Almost the 4th

My first venture into blogging -- it might as well happen around the "country's birthday"! Although, historian that I am, I consider the country's birthday to be closer to the end of the War for Independence, but I also love tradition, so we'll go with it.

Happenings: I had to have the carpets shampooed this past Tuesday, after the dog had a panic attack and pooped on my new family room carpet last Thursday. They did a good job in the living room -- it looks new! -- but I still smell animals in the family room. Specifically, cat pee. Maybe it's just me -- or, as my friend Elise says, it's "stuck in my nose." Not out of the question!

I'm also deciding whether to continue teaching, or whether to move on to something else. I go through this every spring, it seems, and I keep thinking that, if I were truly happy with teaching, I wouldn't go through a period of feeling like I want to get out at the end of every year. This, especially, was a hard ending to the year -- for the first time, I had parent complaints about my teaching methods! That's really a blow. The problem with looking for another job is that there are not many jobs that call for a history degree and the ability to control a room full of 14-year-olds. I'm checking out the Dept. of Ed. and textbook publishers for now.

On a positive note, my lilies are starting to bloom, and I think they're more beautiful this year than ever before. Am I biased? Of course I am! I'll take pictures tomorrow and post them. The Asiatics are about half out, and the first Oriental is about to bloom. I think it's a Stargazer, but I forget every year which are planted where!

Off to knit some more wash cloths -- I'm trying to get ahead of Christmas stuff this year. I think the wash cloths will go in a basket with some lotions and soaps, and maybe some lavender sachets -- I bought a big bag of local lavender at the Farmer's Market last week. I wonder if I could knit a sachet? Hmmm...