Grass has come in!

Thursday, 6/27/13

So, Wednesday I finished my IDLA Professional Development.  Woo-hoo! And now I'm free for the rest of the summer!  Tuesday and Wednesday I also finished putting the black fabric around the new trees in the front yard, and the cherry tree.  I thought I wouldn't be able to carry all the bags of "Mexican Pea Pebbles," but I was.  14 - 40 lb bags on Tuesday and 10 bags on Wednesday (I did not go to the gym those two days)!  So I'm going to take some pictures when the sun comes out and I'll post our improvements.  The grass is coming in pretty well now.

 I think as soon as it dries out Don's going to mow it for the first time.  It's been about a month since they planted it.  Don wants me to do the rocks around one more bush at the corner of the front yard.  I think I'll wait until it dries out a little more.  It's rained every day for about  week now, which has been awesome for the lawn!  It's supposed to get up into the high 90s by this weekend and early next week, so, I'm glad the grass has had a chance to get going before that hits!

Don and I have been watching Downton Abbey in the evenings, getting the DVDs from Netflix, and we've really been enjoying that show.  Yesterday I also took a nap for an hour and read my book, The Recessional, by James Michener, for about an hour. It is the book for our book club which meets the second Monday of each month.  So far I'm enjoying it.  It is about a retirement complex in Florida.  It makes we think about my mom and her retirement experience, and it makes me think about making plans for our own retirement (of which we have none at this point).  I have the bird photo book to work on, and a lot of photographs to edit and upload.  I'm sure that alone could keep me busy all summer!

This morning I was back at the gym.  The first goldfinch of the season showed up in our backyard also this morning.    And I saw our neighborhood merlin flying overhead with a captured bird in his claws!  Today, I thought I'd do some financial work, and other than that, I don't know.   This is the point when I think I should start to make lists for myself every day, so I don't end up sitting here doing nothing all day.

Well, I did sign up for another professional development that will be early in August.  I'll have to travel to southern Idaho for it, but I think that will be good.

Mom Eckhaus is going to come up Aug. 8 for a week, so that will be great company. Ok, outside again to take pictures of the yard and gardens!  So the real reason I need these pictures is because I have problems.  All the dirt areas are new.  I went to Northland Nursery to get advice, and we decided I better bring in pictures.  Most of the garden will be in shade, with some having about half sun (very front of the house).  I need help!  I am so NOT a gardner!

Here's the link to this photo album with our new improvements and the problem places I need help with (link doesn't show up until you hover over it):  Gardening Improvements and Problems

Digital Footprint

As part of my IDLA professional development, I need to blog a post about my understanding of the digital footprint or image a person creates with their online activities.

Fortunately, I have tried to be careful with what I post, that is it always school appropriate, and presents a positive image.  I'm sure I have failed at this sometimes, but I try.  I have changed my Facebook account to be a "teacher" account, so that my students can use it to get in touch with me, and even access extra credit assignments.  I have also used a tumbler account (for two years) and this blog (as of the new school year 2013-2014) to post extra credit opportunities for students.

Pretty much every time I post, I have to ask myself this question, "Is this something it is okay for 'the world' to know?"  Recently, I have deleted some more personal posts and changed some of my personal information (birth date) from facebook and Google+ to cut down on the risk of identity theft.  I guess that worries me more than other people finding out about me.

I did do the Google search of myself to see what came up.  My name is pretty common, so there were so many Missi Bakers and Melissa Bakers that it would be hard to choose me if you didn't already know quite a lot about me.  I did find myself, however, and using the Pipl search engine, It connected me to two of my family members.  That was a little weird.

Anyway, I will continue to try to be vigilant and only post information that I don't mind other people knowing.  I'm not a privacy fanatic anyway, but I do believe it is important to be cautious and careful, and informed about the potential effect of my digital footprint.  It is important to pass this information on to students as well.

Lewiston Trip

Monday, 6/24/13

As far as doing this every day, that's not working out.  How about I just make sure I go back and review the days I miss?  So far today I played some games on my tablet and went to the gym.  My third load of laundry is in, and I watched the daddy flicker and the two juveniles snacking in the back yard for a few minutes.  It is so cool the juveniles are here.  I hope they stick around!  They don't seem to know how to get to the suet yet.

Thursday I played on my computer until noon, did some laundry, and I think that was about it.  I did not feel good about the use I made of that day.  It was raining all day.  I think I reviewed some photos from our California trip over Christmas break that I still haven't finished.  I do need to finish that!  One of my goals for the summer is to complete our first bird online scrapbook.  That will take a lot of time.  I need to finish this IDLA online professional development first, however.  I worked on that some on Thursday evening.

Friday I spent all day digging holes and planting shade plants in my gardens.  I was out there about 8 hours.  It made me realize exactly how out of shape I am.  That was the hardest physical work I've done in a long time.  Watched Lincoln that evening.

Saturday we went to the gym, and then decided to do an overnight birding trip.  We headed down to Coeur d'Alene, and then went east to the Chain Lakes/Lane Marsh area.  Here's a dark-eyed junco from our first stop.

Dark-eyed Junco

Western Tanager

And it seemed like everyone in the whole world had seen a western tanager besides us, so I was so thankful (and amazed!) when we finally saw our first western tanager down there at Killarney Lake.  True to form, after this first one, we saw two or three more on our trip. At the same spot we also got to see this spotted towhee.  We've seen them a few times, but this is the first one this year.

Spotted Towhee

We followed Highway 3 to Highway 6, stopping at several places, and ended up in Moscow for the evening.  Sunday we drove further south to Lewiston.  We went to the North Lewiston Sewerage Treatment Plant, and then headed out to Hell's Gate State Park.  We were disappointed with the park, although we saw a new species, Western Kingbird, and several other fun birds.

Hell's Gate Entrance

On the way home we drove a scenic loop over Skyline Drive in another state park which name I don't recall now.  It was pretty, but not so many birds.  Two turkeys and several Swainson's Thrush, and a few others.  I'm going to posts the lists on eBird, and then I'm going to try to link it here.

I talked to Don a little last night about how summer is actually hard for me, if I'm not working.  It's hard to adjust to a schedule, when there is no schedule, no accountability, no "job" to do (besides the cooking and laundry...)  It's crazy, because I should be the happiest I ever am when I'm on this extended break.  But mentally, I just have a hard time getting used to it.  I think I could spend all summer driving around and shopping for clothes or plants or food or whatever.  And I like traveling.  We have this big trip to Norway coming up with is awesome to look forward to.  Lots of planning there.  And I'd like to brush up on my Norwegian.  Anyway, maybe I'm stifled because I've got this class hanging over my head... so let's get it done!

Time to work on my IDLA professional development class.

Tuesday, 6/25.  Had a great working day yesterday.  Finished about half of the professional development class, and played around with some more photos.  Here are a few more birds from our trip.

Song Sparrow

California Quail

Osprey with young

Western Wood Pewee

Raining Again

Thursday, 6/20/13 - To finish yesterday, after going to the gym, I drove down to Coeur d'Alene and went to Macy's for a few things.  Then met Zack at Meltz for half a Simpleton.

 From there I went to Costco for gas and groceries.  I was on my way to Northland Nursery when I called Gretchen to see if she'd like to come along.  She recommended I go to Lowe's in Spokane Valley to pick out some plants (lower prices), so that's what I did.

So, now I  have bout 20 holes to dig!  Since we put in the new lawn, TurfCare expanded my gardens, too, which is kind of the bad part about getting the new lawn.  I'm really not a gardener.  So anyway, now I have to fill up all the new spaces.  They also circled our trees with edging, so we are going to fill three of those with river rock, and the other two I'll plant some of the plants I got yesterday.  Got some vinca for under the one that is the driest and gets the most sun.  The other one is in the shade all day, so got some shade plants for there, and a couple of those tallish barberry bushes.

However, due to the heavy rain and wind, I won't be planting this morning.  It's supposed to lighten up a bit  this afternoon, so I might be able to dig my holes then.  I'd like to at least get started.

The other thing I need to get started on is my IDLA class.  I've put it off for four days...  Time to stop procrastinating, which I will do, right after I go to the gym.  :)

I've seen the Eurasian Collared Doves in our backyard these past two days, under the Cedar tree!

Napping, a goal?

Wednesday, June 19 - Unless I do this every day, I'm going to be backtracking every day.  We'll see.  I did consider getting on last night, but I had just spent three hours going through photos from our California trip, and I didn't feel like being on the computer any more.  I had never gone through them since as soon as I got back I had so much going on (online endorsement portfolio, journalism class revision, two online classes, and regular 7-4 job at SMS).  Anyway, there were 1100 pictures in one of the folders, since we went to three NWRs that day.  I've got them down to about 750 pics.  I like to edit them down and crop before uploading them to the web with Picasa.

Going back to Monday, I did go to the gym, then read my book for awhile to try to finish it for book club that night.  The Deep Dark, about the Sunshine Mine disaster in 1972.  I think that would be a good book for my class to read, since it is right here in North Idaho.

 Very well-written, I thought, interesting and of local significance. I went to the grocery store to get hamburger buns for Book Club (got a few other things, too). I didn't finish it before book club that night. After reading for an hour or so, I took an hour nap, and then read for another hour before heading out.

The Baker Bus picked up Joann at 4:50PM, then zoomed over to Amanda's house for a 5:00PM pick up, and then stopped at the corner of Sagle Road and Hwy 95 to pick up Teddy.  Then another 1/2 hour to get to Mary's cabin on the lake.  It was an adventure!  I think the last time I drove down there I used the truck, and probably should have this time.  Very narrow track.  A good book club night.

Yesterday, June 18, 2013, was not such a successful day. I did not go to the gym.  Monday I had thought to go down to CDA on Tuesday, but didn't get out for that either.  I did accomplish taking another nap yesterday.  Apparently napping is an activity I can always work in.  I did a lot of laundry yesterday, and watched some of the French Open tennis match I had recorded a couple weekends ago.  I also got on ebird and added another list from last year.  When Don got home, I was working on that, and I think we completed the Kern NWR list from our California trip.  The trip home, Jan. 5 or 6.  We also stopped at Colusa and Sacramento NWRs.  Those were the images I was going through last night.  I need Don's help to finish those lists.

So, today I am going to the gym, and might go down to CDA, to Costco, and maybe clothes shopping.  It's raining, and is supposed to keep raining all day.

Summer Journal

I decided that I don't want summer to disappear without me knowing what I did.  So I am going to keep a little journal of what I do.  It's a sad then when you get ready to go back to teaching in the end of August without being able to say what happened all summer.

Of course, "the big trip" will be a highlight (Norway in July), but I want to enjoy every day, and remember every day.  Summer is too short to forget.

So, last day of school: Monday, June 10.  Last day of school.  That day I got off a little early, but I don't remember what else I did.  See?!?  Bummer.  Maybe I'll remember later.  Well, I looked at my photo folders, so it turns out Don and I went on a bike ride to Chuck Sough (Half way to Dover Bay) that evening.

Tuesday, June 11 - First day off school, with no responsibilities.  I know I went to the gym, and spent some time updating my Quicken, which I hadn't done since I did my taxes in April. I cleaned out the bird baths, and took pictures of the starlings having their communal bath.

Wednesday, June 12 - IDLA Summer Conference in Coeur d'Alene.  Went by Northland Nursery on my way home, talked to a lady who said I should just use stone around the new Autumn Blaze Clumps.  We also decided I will bring down some photos next time to get her advice with what to plant.

Thursday, June 13 - LPOSD Schoology training at the SHS Library.  Informative.  Learned a lot.  Will need a refresher course when I get back to school.\

Friday, June 14 - LPOSD Common Core Writing Strategies at Kootenai Elementary.  Some helpful information.  Mostly really boring.  Stopped by the nursery in Ponderay on my way home.  Nothing too interesting that wasn't too expensive.

Saturday, June 15 - Kootenai NWR with Don.  Got bit up by misquitos really bad.  Got a great picture of a Virginia Rail that Don called out with his Audubon App. Saw their babies, too (little black balls). Also saw baby coots (orange-red heads) and baby pied-billed grebes (really stripy), both really cute!  (Photos didn't some out so well on those, too far away and behind tall grasses).   Saw a mystery bird. Lots of kingbirds, yellow-headed blackbirds, great grey herons.

Sunday, June 16 - Went to Little Spokane River Natural Area for the first time. Identified one new species for us, Willow Flycatcher.  Lots of families on the trail and floating the river.  Great for families, not so great for birding, but fun new place.  Definitely someplace we want to come back to again.  Lots of yellow warblers.  Also saw a downy woodpecker feeding her babies in a hole in a tree!  That was cool.  We saw a northern flicker feeding babies last weekend.  Love that!

Monday, June 17 - Today!  So far, watered the lawn (trying to keep new grass for new lawn damp), called ladies to arrange rides to book club tonight,  uploaded a few folders with Picasa to Google+, uploaded the photos from yesterday onto my computer and looked at some.  It's 9:07 AM.  I've been up since 5:30AM with Don.  Played a few games of Scramble with Friends.  Now I need to change and go to the gym!  I'd like to do that every day this summer.  I've had that resolve many summers, and it usually dissolves in a week or so...  Maybe this summer will be different.  :)