From Friday:
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Right Now
Fabulous, warm scents of chocolate, cinnamon, orange, walnut, cranberry, and molasses wafting through the house as Mama Teacher and I bake cookies.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Our Fifth Year
- muffalettas (so good I quit being a vegetarian for a few hours!!)
- cavatelli with wild mushroom cream sauce
- wild mushroom truffle pizza
- prosciutto and pear pizza
- spinach and cheese empanadas
- spinach souffle
- parmesan fried bow ties
- garbanzo "bar nuts"
- pulled sauerbraten with spaetzle (for Mama)
- roasted vegetable salad
- saffron couscous with curried chickpeas
- macaroni and cheese
- steak frites
- artichoke dip puffs
- lobster grilled cheese (Mama again)
- braised short rib with chimichurri on polenta puff (Yep, Mama)
- paella (ditto)
- pastrami on rye with mustard and a half sour (mm-hmm)
- a coffee bar with all the fixings--whipped cream, hazelnut cream, shaved chocolate, peppermint sticks, caramel syrup, marshmallows, and two kinds of biscotti (which substituted for dessert because I couldn't make it to 11:30)
Guess where we were?
A Zen Short
There is a well-known story in Zen Shorts about luck and perception. You've probably heard a version of it. A horse wanders up to a man's farm and his neighbors say he's lucky. Maybe, he says. Then his son breaks his leg trying to tame the horse. His neighbors say he is unlucky. Maybe, he says. Then soldiers come to draft all the young men but don't take his son because of his broken leg. He is lucky. Maybe. Things change. A lot of life is how you look at it.
Today was like that for me. I had an ultrasound appointment, ordered by my concerned gynecologist because I've had cramping for more than a week (not severe, just long lasting, constant, and more intense than usual). Well, the first radiology office couldn't accommodate my back issues and I couldn't climb up and use the awkward pillow they had in lieu of the usual exam table with stirrups (TMI, I know). I got achy and uncomfortable just trying. So they transferred me, sending Driver and I to a totally different town which could squeeze me in. Achy, I was also discouraged.
But at the second place, the tech was more chatty than she was probably supposed to be and, after examining my ultrasound from two months ago, told me she saw nothing new, different, or alarming. I hope she's right. Especially because it always takes almost a week for the doctor to get the report. But I was glad to get any feedback. She also had back issues and so we could commiserate about injections, therapies, specialists, and such. In the end--though, I'm sure it's not the end (because, of course, all things change!)--it was a good, if exhausting, morning.
Today was like that for me. I had an ultrasound appointment, ordered by my concerned gynecologist because I've had cramping for more than a week (not severe, just long lasting, constant, and more intense than usual). Well, the first radiology office couldn't accommodate my back issues and I couldn't climb up and use the awkward pillow they had in lieu of the usual exam table with stirrups (TMI, I know). I got achy and uncomfortable just trying. So they transferred me, sending Driver and I to a totally different town which could squeeze me in. Achy, I was also discouraged.
But at the second place, the tech was more chatty than she was probably supposed to be and, after examining my ultrasound from two months ago, told me she saw nothing new, different, or alarming. I hope she's right. Especially because it always takes almost a week for the doctor to get the report. But I was glad to get any feedback. She also had back issues and so we could commiserate about injections, therapies, specialists, and such. In the end--though, I'm sure it's not the end (because, of course, all things change!)--it was a good, if exhausting, morning.
Good for a Laugh
Holiday preparations getting to you? Have a laugh over at Toni Bernhard's blog, Turning Straw into Gold.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Touched
Tonight, at a holiday party for the historic house association on which education committee I sit, I was surprised to be thanked for my work on the 3rd and 5th grade curricula! My friends, the director and education coordinator (the wonderful Mrs. S about whom I've written frequently) had encouraged me to stay to have fun when I said I could only stay a bit. But I thought they were just being nice, you know, wanting me to enjoy myself since I don't get out much.
Yes, I can be dense. Then, when the dedicated and hard-working director, Mrs. A, stood up and thanked the illustrious guests as well as the long-standing house docents, she also acknowledged me! I couldn't have been more surprised. Seriously. I thought she was talking about my two other main colleagues on the committee who had been there much longer. I had no clue until she looked at me and mentioned my work in Chicago. And then I think I blushed deeply from my spot in the back of the room where I had been comfortably pacing on the rug. I shook hands, we took pictures, and I went back to my spot in the back, this time with people smiling and nodding at me. And I could barely contain my sniffles.
I can't begin to say how touched I was. See, the historic house and these wonderful women (it's mostly women) have been such a light in what has been not exactly a dark but definitely a gray year. Because while they supported and accomodated me in my health struggles, they also allowed me to do what I love to do, which is engage children in learning about history through material objects, interactive tours, and hands-on experiences. It was an intellectual challenge (learning colonial history) and professional challenge (stretching my museum ed legs again but in a new living history as opposed to art museum setting), in an inspiring, open-minded collaborative environment, so far from my "sick room" that it was a wonderful distraction, even when I couldn't participate as fully as I'd like. It was--they were, and still are--a life line for me, for which I will always be truly grateful. So the honor, the gratitude, the appreciation were all mine.
But it was really wonderful to be recognized. (In fact, I'm not sure how much that ever happened in my professional life--people are always nicer to volunteers!). And I will always treasure the paperweight with its hand-drawn depiction of the historic house. (When we met up right afterward, Sis and Bud oohed and aahed over it. Bud said, "Congratulations, Mommy! That's cool." And Sis offered me a tissue!)
And I'm rearing to go for the spring tour season!
Thank you so much.
Yes, I can be dense. Then, when the dedicated and hard-working director, Mrs. A, stood up and thanked the illustrious guests as well as the long-standing house docents, she also acknowledged me! I couldn't have been more surprised. Seriously. I thought she was talking about my two other main colleagues on the committee who had been there much longer. I had no clue until she looked at me and mentioned my work in Chicago. And then I think I blushed deeply from my spot in the back of the room where I had been comfortably pacing on the rug. I shook hands, we took pictures, and I went back to my spot in the back, this time with people smiling and nodding at me. And I could barely contain my sniffles.
I can't begin to say how touched I was. See, the historic house and these wonderful women (it's mostly women) have been such a light in what has been not exactly a dark but definitely a gray year. Because while they supported and accomodated me in my health struggles, they also allowed me to do what I love to do, which is engage children in learning about history through material objects, interactive tours, and hands-on experiences. It was an intellectual challenge (learning colonial history) and professional challenge (stretching my museum ed legs again but in a new living history as opposed to art museum setting), in an inspiring, open-minded collaborative environment, so far from my "sick room" that it was a wonderful distraction, even when I couldn't participate as fully as I'd like. It was--they were, and still are--a life line for me, for which I will always be truly grateful. So the honor, the gratitude, the appreciation were all mine.
But it was really wonderful to be recognized. (In fact, I'm not sure how much that ever happened in my professional life--people are always nicer to volunteers!). And I will always treasure the paperweight with its hand-drawn depiction of the historic house. (When we met up right afterward, Sis and Bud oohed and aahed over it. Bud said, "Congratulations, Mommy! That's cool." And Sis offered me a tissue!)
And I'm rearing to go for the spring tour season!
Thank you so much.
Advent Activity: Candlelight Again
Today's Advent Activity was looking at lights, not because I knew that our area is fully decorated but because I knew that we would be out after dark. We had Daisies this evening and then another party; more on that soon. And so we made a point of noticing the lights as we drove home. And then, as we approached our house, Mama suggested I lean up to look and I thought it was because our lights look so nice. But no, it was because we had new lights: there were flickering candles in every window, my favorite holiday look! Sis and Bud knew in advance (Bud had helped while Sis and I were at Daisies and then he told her immediately in a hurried whisper) but pretended they were surprised. "Oh, lights!" "Where did the lights come from?" "I don't know." Me thinks the kids doth protest too much. (But I'm glad they can't lie convincingly. Yet.) There were even a few pillar candles inside on the tables. (All battery powered, of course.) It was a wonderful effect and a lovely surprise.
The Great Worm Rescue
It dawned on us gradually--first one, then two, then more and more--that there were worms all over the driveway. After 2 1/2 inches of rain last night, we found dozens of worms on our new driveway. I guess they washed down with the torrents, even with the blocks edging the driveway. Some had clearly perished, but many were wiggling on the asphalt with little hope of making it across alive as the sun rose higher in the sky. And so, as we waited for the bus, we relocated as many as we could find, carefully scooping them up and putting them in the grass, glad to do what we could, even for worms. And thinking all the while of Diary of a Worm, as the worm says at one point that rainy days are one of his biggest enemies.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Healing Thoughts
To my neighbor, Neighbor Boy's mom, who had surgery Monday for a torn ACL and is starting to feel the pain now that the initial drugs have worn off.
To my church friend, Miss M, who would visit the kids on Fridays last summer, who is in a rough patch with Non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
To my church friend, Miss M, who would visit the kids on Fridays last summer, who is in a rough patch with Non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
Advent Activity: The Magic of Christmas
I think we might have rather inadvertently started a new holiday custom: Saint Nicholas visited last night, bringing the "Phineas and Ferb" holiday CD and two nutcrackers, Clara and the Mouse King.
From my quick reading, I know we should have actually put our shoes out the night before (in honor of the Bishop of Myra who secretly gave gifts, like coins in shoes left out), but this was just an experiment to show how kids in other countries celebrate (or at least used to, in that I'm not sure if there are any Christians, of those who celebrate holidays, who now don't do Dec. 25; I'll have to check.)
Bud pondered the experiment later as we waited for the bus, "Is magic real in the world? Or it is all just a cartoon?" Which I took to mean, "is it all not real?" since we often contrast live action with "not real" animation. He moved on before I could address his mature musings. Thankfully, because I'm not prepared to define magic.
There have been lots of questions this year about whether Santa is real. Not real questions, not direct, just indirect musings that I have answered just as indirectly. "Someone brings the presents." Though, I did completely dispel the whole Elf-on-a-Shelf thing, because I don't like the tattling and material reward focus of that story, and told the kids outright that I was the one who moved the Elf and I'd be glad to keep moving it for a fun game as long as we understood that the story about flying to tattle to Santa so kids can or cannot get good gifts is made up. I told them not to tell their friends, though, because some families like the Elf story and we wanted them to have that magic. I know, playing with fire. And they understood and are still perfectly happy to play with the Elf.
And just when I think, because of their questions (and my risky Elf move), they are toying with belief, they really truly embrace that Saint Nick was here last night, happening upon our shoes out in the rain even though we'd never put shoes out before, moving them indoors, filling them, and even loading our iPod with the new CD immediately so we could play it this morning. It's the faith of childhood. And it's beautiful.
Yes, Bud, magic is real in the world.
From my quick reading, I know we should have actually put our shoes out the night before (in honor of the Bishop of Myra who secretly gave gifts, like coins in shoes left out), but this was just an experiment to show how kids in other countries celebrate (or at least used to, in that I'm not sure if there are any Christians, of those who celebrate holidays, who now don't do Dec. 25; I'll have to check.)
Bud pondered the experiment later as we waited for the bus, "Is magic real in the world? Or it is all just a cartoon?" Which I took to mean, "is it all not real?" since we often contrast live action with "not real" animation. He moved on before I could address his mature musings. Thankfully, because I'm not prepared to define magic.
There have been lots of questions this year about whether Santa is real. Not real questions, not direct, just indirect musings that I have answered just as indirectly. "Someone brings the presents." Though, I did completely dispel the whole Elf-on-a-Shelf thing, because I don't like the tattling and material reward focus of that story, and told the kids outright that I was the one who moved the Elf and I'd be glad to keep moving it for a fun game as long as we understood that the story about flying to tattle to Santa so kids can or cannot get good gifts is made up. I told them not to tell their friends, though, because some families like the Elf story and we wanted them to have that magic. I know, playing with fire. And they understood and are still perfectly happy to play with the Elf.
And just when I think, because of their questions (and my risky Elf move), they are toying with belief, they really truly embrace that Saint Nick was here last night, happening upon our shoes out in the rain even though we'd never put shoes out before, moving them indoors, filling them, and even loading our iPod with the new CD immediately so we could play it this morning. It's the faith of childhood. And it's beautiful.
Yes, Bud, magic is real in the world.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Here It Comes
30 Day Vegan Workshop leader Heather Bruggeman, of Beauty That Moves, is set to offer a new three-month course, Whole Food Kitchen. Registration begins very soon. And I'll be signing up! The last workshop effected me immensely, even though I couldn't participate fully. I'm ready, ready, ready for this one.
Right Now
Watching a red-tailed hawk devour a tasty morsel in a tree outside my window. Too far for a picture and not such a pretty subject.
Advent Activity: Behind Already
Well, it didn't take long for us to fall behind. Yesterday's activity was "write a letter to Santa," but they didn't. Instead they played with Neighbor Boy, whose mother had had ACL surgery that morning. for 1 1/2 hours, they fought with lightsabers, spun Ninjagos (Ninjagoes? Ninjagi? Ninjagoi?), and ran around outside in the dense, wet fog. But since they were getting along beautifully, I didn't interrupt.
They remembered the activity this morning before school but didn't have time to write them. They won't this afternoon either, as we have another friend coming over for a visit.
Which means we're behind two days, both yesterday's activity and then today's ("learn more about St. Nicholas's Day"). At least it's because we're having fun!
They remembered the activity this morning before school but didn't have time to write them. They won't this afternoon either, as we have another friend coming over for a visit.
Which means we're behind two days, both yesterday's activity and then today's ("learn more about St. Nicholas's Day"). At least it's because we're having fun!
Monday, December 5, 2011
Kidbits
Actually, the first one is a "mommy bit." Having read all 307 pages of The Wizard of Oz, using special voices for every speaking part, I now have a much deeper appreciation of audiobook readers, particularly Jim Dale, who did all seven books of Harry Potter. Remembering each voice (regular for Dorothy, growly for Lion, country for Scarecrow, whispy for Tin Woodman, and all the others), keeping straight alternating lines of a conversation, and having the vocal stamina to read two or more chapters a night is more difficult than I imagined. But I think it made it all the more enjoyable. And it was a great and not at all scary story, which I highly recommend for kiddos.
-=-=-=-=-=-
The kids are playing rhyming hand games like "Miss Mary Mack" now. And so I contributed the only one I know, "bobo skee watten totten" (more commonly called "bo bo skee rotten totten" online). I learned the words thus (but can't begin to describe the above and below slapping and clapping):
"Bo bo skee watten totten
eh, eh, eh, eh, boom boom boom.
Eeny meeny watten totten
Bo bo skee watten totten
Bo bo skee watten totten
BOOM!" (at which point both players try to slap right hands)
Bud learned both words and movements quickly and gets a huge laugh out of it. Sis, who is left-handed, is also catching on and laughs just as hard.
-=-=-=-=-=-
They also love a new game called "push the kid." Okay, it sounds violent but is actually very sweet. It starts with a kiddo standing on the bed giving me a big ol' hug (my favorite part) and then ends with me tickling them and letting them fall backwards onto the bed (their favorite part). Sometimes I prolong the hug or the tickling which just heightens the hilarity. Oh the games kids will play.
-=-=-=-=-=-
The kids are playing rhyming hand games like "Miss Mary Mack" now. And so I contributed the only one I know, "bobo skee watten totten" (more commonly called "bo bo skee rotten totten" online). I learned the words thus (but can't begin to describe the above and below slapping and clapping):
"Bo bo skee watten totten
eh, eh, eh, eh, boom boom boom.
Eeny meeny watten totten
Bo bo skee watten totten
Bo bo skee watten totten
BOOM!" (at which point both players try to slap right hands)
Bud learned both words and movements quickly and gets a huge laugh out of it. Sis, who is left-handed, is also catching on and laughs just as hard.
-=-=-=-=-=-
They also love a new game called "push the kid." Okay, it sounds violent but is actually very sweet. It starts with a kiddo standing on the bed giving me a big ol' hug (my favorite part) and then ends with me tickling them and letting them fall backwards onto the bed (their favorite part). Sometimes I prolong the hug or the tickling which just heightens the hilarity. Oh the games kids will play.
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