“Then Sister Aquinata abandoned the nonviolent methods and produced a rolling pin from somewhere.”
Much as I appreciate the rain, the darkness worms its way inside sapping my energy, making me sluggish and listless (which can actually be taken a couple of ways as I haven’t a list today. Despite my mood it seems I can still conjure a pun).
This morning the house was so cold I decided to stay in bed and did so for another hour. I read my new book so the hour was not wasted. When I finally came downstairs, I saw 61˚ on the thermostat. I turned on the heat to warm the house. Now it is cozy. All three animals are asleep for their morning naps. Each has her own room: Fern is in the living room, Maddie likes the cushions in the dining room and Gracie takes the couch.
While I was reading this morning, silent reading came to mind. I have no idea why. I haven’t heard or thought about that in years. It used to be a graded subject on my grade school report card. You either got a U or an S. I always got the S for satisfactory though it probably should have meant superb given how many books I sneaked and read during class time. The nuns didn’t teach silent reading as the name said it all so I used to wonder how silent reading was graded. What were the standards? Doesn’t move lips could have been one as moving lips is like talking. Doesn’t shuffle feet or look around could have been a couple more. Maybe posture was part of the grade, but that’s a bit of a stretch. The number of pages wasn’t a fair standard. Not every kid was honest. I really think it was made up so nuns could have a break whenever they needed one. I remember they used to tell us to read silently to ourselves. When I got older, I wondered how you could read silently to someone else, maybe in sign language which none of us knew, but I never dared ask. Nuns could be scary when they were mad.
Explore posts in the same categories: Musings Both comments and pings are currently closed.
keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
October 3, 2015 at 1:47 pm
It is cold, the central heating went on this morning. The Prince is of size, bit like his Uncle, the helmet was strapped on and he and his Bulldogs went at it at Adams High School. Pumpa made it to the end of the third quarter and then thankfully returned to the warmth of the Jeep.
Heading to the Town House in Detroit for dinner, I am thinking something and fries, I should be thinking something and salad
October 3, 2015 at 2:02 pm
My Dear Hedley,
The heat is turned off which is why I had to start it up this morning. I keep telling myself it is too early to turn on the heat, but I chose to live comfortably and well so on it goes.
Puma’s who go to games are my heroes. Pa, my brother-in-law, wouldn’t miss his grandson Ryder’s games. He, from Colorado, is of heartier stock so he stays outside the whole game.
I think that ordering a salad is a waste of going out to eat.
October 3, 2015 at 4:12 pm
Kat
He turned around from the side line to see us in the stands and like all good Pumpas I waved and blew kisses. Probably not what you want when you are heading to the NFL, but he knew we were there for him.
October 3, 2015 at 4:34 pm
MDH,
I think he was secretly pleased for those kisses though seeing you was worth the looking, kisses or no kisses.
I think you should send him kisses when he is in the NFL. Make it your tradition.
October 3, 2015 at 2:41 pm
Hi Kat,
My grade school teachers used to have us do what they called desk work but I called “Make 3 black cats”. Busy work. The teacher would write 10 or so tasks on the blackboard. We would have to read them to ourselves and do them on a piece of yellow lined paper leaving two blank lines between each item. “Make 3 black cats” made frequent appearances.
I did not realize at the time how diabolically clever this exercise was. Teacher got a 10 minute break AND she also got a quick way to assess our reading, comprehension, arithmetic and task-following skills. Those clever women. All this time I thought they were just taking a break. 🙂
The heat went on in my house yesterday. It’s come on once since then. The weather is dreary, windy, damp, dark and cold. We are all three curled up on the couch with lots of pillows and snuggly blankies. Saving up the warm for the next walk outside. 🙂
Enjoy the day.
October 3, 2015 at 4:38 pm
Hi Caryn,
That is actually sort of a neat task. She gets a picture of your learning levels and she also gets a quick break. I believe early grade elementary teachers have to have the patience of saints.
I left my heat on, and it has come on once since this morning. I’m going to have to put in the storm door in the back. Poor Gracie goes out, I shut the door and don’t check soon enough that she wants in. She was whacking the dog door earlier to get my attention so I’d let her in.
Stay cozy!!
October 4, 2015 at 8:03 am
I have the same problem in the cold weather. Sometimes I consider installing those curtain things used on loading docks and cold rooms that have to be accessed frequently. My dogs would probably not push through them. They barely manage the very airy beaded curtain in the hall/kitchen doorway and there’s a Rocky-height space between the bottom and the floor. Overlapping clear vinyl slats might be asking too much. 🙂
October 4, 2015 at 1:26 pm
Gracie loves her dog door and so do I. She comes and goes as she pleases. She was still a puppy when I had the door installed. Treats abounded when I was teaching her to push the door to go out and to come back in. Maybe that’s the route for your dogs.
October 3, 2015 at 5:41 pm
I was out a bit earlier and found it funny in a ha ha way that people are bundled up like it’s December. I am famous for not wearing a jacket until it gets to 40 degrees. Yesterday I wore one…possibly the earliest I have ever done so. So much for that.
Hey, Indian Summer is around the corner, right?
Waving from a soggy Jersey Shore,
Coleen
October 3, 2015 at 6:40 pm
Coleen,
I usually wear a hoodie all winter. My friends were shocked once when I showed up wearing a winter jacket. They didn’t even know I had one.
I too get a chuckle when I see people bundled. This is only October. Maybe they hibernate all winter.
We’ve only had cold for three or four days. Before that it was still summer. I think we’ve had it good!
Waving from rainy Cape Cod.
October 3, 2015 at 7:09 pm
Katry, I’m a regular visitor but seldom write. Had to today, because I wanted to report that we’re chilled here in Indiana too. You can tell because of the socks factor — I lounge around in socks all year, but when it get cooler I wear two pair. Today is a double socks day. 😉
October 3, 2015 at 7:28 pm
BG,
We were all hot last week, sitting on the deck and taking in the sun. Now you’re in two pair of socks weather, and I’m wearing my winter slippers and a hoodie. That was the quickest turn over of seasons.
BG, it’s a pleasure to meet you!
October 3, 2015 at 8:12 pm
[…] Source: “Then Sister Aquinata abandoned the nonviolent methods and produced a rolling pin from somewhere.… […]
October 3, 2015 at 8:54 pm
The source for this quote is Goodreads. The quotes is by Mary Robinette Kowal. You’ll find the author of all the quotes I use credited in comments under the photos.
October 7, 2015 at 11:35 pm
Thank you! Wonder where you got all those awesome quotes!
BTW, my kindergarten nun was sweet… rest (through G-12) were all the devil incarnate!
October 8, 2015 at 12:15 am
Jay,
I use several sources but I usually have good luck at Goodreads.
I never went to kindergarten but Sister Redempta, my first grade teacher, was scary. I had regular people in grades 2, 4, 6 and 7. Most of then were good, but my 6th grade teacher was the best, Miss Quilter.
October 4, 2015 at 6:11 am
I woke upm during the night because it was too warm in my bedroiom. After turning it down I then slept almost two hours longer than usual. We went out on our walk and it almost loooked like the sun was going to get a chance to shine but the clouds thikened up so no sun since then.
I fell asleep on the couch as soon as we came inside again and slept more or less until now, I did thankfully wake up when they showed Phineas & Ferb and when the showed the Penguins from Madagaskar 🙂 No I feel it is time for coffee and perhaps some food, I haven’t even had breakfast yet.
I do remember having silent reading but I can’t remember if we all read the same thing orif we could chose any story we wanted to read.Our teacher always marked tests or somethinmg similar at the same time as she had one eye towards our direction.I liked those times but I liked iy´t even more when she decided to read out loud for the class, we always were quiet as mice and if it was near chriatmas we also always had Julmust and gingerbread 🙂
Have a great day!
Christer.
October 8, 2015 at 12:12 am
Christer,
Somehow I missed the entry and I’m sorry. Even with the cooler nights I’ve had my bedroom window open so it won’t get too warm. I have a dog and a cat in bed with hime, and they lean beside me getting me too warm as well.
I always think a nap is the best cure for almost any illness. I love to take naps and have for years. It all started in college when I would nap so I could study most of the night. Then in Ghana everyone seemed to take a nap during the hottest part of the day. Even the postoffice was closed for a couple of hours.
We had reading books with stories, all the same books, so we were assigned a story to read. I though some were really interesting.
I had one teacher who read aloud to us, and it was great, but it was missing the gingerbread!!