Sunday, June 8, 2014

All Done

 Our few strawberry plants are bearing fruit!

Hello, friends!  I've had quite a week of celebrating.  People at school (kind souls!) showered me with gifts and well wishes.  I was awed by it all. The students wrote me sweet letters and gave gifts, too.  Two teachers took me to The Melting Pot, a delicious fondue restaurant.  One teacher gave me a delightful lunch party.  They signed cards and contributed to hefty gift cards, too. Parents gave congratulations and thank you cards.  My 9.5 years of teaching came to a close with all kinds of joy.  The BEST party was yesterday (I'll tell you all about that in a minute!)
 It's swimsuit weather!  Kelli filled a pool in her backyard and the dancing princesses initiated it!
 I'm a tiny bit fearful that bunnies may be eating my cucumber seedlings.  I hope it's simply the hailstorms we've had.  Time will tell. More about the garden in future posts.
I went over to my school friend Celina's house the other morning.  She wanted to hear more about essential oils and she cooked me a delicious Mexican breakfast.  Her house is a work of art and if I hadn't been so enamored with her and our conversation, I would have taken some pictures of the interior.  Anyway, isn't the glass bouquet above GORGEOUS?
 Celina has three chihuahuas, but her husband has this brown girl named, Charlie Brown.  Isn't she cute?  Celina had big surgery on Friday and my prayers are with her. 
 And now, about the big party.  I thought that Bill and I were simply going to Kelli's house for a little retirement lunch, but when we pulled in we heard the bagpipes.  The horses that board at Kelli and Bry's were a bit unnerved by the pipe song, but I suspected (hoped!) that we'd see all the kids and all the grands!  When I opened the door and walked in, I heard a HUGE "SURPRISE!" and nine eager faces were jumping up and down!  Yay!  The grands! James was snuggling with his mama, but he was there, too!  Our kids were all smiling and I was overjoyed to be with my favorite group!  WE had sub sandwiches and I held little James.  Later, Bill had written up a sweet speech that Brad read (Bill gets teary) and it was the very nicest way to seal up my ten years of teaching and launch me back into the arms of our family, full-time!  They all gave me lovely gifts and shared their meaning.  Pens and notebooks, gorgeous bird feeders, handmade glass magnets and owls, toadstools, a teacup, a mug or two, beautiful Willow Tree figurines to commemorate family.  My family is so very precious.  I feel humbled and blessed.  Completely.
Jeff prayed, "Mom quit teaching just in time for James."  He was kind of kidding and jabbing at his sibs who have completed their families, but look at James' little peepers!  Number ten, loved and cherished already!

We're going back to Glenwood Springs again in a week or two with Brad's family.  His bagpipe band is playing at the Strawberry Festival.  We'll get to go to the hot springs again!  Yay for Granny's aches and pains!
After that it's GRANNY CAMP!  We'll have CB and Finn here over the fourth and the locals will join us, as well.  Granny better start planning!
Today, Bill and I are headed up to Vail to celebrate our 36th anniversary.  Vail is quiet this time of year so we'll walk and walk around the village, enjoying the glorious mountain air!  I'll take photos!  

Brad asked me, "What are you looking forward to most, besides being with all of us? Reading, writing, art?" I replied, "Homemaking."  Yes.  I'm not a productive wonder around the house, but simple joys like good-smelling cleaning products and my bag of cleaning rags are sources of excitement (I know, weird).  I'm not great at multi-tasking AT ALL and ten years of hard-charging days at school have caused neglect of our home.  I don't know how this will physically manifest itself (my homemaking enthusiasm) but there is something to be said for a homemaker's presence or lack thereof.  I aim to warm up our home again, with shining and wiping, painting (a little) and straightening, tossing and rearranging.  Many improvements can be made with elbow grease, you know?
I hope you don't take this exuberant recounting of a lovely week as "bragging" because I truly wanted to share it with you, you nice folks who stop by and read my ramblings.  
I am slowing planting and fixing the garden.  More about that later!
THANK YOU for stopping in!  (toothy smile and eye twinkles)

25 comments:

ann said...

Congratulations, PomPom. You will discover a couple of things: how did you do it all that and work? Well, you didn't. You just thought you did. And how much work really gets in the way of the good life, no matter how much you loved your job. You have great things to look forward to, especially sweet little James,

TexWisGirl said...

congratulations to you! so glad you were treated so well by your students, co-workers, and family!

happy anniversary to you, too!

Terra said...

You were treated like royalty and rightly so. I love bagpipe music, that party sounds a treat with the grands and all.

RedSetter said...

What a lovely, lovely post. I loved reading about your leaving parties and events and am quite teary with joy that you are transitioning to your third stage of life where the work is done, you know who you are and who you want to be with and how you plan to have things proceed. I hope you have a wonderful time enjoying doing exactly what you want to do and will keep us up to date.

RedSetter said...

What a lovely, lovely post. I loved reading about your leaving parties and events and am quite teary with joy that you are transitioning to your third stage of life where the work is done, you know who you are and who you want to be with and how you plan to have things proceed. I hope you have a wonderful time enjoying doing exactly what you want to do and will keep us up to date.

Elderberry-Rob said...

I love your latest snap of baby James, he is delightful. Your family are going to love you being around so much more - homemaking sounds great, it's good for the soul, good for creativity, makes everyone feel loved - I hope you will blog about all your cleaning and shining. I havent got Amber the Frankincense yet (it's quite expensive here) but have not forgotten about it. Congratulations on being retired and may you have many blessings to look forward to. Betty

Farm Girl said...

Oh I loved reading all of the wonderful things your family has done for you and all of the nice things that showed you how much you are loved. I love that you are away on a trip just the both of you. I love all of your plans and how wonderful it is to get to be full time at home Mom again. I know you will enjoy it so much.
I am so glad that your heart prayer was answered in such a big way.
I love your sharing and how special it all is and I love the little baby eyes looking at the world over a shoulder.
You are going to have such a wonderful time this summer.
I am so happy for you.

Elizabethd said...

Pom Pom,may I warn you that retirement simply isn't! All that time you thought you would have is somehow filled up...but with the nicest of things!
Happy end of teaching!

sandy said...

Congrats on your retirement! I've been retired for a while now and like you I missed having full time opportunities with the grands, though I had a flexible schedule so I worked it out fairly well. But like you, getting my home sparkling and doing more cooking was on my list. NEWS FLASH! I got so busy that sometimes even now, cleaning and cooking gets moved to the back burner to make more room to spend time with family! it's all good! Have fun!

Leslie said...

So much joy celebrating you! I am excited for you and look forward to seeing what this new season holds for you. Hugs.

Between Me and You said...

Rock-a-bye Sweet Baby James! Happy Anniversary when it comes and a huge Big Up to those Bagpipes. Be Happy in your retirement.xxx

Kezzie said...

The paddling pool!!!! Wish I could join them!!!! Congratulations on finishing teaching and nice it was marked so well x

Lisa Richards said...

I enjoyed so much reading about all of the celebrations! You did a great job loving other people's kids and now you can be a full-time granny!
Bob and I went to Vail for our honeymoon 34 years ago (yesterday). We also went through Colorado Springs and looked at the hot springs. Wish I would have had a dunk!
Have fun settling into this new season of your life! :)
(LOVE bagpipes!!)

Kit said...

Oh I am so thrilled for you! What great family and friends. I am happy everyone celebrated you cause you deserve it and I am so glad you told us all about it. It is so funny, when you mentioned Homemaking, I had to smile. It is exactly what I look forward every summer. Taking care of my home and family. :) Enjoy! Kit

Debi said...

Congratulations on your retirement! I retired at the end of school last year and it was an adjustment for sure. But after a while I did adjust and I can tell you it's wonderful! I love spending more time with my grands, puttering in the garden, crafting, reading... all the things I didn't have time for when I was working. And it's true what they say... after a couple of months of retirement you will wonder how you ever had time to work!!

Amy at love made my home said...

No bragging at all, just a wonderful celebration of joy and love that you have been experiencing! I hope that whatever your new homemaking adventures bring it is all wonderful and happy and joyful. Your family is obviously wonderful and very happy for you to be there more with them. How great that you had such a good time, I hope it is just the start for you! xx

Aida said...

Congratulations Pompom! Wow you must be so excited! Now you can actually live life to the full. You must have lots of things to do and places to visit. I cant wait to see all your adventures. Best of all, you have the time in the world to have fun with the grands. You are so blessed to have such beautiful family.
All the best to retirement.

Attic Clutter said...

Hi Pom
oh another festive post..you just have so much fun..love it
hugs.patty

Thistle Cove Farm said...

Karen, I'm with you on the home making; I've been frozen since Dave died but have begun to thaw. I love the picture of James...peek-a-boo! No, it's not bragging; it's life and because it's your life, I love it.

puttermuch said...

Such wonderful times for you and your family. I wish for you many years, tending to and filling your home with love. Home IS where the heart is...this we know is true.
:)
Have a wonderful time in Vail
xoxo
Lori

Catherine said...

Well done Pom Pom! Rich & wonderful days. Bag pipes...love it! Happy, happy anniversary you two...hope you have had a lovely time in celebration.
Bless that wee face. Much love always GK x0x0x

M.K. said...

Hi, sweetie! What joy is in this post :) It makes me happy that you are so loved and appreciated by many people. What a party you had! And look at that list of gifts -- they do know you well, don't they? :)

I look forward very much to hearing about all the things you want to do around the house. I need inspiration. I languish in the summertime, I'm sorry to say, and I need a prod to spruce up our abode. I tend to neglect the home when the weather is hot.

Well, happy anniversary to you and your man. May you have a romantic, restful time together.

Jeannette said...

Welcomed into the arms of your family...that says so much...I imagine you will never be bored or without something to do that truly needs doing in your home realm and your teaching gift will continue to manifest in many opportunities. Congratulations and best wishes!

libbyquilter said...

congratulations on this newest journey in your life. your family sounds so truly supportive and loving.

lovely strawberries too~!!

:-)
libbyQ

Gumbo Lily said...

You have the best twinkly, blue eyes! I'm so happy for you being able to come home and live life a little differently than the past 10 years. I think it's wonderful to be excited about homemaking. I would like to focus a little more on my own homemaking (cleaning and sorting and organizing) since calving and lambing is all done. Happy, happy, happy for you and your family!!

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