RETIREMENT

Retirement isn't as great as I thought it would be while I was still working.  In 2005 I retired after 31 years of teaching.  The next year I taught half time to help out my principal and since then I have worked part time as a student teacher supervisor for a nearby university and also as a mentor for teachers in our local school system.  I feel very fortunate to have continued to work after retirement as I have found I'm just not the sit-at-home type.  I've decided that I must have some degree of HYPERACTIVITY because I always feel the need to be doing something! 

I really miss teaching a lot but I do NOT miss all the "other stuff" that we teachers have to put up with....too much testing, uncooperative parents, government intervention, children who don't want to follow the rules, etc.  I also don't miss hearing that alarm clock every morning!  But I do miss the relationships I always developed with my students, my fellow teachers and staff members, planning fun and interesting lessons, and getting to know those parents who really wanted their children to have a great education and were willing to help them get it. 

At 60 I still feel young and energetic and  am just not ready to settle down to a life of afternoon naps and early bedtimes.  I hope to continue with my mentoring as I feel my 31 1/2 years of teaching experience can be valuable to the young teachers I work with plus it gives me opportunities to walk down those hallways and still feel a part of the world of education.  After all, I still get teary-eyed when I walk through the door of Wal-Mart at the end of the summer and see all those new school supplies.  There just isn't anything like a new box of Crayola crayons! 

Retirement, like everything else, has its advantages and disadvantages.  I am thankful for the financial security my years of work have given me and I'm thankful for time to live a less hectic life....but I will always miss my teaching and I hope that I will have years to come before I'm ready to sit back and let time just pass me by.   Now....I just need to figure out my next project and get to work! 

Wanted to let you know that if you like vintage items there is a great give-away at

http://itsy-bits-and-pieces.blogspot.com/

I know Linda would love to have you visit her blog.

A Fairy Garden

I am always looking for new ways to have fun with my grandkids....especially things that will encourage their creative juices to flow and get them away from the TV and video games.    Grandson R. recently discovered a hole at the base of one of our trees in the backyard which he found interesting and that eventually led to our Fairy Garden. 

We wondered if this was the hole that ALICE fell down!

Granddaughter M. got into it more than Grandson R. but they both ask to check on it when they come to visit. 

Notice the blue gardening gloves!

We hunted all around the house to find things we thought our fairy might like.

Our fairy is on the right.  She has gardening tools for keeping her garden neat and tidy and a watering can for the flowers we will plant. 

We also thought our fairy needed some friends for company.

Mrs. Bird is watching over her "eggs".  Grandson R. thought of this one.

Mr. & Mrs. Rabbit come for a visit.

Mr. Toad rests on a toadstool outside his house while another

cute bunny watches nearby.

And another bunny hides in a cabbage.

I love to watch my grandkids use their imagination and creativity.  Our world would be a much better place if children could once again believe in fairies and enjoy nature as God intended.

Nothing like a special shared moment that hopefully

she will remember in years to come.

What Will You Bid?

Hubby and I went to an estate auction today.  He loves auctions!  I, on the other hand, don't really care for them.  I like to walk through a place, look at the price tags, and if the price and my desire to have the item coincide, then I buy it.  I don't have patience enough for auctions.  However....I have to say that I actually enjoyed myself today and I came away with some great bargains.  Wanta see??

I eyed these two adorable guys immediately.  Had to outbid two other bunny lovers, but I got them for $18 and $20.  The concrete one is one fat and heavy fella, but isn't he just so cute?

I was the lone bidder for this large leaf plate.  I really like it and since I must have been the only one who did I got it for the grand total of $3.00!  Now that's the kind of deal I like!

Don't you love these pineapple statues?  We both saw these on the front steps of the home that was being auctioned and knew we would bid for them.  Had to bid against a friend who owns a local B&B, but I think he saw how much I wanted them so let me have the final bid.  I got them for $20.  Pineapples mean welcome and I put these at the front of our little garden to invite everyone in.

And finally green dishes.  I really only wanted the 9 salad plates but had to take the whole box lot.  I wasn't even sure what all was in the box until I got it home.  Would you believe I only paid $10 for everything?  And even better....I just found the plates on the internet and they are listed for $14.99 EACH!  I definitely got a grand bargain!

And while I'm sharing all my great finds, maybe you'll enjoy looking at some items I got at consignment shops when I was on my "girlfriend trip" last week. 

Two more cute little guys!

I saved the BEST for last...my candelier.  Isn't it BEAUTIFUL?  Just have to tell you the story behind this!  About a week before I found this I had told my DH I wanted a candelier for our front porch.  "A what?" he asked.  So I explained that it was a cross between a candelabra and a chandelier.  Anyway....3 of my girlfriends and I walked into this shop and there it hung!  Exactly what I had pictured in my mind.  However, I knew we were traveling back home with 6 gals, plus luggage, in ONE vehicle.  I just didn't think I could ask them to find room for my treasure even though I wanted it sooooo badly.  Well, my friends told me "where there's a will, there's a way" but I was still waffling....UNTIL I looked on the tag and saw "C.L."   Those are MY initials!  Was it an omen?  Surely it was!  And on top of it the beautiful thing was on sale for $50 and the lady running the shop was willing to give it to me for $45!  As they say...the rest is history and it now is hanging on my front porch!  I love, love, love it.

I could definitely become a SHOPAHOLIC but lately I have tried to be more discerning and only buy things that I really love....and I do love ALL of the above!  Thanks for letting me share.

VALLEY GIRLS

In 1967 nine girlfriends graduated from Fort Valley High School and went their separate ways.  I was one of those girls!  For the next 39 years we saw each other as a group only twice at class reunions; other than that, we might see one or two at funerals and such or stay in touch with yearly Christmas cards.   Then in 2006 we decided to get together for a beach weekend.  I remember in the days before our rendevouz I became more and more nervous and wondered what in the world I would have to say to people I hadn't seen or talked to in years.  Would they still like me?  Would I still like them?  Would we have anything in common?  Well, my worries were all very unnecessary because within a matter of  MINUTES  it was as if we had never been apart.  During the next few days I laughed and giggled more than I had in years....it was just like one of our teenage sleepovers!  Ever since then we have made it mandatory that we get together at least once or twice a year.  Last year we (along with our hubbies and some guy friends from high school) got together and had ourselves a great big 60th birthday party.

This past weekend VALLEY GIRLS '67 got together for another fun-filled time of laughing...eating...shopping...laughing...shopping...touring...talking...laughing...staying up late....and did I say laughing?...in sunny Florida.  And now I've returned home tired, probably a couple of pounds heavier, and feeling blessed for time spent with such wonderful friends.  Let me share them with you:

Jackie....the "mother" of our crew; always makes sure we are wearing our seat belts and doing her best to keep us in line; and who can come up with the quickest comebacks of anyone I know; devoted grandmother and wife to her high-school sweetheart (a Valley Guy that we all love)!

Joan...she has more stories to tell than you can imagine and always keeps us entertained, especially with her dog-grooming escapades; she's the gutsy one of the group and the kind you want on your side when you need a friend...and a truer friend you'll never find.

Christy...our "great white hunter";  seriously, she has traveled all over and killed more big game than any female I've ever heard of and yet such a gentle and generous person.  Together with her hunter-hubby they travel the world in search of new adventures

Olivia...our TX gal who will hop on a plane in a skinny minute to spend time with us GA girls; she is so laid-back & doesn't get in a hurry or worry about anything, very methodical...a wonderfully dry sense of humor that always makes us smile...sure wish she'd move closer.

Nancy...our glamour gal, interior designer, sometimes KY girl--sometimes FL gal, who is just as comfortable in denim and an old tee as she would be in satin and lace...who loves to share the most wonderful stories about her beloved family...and so down-to-earth to boot.

Kaye...along with Jackie, she can make you laugh with just a simple phrase or sentence; she's the proverbial "perfect hostess" type who hosted our huge birthday party as if she were having a couple of people over for grilling burgers; a true "southern belle".

Jerri...our adventurer who is just as happy to wander off on her own as stick with the crowd...we're always having to look for her!  She remembers everything and everybody and will talk to anyone and everyone who's willing to partake of conversation!  Also our procrastinator when it comes to getting ready to go anywhere.  A true sweetie-pie...also my 'cuz!

Evelyn...last, but definitely NOT least!  She has the biggest (loudest) and most sincere laugh you'll ever hear...and you'll hear it quite often!  She is always jovial and tends to see the cup as half-full instead of half-empty.   If you don't laugh with her, there's just something wrong with you.  Don't try to out talk her...you'll never succeed!  The party just wouldn't...couldn't...be the same without our Ev. 

And then there's me....blessed beyond words to have such dear, wonderful, forever friends.  Here's to my VALLEY GIRLS....thanks for the love and for the memories that we continue to make together.

left-right:  Jerri, Jackie, Joan, Evelyn,

Nancy, Christy, Kaye, me, Olivia

For those of you are might be interested, be sure to visit http://www.missbloomers.blogspot.com/.

She has a beautiful blog and she's giving away a gift certificate to wonderful POTTERY BARN, if you're lucky enough to win (sure wish I would)!

House & Home

Just wanted to share some photos of our homeplace...

The grass is beginning to turn green again.

One thing I can grow is IVY!

The sign says "Come sit on my porch"...you're invited anytime.

A great place to spend a morning or afternoon with a cup of coffee and a good book!

The jasmine is blooming on the arbor.

My DH painted our old bench today and it looks like new!

It will be a great place to sit when the crepe myrtle in the back comes back to life with its beautiful pink blossoms.

"Mandy's Garden" needs some work but it's getting there.

Bunnies hide in many nooks and crannies.  The grandkids love to count them.

I love geraniums!

We love to sit on the deck and watch the geese on the pond behind the house.

As they say:  There's No Place Like Home

Easter Goodies

Isn't this a cute kid? 

That's my grandson, just turned 7 this week.  Today I've been busy baking for both he and his daddy.  His daddy needed a cake for a bake sale so I made my mama's delicious Lemon Pound Cake recipe....the cake sold before I even got it there!

And the rest of the afternoon was spent making these:

                                              

Yummy Chocolate Chip Cookies!  I use the old original Nestle Toll House cookie recipe but tweak it a little.  I bake them on my baking stone from Pampered Chef and they always turn out delicious and crispy.  These were dolled up to look like this:                        As a retired teacher, I know how much teachers appreciate the little things students and parents do for them so these will be for the grandson's teacher and parapro.  Hope they like them as much as I've liked nibbling!          I also made these for daycare friends:

I love EASTER and hope all of you have a very happy one.  Celebrate the day remembering all your blessings and especially the greatest blessing of all...Jesus Christ who died on the cross so that we could have eternal life.