My first classroom visit as an author!! It only took me 20 years. 😂 😂 #Persistence #KidLit #Determination #Goals

The precise moment you regret your good deed of picking up some kind of trash from an #elementary #school hallway:

Sage advice.

Ok, so I take pity on lost winter souls and feed them strawberries. Could be worse habits. 🍓 🪲 #KindnessMatters #wintervibes #NatureLovers

The big kids invited me to play! I get to guest blog for this year’s NF Fest!! 😁

I love my #Library system! Tonight’s free #Art program was beginning Ojibwe beadwork. I will wear these often!

Today I Zentangled my #Dog. #IsThisArt #Relaxation

Need some stress relief? Try scribbling doodles. It soothes my 💜 and 🧠. #LearningThroughArt #MentalHealthMatters #ArtTherapy

Time for another exciting rendition of #Library #Book return pile. #BookNerd

I found three tiny jumping #spiders (like the one in the picture) huddled inside a bag blowing through the snow. What to do? I took a guess and released them in my fern. Now my kitchen is fully stocked with jumping spiders for the winter and I feel like a total maniac. #KindnessMatters #Wildlife

#Teaching the last week before #Christmas may be bonkers, but at least I have a job with Silly Socks Day.

#Library return run? ✅ Hunkering down all weekend with a new pile of #KidLit? ✅ Stay warm, everyone! 🥶 📚

More meaningless 🎨 ✍️ scribbles to relax my 🧠. #ArtTherapy #MentalHealthMatters #Relaxation

I'm so excited to finally share the cover of my upcoming book, A Forest Begins Anew! This writing journey to publication has been a long time coming, and seeing real proof like this is surreal. Feel free to share. Wahoo! #KidLitAuthor #WritingCommunity #STEM @esckeyes.bsky.social

I reclaimed a foot of space on my desk by finally finishing my #library polymer clay owl project. #ArtsAndCrafts #Relaxation

When my turn on Earth is over, I hope I’ll finish in a place of peace and beauty like this little bumblebee did in my broccoli. 🐝 #NatureLovers #Pollinators #AutumnVibes

Yet another reason to love my #library system: Free #ArtsAndCraft sessions. Here’s my polymer clay plate cover. #TrySomethingNew

My first business cards! It’s just now starting to feel real after so many years of trying to get traditionally published. ✍️ #WritingForChildren #KidLit #AuthorLife

Teachers! Librarians! It's time for the Sibert Smackdown. The perfect Mock Sibert activity for kids who love nonfiction. tinyurl.com/3c9harym #TLsky #Skybrarian #SchoolLibraries #edusky #kidlit

A year ago I got sick of wishing I could paint. Now I’ve filled one book and used almost that whole kindergarten watercolor paint set. Am I good? Not even mediocre. That’s not the point. What are you sick of WISHING… that you could instead just START? 🎨 ⏰ #IsThisArt #MentalHealthMatters #JustDoIt

What’s that? You’ve always wondered what 12 celery plants would reduce to when dehydrated? Allow me. You’re welcome. #OrganicGardening #Gardening #FoodPreservation

Today’s the first time I took both new(ish) dogs for a walk at the same time, and they did great!

I’m not the mom who hosts football parties. I don’t bake cookies for the team or organize fundraisers. I barely understand the game. But at the bare minimum, I’m the mom who shows up. Even when it’s 38 degrees and raining. #football #MomLife #AutumnVibes

🎃 + 📚 = ♥️ The MN Zoo featured picture-book-themed #art! Be still my heart! #Halloween #KidLit #WritingCommunity

Stressed? Try some paint and/or doodles, WITHOUT A CARE how it actually turns out. Just let the process quiet your 🧠. #MentalHealthMatters #Art #WhatIsArt

Exercised another part of my 🧠 making #jewelry at a free #library program. #MentalHealthMatters

It’s now a slightly less terrifying day to be a wooly bear caterpillar. I relocated all these little buddies from the school recess patio to the woods. #KindnessMatters #Bugs #AutumnVibes

I got mugged last night! I went to bed with my mouth guard in, but this is where I found it in the morning. 🐾 #PetLife #DogLover

Am I getting predictable on a Friday night? 😂 #Library and high school #football again. 📚 🏈

Agreed! I loved this one so much, I bought my own copy!

These are some of my favorites! What amazing creators. #KidLit #PictureBooks #SCBWI 📚 💜

This #spider was so huge, I felt her every footstep up my arm as I relocated her to a safe spot! #OrganicGardening #Kindness

Time to #harvest this week’s salads and get some good habits started for the school year. #OrganicGardening #HealthyLiving

Am I the only one who loves creeping Charlie? Just me and the bumblebees? 🐝 #Gardening #Pollinators #Bees

Another wild & crazy Friday night at the #library and high school #football game. #PictureBooks 📚 🏈

Hooray! Nellie Mae and Bucky both passed their Beginning Obedience final exam. Bucky even took home a 4th place ribbon! #DogTraining #Pets #BoxerDog 🐾

Before and after. I’ve turned a gray, storageless cell into an organized and (hopefully) welcoming #learning space. This .5 photo makes it look bigger than it is. 😂 Thanks for the encouragement! 💪 #Teaching #ESL

Can you wave your magic wand 🪄 and make my #teaching stuff fit and look inviting in a small new room without any storage provided? Or maybe just hold my hand and tell me everything is going to be ok? 🥺 #BackToSchool #ClassroomOrganization

#Library return pile. 📚 #KidLit #PictureBooks

Nervous Nellie did NOT appreciate having to do her “heel-sit-stay” homework in such a public place. #DogTraining #DogDaysOfSummer #TrainYourDog

Sometimes trying a new thing is great, and other times you get pickle flavored soda and it tastes just like you thought it would. 🤢 #WeirdFood #PickleLovers #FoodieAdventure

Discovered these ancient wrappers stuffed inside a vase from my Grandma’s house. Somebody hiding a sweet tooth? Anybody ever tasted this stuff? #Candy #Antique #JunkFood

That just-right feeling when you’re studying #volcanoes and you stumble into an exhibit at the #Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. #NatureLovers

Ooh, I also love this #PictureBook! #WritingCommunity #SCBWI

Sorry to brag… but… I just #cooked and ate ravioli with #spaghetti sauce and my white shirt is STILL white. **Mic drop** #It’sHardToBeMessy

Getting caught up on #library #PictureBook returns. #KidLit 📚 💜

My backyard bellwort 3 ways: #photo, #watercolor, & fused glass. #ArtTherapy #GardenInspiration

My new origami #kayaks weigh under 20 lbs each. Hello independence and ease of transport— a fun way to get #outside and enjoy #summer with friends!