School's out for summer....

Happy First Day of Summer!!!!

Friday was (finally!!!) our last day of school! So strange to say that considering the way this school year went for me both professionally and personally. I am both looking forward to the short summer break but also eager to start my 4th year as a middle school English teacher. Along with a week-long institute on Reading in the Content Area next week and my new part-time job at my local Banana Republic (yay for 50% off!!!), here is a list of the following things I will be filling my time with the next several weeks:

• Lake George, NY for the 4th of July holiday
• Teaching summer school  (I'll find out this week if there is a need for a middle school position this summer)
• Landscaping the front of our home (finally!!!)
• Reading... lots of reading
• Outlet shopping in Tilton, NH while visiting our friend's at their Lake Winnipesaukee "cottage"
• Boston!!!
• Antiquing; a new hobby????
• Drum Corp show in August with my dad
• Old Sturbridge Village reenactment
• Updating the interior by painting my office and adding some details around the house

Any fun plans as you celebrate the first official day of summer???

Heliotrope!!! And other gardening adventures....

A few weeks ago, my mom and went to some of our local farm nurseries and picked up some plants to put around my lamp post in the front yard. I also decided to place some pots of flowers on the front steps. So here is some of our purchases....

Heliotrope... smells so good!

Pink Verbena

Violet Verbena

We also added some white alyssum around the heliotrope to add color and texture.

Next step: redo in front of the house where the old yew bushes used to be...

 I'm thinking English cottage theme!