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The Blog
Today I Choose To Rest
The world doesn't stop just because I need it to. People still go to work. Emails still come in. Life keeps moving at the same fast pace it always has. And here I am... trying to heal. It is disorienting. I find myself measuring my day in small steps. Did I rest? Did I take care of myself? Did I make it through okay? While the world around me measures in productivity, deadlines, and accomplishments. I feel out of place sometimes, like I am existing on a completely different t
dneumann1972
5 days ago1 min read
In The Stillness
There's a strange kind of guilt that comes with sitting still. Not the kind where you've done something wrong, but the kind where you feel wrong... just for resting. I didn't expect that part of recovery. I thought the hard part would be the physical healing, the pain, the discomfort, the waiting. But no one really talks about the mental tug-of-war, the voice in your head whispering, "You should be doing more," even when your body is clearly saying, "Not today." I'll sit down
dneumann1972
5 days ago1 min read
Carrot Cake Latte
There's something about an unexpected detour that turns into a little moment of magic. I went for a drive with no real destination, just needing a change of scenery and some time with the dog. And somehow, I ended up at Tim Hortons. And there it was. Not just coffee... but a whole carrot cake experience: Carrot Cake Latte, Carrot Cake Cold Brew, and Carrot Cake Iced Capp. I mean... excuse me?? When did carrot cake become the new craze outside of the Annie the Porcupine world?
dneumann1972
May 42 min read
Books From My Childhood
There are certain books that don't just sit on a shelf that they stay with you. For me, stories like Anne of Green Gables and The Chronicles of Narnia aren't just childhood reads. They're pieces of who I was... and, in a lot of ways, still am. When I flip through those pages now, I don't just see Anne with her wild imagination or children stepping through a wardrobe into another world. I see the girl I used to be, dreaming big, feeling deeply, believing there was always somet
dneumann1972
Apr 282 min read
Writing and Waiting
Everyone talks about writing the book. The ideas. The characters. The late nights when the story just flows and you can't type fast enough to keep up. That part? I love. What no one really talks about is the waiting. The waiting after the words are written. The waiting after you hit send. The waiting for someone else to take your story and bring it to life. Waiting for illustrations. There's something exciting about knowing your story is in someone else's hands, being turned
dneumann1972
Apr 282 min read
A Reflection on School: Then and Now
I started elementary school in 1978. Things were different then. Students with special needs didn't learn alongside us. They went to different schools, separate classrooms, separate experiences. At the time, it wasn't questioned—it was just the way things were. The norm was celebrating every holiday the same way. December meant Christmas music in music class. Halloween meant costumes, parties, and games. Everyone participated. Or at least, that's how it looked. But for me, it
dneumann1972
Apr 252 min read
Becoming Kids Again
As the kids get older, I find myself treasuring our time together more and more. Life gets busy, schedules fill up, and those simple moments of connection become even more meaningful. Add in that my grandbaby is four—truly one of the funniest, most joyful ages—and I knew I wanted to create something special this Easter. Something that would let all of us, no matter our age, be kids again. So this year, I tried something a little different. In every Easter basket—including my
dneumann1972
Apr 72 min read
Easy Carrot Cake Muffins (Shortcut Version)
There are days when baking feels like joy, measuring, mixing, creating something from scratch that fills the house with warmth. And then there are days when even that feels like too much. A while back, I shared a carrot cake muffin recipe that I absolutely loved. It was one of those recipes you could really play around with, and it felt special knowing everything was made from scratch. But lately, with some health challenges, I just haven't had the energy for all of that. The
dneumann1972
Apr 62 min read
Carrot Cake Playdough
If you have spent any time with Annie the Porcupine, you already know one important thing about her... She loves carrot cake! Not just a little. Not just sometimes. It is her favorite. The kind of treat that brings comfort, joy, and a whole lot of love. And isn't that what we want our classrooms to feel like too? Warm, and welcoming. Full of little moments that stay with our students long after the day is over. That is why this carrot cake scented playdough will become a quic
dneumann1972
Mar 272 min read
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