A Pattern, Sort Of, At Last

This week we are finally feeling like there is a pattern to our days again. We have gone to school more or less regularly, put in a day at the school district office, and slept in our own bed. There is something to be said for routine.

Today, Thursday, was my first full day of teaching since probably early January. No classes were cancelled and no meetings were held. Although we taught about pollution and saving the earth (my co-teacher's topic of choice), which had nothing to do with our previous lesson on Halloween, the kids got into it and it was pretty fun. I think one of next year's lesson planning goals will be a focus on CONSISTENCY.

This evening after dinner but before sunset we went for a walk through a neighborhood I had never entered before. We went past all types of houses -- new concrete structures with beautiful gardens as well as shacks with large cracks in the wooden walls. There was a surprising number of trees. When we arrived at the river and looked across to the mountains, it seemed to be a different place from the one we were living in two months ago. Because of the dryness and mysterious other reasons, there have been fires all around the mountains lately. They send huge amounts of smoke into the air, which, combined with the smoke from farmers burning off their fields, makes a thick cloud of grey in the air. The setting sun was a bright red color.

The two photos were taken by Robert on Monday during his Scout expedition with the 2nd and 3rd graders. I think they are irresistably cute with those little beanies. There were 160 of them walking all across town.