Asher Goes on a Field Trip

Today, Matt and Asher had a very exciting day.  It was supposed to rain in the afternoon, so after breakfast, they headed to a local strawberry farm.  They got to ride on a wagon attached to a tractor, that took them to the strawberry "patch."

Asher and Matt got a big box and a cool "green" holder for all their treasures

Matt said Asher took off running and was smiling the entire time

Asher told me he picked and picked and picked allllll the "wed ones because the gween ones are gwoss"

They bought 10 pounds and brought home about 8.  Asher says they are yuuu-uuumy!

I will be making freezer jam with most of these.  My family likes freezer jam muchly.

Wanna hear a secret ?  I actually dont like strawberries... or any fruit.  Isn't that awful?! I really wish I did, but I just don't... well, except pineapples.  I LOVE them.  We need to move close to a place where one can buy those locally.  I DO like jams though- as long as the seed amount is very low... so I am going to see about a sieve for these babies- at least one batch, anyway.


After that, Matt took Asher to the local potato chip factory.  He called ahead, and they were making chips today- they do not make them every day in this economy, sadly.

Asher REALLY REALLY LOVED this

And! They bought some really fun ones ;-)

  They make an EXCELLENT sweet potato chip that I LOOOOOVE

As for me, I went to two workshops today and packed up part of my office.  I really do not like moving, and packing up 2 labs, and prep rooms is not fun.  Those are done, praise GOD! (seriously), but my office isn't.  Luckily, I have not brought in a whole lot, knowing that we were moving soon, so... it is not going to be to bad, but going through all the papers... ugh...

Anyway, I went to two workshops.

I learned how to design team-based applications from the ground-up and it was AMAZING! Seriously, the best workshop I have ever, ever attended.  It was absolutely transformed how I will teach because now I know HOW to be a better professor and actually design appropriate in-class exercises for lectures.

THEN, I went to a mentoring session, as I was asked to be a student mentor by a department last year and I was a work supervisor, and they want me to mentor kids too.  Today, we learned how to build a relationship of trust and disclosure by doing some awesome activities.  I colored a mandala print out (which I loved) and the lady told me I was the most-meticulous, detail-oriented person she has met :-)  Then we did some breathing exercises (which normally wig me out) and grabbed a stack of magazines, tore out photos that "spoke" to us, and made a self portrait.  Above is mine.  What does it say about me?

The breathing was not nearly as awkward-feeling as it has felt in the past.  While we were breathing in, doing arm movements to "inhale" "exhale" the lady said some things that were great- "breath in, and be kind to yourself, breathe out, and expel your fears... breath in and feel peace, exhale and push away your fears."  I really liked that.

So Asher had an amazing day and I did too- though it was "work."  I really do love my job, there are so many opportunities there.  I wish more people would take advantage of all there is for us.

At Kroger, I found this stuff...

I had Biscoff cookies one time on a plane, and I saw them this winter, at a store and I bought them- so good.  My curiosity "got" me when I saw this stuff and it is really amazingly, good.  I had to find a recipe to use it, because  I could seriously have eaten that out of the jar.

Soooo, I made these and they are heckuva-yummy!

After all that, I looked at my evaluations and they were all so nice, except one- my first negative one ever in the fall.  I have had mediocre ones, but never a straight-up negative one before that.   The person said I never started class on time, I was not available for office hours, I did not give enough direction, I lacked enthusiasm... wow...It is really unsettling because I have no idea who it was and why they did not like class.  Ugh.  Anyway, it was good to have good ones this time. 

Asher has become obsessed with drinking his "tea" (juice) from these teeny espresso cups.  I always get a little nervous because they are one of my favorite things- and they are a gift from my friend, Ana.  He is pretty cute drinking from them though, and he does treat them carefully.