...favorite salad recipe...

This is one of my most favorite summer salads!

I made a huge batch today to take to a graduation party (Way to Go Beth!!) this afternoon and to our end of the year potluck party at school tomorrow.

I just have to share the recipe with you!

Poppy Seed Pasta Salad

3/4 c. sugar

1 c. oil

1/3 c. vinegar

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. dry mustard

1 1/2 T. poppy seeds

1 red pepper, sliced thin in semi-circles

1 green pepper, sliced think in semi-circles

(I HATE don't care for peppers, so I didn't add them!)

Salad shrimp, whatever amount you want

Pasta, whatever kind you want (I used 2-16 oz bags today)

Cook the pasta on the stove until done. While it is cooking, mix the sugar, oil, vinegar, salt, mustard, and poppy seeds in a large bowl and slice the peppers. When pasta is done, rise and add to sauce and add the shrimp and peppers. Mix together and enjoy. I like to try to make this the night before and keep it in the refrigerator. It kind of marinates and makes it taste even better.

And a picture of Kamryn for good measure. :)

...make life...simple...

When I saw this new pattern on Camille's Etsy, I immediately fell in love!!

So simple! So cute!

I had some a LOT of Make Life... layer cake squares left over from the Pinwheel Quilt Along, so I busted some of that stash with this table square! (I had bought two Make Life... layer cakes for the quilt along!)

I used only layer cakes for the fabric on this pattern - except for the white and backing, which both were from sheets I bought at IKEA.

I made it all in one day - pieced, quilted, binding sewed on - Whew!

Since I only used the pieces of layer cake I had left over, I didn't have quite enough of the green on green polka dot for the border - so I improvised and used the green words on the corners! Cute!

On the pattern photo, the table topper is quilted in straight lines, which I thought would be fun to try - I usually go for stitching in the ditch because it's easy, but this wasn't so hard. I drew out lines every 1.5" and .5" and then quilted right along the lines. The pink pencil lines came out in the wash.

I haven't decided yet what I'm going to do with this. Admire it for right now!

...quick table runner...

I was asked the other day to make two table runners for retirement gifts - deadline: less than one week. AH!

I thought I had two in my stash - come to find out one of them had a weird stain on the binding. So - to the craft room I went. I had been feeling a little out of touch lately - not in the mood for sewing, quilting, or doing much of anything, really. This forced me to get back down there and dig up some of that missing mojo.

Luckily, I have a stash of charm packs. I had thought that I was over this pattern - I've probably made it 10 times, but nope! Especially with that fat ric rac - I still love it!

...today...

Today was a busy day at work - so much to do before the students go home for the summer! I mentioned to my Dad that I didn't get lunch today and he asked what kept me so busy. Well, let's see:

• Attendance appeal meetings for students who've been absent 12+ days. According the attendance policy, loose credit on the 12th day gone...but they can appeal that to the attendance appeal board. The students come with their parents and appeal their case. It's usually pretty interesting.
• Registering students for the August HSPE re-takes.
• Registering students for summer online credit retrieval.
• Handing out summer AP reading assignments.
• Making sure all students who've gotten to 12+ absences are notified and given the opportunity to request an appeal.
• Handing out cheer camp permission forms and collecting them with parent signatures.
• Updating credit deficient lists for class of 2011 and 2012.
• Changing schedules based on HSPE and MAPS results.
• Emailing and phone calls with parents.
• Tracking down MAPS test results.
• IEP meeting.
• oh yeah - staff meeting & counselor meeting today too!

I think that *might* be it. :)

I also was commissioned to make two table runners for MONDAY! AH!

You can imagine my reaction, when Kamryn's mama asked if I could watch her for a little while after school. Of course!! She was such a sweetie hanging out in my office while her mama was interviewing for a new volleyball coach.

She looked adorable in her cupcake onesie and cute pink bow!!

I came home this evening, made dinner, then went over to the Kelly's to pick out our new kittens. We haven't had a cat around for a few month and we've been noticing that the mice are making their way back to our garage & yard. I brought home these two kitties. I think Eliza wasn't sure that I should take her kitties. Sorry Eliza!

I was a little apprehensive as to how Samson would react to them. I introduced him to the kittens and the gray one hissed at him and clawed at him. Samson cowered and wanted nothing to do with them. I think that hiss was enough to keep him from using these kittens as toys. :)

...we survived the farm chicks!...

Mom, Melissa, and I decided to head to Spokane to experience The Farm Chicks Antique Show. I was not sure what to expect, but it did not disappoint! There were TONS of people and TONS of things to look at! It was a little overwhelming, I have to admit!

As we drove into the Spokane Fairgrounds, we were amazed by the size of the line. People were probably having to wait an hour plus. We were NOT excited about the idea of that!

Lucky for us, as we drove in and parked, they opened a second ticket booth, so we only had to wait for about 5 minutes!!

After this week of rain, it turned out to be a beautiful day!

We had our cameras and phones out the whole time to get pictures of things we liked and cute ideas....

be ready for inspiration overload!

LOVE this collection of white frames...

I was loving all the different original booth signs!

Hello...people everywhere!!!

It was fun to run into friends and people we know!

I was so surprised to run into Brie - a good friend from high school! I haven't seen her in a long time and it was good to catch up quickly! We went to Mexico together with 5 other classmates...holy moly...12 years ago!

I loved this....it was only $12 or $14 and now I'm wishing I would've gotten it!

Cute table made of an old painted door.

These necklaces were beautiful...so unique!

Melissa really liked this one and even went back to get it, but their card machine wasn't working, so I guess it wasn't meant to be!

How cute are these mailboxes? What a great idea!

I loved this wreath too - a little bit of everything thrown on there!

And - a Serena sighting! Serena is THE Farm Chick...

So, I didn't come home with much...it was so crowded and hard to really get into some of the booths. Plus, I don't really have a place for all that cute stuff!! I did get some antique hankies for a quilting project, some old keys to make jewelry out of, and a few gifts.

Now that I know what to expect, I can't wait to go back next year!!

...class of 2010...

Last night, the CHS Class of 2010 graduated!

They are a great group and I will miss having them around the school!!

"To Infinity...and Beyond!"

These students were just freshman when I started working at CHS, so we embarked on this journey together! I also had a freshman CAPS class that first year, so I became quite close with a handful of these students.

I'm so proud of these students. There is so much on the horizon for them...I can't wait to see where life leads them!

Mr. Fitzgerald was their class speaker and fittingly, played a song for them. He was a hit!

And - a great picture of Courtney and her honor cords tied in a bow. She's an original!!

This picture is of Drew Jenks receiving the Principals Award. He is so deserving of this award - so proud of him!

This year, the administration decided to give the graduates silly string and beach balls so that they would be used at the appropriate times. In the past, the graduates have smuggled the "contraband" into the ceremony. They've been distracted by the beach balls and silly string during the speeches and awards and appears very disrespectful. Last night, the graduates were given a can of silly string as they exited the stage after receiving their diploma. I think it worked out quite well and so hopefully that will continue to work!

...tribute...

Melissa has started researching how to achieve her dream of teaching dance lessons and opening a dance studio. I think it's in her blood because my Dad's aunt and cousins own and operate a hugely successful dance studio in Minnesota.

Well, this afternoon she was looking around online and found an amazing article about my Dad's cousin Michele. We did not know that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2008. The article Melissa found (HERE) from the hometown newspaper in Minnesota describes Michele's friendship with "So You Think You Can Dance" choreographer Tyce Diorio - and describes how she was the inspiration for Tyce's amazing dance last summer! Wow!

I remember watching this dance when it first aired on SYTYCD and thinking what an amazing, moving piece it was. Now, we find out it was choreographed as a tribute to my Dad's cousin!

Here's a the link to the YouTube video of the dance: Melissa and Ade's Dance.

Here's a link to another article I found: Another Article.

We watched the video of the dance again tonight and it's absolutely moving. And means so much more now! I just had to share....

...modern quilting bee...

This afternoon/evening Jessica and I got together and pieced a quilt top for one of our cheerleaders who is graduating on Friday. I said I'd never been part of a quilting bee before, but I imagine this is what a modern one would be like!

We were across from the table from each other, both piecing the same quilt!

It came together quick and easy and turned out pretty darn cute!

Now for the not so fun part - basting, quilting, and binding!

...pumpkin cupcakes...

I know - you're probably thinking, "WHAT? Pumpkin cupcakes?! It's JUNE!"

I know....I know...

Last October, I made these cupcakes for conferences and my CAPS (like Advisory) kids loved them! Seriously, what's not to love?! Evidence my CAPS class has GOOD taste!!

Last Thursday was our last day of CAPS for this school year and the week earlier, we'd planned a party for the last day and everyone was supposed to bring something. My class asked if I'd bring the pumpkin cupcakes. Really? In the end of May. Yep - they're THAT good!

So, I went to the grocery store, bought myself some ingredients, and made the cupcakes. (Thanks for the reminder, Jessica - I ask you EVERY time I make them!!! It just can't be that easy!)

Since they're so deliciously good and I can never remember how to make them, I'm posting the recipe here for you and me.

Ingredients:

1 large can pumpkin or pumpkin pie filling

1 box spice cake mix

1 can cream cheese frosting

Mix the pumpkin and cake mix together. Pour into cupcake liners. Cook as indicated on the cake mix box. Cool. Frost. Makes 24 cupcakes.

See?! I told you it was easy!

Now you can have pumpkin cupcakes in June too!