Day 182: Amanda's Wedding

It's been a long time since we've attended a wedding.  Amanda is a young colleague of Steve's who has been backpacking with us for the last five years.  We were delighted to be invited, but we were quite out of place among the many thirty somethings who were there.  They are the ages of our children.

Weddings are always an opportunity to reflect and remember.  Our wedding was over forty years ago, yet it remains vivid for us.  We keep hoping that one day in the next few years,  we will have more weddings in our family.

Day 181: Penny Kelly

I did it!  I swam a mile today, although it was in four sets of 50 lengths.  A cool breeze and low humidity kept the heat from being unbearable.  We moved from pool to deck and back to the pool all afternoon.

Penny Kelly and Blueberry Swirl were spectacular today!  Forty-five lilies are blooming.  It looks like the peak will come around July 10.   Tomorrow, we have three graduation parties and a wedding in Findley Lake with the reception in Erie.  The big question is how to dress formally for 88 degrees.

Real Wind

Penny Kelly

Blueberry Swirl

Day 180: Chautauqua Solar Flare

Forty of my 120 day lilies are blooming.  One of my favorites is a deep golden yellow ruffled bloom called Chautauqua Solar Flare that was hybridized at the Nass day lily farm in Westfield.  It's time for another trip to the farm to see their newest creations.

I had made a commitment to swim a mile in a day by the end of June, so tomorrow is my last chance.  I did 3/4 of a mile today, so I think I'm ready.

The wildlife in our yard are not afraid of us at all.  The squirrels are so addicted to the seed in the bird feeders that they don't run off when we approach.  While I was in the pool, two young fawns emerged from the woods, no doubt to munch on my hostas.  I found a trail of tracks right through one of the lily beds and a dozen buds were chomped off.  I sprayed more stinky liquid fence, but it doesn't seem to drive them away.

Day 179: Fires

A tiny bit of rain fell on the dry cracked earth.  Only a trickle of water is flowing in Canadaway Creek.  But we are far more fortunate than the people of Colorado.  I am reveling in the lush lilies in my gardens while thousands of people are being evacuated from their homes as the fires rage out of control. Wild and domesticated animals are fleeing the fires.

I fear for all the firemen who are struggling to simply contain the fires, but the firestorm is so powerful, it is impossible.  

We got news late this afternoon that a volunteer fireman from Sheridan died on duty today.  He was a friend of Steve's and brother of another good friend.  I hope the firemen in Colorado can endure the long blistering days and weeks of battling the blazes.

Day 178: Mountain Violet

The lilies were spectacular today.  Early morning sunlight speckled the Mountain Violet lily and the clusters of hostas in the stone wall garden.

Most of the adult and student leaders were able to attend the Quest party.  We loved watching the video from when they were in 8th grade.  I also made an album of photos for the seniors from their cross country meets, Model UN, Quest and musicals from seventh grade to the present that we streamed to the tv.  Unfortunately, the DVDs I burned for them did not work.

Day 177: Balloon Flower

Our house guests have returned to the south after a wonderful weekend of Western New York delights. We're entertaining two more groups this week and then we'll relax until the garden party.  More lilies are blooming each day.  Today there were 35 different lilies in bloom.  Peak will come weeks earlier this year.

Day 176: Pride Day

What a momentous and proud day: FHS graduation, Michael's party, Pride Day and the engagement of Heather and Leah!  Each element of the day made me proud; the courage of my son and the entire LGBT population, the support of his brothers, our state, Michael's speech, loyal friends and Jen Suhr's victory in the pole vault!

I found graduation very moving and a bit difficult as we say goodbye to a class full of wonderful students.  We have grown very close to them through musicals and Quest.  In the Class of 1967 awards, I read the long list of classmates who have passed away.  The number stands at 18 because two more were added this year.  Plus, we lost two former teachers, Dick Glenzer and Dick Dawes, who had a huge influence on our lives.  Every day is so precious.

Michael sang "To dream the impossible dream" and Ethan played the saxophone.  Both performances were outstanding, really some of the best I've ever heard.

I am so very happy that two young women who love each other and wish to make a lifetime commitment to one another, may do so by getting married here in NY.  I have known them since they were my students ten years ago and I burst into tears when I got the engagement announcement.  Marriage equality is a basic human right that should not be subject to the votes of other citizens.  Evan had an emotional day in NYC where he participated in the Pride parade and some of the other events.  So much progress has been made in the past year, but more work must be done to assure all Americans of equality.

Day 175: Mac

This was the first trip to NY for my great niece and she loved it.  The trip to Niagara Falls, riding the Maid of the Mist, swimming in Lake Erie, collecting beach glass, ice cream at the Big Dipper, touring Eagle Bay hosta gardens, more swimming in our pool, pizza, cuddling Molly and family time; we crammed a lot into two days.  It's highly unusual, but delightful for us to have a ten year old girl in our house.

It was also wonderful to have all of my brothers and sisters together for the first time in a few years.  Mac insisted that we pose in descending age order because she was trying to understand our relationships and where she and her grandma fit in the family.

Day 174: Niagara Falls

It was a great day on the highly under rated American side of the falls.  We did the Cave of Winds and the Maid of the Mist and had a blast.

Day 173: First day of summer

Blistering heat drained us of energy today, but we still did shopping, cooking, sweeping and lots of swimming.  My sisters and great niece arrived in time for supper and a swim.  Tomorrow, we will go to Niagara Falls which will be a great treat for ten year old Mac.

Day 172: Retirement party

I've hardly ever missed a retirement party over the past twenty years or so.  Even as a  young teacher, I went and listened intently to the wisdom and perspectives of the retiring teachers.   One speech that stayed with me for years was given by Jim S. who had taught fifth and sixth grades for many years.  It was filled with humility, grace and gratitude for a career and a life well-spent in the company of children.  Joe C.'s speech also influenced me because he talked about how important it was for teachers to listen to their students and respond to them as human beings and to care more about their lives than the grades or the content of the course.  Their parting words after years of dedicated service helped me become a better teacher.

There have been wildly inappropriate speeches and presentations also.  Last year, one teacher used her time to slice and dice each administrator and anyone else who had crossed her path.  Too often, a presenter will say humiliating and embarrassing things about very dignified teachers. That happened again tonight.  Some people use very poor judgement when writing a speech and don't think about the audience or the person they are supposedly honoring.

When it was my turn four years ago, I spent weeks thinking about what I would say and then carefully wrote a draft.  I focused on teamwork and how valuable and productive teams had been in my career.  I recognized my department team, the musical team, the backpacking team, the STEP team.  Kids benefit when their teachers work as a team to solve problems and work in concert toward common goals.  I told them that I had lived my dream.  All I had ever wanted was to teach.

When Steve retired two years ago, he used humor to give advice to young teachers.   For example, you should always know the gender of your student when you call home to the parents.  His was really powerful because it was so sincere and heartfelt.

The three new retirees each used a slightly different approach to share the same message.  They were filled with gratitude for their long careers because they loved the children, the teaching and the Fredonia school community.

Teaching buddies!

Day 171: Mulching madness

Even with the temperature in the high eighties, we spread mulch in three gardens in addition to weeding, mowing, trimming, potting and cleaning.  In between jobs, I swam 150 lengths!  Tomorrow we'll take it easy since we'll be attending the annual retirement party that will honor three of our good friends.

Day 170: Liatris, Lavendar and Iris

My sisters and niece are coming to visit this weekend so we are hustling to get the house and yard in tip top shape.  We trimmed the hedge and bushes, weeded, vacuumed, dusted and cleaned.  Whew! Busy day.

Apparently our gardens are not only eye candy but also candy for the deer.  The lilies are especially delicious and the deer have chomped off many buds.  We sprayed again hoping to deter them, but they are determined.  Other delights are blooming now;  aromatic lavender, sparkling evening primrose and lacy hydrangea.  Very soon, the huge white blossoms of angel's trumpet, also known as moon flowers, will open in the evening.  They have reseeded and I have dozens of babies to give away.

Day 169: Minister Creek Scenic Overlook

The trail from our campsite in the valley followed the creek through the pines and then climbed steadily up through the hardwoods for a mile.  Cutting across the side of the mountain, our path wound through narrow passage ways between giant boulders.   The students explored the caves and scrambled up root systems on the face of the rock walls till we reached the scenic overlook of the entire valley.