Another school year

It seems like I was just posting about the coming school year, and preparing for my new crop of 3rd graders.

Now, we're winding down another entire school year. I've added another notch, another personality year. Class number 29. Amazing that it goes that fast. I wish I could post pictures of some of these faces. I can't even post names. But, here is a sampling of the personalities:

girl - entered so shy. She would only marginally speak to me. She actually seemed frightened of me (at times, with good reason). But, she was prime for academic growth. I could see that in her. She has very supportive parents, who love her so dearly, and want her to push to her fullest capabilities. Definitely her ace in the hole.

She's now almost chatty with me. She's shown wonderful growth this year. She has blossomed. She's on her way.

boy - I have one who is a tough one. He's determined to take the path of bad choices. He's drawn to it, doesn't fear it, and won't allow himself to care about the punishments or consequences. But, we have a relationship. I'm hard on him, I refuse to let up on him, and he knows it. He knows it comes from my heart.

crazy boy - this is my ADD dancer. He HAS to move. I love him!!! He is a big ball of happy. He's on meds, and they help him. If he isn't on his meds, he wiggles and moves constantly. He even wiggles and wags his tongue! It cracks me up. He's a good student, and the meds help him to focus, but they don't fog him up. He loves life. His enthusiasm is contagious.

fairy/pixie girl - everyone should hear her say her Pledge of Allegiance in the morning. It is precious. She says it with a full, patriotic heart. Her eyes twinkle when she smiles.

over-indulged boy - There's always one. I understand the hole they're trying to fill in him... give him "things".. give him whatever he wants.. make him happy. His mom left when he was a toddler. He's loved by his grandparents. HUGELY loved. They just want to fill that sadness. A note to his mom..... "Do you have any idea what damage your selfishness has done?"

bossy boy - Soooooo smart!!! I love teaching this one. But, my oh my... he is one bossy guy!!! When I mentioned this to his mom and sisters during our conference (sisters were there to translate), they all burst into laughter! I wasn't telling them anything they didn't already know!! He is definitely a leader. I can't wait to see where this one goes and what he accomplishes.

And, the year winds down to a close. We've spent a school year together. We've grown in many ways. We've butted heads. We've laughed. We've danced and listened to music. We've learned. We've learned about one another. We've struggled. We gave each other the flu. We've had hurt feelings. Friends moved away. New friends moved in. Some friends moved and returned! School life is real life, concentrated within four walls.

One last note. This week I didn't wear a bra. I only wore camisoles with shelf bras in them. I've been much more relaxed, much more patient, and waaaaaay more comfortable. If they don't like a little jiggle, they can call me into the principal's office. Who knew that braless = happy teacher?!?! I'm going to share that at the lunch table tomorrow.

Diana Krall, Elvis Costello & Willie Nelson - Crazy (Live)

30 years later

Today I returned to SCICON (Science and Conservation). It is Tulare County's Outdoor Ed. camp. I worked there for one school year.. 1980-81. My job was taking 6th graders on a bird watching hike. I was the bird teacher, which is ironic, because I have a bit of a bird phobia. I love watching and identifying birds in the outdoors. Get me indoors with birds and I freak.

I remember nature's idea of quiet: the sounds of birds, rustling wind, the rushing waters of the stream. I have aromamemory (I just invented that word. Good word, huh?). There are scents that change with the season. Scents that signal the time of day. I smelled them today. They are so fleeting, that as soon as the whiff catches your attention, it seems to evaporate away, and you're left trying to identify the source from memory.



Today I returned, after 30 years. It looked different. Ha, but then, so do I!

The cabins have had a lot of upgrades.
I could use some upgrades myself.
The program has been fine-tuned and polished.
I'd like to think I'm much more fine-tuned and polished than I was 30 years ago.
The lodge has been extended and is larger.
My butt seems to have been extended and is definitely larger.
The area has flourished, in spite of drought, changes in leadership, and harsh weather.
I believe I've flourished, in spite of obstacles and challenges.

As we got out on the trail, I started to feel the 30 year old essence of the area. I listened to the quiet sounds of nature. I smelled springtime. I was so lucky to have had the chance to work there. To be outside, surrounded by the serenity of natural beauty, each day. I don't remember ever feeling like it was too hot, too cold, too rainy, or too windy to go out on the trails. I had the opportunity, everyday, to teach children to observe, listen, watch, and expect miracles and beauty from nature.

We walked the trails, and I was happy to realize so much of that "naturalist" knowledge popped back into my head. I recognized a bay laurel tree, pulled off a leaf so I could have my friends smell the real source of the leaf that they purchase and throw into their stews. I pointed out the difference between wild blackberries and poison oak. I explained that acorn woodpeckers place acorns in holes as a lure to insects. As the acorn rots and bugs are attracted, the woodpeckers eat the bugs. It was all coming back to me. Random tidbits, making me a walking Trivial Pursuit game.

Unfortunately, there were too many people at this open day for exploring. So, the truest serenity was not to be had. On the trail, a couple of youths started to crowd us. I was feeling sort of boxed in by them, tailgaters. I wanted to pull over and let them pass. Then, when one of them turned on his iPod and I had to listen to Nickelback .... well, I wanted to short circuit! I got Stacy's attention, and directed her away from the trail for a closer look at one of the rocks in the stream. We let them pass us and go on their musical way, so we could proceed on our lovely walk. I don't have issue with Nickelback, but I DO have issue with listening to any iPod tunes while walking next to a babbling stream!

As we came to the end of the trail, this is the sign we all turned around to read. I guess we were leaving at the entrance of the trail. This made for a good laugh.


30 years later. Wow.

Portuguese Sweet Bread

I love the Easter holiday. When I was young, it meant a week in Monterey with my grandparents. My memories of Monterey are bright blue skies, the gorgeous bay visible from my Nana's backdoor, listening to the sound of sea lions barking, and calla lilies and poppies in her front garden. Each year, Nonnie baked these great Easter cookies. She mixed her own sugar cookie dough (this dough was unique, yellowish and slightly different from any sugar dough I've known since)and cut out heart-shaped cookies. Then, she'd hard boil and dye Easter eggs, which would be placed in the center of the cookie. Across the egg, she'd use her ravioli wheel and cut out strips of cookie dough, then create a cross across the egg, to hold it in place on the heart.

This cookie had a lot of symbolism for the Easter holiday.... the heart represented our love of Jesus, the cross - well, of course, the cross He died on, and the egg represented new life and Jesus rising from the dead.

No one in the family has ever baked these cookies. The tradition died with her. I don't think anyone in the family has the cookie dough recipe. Rumor has it that my cousin's sister-in-law sat, watched, and wrote down the recipe, and is holding the recipe hostage. She won't give it to my cousin!!

So, that was my Italian family memory of Easter. Sometime around the time I was 12 years old, our family switched, and we started having Easter in Lemoore. Equally wonderful memories, filled with spring skies, green grass, my mother's flower garden of irises, daffodils, and roses, and Easter brunch in our screen house.

We had a screened in "house" in our front yard. Basically, it was a huge rectangular slab of concrete, with screened in walls, a porch swing inside, electrical outlets, and picnic tables. My description might sound ghetto, but it was really fabulous. This is where we enjoyed our Easter brunch, with tables inside and outside, kids playing while adults could watch, and like any family gathering, delicious food.

This is where the tradition of Portuguese Sweet Bread comes in. The only parts of the meal I remember are scrambled eggs, fruit, linguica (Portuguese sausage) and sweet bread. Ahhhh, the sweet bread! My mom baked it the day before, and it was torturous to not be allowed to snack, nibble, and sneak the bread. Especially the dough as it was rising. Okay, I DID sneak it. Mom always freaked out because "There are raw eggs in that!!! You'll get sick!!!" The dough was sooo yummy, it was well worth taking my chances. And, by the way, I've never known of anyone to get sick from eating dough with eggs in it.

My nieces continue to bake this bread, and my son LOVES it. So, this year, I decided to dive in and try my hand at it. I was going to bake my own Portuguese Sweet Bread.

Truth... I have kitchen issues. I don't cook or bake very much, so I've not developed the "feel" that great cooks have. I have to follow the recipe, ask a lot of questions, and leave nothing to "Oh, you'll be able to tell." No, I won't be able to tell, so you must tell me!

So, I asked my nieces for their recipe. This recipe actually came from their grandmother (their dad's side), though I think my mother used it too.



Anne sent the recipe to me and wished me luck. Paula sent words of confidence and encouragement. Anne kept sending me extra tips... 6 eggs, placed in warm water, bring to room temperature. Use the wisk for beating, the paddle for mixing. The dough will be very pliable and stretchy.

I was getting nervous.

But, once I started, it felt really good to be baking real bread! Traditional. My kitchen was partaking in Easter and in family memories.



Then I came to the kneading. Confusion set it. How long do I knead the dough? My hit and miss baking background brought to mind the idea of OVER kneading and creating a tough dough. Yikes!! How long should I knead this dough?? Do I want to add air to it? Will that dry it out? If I knead it too long, will I kill the activated yeast? I decided to knead it for a short time. I later learned that this was a mistake. After consulting with my sweet bread experts, Anne and Paula, I learned that a minimum of 6 minutes kneading time is necessary--- not 90 seconds.

I kneaded the dough, and made my rolls. I watched them with a worrisome eye. They appeared to rise a little more, so I guess I didn't man-handle the yeast into submission.


It was time for baking. Next mistake. This was just dumb. I have an "easy convection" setting on my oven, but did I use it?? No. I set the oven on convection, but then I set the regular recipe temp and time. Duh!!! Convection baking needs to be set at a lower baking temperature, and it takes less baking time. I didn't make those adjustments.

I didn't burn the rolls, but they were more biscuity than rolly. Too crispy, crusty on the outside, though pretty good on the inside! When the rolls came out of the oven, I brushed all of them with more butter (the recipe calls for 2 cups of butter... see why these are SOOOO good??). After they cooled, I put them into zip lock storage bags. This was a good move. All that buttery, greasy moisture got locked in with the rolls, and softened them.


Not perfect, but still pretty tasty. My first attempt didn't destroy me. I'll do this again.