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.

---- 

Comment to enter the Give Away. It ends tonight at 11:59 PM eastern time.

Pepper Goes to School

A few weeks ago, Lisa had a student who had earned his very first Pepper Pass and was eligible to spend time with Pepper. 

Only he did not understand the procedure. 

During a time when everyone was reading quietly to themselves, he approached Lisa, Pepper Pass in hand.

"I'd like to use my Pepper Pass now," he solemnly told her, expecting that she would call me and that Pepper and I would come in then and there.

(Oh, my heart!)

Lisa explained to him that she would schedule a day for Pepper to come to school and that all who had earned a Pepper Pass, including him, would get to spend time with her then.

That day was yesterday. Even amidst the craziness that is Kalamazoo month, there is always time to bring Pepper to school and celebrate with kiddos who have met their reading goals.

Some, like these girls, had exceeded them and had earned two Pepper Passes which meant they got double the time to spend with her!

I was keeping a closer eye on Pepper than I usually do - she is getting older and is not as energetic as she used to be. And, I want to be careful about her stress levels. Pepper has Addison's Disease (she was born without any adrenal glands.) She retired from guiding because physically her body could not handle the stress. She went into an Addison's Crisis and almost died in harness. It was a very close call.

But Miss P was fine. When we arrived at school, she knew immediately what was going to happen, and she literally dragged me into the building - she could not wait to see the kids.

Twenty expended Pepper Passes later (along with several book recommendations), we finished up and headed home.

Rather than heading back upstairs to work, Pepper and I relaxed together on the couch. She took a snooze cuddled against me, and I read from my Kindle.

Pepper Passes are a good reminder to me, too, that I need to take time to read!

Note: If I can get it finished, I will post that promised blog entry about Breyer Classic Foals this morning. If it's not up by 10:00 AM, look for it tomorrow.

Doggie Doin's/Mish Mosh

Just look at this face. (Er, Tammo's, not Craig's.)

This is a happy boi who is getting to go on a sleepover at Nashie's house! Yeeha!

What a smile! (I love how his lips actually do curve up when he smiles.)

Lisa invites Tammo over occasionally because he and Nash like to rough and tumble for hours. It's too much for Mama who rarely plays with anyone, canine or human. As for Pepper, Tammo easily wears her out at home, so these two big boys are perfect play buddies. They play and play and PLAY!

Then they crash at the end of the day and sleep well. In Lisa's bed. Leaving her no room in her own bed. Good thing her couch is comfy!

The girls are older (ten and eight) and much more sedate.

Mama's arthritis can make it so that she sometimes has a hard time getting comfortable.

"Just checking to be sure that you are still sitting in your chair and reading. Where you go, I go, you know."

I think sometimes the firmness of the floor supports her body better than a doggy bed, although clearly she likes having a pillow. 

Almost settled and ready to head into a deep snooze.

And finally she's off to dreamland.

Pepper may not go on sleepovers, but she does go on school visits and plays with students. Twenty (TWENTY!!) of Lisa's students made their reading goals this quarter and earned a Pepper Pass, so Pepper was very busy doing her part to promote reading and education.

"Good job hitting your reading goals, ladies! You may rub my tummy to celebrate."

Two of the kiddos who had made their goals were absent so Lisa asked me to take a couple of pictures of her with Pep and this sign.

What a great idea! She'd asked me if either Pepper or I would  mind coming back when those two girls were healthy and back at school - no problem!

Although it will have to be after I've had a chance to recover from Kalamazoo.

Speaking of education, this former teacher got a terrific surprise the other day. I went to pick up my new glasses,

and my technician was a familiar face! (Well, actually, it wasn't at first - she was so grown up and is now taller than me!) 

Cayde, one of my former students! What a wonderful reunion! We took a little time to catch up while she checked the fit of my glasses and sunglasses. ("Your sunglasses are the same frame as my glasses! Good choice!" she said.)

Always, always happy to run into a former kiddo. And between that and taking Pepper to school, I am feeling more than a bit nostalgic. I loved teaching so very much and sometimes I miss it terribly.

Today is the last day I have to prepare for Kalamazoo as the event is this weekend.

I will finish up the hand stitching on these two Frances Rumps and then run some errands and pack my suitcase. Leslie and Rick (and my things) are already in Kalamazoo and today they work with the Expo crew in setting up the building. 

It's a huge place with 59,000 square feet. Can you imagine setting that all up with tables, chairs, booths, electricity for those who require it, and more? I was surprised when Leslie told me that this event has four times the number of vendors than The Feast of the Hunters' Moon has and there certainly is room in the Expo Center for that.

In the past, I've been in Expo North (in purple) where the red arrow is pointing and I am hoping to be there again this year. Leslie puts her business, Chien Noir, next to mine where we can help each other and chat.

Off to go stitch those rumps! (Something I never thought I'd say... LOL)

Tick! Tick! Tick!

You've Earned a Pepper Pass!

Every semester Teacher Daughter Lisa meets with each of her students and they set a reading goal together. If the child meets their goal, there is a very desirable prize that is awarded.

A Pepper Pass!

A Pepper Pass enables the winner to spend time with Pepper (translate that as, get out of class, LOL) and "read" to her.

The reading-to-Pepper aspect was dropped long ago. (Pepper won this battle and actually dragged those boys across the floor. She may be petite, but she is strong.)

I bring some toys and treats and we talk about service animals, Seeing Eye Dogs in particular.

The kids come in at intervals and Pepper plays, gets treats, and I share about service dogs again and again until all the Pepper Pass winners have had their turn with her.

Some of the kids have dogs and some the kids don't. Once in a while a student comes in who has never even touched a dog and is afraid of Pepper.

She's a really good girl for all the students, but she especially shines with those who have never touched one or are afraid of her.

Pepper and I both enjoy those Pepper Pass days. She gets loads of attention, treats, and love, and I get to exercise my teacher chops a bit and see my daughter in her classroom. 

It's an all around win for everyone.

Molly Update & Pepper Pass Day

Thanks to everyone who expressed concerns, prayers, and good thoughts for Molly. That means a lot. 

The pack waiting while we eat dinner, hoping we will share.

She's an elderly girl and last August she started having skin issues on her chin, muzzle, and eyes, a thick black scabby something. We checked for allergies, did bloodwork, tried diet changes, creams, prescription meds, and more, and nothing worked. 

Although occasionally it seemed itchy, it didn't really bother her very much but it worsened despite all the treatments we tried.  We get the biopsy results later this week and then we will go from there. And, she has an appointment with a dermatologist in June and we hope that that will help clear this up.

In the meantime, she continues to be a happy girl who loves her family and her food, although not necessarily in that order.

Molly is not the only dog who is happy with life. Pepper got to go to school and be with kids!

She may be a retired Seeing Eye Guide Dog, but she still has her guide dog chops and ignored all those tempting tennis balls looming above her!

Teacher Daughter Lisa lets her students earn "Pepper Passes" if they meet their reading goals, and this time 18 kiddos had done so!

Normally the kids come in by twos for ten minutes, but an hour and a half would've been too much for Pepper (and me), so Lisa sent them to me in groups. The girl second from the right is terrified of dogs but Pepper won her over. (I wish I could show you the smile on that girl's face as she stroked Pepper's fur. She is just beaming in this picture!)

And this boy's face, too. He was absolutely thrilled when Pepper laid her paw over his arm as he scratched her chest.

These two girls actually brought in a book to read to Pepper. 

The girl on the right had earned two Pepper Passes so she could spend more time with her. Isn't that sweet?

That book was hilarious! And while it is a picture book intended for younger students than Lisa's, the author had visited Lisa's school and given her a copy. I liked it so much, I may buy myself a copy to read to the Pony Pals and Cowpokes! 

Good job, Pepper! Not only did you succeed in encouraging students to make their reading goals, but you lessened a girl's fear of dogs. And, you ignored all 100 (yes, I counted) tennis balls at the same time!

Time for a pup cup, don't you think?