It seems that Tom and I are becoming inadvertent advocates for a mode of life that speaks to earlier times: rather than take pictures to document our adventures on Saturday-last, we simply enjoyed the experiences and the time together. We journeyed forth to the far-off land of Bonney Lake and the Washington summer Renaissance Faire […]
Author: stidmama
In order of importance, I am a mother and spouse, teacher, gardener and painter, and dreamer. Married for more than 30 years to the kindest person I ever met, we have two adult children who live in other cities, and random rescued critters at any given time. In 2023, we nuture a lizard, a dog, and assorted plants.
Review: Thoughts on Belonging through a Culture of Dignity
I have been participating in a study group over the summer on the text by Floyd Cobb and John Krownapple. I’ll update this post when the course is completely over, but here is what I wrote for the final chapter in the online LMS: I LOVED the PSSM (The Psychological Sense of School Membership, Goodenow […]
A weekend excursion
For the first time in a very long time, Tom and I journeyed forth to see if a trail that was indicated as “accessible” really was. Spoiler alert: not really! While I am definitely more comfortable walking, and choose to stand at my computer most of the time, walking more than two or three hundred […]
Today in the Garden
It’s been a while again, so a quick tour may be helpful. I had a quick “sprint” through the pond garden this afternoon before I wandered down the driveway a bit to do some warm-weather gardening. I really love the warmer weather. My joints don’t hurt as much, and I am not cold all the […]
Best-Laid Plans and All that Rubbish
Well, looks like we’re going to need to purchase a new car for Tom sooner than later, one that I can use to get to and from school in the fall until the car we ordered for me is available. Even when things appear to be running smoothly, so many things can be out of […]
When Giving Up is a GOOD Choice
I spent my own money, close to a “grand” to attend a module for a particular teaching method I have dabbled with but never been officially trained in. The week before it started (5 days before) a dear family member died of covid. The second week of the 2-week course I took ill on Wednesday […]
Cross-post: Musings when illness interferes with Life.
Cross-posting from facebook. It seemed it might be useful to have this up in an easily-retrieved space. Long post, abundant self-absorbed reflection, and minimal editing. Read at your own risk! Took a “sick day” today from the class I have been enjoying. Drinking LOTS of water and resting in my quiet room and it seems […]
A Lap Quilt for Dad
Some time ago, (autumn-winter 2019-20) I realized my third grade students could use a reason to practice measuring skills, and needed to refine their fine-motor skills as well. So we worked on a quilting project – not alone, I had parent helpers (including my own mother – thanks Mom!), and they were able to create […]
Passages
trigger warning: death from covid Some days don’t happen the way they should have. This was one of those days. We awakened to learn that a family member was dying from Covid – an unnecessarily devastating turn of events as this person was seeming to improve in recent days. But no, and the cruelty is […]
Intensity and Death
There is an urgency, an immediacy, during an acute crisis. We do not think ahead, and we do not look back. At its most acute, impending death is merciful: We act, respond, re-act, and keep moving waiting for the next step, the next movement, the next breath, the next heartbeat… three two one . And […]