Month: May 2019

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Reading Roundup: May 2019

May signals the end of the school year and the beginning of summer vacation here at the home of the Cleland Clan.  It’s a busy month–we’re out in the yard, planting flowers, finishing up projects and grades at school, and so much more. Luckily I was able to squeeze in a little reading time this month, mostly in the evenings before I went to bed. Dennis has been traveling for work–he’s on a big library move out at the University of Missouri, so it’s just me and the dog at home, leaving me time to read 15 books this month.  So, without further ado, here’s my May reading list!
May reading list graphic--girl holding book across face

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Expedition Lodge in Moab, Utah

Living in Northeast Ohio, I’d always wanted to visit Utah. Home to five national parks, the landscape is so different than what I’d experienced my entire life. Visiting Utah for spring break would allow us to see a new place (and mark another state off my list) while also giving us a little time to spend with Meghan, Joe, and J.R.  We decided to meet Meghan and Joe in Moab, Utah, using the Expedition Lodge as a jumping off point to explore Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.

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Reading Roundup: April 2019 — 8 Books to Read

April was a really busy month for our family.  I actually didn’t teach a single Friday this month due to field trips and Good Friday. I spent the first Friday of the month in Washington, DC, viewing the gorgeous cherry blossoms along with the 80 sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students I was chaperoning. On the second Friday, I attended the Youngstown State University English Festival along with several junior high students. The third Friday was Good Friday, and our school was on break for Easter leaving us time for fun as a family. Then, the last Friday was our annual eighth grade field trip to Thiel College in Greenville, Pennsylvania. You’d think that would leave me a lot of time to read; however with several evenings spent working the finish line at track meets, I actually had less time to read this month than in March. Even so, there were several books on my April reading list that I’d love to share with you. 

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Perfect Pancakes, Homemade with Love

When my brothers and I were young, our father would often make us breakfast  before school. He worked shifts at a local steel mill, so if he was home and awake, we would have our choice of French toast, eggs, or pancakes. I can remember going to school and boasting that Dad had made us each 20 pancakes. Okay, some of them were dime-sized, but that really doesn’t matter when you’re nine.

This weekend, two of the grandbabies spent the night. We don’t usually keep cereal in the house because we don’t use it before it gets stale. We didn’t have any bread and only had a  little milk. So, for breakfast, homemade pancakes to the rescue!

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