And then I had some frosting left over, so I made cookies!
Believer, Teacher, Seeker, and Third Culture Soul
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Turquoise
I made little cakes for a birthday recently. I think they turned out pretty cute...
And then I had some frosting left over, so I made cookies!
And then I had some frosting left over, so I made cookies!
Thursday, February 23, 2012
The Hunger Games GoodReads Review
The Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I can definitely see why this book has gotten so much hype. After conducting the fourth reading conference with my 8th graders where one of the Hunger Games books was the novel being discussed, I decided to spend my February break catching up on the pop culture craze (I'll get to you one of these days, Harry Potter!).
A dystopian society, survival tactics, twists and turns in the plot where the rules can change at any time, a strong female narrator and protagonist, teenage love, fancy gowns designed by stylists, lavish dinners (the description of food has actually prompted me to bake), and yes blood and gruesome deaths, all played out on reality TV for the privileged and shallow Capital residents' viewing pleasure- it's everything we've come to expect from our entertainment.
I enjoyed the read and I'm looking forward to talking about it with my kiddos. On to Catching Fire!
View all my reviews
Monday, February 13, 2012
Sooner Or Later (Soren's Song)
Listen here
Come back and haunt me
Follow me home
Give me a motive
Swallow me whole
They say I've lost it
What could I know
When I'm but a mockery?
I'm so alone
Sooner or later you'll find out
There's a hole in the wall
Today is ours
Condemned to be free
Free to keep breathing
Free to believe
I look to find you
Down on my knees
Oh God, I believe!
Please help me believe
Sooner or later they'll find out
There's a hole in the wall
Sooner or later you'll find out
That you'll dream to be that small
I gave it all away and lost who I am
I threw it all away
With everything to gain
And I'm taking the leap
With dreams of shrinking
Come back and haunt me
Follow me home
Give me a motive
Swallow me whole
Come back and haunt me
Follow me home
Give me a motive
Swallow me whole
They say I've lost it
What could I know
When I'm but a mockery?
I'm so alone
Sooner or later you'll find out
There's a hole in the wall
Today is ours
Condemned to be free
Free to keep breathing
Free to believe
I look to find you
Down on my knees
Oh God, I believe!
Please help me believe
Sooner or later they'll find out
There's a hole in the wall
Sooner or later you'll find out
That you'll dream to be that small
I gave it all away and lost who I am
I threw it all away
With everything to gain
And I'm taking the leap
With dreams of shrinking
Come back and haunt me
Follow me home
Give me a motive
Swallow me whole
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Grant me Wisdom
You cannot grow in the great art form, the integration of action and contemplation, without 1) a strong tolerance for ambiguity; 2) an ability to allow, forgive, and contain a certain degree of anxiety; and 3) a willingness to not know and not even need to know. This is how you allow and encounter mystery.
All else is mere religion.
- Richard Rohr
Monday, December 5, 2011
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Baking cookies is my peace
When I'm in a kitchen, doing what I love, for the people whom I love,
everything makes sense.
Today was a very good day.
everything makes sense.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Who doesn't love a good haircut?
Going from this in the morning:
To this:
I finally feel like I look my age. And I love Seattle.
To this:
I finally feel like I look my age. And I love Seattle.
Friday, October 14, 2011
List of things I want to do in life
This fall the list is including:
learn to cut hair, work at a bakery, bee keeping/honey farming
Who else has big dreams?
learn to cut hair, work at a bakery, bee keeping/honey farming
Who else has big dreams?
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Cocoa Cookies: The Short Film
In my blogging class, I gave the kids an assignment to make a DIY video. They're so great! There's a few on how to do nail designs, how to make a duct tape wallet, and even how to play "The Entertainer" on clarinet!
I needed to make one myself before all these tech-savvy 11-year-olds showed me up.
DIY: How to make cocoa cookies
I needed to make one myself before all these tech-savvy 11-year-olds showed me up.
DIY: How to make cocoa cookies
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Giuliano Rap
I found this written on the bottom of a paper an 8th grader turned in...
My name is 'big G' from the Medici
I have a big brother and he's quite wealthy
His name is Lorenzo and he's my bro
I got stabbed to death and I fell on the floor.
My name is 'big G' from the Medici
I have a big brother and he's quite wealthy
His name is Lorenzo and he's my bro
I got stabbed to death and I fell on the floor.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Spiced Pear Cookies
Recipe from Judy Daudt
This has been a very good week at school. All my classes are going well, kids are staying out of trouble and being as entertaining as ever, and there are only three days of classes! For the kids anyway- I have teacher in-service to learn how to UbD-ize my units. But today felt like a Friday, so I came home, watched a movie, slept for an hour, and decided to bake something. I have guests coming over Friday and I think I'm going to try for a pear cake since we have so many pears we need to eat. But I didn't want to bake a cake and have it sit for two days, so I decided to start small with a batch of spiced pear cookies. One of my dear friends and mentors from university gave me a cookbook she had compiled and it's full of Midwestern deliciousness. While I'm quite experienced baking apples, I've never tried pears. So here are the results:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar (I used white sugar for the half cup- brown sugar is a precious commodity here!)
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1 pear- peeled, cored and diced
Suggested: 1/2 cup raisins or Crasins
I omitted the walnuts, because I don't believe in infecting baked goods with nuts, but whatever floats your boat. I have similar feelings, though not as strong, to raisins. Crasins I might have tried if only for the festive color.
Preheat oven to 350*F/175*C.
In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until smooth.
Beat in egg and vanilla.
Mix in flour, baking powder, cinnamon and ginger.
Stir in chopped pears, and others.
Bake 15 mins (more like 12 in my oven)
Cool
Optional:
Frost with 1 cup powdered sugar mixed with 2 Tbsp lemon juice. I don't think they need it though. They're sweet enough!
This has been a very good week at school. All my classes are going well, kids are staying out of trouble and being as entertaining as ever, and there are only three days of classes! For the kids anyway- I have teacher in-service to learn how to UbD-ize my units. But today felt like a Friday, so I came home, watched a movie, slept for an hour, and decided to bake something. I have guests coming over Friday and I think I'm going to try for a pear cake since we have so many pears we need to eat. But I didn't want to bake a cake and have it sit for two days, so I decided to start small with a batch of spiced pear cookies. One of my dear friends and mentors from university gave me a cookbook she had compiled and it's full of Midwestern deliciousness. While I'm quite experienced baking apples, I've never tried pears. So here are the results:
Absolute success!
Giving the house a nice, spicy aroma
So without further adieu, here is the secret recipe:1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar (I used white sugar for the half cup- brown sugar is a precious commodity here!)
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1 pear- peeled, cored and diced
Suggested: 1/2 cup raisins or Crasins
I omitted the walnuts, because I don't believe in infecting baked goods with nuts, but whatever floats your boat. I have similar feelings, though not as strong, to raisins. Crasins I might have tried if only for the festive color.
Preheat oven to 350*F/175*C.
In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until smooth.
Beat in egg and vanilla.
Mix in flour, baking powder, cinnamon and ginger.
Stir in chopped pears, and others.
Bake 15 mins (more like 12 in my oven)
Cool
Optional:
Frost with 1 cup powdered sugar mixed with 2 Tbsp lemon juice. I don't think they need it though. They're sweet enough!
Very sticky to put on the baking sheet. I was worried, but they turned out just fine!
Sunday, September 25, 2011
metro, metro
On the way to a friend's girls night birthday dinner & movie, I got on a near empty metro car. So I pulled out my camera.
And then I took a bunch more pictures. As long as I keep loving the metro, I can live here.
And then I took a bunch more pictures. As long as I keep loving the metro, I can live here.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Two Views of Barack Obama
The assignment was to create a timeline that included major events from your life. It was given to 8th graders, who were mainly born in 1998. "Major" events they chose span from the super-disaster in Japan and earthquake in Haiti, to the death of Michael Jackson and when Steve Jobs resigned as CEO of Apple.
Many students chose the election of Barack Obama as a major event. Here are the unedited paragraphs written by two of them.
One:
On November 4th 2008 Barack Obama was elected president of the U.S. Barack Obama became the forty forth and first black president of the U.S. after a long campaign that lasted nine months. He was running as a democratic candidate against republic candidate John McCain, in his campaign he promoted change and hope for the American people and the world. When he got elected he started to make an impact immediately by helping U.S. and British forces in Iraq and making sure everyone in the U.S. got healthcare. He has helped in many global problems such as the Iran Iraq war, the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the civil war in Libya. He is currently running for the 2012 presidential election as well. This was a major global event because he has made so much impact on the world and helped so many different nations and not just his own. He has also prevented global disasters such as ordering the death of Osama Bin Laden. He also continues to have new ideas to help the world and make it a better place, which is beneficial for everyone.
Two:
November 2008- a recent event that has shaped the United States was when Barrack Obama was elected president. This was a very historical event for the country because he is the very first African American president. This was not an event that shaped the world but it did shape in some way the United States, because it may encourage other African Americans that want to run for political office. The presidency has been a difficult one for Obama while it has nothing to do with his race, perhaps he was not qualified enough to take on the huge responsibility of being president and the country has since paid the price for his inexperience.
Many students chose the election of Barack Obama as a major event. Here are the unedited paragraphs written by two of them.
One:
On November 4th 2008 Barack Obama was elected president of the U.S. Barack Obama became the forty forth and first black president of the U.S. after a long campaign that lasted nine months. He was running as a democratic candidate against republic candidate John McCain, in his campaign he promoted change and hope for the American people and the world. When he got elected he started to make an impact immediately by helping U.S. and British forces in Iraq and making sure everyone in the U.S. got healthcare. He has helped in many global problems such as the Iran Iraq war, the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the civil war in Libya. He is currently running for the 2012 presidential election as well. This was a major global event because he has made so much impact on the world and helped so many different nations and not just his own. He has also prevented global disasters such as ordering the death of Osama Bin Laden. He also continues to have new ideas to help the world and make it a better place, which is beneficial for everyone.
Two:
November 2008- a recent event that has shaped the United States was when Barrack Obama was elected president. This was a very historical event for the country because he is the very first African American president. This was not an event that shaped the world but it did shape in some way the United States, because it may encourage other African Americans that want to run for political office. The presidency has been a difficult one for Obama while it has nothing to do with his race, perhaps he was not qualified enough to take on the huge responsibility of being president and the country has since paid the price for his inexperience.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Rain by Shel Silverstein
I opened my eyes
And looked up at the rain,
And it dripped in my head
And flowed into my brain,
And all that I hear as I lie in my bed
Is the slishity-slosh of the rain in my head.
I step very softly,
I walk very slow,
I can't do a handstand--
I might overflow,
So pardon the wild crazy thing I just said--
I'm just not the same since there's rain in my head.
And looked up at the rain,
And it dripped in my head
And flowed into my brain,
And all that I hear as I lie in my bed
Is the slishity-slosh of the rain in my head.
I step very softly,
I walk very slow,
I can't do a handstand--
I might overflow,
So pardon the wild crazy thing I just said--
I'm just not the same since there's rain in my head.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Novopodrezkovo Market
Today I went to an antique market at Novopodrezkovo. It took a long time to get there, but it was a nice excursion. I'm really glad I live in Moscow on days when I get to do things like this.
Some people had tables, but many just lay out a tarp or cardboard and sell whatever they have. I bought two purses- one was 40 rubles and one was 10 rubles. That is ridiculously cheap.
Ambrosky on the electrichka
Elizabeth liked this one painting. We also looked at a lot of Soviet tea cups and plates. If only I had a house to fill!
I looooved the little green radio!
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Wisdom from Kids
I have the best job in the world. Read and be inspired.
What do you think this quote means?
"A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for" -William Shedd
Responses from 6th graders:
The thing about the ship is confusing the first time but then you see the point. I think that ships are meant for sailing, getting different food or money to another place and for war. In all these there is a part of risk and braveness so you know that the ship in harbor is safe but that is not what it is meant for. Like in war you are safe in harbor but if you go and help your country you can save more lives than just yours.
I think the quote means that you can be safe and not take risks or you can put yourself out there and take risks.
[It] means that you should take risks, ships can stay in a harbor safely but sometimes you need to step out of your comfort zone otherwise you'll never learn anything. A ship takes a risk every time it goes out of the harbor, it could sink or be attacked by enemy pirates but without ships traveling around we would not have been able to discover new lands before planes! So you need to step out of your comfort zone sometimes and take risks so you can discover new things too.
I look forward to this school year and I think that life is about taking risks. I think the quote reflects this concept and that you can live your life very reluctantly, but you shouldn't, because like shouldn't be about being afraid.
The meaning of the quote means that ships... are for sailing across the sea to face the storms.
I think that [the quote] means that kids are nice when they're quiet but they're not meant to be. They're meant to have fun and jump around and enjoy life and be a risk taker.
Humans are comfortable with what they're used to, but if they didn't change at all they would just have a boring life and waste it. He's basically saying you have to take risks (even if they're small risks).
I think the quote means that you are not supposed to keep your ship safe all the time. Harbor is a place where you can leave it at night, but in the morning go sail and have a fun adventure!
What do you think this quote means?
"A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for" -William Shedd
Responses from 6th graders:
The thing about the ship is confusing the first time but then you see the point. I think that ships are meant for sailing, getting different food or money to another place and for war. In all these there is a part of risk and braveness so you know that the ship in harbor is safe but that is not what it is meant for. Like in war you are safe in harbor but if you go and help your country you can save more lives than just yours.
I think the quote means that you can be safe and not take risks or you can put yourself out there and take risks.
[It] means that you should take risks, ships can stay in a harbor safely but sometimes you need to step out of your comfort zone otherwise you'll never learn anything. A ship takes a risk every time it goes out of the harbor, it could sink or be attacked by enemy pirates but without ships traveling around we would not have been able to discover new lands before planes! So you need to step out of your comfort zone sometimes and take risks so you can discover new things too.
I look forward to this school year and I think that life is about taking risks. I think the quote reflects this concept and that you can live your life very reluctantly, but you shouldn't, because like shouldn't be about being afraid.
The meaning of the quote means that ships... are for sailing across the sea to face the storms.
I think that [the quote] means that kids are nice when they're quiet but they're not meant to be. They're meant to have fun and jump around and enjoy life and be a risk taker.
Humans are comfortable with what they're used to, but if they didn't change at all they would just have a boring life and waste it. He's basically saying you have to take risks (even if they're small risks).
I think the quote means that you are not supposed to keep your ship safe all the time. Harbor is a place where you can leave it at night, but in the morning go sail and have a fun adventure!
Storm Ravaged Ship by Vladimir Bibiko
Monday, July 25, 2011
Mr. Riley and Me
I visited the home of one of my favorite poets when I was a child, James Whitcomb Riley. Read poems to your kids, everyone!
LITTLE ORPHANT ANNIE
by: James Whitcomb Riley (1849-1916)
- INSCRIBED WITH ALL FAITH AND AFFECTION
- To all the little children: -- The happy ones; and sad ones;
The sober and the silent ones; the boisterous and glad ones;
The good ones -- Yes, the good ones, too; and all the lovely bad ones. ITTLE Orphant Annie's come to our house to stay,
- An' wash the cups an' saucers up, an' brush the crumbs away,
- An' shoo the chickens off the porch, an' dust the hearth, an' sweep,
- An' make the fire, an' bake the bread, an' earn her board-an'-keep;
- An' all us other childern, when the supper-things is done,
- We set around the kitchen fire an' has the mostest fun
- A-list'nin' to the witch-tales 'at Annie tells about,
- An' the Gobble-uns 'at gits you
- Ef you
- Don't
- Watch
- Out!
- Wunst they wuz a little boy wouldn't say his prayers,--
- An' when he went to bed at night, away up-stairs,
- His Mammy heerd him holler, an' his Daddy heerd him bawl,
- An' when they turn't the kivvers down, he wuzn't there at all!
- An' they seeked him in the rafter-room, an' cubby-hole, an' press,
- An' seeked him up the chimbly-flue, an' ever'-wheres, I guess;
- But all they ever found wuz thist his pants an' roundabout:--
- An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you
- Ef you
- Don't
- Watch
- Out!
- An' one time a little girl 'ud allus laugh an' grin,
- An' make fun of ever' one, an' all her blood-an'-kin;
- An' wunst, when they was "company," an' ole folks wuz there,
- She mocked 'em an' shocked 'em, an' said she didn't care!
- An' thist as she kicked her heels, an' turn't to run an' hide,
- They wuz two great big Black Things a-standin' by her side,
- An' they snatched her through the ceilin' 'fore she knowed what she's about!
- An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you
- Ef you
- Don't
- Watch
- Out!
- An' little Orphant Annie says, when the blaze is blue,
- An' the lamp-wick sputters, an' the wind goes woo-oo!
- An' you hear the crickets quit, an' the moon is gray,
- An' the lightnin'-bugs in dew is all squenched away,--
- You better mind yer parunts, an' yer teachurs fond an' dear,
- An' churish them 'at loves you, an' dry the orphant's tear,
- An' he'p the pore an' needy ones 'at clusters all about,
- Er the Gobble-uns 'll git you
- Ef you
- Don't
- Watch
- Out!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Attic
I live in a very old farmhouse. I'm not sure how old, but I've been told it predates WWI. Since it was first constructed, the house has had two additions put on while it was owned by my great-grandparents. The downstairs is in pretty good shape, but we have terrible insulation that makes is hot in the summer and cold in the winter upstairs. This week we finally had an energy audit to figure out what we could do to make it more energy efficient.
We had go up to the attic.
The door to the attic is actually in my room, the room where I keep all of my earthly possessions while I travel the world. I have never opened the door and had no idea what could be up there, except for two Christmases ago a bat got into my room through the attic and nearly scared my cousin and me to death. So we opened the door and went up a few stairs to move the board covering the entrance to the attic. Vermiculite came raining down and we didn't stay long.
After the energy audit guy left, my mom and uncle decided they need to go up there again to see the situation. I didn't go up very far, but I snapped a few pictures. We found an old school project on milk, a suitcase, a stained glass window, and some World War 1 pants (I don't know if that's what they are but they look military-esque and have a draw string). We also found my Grandpa Jim's baby book! His mother had written entries for things like Baby's First Visitors, First Steps, First Baptism, and First Pair of Shoes.
I think we're going to have to put on a new roof soon to fix the insulation problems. And hopefully cover up all the vermiculite before anyone gets cancer.
We had go up to the attic.
The door to the attic is actually in my room, the room where I keep all of my earthly possessions while I travel the world. I have never opened the door and had no idea what could be up there, except for two Christmases ago a bat got into my room through the attic and nearly scared my cousin and me to death. So we opened the door and went up a few stairs to move the board covering the entrance to the attic. Vermiculite came raining down and we didn't stay long.
After the energy audit guy left, my mom and uncle decided they need to go up there again to see the situation. I didn't go up very far, but I snapped a few pictures. We found an old school project on milk, a suitcase, a stained glass window, and some World War 1 pants (I don't know if that's what they are but they look military-esque and have a draw string). We also found my Grandpa Jim's baby book! His mother had written entries for things like Baby's First Visitors, First Steps, First Baptism, and First Pair of Shoes.
I think we're going to have to put on a new roof soon to fix the insulation problems. And hopefully cover up all the vermiculite before anyone gets cancer.
Grandpa Jim reading his baby book
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