Beautiful Sunny Day

It's always so beautiful after a storm.  Went for a ride to the Wichitas today.  What a beautiful day but still needed a coat.  George can talk cow.  Photos included.  When I used to go to Yellowstone I would get up 30 min. before daylight and drive through the park to get to the Wolf/Bear park.  I would roll down my window and howl.  I would change pitch and howl.  The wolves would howl back.  It was terrrrific listening to those wolves howl.  Their howls would send chills through me.
Birds from backyard.  Just amazes me that my camera costs the same as a wash machine.  I had no trouble saving and saving and doing w/out to purchase that

                                                               Our backyard

                                                             Off Duty.  Its time to go home

                                                        George talking to LongHorns.

camera.  But it just burns me up that I have to spend the same amount of money for a wash machine.  I just hate it.  And, then when I get it I'm going to have to do laundry.   Wish I had enough underwear so I wouldn't have to do laundry for 6 weeks.  Keep Checking back next week.  Lots more quilt photos to follow.  Its so darn easy to download photos now that I keep my cable tied to my filing cabinet w/ my favorite animal quilt patterns

I cried at school today.

I confess I cried at school today.  American Education is a numbers game.  People in power making decisions are so far removed from the children I can honestly say:  they believe they have a child's best interest at heart.  And, if that was true:  we wouldn't be in this mess and teachers would be the one's making the decisions.  I cried because of my students.  I have 12-14 year old students who can not multiply.  I have 12-14 year old boys and girls who did not know their times tables.  I was a tyrant.  I would not give in.  I called parents.  I drilled and killed. They had to be accurate.  If they missed one the highest grade was 75.  And, I would not cave.   I nagged.  I whined.  No matter how old a child is, no matter how much he hates school he still wants to please his teacher.  Well I gave them another times test.  The little buggers all finished.  I mean all students finished w/ 100% accuracy the test in under 3 minutes.  When we started, the majority couldn't finish under 5 minutes.  So, I confess.  I cried.  I was so proud of them.  Darn it!!!  It's going to be so hard to walk away.  120 calendar days left.

What a flippin idiot.

It is all relative.  When its 45 degrees outside.  I whine its too cold.  And, wish it was 85 degrees. When its 85 degrees outside I whine its too hot and wish it was 45 degrees.  I spend days wishing to retire and then I lose sight of my goals.  Had a fella' come visit me at school today.  ummmm His parents grew up in Alaska and moved to Australia and settled in Seattle.  A friend told him about me and all we talked about was Montana.  We looked and looked at my photos of Montana and then photos of Katmai National Park.  Now I know why I need to retire.  I want to create a line of animal quilt patterns.  There is such a need for realistic animals.  I haven't worked on these patterns since I became ill.  Now that I'm no longer ill and starting to get my life back:  I can't wait to get back to Montana.  You can see these photos:  www.thephotoquilter.com.   Hey Mrs Moose and Mr. Bear:  I'm coming back home.

puppies.

Started the puppy quilt today.  I never thought this would be possible.  It took me longer to pick out the fabric than  it did to cut the puppies.  What happened to those scissors and trash bag on the floor?  What happened to a week of mindless tv while I cut pups?  I cheated and used a die-cutter.  Oh my twelve puppies in 10 min.  Maybe I should cut some more?

monochromatic

Monochromatic:    1. Having or appearing to have only one color.
Been digging through all my scraps and short pieces of fabric.  I'm attempting to make a monochromatic quilt.  Well a monochromatic quilt-let.  It was so much fun I decided to make a bunch of quilt-lets in one color.  Next I took those scraps and wove monochromatic quilt-lets.  Took another quilt class in my jammies and wacthed how to make a series.  Now I need to come up w/ a monochromatic idea to put on top of my monochromatic series.  Photos to follow.  122 calendar days left.  Have my retirement papers signed. 

snow day!!

I just love North Texas.  Last week 70 degrees and today no school because its icy roads and snow.  Can't believe George wants to move back to this sub-freezing weather.  He was out shoveling snow and playing ice man yesterday.  Complaining and complaining they shut the city down for 3 inches.  Made him run to the store and he commented how bad the road conditions were.  We got to stay home but he had to work.   tehehe. He shouldn't complain about a lousy 3 in.  I didn't go out.  It brought back memories when I had to do morning duty in -20 degree weather.  Its all relative.  My first summer in Montana I wore a coat and my first winter hear in TX I wore only a sweater and never turned on the heat.  I remember morning duty: 1 pair of gloves and mittens.  A scarf and my coat hood tied tight.  sweats on-top of my jeans.  A shirt and a sweater plus my coat.  2 pairs of socks.  Then I became friends with other teachers.  I had on the same style coat and the same style pants as everyone else.  Paid the same too.  Bought at the same stores.  go figure.  but my clothes were thin and unlayered. My students used to hate putting my mittens on for me and tucking my scarf in.  They would beg to be let in early.  Hah!!! 
Finally made it to February.  Signed the retirement papers and sent off to state.  So, this is the last Ground Hogs day that I have to worry about getting up in the dark and driving off to work.  Yippee!!!

Ok!! I'm too scared to play.

Been looking on the internet the last few nites on how to bling dog collars and make puppy bandanas. Oh no!  Its all over my  page :  pet accessories, and pet collar notifications and advertisements.   Who gave these guys permission to track me?  I just got a doggie advertisement on my yahoo email page.  Who told these guys that I'm linked to me?  I'm scared but Maggie will look beautiful soon.