Tonight I read to the kids from the book Celtic Fairy Tales, which has the most beautiful illustrations EVER! They are gilded illustrations bordered with Celtic themes.
It is my hope to give the kids a very broad-based smattering of lore from various Western cultures, particularly, so that they have a strong platform for identifying and understanding literature and modern stories with references to the past. We are establishing some 'hooks' to benefit both them and, actually, me. I continually seem to read things that suddenly trigger my memory of references made by modern literature, and I'm sure this new knowledge would enrich my enjoyment and appreciation of modern literature and films.
I'm sure this is particularly true of Greek mythology. How confused I have always been with those references. I'm delighted to finally have an elemental grasp on who they are and such. It feels like such a BASIC thing to know. In my reading of fantasy literature, these references are made CONTINUALLY, and I've always felt a bit slow...
Norse mythology is the same way, and the parallels and references are even more striking, as most of us never received any history lessons in Norse lore. I am quite looking forward to covering Norse mythology with the chillun's at some point, but, unfortunately, the violence is a concern. I have mentioned Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer before, I believe, and I plan to use it, and possibly Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings later, as my accompanying fictional book as we go through D'Aulaire's Book of Norse Mythology. Too bad about the violence, though...but I was amazed and drawn in by Farmer's explanations of the Tree of Yggdrassil and Valhalla and all such. I was especially struck by many of the correlations between Norse mythology and Christianity. Such an eye-opener...a bit like my amazement during a World Religions class in college. I am sometimes dismayed at what I DON'T know.
Anyhow, Waldorf curriculum places Celtic fairy tales before Greek or Norse mythology. I may find out that I'm completely off base, but I sort of don't expect to find the surprising connections and literature roots within the Celtic lore, but, then again, I may be simply unaware, as I was with Norse Mythology. Anyhow, given the recommended order and the fact that I'm uncomfortable with exposing Fiona, in particular, to the violence of the Norse myths and story, we are going to go ahead and give the Celtic mythology a go.
The first story that we read a couple of days ago about the Battle of the Birds was a meandering tale that had strong links to Narcissus, Hercules' labors, the golden apple, and the Biblical story of Jacob's wooing of Rachel and Leah. Since the Celts migrated from the Mediterranean area, it's not surprising that elements of Greek mythology enter their stories.
I was more surprised tonight, when we read "Fair, Brown, and Trembling". Alex brought up that it was the story of Cinderella even before I did. SO many elements were the same, and yet it was SO different that I was totally transfixed. Fair and Brown are Trembling's not-so-nice siblings, by the way. I am assuming that the tale of Cinderella was altered by the Celts, but perhaps that's simply my bias based on the order in which I learned the tales. Honestly, it seems to make almost more sense the other way around. There are additional factors in the Irish version that sort of explain a couple of mysterious elements in the Cinderella story and other factors that make you laugh at the Irish stereotype. For example, the prince has to brawl with several other princes before he gets to marry Trembling! Then they have 14 kids--yikes!
One bit that I'm fascinated by is that in place of the fairy godmother, we have a 'henwife' who dons a dark cloak to make her 'requests' for beautiful clothing. Freaky! Then Trembling is sent to the church entry (and she must dash away the moment the church bells ring). The whole 'dark cloak'-ed henwife juxtaposed with the church is such a curiousity! We think the henwife is good, too, in the story, and there's no suggestion that she's 'wicked'. Curiouser and curiouser...
Anyhow, the kids are totally with me so far on all of the correlations except...Biblical. I am a little embarrassed actually! I really do plan on finding a really good kids' book of Bible stories soon. I thought I had one, and I actually read perhaps half of it to them, but it ended up being more an elaborate story about Adam and Eve, so not really adequate for my purposes!
We spent several months on Greek mythology, and we finished the whole Percy Jackson saga by Rick Riordan for our fictional supportive accompaniment. I don't have any Celtic-linked fictional books that are quite so helpful with purposely trying to 'teach' the mythology via the books, but my favorite childhood author, Lloyd Alexander, wrote his Chronicles of Prydain with strong Celtic roots. I suppose I'll bring that on board, but I sort of feel like I need to read a bit more lore first, as Lloyd Alexander does not explain the links for us, unlike Riordan or Farmer. It should be fun, though, and I suspect I'll learn of a lot more Celtic connections within the Prydain world than I realized, even, once we cover the basic Celtic mythology.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
My Flesh and Blood
Alex climbed into the car the other day holding a water bottle and a novel. I was so proud! That there is my son...those are my ever-present companions, as well! He is currently reading the 39 Clues books, which I've just started myself.
We were playing Apples to Apples Junior with the kids last night, and for the adjective 'boring' I put out the card 'Football Game'. Michael and Fiona placed out their options, and Alex, as judge, chose 'Football Game', saying "definitely that one!". Again, I'm a proud mama! I do understand that he could change his mind in the future, but I hadn't expected him to pick my card and was just surprised.
Alex's personality is also like mine in some ways. He's very sensitive and extremely conscientious. He is ALWAYS thinking about the environment and trying to come up with ways to save the planet. He's also very interested in nutrition and often makes 'healthy' choices that are contrary to his natural kid cravings! He believes in science and is quite the religious critic!
Actually, I don't know that these tendencies are heritable, and I assume they largely have to do with his influence by me. However, Fiona is not so much that way. Alex was ranting about slavery one day and Fiona said sweetly, "I'd like to have a maid". I laughed and thought that I could totally imagine what it would have been like if they'd been children on a slave plantation. Alex would have made fast friends with a slave and have pushed the slave into making an escape. Alex would probably run away with him to provide him cover! Fiona, on the other hand, would never contemplate the morality of the situation, but she would be incredibly charming to them and the slaves would think she was a lovely doll!
Alex is an outside-the-box thinker. He is not one to follow the masses, which of course brings a bit of innate turmoil to life that many consider unnecessary, but I secretly am full of pride in my conviction that Alex would not have condoned slavery or have been a mindless SS soldier in Nazi Germany. Psychological studies show most people are prone to mindless following of the mass concensus. It takes a strong moral sense and ethical radar to refrain, and I have no doubt at all Alex has that rare and precious trait.
Alex is definitely his own person, though, and he does have a good bit of Michael in him as well. Alex is surprisingly sentimental and loves to buy presents for other people. He personally bought cards for both Michael and me for Thanksgiving. He doesn't act like such a sappy chap, but he's a dear sweetheart. His letter to Santa this year was loathe to ask for anything, and he wrote over half a page before mentioning any item, which was only a DVD movie and movie tickets! He's been dying to see Alvin and the Chipmunks for over a year and now, apparently, a new movie is coming out. That's it! No, I don't take credit for Alex's generous, sentimental nature (Michael!) or lack of greed (hmm, maybe Michael, too!).
Not 100% absent, though... Alex seems to think he should give things away, but often, if other people make it clear that they don't want something or are done with it, I can see him gladly take it. He'll buy something for Fiona and then sort of wheedle a bit from her... I suppose my concern is more that he won't buy what he wants for himself, but he will a little bit. And I mean, would he really be okay with only a DVD for Christmas? Just a bit concerned that he doesn't think it's okay to ask for things for himself. (That can be Michael, too!)
Contrary to what I've just written, though, Alex is Mr. Businessman. He's always been fascinated by the thought of selling things and making money (his Capricorn sun sign, methinks). He actually does sell things fairly easily and brings home cash from deals that he's made. THAT is not me AT ALL. Nor is it Michael in the slightest. Yay for the Capricorn influence, I suppose!
Alex actually currently donates quite a bit of his allowances to environmental groups such as The Ocean Conservancy and National Wildlife Federation. They have no idea what a large portion of his income he donates.
Alex is not perfect, but wow. A Tibetan Buddhist monk met Alex when he was a baby and said something about him being the embodiment of a holy figure. Perhaps it was a jest, but that crosses my mind a lot...
We were playing Apples to Apples Junior with the kids last night, and for the adjective 'boring' I put out the card 'Football Game'. Michael and Fiona placed out their options, and Alex, as judge, chose 'Football Game', saying "definitely that one!". Again, I'm a proud mama! I do understand that he could change his mind in the future, but I hadn't expected him to pick my card and was just surprised.
Alex's personality is also like mine in some ways. He's very sensitive and extremely conscientious. He is ALWAYS thinking about the environment and trying to come up with ways to save the planet. He's also very interested in nutrition and often makes 'healthy' choices that are contrary to his natural kid cravings! He believes in science and is quite the religious critic!
Actually, I don't know that these tendencies are heritable, and I assume they largely have to do with his influence by me. However, Fiona is not so much that way. Alex was ranting about slavery one day and Fiona said sweetly, "I'd like to have a maid". I laughed and thought that I could totally imagine what it would have been like if they'd been children on a slave plantation. Alex would have made fast friends with a slave and have pushed the slave into making an escape. Alex would probably run away with him to provide him cover! Fiona, on the other hand, would never contemplate the morality of the situation, but she would be incredibly charming to them and the slaves would think she was a lovely doll!
Alex is an outside-the-box thinker. He is not one to follow the masses, which of course brings a bit of innate turmoil to life that many consider unnecessary, but I secretly am full of pride in my conviction that Alex would not have condoned slavery or have been a mindless SS soldier in Nazi Germany. Psychological studies show most people are prone to mindless following of the mass concensus. It takes a strong moral sense and ethical radar to refrain, and I have no doubt at all Alex has that rare and precious trait.
Alex is definitely his own person, though, and he does have a good bit of Michael in him as well. Alex is surprisingly sentimental and loves to buy presents for other people. He personally bought cards for both Michael and me for Thanksgiving. He doesn't act like such a sappy chap, but he's a dear sweetheart. His letter to Santa this year was loathe to ask for anything, and he wrote over half a page before mentioning any item, which was only a DVD movie and movie tickets! He's been dying to see Alvin and the Chipmunks for over a year and now, apparently, a new movie is coming out. That's it! No, I don't take credit for Alex's generous, sentimental nature (Michael!) or lack of greed (hmm, maybe Michael, too!).
Not 100% absent, though... Alex seems to think he should give things away, but often, if other people make it clear that they don't want something or are done with it, I can see him gladly take it. He'll buy something for Fiona and then sort of wheedle a bit from her... I suppose my concern is more that he won't buy what he wants for himself, but he will a little bit. And I mean, would he really be okay with only a DVD for Christmas? Just a bit concerned that he doesn't think it's okay to ask for things for himself. (That can be Michael, too!)
Contrary to what I've just written, though, Alex is Mr. Businessman. He's always been fascinated by the thought of selling things and making money (his Capricorn sun sign, methinks). He actually does sell things fairly easily and brings home cash from deals that he's made. THAT is not me AT ALL. Nor is it Michael in the slightest. Yay for the Capricorn influence, I suppose!
Alex actually currently donates quite a bit of his allowances to environmental groups such as The Ocean Conservancy and National Wildlife Federation. They have no idea what a large portion of his income he donates.
Alex is not perfect, but wow. A Tibetan Buddhist monk met Alex when he was a baby and said something about him being the embodiment of a holy figure. Perhaps it was a jest, but that crosses my mind a lot...
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Thanksgiving decorations
Do you know how you end up with a particular ornament every now and then that just tickles your fancy?
I bought a sleek black porcelain cat from a fancy candle company (at a neighbor's event) last year for Halloween, and it perched on my piano last month, tickling my fancy every time that I walked by.
Last week, we were at Big Lots, of all places, and I passed by the Thanksgiving decorations. I'm not generally that into decorations, but I noticed a ceramic pilgrim couple on a top shelf and thought, "why not? They're half off.." Anyhow, that was a bit uncharacteristic, but they were placed where the cat used to reside and I'm completely bubbly about them! I love the pilgrims! What great decorations! The obscenely low price is beside the point!
Anyhow, I'm such a pack rat... if I could only bring myself to discard crap decorations and only put out the really fab stuff I'm sure I'd be a lot happier! ('Crap' and 'fab' are directly attributable to Sophie Kinsella's influence! :)
I bought a sleek black porcelain cat from a fancy candle company (at a neighbor's event) last year for Halloween, and it perched on my piano last month, tickling my fancy every time that I walked by.
Last week, we were at Big Lots, of all places, and I passed by the Thanksgiving decorations. I'm not generally that into decorations, but I noticed a ceramic pilgrim couple on a top shelf and thought, "why not? They're half off.." Anyhow, that was a bit uncharacteristic, but they were placed where the cat used to reside and I'm completely bubbly about them! I love the pilgrims! What great decorations! The obscenely low price is beside the point!
Anyhow, I'm such a pack rat... if I could only bring myself to discard crap decorations and only put out the really fab stuff I'm sure I'd be a lot happier! ('Crap' and 'fab' are directly attributable to Sophie Kinsella's influence! :)
Skip rope
My dear daughter is truly a female. Last night, after the kids had supposedly gone to bed, I heard Fiona and Alex talking. She had come to him with her emotional angst about friends at school, and he was patiently listening and trying to allow her to vent, though he was really just sleepy! I went and gathered her up and took her to the study couch to listen a bit (and to allow Alex to get some rest!).
It was nice to cuddle on the couch, and she felt better very quickly as I listened and tried to understand what was bothering her. While I meant to be simply validating, I fell into the fix-it mode about her playground issues--some of which involved BORING games that other kids always wanted to play.
Anyhow, I asked about games like hopscotch and jump rope. Isn't there always a group of girls who play with jump ropes every day at recess? They have their rhymes--"Cinderella dressed in yella..."--and it always seemed like a fun activity to pass the time. Fiona was actually interested in both of these ideas, and she's going to find out if it's all right for her to bring a jump rope to recess (who knows, perhaps it's considered a weapon...). She'll go ahead and bring in some sidewalk chalk next week.
That was last night, and then early this morning I looked up and printed out Skip Rope Rhymes off of the internet for her. As I later cleaned breakfast dishes, I listened to Sophie Kinsella's book, Remember Me?, and Lexie is recalling meeting her best friend Fee (as in Fiona!) on the playground when she was six and Fee came up and told her that her skip rope was rubbish and then let her play with Fee's own skip rope! I know I'm always pointing out coincidences, but wow...how often do I read about a Fiona on a playground with a jump rope, especially in books that aren't written for kids?
No, I don't blog all the coincidences that occur, and they do seem to happen at a very high and surprising rate.
Oh, while I'm talking about uncanny intuitive happenings, Michael was talking about putting shingles on the nesting box lid a couple of days ago. I was talking about adding a knob off the front of the lid and fell silent, with a ridiculous silly image in my head of Michael shingling the top of the knob! It was too stupid and silly to even say, but Michael laughed and said, "What? You want me to shingle the knob?" I was flabbergasted! How could he have known that absurd thought was in my head? He said that he read it in my expression! I know I'm an open book, but that blew me away...
It was nice to cuddle on the couch, and she felt better very quickly as I listened and tried to understand what was bothering her. While I meant to be simply validating, I fell into the fix-it mode about her playground issues--some of which involved BORING games that other kids always wanted to play.
Anyhow, I asked about games like hopscotch and jump rope. Isn't there always a group of girls who play with jump ropes every day at recess? They have their rhymes--"Cinderella dressed in yella..."--and it always seemed like a fun activity to pass the time. Fiona was actually interested in both of these ideas, and she's going to find out if it's all right for her to bring a jump rope to recess (who knows, perhaps it's considered a weapon...). She'll go ahead and bring in some sidewalk chalk next week.
That was last night, and then early this morning I looked up and printed out Skip Rope Rhymes off of the internet for her. As I later cleaned breakfast dishes, I listened to Sophie Kinsella's book, Remember Me?, and Lexie is recalling meeting her best friend Fee (as in Fiona!) on the playground when she was six and Fee came up and told her that her skip rope was rubbish and then let her play with Fee's own skip rope! I know I'm always pointing out coincidences, but wow...how often do I read about a Fiona on a playground with a jump rope, especially in books that aren't written for kids?
No, I don't blog all the coincidences that occur, and they do seem to happen at a very high and surprising rate.
Oh, while I'm talking about uncanny intuitive happenings, Michael was talking about putting shingles on the nesting box lid a couple of days ago. I was talking about adding a knob off the front of the lid and fell silent, with a ridiculous silly image in my head of Michael shingling the top of the knob! It was too stupid and silly to even say, but Michael laughed and said, "What? You want me to shingle the knob?" I was flabbergasted! How could he have known that absurd thought was in my head? He said that he read it in my expression! I know I'm an open book, but that blew me away...
Natural Gratitude
We've just had Thanksgiving. We had a HUGE and INCREDIBLE meal, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I sort of forgot to consciously give thanks for all the wonderful things in my life. That is, I didn't consciously make a list, but, you know, I was so elated and cheery about the wonderful meal, most of which Michael cooked, and I was grateful in a natural way. The tradition of Thanksgiving brings out our natural gratitude. We see and enjoy what we have. We connect with our family and our food and our comfy couches and such. We relish what we have, which is, in a sense, the best way to really 'be' thankful.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Sophii and Sophie
I've mentioned that Sophie Kinsella is currently my new favorite author of the moment and that she's a Sag, but it just occurred to me last night the coincidence that I'd set up my 'Mii' character on our 'Wii' with the name Sophii (since Sonya is considered a derivative of Sophia) and with the birthday of 12/12 (the 180 degree opposite birthday of mine, for my Mii alterego). Anyhow, Sophie Kinsella's birthday happens to be December 12th! Isn't that almost uncanny that I picked the same name and birthday of my next favorite author, before I'd even heard of her?
Yes, I take things way too far with my imaginary relationships! As a girl, I once dreamt that Lloyd Alexander, my childhood favorite author, was actually my father. It was the sweetest dream. He simply walked in my room to wake me up for school in the morning and stood looking out the window, in a wise and thoughtful way. The sun was shining and I felt blissfully happy and safe with my 'Dad'!
Obviously I do feel quite connected to authors. I feel like I know them better, in a sense, than most people we interact with on a day-to-day level. We sense their priorities, values, and ethics. We get in touch with their senses of humor. We know what moves them. There are no small annoyances or interpersonal problems. It's not like they no-show on you or get grumpy with you. I'd have to say that this is particularly helpful for Sag folks, who typically can't stand having emotional demands placed on them and are known for unreliability and avoidance! None of those things matter for authors, and the beauty of their wisdom and optimistic spirit shines through.
Okay, I digress! I simply was tickled about the coincidence of my Mii 'random' name and birthdate matching my new fav author!
Yes, I take things way too far with my imaginary relationships! As a girl, I once dreamt that Lloyd Alexander, my childhood favorite author, was actually my father. It was the sweetest dream. He simply walked in my room to wake me up for school in the morning and stood looking out the window, in a wise and thoughtful way. The sun was shining and I felt blissfully happy and safe with my 'Dad'!
Obviously I do feel quite connected to authors. I feel like I know them better, in a sense, than most people we interact with on a day-to-day level. We sense their priorities, values, and ethics. We get in touch with their senses of humor. We know what moves them. There are no small annoyances or interpersonal problems. It's not like they no-show on you or get grumpy with you. I'd have to say that this is particularly helpful for Sag folks, who typically can't stand having emotional demands placed on them and are known for unreliability and avoidance! None of those things matter for authors, and the beauty of their wisdom and optimistic spirit shines through.
Okay, I digress! I simply was tickled about the coincidence of my Mii 'random' name and birthdate matching my new fav author!
Monday, November 16, 2009
The Wisdom of Being Shallow
Life is complicated. If life isn't randomly throwing me things to deal with, then it seems I seek them out. Mischief finds me, or I find it!
It may be all that Cancer in my chart...they're known for seeking out the emotional drama in every relationship. Or perhaps the Gemini...too much processing leads to suspicions everywhere! Or perhaps it's just being human...
Honestly, when I have long catch-up chats with other folks, my life often seems blissfully serene in comparison. Perhaps the universe knows I stay in a perpetual state of feeling overwhelmed and thus is actually less demanding of me than it could be.
Anyhow, this rambling conversation was inspired by the book of a new favorite author, Sophie Kinsella. I LOVE SOPHIE KINSELLA!!! She's a fabulous, wonderful author with an amazing ability to inspire with her ridiculous, lighthearted situations. She is a wonderful Sagittarius, as are many of my very favorite people (though ironically, NONE of my immediate family members are Sag).
I am on my third Kinsella book, which is her original Confessions of a Shopaholic. Becky Bloomwood is a lovable character with a penchant for getting herself into scrapes. Her life is a roller coaster of highs and lows, and, though it does seem a bit shallow, she inspires by constantly letting insurmountable troubles fall away in her unbelievable optimism! This story encourages us to Try, Try Again! It's also a boon for our egos, as our own faults seem less severe after making so many allowances for Becky's!
I actually identified a bit with Becky when I would feel her horrible, mortifying lows and wallow in them just a tad, only to feel myself lifting out of those lows way before I expected to when she would bounce back with her cheery, perky, optimistic attitude. You just can't resist laughing at her...and knowing that she's right! No sense in wallowing!
I have watched small children instantaneously jump from tantrum to cheery play, and I've often been quite relieved that they don't have the self-consciousness to resist that jump. Truly, I think many of us are attached to our troubles out of a sense of congruity. If we're devastated tonight, then it would be terribly shallow to be bright and perky tomorrow--and it would somehow negate the authenticity of our feelings, goes the logic.
Yes, I did feel disconcerted at times by Becky's ability to bounce back and not dwell on her troubles, but I also felt inspired. We create our lives, and a big part of that is trying to achieve our goals. Clinging to negative emotions or situations makes our life about those, instead of a balance of highs and lows. Perhaps we should just aim to fully experience them as quickly as possible and then we're off to experience the next high with full enjoyment.
I suppose that's part of the attraction of the book for me. Becky DID experience those lows. She berated herself, felt extreme humiliation, fully realized and experienced the drama of the situation. Utterly satisfactory wallowing and wailing! Her indomitable spirits surged back, though, unfailingly.
She did acknowledge her likeness to a child at one point, when she commented "like a child on Christmas morning...well, okay, like ME on Christmas morning."
Children have a certain wisdom in their unaffected simplicity in dealing with trials. We MUST bounce back in order to enjoy our lives, because we ALL have problems. So in this sense, Happiness is dependent on letting go of our attachments, much as the Buddhists tell us. I would say the attachments to our troubles are some of the first attachments we need to eliminate.
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It may be all that Cancer in my chart...they're known for seeking out the emotional drama in every relationship. Or perhaps the Gemini...too much processing leads to suspicions everywhere! Or perhaps it's just being human...
Honestly, when I have long catch-up chats with other folks, my life often seems blissfully serene in comparison. Perhaps the universe knows I stay in a perpetual state of feeling overwhelmed and thus is actually less demanding of me than it could be.
Anyhow, this rambling conversation was inspired by the book of a new favorite author, Sophie Kinsella. I LOVE SOPHIE KINSELLA!!! She's a fabulous, wonderful author with an amazing ability to inspire with her ridiculous, lighthearted situations. She is a wonderful Sagittarius, as are many of my very favorite people (though ironically, NONE of my immediate family members are Sag).
I am on my third Kinsella book, which is her original Confessions of a Shopaholic. Becky Bloomwood is a lovable character with a penchant for getting herself into scrapes. Her life is a roller coaster of highs and lows, and, though it does seem a bit shallow, she inspires by constantly letting insurmountable troubles fall away in her unbelievable optimism! This story encourages us to Try, Try Again! It's also a boon for our egos, as our own faults seem less severe after making so many allowances for Becky's!
I actually identified a bit with Becky when I would feel her horrible, mortifying lows and wallow in them just a tad, only to feel myself lifting out of those lows way before I expected to when she would bounce back with her cheery, perky, optimistic attitude. You just can't resist laughing at her...and knowing that she's right! No sense in wallowing!
I have watched small children instantaneously jump from tantrum to cheery play, and I've often been quite relieved that they don't have the self-consciousness to resist that jump. Truly, I think many of us are attached to our troubles out of a sense of congruity. If we're devastated tonight, then it would be terribly shallow to be bright and perky tomorrow--and it would somehow negate the authenticity of our feelings, goes the logic.
Yes, I did feel disconcerted at times by Becky's ability to bounce back and not dwell on her troubles, but I also felt inspired. We create our lives, and a big part of that is trying to achieve our goals. Clinging to negative emotions or situations makes our life about those, instead of a balance of highs and lows. Perhaps we should just aim to fully experience them as quickly as possible and then we're off to experience the next high with full enjoyment.
I suppose that's part of the attraction of the book for me. Becky DID experience those lows. She berated herself, felt extreme humiliation, fully realized and experienced the drama of the situation. Utterly satisfactory wallowing and wailing! Her indomitable spirits surged back, though, unfailingly.
She did acknowledge her likeness to a child at one point, when she commented "like a child on Christmas morning...well, okay, like ME on Christmas morning."
Children have a certain wisdom in their unaffected simplicity in dealing with trials. We MUST bounce back in order to enjoy our lives, because we ALL have problems. So in this sense, Happiness is dependent on letting go of our attachments, much as the Buddhists tell us. I would say the attachments to our troubles are some of the first attachments we need to eliminate.
Bing brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. Try it now.
First Baby Tooth Lost!
Fiona just lost her first tooth last night. She's 7 1/2 years old and feeling WAY behind...a month or so ago she asked me, perhaps seriously, if I could knock out some of her teeth! She's can't stop giggling and running to the mirror!
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Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Bird Suspicions
Hmm, just following up on my chicken blog from the other day. Know how I mentioned that the Australorps were quite mellow in comparison to the Faverolles? Well, I've been doing a bit of reading and have found that most hatcheries cross-breed and you rarely get a 'purebred' rare breed of chicken, even if that's what's ordered. While Australorps are for more common (and thus more likely to be more 'purebred'), the Faverolles are not--and thus are far more likely to be produced as cross-breeds.
I picked up Chloe today, and she screeched the entire time! I thought she'd calm down after a minute or so, but I finally let her go ('before she had a heart attack!' Fiona quipped). How disappointing! Chloe has a much lighter carriage than expected and only 4 toes per foot, despite the requisite 5-toe 'Faverolle' breed requirement. The possible upside of this is that perhaps she was crossed with a Leghorn--a flighty and fussy bird but very prolific layer! I do hope there is that upside!
Think I'm going to head out now for some nice, calm Australorp bonding time!
I picked up Chloe today, and she screeched the entire time! I thought she'd calm down after a minute or so, but I finally let her go ('before she had a heart attack!' Fiona quipped). How disappointing! Chloe has a much lighter carriage than expected and only 4 toes per foot, despite the requisite 5-toe 'Faverolle' breed requirement. The possible upside of this is that perhaps she was crossed with a Leghorn--a flighty and fussy bird but very prolific layer! I do hope there is that upside!
Think I'm going to head out now for some nice, calm Australorp bonding time!
Picky, Picky, Picky Eaters!
My wonderful kids impressed me so much last Sunday, when they both happily scarfed down raw spinach leaves with their red beans and rice (nothing fancy...the kids have already rejected my labor-intensive homemade red beans and rice...this is a Mahatma package with spices already included). I was on cloud nine! My picky eaters were raving about how great it was...and they asked for and received it in their lunches on Monday!
So, with hopes renewed, I woke up early this morning and prepared a frittata, with leeks, potatoes, and zucchini. Delicious, and a creation that actually held its shape, which is an achievement for me! I served a neat slice on a blue scallop-edged platter to Alex and held my breath as he tasted it. Hunh-uh, he shook his head with conviction. Fiona merely glanced at it and cried YUCK!
Oh well...I wasn't wholly surprised, but I was disappointed. Over the course of the day, I managed to eat the ENTIRE frittata myself, as it's one of the most delicious foods I've had in forever!
Alex had asked for a grilled cheese sandwich for dinner, so I found a simple recipe for the essential accompaniment, tomato soup. It was blended in the end for that kid-friendly presentation, and I was quite proud and hopeful of this new accomplishment, but, again, they both wrinkled noses and rejected my soup!
I left the kitchen a mess, with my soup sitting in blender and bowl and pot, and came up here to write this blog! What to do about my finicky eaters? I suppose just try to have patience. I'm paying my dues, I suppose, for my own selective palate in childhood!
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So, with hopes renewed, I woke up early this morning and prepared a frittata, with leeks, potatoes, and zucchini. Delicious, and a creation that actually held its shape, which is an achievement for me! I served a neat slice on a blue scallop-edged platter to Alex and held my breath as he tasted it. Hunh-uh, he shook his head with conviction. Fiona merely glanced at it and cried YUCK!
Oh well...I wasn't wholly surprised, but I was disappointed. Over the course of the day, I managed to eat the ENTIRE frittata myself, as it's one of the most delicious foods I've had in forever!
Alex had asked for a grilled cheese sandwich for dinner, so I found a simple recipe for the essential accompaniment, tomato soup. It was blended in the end for that kid-friendly presentation, and I was quite proud and hopeful of this new accomplishment, but, again, they both wrinkled noses and rejected my soup!
I left the kitchen a mess, with my soup sitting in blender and bowl and pot, and came up here to write this blog! What to do about my finicky eaters? I suppose just try to have patience. I'm paying my dues, I suppose, for my own selective palate in childhood!
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Monday, November 2, 2009
Halloween Delight!
I have caught the Halloween spirit! I've always liked it and viewed it rather wistfully, to be honest...last year was the first year I had an honest-to-goodness great costume (a Snow Queen), and that was fun, except that I was stuck home due to a recent knee surgery and was seen only by the few trick-or-treaters who came to my door!
This year, I had an unrelated Halloween-night obligation that was cancelled the night before, so I'd put NO thought into a costume. After Alex's soccer game on Halloween day, we went out to eat with Michael's family, and we didn't get home until well about 5 p.m. The thought of putting together a costume never entered my mind until about 4 p.m., when we had an impromptu invite to join my friend Virginia and her family for trick-or-treating.
When I got home, I tried on Fiona's witch hats from the previous couple of years and found they were too small--of course! So, I took a brown cloth hairband and stitched a hat onto it! I put on a simple black long dress and Alex's Darth Vader cape from last year. Green and black face paint, black boots, and Fiona's witch's broom completed the ensemble! I have always wanted to be a witch for Halloween (and yes, I did get the, "why should Halloween be any different?" jokes!), so I was totally tickled about it. I was only slightly dismayed to notice that at least half of the other moms who dressed up were witches as well!
My costume was thrown together hastily, of course, as I was primarily focused on getting my Spider Girl put together! She regarded her fancy bought costume as her formal gown, as of course she would typically be wearing fitted clothes for her normal Spider-Girl activities. Her hair was the pinnacle of my hair-design success, almost worthy of Star Wars itself, I do believe! The goal was to mimick eight spider legs in a 'crown' setting, but I'm not sure anyone realized that until I pointed it out! She looked simply gorgeous until I applied the face paint. Unfortunately, her face seems to have reacted to the face paint and it is red and a bit swollen even now...
Alex and Michael worked on Alex's Ninja costume, which again looked great with no real cost associated. Simple and comfy and fun!
I am delighted to report that, for the second year that we've left candy out on the doorstep in a container, that we've returned to see some candy still there! It gives one reason for hope in the decency of our neighbors and community!
My gripe (and of course there is a gripe!) is about all the folks who leave porch lights on when they're not home on Halloween. It's very disappointing for the kids to continually go up and ring these doorbells only to not receive any reply. Don't people know that a porch light indicates a welcome to trick-or-treaters? If they must leave it on but won't be home, then they should at least put out a bin of candy for the trick-or-treaters who will show up! Otherwise, they should turn them off on Halloween! It's common courtesy!
I swear, I'm thinking of printing up note cards for the kids to tape on the doors of all those lame or uninformed folks next year!
So funny that I can get so worked up over a minor thing like that on such a fun night! We had a simple evening locally with our friends and Michael's parents. The kids looked great and had fun. Oh, and one woman on a barren cul-de-sac gave each of our kids three handfuls of candy, as she wasn't getting any trick-or-treaters! Just an FYI for those of you who stick to the more well-travelled paths!
This year, I had an unrelated Halloween-night obligation that was cancelled the night before, so I'd put NO thought into a costume. After Alex's soccer game on Halloween day, we went out to eat with Michael's family, and we didn't get home until well about 5 p.m. The thought of putting together a costume never entered my mind until about 4 p.m., when we had an impromptu invite to join my friend Virginia and her family for trick-or-treating.
When I got home, I tried on Fiona's witch hats from the previous couple of years and found they were too small--of course! So, I took a brown cloth hairband and stitched a hat onto it! I put on a simple black long dress and Alex's Darth Vader cape from last year. Green and black face paint, black boots, and Fiona's witch's broom completed the ensemble! I have always wanted to be a witch for Halloween (and yes, I did get the, "why should Halloween be any different?" jokes!), so I was totally tickled about it. I was only slightly dismayed to notice that at least half of the other moms who dressed up were witches as well!
My costume was thrown together hastily, of course, as I was primarily focused on getting my Spider Girl put together! She regarded her fancy bought costume as her formal gown, as of course she would typically be wearing fitted clothes for her normal Spider-Girl activities. Her hair was the pinnacle of my hair-design success, almost worthy of Star Wars itself, I do believe! The goal was to mimick eight spider legs in a 'crown' setting, but I'm not sure anyone realized that until I pointed it out! She looked simply gorgeous until I applied the face paint. Unfortunately, her face seems to have reacted to the face paint and it is red and a bit swollen even now...
Alex and Michael worked on Alex's Ninja costume, which again looked great with no real cost associated. Simple and comfy and fun!
I am delighted to report that, for the second year that we've left candy out on the doorstep in a container, that we've returned to see some candy still there! It gives one reason for hope in the decency of our neighbors and community!
My gripe (and of course there is a gripe!) is about all the folks who leave porch lights on when they're not home on Halloween. It's very disappointing for the kids to continually go up and ring these doorbells only to not receive any reply. Don't people know that a porch light indicates a welcome to trick-or-treaters? If they must leave it on but won't be home, then they should at least put out a bin of candy for the trick-or-treaters who will show up! Otherwise, they should turn them off on Halloween! It's common courtesy!
I swear, I'm thinking of printing up note cards for the kids to tape on the doors of all those lame or uninformed folks next year!
So funny that I can get so worked up over a minor thing like that on such a fun night! We had a simple evening locally with our friends and Michael's parents. The kids looked great and had fun. Oh, and one woman on a barren cul-de-sac gave each of our kids three handfuls of candy, as she wasn't getting any trick-or-treaters! Just an FYI for those of you who stick to the more well-travelled paths!
The Red Dominiker
Dominque or 'Dominiker'--this is the black-and-white barred variety, but apparently there is a red-and-white variation that I assume is what she means by 'Red Dominiker' (hen on left)
Black Australorps (hen on left)
Salmon Faverolle!
Barnevelder
Delaware hen
Buff Orpington (hen on left)Our feathered friends are just a delight! We are all tickled about our four chickens...the sweet, placid, and clever black Australorps and the docile but somewhat less clever and more skittish Salmon Faverolles. My mother laughs when I talk about them and says I've inherited my Grandmother's gene for loving chickens!
Being quite interested in the different breeds of chickens, I asked Michael's mother, Elaine, if she knew what kind of chickens her family in rural Mississippi raised. I was surprised she knew, but she said quite decisively "Red Dominikers". Inquisitively, I went on-line to read about this breed and found that the Dominikers, or more formally 'Dominiques', were the chickens of the pioneers and claim the title 'America's first [chicken] breed'.
The Dominickers lay only perhaps half the eggs of the prolific layers, but they are a hearty and robust bird. They are great foragers and, while calm enough for the chicken yard, they are not a bird to be bullied! Great dual-purpose birds, too, they were grown for both meat and eggs.
Personality-wise, they sound much like the pioneers, don't they? Hearty, robust folks who could make do with little and multi-task! Not the nicest lot of folks, either, as they needed to be somewhat tough for survival!
Apparently, despite their early popularity, these chickens were in decline around the mid-20th century and were considered endangered, but they have come back in popularity just a bit in the last few years, with the new focus on heritage breeds. For historical interest and family nostalgia, I had some interest in buying a Dominicker hen, but I think I may have to pass, as I don't want our sweet, gentle chickens to be dominated by a Dominicker!
Which breeds have my fancy, then? I have heard that the Buff Orpingtons are the most docile, best pet chickens around, and I had a friend recommend hers as the 'favorite' of her family's chickens. They look so fat and fluffy! Actually, the black Australorps that we have are derived from the Orpingtons, which also increases the attractiveness, as the Australorps seem so bright and calm. The Barnevelders have striking, gorgeous plumage. The Delawares are good layers and have a very classic, picturesque look.
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