WORDLESS WEDNESDAY 2.17.16

quote by Okakura Kakuzo (1862-1913) Japanese author, The Book of Tea

Oh boy! it's hump day (the middle of the work week, which I no longer have to think about)...

WEATHER-WIZE: After unseasonably warm weather (mid-80's) we are experiencing chilly weather & had a dash of drizzle this morning. 

HOME-LAND: We are enjoying having LOLA (our grand-dog) for a visit. She's such an adorable Boston Terrier... a real cuddle-bug when she wants to be (usually while you are sitting on the sofa trying to read)! JPE has been training her to run on a slack leash. They run down the center of our condo complex street (away from the distracting smells of the landscape & bushes). It's a kick watching them take off each morning for two times around the complex.

CALENDAR-STUFF: JPE & I are headed to a meeting this afternoon. Even though we have both retired from SLO County Office of Education, we still maintain ties with our community agencies... 

Don't you love this picture? it was taken on a trip to Virginia/Washington DC this past October. The leaves had just started turning COLORS... I envy those who have "seasons" they must adjust to... On the coast (Pismo Beach, CA) we have few seasonal changes... 

Allie & Brian are in Arlington/Wash DC visiting SLE & MB. They have enjoyed the "hushed" sounds of falling snow on Monday, then Tuesday, they were treated to a "chilly downpour" that turned the snow into slush & ice. Other than wanting to experience more snow, they have enjoyed the "constant readjustments to their surroundings."

Will plan to see you tomorrow...

posting to Wordless Wednesdays

FIVE ON FRIDAY {2.5.16}

L.O.V.E. this publication!

 First issue - Christmas gift from Allie & Brian.

C.O.O.L... I'll be my brother-in-law could build something like this!

A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E.

who wouldn't want a TIN MAN?? he captured my HEART!!

Q.U.O.T.A.B.L.E

adding another quote to my collection!

C.R.E.A.T.I.V.E.

aren't you amazed at the creativity of people?

posting at Five on Friday

off to Cambria Pines to preview a workshop

...thinking I may have a hard time concentrating in such a beautiful location!

FEAST OF JOY...

9.19.14

TGIF...  company for the weekend!

HARVEST-TIME...

Do you ever really "see" a painting

that grabs your HEART?

I had arrived for a meeting 20 minutes early, so I sat in the lobby and began checking emails. Listening to the sounds of the receptionists answering phones, talking with clients, my eyes glazed over... when I focused my attention again, I was looking at this painting. 

I've seen this painting many times, but really had not stopped to appreciate the significance of its placement in this location.

This agency serves our lowest income residents... and many of the families have small children. I realized what a significant impact this painting could have on these families & children. The paint COLORS grab your attention! what a positive view of farmworkers collecting produce... the produce we are fortunate to purchase in our local Farmer's Markets!

I LOVE living in an area that supports the agricultural industry!

{painting in the lobby at CAP-SLO (Community Action Partnerships-San Luis Obispo); cropped in PicMonkey}

10 on 10 ~ SEPTEMBER 2014

"dripping wet"

morning fog {7:55am}

drive to work
{along Hwy 101, just past Avila Beach, CA}

sheep are still grazing {work}

S.U.N.S.H.I.N.E.
{taken only 30 minutes after the previous picture}!

Lunch BBQ ~ Nancy "flipping the burgers"

yummy "BBQ" roasted corn from Farmer's Market

drove through Pismo Beach
{way home from work}

see the "fog bank" on the horizon?

AMAZING!!

 fog doesn't obstruct the ocean view at the end of the day!
{BUT! fog IS on the horizon}

Clam Festival is coming!

chowder tasting & music! 

{one of the concrete "clams" that advertise coming events}

pet store? t-shirt shop? restaurant?

guess again...

it's the Tiger Rose Tattoo shop in Pismo Beach 

"enjoying the sun"

coleus in the front planter
{home... sweet... home}

posting at "10 on 10"

hosted by Rebekah @ A Bit of Sunshine

{10 photos taken on the 10th day of the month}

PROCRASTINATION...

patio shoot ~ 9.9.14

YEP!

came home & sat on the patio with a cup of coffee!

check out the reflection of the trees!

SNEAKING A PEEK...

BAAAA! BAAAAHHH!

just beyond the fence next to the parking lot {@ work}!

GARDEN BOUNTY...

the roses are prolific for this time of the year!

it was nice coming home from WORK today to such fragrant smells!

Thanks, JPE!

LYDIA'S SEWING PROJECT...

On Monday, Lydia & I stopped in the local fabric.

She selected these three fabrics for her FIRST sewing project.

First, Lydia learned to sew straight lines & manage the speed of the machine.

Lydia wanted Grandma's help in feeding the fabric!

building confidence!!

I can DO this!

 some of the steps Lydia mastered!

learning to turn fabric inside out!

MAGIC - all the raw edges are hidden inside...

Lydia sharing her completed project!

INCREDIBLE! job Lydia!!!

we're all proud of her for trying something new!

nice job on your FIRST sewing project!

TREASURE HUNT-DAY 3...

Treasure Hunt - Day 3

JPE spent some time this morning working in the garden. On Mondays, he travels (3.5 hour drive each way) to Palo Alto, CA to teach at Sofia University (leaving at 7am & getting home at 9:30pm). So, his garden provides opportunities to relax.

photos taken 4.15.14

Natasha, Lydia & Jack "GIFTED" JPE this gathering basket to commemorate his retirement. He's already using it...

via

TREASURE HUNT-Day 3: Your mission today is to notice the color at your feet. Set the camera on the ground. Click the shutter. Post what you see!

We're off to the movies - this afternoon...

the THE LEGO MOVIE! see you tomorrow!

THE BITTER END?

You may have noticed I haven't posted on my blog lately!

I'm sad... emotionally detached, actually... 
BUT, mostly bitter
about a work situation...

and frustrated that the people I've admired for years,
have closed their eyes to a situation
that many feel will reflect poorly on our organization.

I found a quote that really
resonates with me today!

"A BOSS creates fear, a LEADER confidence.

A BOSS fixes blames, a LEADER corrects mistakes.

A BOSS knows all, a LEADER asks questions.

A BOSS makes work drudgery, a LEADER makes it interesting.

A BOSS is interested in herself (or himself),
a LEADER is interested in the group."

:: Russell H. Ewing, British journalist

JPE, don't forget the number of people who
admire your calm demeanor;

your passion for students in crisis &
your ability to work with their individual attributes;

your love of nature & wanting to share
that experience with students;

your ability to facilitate meetings
& encouraging others to speak and feel valued;

your attention to details & the ability
to explain the data that impacts our students & programs;

your passion and advocacy for marginalized youth populations;

your sensitivity in seeing others as they are,
NOT as something to be changed;

 AND, most of all your kindness & professionalism.

I'm truly sorry for the way you've been treated
 after a tremendously successful career!

"1-4-3"
JPE

SOME DAYS...

picture taken this morning!

So, my family left for home yesterday afternoon!

Everyone arrived safely by truck & train!

Getting settled... unpacking... looking through

the mail & newspapers...

making lists of items needed from the market...

THEN... the rattling, rolling, shaking, and creaking began!

This morning's LA Times headlines read,

"5.1 earthquake: More than 100 aftershocks, scattered damage"

Most of my family lives a few miles from the

epicenter of the earthquake (Brea & La Habra).

Having been born & raised in California,

earthquakes are NOTHING NEW to us... 

but, they are unnerving &

the aftershocks leave you sitting on the edge of your seat,

wondering when the next one will R.O.C.K. your W.O.R.L.D.

My family is fine!

breakables have been moved to a safer location!

they have water, electricity & gas!

Life moves on!

JPE is mulching the garden...

& a crockpot of potato soup is cooking!

I need to finish this book by Monday! 

my work team is discussing

"the smartest kids in the world... and how they got that way" by amanda ripley.

A simple, thought-provoking read!

our educational system needs to be transformed...

we have become a country used to MAKING EXCUSES!

we have problems because of...

the Common Core.

schools teach to the test.

kids have too much homework.

summer is too long.

summer is too short.

teachers have too many inservice days.

parents don't care. students don't care.

teachers don't care.

we have too many poor students.

we don't offer the arts. 

they need more science. or history. or electives.

schools need more money.

their union makes it hard to get rid of bad teachers.

it's because of the second language students.

GOSH! I've heard all these comments...

and more.

I invite you to check out this book!

Love to hear your thoughts.

let's move away from EXCUSES!

THE LAST 10 DAYS!

captured this morning ~ 3.15.14

simple breakfast ~ yoghurt + purple grapes

{sour + bursts of sweetness that pop when you bite into them}

enjoying a peek over the fence

{everything is covered with "fluffy" cotton-y dander floating off the trees}

getting close to finishing the monthly Book Club selection

{Cuesta College Book of the Year - tickets to hear the author speak have been distributed

& only one member of my Book Club got tickets}

they lived a l-o-n-g life!

{poor, neglected flowers - I promise to put you out of your misery}

best GET GOING with my day!

{I have a date with a spray can & glue gun} 

what sort of P-U-T-T-E-R-I-N-G are you doing today?

oh! the reference to the last 10 days!

well, what can I tell you?

it's been H E {double L} for JPE!

{but, the end is in sight ~ his last day of work is before Spring Break}

GOOD.RANDOM.FUN {WEEK 10}

Had a meeting at Cal-Poly, SLO today!

All my pictures were taken while I was waiting for my meeting to start.

Several large spheres have been installed in front of the PAC (Performing Arts Center). 

 Both pictures turned out GOOD!

I couldn't decide if I liked them in Black & White or Color... What do you think?

 

A couple of RANDOM flowers - that just happened to be the same colors.

the spectators chairs - overlooking the tennis court! Playing tennis is FUN, isn't it?

posting with Tamar @ RANDOM-OSITY

What was GOOD about your day? anything RANDOM happen? Do anything FUN?

RED, WHITE & BLUE...

RED & WHITE

RED & BLUE

BLUE & WHITE

Attended a training at Rancho El Chorro Auditorium... the outdoor education campus owned by San Luis Obispo County Office of Education. It was such a treat to capture a few pictures at the end of the day, today {TGIF!}

Rolling green hills, the squirrels are running from hole to hole, the birds were floating on the gentle breeze and the sun was shining... with a tad of warmth bouncing off the damp dirt. AHHH! It was nice to get out of the office. 

pic 1) Rancho El Chorro is the site of the relocated school house {Banning School, a one-room school built in 1896}. The outdoor education program uses this building for the astronomy lessons.

pic 2) The local Rotary Clubs build and funded Oceanography classroom, which houses salt-water touch tanks with items found on the ocean floor.

pic 3) Pods on the trees near the Bird Aviary. What are those pods?

CLOSE-UP of the PODS

Don't forget to "move your clocks forward"

GOOD.RANDOM.FUN. {WEEK 9}

FAT TUESDAY @ work

Today at work, Traci got us in the "MARDI GRAS" spirit...

she brought a KING CAKE!

For those who don't know, a KING CAKE is a ring of cinnamon-streaked dough & with a hard sugar frosting tinted in the traditional colors of Mardi Gras. The "party-spot" was decorated with purple, green and gold beads.

I had a meeting off-site at 1:30, and the baby (baked inside the cake) still had not appeared... & the cake was almost all eaten.

The sign reads "ENJOY the KING CAKE!

if you get the PIECE WITH THE BABY,

you will enjoy a year of Good Luck

& you must buy the KING CAKE next year!!"

posting with Tamar at RANDOM-OSITY

GOOD 

{tasty, little treats are always GOOD}

RANDOM

{something unexpected is pretty RANDOM}

FUN

{having FUN at work makes the day pass quickly}

did you celebrate FAT TUESDAY?