i have a name!

I have to admit

I was disappointed when I started the school year

without a name plate by my door.

When the caretaker came to me this week and said

she was ordering one for me

I was ecstatic!

So here it is.

It's official.

It hasn't seemed to have made much of a

difference to any of my students, though.

No one has even commented on it.

I guess they've accepted me as their music teacher

with or without a name!

one reason why i love teaching

Teaching is really a lot of hard and constant work.

There's so much prep that goes into it on a daily basis

and for someone like me who is still 

"starting out"

there's always something new to be made.

But, there are lots of benefits as well

and this little message from one of my precious

little grade two girls

is part of just that.

I love my job

and I love my students.

What a blessing to be able to be back in the classroom!

what happens when you don't pay attention

 I was on my way home from Winnipeg last Saturday 

driving along and just enjoying a beautifully sunny day.

I was thinking that I had lots of time to get home and wash the car

before skyping with Howard

as he was traveling by executive bus in Brazil.

 The highway was dry and clear.

I slowed down to turn at an approach to cross the freeway

and suddenly I was sliding.

I had not even noticed that the approach was

a sheen of polished snow

aka

glare ice!

 I plowed in good and deep and there I sat.

 During the time that I was on the phone to CAA

and also to Manitoba Public Insurance

more than 10 cars stopped to ask if I was okay.

Three people in two different trucks tried to push me out -

one tried to pull me with his truck but wasn't sure where to hook on -

several slowed down, caught my eye and asked if I was ok -

one man backtracked and came to see if I was okay

asking me if I had cleared the snow away from the exhaust pipe -

which I had done  -

one man stopped and said he would phone someone

in the neighbouring village to come and pull me out -

one van stopped and the man said he'd come back with his truck -

and on it went!

The final result was that these two men

(the one that was called and the one that came back with his truck)

hooked on and I was out in a jiffy.

They helped me pick up the "damage" and one of them

took it away for me.

 I have to say that

in spite of the fact that I smashed up the car really well

I was quite thrilled with the whole experience.

Manitobans certainly are friendly

just like the license plates say

and they are also very helpful

and willing to get involved.

It was an experience I will not soon forget.

a blast from the past

 A Facebook page has been set up for the Dennis clan.

That's my side of the family for anyone who is wondering...

My cousin has been posting old family pictures

and there have been some gems!

This one was taken at my Uncle Budd's farm in Peace River

probably in about 1967.

They were in the process of moving out of town and you can

see the house under construction.

That's me in the red curling sweater (knit by my mom)

 holding someone's hand.

My sister Heather is in the other red sweater,

my brother David has those groovy white pants on

and my sister Jean is just behind him.

My dad's oldest brother is holding the hand of my cousin

Joy - or as we always called her

Joy Bells.

My cousin Bev is the one smiling and facing the camera.

Bev and her husband Mark take very good care of my

mom.

 

 Another gem.

I had to get into the shot

with my cool and much older cousins.

These pics are just priceless.

another snow day

This was a country road this morning

after another massive snowfall yesterday afternoon

and into the evening.

Of course strong winds accompanied the snow

so 5cm becomes a bit serious

when the winds are whipping it around.

I drove home just as things were starting to

"heat up"

and I was very thankful to be home safely.

More snow arrived this morning.
It looked like it was pouring snow.

There's more snow on the way later today so

we'll see what tomorrow brings!

At any rate, I'm having a great bonus day

and getting at my report cards.

I should easily have them finished today

if I can keep at it!

another record

I took this picture on the way to work on Monday.

We had just come through yet another frigid weekend

with windchills as cold as -50C.

Monday was another bitter day

and that day marked the 

75th day

this winter with the temperature below -30C

and the windchill at -40 or lower.

It's been a brutal winter.

As I write we are in the middle of yet another storm.

Today we even had "snow squall" warnings.

I think that may have been a first in Manitoba.

The temperatures are definitely moderating

but winter has not loosened its grip on us

just yet.

Spring is coming.

We all believe that.

No really, we do!

'tis the season

 It's birthday season in our family again.

 We celebrated with them both last Sunday

as Howard was heading out on a trip

and would not be around for their days

this year.

 We have been blessed in every way

by these two lovely young women.

We are proud of them and proud to be their parents!

We love you, Bethany and Katy Dueck.

snow removal

 A few weeks ago we had the only "warm" day this winter.

 For the second time this winter,

 Howard got busy and cleared the snow

off the deck.

It was packed rock-hard.

 Our deck is about 4' off the ground.

There's a bit of snow out there...