February 7, 2026

 Hi there!!

A very good Saturday morning to you!  It is minus 20, wind 27, and snowing.  Very unlike the beautiful weather on the island and elsewhere in BC!

Ah well, I am sitting here, enjoying my third cup of coffee .  Last night I did my weekly chores of shopping, cleaning and laundry.  I also spent some time making home made Valentine cards for my students.  Today, I am having the local pastor for lunch.  We are having a navy bean soup, cucumber, tomato and onion salad, and frozen raspberries and ice cream for the dessert.  The smallest container of Haagen-Dazs was $14!!

Saturday and Sunday are my favorite days because I get to have at least 3 practice sessions.  One session is technique, one session is jazz/blues/ play along/ and one session is for more classical music.  A friend and I are putting together a set to perform, so I am playing through possible selections--all fun.  I especially like a Klezmer selection.  It has many decorations, and interesting sound effects to try.  I can do some, and others are a work in progress--all about the experience and trying new music.  Last summer, I took a little Klezmer class at the Wilfred Laurier music camp.  It was just excellent--so much fun, and I learned a great deal.  I am tempted to attend Klez-Canada.  This is a week long session in Ontario where the focus is on the music, dance and traditions of this style.  It was a hard choice, between that and two weeks at Interlochen for chamber music and wind symphony.  Wind symphony won out, so Klez next, next summer!!

We are in the bread and butter time at school.  Not too many interruptions lately, and good attendance.  Children are focussed and working hard, so I am seeing the results of consistency and routine.  I am attracting a lot of troubled youth as well.  We run a pretty open system, so kids drift in and out of my class every day.  We have seen a huge improvement in attendance, behaviour and attitude with this style. The students especially love the music class which we are doing first thing in the morning--nothing like a little bit of singing, dancing and instrument playing to get your day started.  It is especially gratifying to see how one little rascal, who at 7 years old, a substance user, has totally turned the corner---ask me about him next time I see you.

Thursday, there was a power outage, so we all spent the afternoon at the bridge, sliding, building an igloo,  ski dooing and visiting.  It was a glorious blue sky, sunshiny day.  Friday, snow storm!!  And so it goes.  

The time is flying by, and I am enjoying it while I can.  

Finally finished the lego car--what a hit!  I have ordered another kit.  The boys put the car together totally themselves, reading and following the directions.

Hurray, I can finally tie my own shoe laces!!


We had to replant the garden.  We have tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and peppers.  Almost ready for potting.

The water plant.  3 years ago, a couple of artists came from Montreal to create the picture.  Every student in the school had a hand in the creation of it.

Sliding hill.

building the igloo

Grandma and her ski doo.

Happy Valentine's Day.

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