Summer Saturday in Chicago

“It is hopeless for the occasional visitor to try to keep up with Chicago. She is always a novelty; for she is never the Chicago you saw when you passed through the last time.” - Mark Twain "Life On The Mississippi," 1883

This time she was rosé on the 96th floor of the John Hancock Building with views as far as the eyes could see, a long walk down The Magnificent Mile, along the Chicago River, and through the theatre district, an amazing performance of Hamilton, and drinks at the Palmer House.

Week 31 - Storytelling: Friends and Family

“In the sweetness of friendship, let there be laughter and sharing of pleasures.” - Khalil Gibran

#dogwoodweek31 #dogwood52 #2019dogwood52 #friendsandfamily #sharing

August • Colors of the Month

"The first week of August hangs at the very top of summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning. The weeks that come before are only a climb from balmy spring, and those that follow a drop to the chill of autumn, but the first week of August is motionless, and hot. It is curiously silent, too, with blank white dawns and glaring noons, and sunsets smeared with too much color. " - Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting

“Some like it hot” and the heat is on this August as I feature warm colors this month.

July 2019 in Pictures

“Give thanks for the heavy perfume of wild roses in early July and the song of crickets on summer humid nights and the rivers that run and the stars that rise and the rain that falls and all the good things that a good God gives.” - Ann Voskamp

Currently • July 2019

“One benefit of summer was that each day we had more light to read by." - Janette Walls

READING:

• Louise Penny mysteries — After numerous recommendations, I stared reading Still Life, the first novel featuring Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. So far, so good…

• Lots of professional development books:

  • What School Could Be: Insights and Inspiration from Teachers across America

  • Robot-Proof: Higher Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

  • Learning First, Technology Second: The Educator’s Guide to Designing Authentic Lessons

  • Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators

• With all this required reading, I could use at least one more really good, can’t put it down book before school starts. What’s the best thing you’ve read this summer?

WATCHING:

• Grantchester Season 4: Spoiler alert! If you haven’t started the season yet or haven’t watched Grantchester at all (and may I ask, “Why not?!”), skip to the next section. I’ll wait…

  OK, if you’re still here, what happened between the season 3 finale and the season 4 première?! When we last left Sidney Chambers, he was deciding between a life with his true love, Amanda the divorcée, and his responsibilities as vicar. Yet this season, he immediately falls for an African American visitor and follows her back to the US! What?! I guess that’s what happens when your leading actor gets a better offer — Need I remind you of Matthew’s car accident in Downton Abbey? I thought I was finished with Grantchester once and for all until Will Davenport arrived to take over as the new vicar. There are definite similarities between Will and Sidney — both are very handsome, have cute dogs, and wrestle with their consciences; Sidney likes jazz while while likes Elvis, but they both enjoy a pint and a good game of backgammon after helping Geordie solve crimes. Thanks to PBS Passport that allowed me to binge the (all too short) season, I’m still hooked.

• Very British Problems — This show on Netflix is hilarious. The Brits are a quirky lot, but I must confess that I share some of their idiosyncrasies.

• Movies — we’ve actually rediscovered our love of the big screen and fresh buttery popcorn which is further improved by Dreamloungers and wine ;-) I’ll review the films that we’ve seen recently in my summer 2019 recap. Stay tuned!

LOVING:

• Lazy mornings with Piper — At least once a week, she and I enjoy snuggling with a book or iPad and a cup of coffee, watching the birds and chasing chipmunks — you work out which activities are hers and which are mine!

• Piper’s room — It’s amazing what a fresh coat of paint, rearranged furniture, and updated accessories can do to freshen a room, and I don’t know why we waited so long to replace that carpeting.

• Our new vacuum — Full disclosure: We have a lot of vacuums. Our house has a central vac system that is more trouble than it’s worth. We also inherited two very heavy, very cumbersome Kirbys — one from my mom and one from Eric’s grandma; how either of those tiny ladies managed those behemoths, I’ll never know! For years, I haven’t been able to justify purchasing yet another vacuum, but we finally decided to buy a light-weight, bagless model that specializes in eliminating pet hair - wow! I’m simultaneously amazed, satisfied, and disgusted by the amount of fur and dust that I get up each time I use it.

• My Dyson hairdryer — It’s a splurge for sure, but what a game-changer!

WORKING ON:

• Maintaining my garden after a very raining, steamy summer. I had almost given up, but after a lot of pruning and weeding, things are starting to looking pretty good again. Eric has been restoring our deck. We’re really looking forward to finally enjoying some evenings al fresco.

• Professional Development: This summer I’m teaching two Canvas courses, and a two-day blended learning course. All of these PD sessions include the SAMR model, Triple E Framework, and Design Thinking to encourage educators to truly leverage technology to transform student learning.

FEELING: Ready for fall! Yes, I know I shouldn’t wish the summer away, but honestly, aside from having a more flexible schedule, summer may be my least favorite season. I don’t like hot weather (keep it under 80º and I’m happy), and I really despise the humidity and mosquitos. By the end of July, the summer is essentially over for me anyway. I’m back to school nearly full time, planning for la rentrée, attending and facilitating professional development. Back to school makes me long for crisp weather, cozy sweaters, and all of the wonder of autumn.

PLANNING:

• New blog content. I haven’t posted very much this summer and I miss the creative outlet.

• Trips: I can hardly wait for October! In addition to the aforementioned yearning for fall loveliness, I will also be traveling to both New York and Paris.

  • I haven’t been to NYC for almost a decade so I’m eager to discover One World and Ground Zero as well as the neighborhoods around the Google Offices in Chelsea. If you have suggestions for my trip, please share.

  • As I mentioned before (and surely will mention again). I have another trip to Paris planned in October. This time, Eric is going back (after eight years) and we are traveling with friends. It will be fun to plan an autumn in Paris itinerary.

What have you been doing lately?

Week 30 - Inspiration: Exit

"Every exit is an entry to somewhere else.” - Tom Stoppard

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