Subbing Isn't Half Bad.

It's only 1/3 bad. Not much adult human interaction. Teachers, at least the ones here, aren't very interested in getting to know subs. Or maybe it's the plethora of little gold crosses dangling from most necks that puts me off so as not to attempt to get to know them. I don't know, but the actual subbing is much better that I'd expected. I kind of like that I don't have things to take home. I like that I can leave school at 3:45. I like that I can get up one day and say, "I don't feel like going to work today!" and not go, and not have any consequences.

Schools in CT seems to being doing something right. It sort of reminds me of when I went to school. Most districts are NOT using a (horrible, awful, uninteresting, cumbersome, ineffectual) standardized text for reading/writing/math. They actually still have P.E., music, computers, science, and recess, AND still have time/money to cover the basic academic cores. They even still have school nurses and libraries!

What is throwing me off (or should I say "uuuuuooff"), is the awful CT accent that even the littlest kiddies have already acquired. Too bad, they were so cute until they opened their mouths!

Boston!

We went to Boston for Halloween weekend.

Spurred on by the prospect of Morris related festivities in the Boston area, we headed north. I dropped CC off with his friends from Berkeley, and I headed to an unknown morris gathering in Somerville. Red Herring and, uh, another group, did a Samain dancing, complete with Halloween type songs, some familiar dances/tunes, audience inclusive dances and a silent labyrinth walk (after an "anti-morris" walk led by a horse head and dancers in silent blacks). Kinda interesting to see a silent morris dance. Still, I have permanent bells in my head, so that accompanied the visuals. They invited me in on a stick dance I'd not done before, and also the mass Tinner's Wabbits. Fun! Inclusive! Groupy! Morrisy!

After, we all did a Mummers play for a mile or so, tromping through the fabulous mounds of Autumn leaves, past the kiddies in scary costumes and the very festivility purveyed houses (made those words up I think), all under the haunting full moon.

But that's not all! The evening continued with song and food. The Single Malt Song Society invited me along (I partaked in the song, but not the SM). And we sang beautiful and fun and harmonious songs like at home! Though I didn't actually know most of these songs, I joined in as best I could, and even sang Sheap Shearing before I left (some there knew it and helped me!). Though I was the only one to do the Abigail harmony part . . . it was fun, though I still didn't feel like a part of the group.

I DO like that Boston has a variety of morris teams, and they are social with eachother, doing fun morrisy things. Boston is a bit far though, 2+ hours is kind of far to drive on a regular basis.

Sunday was Boston proper. Oooooollllddd cemeteries, churches, Charles River with sailboats a float, funny accents, people playing Quiddich in the Boston Common park! and Leaves!! everywhere. see some pretty photos. I made leaf art too. You know, I LOVE walking, more like frolicking, through the deep crispy crumply fluffy piles of leaves!

Such beautiful friends

Thank you!
I love the photos.
i love the earrings.
i love the wooden egg thingys.
I love the buckeye.
I love the persimmon seeds.
I love the naked people postcard.
I love you guys!

Berries of Blueness

Last weekend on our Rail-Trail bike ride on Cape Cod, we picked a huge load of blueberries and huckleberries. Tiny sweet flavorful pockets of juice. I found a few recipes in which to make use of them. Pancakes, on French Toast, Lemon-Blueberry Scones, and finally, Mini Blueberry Tarts. I couldn't believe how long our supply lasted.

Easterly winds blow colder

I miss the West.
I miss my Berkeley Morris family.
I miss friends in Oakland.
I miss Jupiter's porter and pomegranate cider. (and local microbreweries in general)
I miss singing.
I miss Bledington.
I miss Athiests.
I miss local nurseries and gardening shops.
I miss real bread.
I miss Berkeley Bowl.
I miss having 3 NPR stations to choose from (and having at least one come in tune to my alarm clock)

It's not the same here.

New friends in the land of the lost

We've made friends with the downstairs neighbors, which is both convenient and fun! It's like living with BT2 again, but with locking doors in between. And two wiener dogs yipping at your heels. We've introduced them to a few board games, which gives much hope for those long cold winter evenings ahead.
Yay, winter!!

Postcards from the West Edge

Beautiful mail from beautiful friends! Lemurs frolick and dance, while scrumptious English tea (with crumpets and clotted cream!) makes me hungry, and creative energy flows straight from the "public transport guy". This is the view from my desk. Thanks Jozz, Jonathan and Britt!