Oak Branch Cottage: Landscape Demolition

Work is officially underway at Oak Branch Cottage, and this week brought a major milestone: full yard demolition.

Lackluster maintenance as of late had left the front, side, and back yards completely overgrown. To make way for a fresh vision, everything had to go. Trees, bushes, and outdated plantings were all cleared out, effectively creating a clean slate for the next chapter.

The Design Vision

The upcoming landscape design keeps things classic, elegant, and timeless:

• Structured Boxwoods: Creating strong, clean lines and evergreen framework throughout the property.

• A Crisp Palette: Dominated by rich greens and bright whites for a tailored, serene feel.

With the help of AI, I have collected some images to present to our landscaper. Remember, these are only ideas, not reality.

A project like this requires serious heavy lifting, and enormous thanks go to Jorge from JC Landscaping. Jorge has been managing the our current property’s lawn care since 2018, and he didn't hesitate to tackle this massive clearing job. Having a trusted partner on-site makes all the difference when executing a large-scale redesign.

The groundwork is officially laid, and the build-out phase is right around the corner. Stay tuned for the next update as the new plantings go in!

Demolished Landscaping, y'all!

Oak Branch Cottage: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly?

 At the very beginning of this journey, I promised to keep you posted on the renovations of Oak Branch Cottage—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Well, it turns out you really do have to push through the ugly to get to the fun stuff!

The Heavy Lifting

Last week was all about the gritty, essential updates. We officially kicked off the week by tackling the ancient knob-and-tube wiring. Done and check!

Before: Furnace

After: Repaired

Before: Laundry floor rotten wood

After

Living Room floors

From there, the focus shifted to the original hardwood floors. The crew got to work cleaning, sanding, and restaining them to bring their natural character back to life. In areas where the wood was rotted, fresh boards were woven in, and we finally removed an old, bulky furnace, patching up the flooring where it once stood. Meanwhile, plumbing work is well underway. You couldn’t pay me enough money to crawl under the house, so I am endlessly grateful for the team taking that on!

Looking Ahead

J and I meet with our contractor every Sunday morning to map out the strategy for the week ahead. This coming week is all about prepping the canvas:

• Removing various old doors throughout the house

• Prepping and cleaning up the interior walls

• Diving headfirst into paint, paint, and more paint

Even when the daily progress feels minor, I absolutely love watching the cottage transform bit by bit.

Exterior & Finishes

Outdoors, things are moving just as fast. I'm meeting with the cloth awning specialists this afternoon to finalize those details, and the landscaping crew arrives tomorrow morning to clear out overgrown brush and remove a few problem trees.

Best of all, we got to squeeze in some of the fun design work this past weekend! On Saturday, J and I took a trip to Gulf Coast Home in Bay St. Louis to meet with the owners, Wendy and Theresa. We spent the day selecting and ordering rugs, a Louis Phillipe mirror, a new bed, and outdoor furniture for the porch. {Photos to come....}

Seeing the design elements come together makes all the dust, noise, and rewiring entirely worth it. Stay tuned—the best is yet to come.

Work, work, work, y'all!

Classroom Theme 2026: "TIE"-ing It All Together

The start of a new school year always brings a wave of fresh energy, fresh faces, and one of my absolute favorite traditions: a brand-new classroom theme. Entering the room on that first day sets the tone for everything to come, and this year feels especially milestone-worthy.

Hard to believe, but this year marks the start of my 17th year at St. Paul’s Episcopal. Wow! Time has truly flown by, but the spark and curiosity inside the lab never fade.

This year, our theme is "TIE"-ing It All Together!

Throughout the year, our visuals and hands-on activities will focus on how the three core sciences I teach—Earth, Life, and Physical science—interlock to form the world around us. Science doesn't happen in a vacuum, and seeing students discover the threads connecting physics to biology, or geology to ecology, is where the real magic happens.

To bring the theme to life, preppiness abounds! Bright bow ties, crisp bows, and playful ribbons now don many of the lockers, bulletin boards, and display walls across the science lab. It’s colorful, welcoming, and packed with a healthy dose of science humor.

Naturally, a theme this fun needs the perfect puns to go with it. Keep an eye out around the classroom for a few of our favorites:

• "Tie-ing it all together... one experiment at a time!"

• "Bound by time"

• "We're all tied together"

• "Let's have a bowtiful year"

• "Knot your average homeroom"

• "Well-bonded"

Whether we are untangling the mysteries of physical forces, mapping the life cycles of organisms, or digging into Earth’s history, we are set up for an unforgettable adventure. Here’s to year 17, strong bonds, and a fantastic school year ahead!

Past Classroom Themes

{Click to view below}

Think Like A Scientist 2025

Elements of a Successful Student 2024

Classic Pennants 2023

Out of this World 2022

Get on Board 2021

Two Thumbs Up 2020

Saddle Up 2019

Science Is a Beautiful Subject 2018

Every Year Should Be This Good Theme 2017

Periodic Table Theme 2016

APPmazing Theme 2015

Facebook Theme 2014

Get Hooked Theme 2013

Keep Calm Theme 2012

"TIE" It Together, y'all!