California Valley

Wild Flowers

my bouquet from Michael (we pressed the flowers and framed them) 

Poppies, baby blue eyes, gold fields, lupin, and yarro covered the hills in the California Valley this month in March.  This was our second annual motorcycle trip to see the wild flowers in season.  This is quite the spectator sport as people religiously will watch and wait for Gods little gifts of glory to pop! We ventured off into the afternoon cruising up hwy 101.  The air was warm.  And my mind was flooded with early memories on Night Hawk, my stomach always turning with butterflies as I held tight to this mysterious Michael Paine.  We packed a picnic lunch, our bibles, and a blanket that day.  I am always brought to remember how wonderfully good our God is when I look upon His creation.  He created the earth so man would dwell in it and enjoy it.  How good and loving is our Father to paint a world so beautiful.  

Planting

Growing...

We moved into our little cottage by the sea almost 6 months ago.  After countless hours of sweat, dirt filled shoes, and exhausted muscles we are at last beginning to really enjoy the fruits of our labor.  This past week has been in the 70's and the nights are in the high 50's with sunsets around 7:30pm it is quite glorious!!  Our hearts are always in a state of inexpressible gratitude when we gaze upon his majesty just 50 yards from our house.  

About 3 months ago Michael had made two vegetable beds for our yard and we FINALLY got around to planting in them this past weekend.  Winter sowing and harvesting slipped right by us but we snuck up on spring and were able to plant quite the variety last weekend.  The process was as follows: 

1.  We literally kicked down our fence and used some of the wood for our two vegetable beds 

2.  We dug up old raised planter beds and transplanted the dirt into our beds.  Michael always says how rich our soil is the happier the veggies!

3.  We went to the Mushroom Farm out on Huasna Rd. to get free compost.  Well I knew compost contained horse and cow manure but I did not know there would be so much of it in the mix.  Were talking almost 12 inches in diameter of horse dung.  I wore sandals and shoveled away as we flung dung into the trailer.  I felt like real country folk! 

4.  After combining the soil and the compost we planted our veggies and herbs.  Zuchinni, Squash, Spinach, Kale, Red Leaf Lettuce, Tomatoes, Snap peas, Strawberries, Oregano, Cilantro, Parsley, and Mint.  

5.  We watered the beds and now we just give them some tender lovin care and wait for summer to come to enjoy with our friends and neighbors. 

Little Snap Shots of our Yard 

French Lavender 

Princess Flower 

Kangaroo Paw

 Pittisporom 

hummings_not sure why

My split personalities can be seen in two shades, blue & yellow.  My blue shade comes out three days a week when I am working with foster teens 16-20.   Characterized by clarity, sharpness, and boldness as I cannot skip a beat to the sound of their beating drums.   So three days a week I coordinate with 10 foster teens.  I speak to their answering machines, their disconnected phones or if I am lucky in person. Cynicism and sarcasm or surreal pain and emotion from their past can be the beat of their drum.     I find myself wanting to bend towards the loaded and general ways of sarcasm  at times but realize at the end of the day they need to be loved.  I am learning patience, humility and love.  A snapshot of JESUS's heart.  

Then there is my yellow, two days a week.  On these days I tend to lean towards a more type A personality.  Waking up with plenty of time to brew the coffee, make a salad for lunch, take a shower, put on my eye liner and pick out my school teacher uniform.  Usually I go with something more neutral (weird, today I wore floral tights at Department of Social Services, something I probably would not wear teaching elementary schoolers:) I always arrive an hour early usually to be welcomed by the secretary " Wow, you are early."  I like to be prepared.  After a dozen times of looking over the lesson for the day I feel comfortable enough to sporadically glance at the lesson throughout the day.  I want to be natural, comfortable, and seem like I know what is going on not with papers in front of my face rambling like a nervous little girl.  I am happy teaching.  I feel like I am a natural.  Not in an arrogant way but I love the concept of developing a life.  School is much more than the content.  If you peel away the fractions and cursive writing you are dealing with some of the most foundational and character developing years of a child's life.  Communication, integrity, conflict resolution, identity, discipline, exploration...and the list goes on.  

Some highlights from substitute teaching: 

1 Mrs. Paine, I got hit, as he holds himself below the belt.  Just walk it off you'll be okay.

2. Mrs. Paine she poked me. Well what do you think the right thing to do is? Poke her back (the whole class giggles).  "Now is that being a gentleman?" Whatever happened to opening the door for girls?  

3.  How old are you? 60.  NO, you look like you are 16.  Well thank you. 

4.   Is that how you treat your brother? He is not my brother. He's your brotha from anotha motha! 

5.  I have picked up kids desks and moved them from their friends. I have read books in southern accents when necessary and always get the most amazing stares.  I have squeaked like a cat and a mouse. On several occasions I will be on my knees teaching real truths of repentance and forgiveness.  I have had 3rd graders follow me around the basketball court during recess to tell me every pizza place in town they like to eat at along with all their pets names including their 5 fish.  

6.  My favorite is sometimes when I get the eye roll ("Okay teacher!") I usually proceed with, Do you have something in your eye? It always gets a good laugh!

7.  But most of all I love to encourage them.  Whether it is reading out loud, sharing an answer with the class, or helping me pass out papers.  

Matthew 19:14 "Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray.  The disciples rebuked the people,   but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.  And he laid his hands on them and went away. "