Today’s Slice is wordless, because words can’t express how this joyous sound makes me feel. Click here and enjoy 25 seconds, a small moment, of my walk after school yesterday. Thank you and you’re welcome!
Many thanks to the crew at Two Writing Teachers, and the extended SOL community, for giving us the time, space, and encouragement to live the writerly life here every Tuesday throughout the year and now daily during March. Happy Slicing!
Today was my pickup duty day at dismissal. I usually dread running pickups because there is always an issue. Sometimes it’s with a parent, sometimes a student. You just never know what might happen. And it’s THE WORST on bad weather days. You are stuck out there for 20ish minutes in the rain, snow, sleet, but sometimes sunshine.
Today was a sunny day. It was 62 and lovely. I actually didn’t mind being out there. But I had a Team Meeting at 2:45, and my weekly newsletter to work on, as well as prepping for tomorrow. Too much to do, and not enough time.
So when I looked over at the small cluster of stragglers still waiting with our school counselor, I was surprised to see one of my students. Why was she there? She was supposed to ride the bus next door to her afterschool program. I hollered over to her. “Why are you here?” “I’m a pickup,” she responded. “No, you are not!” I volleyed back. “Yes, I am!” she lobbed over the net. You can see where this tennis match of a convo was headed.
Quickly, I looked over at the bus circle; the last of our elementary buses was just pulling away. No chance of getting her on a bus to the hosting school. “Come here, you,” I shouted. I guess we are going for a walk. I didn’t have the 15 minutes required to walk her over and return, but it was 62 and lovely, so off we went. My meeting would have to wait.
Many thanks to the crew at Two Writing Teachers, and the extended SOL community, for giving us the time, space, and encouragement to live the writerly life here every Tuesday throughout the year and now daily during March. Happy Slicing!
Raise your hand if you’ve ever received an orchid from a student, their family, or someone else! I KNEW I wasn’t alone!
And every time you get one you think WOW! So pretty! But at the same time, you are also thinking Oh Crud! So hard to take care of!
I can’t tell you how many lovely orchids I’ve received over the years, but I just haven’t been able to keep them going, so into the trash they go. (I know. Don’t judge me, ok?)
Last June, my husband, who is also a teacher, received a lovely purplish orchid from the grandmother of one of the most challenging students of all time. Every day on our commute home together I’d hear the latest Jimmy (name changed to protect the innocent) story. There were so many and my poor husband, a special ed learning assistant, would lie awake at night trying to figure out how to save poor Jimmy from himself. Grandma co-parents Jimmy and knew how hard my poor husband was working and was so appreciative.
When Jimmy’s orchid dropped its last blossom at the end of the summer, I was determined not to give up on it just like we’d never give up on Jimmy. I read the tag that came with it, researched online, and followed the “3 ice cubes a week” routine religiously for 6 whole months. Last week I noticed 5 good-sized oval-shaped buds. We were overjoyed! Little Jimmy was going to make it after all. But then the buds started to drop off before they opened, one at a time. Oh no! Jimmy wasn’t getting what he needed! More light. It’s got to be more light The directions had said no direct sunlight while it was dormant, so I have moved it away from the windows. So I moved it closer and, with two buds left, a miracle happened!
I think little Jimmy’s gonna make it after all.
Many thanks to the crew at Two Writing Teachers, and the extended SOL community, for giving us the time, space, and encouragement to live the writerly life here every Tuesday throughout the year and now daily during March. Happy Slicing!
Red-winged blackbirds?
Here! We didn’t really leave. We were just quiet.
Robins?
Here! Time to breed!
Worms?
Here! Dodging the Robins, but diggin’ this rain!
Skunks?
Here! We were asleep under your shed. Thanks for the bulbs!
Neighborhood boys playing ball in the street?
You know it! Baseball tryouts are next week!
Snowdrops?
First again!
Crocus?
No fair! Those Snowdrops always beat us!
Daffodils?
We’re here, but we aren’t ready yet. Give us a couple weeks, OK?
Maple sap?
Trying to flow, but the nights aren’t cold enough. Sorry for the empty buckets!
Spring Peepers?
Peep! Peep! Peep!
Wood Frogs?
Let’s do this!
Many thanks to the crew at Two Writing Teachers, and the extended SOL community, for giving us the time, space, and encouragement to live the writerly life here every Tuesday throughout the year and now daily during March. Happy Slicing!
On my way back to the house from our composter yesterday afternoon, I spotted a few cheerful crocus bulbs poking through the protective layer of leaves and yard debris I scattered over them in the fall. With a week to go until astronomical spring begins, they give me hope that the days will lengthen and become warmer.
Many thanks to the crew at Two Writing Teachers, and the extended SOL community, for giving us the time, space, and encouragement to live the writerly life here every Tuesday throughout the year and now daily during March. Happy Slicing!
Please
I just want to comment
I don’t want to search for motorcycles
Or signs
Street lights
Or buses
Please
Don’t make me work so hard
Looking for house numbers
Or people
Roads or ramps
Dogs
Or chairs
I just want to share
Commenting love
So please don’t tell me I have not found them all
Many thanks to the crew at Two Writing Teachers, and the extended SOL community, for giving us the time, space, and encouragement to live the writerly life here every Tuesday throughout the year and now daily during March. Happy Slicing!
Today we were slammed with errands and obligations, so I’m serving up a Currently Slice, one of my go-to quickie Slices when I’m short of time and/or brain power, but I want to keep up my writing streak.
I am currently…
Anticipating the start of a 3-month long Field Naturalist Certification course with Mass Audubon. I was accepted into the spring cohort and I can’t wait for it to begin in a week!
Watching “Vera” on Britbox. It’s based in the northeast of England, where I’ve spent a fair amount of time.
Reading Rick Steves Amsterdam & the Netherlands, as we plan our trip for this summer.
Listening to “You’re Dead to Me,” a hilarious podcast from the BBC for history lovers.
Hoping the rain clears up so I can get a walk in tomorrow outdoors.
Waiting for Spring!
Many thanks to the crew at Two Writing Teachers, and the extended SOL community, for giving us the time, space, and encouragement to live the writerly life here every Tuesday throughout the year and now daily during March. Happy Slicing!
Dear Vernal Pool,
How’ve you been? It was a strange winter, I know. You really rely on lots of snow throughout the winter to fill your belly up, but Mother Nature sure didn’t cooperate on that front this year. But it has been pretty rainy lately, so hopefully you are feeling replenished.
I don’t envy you. There is a lot of pressure on you to be ready to go at a moment’s notice for breeding season. It sure happened quickly this year. Have you had many visitors yet? It was close to 50 a couple of night’s this week while it was raining, so I’m thinking you maybe had a few early birds. Let us know when the Spring Peepers show up. I know they make quite a racket, but they bring so much hope for warmer days to come for many of us. And what about the Wood Frogs? Those frogsicles have probably thawed out from their winter slumber and are headed your way from the woods. And don’t forget the Yellow Spotted Salamanders, too!
Now, let’s talk about the Fairy Shrimp situation. It’s been pretty on and off the last couple of years. We are hoping they show up in droves this year. Let’s hope they make it off the threatened species list soon! We love looking at them up close with our stereoscope.
That’s all for now, vernal pool. My Kindergarten biologists will be out to see you this afternoon, if that works for you. The sun is finally out and it’s supposed to be about 50 degrees. Until then, take care!
Mrs. Wyman
Many thanks to the crew at Two Writing Teachers, and the extended SOL community, for giving us the time, space, and encouragement to live the writerly life here every Tuesday throughout the year and now daily during March. Happy Slicing!
“Whoa! What’s that, Mrs. Wyman? It’s huge!”
“Whoa is right! That’s a Pileated Woodpecker. Everyone look quickly before it flies away!”
I ran across the classroom to hit the pause button on the Cornell Lab’s live FeederWatch cam. Phew! I got there in time. The class left their morning free choice tables and gathered in awe to watch as this mighty pterodactyl-like creature 2-3 times the size of the other birds having their breakfast at the feeder station. It’s the largest woodpecker — 15-20″ — after the Ivory Billed, which is sadly now thought to be extinct. It’s also pretty elusive, and not often seen.
“That’s some dinosaur!” one student exclaimed.
It sure is!
Many thanks to the crew at Two Writing Teachers, and the extended SOL community, for giving us the time, space, and encouragement to live the writerly life here every Tuesday throughout the year and now daily during March. Happy Slicing!
After tonight’s all-district concert, she called me over. “Mrs. Wyman. I was thinking about my next story and I looked up and realized everyone was playing again.”
I think she discovered Jo March’s writing vortex. Do you know it?
“Every few weeks [Jo] would shut herself up in her room, put on her scribbling suit, and ‘fall into a vortex’, as she expressed it, writing away at her novel with all her heart and soul, for til that was finished she could find no peace.” — Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
Many thanks to the crew at Two Writing Teachers, and the extended SOL community, for giving us the time, space, and encouragement to live the writerly life here every Tuesday throughout the year and now daily during March. Happy Slicing!
Wondering and Wandering 