It's June and Five for Friday

My niece and her husband have been in town the last two weeks as they await their roadtrip to Alaska. They will live there for the next 3 years as her husband is in the Army. Most of their stuff will be shipped from their current base in Georgia, but they will be hauling this trailer along with two dogs. The trailer was in my driveway until they left on Monday. Safe travels to them and sad faces for the rest of the family having to say goodbye.

 While in town, my niece made birthday cupcakes for Shane (her husband). She shared a few with me. Wow, these Oreo Cupcakes were so delicious.

Some of the family also spent the day at Knott's Berry Farm and I have to tell you that a ride at Camp Snoopy (did I say Camp Snoopy-the kid zone) just about did me in! It was the rollercoaster The Sierra Sidewinder. I know my limits and DO NOT go on crazy rollercoaster rides, but since it was at Camp Snoopy I thought  that it couldn't be that bad. I was totally shocked with the speed and spinning teacup action on this rollercoaster. I was seated with my twin sister and we were both a mess. I should have known something not so kid friendly was up when we noticed a camera in each seat. They film you while on it and you can see yourself afterwards. Boy, my brother in law was so disappointed that me and my sister's video camera was broken and did not capture our screaming antics. You can take a peek at some other random strangers on the ride if you are not familiar with it.

I planted some basil and have been using it regularly to my scrambled eggs in the morning. YUM.

 My basil kick continues. This was a dinner one night this week. Tomatoes topped with parmesan and mozzarella cheeses, basil and olive oil and then baked. Light, fresh and easy!

Today, two weeks after the last day of school, our school staff is having a goodbye celebration for our principal. After being our leader for 12 years she is taking a district level position. Yay for her, but bittersweet for the staff. We will be starting the school year in August with a new principal. I look at it as a time to celebrate change and new beginnings!

Share your Five for Friday over at Doodle Bugs Linky.

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Office Space

I'm about two weeks into my summer vacation and have been occupied with some home "catch up" cleaning. I've worked on spiffing up things I've neglected during the school year....dusting, cleaning windows (YUCK), organizing cupboards and so on.  So when I saw this fun share your office space linky I knew it was right up my alley.

I have a whole spare room office. I use it mainly for storage of all my teacher junk. I keep my paper cutter, laminator and all sorts of disorganized piles of nonsense inside the closet that I did not take a picture of. So on the bright side of things it looks like my office is neat as can be.

 

Even though my office has plenty of desk space, I find I do not do any of my computer work for grading, lesson planning or TPT creating there. I much prefer sitting at my dining room table to do all that, with my dog, Harley, lounging under the table at my feet usually.

Harley is my work buddy. He's a big ol lab and he just has to crowd into my work space.

So what does your home work space look like? Link on up and share along with Schroeder's Shenaningans in Second Grade and Lucky Little Learners.

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Five for Friday

My 5 random sharings this Friday are:

  My task today is to assemble this adjustable stool to use in my classroom this year.

Wish me luck.

 This morning my dog got scolded by this squirrel sitting on the telephone wire.

Harley had no clue he was being put into place by a little ol squirrel.

 So, I mixed up a lavendar home spray using essential oils the other day.

I used it a handful of times and now just take a look at the spray bottle on the right hand side of the picture. It is all collapsed in. The bottle cannot even stand upright now like the empty one on the left.

I assume I bought cheapo bottles for this to happen.

 It's been heating up here so the past couple of days I drive myself (with Harley of course)

to Chick Fil  A for a yummy vanilla ice cream cone.  Harley usually gets offered a biscuit treat by the employees if he is spotted sticking his head out the window like a pretty boy. He pouts if he happens to be ignored though.

  I'm trying to put to the back of my mind that I go back to work next Wednesday.  BOO!

I have been window shopping and wishlisting some things I need on TPT, but mainly I'm practicing School AVOIDANCE right now.  If you want to window shop, I did get some of my popular items bundled into sets this summer.  My Swat It Grammar Bundle and my To the Point Grammar Pack may be worth your looking at.

Join the fun in Doodlebug's Linky

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Happy July

Back in March a bird nested on my patio. Well this summer I've had the daily pleasure of seeing the baby birds grow and leave their nest.

Other summer happenings include helping my nephew host a yard sale at my house to help fundraise for his Eagle Scout project he will be completing later in August. My whole garage was filled to the brim with things to sell. He raised over $800 to support his project.

My summer has been pretty low key. I'm recovering from a recent surgery and just taking it easy.

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Backyard Delights

I get to enjoy my yard, work and all, during the summer.

My backyard is a 1/2 acre. Over spring break I cut down some palms that were breaking my planters.

I replaced them with a Crape Myrtle tree which is now blooming.

Look at those pretty watermelon blooms.

I'm still battling the asparagus fern sprouts that keep popping up which I also removed from the planter. I'm avoiding the need to clean up the dead blooms of my Bird of Paradise. I'll wait to do that on a cooler day.

Wild rabbits love my backyard too.

I came back from walking Harley yesterday and saw these two eating steps away from my patio.

Harley isn't fast enough to catch the grown ones, but last summer he did corner and kill a few babies :(

And yuck, Harley loves to eat the rabbit poop all over the lawn when I don't watch him.

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