Professor Sharon

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Forsythia Bushes and Spring

April 14th, 2011 · Children, family, Musings

 

It’s a beautiful spring day here — after yesterday’s gloomy April showers.  There’s just a tiny bit of snow pack left between houses.  This morning’s smells make me think of the forsythia bush next to 20 New St where often when spring broke out my children could be found setting up house.  It also reminds me of the days when my first born, and for a short while, only child, would burst outdoors at our house in Monroe looking for the neighbor to ride trikes in the driveway (what was his name?  It was an odd one for a little boy — Dukey?)

 

Spring is always welcome; but too often reminds me of the passage of time — one that I like least the older I get.  But at least I’ll fix it with a good long walk this afternoon after work.  April brings Easter and Passover with many other memories, as well as the memories I have of my mother.  She’s not up for the task these days; but they are none the worse for that.  She once told me of a new dress she got for Easter one year as a small girl (no small thing when you are one of twelve being raised by a widowed mother.)  Spring also reminds me of my Easter dresses — just about the only time of year I got a new dress, and new shoes!  My favorite part of Easter was those new shoes – I was fond of the basket of candy, and the Easter Egg hunt (in the living room which inevitably resulted in one unfound egg found later in the day by an Uncle who sat on the couch in just the right way).

 

I still don’t mind a little bit of a gift of candy; but as I age, I appreciate more the gathering of friends and family that marks the passage of a hard winter and the possibilities of the fresh goodness of the spring and summer ahead.  This year there is a strong possibility that my grandchild will bring her and her Mom living next door.  What changes are in store?  I don’t know for sure; likely all kinds of adjustments and living a new rhythm.  But, best of all, I look forward to watching a child who has announced it is spring burst outdoors and set up house under a forsythia bush (one I have in the ready at the boundary line).

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Remembering my mother….who doesn’t remember me…

March 9th, 2011 · family, Important People, Musings

Thinking of my mom today:  One year ago this week she had to be moved to an Alzheimer’s Care facility.  I miss you.

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Comrades in Learning

March 5th, 2011 · Communal Societies, Musings, Shaker

Today we hosted a lovely afternoon meeting of the Boston Area Shaker Study Group.  The group is closing in on 30 years of folks meeting several times a year and learning about the Shakers (and for those who wonder or are ill-informed – yes, there are people living in community as Shakers).

Lunch spread...

We enjoyed a pot-luck feast of several salads, turkey breast and amazing desserts!

You’ll see from previous posts that hubby and I generally attend the Shaker Seminar each summer.  There’s much to learn about this quite unknown slice of American history – there’s so many aspects: theology, history, communal living, business aspects and more.  (I’m not even going to list furniture – which is what I think everyone thinks of when they hear the word Shakers.)

As a college instructor, I often give students the advice of forming a study group.  Study groups are known to increase the likelihood of retention of information.  And, at the college level it helps form friendships – some  will become life-long.

This study group (about 40 strong) all have different interests in the Shakers; but all have a love of learning more and sharing that knowledge.  And, for hubby and I, a comradery in learning — talking and sharing knowledge on a subject of passion is a wonderful way to spend a Saturday afternoon.  Try it sometime!

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What’s in your cup? Photo of the day!

February 17th, 2011 · eating, Itinerary, Musings, photo of the week, Site Seeing, travel, Website of the Week

This post is long overdue – but I imagine anyone reading this has likely too much on their plate as well!!  But what’s in your cup?

When hubby and I were recently in Savannah, we went on a Foodie Tour – more about that another day, and one of the places we stopped was Perk – coffee roasters!  We ate some fine food samples on this tour; but this was a highlight for me.  I don’t even drink coffee!  But, I did taste the sample that was offered – and what was completely fascinating to me was the tour of the one room roasting production and the explanation by the owner of how it’s done.  (And, by the way, for a non-coffee drinker, the sample was fabulous!  If I had this stuff around the corner, I might actually have to have a cup every day!).  The tour itself rushed the guy a bit, but the 20 minutes was so worth it!  Explore the website,maybe even order some to try – you won’t regret it — and if you are in Savannah, stop by!

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The stuff of snow days

February 3rd, 2011 · Children, Musings

Snow days and what do we do with them?  I came across this blog posting about how to teach our students when we can’t be with them.  This thought, I’m sure, was brought on by the fact that many of us in New England, and perhaps other places in the US, had two weather related canceled school days this week alone.  Here in Western Massachusetts, we’ve had 4 – 6 snow days this month depending upon the school district.

The blog is informative and helps provide teachers with some good ideas of how to offer content, create a learning environment and stay in touch with students who have need to stay home – either due to weather or illness related school closings.  As a community college instructor myself; it’s been great to have access to email and a learning platform where we could at least keep up with assigned written work this week.

For me, though, a bigger, more foundational question is, why are we worried about how to teach students on snow days?  What happened to freedom to choose for yourself how you would spend time?  Children fortunate enough to live in areas that have this situation fill them with as many activities that are not school as their parents and guardians have the patience for!  Sledding, ice skating, fort and snow people construction, maple snow, board games, maybe even some TV and video games.

When did it become important to structure and plan every moment of a child’s life?  Go ahead and google such expressions as “importance of play” “creativity and play” and try mine: “importance of boredom for young children.”   It’s incredibly valuable to the process of creative thought and problem solving to have moments, and yes, snow days, to be bored and figure out what to do with your time.  Are we going to use technology now to fill up every space in a child’s life?  And, while we’re at it, try searching “nature and young children” and read about the value of outdoor time to a child’s well-being.

Freedom to solve problems, create new games, talk to a friend, eat some dessert in the middle of the day, lay back in the seat by the window and watch the snow fall while your toes begin to tingle as they warm up after building a huge snow family, talk to yourself and imagine your future…the stuff of snow days.

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