Professional Development Minutes

Congratulations! You lived through another 365 days. Now, you get to start again. Day 1 starts tomorrow. Make every moment count! You have the gift of another yea r .  Photo credit: here

Main ingredients: flour, plant-based butter, brown sugar, chopped walnuts, an egg yolk, low sugar jam.   

When the world seems dark, find pockets of cuteness.  Photo credit: here  

You often hear people say: "What's wrong?" I know that I'm guilty of asking this question. This week, the challenge is to flip this thinking. Instead of asking, "What's wrong?" try asking, "What's right?"   Photo credit: here

"Choose to be optimistic, it feels better." - Dali Lama 

I was up at the cottage the other day and I took a stroll down the driveway.  The leaves were down and the trees were naked.

In a fast-paced world, nature is our greatest teacher.  Photo credit: here

Yesterday, I spent the afternoon in the kitchen - cooking. Some of the highlights: Peeled and chopped sweet potatoes   Oven ready - roasting sweet potatoes, onions and garlic Roasted chicken, salad, cranberries  Oh, pass the stuffing!

Ingredients: flour, cinnamon, blueberries, diced apples, milk, a touch of salt, baking powder, vanilla.

Picture it - me, on a park bench, watching a blue crane move ever so slowly through the water...  "A scene from my travels"

Be thankful for how far you have come and the people that have helped you get there.  Photo credit: here

It's easy to be complacent, to fall into routine, and to keep doing the same old thing. This is something I write about a lot in relation to teaching.  So, this week I'm challenging you:  Take a risk -- do something differently, think differently, or try something new.  Inspire others! Share your 'risk-taking' adventures in the comment section below.   Photo credit: here

I acknowledge  that the land I live on is the traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Mississauga and Chippewa Nations of the Williams Treaty.  I recognize that  forced residential schooling has caused  intergenerational trauma and  emotional and physical pain for Indigenous Peoples in Canada. I value and respect Indigenous pedagogies and epistemologies. 

The weather was gorgeous today. Thanks, Mother Nature! So, this afternoon I biked around my neighbourhood and dropped off some books to the   Little Free Library . Bike riding and donating is the best combination!  "Book donations"

Tell me about your day: 1. One thing that surprised you.  2. One thing that made you happy or sad.  3. One thing you wanted to do, but didn't.  "A scene from my travels" 

How can you resist the feeling of 'not being good enough'?  And start feeling 'good' about yourself?  Photo credit: here

Push boundaries, test out ideas, and  find  beauty in difference.  melissa fockler  (b. 1984)       Fire in the night sky , 2007 Photograph 

According to the calendar, it's still summer. But the trees are saying otherwise.  September 17, 2024

A hornet stung me.  The pain is intense. Photo credit: here

Question: How are you feeling? 'A scene from my travels'

Tonight, I dropped off some books to my local Little Free Library . Look for these free libraries in your neighbourhood!  "My book donations"

How was your day? It was beautiful weather this afternoon.  A scene from my travels 

melissa  fockler  (b. 1984)   truth to words ,   2006 Photograph  

melissa  fockler  (b. 1984) trained on fossil fuels ,   2024 Photograph 

If you're into sustainability, you might want to check out an interview with Jason Hickel on degrowth.  Some guiding questions: What is degrowth? Is degrowth a solution to climate change? How would degrowth affect the economy?  Can capitalism and degrowth co-exist?

This afternoon, it rained while I  did yard work. Below, a picture of  some of my yard waste -- rotting apples.  "Imagine the smell of rotting apples"

Before you toss your toothpaste tubes into the trash, cut them in half. There is still more paste inside! I have been cutting my old toothpaste tubes for years. You can do the same thing with shampoo, lotion, sunscreen bottles, etc.  

I spent the day outside. Watching birds, listening to rivers and streams, feeling the shade of the trees -- it was like a great big hug. My bike ride in pictures

Today, I stumbled across this beautiful spot! It felt like something out of Burnett's The Secret Garden .

A few weeks ago, I found a bird nest on the ground. Knowing that the bird was never going to return,  I put my garden gloves on and started examining the nest.  The first thing that I noticed was its weight. It was fairly heavy.  The base was made out of leaves and dirt. The 'bedding' or inside layer was made out of soft grass. The entire nest was  wrapped in longer grasses, plastic ribbon and corn stalks.  It left me in awe of nature. What craftsmanship!  "The bird nest" "The bird nest deconstructed"  

I think this carrot is alive. Anyone else see the 'eye' of the carrot?

If you're in the neighbourhood, stop by.  I made a double batch of oatmeal cookies last night!

Oh my goodness! Today, I bought peaches. I'm thinking about turning them into a peach pie. What do you think? 

Anyone interested in a 'walk and talk'? My friend, the chipmunk 

We are experiencing a lot of hot weather here in Ontario, Canada. I don't normally get headaches. But I have a terrible headache tonight.  Enough about me.  How are you feeling? Photo credit: here

Received an email  from a friend today,  saying that  they miss me: It's nice to be missed. 

Spent the afternoon  helping my parents  setup a new wifi network: I need a green tea.

I'm happy to see bike lanes installed in my community!   Also, I'm delighted that the Canadian Geese have their own crosswalk. We're all pedestrians -- some just have feathers! This crosswalk was in high demand today. 

This week, try to remember: "Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving." - Albert Einstein 

I sliced apples, cooked them, and seasoned them with cinnamon and maple syrup. I also made a separate oatmeal crumble topping. Greek yogurt was added for extra flavor and texture.  Baked apples, with cinnamon and syrup  Oatmeal crumble  The finished dessert 

These cookies are quick and fun to make!  💕 

"Try to be a rainbow in someone else's cloud." - Maya Angelou 

Question: What's in your yard waste this week?  My answer: Pine cones from an Austrian pine .

"Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of riding a bike."  – John F. Kennedy