19. Sweet
{red berries}
January 19, 2012
TASTES LIKE SUMMER.
thursday thoughts.
January 19, 2012
Happy Thursday, everyone!
Thursday is the best, isn’t it? Ohhh, I love.
I just made up the line “Thursday Thoughts.” (At least I think I made it up.) And I thought I was so clever I gave myself a pat on the back. The creativity is just running wild over here.
So this post is a bit of a random mish-mash of things.
Just some recent thoughts of mine for you to mingle over as you ease into Friday (let’s throw our hands up in the hair and praise the LORD!).
Here we go…
1. This is my new jam.
It makes for such good driving music. And blogging music. And keep-me-feeling-happy music.
The whole album is currently on repeat in my car.
It’s good, guys. Real good.
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2. Did I tell you my parents came to Boston last weekend? Our time was swell.
We did some eating, some book shopping, and mostly a lot of just being together. Which is the best kind of visit.
My dad is watching the Syracuse game in that last picture. In the restaurant. On an iPhone.
What can I say? The guy’s addicted. Can’t help but love him.
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3. This week was a 3-day week at school for the kids. Why do those weeks always seem to drag on the longest? Right? I can see you shaking your head yes. What is it about them?
Tuesday we had a professional development day at school. We had a keynote speaker in the morning that was absolutely fantastic. He talked all about how we as teachers can help set the tone for our classroom in terms of motivation and resilience.
It’s about creating a positive classroom environment.
A safe place where children can grow and learn and take risks and make mistakes.
All without ever having to worry that they won’t be accepted. Or told they’re wrong.
It was very powerful for me and helped me think about how I can make sure my classroom is a welcoming, nourishing, safe place. For all of my kids, but especially the ones that don’t have a lot. The ones that struggle at home or have a low self esteem. It’s these kids I need to reach the most.
Because it only takes one person to believe in a child to change their life. To give them strength. To give them courage. And if I can be that person, that teacher, that is when I will have done my job.
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4. I know I’m not alone out there with my love for Downton Abbey.
Really, how terrific is that show?
When I am watching this show I am reminded of my love for Titanic (oh, Leo), but I am also brought back to my childhood and Anne of Green Gables and Avonlea. Oh, how I wish I could be part of those times! Dresses and horses and petticoats and tea and biscuits.
The characters on Downton Abbey just came into my life by storm and now have a most special place in my heart.
Lady Mary!
BATES! ANNA!
My friend Clair had a fun post earlier this week all about Downton Abbey recipes. It made me smile and made me hungry too. I’ll take some of those crepes suzette, please. I was drooling in that episode.
Do you watch it too?
(Also, sidenote to my HWS friends: Who thinks Lady Mary is Marissa Greechan’s other twin (besides Dana)?????????? Can I get a heck YES. I can’t get over it. Every single episode I just can’t get over it.)
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5. Blog Friends DINNER!
We did it!
Clair and Mackenzie and I finally got together!
We stayed at Veggie Galaxy for 2 hours and talked all sorts of wonderful things. We talked blogs. And twitter. And blogging and more blogging. And stolen bikes and our love for long rides on the T. And children’s books. We all have a special place in our heart for children’s books. This is ultimately how we found each other’s blogs and how we can now call each other soul sisters.
This is my favorite part about blogging.
FAVORITE.
Making connections. Making friends.
It just makes me happy.
SO very happy.
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One thing that stuck with me from last night is how Mackenzie so perfectly described blogging as reading/writing a letter to a friend. It’s so true. And then this morning I was thinking, of course. That’s how my blog name came to be in the first place, after all. How could I forget?
And so, friend. I wish you a happy one. A very happy Thursday, indeed. ♥
{photo a day}: something you bought
January 18, 2012
18. Something you bought
{starbucks peppermint mocha}
January 18, 2012
I was out to dinner with some lovely blog friends tonight (more on this tomorrow) and I was talking about the photo-a-day challenge and discussing how I am taking it all VERY SERIOUSLY.
Very.
I’m thinking hard about all my pictures and trying to make them as asthetically pleasing as possible while also trying to be creative and interesting.
Whew. It’s tiring, people!
Tiring!
Today for instance it was around 5:00 and I had yet to buy anything. Usually during the week I don’t buy things.
I wake up.
I teach.
I come home.
I eat whatever is in my fridge.
I sleep.
But today was #18. Something you bought.
Well, heck! I thought to myself right before I got home. I better go and buy myself a peppermint mocha.
Because I deserve it.
And that’s what photo-a-day told me to do.
See? This is serious business here.
_
(p.s. It was delicious.)
a winter walk…
January 18, 2012
So the snow may not have lasted very long, but winter sure is here. And it’s been COLD.
The other night I had to babysit in Beacon Hill. I drove in right from work and arrived about an hour early. My original plan had been to dive into some shops on Charles Street. You know, window shopping that turns into spending money that I don’t have. I like to do that sometimes. But last minute I grabbed my camera from the back of my car and took a walk around the city. I snapped photos until I couldn’t feel my fingers anymore. And then I snapped just a few more.
I don’t like winter, or darkness, or cold, but there was something just so beautiful about the other night.
The sky was eerie and had a kind of magic-like feeling to it.
And I couldn’t help but feel a sort of peace inside myself as I walked about.
No one was out, so it felt like I had the whole city to myself.
Even the ducks were all alone.
After taking a stroll through the Public Garden, I headed up Beacon Hill. I walked a way I have never been before, trying a new route, feeling determined with my camera.
I found lots of neat little alleyways and gorgeous historical architecture.
I particularly liked this little house. I imagined a story up about a couple who lived there– walking up the hill after a trip to the market. Bags of vegetables and other groceries in hand. The girl had a trench coat and an umbrella, the man in an irish tweed cap.
I didn’t have a chance to imagine more to the story because as soon as I took a few steps further I came across this:
Acorn Street.
I have heard about this street a hundred times but had never actually seen it for myself.
It felt extra special the way I came across it.
The empty streets.
The darkening sky.
The lanterns lit with warm light.
It took my breath away and left me frozen for a moment while I took it all in.
Then I crept slowly down the cobblestones reveling in the history of it all.
I loved it.
I loved that time to myself, exploring my favorite part of Boston in wintertime. I loved how the sky got darker and darker as I walked along, and how there was something so special about having the streets to myself, like I was stepping back in time.
As I walked back down to the flat of the hill, I snapped a few last pictures as the sky started to go black. I felt thankful for that hour of peace on a Friday afternoon. It cleared my head of the week and settled me in for a long, relaxing weekend.
Have you ever caught yourself in a moment alone like this?
It’s nice really seeing the world at your fingertips.
To stop and reflect for awhile, to take it all in and just be.
