Garden Stuff

I should be writing out lesson plans, but instead, I'm going to post some pics from my garden.  I've been enjoying this lovely rainy day.  I worked in my garden today, pulling weeds.  It was like a jungle in there, seriously.

Gardening is always so hit and miss with me.  Some years things grow well and some years they don't.  I can't for the life of me to get a cucumber to grow.  We've never had success with them.  This year my okra was a bummer.  We went camping and they died while we were gone.  We did have great success with jalapeños, green chile, zucchini, strawberries, peaches, and tomatoes.  I say big success on the tomatoes because it was the first time in two years we actually had any.

Mariah Hechler Photography

It's been a huge work in progress this summer, but I'm ready to post up my photography website.  I will be adding more landscapes that will be available for order as time goes on, but I'm pretty happy with it!

You can go here: Mariah Hechler Photography to view it.

I'm Still Alive, People

I've been EXTREMELY busy with school starting up.  It has been a bit more overwhelming than expected.  In fact, my feelings reflect the children in this photo and the one not in it.  Basically, don't look at me, I'm tired, and I'm in bed.  Well, I wish I was in bed.  I can't sleep during the school year.  I wake up and think about all of the things that need to be done.  Educating children is fun, but it's a hard job.  So, I promise to be more active as soon as I recover from all of the beginning of school year stuff.  

Summer Is Over...long post

So, you all should remember the post where I posted all of our summer goals.  So, let's go over each one.

*Swim 1 mile a day…okay, that one was more difficult than it seemed.  Mostly because I had to swim after the sun went down.  It was too darn bright to swim at 3 pm.  I did manage to swim 3/4 a mile when weather allowed.  There were some days that it was storming so badly only an idiot would jump into the pool and swim.

*Next Goal:  Not let my hair turn green.  It didn't and I actually cut my own bangs. The stupid selfie camera makes more forehead appear larger than it is.

*Go on a huge hike:  Well, that didn't pan out.  We did do the Pine Trail at Aguirre Springs.  I nearly died made it through just fine.  It was really hot and much steeper than I planned on.

*Organize the garage:  We organized the heck out of the garage.  It took five days and a load to the dump.  It also took two loads to Savers for donations, but we did it.  Then, all of the remaining things were on the kitchen table.  It took me two weeks to clear it off, but its done!

*Grill like crazy: Yes, we grilled a lot of food.  I have more pictures, but they are on Erik's phone.  He's on Instagram as @grill_new_mexico

*Donors Choose:  Got that taken care of https://www.donorschoose.org/project/hands-on-math/2677610/?rf=page-siteshare-2017-08-ifproject-teacher_3488764&challengeid=20727360

*Have fun...We did have a lot of fun.  I really enjoy the boys more and more each day.  I think it's because it's not so hectic anymore.  When you are going through the diapers and crying, it's so overwhelming..  Actually, when we cleaned out the garage we found and old video camera and we found priceless videos. Both Erik and I cried a little bit because it went by so fast, faster than we could keep up with.  As the boys get older and less demanding, I feel its easier to just slow down and enjoy them.  They are funny.  They are in love with The Office and I can't fault them on that because its the best...That's what she said, Ha.

Happy End of Summer.  It was great!

Something Crafty

I know one of my goals this summer was to be crafty.  I've done a little bit of that.  Remember, I bought this journal?  I have done quite a bit of pages, and some of them will remain private.  I feel like this journal allows me to be more personal and to share more personal thoughts.  Therefore, some of them will just be for us.  But, I wanted to share these layouts with you today.  They aren't flat because I didn't want to have my hands in the picture holding them down.  I hope you enjoy them and that you feel inspired to make a journal for your family too.  

Donors Choose: Hands on Math

Hey everyone!  I've finally gotten to posting my Donors Choose Project.  I am asking for math manipulatives for my classroom.  For the least three years, I've had none.  I've had to borrow them or make them myself.  I've also purchased some them.  I'm sharing my project here, in case you wish to donate or even just share the project.  Sharing is caring, ha!

https://www.donorschoose.org/project/hands-on-math/2677610/?rf=page-siteshare-2017-08-ifproject-teacher_3488764&challengeid=20727360

That's the link to my project.  If you wish to make a donation you can use the code, LIFTOFF and they will double your donation up to $50.  Thanks everyone. I really wouldn't share this here, but I'm sort of desperate for the supplies.

The Story of the Pie

When I was a kid my grandfather would make a peach pie every Sunday.  I would sit there and watch him while he peeled and sliced the peaches.  He'd also roll out an extra piece of dough and fill it with brown sugar and cinnamon for my grandmother.

Years later, when I grew up, I asked my grandfather for his recipe.  He couldn't remember it.  I really can't blame him because it was never written down.  As I sat as a child and watched, he sort of just threw everything together.  Each Sunday we just ended up with this great peach pie.  It was stored in my grand parent's kitchen cabinet too, on top of their plates.  It wasn't refrigerated.

This summer we finally got peaches off of our peach tree.  There weren't a ton because predators such as our dogs hunt for them on our tree.  Oh, and the birds…but mostly the dogs.  Our yard is littered with peach pits.  The boys have been eating them, too.

Anyhow, the peaches were so good.  So sweet.  I was inspired to make a pie just like my grandfather did.  So, we all worked on it.  I followed several recipes.  There was really no rhyme or reason to it.  I feel that's fitting because no recipe was ever followed for Sunday pie.

The taste tester

Mixing it all up.

I'm really, really bad at dough.  Any kind of dough, so Erik had to take over.  Okay, I actually begged Erik to fix my disaster, and he did. He always takes care of everything.

Right before the pie goes into the oven.  I'm totally winging this BTW.  

Even Maddie is proud of it. 

Overall, it was delicious. We did a great job on the filling. It tastes like my grandfather's. We need to work on the crust, though. Seeing how this is the first attempt at homemade pie from scratch, we're pretty happy with it.