Recovering in the horticulture room: an annual gift of cuttings of Christmas Cactus

Christmas cacti cuttings

Last year was a rough year for our Christmas cacti. Overwatering may have done them in. So it was especially nice when my colleague and friend showed up with her plants this year. Once again she allowed us to take billions and billions of cuttings. Great success with rooting and now planted in these bright yellow pots. Caught my eye as I pondered a photo as my teaching week came to an end. Probably the fact that being a UofO Duck alum helped their cause

 

Wordlessly celebrating the plants we care for at school

A lunchtime moment in my classroom

Yesterday a student came in to my classroom. He had reached a level hat gav him the privilege to come to horticulture. His first words affirmed that it is quite the different place. One day it will be another's place to teach. For now, it is mine. And for that I am grateful.

Rules

My classroom wall 2007

 Rules

1. Leaves of three. Leave them be.
2. Spread joy. Be exuberant.
3. Attempt the task which you fear.
4. Help other to discover success.
5. Emerge into the person you desire to be.
6. Work with tools. Play with toys
7. Be filled with hope.
8. When plans get changed, see where the new plan takes you.
9. You can disagree and be pleasant at the same time.
10. Attempt to answer big and small questions.
11. Be Mindful.  The present moment is a fine place. 
12. Forgive your teacher, your classmates, and yourself. Accept the imperfections we all have with grace and kindness.
13. Accept your fate and work with your assigned team.
14. Question accepted truths. It is the way science improves.
15. Be creative with flowers, thoughts, and colored pencils.
16. Live a long life. Avoid eating house plants and leaves of nightshades for that matter.
17. Wonder why and how.
18. If you have tried and failed , then try again or ask for help.
19. Be aware of how your emotions are affecting how you behave.  
20. Understand this, that Mr Stratz enjoys being a teacher. Your behavior controls how much he can teach. 
21. And finally... Enjoy the jazz.

three reasons to not straighten up my classroom

Believe me, please, my intentions were pure, the distractions were real.

Friday...

I leave an in-service with an hour and a half to spend in my classroom. I take an apple and sit out in the sun. A friend walks by. The day before she told me she had given her two weeks notice. I invite her into my classroom and we chat the day away. Because I know that I will miss her and ...

Saturday...

I will be at the school. Last year I missed Walking With God retreat because I was required to be at the school. The trainer was from NC. She had been at the school in August and would return for two more Fridays in the springtime. I kept thinking, "she could be a cool person to befriend," but said nothing. After she left that final time I sent her an e-mail. I was right she has become a cool friend. She came back to train another group of staff at my school this year. In August we had her over for dinner. I had arranged to pick her up at the school, meet Mosaic Woman at the craft fair, go out to eat later. Then I got to really wanting to finish that stained glass yesterday and barely got to the school before my NC friend had finsihed training my colleagues and was at my classroom. I planned to go back on Sunday...

Sunday...

I drop Mosaic Woman off at the craft fair and head to the school with a promise: I will be back to help her pack up and driver her home. I am in my classroom less than ten minutes when in the middle of a Sunday afternoon, the phone rings. Mosaic Woman says, "Your parents are here." I throw a bunch of stuff in a bag and head back to the craft fair.

Clearly God did not want me to be productive inside my classroom. Maybe tomorrow.

PS... Saturday went best, and by the end of the show 14 mosaics had found a new home. A favored mandala is headed to NC with a cool friend, who really needs to move to PA.