Sometimes Time To Be Silly - #6 of 31

         Slice number 6 of 31!  Welcome to the Slice of Life Writing Challenge where we write every day and link together on the Two Writing Teachers Blog of Ruth Ayres and Stacey Shubitz. Even if you don't participate, come visit.  You'll laugh, learn and just have a good time reading!

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       A little more than a week ago we finally had a big snowstorm.  We've been in a drought for several years, hence those fires you read about last summer, and any moisture is welcome, even if I do have to clean off my car.  I was so happy to have it happen on a day I didn't have to go into work and could play a little in the snow and clean the car toward the end of the day.  You hear that I'm rambling.  It was that kind of day.

More From A Master - Slice 5 of 31

              Slice number 5 of 31!  This is the very fun Slice of Life Writing Challenge where we write every day and link together on theTwo Writing Teachers Blog of Ruth Ayres and Stacey Shubitz. 

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Jennifer M. at I Hablo Esplanglish, a wonderful teacher of English language learners with loads of stories to tell, including a loving husband, also wrote lately about another important man in her life, Ralph Fletcher!  Jennifer attended the Dublin Literacy Conference a couple of weeks ago, and right before that I attended the Colorado Chapter of the International Reading Association here in Denver.  I've written one post, about my time with Tony Stead.  This time, briefly, I want to share some of my notes from my experience with Ralph Fletcher, adding to what Jennifer wrote.  Evidently we received different presentations.  She got to write a poem and in my presentation, Ralph talked about keeping writers notebooks.  I think both might be inspiring to all of us who are entering the cooling off period of the challenge.  It's Tuesday, we're thinking, and oh my, there are 26 days to go!

We're All Readers as well as Writers - 4 of 31

 It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a kidlit meme hosted by Jen and Kellee at Teach.Mentor.Texts  Head over to find plenty to choose from!  Plus, there is a terrific meme hosted by Sheila at BOOK JOURNEYS that offers more reviews of all kinds of books, adult and children.   Don’t forget to tweet at #IMWAYR 

              And today is March 4th, slice number 4 of 31!  This is the fabulous Slice of Life Writing Challenge where we write every day and link together on the Two Writing Teachers Blog of Ruth Ayres and Stacey Shubitz. 

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          A good reading one for those who need ideas from non-fiction picture books.  Cathy Mere at Reflect and Refine: Building A Learning Community, her friends Mandy Robek at Enjoy and Embrace Learning,and Julie Balen at Write at The Edge have decided to have a non-fiction sharing day like the fabulous 10 for 10 favorite picture book day that occurred last August.  Please be sure to take a look!

               I’ve been reading some fabulous posts that connect us all these past few days, thus my reading week was exceptionally short.  I did read 4 picture books from the library that were recommended on the 10 for 10 sharing, most written by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page.  I also discovered they live in Boulder.  Perhaps I can find a way to have them present at my school?  Thanks to this incredible team, I now know so much more about animals in special circumstances. 

Goodbyes, Blessings, & Takeaways-slice # 3

3 of 31

Today is March 3rd, the Slice of Life Writing Challenge on the Two Writing Teachers Blog of Ruth Ayres and Stacey Shubitz.  Thanks Ruth and Stacey

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               Yesterday I closed the sale on my cabin in the mountains.  The family who is purchasing is going to love it as we did.  They have a little girl and they’re so excited to do things with it, around it, and to it—just as we felt so many years ago.  

               We have owned this cabin as a leasehold with the government with 5 other cabins in our group in a national forest in Colorado.  The original owner was a forest ranger who spent two summers with his boys building it. We bought it when our children were small, and the owner was older (like us now) and the children were grown and couldn’t use it any more (like us now).  Although this sweet place isn’t staying in the ‘family’, it seems to find owners who will care for it and love being there, in the middle of a forest, with no electricity, no running water, just the woods, the meadow, paths made by deer and other animals, and a stream.  

Frustrated This Week-Two of Thirty-One

2 of 31

Today is March 2nd, the Slice of Life Writing Challenge on the Two Writing Teachers Blog of Ruth Ayres and Stacey Shubitz.  Looks like a terrific weekend!

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          I've been frustrated all week, trying with my IPhone camera since the full "snow" moon, to take some beautiful moon shadow pictures to share.  My new house has lots of lovely old, now bare, and some evergreen trees and I have a wrought iron fence around my property.  Shadows are beautifully 'drawn' by the moon, but I can't get a good picture.  Results are blurry or nothing shows at all. I know, I know, I need a better camera!