Saturday, January 25, 2014

ONE ROOM SCHOOL HOUSE

in the mission statement
at ELA,
HISTORY
is strongly emphasized
and is to be integrated
in ever subject matter.

i do not know how the idea was born.
i do not know why 1863 was chosen,
but i am sure
the gettysburg address anniversary
had something to do with it.

january 24, 1863
upon leaving my home
noah took one look at me
with bulging eyes
"you look so old and so real"
(newsflash...in a month
a half century and i am real...)

the moment i put the opticals upon my nose
and laced that last boot,
sternness, somberness and
seriousness encased me in such a way
that i did not know how to act.

 i visited classrooms
and observed with my
picture box.
i was in amazement of the many
individuals that came dressed in character.


students were assigned to a
ONE ROOM SCHOOL HOUSE
alphabetically
accomplishing two purposes
school with siblings
school with a range of ages

no electricity,
just the natural light and lantern
boys seated on one side,

girls on the other
students wrote on slates
with
chalk
there were spelling bees
lessons on cursive
recitations
schoolyard games



teachers were stern
non complying students
stood with their nose to the wall
for the semi full
experience...
press the smile box slideshow below

Click to play this Smilebox slideshow
Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox
This free photo slideshow generated with Smilebox

Sunday, January 12, 2014

BRIDAL SHOWER


i was invited to attend a BRIDAL SHOWER
the theme
something for the home
my assignment
the dining room
luckily,
i was parntered with my mother
she had a dining room
i do not
she set an elegant table with limoge china
i am a work in progress
with lovely china inherited from my mother in law

next,
bring a favorite recipe
what?
a recipe?
a recipe that works?
one that tastes good?

thankfully chelle came through
with RED velvet cake

finally,
advice for the bride...
words of wisdom
i believe it is three strikes
and you are out
i certainly had three strikes,
but this isn't baseball

dad and noah
chauffeured
mom and me
to saratoga springs
 intrinsic beauty
surrounded me...
a blanket of ice and snow
blended in with the white of the sky
 the club house was decorated
with classic romance

as always,
it was a thrill to reconnect
with friends and cousins
 we conversed
and played games
"you will have 15 children
live in a tent
work at 7 11
in cedar city, utah"

"i am sure that there was jello in 1930..."

savored delicious food
and refreshment

then came the glorious gifts
and words of wisdom
i presented Xan
"a recipe...
mmm...i don't cook
and when i do
it is a disaster
the next best thing...
 vanilla cinnamon brûlée candle
it sounds gourmet
smells like the real thing
and when someone comes to call
'your home smells amazing
what are you making'
just wave your hand
'oh it's nothing' "

my advice
"learn to cook
the one thing that has been a constant
in my 15 years of marriage
is
'a homecooked meal makes me feel loved'
from hubby
and
decide day one
the kind of habits you want in your home on a daily basis
family prayer
dinner at the table
who will pay the bills
and maintain the car"
and then i turned it over
to emily post
my mother.
her finesse and class
left listeners
better for having attended

our gift
the RED YOU ARE 
SPECIAL PLATE
there was a bit of entertainment
and help from the men
and all of us left
with the bride's favorite,
a bottle of coke

"it's the real thing"
just like
their love story.
best wishes
to xan and thomas



Click to play this Smilebox slideshow
Create your own slideshow - Powered by Smilebox
This free photo slideshow generated with Smilebox











Wednesday, January 1, 2014

METANIA IN 2014 !!!

new year's eve 
at the groendyke home
is simple.
never out to late night parties,
getting gussied up to welcome 
in the new year.
we prefer
home.
cozy.
rested...
maybe a party hat or two.

this year
mom and dad
planned to celebrate
with grandma garff
on good ol' devonshire circle.
an invitation was extended
and we gladly accepted.
the marriott
had prepared mini reuben, tuna, 
and egg salad sandwiches
cheese and crackers
fruit and veggie platters
wonderful desserts
so it took us two trips
to deliver the goods,
it was well worth it.

grandma's home
looked festive.
we speak a bit louder
and the visits
filled with laughter.

the word of the year
METANIA 
meaning change.
chelle issued a challenge
via phone
"come unto christ and be perfected in him"

dad poured the sparkling cider
and each took a turn toasting in the new year
HAPPY 2014