Now for the rest of the story...

This fall in between doing volunteer work at the Nature centers, the Children's Garden and running children here and there for swim lessons, Science Olympiad, Girl Scouts and dance lessons, I have been busy on other personal avenues.

1.)I have contacted the university and played office ping pong to determine how I must proceed effectively with a program to A.) get a teaching license and certification, and B.) return to school for a Master's degree. I will know more after they have evaluated my transcripts, so I am told.

2.) I have made and submitted my resume. I continue to look for anything that looks appealing to apply. I am hopeful that I will become gainfully employed--ideally part time, but I'm open to full time for the right job.

3.) I have been volunteering at my youngest daughter's school one morning a week. This seems to be helping her and me to understand what she has to do in her new High Ability (or gifted/talented) class that is both 4th and 5th graders. I have been thrilled with her renewed enthusiasm at going to school. Saddened for her having less contact with her best friends during the week. Challenged in how to keep up with the emotional roller coaster that is the life of a 9 year old girl. But at the moment I wouldn't change it for love nor money! For the first time ever my child is learning a LOT and in a short amount of time. In the past she was spending her days bored to death waiting to learn one thing of value--just a kernel here and there.

4.) I have completely lost my mind, (LOL) and decided to attempt a childhood dream that will require me to spend a great deal of time in front of a computer typing. I have signed up to participate in this year's NaNoWriMo during the month of November. I keep telling myself this is completely insane, and yet the creative brain in my refuses to be silenced. Last January, I had an idea and the idea is niggling still. So I'm going to at least make the effort. If I fail at least I will have given it a shot.

So that is the long and the short of it all. May I be blessed with good fortune and moderate sanity!

It's Fall in the Children's Garden and What Do I Have to Show for It?

The Children's Garden project has continued all summer long. I have pushed and prodded it and it beginning to show signs of loveliness! The garden is all laid out and folks are gearing up to finish their parts before the garden is closed up for the winter.

1.) I completed the last of the major excavation this week--the labyrinth. Yay! Ah, to complete the mulching and planting--within the next thirty days I'll say!

2.) I have two ladies and their volunteers planting the prairie flowers in the next couple weeks, and they will be including an official certified Monarch Butterfly Waystation.

3.) I have one teacher/master gardener and her students creating the bog this Friday (weather permitting).

4.) The playhouse/classroom/storage/whatever-we-need-it-for shed was installed in the garden a while back and has a fresh coat of yellow tinted primer on it--very attractive with the green steel roof.

5.) The picket fence and gate are installed and looking like it will be painted in the spring with gusto.

6.) Four shrubs are planted in different parts of the garden. And short sunflowers matured in lovely variety. Some purple coneflowers were planted late summer in the hopes of spring green and summer beauty next year.

7.) The buckwheat cover crop used over the hot summer was a beautiful success, and has gone by the wayside to be replaced by lovely green grass.

8.) Two holes were dug in preparation for the two new trees that will be planted this week--a thornless honeylocust in the labyrinth and a columnar oak near the playhouse/multi-purpose building.

I say that's not bad for year one and about 200 hours of my time! An alphabet garden, an herb garden, arbors, signs, two child-size picnic tables, benches, a shade canopy, the human sundial and many more plantings are to come next year. Compared to this year, I think it will be a complete breeze!

Yes, I have continued to take pictures and over the winter, I may actually get them available online. I pray...