May 28, 2008

name that bush


Can you identify this plant? I found it to be quite striking with its red branches.

no time

Phew, deep breaths. I have a lot to do this week and no time to do it in-- typical American life, eh? Anywho, here's a glimpse of last weekend's relaxing bliss. A view from the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula, where we camped with Ali and Glen. See Ali's video of her weekend (w/snapshots of us included) here. Soon I will get some other photos up here. But for this hectic evening, a sunset should evoke some calm in my mind.

May 22, 2008

kennedy cuisine

Tonight has been one extreme cooking session... and believe it or not, the only experimental chef in the kitchen was none other than myself. Bryce and I have been South Beach-ing it, with the desire to lose a few+ pounds. My school has a "Slash the Fat" thing, so all the teachers are eating healthy, and now Kelly and Becky are doing the South Beach diet as well. SO, my days of endless cheating (eating birthday cupcakes, baked goodies from the lounge, etc.) are over. The competition is on. Anyhow, my first dish tonight was not an Erin original; I made spinach-egg-cheese quiche cups, which are simply delightful for breakfast... and they look GOOD (phew). Then, I welcomed the challenge of cooking dinner using South Beach-friendly ingredients. So, for my entree, please imagine the following: zucchini sliced (faux lasagna noodles), ricotta cheese, shredded cheese, tomato slices, diced onion, diced mushroom, basil, oregano all layered in a dish, now baking in the oven at 350. I'll let you know how it turns out.

5/24 The zucchini lasagna dish was gone SO fast, that I completely forgot to take a photo and give you the taste tester results... It was a complete success! Bryce raved about it, which made me feel like quite the chef. :)

May 17, 2008

"...just walk beside me and be my friend"


For the third time, Kelly, Becky, and I had a "party night" together. Basically that just means lots of drinks, attempted game-playing, robust laughter, and jam sessions for the guys. This time we gathered at our house. The boys were there too, but it's those girls that truly make me feel lucky. In fact, I think it's amazing that the three of us have ended up teaching together-- same grade and rooms in a row. Because it is not just anyone that will join you for a drunken night and dance to Rusted Root and Phish in the living room while the boys play guitar out back. It is not just anyone that will get all teary-eyed with you as you talk about how grateful you are to have each other. And it's not just anyone that will tell it like it is, holding nothing back, and never judge you because they've done some crazy things too. It just feels SO good to have such amazing new friends this year.... It feels like we've known each other for a lifetime.

May 13, 2008

I wish I may, I wish I might

Summer smells and sunny sights bring along that weighted feeling of memories in the pit of my stomach and the corners of my smiles. I find myself chuckling at the way it used to be, when I was such a goofy young girl with an innocent imagination, surrounded by people full of life and laughter. At odd moments, my mind travels back to the moments of ultimate freedom... racing through the sprinkler, collecting clover in my squirt-gun bucket, belting out "Tomorrow" from the top of my swingset, laughing until our faces hurt at the Thompson dining room table, scurrying around for "Hide and Seek in the Dark", staring at the firework sky from the boat on the 4th of July. I wonder if my spirited gardening attempt this year is somehow a grasp to get back the sensation of contentment and security, back to the days when it seemed nothing could ever change.

May 3, 2008

dance your cares away, worries for another day





I always make sure to show my first-graders an episode of Fraggle Rock, because really, what better message to send to children?