Good Friends - sort of....

My daughter had her Brownie Scout meeting last night.  They have their meetings in the library of their school.  As they were working on a game, I decided to look around.  I found MANY old friends whom I hadn't seen in a LONG time and a few who have recently become good friends! 

How many of these do you recall?

I think I have this book memorized.  :)

So many good books, so little time!!!

The need to grieve

My son's school experienced a tragedy this week.  A student who is in the band with him, was killed in a car accident Monday evening. 

As I let my brain and emotions sift through this information yesterday afternoon, I found something I wasn't prepared for.  While I didn't know this student, I know that she was part of my son's group of friends.  She was a member of the band which is a family for him.  It is his home away from home and one of the most important things in his life.  As I watch  my son go through the grieving process for the first time in his young life, I find myself needing to grieve as well - not for my own loss, but for his and that of his entire school community.

I'm not sure I have ever felt the need to grieve for a community.  It is a strange and confusing set of emotions.  I am nearly overwhelmed, yet it seems strange and is unexpected.  Being new to this community (I have only lived here two years) I guess I didn't realize how much it was becoming a part of me.  Especially when his high school isn't part of my daily life as I teach at a different high school on the other side of town.

Perhaps I feel this unseen connection because of the bond of music.  For me, this isn't a tragedy that has struck the high school (although it has) as much as it is a tragedy that has struck a high school's Marching Band.  In any music group, the emotional and personal binds run deep.  Music has the power to bond and unite a previously unrelated group of people.  While I don't know their band directors personally, I do know them as professional colleagues.  They have suffered a powerful blow to their group and now have to begin the process of healing and rebuilding. 

 

If any one is able to help this group of kids through this difficult time, it is a music teacher.  Music has a power to express and to heal.  Victor Hugo said, "Music expresses that which cannot be put into words yet cannot remain silent."  How interesting and perhaps a little ironic that as I walked into my classroom under a cloud of grief this morning, I was greeted by this quote.  Two years ago, when I first moved to this community and took this teaching position, I painted this quote on the wall of my classroom. 

As I go through my day with so much inside me that must come out, music will be my tool.  I will pray for comfort and peace for the families and the students, and I will sing.  I will hug my children a little tighter tonight, and I will listen to music to calm my spirit.

God gave us music so that we might pray when we have no words.  To the Seaman High School Marching Vikings, you are in my thoughts and prayers today.

Wishing you all love and peace,

Tiffany

Stereotypes

What is it that makes stereotypes so humorous??? 



Here the boys decided to have fun being "cops".

Friday Night's Football Game

I decided to try a few different views of the Football game.  I hope you like them!  :)










I hope your weekend was relaxing - mine sure was!  Boy, I needed that!

Here's to a productive week for all of us!

Much Love,

Tiffany

Full Moons, Low Pressure Systems and Security Alarms - Oh My!

For once I'm writing a post with no pictures - I know, I'm shocked too!

Yesterday was an absolutely AWFUL day.  So I'm going to whine about it here so that I can move on with my life.  I'm also whining because I want to get out and take pictures instead of go to work today.  But alas, the work must be done and I need to save my sick days for the winter.  (Unfortunately, I usually use up all of my sick days every year. )

Anyway, I think there was something in the water yesterday.  My students at school just seemed to be on edge.  They were rambunctious and, on occasion, down right rude!

My mother worked as a nurse for years.  My mother-in-law was an emergency room nurse for years and years.  They both make comments at times about the full moon - and there was a full moon yesterday.  My mother-in-law is absolutely certain that the number of visits to the ER goes up when there is a full moon.  Maybe it was the full moon that was to blame....

There was also a cold front blowing through our neck of the woods yesterday.  It was cloudy, very windy, cool.... just down right blustery all day during school.  It began to rain about an hour after school was released.  I know that I could feel the effects of the change in weather.  It always affects me.  Maybe I could blame most of yesterday on the weather....

BUT -


The biggie from yesterday was the security alarm.  You see, the key pad for my building's security alarm is in my office right next to my desk.  Something happened yesterday that triggered the alarm.  It went off  "bee-bee-beep.  bee-bee-beep.  bee-bee-beep.  bee-bee-beep."  (imagine an alarm clock that doesn't have the radio and you'll get the idea...) for 3 and a half HOURS!!!!   Evidently, every single person on our staff who has the code for the security alarm was off campus yesterday afternoon!!  Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!   I was reading to take a sledgehammer to the thing!! 

source

Husband and kids all had events last night so I drove around with my migraine in the pouring rain until late, then fell asleep on the couch.  I'm hoping to completely re-boot my brain this evening and be back to my normal (wait??  I'm not normal... let's say normal for me) back to my normal-for-me, picture posting self by Saturday sometime.


Much love to you all - and thank you for reading my rant!  :)  I think I feel better now.


Tiffany

What is it???

This little critter was crawling through our laundry right near my BED yesterday afternoon!!!  EEEeeeek!!!

Anyone know what it is and whether or not it is dangerous??









At first, I was thinking, "Oh Lord!  It's a scorpion!"  But when hubby (thank goodness he was home!) squished it, there seemed to be some kind of web material.... so we are thinking spider.

I must admit, it has me a little nervous about going to bed last night!  I'm reminded of the part in Sound of Music where Lisel tells Maria that they always play pranks on the governess by climbing up the trellis into her window.  "Louisa can make it with a full jar of spiders in her hand!"  Ewww!  *shudder*

Chickens

It just so happens that there were chickens at the party yesterday!  (You know, the party with the bonfire)

I wandered around the farm toward the barn and several hens began to follow me.

Photo op!

They really seemed to think I had food in my pockets or something....

But the Rooster wasn't too thrilled about all the hens paying attention to me.

See that icy glare??

When he started coming my way with intent, I decided to take pictures of something else....

Hey, I know how those chickens can peck!  They hurt!

Happy Monday everyone!

Tiffany

Fire

Why is it so entrancing to stare at a fire?



We were at a party this evening...



When they decided to set the brush pile in the back of the farm.



Yes, they called the Fire Department first to get permission.  :)



The entire party stood around for nearly 15 minutes just staring.



And I think I took nearly 30 pictures of a pile of sticks on fire.  (Granted - it was a BIG pile of sticks!)



That yellow smoke was fascinating....



Fire is just amazing, isn't it?!?


Much Love,

Tiffany

Keeping it Real

I thought it might be interesting, maybe funny, and possibly encouraging to others if I posted some of my "misses".  You know, those photos that are not up to par, or that completely flop...

Beware!  This is not going to be pretty!  (but it might be interesting!)

Caught these when I took the pictures of my daughter at the park.

Talking and too dark

Blink...

And all those great dogs from the Bark Park??  They run and move and get too far away! (or too close!!!)

The big dogs formed a back-side-smelling line...



The cute little spaniel was interested in what I was doing...





And this little spunky thing was interested in this little girl....  and scared her!



And chased her



And knocked her down with a little help.





Just because it's nice to know you're not alone...  Yes, I have lots of failure shots too.  Question is, why do I keep them on my computer.  For some reason, I just can't delete them...

Much Love,

Tiffany

Topeka's Bark Park

Today's Friday Shoot Out theme is Flora and Fauna and or Pets...  Well, since I don't have pets (not really, but we do sometimes leave out milk for a neighborhood cat that's been hanging around...) and since I already post quite a lot of pictures of flora, I thought I'd tell you about Topeka's Bark Park.

Anyway, my daughter and I took a field trip to the Bark Park in Topeka's Gage Park.  It's a nice place set aside in the park for dogs to run and play together and not have to be on a leash.  There are two different enclosures, one for large dogs and one for small dogs.

Here are some of the cute and lovable pets we met while we were there.

I learned that dogs are VERY hard to photograph.  They are always moving!  I have lots of blurry pictures!  Hahahahaa!

Why don't you check out everyone else's Shoot Out here:

Much Love,

Tiffany

Saturday Farmers' Market

Every Saturday in downtown Topeka, there is a farmers market.  Local vendors bring their wares and have lots of interesting things for sale.

Local crafts, home-baked food, locally grown produce and honey, lotions, candles, flowers, and more!  (I sound like an advertisement!)  I enjoy browsing the different vendors - and purchasing some rolls or cookies.... the pies are delicious too!!  :)

Here are some interesting shots I got on Saturday.

Beaded Windcatchers



Handmade glass beads and jewelry




This booth had Buffalo (Bison) Meat and steaks for sale

Have a great day everyone!  :)

Tiffany