PIONEER WOMAN, MOVE OVER

One of my favorite blogs is Confessions of a Pioneer Woman. I spend way too much time keeping up with her life, but she totally fascinates me! How does she do it all? Anyway, GP and I took J and V to the "hometown" yesterday to visit Pawpaw and to see the cattle.

Here are some of the pictures I made while we were there. Making all these pictures made me feel a lot like Pioneer Woman, except I think she might be a better photographer than I am. Oh, well. I'm just getting my feet wet.

GP with J and V (I love the rubber boots.

Wish I had had some on. Those poop pies were gynormous!)

J and V wait in GP's trailer.

J and V standing on gate at cattle pen.

J and Deli

While GP's dad was hauling round bales of hay from place to place on his tractor, we took J and V in to see the herd bull, who was waiting for his "dinner." There was lots of snot and loud bellowing. And wait until you see the bull. Be sure to look for the bubble J makes at the end of the video clip. I think you will agree also that V is a city girl at heart. Also, you may need to know that "mee-mu" is J's word for all big animals, and the purple thing on J's head is from a fall in our kitchen about an hour before.

AN EYE FOR AN EYE . . . WHAT'S YOUR VIEW?

Lunch conversation usually includes at least one of us teachers relating a story about something a student did that landed him in the principal's office. Today's story led to a thought-provoking question: Would punishment be more effective if we dealt these kids the same misery that they dished out to someone else?

This morning a student put a pencil in his pants and then forced a girl to stick said pencil in her mouth. YUK! I'm so glad I'm a teacher and not a principal. I would have had to excuse myself to go into the hallway to laugh hysterically over this one.

We just wondered how Kid A might feel if we had Kid B (our choice, of course!) put a pencil down his crack and then make Kid A put it in his mouth.

Would this cause Kid A to make better choices in the future?

Sorry if this disgusts anyone. I guess I'm just used to this kind of thing having spent fifteen years in 6th grade.

YEAR OF THE . . .

My 6th graders are working hard to read at least five books that are nominated for the Texas Bluebonnet Award. Students must read at least five of the nominated books in order to be eligible to vote. Voting is at the end of the month, so I am reading aloud one of the selections in class. It is the story of a young Asian-American girl whose family is celebrating Chinese New Year as the Year of the Dog begins--hence, the name--The Year of the Dog. I led the students into a discussion of New Year traditions in various cultures, including our own. I expected to hear the comments about eating blackeyed peas, attending New Year's Eve parties, and staying up until midnight. I just didn't expect to hear the following: Well, my granddaddy just drinks till he passes out!

Year of the Redneck!

OSAMA MAMA?

GP's 88 year old father recently asked: "If Osama becomes president, do you think he will get Ofra as the First Lady?" Translation: Osama=Obama, Ofra=Oprah, and First Lady=Secretary of State.

CADEN'S FIRST CHRISTMAS

Caden with Auntie S.

ME and MINI ME

My Favorite Guacamole Salad . . .

1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
small red onion
1-2 seeded minced jalapeno peppers
1/2 tsp. lime zest
juice of 2 limes
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. minced garlic
1/4 tsp. red pepper
2 large avocados, diced

Chunk up veggies, peppers, and zest. Combine juice, olive oil, and seasonings and whisk together. Pour over veggies. Last, add the chunks of avacado. YUMMY!