~Indian Sumer~

Crows call. Cicadas in the distant hum. I sit here on this log at the end of a lane. Thinking. Reflecting. For just this moment, quiet. Leaf fall. Squirrels scurry. Geese fly. Walnut showy of its yellow color. Last hay is baled. Pink sunsets, long shadows. Kids laughing......oh, kids laughing. Did I dare say fighting?.....yes, that happens too.  It's September for what natures knows today- An Indian Summer Kind Of Day.

Tonight, dusk....we played basketball and Nana joined us......until dark. It was fun.


This school is one I learned of today. Quite the treat, if I do say so myself.

www.folkschool.org


Oh, to travel to Denmark and Scandinavia and visit these schools, thoughts, perspectives, and ideas. I might one day. Maybe one day soon.......

the log....my seat for those nuances

Hilly and Ava....sunflower posing

Cleaning that fence.....

Brock's first season game

lol Cooper's side game while the real game is going on.....love it

Hello Sheep & Goats

~ animals, kids, & such ~

It is almost September.....almost fair time in Dickson. Cooper loves the fair; maybe more than any of my other kids......that smell, I think, of tractor engines, uncertainty, speed, corn dogs, cotton candy, apples, and night......It feels a little more like fall this past week here......temps are cooling. And, I just want to say, I'm happy to welcome it. Too often, my mind keeps wondering to last year....that leap we all took: to experience life differently.

Listening: This song.....by Sylvan Esso Wolf has been a song that has been visited many times as of the last couple of weeks.....She's from New Hampshire...quite a great artist, in my opinion. 

Thinking: Crazy....that the two families I had in the little village home in Ludlow......are now in my home state.......life is indeed a journey.....one most interesting journey. I hope they each find Tennessee the experience they imagined.....if they imagined.......if not, keep the mind open and make those relationships......

Weekends: are filled with errands.....work.....that I often don't get to through the week (like the most of us out there)....hoping for time to write on this blog.....create......spend time with friends, family, and outdoors.....here's to you ~ make it your kind of wonderful~

~MaplePoplar

I love this quote, maybe more than any other in the universe....

Growing on us all....

Gary's aunt visited here Tetons - Wyoming....and I just loved this picture.....To behold in person, though, quite amazing!

Hilly and I indulged!

Our pic to Shane......with Shane's Juice....lol  (MILK) 

Brock's FIRST day as a FRESHMAN NCS

Hilly and Ava on Luther Lane......

The day Nana, Hilly, Papa, and myself all went to visit the cemetery and also to Pinewood General Store

Cooper's game

Brock's game

Irony: This book in my classroom....yeah, IRONY seems to be my life. It may be one of my many epitaphs. 

Coop finally getting to shoot.

Storm clouds......that energy feelin' you get.....

Coop's first day of middle school 6th grade....Hillary's first day of  2nd grade. 

~late summer feel~

Well. Maplepoplar, that would be me....has been very busy as of late. School has started, both Gary and my work is in FULL swing....life as we know it: is BUSY. I can't help but think back to this time last year.....that feel of fall settling in....those mornings and evenings full of long shadow.....and my mind misses that part of my heart......that part that is etched into my soul.....~Vermont~. 

I miss the people.....my coworkers.....like old friends....I was meant to meet. 

I've had a little celebration here for Bernie.....see below. I've been interested in this book.(below) Learned of this during PBS news hour. I need an artistic interest.....I need time to create. Yes, words, inspiration, and a reset to for my mind to wrap around the who, the what, and the direction. By the way, did you know Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken" was NOT intended as it has been interpreted by many as a sought after discovery of individualism; instead, it was lightheartedly a jokingly side to Frost to reveal that either path would have been the same.....he liked to poke fun of his poetic friend from time to time he had met while in England. Ever thought about your path? 

I keep thinking about my path......and keep thinking........

In the meantime......that green walnut is a healing agent. I've used it successfully on 2 patients: Hillary & Ava! :)

Brock is really loving NCS........Cooper seems to be enjoying 6th grade at EHMS.......and Hillary is worn out each day from 2nd Grade. 

Other thoughts....as I move into the Tennessee educational culture, I can't help but think in terms of Vermont's perspectives and these few words the NEA would hope to change: I can only hope these things become truths and practices for my state. 

In July, NEA launched a national campaign to bring an end to the testing obsession around the country, and to move real student-centered learning back to the forefront of public schools.

“It’s our job to bring back the arts and Social Studies and world languages and whatever it is our students need to leave behind the corrupting, unconscionable testing culture of blame and punish by test scores and move forward with an education that opens their minds to the infinite possibilities of their lives,” García says.

Ava and Hilly swimming time! 

Brock #17 at a game......

Blue Moon at DAWN

Blue Moon and Coop night before his first middle school year....

Our little Bernie gathering out by the barn

Morning fog....my view before my run...

Hilly and Ava at daycare....posing....