Here is my 3rd of 25 by the 25th. It could happen!
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| motif #23 - not to "snowflake-y" |
Now I've got my eye on Frivole's Céleste. I bought it at once but ....beads. What is my ridiculous laziness about beads? I love them on tatting, I have a bead spinner that just loads those beads right up so what's the deal? I think it's because so much of my tatting is stolen time. I tat whenever and wherever but there isn't very much "just sit down in my chair" tatting. I tat at the ortho, while in the car waiting for my daughter to get done with rehearsal, in meetings(!), in restaurants while waiting for food, anytime my husband drives us somewhere and it's not dark- quite a challenge these days when it's dark by 5:00, anywhere I can squeeze it in but there's not very much "hey, I think I'll go tat now."
Someday!
Read on for a why-I-love-middle-schoolers story.
So, middle schoolers are the best people in the world. They're funny, charming, growing, awkward, gawky, beautiful, happy, mad, goofy, sad, silly all in about a minute! Every day I teach the kids ONE Latin word/phrase that exists in English but is actually Latin. So this was the day for "etc. - et cetera". First there's surprise that this is Latin, and we go through that yes, English is a jumble of many other languages. Then we talk about how the abbreviation is ETC, not ECT which so many people do, but I point out that the first word is ET which means "and" and the second is CETERA which means "the others" and since those two are the words behind the abbreviation, ECT just doesn't make sense, then we would mean "ec tetera"- haha. Okay? Okay. Everyone dutifully writes this down. We use the expression in a few sentences and everyone seems to understand. We're ready to move to the next activity and one of the boys raises his hand.
"Mrs. Vitt, how do you say it in Latin?
"Hmm?"
"How do you say "et cetera" in Latin?
"Et cetera."
"What's the Latin for "et cetera" though?"
"That is the Latin, Name-Removed."
"No, what is the LATIN (said with some irritation)?"
"The Latin is "et cetera"."
At this point the other 6th graders are trying to help poor Name-Removed and me. They are chiming in on all sides. Finally, I quiet them and say,
"Name-Removed, the whole point of these kinds of words is that they are BOTH Latin and English. So the Latin is "et cetera"."
He looks at me with a supremely patient expression.
"I knooooooooow. But how do you SPELL the Latin?"
At this point, I burst into giggles and can't talk.
He shakes his head.
And that is why I love going to work every day and have for the last 25 years. I've taught high school too and they are fun but nothing, like this.
nice snowflake, as for beads, I too can not use beads if I am traveling unless they are strung on the thread either shuttle or chain before hand.
ReplyDeleteYes, middle schoolers are exactly like that. They can be very fun. I am so glad you enjoy your job. When the teacher enjoys what they are doing, the students do so much better. Thanks for being a teacher.
So cute - like the kid who asked his flustered parent where she came from.... The parent produced the birds and bees talk and looked at her child, awaiting a response.
ReplyDeleteBut Dad, do I come fro Buffalo or Chicago....
The tatting is lovely... Beads? I take them everywhere! Just get a good pillbox and a short hook and you're away!
Buffalo or Chicago....haha!!
DeleteI look at that same tatted motif every day, as I have it hanging on a suction cup hook on my sliding glass door to the balcony. I tatted it in size 10 so it's rather large, and I have a tassel hanging from it. I've always loved the design.
ReplyDeleteYour amusing discussion with your student reminded me of the 'Who's on first?" comedy routine of Abbott and Costello, which shows you how old I am!
I immediately thought of Abbott and Costello too! The science teacher and I do a passable version during our 7th grade retreat in February, so hopefully the kids will at least have a reference to it!
DeleteHi Michelle, like your new motif (and those S hooks, must try to find some!). I do hope you will give Céleste with beads a try. As the beads are strung on at the beginning, it's easy to load them up, wind your shuttles and then you're ready to go and can tat anywhere. You can even omit the ones that are added on the picot when you join so you don't need to carry beads with you. This is what I did today as I was waiting for one of my daughters.
ReplyDeleteAnd I really enjoyed your et cetera story! :-))
Lovely motif but it looked more like a cross to me than a snowflake, I have brought Frivole pattern, not sure if I will use all the beads but it is a beautiful pattern.
ReplyDeleteI love your story, I think I might have asked him how he thought he would spell it, I don't think these kids of today think very much, computers do too much of the work for them.
Margaret
Ha! Love the middle school story!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful tat, too.
Love the tatting, and I'm glad to see that you've been able to find a little time to tat. That's exactly why I love working with middle school students! My favorite grades are 5th, 6th, 7th, and PreK... Not such an odd combination, really. :-)
ReplyDeleteBeads are definitely another level. Some are pernickety about what constitutes a snowflake, but it's a snowflake if you say so! Love the et cetera story.
ReplyDeleteReally, I agree with Jane If you say it's a snowflake... It is very beautiful lovely work and I normally not thrilled about too many beads unless I'm in the mood. And love the story too.
ReplyDelete