MARY TAYLOR WELCOMES YOU TO THESCHOOLMARM.COM

Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Ah, the week end. Workers long for this time. I remember it well. Even if one was tired, just knowing it was Friday seemed to put smiles on everyone's face. Knowing that a break from the routine and pressure was near gave a little boost of energy to get one through the day. I pray for you who are in the work force,(as well as you dear ones who no longer have to put in a 9-5) that God will help you find a special reason to rejoice in whatever day it is - Monday through Friday - and then to give you a wonderful, restorative, relaxing two days to claim as your own. Well, one day belongs to someone else,so I pray you won't forget Him. With love to you, my cyberfamily. Mary, the 'Marm

Woofie was taking Cici and John for a walk this morning.  Stopping to say hello, I found out that Woofie is a Picardy Shepherd.  This is what I read about the breed in Wikipedia.

The Berger Picard  is an old breed of working dog originating on the Picardy plateau in northern France. The name translates to Picardy Shepherd, the use for which the dog is suited and naturally inclined. It is a rare breed, with one knowledgeable handler estimating the total number of dogs worldwide at 2000 or less. There are probably less than two dozen in North America, most of which are scattered across the United State and Canada.

The principal blame for the scarcity of the dog has been attributed to World War I and II when the bombing during the wars decimated the numbers of the breed. It was a regional breed at the outset, and with a significant reduction in breeding stock, the numbers have been slow to rebound.

The Berger Picard is a medium to large size dog, weighing between 60 and 70 pounds. They usually are fawn (fauve), grey (gris), or brindle (bringe) in color, and are characterized by a rough shaggy coat, with significant whiskers in and around the muzzle. The head is broad, the nose somewhat rectangular and the ears are long and pointed, which are erect when the dog is alert, and other times, folded back against the head. The tail is moderately sized and carries the same type of shaggy fur. It may be extended from the rump in a characteristic J shape, or it may be carried over the back.

The dogs are shepherds and the herding part of their nature is still present. It has not been “bred” out by years of refinement or adaptation as with other breeds. Picards are outdoor dogs and their instincts are to chase, nip and move other animals, including horses and cattle. One trait of the true shepherd is independence, which is probably better described as stubbornness.

Woofie is a friendly guy and obviously a great friend to Cici and John.  See you around the neighborhood Woofie!

                                       500 years of women in art 

http://www.angelfire.com/ak2/intelligencerreport/portraits_women.html

A telemarketer called  and a four-year-old answered.

Telemarketer: May I speak to your mother?

Child: She is not here.

Telemarketer: Well, is anyone else there?

Child: My sister

Telemarketer: O.K., fine. May I speak to her?

Child: I guess so.

There was a long silence on the other phone. Then:

Child: Hello?

Telemarketer: It’s you. I thought you were going to call your sister.

Child: I did, but  I can’t get her out of the playpen.

How many times have you seen this movie?  More times than I can count.  I love those old classics in black and white, with actors that I could believe – in whatever role they took on.  Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart, could they get any better?  Not in my book.

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)
Third President (1801-1809)

By his own instruction, Thomas Jefferson’s tombstone notes his authorship of the Declaration of Independence, his founding of the University of Virginia, and his responsibility for Virginia’s Statute of Religious Freedom. But it fails to mention his presidency.

That omission, however, does not mean that his administration lacked significance. On the contrary, Jefferson’s White House tenure marked one of this country’s greatest territorial acquisitions, the Louisiana Purchase.

Under his leadership, the country also stood its ground against interference from Africa’s Barbary Coast pirate states in the American-Mediterranean trade. Unfortunately, these successes were ultimately eclipsed by the popular wrath resulting from the disastrous implementation of a trade embargo designed to curb British and French infringements on this country’s shipping. Smarting from the sting of that wrath, Jefferson thus ended his presidency, regarding it as a best-forgotten “splendid misery.”

The earliest known portrait of Jefferson, this likeness is one of two versions derived from sittings with artist Mather Brown in London in 1786, during Jefferson’s tenure as American minister to France. This version went to John Adams and was part of a portrait exchange between him and Jefferson that betokened their warm friendship. 

Mather Brown (1761-1831)
Oil on canvas, 1786 
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Bequest of Charles Francis Adams
NPG.99.66 

Lullaby by Louisa May Alcott

 Don’t blame me if you get hooked on these, Eve!

Peanut Butter Tastykakes

4 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1 3/4 cup sugar

2 cups flour

2 tbsp. melted butter or margarine

2 tbsp. oil

1 cup milk

1 tsp. baking powder

12 oz. chocolate chips

Creamy peanut butter

Combine sugar, oil, melted butter. Add eggs, mix well.

Add remaining ingredients except peanut butter and chips. Mix well.

Spread batter into jelly roll pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until lightly browned.

Spread hot cake with layer of peanut butter (as much as you want).

Put cake in refrigerator to let peanut butter harden.

When set, melt chips and spread over the peanut butter.

Place cake back in refrigerator for 10 to 20  minutes. Take out and score with knife for easier cutting. Return to refrigerator to finish setting the chocolate. (Freezes well.)

If I had seen this young man without the baby I would never have pictured him in my mind as being this loving dad.

 It is a good reminder to not judge anyone by appearance alone.  

The child may grow up in an unconventional setting, but if he continues receiving the love you can see here, then he’ll be a pretty lucky little guy, don’t you think?