Thanks for stopping by The Apples in My Orchard! I am taking a week’s break from writing on my blog (well, with this exception)! I hope to recharge and refresh myself during this week. Rest assured, there are other things I am writing and will share those when and if the time comes. I want…
Today is Silent Sunday. On Sundays I post photographs of my own on a theme of my choosing. This week’s theme is a compilation of those things that relax or inspire me. I will be taking a blogging break until next Sunday to recharge and refuel. Thanks for stopping by and I’ll see you on…
In late February 2017, I decided to join the Slice of Life Writing Challenge for March. This writing challenge, hosted by TwoWritingTeachers.org, involves writing daily for the month of March and responding to at least three other bloggers’ posts. I did it and then some. I kept writing and writing and writing. Five years later,…
This week I’ve been diligently working on an environmental day presentation for the first-grade classrooms at a local elementary school. Each year, I am asked back to provide a lesson for their earth day celebrations. Three of the topics I’ve presented were Forest Stewardship: Treating our Forests as our Friend, Monarch Life Cycles and Habitat,…
There have been times in my life when I wish I had spoken up, but didn’t. Are you like that? Or, do you just say what’s on your mind? I tend to be a rule follower and obedient, but these traits can sometimes lead me to not speak up when it’s needed. And, then, I…
Inquiring minds want to know, are you a puzzle person? Recently, puzzles have made a re-entry into our life. Although our family always enjoyed puzzles, we had gotten away from doing them. Now, our interest has been sparked once again! We just completed a 1,000 piece puzzle last night and I already have a new…
I’ve forgotten how nice it is to talk to someone (anyone, really) about my conservation work for monarch butterflies. This morning I got to do just that for half an hour! I cannot tell you much yet, but I was interviewed for an upcoming article by a conservation organization. This was something that just came…
While going to the post office this morning, I witnessed something I wish I hadn’t. There is a childcare and pre-school across the street from our post office. It was 11:15 a.m. when I came up the street and saw the school bus stop in front of the preschool. Since it is not very nice…
Yesterday, I did something that I’ve been putting off. If you read my blog regularly, you know we’ve been cleaning out in anticipation of moving later this year. Sometimes cleaning out is easy. You look at something and think, why did I keep that piece of sh_t? Or, sometimes cleaning out is hard. We all…
This morning I went out to meet a past co-worker for coffee and I heard birds singing! Not just any birds…spring birds! I am pretty sure what I heard were robins! Immediately, I started thinking how the return of songbirds might be a better indicator of spring than trusting groundhogs! From these sounds and thoughts,…