Summer's Bounty

And they planted all the seeds for next year....

Married A Girl Just Like Dear Ol' Dad

It became very clear to me during Hurricane Irene that, to paraphrase that song, I've married a girl just like dear ol' dad.  Funny how it took this long to occur to me.

• Neither is into organized much of anything, particularly religion.
• But they have deep conversations, waxing philosophical and sometimes poetic; they enjoy visiting the world of ideas. (And I love to be there when it's the two of them discussing things.)
• And history.  Especially the Civil War.  Mama's been to many of the battlefields and Pop plans on going.
• And nature, though Pop actually goes outdoors and Mama just likes to think about it, being a true New Yorker.  Both of them have this thing about weather.
• And travel.  I think Mama would do the National Parks and Civil War sites with Pop.  I don't know if he go to Antarctica with her.  
• And they both like to take photographs--Pop, of his ducks; Mama, of her cats.
• Pop reads a lot of books; Mama buys a lot of books hoping to read them (and now listens to audiobooks).  Neither is much of a go-to-the-movies fan.
• Both like to keep up with current events, though Pop enjoys the national public and political debate almost as theater; it just makes Mama tense.  But they are both two of the most informed people I know.  Note:  they're both good liberal Democrats. (Though, now, Pop's practically a Socialist!)
• And risk averse.  They both are cautious.  When Dad would take us for boat rides, we'd practically have enough drinks for a week.  Mama had enough water during the hurricane for a month.  
• But Dad's a more cautious driver than Mama; though, she's slowing down and is still more careful than many.
• I feel safe with them both.
• Both see taking care of their loved ones as their highest priorities.
• And they're pretty good caretakers.  And I have lots of experience being on the receiving end.
• Mama is not a great patient.  I'm pretty sure Pop isn't either.
• Sis and Bud bring out something special in both of them, something only kids/grandkids can elicit.  It's beautiful, touching to watch.

• Both like Broadway musicals.  And will sing.  Pop will make up words; Mama knows them.
• And spicy food.
• And will pretty much try any food once.  Though she likes Brussel sprouts, and he doesn't.  He'll tell a story about having to eat them at Mr. Campbell's.  And we did once try getting him to eat some here; he gamely swallowed one.
• Though, Pop drinks and Mama doesn't really.
• Generally, neither is much for discussing difficult things or emotions; it's hard.  But when they do, it's from the heart.
• They are loyal and devoted and protective, like bull dogs.
• But they both like cats.
• At one point, he wanted to play the banjo (or ukele or harmonica).  She wishes she played the violin.
• Pop is laid back and social, like at the bay; you couldn't ever really say that about Mama, though, who finds the bay a challenge.
• She liked driving his boat, though. 
• They're both gentle; just don't get them angry, "my friend."  And drop the B.S.
• And sentimental.  I love Gommie's story about her anniversary Swatch watch.  And there are too many stories like that about Mama to tell here . . . 
• Mama is an IT professional.  Pop used to say that computers are glorified calculators; he's coming around, though.
• She likes stuffed animals.  Please don't ask him about my buying the stuffed bear meal toy at the fast food place.
• Pop has a strong moral code--justice, generosity, acceptance, respect, compassion, hard work, forgiveness.   Mama similarly strives for honesty and truth.
• Neither is much concerned with style, fads, trends, name brands, (especially in clothes!), but they can appreciate, and look for, quality.  
• Yep, Mama really likes her Subaru.  Yep, Pop, you should get one.  
• As many of you know, Pop is at least a full foot taller than Mama.  
• I feel their love and I love them both in return very much.  And I strive to incorporate the best of them in me.  
• And, chances are, both will read this and never say so.

(I love you, too, Mom.  That's a different list!)

More Friendship

Four years ago, I had a fascination, maybe even a devotion, to Amish Friendship Bread.  You know, the bread-starter-in-a-bag that friends press you to take and that you have to feed like a pet for more than a week . . .and then it multiplies!  And you become the friend begging to give it away.  


Well, it's back on my mind.  We have a bake sale coming up in early October and then several needs for baked goods in December, including Daisy Scouts, teacher gifts, holiday entertaining.  And friendship bread is a great way to get the kids involved and have some fun.  What's not fun about squishing a bag for 10 days, adding some ingredients, and having a great treat?  Okay, so pudding isn't my favorite ingredient, and I'm not really sure why it's needed, but it's only once in awhile . . . (or, here and here are some recipes that don't need pudding.)


So, watch out friends, here comes . . . 

Amish Friendship Bread

Please note the following:
*Do NOT use any type of metal spoon or bowl for mixing.
*Do NOT refrigerate.
*If air gets into the bag, let it out.
*It is normal for the batter to rise and ferment.

Day 1: Do nothing (This is the day you receive the batter. The bag is dated.)
Day 2: Mash the bag.
Day 3: Mash the bag.
Day 4: Mash the bag.
Day 5: Mash the bag.
Day 6: Add to the bag--1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk. Mash the bag.
Day 7: Mash the bag.
Day 8: Mash the bag.
Day 9: Mash the bag.
Day 10: Follow the directions:
1. Pour entire contents of the bag into a non-metal bowl. Add 1 1/2 cups flour, 1 1/2 cups sugar, and 1 1/2 cups milk.
2. Measure out 4 separate batters of 1 cup each into 1 gallon zipper bags. Keep a starter bag for yourself and give 3 to friends with a copy of this recipe (note: if you keep a starter bag, you will be baking every 10 days). The bread makes a great gift. Should this recipe not be passed on to a friend on the first day, be certain to tell the friend which day the bag is in the cycle when presented to them.

Baking Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. To the remaining batter in the bowl add:
3 eggs
1 cup oil (or 1/2 cup oil and 1/2 cup applesauce)
1/2 cup milk
1 cup sugar (or 1/2 cup)
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups flour
1 box instant vanilla or chocolate pudding
raisins or nuts to taste
3. Grease two large loaf pans. Mix an additional 1/2 cup sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Dust the pans with half of the mixture.
4. Pour the batter evenly into the two pans. Sprinkle the remaining sugar mixture over the top.
5. Bake for 1 hour. Cool until bread loosens evenly from the sides of the pan (about 10 minutes).
6. Turn onto a serving dish. Serve to friends and loved ones.

I have learned a few things about the bread, either directly or from internet research:
*You can wait a day or two to bake it.
*Each bread recipe (making 2 loaves) uses about 2 cups of starter (perhaps a little less). Or, 1 cup per loaf.
*Liquid egg substitutes work.
*Don't use the starter if it turns pink.*It will die if you don't feed it.
*Despite milk sitting out unrefrigerated for 10 days, the bread is generally considered safe.  The milk ferments, with the acid preventing "bad" bacteria.  And then you bake it.  Of course, if it smells awful (not just sour but gross) or turns red/orange or moldy, throw it out.
*My friend notes that various internet sites indicate you can refrigerate or freeze the starter to delay using it. There are also other recipes that use the starter.

Note: If you want to start your own friendship bread bag of goo, my original recipe included the following information:

Starter:
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup milk
Mix in a large zipper bag or other non-metallic container. Metal makes it taste funny. Begin 10 day cycle.

[Alternative: 1 package Active dry yeast, 2 ½ cup warm water, 2 cups sifted flour, 1 tablespoon sugar. Dissolve yeast in ½ cup of warm water in a glass or plastic container. Stir in remaining warm water, flour, and sugar. Beat until smooth. Begin 10 day cycle.]

Variations:

This might be might be my favorite Amish Friendship Bread yet: chocolate pudding, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 a bag of Nestle chocolate chunks. It's not too sweet, good texture, perfect for late-night snacking and also for breakfast.

Orange Chocolate: chocolate pudding, chocolate chunks, 2 teaspoons orange peels, and 2 teaspoons orange extract.

Regular: I used the standard recipe with chocolate pudding and a handful of raisins.

Dried Cranberry: add 1 cup of dried cranberries (I used orange-flavored craisins).

Strawberry: use 1 package of strawberry jello instead of vanilla pudding and 1 cup of frozen strawberries (defrosted); be sure to include cinnamon

*Chocolate Amish Friendship Bread: Omit cinnamon and vanilla pudding from the basic recipe and add 1 (5.1 oz) box of instant chocolate pudding, 3 tsp. cocoa and 3/4 cup
chocolate chips. Bake for 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 hours.

*Almond Amish Friendship Bread: Here's one we came up with ourselves .... Substitute almond ALMOND flavoring (NOT Imitation) for the vanilla flavoring, substitute
WHITE CHOCOLATE pudding for the vanilla pudding....`

*Lemon Poppyseed Amish Friendship Bread: Use two small pkgs. of lemon pudding rather than the vanilla and lemon flavoring in place of vanilla flavoring. Add one tablespoon of poppyseed. This is excellent for making lemon-poppyseed muffins.

*Banana Amish Friendship Bread: Use banana cream pie pudding and two mashed bananas. I have also added 1/4 cup of chocolate chip to this on occasion. I use the small bundt pans and bake for about 40 - 50 minutes.

*Caramel Apple Amish Friendship Bread: with dried apples and caramel instant pudding (makes it like caramel apples).

*Amish Friendship Gingerbread: Substitute 2 tablespoons molasses for equal amount of sugar and add spices to make gingerbread.

*Tropical Amish Friendship Bread: I add 1 cup of drained crushed pineapple, 1 cup shredded coconut and pistachio pudding (instead of vanilla). Very yummy. [some variations add ¾ cup macadamia nuts and cheesecake pudding instead]

*Amish Friendship Fruitcake: "I tried the standard recipe for cake with the vanilla pudding, cinnamon and added glazed fruit mix with walnuts and almonds. The
result was a tasty fruitcake."

Old Hat

Mama and I are getting good at this Open House thing.  We skipped the principal's speech (been here, heard that; besides, if it's important, they send it home in a newsletter.  No disrespect to the principal, whom we really like, but it was crowded and warm with no place for me to pace in there) to chat with our friends the nurse and kindergarten teachers, as well as a few PTA moms.  It was good to see everyone after the summer, everyone exchanging hurricane stories.

We like the first-grade teacher.  She seems to really get kids--what to expect, how they develop, their funny foibles. (Mama Teacher, she seemed a slightly older version of you!) She gave a presentation, including classroom schedule, management, discipline, and curriculum, all of which was interesting (like why she has them do writer's workshop in felt tip pen--because they don't obsess about erasing or sharpened points!).  Afterwards, we cornered her--politely, when everyone else was done--and asked about twin-ness, left-handedness, homework frustrations, lunch tickets (sigh).

And she showed us the perfect twin thing:  today, Sis and Bud, without consulting each other, wrote the exact same story during writer's workshop!!  It was about how there had been a fly in the classroom and the teacher had written, as part of the rules, "There are no flies in first grade!!  Buzz Buzz Buzz!"  And then it left.  Really, what are the odds that they would write the same story?  Must be twin telepathy.

Not "My Plate"

The  kids, despite lovingly packed lunches of noodle soup or macaroni and cheese with meatballs, have been enviously eyeing the hot school lunch.  Sis saw chicken tenders, her favorite, on the first day, and Bud knows there is pizza, his favorite, every Friday.  And so when I got the handout on school lunches in their folders, I looked.

Prominently displayed on the corporate food service brochure was the new USDA "My Plate," the government's updated food pyramid.  "My Plate" prominently displays 50% fruits and vegetables to 25% each grains and proteins.  So, hoping this company practiced what they preached, I looked over the weekly menus:

• Grilled cheese, tater tots, and pears
• Pizza, fries, and fruit cup
• Nachos with meat and cheese with corn

Hmmmm, I haven't had elementary math in a long time but those school lunches just don't add up.  Especially if you don't count corn as a vegetable!

And that's saying nothing about how it's all overly processed, preservative- and salt-laden, canned or frozen not fresh food.

But I know from experience that the kids would probably love it.  Because I loved school lunch.  Cheesy, salty, carbs, dessert!  But that was long before people really talked about or understood seasonal, local, fresh, organic.  And I am not so simple that I would say school lunch made me fat; mainly because I gained most of my weight after 12 years of public school lunch.  Though, it might have contributed to my poor food habits.  

Suffice it to say, I'm not jazzed about school lunch, almost more from the chemicals than the calories.  But I also don't want to make that cafeteria tray the Holy Grail.  So, with gentle prodding from Mama Hungry, whose small Catholic school didn't even have food service except on hot dog Fridays (it was NY after all--and the fish requirement, though culturally still prevalent, officially went out with Vatican II, as I understand it), I've relented and they can have school lunch occasionally, pre-approved.  Though, secretly I'm hoping they'll run back to my homemade lunches.  Even if I know better.

We did, however, have a great conversation about food this morning.  They like to hear the story about why I became a vegetarian, as if it were a family fairy tale.  They don't remember my eating meat, even though I've only been veg for 4 years.  And so Bud was talking about wonton soup and I agreed that it was good, "How do you know, Mom?  The dumplings have meatballs."  And I reminded him that I used to eat meat.  

"Why not now?"

Once upon a time . . . And so I told them again that I didn't like the idea of eating dead animals.  They followed along that eggs, milk, and honey were okay to me because the animals didn't die.  And then I told them that even though they ate meat, we tried to choose the happiest chicken and cows who ate the best food and lived the best lives and died the best way.   

"And the food at school is made from unhappy cows!"

As Gommie commented later on the phone, "You'll probably need to put some money in the therapy jar."*

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

The "therapy jar" was an early, entertaining concept Mama and I originated.  Every time we did something we figured would screw up the kids somehow, we said we needed to put money away for their future therapists.  

I think, if we'd been diligent, we'd have enough saved for college (and therapy) by now!

This Morning

In the dark,
In the chill,
Shuffling downstairs
To the kitchen,
Where I fill thermoses,
Wash a nectarine,
Bag crackers,
Write a note,
Alone, unhurried, concentrating
On the bags, on the food,
On the kids,
For whom I pack lunch and love.

Homework!

For me, not for them. Just the usual forms.
They had a good day. And, for once, were game to tell us about it.  They went to music, did centers, had snack, had a visit from their kindergarten teachers and the principal, ate in the cafeteria with their friends, kept their crayons in their desks, played inside because recess was rained out.
And brought me homework, laughing hysterically about it.

Waiting for the Bus

On our porch, rain falling on this overcast, even chilly, day.  Mama will be here soon to greet our first graders as they arrive home after what must have been for them, and as it seemed to me, a long day.

First Part of the First Day of First Grade

The kids were up at 6 something, as were we.  We managed to get everything done, calmly, orderly--school uniforms on, yummy warm oatmeal breakfast, big blue school backpacks filled with snack, lunch, crayon box, summer homework, and bus form--and they got extra time to play.  They're scared they won't ever play again.  "Mom," Bud asked, "will we be home for dinner?"  I think he thought "full day" meant dawn to dusk.  Poor dear, no wonder he's been a little sad about going to school; both of them, actually.  

As usual, I made a special first day of school poster, which we used for the traditional school photos.  We also opened our schultüte, which are "school cones" that we fill with little gifts.  This year, there were personalized penguin and bunny name labels as well as a coupon book to be used on such things as extra DS time, an outing for ice cream, or 15 minutes all alone with a parent.  

We were outside, in the drizzly rain, with more than enough time for the big, long, yellow bus, with all the older kids on it.  And then it was here and they got on, so small in their front row seats that you could barely see them.  Of course, being twins, they sat in separate seats!  Across from each other.  

Of course, that wasn't the end of the morning.  We had asked them if they wanted to ride the bus or have us walk them in.  Yes.  Both.  So, being the parents we are, we did both, hopping in the car and driving to school, where we got there before they did and met them to walk them inside.  They didn't really need us, though.  We just tagged along, took pictures of them at their desks (desks!  They've got their own big kid, first grade desks!  Complete with little signs for their names, with lots of info such as left/right, a rule, and such on it).  Said hi to the teacher, did our family ritual goodbye "beep," and left.

And that was the end of the morning.  The first of many . . . .

Countdown

10. Eat pot pie dinner.

9. Put homework (PTA provides supplies) in backpacks.

8. Take bath and wash hair.

7. Set out clothes for tomorrow.

6. Regular bedtime ritual--stories, SQUIRT, lights out. Kids are done; moms' turns . . . .

5. Pack non-perishables in lunch, with tomorrow's special note.

4. Put together schultute gifts.

3. Make "first day of first grade" poster.

2. Set alarm clocks. Early.

1. Try to get a good night's sleep.

SCHOOL DAY!!

The Last Night of Summer

Tonight is the last night of summer, as tomorrow is officially a school night. Even with the extra week, time flies. And so to celebrate, though we didn't draw attention to the aforementioned fact, we did a marathon reading of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, finishing the book just before bedtime. The kids were mightily impressed by all the enchantments the Hogwarts trio had to work through together to get to the stone, as well as how brave they were. (And I had to fight back tears reading about their winning points for Gryffindor because of that. What a strange place to cry!) Perhaps because it was my reading a book and not their watching a movie but they weren't at all scared by the dead unicorn part or even the Voldemort-in-Quirrell's-turban part, the two chapters of the book that almost had Mama and me deciding against reading it. But I'm so glad we did. It was the perfect end to the summer.

Though, now they want to read the next one right away! I've said next summer, to make it a family tradition, but Mama might cave over Christmas vacation . . . . at least they can't read this by themselves to know that!

Get Well Soon!

Aunt Banana is down with some kind of stomach flu but in the good care of Gommie. Get well soon! (And I hope no one else gets it.)

A Stone's Throw

With everyone feeling a little better this morning--Mama's sinus infection and headache clear and Sis's early-morning stomachache gone, we decided on a little historical outing to the oldest house in Connecticut and the oldest stone house in New England, the Henry Whitfield House. Built in 1639 by Puritans for their minister, this was one of four houses (the other three are long gone) that acted as a fort in the early settlement. An example of post-medieval English construction, this L-shaped house doesn't look like anything else I've seen in the U.S. And originally it wouldn't have had that chimney on the right nor probably most of those windows (though, there are historical references to that little window on the corner of the second floor, which originally could see all the way to the Sound).

Beyond being fascinating architecture, the museum is very family friendly and accessible, mainly because it was do-it-yourself/self-guided, with two scavenger hunts and lots of informative and interactive labels. Those hour-long house tours you usually have to take at most historic houses, with their focus on specific family genealogies and the provenance of particular antiques, just aren't always interesting to children (or often even to me and I love old houses!). But the kiddos loved exploring this house, complete with flashlights in case it was too dark to see in the garret. We searched for bed keys (the infamous--and anachronistically quoted--"sleep tight"), betty lamps, butter churns, candle molds, footwarmers, quill pens, sanders (for drying ink), among other items. We talked about ways to stay warm--the aforementioned footwarmer, fireplace, bedwarmer--and ways to light a room--windows, rush light, lanterns, white reflective paint. The kids were nervous about the loose and creaking floorboards, especially by the time we were on the third floor, in the garret, admiring a very old musket, Revolutionary War uniforms, and all manner of tools to process wool and flax into cloth. And they were glad we had staircases instead of the ladders the original inhabitants would probably have used.

As the little museum display noted, the museum is not set up to look as if a family lived there, for there were more objects than any one family would've owned--several chairs, a few rope beds, several chests, lots of kitchen implements, all the wool and flax tools--which really surprised the kids because it didn't look like too much to them. It reminds you just how spartan life was, and difficult, too--dark, cold, with lots of hard, constant labor. In that light, it is a very impressive house for 1639, with very thick stone walls, numerous floors, and that L-shape, proof of just how important ministers were for their Puritan followers (who built themselves small thatched-roof houses).

After a stop at the shop for postcards for our scrapbook and a few materials for my own work at historical houses (including a book on colonial games and colonial childhood. And, confession, a reproduction tape loom!!!), plus jacks for Bud and a bunny for Sis ("wildlife at Whitfield" the sign said!), we headed to fetch lunch from nearby Bishop's Orchards. A lunch of apple turnovers, apple dumplings, peach pie, cherry pie, and bread. Which, really, are all foods the Puritans would have probably eaten in the Whitfield House . . . .

The Day in Review

I just watched the September 11th special on Nickelodeon that I mentioned a few days ago. First, I highly recommend it. It's succinct, not overly dramatic or emotional (though I did tear up), direct, informational, not extremely visually disturbing (especially given the subject matter), child-oriented, reassuring, not political (which is an accomplishment), and definitely captures the feel of being in NYC that day and the ones following. But I don't think I'll be showing it to the kids this year. It's probably better for 8-10 year olds, with its discussion of Al Qaeda, Bin Laden, WMD, etc etc etc. Which is just too much detail for 6 year olds. But it did give me some ways of discussing the day with them, particularly the "why" part, which the show explained, and I simplify, as the terrorists believed in violence as a way to hurt the US and promote their extreme religious views. So, I'll keep the show DVR'd for now and think on how we'll spend the tenth anniversary, since September 11 is always a family day for us.

Packin'

No, not that.

School lunch.

It's Sis and Bud's first year of school lunch. And it won't be coming from the hot food line (don't get me started on the quality of school lunches! Even if I loved them as a kid).

But they aren't really sandwich eaters or even much for cold lunches so we've been researching and brainstorming on what they will eat. Thanks to Feeding the Whole Family, I came up with a chart to organize what will go in their lunch, including categories for "growing food" (that's from the book, another name for protein sources), "foods that grow" (like fruits and vegetables), and then the utilitarian "other" category. I have lists of each that they like or would be willing to try, from old stand-by macaroni and cheese or ham and cheese roll-ups to new or new-at-school foods like broccoli noodle soup or corn chowder (if I figure out how to add a pdf here, I will soon; until then, see below.)

Yep, my secret for school lunch is a hot thermos. Special Clone Wars ones. Which means I can send warm leftovers, their favorite pastas, and other tasty things that will make lunch-line soggy pizza and limp chicken tenders look unappetizing. We've already got all of next week planned out, including fruits and "other"--I intend to make a celebratory batch of cookies to have on hand for next week (it also means I know some of what's for dinner, since a couple choices are leftovers).

And in case (or when) I run out of ideas and they run out of enthusiasm, there are these following resources for more ideas:

• Melissa Clark's take on sandwiches in the NYTimes
• Beauty That Moves "The Lunch Box Post"
• The Vegan Lunchbox
• Laptop Lunches--great safe-plastic bento boxes (pictured above) and recipe ideas
• Family Fun ideas and here
• Lunch in a Box
• ideas from Nava Atlas
• the handy chart and recipe round-up at Whole Life Nutrition
• Mothering recipes from "Peggy's Kitchen" and mymothering.com
• lots of ideas from Kiwi magazine
• EWG's lunch tips
• Feeding the Whole Family by Cynthia Lair, the book with the "growing food" concept
• Kid-friendly recipes (though not just for lunch): Laurie David's Family Dinner and Eat! Play! Move! (from Weight Watchers)

But the best part? I can't wait to be their special guest at lunchtime.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

“Growing Food” (Protein)

macaroni and cheese

pasta and meatballs

chicken and rice

cheese sandwich

chicken noodle soup

“Ponyo noodles”

fried rice

“Food that Grows” (Fruits, Vegetables)

vegetable soup

broccoli noodle soup

corn chowder

broccoli and soy sauce

baby carrots

apples

mandarin oranges

bananas

berries

pears

fruit leather

applesauce

Other

cookie

crackers/goldfish

corn chips

yogurt

cereal

Hiccups . . . Are Contagious?

Tonight, Sis started hiccuping during dinner. We laughed and talked about a cure, of which I know not.

Then I started hiccuping! And she stopped! Oddest thing. I thought it was only sneezes and smiles that were contagious. I almost never hiccup, except when I eat take-out Chinese hot and sour soup (doesn't matter which restaurant).

But I hiccuped through dinner. Through bath. And was getting annoyed, if not a little tense--I don't like any strain on my body with my back the way it is. Then it was time for our bedtime reading, chapter 12 of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Lying down, my usual reading position, made it worse. Walking around lessened the force of each hiccup but was not ideal for reading.

Until I noticed that I wasn't hiccuping as I read. I read for 30 solid minutes--and didn't hiccup once! Perhaps I've found a cure. Wouldn't be too surprising, given that hiccups are a diaphragm spasm and reading aloud requires more diaphragm work than talking or silence.

Add to that, I felt so clever in discovering a "secret" in our HP chapter--Erised, as in the mirror that shows you your heart's desire, is "desire" spelled backwards! And the whole writing on the mirror is backwards for "I show not your face but your heart's desire." (I've felt slow that I didn't realize Diagon Alley was "diagonally.")

Maybe my heart's desire at that moment was to be rid of the hiccups tonight!

Sept. 11 Tonight

On Nickelodeon tonight there will be a show hosted by Nick News commentator Linda Ellerbee entitled "What Really Happened on Septemeber 11?" Geared to children, particularly those who were born after the tragedy, this show seeks to demystify and explain the day. I haven't seen it, don't know what ages it's appropriate for, but am taping it tonight at 9 pm. Sis and Bud have had questions. They've heard about the Towers (particularly from the book The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein), know from being in the city that they're not there anymore, and wonder why. I find myself unusually at a loss for words to tell first graders about terrorism, hate, fear, destruction, tragedy, war even if you can also tinge it with stories of heroism, survival, recovery, renewal, without unduly worrying or scaring them but recognizing that they should know (Lambeth, what did your parents tell you about Nazis and the war at your young age? Though, at some point, being in London, you probably couldn't escape knowing, though the details of camps came later). So I'm going to see if this show can help me, even if I don't let them watch it now. Because I want them to hear it from me first.

-=-=-=-=-=-

Review, 9/3/11: I just watched the September 11th special on Nickelodeon that I mentioned a few days ago. First, I highly recommend it. It's succinct, not overly dramatic or emotional (though I did tear up), direct, informational, not extremely visually disturbing (especially given the subject matter), child-oriented, reassuring, not political (which is an accomplishment), and definitely captures the feel of being in NYC that day and the ones following. But I don't think I'll be showing it to the kids this year. It's probably better for 8-10 year olds, with its discussion of Al Qaeda, Bin Laden, WMD, etc etc etc. Which is just too much detail for 6 year olds. But it did give me some ways of discussing the day with them, particularly the "why" part, which the show explained, and I simplify, as the terrorists believed in violence as a way to hurt the US and promote their extreme religious views. So, I'll keep the show DVR'd for now and think on how we'll spend the tenth anniversary, since September 11 is always a family day for us.

Making Storm Clean Up Fun

A human faerie house....

Suspicious Coincidence?

Is it just me or is it highly suspect that Tea Partiers and conservative Republicans, the vast majority of whom live in Southern or Midwestern states, are calling for a change in federal disaster relief and tying it to other federal budget cuts just when the disaster hits the despised Northeastern (and often more heavily Democrat) states the hardest??

Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get us.

I just don't think Cantor would be pulling this shit if it were Georgia or Mississippi or Texas that were ravaged instead of Vermont, New York, and New Jersey.

Happy Birthday, Pop!

Hope you have a great day and a wonderful year! We love you very much!