Friday Funnies

Have a terrific first weekend of April.

Three on Thursday

As the month of April begins these are the things I am currently thankful for.

1) That my hubby was able to fix the damage that occurred when some guy slammed into me in the parking lot at Preston's school yesterday.

2) That we finally cut the cord and are now saving ourselves $200 a month.

3) That I am finally back in the habit of drinking 100 ounces of water a day. Not only am I feeling better but I am saving us money by drinking less Cherry Coke Zero.

Monday Musings

Man I cannot believe that today is the last day of March or that we are 1/4 of the way through 2025. These are the things that are currently on my mind.

1) The boys are back to school today after their spring break last week. Only a little over 2 months left in the school year which again seems impossible.

2) Last summer Preston did not get into the school's summer camp when we had the money to pay for it. This year he got in and now we are scrambling to come up with the $2100 to pay for it. Oh well it never fails.

3) I am loving having more daylight since the time change.

Here are the pictures for the last few weeks.

From now on I am blaming my introverted nature on my Finnish ancestry. (From Quiet by Susan Cain)

I would trust my kids with a drag queen before I would with these "Christians".

Amen.

If we don't do things like this then the teenager will eat everything.

Close enough to be scary.
 

Friday Funnies

I hope that you all enjoy the first weekend of spring (although it does not feel like spring around here).

True Life Tuesday: Ellen Swallow Richards

Ellen Henrietta Swallow was born on December 3, 1842 in Dunstable, Massachusetts. She was the only child of Peter and Fanny nee Gould Taylor Swallow. While her parents were both from modest means they held education in a high value. During her early years she was homeschooled. In 1859 the family moved to Westford, Massachusetts where she attended Westford Academy. She was very proficient in Latin which allowed her to also study French and German. She was in high demand as a tutor and used the money she earned to further her education. In May 1862 she developed measles which interrupted her preparations to become a teacher. In June 1864 she took a teaching position when her family moved to Littleboro, Massachusetts. She did not teach in 1865 and spent the year running the family store and taking care of her ill mother. 

In September 1868 she entered Vassar College from where she graduated with her Bachelors degree in 1870. In December 1870 she was admitted to MIT as a special student in chemistry after a vote by the faculty. This made her the first woman to be admitted to the school. She graduated with her Bachelors degree in 1873. She continued her advanced studies at the school but the administration balked at granting her an advanced degree. 

On June 4, 1875 she married Robert Hallowell Richards. He was the chairman of the mine engineering department at MIT. The couple took up residence in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. With her husband's support she stayed on at MIT as a volunteer. She also worked with the Woman's Laboratory which assisted mostly teachers with learning how to conduct scientific experiments. She also worked as an unpaid chemistry lecturer from 1873-78. Starting in 1884 until her death Ellen also taught at the newly founded laboratory of sanitary chemistry at the Lawrence Experiment Station. She also held several positions with the state of Massachusetts including as a consulting chemist for the State Board of Health from 1872-5 and as the official water analyst from 1887-97. In her work she focused on air and water quality, mineralogy and home sanitation. She was also heavily involved in women's education and in home economic initiatives.

Ellen died on March 30, 1911 at her home in Jamaica Plain after suffering from angina. She was buried in her family cemetery in Gardiner, Maine. In 1973 MIT established the Ellen Shallow Richards Professorship for distinguished female faculty. Her home in Jamaica Plain was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1992. She was also inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1993. Finally, in 2011 she was listed as #8 on the MIT150 list, a list of the 150 best innovators and ideas from the school.

Friday Funnies

I hope that everyone out there enjoys their upcoming weekend.

Three on Thursday

As another week comes to an end these are the things I am currently thankful for.

1) Having more daylight at the end of the day.

2) That Preston has a spot for summer camp this year.

3) That Preston seems to be over whatever bug he has been dealing with this week.