Well, it will be a cost saver...

Memphis has announced they will not flunk children between kindergarten and third grade, and only flunk a child once time between fourth and eighth grades.

It's a totally sticky wicket, I know. I have lots more experience in this than the average childless person. ;-) So I have opinions:

*Basically, I think it will be a money saver for Memphis. Less years of school for a kid, at 10K a pop (which is considerably higher than Nashville, but still with dismal results). Cynical, I know, but I've seen enough in direct contact with Metro Nashville administrators and teachers to see it that way.

*Unless the teachers and administrators really buckle down with the interventions mentioned, it will be very easy to just let the kids cruise through, without adequate learning measures being met. As the article says, otherwise they just get the same curriculum and approaches as the previous year, likely without different results.

*Unless parents care and get involved in their kids' education, there isn't that much that schools can do on their own. That's something I know profoundly, first hand.

*The kid doesn't need to work, doesn't need to even show up, and the parent doesn't need to even try to do anything. The kid isn't getting retained, no matter what.

I really hope I'm wrong.

A quote from the article...

"If the schools in Memphis are determined to identify students who are struggling and apply different interventions, it's possible it could do the trick," said Jay Greene, endowed professor of education reform at the University of Arkansas and senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute.

"Unfortunately, the track record on this approach is not that good," he said.

Truly remarkable

How that kiddo stands up to the onslaught of their parent is beyond me. No wonder kiddo's so angry. We need so much wisdom in this situation. I'm praying that God will be glorified somehow, and that our influence will be very positive, to help that young person become a mature, loving adult that finds the peace they seek.

The stress of this adventure is so far beyond what we have experienced prior to this last set of years. It's a lesson in dealing with injustices we cannot control, much to our great sorrow.

"...It is vitally important that there be no criticism of the Project in the country at this precarious time," then (Dr. Ferris) added semi-accidentally, as a semi-joke, "that there be no criticism of anything at this time." -- Ayn Rand, "Atlas Shrugged."

in my farmers market booth

Don't overlook this tasty dish...

Yeah, I know, the title "Almond Vegetable Quiche" doesn't sound very promising to you, perhaps. However, I was very intrigued and set out to try it. The final result: something I think is quite tasty, low carb, healthy, and nice for an easy dinner or for breakfast or brunch.

I have posted the recipe as found originally below. The Tennessean doesn't keep their links active for long, and I didn't find this recipe anywhere else in my cursory Google search.

I mixed up everything except the sizeable veggies (for which I substituted one medium, ripe tomato, diced, and a diced green pepper), poured a bit of the mixture into the silicone bundt, and then dropped in the veggies. Then I put in the rest of the mixture. This is important in baked goods so as to have a finished product that doesn't crumble into pieces, and it resulted in a very nice "quiche-bundt" with no crust to boot. Really, you should try this.

Trader Joe's sells almond meal, but you could always put almonds into a food processor and pummel the life outta them. ;-)

ALMOND VEGETABLE QUICHE
6 eggs
1/2 cup mayonnaise or kefir
Pinch of baking soda
1/2 cup red cabbage
1/4 cup onion or shallots
1/2 cup cauliflower
1 cup almond flour
Salt to taste
1 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix all ingredients and pour into a silicone Bundt pan. Bake for 1 hour.
Recipe from Sepehr Homayoon of the Baha'i Center of Nashville.

I am, indeed...

...so grateful.

Where does a daughter in law go to resign?

"Octo-mom", Kate Gosselin, and the 67 year old who lied about her age to get in vitro when she was 65 (you have be 55 or younger...55?????) all give me pause to wonder just how ethical the fertility business is these days. There are a number of areas where "It's not for us to judge" doesn't apply in my book. One is definitely where innocent children are involved.

I don't post much politically, but...

...oh, my goodness, if this goes into law, we are in huge trouble.

There, I said it.

Very soon...but yea, verily, not soon enough. ;-)

Most every Sunday we gather with our friends after church and have lunch together. A friend of mine saw me holding the newest baby of our congregation during the service, so at lunch she said, "are you thinking about having a baby?"

Um, girlfriend, I'm pushin' 50. (Or is it pushing me?)

Well, I failed the supermodel test on many levels ;-) , so I imagine it's the oily skin. Maybe acne-prone skin ain't all bad, since this was the second friend who seemed honestly surprised that I wasn't in my thirties. It could be my uppity nature, though, I guess... ;-)

I'll go with the latter. ;-)

After receiving some eggplant, I told a friend I wasn't sure what to do with it. She suggested moussaka, and I figured the least I could do was bring her some to enjoy. She texted back later "the mousekaka was awesome, thx". Yes, that's how she spelled it. I sincerely doubted my culinary skills, having apparently served her rodent droppings without knowing. ;-)