Dear Old Golden Rule Days

My apple sweater is back in action after a summer off. I can barely keep my eyes open, but thought it necessary to take a moment to jot down a bit because today was full of so many unexpected moments.

First, the expected:
My alarm went off at 5am and I don't think I ever actually fell asleep, I experienced waves of nervousness that shot through my fingers throughout the morning, None of the computers worked and it was pure bedlam. I smiled through it, Not every student thought that I was as hilarious as I think I am. Lucky I was there to laugh at my jokes.

And the unexpected:
While we realize that we are not alone as teachers and think that we will have EACHOTHER to lean on throughout the day/week/month/year, we forget that sometimes the best support is made up of students who truly care about us. Old students came to visit throughout the day, some more than once, just to say hi. One burst into class and told everyone not to mess with me. My heart swelled. My whole being smiled.

Sometimes when we feel as if we're drowning, we reach up to find unexpected hands pulling us up. That's really something.

To the Unexpected, With Love,
Jes

Our Biggest DIY to date

We're getting ready to demo our kitchen and rebuild the kitchen of our dreams using the above as our inspiration. We're looking for ivory cabinetry, silver hammered tin backsplashes, turquoise walls and red accents (all of our pots, pans, and small appliances are fire engine red).
I'm thinking I'll finally get a chance to buy the famed Cole & Son "Woods" wallpaper that I've had my eye on for four years as an accent wall, while the rest of the walls will be a turquoise color. Photos to follow. This is all in the spirit of tearing down the bad stuff and rebuilding. Our theme of the year. Happy Labor Day!

Love,
Jes

The last hurray. Yeah, I said hurray.

I'm not going to lie. I'm sad that summer is ending, especially since this particular summer was nothing short of magical. I got really tan and lost 10 lbs! I saw parts of Maine that regular people don't get to see. I slept in. A lot. I made homemade ice cream in coffee cans (video will follow). I'm softening the blow today by making sun and strawflower bouquets from the flowers I grew from seed. I've been making these for friends and family in little juice glasses as they grow in, but I can't seem to keep pace with my two over zealous flower bushes.
These are miniature and starburst sunflowers. I would recommend growing these to lazy gardeners. I really just threw some seeds around and ignored them for most of the summer (watering twice to three times/week).
These straw flowers grew in the most beautiful colors. I have to admit, I thought they were weeds for most of the summer until they started to bud the second week of August. I'm saving the seeds from these and growing them EVERYWHERE next year. They're amazing.
You need to go and buy this issue. It's the kind of amazing that makes your hands shake and it'll get you so ready for the best day of the year. Plus, how awesome and beautiful is Martha on this cover. I mean, really.

Swoon Fest 2010

I think I need a pill whenever I see a new beautiful hair fascinator like the one from ban.do above. I can't even get a hold of myself. This model's hair is just perfect too. I really want to be her and have beautiful red hair too! (Until I harken back to the red hair incident of 1998 wherein a box of red hair dye truly got the best of me.)
I love the idea of wearing a huge one on my lapel and I'm totally obsessing over emerson made lately and wishing I could afford one. Maybe someday.
And of course, there's the mighty Vinny and Vernelle, made by the beautiful Jessie out of antique millinery flowers. She made all of the hair doodles for me and my bridesmaids! Love her.
Last but not least are the fabric corsages that my high school fashion students made this spring. They were obsessed with this project and I saw them wearing them all over school. Some students that I didn't even know came to see me for private lessons on the art of fabric flowers. Loved it!

Love you too!
Hearts and Unicorns,
Jes

Hot Off the Hoop: Engagement Gift, Peanut Gallery

I just finished this embroidery project for my friend Lou and her fiance Dan. It's the story of the proposal that is soon to be a little pillow. This took forever, but I loved every second of it. All 7200 beautiful seconds.


Once I finish this peanut embroidery project I have some vintage hankies to do for some friends. After that, I plan on taking on a HUGE embroidery project inspired by the work of Joetta Maue. Thanks to everyone's favorite librarian for reminding me of this wonderful artist.

I swooned so hard I hurt my back.

You're Tops,
Jes

Avant Garden

Dan built a little raised bed garden for me this summer. It was beautiful and rustic just the way I like it. (By the by, has anyone noticed people using the word rustic a lot lately?) Anywho, there's nothing like some home grown vegetables---they taste like summer in the same way a gin and tonic tastes like christmas.
Beans, beans the musical fruit!
I had a boyfriend once that hated the fact that I ate peppers like apples. He's gone now, but I'm still wishing they would make a pepper perfume I love them so much.
A little heirloom tomato. Just for you.

Wish you were here, With Love,
Jes

Happy Teen Pregnancy Month

Yep...it's teen preggers month. I know. Seemed weird to me too, but I'm new to this teacher stuff, so I'm not asking questions.

I just cut into our 2nd home grown tomato of the season and I have to tell you...homemade tomatoes make you feel like dancing. Instead, I'm going to take a stroll around the block with Jim Brill (state legislator) before it's back to the wedding planning and nagging of Philadelphia Human Resources Departments that shall remain nameless.

Today was the first day of induction for the Philadelphia Department of Ed. It was a little strange because we were being taught by Powerpoint instead of being taught by Mary. There were no colorful posters to create nor Objectives to read aloud...and nary a post break peppermint to get the electricity going in our brains. I suppose it's a good thing to experience different kinds of teaching before actually jumping in head first because you realize what to do and what not to do. Today I learned not to create powerpoint lessons. Also, I learned not to take things like cell phones from students, but to take shoes from them...or...give them a pencil for a shoe or a quarter...or something. Seriously...I'm not really sure. Maybe I just miss Mary.

In other news, Mr. Tony Danza was at induction, also learning to be a teacher in the Philadelphia school district. He's filming a reality show for A&E wherein he teaches English to high risk youth and he looked at a bunch of schools before settling on one in the Northeast...he even looked at G-Dub (Go Eagles). While he still has a lot of cred points to earn in my heart (and Katelyn agreed), he def earned a check plus today for being there and learning the biz. Nice work, Mr. D.

To Being The Boss,
Jes