My students line up at the Mexican restaurant where they can practice ordering their food in Spanish. It's hard to have an authentic Spanish-speaking experience here, but the staff at Puerto Vallarta Amigos are so kind and accommodating, allowing the students to interact with them in Spanish. The food is also very good - my go-to order is Fish Tacos. We've not been able to do this for a few years because of the pandemic, so I was happy to give the students this experience.
Classes end on Friday, and next week is graduation and tying up loose ends. I'm happy to say that the school has found a good Spanish teacher - someone I know very well - my eldest daughter, who is shifting from teaching English and Humanities to Spanish, the language she grew up with, although we always spoke English at home. Retirement beckons once again for me, and I'm looking forward to it.
In spite of our continuing very chilly spring, the strawberries are ripening, ever so slowly. We're enjoying them sliced onto our breakfast bowls of yogurt and granola. Here they are fresh from the garden, still with a bit of soil on them. I rinse them just before using them and they keep for several days.
One of the few open peony blooms. They smell so wonderful. I read recently that peonies are edible, but I've not tried them, nor do I think I will. I'll just enjoy their blowsy blooms and sweet fragrance.
Is it chilly or warm in your corner? How is your garden doing?
Such beautiful flowers, so strange to think you have a David Austin rose in Canada or is that me being stupid?? I drove 60 miles to buy two of his roses quite a few years ago. I've copied the rhubarb cake recipe, I love rhubarb and so that will be a weekend treat. Your blog is lovely I read back and thoroughly enjoyed hearing about you and your family.I bet those tutu skirts were a hit!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that you were able to take a field trip with your students once again. That looks like a great spot and so cute how they are eager to practice what you have taught them. What a proud moment that must be to have your daughter take over as the new Spanish teacher. Congratulations on retiring (again).
ReplyDeleteYour roses are so huge they almost look like peonies. Gorgeous!
It's neither chilly or warm here. It's just plain HOT and getting hotter by the day.
Hi Lorrie~ Your photos are always so beautiful, I love that your post them! What a great opportunity for your students to practice their Spanish, especially when you get to order delicious food. Before I retired, I worked for an attorney who spoke Spanish and paid for a person to teach us a few words so that we could communicate better with the clients. I really enjoyed the lessons and have often thought that I should take some online classes. The strawberries look delicious!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful outing with your students! And what a blessing that your daughter will now be teaching the Spanish class! That is so awesome! Your roses are always such beautiful bloomers. My peonies have not opened up yet, will be soon! Can't wait to smell their beautiful fragrance too :)
ReplyDeleteYou must be anxiously waiting to resume your retirement!~ How nice that your daughter is going to be your replacement.
ReplyDeleteThe strawberries look wonderful. I haven't seen any for sale in Abby so far.
Your Gertrude Jekyll couldn't be more gorgeous!!
Wonderful photos. Them put you in a really good mood.
ReplyDeleteHave fun with your students, you are heading for a new phase of life, there are many feelings. Wishing you all the best. It is so wonderful that your daughter will now be teaching Spanish.
By the way, my daughter is a French teacher... languages are great :-)))
Your peonies are lovely... they've faded here, but the roses are blooming in the most beautiful colors, as are the poppies. Wonderful sunny weather here with us.
Hug of Viola
I did not realize that you had returned to worked, which seems quite common amongst newly retired. Both my husband and I did. A year after my retirement the department chair called both me and my friend to see if we could each teach two classes. We were excited to return. I enjoyed it so much, but realized that I didn't need it anymore. The college freshman were a little fresher and I just didn't enjoy the grading. I knew that I had made the right decision to reitire and then a new chair took over and then the department fell apart and all of the adjunct faculty who be been teaching comp for years were fired. I never looked back and never regretted my decision. Still, good teaching opportunities are the most rewarding. As for strawberries: I have two planted in a patio pot and something has already eaten the only ripe one. Hope it leaves the peonies alone. Gertrude never disappoints, does she?
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to you both on the transfer of power💐
ReplyDeleteThe class trip sounds like lots of fun.
School is over here... was over on Tues.
ReplyDeleteDelightful way to practice a language. With food!!!!
Wonderful that your daughter is becoming your replacement.
Retirement will be lovely, yet again.
💗💓💗
Happy second retirement! I'm sure there is much to look forward to! (And now I am thinking about fish tacos . . . )
ReplyDeleteAt the moment it is 30C outside and 23C inside tomorrow it will be 40 until Sunday it is hot and dry and we will have thunderstorms by the weekend. We go out early in the morning.
ReplyDeleteWe are watering the garden every night but there will be a water restriction beginning.
It is nice to go out with your students at a Spanish restaurant. I have learnt Spanish at school and university and loved to go to Spain!
The class trip sounded like it was great for the students! Congrats on your second retirement. Your peonies look so beautiful. It is hot and humid here in SW Florida and will be through September. But I really don't mind. I get out early to walk on the beach and run errands. Afternoons are for painting, reading and cooking.
ReplyDeleteYou’re flowers are always stunning. Happy retirement, again! How fun that your daughter is going to become the Spanish teacher!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great field trip to practice Spanish! Nice for the staff to help out that way. Beautiful flowers and those strawberries look delicious!
ReplyDeleteIt makes me happy to think of your daughter taking on the Spanish classes, the language of her growing up country. I did not live in Uruguay long enough to learn to speak it, but when I took Spanish in High school it was very easy for me. Such a practical and fun outing experience to order food at a Spanish restaurant. Fish tacos are my favoreite as well.
ReplyDeleteLorrie - congratulations to your eldest daughter, and congratulations to you on your "re" retirement! Those are lovely strawberries. Our spring has been wetter and cooler than normal. We need some heat if our plants are to truly grow!
ReplyDeleteI love the fact that you took your students down to a Spanish restaurant and that the owners were pleased to interact with them - a memorable farewell for you and your students.
ReplyDeleteBut, how wonderful it is that your eldest daughter is now going to walk into your footsteps - you are leaving behind a very special legacy for both your students and the school.
Congratulations on your retirement! And to your daughter on her new job:) How nice for both of you. We returned home yesterday after being away for 10 days, and all of the roses are in full bloom. It was such a nice welcome home.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos!
ReplyDeleteMy peonies bloomed for a hot minute before they wilted in the rain. We've had a few cool (low 20s) days but the temperatures are expected to climb up again tomorrow. Hello, 40C with humidty!
Here's to retirement 2.0!
I love the wharf...so different from anything I ever see. And I'm happy you are retiring again and know you are happy your daughter is taking over. Enjoy your day!
ReplyDeleteThis time of year is always so glorious with strawberries and flowers.
ReplyDeleteHoping you enjoy retiring again.
What a great idea to take your Spanish students to the restaurant to practice speaking. Fish tacos would be my choice too. Yummm!