Well, things are definitely better around here. I have heard from Jeni and they are settled in their new home and everyone is fine. Momma is doing okay, I have a great lady who is staying with her while I am at school and that is going very well. She and Momma like each other very much, so that is good.

Today I am determined to do some stitching. For Christmas I was making an afghan with a Gamecock on it for my son. It pretty much fell by the wayside when Momma got hurt. I have finished knitting it but I still have to put the Gamecock on it. The truth is I still have to chart the Gamecock, and THEN put it on the afghan.
I have started a baby afghan for a friend who is pregnant. I'll definitely post a picture. It is a design I have done before, but I am using smaller needles and I love the look, very lacy.

And I am itching to x-stitch. So these are all good signs that I am perking up.

I have enjoyed watching the inauguration festivities on TV and especially enjoyed the concert yesterday. What a wonderful variety of music and musicians and readings.

I have a friend who was there and called me during the program while one of the choirs was singing. That was pretty cool.

So, hope everyone is having a good holiday today. I am hoping for snow so we can stay home again tomorrow.
Jane

Happy New Year!

2009 - it's hard to believe isn't it - I will be 59 on my birthday! WOW!

So, my DD and her family left the country Saturday and will be gone for at least four years. I cannot describe how difficult it was to say goodbye to that baby knowing that it will be so long before I see her again. And, of course, Jeni.
Hopefully I will be able to fly to where she vacations in the summer of 2010. Anyway, that is my plan.

My 91 yr old mother fell on Dec 3 and broke her hip. She had surgery, of course, and was in the hospital and then a rehab center for all of Dec. She is home now, but during all of the testing etc. they discovered a malignancy. [Apparently this has been there for a while.] Because of her age, and the results of the tests, they are not going to do further testing. The doctor said the goal would be to keep her comfortable 'for the next few months'.

I got that news on Friday and Jeni left on Saturday. NOT a good weekend.
I'm pretty okay...I have lots of friends, a strong support group. Please keep us in your prayers. I especially ask for prayers that Momma will not suffer and that I will be strong.

Jane

Thanksgiving Week...amazing!

Hope everyone has had a restful and happy holiday.

I have had a perfectly marvelous week!
Monday I had dinner with a former student, who graduated in '97, and she informed me that she was taking me to see Mannheim Steamroller for my Christmas present. How cool is that!! [I LOVE Mannheim Steamroller, second only to Barry Manilow]

Then Tuesday, another former student ['94] came to school and brought lunch and visited for a while.

Wednesday I stayed in my PJ's ALL DAY!

Thursday, Thanksgiving, Momma and I went to a friend's for dinner. The food was great and the best thing about it was that it was all cooked by someone else!

Friday I had lunch with another former student ['95]. He now lives in LA and is a TV producer. It was exciting to see him and hear about all of his experiences.

Saturday was Mannheim Steamroller and today was the Boston Pops Concert. The director of the Boston Pops, Keith Lockhart, graduated from Furman University here in Greenville. This is the second time he has started their holiday tour at Furman.
It was wonderful!

So, even though I didn't get to see either of my children, or my precious grand baby, for Thanksgiving - my week was filled with lots of other people that I love and some wonderful music.

DD has been great about posting pics of EB on her blog and a couple of videos. That has helped but I can't wait to see her. Since I have seen her she is sitting up and crawling and pulling up and walking along the couch and eating some regular food. She is growing up so fast. I just hope she still knows me.

DS is coming home for Christmas and I haven't seen him since last Christmas. It's the longest I've ever gone without seeing him. I miss him so much. We talk on the phone about every other day, he is so sweet to call because he knows how much I miss him.

I have discovered Face Book. It is amazing and I have gotten back in touch with people I haven't seen in years...from high school, and college, and former students. Someone started a group of EHS Concert Choir Alumni and there are over 300 in it. It has been fun seeing their children and learning about what they are doing and getting together with some of them. If you haven't tried it, you should, it's not just for kids anymore. There is even a group of EHS teachers, past and present.
It's so much fun, but can be as addicting as blogging and reading blogs.

The Winter Concert is a week from Monday. [You know, I am a high school Choral Director] So next week will be full of extra rehearsals, from 7 in the morning until late afternoon. I think it will be pretty good, lots of choreography...one guy is going to dress like Elvis and sing Blue Christmas and another guy is going to be a Disco Dancing Santa Claus...plus old favorites. I'm excited about it and I think the kids are too.

So, while I am singing and dancing the week away, and getting ready for the concert, I hope all of you have a wonderful week.

Hello Again

I am amazed to see that it had been three months since I have blogged. I just haven't been on the computer very much adn I must admit that I have been on facebook.
Through facebook I am back in touch with students from 20 years ago, it's great!

I have been knitting an afghan for my son. He has said for years that he wanted me to make an afghan with a gamecock on it. I could never find a pattern, so I decided to just design it myself. I am knitting the main part in garnet, with a 3 inch black border done in a basketweave stitch. I found a picture of a gamecock on google and, using an overhead projector, drew it on paper on the wall. I still have to draw blocks on it and then I am going to put it on the afghan with an 'over stitch'. I don't know what it is called, and I have never done it, but I've seen others do it. I have been coming home every day and knitting madly, trying to finish it for Christmas.

Daughter and baby have been in Richmond since September. I will see them on Dec 16. I can't wait to see EB, she has learned to do lots of things since I saw her.

School is still wonderful. My classes are great, and Concert CHoir is amazing! We had our first concert Nov. 8. Our winter concert is Dec 8th. I am as happy this year as I was miserable last year.

Though I haven't been writing, I have been reading your blogs. No one probably even comes by here anymore. But I wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving!

School is Good!

Today was the second day of school. My classes are great! The guidance counselors worked really hard to get my kids into the chorus classes, so it turned out not to be so bad. I only lost four. Concert Choir has 31 girls and 30 guys. That is almost unheard of in high school choral music - I am so excited! They sound wonderful! And my Chorus I has 47! and 20 of them are guys!!
It looks like this year is going to be as good as last year was bad!

Back to School

Well, today was my second day back at school and the day that all the kids came for their schedules and books and parking passes etc. etc. I have to say that I had a wonderful time because everyone I saw - parents, teachers, students, even boys - noticed how different I looked. The hair , the make-up, the skin, and most of all the 26 missing pounds. It was so encouraging and did wonders for my self-esteem.

The bad thing was that our new schedule is the most convoluted thing I have ever seen. In 21 years, I have never lost more than 3 students to schedule conflicts. This year I have lost over 30, THAT I KNOW OF. I have no idea of the number in concert choir and the balance. Oh well, I'll just have to live with it and make the best of it.

I am missing reading, which I did so much of this summer. I shall head to bed and read a little.

Happy Stitching!
Jane

Goodbye to One Great Summer

I received the funniest e-mail today from one of my friends who reads my blog. She said she feels like she has to check it regularly during the day, because posts keep changing and even disappearing. She thought she was losing her mind. I laughed and laughed, because I really do that, but I didn't think anyone would even notice. So, let me reassure you, things really do disappear around here, it isn't your imagination.

I start back to work next Wednesday. Well, actually Monday, because I have an officers meeting on Monday to lay out plans for the year and decide who will be in charge of what. Also to get the room set up. They moved EVERYTHING to wax the floor, and just left it in a pile. I personally think that is inexcusable, but then no one asked me. I am fortunate to have students and former students that will come in and help me get it done.

I have had a really wonderful summer. "The Summer of Jane" The best part was that I got to spend a lot of time with Jeni and the baby. But I also have a really good start on finally losing weight. I am rested and actually ready to go back to school. I thought I had lost my passion for teaching chorus for good and was just waiting out the last four years until retirement. But I found it again! I've been choosing music and planning the Dinner Theatre and planning a fantastic trip to NYC to sing in St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Those of you who "know me", know that last year was a difficult year in so many ways. The most wonderful miracle that happened last year was the birth of my precious EB. And the pictures below speak for themselves.






I can hear her thinking "Now there are some really beautiful feet!!"
What a miracle! God is so good!

I haven't been stitching much. Have been making new tops for some flip-flops I bought that have replaceable straps. They are ribbon and with big cool buttons on them. And probably the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn. It's about as close to going barefooted as you can get.

I am also making hair bows for EB and smocking. I had bought a new sewing machine, and hadn't even opened the box. I was a little intimidated by all of the computerized stuff but I am conquering it, step by step.

Still working on the baby blanket. The baby is due in October, so I am going to wait a little while to pull it back out.

So there you have it, I haven't blogged much[and actually left it on] for a while. But I have had one great summer and have enjoyed reading your blogs.

Happy Stitching - or whatever!
Jane