Laura Laughs

I was happy to be outside raking in the rain. But when the mail person, who just happened to be a man, pulled into the driveway to deliver yet another Amazon package plus mail...I lost it. Me: Waving like a lunatic and spouting off all kinds of greetings.  Him: Um, do u want ur mail too? Yes? Should I leave it at the end of the walk? Me: Oh, yes. How are you? Good? Okay, that's great. Thank you so much. Him: Okay, here u go. Um, have a good day. Me: Waving again. Ok, thank u so much. Bye. Be safe. Truck drives off. No wonder people text. Seriously, be safe.

Hello...spring has sprung in the north, with the arrival of the pussy willows.  😄 I have only good memories of pussy willows...my grandma, my mom, Easter, the dining room table at grandma's, my mom encouraging me to explore and touch and live in the world around me... I am more than grateful to be able to get out of the house and walk with my dear friend and the dog's during this very strange world of COVID-19.  Day 12 and more than half of the United States is in a shelter at place. Strange times indeed. Yet, the flowers bloom, the sun comes up, and spring comes again.  I hope you enjoy these pictures and find some happiness and peace in the world today. Be safe. Eric the black walks the lane.

Good Evening, I am coming to you on Day 11 of our COVID-19 situation with a story about laundry.   Many of you know that I am a public school teacher.  As a school teacher, we are asked to adhere to a dress code, known as none other than business casual.  This means I have a lot of black slacks/black leggings, an assortment of black/colored tops (mostly black), and shrugs/sweaters, and a variety of dresses.  It is not the most glamorous of wardrobes, but I attempt to look fairly professional most days and my clothes are clean.   This morning I got my load of laundry out of the dryer to fold and much to my surprise my laundry was filled with pajamas, leggings and a variety of t-shirts and sweatshirts, the likes of which  Marshall Middle School has thankfully never seen.   Gone were the black slacks and line dry assorted matching black/jeweled colored tops.  Which I might add has been my life since September 3, 2019....

I am having a hard day. I find myself struggling to believe that this is my spring break. I am supposed to be in Missouri right now, in a lake house, visiting my dad and step mother, and visiting Laura and Almonzo Wilder's home at Rocky Ridge. However, my dad passed away in late January, the world is at war with an invisible enemy, and I am having a hard day. I have always felt a kinship with Laura Ingalls Wilder. First, I wanted to be a writer just like her and then I wanted to be a teacher just like her. #goalsemiaccomplished However, today I find myself feeling a kinship with Ma Ingalls, Caroline.  After all we each have four children, we were born in the city but settled in the country, we each have a child who is severely disabled, place value on education, and have faith in our Lord God.  Up until this past week, I never spent too much time thinking on Ma Ingalls. How she must have worried, just like me, about her kids, her job caring for her family, disease, the state o...

Happy Sunday morning.  This is my birthday month--which I LOVE!!! Not going to let the virus get me down.  Will try to be more positive--people who really know me stop laughing now. Seriously! Last night I had the strangest dream...no, I didn't sail away in a little rowboat to find you...this dream was even stranger...I worked for Donald Trump.  I know.  He asked me, and yes it was in a creepy way, to set up a bird exhibit/event at JPAC, of course. And get this...I was super excited about it.  Thinking of all the fabulous bird ideas and bird themes I would come up with and in the end I would be so fabulous that I would get to work on trumps team.  Weirder yet, I rarely remember my dreams and I couldnt wait to get to planning my big event when I woke up. Ugh! Going to take it easy today. After all it is a Sunday. Be safe!

Eric the black soaking up the sunshine.  I am being lazy. We are both sort of enjoying this morning, especially the quiet and the beautiful sun.  I really love the way my dog looks at the world.   Taking it easy with Eric.  Bonus: I am not to sore from yesterday's pruning expedition.  

As long as I stay busy I am ok...today's schedule: 1. Wake up and take care of dogs  2. Q uiet computer time, breakfast and coffee time 3. Schoolwork--keep in touch with kids at Marshall Middle School 4. Stretch-this is new to me as I am usually too busy to do this. 5. Lunch-Grapefruit and my new favorite snack, smores cereal, no milk. 6. Take out trash and prune lilac bushes...these last two things are also new to me as I am usually too busy or not home to take care of this. 7. Try blogging again--it's good to try new things. Or semi-new things. I am learning not to take things for granted. It feels good to spend time with my dog. I actually wiped off the mail today-cause box came. I didn't get mad when I stepped in dog poop (#2).