Spring Break Tropical Adventure

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It was cold and blowing winds were driving rain when we set out last evening on our tropical adventure. You'll have that in Central Indiana in March. We were just thankful we didn't see any snow flakes.


The friends who went with us on this adventure were Keith, named after me - - - - WAY after me - - - and Janell. Keith and Janell are the parents of two of my students and they "bought" me at our school auction.

Here's how THAT works, they bid on me and paid the school for me. Now my part of the bargain is taking them out for an evening. This equatorial adventure was my end of the deal.

Our tropical destination was Red Lobster, which is of course as tropical as you can get here in the midwest, far from any sea shore.



Janell and I sported our Wisconsin gear, both being native Badgers. Janell is also the friend who gave me a Wisconsin blankie for Christmas.

We enjoyed shrimp, lobster, crag legs, tilapia and steak in the tropical paradise known to others simply as Red Lobster, then we headed over to DeBrand for dessert.

I've raved over DeBrand before, so shall refrain from doing so here other than to show you the delights in which we indulged.


I had a semi-sweet hot chocolate with whipped cream and a dark chocolate candy wafer on top.



It was yummy.


Fisherhubby had a four shot Americano espresso in a cup big enough to swim in.


Gourmet miniatures - raspberry, mocha (with the face), and apricot. I'm telling you, you've never had anything like these unless you've been to or ordered from DeBrand.


Deluxe caramel apples. Granny Smith apple wedges and almonds around a chocolate cup filled with the butteriest caramel I've ever tasted.


I ate every last bite!

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In the Interest of "Hones-tea"

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I have had such a fabulous response to my Thrifty Vintage Thingies "Teas" post that I feel, yes I really do feel that in the interest of "hones-tea" and "integri-tea" I simply must make a confession here.

They say confession is good for the soul.

I just hope it is also good for my bloggy friendships and that you won't all DESERT me, leaving me high and dry in a cyber wilderness waste land.

OK - - - are you ready for this?

Here goes:

I have never ONCE used my tea things for a tea party.

Shocking, I know.

In fact, I have never even sipped tea from any of them!!!

Instead, they sit around my home as eye candy.

There. Now I've said it. I've bared my tealess soul to all the blogiverse.

Oh I do hope you, my bloggy followers, don't disappear right and left over this.

But if you do, that will be the price I pay for brutal, unabashed, "hones-tea".

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Thrifty Vintage Thingies - "Teas" are a Few of My Favorite Things

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I'm linking today with Vintage Thingie Thursday at Coloradolady and Thrifty Thursday at Bloggeritaville.












Be sure you click on both of the above links to check out what everyone else is posting.

I have not participated in these memes since February. Part of the reason was time - - - school kept me really busy and I just didn't have the energy, or creativity, to come up with posts each week.

The other part of the reason is that, to be honest, I've already shown all my thrifty vintage thingies!!! Then it dawned on me - - - many of you are new to these memes and what is a rerun to me will be new for you!

So, without further ado, I am reposting:

"Teas" Are a Few of My Favorite Things

I realize "things" really aren't very important. They have no eternal value. And yet I confess, I do have some favorite things - - - little treasures.

All of these things are vintage - - - to a degree, some to more degrees than others. For some of them I paid full price in an antique shop and others were given to me. I HOPE that averages out to thriftiness.

Way up there on my favorites list are "tiny fine china tea things." This is one of my antique children's tea sets. It is large enough to be what I would call demitasse.

I found this little set in Monterrey, Mexico about 15 years ago. It is glazed pottery and each mug is about an inch high.

Demitasse teapot with matching sugar and creamer.

I bought this set new in 1997 - 13 years ago - so I guess technically it isn't an antique yet, but it isn't new either. So what is that? "Newtage" or "Vinnew"??? How about "Newtage Vinnew"



Who wants to come have a tea party with me? I think we could just about make two cups in this little rosy gem. It is also "Newtage Vinnew"



Sometimes when we're on vacation I look for new treasures. I found this one in an antique mall during one of our infamous summer treks to Hayward, Wisconsin.


This demitasse cup and saucer was a gift from my friend Vangie. The child's "toy" tea cup and saucer is an antique, it was made is occupied Japan.



Straight from Cracker Barrel - - - a china tea-spoon.


The rest of these pictured items are all antique demitasse sugar and creamers. This one is English china covered with a gold glaze and and nestled on a matching leaf tray.

From one of my Hayward trips.

These violets are way up on the top of my favorites list,
And also came from Hayward.

This was my first demitasse set. It was given to us as a wedding gift by my Aunt Janet. I guess it's probably an antique by now, being nearly 35 years old! If you click on the picture to enlarge it, you will see that I managed to break the creamer. I can't remember now how I did that - - - but I know it was all my fault, and I know it makes me sad. :-(

By the way, the dresser scarf upon which they are sitting was embroidered by my paternal grandmother as part of her hope chest.

Her hopes and dreams were granted - - - she had 13 children and raised them all - - -right through the depression. Oh, but THAT my dear readers, is fodder for ANOTHER post, don't'cha think?

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Why Fisherhubby Loves Fish Who Cannot Speak

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Fisherhubby is an ER PA, physician assistant. This little YouTube will show you EXACTLY why he loves fish so much and people - - - not so much.

Enjoy.




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Not One of the Herd

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At least not today.

(photo from steadfastfinances.com)

From time to time when I go to my blogger dashboard, it says: "You are currently not following any blogs."

Poppycock!!! I'm following LOTS of blogs.

The first time this happened, I felt PANIC!!! But then the list came back and I figured it was another of those pesky blogger glitches.

Well - - - it's happening again today. Oh how I wish it wasn't - - - I'm on BREAK - - - I have TIME TO BLOG.

I guess I'll just have to be patient.

Is anyone else out there getting the same annoying message today? We'll just have to be patient together and wait for blogger to restore our lists.

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In THEIR Words

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The other day I made a post about my sophomores. Several of you left comments suggesting that I invite these students to be guest bloggers and tell you all about me from THEIR perspective.

Well - - - the MINUTE I mentioned that idea to these kids, they JUMPED at the chance.

I'll admit, I was a little nervous about what they might say - - - - but as it turns out, I was nervous about the wrong thing! Now I'm nervous because what they said was soooooo very nice I'm afraid you will think I "put the words in their mouths" so to speak.

I can assure you - - - these are their words, I only edited out one tiny inside joke that they WILL have with me, but which I'm afraid would be TOTALLY misconstrued in cyber space.

So - - - without further ado - - - here are my Sophomores:


"Even though I haven't been with Mrs. Broyles long, during the time I've had with her she's been the best! (Addendum from Mrs. B - Audrey just transferred to our school after Christmas) She's my favorite teacher here at Lakeview, and I love going to her class! I'm going to be sad at the end of the year because my time with her is going to be cut short. But I've enjoyed the time I've had with her. I love you Mrs. Broyles!"

- - Audrey

"Mrs. Broyles' true identity is Eve from the Garden of Eden. Even though she seems nice, Mrs. Broyles has her dark side. She even broke a child's leg when pretending to help a little girl play on a tricycle. Just warning you - - -she has a very dark and violent side!!!!"

- - Brandon

(Brandon is referring to a story I told the class about an incident that happened during my college days - - - yes, I did accidentally cause a darling little girl to break her leg.)

"Kamma has been here for ages, literally. But she is one of my favorite teachers. She helps us daily in our spiritual walk. She has made an input in my life. My favorite part is probably 'Football Fridays' or her stories. She is like a mother-hen for us. She always treats us like family from helping with 'drama' to us going to her house. I know she's a big part of my growth with the Lord. I love her, even if she's older than time."

-- Love, Baili

"Carpe diem
Love her stories"
- - Seth

"When first I met her I was like - - - Wow! What a crazy ole bat! But after all these two years she has become my favorite teacher.

We all love your crazy stories! (Like the Africa one or the guy with the 'floods.')

I'm going to miss you! Thanks for a great two years and making me feel so welcome and a part of your family!

We love you even though you ditched us!

I love you Mrs. Broyles"
- - Jessica

"Not my fave, not bad.
Funny
Good stories
Good teacher
Stinks that I won't have her next year
That's it
Oh, good at Catch Phrase
The end"
- - Zach

"I love Mrs. Broyles! She is my favorite teacher ever. (Shhhhhh, don't tell my mom or the other teachers at Lakeview) (Rebekah was formerly homeschooled.) I love it when she tells stories and lets us have fun days in class! :-) I will never forget our eighth grade trip! I had so much fun watching my dad and another teacher beat her and one of the moms at Euchre! She is an amazing person- - - sweet, caring, loving, grandmotherly, and a godly woman. No, I'm not just saying that for brownie points. (But, Mrs. Broyles I'll take them if you want to give them to me.)

Even though she's millions of years old and is a cousin to the dinosaur, she is still, I guess, groovy & hip! Hahahahahah

Love ya, Eve!

Love always from your favorite student,"
- - Rebekah

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I Don't Care WHO You Are - - -

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This here's CUTE!!!!!


I'm sorry about your luck that these aren't your grans - - - they are MINE.


Maybe one day, yours will be as cute as mine, but I sincerely doubt it.

I'm their Kamma, it is my prerogative to be this proud!

;-)

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Sunday Reruns - Boy Meets Camera

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It's Sunday again, and you know what THAT means!?! It's time for Sunday reruns!!! Thanks so much to Chari over at Happy to Design for hosting this meme, "Sunday Favorites".

What in Kyle's World - - -
(First posted 12/13/2007)

Are these things?

The other night Kyle, our youngest son, unleashed his creative little soul with my camera. (When I say "little soul" I am only referring to him as my youngest, not saying he barely has a soul, nor that he is still a baby - - - just MY baby.)

I think he made some pretty fun pictures. But what are these items???

Wanna play? Make a guess and submit it as a comment under this post. Photo A and B are of the same thing, just taken with slightly different techniques. Photo C is something else entirely.

I think A is my favorite, what's yours?


Photo A


Photo B


Photo C

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No Exotic Destinations Pour Moi

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HEY YOU GUYS!!!

It's Spring Break at our school this week!!!

And while SOME people will be going to exotic places

Like this,

Or even this,

I will be "sparing no expense"
And traveling all the way around the world,
360 degrees - - -

To land right here - - -

And do a whole lotta this!!

I am so excited!!

To each her own.

;-)

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My Kids = My Day

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Yesterday I posted pictures and a little story about my sophomore class. It seemed from the comments that it wasn't clear they are only ONE of my classes.

In a small private school, in order to be full time, one has to teach a lot of different classes. That means a lot of preparation, but it also means I have the joy of getting to know all my students really well and can remain their teacher for many years.

Let me just take you through my day and introduce you to my classes so you can see what I'm talking about.

Oh trust me, I didn't have to ask but ONCE and these kids were lining up to get their pictures taken to be on my blog. And then there was that little fact of delaying class for a bit - - -

Before I start my daily teaching, I have a lot of work to do, so I am usually the first or second teacher to arrive at school. I pull the security pins out of the front doors, unlock them, and work in my room for an hour or more before school starts. I NEED to do that to keep my head above water.


Each morning the sixth graders and I begin our school day together. First period I teach them math. This is the first year I've taught 6th grade math.

I just gotta tell you, I ADORE teaching 6th graders. I always have. They are "brand new" to middle school, "brand new" to having different teachers for different classes, "brand new" to having a locker, "brand new" to moving from room to room during they day. They L O V E it. They come into the room each morning excited about the day.

That is like saying "sick 'em" to a teacher. :-)

Second Period they stay with me for their science class. It has been GREAT to have them in my classroom for two periods back to back. It gives me the opportunity to kind of "mama" them through the day's schedule. It has also allowed us to arrange our time to suit the needs of the day.

Sometimes we don't take our "break" when the passing period is going on for the rest of the school - - - sometimes we take it before or after they do. When break is over, I always say, "Yo Bob! Break's over" (a line from "Earnest Saves Christmas") and they scramble to their seats. If I DON'T say "Yo Bob!" they tell me about it.

Two days a week these sixth graders come back to me during 7th period for study hall. Bless their hearts - - - they have to "deal" with me for three class periods on those days.


Third Period - the seventh and eighth graders report for Earth Science Class. Lately we've been learning about weather.

They are a lively bunch. Some of them leave comments in my cBox over in the left side bar of this blog. Some of them even identify themselves there - - - others try to "trick" me by making up random monikers for themselves.

I allow 5 points of extra credit per grading period. In order to receive these five points, the students have to find science concepts that we have discussed in class in the world around them - - - in the media, online, etc. These kids are VERY imaginative in finding those extra credit points!!! I love it.


Fourth Period - seven seniors come to my room for Human Anatomy and Physiology.

Before I talk about this class, I need to make a little disclaimer.













Two of our seniors are twins - - - Emily and Evan. Evan took Anatomy last year as a Junior, and Emily is taking it this year. However, Emily was absent today, so as you can see in the class picture, Evan substituted for her. We thought that was a perfect solution. :-)

Anatomy is the highest level class that I teach. It is quite detailed. I teach it in a different style than I teach any of my other classes. Each unit has a syllabus which includes student work days followed by discussion days. It has worked very well and affords us time to bond and fellowship. It is my favorite subject to teach, and the students often tell me it is their favorite class too.

This particular group are very good students and all have superior grades.

Fifth Period - I have lunch and my planning period, my very NEEDED planning period if I'm going to stay "ahead of the game" so to speak with teaching all these classes and being a class sponsor who is trying to plan and take care of the details of the senior class trip to Costa Rica. (We leave in just about two weeks, btw)

During their lunch period, the seniors come and eat in my room - - - being able to do that, versus eating in the cafeteria, is one of their senior privileges.


Sixth Period - The sophomores come to my room for Physical Science, which is a blend of basic physics and chemistry.

I introduced you to them yesterday, and we (they and I) are working on a little surprise for you which I will post another day - - - so that's all I'll say about THAT right now.

Seventh Period - On Monday and Wednesday I have another planning period. On Tuesday and Thursday the 6th graders come to my room for study hall, and on Fridays the Seniors come so we can prepare for the ministry part of our upcoming trip to Costa Rica.


Eighth Period - Freshman Biology.

Now folks, there really ought to be a law against having a difficult academic class last period of the day!!!! We are all brain dead by that time, BUT we persevere!!! When the clock finally says 2:58, we stop our work and place all the chairs on top of the desks and then we wait impatiently for the bell to free us at 3:00!!!

Oh, please don't think we don't love each other - - - we've all just HAD it with school by then - - - you understand.

And THAT takes you through one school day with me. I hope you enjoyed the "ride."

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Happy to Oblige

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Today my sophomores said, "Mrs. Broyles, we need a class picture! Will you take one and blog about us???"

Happy to oblige!!!


Here they are - - - in their most formal pose. There are only seven of them, but what they lack in quantity, they make up for in quality.

I was their class sponsor for three years. We THOUGHT I'd be with them until graduation. But this year, the administration asked me to become one of the senior class sponsors to help that class with the details of their senior trip. Now our school is closing, so I will not be able to return to being a sponsor for the class of 2012.

They said I "ditched" them. They said I could make up for it by making a blog for them.

I said, "A WHOLE blog or just a post?"

They wanted a whole blog.

We settled on a post - - - maybe more.


This is their silly pose - - - and THIS is much more realistic!

They are, after all the class that gave me "Fossil Appreciation Day", dubbed me the Keethasaurus, and are sure I was born before time began.

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