Great Teachers

Daily writing prompt
What makes a teacher great?

People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

― Theodore Roosevelt

Great teachers…..

  • provide care
  • value students
  • encourage respect and understanding
  • help others
  • offer a passion for learning
  • instill creativity
  • listen carefully
  • demonstrate empathy
  • manifest patience
  • share knowledge and experience
  • instill a joy for lifelong learning
  • display humor
  • guide through honesty
  • make a positive impact

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

A Love List

Daily writing prompt
What’s your definition of romantic?

  1. Write a love letter and notes.
  2. Make your love breakfast in bed.
  3. Always kiss your partner good morning and good night.
  4. Reflect on your fondest memories together.
  5. Be your love’s biggest cheerleader.
  6. Celebrate milestones.
  7. Compliment your partner.
  8. Hold your partner’s hand when in public.
  9. Write poetry about your love.
  10. Have meaningful conversations.
  11. Special date nights every now and then.
  12. Be present.
  13. Plan a romantic getaway.
  14. Make your love coffee in the morning.
  15. Pray for your partner.
  16. Brag about your love.
  17. Make a special playlist of songs.
  18. Bake their favorite dessert.
  19. Take long walks together.
  20. Cuddle.
  21. Flirt with your love.
  22. Try something new together.
  23. Go on a picnic or fly a kite.
  24. Take a road trip.
  25. Express your love for them, often.

Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash

Pumpkin Caramel Spice Coffee

Daily writing prompt
What notable things happened today?

Vanilla bean, pumpkin caramel spice, whipped cream, pumpkin sauce… just a few of my favorite things…

A few days ago, I blogged about my favorite season; fall of course, and how I discovered pumpkin caramel spice coffee from Crazy Cups, which I quickly ordered. Well, it arrived, and it’s amazing! I brewed my coffee in my single-cup coffee pot. I added Jordan’s Skinny Girl Vanilla Bean Syrup and a dash of heavy whipping cream. After stirring my creamy concoction, I added sugar-free whipped cream and then drizzled the last of my Jordan’s Skinny Girl Pumpkin Spice Sauce over the whipped cream. And well, it’s pure heaven. I decided this new version will be my go-to pumpkin spice coffee. It’s a healthier version and a lot easier on the pocketbook.

Bonus: Southern Colorado has received lots of rain and the weather has remained springlike around my little house on the prairie. This morning’s temps hovered around 54 degrees. While sipping my coffee on the patio, wrapped in a cozy throw, it felt like a fall morning. I was in my happy place. And my pumpkin spice coffee was that added delight.

Calories: (about) 96

Carbs: 0.6

Music and…

Daily writing prompt
What’s the most fun way to exercise?

Okay, this was a difficult one because I have two…dancing and water aerobics. I love turning on the tunes and dancing…either on land or in the water…and I love water aerobics too, just add music! I just turn the music on my phone and use my waterproof earphones and I am good to go!

James and the Giant Peach

Daily writing prompt
What book could you read over and over again?

When I was in sixth grade, I was introduced to Roald Dahl’s book, James and the Giant Peach. My sixth-grade teacher would read it to us on Fridays after lunch. There was only one problem; I could not wait until the following Friday to discover what happened next. I went to my local library and checked out the book. All was fine until one day, she caught me reading the book in class. I tried to hide it behind my textbook. In my defense, I had finished the language arts assignment and had free time, but she was not having it. She took me to the hallway and let me have it. She wasn’t angry that I tried hiding the book, but she was angry that I had checked out the book. My teacher did not want me to read the book since it was a part of our Friday afternoon activities. But she just did not understand. I loved reading! Although I finished my book before the class, I still looked forward to Fridays and hearing about James and his adventures all over again!

Later as a mom, I shared this book with my daughter, and just recently, I bought a copy for my 12-year-old grandson, Connor. Our family has loved this book. When I taught sixth-grade reading, I also shared it with my class. And no, I am not that teacher. When a student tells me they finished the book before the rest of class, I let them know that they make my heart happy!

All in a Day’s work

Daily writing prompt
What job would you do for free?

Well, I guess I am already doing it. I write for free. I started my blog many years ago to write about family stories and family history. Over the years, I added short stories, flash fiction, and poetry. And now, I am trying my hand at writing a novel, well two actually. I started one years ago and stopped since life became too busy. The next one came to me when I started a writing challenge this year to get back into creative writing. One of the prompts sparked an idea, and I am off and running.

I slowed down in March when I got COVID. Brain fog is real! Also, my second novel is going to be a little more complicated, so I picked up my first one and started writing. It has helped me to stand back and let my historical fiction simmer at times. I have set up a writing schedule and write two to three hours before I go to work during the week. On the weekends, I am able to devote more time to my writing. What a crazy, wonderful journey!

Photo by Georgia de Lotz on Unsplash

A Cup of Joe and a Case of the Zoomies

Daily writing prompt
What are your morning rituals? What does the first hour of your day look like?

During the week, I am up before the sun rises; usually, I am up by 4:00, or if I wait for my alarm clock, I jump out of bed by 4:30. I have to take thyroid meds an hour before I can have my coffee. At first, that was tough. But now, I take my meds, drink two glasses of water, and start writing. Once the time flies by, I make a healthy caramel macchiato, mocha latte, or some type of creamy concoction, depending on the season. Then it’s time to spar with my pooch, Mitzi. Once she knows I have my coffee, she likes to pretend that she wants to cuddle. In reality, the coy little bugger inches her way to my cup of Joe. One time, I made the mistake of setting my mug on the side table, and when I came back, she had lapped up most of it. I had to laugh, for she did have a major case of the zoomies. Since then, I have learned my lesson to keep my caffeine out of her reach. Having pups is kin to having toddlers in the home, but I love my pups. I enjoy my early morning ritual; it gives me time to do what I love and spend some “quality” time with my littles, Max and Mitzi.

Doxie Love

What tattoo do you want and where would you put it?

In the past, I never thought I would actually start thinking about getting a tattoo. But this grammie has been contemplating the idea. I even have a picture of what I want, and it’s saved on my phone, “just in case.” Location? Well shoulder, inner wrist, ankle…

My pups are my muse in this endeavor. Love my doxies.