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)