Day 486

I was lucky enough to see how much a mamma bird loved her baby.

Baby bird fell from the tree.

Momma bird coaxed her along in the grass until baby made it to the base of the tree.

Momma bird coaxed/pushed/encouraged baby to climb up the tree trunk.

Little baby bird clung to the tree with its little baby bird feet.

Baby bird made it to a branch. Then baby made it to the next branch and the next.

Momma kept coaxing/pushing/encouraging baby bird to keep hopping along the branch until she (I hope) made it back to her nest.

Day 485

I don't know why, but the soap inside the car wash this morning seemed interesting. Is there a story behind it? Nope. Just lots of wild colors.

Day 484

I woke up with a hangover today. A chocolate hangover.

I was getting groceries last night and saw that M&Ms were on sale. On the pack it was advertised that if you bought three bags you got a free movie ticket. So I just had to buy three bags.

One of those bags wound up next to my sewing machine. Last night as I worked on some quilting, I'd stop ever so often and eat a few M&Ms. It probably wouldn't have been so bad except I worked late into the night. Like until midnight or so. I don't know how many I ate (and am afraid to even pick up the bag), but the way my body was feeling this morning I have a feeling I ate a lot.

A chocolate hangover. I'm not a big chocolate fan but by mindlessly eating I consumed more than I would by choice.

There's only one cure for feeling icky in the morning. An ice cold glass of green juice. Kale, celery, parsley, bell pepper, green apples, kiwi, and cantaloupe. Snapple isn't the best stuff on earth. Today's juice is.

Day 483

Three days of math class, three days of problems taking 90 minutes. Here's today's 90 minute math problem:

26 x 18 =

I think I don't belong in this class - I keep thinking don't make me do another number line or boxes or "decompose" or "compensate" the numbers. (Both words I never heard being related to math before taking this class.) Let's get this problem solved and move on.

Some folks seem to enjoy the class. I'm sure a lot has to do with the fact they'll have to turn around and teach these strategies and models to their students, but for me with no classroom and no reason to be all that interested it makes for a pretty long day.

I'm not the only one with a long day. One minute the cat has claimed the coffee table and the next she's parked herself under it. What a cat.

Day 482

84 + 38=
107 - 88 =
62 - 19 =

If you had to guess, how long do you think we spent in class today solving these three math problems?
a. 1 minute
b. 5 minutes
c. 10 minutes
d. 90 minutes

D. 90 minutes.

With today's new type of math we have to show kids lots of different ways to solve math problems and the conventional way of lining them up and carrying/borrowing isn't one of them. What should take no more than a minute now takes a long time - and a lot of explanation - and lots of paper and lots of lines and boxes and arrows.

Between that drain brain of a day and another two (yep, 2) work-related phone calls, I took a nap tonight after dinner. Just like last night.

The only thing that saved me today was getting to see this out my bedroom window.

Day 481

The thought of getting these quilts to Alaska is what is keeping me moving forward. Although today I felt like I was stuck in the Twilight Zone.

Part of the problem is that I had this math class starting this morning and I SO didn't want to go. To keep my teaching certificate current I have to take this class. I've put it off for a couple years and can't wait much longer. So today it started.

An entire day - an entire week - of 30+ people crammed into a 5th grade classroom with 5th grade tables and 5th grade sized plastic chairs. By the time my eight hours was up today my back was done for. (Not to mention we spent an hour and a half working through one math problem. One problem, 90 minutes. Talk about brains being scrambled.)

And those work phone calls I was crossing my fingers and hoping I wouldn't get now that I'm done for the summer? I've had two so far.

No escaping anyone or anything. I'm so thankful I can sew!

Day 480

Day 336 brought me a package of fabric from Paula O. Fabric she didn't have a need for, fabric she wanted me to have.

Day 430 brought me a package from Brenda in Alaska. Brenda who works at a fabric store and came across some strips someone had left behind.

Thanks to those two people, here's today's math problem:
Day 336 + Day 430 + working all day in the sewing room = ??

Another charity quilt top. And Brenda, when I knew where this one was going I had to make sure your strips found a way into the quilt. This one will head to a little girl who has a dad in the Army. Stationed in Alaska.