GRRREAT NEWS!!!

I just logged in to find my BEST Portfolio score. I passed with a 3 out of 4!!! I know, it's not the FOUR I was hoping for, but still, I am very happy with the score! :) For those who don't know, the BEST portfolio is a huge project teachers complete their 2nd year; it's scored over the summer. If you get a 1, you have to do the whole portfolio all over again the 3rd year and if that one doesn't pass, you're OUT of teaching (as far as I've heard!). So... it's a bit nerve-wracking! Last year, I worked countless hours just to get the kids READY to participate in the portfolio, taught the portfolio unit for three weeks, and took another 2 months to write and edit the 116 page document! :) WOW am I ever glad that is FINISHED!!!!

Okay, that's all - I can breathe easier this year!

Just Peachy!

Okay, it's 11 pm and I have just spent the last 9 hours STRAIGHT canning over 22 lbs of peaches! Phew!
I now have (behold!):

8 jars of canned peaches in light syrup
6 jars of peach jam
8 jars of peach butter
4 jars of peach jam low sugar
4 jars of peach jam low sugar/honey mix (it wouldn't jell with just the honey so I had to add sugar - it still didn't seem to jell well).

...and, 6 leftover peaches... it's been a HOT day in the kitchen!
What to do with all these jars of peaches! Well, you never know... maybe YOU will be a lucky recipient! :)

Learning to Knit

I tried knitting once before and lost my patience with it, but this time, when I tried again, I found it wasn't as hard as I thought. Here's the hat I knitted! I just need some instructions in tying up the top... there's a dropped stitch, and a row of accidental purls (somehow!), but overall, I like my first hat! :)

Surprise 60th Bday Party!

Our surprise Birthday party for mom & dad went off well! They had no idea we were concocting such a surprise event, and were duly surprised! YAY! And, I promise, this slide show is MUCH shorter than the last one!