...going back to school

As I greeted new students yesterday morning at 7:00 a.m. I felt like this:

That feeling pretty much carried me through the rest of the day, and most of today. But by 6:00 this evening, as I gathered my things to come home.....I felt like this:

I resisted the urge to do the drive-through food-that's-not-really-food fix, and instead reminded myself that I had homemade bread and soup in the freezer, just waiting to be heated up. Now it's time to go get some

so I have enough of what this guy has to get up and get going again in the morning.

P.S. I have the sweetest new students! (But then I always do...) :-)

...the last ride of August

I wasn't going to ride this morning. I really wasn't. School starts tomorrow, and I didn't feel like my classroom was quite ready. (I can be a bit of a worrier.) But...when I woke up and looked outside...I couldn't NOT ride.

Kathie and Bob

My shadow and I

Scott and Darrell

(And guess what? Everything that absolutely HAD to be ready for tomorrow got done this afternoon. Happy back-to-school, everyone!)

...the end of summer

Oh it's still shorts and T shirt weather, but the truth is...summer is over. We're not officially back on the clock until Wednesday, but like most teachers, I've already put in several hours at school and will put in many more before kids show up a week from tomorrow. It has been a good summer. I spent time with family, took an interesting class, got Arlene moved into her new home (Yay!), sewed like a maniac, read several good books, and put many miles on the bike. I'm rested and ready. It's going to be a good year.

...a recipe for a ride

Ingredients:

• one bike
• one rider
• early morning
• temperatures in the mid-70s
• slight breeze
• blue skies
• beautiful valley

Directions:

Get on the bike and pedal. Repeat for 40 miles. Ride around the entire valley. Soak up the scenery. Smile broadly at dour-faced folks on their way to church. Laugh maniacally as you fly down hills. Grin at the deer standing at the side of the road, watching you approach. Stop to take a picture of a sunflower field. Send the picture to your riding buddies at home with the message, "Wish you were here!" Be grateful for such a perfect day. Enjoy!

(Yes, I'm on my way to Boise to help Arlene move, but she's not ready for me yet.)

...becoming a bag lady

This is the bag that started it all.

I made it over 20 years ago when I was going to college and Katie was a baby. When she went off to college, she took it with her, and wore the poor old thing out. She asked if I could make a new one. I no longer had the pattern, so took the first one apart and copied it. That was in February.

Since then, I've made all of these, six of them in the past week. Throw in some aprons, tissue box covers, a couple of shifts for Arlene, a valance and a doo rag....whew! My machine has been smokin'!

I'm off to Boise tomorrow to help Arlene move into her new house. My ancient sewing machine will be quite grateful to be covered up and left in peace for a while.

...winning the lottery

Wouldn't it be lovely if I won the lottery? Then I could just cycle, read, and sew ALL the time! (Minor detail--might have to buy a lottery ticket.)

...riding with the fast guys

I was the only {not so fast} person to show up for the group ride tonight. That meant I'd be riding alone. Harrumph. But, it was a beautiful, calm evening--no reason to be grumpy. I would ride alone--there are worse things to endure--like not riding at all on such a fine evening. The route was decided upon, and I took off early while the guys still hung around fiddling with tires and what-not. I thought if I could make it up the hill before they passed me, I might have a chance of hanging on for a while. My strategy worked, but then it was inevitable--they dropped me. But wait--there were only four in that group. Where were the others? I kept looking back, but never did see the rest of the guys. I'm not sure what happened to them--they should have caught up to me. The first group waited in Echo and were surprised to see me ride in alone. After refilling my water, I took off again--the days aren't as long as they were just a few short weeks ago, and it would take me a bit to get back to the shop. But--what's this?? The fast guys passed me again, and hollered, "Grab on!" They slowed their pace just a tad, and I was able to hang on all the way back to town. I'm still grinning.