A Month of Memories!

Spring has sprung and we have been busy with Impact Basketball, yard work and gardening.  A few weeks ago we tilled a portion of my organic garden and planted some spring produce, such as radish, spinach, kale, etc.  All of the spring flowers are blooming.  We picked mayflowers and dug wild leeks.  While picking we discovered a heap of dung and looked up to see the depositor, a large porcupine, above in a tree.  At school, the kids were excited to discover that the tulips that we planted had bloomed.  There is a mallard duck nesting in our school flower bed and each day the kids and I peek in hoping to see ducklings.  Last weekend, we drove to see Brock University campus.  It was lovely.  The grounds were well maintained and there were lots of flowers and bushes in bloom.  I think Adrian will be happy there!

Opening the garden!

Adrian the tiller!

Mom and son team plant for the future!

Wild leeks make great soup!

Dreaming of Brock, perhaps?

Ahh, the annual mayflower walk!

Prickly Porky!

Lots of fertilizer!

Mother Mallard!

Grade 4 Tulips!

Grews on the Path of Possibilities!

Second Boil!

It is Easter weekend and we enjoyed Good Friday immensely!  Pat was working in the sugarbush with our friend Nick.  I went out to check on the boil then went to check out my garden.  There is still snow on the field but it won't be long before things start to grow.  I spotted the tracks of turkeys nearby.  Last summer they helped themselves to my tomatoes.  Perhaps they are hoping for more this year.

Nancy checks the boil!

The Garden Wakes Up!

Turkeys Lurk Nearby!

New Blog!

Want to see more Grew's News?  You will need to follow me at the new link below as I have reached my free limit for photos at this site.  You can now follow me at:

http://grewsnews2.blogspot.ca/

All Done!

Tonight Marion made her second appearance on Jeopardy.  She came in second in this semi-final match.  Unfortunately, that meant that she did not advance to the final.  Her family was still very proud of her though.  Way to go Wingler!

Terrific Teacher!

Doing well!

Good-bye Alex!

Volleyball All-Stars!

The Grews were at Regi last night for the city Volleyball All-Star Match-up.  Adrian was selected as one of three players from Frontenac to compete in this fun event.  Many parents were in attendance to watch these highly skilled players have a good time on the court while they showcased their talents!  Go boys!

Frontenac Junior and Senior All-Stars

Adrian jumps for a kill!

City All-Stars

The boys and their coach!

Carter, Adrian and Dylan Shine!

Powerful Women!

On Saturday morning I joined the participants of the "Women in Action" conference at the Gananoque Inn.  This powerful workshop was geared to educate members about how they could develop their leadership potential and increase their involvement in the work of the Federation.  The workshops were very relevant, the women inspiring and the setting was relaxed and comfortable.  What a magnificent weekend!

Powerful Women!

Inspiring Participants!

She Won!!!!

Yahoo!  Marion, my niece, won her quarter-final match tonight on the Jeopardy Teachers' Tournament.   We had a pizza party to celebrate and watch the show.  My parents, die-hard Jeopardy fans were in tears at the end when she answered the Final Jeopardy question correctly.  Way to go Marion!  Tune in next Thursday for the semi-final match!

A hug from a proud aunt!

Grandma watches on!

Cousin Marie and Grandpa smile as Marion gets another answer!

Mr. "Mo"vember!

Doing well!

Even better!

The Final Jeopardy Question!

She won!  Yahoo!

Jeopardy Teachers' Tournament!

Marion Meets Alex!  Two Great Canadians!

Well, this is the week.  My niece, Marion Penning, will appear on Jeopardy this Friday night in the Teachers' Tournament.  Marion applied on-line about 6 months ago.  She was selected for an interview and was then offered a spot on the tournament.  She is one of 15 teachers chosen from across the USA to compete for a grand prize of $100, 000.  The taping of the show occurred on October 1 and 2 but as a condition of the show Marion was not allowed to tell us how she did.  We will all find out tomorrow at 7:00 p.m.  Tune in and join the fun!  Go "Wingler"!!!!

You can see her profile at:

http://www.jeopardy.com/minisites/teacherstournament-s29/contestantvideos/index.php?video_id=5029

Pumpkin Carving with My Boy!

Tonight, Adrian and I carved three pumpkins for Hallowe'en.  As Adrian put the finishing touches on one of the pumpkins I couldn't help but feel "sappier than a sugar maple"!  Next year at this time Adrian will be away at University and I'll be carving on my own.  Boo hoo!

Watch out!

Beauty Dog enjoyed the event!

Pumpkin Harvest!

On Saturday, October 20th, Mom, Dad, Pat, Adrian, Beauty Dog and I went out to the garden to harvest the pumpkins.  It was a beautiful fall day and as you will see from the photos the colours were extraordinarily beautiful.  It wasn't long before the truck was filled and altogether over 40 pumpkins were delivered to my home and to my classroom.  The children will be surprised when they come to school on Monday to discover that a pumpkin awaits for each of them.  We will use these class pumpkins to inspire future reading, writing, math and science lessons!

Beauty and I check out the crop!

The Truck is full!

Garden slowing down but still swiss chard, kale, parsnips and brussels sprouts to harvest!

A late fall blossom!

Harvest is done!

Later, in the evening we drove to Belleville to watch my brothers play, "The Importance of Being Earnest".  http://www.intelligencer.ca/2012/10/12/an-earnest-offering  My brother Dave directed this hilarious play, written by playwright Oscar Wilde.  The action takes place in class-conscious England near the turn of the last century, at a time of transition from the Victorian to the Edwardian ages and when the aesthetic movement, led by Oscar Wilde, was at its peak.  After the play, Mom, Dave, Pat and I joined Dave for wings at a local restaurant and wished Dave a "Happy Birthday" when the clock struck midnight.  Happy Birthday Dave!

Education Workers Fight for Democracy

Today, at a joint press conference, ETFO, OSSTF, CUPE and OPSEU Presidents announced that they will file Charter Challenges with the Supreme Court to fight Bill 115, a bill which denies education workers their rights, guaranteed under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  In addition, a full page ad in the Toronto Star encourages teachers and all Ontario citizens to answer this question:

"How can we tell our students that democracy is worth fighting for if we do not fight for it ourselves?"

To hear the details of the press conference check out the links below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX7TtKIoi3s



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVpPkIknykU

Thanksgiving Dinner at Dave's

Just returned home from a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner at my brother Dave's in Prince Edward County.  All of my siblings made it home this year so all five us were together for the big feast.  Altogether, there were 21 family members at the table and good food was enjoyed by all.  After dinner we had a bonfire out by the bay!

Awaiting the feast while Janice reads a Thanksgiving message.

Family

Cousin Noah... or is that Caveman Noah!

The "Henderson" Clan

Dave and Janice watch the fire!

Take Back the Night!

On Thursday, September 20th, I joined several Limestone teachers and other concerned citizens to "Take Back the Night".  We marched in solidarity to raise awareness about the serious issue of violence against women.  One of our youngest supporters was on hand to deliver lunch bags donated by the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario.

April and her son Parker deliver lunch bags.

April, Sylvie and Parker.

Status of Women Members Take Back the Night!

September Hike!

On Saturday we went on a family hike in Frontenac Park, north of Kingston.  Every year Frontenac Provincial Park runs the Frontenac Challenge.  Participants are challenged to complete 11 trails, totalling 260 km, over the course of two months time.  My dad has completed the full challenge 14 times, my brother Dave, 5 times and I have completed it twice.  I won't be doing the full challenge this year as I am back to work and it is hard to squeeze it in on the weekends but I did complete it last year when I was on leave.  My dad will not complete the challenge, it has been a number of years since he has done so, but he will complete a number of trails and take part in the annual celebration at the end.  Dave has set his sights on a 6 year pin!

It was a beautiful day!  The sun came out and the temperature hovered around 18 degrees celcius.  Pat, Dave, Dad, Adrian and I had a nice time enjoying the green scenery and some quality time together.  At a few points on the trail, I got "sappier than a sugar maple", as I realized that this might be my last opportunity, for some time, to complete a September hike with my boy.  Next year at this time he will be off to university.  This year is destined to be a series of such moments.  Poor Adrian!

The hikers minus Pat, the photographer.

Rugged Trail

A Fine Young Man!

Brother Dave looks on!

Dave and Dad consult the map.

Nancy pulls a McGuinty!

Strike a Pose!