Greetings and salutations dear readers! I did it! I survived the first few days of inservice meetings and trying to get my room back together for the new school year. š
I wasnāt sure how things would go given the state of things in my district and my health. Our districtās Covid protocol is lacking in my mind while trying to go back to ānormalā instead of embracing change. Being the largest district in my state, we should be setting the example of how to be. Instead, we are found wanting by many. A shame really.
My body seems to be surviving so far the increased activity level. I am trying to do my part to ensure that by making sure I wear the correct shoes (gotta have good support there), a decent chair to sit in instead of on a lunchroom table bench for hours, and using my walking stick instead of my cane to help with mobility. The walking stick helps my standing and walking posture way better than my cane does.
Speaking of which, too many teachers are in survival mode. Talking to them, I can hear the stress in their voices knowing another rough year is in store and trying to put a good face on for those in charge. We have 9,000 teachers in our district and while we are being encouraged to ātake care of ourselvesā or āif you feel sick, stay homeā then being told that there is no COVID leave this year so if we catch it or have to quarantine, itās coming out of our personal leave in the same breath of being told how the district is cracking down on teachers that go into deduct for needing to be gone. š¤¦š½āāļø
Anywayā¦ on a happier note (š haha Iām a music teacher after all). I found a gift from some students last year where the parent had sewn on a bag a ball of yarn and then put a card with a cake of yarn in it to start my year last year. It would have been awesome to get it last year, but this made my day yesterday finding it. You have to understand a couple of things about last year to enjoy this with me though.
Last year, specials teachers (i.e. music, art, PE, library) had to go room to room on a cart so my room ended up as storage. Iām talking wall to wall, floor to ceiling packed. About the time this was decided, I received my health accommodations and was transferred to a different school to teach ESOL students remotely for the year. It was hard to leave, but I loved working with them last year. I love being back and the reception Iām getting from those that have been with me for a bit. The newbies are still trying to figure me out. š The kids thoughā¦ their reactions of joy have warmed my heart SO much. Iām glad to be back and ready to face whatever happens with them the best I can.
In other newsā¦ I had my first official house warming gift delivered yesterday. My eldest brother has been staying with our mom due to some health issues after leaving the service and driving a truck across the country. He has been working on getting a place of his own, but isnāt quite there yet so he decided to give us a kitchen/dining room table for our new home. He also got the grand tour finally after he brought it over and set it up with the help of my husband. Now he has it in his head that he can find a puppy for our kids. š¤š
In crochet news, I plan to work on some new fingerless gloves and a water bottle holder to start the school year. Iāve been having issues with circulation leaving my fingers icy cold sometimes and with the increased activity level, Iām sure to need my water bottle at all times while hopefully leaving my hands a bit freer (is this a word?) in case I need my walking stick or while Iām teaching a dance routine or two. The patterns I plan to use can be found at windingroadcrochet.com along with many others that I love to use including my new slipper pattern Iāve fallen for.
Thatās it for now dear readers. Iām off to start gathering my family for birthday festivities. My daughter turns 9 this weekend. So itās unicorns and baby Yodas all weekend. Until next time dear readers, namastĆ©!
LaClaire Creations 
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