Monday, March 29, 2010
Garden 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Garden Update
Herb Bed
Cucumbers
Corn!
Lettuce, East
Friday, May 15, 2009
Backyard Progress!
The last few weeks, Chris and I have been hard at work. We constructed the raised beds, brought in soil to fill them up, and created our gravel walkways. Whew! Backbreaking work. It is so exciting to see our dream come together though!
Last weekend, we started building the trellis'. We plan on growing squash, zucchini and all those vegetables that sprawl out over the land. How are we going to accomplish this in our little space?? We are going vertical of course!
I am really excited about the couch in the back by the fence. My goal is to put a water feature in the middle of the four main beds (even a bird bath would be nice) and then spend my summers outside, gardening and reading on the little couch.
Our goal to start planting this weekend. Chris is currently working on the irrigation system. We are investing in a drip system which we will be able to tweak as seasons go on, depending on where we are planting the different veggies from year to year.
After the irrigation system, we need to build a fence to keep the chickens from the main garden. Then, it's planting time!!!
While Chris is working on the backyard fence and irrigation, I will be planting some flowers and such in the front yard. Last year we completely redid the front...took out the lawn, but in a sprinkler system, cut down a tree, built a porch and put in a new walkway. We still haven't landscaped it though.
Overall, I think we calculated that we would have a total of about 650 square feet of vegetable/fruit space. Hopefully our first season is successful. We want to be farmers, but no one said we were farmers yet.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Sad, Sad Week
This week has been stressful, emotional and long. The Spokane School District is having huge budget issues because of state funding....Therefore, they decided to lay off 103 of the least senior teachers. (NOTE: This does NOT include the 180 teachers who were on one year contracts...they have about zero hope for a job next year...)
Unfotunately, I received a phone call Monday evening from my principal...I was one of the 103 teachers to be laid off. Although I was expecting to be laid off, it wasn't easy to hear. I love my job...I love where I work, my students and the people I work with.
Tuesday morning, I go to work. We have department meetings and I find out two other math teachers were also laid off, and a total of 8 teachers from Roger's. One of the other two math teachers was number 103 on the seniority list. He missed the cut-off for the layoffs, just barely because he took two unpaid personal days off last year.
So, at our department meeting, there was a total of 11 teachers in attendance (a couple were gone...) and out of those 11, three were laid off, and three are on one year contracts. Half the department will be gone next year....
Tuesday is my long day, I don't have a prep period because of our weird block schedule (and this week I have a practicum student from WSU watching me...this adds some stress, not a lot, but a little). I was trying so hard not to show anxiety or sadness to my students...but students are smart and they can tell. Also, I teach freshmen and we have small learning communities at Rogers. This means that all the students I teach also have the same science, english and history teacher. Their history teacher also got laid off. Therefore, two of their four core teachers will/could be gone next year. It's devasting to those kids.
Then, in 2nd period, I get a phone call from a newstation. They wanted to hear my reaction. I was a little rude to them...I mean, really?? I just got laid off and you are calling me in the middle of the school day when I am trying my best to still be an awesome teacher for my awesome kids??? Anyway, my 2nd period kids could tell I was flustered and then we had to have about a 10 minute conversation about the layoffs. Luckily, they were my honors kids and could get back to the math...but it was still stressful.
So, Tuesday finally ends. Thank goodness! Wednesday is a little better, but I have to attend a meeting for all the teachers laid off. All in all, I learned I am number 75....This is actually pretty good. When they start to hire teachers back, they will first start with number 103 (the math teacher in my department) and then go to 102 and then 101 and so on....So there are only 28 teachers ahead of me.
My biggest concern right now is: Where will I be next year? At a middle school? At some other school that isn't as awesome as Rogers? What will happen to my students? I have developed some really strong relationships with these kids. I want to see them grow up..get older...Some of these kids do not have a stable adult relationship in their lives and live in constant turmoil. I've earned their trust...Showed them I'm not giving up...that I'm not going anywhere...oh wait, yes, yes I could be going somewhere....I had one student tell me today that she isn't going to be at Roger's next year. What's the point? Two of her teachers will be gone...
I am not ready to leave Roger's yet......
Saturday, May 2, 2009
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
I give it 5 stars!
Currently in the middle of: The Shack by Willliam Young and A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
Amatuer Cheese Makers!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Run Away Chickens!!!!
Anyway, back to the story. Well, the neighbor was kind enough to put the chickens back in the yard...Chris thought it was over...
Later, he got a call from Mr. Dai. He is our older Vietnamese neighbor. He is very kind, and has a super thick accent. He lives with his wife who speaks little English. Last Sunday, I was working in the yard and Mr. Dai yells across the street "You, Chris, lunch at 12:00" So, Chris and I went over to their house for lunch. We had Pho...homemade Pho soup. It was suburb. But I digress....
Mr. Dai called Chris and said "Your hens! Your hens are out!" (Imagine a heavy Asian accent...) Chris asked Mr. Dai if he could get them back in the yard. Mr. Dai replied, "Me??? Ok, I try." A few minutes later, Mr. Dai calls back..."Chris, your hens are safe!"
Anywho, Chris was at a job near our house at this point and stopped by to fix the fence so we wouldn't have anymore runaway chickens.
Chris is currently making dinner and attempting to make cheese. I will update later on that adventure!