1. Hammocks: My hammock has been a source of endless fascination for the kids in this village. They don’t know the word and they’ve never sat in one. Everyone has had to try it.
2. Everyone’s related: I taught about how humans came to the Americas last week, and started the story in Africa (my ancestors hung a left and wound up in Ireland, and yours took a right and trooped through Asia and crossed the Bering Sea when it was land during the ice age…). The kids stared at me like I’d sprouted horns and said “wait. Back it up. You’re saying everyone in the world is related? We’re related?”
   Yeah guys. In a distant kind of way.
   Got a tremendous giggle during this discussion when I babbled about poor old Homo erectus. Sorry gramps.
3. In the book we’re reading, Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt, the protagonist fabricates a story for her little siblings about their parents’ wedding, which, in reality, never took place. When asked why she did this, my kids couldn’t answer. Many of their parents aren’t married, and I don’t think they knew the meaning of the word “bastard,” which so troubled the kids in Homecoming, until we discussed it.

   “Are your parents married, Ms. O?”
   “Yeah. Where I grew up, most people’s parents are married or were married, then got divorced.”
   “My parents aren’t married.” “Neither are mine.”
   “Well, for the kids in the book, it’s a big deal. People treat them badly because they’re ‘illegitimate’ or ‘bastards’ which means their parents weren’t married”
   “that’s weird. Is it still like that?”
   “Some places. Some people.”

4. Ms. O, why do white people train their dogs so much? And keep them inside?

The grinder is out, which means the whole school building smells like sewage. We cancelled today (we don’t get snow days, but we get shit days), so there are only three days of school this week. It’s too early for a break! I have everything all planned, and I’m excited! Here’s hoping they get it fixed for tomorrow, and here’s some pictures from this golden weekend.

I was sulking at home (nobody would go camping with me this weekend) when these characters showed up and brought instant joy. A and little H enjoyed the hammock experience until every kid in the village showed up, and these two had to retreat indoors to guard their share of the cookies.

This one and the next one go together. I was so happy looking out over the lake, and I felt the happy showing on my face,

so I flipped the camera over and took a selfie. Folded up neat and tidy and tucked into that dimple is genuine happiness, folks.

the last of the fireweed in the foreground.

golden

foxtails

color! Also, this was taken on my little brother’s 24th birthday. Happy Birthday Dylan!