Last November, I began teaching English at Sierra View School. The program is CBET – Community Based English Tutoring – with 32 instructional hours. Mostly I teach the parents of students at the school, although anyone in the community may attend. If a class takes places after school, childcare is also provided.

Sierra View is the school I retired from 11 years ago, so it’s fun to come back. Especially when I can visit with old friends like Joann, the school secretary. Joann and I first met when she was my #1 parent volunteer at Westside Charter School. Then I hired her to be our school secretary and essentially “my right arm.” We were a great team.

Today, we had a little party for Valentine’s Day and Yvette Medina, a program specialist from the district office, was our guest.

I love teaching this class and I’m learning lots of Spanish. I have 3 pages of vocabulary words to study. I’ve learned the word for great grandmother is “bisabuela” and great great grandmother is “tatarabuela.” And, while cats in the United States reportedly have 9 lives, in Mexico they only have 7.

In January, I began teaching at Woodlake School

followed quickly by Del Paso School. In total I have mostly Hispanic women. At Del Paso, I also have (one each) Laotian, Pakistani, and Iraqi ladies. Soon I will add another school site but serving two schools, Hagginwood and Castori. Four schools but just 12 hours/week. A great part-time job.

Progress through Friday night,

Saturday night,

Sunday night.

This project records the last bicycle tour I did with Billie and JD last May/June, the Katy Trail in Missouri.  You may recall, we had some weather challenges on this tour. Rain, flooding and tornadoes required some vehicle assistance which is the light pink line. The towns on the map are where we stayed overnight, except for Mokane where we pushed our bicycles through deep water to be rescued by the local fire department. Fun times!

Not very much progress this past week due to a jigsaw puzzle obsession. Whew! It’s finished now.

Moving along nicely after a little nudge and one small misstep. A little seam-ripping is good for the soul.

Meanwhile I tried to face my sewing demon. Which of these many projects should I take into the sewing cave this weekend? I was successful at choosing the oldest unfinished project – a gift for a friend in Virginia. I too became unstuck today

The first walnuts fell on October 1 and I began gathering. It was easier to pick walnuts from the opened hulls rather than stooping over to pick them from the ground after they dropped. October 19: Some days, I picked up from the ground only 2 pounds of walnuts scattered under 28 producing trees. This equalled about 50 squats. Aha! A discovery on November 14. I used a Webster dusting tool with an extension handle. I was able to gently brush the branches and the walnuts rained down. Much easier! Not very many walnuts hit me on the head. By December 5, the harvest was over. Grand total = 205 pounds. In 1012, I gathered about 40 pounds. What will next year be like? The dryer for a small orchard: I’m already excited for the 2014 harvest because Justin is going to buy a small walnut gatherer. Oh darn, maybe not so many squats next season.

Doug’s softball team had a fundraiser tonight

at the IBEW union hall.

Dave and Phyl’s sons, Jon and Greg were there.

This guy was so proud of his butter warmer.

The littlest helpers at the crab feed, Odin and Kellen.

I heard a helicopter – loud and seeming to hover over Justin’s house and had to check it out.

The copter flew from tower to tower bringing material to three guys working high above the ground.

I guess somebody has to do this job, but it sure isn’t my cup of tea.

A truck waits in a field to the west for the next phase.

This was a fun day. We started by making 12 jars of

pomegranate jelly.

Phyl got started on her next sewing project.

And, maybe best of all, it rained today. It hasn’t rained in over 40 days, everyone is talking about a “mega-dought” in California, and water restrictions are in everyone’s future. Dave set up a catchment system to harvest the rain that fell on the roof, not fit for human consumption, but the trees won’t mind.

And this is Dave giving me “the look” – stop taking pictures! Of him.

Thais, Phyl and I drove to Berkeley this morning. This is the best closest-to-Sacramento fine fabric store, Stone Mountain and Daughter.

We went to Swan’s Market in Oakland for lunch.

I’m afraid I dragged Ty and Phyl to Rosamunde’s Sausage Grill to eat. I figured any restaurant with sausage in the title had to be good. Nope, the sausages were only average. Still on top for delicious sausage is Ty’s husband Lenin. He grills the best.

And the market part of Swan’s Market was limited. A really nice meat counter here. A half-filled seafood market and that was it. 

A totally fun day nevertheless. There’s a lot of sewing ahead.

I asked the boys the other day, a series of questions.
What month is it now? -Janauary
What month comes next? -February
What special day comes in about the middle of February? (With a little from Mom) -Valentine’s Day!
Will you be my Valentine?

Kellen wasn’t too sure about answering the question, so he hesitantly said, “Yes.” Odin was certain of his answer, “No!” When I gave a Valentine’s treat to Kellen, Odin was horrified. “Wait! I changed my mind.” So I asked him again and he quickly said yes. A priceless moment.