The Dog Days of Summer Can be Draining...

...even for a five-year-old.

Jakobi, with his favourite truck

My nephew, Jakobi was ambling home from the communal kitchen where he had just had lunch. His lazy gait told me that the dog days of summer were having a toll on him, too.

Jakobi loves our Rock Truck and practically drools every time he sees or hears it. He's had a few rides with it and loves to talk about them as well. Any time we go for a walk, we 'just have to' go past this wonder on wheels, so he can climb on it or pose for pictures. Jakobi seems to think, Derek, one of our young men is the only one who can drive it, which makes him his hero, and his new wife, Marianna of just a few weeks "the most beautiful bride". Jakobi keeps reminding us, "Next time Derek will haul something with that truck, Marianna and I will take turns going along with him."

As he plopped down beside me on our front steps, I tried to chase away some of his sluggishness with a never-fail tactic, "Jakobi, after you've had your nap, we'll go to the broiler barn to see if they're still hauling manure. Perhaps you can get a ride with your favourite truck."

"I would just call." he mumbled listlessly.

Perhaps a nap under a cool fan will work better.

How are you dealing with the dog days of summer?

Mixed...or Maybe Missed Messages

As a teacher, I'm well aware of how important accessing prior knowledge is to the learning process. But sometimes it seems, the connections are a bit off... which can result in mixed messages...and chuckles:

  A preschooler who was getting ready for bed and noticed a little light blinking on the fire alarm mounted on the wall. He had it all figured out and made sure his father didn't miss it. "Dad," he announced. "You have a text message." 

I agree, it's funny. But after we stop laughing, we need to take a look at the bigger picture and what we're teaching our children.

Even though this little boy seemingly thought all blinking lights meant the same thing, it's a powerful example of just how observant young minds are. He also knows that dad responds to these tiny blinking lights regularly and wanted to ensure he didn't miss this one.

With all the devices we adults cart around, I sometimes wonder what kind of messages we're sending our children. Are we sending signals that these things are of utmost importance, and that we can't function without them? Perhaps even more important than the people in our lives?  

I heard about two boys arguing, and one of them told the other  smugly, "Huh, all you have is a flip phone." Now where would he have gotten the message that if you don't own a smart phone there's got be something wrong with you?

Too bad smart phones don't come with a blinking light that means, "Turn phone off and go spend quality time with the people you love."

You yourselves are our letter, 

written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.  

2 Corinthians 3:2

Meeting Goliath

My nephews have been hearing Bible stories since they were able to sit still for a few minutes. They're surrounded by their parents, grandparents, aunts, babysitter and preschool teachers who enjoy sharing stories with them.

Terrance, our sweet little 'David'

I sometimes wonder how much these little minds are able to take in, even though they're able to retell the stories pretty well, with surprising accuracy and details. I'm amazed how they emphasize some words and get excited, just liked they'd heard the adults do. But nothing was so touching as when Jakobi and Terrance recently met 'Goliath'.

They were at another colony with their parents when one of the relatives enters the house they were visiting at. This man was big and strong and both boys looked at him wide-eyed with wonder and exclaimed in unison, "Goliath!" After the initial shock of meeting the giant, Terrance, all of three years old and usually very timid around strangers, decided he's not scared even without a slingshot and stones. Obviously this time he wanted to be brave like David,  and stepped in front of this giant of a man. Looked up at him, dead serious, and with hands on his hips declares loudly, "You think you're strong. You think I'm just a boy. You're not strong."

He probably couldn't understand why 'Goliath' and everybody else in the room thought this was hilarious. It is funny, but at the same time amazing that this little guy who never doubted that this really was Goliath and that he was brave enough to face him. He'd heard the story so many times and of course always sided with David, that now he was brave enough to take on a giant himself. Yes, dare to be a David!

Grin 'n' Share - Spell Checker

 

    Eye halve a spelling chequer

     It came with my pea sea

It plainly marques four my revue

    Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.

Eye strike a key and type a word

    And weight four it two say

Weather eye am wrong oar write

    It shows me strait a weigh.

As soon as a mist ache is maid

    It nose bee fore two long

And eye can put the error rite

    Its rarely ever wrong.

                                       Eye have run this poem threw it

                                         I am shore your pleased two no

                                         Its letter perfect in it’s weigh

                                                My chequer tolled me sew.-----

 

Sauce unknown

 

Try your spell check on this poem and see if I have made a mistake.

 

On that note, my pet peeve is and always will be, misspelled words. (Not that I don't make any, mind you. And if you follow this blog, you know I do.) Still..... Sometimes when I see those 'word scrambles', taunting me from a message board or some other public place, I clearly hear Sherlock Holmes say, "Elementary, my dear Watson." 

Or is it 

Mary With a Cell Phone?

Heard a cute story over the weekend and just needed to share it:

Ezra (4) and Ava(3) were playing Joseph and Mary. At one point Ava picks up a cell phone which prompted Ezra to remind his little sister, "Hello, Ava! Mary didn't have a cell phone." Not to be put off Ava replied.

"Well, I just texted Herod that he can't kill baby Jesus."

How about you? If you'd be able to text anybody from the Christmas story, who would it be? What would you say?

School Chuckles - Language Confusion

Many times it's a challenge for our Kindergarten students - they speak only Hutterisch, then come to school and start learning German and English.... So this story will be funnier for people who understand Hutterisch.

I was teaching Lesson D from the Animated Literacy Program, and was introducing my students to

the song: (Each letter lesson has a song, story and gesture.)

Daisy Dragon like to dance

Dance and dine on Date Delight

Dainty polka dotted D's

Dangle from Daisy's diaper.

Daisy dines on Date Delight

At the Dragon Ville Dairy.

 

After listening to the song, I proceeded to explain what some of the words mean, starting with dine. Before I could get to telling them that Date Delight is a dessert, one little boy was rather perplexed and wanted to know, "Warum esst sie de Leit?" (Why does she eat the people?) The Hutterisch translation for people is 'de Leit'.

Yes, we have our share of chuckles at school, especially this year with five Kindergartners!

 

 

Grin 'n' Share - Last Quarter

I found this very funny, especially since Canada just retired the penny earlier this year:

"Why are they stopping to make quarters?" one of our little girls asks her mom.

"What do you mean?" her mom wanted to know.

 "It says 'last quarter' right here," she said pointing to a wall calendar.

Must have been a full moon or something.

.................................

It's a Bird. It's a Plane.

We're planning on taking our students to see the Snowbirds, as they're doing a practice run at a training base a few miles from our colony and they're inviting people to watch for free. When we told our students, it soon became clear that some they didn't know who the Snowbirds are. One girl was heard telling her friends, 'We're going to Southport to watch some white birds."

Then one of the boys announced, "I saw a picture of the Penguins on Elma's computer." I was thinking hockey and couldn't imagine my sister Elma with a hockey picture. While I was trying to figure that out he continued, "They're going up like this." Using his hands to describe the picture.

"Oh," I said, "You mean the Snowbirds."

"Yes, the Snowbirds" he sheepishly answered.

Yup, getting your birds mixed up, buddy.

In case you don't know the Snowbirds:

Snow Chuckles

I few days ago we had relatives visiting from South Dakota. At one point in the evening we were sharing snow stories. They say they have/had as much snow as we. But I'm positive we had more. ('had', because it's gone down about a foot. We marked how high it was on a tree in our yard, just so we can look at it and feel cool during the July heat wave.) This is Manitoba!

Anyway, back to my original story. One of the ladies visiting told us this funny story about her grandson:

In school the teacher told the children last month, "It's the first day of spring today." The little boy took one look out the window and announced, "Teacher, I think you not know your seasons."

our back deck during a storm

It's snowing right now. And I'm dreaming green.


School Chuckles - Mind Those 'Os'

Most of us need a chuckle, or even a good laugh from time to time. I believe there's no better place for good laughs than a school.(Some days it's what keeps us sane.)

A few years ago we were taking part in the Heart and Stroke Foundation's Jump Rope for Heart program. Catherine Newham, the program coordinator in our area brought someone from the Foundation to talk to our students about the importance of maintaining a healthy life style with diet and exercise.

During the presentation, which in hindsight could have been dubbed, 'How Sweet It Is', the woman explained about reading labels and explaining what some of the words mean. "It's important that we know about the 'ose'." She informed her young audience who were actually quite attentive. "Do you know them? Fructose, glucose, sucrose..." Without missing a beat one of our grade four boys, proudly continued: "Tomatoes, potatoes..." really stretching out the 'oes' for emphasis. 

This student is now in high school and I assume he now knows those 'ose', and why the teachers thought this was so funny.

 

Lean On Me... when it's your first time on skates

It's got to start somewhere...

I caught this trio on the way home from school a few years ago. I still have to chuckle when I look at these pictures. I guess they bring back memories of my own unstable moments on skates, and the not so graceful landings. My 'rink' was the frozen La Salle River, full of perfect cracks to get your blades stuck in.  I never saw past my fear of breaking an ankle. So, that's where my dream of skating died - forever frozen or flowing on the river, depending which season we're in.

This 'skating rink' was behind our school. The boy obviously never even made it home after school, as he still has his school bag on his back. He was so bent on helping his friend learn the art of skating that he forgot about after school snack.

Lean on me.....

"You can do it! Don't worry, we'll hold you up."

"Did you say, you'll hold me up? Didn't work."

"I think you should go like this. See, it's easy."

"I'll try it on my own now."

 

 

 

"Nope, it's not easy and the ice is really hard, too."

"I think I'm catching on! Woo-hoo!"

This is the Mouse that Inspired a Post

Dear Mousey,

I know you don't follow my blog, at least I don't know that you do. Never saw a pipsqueak@mousemail.com  on my mailing list either. In any case, maybe somehow you will see this.

I know winter is coming, cold, snow, not much yummy stuff to eat. And Manitoba winters can be especially brutal. I understand and in some weird way, my heart goes out to you. But not enough that I'd want to house a mouse in my classroom. Not a good idea for a number of reasons. (You don't have to deny that you're trying to get comfortable here, because some of my students saw your mousey self with their own eyes scurrying out of sight, just this morning.)

I know you think that our reading cushions would make a good bed, but sorry, we're not sharing. And just so you know, those cushions are carted around daily, so that would scare you a bit. You should also know there are boys in this room everyday, whowould have no problem making sure you never come here again. Nobody here likes mice, least of all, me. Only in story books, are your family and friends deemed incredibly cute.Unfortunately for you, that's where the affection ends! My sister actually has a published book where a mouse is the main character. But, even she has no desire to adopt you as a class pet. Sorry. O, computer mice are ok, too, because they don't stink, steal and chew things up.

Here then is our fair warning: We're very serious when we say this is a 'no mouse' zone. So, unless you see the inside of a trap in your not so distant future, you better think of another winter residence. Oh, and don't even think about one of the houses, a similar fate awaits you there. Maybe a better option would be a shed or barn, even though I never saw a welcome sign for mice there either. That's why they have cats around. No matter, just kindly pack your little bag and be gone.

I know, things look rather bleak. But that's the sad truth of life as a mouse. Nothing I can do to change it.

Squeak to you,

Linda - who you never saw yet and trust me, you don't want to.

PS, Thanks for the inspiration for this post!

(There really is a mouse here, still free, but not for long, I hope. May as well have some fun with it. I guess one never knows where inspiration will come from.)

Nov. 4, 2012
I'm happy to report my mouse is no more. But who's to say that she/he hasn't left some family members behind who still insist on living here, despite the fact that they could very well fall into the same trap as Mouse #1?

(: Value of a Second Language :)

Photo taken by Daria Hofer

     Rippling through our colony is the LaSalle River. Throughout spring and summer we may see fish, muskrats or the odd beaver enjoying the water. Right now a family of mallard ducks, mom and nine ducklings call this home. I don’t know what Daddy Duck is these days. They swim and dive in this slow moving river, or sun themselves on the shore. Other times they waddle across the road for more water games. It seems that they haven’t yet discovered the culvert would take them there as well.

            While this feathered family is having the time of their lives, the Hutterite families living along that river marvel at their antics and how fast they grow. With mother duck always close by, the ducklings swim and dive in this slow moving river, or sun themselves on the shore. Other times the family waddles across the road for more water games. It seems that they haven’t yet discovered the culvert would take them there as well.

            One day, ten year old Daria, noticed one duckling missing. Ever sensitive where animals are concerned, she anxiously looked up and down the river and asked, “Dad, there’s one baby duck missing. Have you seen it?” 

My Elementary 'Masterpiece' - Linda Made it

I'm sure everybody saves some things from their elementary days. However, it's not very often that we find out someone else has carted some of your work around for many years.

Some years ago my sister, Elma and I reconnected with one of my teachers, Mrs. Gertrude Emery. (I know what you're thinking: "She must be old." We won't get into that now.) After resigning from her position at our school, she moved to Riding Mountain, Manitoba, from there to Alberta and then finally back to Portage, in our area. While visiting with her, she told us that she has kept some of her students' work all these years. Then went on to tell us that she'll give the whole box to us and we can give it to her former students. Included in this box was one of my reading workbooks and a drawing. I still chuckle when I look at this clearly Hutterite sketch. The building used to be our kitchen and is now long gone. Not sure who the people are, as they don't look like anyone I know. (-:

The thing that really tickles me is 'Linda made it' right in the centre. I guess I didn't want anyone else to claim my art as their own. And nobody ever told me that artists usually don't have their signatures screaming at the people admiring their work. Oh, perhaps it was meant to be the title of this masterpiece. The scotch tape marks indicate that it was displayed at some point, but for now it's tucked away in a drawer. Maybe one day I will have it framed.

One more thing, my sketching skills haven't improved all that much over the years.

My Computer Swallowed It!

Sound familiar? Welcome to the Cough-it-up Computer, Club! If you have no idea what I'm talking about, picture this: Someone sent you an email a few days ago. Now you need to respond and you can't find it. (I see you nodding your head now.) Back to the cyber hunt. Honestly, how many different places are there where it could be? Definitely not in my in box, although I don't have a hot clue why. Next stop, dig through trash, can't be that deep down. Would I have sent it to trash in the first place? I'd like to say , "Absolutely not!" but maybe I better not, given my rather too-quick-to-trash-it-track record. Clear to the bottom now. Nada! Somebody is misplacing stuff in here. And. I. Don't. Like. It. I'm an organized person... for the most part. Let's see, maybe in the sent file? Really don't know why, but hey, why not? Not here either. YES! It's gotta be in Archives! Alas....everything but, there as well. You got it? All to often, it is not to be found...like it was never there. Maybe the google people took it. Which would explain why after a few weeks, when you don't want it anymore, it mysteriously reappears. The google guy or gal gave it back! Nice! But no thanks. Just leave my stuff alone, please!

Oh, and here's another classic: I'm working on a writing piece. So, like every other organized writer, when I need to leave, I carefully place it in my 'work in progress' file. However, upon returning to work on it next day... that's right. Not there. I'm convinced, documents sometimes crawl out of their 'home files' overnight and go hide somewhere else just to irritate me. I've seen it a few times, where a certain document showed up in another file. I know it sounds far-fetched, but how else would I explain a document I filed in 'work in progress' that later annoyingly appeared in 'published pieces'?  It's either that, or in a wishful thinking state of mind I put it there myself.

I wonder if the trusty typewriter ever gobbled anything up?

Do you have a computer caper story to share? And please don't tell me I'm the only one who has a computer with a mind of it's own and that all too often speaks none of the three languages I'm familiar with.

@SwoopDeDo

(not 'our' birds -- their mud huts never got this far)

                This must the summer of the swallows or as far as we’re concerned, the battle with the birds. I have never seen anything like it! It’s like some swallow @SwoopDeDo tweeted, ‘Perfect Nesting Solution – Big stucco siding building at Elm River,’ resulting in all 100+ followers tweeting back: ‘Thanks for the tip!’ and madly swarmed the building with beaks full of mud. I guess, somebody forgot to mention to those winged mud-toters that the invitation didn’t come from the people residing at Elm River.

Sure, this is a colony and if you don’t know yet, swallow friends, we don’t take too kindly to mud-hut colonies plastered on our buildings. We do love birds. In fact, we’re quite happy upon their return, as long as they build their nests in trees or in birdhouses and not on our new kitchen/church. Well, and too bad if it’s not in your nature to nest in trees, not our fault. As you now know, we simply draw the line, when you litter our buildings with mud huts. In this case the ‘line’ is a strip of plastic that is now attached under the eaves, all around the building. @HuttWriteVoice Try to stick your mud on this!

 Hopefully it will work! We’ve tried hosing the nests down repeatedly, to no avail. Those tenacious feathered foes would not give up. And all that swooping is nerve-wrecking, to say the least! Honestly sometimes I think they’ll get tangled in my hair, drop some mud on on my head or 'some other offering'.

I have to admit though; it’s rather neat (if you can call mud neat) how they build their nests, one against the other -- very similar to a Hutterite colony. Well, ours are not exactly as close together, because we do appreciate some space between buildings.

                By the way, I read somewhere they are protected by some kind of migratory bird law. Not sure why, as there certainly is no shortage of them. Seems like they have more rights than I do, anyway. Can you imagine the repercussions, if I’d plaster someone’s house with mud?

            Now that I’ve shared my little rant, we’ll wing a prayer heavenward and hope this peaceful plastic solution will discourage this bird colony from trying to join ours. Feel free to share/tweet this with any swallow you know!

           @HuttWriteVoice So long, farewell, no wiedersehn, adieu! To you and you and you…

Mosquito Mantra

           Just last week, yes, when it was still April, I settled down with a book. After a few pages I heard it, that unmistakeable, super annoying, monotonous buzz. “Unbelievable!” I grumbled, “It’s only April!”

            Nevertheless, Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz I know only one creature with that sound and I wanted her dead. NOW! However, instead of swatting blindly, I froze, gritted my teeth and waited, knowing full well what this critter was after. Sure enough, she landed on my arm, readied for the sting. “Oh no you don’t.” And at the risk of 1000 blood-sucking relatives coming to the funeral -- Smack! “Sorry to spoil your way too early arrival!”

Yup, we’re going from winter woes straight to mosquito madness.

            Interestingly enough, a few weeks before, on a blustery Friday afternoon, a poem came to me. Not sure what inspired it – maybe the glorious absence of the petite pests. Somebody must have told Mrs. Mosquito, who promptly paid me a visit, which sadly led to her demise.