Hi, How'dy, How are ya?

Welcome to "The Country Schoolmarm"! Get yourself a cup of coffee (I take mine strong with vanilla creamer), grab a seat, and chat a while! Isn't that what country friends do? Now, all we need is a porch...

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

You are all so kind...

Thank you all for your prayers!  Here in Lancaster, PA, I am fine.  My family and home are fine.  I need to inspect the house now that it is light out. God's hand of protection was very evident.

Wind, rain, and snow flurries are still on the "menu" for today and possibly tomorrow.

What a storm!  I have never felt wind like that!  It was so scary! I was looking out of our French doors to the deck last night.  The wind was gusting against the doors so much that I could feel them moving.  I wasn't sure that they would stay closed even with the deadbolt.  So this genius continued to look out the window to see if any trees would snap. DUH!  They did look like they were doing Yoga positions. 

The changes in pressure made my ear hurt so much. It felt like it would explode.  This was because of my cold and then extreme low pressure. 

We also have 7 inches of rain at this point. I also had a furry barnacle attached to me at all times.  Such a good, furry little buddy.  But, those are all minor in contrast to what you see others have suffered in other places.

Storm is not done yet.  Still wind, rain, and now snow showers!  Yikes! Thank you for your continued prayers for the East Coast! God is in control is a "very present help in our time of trouble".

Thanks again for your love and concern! Time to get some coffee!

Blessings,
The Marm
Leaves are all gone...
We couldn't get the fence down.  A friend borrowed our drill...  Oops...
Yikes!
1 inch of 7 total inches

Monday, October 29, 2012

Happenings...




Newest pinkeeps- I love the wooden one- a old treen cup with carved rings!
 
Making Signs- Printer, Carbon Paper, & Paint!

Goodwillin'...

Wreaths- Target, $1 for 2.  Pumpkins- Goodwill, $.50

 
The beginnings of Sandy (Although she has not made landfall yet.)

Check out my little stove- it's my smore maker and some vintage pans... Hope I don't have to use it!
 
How much rain we have since this morning (It is now 11:30 am).  I am tracking it on my chalkboard in the hall. Rain and wind picking up.  It is not supposed to be here until tonight.  Already scary now. I am going to go take a shower, make brownies, and cook chicken before the power goes out.

Well, I am all up-to-date now with my posts!  I am praying for you all, and I hope you are all safe and well! 

I will leave you with the song from my childhood that has just popped in my brain the last few days...

"How Can I Fear?”
by Ron Hamilton (Patch the Pirate)
 
 WHEN SHADOWS FALL AND THE NIGHT COVERS ALL
THERE ARE THINGS THAT MY EYES CAN NOT SEE,
I’LL NEVER FEAR FOR THE SAVIOUR IS NEAR;
MY LORD ABIDES WITH ME.

HOW CAN I FEAR? JESUS IS NEAR,
HE EVER WATCHES OVER ME.
WORRIES ALL CEASE, HE GIVES ME PEACE.
HOW CAN I FEAR WITH JESUS?
 

WHEN I’M ALONE AND I FACE THE UNKNOWN
AND I FEAR WHAT THE FUTURE MAY BE,
I CAN DEPEND ON THE STRENGTH OF MY FRIEND,
HE WALKS ALONG WITH ME.

HOW CAN I FEAR? JESUS IS NEAR,

HE EVER WATCHES OVER ME.
WORRIES ALL CEASE, HE GIVES ME PEACE.
HOW CAN I FEAR WITH JESUS?

JESUS IS KING, HE CONTROLS EVERY THING;

HE IS WITH ME EACH NIGHT AND EACH DAY.
I TRUST MY SOUL TO THE SAVIOUR’S CONTROL;
HE DRIVES ALL FEAR AWAY – AWAY – AWAY!
HE WATCHES OVER ME
I WILL NOT FEAR……..WITH - - - - - HIM. 


Blessings,
Heather

Country Fall Vignettes

Happy Fall, Dear Friends!

Blessings! 
Heather

A Week in School... Before Substitute Sandy...

The drive in one morning.  I had to break in the middle of the road and snap this picture.
Excitement for the week.  A hot air balloon almost landed in the playground.  This picture was as it made its way over the Turnpike.  I didn't know what was going on.  All of the sudden, third grade started screaming like banshees and pouring out of the building.  My class pressed their faces up to the windows.  The Schoolmarm was panicked that the building was on fire.  Apparently I was the only one...
Lesson for the week in Science- Force and Motion.  Teaching students to calculate speed was like pulling teeth... Ugh.
Morning Mission- To "Duke Out" their science homework.  That means to go over it with a partner, BUT if you disagree on an answer, you must "duke it out" and explain or prove how you got that answer.
Working on the floor- Students have the opportunities sometimes to work around the room or even the floor. Here they are on the floor "duking out" the science worksheet.
My one dear boy has been planning his devotions for weeks.  He started by giving them questions to write about before hand in their Reflection Journals.  Then, he asked them to guess what his lesson would be about from looking at the questions.  He also outlined what he would be discussing before he started.  His topic- how to choose friends. This boy has teacher skills!  He went over a bit in time.  He was very apologetic.  I said that God put it on your heart, and it needed to take as long as it needed.  There was good discussion, although a few behavior problems he had to handle (Devotional leaders are truly in charge).  It was funny because he is frequently one who can be a stinker.  When the kids were acting up, and he was getting frustrated, I asked him, "Do you get it now?  Do you feel my pain."  He answered emphatically, "YES!"  God works all things for HIS good purpose!
Here he is reading his devotional.  His frequent "Partner-in-Crime" is beside him.  Their conversation when the blonde boy was selecting people to pray when he finished his lesson killed me:  Partner- "I want to pray." Leader- "Are you going to behave and not be silly?" Partner- "You know I never joke about prayer."  Love it!!!!

Using the Smartboard to identify parts of speech in sentences.  Each student comes up and writes the part of speech above the appropriate word.
Gold Star Extravaganza! This dear boy shines like the night sky!!!



A warm sunny day to drive home with the sun roof open.  Not a cloud in the sky!  Love it!!!

Well, that's it!  Thanks for stopping by! No school for the next few days at least because of dear ol' Sandy.  I like time off, but not so much for scary things.  Parent/Teacher Conferences on Thursday and Friday.  I wonder what will happen there!?  It is all in the Lord's hands!  Be safe, dear friends!  Lord willing, I will talk to you on the flip side of Ol' Sandy!

Blessings,
The Marm


 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock."
Matthew 7:24-25

Saturday, October 27, 2012

PRAYER NEEDED!!!

You may have already seen this, but please keep Karen at "My Colonial Home" and her family in your prayers.  Here is a link to her post about this sad time in their lives.

http://mycolonialhome.blogspot.com/2012/10/say-prayers-for-my-niece-and-family.html

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Pinkeeps

Pie Pinkeep
     Here they are... Pinkeeps. They are all vintage containers.  So, yeah.  I have more containers.  I ran out of fluff. I am a Fluffer-Nuthin'...



Ode to "Coffee Cake in a Cup"