Carrots

"The day is coming when a single carrot, freshly observed, will set off a revolution.”

Paul Cezanne Carrots are so different than other vegetables- when harvest day comes you have no way of knowing what the carrot will look like. This may not seem like a lot of excitement to some people but around here it is a major source of entertainment. Jove squeals when he finds really long or really fat carrots. Miranda wants the "baby" ones and proceeds to make dirt houses for them so they will be happy. And, the taste--quite unlike a store-bought carrot. Sweet and tender. I will always plant carrots.

These days

These days I am enjoying the fruits of my labor (and Jove's): daily cucumbers, a few butternut squashes, popcorn (three ears to be exact), the last of the tomatoes and basil and hopefully salad greens and snap peas 6 weeks from now if my fall garden behaves. I was supposed to plant the peas and the greens 3 weeks ago, but I have been SO BUSY with going back to work it didn't happen until this morning.

These days I am grateful for outings with the extended family on sunny, fall days. The fridge is full of apples and raspberries picked yesterday during our annual pilgrimage to Hurds Family Farm. I love this place. I know I have mentioned the cow train before. I love it. The tractor driver was particularly entertaining: steering with his leg, driving standing up and, of course, hooting and hollering. We all went twice.

These days I am occasionally unable to sleep because my to do list won't let me, so I get up at four in the morning and get a ton of things done. Its crazy, I know, but somehow I feel better being exhausted than getting a couple of more hours of sleep and being behind on my work.

new beginnings

This week we all went back to school: Jove started Kindergarten in Jupiter's district, Miranda went to her toddler program at a Montessori School and Jupiter and I are back in our high school science classrooms. The kids are happy, but tired. I feel like I have earned a merit badge in lunch making and backpack notes.

I feel VERY good being back in the classroom. I truly love the work of planning and teaching lessons. My students are great and I expect a great year.

Jupiter and I went to his cousin's wedding in Phoenix, Arizona over labor day weekend. It was a beautiful wedding and a great chance for us to be together before the school year starts. I love the desert landscape and all of the cacti. We will definitely go back with the whole family to explore and make it up to the Grand Canyon