Here's to family!

May 26, 2013 Photo of the day:
"Here's to family!"

We spent the past two days "Up North" with my mom. My cousin, Kerry, passed away last month and his memorial service was held at the Plum Lake Golf Course yesterday afternoon. When we heard about Kerry, we realized that it had been ten years since we visited our Froelich relatives in Sayner. It was so nice to see Linda, Lorraine, Marie, Mike, Carol, Christine, Catherine, and especially Great Aunt Helen. Aunt Helen has health problems, but she is as sweet and lovely as always. 

This afternoon, on our way home, we stopped in Eagle River to see David and Debbie. David is my closest first cousin even though he is almost 30 years older than me!  It is almost eerie how much he resembles my dad, but it's also wonderfully familiar. We had a stroll through their beautiful flower garden and a nice lunch. I'm so glad that Eric can hear stories about my dad and the rest of the Larsons.

Finally, we stopped at Spencer Lake to visit my Aunt Bertine. She is 96 years old and still sharp as a tack! She loves to spend time at her cottage, bake cookies, pies, and muffins, and spoil her dog, Scooter. She is an inspiration!

This weekend reminded me that it is so important to spend time with family. It is also important to take time away from the everyday routine, to get away, and to relax once and a while. Up North is the perfect place to recharge one's spirit!

Eric on Little St. Germain Lake

The cleat-worn floor of the Clubhouse at the Plum Lake Golf Course


Lily of the Valley

May 24, 2013 Photo of the day:
"Lily of the Valley"


When we planted our garden years ago, I was warned about lilies of the valley. People cautioned me that the tiny flowers would take over, spreading everywhere. Yet despite the warnings, I planted one small sprout about 5 years ago. I have always remembered those lovely, fragrant lilies of the valley growing along the foundation of my Grandma Larson's house in Sturgeon Bay. 

Also known as Our Lady's tears or Mary's tears, Christian legends holds that the tiny blossoms sprang from the Blessed Mother's tears at the crucifixion of Jesus. Lilies of the valley are often a symbol of humility in religious paintings. They are also considered a sign of resurrection, renaissance, and the ability to envision a better world.

Five years have passed since I planted my lily of the valley. I had almost forgotten about it since it never bloomed...until this week! In keeping with a trend this spring (one crocus, one tulip), I have a single sprig of tiny blossoms. Granny's lilies of the valley were pure white while mine seem to be tinted the palest pink. Lovely!

Deepest, Darkest...Wisconsin?

May 23, 2013 Photo of the day:
"View from the Balcony"

I'm in the Wisconsin Dells for two days at the Educator Effectiveness conference. As Wisconsin moves towards a new educator evaluation model, it is important that teachers and administrators understand the goal setting, observation, and assessment processes. I hoped that this conference would provide a clearer picture of where we are headed next year, and of my role as an "Effectiveness Coach," but after day one, I seem to have more questions than I did before. 

It has always seemed a bit strange to me that many of the state conferences are held in the Dells at the Kalahari Resort. I'm not a big fan of this commercialized town. The Dells are beautiful from the water, but the surrounding town has become "The Waterpark Capitol of the World."  I'm sure this appeals more to families with young children. Nevertheless, several educator conferences are held here each year, and I'm starting to think that the Kalahari Resort is perhaps an appropriate metaphor for the Educator Effectiveness process. The resort is meant to simulate the African wilderness with lions, giraffes, and hippos scattered about. The Educator Effectiveness Model is a bit like "The Dark Continent." It's mysterious and somewhat threatening since we don't really know what around the bend. There are a series of twists and turns and plunges into unknown waters. Yet, I'm sure we will eventually resurface, dry off. and get back to work. Now if we can only find a way to have some fun in the process!

Google Geekery

May 22, 2013 Photo of the day: "Google Geekery"

Today was a very busy day for this tech coach. This morning, I passed the six required Google Apps for Education exams for Individual Qualification. In the coming week, I hope to complete the additional requirements to become a Google Certified Trainer. Stay tuned! This afternoon, I attended another Southeastern Wisconsin Tech Coaches Network meeting. It's so nice to collaborate and share ideas for future projects and professional development. Finally, to complete my day of Google Geekery, I'm thrilled to discover that for the second year in a row, the Doodle 4 Google winner is a student from Wisconsin! I'm so impressed and touched by Sabrina Brady's "Coming Home" doodle. This year's theme was "My best day ever." Sabrina's doodle tells the story of her reunion with her dad when he returned from an 18-month deployment in Iraq. This amazing doodle will be displayed on the Google homepage tomorrow, May 23. 

Sabrina Brady's "Coming Home" Google Doodle

For more really creative doodles, 
visit my Google Doodles Pinterest Board



I ♥ Spring

May 21, 2013 Photo of the day: "I ♥ Spring!"

I know that I've posted pictures of this tree twice already this month, and if you follow my blog, you are probably getting tired of photos of flowering trees and shrubs. Yet, spring took a long time to arrive in Wisconsin this year, and these lovely blossoms are so fleeting. Only a month ago, I struggled to find one thing that was beautiful or interesting enough to photograph for my P365, and now I fear I'll miss something wonderful if I don't look closely everyday. I love our redbud tree. Just days ago its branches were laden with tiny pink blossoms, but as the blossoms start to fall, they are giving way to these lovely heart-shaped leaves. The tree was a wedding gift, a living symbol of beauty, growth, and love.