salvia morning; marigold afternoon. A day at work

Morning sun streaming though Salvia blooms at my school

The air was warm. The soil moist. The sun was low. This was the setting as I walked onto campus this morning. The salvia and yarrow in the garden area that surrounds our flag pole was teeming with life. I booted up my computer and went to photograph the moment.

As the day ended, I left my classroom and as I have for the past several months, I walked by a diverse gathering of marigolds. I sat on the sidewalk and caught that moment as well.

Marigolds in the afternoon. The work day was over.

 

 

Ten steps to start a work day

1. Arrive early, who wants to race one's students to the classroom.
   
2. Park on the opposite side of campus, walking is good.
   
3. Turn on your computer.
   
4. Put lunch in fridge and jazz on the stereo.
   
5. Log into the computer.
   
6. Grab a handcrafted mug and walk up a hill.
   
7. Visit a friend or two.
   
8. Fill the mug with coffee.
   
9. Walk down the hill.
   
10. Check emails and plants.

 

Four Moments from my horticulture classroom update 2.26.2014

From the day Pete Seeger died to the blooming of an orchid.

 

Infrequent Activities ~ hair cuts for Locks of Love and handling jump ropes

I came home, threw most of my hair on the porch and took a photo of this Dancing Lady before going inside our two studio row.

All in all I would guess my hair was shortened by 15 inches. It's still long.

So there I was helping out at our track and field and fun day, counting how many successful jumps were being made over the jump rope in my hand (60 was tops) when I realized I handled jump ropes infrequently, but more frequently than getting my haircut.

Four haircuts in 14 years since I first began to grow my hair out. I miss it. I love the easier showers.

 

No News Commutes is about being on the road with James Keelaghan

Been wearing out a James Keelaghan CD lately as I continue with no news during Lent. I will likely switch it out tomorrow. This song reminded me that I am thankful for a relative short commute and a job that does not take me away from home, away from love.
Musicians are a brave lot. They take a chance to survive doing what they love to do, but in the process find themselves far from their home, their love. Next time a favored musician rolls into my area, may I be ever grateful for the sacrifice being made.

whittling down the 21 rules and defining my mission

grown, dried, and hung at work

My long weekend will be filled with some fun things.  Having a Bitches Brew with my friend Di, creating art in my studio and learning how to make plum dumplings are on that list.  A ton of paperwork is on a different list.  Both lists are needed to keep me balanced.

Tuesday at 8:00 I will return to work and immediately sit down with my supervisor.  I am the first on her list to discuss a few things.  

One is to develop a Purpose Statement:

To develop a setting where students, who have not known much joy or success in school, can discover that education can be fun.  To then inspire and help them to develop the skills to succeed in the future ~ inside and outside of classrooms.

One of the other topics to be discussed are my rules, and I don't think she is ready to read 21 of them, so time to whittle them down to fit the three key areas we are to focus upon in our rooms.  The original 21 will remain posted.  For now I got it whittled out 12 and have it down to nine... 

Be Responsible

• Be aware of how your emotions, they are affecting how you behave.
• Work with tools. Play with toys
• If you have tried and failed , then try again or ask for help.

Be Cooperative

• Feel free to disagree, just be pleasant at the same time.
• Accept your situation and work with your assigned team.
• Help others to discover success.

Be Flexible

• Attempt the tasks, which you fear or hate to do.
• When plans get changed, be open to see where the new plan takes you.
• Enjoy the jazz, even if it is not your choice of music.

Wordless Wednesday ~ coping by doodling (3.5 hour staff meeting)

The Spiritual Practice of Drawing Cards

Stratozpheric Cards from Lent by Wayne Stratz 

What you see above are the final six cards I drew by way of my Lenten practice of drawing cards for staff members at my school.  In all 35 people were chosen by...  Count down 21 names, draw a card, count down 21 names draw a card...

Some of the people I treasure the most at work got a card, some who I was sad to say, "Who is that?" got a card.  But that was part of the practice, to let the number 21 guide me, not my opinion on who should get a card.

and I was reminded of the positive energy that flows back to me when I take the time draw a card...

Thanks for the lovely drawing it was a great way to start the day

Thanks for  the lovely card! It was such a nice treat to see this morning.  I had the day off on Friday, so it brightened my Monday! I will find a nice location to display it in my office

Thank you so much for the drawing!!!  It was a beautiful suprise to find in my mail box this morning!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for the BEAUTIFUL flower painting - I love it and have already bought a frame for it.  You are very talented and I appreciate you sharing your talent with me! Have a great day.

Thanks so much for the art work.  I don’t know what made you think of me, but your “symbol of hope and peace” couldn’t have come at a better time.

God bless,

Thanks for the card!  The warm colors are very pleasant and soothing to look at.

You brightened my day.

I just wanted to thank you for brightening up my day!! You are so thoughtful and I love it!! I hope you have a good day!! J 

and finally...

Just got your drawing.  That’s cool, thanks

I think I may continue on.

Science Mondays: The Garden Cart Disaster

photo by Victor Yelevich

So, I have a garden cart at work (like the one imaged) and a student was using it to deliver some plants donated by a staff member.  Another student volunteered to return the empty and started in that direction pulling the cart behind him as I followed him.  A student called my name and I kept walking as I turned my head.  The student pulling the cart stopped and without looking pushed on the cart to take a different route to the tool shed.  I fell to the ground and later filled out an injury report.

The next day I used this in two lessons.  As I reviewed the gardening safety rules, I came upon the one about how awareness leads to less injuries.  And with much joy and volunteers playing the part of the student with cart, I told the story.

Earlier in the day I used it to teach Newton's Laws.

A human in motion will remain in motion unless an outside garden cart (force) is applied to it. 

Wrist bones in motion will want to keep moving even after one's hand hits the pavement.

A wallet inside one's pant's front pockets will accelerate when a forced is applied, even for the very short distance between wallet and thigh.  It will hit that thigh with a force dependent upon its mass and its acceleration.

That when the cart hit me, I also hit the cart.  This clearly showed the cart was well made since it remained standing and showed no signs of bruising the next day.  Maybe I was not accelerating fast enough and though this is an interesting hypothesis... it will not be tested.

that evening I chatted with the parents of the young man who took out this unaware dude and we joked about them returning home with stories of how I had a cast on my wrist and an IV in my arm as I stumbled about on crutches.  No cast, IV, or crutches were needed, but I did apply some ice to where one nasty bruise formed on my thigh.  And it hurts bad if I am foolish enough to put my wallet in that pocket.  But I am aware of the pain and move it to another pocket.

Wordless Wednesday--- Dahlia heaven

Wordless Wednesday... my mortal enemy

see more of my photos

lets put this one to rest

nice if it would be that easy, but here are some final thoughts on a school year...

The good.... billions of moments of cool things happening between myself and those who lived the year; and I have to say that introducing the use of a wiki with my science classes was a great way to close out the year.

The Bad.... it ended and the vegetable garden in the saddest state it has ever been in; mainly due to groundhogs and deer and weather and... enough excuses. It is in bad shape and I don't have the time or energy to save it by myself. We will regroup with what we have in July when the students come back for summer school.

The ugly.... economic times.... it ended with all the residential staff having lost their jobs and students not old enough to graduate are moving to new programs. In 10 months I have seen over 50% of the staff become laid-off. Friends of 13 years and folk I barely knew. Two friends stopped by this week to say they were leaving by their own choice. And the survivors stand and wonder what exactly happened and try to have hope for their own jobs. Having been laid off once I know both the initial despair, but also the eventual joy of what emerged. So I have hope for all those who are no longer co-workers of mine.

The beautiful.... it ended with the flower garden having put on a most marvelous show. The warm and moist March and April got things going fast and furious. Week after week we weeded and marveled at the bounty of blooms. My wonderful assistant made flower arrangements that dazzled the recipients, so it was no wonder that on the last day of the year people turned to us.

Dressed in a suit and tie I waded into the flowers and sent them into my classroom where a wonderful bouquet was created that ended up replacing what had been on the graduation stage. It was full of lilies, bee balm, ornamental grasses, blanket flower, yarrow, Russian sage...

onward.


...

a day we knew was headed our way...

We all know those hours where productivity drops in work places, but yesterday I was being productive. Fueled by the desire to share some of the ideas that flowed into me at the NTSA conference, I was typing an e-mail when a friend walked in to share some other news. We knew it was coming but when layoffs have names attached to them...

I wish I could say that all the names touched my heart the same. It is not that I was glad that some folk had gotten a pink slip as of June, however, some names caused more sadness.

So we live in uncertainty not knowing what other names will be added to the list.

and I try to remember this... it could be a blessing either way. I am where I am now because I was laid off. It led to a new life filled with all kinds of blessings.

For weeks I have been hearing friends say they couldn't wait for this day. The day before spring break. Here we go.

Going deeper into Anna and Tobit... I desire to shine like a coneflower, like Christ.

We returned to work on Monday to get the promised, but secret if not hinted at big news... our residential program will be closing down as of June's graduation. Much talk among friends since then with more than one assuring me that my position "must be safe." Who knows? Reassurance didn't help Anna and it doesn't help me.


Monday evening I walked to my church. And spurred on by a friend, who thought it wasn't a "great" story to say the least; and a friend, who had never heard it... I let loose into story telling mode. It is my best mode by far and I laughed out loud as we explored scripture.


Before I had walked to the church, I pulled a bright orange/yellow piece of paper out of my Bible to mark a page. After the laughter, I slowed down and with some pausing read...


Dear Jesus, help us to spread your fragrance everywhere we go.
Flood our souls with your spirit and life.
Penetrate and possess our whole being so utterly that our lives may only be a radiance of yours.
Shine through us, and be so in us, that every soul we come
in contact with may feel your presence in our soul.
Let them look up and see no longer us but only Jesus!
Stay with us, and then we shall begin to shine as you shine;
so to shine as to be a light to others; the light O Jesus,
will be all from you, none of it will be ours;
it will be you, shining on others through us.
Let us thus praise you in the way you love best by
shining on those around us.
Let us preach you without preaching, not by words
but by our example, by the catching force, the
sympathetic influence of what we do.
The evident fullness of the love our hearts bear to you.
Amen


That is what was hiding in my Bible, a prayer by Cardinal John Henry Newman, which is read daily by Mother Theresa's Missionary of Charity. This prayer resonates with my belief in God. I want to shine. I have read it every day this week.


Two hours later, I sat to Examen my day and I wrote "Where are your righteous deeds?" into my journal. I decided then that I would focus on teaching science and gardening and let my job be what it is and what it will hopefully be. Basically to live with uncertainty. I decided that I would bake bread with my students the next day as they came back and heard the news. And I would sell none of it. It would all flow into my students, well, I did eat my share.


Then after examining my day, I picked up "Inviting God In" by Joyce Rupp, and the random meditation included a quote from the above prayer.


Then I went to Flickr and found someone had commented on a photo which I had posted six months ago. I looked at the title, and I had no memory as to why I called it SHINE... then I read the comments below, and I saw a Flickr friend had given name to it. I hope to one day shine like this:






peace


...

searching for shade

The craft show went by as the rash grew. Friday night it appeared something had bit me, maybe even a mosquito. Saturday morning there was some concern. By Sunday I had diagnosed myself with Lyme disease.

In unexpected turn in my life, I did not hesitate before calling the doctor on Monday, and missed out on a school swim trip to be diagnosed... "I would tell my friends to take antibiotic."

So the plan was... OK, I'll go to the doctor so I can prevent feeling truly awful and not get any of the truly scary complications. Take the pills and move on with my life."

"You will need to avoid the sun except for early morning and evening."

My horticulture classes go from 10:30 till 1:50 or 2:50 this summer. I am one for covering up my skin with either clothing or sun screen and wear one amazing floppy hat, but people seemed to think I should take care of myself."

So, I did. My trips to the garden were brief and only to announce what needed to be done. I felt a bit "off" today but who knows why... Lyme disease, 90 degrees and humid, anitibiotics, recovering from the craft show tiredness. Or maybe it was a bit too much pondering if I was "off" or not. Any which way the students have been given their charge.... check for ticks, inform folk about rashes, and pick up the pace in the garden. By 1:00, the heat had me asking little of them from that end.

the good news is we had a first harvest of Swiss Chard and green beans this week.

...

some thoughts on meditation

an e-mail came today which left me baffled. What could I say about going to meditate with co-workers that may inspire others to come also?

I didn't even respond when they sent out the initial e-mail asking if anyone was interested. I had once struggled through a weekend of meditation and had come to the conclusion, it was not for me...

Soon the e-mail came out announcing the times they would meet and a few nights later I picked up Frederick Buechner's Wishful Thinking and opened it up...

In our minds we are continually chatting with ourselves, and the purpose of meditation is to stop it...

... The end of mediation is to become empty enough to be filled with the kind of stillness the Psalmist has in mind when he says, "Be still, and know that I am God."

OK, so maybe it was a random moment, but I used it as a motivation to show up one afternoon. Some days I attempted some mindful nodding off. Well, to put it more correctly, I did some unmindful nodding off. When my focus left my breathing or the short prayer I try to center myself upon and instead found itself catching onto an intrusive thought, I floated right into a good chattering mind. I must have become bored with my often heard self-thoughts and started nodding off.

There was a day when I felt awake throughout the meditation and thought, "so maybe I can do this without coffee..."

The last time I went, I left feeling awake and clear in thought. It may never happen again, but it is worth going to clear the chattering from my mind every once in a while. I have gotten to know two wonderful folk and who knows who else I may meet along the way.

choices

on the last day of school, do you clean up a cluttered classroom, or cover the garden with floating row covers to protect plants from critters... large and small?

The half eaten potato plant makes that one easy.

When a storm rips though your area the night before a vacation you wonder how those row covers are doing. Did that sweat go for nothing? Sunday morning as you clean the cooler to fill with water bottles you imagine coming back to a garden that has filled a heard of deer. Do you go to the school?

As you drive into the school it appears that the row covers are intact, do you swear and speed out of the school or take a closer look?

You tack the row covers that have partially blown off back down and reinforce the others.

I once read that what makes a garden is perseverance, and I do believe that. Give up and nature reclaims the space soon enough. But why persevere?

I see it the same as a spiritual journey. It is the sticking with it when faced with daily doubts that leads to fruit.

Than there are other choices...

that is where I will be for a few nights as Mosaic Woman and I celebrate our 16th, possibly choosing the wrong concert, but if I persevere this may just be an amazing experience.

Peace be with you

In John Jesus appears in the locked room and before he gives the disciples their charge he says...

Peace Be With You.

and he says...

Peace Be With You.

these spiritual exercises are in everyday life...

Horticulture has seasons and I have emerged suddenly into the hectic pace of April. Things do get busier in March, but all of a sudden there was so much to do.

There may be some ways I give back my gift of being alive, and one is by having accepted the challenge of teaching special education. It works best when I carry that Peace, a full peace that goes beyond my understanding with me to my classroom.

It gets lost at times when I am feeling overwhelmed with trying to get everything done.

My students have performed well this week. The garden will be planted. It can be joyful. I can't make that a certainty, but by bringing peace, I can improve the odds. Oh yes, that charge given by Jesus... forgive.

shalom

life with and w/o Mosaic woman

last weekend I am charged to find out something about the Metta Quintet. All I need to see is that Helen Sung is their piano player and the idea of driving an hour to hear jazz on a week night is perfectly logical. I walk back into Foy Hall from a bathroom break and stand in awe to Body and Soul, then return to my seat next to Mosaic Woman.

The Day before we had commuted together, it saves some gas and we don't mind each other's company so we try to do it once or twice a week. We brainstorm vacation plans all the way to Norristown, I wish her a good day and am off to work. I am planting pansies we started from seed....


I cheated and took this photo inside so I didn't have to get on the ground

standing outside watching students I am filled with joy. Meanwhile my assistant has another crew making fresh bread with our rosemary. How blessed am I?

I leave work to retrieve Mosaic woman.

By the time we get home we have changed directions and have decided to take separate vacations this year. This makes sense. She will go to Boston. I may go to Rochester.

Today we commute together again. At 1:30 I call her and say I have been asked to take food to a friend and colleague who has cancer. She, who only met him once years ago in a chance happening in a pizza place, says she will go with me. It becomes a date. For an hour we chat with my friend and his wife then we head to First Friday in Mount Airy. There are posters up that not only are stores open later, but John Swana has brought his quartet to play jazz. After dinner and some strolling, we listen to the man play. This was our third time...

teaching today amongst the rage

Cucumber plants under protective cover

I had two students run from my classroom today and this time I had nothing to do with it. #1 fled when sprayed in the face by a water bottle, which I am guessing was accidental fire but I can't say with 100% certainty. It was her way of dealing with rage... stay and attack or run outside. #2 fled when the student he had fought with earlier in the day showed up for class. "I can't be in the same room." Again it was a coping strategy for rage. At this point I said, "I don't care how wet it is outside, the rain has stopped for a moment. Lets get cucumbers."

Earlier in the day, rage had led to a fight between a couple, one of whom had fled from my room a couple weeks ago when she felt that I had ignored her. She had refused to come back for a couple of days. I got a call from her therapist saying that this student had asked if she could spend more time than normal in my class today because I had a calming classroom.

Later in the day the student I blogged about on Saturday showed up in my class. I said, "cool shirt." Not because my ego is huge and I say it every time I see someone wearing the shirt I had designed for a school fund raiser. No, it was because I saw it as a sign of forgiveness. Surely a student angered at me would burn the shirt not wear it.

This is my life these days. Watching fires erupt and watching them burn out, while hoping to see life come out of the ashes.