is just not as bad as they thought. My school actually offered the temporary people jobs again. I don't think anyone in my building is losing their job and only a few people are being transferred to another school.

I have 8 days of teaching left and then it is SUMMER VACATION for myself and my teacher friends. Ahh, the days of long rides, sleeping in, laying in the sun, and long evenings are

right around the corner, no matter what the next school year holds. I will keep you posted.

Springtime... where are you? I am so done with the mid 40's, the fact that I can't keep the windows and doors open, waiting for the right time to plant the veggies... I have mowed the grass, tuned up the scooter, cleaned up the porch (can't wait for warm nights to sit and chat with my neighbors), started buying lemonade and fired up the BBQ! Where are you?

This spring has been long but seems to have flown by. Several of my friends have had babies: Deb popped a sprout and Haley and Shamindra had a Davindra. Both are cute as buttons. We had snow days and now my principal is talking about Swine Flu Days.. she says " You probably have enough sick days to cover it if we had to close, but we would prefer not to"... unh, yah. I have friends who were given their pink slips and today some got their lottery announcements. As in, when we have to start laying off teachers, you will have to draw a number...

Maybe I should stop rooting for spring and say "Bring on the summer!" We have 27.5 days left...

Happy New Year everyone! I thought I would post a few of these before the new year starts so that I can mark this a almost complete! Worked all day today, can I say how much I dislike caulking right now? After cutting more MDF board than I thought imaginable and cleaning up a huge mess, this is what I have. Some primer and paint and my kitchen is nearly done. It looks so good, can't wait for everyone to come see it!