Welcome back to PORCH,
your go-to weekend companion.
Embrace community.
Discover a fresh perspective.
Grow your faith in Christ.
Get unstuck.
Share your story.
.jpg)
Hey all you parents, grandparentals, and teachers ~
Someone somewhere has proclaimed August as Back to School Month. Whatever happened to those lazy weeks of summer, Labor Day weekend, and then school starting?
Our oldest has been back to college for a few weeks. The others are returning home from summer adventures hither and yon. Practices for volleyball and track are kicking off and churches are ramping up their activities. School shopping will be more expensive than ever ... backpacks, sneakers, supplies, digital everything, extracurricular gear. And clothes, of course.
Gone are the days when all you needed was a black and white notebook, a few sharpened pencils in a vinyl zippered bag, a new pair of shoes, and a bad haircut.
🔔
BACK TO SCHOOL
vintage school vignette - Emily Baker
back to school supply bundles - Amazon
vintage first-day-of-school photos - HuffPost
a blessing for back to school - Sarah Bessey
a blessing for the start of a new school year - Kate Bowler
a sending prayer for college freshman - Emily Freeman
🔔
THE TALE OF 4 CHAIRS
Linda
🔔
Those rocker recliners look so comfortable and the chippy abandoned Adirondack chair was a great find. Have a wonderful day, my friend!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your weekend, Pam ... I bet you're arranging something beautifully autumn-y in your cottage!
Delete🍁
I like your back-to-school list but you forgot that along with the bad haircuts were the bad glasses we got in August after the trip to the eye doctor to make sure we could see the blackboard!! Great memories...
ReplyDeleteI know, I know! I thought of those cat-eye glasses we wore - you had the pretty blue to go with your eyes and I ended up with the ugly brown ones.
DeleteSigh. No fair.
🤦♀️
Linda, I just love your new rockers. I don't comment much but always read your blog and it is always uplifting. Your home is beautiful. Our schools here in the south started back August 1st. Seems so early and like summer had just started! My kids are grown now and finished college but even when they were in elementary school, we trucked in on the first day with endless sacks of school supplies- paper towels, hand sanitizer, pencils, pens, notebooks, rulers, erasers, Kleenex, crayons, colored pencils, etc., etc., etc.!. I'm surprised we weren't asked to bring toilet paper! That with new school dress code clothes and a new pair of shoes made starting back to school quite expensive!
ReplyDeleteGail, thanks so much for taking the time to say hi! It means so much to hear from you. And yes, I hear you about the back-to-school shopping marathons ... in so many ways, not much has changed.
DeleteAnd that's kind of reassuring, isn't it.
🖍️
I recall being so excited to go back to school, I could barely sleep the night before. I think my grandchildren feel the same way; they won't be going back until the end of August, where as here in the South, school is already in full swing.
ReplyDeleteI do so love your new chairs, too, Linda; sorry you had to wait so long to call them your own. Can we say supply chain?
Have a wonderful weekend!
Yep, I remember the anticipation, the excitement of new clothes and new stuff! I can even remember kindergarten and the little cubbies we had. Sadly, I can't remember what we had for dinner last night and half the time I'm calling one grandkiddo by the wrong name. At least one part of my brain is still working.
Delete🤔
Love a good Adirondack!
ReplyDeleteGot my first call to sub today. School won’t begin until after Labor Day, but the rumblings have begun.
You keep the most amazing schedule, friend. My admiration knows no bounds. Seriously.
DeleteP.S. READERS - If you're not getting Michele's newsletter, click on her name and subscribe right now. She's the real deal. Biblically wise and funny and so perceptive. I'm a big fan.
📝
Your chairs are beautiful, and glad you moved the older chair to a new home. It looks well worn with memories! Often I am ready for September and the "back to school season" but not this year! It's come on too fast!
ReplyDeleteI know, I know. Don't you just want to turn the clock back about two months?
Delete⏰
I have the best memories of back to school, setting up new notebooks and a looseleaf binder. And how I loved covering my textbooks! May God be with and bless all of the children, parents, and teachers!
ReplyDeleteYep, there was something so satisfying about setting up those notebooks, everything in order and in place. And my Mom made the tautest, neatest textbook covers out of paper bags. I forgot all about that, Joanne!
Delete📔
I'm having one heck of a time finding a new chair that is cozy, comfy, good back support and relatively small (not McMansion sized!). I love your older chair -- that looks so comfy!
ReplyDeleteThe ones we got were La-Z-Boy and are smaller than ones we've had before. Great back and neck support! You can find them much cheaper than price listed on the site.
Deletehttps://www.la-z-boy.com/p/recliners/pinnacle-rocking-recliner/_/R-010512#prodDetails
😉
The only rival to First Day excitement for students is First Day excitement for teachers. The week before the teacher's meetings would start, and two weeks before students were to arrive, I'd be back in my classroom organizing supplies. preparing materials, putting up bulletin boards, etc. Instead of visions of sugar plums dancing in my head, I'd be anticipating the growth my students would gain in knowledge and skills as the year progressed, and the fun we'd have along the way! (I was blessed to teach in a private school where discipline was not as monumental an issue as it is for many teachers in public schools.)
ReplyDeleteOh I love hearing your teacher's heart and perspective! Makes me smile with gratitude for all those kids along the way blessed to have had you in their lives, Nancy ... and what an example for those who've followed in your footsteps. This is a hard task indeed in this generation and under the circumstances we live in.
DeleteBless ALL you teachers!
👩🏫
The "chippy" white chair is my favorite, Linda. Molly started her senior year last Friday and we took Lilly back to college on Monday. Which means that I spent the rest of the week in my usual back-to-school transition state ... feeling like I'm slogging through molasses most of the time but (fortunately) still able to complete a few projects. The good news is that the fog is lifting, and I'm greatly looking forward to getting back into a normal writing routine next week.
ReplyDeleteYour writing has been truly inspired this summer, Lois. Really. You spoke right to me. But that you already know.
Deletehttps://www.loisflowers.com/lets-leave-all-the-judging-to-god/
https://www.loisflowers.com/when-its-hard-to-make-a-helpful-change/
✍️
I think schools start way too early. Summer vacation should be from Memorial Day thru Labor Day in my opinion. I can't believe you had to wait so long for those recliners!
ReplyDeleteI like that expanded summer schedule, Amy!
Delete😎
I always loved back-to-school shopping to get school supplies. I miss getting new notebooks and folders and paper and pens. :)
ReplyDeletemmm ... maybe us adults should outfit ourselves with some fresh supplies! Why should the kids have all the fun?!
Delete😇
those chairs look comfy. As I write this comment, it is pouring here in Ohio - those chairs invite me to curl up and read for awhile. Or visit and talk with a friend. I think they will bless you for many years.
ReplyDeleteOh, please send that rain this way, Jean! I'll sit in my chair, look out the window, and rejoice!
Delete☔
I LOVE those side of the road treasure finds! Have had quite a few over the years. Yes, I miss not starting school until after Labor Day.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
I'd love to hear about your discoveries, Lulu! We're seeing fewer garage/tag sales around here and more people simply putting their giveaways on the side of the road. 'One woman's trash is another woman's treasure!'
Delete🗑️
Linda, your recliners look comfy. Great roadside find, I enjoy yard sales, and you're right their hard to come by sometimes. I don't know who that someone was who decided school should start before Labor Day anyway. It stinks though...Sigh.
ReplyDeleteVisiting today from #TellHisStory #24&25
I wonder if Covid pushed garage sales right out of existence ...
Delete🤔