Keeping My Head Above Water

Just a quick update to let you know all is fine.

I am in week 4 of 6 weeks of non-stop testing.

Things should resume to normal in a week or two.

B+W Wednesday

Friday afternoon, Isabel and I headed back down

to Saint Augustine to photograph my dear friend's daughter

getting ready for her prom.

The first shot is of Olivia and her grandmother.

I just love the expressions on their faces.

Pure love for each other.

The gown was an incredibly iridescent blue satin

that looked and moved like water.

Isabel couldn't have been happier.

She felt like she was in a princess movie.

Join in on the fun by popping on over to Lisa's blog

to see some more photographs.

Happy Mothers Day

The moment a child is born, the mother is also born.

She never existed before.

The woman existed, but the mother, never.

A mother is something absolutely new.

~Rajneesh

Backyard Vistas

We spent most of the weekend in the backyard...

working, weeding, digging, watering, playing.

So good to get your hands in soil.

Our first tomato is just about ready to pick.

It will be the first one I have ever grown.

I am so excited to taste it.

We have basil growing as well.

Can't wait to eat them together...

maybe with some fresh mozzarella and balsamic vinegar.

Yum.

The Ligustrum

and Confederate Jasmine are in full bloom.

The crepe myrtle foliage has arrived

as has the Satsuma Orange tree.

and we had out first hummingbird sighting this afternoon

at the honeysuckle.

Who knows what exciting adventures lie ahead this summer?

B+W Wednesdays: Yard Work

Snapshots during a break from

working in the backyard this weekend.

Though some of the pictures are not all that sharp in detail,

I love the range of looks they hold ...especially in the eyes.

The first shot is a classic Isabel smile... with very happy eyes.

She is a very happy kid... but she is also VERY funny.

I just LOVE the character of the second and the last ones.

They crack me up and show a more complete side of mini Me.

[I really do wish she would get over her fear of the camera, though.]

; )

Check out more other photos from some amazing folks over at

Let the Testing Begin!

Welcome May... ye month of flowers, birds, sunshine and...

non-stop testing.

Starting Monday, my poor students embark on over four weeks of testing.

Teaching at a college prep school is such an extraordinary experience. I am that rare person who loves her job and looks forward to going to work each day. I know how blessed I am and never take it for granted. I absolutely adore my students and am so thankful to be able to spend my days among the life, energy, laughter (and occasional teenage angst) of freshmen students. Their ability to juggle the demands of a rigorous academic load, innumerable extracurricular activities and the general stress of being an adolescent astounds me.

The culmination of all their AP and IB courses is the exams. This is in addition to their final exams, county EOC (end of course exams) and MAP exams. I really don't know how they do it. I can barely figure out the proctoring schedule for the next month!

And so, during this final weekend of possible rest, I wish all my students clarity and presence of mind, peace and calmness of spirit. Stay in the present and know how amazing you are.