Spring Tablesetting

I found Between Naps on the Porch several months ago and it quickly became one of my favorites. As many of you know, I love dishes!

When I visit her site and visit all the blogs that share their creative tables I am inspired!

I incorporate formal dinner events in all of my classes at school.

I do this for several reasons: I love it!; the students love it; it is an awesome activity for students to learn the art of hospitality, organization, creativity, planning and presentation; and there is something to be said about sitting down to a beautiful table and knowing that someone has gone to the trouble of preparing it just for you!:o)

OK, enough about why I teach how to set a table, now let me share with you my dining room table.

Mom B. and I went into the storage bin last Saturday to find these treasures. She has collected some beautiful things over the years and is sharing these beauties with me. While it isn't obvious from the photo, the cream plates are Pfaltzgraff, Tea Rose. I'm not sure of the name of the pink glass plates and bowls, but they really pop on the Tea Rose.

The stemmed glassware was my mothers. I was surprised when I discovered it matched the pink glassware of Mom B. I found the placemats and napkins at TJ MAXX last weekend. If you are familiar with the Tea Rose pattern, there is a small blue flower with a white center that matches those placemats. The napkin rings came from WM years ago! I mean years ago, so many that I can't remember. :0)

What is so cool about this tablesetting is not only the pretty dishes, but the memories Mom B. and I had once it was set.

Do you see the small pink glass tumbler? That was her moms!

Her mother was born in 1900 and died when Mom B. was only 10 years old. Mom B. is the youngest of 8 children. Her oldest sister gave her this pink glass set a few years ago.

The tumblers came with a pitcher that is also on the table. Do you see it in the background?

These pieces are obviously from the Depression era and have been handed down generations.

They are in perfect condition which is amazing considering how old they, how much they've been used and how often they've been packed and moved around.

My favorite part of this story is that they will go on to the next generation and she will appreciate them as much as the past.

How cool to use glassware that you know has graced tables for over 70 years!

One last look. :o)



One last thought. Dad B. was admitted to the hospital last night with a high temperature and infection. He is in the ICU step down program at the hospital. Please lift him and Mom B. up in prayers. Pray for strength and peace.

Dear Heavenly Father, please watch over these dear ones we love. Give them a good night's rest, and a calm spirit. Guide the health care professionals as they tend to Dad B. and give them wisdom in making decisions. It's in Jesus name I pray. Amen
XOXO

Theresa

What does TN have that FL doesn't?

SPRING!

Florida has beautiful sunshine, but cannot begin to compete with the beauty of spring in Tennessee or Kentucky. When the cherry trees begin to blossom, and the jonquils yellow petals contrast with the bright green grass, I want to jump for joy! :0)

A few Sundays ago, the church licensed our middle child into the ministry.

His call to the ministry has been consistent through his testimony.

We are proud!

I have a ton of papers to grade and projects.

I pray you enjoy this upcoming week with good health and appreciation of God's creation.

XOXO

Theresa

Teacher Luncheon #2

We had our second teacher luncheon this week.

Absolutely the best kids! They worked so hard!

They are learning so much about service, preparation, planning, organization, dovetailing and exhaustion!

The lunch went really well.

On the menu:

Loaded Potato Soup

Taco Soup

Southern Buttermilk Cornbread

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Chocolate Cherry Cake

Pistachio Salad

I had one student to ask me if we could possibly have an easy day on Friday. I asked him what he meant by "easy". He said, maybe watch a cooking video. I thought that was a reasonable request. I was exhausted too. :0)
A student teacher joined my class this week. It has brought back so many memories of my student teaching. I think she has more confidence than I had. :0)
My niece has joined the blog world!

Go check out Totally Tuckered and tell her "hello"! Her life is full and I am excited to keep up with her through technology.

Welcome!

Time for bed.

XOXO

Theresa

Orlando, spring 2009

Our trip to Orlando was exactly what we needed!

 These pictures are while we are in the airport waiting to board to leave TN.  Can you tell she had oral surgery just days before?  She was such a good patient!  She was determined to not let the discomfort of loosing those 5 teeth ruin her trip and she was successful! :0)

I am only showing this picture for you to see the sad looking pony tail that I had to wear that day due to me oversleeping that morning. 

It is obvious from this photo, we both needed a vacation!

The resort.  

I can highly recommend Bluegreen Resorts.  It was beautiful, clean and so very comfortable.  We had two bathrooms, two bedrooms, a balcony and a very nice kitchen.  I even did scrambled eggs and bacon one morning for breakfast!

The view from our balcony and bedroom window.  

As the week wore on, she felt better. :0)  

We took a little time to take photos on our last day.

Everyone was so nice.  

One of the workers at the resort asked if she could take a picture of all of us.  I thought that was sweet.  We had fun.

Do we look more rested than when we left?  LOL

All good things must come to an end.  

I have early duty in the morning.  What a bummer.  

Oh well, we all have to do our part.  

I pray you are having a beautiful spring day.

XOXO

Theresa

Year 2069

Upon entering the classroom, the following students aged 60 years. Their lives, as they knew them were in the past. They discovered many life changing physical differences.

They discovered their vision had changed drastically and they needed "special" glasses. Unfortunately, they also had severe hearing loss and found "hearing aides" made just for them. The arthritis in their fingers was almost unbearable, fortunately, they were given a "wrap" that had been invented to provide them with the ability to use their hands in everyday tasks.

Due to their physical discomforts, it was decided they should move into the home of one of their children. Frustrating in the beginning, they were determined to not be a "bother" or inconvenience to their offspring. With this thought......


They decided to make a chocolate cake as a surprise for their family!
Making this cake would show their family how much they loved them, appreciated them and maybe, they were still valuable as a family member.

They discovered it wasn't as easy as it "used" to be. Frustrating, annoying, and yes, sometimes painful were all emotions experienced during this 55 minute simulation.


Many thoughts were verbally expressed. "My hands are hurting", "This recipe is almost impossible to read", and my favorite, "When I "really" reach almost 80 years old, I hope someone cooks for me"!

I can't wait to read their written reactions. This lesson was absolutely fun and I thank the students in my Adult Living for their participation. It was a "perfect" day!

OK, it was a "perfect" lesson.

The day itself began horribly.

Actually, it was a nightmare. I begin my school day with the alarm playing music at 5:30 a.m. I am able to hit the snooze bar at least 2 times before I arise just before 6:00 a.m. This allows me 50 minutes to get ready and leave my house just before 7:00. If I follow this typical routine, I have time to drive through McDonald's, get breakfast and still arrive at school before 7:45 a.m. which is the time I should be there.

This past weekend we "sprang" forward, while officially we lost only one hour, my body feels like I lost an entire night of sleep. For the first time in my teaching career, my worst fear happened. Somehow I overslept. I still don't know how it happened, but instead of me awakening sometime around 5:30, I awoke at 7:10!!!! Seriously! The panic was something I hope to never experience again.

I began praying and rushing and praying and... well you get the idea.

I didn't tell you that the above lesson was to be my final evaluation of the year and would determine my tenure. It had to be completed by this Friday and due to snow and other interruptions(plus our impromptu trip to Fl) this was the only day and time it could be done. The only saving factor to this horrible nightmare is that I have planning during first period and I had stayed up til 1:00 a.m making sure all of my paper work was completely ready to go.

I arrived at school at 8:15.

One hour and five minutes after awakening.

Not bad for a person that lives 30 miles from school, and no I did not speed. I knew a speeding ticket would just make me that much later and I couldn't take that chance! Truthfully, my hair was in a ponytail and I wasn't sure if my makeup was applied correctly, I didn't drive through McDonald's and my blood pressure I'm sure was off the charts but I MADE it! Thank you Lord, for giving me what I need, when I most need it! Amen.

The last factor in this otherwise long story, I had the worry of getting on an airplane when I left school. I am not a world traveler. When I was in my twenties I so desperately wanted to be a traveler, get on an airplane and travel to a different place each year. It only happened once and I did love it... then. It was 16 years later before I had the opportunity to fly again. I somewhat enjoyed that flight, but my nerves were a little frayed. It has been five years since THAT experience and I must confess, I think for me to feel completely comfortable getting on a plane I must do it more often. With the stress of the morning and the fear of flying, it has taken me almost 36 hours to recover from Tuesday. :)

The best part of the recovery, I am in beautiful sun shining Florida. No humidity, pleasant breezes and NO ALARM clocks! I highly recommend this prescription for recovery from a" horrible, no good, kind of day." :o)

XOXO

Love,

Theresa

Wisdom? I think NOT!

Guess who had to have their wisdom teeth removed this week?

This was not a planned activity. She was in the middle of mid-term exams when one of those pesky, impacted teeth decided to aggravate and cause pain. A phone call to the dentist and the next thing we know, she has an appointment for Friday afternoon at 1:30.

Imagine my surprise when the office nurse called me to the front desk and told me that she didn't have four wisdom teeth, but five!

She did really well, and is following the Dr's orders to the "T"!

She is on a soft food diet, pudding, yogurt, jello, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese. She is determined to not be sick with all of the medicines she has to take, so she eats just enough to coat her stomach and not cause her stomach to act up. :o)

Her big brother has been very helpful.

He took the photos for this blog, and is

planning on adding them to facebook.

Keep us in your prayers. Pray she heals quickly. We are suppose to board an airplane on Tuesday afternoon for Orlando. We will all be ready for a vacation! I need your prayers, I have a million things to do and I am feeling very overwhelmed. Pray for Mom and Dad Burton as we leave them alone for a few days. Pray for our pilot, I'm not a world traveler, it's been 5 years since I've been on a plane and I might be a bit nervous. LOL

I will catch up with you when we return.

XOXO

Theresa

FCCLA STAR Events

Last Friday, ten students and myself rode on a bus to East TN. State University. The students are members of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America. Through this wonderful organization students have opportunities to participate in leadership activities. The students pictured below competed against other schools in the Northeast TN area.

I don't have the vocabulary to share with you how proud I am of them!

They undertook projects that many adults would have no clue how to begin. They came to school early, stayed late and worked every spare minute in order to complete their chosen project. One student, not pictured arrived at school on Friday morning with 102 degree temperature. She was so committed to her project she had to see us off! I sent her home with wishes of quick healing and my prayers that I nor any of the others would "catch" that fever!

The great news, all students did really well. Eight of the original eleven will be representing Northeast TN. Region at state competition on April 8 in Nashville.

I have other things to share with you, unfortunately, I have early duty in the morning and I need to get ready for bed.

I pray you are staying warm on this cold winter evening.

Spring will be here soon!

XOXO

Theresa