Traveling Journal

A month ago, I was boarding the plane to what feels like my third home. (My first being heaven, my second being the South, USA.) It's still in the south--as a good friend said, you can't get much souther than Melbourne...

I went to Australia to visit my good friend, Alysa, in what was their (very mild) winter-- beautiful, green, and crisp. And I found so many things to love--so many that I'm afraid I can't still name them all. I'm afraid, however, that if I don't try, I'll forget what I do remember. So here's my go of it: let's hope I don't miss anything.

• "Let me just pop that in there for you... " I love the English influence in Australia; so much more than in the U.S. Their politeness defies expectations. It's expected that you small-talk with a cashier--not something I claim to be particularly good at. After one such exchange, I asked Alysa, "Do you know her?" Of course, she didn't.
• The beach. The ocean. The shore. It's incredibly beautiful, no matter where you go and no matter what you call it.
• Fish and chips on the shore. Yes, "chips" aren't very different than French Fries in the States--but they're still better. Five Guys comes close, but not quite.
  
• The people--not only because I have such a very good friend that lives there. But also because of the other amazing folks I met--people that made it feel as if I've known them much longer than I have.
  
• Good coffee. Everywhere.
• Small towns, and the small town mindset. People bring their dogs to town and wear Wellies as if it were the most natural footwear in the world. In Australia, dogs seem to be a family-oriented sort of animal to own, even more so in the U.S.
  
• Natural-feeling heating/AC-- I doubt people are prone to freeze themselves in the summer, as they didn't roast themselves in the winter.
  (My dad's favorite seasonal words are get acclimatised, so I appreciated it.)
  
• The local, small-town shops. Every town seems to have a vast selection of family-owned, beautifully kept shops, not invaded by chains, and willing to special-order for you. The bigger towns and suburbs are the ones with the chains.
• Wool shops. And wool. and tea shops. and tea.
  
• Amazing views. Beautiful countryside.
  
• Staying with Alysa and her family--and her mum allowing me to invade her kitchen. :)
• Jokes galore. That wingey-wongey sound... :)
  
• Realizing that cooking in Australia isn't much different than cooking at home, as long as you cook from scratch.
• Aussie grocery stores... I spent some lovely time comparing U. S. to Aussie ingredients. :)
• Local open-air markets.
• Amazing meetings. Christ-centered prayer. Holy Spirit Power and Presence. The peace of God that passes all understanding. Blessings that last through the return trip to my U.S. home.
  

I didn't have enough time-- next time I go, I'll stay longer. If real, practical life were the same as my trip, I could live in Australia in a heartbeat. That is, if I could move everyone I love over with me. :)

Puzzle Piece

My life is made up of pieces that should be a cohesive whole--but they're not. The pieces feel like a puzzle thrown in a box all which-a-way.

As a teacher, I nurture others, pulling my students into stories and writing, cajoling them to learning. This life requires more of my time than the others. It's where I earn my daily bread--working to form lives and minds. But there's a tug-of-war between work and life.

As a friend, I talk and love and sometimes come out to play, though not as often as I used to. Most of my girlfriends are concerned with their families and new-found lives, so our conversations have more to do with where I'm headed than where I am now. The exceptions are my sisters. Both understand the balance that is easy to loose when you're a teacher.

As an artist, I'm barely there. The creative drive is still exists: projects fester in my mind, but rarely leave, stifled by the demands of paperwork and students' needs. I look in awe at others who work full-time, yet still have the time and energy to create every day.

As a daughter, an aunt and a sister I'm connected to those who have lived my life with me. Our relationships haven't changed much over the years--I'm still the aunt who buys candy at Cracker Barrel, the sister with the crazy, flighty ideas. What changes is the deepening of experiences, stretching through time.

As a child of my God, my life is the closest to complete. It's where I find the mistakes I've made and the changes I need to make. It's where I dedicate my life daily to the Cross. It's real-life, real-time, real-close, though that's not always apparent on the surface. It's also the one I struggle to put first. This is where I see the patterns echoing between the pieces, even as their shapes constantly change. I want a stronger vision. I want the puzzle of my life complete, strong and resilient.

This has been percolating for a week...

I meant to post while it was still summer, but time got away from me. Despite being in school all summer long, I had a wonderful summer. A trip to visit a great friend and a visit from two other great friends climaxed the summer. I really, really need to post some pictures here!


But now that school has begun for the next school year, a new idea has been percolating: the idea of being content with your situation.


I'm an idealist--and I don't like things unless they match up with my ideas of how things should be. And--well, teaching was never part of my plan for life (despite me getting my bachelor's in Elementary Ed.) I thought I'd be on to greater stuff for now. I thought I'd be living the typical Message girl's dream life. For the past four years, I've not been happy to simply do my job, and content to let the Lord lead me onto a higher calling.

My current contentment started with a comment by another teacher. It was simple enough advice: "Be Excited." Be excited to be there for your students and to teach them. (And stop worrying if life isn't exactly the way you thought it would be.) That one small phrase has made the hard job of teaching sixth graders a pleasure--and it's freed me to be more of the teacher I want to be.

I still don't plan on doing this the rest of my life. But I do plan on enjoying the ride, as long as it lasts, until it's time to change.

A random Summertime update about everything under the sun...

...or rather, under the clouds at this point. We're finally getting some rain, after being deprived for some time.

This is where Friday afternoon found me:

Heather, her children, and I met up at the Carl Sandburg Home in Flat Rock. It's such a beautiful house, with goats and chickens and a garden to interest the kids, as well as a great pond down below with huge bream, some ducks, and some beautiful pond lilies. All great things for children. And for the adults, there was a house to look at, a tour to take, a gift shop with lots of great books to examine, cheese and soap to buy, and (if you didn't miss it as we did), a cheese demonstration to attend. As well as a picnic to enjoy. And as a pseudo-writer, I love to hear the history and the words of Carl Sandburg. He was a writer for the common man, the same way Aaron Copeland was a composer for the common people who took the ideologies and folk tunes of America and molded them into new sound...

Ahem. Let me get off my soapbox.

Heather and I decided to do a switcheroo--I'd bring her raw milk and freshly ground whole wheat bread, and she'd bring me veggies from her garden and some free-range eggs from her chickens. I think I got the more generous bargain, 'cause she stuck in some of her black raspberry preserves, too. Wow. Yum. Delicious. (Ahem-- Heather... how'd you like the raw milk? And how'd the bread go over with Alex? )

And so, tonight found me cooking with some of the produce. Specifically, the greens from the beets. (Well, I cooked the beats too, in the oven at 400, which is a great way to precook them, should you ever come across a beet to cook. and then, you can slice them, removing the skin in the process, and saute them in butter with salt and pepper and some nutmeg... )

In the process of cooking the greens, and trying to find a recipe and failing (well, okay-- I didn't look on the 'net...), and then inventing my own perfectly good recipe after inspiration from Joy of Cooking... I returned to Mark Bitman's How to Cook Everything to discover that beet greens are basically swiss chard, in which Mark Bitman has 3 recipes for, and no telling how many Joy has... Lol.

But here's my simple recipe for Swiss Chard (a.k.a. beet greens) with Apples:

• A bunch (however much you have) of swiss chard, washed; damaged stems and leaves removed, and then both stems and leaves sliced into small 1" pieces. (washed and chopped, I had about 3 cups.)
• 2 Granny Smith apples, sliced thinly
• 1 1/2 t. Bacon grease, if you are so blessed to have it. If not, a combo of butter and olive oil.
• (I rounded out the grease with 1 T. olive oil)
  
• ~ 1 T. Balsamic Vinegar
• 1/2 t. Italian Seasoning
• dash of nutmeg
• dash of lemon juice
• salt and pepper to taste.

Heat grease, butter, and/or oil in pan. Add apples, sauteing for a minute. Add in chard, saute for another minute, and then add in seasonings. Cook until greens are tender--about 5 minutes max. at fairly high heat.

I think know this recipe will not appeal to all... it's something like Sharon's kale and tomatoes... lol... So let me leave you with another which will appeal more universally.

My mother has a great way of cooking any bean that is incredibly simple. Basically, you wash and sort through a package of any dried beans, place in the crock pot with stock or water and appropriate spices, and depending on the bean, it'll be done any where from 2-3 to 7-8 hours later. It's the same as many old-fashioned cooks used to do, but instead of a bean-pot, Mama just uses the crock pot. She wanted me to record what I'd done today with some black-eye peas, so here goes:
1 package black-eye peas, washed and sorted through
1 large or 1 1/2 small onions, stem and root removed, sliced in thick, 1-2" wedges
4-5 slices pre-cooked bacon, sliced or torn into pieces
4-5 bay leaves
3-4 whole cloves 1 to 1 1/2 T. better than bullion (chicken base)
2 t. (one squirt) ketchup

Hot water (about a quart)

Place all ingredients in a medium-sized slow cooker. Cover with hot water, stir, and cook until done, 1 1/2--2 hours on high heat, or 3 1/2-4 on low. Add:

Salt and pepper to taste
Generous Dash of ground sage Enjoy.

For those who have dealt with long soaks for beans before--according to my favorite foodie, Mark Bittman, it's unnecessary, and doesn't help with the "nitrogen content" anyway. I tend to agree.

---

Quotes by Carl Sandburg:

I have always felt that a woman has the right to treat the subject of her age with ambiguity until, perhaps, she passes into the realm of over ninety. Then it is better she be candid with herself and with the world.

Life is like an onion: you peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep.

Poetry is the opening and closing of a door, leaving those who look through to guess about what is seen during the moment.

The greatest cunning is to have none at all.

When a nation goes down, or a society perishes, one condition may always be found; they forgot where they came from. They lost sight of what had brought them along.

Last year about this time...

I was scrounging around Whole Foods and Earth Fare and any other likely place for this:

I didn't find it until today, at World Market.

So, Alysa, in memory of you, I drank Bundaburg.

It's just like Red Rock, but not as hot... lol...

Miss you, my dear friend.

Posted via web from marielenora's posterous

Happy Birthday to you....

Alysa!
February 5
Age: 23

Yup-- I know. It's not February 5, 2006--American Time.

But it is, Aussie time.

So, party on!

Happy Birthday to one faith-filled, faithful friend.

God Bless You!

Posted via web from marielenora's posterous

"What?!"

"You've never seen the kitchen?!"

This is what my conversation with Heather sounded like as I made bread and she cleaned.
It's a sort-of routine we have; to talk while we're doing stuff on occasional Saturday mornings...

And then, we both discovered she'd not been to my house in over 4 1/2 years.
Not since before the kitchen was remodeled.

Good Grief! What marriage will do to a girl!

(Lol--I'm just kidding!! Don't get up-in-arms, anyone!)

But, for her benefit, I decided to upload some pics of my mom's kitchen to my photosite:

http://www.marielenora.photosite.com

There, Heather; your very own virtual tour!

--God Bless!

Posted via web from marielenora's posterous

Wowee! Sis. Sam!

Okay--this is a note to anyone who might be involved in reading both of my blogs--my nearly nonexistent blogspot, and my dying xanga....

About 2 months ago, my school district blocked xanga. I don't think it was just because of a silly first-year teacher, but I think it was also because of the volume of students using it. Sooo... I'm going to start posting on blogspot again, and then copy/pasting into xanga. Because (sadly) the majority of time I used to spend on xanga was actually at school.. And I know why. It was a great diversion to clear my head after a long day at work.

So here I am at school, once again typing away--they haven't blocked blogspot yet! --lol-- Hopefully, they won't.

I don't think I'll try to catch you up on every solitary thing that's happended since the Christmas holidays--suffice it to say, I've been pretty busy... but God is so good. He meets our needs when we don't deserve it--in spite of ourselves.

~~About this weekend~~

I had a great time this weekend--and got to meet a dear friend! Sis. Sam, you are such a wonderful gal--it was terrific to spend time with you and Bro. Ben--and singing, discussing God's Word, laughing, plain Chat-Chatting, and just generally having an awesome time.

Next time, hopefully we'll get to spend more time together--and hopefully Heather can make it next time! We missed you.

May God bless you both!

Hope your trip back wasn't too icy--we didn't get a thing here, despite the fact that I really wanted a 1/2-day or 2-hour delay today! I coulda caught up on some sleep that I lost!

(I wish I could think of more right now--but my mind's kind of blank after teaching 60 students today--some are out.)

~I just realized.... I forgot to do a valentines post.

Funny things that happened:

1. I forgot that it was valentines. I came into school (late--not so unusual) wearing black and grey-- the only red I had on were my burgundy Dansko (teacher) clogs--!
   
2. My students are such gimme monsters... their response to Valentines Day is, "what did you get me, Ms. R?" --at least I don't teach elementary school--it would have been a sure-fire disaster if I'd forgotten what day it was there!
   
3. Sweet stuff--one of my students gave me a rose. (well, actually two, but her big sister came back to claim one of them so that one of the other teachers could have hers--lol!)
   
4. Hilarious stuff--one of my students gave me a valentine marked to Mrs. (big black line over Mrs.) Miss R------ !!!
   
5. I ended up playing with Isaac and Samuel all evening, so that Will could take Beth out--fun, but unusual for valentines' day! (grin)
   

Untitled

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

Sis. Sam--you're a blessing to all of us. Thank you for being our friend and encouraging us in the Lord. May God richly bless your day and your life in this following year!

---

Along with Sis. Sam's birthday, today is MLK day.

And today's a holiday from school!

(A couple of years ago, South Carolina made a compromise with the NAACP--we could keep our rebel flag, as long as we gave a holiday for MLK. Twisted, but true!)



This is for all you that aren't Southern, and might not know what it looks like.

LOL!!!!

---

I'm really grateful for the holiday though-- If I hadn't had it, I would have been in deeep water about this time-- because I ran over to Atlanta on Saturday to see a good friend I'd not seen since her wedding. It was great to see Sharon and Ben and Renee, and Bob and Moni, Esther and Zachary--and Bro. Bob and Sis. Shelley--and, of course, Lavinia!!!

But since I didn't get a chance to grade papers or plan on Saturday-- I wouldn't have been ready for this upcoming week.

Has anyone taken the opportunity to play with party horns since they became an adult?

I hadn't until this weekend--and I laughed until I cried--! It was tremendous fun. Y'all should try it; you really should!



God Bless you all!

So, I got tagged....

But I've already done it!

So, go HERE to read it. Even though it was too recent for the link....

Oh Well.

God Bless, Y'all!!!

**Edit**

Heather doesn't seem to think my last seven good enough.

JK--

But just to make sure....

1. I can (but I don't always) talk in my sleep. I have been known to carry on whole conversations, though. And have no remembrance of them at all. (Once I even fussed out my sister, Sharon, in my sleep... lol!)
   
2. I looove to sew. Not anything too strange about that, though--lol--but I do like it a lot! (Actually, though--I think I like to cook even more. I'm just domesticated...like a sheep...!)
   
3. Sis. Sam, you'll identify with this one... I also looove to make lists! Even if I don't accomplish much on the list, it makes me feel better for having made one. It helps me to "organize my mind" on paper.
4. I procrastinate. It's easy to put off something you don't want to do--especially when there's other things you'd rather do. But this gets me in trouble. I'm trying to get better. It's something I'm working on.
   
5. When I'm stressed out, I often won't communicate--or talk--with others. That's the reason that I can--and will, at times--disappear from the 'net, not commenting on other's sites... because... I'm just plain stressed. Sorry for those who have had to deal with this.
   
   
6. As much as I would Loooove to be organized and neat, I'm not particularly either. It's another one of those things that I "need to work on..." And by God's grace, it will happen.
7. Hmmm... this one might not qualify, but....I come from a family of men who love a corny joke. And they love to see someone groan over their bad jokes.
   
   For instance: At brunch on New Year's Day, eating yummy stuff that Becca and I had a lot of fun making (Greens Frittata, Black-Eye Peas with bacon, Cornmeal Pancakes with Maple Syrup... ) Daddy came up with a joke. He asked us:
   
   What is the spice you should always use sparingly?
   
   The answer: S'PARSLEY.
   
   And that wasn't enough for him.
   He went on to say:
   
   
   Sparsely Rage, Rosemary, there's Thyme
   
   

   At first I laughed, and then asked if that really came out of his head.
   
   He said it had-- (groan).
   

Posted via web from marielenora's posterous

Good Mornin'!

Well, it's not quite morning anymore, but it feels good to say it anyway!

I've been slack with this lately--however. I have a reason to post today.

On Tuesday I got a package in the mail. A REAL, beautifully LONG, BONA-FIDE handwritten LETTER.

From Australia.

With the kind of Christmas card I've been looking for to give myself--but haven't been able to find. And a precious bookmark.

Thank you so much, Aly! You are a queen of friendship.

I'll try to write you back, and return the favor of a REALETTER.

I'm not quite in clover yet... lol... I still have grades to do, and post, and all of that. But at least I now have time to do it.

I need to finish making pillows and bedroom slippers for Christmas... lol!!! just saying that makes me laugh, though I love doing it.

---

Good Grief. It's been forever since I posted, therefore I have stories to tell!

Story No. 1: My niece Renee, not quite one, took her first steps! How sweet is that?!

Story No 2: I had no school last Thursday and Friday. Guess Why?!?!

Not because of snow.

Not because of ice. We had a little, but only enough for a 2-hour delay on Thursday.

Oh no.

Because the power was out in the town where I teach.

LOL!

It totally messed up my teaching schedule. When the students come back, I'll be finishing up projects from Literature Circles--that should have been finished before Christmas. But oh well--not everything works the way you try to plan.

Actually, I've learned so far--very little does according to your plan. But just so it's God's plans in action, then everything will be just fine.

For instance: because I was off, Momma and I were able to go ahead and do Cookies for Christmas. Not something I thought I was going to be able to help with this year. I'm glad I could!

I also was able to go ahead and sew up one of the skirts I'd planned to make over the holidays. And now I have another jean skirt. Yay!!

--I'd better go get stuff done. I can't believe Christmas is so soon.

God Bless, everyone!

Wedding, Meanderings, Teaching--Students... BLEH!

Okay y'all... I'm back from the wedding, and I'm on a different blog for this simple reason... I've a student who's invaded my private life, and is currently signing my blog. I can block her from commenting on my site, but I can't do much else (at least with my limited knowledge of computers, etcetera.)

So... to blogspot I will go... to blogspot I will go... (hehe!!)

At least for a bit. This student (the one that I happened to be stupid enough to give her my URL--yes I will admit it was my stupidity and my mistake...) will not be staying in my class forever... she's going to be moving to FL in about a month. Sooo... I might start posting back on xanga in a month. I like it better than blogspot... I can make it pretty without using a template! (as if that were the only reason for having a blog... (grin)

And at least this way, some of my fab fam can comment on this site (ahem--SHARON!) -- (jk)

The wedding was beautiful, and we got everything done, amazingly enough!!! I still feel as if I owe Lavinia's sister, Doina, a huge thanks for all she did. I really don't think I would have finished the sleeves (or been in any state to sing, much less growl, the next day) without her help. You can check out pictures on Sam's site. Especially check out the sleeves of our dresses, since Momma and I fixed them with narry a pattern for the sleeve hole armicyst! (Well, except for Lisa's, where I used her own pattern, because I forgot to measure where her shoulder met her arm in the hustle to insert her side panels... Not that anyone wants to know that(!!!)

Coming back to school the next day, however, wasn't so peachy... [grrr]... It was not a good teaching day. I'm seriously wondering if I'm cut out for this profession. There's so much I need to learn.
And I proved Rebecca's words right. Coming back from vacation the night before you have to teach means that you're going to have a bad day, and it will be especially bad if your students were bad for the substitute--as my first period was. BLEH! The REST of my classes got doughnuts for their good behavior. First period got none, as well as being in the "Wrath o'Ms. R------" for almost the entire period.... I hope they learned their lesson.

On a happier note, now that I am 23, I find it's not so bad... lol! When I compare myself to the experience and age of the teachers that I work around, I'm a baby--and I find that my students don't think 23 is so old, either... : --That can be good and bad...

I've got to get off and grade papers, Since grades are due wayyyy too soon for the first nine weeks.

And since this is my "first" post, let me end by saying may God bless and keep everyone who sees this.