Almost a year has gone by!

     Wow! The months have flown by since my last post!
     Life took a sudden, swift change in August, 2014 when our daughter, Catherine, got a new job with Austal USA and our son-in-law, Jon, secured a position with Barnhart Crane and Rigging.
     When I returned from the FDA training in Washington, DC in July we got word that their new jobs were in the works.  Then things moved swiftly as they put their house in Huntsville on the market and moved down south.  Baby Beau and the family moved in with us and the family "boomeranged" overnight!
     That was the first week of the school year.  We suddenly had a precious one year old in the house and more mouths to feed.  The empty nesters were jolted into cooking, washing lots of clothes, babysitting and entertaining the new additions to the household.  Adjustments were gradually made and everything fell into place.  Many months went by with very little action on the sale of their house.    We learned that another baby is now due in November which made the sale of their house a top priority.  Another realtor was chosen and within a few weeks the house has sold--that happened during the last week of the school year!
     The fun part has begun to find the perfect home in their budget on the Eastern Shore.
      I made the dificult decision to make this school year my last one to teach since my attention needs to be on my own family.  The very sweet and caring staff at Fairhope Middle School surprise me with a lovely cake and a beautiful engraved pewter platter on the last school day.
     I plan to be very busy enjoying the things that I love like spending time with my friends and family, painting wedding dresses, promoting my "From LA to LA" cookbook, relaxing at our new northern retreat and the Delta camp along with whatever else comes my way!
   

Exciting News!

     The FDA training workshop trip to DC was a wonderful learning experience!  I met so many new FACS and science teacher friends from all over the United States.  The workshop was very intense and interactive.  Each day was full of educational work and professional development activities that I will be able to use in my classroom with students. We had the opportunity every evening to explore our wonderful Capitol city.  It is a very historical family friendly city.  I loved visiting the museums, the Smithsonian's and touring the war memorials.  Regardless of your political views, Washington, DC is a place worth experiencing!
     Below is a picture of a few crazy friends celebrating after graduation!

     During my DC trip, I learned that my daughter, Catherine Reynolds, and her family will be moving down to our area in August.  It will be wonderful to have them close by after so many years of living in northern Alabama.  I can't wait to spend more time with my little grandson!  

     According to his other grandparents he is reading already at 14 months!  I've missed so much!

     A Baldwin County newspaper article will be hitting the press this coming week, August 5th, featuring my cookbook From LA to LA and the new Wedding Dress Portraits.  So, pick up a copy and share with your friends!

     It looks like it is time for me to turn my attention to the start of school and preparing for Catherine's "big move"--I think it will be a very busy few months!

     Enjoy the last days of summer vacation ya'll!

Grant Opportunity!

     You really never know what's around the corner in education so, adopt the motto to always be prepared and flexible for the unexpected!
     After applying for an FDA grant to study food safety and nutrition this past spring I was notified in May that because of a small technicality I was declined acceptance.  However, all that changed in an instant this week when I got the "call".  I was notified by the national training coordinator  that a member of the selected class had to cancel because of an emergancy and since I was next in line was asked to attend.  I have been running to get packed and ready for the last few days.  It is a very exciting opportunity to study with experts in the field at the FDA, in the microbiology labs at the University of Maryland and at the USDA Agriculture Research Center.
    The purpose of this grant is to learn and teach.  I will be sharing this experience and information with my students in the classroom.  Then after attending the NSTA conference and an FDA teacher training in Long Beach, California in December I will hold a professional development training on this topic for FACS and Science teachers.  This is an all inclusive grant and should prove to be an awesome experience.  Cheers to the FDA class of 2014!
    Please pray for safe travels as I will be leaving soon!

Summertime Bliss!

   Update:  For those of you who are interested in the *Hand Painted Wedding Gown Portraits I've updated the Gallery on this website to include more samples of the dresses. 

    Check out the Gallery!   A keepsake wedding dress portrait would make a unique Christmas gift for the lady who has everything.  Contact me at fcscyndie@bellsouth.net

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  This summer has been such a peaceful and joyful time!  I have had time to work on projects that have been on the "back burner" for quite sometime.  I'm a list making person and to finally scratch off things brings joy to my heart!
     Today I made Fig Preserves for the first time in my life!  My mother was the "Queen of the Kitchen" making delicious seasonal preserves and jams.  Sadly, it comes a time when we have to step up to the plate and learn to do things on our own.  I must say that I was successful in making the preserves even though they are a tad short of a home run (missing Mom's loving touch).  Recipe below:

Fig Preserves  

16 cups fresh figs                     7 cups of white sugar

4 cups water                             1 lemon, sliced

Directions:

1. Wash figs in cold water

2. Place in a large bowl or in a clean sink, cover with water and soak for 20 minutes

3. Make syrup by boiling the 4 cups of water and 7 cups of sugar for 10 minutes in a very large   pot.

4. Add figs and lemon slices to the syrup and cook for 1 hour, stirring occasionally

5. Pour figs into hot, sterilized jars and spoon syrup over figs, leaving 1/2 inch of head space.  Top jars with lids and screw bands on tightly. 

6. Enjoy with your family--great on hot biscuits!  Great thoughtful gifts!

     Have a blissful day!

     

Wedding Dresses!

Your wedding is so special. Remember the day by having a Wedding Dress Portrait Keepsake!
Original *Wedding Dress portraits painted on 11 x 14 inch canvas $200.00.  

*Several close up front view pictures of the bride in her wedding gown will be needed along with the exact wedding date and the suggested background color.
Contact Cyndie at fcscyndie@bellsouth.net

Reflections!

     Gosh, I realize that I'm not a good blogger!  Time goes so quickly and so many wonderful things happen that it is difficult to keep up the post.  But fortunately, I have carved a bit of time for a quick update.
     Our precious grandson, Beau, had his first birthday in Huntsville at his family home to the joy of everyone in attendance.  He was such a sweet and very cooperative baby who clapped after everyone  sung Happy Birthday to him--just how adorable is that!
     This year I reached my 10th anniversary in the teaching profession.  Reflecting back to my first year  in 2004 it is very hard to realize that I made it this long!  Without the support of family and friends and much prayer I would have thrown in the towel long ago.  I'm going for year 11 with much excitement.  I'm taking on the job of FMS yearbook sponsor in addition to my regular teaching schedule.  I have been assigned a "hand picked" group of students to manage the process and I will oversee their work.  This new adventure stimulates my creative vibes and also brings back memories of my high school days on the yearbook staff.
     This summer has been relaxing.  It is the first summer in 10 years that I don't have speaking engagements booked which gives me free time for other things.  I can leisurely go to local professional development classes while still having time to paint, cook and sew.
     My latest challenge has been to paint wedding dress portraits.  The inspiration came from the encouragement of friends.  How exciting it has been to see the results.  It reminds me of the paper doll days of dressing the manequins in fancy flowing ball gowns.  It certainly seems to be taking off with orders that have already been placed.
     I just returned from delivering some of my artwork to a local Daphne restaurant, Samurai J, for an exhibition.  For several years we have loved getting away to enjoy sushi at this favorite local restaurant.  We have established a friendship with the owner, Michele, and after a suggestion was made about their featured artwork I've had the opportunity to showcase my work too. My home is now void of its wall art and the whole concept of "sharing" may take some getting used to!
     Happy summer everyone!

Happy New Year 2014!

     The fall semester has flown by!  It has been a fantastic school year so far.  I've been so swamped by the new computer teaching methods that I totally forgot to update my blog.  Learning the Moodle computer adaptation has been a welcomed challenge.  This is an organizational tool to keep lessons, tests and assignments altogether on a website page for students to access.  If you say the word "organize" then I'm interested!  The best part about getting materials organized in this matter is that it will always be there to use again and again.  I'm sure that it will be necessary to tweak things now and then but basically the work is done to be used from semester to semester.
     Our FCCLA club members enjoyed an overnight trip to Birmingham for a leadership conference hosted by a fabulous keynote speaker who rode a unicycle in his presentation!
     In November over the Veterans Day weekend I had the privilege of taking a delegation of 17 eighth grade girls and 8 mothers on an ultimate field trip to the Big Apple.  Yes, five days in New York City!  We joined with other schools in Baldwin County for a combined total of 43 travelers.  It was a food and fashion tour which involved a solid sun-up to sun-down itinerary of educational and fun activities. Spanish Fort High School FACS teacher, Dianne Bernasconi, spear headed the marvelous trip.

Here's a beautiful picture of my girls in Central Park framed with the colorful fall foliage!

     Our precious grand baby, Beau is just a love.  We were so fortunate to have them down south for Thanksgiving and Christmas this year.  What a special privilege it is to be a grand parent!  I'm still working on my grandmother title but with many suggestions and ideas I'm sure that one will stick soon.
     Matt is going to be embracing home ownership this week.  He has decided to put his money in a solid investment and we are so proud of him for showing maturity and responsibility.
     My dear Family and Consumer Sciences teacher friend, Joni Ojard, became ill in November and recently underwent a liver transplant a few days ago.  All indications are that the surgery was a success and that she is getting better everyday.  God promises to provide our every need and He has surely been merciful throughout this trial. Please join me in continuing to pray for a full recovery!
     Santa bestowed on me a lovely new sewing machine and I am throughly enjoying my time in the "Studio" discovering all that it can do.  I'm attending sewing classes weekly to master its use. So, I'm once again a student!
     A new spring semester with bright new faces ready to learn what the FACS curriculum has to offer will begin on January 14th.  We are so fortunate that our schools are still offering a practical "life skills" class such as Family and Consumer Sciences in our present day and time.
     Blessings to you for a fabulous New Year!