What teachers do in the summer - - nuntium duocentesimum vicesimum sextum

I have to admit that as a kid I never wondered what teachers did in the summer.  Nor did I think about their evenings, weekends or anything else.  To me they were just part of school.  Sometimes I wonder if that's how kids think of me.

But summer- now this is magical time to me.  Maybe part of that is living here in Minnesota where there is such contrast between our seasons - I'm not sure.

Here's what summer means to me:
-Traveling with students, this year to Italy.  What complete and utter fun to share with them the places I love and they have been learning about.  I typically don't post pictures of my students or children but most of them are making such goofy faces that they are unrecognizable so I will break this self-imposed rule.

And yes, this is my sense of humor.  "Kids, stay in the Colosseum when I go out.  Go over to there and when I get outside, go right up to the gate and look pathetic. This will be the picture I send to your parents today."

-Having time to cook like I want to.  This is our dinner from last night, mushroom risotto.  It was as good as the one we had in Sorrento and I had the pleasure of cooking with my daughter.

-Being able to sit and enjoy my patio, whether tatting or doing schoolwork (yes, really.)

Not too bad for plants who lived in the house during the winter.  I'm so excited that the jasmine is going to bloom soon.

Scheduling things whenever I want to.  Doctors, dentists and even lunch with Happy Bluebird this coming week!  Hard to imagine that I might be excited about a mammogram but at least I can go any time.

Visiting my family.  Since they live several hours away, I always make the origami mice for the following school year on the way.  I don't do much origami anymore but I make these for each 6th grader and use them for teaching prepositions.

Almost finished, just three more steps.  (There are 40 more mice in two other cups.)

Just plain resting and thinking + tatting.  I got behind in Italy so I'm on row 13  (especially since I screwed up on 11 and had to cut off a portion and redo).

What a wonderful life!