Thursday, March 11, 2010

Awaiting Spring

I have lived in Central California for most of my life, and the summer weather here is almost without exception very harsh. Somehow though, every spring I pretend that the flowers that I plant will make my yard look beautiful for months and months. There is a chance that they will make it until July though, and I enjoy them for the brief time I have them. I used to buy Shepherd Garden Seeds because I loved the pictures on the seed packets. Shepherd Garden Seeds has closed, but Renee Shepherd still sells seeds at Renee's Garden. I ordered a nice selection of them and started planting today. Zinnias and cosmos are hardy and come in pastel colors--the perfect combination for my tate.
As usual, I've had a pretty busy week, but I have also gotten some knitting in too. I bought this alpaca yarn on my  alpaca field trip last fall, and found a scarf pattern in Knitted Gifted that was simple and showed off the yarn well.
I'm glad that I have knitting so that I don't need to spend my evening worrying about how I'm going to confiscate cell phones from high school students all day long. Our dean (probably directed by those above her) has decided to wage war on them since there has supposedly been a rash of cheating and fight syncing (planning fight location via phones) among students. If kids even have a phone out during lunch or if they have one visible in their pocket, it's a criminal offense practically.  This is what I love about education. Let's make sure that teachers are focusing on the important things: taking role and trying to hold back the wave of the 21st Century. Poor Kai, he had his phone taken away today in class. I had a hair appointment, and my hair dresser called his phone to cancel. He had forgotten to turn it off since his friends don't call; they text. I can see that it was reasonable to take it away, but he forgot to go pick it up after school. It better be waiting for him tomorrow. I will not be happy if it is "misplaced."

10 comments:

corinna said...

your scarf wool and design are a happy combo
your seed packets make me happy for warm weather

love zinnias and cosmos....take pics when they blossom!

Thimbleanna said...

Hmmm, what's fight synching? I'm really on the fence about phones in school -- these days they need them for pick-up, etc., yet I can see how they can be used to cheat, etc. Maybe they should have them all "check them at the door" or something. (And don't get me started about pinhead administrators!)

I laughed the other day -- I was walking down the hall at work and passed a secure lab where people have to leave their cell phones on a shelf outside of the lab. They were just sitting there, with no one around. Anyone could walk up and take them!

Anyway, sorry about Kai's phone. Love your pretty scarf!

TheBlackSheep said...

I'm all for cell phone blockers at schools. Probably too expensive, but then you could at least let the teachers teach instead of having them police.

Tracy said...

Oooo...all the seeds and knitting have my fingers itching! That scarf is wonderful--love the yarn color way! Meant to ask you, are you on Ravelry? A seed/flower catalog came in the mail today... I'm drooling over it! Cell phones for kids are good thing--to keep in touch with parents for pick-ups, any emergencies, etc. But I think cell phone use during in-school hours should banned. I think Thimbleanna's idea of everyone checking in their phones is a good one. It would be a bit of a to-do each day... but needs must... LOL! Happy Weekend! Oh, must thank you for the good cheer on my poem...can't be better than Thoreau though. ;o) ((HUGS))

Tracy said...

Yes you are on Rav... and already my friend... DOH! As Homer Simpson would say... Where is my brain?! Need weekend... now--LOL!

Joansie said...

Those seed packets are gorgeous. Decoupage on something perhaps? I used to start all my own flowers also and loved it. It was like knitting.......very soothing.

Tracy Batchelder said...

When my kids were in high school, a confiscated phone was held until the end of the year.

Kitty said...

What beautiful seed packets! I'd buy them just to frame!

Torhild Reidardatter said...

first: I love that you´re gardening and that you chose seeds from the nice picture on the little bags( like me when chosing wine LOL).
second: the scarf pattern is lovely- and using alpaca just makes it so soft.
Third:Isn´t it amazing what a teacher is supposed to cope with during a day? On our school kids have their cells out in the open, but shut off. Some uses it to listen to music with (earpluggs) when doing math ( makes them concentrate!)We have a relaxed view and as you points out- it is the 21 century. I can clearly vision the schools we left in NJ. Gosh! I am so happy I returned and all those fights are over.Enjoy weekend

JayJay said...

I hope Kai got his phone back! Those seed packets looks beautiful. I have given up on zinnias because they always seem to get diseased, and then spread it to my other plants. Have you had trouble with them? Maybe in California it's not such a problem.

The scarf looks lovely, and the pattern looks very similar to the one I just made, Linh's Ivy.