evocative

is one of my favorite words

Today's student gift was these magical balbas. 

They are half a size too small, so think they will go to my sis or her eldest daughter. But, oh. They brought me joy for a few hours! 

She also gave me a jabaalon (which appears to be gorgeously handmade) and I have the perfect earrings to go with it.

The workday ended with Aamco telling me that my sensor was reporting something about the gas cap. D.E.E.P.L.Y. grateful that it wasn't anything. And? If the sensor goes back on, the garage will check everything for free. And while it's close to work, am thankful that a colleague gave me a ride as a summer thunderstorm poured through just as I needed to pick up my car.

vicissitude

Yes, just one. The 'check engine' light went on this morning, juuuuust as I merged into traffic. But I made it to work and got a great tip from a colleague to go to Aamco because they will do a free assessment of what's wrong. So, my little car goes in tomorrow morning. Finger's crossed that it's something simple/cheap like spark plugs that hate the humidity.

A student gave me these lovely beads today to match my lemon cardigan~I wore them as a necklace all day...not realizing that they're prayer beads. Ooops. Still some cultural learning to absorb.

We are welcoming nine new students next week for summer session. Ought to be fun. Another teacher is going to do my cooking class and we've got a younger crowd, so the field trips ought to be more frequent.

And my frog decided he wanted to live with the jasmine. Once the ladybug has eyes, she'll get to pick her new abode.

screaming goats

A beautiful little moon cake from a student~while I generally love all things pastry, have never really warmed to the concept of sweet black beans. But, the gesture was appreciated.

While I know it's been around for a few hundred years or so, I've discovered pickling is the perfect thing to do with veg that I can't eat before it turns. Currently, I'm just doing a simply vinegar brine, but will soon branch out into peppery and garlic sorts of brines.

Delighted to get a butterfly sticker in the mail.

Started a rock painting project with my Littles this weekend and got to the second layer tonight. My middle niece introduced me to the latest Grinch movie (yes, why not watch a Christmas classic when the humidity is laying the entire region into limpness?) If you haven't seen it, all I can say is "screaming goat". While it's probably only 30 seconds of the entire movie I've been laughing for two days over it. And yes, the movie is actually quite good and worth seeing.

perfect hollandaise

for a perfect holiday dip for artichokes.

a bit of the bucolic

Cute summer score at GW.

Making good use of my resident pass at Meadowlark Gardens.

Looking forward to introducing my niece to the Fairy Garden.

Evidently, pigs can fly.

Love that every time I come here, it's a different sort of garden. We had cherry blossoms and jonquils. Then, azalea overload. Now, it's all dogwoods and the ending of the peonies~they got pretty battered in the Thursday storm.

My prince is still hanging out at the pond and reading a good book.

three years later...

and I'm a Virginian on paper. Spent quality time at the DMV (to be fair, the actual process was quick and rather pleasant, it was the lines that were time-consuming. I got there at 7:30 a.m. and the line was already around three sides of the building. Guess I wasn't the only one in the county with that bright idea) and got a piece of paper telling me that they're mailing me a real license. Now to track down a notary and get my lost title squared away.

V. proud to say that I hit 700 consecutive days of French today. Ou, je suis fier de 700 jours de francais. And very much looking forward to a day off~first one since January. It will be divine to have a break from the tedium of commute/office/commute/sleep/commute/office.

Happy kick off to summer all y'all!

giving

"To the wrongs that need resistance,

To the right that needs assistance,

To the future in the distance,

Give yourselves."

~Carrie Chapman Catt

flutter by

Still getting fun cards in the mail from The Bloggess's posting. Woke to cool breezes and a couple of cardinals in the tree under my window~they wouldn't cooperate for a photo shoot though.

blessings be

upon whomever invented the ceiling fan. Our temps leaped 50 degrees and my unit gets full afternoon sun.  While my plants may enjoy it, I'm not fond of it.

how nice was that?

This week's selection of posies~and, as the Trader's clerk didn't find a price on them? He gave them to me. A beautiful start to the weekend.

vignettes

While my boss is nothing like this~name the movie where this scene repeatedly occurs!

Carnations always get sneered at, but they have lasting power and a good return on flower monies spent. 

Yes, that is 126 points for ONE play. And yes, it's been a slooooooow week at work.

discovery

I've worked in the same building for almost two years and didn't know there was a gorgeous courtyard in the back with Adirondack chairs, cafe tables and park benches. If I had known, I would have held classes out there. As it is, I will have to wander out for a few minutes on pleasant days.

all sorted

Not sure why I've never made fresh pickles out of any veg, but today was the day. Looking forward to enjoying their crispness in a couple of days. (Tuesday night update~I forgot to put water in the recipe, so these little rounds of crunchiness just about remove your jaw with acidity. Oops.)

Everything sliced/diced and ready for the week; and while I am deeply grateful to be employed, I'd really like to craft a life where Sunday evenings weren't melancholy/depressing. 

it was a dark and stormy night...

was the beginning of a goofy story Uncle Jerry used to tell us. The entire thing was: "It was a dark and stormy night and the captain said to Bill~'tell us a story.' So, Bill said, 'It was a dark and stormy night...."

When you're in middle school, this is the height of hilarity. One of the good memories swirling around this month of Mental Health Awareness.

And in the mundane/satisfying tasks, the correct compartments are full of brake fluid and windshield wiper fluid. Who knew adulting could be so fun? I'll spare you photos of snaking hair out of the drains that also happened this weekend. 

A yummy gift from my tutee~while I didn't make it to any of the Embassy Row events this year, at least I got some chocolate from another's visit.

choosing

Getting dressed for work is never that fun~all those choices and accessorizing and blah/blah/blah. But right now? It's a miracle I make it to work with our wild weather swings. I've worn boots and a heavy sweater. Sandals and a breezy summer top. Rain coat. The thermostat is confused with the running of heat and a/c closely together.

Grateful that I'm almost to the weekend and can slob out blissfully for several hours.

astonishing

Every once in awhile, the concept of the cell phone amazes me. How this little device can allow me to chat with my cousin (happiest of days, John!) on the other side of the country is pretty incredible.

So while people rail that cells are ruining our posture, our social skills, etc. etc., sometimes they are phenomenal.

Who knew that you could buy so many moods at Walmart? I used to buy light bulbs merely based on warttage, but I'll take emotional support where I find it. Should I need subtle reassurance, you'll find me hanging out by my lamp in one corner of my kitchen.

appreciated/ing

Even though I'm not technically a teacher at present, my boss still got me a gift for Teacher Appreciation Day. 

Tonight brought time with a friend~a fellow alum from Westminster. A pleasant enough evening to sit outside and catch up on the past few months.

twilight

obvs v. far removed from the Beltway

is one of my favorite words and time of day. Is there anything better than driving with the windows down through the summer (ish) end of the day? There was a brief moment at the end of my commute where I actually got to take my foot off the clutch and drive and it was glorious.

sparkles & sprigs

After a busy first day of a school session, it was lovely to come home and find my bathroom rug looking all festive and Christmasy. 

And when I stepped out onto my balcony, I discovered that my peppers had sprouted. And I'll be as surprised as you as to which ones they are.

circuitry

Did my own circuit of Bethesda/Leesburg/home today and got to spend some fun hours with my Littles. They're already building circuits and launching rockety things.

After four (?) shops, I finally found some jasmine twigs and got them planted this sultry afternoon.

And I think I've finally perfected restaurant level tofu! Come on over~bring your chopsticks.