Back to School for the Last Time

First Post of the Day

(All pictures used with permission.)

For years, Lisa has had a reading incentive in her classroom - make your reading goal and you have earned yourself a Pepper Pass.

Which meant that Pepper and I would come to school one day and spend time with those children.

Every quarter since the pandemic restrictions were lifted, Pepper and I have gone to Lisa's school and spent part of the day with 4th graders.

Despite the wording on that Pepper Pass, not much reading gets done. We spend time talking about the books they've read (I am given a lot of "You need to read this book!" recommendations), 

and they share about their own pets, their families, and (in this case) their summer plans.

They groom Pepper, they play with her,

and each one gets to give her a tiny treat to enjoy. (Pepper's favorite part of the visits.)

I teach them about service dogs focusing on Seeing Eye dogs. Sometimes I share a little about Zeus, too, the black Lab that we had who had been a Police/Narcotics dog. (Just as Pepper is "my" dog, Zeus was Craig's.)

This time, Pepper was joined by another service dog. 

Leslie and Rick brought in Eddie who had recently passed his therapy dog tests. (For hospitals, nursing homes, and school visits.)

He was a big (both figuratively and in reality) hit with the kids. He's in that mass of kiddos somewhere.

It was Eddie's very first school visit, but he did very well.

And, each child got a sticker of him! Lisa said she kept hearing whispers the rest of the day along the lines of, "Where did you put your Eddie sticker?" "On my notebook. Where did you put yours?"

I hung around for a while after Eddie went home and let the kids enjoy Pepper Pepper enjoy the kids. And I, too, wanted to linger. It was the last time that this retired teacher and her retired Seeing Eye partner would be visiting Lisa's class.

Not only is it the last week of school,

but it's Lisa's last year in the classroom. She is moving on to a new career. 

This is a HUGE loss to Education. In the email announcement that she was leaving, her principal called Lisa "irreplaceable." He's right. 

I'm glad that she has a new opportunity, but the mom in me, the teacher in me, knows what an impact such an outstanding teacher makes with the children who come through her door year after year. And Lisa is certainly that.

Best of luck as you move on, Lis. I could not be prouder of you for all you have accomplished. You made a difference in hundreds of lives. xo

Stay 'tooned for a throwback post about a highlight from Lisa's teaching career.

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Mish Mosh Time!

Time for a mish mosh post - I have lots of snippets to share but nothing that is really an entire blog post in and of itself. 

Blackened Beeswax Ornaments

Thanks so much to all who ordered ornaments from me. They are all packed and on the way and you should have received a tracking notice from me. Last call if you want any - I will be packing them up for storage tomorrow.

More from Miss Mila

I'm back in the sewing room and working on a custom order. Yesterday I picked up a stack of fabrics and found another note from Mila stashed underneath them.

Certainly the gift that keeps on giving!

I have put all her notes in an envelope and will save them with my most special treasures.

An Eddie Emergency

You may remember that I said that there was an emergency at Kalamazoo the second day of the event and so our packing up was haphazard and as fast as we could go. That emergency was actually for Leslie and Rick.

Their vet had called and said that their dog Eddie had a temperature of 106 and was very, very sick. Leslie dropped everything and headed home, while Rick stayed in Kalamazoo to pack their trailer and truck for home.

Over a week later, Eddie is still sick and has been hospitalized three times. An abscess that began under his chin, ran down his neck, and then curved to the middle of his chest turned out to be the culprit.

Once that was discovered, drained, and cleaned, he did a remarkable bounce back.

He even came out to play for a bit during the family Easter egg hunt.

Eddie is not out of the woods yet. The abscess refilled yesterday and had to be surgically drained, but this time it was mostly water and not infectious material. His temperature has remained low and antibiotics are taking care of the infection. 

Keep your fingers crossed, say a prayer, wish for good karma, or whatever you feel most comfortable with for Eddie.  It would be very much appreciated.

 

The Family Easter Egg Hunt

An annual tradition, we always gather at Leslie and Rick's farm for an Easter egg hunt and dinner. This year, due to Eddie's health, we still held the egg hunt but then ate at our home.

There is an Over 18 and an Under 18 division and the winner of each gets a golden egg with a prize inside.  The Under 18 was full of candy, while the Over 18's gift didn't fit inside the egg.

There are some T-Rex fans among the adults in my family, so when I found this T-Rex wind chime, I bought it even though I knew it was too big to fit in the egg.

Mila won the Under 18 egg,

and Craig the Over 18 egg. (His face when he discovered it was empty! But then I handed him the box the T-Rex was in and all was right in his world. LOL)

We all piled into cars and headed back to our home for a midafternoon snack of Hershey pie, cheesecake,

cake pops,

assorted candy,

and Chex Mix.

We hung out the rest of the day, playing games, and watching the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.

More KZoo Pics

People are still posting their pictures from Kalamazoo on social media. Here are the last of them. (I think...)

This family had stopped and asked about the pockets I have for sale. I am sharing the story behind them and how the earliest pockets were tied around the waist and not incorporated into the garment itself like they are now.

A nice photo of Rick at his booth. Taken before the emergency call about Eddie that upended the day for us.

My travel buddy Gretchen talking to the man whose wife makes my maple cakes. Gretchen is wearing a bedgown and I recognized the fabric because I had it in my stash. Turns out that my mother had made it for her.

Puppies at the Park

We are dodging raindrops now instead of snow and ice, but when we can, we take Pepper and Tammo across the street to the park.

Lined up and ready for their frisbees to fly.

"Here comes mine!!"

"Oh, never mind the frisbees."

"There is nothing like fresh spring grass for a good roll."

Have a good day, all!

An Outlandish (and Apparently Scary) Hat

The Kalamazoo Living History Event is next weekend, and I am in the final throes of preparation. Lisa and I went up to Leslie's farm yesterday to try on hats and riding habits to wear at the event.

No, I'm not going as the Mad Hatter - this is a 19th century women's hat that goes with one of Leslie's more unusual habits.

Lisa trying on an 18th century habit with lots of beautiful detail.

From the front - look at those cuffs! The waistcoat is silk.

Eddie, Leslie's 8 month old Newfoundland puppy kept us company while we tried on habits. He was fine until Leslie pulled out a second 19th century hat.

What. Is. That??

A 19th century riding habit with an empire waist, peplum with short pleats, and a very surprising hat.

Eddie took refuge behind my chair the rest of the time that that hat (which was actually quite elegant) was in view.

My favorite was the 19th century Mad Hatter hat, but I don't have a 19th century riding habit. Yet...

If you happen to be in Kalamazoo next weekend and stop by the event, come see me!  Look for Jolis Chevaux - I will be right next to Chien Noir, Leslie and Rick's company that sells hand block printed fabrics.

I've packed a few give-aways for readers who stop by!