name that bloom

1

While water the garden yesterday I noticed how many different flowers are showing off their petals. I thought it would be fun to photograph them. Some are very tiny. Some are volunteers. Some remain nameless in my mind. 

How many can you identify?
 

2

3

4

5

6

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8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

Hint 2, 3 and 11 have been making regular appearances in my salad bowl.

for charlie

Dear Charlie,

My mom made me puppy cookies. They were super easy and taste yummy. I think you should ask your Amy to make some for you.

Chow,
Lily

fancy ladies

I'm thankful for the frequent appearance of these three in my home. Through our homeschooling  arrangement Natale has given so much back to me, Jen has become a friend whom I trust with my heart, and little Elli, with her afternoon visits, brings a delight like only a toddler can deliver.

this girl

I thank Abba daily for this sweet girl. She is such a good, happy, loving companion (along with a good guard dog).

Recently I tested to see if she knew the word HIKE. Typically I get my hiking boots out to announce that we are headed to the mountain. This time I asked her the question, 
"Do you want to go hiking on Silly Mountain?"

It was obvious from her bouncing and running back and forth through the house that she understood exactly what I said.

thankful journal

When I started Kindergarten with Natalie we started our day with prayer, writing in her thankful journal, bible story and worship. We typically didn't get to math until after lunch. Much longer than it should have taken me I realized this was a mistake as the subject of math is the area that Natale struggles with and we were both tired by the time we got to numbers. So we switched things around....starting with prayer and then jumping right into math....writing and scripture studies sneak into our morning but for the most part math is the subject of the AM. Recently I read an article about the importance of counting your blessings, and teaching your children to do so as well....so we've brought the thankful journal (that only got used on a hit or miss basis) back into our morning. We use this activity to practice our classroom skills (just in case) so I write in my journal at the same time and it is a no-talking activity. I showed Natale how I started numbering my thanks after reading Ann Voskamps One Thousand Gifts book. We started at the beginning of her journal and read each page and numbered it. It was fun to look back together at her early writing and see how much she has grown.

I'm thankful for the chance to teach Natalie, 
for being able to use my teaching skills in a homeschool setting, 
and the delight it has been to incorporate the Father in my teaching.

the gift

Recently my garden multiplied in size via Craigslist. 

The story goes; our driveway friends met a couple who rented a house in Mesa. During the three years they had lived there they had turned the small city lot into a lush garden. They were being evicted from the house and the garden would be bulldozed. Our friends, along with Jay and I when we were able, spent many days digging up, potting and transporting plants to our house. A few plants were lost in the trauma of the process but many have made the transition just fine. Along with the plants we brought home several barrels full of rich compost ready for growing.

What a wonderful green blessing from my Abba.

 

Stay tuned for upcoming video garden tour.

sluth shot

The following two critters make regular appearances in our yard...and yet they scurry so quickly whenever a human comes in sight that it's tricky to get a good picture.

With my sluth photography skills I recently captured decent photos of a Quail and a Ground Squirrel (that's what I call them but I don't know their official name)....through the dining room window.

Seussy

The Dr. Seuss trees are back...with their green bark and bright yellow blooms the Palo Verde tree look just like an illustration from Go Dog Go.

unexpected encouragement...

It's been a rough couple weeks (or truthfully months) for me here lately....yesterday after a miserable day of detoxing pain I found this message on my facebook page. The message if from a former student, Mindy's mom. I taught Mindy for first and second grades in Elkhart. When Mindy was in my class she was a "selective mute". The entire two years I never heard her speak. I have frequently thought of Mindy and wondered how she was doing. 

Last fall I started looking for my former students on facebook. I was please to find Mindy, married with two cute red head and functioning just fine in society.

Hello my name is betsy browning mindy browngs mom.....I just wanted to thank you for all you did for mindy in elementary school! You are the best teacher ive ever known. You really helped her come out of her shell! As you can see she turned out to be pretty amazing and beautiful and great with her own children. I want to truly thank you again for caring and believing in my daughter soo much!

 I have been encouraged by several other notes from former students recently found on facebook. Here is another. I had Yosy in third and fifth grades (I think).

Hey Mrs. Ingold! You have been on my mind. When my oldest daughter was going to Model Elementary in Goshen, her teacher was doing mini economy. I said i did that in school. She she i got the idea as a student teacher at Roosevelt. And you know with me having a different name. I told her who i was, and we hugged & cryed. I asked about u. She told me the other teacher passed. She was like OMG its been over 20 yrs. It was so great seeing her & hearing about you guys. Thanx for being a great teacher! Yosminda Jackson