Summer Venison Burgers

 Venison Burgers
2 slices bread, toasted and crumbled
1 egg
1 lb. ground venison
a few chunks of cilantro

Mix these ingredients together and split into four balls.


Other ingredients:
small green pepper
small onion
pepper jack cheese

Chop one small green pepper and 1 small onion. Saute them with olive oil.

Pepper jack cheese (or your favorite cheese). Sliced thick and cut in half.

Split each ball of venison in half, put the cheese slices in between and press the halves back together.

Sewing Project

Last spring I spent some time with a couple of Matt's younger cousins. I taught them a few sewing basics. We made pillowcases and even tested out my new Brother sewing machine. The girls had a lot of fun choosing their own fabrics and trying something new.

Painted Mason Jar

I love Mason jars. We used them for bouquets at our wedding reception because they are cheap yet charming. After the wedding I wasn't really sure what to do with all of them because I didn't know how to can anything.  I used them around the house to hold several random things . . .

but found an idea to jazz them up a bit on pinterest. I painted a couple coats on the jar. Once it was dry I lightly sanded the outside to give it a rustic look.

Some like it hot . . .

It has been HOT here the last week. Like, so hot, that students get to go home at 1:00 every day Tuesday - Friday this week. It's hard because I have a lot to teach them in these first weeks but I do get a lot of extra time for prepping at school since we have to stay the whole day. Thank goodness for the A/C. The poor highschool teachers have to sweat it out each day. But, less than 4 months ago we left school early because of this:

That's our brush pile that we were clearing
from our gardens. And then it snowed.

That's what we get for living in upper midwest. May snowstorms.

This is the kind of snow that is beautful in December & January. . .
May . . . not so much!

A Great Spring . . . and Summer

The spring is always a busy time for teachers. That is why, combined with fun in the craft room and a demand for several cakes, my blogging time was lacking. I was planning to catch up in the summer but alas summer is coming to a close too. In fact, I've already been back to school for 2 1/2 weeks! We began early this year due to a construction and remodling project. We are so excited to have new and refreshed classrooms, hallways and bathrooms. Christmas Break will be halfway for us this year and I get out of school before my birthday. wooohooo! There's always a positive twist right?!
Anyway, I have a terrible habit of beginning a blog and saving it to drafts because my obsessive habit to reread and over-edit cuts my time short. (Not that it really helps - do you ever read something you've written and it seems great but then later you realize you're missing letters or entire words? That's me! and you've probably noticed.) Therefore, I have many blogs of projects and recipes to share with you from the late winter through the spring. As I find time to re-edit once again I hope to share them with you soon.

And THIS is reason #576 why I love 1st grade. You never know what will come from my students mouths or the tips of their pencils. This particular student (from last year) was very bright and apparently I didn't read the spelling test quickly enough for her. I guess it's a vocab and spelling test all in one. Just something to put a smile on your face as a new school year begins!
If you don't find this entertaining it's ok . . . one of my fellow 1st grade teachers always says "We need to get a life!"
Sometimes only Primary Teachers would understand our humor.

4 Years

This month Matthew and I celebrated our 4th Anniversary. My wonderful husband surprised me with these:

He definitely knows me well after 4 years. He was sure to tell me that he got them on sale. I love flowers but don't like spending money on something so temporary. Don't worry, we got to enjoy them for more than a week!

I love you honey!