Autumn Leaves – Muir
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09, 2021
6
09, 2021
Labor Day
Since its origin in 1882, Labor Day has paid tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers. In 1894, it became an official federal holiday.
This vintage postcard commemorates that holiday addition.
The day is a well-deserved tribute to all laborers whether their office is a building, a field, a warehouse, a store, a hospital, a patrol car or fire station, or their home. Commitment to their job is what makes our country such a great place to live.
Today I’d like to say a big Thank You.
I’m a writer retired from the traditional workforce. Because you do your job, I can concentrate on mine every day. To writers who work day jobs then write in the evenings, you’re my heroes too.
If you’re among the many workers who have Labor Day off work, kick back and enjoy your free day. Holidays tend to slide by in my world. One day is like the next.Write, write, write.
Because Labor Day also signals the end of summer, I think I may take a break and join the crowd at the grill.
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09, 2021
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08, 2021
Poached eggs and Pliers
Poached eggs are a frequent treat for breakfast around here.
We could go to a nearby Mickey D’s and buy one, but homemade is so much tastier. I use only half of the English muffin and no cheese so homemade also has fewer calories.
My egg poaching pan is ancient. A wedding gift almost sixty years ago. It’s lightweight aluminum which means it heats quickly and stays hot.
I’ve never understood why the pan has three egg cups. Seems to me, four would make more sense. There are larger pans and smaller ones, but three egg cups work well for us. Two eggs for hubby-dear and one for me.
Besides my egg poacher pan, I also need pliers when I prepare our breakfast.
You see, steam from the boiling water that cooks the eggs to perfection burns my hand and the egg cups get very hot. That little tab you grip to lift the egg cups out is too small to grip barehanded.
A potholder is too large. The egg cup frequently slips from my hand and goes splat on the plate. Not a pretty presentation.
The solution, for me, is to use pliers to lift the egg cup. I can grip securely, slid the egg out, and have a picture-perfect serving.
I do get strange looks whenever anyone watches me use the pliers. Once I explain why most people admit it makes sense.
Okay, not everyone. Some still think poached eggs and pliers are a weird combination. But it works for me.
27
08, 2021
Why teach music?
Chicken Wrangler Sara is on a brief hiatus from Friday blogging. She’s waving, but I’m posting for her. =)
As a former teacher I know, the first six weeks of school are so busy and so chaotic. New schedules, new students, and often new curriculum to figure out. Hardly time to breathe.
Miller farm is also busy (as always) then there’s her piano teaching to organize for the new year and that new grandbaby to love on.
Lots to juggle. She’s sharing a poster that helps us understand why she teaches music. It also explains why we wouldn’t want her to stop.
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08, 2021
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08, 2021
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08, 2021
My Potting Bench Helper
Recently someone offered to let me dig seedlings from their white althea or what my daddy called Rose of Sharon.
The one in my yard is purple .
A white flower would complement it and the pink Confederate roses nicely.
I gathered my bucket and shovel and off I went. When I got home, I immediately potted the seedlings.
This fellow appeared to help me.
He’d been hiding under the potting soil bag and hopped to the wall.
I wasn’t surprised. We have a pond and often see—and hear the croaking. They serenade us nightly. Loudly.
Only those on the back porch and around the flower beds are brown. We call them toads. This was the first bright green I’d seen.
So, was this fellow a young toad yet to turn brown or a green frog?
That question led to a Goggle rabbit hole that consumed an hour. I learned more stuff about toads vs frogs than I will ever need to know.
I’ll save you some time. Here’s a chart explaining the difference.
Upon close examination, I’ve decided my potting helper was a frog. Do you agree?
13
08, 2021
Good Start
A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara.
Teachers went back to work this week. We always have training before the students start. Most teachers resent having to spend their valuable time sitting through training when they would rather be setting up their classrooms.
As a music teacher, the trainings are often irrelevant, and I struggle to find a use for the information. This year the first day was a 6-hour workshop on classroom management – an area I can always improve. I was more excited than usual to start back to work.
Before the training, we were each handed a big tote bag full of stuff. I glanced through it and settled in at the computer for the training.
Partway through the morning, we were instructed to take out a small lunch bag from the larger tote. Within that lunch bag was a harmonica!
I was thrilled!
This particular classroom management strategy uses a harmonica to get students’ attention. The presenter gave all the scientific reasons behind the strategy, but I didn’t pay attention.
I was too distracted by the fact that every teacher was now going to have a harmonica. I was also busy playing the beginning of Piano Man – a song I have been working on with one of my piano students.
This is a very good start to 2021-22!
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08, 2021
