>The Good Flea had an interview posted on her blog, and I couldn’t resist. I joined in. The questions are hers; the answers are mine.

1. You’re a composter. How did your gardening career start and what’s your favorite thing to grow?

We lived in a small duplex with a plot behind the house that measured about 2′ by 8′. I grew tomatoes and beans because they grew pretty much straight up and didn’t need much space. Now that I have more space, I still grow tomatoes and beans, but I’ve added peppers, broccoli, spinach, and several kinds of lettuce. Oh, and chives, green onions, and a few other herbs like basil and thyme. I hope the zucchini has a better season next summer; I hardly had any last year.

2. Living in Wisconsin, I’m guessing you have a favorite stew or chili recipe. Where did you get it and why is it your favorite? Do you put spaghetti noodles in your chili? Because … ew.

Wisconsin chili is unique in that way: we like to put noodles in it. I prefer elbow mac or shells to spaghetti in mine. In fact, I made a batch of chili today because it was so cold outside! It made the house smell wonderful, so I baked bread to make it feel warmer and smell even better.

3. How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? Wait. No. I mean, what grade do you teach and why did you choose to go into teaching?

I started out as a music teacher and then decided that I really wanted to teach in a regular classroom. After teaching in day care and preschools and eventually moving into elementary school, regular classroom teaching is still my passion. If I make a move in the future, it would likely be to a virtual school, where I would guide the parents who act as learning coaches for their children.

4. Can you name all seven dwarfs without cheating?

Sneezy, Sleepy, Dopey, Happy, Grumpy, Doc, and Bashful, of course. No problem. Who was that pale teenager who showed up at their cottage after she ran away from home?

5. How did you and your husband meet?

We were college sweethearts. Our 25th anniversary is coming up this summer. Wow!

The RULES of the interview game:
1. Leave me a comment saying, “Interview me.”
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions (I get to pick the questions).
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.