If we were having coffee, I would suggest that we step outside, to the balcony. At the moment it’s 33F outside, but around 65F at the balcony. If we were enjoying a coffee and a conversation we would sit in the comfortable chairs, and indulge in the delicious coffee, fully enjoying the moment we share. I would listen to everything that is going on in your world. After you told me about you, I would tell you that I am so content and happy about this week.
It was the first week back at work after the Covid battle. It was great to be back. There was a lot of things to take care of, but I had done everything I could from home, so coming back was not all that stressful. If you’ve been following me for a while you know that I am a kindergarten teacher at a school with a ski profile. This week was the first week of the season at the ski slope with the children. It is always a lot of planning and preparations going on before bringing a new group of children to the ski slope for the very first time. It is so important that everything goes well, that the children have a great time, and that the parents feel comfortable with us taking the children to the ski area. The goal is to leave everyone with a feeling of wanting more! (Which we will deliver every week as long as there is snow.) The children are 4-6years old, some have never been skiing before. The first time at the ski slope was a great success, and I couldn’t be happier about how everything came together just like we planned.
This weekend I have been writing a report for my school (Degree of Master of Science, Main Field of Study: Educational Work.) The report was about discourse analysis. I mentioned one of the books I studied last week. I finished reading all the literature a week ago, but felt like I had to reread some of it, and watch some lectures one more time, before writing the report. School have always been easy for me, but this is a real challenge. I am happy with how the report turned out in the end though, and that is probably why I am so relaxed now. Can I get you a refill on that coffee?
I have been sitting at the balcony for a while now, meditating and planning the container garden I am going to have this spring/summer. I planted a few tomato seeds last weekend, and the little seedlings are starting to emerge. They are in my kitchen window, and I got some grow lights for them yesterday. They are probably going to be inside for another two months, and then move out to the balcony (it is like a screened in sunroom.) I would say that last years garden was successful, but a little too crowded. I am going to try to have less pots this season. I have some plants that I am trying to overwinter, we will see how that goes; fig trees (they survived last winter so I am hopeful,) black currant, red currant, olive trees, a lemon tree, garlic, strawberries, bell pepper, and some herbs. I am only going to add a few tomato plants, basil, oregano, and different types of salads. The different salad greens, and herbs, are going to be companion plants in the other pots I already have at the balcony. Are you going to have a garden this year?
Thank you Natalie for hosting the Weekend Coffee Share. Please visit her blog, and have a look at all the lovely coffee shares. I hope you are enjoying a fabulous weekend!
Love,
Maria
GreenDreams 
Hi Maria, The schoolchildren are fortunate to have you as their teacher for their first time skiing. The first impressions of a new sport are so important. They can make the child love or fear the sport for the rest of their lives. I’m glad you had a successful week at work and with your course. Your seedlings look great, full of promise. I hope to resume travel this summer and if I go on trips, I won’t start a garden. Thank you for your coffee share at your cozy balcony. Have a wonderful week ahead!
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Thank you so much Natalie. I apologise for my late reply, things are real busy at work, several members of the staff are currently down with Covid.
I hope you do get to do some travelling this summer. I hope to see some new vistas as well. I hope your new week is a beautiful one. ❤
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I agree with Natalie, the children are fortunate! I wonder why it’s so dark when you arrive though? In case you are wondering, Vegas is in the low 60s now, will be in the 70s by Tuesday. Do you miss it here? I’m glad that you are feeling better, Maria!
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Thank you John! The winter days here are short. They are starting to get longer though, sunrise is around 8am now. In the summer we have daylight 24/7.
I know you love Las Vegas, and some things I do miss, but I don’t miss living there, probably mostly due to the pollution impairing my health to such a degree that I couldn’t enjoy life like I’m used too. I do enjoy your beautiful photos, especially of Calico Hills and the Red Rocks, and various desert plants. Keep them coming. I hope your week is wonderful!
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Hi Maria, thank you for the wonderful coffee and I’m so happy your first week back at work went well. I bet it is so cute to see all the little ones learning to ski, sounds so FUN!! And educational too, and they will be such good skiers as they grow up!
I love the seedlings growing and may join you in my quest for a tiny garden. I’ll share if I do and need to do some research and decide what to try growing. I’m not really sure yet. I hope you have a wonderful weekend and week ahead!! ❤️🤠🤩
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Hi Diana! I hope your week got off to a great start! I apologise for taking so long to get back to you. We went skiing again yesterday and it was as fun as last week. I really like my Tuesdays, even if they are insanely long. I get up at 4am to get things ready and prepare my daughter for the day, get her safely in the right direction to some morning activities (before her school on my early days,) open my school at 6.15 (not only my department, in the really early/late times the whole school is in one department to make things work,) at 7am the next person comes, and I go over to my department and get the last preparation for the day in the ski slope ready, 7.30 we walk to the ski slopes, 8am the kids that are going to ski arrive…I work until 2pm, take myself home somehow (other end of the city. Still too icy to ride a bike safely.) 3-6 I’m on a seminar for my own school. It’s an intense day to say the least, but so fun and interesting! See you soon again, thank you for having coffee with me.
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Hi Maria. I’m so glad you are back at work so soon. I know it could not have been pleasant, but your case of covid had to be pretty mild for you to scoot past it so quickly. Wonderful news!
Hey, I had a thought. Did you already see Alex’s post (Scribble & Scran) ?
If not, today I shared with him my recipe for oatmeal or porridge. As I was finishing my write up to him, I thought of you and how you and your daughter might love this also. It’s really simple but very healthy and tasty.
If interested, you can find it in the comments section at:
https://scribbleandscran.com/honey-and-gardening
Hope you have a great week.
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I saw! I eat different variations of oatmeal every day. I don’t like butter in mine, but besides that it is very similar to your recipe. I often make it at home3-4 days/week, and we get it at work 3days/week (when we eat breakfast with the kids.) Great stamina in oats! Sorry about the late reply, another busy week, but hey, it is Friday morning (here.) Have a wonderful weekend!
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Well done with that report, Maria! Great to hear about your garden plans. I need to get my seeds planted also, and I need grow lights this year! I was late with everything last year and eventually had to buy tomato plants. I’ll try to plan better this year. How cool that you have fig trees! You’re doing really well on that balcony. Thanks for the coffee and have a great week!
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Thank you so much Susanne! I am sorry for the very late reply, the week is insanely busy. Half of the staff is down with Covid, including our two chefs, its been a lot of overtime. Its Friday today though 🙂 I hope your week is more mindful, with lot of beautiful nature and guitar play. I will make time to visit more blogs this weekend, (I don’t have any report to write.) Happy Friday!
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Thank you for inviting us onto your balcony. I would really like to have a container garden on my balcony someday too.
I am so happy to hear the first week back to school and back to skiing went so well for both you and the children! I am also relieved to hear you wrote your report. I’m confused though, are you studying for your Master’s degree or is this just one work-related course? And what’s Educational Work (your field of study)?
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Thank you Astrid, and I am sorry for getting back to you so late. It’s been an insane week at work.
This course is one of the courses for my Master’s. The first one. I think you know that I am a teacher, and one way of explaining it could be to say that my Master is going to be about all the science behind the teaching that takes place in the class room. What makes a good teacher? What makes an education beneficial for all the students (with different needs and backgrounds)? How is it based on science and research? How, and in what ways does the way we use language have a meaning for our students? It’s very interesting, and challenging.
I hope your week is wonderful Astrid. ❤
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Thanks for explaining. Yes, I did know you’re a teacher. This Master’s degree sounds so interesting!
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Glad your week went well, Maria. I can imagine the kids were really excited to be skiing… outdoor activities are so much fun and they get good air and exercise. My snowboarding boys were always so much healthier than before they took it up, so my theory is outdoors = healthy!
The tomato seedlings are such a sign of hope. 🙂 How wonderful that the warm temps helped make your sun porch comfortable enough to sit in. More of that coming! On sunny days now, my sunspace is the same. I eat lunch in there and my cat sleeps on the couch next to me. Everyone loves the sun! 🙂 There is a mini-cyclamen that I’ve had for years and its blooms perfume the whole room… delightful! I decided to plant beets, kale and lima beans in the garden this year (in addition to my farm share). I will have to fence it though as the deer have become regular visitors, unfortunately!
Hope the week ahead is just as great, if not greater!
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I’m so sorry for the late reply Eliza. This week have been crazy busy, so many members of the staff have been ill, and my days have been very long. How are you? Your garden plans sound wonderful. I eat a lot of beets and kale. I am planning on having kale as companion plant, as a ground cover for some of my larger plants. I hope you are enjoying a wonderful week my friend.
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Thank you, sorry to read of many staff being ill. Winter and Covid, a bad mix. It’s been an up and down week…winter blues, I guess. I need to get outside more than I have been. Spring weather and longer days ahead!
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I do enjoy the ski season, but spring will be very welcome this year ❤ I hope you get out of your winter blues. Take a walk in the woods my friend ❤
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So many positive things growing!
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Thank you!
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Hi Maria – I’m a little bit jealous of those kindergarten children learning to ski – I’ve never really seen snow, so they’ll be better at ski-ing than I am after even one attempt! Good luck with the fig tree – ours took several years to establish, but right now we’re eating some of its gorgeous fruit – my absolute favourite!
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I wish I could ship some snow to you 🙂 Skiing is a lot of fun, and I am, grateful that we get to introduce the children to this wonderful sport.
When I lived in California I grew several different types of fig trees, it is addicting. I actually got a couple figs on one of my trees here in Sweden last year, so I am hopeful. It is in a protected spot in my sunroom. I hope your week is a great one, I apologise for a late reply.
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I’m happy to read that kindergarten is back to normal and you are all healthy, Maria! Looks like you are getting the hang of your courses for the MS program and settling in nicely. Your garden seedlings are off to a great start too. Hans wants to install a greenhouse but we have a LOT of landscaping to do this year. We did get 8 trees planted are cxan’t wait until spring to watch them bloom and leaf out! Have a wonderful week!
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Thank you Terri! Let Hans get his way 😉 A greenhouse sounds lovely 🙂 I remember seeing you plant trees late last fall, I am looking forward to your spring photos of them. It must be wonderful to be in your own space, where you can decide how to shape everything the way you want, and enjoy the fruits of your labour for many years to come. I apologise for my late reply, hoping your week is a fabulous one.
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Glad you’re feeling better…wow, how cool for kids to get to learn to ski. That is awesome. I’m contemplating a garden this year. Either a container garden again or maybe I’ll do something else. I’m not sure.
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Thank you Kristin! I am looking forward to learn more about how your garden plans develops. I apologise for the late reply. It’s been so busy, I am catching up with all my blogging friends today 🙂 I hope your week is fabulous.
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