Frogannai

Here is my 'new' classroom friend for the year. I've named her Frogannai (gaelic for little frog, I believe). She is sitting on top of her 'secret box'. When my kindergarten students see Frogannai sitting on her secret box they know she has something for them to 'play with'. Sometimes it's colored squares, sometimes cut-out shapes, sometimes papers to take home. They don't really seem to care as long as they know they get to handle something special from Frogannai LOL.
I'm excited to have a gaelic poem about Frogannai to teach my students as well. I usually do a few frog themed lessons along the way, so the poem will fit in nicely :o)

Arizona Sunset

Here's the view that greeted me as I went out to fetch our mail this evening. The colors are so much brighter than my camera can capture, but hopefully this gives you a hint at the sight that took my breath away for a moment.


This second picture is out on our front street. What a great silhouette of AZ.

We have amazing sunsets here in the desert, but especially during Monsoon season.

Thank You....Hurricane Jimena!

Rain is a big deal in the desert! And we FINALLY got some good rain thanks to the hurricane traveling up the west coast of Mexico.
Saturday morning was our typical Monsoon rain, at last, and we all enjoyed hearing and watching it. I had to be out for some errands, and it was interesting how everybody's moods were upbeat and happy. Like I said, rain in the desert is a BIG deal!



These shots are out our patio gate. The most measured rainfall in the valley was just over an inch, which may not sound like much to some of you, but out here it can cause flash floods and close streets. The last picture is out our front window. But as is true to the desert as well,
Sunday and Monday have been gorgeous. We are going to a Diamondbacks game
for our Labor Day fun!

We're Havin' a Heat Wave......a Tropical Heat Wave.....

You probably have to either be an old-movie buff, or an old movie-buff to catch the reference to the song in our title, but it is totally appropriate for AZ right now. This past week we saw three straight days of 113 degree highs, tying the record high for each of those days. We're still in the 106-111 range, with humidity flux-ing all over the place.
Fortunately, we have Hurricane Jimena creeping up the Pacific coast from Mexico that dropped a trace of rain last night. We hope to have more substantial moisture by the weekend.
Soooo... think of us as you all are enjoying the beginnings of Fall.....we HOPE to see some leaves changing color here by December LOL