Bubble an' Squeak

The coffee pot sputters as it brews my morning lifeblood. I pull on my leggings, reminding myself that the first five steps out of bed are the hardest. With those behind me, the day will unfold. These moments before the sun rises are mine alone. The house is dark and quiet. The dogs still lie curled in their beds. I peer out the long thin windows of my house into the shadowy park below. Much is hidden in the shadows there.  On these dark, quiet mornings, on days when Nic forgot to close the blinds before bed, I look out into the park and wonder who is there, and what can they see when they peer back up at me. Our tall windows illuminate our house. I am sure that I am clearly visible from below. I warily look over my shoulder as I pull the cup down from the cupboard. I draw the blinds. I check the lock on the door.  Perched above the park, I wonder how many people have curiously glanced into my home, my life, and my world while I lived it unsuspecting I had an audience. I live ...

Nic and I celebrated Valentine's Day doing thing we love most - thinking about travel while drinking margaritas. Nic loves old school maps, so as we imagine our trips, we always like a solid visual.  We are less than 100 days away from our trip - not that I am counting. Our map is pinned on poster board awaiting our plans. Some fun things we did this week for planning were booking a room in Obersteingberg . To make a reservation, you must call internationally. You cannot book online Do not bother emailing. You must call. The sweet little lady who eventually answers will take your first name, the date, and tell you to come with cash, and a flashlight. Nic and I may have just reserved our own abduction, but we are both pretty excited about it.  Other developments on our Side Quest include Paddy and Catroina. Remember them?  They are joining us for a week of our Side Quest! Hooray! Paddy jumped right on board as he does, and  purchased tickets for us to attend the opera...

 I've had the best weekend.  The good vibes are rolling in tonight and I am trying to soak in positivity. The coming week may be hard.  District cuts are expected to be announced this week. There is a lot of anxiety in Teacher's lives this week. In the meantime though, Gabe and Megan were home for the weekend to celebrate Gabe's birthday. We had Chili House, an Escape Room (Bella and Carter's treat), and chocolate cheesecake. Gabe still does not eat desserts, but the rest of us managed his cake for him. Life is so good. We missed James and Nay, but we are planning, planning, planning their return. I am so ready for their return.  I am working hard at school with my Creative writing class to focus on our Art - to be MAKERS. I have posted a few student examples above and below - stay tuned for more. My students are remarkable, creative, amazing humans. They make my life bigger and better. I am so grateful. They are the reason I go to work every day. Nic and I ended the...

(Just a few of my favorite winter photos from over the years) Old Man Winter arrived here in Fort Collins rather late. However, he is making up for lost time with the high promising to be 19 degrees and the low -4.  I am thankful to be tucked in my house with no where to go and nothing to do. As the wind whips around the house, I open my scrapbook back up.  I thumb through the pages of my trip all those years ago,  I have always known I wanted to go back to France, but it was a loose idea. I wasn't sure how, or when. I just let the wish sit in my heart waiting for the right time. There were many dark years where I did not think I would ever really travel again. My mom brought the idea of going back to France into fruition by informing me that before she dies, she wants to go spend the whole day in the Louvre, to wander, roam, and soak in the experience. This was a bit of a surprise to me. My mom has travelled with her siblings and my dad a few times overseas to Europe. I ...

You are staring up at me. You are making tea, talking on the phone to your boyfriend at the time, you have been crying. Your mom took this photo. You are staring at her. It was the night before you left for France and for the adventure of a lifetime. You are afraid. You are excited. You really cannot believe this dream is coming true. You are so beautiful. September 18th, 1997, you walked off the plane at Gatwick Airport. You would not know for many years that you christened this day auspicious as you walked down the quiet terminal, peering out of the window to see your first glimpses of London. It could be that this date was auspicious for you for many years previously. You were born two weeks early (according to your mother, and she should know). Maybe this was the day you were really supposed to be born?  Yet, instead you were reborn at twenty years old in Gatwick Airport totally alone in the world and on your first - and maybe last adventure of your life.  It is morning an...

  Who : This gang (minus my dad, who has informed us he is never leaving the country again).  Only my sister does not have r etinitis pigmentosa , and my dad, who is not going.  Not to disparage my in-laws, Jennie, Sharon, Scott, Mae, and my husband, Nic, are all coming, too. They can all see, too. It just sounds more dramatic to tell you the blind people are going. It seems anti-climatic to include people who can see. Still, the blind are almost the majority. When : June 2026 Where : Paris, France Why : Because we have to go while we can still see. This is the first official post of The Blind Leading the Blind Tour because although we have been dreaming about this,   WE ARE OFFICIALLY GOING. Consider this the official announcement of The Blind Leading The Blind Tour. Included in this trip are seven full days with this cast of characters (minus Dad) and their better halves. Nic and I will have a Side Quest. Each of my siblings will have their own side quests, bu...

The frost on the blade of grass sparkles. It is only the second cold snap of this unusually warm winter. The forecast in Colorado has been averaging the same highs as Phoenix throughout most of December. However, this morning Old Man Winter reached his long arm out from the mountains to dust us with cold. My breath pours out in a mist in front of my face as I watch Snips ramble over the frozen grass - still green. I wonder if the icy spears will slice her paws, or if they will snap and break, finally accepting winter. It is our early morning ritual. I stand with my hot coffee while she checks the neighborhood.  When I was a child my mother would tell me the frost was painted across the world by Jack Frost. I loved the idea of a magical man painting the world - a magical Bob Ross decorating the world while I slept. Happy little crystals here and there climbing on top of each other to create a castle of cold. I wonder if when I die, will I wish I had spent more time looking at each i...