The child is learning that her mother actually didn't sit around on her rumpous all day while she was at school, as evidently she'd believed before I got this job. I guess my previous jobs have had short enough hours that I've still been able to get most of the errands and chores done while she was in school. Now, I leave for work a half an hour after she leaves for school, and I'm done and hour after she is. Almost every day I have to stop off at this store or that place to take care of something on my way home. "Why can't you just come home and be here with me?", she wants to know. Saturday, she had a choir concert which took most of the day since their call time is absurdly early and I was helping set up and run the cookie mingle after the show. Then, she had her piano recital in the evening. So Sunday, we had to go to the feed store, the hardware store, another hardware store because that one didn't have what we wanted, Costco, and the grocery store. "Why do we have to do this today? I just want to relax.", says the child. Gosh, so would I.
I have no social life, most of the fun holiday things I'd normally do have to wait for the winter break to start, I'm not sure when the last time was I cooked a complete dinner, and the house is no where near as clean as I'd normally keep it, and people, I'm not a great housekeeper.
I'm supposed to be the "Welcome Chat Advisor" for the Girl Scouts leaders in my town. This is the person who holds the hands of new leaders and guides them through all the forms, trainings, and hoops one has to go through to become a troop leader. It's a confusing process, and I should be pretty available, but now I'm not. Do I say I can't do it anymore? Who else will do it? Everyone else is busy too.
I'm also the director of the GS day camp in our area and should be getting training together for the adult volunteers as well as for teen group since the person in charge of that has become too busy. Who isn't too busy?
I'm getting a tad too overwhelmed here.
Monday, December 15, 2014
Monday, December 8, 2014
Christmas Trees
For several years now my family has been getting their Christmas trees from Trees 'n Bees over in Black Diamond. The had a nice selection on trees at a reasonable price, it had a nice family vibe, they kept chickens, friendly barn cats, and there was always free hot cider and candy canes. You know. Each year we've seen this silly Dr. Seuss-ish tree every time we tromp to the back of the farm to get our preferred Noble or Grand fir. Last year we noticed that everything was 50% off and that the farm itself was being sold off. No one was sure if the lot would be a tree farm or condos this year, so imagine our joy in finding that the farm was sold to one of the former employees who plans to always keep it a tree farm with few large changes. They still have the chickens, there are new barn cats (Lucy the Terrible is my favorite), cider and hot chocolate are still there for chilly tree hunters and our silly tree was still there.
The nice owner (whose name I can't remember, of course) sold us the tree for cheap since we bought a regular size tree too.
Here are a couple of pictures of the decorated trees. I think we should remove the lights from the trunk of the tree.
Here's hoping your holiday decorating has been as fun as ours'.
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| My daughter with Lucy the Terrible |
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| My husband carrying the silly tree. |
The nice owner (whose name I can't remember, of course) sold us the tree for cheap since we bought a regular size tree too.
Here are a couple of pictures of the decorated trees. I think we should remove the lights from the trunk of the tree.
Here's hoping your holiday decorating has been as fun as ours'.
Sunday, December 7, 2014
World Choral Day
According to the writing prompt, today is World Choral Day and we should write about choir-y things. I've been trying to think about how I'd possibly sum up my experience as a singer. I've been singing my whole life (like most of us I think), though most of it has been singing in funny voices while a make dinner. I love singing. I love seeing what sounds my voice can make. I love imitating other folks' singing styles. I love singing "straight"- just the way the composer meant the music to sound. I loved singing in a choir, melding my voice with that of others', creating something beautiful and whole. I think perhaps most of all I love singing with my daughter, hearing her beautiful, sweet voice combine with mine, now deeper and containing more vibrato than it used to.
I started singing in choirs as a young kid in church; my dad was the choir director for a while in one of the many churches we attended in our nomadic life as a military family. As I grew and began questioning the existence of a god and the teachings vs. the realities of the Christian religion (and frankly all the other ones too), it was the music that I could still enjoy. I don't believe in a god or the supernatural, but I believe voices lifted together create something truly magical.
The last choir I sang in was in college. I enjoyed the difficult music we sang, and I remember feeling the high of the choral experience after practice. I've been so disappointed that the only choirs in my area are religious or meet on nights that I can't make work, so it's been put on the back burner 'til someday. When I see my sister sing with her group Vox Music (only via YouTube, unfortunately), I am reminded that I need music for myself. In the meantime, my daughter sings with Rainier Youth Choirs in the Consonare group, and watching her progress as a singer has been gratifying. Maybe someday I really will find a group in which I fit.
I started singing in choirs as a young kid in church; my dad was the choir director for a while in one of the many churches we attended in our nomadic life as a military family. As I grew and began questioning the existence of a god and the teachings vs. the realities of the Christian religion (and frankly all the other ones too), it was the music that I could still enjoy. I don't believe in a god or the supernatural, but I believe voices lifted together create something truly magical.
The last choir I sang in was in college. I enjoyed the difficult music we sang, and I remember feeling the high of the choral experience after practice. I've been so disappointed that the only choirs in my area are religious or meet on nights that I can't make work, so it's been put on the back burner 'til someday. When I see my sister sing with her group Vox Music (only via YouTube, unfortunately), I am reminded that I need music for myself. In the meantime, my daughter sings with Rainier Youth Choirs in the Consonare group, and watching her progress as a singer has been gratifying. Maybe someday I really will find a group in which I fit.
Saturday, December 6, 2014
Christmas Cookies
Christmas Cookies- Bourbon Blondies
The prompt from several days ago was about Christmas cookies, and since I like that topic, I'm going to write up one of my favorite recipes even though it's not today's prompt. So there.
I'm actually going to give you my recipe for Bourbon Blondies. Well really, it's Caprial's recipe that I've altered to fit my tastes. If you don't know her stuff, I highly recommend Caprial's Desserts by Caprial Pence.
2 cups brown sugar
1 2/3 cups butter, room temperature
3 eggs
3 tablespoons bourbon (you can add more if you like)
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 2/3 cups chopped, toasted pecans
1 pound semi-sweet chocolate chips
Pre-heat the oven to 350F. Butter a 13x9 pan. Put your chopped pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet and toast for no more than 8 minutes. You can leave the nuts out if you're allergic to them like I am (sniffle), but if you use them, please don't skip this step. You will enjoy the flavor so much more.
Cream together the brown sugar and butter in a mixer for about 3 minutes. You want a creamy consistency without slipping over into the greasy stage. Scrape the beater and the bowl then add the eggs, one at a time. Why one at a time? Because it actually takes longer to beat the eggs in if you put them in all together, and then you've messed up the consistency of your batter. Scrape well after each addition.
Next add your bourbon and vanilla. I don't know a thing about bourbon as I'm a tea-totaller, so I choose what has a lower price and a darker color. I like the way it brings out the caramel/butterscotch flavor of these kinds of bars. My family prefers the amount I've stated, but if you're into that kind of thing, you can go as much as 6 tablespoons without messing up the texture of your batter. When it comes to vanilla, use the best you can afford. There are many recipes where you can't tell, but when it's one of the main flavors, always go for the best.
Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix with the batter until just combined. Add your nuts and chocolate chips. If you've strong arms you could do this by hand, otherwise use your mixer just until everything is combined.
Dump all of this goodness into your pan, smooth the top, and bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes until a sharp knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let them cool for about an hour, then cut into 2 inch pieces. Store in airtight containers. Makes about 36 cookies.
Enjoy!
2 cups brown sugar
1 2/3 cups butter, room temperature
3 eggs
3 tablespoons bourbon (you can add more if you like)
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 2/3 cups chopped, toasted pecans
1 pound semi-sweet chocolate chips
Pre-heat the oven to 350F. Butter a 13x9 pan. Put your chopped pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet and toast for no more than 8 minutes. You can leave the nuts out if you're allergic to them like I am (sniffle), but if you use them, please don't skip this step. You will enjoy the flavor so much more.
Cream together the brown sugar and butter in a mixer for about 3 minutes. You want a creamy consistency without slipping over into the greasy stage. Scrape the beater and the bowl then add the eggs, one at a time. Why one at a time? Because it actually takes longer to beat the eggs in if you put them in all together, and then you've messed up the consistency of your batter. Scrape well after each addition.
Next add your bourbon and vanilla. I don't know a thing about bourbon as I'm a tea-totaller, so I choose what has a lower price and a darker color. I like the way it brings out the caramel/butterscotch flavor of these kinds of bars. My family prefers the amount I've stated, but if you're into that kind of thing, you can go as much as 6 tablespoons without messing up the texture of your batter. When it comes to vanilla, use the best you can afford. There are many recipes where you can't tell, but when it's one of the main flavors, always go for the best.
Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix with the batter until just combined. Add your nuts and chocolate chips. If you've strong arms you could do this by hand, otherwise use your mixer just until everything is combined.
Dump all of this goodness into your pan, smooth the top, and bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes until a sharp knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let them cool for about an hour, then cut into 2 inch pieces. Store in airtight containers. Makes about 36 cookies.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Wrecking Ball
I have the song "Wrecking Ball" by Miley Cyrus going around and around in my head. I am not a particular fan of hers or really of pop music, but someone made reference to it on the internets and now here it is, circling my brain.
I was recently hired to work as a para-educator in a self-contained special ed K-2 classroom. These are kids who are so disruptive that they can't be in any other special ed room much less a general ed room. There are 7 little people in this class: 2 with Down's Syndrome, 4 with Autism, and 1 with a variety of diagnosis including cerebral palsy. Although several of them have parents who are actively involved in their educational process, only one of them really has parents who expect their child to be the best they can be, who understand that disability means different ability, not completely incapable. Three of these kids appear to have well-above average intelligence, but it's hard to see that when they're throwing chairs and screaming obscenities. They all hit, kick, spit, throw things, scream, swear, and run. Stay in their chairs? Ha! We're working on them staying in the classroom.
There are 3 of us paras in the classroom in addition to the teacher. Yes, there is a 3:7 ratio, and I'm telling you we could use at least one more. One of our kids is so violent and loud and disruptive that we have to take the other kids out in the hall several times a day to keep them safe or he has to be restrained and taken out of the room. We know that his home life isn't what you'd wish on any kid and that CPS in involved. We know he craves attention of any kind, and those times we can give him pure positive attention are few and far between. We know he is so completely disregulated that his thoughts and actions are chaotic and appear to be fight or flight half the time. When he acts out there is no safe place to hold him, no isolation room to contain him in, even though his action plan says he's to be isolated. After an "action plan" meeting today we're left with changing our goals and expectations for him, at least for the time being. Now our only goal with him is to keep him from escalating to violence.
So yeah. Wrecking ball. Seems a propos.
I was recently hired to work as a para-educator in a self-contained special ed K-2 classroom. These are kids who are so disruptive that they can't be in any other special ed room much less a general ed room. There are 7 little people in this class: 2 with Down's Syndrome, 4 with Autism, and 1 with a variety of diagnosis including cerebral palsy. Although several of them have parents who are actively involved in their educational process, only one of them really has parents who expect their child to be the best they can be, who understand that disability means different ability, not completely incapable. Three of these kids appear to have well-above average intelligence, but it's hard to see that when they're throwing chairs and screaming obscenities. They all hit, kick, spit, throw things, scream, swear, and run. Stay in their chairs? Ha! We're working on them staying in the classroom.
There are 3 of us paras in the classroom in addition to the teacher. Yes, there is a 3:7 ratio, and I'm telling you we could use at least one more. One of our kids is so violent and loud and disruptive that we have to take the other kids out in the hall several times a day to keep them safe or he has to be restrained and taken out of the room. We know that his home life isn't what you'd wish on any kid and that CPS in involved. We know he craves attention of any kind, and those times we can give him pure positive attention are few and far between. We know he is so completely disregulated that his thoughts and actions are chaotic and appear to be fight or flight half the time. When he acts out there is no safe place to hold him, no isolation room to contain him in, even though his action plan says he's to be isolated. After an "action plan" meeting today we're left with changing our goals and expectations for him, at least for the time being. Now our only goal with him is to keep him from escalating to violence.
So yeah. Wrecking ball. Seems a propos.
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Aack! It's December Already!
Hello, my name is Amy Higgins. Or sometimes I go by Amelia. That's a long story we don't have time for right now. Because AAACK! it's December! I share my life with my husband, Kollin, our daughter, Fiona, 3 cats, 5 fish, and 12 chickens. I've just recently gone back to the land of the employed (yesterday, in fact) this time as a para-educator in a special ed. class. I enjoy reading and baking, spending time with my family, and making or listening to music.
I'm trying out this whole Holidailies thing because my sister, Jennifer, asked me to, and because I thought writing things down would help me pay attention to life instead of watching it zoom by, always looking toward the next task to complete. That was before the above mentioned new job, which really has me frazzled.
Tonight is the Girl Scout toy drive and we have to pick up the wreaths for my Fiona's choir fundraiser. My husband's birthday is tomorrow and I have no idea what to make him for dinner, especially since there's a meeting at our daughter's high school tomorrow night so I don't have a lot of time to cook. There's something going on Thursday night, but I can't for the life of me remember what it is. I need to make 8 dozen cookies for the choir concert of Saturday and I don't have a lot of time to bake them, which has me stressed out. My cats are looking at me with sad eyes because I'm not around to pet them or be a lap.
I'm sure all of these things will resolve themselves and really, when it come to it, not that big a deal. But I'm feeling overwhelmed and now I'm supposed to try to write everyday and I already forgot about it yesterday. I don't know how this is going to work.
I hear the husband outside, perhaps I should start on dinner. I promise not to whine as much tomorrow.
I'm trying out this whole Holidailies thing because my sister, Jennifer, asked me to, and because I thought writing things down would help me pay attention to life instead of watching it zoom by, always looking toward the next task to complete. That was before the above mentioned new job, which really has me frazzled.
Tonight is the Girl Scout toy drive and we have to pick up the wreaths for my Fiona's choir fundraiser. My husband's birthday is tomorrow and I have no idea what to make him for dinner, especially since there's a meeting at our daughter's high school tomorrow night so I don't have a lot of time to cook. There's something going on Thursday night, but I can't for the life of me remember what it is. I need to make 8 dozen cookies for the choir concert of Saturday and I don't have a lot of time to bake them, which has me stressed out. My cats are looking at me with sad eyes because I'm not around to pet them or be a lap.
I'm sure all of these things will resolve themselves and really, when it come to it, not that big a deal. But I'm feeling overwhelmed and now I'm supposed to try to write everyday and I already forgot about it yesterday. I don't know how this is going to work.
I hear the husband outside, perhaps I should start on dinner. I promise not to whine as much tomorrow.
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
My sister does this Holidailies thing every year and has asked if I'd like to join in numerous times. Her entries always have some sort of point and are frequently funny or poignant and clearly well thought out, so I've always been intimidated about putting my writing out there. I'm more of a write whatever pops in my head like I'm journaling kind of writer. This year, I'm realizing more and more that my daughter is growing up and there are so many things I haven't done with her, so many moments I haven't savored. I guess I'm hoping that by writing things down (typing things down?), I'll take some time to think about life instead of looking ahead to what needs to be done next.
So, I'll try doing a little writing this year. Besides, who's going to read it?
So, I'll try doing a little writing this year. Besides, who's going to read it?
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