existential moments

There are many moments that utterly change your life~sometimes with agony and others with magic.

I got to experience one of the latter yesterday when I met Kathryn Rene, my new niece.

I already knew she had a cute face from seeing the sonograms previously, but was enchanted by her blonde fluff.

Mama and baby are doing well~if a bit tired out. I was lucky enough to spend the night with them in the hospital and we decided that the next time we pull an all-nighter, we better be landing on a new continent or having a fabulous road trip.

She has a busy day with meeting her siblings and one of her grandmothers and wearing her first cute outfit.

Mazel Tov little one!

bits & bobs

The class progressive story using their vocab words. Two more weeks with this group~it's been one of the most enjoyable teaching gigs I've had!

The deliciousness of a spring frittata~perfectly seasoned and crisped. 

inch by inch

Blurred close-up of energetic morning avian. 

We are hours away from a fifty degree jump in temperatures~I imagine the flora and fauna are going to go MAD. 

Mid-terms to prep and a lunch to pack. Happy Wednesday!

enjoyment

Enjoying a new grapefruit coco/soy candle from Trader's, my zestful students, and getting ready to meet my new niece.

cheery & chilly cherry blossoms.

The cherry blossom watch said today was a peak day to visit, so after work I bundled up, hopped on Metro and wandered the Mall/Basin.

Yes! This is a real picture taken with my camera~it's even more gorgeous in person. I only got a small glimpse last year, so this was stunning.

Pretty enchanting to walk under all these blooms~even though it was cold enough that the petals felt like snowflakes coming down.

Whenever I'm in the 'hood, I always have to say hello to Lincoln.

They are setting up a Holocaust Remembrance installation all along the Reflecting Pool. 

 

Tulip trees ready to bloom in front of....yes! The Dept of Agriculture. 

Popped in to see what was blooming at the Castle gardens.

And now I have a groovy new Metro card.

 And now, I feel as though I've experienced the cherry blossoms.

violets & silverbells

walking with little people

one sees the minute details

overlooked in Life

thirty....YEARS?

how is it true that

thirty years have passed since I

walked under this arch?

spring, for the day

the sweetest fingers

gathering spring blossoms while

holding to my heart

alternate

A cup of fresh Moroccan mint tea~such a kindness while I grade papers.  

Since this class has been working on their narrative essays, we needed a game break today. And were they creative in inventing new ways to play! I walked over to one game to find that they decided to turn the 'draw pile' letters face side up~to make it easier to find the ones they needed... 

The other group was helping themselves to their classmates letters. But we had a lot of fun and they learned some new vocab~and that's truly what matters to me.

So. Close.

I'm not sure who was more startled~the bunny or I~on my evening rambles.

We're to have at least one more snowstorm and then I hope the blossoms can go wild.

those who shall remain unnamed

Somehow these came home with me today. One of you knows exactly who is to blame for this occurring.

Pretty much how I feel~not only every class period, but just in general.

opposites

I found these cool dice at the dollar store and am using them in my ESL classes. My students sometimes find that it's easier to define words using their opposite definition~can you guess which vocab word inspired this drawing?

Vivid was the word.

My dad is headed homewards today~doing well and ready to be OUT of the hospital. Blessings all 'round.

babbling April

Today's calendar page was to kick off National Poetry Month and the Easter season. It also included my dad winning an overnight trip to the hospital. The joy in that? Was the instantaneous outpouring of support from all over the map. Those candles of love/light are giving us buoyancy as we wait a clear diagnosis/prognosis.