So. Close.

YOU GUYS.

I am in the near-literal sprint to to the finish of grad school!  I have a paper due Thursday and one due Friday.  Between work and working out and homework and apartment-work, I feel like every second is taken up with productivity.  But on Friday, all my schoolwork will be done!  Forever!

(sidenote: I keep getting excited for "lasts," like my last class ever, and my last presentation ever, and there's always someone who's like, "Well, don't say last EVER..." blah blah blah.  Yes, I fully acknowledge I'll have to do presentations at work, and perhaps attend classes or trainings, and I even might go back and get my doctorate in a few years.  But for NOW, I'm darn well going to be excited about "lasts."  I've been in school since I was 3, seriously!  Let me be thrilled that this is the end for a while.)

I have lots of ideas for new posts, and as soon as I have another free second, I can't wait to get back to this little blog of mine.  But in the meantime, wish me luck!  72 hours left of school!!!

--Sammie

PS: also, happy belated Earth Day!  I try to find time every day to appreciate nature, and I hope you do too!

from here.

The Day of Cute.

I don't know if it's the arrival of spring (finally!!) but Saturday was full of adorable.

--At the Farmer's Market, the neighboring vendor's baby girl learned how to walk sometime in the last week. She's super smiley and animated, and she walked over to me and gave me her shoe and giggled. I about died from cute overload.

--I saw seeing eye dogs being trained at Target (I assume to get them used to people). There was a German Shepherd and a black Lab. They were still young, and while they weren't exactly experts at focusing on their job just yet, they were some sweet puppers, and it took all my willpower not to pet them.

--The weather was beautiful, and as I was walking outside, a little boy and his dad rode past me on bikes. I caught the following bit of their conversation (talking about some nearby store I assume):

             "Dad! They have more candy than ANYone!!"
             "Oh really?"
             "Yeah, we should go! Do you like Take 5 bars?"
             "Yes."
             "They HAVE those!! Let's go!"

(I mean, his logic was flawless.)

Aaaand scene.  I can't wait for the Farmer's Market to move outside to High Street in Olde Worthington again (the first weekend in May); there are so many puppies and kiddos to see!

All the cute and happy of yesterday even managed to keep me positive in the face of the final three weeks of the semester (and my final three weeks of school EVER). I have three papers to write, three presentations to give, and about a million class visits to do for work. But soon, I'll be done with school for. eh. ver.  If that's not a happy thought, I don't know what is!

--Sammie

Job Hunt Update.

Just interviewed at the awesome Battelle for Kids.  I think it went well!  It's a fantastic non-profit that works to promote educational effectiveness; and it happens to be like 90 seconds away from my apartment (literally).  Stay tuned, and send your good thoughts and vibes and prayers my way!

:)

--Sammie

2013 Garden

Like everyone else in the Midwest this year, I am hardcore craving spring. I think Mother Nature is making up for last year's early spring, with flowers in the middle of March, with this year's extra-late spring. I've seen a few patches of crocuses, a couple of daffodils here and there the last few days, but man, the forecast today predicted flurries. come. on.

The trees are budding though, the birds are singing, and I bet in the next few weeks we'll see ACTUAL spring--flowers and new leaves and green-ness and warmth. 

I've been planning my balcony garden nonstop, ever since the moment I sadly realized it's been so long since garden season, I'd literally forgotten where I stashed my flowerpots for the winter (I finally remembered: down in my apartment's semi-creepy basement). I can't wait to bring them back up, fill them with new soil, and get 'em outside!

I'm not planting any veggies this year due to the many, many veggie thieves that inhabit my neighborhood (squirrels, bunnies, finches, I'm looking at you!). But here's what I will be planting:

HERBS 

Dill
Sage
Mint
Basil
Chives
Lavender
Rosemary
Lemon Thyme
Pink Chintz Thyme

FLOWERS

Daisies
Zinnias
Petunias
Geraniums
Snapdragons
Moonflowers

I'm not starting seeds indoors this year because I can get most of my herbs already started from the farmer's market vendor I work for, and the rest I'm going to start outdoors at the beginning of May (you know, if it's not still snowing then). All the flowers I'll be growing are sun-loving and non-delicious to scavenging animals, so the sprouts should be safe! I'll also put some of my indoor plants outside like my Boston ivy and succulents.

Now, come on warm weather!!

A jolly green giant // Herbs from last year's garden
Flowers from last year's garden // A slightly-less-jolly, green, shorter-than-a-giant

--Sammie