Quotes from Goats by Dan Monteiro, St. Martin's Press, 2018 Yes, I have a whole book of pictures and quotes by goats. The picture above is captioned Live like someone left the barn door open. Sound advice in normal times, n'est-ce pas? The title for this one: You can't graze the pasture if you don't …
Category: main dishes
A letter to my students
Teresa Ann Bell 1975-76"... Appalachian State ... French teacher ... enjoys reading, sewing, music, dancing, concerts, singing ... talkative" Dear 2019-20 Students, As you can see from the photo, I am going out on a limb here, out of my comfort zone. That photo is your French teacher, taken during her senior year at Harris …
Falling in literary love
Charleston, SC Do you fall in love with authors or characters in books? Or am I the weird one? I fall hard. Many men and women have become the object of my affections. The latest in this line is Pat Conroy. And this is our second time around. I honestly do not remember when I …
Halftime
I am not counting the days, but I think it is almost halftime of summer vacation. I am trying to soak up every minute of it. Really I am. I spent a week at Carolina Beach with Sister Moo and Best Niece. It's become a tradition for the three of us to do this. Moo …
Courage
Downtown Durham April 10, 2019Photo by Jim Rogalski Just exactly what is courage and where does it come from? Are we trained to act courageously? Is it instinct? Are we taught courage? How do we know whether or not we are courageous? I have my own thoughts about it, but first I would like to …
Dear Blog,
First off, no, I am not dead. You probably think that, dear Blog, but I am alive and kicking. Yes, I still love you. Yes, I still love to write. What happened? You know, I am not sure. Mon dieu bon dieu, I had to log into the WordPress website and that meant I had …
November This and That: The “Lit” Edition
(artwork: Madison, 8th grade girlie) My "real" job involves spending five days a week with middle schoolers. Trying to guide them. Giving them opportunities to help others. Helping them learn how to study. Setting goals and working towards achieving those goals. Showing them ways to be kind. General nagging. Showing them the beauty of speaking …
Just because
It's been one of those days. I woke up with a stuffed up head and a few aches. I put my tights on backwards, peeled them back off and put them on again. Had an early morning meeting so not much time for coffee or breakfast. Or even checking emails. Managed to spill half a …
5 August 2008
I am watching a Hallmark movie, Summer Villa, supposedly set in the south of France (really set in Montréal, Canada). The opening views of lavender, the market scenes, someone with a (I hope) legit French accent take me back to ten years ago I was living in Arles, on the Rhône River, working as a …
One day at a time
Today a very dear friend of mine taught me a very valuable lesson. She probably won't take credit for it. That's just how she is. We have taught together for 30+ years. We can finish each other's sentences. Kind of like an old married couple. We sponsor a club for 7th and 8th grade girls at …
the sabbatical chef 