Winner of the PPBB

As I perched in my old, ragged, yellow chair this morning, I cut out your names (I'd written them all down yesterday) and carefully put them in this basket and drew a winner.

Drum roll please . . . Clevelandgirlie! She lives in far off North Carolina! Visit her blog - she's VERY fun and extremely artistic. She has adorable corgis. I look forward to putting together the Pom Pom box for her! I'll show you what's inside before I send it east! Thank you so much for all your sweet comments on my birthday party post, friends. If I could, I'd send you all off to the movies today, buy you the biggest, buttery-ist TUB of popcorn and the soft drink of your choice. I'd go over to your house while you enjoyed the movie and do your laundry, wash the dishes, sweep the floor, leave a vase of flowers in your refrigerator, plump the pillows on the sofa, whisper a prayer in each corner - if I could. YOU are all such nice people and you know how much I like nice people.

The other day Jeff asked me what I was going to do when the flowers are gone. What will you blog about? He likes photos more than I do! Well, it's true I like to take pictures, but I also like to ponder, so . . . no lack of material here.

Early morning survivors. The sunflowers are gone and these zinnias are feeling the colder nights, but by the moonlight they are still happy.

Miss Bug and her family came over for dinner last night. Here she is with her jammies on, ready to get in her car seat and go home. She is a delicious hug, as you can imagine. Irresistible!

"I don't like people who have never fallen or stumbled. Their virtue is lifeless and it isn't of much value. Life hasn't revealed its beauty to them." Boris Paternak (Russian writer)
What do you think of Boris's quote? Do you gravitate toward people who are open about sharing their pain? Do you think pain is beautiful? C.S. Lewis said that pain is God's megaphone. Do you agree? Just wondering what YOU think.
Have a great Monday! I'm off to school to catch up on copies. I'm ready to FINISH Romeo and Juliet. Writing, writing, writing all week and parent conferences on Thursday night. Newspaper Club, too. Whew. I'll be tired come Friday. I'll be back here soon though. BIG LOVE! PP

Cape Town and My Town

This is Nathaniel and Reggie who live at a sort of "camp" in Cape Town. Bill took this photo with his phone so it is kind of blurry. Tonight (or this morning - I get confused) there will be a food distribution there. Our friends (Ben and Alicia) have been visiting the squatters village for two years now, trying to teach the kids to read, playing games with them, and enjoying getting to know them. Bill will leave Cape Town and head to Uganda soon. The time difference means that he's sleeping while I'm at school and I'm sleeping when he wakes up. So, I can't email much or text message. Sigh.
Kelli is sick with some sort of virus and wanted to go to the clinic last night to see if she had strep. Jeff and I went over to their house after dinner. Pom Pom is pretty tired and "pepless" after 6 o'clock but Birdie and Miss Bug were cheerful and sweet. Miss Bug is so soft and lovely. Holding her and smooching her is pure heaven. She smiles and coos. She studies my face and loves to be loved.
School is a marathon. I'm pooped at the end of the day and I already feel like there isn't enough time to do all the things I want to in class. There are so many sweet eighth graders. There are some very noisy ones, too. When I check their state scores, I see that the noisy ones aren't learning as much and I must try to figure out how to help them. Big job.
I am up early, ready for my coffee and then early to school to meet with a few wonderful women there and then teach, teach, teach before coming home and eating pot roast with the girls, trying to have our girls' time (Bill's not here to keep the kids entertained so we'll see) and fall into bed, anticipating Friday and a three day weekend! Yahoo for Labor Day! Thank you for visiting, dearest readers and thank you for your interesting comments. May you have a day filled with fresh air. My classroom is so hot - it's a wonder I don't melt into a puddle. xopp