my girlies...

(thank you, Cheri... for leading us to picnik. :D )

Search no more.

I would guess you have all experienced this feeling at some point.

You know you have:
1) seen a product in a store, but now cannot find it when you have decided you need it,
2) at least one of something in your house, but regardless of how long you search you cannot locate it(them), or
3) tried to explain the picture of something, which is very clear in your mind, to a clerk in [name of ten or more stores where you have gone to look for a new one] so he/she can help you find the item you are seeking, only to have them look at you like you have totally jumped off the edge.

While that might be true, that is not the point!

After searching on the internet to no avail, because any combination of terms I entered did not produce the item (had I known the actual name, it would have been the lead item on Google search... go figure), I finally found someone who knew what I was talking about and could ORDER me three packages of them.

BUT, WAIT!! Today (remember now, the order for the other three packages has already been placed), Kate and I were at the University Bookstore in Madison (on a Badger game Saturday, who knew?) and what should Kate spy tacked on to the side of a display?! The device! I said... if it is tacked here, they must have it or know where they can get it!! I proceeded to look around and found two containers FULL of them in various colors!!! For $1.49 each!! Why why why.. does that happen... you find things in your house, when you have already bought another... you order three sets, only to find them for the grabbing in a plastic bin.... never fails.

What are these amazing items????

The Klick-Fix.

You simply adhere it to a surface and "klick" your writing utensil into it... where it is held firmly until you lightly lift it up and out when you are ready to write again. Incredible.

Why do I even need/want it? A couple of the students I see at my school cannot keep track of the pencils on the top of their desks... invariably as soon as they open the top of the desk, they forget to hold on to their pencils and they drop off onto the floor, which may as well be a Black Hole for Pencils.... so then, they rarely seem to have a pencil when they need one, creating additional problems for themselves. SO... hopefully, this modification will reduce the number of problems they experience in any school day by one.

I am the mother of an award-winning photographer....

- Kate L. Barr

Here it is.... Best in Category (People)! Campus Student/Faculty Photography Show 2008.

Part of a family portrait series she shot...

Another month?

How did that happen?

Time seems to have a way of flying more quickly, but then I cannot really seem to determine where it all went.

Let's see.... since the end of September..

1. we went to visit Molly in Menomonie. All of us (doggies, too) went up to see the fall colors before they were peak here and spent a beautiful day outside along the Cedar River Trail, around the town of Menomonie, and hanging out at Molly's place with her and Ella, the spunky kitty.

2. Kate and I went to see my parents, which usually means a trip to Elegant Farmer for one thing or another... this time of year it is Fall Festival time, which means pulled pork sandwiches (we didn't have one of those this year) and caramel apples. The place is always packed on weekends with people apple picking, hayrides, pumpkin choosing. Recently, Bobby Flay, from the Food Network, came there and challenged the makers of the infamous Apple Pie in a Paperbag to a "throw down" ... so now people are even more likely to be buying one of them to see exactly what he will be talking about, when the show airs around Thanksgiving.

3. Molly, in turn, came down to this neck of the woods on October 25-26th, so we could all go to The Overture Center in Madison on the 25th to see "Avenue Q, " a Broadway musical that uses muppet-like puppets and performers to describe early adulthood in New York for some.. in politically incorrect and other on-the-edge stuff. We knew what we were getting into when we bought the tickets, but they still reminded all patrons that "this is NOT a show for kids.. it is NOT Sesame Street." So, that should give you some idea... but it is hilarious, with lots of songs that are difficult to get out of your head.
4. Trick or Treat... as Halloween drew near... on the 26th... when Kate did most of the candy distribution to the brave families that came out on the windy cold day.... those that trick-or-treated on October 31st had a much better evening of fun, I suspect!

5. most of my school responsibilities have included some form of testing ... MAP testing, WKCE testing, IEP testing.... etc.. along with keeping all the kids moving toward their academic and social goals. The testing will keep me busy right up to Thanksgiving break.

6. two days "off" from school for teacher's convention.... the exhibitors there seem to me like a sort of 'trick or treat" for teachers... with the free samples and product hawking going on in between sessions... exhibition hall is my favorite part.... a free flash drive, pencils, pens, post-it notes, note pad, sample game board, free book in the mail, free health guide... :)

7. picking out pumpkins, honey crisp apples, Poyer's pie....making Chex mix...... taking care of the animal friends.... reading books for book groups and looking for interesting sites on the internet with materials for my classroom, especially the digital board, etc. etc. seem to fill in the places around all of the other things...

8. agreeing with my niece, Aleca, on the coolness of the toilet freshener, which I had also purchased about the same time she did.

9. I have to start writing down the funny things kids say at school even when they don't even know that what they are saying IS funny... the adults around then surely do!

With that.... I hope all of you are happy, healthy and having fun with the things that are happening in your lives. :)