Beulah Sorensen

Former Employer

2011-02-11T20:12:00.006-07:00

I'm sitting in the basement of a building where I used to work. The Mister is finishing up his degree at this university (10 more weeks, hallelujah!) and so I rode along with him tonight. There were papers that needed to be graded and we're leaving for Steamboat after he gets out of class, so it made sense to use the free wi-fi and do my work. Driving around the campus made me nostalgic, a little sad, but mostly relieved. We lived the first two years of our marriage here, so it has sweet memories, but the reality is that moving on was the best decision we could have made. I took a big risk by stepping out of a career path that rarely allows re-entry in the hope that I could find a new career path that would allow us to buy a house and settle down. Moving eight times in eleven years makes a person crave for stability; I had an intense desire to get rid of our moving boxes. The Mister wanted to quit his job so that he could enter a new career. No matter what decision we made there were going to be many changes that resulted, so we decided to stay in Denver, throw caution to the wind, and hope for the best.

We're not natural risk-takers, so the decision making process was laborious and (dare I say it) slow. I am sure other couples can come to an agreement much sooner, but we process everything, multiple times. The Mister is one who doesn't like to make a decision without examining all of the alternatives, and I don't like to make a decision until he's ready. It wouldn't feel right. So we walked, and talked, I cried a little, then we rested. Then we came back to it, walked some more, talked some more, I cried some more, and then we rested. This process went on for almost a week while a potentially fabulous job offer waited for our decision. When we decided to turn it down we felt elated and more than a little bit nervous. We were exhausted from our own process and so relieved to have finally made a decision. Nervous because we were leaving a secure career path for a plan where both of us would be starting over at the bottom.

I'm pleased to report that I'm very happy in my new career path. The Mister has started interviewing and we're guessing he'll be employed in his new career path in the next month or two. You make these decisions and hope for the best, but you never know how it's going to work out.

I'd say it's worked out fine.

Teaching

2011-02-03T18:59:00.002-07:00

I've worked in education since I graduated from my undergrad at 22. For the last three years I have worked in an adult degree-completion program for a small, private university. Degree-completion programs have a "questionable" reputation in some arenas because most people who did a traditional degree can't fathom being able to complete a course in 8 weeks or complete a degree in 13-18 months. I won't get into the differences between andragogy and pedagogy, but I will say that I have found that working in this environment has profoundly and positively changed my approach to teaching.

I don't grade to give grades anymore, I grade to provide feedback so the next paper will be better. Due dates are important, but a late paper is rarely because the student is slacking off. Most of my students work full-time, have children, spouses, etc. but they have decided this is the point in their life when it's time to do their degree. They can't put it off any longer or they have come to a place where they can't go further without it, so they sacrifice to make school work for them. When I'm teaching my focus is on providing content and activities that can be used by the students the next day. They're adults--they want to see why something is important before they will commit to learning it. There are a lot of pitfalls with that attitude, but it's the reality they're living and what I'm teaching had better be worth missing their child's soccer game or an opportunity to earn some overtime money at work. Frankly, sometimes it feels like I'm performing, but isn't there always an element of performance to good teaching? My students are motivated and they expect me to be on the top of my game.

These thoughts are on my mind because for the first time in a long time I have a student who is not committed at all. It's obvious she's here to get the piece of paper and has no intention of connecting what she learns in school with what she's doing in her life. It doesn't really bother me, but it does put her in stark contrast to her classmates, and it has repeatedly startled me. Having become so accustomed to a certain caliber of student, regardless of their abilities, this woman has reminded me of the struggles that many of my peers battle with, trying to keep their students motivated and engaged. She's become my gauge, my reality check, to what other schools and other students are like. I'm surprised to report that I'm grateful.

Things I'd Like to Learn

2011-02-01T19:27:00.006-07:00

Here's a random list for today:

How to eat just one cookie.

How to design my own website.

What the "phenomenological method" is. It came up in my reading for school this week and I'm not quite getting it.

How to sew in a zipper. I've done it once but I'm pretty sure it was an accident.

Where my retirement money is invested. This is embarassing, but I give my money to my retirement fund every month and I'm not sure what happens to it after that.

What eating pasta in Italy tastes like.

If the Pope ever wears jeans under those robes. Or wears jeans at all.

How child development progresses through the toddler years. Because there's got to be a rational explanation for my nephew's behavior.

Travel Abroad

2011-01-30T19:51:00.001-07:00

The blog-o-sphere seems to be full of people moving their families to live overseas right now. The Mister and I are working toward that goal, too, but we're still a few years out. We must finish our degrees (the Mister will be done in April, theoretically I will be done in 2013) and the Mister needs to get a couple of years experience in his new career before we'll be in a position to either get transferred overseas or move and take contracts that would allow us to work from home. Our first choice destination is London, but Sydney is not too far behind. Given the cuts to higher education that both the UK and Australia are experiencing right now, my best bet might be to take online teaching contracts with US universities. Daydreaming about living in London or Sydney has given me something fun to think about on my morning commute.

Life Without Cable

2011-01-30T19:44:00.003-07:00

The Mister and I have been talking about getting rid of cable for a long time, but finally bit the bullet last week and ended our unhealthy relationship with the boob tube. I knew I was watching too much TV, that it was just too easy to "relax" by going downstairs and watching, but I had no idea how much time I would get back in my day by making this one phone call. It's invigorating. We've been eating dinner at the table, listening to music, and just talking more. What's interesting to me is that we've long felt like we haven't had free time, that our evenings were just too busy, but once we gave up TV we are realizing that all of our free time was being sucked up in episodes of Law and Order. It was such a gradual relinquishment of our time that we had no idea it was happening until we made a clean break.

I might actually get back to sewing.

MindLESS

2011-01-27T15:55:00.002-07:00

I know that every magazine geared toward women in the supermarket check-out has at least one article about being more mindful, being present, and being in the moment. I am taking the opposite stance in one area of my life: my appearance. My goal is to have a wardrobe, makeup, and self care routine that is essentially mindless. I am building a wardrobe where everything matches with everything else so when the morning rush is on I don't have to think about what to wear. My makeup routine has been pared down to the bare minimum and can be done half asleep (as it is most mornings). Routine self care is going to be done on a regular schedule (toenails, hair, eyebrows, etc.) so that a minimum of effort is required to maintain it.

These things simply aren't important to me anymore. Don't get me wrong, I want to look nice and present a clean, professional appearance. But I don't want to have to think about it any longer. In a culture that is obsessed with image, my goal is to step out of that game and start thinking more about the things that are important to me. I realized a few weeks ago that I was wondering what the girls at work would think about this outfit or that outfit and I knew I had to stop. The comparison game only leads to greater dissatisfaction and competition.

Anyone else have experience with this?

Mr. Pouty Face

2011-01-26T21:10:00.002-07:00

My nephew will be 3 in March. He'd been making this pouty face for a while but it was difficult to catch on camera. He was at our house just before Christmas and I had the perfect opportunity--he and I were arguing over whether or not he was going to eat breakfast (I won, but barely) and I just kept taking pictures. It took almost 40 shots, but I finally captured the look.

My sister's a little bit scared of what three will look like...

Whew!

2010-12-10T11:08:00.002-07:00

Classes are done (hallelujah!) and I got an "A" in both. I would have been fine with a "B" because this degree is about getting it done, not about getting it done with a 4.0 GPA. My plan for the next few weeks involves a lot of crafting, a lot of baking, and a few naps here and there.

Another Favorite

2010-11-11T17:32:00.005-07:00

If you haven't tried Ina's beef stew recipe you are missing out. Time consuming? Yes. Will you make a big mess of your kitchen? Yes. Will your husband fall in love with you all over again? Yes.

This is one of the Mister's favorites. Goes well with a long weekend and a snowstorm.

School

2010-11-03T18:46:00.003-06:00

School is really gearing up--assignments are looming and deadlines are fast approaching. I have made some resolutions to get me through to the first week of December:

Enjoy the evenings off, like next weekend, when we have tickets to the Symphony.
Run 3 miles at least twice a week.
Cook a nice dinner every Sunday night so that a) we have food to eat, which is really becoming an issue and b) to connect with the Mister.

I have an assignment due at midnight. Better get back to it.

The Mister Needs A Job

2010-10-16T11:26:00.002-06:00

Me (calling home at lunch): "Whatcha doin?"

The Mister: "Funny you should ask! I was throwing apples at the squirrel."

Me: "I'll call back later."

I did receive an explanation for the bizarre behavior but his afternoon activities did leave me shaking my head and wondering what else he was doing when I'm not around.

Go-To Meal

2010-10-14T17:36:00.003-06:00

Now that fall is here I can start making my favorite cool weather recipes. The Mister and I love the butternut squash recipe I found a few years ago in Real Simple magazine. The beauty of this recipe is that it's cheap, makes a lot of soup so you don't have to cook for a few days after you make it, and it's elegant enough to serve to company.

I'm not a big squash fan, but this recipe is one of my all-time favorites. Recipe found here.

Forgotten Valley

2010-10-13T18:42:00.004-06:00

The Mister and I went for a hike to Forgotten Valley this summer. We'd never been to Golden Gate Canyon Park but now it's one of our favorites. Close (less than an hour from the house) but still far enough to feel like we're away.

Pictures from Summer

2010-10-07T17:24:00.007-06:00

We went to Oregon for four days this summer. It had been three years since I'd been home, and I was literally aching to get on the plane. The Mister and I had a great time and made a solemn vow to go home every year, no matter the cost or the schedule. It's important for my mental health.

The lavender farm was amazing. The drone of the bees was unreal. That's Mt. Hood in the background.

We did the "Fruit Loop" through Hood River and stopped at the Mt. Hood Winery. Yummy, yummy!

We stoppped at Multnomah Falls.

I had to visit the Duck store. Because I love my Ducks and it's hard to be a Duck fan in Colorado. BTW, I am very bitter that the CU Buffs are going to be polluting my Pac-10. Like, so bitter I'm still having a conniption fit about it. I'll get over it but it will definitely take some time.

More pictures later...

Colorado Symphony Orchestra

2010-10-06T17:27:00.004-06:00

I love classical music but I don't know much about it. My folks always had Bach or Beethoven playing in the background when we were growing up, but there wasn't much in the way of education about classical music. I am married to a classically trained guitar player, but he is really only interested in guitar music. After much discussion and a few successful forays to CSO concerts last fall, we decided to become season ticket holders this year because we could create a package with concerts across the musical spectrum--jazz, pops, holiday, etc. Our first concert is this Friday night and I am so thrilled because it means we have seven date nights this academic year, planned and paid for, and that's something I've been looking forward to all summer.

Christmas Music

2010-09-29T18:02:00.003-06:00

Last December Kimberly and I went to a concert that I'm still talking about 10 months later. The Colorado Symphony Orchestra did "Too Hot to Handel", a gospel interpretation of Handel's Messiah. At the end of the concert I was crying and had goosebumps because it was so powerful. The familiar sounds of the Hallelujah Chorus plus an amazing groove with drums, bass guitar, and piano filled the auditorium in a way I've never experienced. It was a given that we would go again this year.

The good people at the CSO sent me a coupon this week for 25% off all holiday concert tickets, so not only are we going to the concert, but we're also going to have better seats than last year!

Higher Education Nerdery

2010-09-22T18:11:00.005-06:00

I'm taking a leadership class right now. I am generally opposed to leadership classes because a) they rarely present new or challenging information, b) everybody and their mother has written a leadership book, and c) quite often the people presenting on leadership completely lack leadership skills themselves. I am cynical.

However, if you are in higher education and you are interested in leadership, Steven Sample's Contrarian's Guide to Leadership is worth the investment of time. He can back up his statements with real-world experience and actually has some different perspectives. He dislikes lawyers with a passion rarely seen outside of the opinion page of the newspaper, which I find amusing.

Update

2010-09-22T18:05:00.003-06:00

So much has happened since the last time I posted! Life in bullet points again...:

My niece was born last week! Her big brother is very excited.
The Mister and I celebrated our 6th anniversary at the Melting Pot.
I got a big fat promotion at work.
Still in school, but I have a plan to finish and I'm scheduled to graduate in May of 2013. Only 8 semesters to go!
Our veggie garden was awesome. Next year, only 1 squash plant--I'm so tired of squash.

I have no idea if I'll be able to maintain this blog, but I'm going to try.

Committee

2010-04-12T07:19:00.003-06:00

This weekend the Mister and I took a trip up to Laramie to visit the University of Wyoming campus. I had my orientation to my doctoral program on Saturday. When I took my first class last fall I was a non-matriculating student because I had not officially been admitted. In fact, I wasn't admitted until late February when I was half-way into my second and third classes. So, by the time orientation came around I thought I had school pretty well figured out.

The first clue that I was suffering a cranial-rectal inversion was in a phone conversation with my advisor about three weeks ago. She is going to be on sabbatical this fall and next spring so we had several semesters of classes to plan out. At the end of our phone conversation she mentioned that I need to have my dissertation committee locked in by the end of this semester and must complete my general exam this fall. Wha...? I convinced myself that I probably had more flexibility than that and decided to "believe" once I went through the orientation.

(Duh-duh-duh...sense of impending doom)

The orientation knocked me on my butt. I'm completing my third class this spring and I think I'm already behind on my dissertation! My general exam MUST be taken this fall, and why don't you have your electronic portfolio set up? Don't know who you could ask to be on your committee? Better make a phone call to your advisor ASAP and get that figured out! Oh, by the way, you'll probably need to take a week's vacation to do your general exam because it's 5-6 fully-researched 8-10 page essays that must be completed within 5 days. Oh, and did we mention that while you are working on this degree you should also be A) learning a foreign language B) publishing and C) teaching. So...I think I need to "adjust my expectations" because I was not prepared for this at all. I still want to (need to) do this degree, it's just now I have a much higher level of anxiety about it!

"So I've got that goin' for me..." (I never reference movies, but that's a good one).

I do not need to adjust my expectations for the peonies. They did their job this weekend and have poked through the surface. I did several turns around the yard yesterday while taking a break from schoolwork and am pleased to report that the flower bed is really starting to take off.

Family

2010-04-09T15:28:00.004-06:00

Last night I went to dinner with my friend Lindsay and we were discussing family--the family you're born with versus the family you choose. I've come to depend a lot more on my chosen family in the last year and didn't even realize it until our conversation. Kimberly and Lindsay are two of my favorite people in the world and I'm grateful to have them in my life. They are both such an encouragement to me. Thanks so much, ladies! Hope you don't mind the very public shout-out (hee, hee).

The Mister and I are off to Wyoming this weekend for my EdD orientation. I am hoping that my peonies will work very hard on breaking the surface while I am gone.

Birthday

2010-03-27T20:31:00.003-06:00

Today is my 36th birthday and it has been outstanding. I am so grateful for my dear friend Kimberly who knows how important it is to feel special on your birthday. A massage and a facial on the same day? Heaven. I'm also grateful for The Mister who had a rough morning but put that aside to take me out for a wonderful sushi dinner. This has become our tradition--The Mister takes Kimberly and me out for sushi at a restaurant of my choosing. My two favorite people and a sushi dinner is, in my book, a recipe for a great evening. That we've done it enough times to call it a tradition is even better.

I have no idea what this year will bring but I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the blessings that have already come my way.

Time Flies...

2010-03-25T10:39:00.003-06:00

It's been almost a year since I've posted. It's amazing how quickly you can fall out of a habit and how hard it is to regain it. Last summer was very busy with work and teaching and I was barely able to keep my head above water. In August I started my doctoral program, so fall semester left little room for writing for fun. I had the best of intentions to pick this up again over Christmas, but naps and shopping took up most of my time. Now it's almost April!

I've always felt conflicted about this blog because I don't think I add much to the internet that's meaningful or helpful. Not that blogs have to, but I never fell into a rhythm or a niche that I was comfortable in. I'm careful not to expose too much of my life, and I think my caution has kept me from feeling like I'm contributing. I have almost deleted this blog several times, but something always stopped me. For the last couple of weeks I've felt the pull to come back to it so I'm giving it another try. Who knows where I'm headed now?

Life in Bullet Points

2009-07-10T10:40:00.003-06:00

Summer is slipping away from me...and not in a "we've done lots of fun things" kind of way. The Mister and I will be sitting down with the calendar soon and blocking off weekends where we don't schedule anything except "FUN!".

On a positive note, my flowers are blooming and going outside to check on them every day brings me a lot of joy.

Remainder of summer resolutions:
* Have my morning coffee in the backyard every weekend.
* Do at least 3 more hikes.
* Hit the farmer's markets at least 3 more times.
* Pray more, stress less.

Can you tell I've been grading lesson plans this morning? My objectives are specific and measurable!

Life in Bullet Points

2009-06-19T11:35:00.003-06:00

Flowers are blooming in the yard!
Almost done with my marathon of working weekends. I'm on the home stretch!
Finished Brain Rules, using it for a class I'm teaching next weekend.
Sun tea is awesome.

What I'm Reading

2009-06-10T21:31:00.004-06:00

Brain Rules is fascinating. I'm only about 1/3 into it but I can hardly put it down. This book came highly recommended by a fellow educator during a discussion about multiple intelligences and differentiated learning. Medina goes into the current research into how our brains work and how to improve our cognitive abilities. The best part is that he explains the science in a way that a non-science person can understand. I'm excited to incorporate some of what I've learned into the next class that I'm teaching this weekend!

Tagged

2009-06-09T15:50:00.003-06:00

I was tagged a long time ago by Kimberly but I'm finally getting around to doing my part:

I am to list 7 awe-summm things about myself!

1. I am persistent--if there's something I want to know/do, I keep at it.
2. I am a good teacher. I work at constantly being better.
3. I am a good gift giver.
4. I read a lot. Research is my passion, so that helps.
5. I am making good use of my gifts/talents.
6. I'm a good wife/friend. I work at the relationships that are important to me.
7. I strive to focus on the positive - I'm not always successful, but it is always a goal I am pursuing. In the last 6 months I've really been working on contentment even when life is stressing me out. The Mister and I are incredibly blessed.

Priorities

2009-06-08T11:48:00.002-06:00

Hastily shouted instructions during the hail storm yesterday:

Me: Mister! You move my car under the carport! I'm going to try and save the tomatoes!

Mister: It takes two people to move the cars--you have to help me!

Me: But...but...THE TOMATOOOOOOES!

Pastoral Scenes

2009-06-03T19:34:00.002-06:00

In that last picture it almost looks like the cow was posing for me. It was perfect!

Life is crazy right now so blog posting is light. Teaching two graduate classes and working full-time seemed like a good idea in February but now I'm not so sure! However, I hate to pass up opportunities to hone my skills and the reward has been truly delightful students.

Shots

2009-05-29T09:12:00.002-06:00

Springtime is when the calves get vaccinated. Both the mamas and the babies put up quite a fuss about being separated. We were careful not to mention that during the fall they castrate and brand!

Bottle Feeding

2009-05-27T20:25:00.004-06:00

This baby was one-half of a set of twins. It was obvious that the Mama was not going to be able to take care of both the calves, so this one has to be bottle-fed. He is a very persistent, knock-kneed little fellow and I fell in love with him. I let him suck on my fingers and I don't think my wedding rings will ever be the same!

Letter Regarding Adoption

2009-05-26T14:37:00.003-06:00

Dear Senators Michael Bennett and Mark Udall:

I've written e-mails (more than once) and I called both of you today, but I am hoping that whoever monitors your names on the internet will see this blog post, too.

Please attend the CCAI meeting on Friday, May 29th and advocate for my friend Kimberly (resident of Centennial) who is one of the 65 waiting families who is trying to adopt from Kyrgyz. Her sweet girl has been waiting to be adopted for two years. It's time for her to come home to a loving family in Colorado. Both Kimberly and Moonbeam need you to step up and start pressuring for these adoptions to go forward.

Thank you for your assistance in this very important matter.

Beulah

Fish Creek Falls

2009-05-26T08:08:00.010-06:00

These are Quaking Aspen, known as "Quakies" by every Colorado native except

The Mister, who had never heard the term. The two non-natives in the group (Little Sister and I) gave him a hard time about that.

This is skunk cabbage. It really does smell like skunk, which is too bad,

because it's a very pretty plant.

This little fellow had no fear. We were within 4' of him and he was not phased at all.

On Friday we picked up Nephew from his sitter's house and drove into town to meet Little Sister and BIL for dinner. BIL was delayed (always) so we had some time to kill. Little Sister had never been to Fish Creek Falls so we grabbed a snack and drove over. Nephew has just learned to walk so we needed a short trail--he gets heavy to carry and we didn't have a stroller with us. It was just as well that we had to take it slowly, because the scenery was worth the extra time.

Steamboat Springs

2009-05-25T19:39:00.003-06:00

We had a delightful time in Steamboat this weekend. I will be posting pictures/stories for the rest of this week.

Whenever we go to the ranch I feel a compulsion to take a lot of pictures. Steamboat Springs has changed so much just in the last 10 years that I've been going, and it feels like there is a way of life that is being lost. More restaurants, hotels, and traffic and fewer glimpses into the agricultural origins of the town. Skiing and tourism have run out most of the family farms and ranches. BILs family has been in the valley since the late 1800s so they have deep roots, but the way they run their business will eventually have to change. There's no way around it. So every time I go I try to document their life as it is now so there's a record.

I'm no Pioneer Woman, but I'm doing my part to maintain an account of ranching life in the Yampa Valley.

Weekend

2009-05-23T09:38:00.001-06:00

We're in Steamboat this weekend with Nephew, Little Sister, and BIL. Pictures and stories to come! Hope you all have a delightful weekend.

Thinking in Bullet Points

2009-05-20T20:03:00.000-06:00

Class was awesome. Students were a real joy. Second half at the end of this month.
Bought a new sewing machine. Aaaiiiiyyy! Very excited. More to come...
Headed to Steamboat this weekend to see Little Sister, BIL, and Nephew. Weather should be gorgeous, hoping to hike Service Creek.

No Time

2009-05-15T08:11:00.003-06:00

No time for blogging...teaching my class this weekend! Aiiyyyy! I'm still in the "I'm going to make a total fool of myself!" phase which will drive me to perform Herculean feats of instructional design until 2/3 of the way through the Saturday session when my adrenaline will wear off. I always design a group activity for Saturday afternoon because that's when I mellow out. When I finally relax and enter the "OK, this is going well, I'm not an idiot, these students might be getting their money's worth after all" phase. This teaching business, it's an emotional roller coaster.

Encouraging image for the weekend--the flower pot I put together a few weeks ago at Echter's is blooming and looking gorgeous.

The Nerdery Increases

2009-05-14T07:56:00.000-06:00

My dad was at our house this weekend and suggested going to the Star Trek movie. There was an awkward pause after this query because just the week before I'd been mocking the movie. Relentlessly. Specifically mocking The Mister and his desire to go to the movie. I believe I said he'd have to take his other wife if he wanted a spouse to go with him. Dad suggested it and we had nothing else to do, so I swallowed my pride and went to the Star Trek movie. In fact, I waited in line even, because it was opening night (oh, the shame) to see the movie that I had made fun of.

And I liked it.

A lot.

(Crap.)

A Recent Conversation

2009-05-12T02:08:00.001-06:00

The Mister: You have a problem.

Me: I do?!?

TM: Yes. You do. I was in the shower this morning and couldn't figure out why there wasn't any room in there. I realized it was the abundance of bottles ...so I started counting.

Me: Yes?

TM: Yes, I started counting. I counted four bottles for me, which came as a surprise. That's too many. Then I started counting your bottles...do you want to know how many bottles you have in the shower right now? Right at this moment?

Me: I'm not sure I do.

TM: SEVENTEEN! You have SEVENTEEN bottles in the shower!

Me: I don't see how this is a problem.

TM: How do you have seventeen bottles in the shower?

Me: I'm a girl.

TM: mutter...mutter...Can you maybe get rid of some of the bottles?

Me: I'll do what I can.

Peony Heaven

2009-05-11T08:50:00.000-06:00

The peonies have really taken off in the last week. We might actually get blooms off them this year! My little flower garden is showing promise, even after a couple of late snows that definitely damaged some of the more delicate plants.

Bliss

2009-05-08T12:05:00.000-06:00

Saturday morning was the opening day of the Cherry Creek Farmer's Market! Of course I did not take a single picture, but still, it was great fun. Produce was scarce, but the abundance of pecan sticky buns at the various bakery booths made up for it. On the way there I had a moment of pure bliss--the spring air coming through the open car window was cool and fresh and reverberated with the classic sounds of Boston's "More Than A Feeling". Frankly, I don't think life gets much better than that.

Springtime in the Rockies

2009-05-07T19:18:00.005-06:00

These are all from our neighbor's tree. She teaches youth piano and voice lessons, so as I was taking these pictures I got the pleasure of listening to a youngster trying to play Neil Diamond tunes on the piano.

Even More Progress

2009-05-06T20:38:00.000-06:00

The top image is a corner of our yard from last summer--it's hard to tell, but that area is completely dominated by pampas grass (bah!), mint, and the grape. Earlier this spring we cleared out the grass and grape, and I've been slowly pulling out the mint and other weeds. Last weekend I was able to get 10 bags of mulch to start covering the exposed soil with newspaper and mulch to keep the weeds from returning. I ran out of bags before the job was complete but I'm so happy already with the way that corner is looking. Not sure if the pampas grass will survive, but with the mint pulled out at least now it has a fighting chance.

Tres Chic

2009-05-04T20:44:00.007-06:00

On Saturday we went to Tres Jolie, a tea and gift shop in Old Town Littleton for an early Mother's Day, late birthday party with my Mom. The sandwiches and scones were delightful, and as you can see, so was the atmosphere. Very girly and very fun!

Progress

2009-05-04T20:34:00.004-06:00

Spent about four hours in the back yard this weekend pulling mint and composting (more to come on that). To reward myself I picked up some annuals from O'Toole's and got one of my new Brandywine tomato plants into a pot. I had a lot on my mind this weekend and several hours of hard work went a long way toward restoring good mental health.

Dorkitude

2009-04-30T05:29:00.000-06:00

The Mister's birthday is a few weeks from now and I like to start planning early. For the last few years I have gone with a theme for his party--usually Star Wars. He still has the poster on his office wall, why shouldn't he have a Star Wars party? This was last year's Darth Vader cake. The Death Star was made of fondant.

Yes, we are that dorky.

Re-Reading

2009-04-28T05:10:00.003-06:00

I first read Parker Palmer's The Courage to Teach a few years ago at a conference--the conference was boring but they had a nice bookstore, so I made good use of my time. I'm teaching Studies in Education next month and this is one of the required texts. It has received mixed reviews from the student in the past for being too "touchy-feely". I can appreciate those comments, as sometimes Palmer gets a little too sensitive for me, too, but I really appreciate his passion for having authenticity in your teaching. When I was in the classroom I felt very fractured--there was a disconnect between what I loved doing and what I was having to do in the classroom to meet state standards. Palmer has the guts to come out and say that it damages our students, but it's just as damaging to our teachers.

I believe I will open my first class in a few weeks with this Palmer quotation:

"When I do not know myself, I cannot know who my students are. I will see them through a glass darkly, in the shadows of my own unexamined life—and when I cannot see them clearly, I cannot teach them well."

How I'm Feeling This Week

2009-04-27T21:34:00.001-06:00

(Letterpress print can be purchased from clementinepress if you're feeling the mood that strongly you need it on your wall.)

Tweetie

2009-04-27T21:25:00.000-06:00

SIL is hoping to use these bird vases for her wedding in September. I liked them so much MIL bought me one for my birthday. They will look beautiful this summer with my red and pink dahlias!

Guitar Practice

2009-04-27T21:21:00.004-06:00

This one came out rather dark, but it's my favorite.

The Mister has a classical gig (his first in a long time) coming up on 5/8, so there's a lot of practicing going on at our house. It's a very pleasant way to work in the evenings.

Bah!

2009-04-27T08:48:00.001-06:00

Woke up to 6" of snow this morning. Colorado in the spring = crazy.

Vino

2009-04-24T05:13:00.000-06:00

Ballatore Gran Spumante: We had this at Easter and it was just too sweet. After reading a few reviews I had to agree that it probably would have been very tasty in a mimosa.

Ravenswood Zinfandel: This was recommended by a co-worker as a good "starter" red wine for someone who is just starting to learn about reds. While it was tasty, I still wasn't able to drink more than a few sips before it just got to be too much. After poking around on their website, though, I think it would be fun to visit their wineries! When it comes to red wine, it seems like I'm just going to have to keep trying until I acquire a taste for it. My BIL would be thrilled if I could learn to like reds--he's starting to develop quite a collection in the basement.

Public Service Announcement

2009-04-23T05:23:00.000-06:00

Hey, did you know that you're supposed to have an MMR booster every ten years? I feel like an idiot, but I did not know that. Got my blood test results back and the nurse practitioner said I had no immunity to those diseases. Yikes! The protocol is to have a shot, then wait a month, and have the second shot, which puts me in June/July before I can prove I have immunity to those diseases and can register for school. The fact that I've had doctors appointments every 6-8 weeks for the last 18 months (long story, nothing serious) and no one ever mentioned this makes me more than a little bit annoyed, but what can you do? I'm on the docket to get the first shot next week...

Follow Up

2009-04-22T05:18:00.000-06:00

I posted a few days ago about purchasing ollas, but this article gives instructions on how to make your own. Granted, they don't have the elegant round shape, but they're being buried in dirt.

Hmmm...maybe a weekend project?

Summer To Do List

2009-04-21T05:08:00.002-06:00

I am starting to make a list of activities for our summer stay-cation:

Cherry Creek Farmer's Market: This is my favorite way to spend a Saturday morning. I like to get there by 9 to get a parking place. I will finally remember to bring my camera this summer to take pictures!

City Park Jazz: We always say we're going to go, then by Sunday night we're too tired. This year we are going to make it!

Hike Hanging Lake: I have lived in Colorado for almost ten years and I still haven't done this very popular hike.

Rockies Game: I don't like baseball very much, but it's fun to go to a couple of games in the summer. I like to sit in the Rock Pile, eat a hot dog, and watch the drunk people. The sunsets at the evening games are awesome, you just have to be careful of the afternoon thunderstorms Colorado is famous for.

Film on the Rocks: Head out to Red Rocks Amphitheater and watch an old movie with hundreds of very enthusiastic participants. I've seen Braveheart with be-kilted fans and Monty Python movies surrounded by coconut-clackers.

Elway's Summer Concerts: Summer doesn't officially start for me until the first Wednesday night concert. The Cougars are out in force and the people-watching is spectacular. Last year I tried to keep track of the number of pairs of tasselled loafers and I lost count.

Schmaps

2009-04-20T05:49:00.000-06:00

I'd never heard of Schmaps until they contacted me through my Flickr account. Apparently they liked one of my pictures from Australia and they asked to use it for their new guide for Sydney. I received notice this weekend that mine made the final cut!

Ollas

2009-04-17T15:10:00.003-06:00

This year I would like to purchase a few ollas for the garden. Ollas are unglazed clay pots that you bury in the ground (leave the neck above the soil), fill with water, and the water seeps out of the pot slowly to keep your plants continuously watered. This article has a great description and pictures of how they work. It looks like you have to re-fill them every day, though. I don't water that often, but maybe I should be?

This gardening business is tricky...

Image from here.

Wash Park Walk

2009-04-17T05:32:00.000-06:00

Recently we went on an afternoon walk at Wash Park, one of my favorite places in Denver. You can see from the photos that spring has definitely not arrived even if the weather was beautiful. In a few weeks, however, it will be one of the loveliest places to take The Mister for an ice cream and a stroll.

An example of the posh real estate that borders the park.

The flower beds are lovely in the summer. The park also attracts a lot of very large bats at night. I've never seen them anywhere else in Denver.

Can't wait to sit on this bench when the trees have leaves!

The Boathouse--the Mister and I were to have our reception there, but they don't book it for holiday weekends. Bah!

Florists in Denver

2009-04-16T05:50:00.001-06:00

SIL asked me to do some research on flowers for her wedding as she's not coming State-side for another 2 months. I guess the florists I've contacted don't know that we're in a recession, as they're not good about responding to e-mails or even showing up for appointments! You'd think they'd want the business? We were supposed to meet with someone on Friday and she didn't come. I called and e-mailed her while we were waiting and she still hasn't responded. Another flower shop had ridiculous hours for appointments that were not remotely manageable for people with jobs. So far we've met with two that seemed competent and professional, but I'd really like to get a third bid. Any suggestions?

Image via Whimsical Chris

Images From Easter

2009-04-15T05:30:00.000-06:00

The cupcakes are Ina's recipe; I added the jelly beans to the top to make them festive.

Pizza Pizza, Vegetarian Style

2009-04-14T19:25:00.000-06:00

Last week we made homemade pizza as part of our ongoing vegetarian adventure. I used this recipe for the crust, then we topped it with caramelized onions, fresh tomatoes, and basil. The pizza was very, very tasty but we were a little disappointed that the crust was tough. I'm guessing the problem was that I didn't let the dough rest long enough. We'll definitely be making this again. The sauce was also homemade: mix together crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, onion, garlic, bay leaf, and let it simmer for about 20 minutes. It makes enough sauce for two pizzas, so I put the other half in the freezer for another day.

MIL's Birthday

2009-04-13T19:34:00.000-06:00

I have been trying to find an old-fashioned metal watering can for my MIL for over a year. Most places sell those crap-tastic plastic ones, and they're not cute at all. I recently discovered O'Toole's Garden Center and fell in love. Not only did they have the old school metal watering cans, they had them in a wide variety of colors! I may have to go back and get myself a sassy red one...

Wildlife

2009-04-13T00:14:00.001-06:00

Top to bottom: Parrot in the lobby of our hotel in Hawaii (we had a lay0ver); penguin in Bicheno, Tasmania--very trick little buggers to photograph; wallaby at Freycinet National Park, Tasmania; unknown bird in Sydney; unknown flower in the Hunter Valley; unknown bird in the Hunter Valley; kangaroos in the Hunter Valley.

Roadblock

2009-04-10T00:06:00.000-06:00

On March 30th I sat down at my computer to register for my first class toward my doctoral degree. The fall schedule opened that day and I wanted to jump right in. Picked my class, went to register, found out there was a registration hold. Already?!? I haven't even started yet! Turned out I needed to submit proof that I'd had an MMR immunization before I could register.

OK. I know I was probably young when I had this shot, so the first course of action is to call my mom. Her response: "You're 35 years old, the pediatrician died 20 years ago, I have no idea where your immunization records are! Who would have guessed you'd need proof NOW?" Good point, Mom. It does feel a little strange to be asking the question.

Long story short...no one knows when I had my MMR, but it had to have been done because they were required when I started kindergarten. My insurance provider can draw blood and submit a letter that I have the immunity to those diseases, therefore I must have had the shot. The University of Wyoming will accept this as good enough. I'm already cheating on grad school!

Big Boy

2009-04-09T05:00:00.000-06:00

A few days old and seven weeks premature, then one year later with his great-grandma.

Echter's

2009-04-08T05:54:00.000-06:00

A couple of weekends ago my friend and I took a container gardening class at Echter's Garden Center. I wish I'd taken more pictures of their displays, but I did remember to take a picture of our handiwork.

Something about this spring has made me absolutely crazed, desperate for green and moisture. Denver is so brown and dead (ugly) in the winter and lately it's been getting to me like never before. The late spring rain/snow showers have been nice, but our yard is greening up so slowly that I can hardly stand it. I've never been known for my patience, and this year is no exception. I guess containers of flowers are going to have to tide me over for a few more weeks.

Donna Hay

2009-04-07T05:10:00.000-06:00

SIL was in the States a couple of years ago and brought me a copy of Donna Hay's magazine--I liken Hay to a cross between Ina Garten and Martha Stewart. I loved the magazine but couldn't (easily) find it in Denver. Of course I forgot to buy the most recent issue when we were in Australia (ack!) so I've been without Donna for quite a while...until the other night at Barnes and Noble! They had one copy for $10, hard to justify for a magazine, but I'm going to think of it as an investment. The recipes are wonderful, but my favorite part is how elegant and simple the staging of the photographs is. A lot of magazines are doing layouts that are busy and it's hard for my eyes to focus in on individual elements. Hay's magazine balances nicely between the overall effect and the beautiful details.

Vino

2009-04-06T03:24:00.000-06:00

We've had the Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling a couple of times--at home and at restaurants--and it's never disappointed me. The label is boring (bah!) but the wine is good. It's my current "go to" wine when I'm unwilling to take a risk in a restaurant.

(As an aside, I rarely take risks on wine when we go out to eat because I know I'm shelling out for one glass what I could pay for almost a whole bottle at the liquor store. I'm very adventurous at the liquor store because whatever I don't like will get frozen and used the next time I need wine for a recipe. You're supposed to use wine when you cook that is good enough to drink, but I'm cheap.)

I bought a bottle of the Michelle Moscato Frizzante in preparation for my birthday and it was excellent. The Mister and I both enjoyed it immensely and now I'm contemplating buying a case to have on hand for a couple of special events coming up this summer. Actually, now I think I'm going to have to stop at the liquor store tonight on the way home...I can't wait for the next special occasion!

Ranunculus

2009-04-03T05:36:00.000-06:00

Trying to keep my pretty alive in the house until May when she'll be ready to go in the flower garden.

'Roo Spotting

2009-04-02T05:30:00.000-06:00

(Part of my ongoing trip down memory lane--our trip to Australia over Christmas)

On our night in the Hunter Valley we jumped in the car to go 'roo spotting. They're much like deer in the States--they wander into people's yards, are a menace to drivers on the highway, and are most easily spotted at dusk. We saw our first 'roo within two minutes of getting in the car. These are the two best shots.

Dreamin'...

2009-04-01T05:53:00.000-06:00

We have no budget for travel this year. None. (Well, maybe a little bit of money for a side trip for me and my BFF)! Nothing like a lack of funds to make you want to plan another trip, so here are some destinations at the top of my list:

Italy - This is a no-brainer, in my opinion. Good food, lots of wine tasting, sunshine, and long stretches of beach. I don't require anything more than that on vacation.

Brazil- I spent a summer when I was 16 and I'm desperate to go back. The Mister is not so enthusiastic. I'll keep working on him. Or maybe go without him?!?

Germany/Denmark - He's German, I'm Danish, time to go check on "our people".

Poland - I had a slight obsession with Marie Curie when I was a kid and I've always wanted to go to Poland as a result (Grandma had given us a set of Value Tales books and she was the subject of one of them).

Image found here.

Images From My Birthday

2009-03-31T05:38:00.000-06:00

To Market, To Market

2009-03-30T05:15:00.001-06:00

(Reminiscing about our trip to Oz in Dec./Jan.)

On our first day in Tasmania we were able to spend a few hours in the Salamanca Market in Hobart. Because the Australian dollar was performing so badly (sorry, Aussies!) the prices were delightful. It was so fun to take pictures and buy trinkets for loved ones back home knowing that I was basically on the end of the earth.

It's That Time Again...

2009-03-27T09:25:00.000-06:00

Happy birthday to me! If I could have one birthday wish, it would be a trip to Oz and another day on Wineglass Bay in Tasmania. My feet were pretty happy there.

...And For Contrast

2009-03-26T13:34:00.006-06:00

This storm isn't supposed to be done until noon tomorrow, so I'm guessing our sushi dinner and Botanic Gardens trip will have to be postponed. Still, it's nice to be snug and cozy in our little house. I had the good sense to put a bottle of sparkling wine in the fridge this morning--you know, just for emergencies.

Lovely

2009-03-26T05:30:00.002-06:00

My birthday is this weekend! I have Friday off so the Mister and I are going to visit the Denver Botanic Gardens for the first time. Will try to remember the camera as they have a tulip exhibit running right now and we have some empty space on our walls that needs to be filled with photos of pretty flowers.

These photos are from the Sydney Botanic Gardens. I loved the succulents.

From His Party

2009-03-25T20:52:00.000-06:00

Nephew is a one-year old now, and I can tell he's already developed a keen interest in cake. Auntie didn't have anything to do with that at all. Not at all.

Impossible to Kill

2009-03-25T20:42:00.003-06:00

This picture is of the Mister pulling mint out of our yard. We have lots and lots of mint because it is the world's most. aggressive. plant. Seriously, the mint took on our 8' ornamental grass and was winning. I know it's eyeballing our grape, but we're trying to prevent that from happening. The roots are a thickly woven mat just under the soil, so you can literally pull it out by the handful. Did a lot of research on the internet trying to find out how to kill it, but it's every gardener's dirty little secret---nobody wants to talk about the aggressive mint, just the friendly, tastes-good-in-mojitos mint that everyone wants to party with.

We're just grateful it smells good while we're tearing it out by the roots.

I Seriously Thought This Wasn't Going To Happen

2009-03-25T05:30:00.000-06:00

Something I planted last year is growing back! Granted, it's sedum, a.k.a. "no-kill-'em", but still...not bad for a newbie. The peonies are showing signs of life, the daffodils and tulips are about to bloom, and more plants are on order. I heart spring.

Vino

2009-03-24T05:30:00.000-06:00

This weekend we decided to try a Colorado wine: Two Rivers Riesling. Turns out it wasn't Colorado wine at all (gotta read the label!), just bottled for Two Rivers. Still, it was tasty. The label was uninspiring.

We also tried the Yalumba Riesling from Australia. I liked it better as it had more citrus flavors. They don't get any points for an attractive label, either. We paired this wine with an outstanding recipe for roast chicken that made the Mister profoundly happy.

The Mister got a phone call from his sister this weekend. She was in the Hunter Valley and couldn't remember where we purchased that excellent sparkling shiraz. There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth that she was wine tasting in Oz and the Mister was doing homework while I was doing yard work. Isn't it true that the lust for travel is insatiable?

Image found here.

Veggie Attempt, Part Deux

2009-03-23T05:30:00.000-06:00

The other night I made vegetarian tostadas. It was a result of one of those "Duh!" moments where you're looking in the pantry trying to figure out how to use up some of your canned goods. Cans of black beans and enchilada sauce were my inspiration. The Mister prefers refried, I prefer black, so I mixed a can of each to smear on the tostada shell with a little garlic and cumen for flavor. Top with the sauce, sour cream and/or cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, and avocado, and you have a fast and tasty vegetarian meal.

Philosophy

2009-03-20T08:43:00.002-06:00

In May I'll be teaching Philosophies of Education, a course designed to survey people who have influenced education, directly or indirectly, through their personal philosophies. For instance, one of the textbooks profiles people such as Confucius, Socrates, John Dewey, and Jane Addams. At the end of the course the students are to write their own philosophy of education. This has provoked some challenging discussion in my head. Who has influenced my beliefs? What is my philosophy of education? How does that influence my teaching practice?

I think this is going to be another instance where the teacher learns more than the students...

Pending Arrival

2009-03-19T08:35:00.002-06:00

I've ordered three rose bushes for the garden that will arrive at the end of May. I can't wait. I love that they come from Oregon, so I'll be growing a little piece of home in our backyard.

William Shakespeare

Elegant Beauty

Glamis Castle

St. Patty's In Review

2009-03-18T20:48:00.003-06:00

Nephew turned one--he's officially a big boy now! We'll be seeing him this weekend at his big boy birthday party that he'll be sharing with my grandmother, who turns 85 on Friday.

My cousin, her husband, and their four children were in town for the night. They live in Mozambique so it was a rare treat to see them. We had our traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner followed up with a viewing of The Incredibles while the adults got caught up. It was such a fun evening! The Mister and I need to plan a trip to Africa. Their descriptions of Cape Town, in particular, were intriguing.

Image via UpNorth Memories

Vino

2009-03-18T20:19:00.006-06:00

Three wines we've tried lately:

Little Penguin Pinot Grigio: Yummy at the beginning but a little sour on the end. However, I tend to base my wine choices on the label, so they get bonus points for a cute label. Apparently I'm not the only one to do this!

Clovely Verdelho: I like Verdelho; this one was good but not my favorite. While not cute, the label is charming.

Black Swan Riesling: My favorite, and very popular with our dinner guests.

Yard Work

2009-03-07T21:13:00.002-07:00

The older gentleman who owned the house before us buried 5-gallon plastic buckets in all of the flower beds. We thought we'd dug them all out last summer only to find FIVE MORE today. Do you have any idea how long it takes to dig a five-gallon bucket out of clayish soil? The Mister and I should start a pool on how many we end up finding back there. We haven't even started digging around in the Dead Zone yet. Aiiyyy!

Texture Sensitive

2009-03-04T08:05:00.005-07:00

This soup recipe showed up in the New York Times last week and it seemed perfect for our vegetarian experiment--didn't rely on pasta, all familiar ingredients, included beans (love me some beans). I made a batch this weekend with the recommended whole wheat couscous and dug in with great anticipation. And it was gross. Really gross.

I am texture sensitive. There. I've acknowledged my pickiness and admitted my weakness to the world. It's only getting worse as I get older and become a better cook. I know how I like my food prepared, I know how to make food that I like, and my standards are getting higher with every year. Something about this recipe just hit me all wrong. Unfortunately, it makes a big batch so we're wasting food (the Mister was just as unenthused) but I know there's no way we'll be having a second serving. We eat so many of our meals at home we've made our peace with the fact that a certain percentage of our meals will fail and you have to throw food away.

Back to the vegetarian drawing board. In the meantime, I have a lovely pork loin in the crock pot.

Giving It The Old College Try

2009-03-01T19:39:00.002-07:00

School is a go, but I'm waiting until September. Looks like I'm going to try being a Cowgirl! I've decided to be a non-degree-seeking student at the University of Wyoming. I can transfer in up to 12 credits (I missed their deadline because of the UCD mess) while I decide if the program is really what I want. It's an EdD, not a PhD, which is one major point against the program. However, given the circumstances I'm in, this is the best way to start school while I have momentum and motivation and gives me another year to decide what to do. If Wyoming doesn't work out then I'll need to convince the Mister to pack up and move to Lawrence, Kansas because that's where my dream program is. How many people can say their dream is to move to Kansas?!?

Two Word Summary

2009-03-01T19:27:00.002-07:00

Shoe shopping.

(Yay!)

Plant Heaven

2009-02-27T21:37:00.004-07:00

I placed our orders for our fruit, vegetable, and flower seeds/plants tonight. So much fun! Names like chickadee, brandywine, jazz, and cherokee purple have been stuck in my head for weeks. I ordered dahlias, roses, tomatoes, squash, beans, and a variety of perennial flowers that are also drought-tolerant.

We haven't had much moisture this winter, so I'm hoping we get pounded during March--typically one of Colorado's snowiest months. I often joke that the state motto should be, "We need the moisture..." since every weather report ends with that phrase. I guess I'm ready for March because I know that springtime comes right after the snow.

New Year's Resolution

2009-02-27T21:25:00.005-07:00

The Mister and I had two resolutions: 1. Have more fun and 2. drink more wine. This is the first time we've been serious about keeping our resolutions! Here are three of the wines we have discovered are tasty AND affordable.

Chateau St. Michelle Riesling and Pinot Grigio

Black Chook Sparkling Shiraz

Twin Fin Pinot Grigio

I'm working my way into red wine, but migraines make that tricky. Even the wines that haven't been that good have been fun to try.

Weekend In Review

2009-02-23T09:38:00.006-07:00

Still mulling over the school problem, but I'm feeling much better about it. Spent some quality time with Nephew this weekend and his drooly grin makes me feel better instantly. It's exciting seeing all of the developmental changes that happen almost overnight. He's crawling, feeding himself Cheerios, and pulling things off shelves.

This weekend I posted my final grades for the Methods class I taught, and it feels good. Taking teaching contracts on top of my full-time job is rewarding but very time consuming. Time to relax a little bit more and enjoy my weekends again! I'm not on the calendar to teach until May/June.

The Mister and I discussed our vegetable garden last night--what we want to plant, when to get started, etc. We marked off an area in the back third of the yard (known as "The Dead Zone") last fall and put down layers of newspaper and mulch so the soil can be easily amended this spring. It's a trick I learned from Martha. So far the only plants we've agreed on are pole beans, tomatoes, and squash. In addition I will be planting a couple of rose bushes, dahlias, and perennials that have not yet been picked out. It's an ambitious plan, but if you've seen our backyard you'll understand our sense of urgency--we have an area known as "The Dead Zone"! The soil back there is like concrete; even the weeds find it unwelcoming.

What spring/summer projects are other people planning, garden or otherwise?

School Blues

2009-02-18T20:19:00.002-07:00

Well, my plans, they must change. I was originally hoping to get accepted into a doctoral program at the University of Colorado at Denver. I knew they'd shut the program down for a year so they could reorganize, but I never expected that the reorganization would turn the program into something that is completely uninteresting and not applicable at all for me. This information wasn't posted in time for me to re-think schools I had previously rejected because their deadlines have all passed. So...now what? To say that I am disappointed is a huge understatement. My heart was all set and ready to go to school in June. Now the deadlines have passed (the other programs weren't as appealing, anyway) and I am stuck. I am seriously considering asking the Mister if we could rent out the house and move to a city that has one of the programs I'm really, really excited about. When I floated the idea to him this afternoon he wasn't totally horrified, so that's a start.

I am trying to be positive about this and accept that the program at UCD wasn't for me. I am trying to look at this as an opportunity to find a program that would be a better fit. I am trying.

What I'm Reading

2009-02-17T22:32:00.004-07:00

I heard Sir Ken at a conference last year and he was so good I listened to him give the speech again on the TED website. A co-worker bought his book and loaned it to me, so I started it the other night. I'm only 30 pages into it but I'm already intrigued. Do you ever worry that the changes in technology happen so rapidly that you'll be left behind? Is the fact that my husband is a JAVA programmer and I am still not really sure what that is going to keep me from being a qualified employee in ten years? Do you worry that the education our children are receiving is completely inadequate for the kind of thinking they MUST be able to do to be able to be contributing members of society? So far this book has only made me more concerned, but I'm optimistic that Sir Ken has some good ideas about how to handle the future. One thing I do know...this book has already challenged me to be a much better teacher.

Steamboat in the Winter

2009-02-17T22:22:00.009-07:00

We went to Phippsburg/Steamboat Springs this weekend to visit Sister, BIL, and Nephew. On Sunday the Mister and I went snow shoeing and stopped at the ranch to take a few pictures.

The cows in the meadow.
This colt was born 2 weeks ago.

One of the many old cabins on the property.

The schoolhouse - BIL's mother attended school in this schoolhouse (when it was on the other side of the valley) until the 8th grade. When the district stopped using it they sold the building to the ranch. It is now storage for the oldest, most decrepit white pickup you have ever seen. It's literally held together with baling twine. Photos of that may never be posted!

Further up the canyon, from our snowshoeing adventure.

Don't Bother

2009-02-16T18:54:00.004-07:00

All of this recession talk makes me want to do something proactive rather than dwell on the doom-and-gloom that seems to permeate the news these days. Yes, times are tough, but how can we make something positive come from this? I purchased this book after skimming a few chapters thinking it would help me be more proactive about our finances and optimistic about the future. Unfortunately, the book was completely worthless to me. The budgeting information was standard fare, the tips for saving money were the same as everyone else's, and the completely random relationship advice was heinous:

"During a weak economy, expect that your man will be hit on by other women with alarming frequency. The vultures will be hungry and looking for a meal ticket from any man with a pulse and a steady income...Stay alert and aware of your husband's whereabouts, his social schedule, and with whom he associates" (p. 118).

The relationship advice only got worse from there. I should have stayed away from the book when the title made me wince, but there are so few books out there that take the approach that I'm wanting to believe: things are bad, they might get worse, but there are things we can do to come out OK on the other side.

Restaurant Review

2009-02-09T15:50:00.002-07:00

India's Pearl: Yum. 'Nuff Said.

We are not very knowledgeable about Indian food, but I am now completely in love with garlic naan and chicken tikka. The bottle of wine we shared didn't hurt, either! I've been wanting to re-try Indian food after seeing Slumdog Millionare when we were in Sydney. The movie is attracting a lot of controversy, and I won't attempt to review it here because that's definitely not my gift, but I liked it. The Mister and I don't watch movies very often, but this was a movie that did not disappoint. In the interest of full disclosure, though, my tastes do tend to run toward movies that end in musical numbers!

I'm Also Reading...

2009-02-05T17:55:00.002-07:00

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle has been the perfect book for where I'm at right now. Thought-provoking, but not too deep. Inspiring, but not so inspiring that I feel inadequate (if that makes any sense). This is Kingsolver's account of her family's attempt to eat only locally grown food or food they grow themselves. It also details the impact that our food choices have on the environment and developing countries--for instance, eating strawberries in January means that a lot of oil was burned transporting them for our consumption.

Her description of the asparagus growing in her garden makes me want to move asparagus to the top of the list of vegetables we plant this spring:

"The shoot emerges from the ground like a snub-nosed green snake headed for sunshine, rising so rapidly you can just about see it grow. If it doesn't get its neck cut off at ground level as it emerges, it will keep growing. Each triangular scale on the spear rolls out into a branch until the snake becomes a four-foot tree with delicate needles... (p. 39)"

What I'm Reading

2009-02-05T17:48:00.003-07:00

One of the realizations I had on vacation was that the Mister and I have come to rely on meat too much for our protein. My blood sugar is dicey so protein is very important for my diet, and meat is easy. It's what I was raised on, familiar with, and easily obtained. Besides that, is there anything tastier than a New York strip? A recent trip to the library allowed me to pick up several vegetarian cookbooks to start experimenting with. This 15-Minute Vegetarian Recipes book has been a good place to start. This weekend we'll be trying our first recipe!

Can't Kick It

2009-01-31T12:49:00.002-07:00

The general malaise, I mean. I've just felt run-down and gross all week. Exercise, extra sleep, extra water, extra fruits/veggies haven't made a difference. Haven't even had the energy to pick up a book. My hope is that a weekend of laying around and doing little will give me the boost that I need.

Beulah Sorensen

Former Employer

Teaching

Things I'd Like to Learn

Travel Abroad

Life Without Cable

MindLESS

Mr. Pouty Face

Whew!

Another Favorite

School

The Mister Needs A Job

Go-To Meal

Forgotten Valley

Pictures from Summer

Colorado Symphony Orchestra

Recommended Reading

Christmas Music

Higher Education Nerdery

Update

Committee

Family

Birthday

Time Flies...

Life in Bullet Points

Life in Bullet Points

What I'm Reading

Tagged

Priorities

Pastoral Scenes

Shots

Bottle Feeding

Letter Regarding Adoption

Fish Creek Falls

Steamboat Springs

Weekend

Thinking in Bullet Points

No Time

The Nerdery Increases

A Recent Conversation

Peony Heaven

Bliss

Springtime in the Rockies

Even More Progress

Tres Chic

Progress

Dorkitude

Re-Reading

How I'm Feeling This Week

Tweetie

Guitar Practice

Bah!

Vino

Public Service Announcement

Follow Up

Summer To Do List

Schmaps

Ollas

Wash Park Walk

Florists in Denver

Images From Easter

Pizza Pizza, Vegetarian Style

MIL's Birthday

Wildlife

Roadblock

Big Boy

Echter's

Donna Hay

Vino

Ranunculus

'Roo Spotting

Dreamin'...

Images From My Birthday

To Market, To Market

It's That Time Again...

...And For Contrast

Lovely

From His Party

Impossible to Kill

I Seriously Thought This Wasn't Going To Happen