Cleaning and Sorting Begins

I have been spending much of my time trying to begin the cleaning out of my classroom getting ready for the move.   Those of you who know me well, know that at school I have been a hoarder. it has been very difficult for me to sort and clean out. I couldn't let go of things. This upcoming move to 1st grade has freed me to be able to start letting go.  It isn't perfect and it is a slow process, but I am making progress!

I have cleared out 3 bookshelves and 2 cupboards.  I have thrown some things out.  I have given some things away.  I have a few piles for the school "yard sale" coming up.  I have left quite a bit for the next teacher but I am sure that she will end up throwing much of it out.  I think she knows that I have at least tried to whittle it down for her!

Jackie has been so generous to let me move some things onto shelves that she has emptied.  Maybe I can get out of the room fairly quickly in May/June.  Then it will be trying to put together the new classroom!

More Books Read for March Madness

 I just finished reading these two books this weekend.


Catastrophe is looming over the Central Valley of California. The honeybees, vital to the economy of this agricultural epicenter, are dying at an unprecedented rate. The U.S. government is desperate for answers, and researchers at the University of California-Riverside are tasked with providing them. But when the professors assigned to the investigation are systematically killed by a creature that imitates the honeybees almost perfectly, it becomes clear that there is something sinister at play.

Following the murders of her mentors, it's up to entomology student Tiana Lambrose to move forward with the research. Special Agent Stu Whiteleather, part of a team of FBI agents assigned to assist in the investigation, is immediately drawn to the lovely entomologist. Together, they discover a breed of bees engineered to be killing machines, which, despite Tiana's expertise, are like nothing she's seen before. The question is, who could possibly have the sophisticated technology to engineer these specialized insects and for what motive? The perpetrator will stop at nothing to keep investigators from finding the answer. As threats to Tiana's life escalate, Stu must battle an unknown foe to protect the woman he has come to care for, before she becomes the next victim in a dangerous conspiracy.

I thought that this was a little different than most of his other books.  I did enjoy the book and was surprised by the reveal of a few of the "bad guys."


AND 



Navy SEAL Craig Simmons has pledged his life to serve and protect, so when this newest member of the Saint Squad observes a stunning young woman on the beach being shadowed by an armed man, he leaps into action. It doesn’t take long to realize his mistake, but it also puts him in a position to meet a very well—known actress, Sienna Blake. For Sienna, the timing couldn’t be more perfect—she’s preparing for a role as a CIA agent, and who better to help her prepare than a Navy SEAL? Craig and Sienna develop a lighthearted friendship, though both are aware of their growing attraction. Neither realizes, however, that a treacherous enemy is setting in motion a terrifying plan to destroy Sienna . . .

A series of near-fatal accidents on set are too close for comfort, and Sienna has been lucky to escape with her life—so far. Despite the rising danger behind the scenes, the show must go on. When the Saint Squad is enlisted by the FBI to safeguard Sienna on the ill-fated film set, Craig is driven to protect the woman he is quickly growing to love. As the list of suspects and motives grows, Craig and the Saint Squad will do whatever it takes to track down the perpetrator-before things turn deadly.

I enjoyed this continuation of the Saint Squad series. It is fun to read books that contain characters that you already know through other books.

The reading continues

I had a few LDS author books to catch up on so I just finished this one.

It was supposed to be a relaxing early-morning run,but the path along the river trail quickly turns into the scene of a nightmare for recent college graduate Kira Paxton. An unintended exploration of a secluded riverbank leads to a gruesome discovery that sets her on a collision course with danger: it is the body of a young woman. In shock, all Kira can manage to do is scream . . .

From the moment Ford Kettering hears cries for help along the trail, he is drawn irrevocably into a mystery in which he plays a shocking role. Ford, a local high school teacher, had a recent classroom clash with the victim-now, he's a person of interest. As Ford and Kira bond over their shared ordeal, they work together to prove Ford's innocence and soon, their attraction is undeniable. But it seems that Kira's nightmare is far from over. What begins as a series of close calls and acts of vandalism soon escalates, putting Kira's own life in jeopardy. It appears that Kira saw something that day along the trail, something that has made her a target. With Ford's help, she is determined to track down the killer before she becomes the next victim.

March Madness Reading

At school we were having a reading challenge between all the classes and the faculty.  I don't normally read much during the school year, because once I get into a book I don't want to quit and get my work done!  It was a school assignment though so read I must!   I  recently finished reading this book. 

Presley DeGraff is a young woman on the run. With nothing but the clothes on her back, her escape from the ruthless manipulations of her former fiancé leaves her with little time to hide. There is only one person to whom she can turn, only one place she may be safe . . .

Haggerty, Georgia, is known for its Southern hospitality and quirky inhabitants. For Presley, her Aunt Violet's home in the tiny town is a lifesaving haven. Her aunt, along with a cast of delightful friends and neighbors, warmly welcomes her. For the first time in so long, she feels hope a hope that hinges on hiding her past. But the dreams of solitude that she had envisioned quickly fade when a disturbing discovery is made in her aunt's backyard: a human skeleton. At the first hint of crime, Haggerty's own amateur sleuth, Miss Eugenia, is on the case. Along with handsome Haggerty resident Mac and sprightly ninety-nine-year-old Loralee, Presley is quickly drawn into a mystery spanning generations of Haggerty's history. But when news coverage of the investigation digs up Presley's own secrets, it s up to her new friends to come to her aid, by whatever means necessary.

I enjoyed reading about the people of Haggerty again.  It has been awhile.   This was a cute book.