My New Garden Box

Last year Lee and I discussed moving one of my garden boxes from it's location near the house and having it near the back fence instead.  I completed that project a couple weeks ago.  We also discussed building a couple of new garden boxes as well.  Since spring was getting closer I started to think about what I wanted and decided I wanted a U-shaped box.  Lee asked me to draw a design for him.  After looking through some designs online, I made up a very intricate drawing for him of what I wanted.  This is my drawing:

I know, I am quite the artist.   This weekend we went to Home Depot and bought the wood that we needed to build my new garden box.  We made some adjustments to the original design.  One thing that isn't on this drawing is how deep the box will be.  I wanted it to be 18" deep, but Lee had the idea to make the back of the box deeper than the sides.  Also, there is a gate in the middle, which is hard to tell on the drawing.  So, on Saturday we were at the store for a very long time buying supplies.  We spent hours building on Saturday and Sunday.  We also had to return to Home Depot on Sunday because, of course, we needed more wood.  Although it isn't 100% complete, it is almost there.  Here is what my fabulous husband built for me using my oh-so-wonderful drawing.

We are adding chicken wire around the outside, and on the back box, the chicken wire will actually be on panels that are on hinges so I can get access to that part of the box.  The pathway in the middle will have 12"x 12" bricks eventually.  I think next weekend we will get all the dirt we need.  There isn't a huge rush since it is still a little early to start planting my veggies.  Anyway, this is my garden fortress, guaranteed to keep the bunnies out!

Fabulous Friday

It's Friday!  Despite the grey, chilly day outside, I am doing my best to enjoy the day.  It has been a long week and I have been reminded many times that I am blessed.  The news has been full of sad stories of lost lives, and every time I hear them I feel sadness for those families, and thank God for blessing me.  So, today, I hope you will have a fabulous Friday and find the blessings in your life!

Thoughts on a Thursday

It is early afternoon here in Kansas, and I have been busy updating another blog.  The weather here is mild, windy, and rainy.  Typical for a Spring day in Kansas I guess.  As I have been sitting here, though, I have been thinking of so many different things.  Will I get a job teaching next school year?  Where will we go on vacation this summer?  What can I do about Common Core?  Should I read for awhile?

My brain typically has a million things going on at any one time, although I probably only focus on a few.  After getting my teaching credentials in May 2011, I have not been able to get a full-time teaching position.  I am truly hoping this will be the year I get a job.  Unfortunately, education has taken what I believe to be a HUGE step backward with the adoption on Common Core.  It is a cause I am fighting against, and one that I have to be careful about.  I feel that having standards are important for teachers as they help us in developing our daily objectives.  We can then use the curriculum that is available to support those objectives to fulfill the standards.  Common Core is a nationalized set of standards that I do not have any say in, cannot change in any way, and cannot really choose the curriculum.  Many of the standards are very rigid and tell the teacher how to teach the standard--thus making the standards curriculum.  The standards are also developmentally inappropriate for the younger grades, which is what I will be teaching.  I will not go against the school or district policy, but I will continue to try to get Common Core taken out of the state, and try to get new standards written.

So, this is what has been taking up much of my thought process today.  Most days my thoughts revolve around teaching and my kids.  I want what is best for them and I do not believe they are getting the best right now.  I believe they are getting a watered down version of education and they are missing out on so many wonderful things.  I do not blame teachers, as they cannot break away from what the requirements are.  I blame the government, No Child Left Behind, Race To the Top, and so much more.

Just some random thoughts on this Thursday!