Some people make New Years Resolutions on January 1.  Not me.  My new year starts on the first day of school every fall.  I have started school every August of my life since 1963 or 1964.  I have officially survived the first week of of  year 37.  Wow.  I am starting to sound old- even to me.  But I still love it.  New pencils and notebook paper.  Neat classroom. Smiling faces looking at me, with just a hint of apprehension and melancholy at the end of summer vacation.  Big hugs from colleagues and former students.

I don’t especially love meetings, but this year we had a faculty development day with Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee  leading us in a discussion about how to develop cultural competency at our school.  What a gifted speaker.  Ms. Lee speaks honestly, from the heart, and throws in enough humor and personal stories to keep her audience awake and engaged in what she has to say.  Diversity comes in many shapes and sizes.  Some wear it on their faces.  Some do not.  If I make a single student feel the anxiety I felt during this workshop when the question of socio-economic class during childhood came up, I must change what I say and how I say it.

I do love seeing all my colleagues/friends again after 10 weeks away from them.  The middle school faculty spent some time sharing photos of our summer adventures.  I didn’t leave North Carolina this summer, but I was fortunate enough to visit the mountains and the beach.  I read (The Nightingale and City on Fire were my two favorites, for very different reasons), baked, walked for miles and miles on the beach with the Ex-Ex, Son #2, and my sister Moo looking at the waves and searching for shells, stuck my toes in the Toe River, zip lined in Plumtree, visited Mama Mildred, and just generally goofed off.  We teachers call this “recharging our batteries.”  Because after 10 months with middle schoolers, they run real low.

On the first day of school, Son #1 and EB surprised me by leaving goodies on my kitchen counter.

EB works at Bull Street Market and they have all kinds of deliciousness there.  She knows me well, from Costières de Nîmes rouge to sea salt chocolate to Big Spoon peanut butter.  I even found a recipe for flourless peanut butter cookies on their blog, but the question is, will I use this jar for cookies or just open it up and eat it with a spoon whenever I feel like it?  Hmmm.  I will try to decide by the time I finish this blog! (But I have an egg out warming to room temperature just in case.)

Son #2 surprised me with a bouquet of flowers.  (Shocked would not be too strong a word, but I don’t want to sound as if I would never have expected this in a thousand years.)

I confessed to him that the Ex-Ex and I saw a charge for flowers when we checked his bank account 10 days ago or so.  I thought he had a secret girlfriend, but I was forbidden to be nosy and ask him.  Lol  was his response to that.

I have such good boys.  I love them more than life.  And EB is our added bonus.  I love her, too.

I look at these faces everyday.  Son #2 turned 24 this week. How did that happen so fast?

One of the girlies in my new advisory group brought me three of her homemade chocolate chip cookies.  I shared one with the Ex-Ex.  They were excellent.  Bravo!  She told me that the recipe is a family secret and I respect that.  I did find an article just today, though, on how to make the perfect chocolate chip cookie according to your own preferences using the Nestle Tollhouse Recipe.  The Science Behind Baking The Most Delicious Cookie Ever. Some research of my own may be necessary.

An 8th grade jeune homme, returning to my class for French 2 this go around, brought me the colorful  macaron erasers pictured above.  They look good enough to eat, but I think I will leave them to decorate my desk.  Such sweet kiddos.

Back to the resolutions part of this post.  I don’t want to set myself up for failure and I like to keep it manageable so that I am not riddled with guilt.

1. Walk more.  Try to get that 10,000 step Fitbit buzz every day.
2. Continue my Gratitude Project, expressing my thanks daily to someone who has helped me.  Who doesn’t love cookies?  Or a thank you note?  Or a hug?
3. Keep things in perspective.  First World Problem or a genuine crisis?
4. Look for silver linings.  There almost always is one.  Blessings in disguise.

And now, back to cookies.  Can’t resist trying a new recipe and warming up the oven.  I will take some to Son #1 and EB for a taste test.  The Ex-Ex will miss out this time.  He is off on an adventure for the next few days.

 

Amazing Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

Big Spoon Roasters blog

24 cookies

INGREDIENTS

One 10 oz jar Big Spoon Roasters Peanut Butter  I used Vanilla Peanut Sorghum– minus a couple of spoonfuls- I admit- one must taste one’s ingredients, people, Quality Control, you know
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar  I was a bit short and used Spices and Tease caramel sugar to make up the difference- a gift from one of my girlies
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp baking soda

INSTRUCTIONS

– Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
– Mix all ingredients together in a mixer until well blended.
– Scoop into even-sized balls (well compacted – the dough is crumbly and a bit oily)
– Flatten each ball slightly with a fork (we make a cross-hatch).  I tried the cross-hatch thing but my fork kept sticking to the cookie dough so I just flattened the second tray with the back of a spoon; I sprinkled some Hawaiian Island Salt Company’s Diamonds of the Sea salt given to me by Judy C aka Joan of Arc aka IronWoman on top of the second tray– definitely a good idea!
– Bake on parchment paper at 350 degrees F for 11-12 minutes.  Mine were done at 10 minutes.
– Leave on the tray for at least five minutes after removing from oven (the bottoms should not burn) as they are delicate until slightly cooled.
– Make friends.  If you decide to share, that is.

 

Bon appétit and Happy New Year to all students and teachers!  Be your best self and make it a great year!