With Mama's last days of disability finally winding down, we're completing her to-do list. We've had lunch and/or coffee with a few friends. We've run errands for clothes and a new bookcase. We've eaten out at a few places we rarely get to go, like delicious Ethiopian. And today we're heading to have lunch at school with the kiddos. Whew.
Of course, we're also gearing up for 3 Halloween parties plus actual trick-or-treating, the start of my touring seasoning with the historic house (I'm giving 9 tours in 2 1/2 weeks or so!), a couple of birthday parties, and all the usual things like kung fu, gymnastics, and Brownies.
Plus the big bake sale!
And it's all good.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Soup Weather
Except the two warm-for-October days, we've had a lot of overcast and chilly weather this fall. Which always reminds me of soup.
And so I made this incredible soup that Mama and I devoured (of course, with the beans, the kids didn't.)
If I could figure out how do a jar mix of it, I'd give it away as Christmas gifts (I should note that the original inspiration comes from a packaged mix of Peddler's Vegetarian Soup.)
-=-=-=-=-=-=
My Version of Peddler's Vegetarian Soup
1 1/2 cups dried beans (combination of Navy, Great Northern, pink, pinto, red kidney, or whatever you have on hand), rinsed and sorted
1 onion, chopped
olive oil
2 carrots, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
1/2 cabbage, shredded
1 bay leaf
1/4-1/2 cup marinara (we had a bit of Rao's leftover)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (I use Penzey's Tuscan Sunset)
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Soak beans overnight in salted water. In the morning, drain.
Saute onion, carrots, celery, and cabbage in olive oil until tender. Add 8 cups of water, soaked beans, and bay leaf to sauteed vegetables. Simmer until beans are soft (about 2 hours). Add marinara and Italian seasoning. Simmer for 30 minutes. Add cheese and lemon juice before serving.
Mommy Hungry via Savory Fare (website on package isn't working; their version uses 28 oz of tomatoes and small pasta plus a variety of seasonings)
And so I made this incredible soup that Mama and I devoured (of course, with the beans, the kids didn't.)
If I could figure out how do a jar mix of it, I'd give it away as Christmas gifts (I should note that the original inspiration comes from a packaged mix of Peddler's Vegetarian Soup.)
-=-=-=-=-=-=
My Version of Peddler's Vegetarian Soup
1 1/2 cups dried beans (combination of Navy, Great Northern, pink, pinto, red kidney, or whatever you have on hand), rinsed and sorted
1 onion, chopped
olive oil
2 carrots, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
1/2 cabbage, shredded
1 bay leaf
1/4-1/2 cup marinara (we had a bit of Rao's leftover)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (I use Penzey's Tuscan Sunset)
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Soak beans overnight in salted water. In the morning, drain.
Saute onion, carrots, celery, and cabbage in olive oil until tender. Add 8 cups of water, soaked beans, and bay leaf to sauteed vegetables. Simmer until beans are soft (about 2 hours). Add marinara and Italian seasoning. Simmer for 30 minutes. Add cheese and lemon juice before serving.
Mommy Hungry via Savory Fare (website on package isn't working; their version uses 28 oz of tomatoes and small pasta plus a variety of seasonings)
Bake-Sale-To-Be
We're having a bake sale in a couple of weeks to benefit Sis and Bud's classmate who has cancer. It started off as Sis's simple idea for a small, on-the-corner kinda thing but has blossomed into more bakers and an as-yet-to-be-determined location (either the local soccer fields or grocery store, so that we have foot traffic and don't use our home address). I'm excited but also nervous, having never organized a big sale like this (so of course I looked online for tips about location, pricing, etc). But I'm getting wonderful volunteer bakers and people to assist with the sale, so there is help. And it's a great cause. Sis is excited (not bothered by the changes).
And we can always do it again in the spring if it's successful, learning from our first experience!
So we're baking almost everyday to stockpile for the event, starting with Snickerdoodles and then Chocolate Snickerdoodles! Mmmmm. I actually thought of chocolate ones while making the first batch, but of course many others had come up with the idea before me. So, we have about 150 squirreled away. Next we'll do oatmeal raisin (the classmate's favorite) and some chocolate chip cookies. And who knows what else from there.
I'll keep you posted. And if you're local, I'll let you know when it is.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Chocolate Snickerdoodles, my version
**Same recipe as above, but instead of 2 3/4 cups flour, use 2 1/4 cups flour and 1/2 cup cocoa.
And we can always do it again in the spring if it's successful, learning from our first experience!
So we're baking almost everyday to stockpile for the event, starting with Snickerdoodles and then Chocolate Snickerdoodles! Mmmmm. I actually thought of chocolate ones while making the first batch, but of course many others had come up with the idea before me. So, we have about 150 squirreled away. Next we'll do oatmeal raisin (the classmate's favorite) and some chocolate chip cookies. And who knows what else from there.
I'll keep you posted. And if you're local, I'll let you know when it is.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Snickerdoodles (with cinnamon on outside of cookie)
yields 6-7 dozen
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup shortening (or coconut oil)
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 3/4 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
cinnamon-sugar: 1/2 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, beat together the shortening and sugar till smooth, then beat in the eggs, again beating till smooth.
Beat in the vanilla, baking powder, then add the flour, mixing slowly till combined.
Place about 1/2 cup cinnamon-sugar in an 8" or 9" round cake pan or in a zippered bag.
Drop the soft dough by teaspoonfuls into the pan with the sugar, about 6 to 8 balls at a time. Gently shake the pan to coat the dough balls with sugar. Place them on a lightly greased or parchment-lined cookie sheet, leaving about 1 1/2 inches between them. Using the bottom of a glass, flatten each cookie till it's about 1/2-inch thick. Repeat till you've used up all the dough.
Bake the snickerdoodles in a preheated 400°F oven for 8-11 minutes. They'll be set and just starting to turn golden. Remove the cookies from the oven, and cool them on a rack.
adapted from King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion
yields 6-7 dozen
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup shortening (or coconut oil)
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 3/4 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
cinnamon-sugar: 1/2 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, beat together the shortening and sugar till smooth, then beat in the eggs, again beating till smooth.
Beat in the vanilla, baking powder, then add the flour, mixing slowly till combined.
Place about 1/2 cup cinnamon-sugar in an 8" or 9" round cake pan or in a zippered bag.
Drop the soft dough by teaspoonfuls into the pan with the sugar, about 6 to 8 balls at a time. Gently shake the pan to coat the dough balls with sugar. Place them on a lightly greased or parchment-lined cookie sheet, leaving about 1 1/2 inches between them. Using the bottom of a glass, flatten each cookie till it's about 1/2-inch thick. Repeat till you've used up all the dough.
Bake the snickerdoodles in a preheated 400°F oven for 8-11 minutes. They'll be set and just starting to turn golden. Remove the cookies from the oven, and cool them on a rack.
adapted from King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion
**Same recipe as above, but instead of 2 3/4 cups flour, use 2 1/4 cups flour and 1/2 cup cocoa.
Alternate: Snickerdoodles (with cinnamon in the cookie)
Makes 4 dozen
1 ½ cups sugar
½ cup butter
½ cup shortening
2 eggs
2 ¾ cups flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt
assorted colored sugars optional (or use cinnamon-sugar mixture)
Heat oven to 400°F. Mix 1 ½ cups
sugar, butter, shortening, and eggs. Stir in flour, cram of tartar, baking
soda, cinnamon and salt.
Shape dough into 1 ¼” balls. Dip
one side of ball in colored sugar (note: if you roll the whole ball in sugar,
the sugar on the bottom will burn and stick to the pan). Place 2 inches apart
on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Remove from
cookie sheet to wire rack.
Gold Medal’s Cookies from the Heart or Extra Special Holiday Baking
Friday, October 12, 2012
A Funny Thing Happened . . .
. . . at the doctor's office today (no worries, just my annual gyn.)
I was a new patient and therefore being asked all these questions.
Level of education? Ph.D.
Working or homemaker? Homemaker
I whispered to Mama that I should just call myself "Dr. Homemaker!" Really, I can't believe that term is still in use officially.
(At least I'm no longer a "spinster" because I'm legally married in CT.)
Besides, I think of myself as more of a professional volunteer, between Girl Scouts, the historical house, and now hospice.
Think "professional volunteer" is a category on LinkedIn?!
I was a new patient and therefore being asked all these questions.
Level of education? Ph.D.
Working or homemaker? Homemaker
I whispered to Mama that I should just call myself "Dr. Homemaker!" Really, I can't believe that term is still in use officially.
(At least I'm no longer a "spinster" because I'm legally married in CT.)
Besides, I think of myself as more of a professional volunteer, between Girl Scouts, the historical house, and now hospice.
Think "professional volunteer" is a category on LinkedIn?!
TGIF
Thank
Goodness
It'll
Freeze!
Yep, tonight we might get our first freeze. I love this weather and have pulled all our quilts and fleece blankets out of the closet. I even have a new tea--Trader Joe's Pumpkin Spice Rooiboos. Yum! Sis and Bud asked if it would snow. Well, last year it snowed just two weeks from now (see pics here), but I'll be really surprised if it does that again, especially as it's supposed to get back up to almost 70 in the next few days!
(Is that light enough compared to yesterday?)
Goodness
It'll
Freeze!
Yep, tonight we might get our first freeze. I love this weather and have pulled all our quilts and fleece blankets out of the closet. I even have a new tea--Trader Joe's Pumpkin Spice Rooiboos. Yum! Sis and Bud asked if it would snow. Well, last year it snowed just two weeks from now (see pics here), but I'll be really surprised if it does that again, especially as it's supposed to get back up to almost 70 in the next few days!
(Is that light enough compared to yesterday?)
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Whew.
Wow, posts addressing sex, religion, health, and even death all in one day--the linchpins of interesting, but not polite, conversation!
I promise to have something a little lighter tomorrow.
I promise to have something a little lighter tomorrow.
Sickbed Confessions
Inspired by How to Be Sick author Toni Bernhard's post, "Confessions of a Sick Person," I'm making a list of my own injury/chronic pain-related confessions. Many of these were more relevant at the height (or depths?) of my injury, not as much now.
- It doesn't always hurt. Yep, a lot of the time it does. And that stinks. But sometimes it doesn't hurt. And the pain isn't always the deciding factor in whether I'm up and about or not. Meditation, medication, motivation, mood all play a part.
- I like my bed better than almost anywhere. It's a comfortable, handy place to be. I've managed systems for working on the computer, eating, reading, watching tv, crocheting, almost anything you can think of. And when the physical stresses of the day get to me, nothing is as calming and reassuring as being back in my bed. Which is ironic, given that one of my major pain episodes occurred in the bed, waking me up in the middle of the night unexpectedly!
- I'm grateful for my injury in many ways because it has allowed me to explore new personal and spiritual paths that I don't think I would have found if I were still distracted by "normal" life. I think it was a wake-up call, even a blessing. As much as it has been a burden to me and my entire family, I'm not exactly sure I would go back and do it differently (well, I might actually take pain medication that second time!). I think it has taught us all something. Compassion, mindfulness, mortality, priorities, gratitude, appreciation, flexibility.
- I like not working for pay outside the home. For now. And injury/pain is a more socially-acceptable reason than stay-at-home mom. No one argues with me about my unemployment or rolls their eyes anymore. That I know of.
- I don't like how narcissistic I am sometimes, always thinking of how I'm doing, how I'm feeling, how I can or can't do things. It's so easy to become self-absorbed in isolation. Kids are a really good remedy for this.
- Having an injury can be a great excuse for many things--baggy, comfortable clothes and a perpetually messy house and not living up to social/societal expectations. I like that.
- I haven't had a professional haircut or been to the dentist in two years. Both have very uncomfortable chairs that you have to sit in for the whole thing. Can't do it. Even though I know I should. (To make up for the dentist, I've become meticulous about flossing and mouthwash.)
- While I'm not glad for her own recent injury and illnesses, it has been nice to have Mama as a sickbed buddy at times. Even though it was true before, I know she understand me better than anyone else could because she's been there. On the reverse side, it's made me a better caregiver (sometimes!). On the downside, she takes up half the bed AND wants a say in the tv shows! But there's only a week left.
The Sinner and the Sin, Or National Coming Out Day
I don't often post about being a lesbian. It's no secret, of course, and I'm not ashamed or uncomfortable. It just doesn't come up as a subject in ways that make interesting posts, at least compared with life with twins or the craziness that was our summer. I can only tell you for the umpteenth time that Mama was mistaken for my son--happened at the Ren Faire on Monday when a booth staffer tried to get my young fella to try his hand at a tomato-throwing game--or that I had to correct someone about the kids having two moms and not a dad--happened recently when a cashier remarked that the kids should tell their dad.
And I can only rage about the homophobia of the Boy Scouts so many times. (Though, I could tell you about the young man who realized he was gay and came out, only to be denied his earned Eagle Scout award! Or about the Greenwich, CT den mom who was kicked out when news got out of her den that she was a lesbian! It's a discriminatory organization--if you support it, you support and encourage its discrimination against me. Period. Don't tell me it's convenient or a tradition or your den isn't like that. Because that doesn't change that the Boy Scouts have fought all the way to the Supreme Court to be able to discriminate against me.)
But I've recently been confronted with a new kind of challenge: love the sinner, not the sin.
Yep, I have a Mormon friend.
I don't want to go into it too much, as we have a delicate friendship built on mutual interests and tolerance, but will say that my friend absolutely believes and agrees with her church's stance against same-sex relationships and also practices the LDS stance of tolerating--but not condoning, accepting, or approving--LGBTQ people--you know, that whole love the sinner, not the sin teaching. I guess I do something of the same--tolerate her faith while recognizing her own inherent worth and dignity (UU principle #1)--just like I love my friends even though their sons are Scouts. I should say that, while I knew she was a Latter Day Saint, until recently I figured she might be like my Catholic friends who are fairly "cafeteria" in their selection of the Vatican's (happy 50th anniversary, Vatican II, by the way!) teachings, supporting women priests, married priests, same-sex marriage, birth control, and abortion while still taking communion and sending their kids to CCD. Or like the liberal Mormon feminist Joanna Brooks, author of the Book of Mormon Girl, which I am reading for insight into the faith and its followers and those who have trouble following some of it (see her blog here.)
It all reminds me of the recent NYTimes Op-Ed, "We're Here, We're Queer, Y'all!, which made me mad, or sad, or a combo of the two. Essentially, the author, Karen L. Cox, said that being LGBTQ in the rural South was okay . . . because they don't beat you or burn your house down.
They only call adults by silly terms like "Uncle Poodle" to denote their "light in the loafer"-ness.
And refuse to openly or publicly acknowledge your relationships by calling your long-time partner just your "friend."
And disagree vehemently with the concept of same-sex marriage.
And think your homosexuality is an abomination.
I'm pretty sure I could not live somewhere (read Texas) that the majority of people felt like that about me. It's challenging enough to have one person in my life that I know feels like that (my in-laws are a complicated, different story), though I can't articulate why or why I do it. And I think I feel guilty, hypocritical, surprised, upset, incredulous. It's very personal. Which, as we all know, is very political.
Maybe, beyond the ordinary pleasures of friendship, I had hoped that I could facilitate some kind of teachable moment.
Is that how LGBTQ people in the South feel, how they get through it? There just aren't many easy answers.
Sometimes, coming out is the easy part.
And I can only rage about the homophobia of the Boy Scouts so many times. (Though, I could tell you about the young man who realized he was gay and came out, only to be denied his earned Eagle Scout award! Or about the Greenwich, CT den mom who was kicked out when news got out of her den that she was a lesbian! It's a discriminatory organization--if you support it, you support and encourage its discrimination against me. Period. Don't tell me it's convenient or a tradition or your den isn't like that. Because that doesn't change that the Boy Scouts have fought all the way to the Supreme Court to be able to discriminate against me.)
But I've recently been confronted with a new kind of challenge: love the sinner, not the sin.
Yep, I have a Mormon friend.
I don't want to go into it too much, as we have a delicate friendship built on mutual interests and tolerance, but will say that my friend absolutely believes and agrees with her church's stance against same-sex relationships and also practices the LDS stance of tolerating--but not condoning, accepting, or approving--LGBTQ people--you know, that whole love the sinner, not the sin teaching. I guess I do something of the same--tolerate her faith while recognizing her own inherent worth and dignity (UU principle #1)--just like I love my friends even though their sons are Scouts. I should say that, while I knew she was a Latter Day Saint, until recently I figured she might be like my Catholic friends who are fairly "cafeteria" in their selection of the Vatican's (happy 50th anniversary, Vatican II, by the way!) teachings, supporting women priests, married priests, same-sex marriage, birth control, and abortion while still taking communion and sending their kids to CCD. Or like the liberal Mormon feminist Joanna Brooks, author of the Book of Mormon Girl, which I am reading for insight into the faith and its followers and those who have trouble following some of it (see her blog here.)
It all reminds me of the recent NYTimes Op-Ed, "We're Here, We're Queer, Y'all!, which made me mad, or sad, or a combo of the two. Essentially, the author, Karen L. Cox, said that being LGBTQ in the rural South was okay . . . because they don't beat you or burn your house down.
They only call adults by silly terms like "Uncle Poodle" to denote their "light in the loafer"-ness.
And refuse to openly or publicly acknowledge your relationships by calling your long-time partner just your "friend."
And disagree vehemently with the concept of same-sex marriage.
And think your homosexuality is an abomination.
I'm pretty sure I could not live somewhere (read Texas) that the majority of people felt like that about me. It's challenging enough to have one person in my life that I know feels like that (my in-laws are a complicated, different story), though I can't articulate why or why I do it. And I think I feel guilty, hypocritical, surprised, upset, incredulous. It's very personal. Which, as we all know, is very political.
Maybe, beyond the ordinary pleasures of friendship, I had hoped that I could facilitate some kind of teachable moment.
Is that how LGBTQ people in the South feel, how they get through it? There just aren't many easy answers.
Sometimes, coming out is the easy part.
A Wing and a Prayer
You know how they say kids will ask the difficult questions in the car?
Sis got me today, "What does my classmate have?"
Her classmate who is in the hospital receiving chemotherapy for cancer.
Thankfully, I had spent some of last night searching for books and discussion tips, Googling "books for children, classmate has cancer." Many of the resources are actually for children with cancer, or children whose parents or siblings have cancer. But I did come across some things*, which was good because Sis, and then Bud after her, hit upon them all. I tried to answer them directly and then add to it.
"What did he do to get this?" Nothing. He did absolutely nothing. His cells just changed.
And you can't catch it. Not like the flu or a cold or the chicken pox.
"Will he lose his hair?" Maybe. Chemotherapy can make you feel awful and some people lose their hair.
But even if he loses his hair, he'll still be the same kid who loves the things he always has. And so you can treat him just like you used to. Even if his looks surprise you at first.
"Will he come back to school?" Probably. If he feels well enough. He might be in and out of school for awhile.
He'd rather be at school than in the hospital, I'm sure. It can be scary with all the doctors and needles and such. But they are all doing their best to take good care of him so he can come back to school. We are all sorry he has to go through this because we know it's going to be rough for him and his family for awhile.
"Will he die?"
Words fail me.
I don't know. I hope not. They're doing everything they can. I can't quite say anything more. What else is there to say?
But you can ask me anything, anything else and I'll try to answer it. And if you feel helpless (we all feel helpless), you can meditate and pray.
Sis immediately proposes a bake sale--snickerdoodles and oatmeal raisin--to raise money for his treatment. Later over dinner, Bud excuses himself to go ring our singing meditation bowls and to pray.
And I somehow managed not to cry.
Yet.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
*A few helpful websites:
Sis got me today, "What does my classmate have?"
Her classmate who is in the hospital receiving chemotherapy for cancer.
Thankfully, I had spent some of last night searching for books and discussion tips, Googling "books for children, classmate has cancer." Many of the resources are actually for children with cancer, or children whose parents or siblings have cancer. But I did come across some things*, which was good because Sis, and then Bud after her, hit upon them all. I tried to answer them directly and then add to it.
"What did he do to get this?" Nothing. He did absolutely nothing. His cells just changed.
And you can't catch it. Not like the flu or a cold or the chicken pox.
"Will he lose his hair?" Maybe. Chemotherapy can make you feel awful and some people lose their hair.
But even if he loses his hair, he'll still be the same kid who loves the things he always has. And so you can treat him just like you used to. Even if his looks surprise you at first.
"Will he come back to school?" Probably. If he feels well enough. He might be in and out of school for awhile.
He'd rather be at school than in the hospital, I'm sure. It can be scary with all the doctors and needles and such. But they are all doing their best to take good care of him so he can come back to school. We are all sorry he has to go through this because we know it's going to be rough for him and his family for awhile.
"Will he die?"
Words fail me.
I don't know. I hope not. They're doing everything they can. I can't quite say anything more. What else is there to say?
But you can ask me anything, anything else and I'll try to answer it. And if you feel helpless (we all feel helpless), you can meditate and pray.
Sis immediately proposes a bake sale--snickerdoodles and oatmeal raisin--to raise money for his treatment. Later over dinner, Bud excuses himself to go ring our singing meditation bowls and to pray.
And I somehow managed not to cry.
Yet.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
*A few helpful websites:
- A teacher's overview on her experience with a child in her kindergarten class with cancer.
- A guide from a hospital in PA regarding children with cancer in the classroom
- Another guide on children with cancer returning to school
- A website on kids' health addresses kids with cancer
I also purchased some books, including Why, Charlie Brown, Why? A Story About What Happens When a Friend is Very Ill; What is Cancer Anyway? Explaining Cancer to Children of All Ages; and Imagine a Rainbow: A Child's Guide for Soothing Pain. For an elementary-school-aged bibliography, see Alex's Lemonade Stand and this document (can't get a link that doesn't automatically download; my apologies.)
I dearly hope we won't need Freddie the Leaf, The Purple Balloon, or Badger's Parting Gifts, on death and dying for children.
I dearly hope we won't need Freddie the Leaf, The Purple Balloon, or Badger's Parting Gifts, on death and dying for children.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Healing Across the Ocean
Sending best wishes to Mrs. Lambeth for a speedy and easy recovery from surgery and good results!
Sending Love and Hope
A classmate of Sis and Bud's has cancer and is in treatment. We send our love and hope for successful treatment.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Ren Faires R Us
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| Bud defeating the Swordmaster |
 |
| Beautiful Barred Owl |
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| Sis climbing Jacob's Ladder |
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| Bud learning about weapons from a German mercenary |
 |
| Sis flinging a frog |
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| Bud with a bow |
Sunday, October 7, 2012
A Magical Day
On Saturday, we cavorted among the faerie houses (again) at the Florence Griswold Museum. If you're in Connecticut this month, definitely go visit!
We all liked the first house, a Japanese tea house. Bud even sketched it. Can you find the blue teapot? Each house stop on the map had a seek-and-find question. We found most of the items, going back again to the houses where we couldn't find the treasure immediately.
Another one that piqued our curiosity as this one, complete with burnished emblems on the stumps. Can you find the reindeer?
I really liked the faerie houses that blended in with the trees or rocks or grasses. This Autumnal Fortress is spread out through lots of nooks and crannies.
This house was nestled next to the tree, with numerous ladders and doors all around. I think the doors and ladders were my favorite detail of all the faerie houses.
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This was one of the kids' favorite houses, the Dew Drop.
And just several random details I liked from other houses.
We walked through the grounds by the Lieutenant River at least twice, admiring all 30+ houses and finding five of the "fringe faeries," or faery houses not on the original map, which were hidden in plain sight.
One of the last houses was the Pearl Palace, nestled next to a stream, which was lined with houses in the bank, another of my favorite houses.
After a wonderful lunch on the veranda of the museum (wild mushroom bisque, butternut squash and apple soup, spinach salad, mushroom ravioli, chicken pot pie, apple crisp, and a trio of ice creams--peach cobbler with gingersnap, hazelnut with milk chocolate and seville orange with basil, so yummy), the kiddos built their own faerie houses "beyond the beyond."
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| Bud's teepee-shaped house with a thatched pine needle roof. |
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| Sis's lean-to with a pine roof and a table laid with "bread with honey" (a rock with sap) and other delicacies. |
We ended the day with a visit with Tracy Kane, the author of several books on faerie houses. She signed her new photographic compendium, Fairy Houses--Unbelievable!, and her new mystery novel, Forest Secrets, for us.
We headed home through the pouring rain and dried off at home while watching Fairytale, about the girls who took the Cottingley fairy pictures in 1917.
Then today, after the yard dried out, Sis and Bud built 10 houses in a village in our yard, providing a map for us and a personally-guided tour, during which we were asked to spot the hidden treasures. Just like at the museum. That is why we go on these outings: not just for the initial information and enjoyment, but for the inspiration and imagination that follow for days and weeks to come. May the magic of the faeries be with us for a long time.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Childhood Memories
Lemon twist.
Sit 'N Spin.
Moppet's Secret Dollhouse.
Fisher Price Little People Castle, A-frame House, Town.
CandyLand, with the original board game.
Speak & Spell.
Simon Says game.
Waterful Ring Toss.
Great Greetings and Fashion Plates.
I've come across several toys and games from my childhood through Pinterest and the pinned blogs and websites (here, here, here, here, and here). It's been such a fun ride!
Red Rover.
Thumbs-Up, 7Up!
Folded notes.
Metal dome playground equipment.
Silly String.
Fortune Tellers.
Super Plastic Bubbles.
Weeble Wobbles.
Rub-a-Dub Dolly.
It's been such a wonderful trip down memory lane, but I couldn't find one thing: a blue and pink plastic ice cream sundae toy that contained a miniature dollhouse. I also had a miniature brown ice cream sandwich, also with a dollhouse inside. But I couldn't remember the name and couldn't find them online. I kept looking, finding many other things.
Tinkerbell makeup.
Jellies shoes.
Twisty bead necklaces.
Woven barrettes.
Banana clips.
Prairie shirts.
Yarn hair ribbons.
And so I told Mama, who had heard me talk of these toys before. And so she started looking.
Plastic Halloween costumes with masks that came in paper boxes.
"Popcorn" Rudolph decorations.
Plastic-net Christmas stockings.
Woodsy the Owl.
Smokey the Bear.
I didn't have much hope. I should have, though, because years ago she found one of my favorite childhood book series, the Meg Mysteries, and even bought me a few; this in the days before Amazon and such. She's just more creative and thorough with her Boolean logic, I guess. But I was still surprised this morning when she reached over and showed me this:
She found them!!!! Mattel Liddle Kiddle, also marketed in the 1970s as Sweet Treats. I had forgotten the rainbow-colored hair of the dolls. We don't need to buy them, even though mine are long gone. It was just nice to see them again and remember all the fun I had with these toys and all the others.
Sit 'N Spin.
Moppet's Secret Dollhouse.
Fisher Price Little People Castle, A-frame House, Town.
CandyLand, with the original board game.
Speak & Spell.
Simon Says game.
Waterful Ring Toss.
Great Greetings and Fashion Plates.
I've come across several toys and games from my childhood through Pinterest and the pinned blogs and websites (here, here, here, here, and here). It's been such a fun ride!
Red Rover.
Thumbs-Up, 7Up!
Folded notes.
Metal dome playground equipment.
Silly String.
Fortune Tellers.
Super Plastic Bubbles.
Weeble Wobbles.
Rub-a-Dub Dolly.
It's been such a wonderful trip down memory lane, but I couldn't find one thing: a blue and pink plastic ice cream sundae toy that contained a miniature dollhouse. I also had a miniature brown ice cream sandwich, also with a dollhouse inside. But I couldn't remember the name and couldn't find them online. I kept looking, finding many other things.
Tinkerbell makeup.
Jellies shoes.
Twisty bead necklaces.
Woven barrettes.
Banana clips.
Prairie shirts.
Yarn hair ribbons.
And so I told Mama, who had heard me talk of these toys before. And so she started looking.
Plastic Halloween costumes with masks that came in paper boxes.
"Popcorn" Rudolph decorations.
Plastic-net Christmas stockings.
Woodsy the Owl.
Smokey the Bear.
I didn't have much hope. I should have, though, because years ago she found one of my favorite childhood book series, the Meg Mysteries, and even bought me a few; this in the days before Amazon and such. She's just more creative and thorough with her Boolean logic, I guess. But I was still surprised this morning when she reached over and showed me this:
She found them!!!! Mattel Liddle Kiddle, also marketed in the 1970s as Sweet Treats. I had forgotten the rainbow-colored hair of the dolls. We don't need to buy them, even though mine are long gone. It was just nice to see them again and remember all the fun I had with these toys and all the others.
My Treasure Chest
The tag at the sale said 18th-century chest, which the antique dealer explained, was because of the dovetail joints and hardware. Well, I can't swear that's true, not knowing much about antiques, but I liked the way it tapers to the top and the way the wood smells old. I know, not very scientific or academic, but I liked it. And so we bought it, 18th-century relic or not.
My Inner Merida*
(*Not my inner Katniss!)
Kidbits
Sis was describing one of her schoolbooks to me, "It's set in the petticoat past!"
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They're practicing yells in Bud's kung fu class. Now, out of nowhere, he'll yell. And it's this loud, booming yell. I wouldn't want to hear that in a dark alley.
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Today is picture day at school so Mama and Sis went to the store for clothes because she's outgrown all of her dresses. She chose a red plaid jumper with a headband! But she headed to school with her usual mismatching socks--this time, one sock short and one sock long. When I asked if it were a conscious choice, she said, "It's my style!"
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On the way home from kung fu this week, Bud asked why the Toys R Us people write their "R" backwards. He and Mama had a long conversation about brands, as she pointed out the golden "M" and the DD. He was not impressed.
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Before we remembered that today was picture day, we toyed with taking the kids out of school to go to the Fairy House exhibition at the Florence Griswold Museum, since we loved it last time. The kids protested that they didn't want to miss the "Polly story." Apparently, their new art teacher has a parrot--an African grey--about whom she tells a new funny story weekly.
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My use of idiomatic language and aphorisms has been confusing the kids of late. "Each to the devil in her own way," I said of my preference for sweets and mama's for savories. The kid's could not figure out what the devil had to do with it, being rather unclear on who he is anyway. And when I asked them to name their poison, Bud said he didn't want any poison, "Who wants poison, Mom?"
-=-=-=-=-=-
They're practicing yells in Bud's kung fu class. Now, out of nowhere, he'll yell. And it's this loud, booming yell. I wouldn't want to hear that in a dark alley.
-=-=-=-=-
Today is picture day at school so Mama and Sis went to the store for clothes because she's outgrown all of her dresses. She chose a red plaid jumper with a headband! But she headed to school with her usual mismatching socks--this time, one sock short and one sock long. When I asked if it were a conscious choice, she said, "It's my style!"
-=-=-=-=-=-
On the way home from kung fu this week, Bud asked why the Toys R Us people write their "R" backwards. He and Mama had a long conversation about brands, as she pointed out the golden "M" and the DD. He was not impressed.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Before we remembered that today was picture day, we toyed with taking the kids out of school to go to the Fairy House exhibition at the Florence Griswold Museum, since we loved it last time. The kids protested that they didn't want to miss the "Polly story." Apparently, their new art teacher has a parrot--an African grey--about whom she tells a new funny story weekly.
-=-=-=-=-=-
My use of idiomatic language and aphorisms has been confusing the kids of late. "Each to the devil in her own way," I said of my preference for sweets and mama's for savories. The kid's could not figure out what the devil had to do with it, being rather unclear on who he is anyway. And when I asked them to name their poison, Bud said he didn't want any poison, "Who wants poison, Mom?"
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Happy Anniversary!
Today marks my parents' 48th anniversary. Happy anniversary, Gommie and Pop! May the years to come be even better than those behind.
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