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Done!!!!

Today marks the official start of my retirement, although my last day of work was four days ago. I had one day at home (sick; still am) before we left for Chautauqua Institute where we are spending a week with my in-laws. I haven’t had much time to reflect on what retirement may be like. I do know that the last month was a whirl-wind of activity. Lots of lovely events planned to honor me (and my principal who is also retiring.) Many, many cards and letters from current and former students, families, and staff. It really was wonderful.

My classroom is cleared out. I packed nine boxes of children’s books and professional texts for my niece who is soon to be an elementary school teacher, brought home two boxes of picture books I wanted to save, and the rest of my 37 years yielded three boxes of miscellaneous “stuff” I couldn’t yet part with. Now my study contains only scrapbook and card making supplies, and books on photography, simplifying your life, and computer manuals. I must admit I’m looking forward to never grading another paper, never filling out another literacy or numeracy profile, never having another parent conference, hosting another curriculum night or another open house. . . I’m ready for some serious time at the gym, behind the camera, and at my desk creating.

But first, there’s vacation. After our week here, we have just five days at home before we leave for two weeks in California to visit Sarah and Adam who just moved to Oakland. It’s been twelve years since we’ve been to the west coast, and I’m looking forward to some great sightseeing and hiking in the San Francisco area and time with family.

Graduation

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I actually have had lots to share recently but little time to blog. Before I leave Princeton, though, I wanted to post two photos of Sarah and Adam who both graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary yesterday. Adam received two degrees (Masters of Christian Education and Masters of Divinity) and Sarah received a Masters of Theology. They’re head to Berkeley where Sarah will start a Ph.D. program in September. So far away, but a great place to visit!

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Delicate

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HS: MS prompt today is delicate:  To be very fine in texture, structure or workmanship. Find something delicate in your space today.  Found this tiny sprout of grass on the beach last week.

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Road

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Her Space: My Space prompt for today. Road: A way of course on which to travel. have you got a road?  The snow on the side of the road is a give-away that this is not a photo from today (thank goodness!) I took this out the car window with my little Canon Elph the morning we left to visit Sarah in February.

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Yellow

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Yellow:  A golden colour – vibrant, sunny and warm. Have you got some delightful yellow in your space?

The HS:  MS prompt for a beautiful spring day here in western New York. So glad to have warm weather and sunny days.

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A Week’s Worth

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We’ve been on vacation (ahhh!), but I’ve managed to find some photos for the last several days’ prompts:

SPS:  My brother and girlfriend who joined us for vacation this week:

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Sad:  Sad to be packing up to go home.

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Repeat:  Mother Nature’s repetition.

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Investigate:  My husband’s binoculars and a reference guide to the island birds.

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Window:  The view from our bedroom window. Great way to wake up each morning on vacation.

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Puddle:  A rather large puddle left by the tide.

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Have a great week! TFL.

Last Day

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Many weeks fly by. We’re so busy, and suddenly it’s Friday. But none seem to go as fast as a week on vacation. Today’s our last day, and we’ve had a great time. The sun has shone every day, and it has gotten warmer each day. Tracy and I got on the beach for sunrise one day and hit Mingo Point for sunset the same evening. Here are a few favorites. I have a new Tamron lens  (28-300mm) with Vibration Reduction and it’s been the perfect vacation lens. More photos are here.

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Sunset

The colors seem to have gotten washed out when I resized them for the web. Sigh.

Vacation

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We’re on vacation and although it’s colder than we wish, it is as beautiful as ever. There is nothing we dislike about Kiawah Island. We spent yesterday wandering about Charleston. Today Tracy, my brother and his girlfriend golfed. I walked a couple of miles along the beach. Just me and the birds . . . very few other people about.

Flag

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HS: MS prompt today:  flag-A piece of cloth attached by one edge to a pole or rope. Find a flag in your space today. This is a bit of a cheat since I took this photo at The Chautauqua Institute last summer. We’ve been going the week of July 4th–Independence Day in the States–and flags are everywhere.

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Instrument

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Today’s HS: MS:  Instrument-A tool, object, implement or device.

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Among the many things on my list to do when I retire is to start playing the piano again.

CHILL

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HS: MS prompt today: 

Chill – A coolness in the air, a reduction in temperature, the onset of a cold or just plain chillin’ out!

Frankly, I’ve had quite enough chill, but this is what we woke up to this morning. Just yesterday most of the snow had finally melted in our front yard, but it’s covered again. Two weeks from tomorrow we’ll be in South Carolina for spring break–no snow there! I can’t wait.

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Cup

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HS: MS prompt for today:  Cup – A small bowl shaped container usually for holding liquids. Show us a cup in your space today.

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I found this cute little cup at Anthropologie when I was visiting Sarah in Princeton. It’s just the right size to hold little odds and ends that I may want to use on the next project. I have a passion for red cups, tins, whatever. If I had room in my tiny study, I’d have a whole collection of things like this.

Fly

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Fly: …like a bird, like a plane, like a boy???!!! What flies in your space today? This was the best I could do–wish I’d had a zoom lens.

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Balance

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HS:  MS prompt–Balance: An even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain
upright and steady or creating stability in your own mind. Find balance
in your space today.

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Driving to work today, I was thinking about this prompt and came up with this idea. Thanks to Rob, I have a photo to offer!