Summer is . . .

   . . . a time to relax and recharge after a long, stressful, and sometimes grueling school year. 

   . . . a time to take a vacation and get away from the daily grind.

   . . . a time to catch up on housework, DIY projects, and crafts I've been meaning to do.

     Well, two out of three ain't bad.  I'm not going anywhere farther than my sister's house and my boyfriend's house this summer, so I'll have plenty of time to work on the other two items on my summer list.

     I've been spending time hanging out on the couch and in the backyard with Wagner, my dog.  We've been weeding the garden, cutting back all the overgrown plants, and gazing at the local flora and fauna.  Wagner has made it an Olympic sport to try to keep all the squirrels out of the yard.  He's tried to make friends with the rabbits, but they don't seem to understand that having a 70 pound dog running at to them is a gesture of friendliness. 

giant leopard moth

     As far as crafts and DIY projects, I've been busy with those, too.   I finally replaced the leaky faucet in the kitchen.  I've never done anything like it by myself before, and it was very rewarding to see it complete (and no leaks!).

The boyfriend trying to loosen the bolts.  Unfortunately we didn't have the right tools and had to stop that day.  He had to work the next day, so I finished by myself.

After finally getting the old faucet off. I had to stop and go back to the store to get longer connections since the old ones were a half inch too short.

 Yay!  A new working faucet!

     The next craft I tried came from a crafty blog I found on Pinterest.  It's called Creating Laura {I LOVE the name :^) } and it has some great ideas.  I have a ton of old t-shirts that I can't throw out because I keep thinking I can use them for something.  I decided to make a no-sew workout shirt using this pattern, and it worked out really well.

before - an old, super large t-shirt I got for free somewhere

after - my new workout tank

      I've also been working on some school stuff {which I've added to my Teachers Pay Teachers and Teachers Notebook stores} that I'll  highlight in a later blog post.  For now, I'm going back outside to work some more in the yard and throw Wagner's toy with him.

    

Pin It Now!

Ms. Miller, who are you?

     Ah, the great philosophical question... Who am I?  Well, I'm still trying to figure that one out, and I'll let you know when I do (but don't hold your breath that it will be any time soon).  I do know that I've been very blessed with a wonderful family, the best co-workers (and friends) a girl could ask for, and the best canine buddy I could want.

     I joke sometimes that I'm an old lady in a 30-something's body.  I love to crochet and garden, and one of my favorite things to do is curl up on the couch with an afghan, my dog, a cup of hot tea, and a great book.  I also love turtles, and have a growing collection in my classroom.  Let me tell you, once your students learn that you like something, they will bring you "presents" as often as they can.

     I love teaching in general and I love the children I work with, but I also get so much joy from sharing ideas and collaborating with my fellow educators, both at school and online.  I hope that this blog will allow me to share my thoughts and ideas and broaden my teaching horizons by reading your links and comments.

     I have a Teachers Pay Teachers store (http://www.teacherspayteachers.com), and I urge you to follow it.  As of now, there are only a few items available, but my big plan is to work on stocking it this summer.  I love creating lessons and activities that allow students to think creatively and show what they know without a lot of fuss. 

     I hope you enjoy reading my blog and getting to know me.  Please give me feedback, ask questions, and leave comments so I can get to know you, too! Pin It Now!