Come visit me in Mazatlán

Remember to come visit me at my Mazatlán  blog for the next two weeks.  
¡Muchas gracias!

http://kate-mazatlanmexico.blogspot.com

A Big Heart

Happy Valentine to All My Fellow Bloggers!!

Tomorrow I am flying away to Mazatlán, México.  Whoo! Hoo!!  

Warmer weather: sea, sun, and sand.

For the next few weeks, please follow me at my México blog. 

Anniversary!!

I posted this on Facebook today for Throwback Thursday, but since I am having a hard time keeping up with my blog, I decided to enthrall all of you with the same photos and message:

Throwback Thursday: Five years ago some wonderful friends gave us a great anniversary party in Mazatlán. On Tuesday of this coming week, Jim and I will celebrate our 52 BIG ONES. . . Who would have thought?! Happy Anniversary, JIm aka Jaime, Seamus, and DH! It's been a wild and wonderful ride!!~

Flying to Mazatlán Sunday.  We won't be spending this one together because Jim has some health issues, but we are celebrating together tonight!!

More literary figures

It's time for another visit to the O'Shaughnessey Library on the St Paul campus of the University of St. Thomas. A few months ago I posted three other stained glass windows of literary figures found in a small meeting room on the first floor.  There are many other delightful windows scattered around the building, and it is wonderful that they all were saved when the library was renovated several years ago.

Although some communities and academicians have criticized the teaching of Huck Finn, I enjoyed discussing the novel with my students, primarily because I felt that Jim was more of a father figure to Huck than Pap could ever be. Lots to love and criticize about its structure, characterization, and themes, but that's what a good novel fosters.

Meet Mary

 At the Women's Retreat that I have described in yesterday's and previous posts, I met Mary and immensely enjoyed our conversations.   She recently moved here from out-of-state.  Her daughter, who also lives in St. Paul, gave Mary a house-warming party to which I was invited.  There I met Mary's charming 3-year-old grand-daughter who generously shared her angel wings with her grandmother. I feel fortunate to have made two new friends: one small angel and another angel a little bit older.

Women Drumming

Remember the Women's Retreat I told you about last week?  Well, the last workshop  of the day taught drumming to those who were interested.  Before the closing reception, the talented musicians gave all of us a rousing performance of their newly-acquired musical skills.  Highly entertaining!

Winter Warmth

Well, this is one form of protection from the Minnesota low temperatures and winds during the winter! Perhaps I should try that!

Such talent!

The teachers in the Art Department in the school where I used to teach are exceptional and the students in K-12 receive terrific instructions on how to release their creative talent. These four pieces of art were made by 6th graders! The process is colored pencil on colored paper, cut out and attached to home-made paper.  Students' art pieces are currently hanging in the school Gallery.  If you are good and attentive (as well as appreciative) I'll show you more art work!

It works!!

After several weeks of repair and resortation brick and mortar work by the guys from Pixley Sweeps, we built a cozy fire for the first time in years!  Looked and felt pretty good.  Christened during the Super Bowl game last Sunday.

Writing Women

Meet my new group of Writing Women, formed January 31, 2015

"Woman Writing" by Valerie Hardy
Oil on Linen

Added later:  We had our first meeting today with six committed writers able to attend.  It's going to be a worthwhile and creative experience. We're going to "keep the fire."

"Keep the Fire"

 Last Saturday I attended the 7th Annual Women's Retreat at Unity-Unitarian Church. Because I enjoyed the one last year, I decided to attend this year as well, and I am happy that I did.  After a light breakfast, the day began with a performance by a women's acapella choir that is active in the church.  In fact, the musical program is exceptional, and is one reason I attend there.  The theme of this retreat was focused on creativity, encouraging us to inspire, create, and "keep the fire."  I attended two writing workshops, in which one resulted in some interested participants forming a writers' group. At the end of the day I skipped the third workshop, and instead I sat in a common room talking to new friends while enjoying leisure time before the closing reception.  A highly successful day all around!

My Main Man!

Happy 21st Birthday, my favorite grandson.  I will love you FOREVER and EVER!!

Theme Day: February 1, 2015-Ole' Man River

It was a difficult choice between rivers and lakes, but Ole' Man River won out!  When I initially read the proposed February theme, the Mississippi River was the first image that came to my mind.  After I thought about it for awhile, others quickly rose as possibilities: lakes, boats, kayaks and canoes, family and friends, art museums, parks, my neighborhood and library, health care, just to name a few, but it was no contest. Gotta be the Mississippi.  For laughs I thought that I'd post winter snow scenes, but I knew a few of you would call me out!

 
Check here to see what other CDP bloggers would miss if they left their home town.

Rear View

This photo was taken from a parking ramp on the other side of Hwy 35E  in the area of many  health care buildings on Smith Avenue in St. Paul.  It shows the back view of the houses on Summit Avenue.  Just below the larger homes is a small, tucked-away-almost-hidden street with much smaller houses, which cannot be seen from Summit.  This view shows a very different perspective than driving or walking down the celebrated and historic avenue when facing the beautiful facades. (Note the colors: pretty bleak winter browns!)

Tomorrow is the big day for the February 1st Theme Day for CDP bloggers: If you had to leave forever the city from which you usually post, what would you miss most? 

Christmas Past

Some people just cannot let go of the holiday spirit.  I noticed this bright arrangement on one of my walks and thought about the difficulty of taking down and putting way decoratons.  This homeowner must be one of those who like to hang on!

Student Kate

Kate is a junior who came to our retirement luncheon as an "official photographer" for the group picture for the school newspaper. She is very excited about the new Center for the Performing Arts, currently under construction.  She mentioned that her class will be the first one to graduate after the structure has been built.  Since the building should be completed by the opening of school next fall, she and her classmates will have many opportunities to enjoy and use the new Center.  On the wall behind Kate are photos of former Headmasters who have run the school.  The one behind  Kate on the right side of the photo is the man who initially hired me, and my favorite of them all.

City Daily Photo bloggers post photographs on a theme on the first day of each month.  On 

February 1, they will address this intriguing question:  If you had to leave forever the city 

from which you usually post, what would you miss most?  

Construction-ABC WEDNESDAY "C"

A few weeks ago I told you about our neighborhood's unhappiness with the closing of Barnes and Noble to be replaced by a small Target store.  The space is now empty. I'm not a betting woman, yet wanna bet that the bookstore poster will be abandoned during the renovation?

Linking to ABC WEDNESDAY

Construction Boss Lady!!

 Shannon, who interestingly graduated from the school in 1974, is a project manager of the Huss Center for the Performing Arts, which is currently under construction by the McGough firm. She gave former faculty and staff whom I featured yesterday a tour of the future 30,000 sq. ft. multiple-use building.  It doesn't look like much now but it is going to be a beautiful and useful space that will be a super addition to the student body for creative activity.

Linking to ABC Wednesday -"C" 

Former Colleagues

Last Friday the school where I used to teach treated former faculty and staff to their annual luncheon, but before we started to socialize, we were given a tour of the Huss Center for Performing Arts, which is under construction. Below are two English department former colleagues (Kate and Dutton) getting ready to tour the facility.

The trio are Lower School friends and former colleagues. The dynamic duo kept the Middle and Upper School working on schedule.  Great folks!

Linking to ABC Wednesday

All retired now!
Click on this photo for a clearer view.

Gypsy Moon

Gypsy Moon is a small shop on Randolph Avenue located across from St. Kate's campus.  It has an eclectic inventory of pillows, women's frocks, sweaters, pictures, signs of all kind, jewelry, scarves, vintage furniture and many other irresistible items. Bronwyn who was in charge of the store while I was browsing told she is went to Webster Elementary School (now named the Michelle and Barack Obama School),  Ramsey Junior and Highland Park High School.  An entire educational career in St. Paul.

City Daily Photo bloggers post photographs on a theme on the first day of each month.  On 

February 1, they will address this intriguing question:  If you had to leave forever the city 

from which you usually post, what would you miss most?