Sunshine and Snow

One thing we really like about Central Pennsylvania is that most often after a snowfall the sun comes out and everything is white and bright. We had our first major snowfall of the season this weekend. The snow blower (and Rich) got a good workout and the sun came out to make everything beautiful!

Christmas Cheer with The Giving Tree

I love this time of year. For the past twenty years my class has provided clothing and toys for needy children in the school community through a project called "The Giving Tree." One of my gifted students each year coordinates the project. This year we helped 26 families and about 70 children. We put tags on trees at the neighborhood bank and grocery store. Members of the community take the tags, buy gifts, wrap them, and return them to us. My classroom is festive as the gifts start coming in.


Over 300 gifts were processed this year!

Once we have them all collected, the special needs students in our Life Skills class sort the gifts by family number. They also help wrap any that come in unwrapped. They are great helpers!

Katie, this year's coordinator, gives a gift to John who will take it to the hallway and place it under the number that matches that family. Each gift will have the child's first name put on it.

Then we bag the gifts by family and the Lions Club Santas deliver them for us along with a food basket made up of meat and the canned food items the Student Council collects. It is truly a community-wide project.

Baby Sitting

It's so nice to be close enough to baby sit our grandson occasionally. Kat and Jason went to a Christmas party on Saturday evening and we stayed with Daniel. He wasn't very happy that Mommy and Daddy weren't home with him in the evening as they usually are. He fussed quite a bit, but gave a huge smile when he saw Daddy come in the door. He looked at us as if to say, "See, if I cry long enough, I'll get what I want." He stopped crying and started giggling.

We did have some very fun times with Daniel on Saturday and again on Sunday, as you can see in these photos.

Rich and Jason helped Kat make cookies for a tea party she was helping to host with a friend. Then they made apple upside down cake for dessert for a dinner party Rich and I were attending at our neighbor's Sunday evening. They had some quality male bonding going on in the kitchen most of the day!

Sunday we drove home in freezing rain, then went next door to Leon and Karen's house for some wonderful Boeuf Bourguignon. We hosted them for steaks on the grill and pommes frites last month. With the wonderful meals we have shared, I think once a month to get together sounds just right!

Decorations and Bible study

We have been talking about getting a large artificial tree for the past few years and this year we decided not to get a tree at all since we will be in CA for Christmas. So much for that idea. Yesterday I put a little tree in the entrance way at the bottom of the steps and we decided that would be a nice place for a tree. Problem was the little artificial tree I put there didn't quite look right. We went to Home Depot and bought a 9' tall skinny tree that fits perfectly. I guess we have joined the ranks of those who do not buy a fresh-cut tree.

[View of the new tree from the den]

The book of Romans

Our Bible study group has been together for many years. We have studied many books of the Bible, some taking a long time to complete - like Daniel and Hebrews. In the spring of 2007 we read about the life of the Apostle Paul in a book by Charles Swindoll. Then we tackled the book of Romans starting in November of 2007. Tonight we finished the last lesson - 2+ years later. I feel a bit sad, yet a sense of accomplishment to have studied every chapter and verse in the book. It's been a great study with a wonderful group of people. We use Precept Upon Precept study materials which encourage an in-depth study through observation of the actual text, interpretation through word studies, cross referencing and occasional use of commentaries, and application to our lives. If someone suggests a study in Romans, or preaches on a passage from Romans, I think I will see it as all new to me. There is so much in this book that we can never fully understand it. Next we plan to tackle the minor prophets Micah, Nahum, and Habakkuk. These studies have really made the Word of God come alive in my life. The Bible just seems to breathe God.

Family Time at Thanksgiving

We drove to Ohio for Thanksgiving again this year - to meet Sharon, Mark, and Carmella at my brother's house and join his family for their gathering. Kat, Jason, and Daniel travelled with us. There were 20 of us at Chuck's - 12 adults and 8 kids nine and under. It was pure chaos at times, but nice to be together. Rich prepared the turkeys and everyone contributed something to the meal. We loved being able to spend some time with our grandchildren and for them to spend time together.

Carmella is 13 months old, walking, and very busy.

Robin entertained Daniel, followed Ella around the house, and was a huge help with the little ones.

Blue Birds in the Bushes

I have really enjoyed watching the blue birds this year, first with the nesting boxes outside the kitchen window, and now as they come in to eat the berries from the bushes outside my window. They must be migrating, because they come in large groups with a flutter of bright blue.

Leaves on my lawn!

Uh, Oh. When we moved here we left all those big trees behind. Looks like we might have to start raking again! Hee hee.

Field Trips and Bonfires

On Thursday last week I had the priviledge of taking a wonderful group of students to visit the Newseum in Washington, D.C. http://www.newseum.org/.

That evening, as SADD Club advisor, I was helping to put on a bonfire pep rally for winter sports. The Pennsylvanians Against Underage Drinking brought large bean bag chairs and set up a lounge around the perimeter of the bonfire. Their message: It's never too late to make a u-turn and make the right decision. They gave out tee-shirts to all the kids at the bonfire. http://www.pullayouee.com/

Saturday we entertained our neighbors for a bistro supper of steak and pommes frites topped off by Karen's wonderful chocolate bread pudding. On Sunday we had duties at church and a Bible study in the evening. Monday evening we went to an open house for missionaries to South Africa. Tuesday evening I had parent conferences until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday I drove SADD Club officers to Lancaster, PA, for a conference and returned to take the debate team to their meet - another late night. Thursday I was sick, but duked it out through parent conferences until 8:00 p.m. Today I am home - mostly sleeping.

Hopefully we will be healthy for our trip to Ohio next week for Thanksgiving and time with family, including Sharon, Mark and Ella.

Pop-pop and Daniel

Rich and I went to see Kat and Daniel for a few hours on Saturday and babysit while Kat attended a baby shower. The little guy changes so fast that we can't get enough of seeing him!

Coyote or Fox?

[Consensus is that it is a fox - a very LARGE fox. Too large to be a fox, but that appears to be what it is.]

Since moving into our new home, we have watched a single fox-like animal hunting in the rocks and fields nearby. This morning I was able to get a fairly decent picture of him. We think it is a coyote, although others in the neighborhood talk of seeing a big fox. Anyway, these are the best pictures I have gotten of him so far!

Reminiscing with Friends

Last evening we had the second installment of German dinners with our friends Bob and Nancy and Barbara. We enjoyed a sampling of German sausages, spaetzle, asperagus, brochen, and Bavarian apple tart. What a great meal with great friends! We spent some time looking through memorabilia that Bob and Nancy had collected - and had strong flashbacks to decades ago living in Germany. What a fun time!

A fall dinner - pork with a sauce with apples, 3 potato gratin (sweet potato, yellow gold, and russet), succotash from our limas and farm market corn.

Scenes from Camp Big Daddy

We are dog sitting Roxy this week, so she is at camp. Tonight we went to the Halloween Parade and Roxy got "spooked" by the drummers going by. One entry was costumed doggies in all shapes and sizes. Roxy could have been in the parade if we'd only known...

Camp Fire time at Big Daddy Doggy Camp

Sunsets at Big Daddy Doggy Camp

Hiking and Playing with Daniel

Jason, Kat and Daniel joined us on a hike at Hawk Mountain with our fellowship group from church. Daniel had it easy - just went along for the ride. While facing out, he was busy taking in everything. Once he was turned around and faced in, he fell asleep immediately.

Playing with Grandpop before bedtime. What a pleasant, adorable little guy!

Daniel was fascinated with the little doggies on his toes in this sleeper.

House Beautiful

The impatiens have just been gorgeous this fall!

Luke is 3!

October 5, 2006, we were blessed with our first grandchild. Luke turned 3 yesterday. Wow! Time sure passes quickly. He is getting taller and learning a lot. He told us he was 3 and it was his birthday. He went to Disneyland. Thanks to Skype, he opened his presents while we watched and was excited to get new trains for his Thomas the Train set. Rich and Luke read their favorite book together. Leah was fascinated by everything Luke did. She watched him closely and touched everything in her reach. We can't wait to be with them at Christmas.

Chef Richard

Rich loves to cook and I love the fact that he loves to cook. A simple weeknight dinner might be a whole chicken done on the BBQ spit with buttered, parsleyed potatoes and fresh limas from the garden. Fridays are usually fish nights and shared with our good friend Barbara, who insisted we take pictures. These are photos of some of his recent dishes - a bistro meal of beef filet with pommes frites and breaded steelhead trout, mango salsa and green beans. Yummmmmm!


Rich also likes to grow roses, so most of the summer and early fall our table is graced with aromatic roses like the ones pictured. Life is good. We have much to be thankful for.

A classroom at last!

My classroom is finally finished - the Smart Board is working, the cables are all properly run, and the unpacking is completed. There are still a few minor things - new tables and a longer run for the drape behind the newsdesk - but other than that the room is finished. And only twenty days into the school year!

The control room for the studio...used to have original orange carpet from when the building was first opened in the early 70's.

Why was my room finally renovated? The Assistant Superintendent noticed the fake skylights I had installed because the room was so dismal it depressed me to the point of not wanting to return to school last fall. She started the process rolling so that my room would get renovated this summer. They skylights are still here - and I have a great space in which to work. Wish I had taken "before" and "after" pictures. The renovations took out a wall, ripped out wooden cupboards, and made the room at least 300 sq ft larger.

Check it out at www.instantskylights.com!

A view from a hammock

School is going well - in full swing. Susan should soon have photos of her finished classroom (once it is actually finished!).

On Friday we had a lovely evening with good friends who all share the experience of having lived in Germany at some point in their past. We have been talking about having a German meal for some time and finally got together. We have so many ideas about what to fix that we will probably have three separate meals to get in all the different dishes! The first installment was beef rouladen with Black Forest ham, red cabbage kraut, hot German potato salad, and Black Forest Cake with some nice German wine. It was fun to talk about our memories. The next installment will be sauerbraten with spatezle, then a meal of schnitzel. I'm sure each dinner will be as tasty as the first with great company so we are really looking forward to it.

Although this is not a picture of Rich's plate, it looks exactly like what he cooked. It was fabulous! The recipes (and photo) came from a magazine called "Cuisine at Home."

On Saturday we had great weather so Rich did yard work and Susan got cleaning done. On Sunday after church we had a leadership meeting for our class and had lunch together. Once again we had great fellowship. After a busy weekend, it was time to spend some quality hammock time. So, late Sunday afternoon Susan relaxed and at one point, while looking at the sunset, she noticed that she had company! A praying mantis was hanging upside down on one end of the pergola.

Playing with Daniel

Kat and Jason were here this weekend for a brief visit at the end of their vacation and to pick up Roxy from Dog Camp. We had the joy of spending time with Daniel, who is getting more interactive each time we see him. He is now 3 1/2 months old.

CAMP BIG DADDY

Camp Big Daddy is operational this week. The following is information from the camp brochure:

CAMP BIG DADDY: A PREMIER DOG CAMP
RATES: $100 Day
(Special rates may be available)


Premier Features:
Special Diet
Daily treats
(lots of fatty foods!)
Cooking lessons
Room to roam
Lots of individual attention
Regular walks and lots of exercise (to work off #1)


Soft places to sleep










Camp activities:
Running in fields
Rolling in Bird Dirt
Bird chasing
Rabbit chasing
Rock climbing
Digging

Dish washing









SPA Services:
An occasional bath (probably daily as needed)
Regular brushing
Teeth cleaning




Scenes from camp this week...

Lots of individual attention - Love those rub downs!

Special breakfast - Pancakes!!!! Yum!!!!

I almost miss my family!!!