The Middle Matters

Road Trip with Grammie

That cutie in the middle is really the one who matters in this picture. I am reading the book: THE MIDDLE MATTERS by Lisa-Jo Baker. This book will release to the public on July 23rd, but you can preorder the book to ship out on July 23rd through your favorite book seller.

Lisa-Jo's book is a collection of amazing Essays.  She shares her heart as a mom of 3 children, wife, plus full time working mom. She has a down to earth way of talking about all the ooy, gooiness of our lives as women in the middle of everything.

That sweet little face in the backseat is trusting that her Grammie and Mamma are going to take care of her on the amazing road trip we were on at the end of June. She and her sister were great travel buddies as we went to the California Coast to Auntie Joey's Baby shower.

My granddaughters July 4th

My Current Middle Matters

~Breathe deep Deena, breathe deep.

Beginning is April I started the process to change my name back to my maiden name by August 2nd, when I turn 60. Yes, WOW, 60! I am a 1959 classic 🤣 The first step was at the court house for 3 hours and then waiting for the Judge's order to get mailed to me. At the time they asked for the "self addressed stamped envelope" no one mentioned the additional $25 charge. I sent the check a week ago and I hope to go to Social Security next week. I have an appointment with DMV on July 29th and plan to get my Shingles vaccine next week too. All a part of the process of turning 60. 

There are printable lists for changing your name, but I like a check list in a journal to keep track of my thoughts. My friend brought this wonderful hand made paper, journal from Nepal

So beautiful and so ME

She carried this all through her trek, just for me. It seems like an ideal book to record the processes of this summer. Looking back a year I was in SPA Deena Mode. There has been so much healing since that time a year ago. I continue on the journey of my healing. This time in the middle of July while I rest a lot and work about 18 hours a week at Pier 1; I'm house sitting and it is a perfect time to continue to renew my mind. 

Caroline Leaf and her book: Think, Learn, Succeed  have been a great source to rearrange my thinking. The Gifts Profile she shares in her book explained that my way of thinking is not wrong or right. I am hard wired for some of the processes that I go through. I can put attitude spin on my thinking by choosing gratitude, forgiveness and optimism. These are lessons I had already learned,  but learning how I process my life experiences can help me put myself in another's shoes. That seems such a key force in dealing with children. The behavior of a child is often related to how they have been treated. I'm glad I have another month to put polish on these ideas before I will be trying them on children. 

Meanwhile, Spa Deena has not been forgotten. I broke a finger nail, badly just before my niece's wedding in early June. Since then I have been treating myself to acrylic nails while my nails grow out. Today was the last time I will get acrylics and July 30 I am treating myself to the new "Dip" process. Salon nails aren't for everyone, however for the summer it is fun to treat myself.

La Croix Coconut is another treat I have given myself this week.  After spending an hour on the phone with my name change program I was thankful my host family had also left some wine in the house for me while house-sitting. My daughters taught me that the "mute" button on the side of my phone can be used to take pictures. (I always wondered how they were doing their selfies so easily.)

So, I have been using it to take pictures of my beverages.

Wine time after a rant and whine

Crepes and La Croix

The middle of my summer break and I have finally slept enough to only need 8 hours at night and no naps. Working an 8 hour split shift with children and an additional shift or two on the weekends made me exhausted by the end of school. With all my travels in June and a bronchitis attack thanks to the "Hot Sacramento Winds" I am finally feeling rested. 

There are no grand plans for the rest of summer break. I got an oil change and my nails done. Getting all these people/organizations contacted for my name restoration is a full time project for my spare time. I am also enjoying swimming in the wonderful pool here.

I hope all my readers are having a fantastic summer. Give me a call if you are in the Redding area and we will have a glass of ice coffee. 

Iced Coffee with Peppermint Syrup, Yum!

🎜Summer Break is Here🎝

This is my second summer break without my children at home. Yesterday evening I had some weird feelings. Thankfully, I am house sitting and could talk to Mork about what I was feeling. Mork was willing to listen to my debrief without judgement. That is one of the reason I like my house sitting gigs; pet therapy without the vet bills.  

I don't have before and after pictures for me, but Jennifer Aniston has the general idea here.  

This picture popped up in my Facebook from 7 years ago when I graduated.

I was 52 with three daughters in college, one graduated High School that year

and my son was just 16.

Me the last day of school after our Basketball game between staff and students.

It was just for fun. The wind was wiping around and I was a little sweaty.

I had barrows a Referee shirt, because I didn't know anything about refereeing

basketball (Seriously or not serious, I decided to play the part). 

Reset (Time Out)

Now it is time to set my goals for the summer. I have this stack of books.

Water, books, journal and darn good yarn projects

First: Drink enough water this summer. Educators do not get enough "room of convenience~breaks"

Second: I need to get working on my Darn Good Yarn project.This is my "cause box" that I get once a month. There is a video on the website that explains their great service to woman in India. I am now a few month behind and a new box is on it's way to my mailbox.

Third: Book Launch The Middle Matters. This book by Lisa Jo Baker is not releasing to the public until late July, but can be pre-ordered through Amazon. The more pre-orders the lower the price will be on shipping day, July 23rd.

Fourth: My Journal from Nepal

My friends visited Nepal for three weeks. They only take carry-on luggage that they will pack for two weeks trekking. So, I was overwhelmed with this beautiful gift that they carried from the peaks of Nepal. The book is handmade with paper and dye from a special tree that only grows high in the mountains. My thoughts through the summer will fill these pages.

Fifth: Two books that my coworkers are reading this summer. The first is Feel Better Fast by Daniel G Amen.MD and Think,Learn,Succeed Workbook "It takes about 21 days to rewire neural pathways and begin a new way of thinking about your life." (page 9) Both of these book are about changing mindset. I am open to forming a Book Club with colleagues for any of my summer books.

Change is a Choice

I know most people with a phone have a game or two on their phone. My game is BOLD MOVES a match three game. When you get the puzzle done, you get a quote. I've been playing for 466 days straight and I am on level: 252. The level I completed last had this quote: 

I was curious what the complete statement that Sophia was being quoted was...

"We are so afraid to end relationships, to outgrow people or places—and that's just growth. To me, choosing to go toward the cracking in order to keep expanding is the only way. The only way to get out of pain is through it. Pain is information." ~ Sophia Bush

I have never thought that falling through the crack was a good thing. When ever "something falls through the cracks" in education that means that someone is missing out. But then I thought of an old movie where the gold dust fell through the flooring of a room and the people who went under the building were able to collect a lot of money. Maybe there are good cracks and bad cracks in life. I do chose to change my thinking for the better. I do chose to move toward a better understanding of my profession and improve my people skills. I have had the unpleasant experience lately of seeing where my largest flaws are in people skills and I chose to make changes that will help me deal with those flaws better in the future. 

The past couple of decades there have been a lot of books written on the power of positive thinking, but a good heart has to be the key. I have been told that I have a good heart. However, I am thinking that is not enough. 

My thought for the summer comes from an article in Psychology Today ~  

      Real life consequences can be ugly and disturbing and

   if we hide from them then we never stand a chance of learning from them.

I want to be like one of my mentors this year who people said, "She had the moral 

compass that followed True North." 

Enough for today. My brain is already hurting, or it was the three hours and three glasses of water while I formulated this blog.

Thank you for reading all the way through my twisting thoughts today. I pray you have an amazing Summer Break and time to Reset too.

Happy Easter~Photo Shoot

Dutchmen's Pipe Swallowtail 

my spirit butterfly

This morning I walked down to the duck's house and found this little fella fluttering from Blue Dick flower to flower. It was so playful and fun to watch. Today was the last day of my Spring Break, so I walked around the yard looking for things I hadn't seen before. There are so many giant Bumble Bees.

This little lovely performed for me for 10 minutes

Wild Daisies 

These daisies remind me of the little daisies that are in the lawns all over Humbolt University. One of my daughters attended HSU and I loved those cute little flowers in the grasses.

Lilac

This Mountain Lilac has a gentler fragrance than the larger leaf cousin we see in most yards.

snow drops ?

I'm not sure about these little guys. Taking this walk reminded me that I need to brush up in my flower book. When I was a Park Ranger I got a book to identify wild flowers in So East Utah. I have a lot of interests, but I am a master of none. On reflection, perhaps, that is what an artisan often is: We dabble in a lot of different things, but rarely does someone become a master of one thing; at least not to make a living at that Art Form.

    I crochet, knit, paint, do a variety of needle work, sing, write, draw, dance and sew. Customers think I know something of home decor and parents think I know something of teaching. Although I have raised four children, I would never consider myself an expert. I am good at many things, but I get bored before I master one thing. I finish projects, however, it sometimes take years.

Calla Lilly

A friend shared this week that as a child, she had taken the centers out of the Calla Lilies and used them as Barbie Corn on the Cob. My children would use Elder Cones for their Barbies and Pyracantha as Barbie apples.

Blueberry Crepe & Grapefruit  

With all the duck eggs I painted...it has been necessary to become creative in the cooking of eggs. This was a Spelt Floor Crepe with Blueberries and goat cheese. Fresh grapefruit too. My last Irish Coffee until next weekend, as they frown on bringing the "Irish" to school.

Easter Duck Egg

I stay up late for these:

Em and Ellie

Baby Pickle 

Back to school tomorrow and back to The Nest on Tuesday. Staying up late will not make Spring break last longer. So, I will say, "Good Night Easter" and "Hello Count Down to Summer Vacation."

Good Night  Easter 2019

Happy Spring Break

New Life in Christ

Breathe~ My goal for the week is to jump off the hamster wheel and relax.
I have a few other mini-goals. This summer for my birthday in August; I want to get the permanent ID card and my passport. With all this house-sitting for world travelers and I've never been out of the Continental USA. Goal for my 7th decade is to get past the ocean or at least to Canada. 

This week I sent for old marriage licenses and put the ball rolling to take back my maiden name. At my old school I was told we had to be Mrs. Somebody to get respect. Well, at my new school I am Ms. Deena and get more respect. It seems to be a matter of supporting staff. We don't have a caste system between Certified and Classified staff at my new school. Never have I felt so much respect and team work. Love my Tigers.

View from Hacienda Harvey

Duck Duck and Lucky Duck

Painted Duck eggs

The other side of the eggs

20 pounds of supervising feline, Mel

Easter Basket, Tumbler from some of my 5th graders

Iris, aka Purple Flags

Beautiful Azalea

Calla Lilly

Wisteria 

Apple Blossoms

Lemon buds and little baby lemon

lavender full of bees and butterflies

Camellia

Thoughts about Spring 2019

The song from Frozen that Olaf sings about "Summer"  has been going through my head a lot this week. "Bees are buzzing..." This is a haven for bees, butterflies and small critters of all kinds. There was a giant Jack Rabbit at the gate one morning as I left for work. Mr Rabbit stood on his hind legs and looked through the bars, no doubt, wishing for a bite of the grasses. Mr. Harvey will have a lot of mowing to do when they get home. It was winter when they left. This week it may get past 80 degrees.

    We still have one more thunder storm in the forecast on Saturday and then we may not see rain again until September. The lakes are full and the mountains have an amazing snow fall. Green shoots are coming up all over where there are miles of burned timbers from our fires last summer. 

Spring means new life

As Easter comes we think of new life, new beginnings, restoration from ashes and death. I'm ready for fresh starts and a new season in my life. This is a season to be thankful for the harsh storms of winter and begin with a Thankful Heart. We have only one day of death, but every morning to live a fresh new day. Surrounded by all these beautiful flowers, blue skies, fresh air, clean water and comfort makes my heart overflow with gratitude.

Hug your kids and loved ones

Be Thankful

Ponder

Love

Happy Spring Break

Shut Up, Listen and Obey

Sunday Sermon

This last Sunday the Pastor spoke on James 1 and was apologetic, however; "Shut up and Listen!" seemed a good sermon title to me.

    He encourage us to slow down and listen to people and God, think about how we respond and don't hold a grudge. I have spent a lot of the last 30 years working with the elderly and small children. Both groups are the most forgiving folks. The kiddos haven't learned to hold a grudge and the older folks have learned it isn't good for your health. Meanwhile, the people in the middle need to get over themselves.

    I spent the last week with the amazing Mrs. M. She and I both moved to Susanville, CA when we were six years old. My trip was from Oregon in 1966, but here trip was around 1938. She described the family trip from Oklahoma as resembling something from The Grapes of Wrath. My trip was just a mom with three girls, and a Norwegian Elk Hound in a 1959 Chevy Station Wagon.

   We both attended grade school and high school in the town, but the building were mostly different. The best part was we both had our Senior Year books and it was fun to compare our Rays from the Purple.

1950, 1974 to 1977

Our senior pictures were both black and white.

Ginnie Langley

The Amazing Mrs. "M"

17 year old me

Grammie Butterfly

We have had some great laughs. She wanted to tell her daughter that we got in a big fight. Since we have both passed the age of holding a grudges, I don't remember what that was about. It is a privilege everyone should enjoy~ to spend time with people who have lived through wars, the dust bowl, fires, floods and raising children. I have often said, "They have forgotten more than I ever learned."

    I had a little business that ended in 2013 cleaning houses and caring for older folks. It was Deena's Home &Garden or Deena's Overall Cleaning.(As I never got a business license, I called it whatever I wanted.) During a twelve year period I was blessed to share the lives of about a dozen folks in their final years. I felt it a pleasure to learn from them as they prepared to leave this time of being "robed in saggy skin" to being "robed in righteousness." 

    My last client, Earlene, took a lot out of me, but she gave me so much more than I could imagine possible from a lady in her 90's. 

Earlene Hamilton

Mrs. Earlene would be 101 this March.

A Legacy 

My clients left me with a legacy. Sure I have a few piece of furniture and odd trinkets, but more important are the memories. Earlene and I shared stories for about 8 years. When she died I shared a story that she told to me often. Her family thanked me. They had not Shut up to Listen to that story for a long time. 

I saw a Meme last week that said, " Listen to me repeat the same story over and over, you made me read the same book over and over and I did not mind." That is so true. As we age we forgot who we told what story too. We like a story and want to share it with all we meet. Sometimes, we even remember a story that someone else told and believe it is our own. That is all okay. It is not a lie, it is just remembering differently. 

I hope this last week of patiently listening will help me to be: An easy listener, a thoughtful speaker and a forgiving audience. My generation are on the cusp of being "the elderly". Our living parents are, "The Elderly." Our grandchildren think we are very old. I had a 7 year old tell me that his grandma was, "Old as Hell." He was corrected for an inappropriate statement, but his grandma is younger than me! 

#16days

I am excited that in 16 days my vacation will begin. I get to spend four days with my giggling granddaughters. I can't wait to tell stories, sing songs and listen to them tell me all about life.

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh my...

Boulder Creek Bears

Shasta Meadows Tiger

Changing Seasons

I am approaching another change in the seasons of my life. Earlier this month I applied, interviewed and was accepted for a transfer within my school district. March 1st will be my last day as a Boulder Creek Bear and March 4th will be my first day as a Shasta Meadow Tiger.

   Since August I have spent about 5 hours at Boulder Creek Elementary and then spent the last three hours of each day at Shasta Meadows for the ACE, after school program. A position at Shasta Meadow came open and I was excited to be accepted for the transfer. My job description is the same and my hourly wage will not change. The difference is the demographic of the student body. My new job is a school in a small neighborhood with only 2 classrooms per grade level, K-5. Boulder Creek has a student population of over 1,000 students with K-8.

House Sitting 

In 2019 I have the first 40 weeks booked with over 20 weeks of house sitting. One client has no pets and I will get to stay in her house through July when it may be 100 degrees plus for the month. Last month I was at my friend's house that I will be spending a total of 11 weeks during 2019. In January I needed to keep on top of wood heat, in March/April I am sure I will need no heat and then August/September may be sweltering.

   Last week we experienced a snow storm that wiped out power and closed school for three days. Our city is at 500 feet elevation and most people don't own a snow shovel. It has been about five years since there was any measurable snow. This storm dropped the snow so fast that many power lines and trees went down the first night and some folks are still without power. Thankfully we have this Winter Break from school for the maintenance people to get the classrooms ready for students again.

    One of the nice things about my house sitting is being able to stretch out on school breaks. (All of my school breaks have been booked and 1/2 of summer break too.) I love my little nest, but I realized when I was stuck up there for three days in the snow it was a little claustrophobic. This week I have two dogs; one dog likes to cuddle and one is a big dog who takes me for walks. I get to drive the Grandma around to activities and have a change in my schedule.

My snow girl while we had three snow days

3 am before another five inches fell

Granddaughters

The kitties opened their mouths with Em

Valentine's bubbles when she made a blowing motion

I am excited and thankful I get to spend time cuddling and giggling with these two in March.

March

My friend said that I will, "March forth on March fourth." Funny, Funny. It is said that, "March comes in like a Lion and goes out like a a Lamb." So, my hope is that as I join the Tiger Team it wont be a very ferocious lion and I will be able to settle into a routine quickly.