Merry Christmas 2012

Today's thoughts

Grief weighs down on us
Pulling us to dark places
I insist on joy
Let light fill us up
Blasting away grimy muck
With super cleansing power


All content (words or images) by Liza Lee Miller unless otherwise noted.
© 2012, Liza Lee Miller.
Poem form:  Tanka 

Wordless Wednesday

Mondays are tough . . .

Solitary Raven

I love my job -- I really do.  Sometimes though, it's tough.  Having to guide students through grief and fear is very, very difficult.  I don't want to have the kinds of conversations that I need to have with my kids.  I want to teach them about reading great books, writing from their hearts, solving the puzzles that are math problems, treating their friends well, the amazing and wonderful state of California, and art . . . I want to teach them about all the good in life.   I don't want to teach them about death and grief and sorrow and fear.  

But, that's the job.  Sometimes, you put aside the lesson plans and deal with the real feelings and emotions of the day.  You walk that fine line between preparing and scaring.  You let them know you love and support them and that all the grownups at our school will do whatever we can to keep them safe.   

And, then you teach math.  And reading.  And writing.  And art.  

Cold Morning Haiku

Curled under a soft, old quilt
Cold air sneaking in at the edges
The smell of coffee brewing


All images and content by Liza Lee Miller unless otherwise noted.
© 2012, Liza Lee Miller.

Getting ready . . .

Yesterday, we spent our day in Middle Earth!  We should have started earlier on our journey as we did not quite finish.  We started around 10am with a bit of a break around 2pm (to make lunch and work on recalcitrant Christmas tree lights).  It was a great day.  My mother-in-law joined us although she left before we watched the first disc of Return of the King.  We are going to watch the last disc of that movie tonight.  What an adventure!

We ate like Hobbits all day.  I made second breakfast of eggs, bacon, and Yorkshire pudding.  We had sausage and potatoes for lunch.  Later, we had some dip and chips and then chocolate chip cookies.  Oh, and we enjoyed tea throughout!  It seemed that the best way we could help Frodo and the gang was to keep our strength up!  No point in getting peckish!

All this in preparation for The Hobbit movie which starts on Friday!  And, to think . . . it's only part I!  We're so excited!

When I was a fledgling birder (I think I still am, though), there was a blog carnival called I and the Bird.  I started off reading and commenting and eventually got brave enough to submit my own posts to the carnival and, in time, to host the carnival.  I loved it and knowing it was out there pushed me as a birder.

But all good things must come to an end and eventually so did I and the Bird.

It was sad but I totally understood.

Imagine my delight when I realized that it was back!

Here is the current issue of I and the Bird - Cormorants and Darters.  Somehow I missed the previous edition on Nuthatches, dur!

You can check out my post that was included but also check out the other posts about these cool, fishing birds.

It's Friday!  Learn something new!