November and December are very, very busy months in our household. Not only do we have the holidays, we also have four birthdays to celebrate! We recently celebrated my husband’s birthday, and in his honor I hosted a beer and food pairing dinner party for him and a few friends. Now I am not much …
The Nutcracker is a beloved holiday tradition for many families. We have enjoyed so many different versions of this classic story. We have watched aspiring young dancers play both cast and leads put on by our local dance schools as well as big city ballet companies in San Jose, San Francisco, and Houston. This classic …
My home town of Santa Rosa has been hit by a fast moving, ferocious, and all-consuming fire. Santa Rosa is the area hit by fires that I know best, but neighboring towns and counties have been under seize as well. So many homes and businesses are gone, and lives have been lost as well. Many …
I just finished reading the most enjoyable book – one that I so loved reading that I am recommending it to many, many of my friends. This is a true story told in memoir fashion that is full of heart, hope, and the satisfaction of a day’s hard work. The Dirty Life: On Farming, Food, …
It seems like there is almost always a reason to celebrate at work! Weddings, new babies, birthdays, retirement – yep, we seem to have it covered. The most recent celebration was a 30th birthday. Since the birthday lady loves her puppy dog, along with her goats and chickens, we decided to throw her a, Dog-Gone …
Recently a fellow teacher got married – Congratulations, Mrs. C! To help her celebrate, we threw her a bridal shower just as the school year was wrapping up and before the official, “I do.” With a little bit of sleuthing we discovered that Mary Poppins was a favorite movie and story of the bride-to-be, so …
One of the activities that I love most about summer is my annual visit to the County Fair! This has been a looong time tradition. It is a tradition that includes carnival games, rides, a flower show, horse races, livestock viewing, contests, vendors, and food – sooo much food. Fairs everywhere are known for their …
Way back in February I posted my 2017 Reading Challenge. I have been busy reading, and have knocked off quite a few of my selections, but I have not yet shared them with you. So sorry about that! My book clubs keep me busy reading – almost too busy. Can that really be right? I …
Summer is officially here, but I was lucky enough to get a taste of it early. During our Teacher Appreciation Week in May we were treated to a fun-filled week of Aloha spirit. As you know, I am a teacher – I love the time with my students and my time in the classroom. Teaching really …
Ah, I love summer! I’m starting to finally feel like summer has hit. A big part of that is that I just hosted my annual Ladies’ Pool Party. This is my annual kick-off to summer. There is no doubt about it – when I can float in the pool during the middle of the week, …
