From the archives

Guerry, Dad's wife and I, have been packing up things from the McConnell-Russell (Dad-Mom) era. While doing so, I came upon some pictures I thought I would post. Here they are..More can been seen on my Facebook site. I just don't have time to put more on here tonight. Hope you enjoy.

Mamaw and Papaw McConnell

My cousin's, (Cecelia) husband, Martin Ferguson, scanned these pictures from negatives.

I love them!!! These are my paternal grandparents, John and Thelma Valentine McConnell--circa 1940's.

Papaw was a whiz of a car mechanic, working many years in Kingsport at Latimer Looney Chevrolet. Mamaw was a homemaker who loved her cats, dogs, birds and squirrels in her yard. (Don't you love her 'socks' in the picture on the steps?! That must be where I get my fashion savvy!)

God Winks

Around 7:20 yesterday morning when I arrived at my classroom, there was an 8 x 10 brown envelope propped on the door handle.

On the front was written: To-Hannah Mc. Gillenwater From- Kaci.

I could hardly wait to see what was in it. (I love good surprises!) As soon as I got settled at my desk, I opened the envelope to see what I had acquired. When I opened it, I found a nice white mat board with an opening already cut in it. But there was a clean white sheet of paper under the opening. I lifted the top mat to remove the paper and to my surprise there was this awesome picture of my dad. Immediately the flood gates opened, for Kaci Campbell had captured Dad at the 2004 National Storytelling Festival engaged in conversation with someone (I'm sure).

What is so unique about this photo is that it only shows his sturdy, scarred left hand on his knee with his foot propped up on his 'cobby' trunk (which was personalized--DOC MCCONNELL in his handwriting with a black magic marker and stored all the 'goods' from his show). He is wearing his old two-toned, thin soled Medicine Show shoes that he said he could tell if a penny was heads or tails if he stepped on it.

How many times in my life have I witnessed this very same pose? Hundreds of times, I know as we traveled the USA 'healing the people' along the way--maybe not with legit medicine but with laughter and nonsense. Those days are gone and can only be visited through videos, tapes, CD's, memories and of course, photographs.

Thank you, Kaci, for being a blessing vessel. I know that God winked at me to reassure me that He's right here with me, holding me tight, when He prodded you to send me that photo when you did. Thanks for listening.

I will cherish this gift for the rest of my life. (Hopefully, Maggie and her children will, too.)

Note: I took a picture of a reprint of the picture to show here...It does NOT do it justice. You'll just have to visit Gillenwater Manor to see it for yourself.....

My Kids

It's too cold to take the children out to the playground today so we are spending our recess here in our classroom. I love to watch my Kindergarten children. They are playing with Play-Doh, building with blocks, playing with the barn/farm set, two boys are playing in our "Housekeeping" area, some are drawing, some are making Lego creations. It seems their only concerns are "Where can I go next to play?" and "When will it be time to go home?" Oh, I forgot one other..."When is snack?"

My years in the classroom have taught me that time passes quickly and my second generation of children are becoming my charges. Their parents that I had when they were 5 are now grown people with careers, house payments, car payments, and kids of their own. I am fortunate that I actually see many of them and can remember them when I see them out and about. I can still recall their names and sometimes remember some little 'something' that they did when they were 'little' that I can share with them. My heart is thrilled and I become teary when they give me a hug and tell me that I'm their favorite teacher ever or they find something that I gave them and that they still love me. I have even received letters where students have actually written about me because of a class assignment and how I touched their life.

These 29 years have been a test of perseverance and true grit. I hope I can make it 65 more days for this school year plus 1 more school year. I've seen changes in education from the chalkboard and flannel board to the dry erase board and now to the 'smart board'. Changes from chalk, to markers, to the click of the mouse. Is the time drawing near for me to turn in my plan book and file folders full of ideas and plans for another venue of my life? A friend told me yesterday that I will know for sure when the time is right...I do know one thing is for sure....the 5-6 year old innocence, creativity, unbridled enthusiasm, and energy are to be admired by the adult world. I have to agree with George Bernard Shaw (not Calvin Coolidge-for you Andy fans), "Youth is wasted on the young."

For now, I'll just stay here in Room #201 and soak up as much as I can for future use in the retirement realm.

Won't You Be Mine?

Valentine's Day has always been a special day for me.

My Mamaw McConnell was born on Valentine's Day--hence her name---Thelma Valentine Hammond McConnell. She had a granddaughter born on the same day, too---my cousin, Kelly Ann McConnell.

I remember the excitement of elementary school days when we decorated our mail bags or boxes to hold the many valentines that we would receive from our classmates. Sandy Geiger always got me, Melissa Lane Campbell and a couple of other gals a red heart-shaped box of chocolates. I looked forward to his gesture of kindness every year.

The steeple on our church was set on February 14th because I remember watching its installation from my second grade classroom (Mrs. Watterson's class) during our party.

This past week has been filled with excitement of Valentine activities, worksheets, crafts, etc. The children got to have their only party of the school year and open their Valentines.

Rosy and I made reservations at Miss Bea's for her annual Valentine Dinner. It was a nice quiet cozy atmosphere with only 15 people--her capacity. Wow, what a wonderful dinner!

This afternoon he came in with a single rose for each of his girls. Maggie's was white and mine was red. He also gave me a beautiful corsage to wear. When he gave it to me he said, "It wouldn't be right for you to go unadorned tonight!"---to quote Gomer Pyle when he was going to take Thelma Lou's cousin, Mary Grace Gossage, to a dance. You just have to know that Andy Griffith episode to really understand how special this was.

Those two little roses are better than any dozen he could have even sent to me. I'll remember that corsage (make that a long "a" as in the herb sage. That's the way Gomer pronounced it.) for a long time because I was the ONLY one at dinner who was adorned!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Slide Show

This Ain't Right

Here I am sitting on my front porch in 61 degree weather with the sun beaming in on me. I feel like an ole lazy cat. I was telling Rosy and Maggie this morning that we were suppose to have temps in the upper 60's this week and one day almost 70! As Rosy stated, it's not good to have warm weather like this at this time of the year. I hope our spring flowers and fruit trees don't get fooled into thinking it's time to bud. We will pay for this oddity with colds, flu, and colder temps later on. Just wait and see.

This morning while in the kitchen I caught a birdie in the bird bath splish splashing and having a great time. Usually I'm not fortunate enough to have the camera at hand, but I did then. I've been rather saddened about 'my' birds. I bought some bird feed at Dollar General Store right before the expected snow last week--I was completely out and didn't want them to go hungry during the bad weather. For some reason, they don't particularly like this kind. Oh, well, I suppose if they get hungry enough, they will eat it.

My Maggie is taking a cold. She's all covered up on her bed resting. I hope she feels better in the morning if not sooner. Rosy had to go out to the bowling alley to see what was happening at the Youth Traveling League Tournament. Maggie and I knew he couldn't stay away. That rascal, he bowled a 216 and a 218 last night. I think I'll put him on the PRO circuit!

For my knitting buddies, since last night, I've been trying my hand at "Continental" knitting. I'm getting better but far from mastery. I did try purling....NOT. It will take a whole lot more practice. I think I'm just content to 'throw' my yarn.

Ahhh, the sun feels soooo good and the birds sound so happy. Goodness gracious, I just saw a bug fly by!

Spring/Cabin Fever

Maggie and I just returned home from a little wandering. I think I must have had 'cabin fever' for when I went out to pick her up from her friend's house where she spent the night, I was overcome with the 'need' to drive.

We ended up at Beth's log home (she's our Kindergarten asst. and my very special friend). Wow, how precious it is!We finished watching a Lifetime movie with her. Then we rode through Pressman's Home (depressing), Elbow City, Choptack, and then back to Gillenwater Manor. It is such a beautiful day. I really don't like being teased this way when it is still MID-WINTER! But I will enjoy it anyhow. I know my kids will be itching to get to the playground on Monday. They need that Vitamin D...so do I.

Maggie, Madeline & Kristen having fun on their SNOW DAY! We even made snow cream.

Kristen &

Maggie

heading

out to play

in snow

ANOTHER SNOW DAY!

Some additional accumulation of the white stuff allowed us to be out of school ONE MORE DAY. As of now, I can positively say that the county schools will be out the rest of the week. Us, maybe tomorrow if we get the snow they are predicting for today. Friday would be ok, too. It would really be OK!

Kristen, one of Maggie's BFFs spent the night with her and they played in the snow last night. Talk about FROZEN children. She has another BFF , Madeline, who is coming over...Rosy is going to fetch her after while. Hopefully, it will warm up enough for them to play in the snow today. Right now the temp. is 12.9 degrees! I've got the breakfast dishes washed and then it will soon be time to feed them lunch. I think we will have spaghetti.

It will be fun to hear their pre-teen giggles and conversation. One of life's pleasures. Just wish it was all giggles and not the rest of the yuck stuff and drama that comes with girls-especially.

If I get some good pictures, I'll post them later.

Here's to another day to enjoy being home by the fire ~ reading and knitting and napping. Is this what retirement is kinda like?!

SNOW DAY!!!!!

SNOW DAY SNOW DAY SNOW DAY

There's just something special about being out of school because of snow. It's almost like you're doing something illegal/immoral but it's 'ok' if you do! Now those of you that aren't from around here may think it is totally stupid that we let school out when there's only a bit of snow on the ground...well, that's just the way it is! Once again, it's just one of those idiosyncrasies that separate us from the rest of ya'll! Of course, back in the hollers where the sun doesn't shine (literally) and the buses have to run, the snow and ice might melt before April or May.

Today, the forecasters are predicting more of the white stuff and cold temps. Wow, my little Kindergarteners just might get to see the very first 'big' snow of their lives and actually get to make memories playing in it and making snow angels. I hope so!