Halloween Happenings

We celebrated Halloween with our American Family Traditions...it was a fun day...filled with more treats than tricks!

The High School students had a Halloween dance last evening. Zach came by after work and Line rode with him. It sounds like a good time was had by all who attended.

The sun was shining today...for a change!

Hubby had to go to five places before he found pumpkins for sale...but it was worth it...

These are perfect. Almost too pretty to cut into!


Scooping out the insides is perhaps the most work...

Carving a Jack-O-Lantern is something that the girls have always done with their dad...





This is the first year I carved my own pumpkin. I think it is Line's first Jack-O-Lantern too...

We had some special trick or treaters this evening. Little Vikings cheerleader was here with her mom and dad.

Later, our special family friends, Kari and Lexi, were here. Every young girl has been a witch for Halloween at least once...but I don't think I've ever seen a witch's costume quite this cute!

And the Pumpkin Seeds...one can't let those go to waste. They are sooo good and good for you too!

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

1 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

2 tsp. olive oil

salt

garlic powder ~ optional

cayenne pepper ~ optional

seasoning salt ~ optional

cajun seasoning ~ optional

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Wash pumpkin seeds. Toss in a bowl with the oil and seasonings of your choice. Spread pumpkin seeds in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown.

Happy Halloween

What are your plans?

Going out??

Staying home???

Best wishes for a safe evening filled with warm memories.

TGIF & The Purple Cow

Ok...first of all...what's wrong with parents these days? None of my high school students had heard The Purple Cow poem...are parents not reciting these silly poems to their kids anymore?? I see 120 students a day and none of them would admit that they knew this poem. Perhaps that would not have been cool... ...But the Purple Cow was a hit...the Purple Cow drink that is...We made them today in my Fitness for Life class along with our Whole Wheat Pancakes...nutritious and delicious...

The Purple Cow
1 cup milk

1/2 cup grape juice concentrate

1/2 cup 7up

1 chunk ice cream

ice cubes
Place all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth.

I never saw a purple cow,

I never hope to see one;

But I can tell you anyhow,

I'd rather see, than be one.

Who's that at the Grocery Store?

Most of you know I go to the grocery store nearly every morning. I teach Foods classes at our high school and this is the best time for me to get lab supplies...this guy has been hanging out in the dairy section for about a week now. He startles me every time I come around the corner and walk that way...

Today I decided to go up and introduce myself. His green eyes are a bit eerie...don't you think?

Out with the Old...In with the New

This weekend I said good-bye to my old red Taurus...I have driven this car for twelve years. We purchased her in 1997. Emily was 8; Amy was 12. It's really not the car that makes me feel sentimental, but all the memories...

In this car we drove to swim team work-outs, to the dance studio, to tennis and golf lessons; to gymnastics and basketball practice.

In this car we went to Discovery, Peer Ministry, SADD and Teen Court Activites. One summer I kept track of how many miles I drove around town, delivering car pools of kids to their events...the average...45 miles a day. She was faithful...She was paid for...but, she was old...
So...I said good-bye to my car. And...hubby said hello to a pick-up. I think he has always secretly wanted one...do you see how seriously he is taking this drive?

Within 24 hours of owning the pick up, we are hauling leaves to the landfill...This pickup will earn her keep.

Sooo...hubby now drives his redneck pickup...and I am driving the Trailblazer. Am I complaining?? Absolutely not...the Trailblazer has an AutoStart...and you all remember the winter we had last year!!

Where the Weekend Went

Saturday was a beautiful morning for driving...Hubby was heading east, then south...his band was playing in a Jazz Club in downtown Sioux Falls. I was heading east, then north...for various college activities.

I arrived in time for lunch. We had a bowl of Southwest Chicken Soup at Sandellas...right across the street from campus...

... ...and to Emily's delight...they were finally pouring cement...this street has been under construction for years...she and Jake have been crossing this muddy street all fall to get to class...

It was Recruitment Day/Parent Weekend for the Bison lacrosse team. Since Jake's parents live in Seattle, I was honored to attend as his substitute mom. Wearing #5, he is a team captain, a leader on the field.

It was cold and wet...we spectators were wrapped in blankets...so not much for pictures...sorry...

Tailgating was also cold and wet...

Here is the band...marching around the backside of the Fargo Dome.

Since the football team cannot seem to win, the band was, again, the highlight of the evening.

Emily sat in the reserved section with me. She had her flashcards handy for when there was a break in the action.



After a bite to eat, I checked in with Weber...Cathy and Keith went out with another couple after the game, so I beat them home.

This morning, I had a wonderful visit with Cathy. She was a good friend in college...and a good friend to this day...

TGIF ~ End of the Week ~ End of the Term

It is a pressure packed day for teachers...Can I check my grade...do I have anything missing...can I still hand this in....
Plus...Monday starts the new term, with new classes, with new lesson plans, with new students. One needs to be on the 'top of their game' (if you know what I mean).
And let me explain my casual attire...We teachers are allowed to wear jeans on Friday, as long as they are nice jeans. Also, everyone is encouraged to wear 'spirit' clothes on Fridays.


Go ahead...Call me the bag lady...my school friends do. Remember, for my birthday, I got the cute little red bag on wheels. Fridays, I take my school computer home to enter grades, that's the black bag on the side.

Line's PE bag is the black bag on top.

Also, I have a bag with leftover cotton batting from the quilting class...they were just throwing those strips away...

I have an additional bag with papers to correct as my school bag now contains Lysol wipes, hand sanitizer, and throat lozenges. Oh...and then there's my purse.


Line's day started earlytoday. Since she missed a couple of days of school this week due to illness, she needed to make up a weight training session early this morning. This is what our school looks like at 6:45 a.m.

Line is now taking a nap!

Whatcha Workin on Wednesday?

I am working on not getting sick....can't afford to be sick. It is the end of the school term...tests, final projects, grades, preps for new classes...who can be gone from school???

Hand washing still proves to be the best defense...but tests show that using hand sanitizer is almost better in some situations. So...keep a bottle handy...

How about those disinfecting wipes...move over lesson plan book and grade book...make room for a container of wipes in your school bag...

Also take advantages of those provided at your supermarket and discount stores...wipe...wipe...wipe.

Then there's the classroom...

Mrs. G, can I use your phone?

Just a minute, please.



Can I use your computer, Mrs. G??

Sure...no problem...

Students who do not feel well are sent to the school nurse for an assessment. There has been a continuous line outside her office. Today this note was posted outside her door...

Here is a peak into the attendance office...There are two women on duty to take phone calls and to sign students out...

An email today shared these flu prevention tips:

Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS,DRM,DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist), having clinical experience of over 20 years. He has worked in institutions like Hinduja Hospital , Bombay Hospital , Saifee Hospital , Tata Memorial, etc. Presently, he is heading our Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W). The following message given by him; I feel it makes a lot of sense and is important for all to know. The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible not coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is. While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).

2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face.

3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. *Not everybody may be good at using a Neti pot, but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton swabs dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*

5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C. *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

Sooo...in addition, I tell my students...

Wash your hands often;

Do not share beverages or lip gloss;

and absolutely NO KISSING!

Tuesday's Tip of the Day & True Confessions

Slow Cooker Season is upon us. Here is a pic of my Vegetarian Chili from yesterday. There are not too many household chores that are worse than scrubbing the cooked-on-food from the sides of your crock pot.

About a year ago, I discovered the liners...

They are so easy to use and makes the clean up a dream.

And now for my true confessions...
Last spring, after we had passed inspection and were approved as a suitable host family for a foreign exchange student, I wanted to make her room perfect.

This involved removing Amy's possessions from her closet, two dressers, and desk drawers.

And where was I going to store these precious keepsakes?

Well...this was my problem...this was our garage...for two winters, one of our cars has been parked outside...

How did this happen??

I can tell you it didn't happen overnight. It may have started in about 1999, when we moved my mom from her 5 bedroom farmhouse into her two room townhouse in town...We loaded our vehicle and a trailer...and brought it here to store it for her...plus, every time we visit her, she sends home a few more of her cherished possessions.

Then there are the boxes of our daughters' toys and school memoirs...from kindergarten to college...

Then there are the tubs of crafts and crafting supplies...

In the spring of 2007, the flood forced us, and nearly everyone else in town, to take everything out of the lower level of their home...By now...both cars are parked outside the garage.

Sooo...I knew it was time for me to do something about this...because I couldn't wait for Oprah to have me on her show...

This task pretty much consumed my entire month of July...and yesterday...for the first time in years...