When Home is the Classroom

I was never going to be that teacher. You know, the one with the perfect classroom decorations like something out of Classroom Interiors. Fine, there's no such magazine, but there is Pinterest. It seemed like such a good idea-make a tree for the hallway from scraps of construction paper and brown paper bags. Yes, there's oak, maple and elder leaves on the same tree, but where's your imagination? It was all going so well until I decided the tree needed eyes. Instead of some pleasant seasonal decoration, I'm left with a tree that looks like a cross between a Morris Dancer and a startled moose. 

I suppose I ought to explain the owl hanging from the ceiling waving the Canadian flag You see, we bought the owl last Halloween, and decided to keep him up year round, decorating as seasonally appropriate. He wore a red hat at Christmas, a shamrock at St. Patrick's, bunny ears at Easter. When we got to July, I decided to stick a US flag in one hand and the Canadian in the other to celebrate both the Fourth of July, and Canada Day. My head is hiding the US flag. Clearly, he needs an update as we're a long way past July, but with Halloween soon approaching I might just leave him as-is. Around the Year With Owly has been great fun. I wonder, should we give it a second year? When your home is the classroom no one questions why you have an owl hanging from the ceiling, or a tree that looks like a startled moose in the hall. This is our, "normal."

 Also seen (if you squint hard) in the photo is Danny's "Science Table" by the window. There's mounted butterflies/insects, various bugs in jars, boiled and dried chicken bones to form a complete skeleton, and a bunch of other interesting stuff. The Science Table is not to be confused with the Science Box, that holds wires, and circuits, and all sorts of projects. That lives in the basement-science can get messy. Living in your classroom isn't nearly that strange when you already live in a library. This just seems like the natural extension, though our local library would never put up such a pathetic looking tree in the hallway-it might frighten the children. "Mummy, why does the tree have crazy eyes?!" Gawd, the more I look at it, the more I see Bullwinkle.

I'm wearing an interesting (I think) top today. Made by heritage brand Jantzen  from good wool some time in the late 50's/early 60's I found it in perfect, unworn condition at Thrift World. Shoved into the racks between dresses so tattered and stained they should have been discarded if not burned for health reasons, there sat this beautiful little top. I handed over my .98 cents (!) laughing at all the over-priced "vintage" they were trying to sell, and had a good smirk as I took it home. I wouldn't pay $40.00 for torn polyester maxi dresses (I haven't lost my mind, you know) and honestly, I can't believe anyone else will either. Thrift World is having some sort of identity crisis where they can't decide if they are a thrift store or a vintage shop. I'm sure they'll get it all sorted out eventually (when the vintage won't sell). 

 Outfit Particulars:
Jantzen vintage sweater-Thrift World
Pendelton skirt-Goodwill
Shoes-K Mart
Bracelet and earrings-both Goodwill
Pearls-Mum's
Poodle scatter pins-Hand-Me-Ups
Fragrance-Ma Griffe (blech. I'm trying to understand it, but thus far I haven't acquired an appreciation for it)

 Hmm, time for some moisturiser-my arms are looking a bit dry. I am so blind I only notice these things in photos! I'm due for an eye exam, and I'm a little afraid I might leave there with a set of high-powered goggles.

There's new California Pottery in my life. I bought four plates, mugs, and a creamer. No sugar bowl, which is a shame, but should be easy enough to find. I don't know why I love this stuff the way I do, but thankfully it is still cheaply found. Someday it will become collectible, I'm certain. 

I baked two trays of cornbread for Mr. ETB to take to work tomorrow. His department is having a luncheon where the main dish will be chili. I volunteered to bake as I can't imagine chili without cornbread, though in this part of the country they eat it with cinnamon buns! Someone else is bringing the buns. This is a bit more work than most cornbread, but it is so moist and cake-like I feel it is worth the bother.

You Will Need:

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups cornmeal (not cornflour!)
1 1/2 cups plain flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups milk

Grease and flour a 9x13 baking pan. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. F.
Cream together the butter and sugar until light. Sift together the dry ingredients, and beat the eggs and milk together. Add flour to creamed mixture alternating with milk/egg mixture. Do not over-beat. Pour into prepared pan and bake 30-35 minutes or until top is slightly golden and a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.

 The summer garden is winding down, but the winter vegetables are already showing signs of life (hooray for turnip greens!). There's a few more pattypan left on the vines, but I don't think they'll do much beyond this week. I have two peppers clinging on for dear life as well, but I suppose the time has come to harvest them. The larger squash will be grated into a quickbread, the others sliced and lightly sauteed with butter. They were fun, but really took over the garden. I don't think I'll be growing them again next year.

Bird banding starts again for the season on Saturday at Aksarben aquarium (I'm making my excited face...sort of). This weekend is also the Lincoln public library yearly book sale at the Events Center. This is one of the best sales I've been to, and on the last day, the books are sold by the carton. It runs Friday through Sunday. If you can get yourself to Lincoln, Nebraska, it is worth checking out. My best cookbooks come from there.

Hope the week is treating you well wherever you are.