Just playing around with some new stuff, let me know what you think!
Love,
Melle

Thank you my dear friends, thank you!

I just have to thank you. With so many faithful followers to my blog (more than 2 of you now, woohoo!) I was motivated to play with some photos because I couldn't think of anything else new to really blog about!
Here's what I have so far,
Last Friday evening, April 17th, McKenna performed a few songs along with her fellow first graders. (She is the one in the top row, in pink of course.)

And then, thanks to Earth Day this week, McKenna was inspired to plant a garden. We had to compromise and we agreed on a little garden. She planted these tomato, lettuce and sweet pepper seeds today.


Finally, finally I figured out how to work a few techniques in my photo editing software that have been bugging me. Let's hope, one day I'll look back at this picture and think "amateur", but for today, I'm very pleased with this photo.
Love to all,
Melle

All done!

I finally finished those cards I was working on and I was just ready to go to bed, but I couldn't go without just two quick photos for you.
Here's what 80 3-D, stand up thank you cards look like for our community volunteers at The Villages...


Love to all,
sweet dreams,
Melle

Where did the weekend go?

I'm afraid this weekend's post is only a fraction of what I had hoped to post. However, I see that there are several of you who now visit here and I didn't want to let a whole week slip by w/o something to go on!
The students art show was a success! We combined it this year with a music concert and let me tell you on both Wed. and Fri. nights the turnout was huge! I'd say, both nights had more parents visit then I've ever had over the past four years, combined! Although, I and my home miss those five days I lost over spring break, I can say all the hard work was worth it.
Now, one last major project (that I'm aware of) to finish for work and that's what I was working on this weekend. I had hoped I'd have a photo to share, but they aren't quite finished yet. I am finishing 80 cards for our community volunteer reception that is this Thurs. And of course, they are not your average cards, nooooo, they are 3D and they stand up. They are the cutest darn things! I promise, I will share a photo of the completed project :) I also want to share photos of McKenna's music performance. Give me until, say, Wednesday, I'll try to have things updated then :)
I can't tell you how much I miss my girlfriends! I need some girl talk! Poor Scott had to listen to my female ramblings this evening.....
Love to all! Miss you!
Melle

Here's to my non traditional Easter pictures this year....whattcha think?

Back to the grindstone tomorrow.....

7 more weeks with students; one more week after that of work and then.....maybe, just maybe I'll get to scrapbook again?

Love to all,

Melle

Once again I find myself barely able to keep my head up while I add this post, but I just couldn't resist sharing with you at least one photo from The Butterfly Rainforest in Gainesville today.

You might wonder why I'm so tired....if you've been able to follow the blog I've mentioned how much I put into this student art show of mine. I stayed and working the entire 10 hours yesterday, but I can now say the show is up and just about 99% complete. I still have some finishing touches and I finally had to take some short cuts, but every student has at least one piece in the show. I don't anticipate any official visitors on Monday, so after I teach 7 classes , I'll get a chance to pin up the last of the first grade student photos w/ their art work.
I believe you can still click on any of the photos to enlarge.

This is the "after", scroll down just a little to see the "before".

Love to all,

Happy Easter,

Melle

I'm okay

Inquiring minds wanted to know, "What's up? Where are you? It's your Spring Break, how come you haven't blogged?"
You are too sweet to ask, so here is the latest....
It would seem that my Spring Break is reserved for putting up my student art show - well worth it, but oh so much work. Here you can see display panels up in my room - however, they are still empty!

Here you can see piles of art work matted, labeled and ready to hang;

And here you can see even MORE piles waiting to be matted and labeled! Each student also has their "artist's interview and photo" beside their art work. This is what is so time consuming, but it was something that I started two years ago and I just can't bring myself to stop. I think it is something that is both rewarding for the student and the parent.

I think I mentioned once before, Friday night April 17th the First Graders (that's McKenna) will sing a few songs at 6:00 pm. The art show will be open at 5:00 for its last night. Love to see you there! :) Don't worry if you can't come though, I will post pictures here!

Actually, I do enjoy working on all this and I am still being creative over Spring Break, I just can't stand the stress (and fear) of not finishing in time.

Spring Break did include an amazing visit to The Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, with my dear friend Sue as our guide. (As a matter of fact, we were her very first guided group - a VERY big deal - thank you for such a wonderful day!) The first of many photos to come below:

What with the photos Andrea brought home from DC and my photos at the Cat Rescue, I have plenty to work on, oh, and we plan to do the Butterfly Rainforest on Friday - yippee - now I'll just need a day off :)

By the by, all you "word smart" people out there - PLEASE go ahead and tell me the difference between it's and its 'cuz I'm sure I've already missed it up in this post! :)

Love to all,

Melle

That's My Girl!

Yea! Andrea's home safe and sound and look at some of the photos she's brought back for me to play with!

There will be more, but these are fresh, unedited by me, thought I'd give you a sneak peak.

Thanks for checking in, love to all, and I'll be back.....

Melle

DC day 4....

Hello All,
I am so tired I am falling asleep at the computer tonight (it's only 8:30), but I can see that there are a few of you who must be checking in to see what the latest is with Andrea's trip. You are so sweet - thank you!
She called last night around 10:00 again, right on schedule. Initially what she said was upsetting her were some bug bites she'd gotten while she slept, however, I think it's the sleep deprivation, sheer exhaustion and a tinge of home sickness that have just caught up with her. There were a few tears last night. I talked with her chaperon a little later and she shared with me that her group has been the best. She said they seemed to be really having a good time and admits that the evenings have been a little tougher.
Today was the Smithsonian and a mall this evening for dinner and shopping. The buses pick them up at 9:00 pm and then they are on their way home. She is expected to arrive at the Villages by noon .
This morning on the news they mentioned that April 1 - 4 was the height of "cherry blossom season", I'm so glad she could be there then and I so look forward to pictures!! Oh yes, I'll share. :)

By the by, while I have your attention, I want to let you know that we will not be home this weekend - yippee! Finally, it is the first two days of MY SPRING BREAK and we are on our way to visit my dear, dear friend Sue and David and Donnie (we're coming!!!!)Yippee!!!

I will try to post one more time in the next few days, but please don't be disappointed. I WILL be back with DC photos!!! :)

Love to all!
Melle

DC day 3....

Hello Readers,
Andrea is still doing fine :). Instead of calling me at 11:00pm, they let them have back their cell phones and she called me at 10:10 from the bus. She really enjoyed the play at the Kennedy Performing Arts Center. She also made it to the top of the Washington Monument and told me she took lots of pictures! She said she wasn't too impressed with Hard Rock for dinner :)
Today they visited several of the memorials, I hope to hear from her by 10:00.

Love,
Melle