Grad 2013.

Oh lordy. It's June! Holy cats.

Well, this past weekend was grad. And it was an excellent time. The students were so well behaved and so excited. It was so much fun pinning caps and gowns, and talking them through their nerves of walking across the stage. ("I'm gonna fall. I'm totally gonna trip and fall" ) 

The dresses were stunning, suits dapper, and I wish I could share pics!

Instead, this. Missed the cap throwing by about 30 seconds. 

Sweet.

My kids are so sweet. We had a MUN year end wrap up meeting today, and as a thank you they got me a card, an orchid, a steeping travel mug, and a gift certificate for David's Tea. The sweetest group of kids around. 

Reminder of why I love my job, even though it's ridiculously busy right now!!

Italian Soda.

So, it went from kinda dodgy Spring to SUMMER, just like that. Today it was 30. Made for a very stifling classroom.

Nothing like unwinding on the porch with a homemade Italian soda. I made a simple syrup flavored with saskatoons and rhubarb this weekend while I was making pie. And, since the Internet told me to, I added a little bit of vodka to it, in the hopes that it will extend the shelf life of the syrup. Mmmm.

Corn Flakes.

Spring this year is all about change for me. Ken moved out, and this week I'm getting a new roommate (an awesome coworker). My job status for the fall is unknown, which causes me all kinds of anxiety. School year is winding down, but there is still so much to do, so many shows to go to, grads coming up super quick... Sheesh!

Sometimes you just need to take a step back and enjoy the simple things in life. I hung out with my mom today, and did some baking. Made some pies for a family thing, and made a treat I haven't had in ages..

We used to make toffee flakes (corn flake stacks according to Heather) all the time. But years ago when they stopped making the full bars of Mackintosh toffee, I figured we were out of luck. Not long ago, my dad found small pieces of Mackintosh toffee, but I had no clue how much to use. Thanks to a (different, but still awesome) coworker, I now know how much to use! So happy! I can make the awesome cereal bars again!

Toffee Flakes

2 bags of Mackintosh toffee pieces (1 bag is equal to 3 of the old bars)
3 T butter
3 T milk
6 C corn flakes (although I ran out, and used kamut flakes instead)

Melt together toffee, milk and butter over low heat until smooth. Stir in corn flakes. Drop in small piles on a lined cookie sheet and cool.

Try not to eat them all at once. Mmmm. Tastes like childhood.

Spring?

So, spring is taking its sweet time getting here. It's getting a bit old. We've had snow since October.

We are in the double digits now, and I'm crossing my fingers against more snow.

But, look! Crocus!

Front Door.

So my dad made me a BEAUTIFUL stained glass window for my front door.

I cannot stop staring at it.

Siiiiigh....

Bets.

My students love their cell phones. And I mean LOVE their phones. Bordering on unhealthy obsession. Addiction.

It's a huge problem at school, and one with no clear solution. I mean, I could spend my entire day dealing with nothing but their cell phones. Not the hill I want to die on.

So, since it's such a problem, I bet my grade 10 class that I didn't think they could go the full 80 minutes without a phone being used. I didn't want to see a phone, iPod, nothing.

Needless to say, they didn't make the full 80 minutes before someone cracked. My grade 11's maintained it was because grade 10's have no self control, and proceeded to go the full 80 minutes with not a single cell phone sighting. If thy went to the bathroom, they left them behind.

Took my grade 10's three days to finally get it.

So, I owe my classes cupcakes.

They'll be happy. And I was happy. Got a couple phone-free days out of the deal.

Calves.

This past Easter weekend was very relaxing. Had a fab time at the lake - enjoyed the nice weather a little too much... got a sizable sunburn from sitting outside reading.

Cute little fuzzies.

Dom and I took a little adventure over to the farm to check out the brand new calves! It was a very informative morning, as neither of use really knew that much about cattle farming.

Hello, cow friend.

Cows are very curious, but pretty dumb. They will come within a couple feet of you, stare and sniff, but if you approach or move suddenly they run away.

#farmlife

Very, very pregnant.

Two days old!

Unrelated... but we visited horses too!