The Importance of Reading Aloud

So a red-tailed hawk visited our class today. I didn't know it would happen until it did, but I'm sure glad it did! Those little pip-squeak fifth graders grow up to be bold, adventurous, confident eighth graders who decide to become things like...an apprentice falconer! You have to be trained, pass the 175 question test, then trap your own hawk (after building a mew in your back yard) and keep learning from there. Oh, and pass inspections when the DWR shows up.

This girl has never done a group presentation with her bird and yet, she was flawless. The kids were "rapt" (ha, Ha, HA! get it...raptor?) with attention. Bird perched on one arm, white board marker in the other drawing the trap with nooses...like she's been doin' it her whole life.

Did I mention she plays soccer? And violin?

Her buddy was in my class...another incredible human!

One of my students asked her how she got interested in falconry and she replied that while in fourth grade her teacher (pictured above) read aloud MY SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN. She's been thinkin' about it ever since.

There you go.

Those Memes

I wonder how often I exclude people without meaning to do so. Recently on Facebook I participated in some sort of nature photography chain letter challenge. I had to post a photo of anything in nature for seven days and each day I was supposed to nominate someone else to do the same. Here's the thing about Nature. Everyone has access.

Some folks were posting Motherhood photos this evening and challenging other people who they think are great mothers to do the same. I'll never be included in one of those challenges.

Nice Visit from a 26 Year Old

One of my former students dropped by today. I had just sent my class to art so I had a few minutes to sit down with her for a chat. Beautiful. Inside and out. Headed to boot camp! She and her mom rode with me to the funeral of her classmate the year I taught her. And now she's off to see the world after trying a few other options. Honored.

Hiking in the Snow with My Valentine

The view from our place was starting to get hazy, so The Ranger (TR) suggested an excursion up the canyon to stretch our legs on snowshoes. It was, in a word, Bluebird.

The wind-sculpted patterns on the snow, the sun and blue sky, the conversation we had which somehow never manifested during these past evenings of BYU class and parent/teacher conferences, AND the simple act of tramping past all the trees carrying their winter weight made for a glorious time.

My sweet rides are seventeen years old. They certainly have paid for themselves in recreation, exercise, and joyous memories. I am so deeply grateful for the blessings of today!