Nora, you and your tree look lovely. I am a huge fan of the wrap dress.

Yes, this. All of it.

It was this place, bonny. [link] It's way out there, but she's not kidding about them having all sorts of acres of fenced space open to them.

I wish we could stop by the dog show, but we're out of town this weekend.

Nora, you and your tree look lovely. I am a huge fan of the wrap dress.

Yes, indeed. You look all curvaceous and seeeexy.

I got nostalgic last week when I went grocery shopping and saw they had gooseberries. So, I bought a pack. Then, sat and looked at them for a week because I had no idea what to do with them other than pie and there weren't enough there. I took a chance and went back to the same store on Monday and they still had some, so I got two more packs. Now, I have gooseberry pie. OMG, so yum. I haven't had one since I stayed at an aunt's house when I was 8 or 9. I really need a house, now, so I can plant a gooseberry bush.

Thanks, guys! Tom also tooks some pictures of a fully grown cucumber in our garden- it's the first one harvested of the season, and this is the first time we've grown them- he was so proud!

(Yes, the links lead to pictures of a cucumber. Further proof that I will post pictures of pretty much anything.)

So Tom was wandering around the garden all paparazzi style- our fashion shoot totally got busted by our neighbors. Heh. I was like, "umm, 'cause of the cute dress??" Do people not us (us=Buffistas) not do that kind of thing?

This is timeless, gorgeous, must be printed, framed, and handed down through generations.

"Who's the pretty lady, Mama?"

"That's your great-aunt Nora, love. She was a wonderful woman. Let me tell you about her and her husband Tom, and some of their adventures."

Kristin, the company that made Nature's Miracle split, and one partner took the name, the other partner took the magic original scent-removing formula. Let me find out the name of the good stuff. Okay, my sources tell me the name to look for in pet odor removal is Petastic.

A friend does "Pawtraits", wherein she does this frightful morph of a pet's head and a classic old oil painting, prints the result on art canvas, gives it a coat of lumpy shellac and sells it to people who love their pets and have Questionable Taste. I'm seeing Byron, not as Gordon, Lord, but with some cranky American Primitive child, drawstring toy in his paw.

Dear god, GG. No planning period?? That sucks. We had a union meeting today to go over our new contract. We vote on it this week then it goes to the board on 8/4. While not fantabulous, it's okay.

Yep. Somehow the loving school board decided a good way to deal with the $6 million+ deficit in our budget was to have the high school teachers teach 7 out of 8 periods. As we are on the block schedule this means half the school will be without a planning period each semester. This is also part of the reason most of the schools did not replace all the positions that were vacated at the end of the year. My school had about 20 people leave (which has become standard for that nut house) and has been trying to replace the "essential positions".

To "make it better" they shortened the class periods from 90 min to 85 and moved the start time from 7:30 to 8. Teachers have "common planning" from 7-8; however, we will have at least one meeting/planning/stupid-crap-I-gotta-do commitment each week. They also told us we probably won't be able to keep our personal microwaves and fridge's because they are looking for ways to save energy.

We don't have a contract, yet. I'm a site rep with the teachers association and we were told not to expect much. If we are lucky we will get to keep our step allowance for the coming year but that will be about it.

I think the "favorite part" at my school was when we were told that football would essentially be untouched as it is the only thing that is "profitable". Their biggest concession might be earlier game times (to conserve electricity) and not being able to go to as many away games (to conserve gas). However, they will probably get new uniforms again this year and are supposed to get a new stadium if the rebuild plans go through. (One of the first things that was eliminated from the plans was a theatre. It was deemed "too expensive" and "unnecessary". Instead they just want to 'renovate' the Cafetorium)

Pretty Nora!!

We leave in a couple of hours for San Diego (ye olde Comic-Con!). Excited!!!!

teach 7 out of 8 periods

GAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!

GAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!

my thoughts exactly.

Nora, you look lovely! Don't know why you're afraid of the camera.

I think the "favorite part" at my school was when we were told that football would essentially be untouched as it is the only thing that is "profitable". Their biggest concession might be earlier game times (to conserve electricity) and not being able to go to as many away games (to conserve gas). However, they will probably get new uniforms again this year and are supposed to get a new stadium if the rebuild plans go through.

how is football profitable in high school? Selling popcorn and drinks doesn't make enough money to build a stadium.