Homeschool Art & Science Fair 2023

Lew and I felt up to venturing out of the house this evening since we had a very important event to attend... the Homeschool Art & Science Fair! Both Eli and Adam had science and art exhibits.

Eli's science project was on the brain. Lew and I enjoyed identifying which parts or our brains were most dominant or in need of help! 😁

Adam's project involved looking at slides through a microscope. I'm not sure I got the full experience since my glasses were in the way. He had several slides. The two I remember the most are apple and spit!

There were 9 other exhibitors, for a grand total of 11.  Last year (the first annual) there were five exhibitors, so the idea is catching on. I am looking forward to next year's fair already.

P.S. Did you know that dogs have dichromatic vision?

Milestones

Dad, Lew, and I watched Josh's virtual graduation ceremony from Maine Maritime Academy yesterday morning. Congratulations, Josh! We are so proud of you!

For the first time in over two months, our church met in person this morning! We had to socialize in the parking lot after the service, but nobody seemed to mind. Lew and I really enjoyed seeing everybody.

Last Sunday, May 31st, marked my one-year anniversary at work. Although I started on April 10, 2019, I was a temp-to-hire and became a permanent hire on May 31, 2019. It doesn't seem like a whole year could have gone by already. Time flies!

Three-Day Weekend

My company was closed today for the Memorial Day holiday. I regret that I didn't really do anything to recognize the day.

I was in the band in high school, and we used to march in three little parades in our town on Memorial Day. Each "parade" was a procession to a cemetery in town where they would then have a ceremony. Two of our trumpet players would play "Taps"; one first and then the echo.

Lew and I did watch a military-themed movie from the late 1980s tonight: "The Rescue." It is a totally unrealistic story, but it is a movie that I really enjoy. I hadn't seen it for probably 25 years. Lew had never seen it.

I did go see Mom through her window a couple times this weekend. We even took a selfie!

A is for Alphabet

I just remembered a post I wrote back in September called An Alphabet "Soup-er" Idea. This was supposed to inspire me to write blog posts more consistently. As the recent saying goes, "Epic fail." But now I have remembered this idea, so let's get started....

A is for Alphabet

When I was in the third grade, our class was assigned a writing exercise: If you could be anything, what would you be? (I'm not sure if this was the exact assignment, but I'm close.)

I chose the alphabet. As the alphabet, I could form all of the words necessary to write about anything in the world! Just think of the books I could make and all of the things I could help people learn.

Sometimes I wish I still had this assignment, but maybe it's for the best. My memory of it might be better than it actually was. But the concept was pretty good for a third-grader, if I do say so myself!

Josh Exam Update

Yesterday Dad wrote that Josh had passed all of his exams so far this week. The exams are for the U.S. Coast Guard, and Josh has been taking them since Monday.

The 7th and final exam was today, and... drum roll, please... Josh passed it, too!

Congratulations, Josh!!!!!!!

Two Things

Thing One

My nephew Josh is on a training cruise for the summer. The cruise is for his schooling at Maine Maritime Academy (MMA). The MMA website does have a blog for the cruise, so check it out if you'd like to keep track of where Josh currently is. Here's the link:

TSSOM Training Cruise Blog


Thing Two

Look what I finished Saturday morning!

Another Poem By My 10-Year-Old Self

My Cinquain Assignment

While tackling my "tidying" project on Saturday, I came across some homework I'd kept from my elementary school years. (I hadn't kept much, thank goodness.)

The following is dated October 24, 1973, so I was almost 10 1/2 years old when I wrote this.

I got a red "Ha! Ha!" from my teacher. And almost 43 years later, I had an "LOL" moment.... But I wonder what sister Kim will think!

Smile!

Once Upon a Graduation

A year ago yesterday my precious friend Suzy went home to Jesus. From all of the comments that I read on Facebook, it is clear she remains a blessing to all who knew her!

It seems fitting to share some Throwback Thursday photos of Suzy. These were taken during the weekend of our college graduation. (Well, all except for the first one!)

Suzy and I ... a wrinkle in time?

Suzy cleaning dorm rooms for graduation guests.  :)

Suzy, me, and Jen ... all dressed up for the Senior Ball!

Suzy and I after graduation.

I love her smile.

Three Early Memories

Writing Prompt:  My earliest memory.

My earliest memories are of when my father taught at Kents Hill Preparatory School. I was a toddler then. I have three specific things that I remember from that time:

1) My father walked to work. I remember sitting at the window and watching him go. I knew about cars, so I also thought it was neat that my dad could just walk. (It was later on in life that I learned my parents lived in one of the houses on campus.)

2) We had some sort of meat for dinner. I sat at what I remember as a counter but it could have been a regular table. It took me forever to chew my meat. My parents were up and moving about the house while I sat there chewing and chewing and chewing.

3) I loved carrying around a little funny-shaped dish. It really is teeny -- it can fit in the palm of my hand. Years later when my mother tried to put this little dish in a yard sale, I grabbed it from her. "You can't sell that! I loved carrying that around!" Usually I'm not very sentimental, but I am about this little dish.

Disclaimer: The above details might be a little "off." They are, after all, my earliest memories!

Hosting: The Midpoint-Post

I have some free time right now because the girls are on a play-date at another home.

All of the "official" activities (for example, school and dance class) are now over. From here on out it's play, eat, play, watch a movie, play, etc.

I just did quite a few things on my computer and dealt with my mail. Now I hope to sit quietly until the girls are delivered back to me.  :)

One more overnight!

I am grateful for a comfortable home.

# tbt

Sometimes it takes me a while to catch on to trends.  For example, I finally figured out today what the above hashtag means.  (I figured it out all by myself.  But I did google for confirmation!)

ThrowBack Thursday.  That's what it means.

I will now demonstrate # tbt by including a photo from my freshman year in college.  Suzy took this picture of me with a "gift" that she and Jenny brought me.  (The caption is by Suzy as well.)

From the poetry book, I know that this was taken during January of 1982.  I took a poetry class for my January Plan course that year.... I still don't know what possessed me to do that!

Tracy and her snowball in our room!

Still Cold in 2013... er, make that 2014

Today was the second snow day in a row for area schools. I know that school kids are excited at the moment, but I hope they don't end up having to go to school in July!

It finally stopped snowing mid-morning.

Although the snow is no longer coming down, it is still cold. Very cold. Very, very cold. Very, very, very... well, you get the idea.

Due to the snow and the cold, I am off to a slow start in 2014. (Hermitation, anyone?) But one thing I did rather quickly was write the wrong year:

2013 2014

I will eventually get it right... just in time for the start of 2015.

SNOW!

It has been snowing all day. Area schools were supposed to be back in session after the holidays, but the students (and teachers!) got a reprieve.

I just saw one of the neighbors across the street outside with his dog. Canines have outdoor needs, snow or not....

I'm glad we have cats!

A Real Sporting Day

Homecoming at Scarborough High School today. Football game at 3:00 p.m.

Lew and I attended the Homecoming game and cheered on the Red Storm to a 41-21 victory! (I think that was the final score anyway.) Nephew Josh started the game and, I guess, played well throughout. (It's hard for his Aunt Tracy to follow the action on the field!)

Game 2 of the ALDS, Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox at 5:30 p.m.

Lew and I "attended" this game by watching it on TV in the comfort of our own living room. The Red Sox won and are up two games to none! Best of five series, so one win to go. Go Sox!

Mary Low 256

I received a large envelope in the mail from Suzy's mother this past June. She had helped Suzy clean out a few things, and they came across a poster I had done as part of a calligraphy class during college. Suzy's mom made a copy and sent the original to me.

Below is a photo of the poster.  The poster is my attempt at a comical rendering of our dorm room during our sophomore year in college.  (I hear that Suzy's habits have changed since then!)  I used the panorama setting on my iPhone to take the photo.  You may need to right-click and save the photo to your own computer in order to look at the details more closely.

One thing that I'm surprised I didn't include on the poster:  My mathematical rendering of our dorm room number... Mary Low 16-squared!

The Best Thing About Fall

I suppose some people think the best thing about fall is football season. Although I do enjoy watching football, I am not one of those people.

What about the start of school? When I was a small child, I really liked school.  But as I got older, I decided it was just "okay."

The foliage? The crisp air? Apple picking?

Nope. None of the above.

The best thing about fall by far is the return of the pumpkin muffin at my favorite breakfast joint!

Another Sign of Summer's End

Lew and I are continuing to enjoy his vacation.  We went for a walk on the beach again this afternoon.

The end of the summer season is upon us, however.  The tourist population is thinning out.  And some local school districts started today.

But the real sign that summer is over:  Aunt Debbie leaves tonight.  It seems like she just got here.

Have a safe trip, Aunt Debbie!  We will miss you.

Eureka, Kelsey!

Is "Pomp and Circumstance" still played at high school graduations?

I remember how we had "marching practice" to make sure that we all were all in sync: left foot forward, feet together, right foot forward, feet together, left foot forward, feet together, right foot forward, feet together, left foot forward....

Well, you get the idea.

"Pomp and Circumstance" or not, our niece Kelsey is now a high school graduate.

Congratulations to you, Kelsey! We are proud of you and we love you very much!

The 30-Year Reunion

I graduated from high school in 1981.  I can't believe it's been 30 years!

Ellen picked me up about 6:30 last night and we went to our reunion.

Fortunately, one of the gals that organized the event brought her yearbook.  Otherwise, I would not have been able to connect some of the 30-year-later-faces with their 1981 version.

We stayed at the event for about 2 1/2 hours.  Then both Ellen and I started to droop.  But a lot of the other folks were getting tired, too.  What a difference 30 years makes in your stamina... LOL!

When we got out to Ellen's car, we realized we were hoarse from all of the talking and laughing that we had done.  Still, we talked the whole way home.  :)


I am in this picture.  Can you find me?

For the answer to "Where's Tracy?".......