Category: Journal (Page 2 of 912)

I have thirteen small-size Swarovski Christmas ornaments. I have been trying to figure out how to display them. I would have hung them in a window to catch the sunlight, but all my windows are covered with blinds. I discarded many other ideas, and finally came up with one I liked: I would display them on the shelf I had my nativity set on. I had even gotten a display light for it.

After a bunch of experimentation, I figured something out: tension rods, swivel hooks, and metal chain necklaces cut to size.

The last ingredient was the black velvet I got on Saturday.

I think it turned out nicely.

I will probably fiddle with the velvet and the position of the crystals for a while. It’s not quite right yet…

On Thursday mornings, my audition handbell group meets. It takes some dedication to come in early. I have been impressed by their commitment. They also have become really good ringers during the course of the year. The piece we’re playing for graduation is complex and beautiful.

I always open the doors early so that any kids who come before rehearsal time can wait inside for the others. While I was waiting for the first kids to arrive, I opened up a hymnal and played the piano.

I think the last time I even touched a piano keyboard was December. That’s so weird. In all my previous schools, I was playing the piano daily.

I should find some way to keep my piano skills sharp…

Yesterday was a grading day. Since I had such success with grading at the library, I decided to try it again. The library was closed, so had to look for another place to work. I went to a coffee shop.

It worked! I’m so glad! I hope this method continues to work for me…

Happy Star Wars Day! May the fourth be with you!

I wanted to grow some chocolate flowers this year. They are yellow daisy-like flowers that smell like chocolate – it’s amazing! I grew them in Baltimore a long time ago. I haven’t seen them offered in garden centers here. I decided to order some seeds. While I was ordering those, I also got seeds for another flower I’ve been curious about – a marigold variety called “strawberry blonde”. They actually have shades of rose mixed in with orange and yellow. I’m excited to see them!

Last weekend, I planted the seeds:

This weekend, they are already sprouting! Woo hoo!

I also planted some bell peppers.

I had a second tomato plant in that spot, but it was failing to thrive. Rather than nursing it along until it died, I just took it out and put in a red pepper and a yellow pepper.

Yay for gardening!

I had an endodontist appointment in the morning yesterday. I have a tooth that is hurting and needed to have someone look at it. The office gave me an incredibly inconvenient appointment time. And then they said if the tooth needed crowning or something, I’d need to see the dentist immediately afterward, and extended my appointment time.

I ended up just getting a substitute for the whole day, because once I finished my appointments, school would be almost out.

The tooth did not need crowning, so my appointment took less time than I was expecting, so I had some free time during a school day. It would be a perfect opportunity to catch up on some grading. I decided I would go to a library.

There was a college library nearby. It would be just the thing! People working quietly at tables and desks. Nice! I went.

There were lots of people studying, but they were packed close together. And they were all college students. I felt weird joining them. I did not even sit down.

Off to a public library.

It was perfect! There were people doing various quiet things, and I had a whole table I could spread out on.

I got a lot of work done. It was amazing. Will I be able to go back and repeat this experiment, or was it a one-time thing? I do think I might try it again.