Looking Back

This was the sight outside my classroom window back in February. This freighter was stuck in the ice and patiently waiting for the Coast Guard cutter to come break her free. I don't know what time she got stuck, but our custodian arrived at school at 4:15 am and watched the crew use the search light to try to find a path through the ice. I snapped this picture at about 7:20 - after it was light enough to get a decent shot. By about 10:00 she was free and back on her way.

In a month we've gone from stuck freighters to almost 60 degree (about 15 C) days. I'm still in awe of this winter's weather; talk about crazy! To go from a day like the one pictured above to this weekend with almost 60 degree (about 15 C) days. I never would have imagined that we would be out in short sleeves on Mackinac Island in mid-March!

I might not have imagined it, but I am enjoying it...

Toasty

My first pair of fingerless gloves...

I made them out of a felted sweater that just didn't get very thick after it felted. I suppose I could have thrown it in the washer again, but then you risk over felting it. I thought about tossing it into the scrap bin, but it was such a pretty blue - and I just loved the detail at the hem - I couldn't bear not to do something with it.

We'll see how much use I'll get out of them. My winter coat has a pair built right into the sleeves, so I certainly won't use them every day. But I did take them along to Sault Ste. Marie last week to see how I liked them for driving this time of year. This time of year during most years anyway, it's been so warm this year. Warm and weird - it was three degrees one day last week (about -16 C) and then it hit 50 the next day (about 10 C.)

I was heading up to the Soo to go to the ISD (EUPISD) for the last session of MMPI (Michigan Mathematics Program Improvement.) I've really enjoyed it. The whole idea has been to look at standardized test (MEAP) questions that Michigan 3rd - 8th graders consistently get wrong and then look at different ways to teach those concepts, so that hopefully, we can achieve better student understanding.

The best part is all of the PowerPoints and black line masters have been posted on line. If you're a teacher or you home school take a look here; there's some really good stuff! Some of it will make no sense because you weren't at the training, but you're bound to find something useful - everything is hands on and uses manipulatives. But I digress...

Anyway, driving with the fingerless gloves was great. I usually try to keep the car on the cool side (so I don't get drowsy) and my hands get cold. Driving with my mittens on is just cumbersome, but the fingerless gloves were perfect. My hands were warm enough and I could move my fingers to operate everything so I could drive safely. They worked so well, I just left them in the car...

Hallelujah!

This morning Mackinac Island woke up to inches and inches of beautiful white snow.

The front yard looked great,

 but it wasn't until I looked into the back yard that I

realized just how much snow we'd gotten.

Thank you Mother Nature!

Now if you'll excuse me, the kids and I

are heading out for a snowmobile ride,

some sledding, a snowball fight, and perhaps even

a snow angel or two.

We've got to enjoy the snow while it lasts...

And the Winners Are...

#12:  Kate of A Lotta Yadda
#17:  Suzanne of Minou's Minute
#1:  Redfinch

Congratulations to all three of you and thanks to everyone who took the time to leave a comment.

Redfinch, I don't have an email address for you, so please email me with your mailing address.

I'll be back soon with some crafty goodness to share...