Michie Life Update

We grew a garden this summer. We were blessed to get a plot in the Cheney Community Gardens, which happened to be a five minute walk or less from our apartment. It was a lot of work and a lot of fun. Some of the things that we planted did wonderful and others struggled the whole time. Paul and I spent a lot of time planting, weeding, and watering. Sometimes we worked together and other times we went without the other, due to work schedules. We planted potatoes, peas (great success with the peas), carrots (very yummy and big), tomatoes (still green, trying to ripen), lettuce, spinach, basil, dill, jalepenos, green peppers(struggled), crookedneck squash (strugged, but produce a few squash here at the end), green beans, cucumbers(had to replant three times, just didn't want to grow or kept getting eatin by the birds), radishes(had tons), and corn (which didn't produce). It has been fun eating and sharing our harvest. Paul is working out at the airport again at Xn Air, and waiting for EWU to get things in place so he can do his student teaching. We don't know when he will be doing his student teaching, we are hoping that it will happen soon. I am still working at EWU's Children's Center, but I am no longer working with the three year olds in the preschool. I miss the preschoolers, but am glad that I no longer work with the other preschool teacher, who is down right awful and should never have gotten a job working with children. I am now working with the one year olds and loving it. They are adorable and tons of fun, except when all they do is cry all day, but luckily for me I don't have many cryers in my classroom. I have to create lesson plans for one year olds which to me seems rather silly, and it isn't as easy as planning lessons for three year olds. Along with work and gardening I have been doing some quilting, and sewing. Right now I have a queen size quilt on quilt frames in my living room that I am working on. I have a dress cut out and ready to sew together, and a couple of other projects. My only hang up on my projects is my sewing machine, it likes to break needles for some unforseen reason. It will work and then it decides to throw a fit and break things which makes me throw a fit, except I usually don't break things although I want to break my machine when it acts up at times, but I never do. I just try and fix the problem or I turn it off and walk away hoping that is will fix itself. Well that's all for now. Until next time, which will probably be awhile from now, so don't hold your breath.

Lazy blogger....

I am a LAZY BLOGGER!!!!! For all of you who look at this blog and have been disappointed, SORRY. I wish I could say that we have been busy and have been having tons of fun going on adventures here and there, but I can't say that. I am just lazy.

Life in Cheney as we know it...

Paul and I are back to the normal daily grind. Life here in Cheney is pretty calm on most days. Paul spends his time doing lesson plans for his student teaching practicum and playing teacher during the day at an elementary school in Spokane. I also play teacher during the day at a children's center. It is nice being back in the classroom helping children have fun and learn and develop new skills. I also get to learn new things. Right now I am learning how to not let the little things that I can not change or control affect my happiness and well being. I am striving to focus on the things that I can change and that is only myself and what I choose to do and say. Every job has its problems and things that just drive us crazy but if we choose to focus on the things that don't drive us crazy then work can be rather enjoyable.

Northland

We are staying in KeriKeri a town in the bay of Islands on the Northern tip of New Zealands North Island. We have been here for 6 days and will probably stay here until we need to travel back down to Wellington which is the country's capitol where we will be flying from to head back to the States. The Bay of Islands is a beautiful region of New Zealnd. The home where we are staying has a magnificent veiw of the bay in which you can see many islands and the vast ocean beyond them. The sunsets and sunrises here are beautiful. The place here is very peacefull. It is a farm that has been passed down from generation to generation of a family who was here in the early days of settlement in New Zealand. There are many adventures that take place in the Bay of Islands, snorkeling, hiking/tramping, scuba diving, dolphin and whale watching, kayacking, etc. There are two beautiful water falls in the area. There is a lot of history here, both Maori and European. There is a replica of a Maori village which looks across the river to the land where the Maori village once thrived. It is so facinating to learn about other people, countries and there history.

The end is in sight...

The end of our New Zealand vacation is in sight.

It will be a little sad to leave.

We have enjoyed our travels all over these two beautifull islands.

The country is magnificent.

The people are generally friendly and helpful.

The culture is different but the same.

The beaches are warm and beautiful.

The water is cool and refreshing.

The wildlife is interesting and exotic.

The wheather is nice but every changing.

The stars are vast and bright on clear days.

The sunrises and sunsets are colorful and alluring.

The food is normal and strange.

The days are long and warm, when not raining.

Overall this has been a great vacation and many memories have been created.

We will miss the place but love to be home.

Accidents always happen when least expecting

Have you ever thought of removing a finger? I haven't. Just yesterday while cooking dinner, I was able to experience a little of what it would feel like to cut off a finger. I was slicing onions for hamburgers and the knife slipped and cut the tip of my pinky, which went about halfway through my finger. It was a little scary seeing the blood just come rushing out and not really feeling much until later. It looked like it would need stitches because the cut was very deep, but the new zealand doctor said that none were nescesary. So my poor little finger that I almost cut the entire top off is now wrapped and bandaged.

To all of you who look at this blog and have been very disappointed at the lack of updating...I apologize. When on vacation one tends to forget all the things they need to, should do, and even promise to do, because of all the fun they are having playing and relaxing. Alas...I am here now updating this blog. There are new pictures...even though they were taken a few weeks ago. I hope you enjoy them. We sure did enjoy what we did in the pictures.