Wordless Wednesday-Bread Baking on a Snow Day

Can't you just smell this?

© [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner], [2008-2011].

Friday Library Finds

Yesterday we had a freaky snow squall that quickly caused havoc for the morning drive into school. Caught off-guard by the weather forecaster's predictions school was not delayed. This presented a wheel gripping drive into work for all. Buses were late, teachers were late, parents were late and the frenzy of the morning superseded all attempts to teach as the staff tried to settle the anxiety atmosphere within the building.

Then, at 9:30 when the snow didn't stop, we were told we were going into an early dismissal schedule and to adjust the rest of the days classes accordingly. So now the kids were jumping with excitement again. Oh what fun! High energy and classrooms jumping with charged up elementary children was sure to follow

Going with the flow everyone prepared to leave at 1:00PM. As I attended my bus duty, I was really having a good time seeing the kids off to their buses as they passed by me with grins of delight, anxious to get home and have extra play time, snow fun and possible hot chocolate.

With the extra time on my hands I was finally able to get to my public library. Believe it or not my card had expired. Drat! How could I have been away from this wonderful place for so long. I used to go several times a week. I obtained a new card and looked around at all the alterations and changes since I last was there. It felt like a comfortable pair of slippers as I looked around.

Fortunately, the stacks were still as they were in the past, but new technologies had taken over and the layout required a change to accommodate the DVD loan section.

I ended up staying there for almost two hours. What an awesome way to spend my early dismissal time before I headed home to my hounds.

Here are my two finds that I will read for War Through the Generations, Vietnam Challenge.

After River by Donna Milner

Short Partial Summary from School Library Journal

Adult/High School—This novel with multiple voices chronicles different points in a woman's life. The main narrative follows Natalie Ward, who leads a charmed life in Prince George, BC, during the 1960s. It is only a matter of time before reality interferes with the idyllic. The political uncertainty of the era comes knocking on her family's door in the form of a draft resister, Richard "River" Jordan. His resistance to the war in Vietnam causes tension on the Ward homestead.

Perfect Spy, The Incredible Double Life of Pham Xuan An, Time Magazine Reporter and Vietnamese Communist Agent.

Short blurb from the cover jacket:

During the Vietnam War, Time reporter Pham Xuan An befriended everone who was anyone in Saigon, including American journalists such as David Halberstram and Neil Sheehan, the CIA'S William Colby, and the legendary Colonel Edward Lansdale-not to mention the most influential members of the South Vietnamese government army. None of them ever guessed that he was also providing strategic intelligence to Hanoi, smuggling invisible ink messages into the jungle inside egg rolls."

Don't these look like they will be good?

I normally wouldn't be able to post in the morning, but we were granted a 90 minute delay today as the snow slicked the roads up again during the night. I so enjoy the unexpected time that winter weather provides when it interrupts the normal routines.

Have a great day!

Snow Day in New England

I was lucky to get an early morning text wake-up call that schools were closed due to snow. I really didn't think as I fell asleep last night that I would be off today. What a welcome surprise this icy mixed bag of precep this is. Snow Days are always fun even when you are the teacher. We love them just as much as our students. We listen to all their superstitious methods of ensuring that snow does fall, in copious amounts, or at least enough to cancel school.




Lion, Wizard



Lion, Mystery



Webster



Now how did that snow dance go again, I tried to remember the steps. They did say to turn my pajamas inside out. In any event, whatever they did last night worked, as I reaped the benefits by sleeping late. I am enjoying the day catching up on some reading surrounded by four lazy couch potato sleeping greyhounds, and two black cats purring in a synchronized purring duet.

This is the second snow in Connecticut, as Saturday we had a winter wonderland snowfall in the style of Dr. Zhivago. This snowstorm is the messy kind, and probably won't be around long. Its a cold, raw, icy, gloomy day but I'm all smiles because for now time has slowed down, a restful break in the hectic holiday pace is a gift to be grateful for.

I hope everyone has sometime to slowdown this holiday season and enjoy the simple things life has to give you. It really makes a big difference in restoring the body's energy balance. Peace to all.