Without further ado...

First of all, Gold Stars to all for your time, sharing, and patience in me getting my act together to post the winner.  It was another one of those days... BUT, IT'S FRIDAY!!!!!!

 

 Is my girl cute or what?

 Hmmmmm... Who shall it be?

 And...

 The

 

Winner

 

IS...

 

 

 Theresa!!!

So, my girl was sooooo happy to do this, we decided to pick two more names for a little somethin'. She yelled to the class after all of this, "I am going to be on Mrs. Wise's blog!"  I know the boys looked at each other and said, "What's a blog?"

19- "Kim at "Field of Dreams"

 27 - Patty "Miss Carrotcake" (Inside joke... Sorry!)

So, my dears, if you would be so kind as to email me your addresses, I would be ever so happy to mail it out to you!!!

Hugs and love to all of you!

Heather

thecountryschoolmarm@gmail.com

"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Deuteronomy 6:4-5

FYI...

     Okay, I must preface this to say that my student will pick the winner first thing tomorrow. 
     I wanted to do it at the very end of the day so as not to be using instructional time really. 
     Well,  let's just say, when you play a review game for a test that is tomorrow that they have known about for 2 weeks, and NO ONE knows the answers, and kids start discussing that they HAVEN'T really studied yet (This is one on about 15 countries of Europe- capitals and locations, and the Islands of the West Indies- capitals and locations.  It isn't something you can cram!) They had flashcards, a map, a game on our class website.  When a student tells you that the capital of Puerto Rico is the United States or the capital of Spain is France, you just want to cry.  Just to be fair, they did start this with the sub, but they have known, and we have reviewed it! So, we did not get a chance to pull a name. We were having a "talk".

     But, the game is afoot.  The pieces are in play.  All of the hundred little slips lie resting in their basket ready for an 11 year hand to wrench one out.  If it has Cheetos crumbs on it, I apologize.

Here is a teaser... Yup.  Those are the slips...

Now, you'll need a mask...

Yup, doctor said it was the flu.  They made me wear a mask.  I so wanted to make Darth Vader sounds, but I didn't... I can't go back to school until Wednesday at the earliest. The way I feel, I don't know if I can do that.  But, the thought of writing more subplans... Eeek.

Tamiflu shortage... None to be found.  So, just on antibiotics for the chest thing I got brewing.  What is Tamiflu for?  If I am not on it, am I more contagious?

I am soooo sorry I am not getting around to commenting on blogs.  I am reading.  I am trying now to get caught up and comment, one at a time.  If you miss a whole week, you are really out of the loop with conversations, aren't you...

Well, I am all out of energy.  Thank you sooooooo much for your good wishes and prayers.  It means so much, friends!

Love,
Heather

P.S. Gold star... Find it...

Hi! *Cough*- Get out your Lysol...

     Well, they've gone and done it.  They've given me the flu, those rascals.  Well, this will be quick because the heads a'poundin' and hands are achin'...

     First off, thank you so much for your participation in my "50+ Followers Giveaway" and your Farm Show captions! I have enjoyed reading them!  I am trying to comment as I get energy, but I wanted you all to know how much I appreciated the time you all took to comment.  Your school stories have warmed my heart and made me just bust out laughing.  Some of you were quite the stinkers!

     Oh, I noticed people have been saying that they are having trouble getting pictures to load on Blogger. Is anyone having problems getting others' blogs to load correctly.  When I click on one from the feed, it loads just the post with no other pictures or sidebar items.  But, if I go to the top, and click on the address and just reload it, everything shows up.  I don't have to do this with anything but blogs.  My own even loads weird.  Some of the side bar items are suddenly ginormous!!!! Errrr... Methinks we all need to have a kindly sitdown chat with Mr. Blogger.  

     I found some random pictures on my Ipod that I have been meaning to post. They are quite random, but hey! That's how my head feels!

Warm blessings and hugs!

My "snuggle nurse" taking a break from taking care of me. Sound asleep.  Snoring.  My husband took good care of me too.  Took the day off to care for me. Made me soup.  Then, our microwave died.  Guess it got the flu.

Husband's Christmas present from my brother. It's a nightlight, but Steve thought it would look great on my prim tree.  Every New Year's Eve, my brother and sil come over and we watch A Christmas Story.  We have been doing this for years. Years.  He has only been married for the last two. So, I made a test this year.  I just copied and pasted questions from the internet (ones without answers- I am not a cheater!).  We had to take the quiz, switch tests between families, and then grade them as we watched. And rather than just put the number wrong at the top, in true teacher form, my brother and I automatically calculated the average and letter grade as well.  Steve and I got a C.  They got a D. Hah!

The Noah's Ark birdhouse is a gift from my SIL.  Isn't it adorable? I have it by the tree still (Yes.  It is still up.).  I am trying to think of the best place to put it.  It is definitely an anchor piece.  I think I need to drill a hole in the back and light it.  What do you think?

I found this tin Noah like 3 days after getting the present.  I found it at Good Will!  How perfect is he???

Weather for next week (almost 50 today, by-the-way...)... Guess which day I have recess duty? Ugh.

Well, thanks for stopping by and looking all the way to the end... Reward? Gold Star Question is up! Now, go Lysol your computer. :)

Heather

Gold Star Opportunity...

Want extra points for the giveaway?  See what Gold Star question is up!  Remember... 1st person to reply to THAT comment gets the gold star!  Ready? Set? Go!!!!!!

50 Follower Giveaway!

50 Followers Giveaway!

When did that happen???

  

     Okay, so my mind is boggled anyway.  NO, I did NOT wear two different shoes to school again.  But, um, I was journaling my devotions this morning, and I always put the day's date.  What year did I put?  Yeah.  You would like to think 2012.  You would think wrong.  2011?  Nope. 2005!!!!!! Yikes. Well, enough about that.  Snicker while you read...
 
     Thank you all for giving of your time to follow my blog and listen to all of my rants and ravings!  I appreciate and am blessed by your friendships! It is so lovely to have grown-up conversations through your comments and your own blogs!

     So, to celebrate your gracious giving of your time, I would like to offer a giveaway to you to say, "Thank you!" What is in the giveaway?  Well, for one, one of my pie pin keeps.  And... Hmmm... You will just have to find out!  It will be a "Prim Package O' Fun"!

What do you need to do? Well, let me tell you...

Directions: To be included in the drawing...

1. You must be a current or new follower. 

2. You also need to leave a comment answering one of the questions below.

• What was your favorite grade in school and why?
• Who was your favorite teacher in school and why?
• What was your favorite subject (If you say "lunch" or "recess," I will take away a point.)?
• Share a funny school memory.

3. If you want gold star bonus points, you can answer more than one question. You will get a bonus point for each additional question answered.  Please put all of your answers in one comment.  

4. Please make sure that I can contact you if you are the winner.  

5. Please don't feel obligated to post this giveaway on your own blog- it is fine if you do, but know I appreciate your friendship and participation either way!

How you will be graded: 

I will put your name in a bucket as many times as questions you have answered (so, up to 4).  

I will then have the drawing at the end of the month ^{(January 31st)}. To determine the winner, I will have one of my students pull a name at random. I will need to have all entries no later than midnight of January 30st.

If you have any questions, please raise your hand, and I will answer your questions as quickly as possible.  If you call out... out to the hall with you!

So, gold stars for all of you for being blessings in my life!

 Philemon 1:4-7 

^“4 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, ⁵ because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, ⁶ and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. ⁷ For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.”

Catching-Up Saga Episode 2: Snow, Stars, Shopping, and Stitching

SNOW

Snowy Trees

Snowy Horses

Snowy Roads to Work. Yea.

More Snowy Roads...

Snowy Class- Aren't they cute?

Snowy Field

Snowy Sky

Snow... Nope! Class quietly working on a snowy day... Ahhhhh...

Snow- 3 inches... Called for a dusting. Hah!

STARS...

Starry Child- Emma holds the record.  19 stars (but count to make sure!).

  Shopping...

 The only place I went for Black Friday Shopping... First 25 customers got a $10 gift certificate.  AND from 7am - 9am you got 40% off a Christmas item and 15% off a regular item.  Soooooo, since I live 10 minutes away, I rolled out of bed around 6:30 am, donned a ball cap, drove there, got in line outside of the store in 24 degree weather around 6:45 am.  Waited patiently for about 15 minutes.  They opened the door and guess what? I was one of the first 25!

So, here are the trinkets that I got!  I love the tin star for the tree this year!  And my favorite candle- Gingerbread Cookie!

 A few Christmas goodies I picked up.  The dried oranges are from a place called The Round Barn outside of Gettysburg.  I will post picture of my trip to Gettysburg another time. The adorable prim flicker candle comes from our blogging friend, Kim at Valley Primitive Stitches. Do you know why she is famous in our blogging world?  Go check out her blog and see... She has adorable items on her Etsy!

My mom got me these.  She thought I could sell them on eBay.  The apple one will be going up.  I am going to hang on to the clove one...

Purchases from Thrift Stores- The whole lot- under $10.  I am going for a vintage/Old World Christmas look this year!

 

STITCHING...

Been stitchin'.  Trying out cross-stitching. All I can do is the x's.  I can't figure out the others.  The "Christmas Joy" one is a free pattern from Christine at Preferably Prim.  The one on burlap, "Merry Primitive Christmas" is a free pattern from The Primitive Hare.  How should I finish them?  I don't know if I can do the Primitive Christmas one like she has on her website.  Is that allowed? Can you adjust the pattern if you don't sell it or anything? Any ideas? Please help me to follow the right protocol. Other questions- Do I need to wash the white fabric?  Should I add some felt holly leaves to the burlap one (Hubby's idea...)?

Well, dear friends, episode 1 & 2 is about all I can muster.  My next two episodes, to be released who knows when, will be about my trip to Gettysburg and Lititz!  Oh, and there are new items listed on eBay.  If you are interested.  

Thank you for all of your support, comments, kind words, and friendship!

Blessings, Dear Ones!

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