Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Living in Iowa


Frank hit a deer today. He is alright....the deer, not so good. Either is the car. There seems to be a history of deer/car collisions in the family. ( My Father could write a short novel) Frank's first deer collision was with the blue station wagon while going to a Fourth of July celebration in Albert Lea, MN. I no longer believe in deer whistles. They definitely didn't work. The second collision was when Frank and my daughter were returning in the school car from a music event in Fort Dodge, IA and they hit a deer. The car was totaled. Both of those events were at nighttime. On this occasion it was broad daylight. Frank says he saw a deer in the ditch and when he looked back up there was one directly in front of him on the road. The front of the car, the grill is missing, the hood is pushed back and it looks like a few weeks of a disheveled car.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Born Digital

I received a new book today from Amazon. It is about the students that have been born since 1980...born digital. I also started teaching my class with another teacher today after school on "On Line Resources. It will run until April of this year. We will be exploring WebQuests and the internet in general. I am anxious to read what the new book will bring to the discussion.
I just finished "Twilight" from the suggestion of my high school students. I guess the movie comes out next week.
Sister leaves for Japan in the next couple days. It will be interesting to hear her stories on her return.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Technology Underwater

Technology is wonderful. I can sit on my computer and pretend I am under the ocean. I am working with a colleague in designing a course for our Area AEA in Online Resources where we will be designing WebQuests. Parent Teacher Student conferences were last week where we used the Artsonia slide show feature to highlight the gallery of artwork done by the students. My students are finishing an advertisement using PhotoShop. another class are making themselves into cartoons. What is in store for the future? I can only guess. Digital education.....

Saturday, September 27, 2008

South Dakota Book Festival

I returned from the South Dakota Book Festival a week ago. I took a day off of work of Friday. (It was Homecoming activities in the high school and I am sure they didn't miss me much) and traveled three hours to Sioux Falls, South Dakota to the Holiday Inn for the Annual Book Festival put on by the South Dakota Humanities. The festival alternates locations with Deadwood each year. I ended up getting two books. One is "Buffalo Bill's America...William Cody and the Wild West Show". by Louis S. Warren. Since I was lived in LeClaire, Iowa I have had an interest in William Cody who was born near there. The other book I got was by "Bombay times: a Novel" by Thrity Umrigar. I heard her speak about her books and India. In fact, I road down the elevator with her. Such interesting people. I also attended a workshop on geneology and on demand printing. I had a great time with friends, eating, and enjoying the sites of Grand Rapids.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Planters of 2008

Beth's Planter



My Planter and Mom's Planter


I think we all did splendid this year and will be ready for another challenge next year for the 2009 season.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Tribute to Stone City
















I spent the Labor Day weekend in the Wapsipinicon State Park near Anamosa, Iowa. This is just a few miles away from Stone City, where Grant Wood painted his rolling hills and stone buildings. This is where Grant Wood had his artist colony in 1933.

http://www.mtmercy.edu/stone/resource.htm
The first photo is the spectacular Anamosa State Penitentiary established in 1872. The second photo is a church in Stone City. The final picture is a mock up of the famous American Gothic home without the farmer and his daughter.