Still Standing and Taking Time to Breathe

Oh my goodness!  I have been away from this blog for so long!!  I really thought I might have to abandon it--things got so busy and stressful that I just had to go into survival mode.
But alas!  I survived!
The craziest school year ever finished up successfully (meaning I am still standing and feeling like I can foray into the battle realm again next year) and my arm (and hand) got over their persistent pain and I have most of my range of motion back.  I am now in that blissful catch-up time of year when I read like a madwoman and crochet and knit like one possessed.
I have also been baking--two cakes.  One was a the Celestial Chocolate Cake I've made before. And this time when the icing once more didn't come together I blamed it on the recipe.  Seriously.  The other cake--my attempt at an Angel food was a complete fail.  But it wasn't the fault of the recipe, it was a combination of things that interrupted the fragile chemical balance.  I may try again later this summer--or maybe not.
Meantime, I have been doing a bit of outdoors tramping/snake hunting with my oldest young man, while my youngest man went through the usual rites of passage that cause mothers to breathe wistful sighs.

Shifting

Last weekend we went to ride the ferris wheel.  The air at night is light and cool (for now) and it's nice to be out and about.

I love that now that school is out for holiday, I can resume my "real" life which includes going out after dark at night instead of starting my day with the moon!

Here is a picture from this afternoon as the grads waited for the ceremony to begin.  I particularly love this class (2015).

I had 45 of them in my last class of the day when they were 10th graders.  I had 39 of them in the class just before.  Never have I had such packed classes, and it was only possible because they were so good.    I am leaving this school for another one (after 10 years), and it was a great way close the experience, smiling with so many wonderful young people.