The Mind of a First Grader - Narwahl's

Picture of Narwahl with a giant whale below it.

I am doing before school care for a first grade boy. I am learning A LOT.  This week he was really disappointed his teacher did not know what a Narwahl was.  He asked me if I did.  I said, " Of Course."  I have been schooled in Narwahl's by Chuck. For of you not in the know a Narwahl is a whale with a horn.

Autism Linky

I Don't Want My Child to be Labeled.  Will a Label Help? Why not specifically dealing with Autism, I think special needs parents all go through this.  I struggle a lot with do I tell others or I do I let them figure it out on their own.  What is in my child's best interest? I wrote What is in a Label? a long time ago that echos some of Renee's thoughts.

Reply All - Episodes 64-67 - On the Inside - Interesting Podcast on a prisoner that blogs who also a convicted criminal who is also autistic.

For years, Paul Modrowski has been writing a blog from inside a maximum security prison. Only thing is, he was arrested when he was 18 and has never seen the internet. Sruthi Pinnamaneni reaches out to him with one small question that alters the course of her next year. 

I share the reporters frustration/fascination in trying to understand if Paul committed the crime. Interesting quote - "Where does the disability end and the personality begins."

12 Steps to help adults with autism find the right job

Supreme Court to Decide: What level of education do public schools owe students with disabilities? - this is an interesting one to watch.  If you ever been to IEP, you often sit there and wonder aren't these the exact same goals from last year just rewritten.  How is progress really measured? In a lot of ways this ties into the discussion on Trumps pick for Education Secretary.

New Method Aims to Quantify Camouflaging in Autism

Inauguration Day

Inauguration Day 2009

I will probably be watching inauguration by myself today.  The peeps above are now graduated, 8th grade, and 9th grade. Time marches on.

Drunken Brawls, Dead Birds, and Dysentery: The Presidential Inauguration Stories You Might Not Know

My One Cent- Mike Rowe comparing the circumstances of  Trump and Abraham Lincoln.  Definitely worth a read

January Edition " What I Read"

Reading Log from Starts at Eight. I am linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit. Check out what everyone else is reading.

The Life We Bury by Allen Esken.  This is a story that really draws you in. I found this book hard to put down.  I read this during Christmas.

Joe a college student is tasked to write a biography of a stranger for his English Teacher.  He ends up writing a biography of Carl, a Vietnam Veteran, who is also a convicted murderer.  Carl is confined to a nursing home with just a few months to live.  Carl spent 30 years in jail for the crimes of murder and rape.  Joe research into Carl's life leads him on some adventures that end up involving another college student and Joe's  autistic brother. This is a bit on the graphic side but the story is really compelling.  Excellent Read!

Wish You Happy Forever by Jenny Bowen

The hot reads table at the library got me again. It think what is so compelling about this true story is how much love Jenny has for the orphans in China.  Jenny not only adopted 2 Chinese girls but she developed an organization called, Half the Sky, that is organization devoted to improving Chinese orphanages by changing the operating practices from the inside out. They worked as partners with China to radically improve orphanages.

Better Than New by Nicole Curtis  - Nicole is passionate about Old Houses, Old People, and Old Dogs.  I found her book fascinating.  Nicole is also kinda a polarizing figure in real life with strong opinions on restoring old houses.  I can see where she might rub people the wrong way.  I found her story interesting and a quick read.  Last year seemed to be the year of flipping houses books with Nicole Curtis's book and the Gaines Book Magnolia House.  I am guessing these are radically different in their take on restoring houses and life. I am on the hold list for Magnolia House.

Almost Royalty Linky Love

Queen Victoria's story is more inspiring and more bad ass, than we have seen before

Queen Elizabeth I's Long Lost Skirt Found

10 Reasons Why Tea is good for You

Unspoken Rules Kids Create for Instagram

A Children's Toy Whirligig Inspires a Low Cost Laboratory Test - This is really cool

When is it time to Walk Away - This is from Christian Author and Speaker Jen Hatmaker.  While she can be really controversial.  I think this is spot on.

Urban Art - Ivy Heart to Get Taken Down

Photo by KGR March 2016

Bellingham, Washington's  Iconic Urban Ivy Heart has to be removed to make way for improvements and development in the Granary Building.  But never fear, there are plans to replace the Ivy heart with a flowering evergreen jasmine with a heart trellis.  Details here 

Time to start Thinking about Valentine's

Yes, I said it.  I have a long history of sending out homemade valentine cards.  Every time I say this is going to be the year this madness stops but some how some way the valentine's just get made. I personally like to re-mail my valentine's through Loveland, Colorado (my hometown) Below are some links to Valentine's I have done in the past

2016 - Year of the STENCIL and Star War Cards

 2015 -Where I Stab my Finger

2014 - Folded Madness - Origami Valentine's

2013 - Chalkboard Valentine's

2012- The Scribble aka the Longest Line

2011 - Intricate Cut Out that makes my hand cramp just looking at it

2010 - Sun Catcher 

Linky Love

Why We Refrigerate Eggs

Chip's New Year's Revelation - So well said - Chip and JoAnna Gains

How to Save When You Are Living Paycheck to Paycheck - Love Mavis!  Good Advice even if you aren't living paycheck to paycheck

Because Sometimes Being the Meanest Mom Might Make You Mother of the Year

Things I am loving in the NEW YEAR

Maybe I oversold this post with loving but there is definitely LIKE

Oh Podcasts how I love thee while I clean.  More like when I sit mindlessly at the computer.

Reply All- This is my new favorite.  So far I have enjoyed - On the Inside 64-67 episodes, Lost in a Cab episode #76 and #82 Hello.

Reply All is a show about the internet and trained rats, time travel, celebrity dogs, lovelorn phone scammers, angry flower children, workplace iguanas, and more. It’s hosted by PJ Vogt and Alex Goldman, who launched the show in 2014. - (Reply All website)

Undisclosed -Season 2 - If you enjoyed serial, you will like Undisclosed

Season 2

The conviction under examination at present belongs to Joey Watkins, a Georgia man sentenced to life in prison in July 2001 for aggravated assault, a weapons violation, misdemeanor stalking, and the felony murder of Isaac Dawkins in January 2000. Joey's case was brought to the team by the Georgia Innocence Project.

Join the Undisclosed team every Monday at 6 p.m. EST as they dive into the details of Joey's case -- and try to unravel the events leading up to his troubling conviction. And then check out the Undisclosed Addenda--a discussion show about the case featuring Emmy award-winner and host Jon Cryer--every Thursday at 6 p.m. EST. (undisclosed website)

What I am liking to drink

Stash Tea - Chai with 2 sugar cubes.  Because sugar cubes are the sugar bomb. I know it totally makes me an old lady.

Cranberry Vanilla Wonderland - So delish.  I wish this wasn't one of celestial teas seasonal blends

What I am drinking out of

I received this wonderful cup from Mrs Epi.  It makes me smile every time I use it.

Eagles on New Year's Day

Went on a tiny field trip to see the eagles along the Nooksack River on New Year's Eve Day.  We saw a few but it is hard to get a good photo with a phone.

Eagles in a Tree

Nooksack River

Evidently this is becoming our New Year Tradition - Post from Last Year. The weather was quite a bit different last year.

One Little Word - 2017

I have long been a fan of the one little word resolution movement.  I think we can call it a movement. One little word is where you choose a word for the year instead of a resolution. Check out Ali Edwards post on One Little Word.

Oh, I also love a good list.  I thought I would list my previous words since I began blogging for your reading enjoyment

2007- action
2008- seek
2009- stand
2010- live
2011- act
2012 - maverick
2013- endeavor
2014- evolve
2015- launch
2016 - progress

To be quite honest, I didn't even remember the word I picked for 2016.  Though I have to say it perfectly fit my year.

I choose Burn for 2017.  I also choose a quote but for this year I choose a trio of quotes.