I have started reading a biography on Mrs. Beeton, the Victorian era's Martha Stewart (without the jail time, or, well, if there are any felonies, I haven't gotten there yet) by Kathryn Hughes and am enjoying it immensely. It's only the third or fourth book I've read since the babes, or even since my Ph.D., which has gotten me wondering: why don't I read more?
Okay, sure, I read several articles and the headlines of the NYTimes everyday. I subscribe to about a dozen magazines--food mags with essays (Gourmet, Saveur), parenting mags with essays and articles (Mothering, Brain, Child), history mags (Archaeology), our UU World mag from church--and read most of them cover to cover. But books, or specifically, novels? Nope.
Looking back, I read a lot as a child. In fact, it was always the first thing I listed as hobbies when asked. Little Women was my all-time favorite, one of the only ones I re-read, then Judy Blume, the Little House series, several award winners like Island of the Blue Dolphins and Across Five Aprils. I even read all of Gone with the Wind one summer (mind you, it's long and different from the movie in several points). And the novels of Mary Renault probably made me a classical studies major. But perhaps by college, definitely by grad school, I was out of the reading habit. Nothing like higher education to kill the love of books, I guess. I did read some historical mysteries, you know, "twinkie" reading in the bathtub or on the subway, but nothing substantial (especially since I was reading Shakespeare by myself in junior high--I didn't understand it all but I tried). So what happened? DP used to joke while I was finishing my Ph.D. that I read the indices, notes, and bibliographies of books and not the books themselves. And she was right. I read for information, for details, to be transported to another time and/or place, for my mind. I think that is why I prefer historical novels (the good ones by reputable historians, especially those written by novelists with Ph.Ds in their field like Peter Tremayne or Sarah Waters), or literature written in other times (like Elizabeth Gaskell or George Eliot or Jane Austen--DP and I are commencing an Austen-othon, reading her oeuvre again), or non-fiction. Harry Potter, one of my most recent favorites, is an exception, but then it was quite exceptional.
I'll contrast this with how my mom reads, if I understand it correctly. She reads for her spirit, in addition to her mind. She loves a good story, a well-turned phrase in a carefully crafted book, the various overlays of meaning, the emotional experiences she gleans. Her book group just finished All the King's Men and she has spoken glowingly of the story of a man, a politician, a region, a period, all the ways Robert Penn Warren created his multifaceted book. You could tell she had been so touched by so many aspects of this work, both intellectually and emotionally. She reads a vast array of things, is always reading--it's very impressive. If she were a toddler, she'd be the kid who ate everything and whose parents would be so proud.
And I'm just picky. People recommend books to me all the time (Jodi Picoult and Mitch Albom are on the top of that list now) thinking I must be a voracious reader, and I just nod and smile with no intention of trying the book. I'm not interested in the angst and anxieties of the modern era as described by our own novelists. I'm not saying these aren't good books, just not what I like. Which is curious, because I'm not all that interested in contemporary art either. It is the historical art that appeals to me, appeals to the historian in me.
I'm going to have to give it all some more thought: if I don't read for my spirit, what do I do? I am inspired by church, by experiences, by conversations with people, by the knowledge I learn from reading. What is it that I don't like about the modern era, my own time? I don't over-romanticize the past (I know too much to do that) but I do prefer reading about it (or watching it in movies or seeing its buildings/art/fashion). What kind of reader do I want to be? Why do I feel I need to be a different kind of reader?
That one is easy enough: the kids. I want them to love reading as much as I did as a child. We read a lot together, not just at bedtime but off and on through the day (my re-reading of children's books--fresh eyes on Dr Seuss and Goodnight, Moon etc is an entirely different post). We have too many books--yes, there can be too many when you can't find the one you just must read--but DP and I started gathering them before the kids were born. Books we remembered as kids, books that contained a message we liked, books with interesting illustrations (because, of course, story books are the first art children see). I've read that children become readers if there are books in the house (even if people never read them) and if they see their parents reading (regardless of what they read--this was a study on women reading trashy romances). So, I read magazines around them, but not books. Even with my non-fiction books, it's hard to concentrate and keep up a sense of continuity when you're interrupted regularly. It's something we should work on. Maybe we need quiet reading time? Perhaps instead of the tv at rest time, because that sure doesn't work. DS actually told me last week that he won't nap with the tv on: "I'm tired but I can't see when I close my eyes." Of course not.
And I know just what I'll read during rest time: The Short Life and Long Times of Mrs. Beeton.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Total Immersion
We went to our first toddler Chinese class today. We picked up DP from work on the way there, mainly so I would have some backup in a new place; she won't go every week. There were only 3 kiddos in the class--our two and then this very blond white girl with whom I could only describe as a Chinese nanny in addition to her very proper, upperclass Connecticut white grandmother in tow. I think there is supposed to be one other child.
The "Lao Shi," or teacher, spoke almost completely in Mandarin, using props and pointing to encourage the kids. First we talked about panda bears, "xiong mao," even making little stick puppets to wave as we sang our panda song to the tune of "Frere Jacques." The teacher acted it out, but it was only afterwards that DP told me we were singing something like "Panda Bear, Panda Bear, walk, walk, walk, walk, has black ears and a black tail, doesn't it look strange?" There was a stuffed panda, and we said "ni hao" (hello) and shook hands, practicing "ni hao" with each other, the Lao Shi, and the panda. We also tossed a ball back and forth and said hello. Then we learned about "xiao mao," or little cat and petted the stuffed one, saying "ni hao." There was also a kitten song, but I don't remember the tune or the words.
Which is why it is children, not full grown adults, who should learn languages!
Our kids were pretty quiet, actually quite shy and unresponsive. DD quietly whispered "ni hao" and "xai jian," or goodbye, a few times. Not DS, who by the end of it was, I think, so overwhelmed and exhausted (we'd been up since 5--they're getting ready for the time change--ugh--and no, it's not our idea) that he would just say no when Lao Shi would try to get him to talk. But then, it took us weeks to warm up to our library music teacher. In our defense, the little blonde girl, even though she seemed to recognize more Chinese, was trying to get out the door before we were!
All in all, I really liked the class. I am having trouble remembering the correct pronounciations of the few words we learned today (mainly because I was trying so hard to remember what certain words meant), but enjoyed hearing the teacher speak non-stop in Mandarin. I still don't hear the different tones, but maybe that will come in time. DP thinks so. And of course, it certainly will for the kiddos.
Which is the whole idea.
Xai jian!
The "Lao Shi," or teacher, spoke almost completely in Mandarin, using props and pointing to encourage the kids. First we talked about panda bears, "xiong mao," even making little stick puppets to wave as we sang our panda song to the tune of "Frere Jacques." The teacher acted it out, but it was only afterwards that DP told me we were singing something like "Panda Bear, Panda Bear, walk, walk, walk, walk, has black ears and a black tail, doesn't it look strange?" There was a stuffed panda, and we said "ni hao" (hello) and shook hands, practicing "ni hao" with each other, the Lao Shi, and the panda. We also tossed a ball back and forth and said hello. Then we learned about "xiao mao," or little cat and petted the stuffed one, saying "ni hao." There was also a kitten song, but I don't remember the tune or the words.
Which is why it is children, not full grown adults, who should learn languages!
Our kids were pretty quiet, actually quite shy and unresponsive. DD quietly whispered "ni hao" and "xai jian," or goodbye, a few times. Not DS, who by the end of it was, I think, so overwhelmed and exhausted (we'd been up since 5--they're getting ready for the time change--ugh--and no, it's not our idea) that he would just say no when Lao Shi would try to get him to talk. But then, it took us weeks to warm up to our library music teacher. In our defense, the little blonde girl, even though she seemed to recognize more Chinese, was trying to get out the door before we were!
All in all, I really liked the class. I am having trouble remembering the correct pronounciations of the few words we learned today (mainly because I was trying so hard to remember what certain words meant), but enjoyed hearing the teacher speak non-stop in Mandarin. I still don't hear the different tones, but maybe that will come in time. DP thinks so. And of course, it certainly will for the kiddos.
Which is the whole idea.
Xai jian!
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Writer's Block
I feel the need to blog tonight, and indeed have a lot to say, but am not feeling focused enough to put most of it in a post. Or posts. I have lots of blog ideas running concurrently in my head but nothing fleshed out enough to say.
For instance, I have been mulling over lesbian separatism recently, since the death of our friend, and increased communication with friends in Chicago, many of whom have separatist leanings (i.e. removing themselves as much as possible from spaces with men by creating womyn-only or even woman-born-womyn only spaces). It was never much my thing, nor was it DP's, though we did enjoy some of the women-only activities such as coffeehouse and chorus. We are so far removed from any kind of lesbian community now, though, that I look back on those days happily. Even though, especially though, now with a son, separatism makes even less sense to either one of us.
I've also been preparing my post on art. I'm so frustrated by the quality of art activities for the kiddos at the library. Two year olds shouldn't be following a pattern to make a specific-looking product that they can only produce with overwhelming help from parents. It's a big waste of time and not creative at all, regardless of how hard the librarians work at cutting out the templates. My own art projects--I run a small art group for toddlers--are much more open-ended and (hopefully) creative. For instance, at the end of the month, we're doing string painting--dip string in paint and sling it on paper and even affix it to said paper in patterns (there will be glue in the paint to help this). Messy, fun, colorful, tactile, mixed media, open-ended, no "right" way, as much about process as finished product. In this post, when I write it, I'll reference some books, my favorite ways to talk to kiddos about their art, how to talk to kids about art in museums (we're going with our other playgroup soon), and the like. With lots of righteous indignation.
I haven't written my Chinese New Year post either. Need too. Even dug up the write-up that their Ar-Ma wrote on it, with all the appropriate Thai and Chinese words so that I get it right. Chinese looms large right now, with that show (though, we're not really watching anymore, too bad) and classes starting this week.
And I was going to write about almost being done with physical therapy--and then I pulled my back last week in a combo of snow shoveling and picking up DS awkwardly, then pulled it again yesterday by turning around to hand the kiddos something in the car. Blah. I doubt I'll be done with PT this week, then. But I was going to wrap up what I had learned and what the experience had meant to me.
Oh, and two of my friends have blogs so I'm editing my own page to link to theirs. I'll add more as time passes and permits.
What does that leave? Oh, right, food. One of the big themes of this blog. Which I haven't gotten to in awhile. I had a good food week myself, and lost 2.2 lbs. My goal is 1 lb a week so this is a good week. I've been a little behind but am now catching up to where I had wanted to be. Does that make sense? Anyway, I've also been implementing some of the new ideas I had for the kids--bigger lunches, more DIY meals, and it's going okay. That, and baked chicken with rice and gravy every week. And something from Ma--they love Ma's food--they've been inhaling pork buns and noodles all weekend (we were down visiting Ma and Gong for her birthday celebration this weekend).
So that's where we are. Somewhere, but nowhere really. I'm going to bed so I can get some extra sleep. I'm having 4 kids here by myself tomorrow, to help out my friend with the new baby. I've done it once before.
And, well, that's a post in itself!
For instance, I have been mulling over lesbian separatism recently, since the death of our friend, and increased communication with friends in Chicago, many of whom have separatist leanings (i.e. removing themselves as much as possible from spaces with men by creating womyn-only or even woman-born-womyn only spaces). It was never much my thing, nor was it DP's, though we did enjoy some of the women-only activities such as coffeehouse and chorus. We are so far removed from any kind of lesbian community now, though, that I look back on those days happily. Even though, especially though, now with a son, separatism makes even less sense to either one of us.
I've also been preparing my post on art. I'm so frustrated by the quality of art activities for the kiddos at the library. Two year olds shouldn't be following a pattern to make a specific-looking product that they can only produce with overwhelming help from parents. It's a big waste of time and not creative at all, regardless of how hard the librarians work at cutting out the templates. My own art projects--I run a small art group for toddlers--are much more open-ended and (hopefully) creative. For instance, at the end of the month, we're doing string painting--dip string in paint and sling it on paper and even affix it to said paper in patterns (there will be glue in the paint to help this). Messy, fun, colorful, tactile, mixed media, open-ended, no "right" way, as much about process as finished product. In this post, when I write it, I'll reference some books, my favorite ways to talk to kiddos about their art, how to talk to kids about art in museums (we're going with our other playgroup soon), and the like. With lots of righteous indignation.
I haven't written my Chinese New Year post either. Need too. Even dug up the write-up that their Ar-Ma wrote on it, with all the appropriate Thai and Chinese words so that I get it right. Chinese looms large right now, with that show (though, we're not really watching anymore, too bad) and classes starting this week.
And I was going to write about almost being done with physical therapy--and then I pulled my back last week in a combo of snow shoveling and picking up DS awkwardly, then pulled it again yesterday by turning around to hand the kiddos something in the car. Blah. I doubt I'll be done with PT this week, then. But I was going to wrap up what I had learned and what the experience had meant to me.
Oh, and two of my friends have blogs so I'm editing my own page to link to theirs. I'll add more as time passes and permits.
What does that leave? Oh, right, food. One of the big themes of this blog. Which I haven't gotten to in awhile. I had a good food week myself, and lost 2.2 lbs. My goal is 1 lb a week so this is a good week. I've been a little behind but am now catching up to where I had wanted to be. Does that make sense? Anyway, I've also been implementing some of the new ideas I had for the kids--bigger lunches, more DIY meals, and it's going okay. That, and baked chicken with rice and gravy every week. And something from Ma--they love Ma's food--they've been inhaling pork buns and noodles all weekend (we were down visiting Ma and Gong for her birthday celebration this weekend).
So that's where we are. Somewhere, but nowhere really. I'm going to bed so I can get some extra sleep. I'm having 4 kids here by myself tomorrow, to help out my friend with the new baby. I've done it once before.
And, well, that's a post in itself!
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thank Heavens for Playgroup
I'm a much better mommy when we get out of the house regularly.
It had been 5 whole days, plus the three days snowbound with Gommie (that doesn't really count, though, since she was here), since we'd really been anywhere. We'd cancelled playdates and skipped library storytime and our usual "school" session at the community center because of illness. But today, we left home and even the kiddos were ready--usually they drag their feet quite literally about leaving home but today DD actually helped put on her own socks and DS pulled on his own diaper to help. A nice change. Desperation, no doubt.
And so, we were at playgroup for nearly 3 hours. The kids saw other kids, different toys, some new snacks (though DD favored the baked oatmeal that she had helped me make that morning), other adults, new pets. And I had new snacks too, adult conversation, someone else to mind the kiddos when I got a cup of coffee or went to the restroom, and no big mess to clean up (until it's my turn again!). Just enough excitement and exhileration that we all practically danced to the car when it was over (actually, they played in the yard despite the 26F temp).
And fell promptly asleep! For almost 2 hours.
We had a late lunch, read some stories, and then the day was over. No fighting, no biting, no blood, no tears.
No sweat!
It had been 5 whole days, plus the three days snowbound with Gommie (that doesn't really count, though, since she was here), since we'd really been anywhere. We'd cancelled playdates and skipped library storytime and our usual "school" session at the community center because of illness. But today, we left home and even the kiddos were ready--usually they drag their feet quite literally about leaving home but today DD actually helped put on her own socks and DS pulled on his own diaper to help. A nice change. Desperation, no doubt.
And so, we were at playgroup for nearly 3 hours. The kids saw other kids, different toys, some new snacks (though DD favored the baked oatmeal that she had helped me make that morning), other adults, new pets. And I had new snacks too, adult conversation, someone else to mind the kiddos when I got a cup of coffee or went to the restroom, and no big mess to clean up (until it's my turn again!). Just enough excitement and exhileration that we all practically danced to the car when it was over (actually, they played in the yard despite the 26F temp).
And fell promptly asleep! For almost 2 hours.
We had a late lunch, read some stories, and then the day was over. No fighting, no biting, no blood, no tears.
No sweat!
Speechless
Sometimes, DD says or notices something that leaves me speechless.
She has noticed that there are two different McDonald's that we go to--the one with the brown roof and the one with the red roof. For those of you local, did you even know there was a difference? Not me.
Today, after playgroup she informed me that she and the hostess matched--they were both wearing pink shirts. Miss B, if you're reading this, she's right, isn't she?
And she also remembered the name of your dog, Miss B, and told Mama tonight that she petted him.
Yesterday, as I was telling them a story at bedtime--my own made-up story about a dragon who loved music and the little kids who went to his mountain cave to find him--she asked me where the story was and I said in my head. "There's no dragon in your hair, Mommy."
And that's just the last 24 hours.
Sometimes, I'm not sure I'm going to be able to keep up.
She has noticed that there are two different McDonald's that we go to--the one with the brown roof and the one with the red roof. For those of you local, did you even know there was a difference? Not me.
Today, after playgroup she informed me that she and the hostess matched--they were both wearing pink shirts. Miss B, if you're reading this, she's right, isn't she?
And she also remembered the name of your dog, Miss B, and told Mama tonight that she petted him.
Yesterday, as I was telling them a story at bedtime--my own made-up story about a dragon who loved music and the little kids who went to his mountain cave to find him--she asked me where the story was and I said in my head. "There's no dragon in your hair, Mommy."
And that's just the last 24 hours.
Sometimes, I'm not sure I'm going to be able to keep up.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Thinking of You
My dear Uncle W, the husband of the aunt whom DD is named after is in the hospital undergoing treatment for just-diagnosed lung cancer.
We love you, Uncle W!
We love you, Uncle W!
A Mommy's Dilemma
No, nothing like Sophie's Choice, so perhaps nothing to get worked up about.
But with two sick kids at home--first, DD with the stomach flu, and now both with head colds--I am faced with what I think is a fairly common suburban dilemma.
That's right: Target, McDonald's, or television?
But with two sick kids at home--first, DD with the stomach flu, and now both with head colds--I am faced with what I think is a fairly common suburban dilemma.
That's right: Target, McDonald's, or television?
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Update
Well, she threw up for 9 hours, but seems much better today. No one else in the house has it. Yet. We didn't do much today--lots of tv and some quiet toys, as none of us got much sleep. And DD fell asleep--almost literally fell asleep in her dinner--at 4:45. Yep, dinner was at 4. Things get off when you wake up at 5 a.m.
I have a list of posts somewhere but won't get to them tonight. I'm going to try to catch up on my sleep.
I have a list of posts somewhere but won't get to them tonight. I'm going to try to catch up on my sleep.
The Baby is Here!
My friend L and her husband K had their baby this morning, after 3 1/2 weeks of labor. The baby, a boy, weighs in at 8 lbs. And mom and babe are doing well.
Can't wait to meet you, little boy!
Can't wait to meet you, little boy!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Intermission
We have the stomach flu.
If I trace the path correctly, a little friend and Gommie got it over the weekend. DD started throwing up today at 4. The little friend's mom came down with it today too. Which means DD, DP, and I are next.
It might be a few days before I post again.
But until then, DS's first real joke (heard as I held his sister so she would fall asleep; he was in his crib trying to self-soothe): "Twinkle twinkle, little star, how I wonder . . . what you had for breakfast."
If I trace the path correctly, a little friend and Gommie got it over the weekend. DD started throwing up today at 4. The little friend's mom came down with it today too. Which means DD, DP, and I are next.
It might be a few days before I post again.
But until then, DS's first real joke (heard as I held his sister so she would fall asleep; he was in his crib trying to self-soothe): "Twinkle twinkle, little star, how I wonder . . . what you had for breakfast."
Starbucks is Closing
. . . tonight at 5:30 EST for 3 hours.
So they can learn how to make coffee.
I think it's even funnier because it's apparently true.
I don't usually get coffee at that hour but it makes me want some.
Which I'm sure is exactly what Dunkin' Donuts is hoping!
So they can learn how to make coffee.
I think it's even funnier because it's apparently true.
I don't usually get coffee at that hour but it makes me want some.
Which I'm sure is exactly what Dunkin' Donuts is hoping!
It's Her Party
We celebrated our babysitter's 16th birthday this week. She had a huge dance party and we were invited! That's very sweet--it's not often that 16 year olds want to hang with the under 3 crowd (but I bet that's better than the over 30 crowd!).
DD wore her pink party dress, much like the Princess dress, but pink velvet with white. Plus her new sparkly Dora tennis shoes. She carried in a dozen red roses to give to DBabysitter and looked quite the sight. Reminded me of pictures of children presenting Princess Diana with bouquets--DD was so serious and careful and then gave a big smile.
DS was happy in his firetruck sweatshirt, cum lovey. And it took him awhile to warm up to the crowd, the noise, and the lights.
Ah, the lights--swirling, multi-colored dance lights. DD jumped right in and was doing her moves--a kind of Bollywood-inspired, elbow teeter-totter with head shake and butt wiggle (you have to see it). And there I was, with her, trying to dance to music that I have never heard, not being sure about the current dance style, so I tried my mid-80s New Age Mommy Dance. Luckily, all eyes were on the kid. Soon, DS joined us. And DP watched from the sidelines. Waltzing is more her style. Less you think we were hogging the dance floor, it was still that awkward period before anyone actually gets up to dance. We were the only ones.
Between songs, DD and DS scarfed down Swedish meatballs and chicken fingers. And DS loved dipping pretzels in honey mustard.
And then they handed out glow in the dark necklaces--purple--and it was like we'd been invaded by mini-Jedis. DD brandished that stick like her life, and the fate of the Republic, depended on it. DS much preferred playing with the silver beads that the mom of the birthday girl had bestowed upon him.
We danced and ate until well after bedtime, but it's good to celebrate these important milestones.
So we did it again yesterday, with a private party for DB when she came over to sit. I'd baked a white cake in two layers the night before. DD joyfully helped me whip cream while DS waited for me to slice strawberries. We spread jam between the layers and the smeared one whip cream, which also coated the exterior. DS helped me decorate with strawberries--1 for the cake, 2 for him, 1 for the cake, 2 for him--but not DD's side because she didn't want strawberries. Then DD began to play with the remaining whipped cream and got it all the way up her arms and all over her face. At least we'd finished the frosting!
We wore hats, lit candles, and sang "Happy Birthday" when DB arrived, giving her a Dora/Diego pirate ship and a Happy Birthday Thomas train car with her name on the bottom. And then I think they each had 3 slices--DD eating the cream, DS eating the strawberries and jam, and DB eating it all. It was quite the party.
But then, 16 is quite a birthday.
-=-=-=
My Strawberry Shortcake Birthday Cake
1 box white cake, with ingredients to make it
1 pint heavy whipping cream
1 jar all-fruit strawberry jam
fresh strawberries, sliced
Bake cake in two 9" rounds according to instructions. Cool completely.
Whip heavy cream with sugar to taste (I like it less sweet so the cream flavor comes through).
Spread jam on bottom cake layer. Smooth some cream over this. Top with second round.
Cover with remaining whipped cream. Decorate with strawberries.
Serve immediately and keep remainders in refrigerator.
DD wore her pink party dress, much like the Princess dress, but pink velvet with white. Plus her new sparkly Dora tennis shoes. She carried in a dozen red roses to give to DBabysitter and looked quite the sight. Reminded me of pictures of children presenting Princess Diana with bouquets--DD was so serious and careful and then gave a big smile.
DS was happy in his firetruck sweatshirt, cum lovey. And it took him awhile to warm up to the crowd, the noise, and the lights.
Ah, the lights--swirling, multi-colored dance lights. DD jumped right in and was doing her moves--a kind of Bollywood-inspired, elbow teeter-totter with head shake and butt wiggle (you have to see it). And there I was, with her, trying to dance to music that I have never heard, not being sure about the current dance style, so I tried my mid-80s New Age Mommy Dance. Luckily, all eyes were on the kid. Soon, DS joined us. And DP watched from the sidelines. Waltzing is more her style. Less you think we were hogging the dance floor, it was still that awkward period before anyone actually gets up to dance. We were the only ones.
Between songs, DD and DS scarfed down Swedish meatballs and chicken fingers. And DS loved dipping pretzels in honey mustard.
And then they handed out glow in the dark necklaces--purple--and it was like we'd been invaded by mini-Jedis. DD brandished that stick like her life, and the fate of the Republic, depended on it. DS much preferred playing with the silver beads that the mom of the birthday girl had bestowed upon him.
We danced and ate until well after bedtime, but it's good to celebrate these important milestones.
So we did it again yesterday, with a private party for DB when she came over to sit. I'd baked a white cake in two layers the night before. DD joyfully helped me whip cream while DS waited for me to slice strawberries. We spread jam between the layers and the smeared one whip cream, which also coated the exterior. DS helped me decorate with strawberries--1 for the cake, 2 for him, 1 for the cake, 2 for him--but not DD's side because she didn't want strawberries. Then DD began to play with the remaining whipped cream and got it all the way up her arms and all over her face. At least we'd finished the frosting!
We wore hats, lit candles, and sang "Happy Birthday" when DB arrived, giving her a Dora/Diego pirate ship and a Happy Birthday Thomas train car with her name on the bottom. And then I think they each had 3 slices--DD eating the cream, DS eating the strawberries and jam, and DB eating it all. It was quite the party.
But then, 16 is quite a birthday.
-=-=-=
My Strawberry Shortcake Birthday Cake
1 box white cake, with ingredients to make it
1 pint heavy whipping cream
1 jar all-fruit strawberry jam
fresh strawberries, sliced
Bake cake in two 9" rounds according to instructions. Cool completely.
Whip heavy cream with sugar to taste (I like it less sweet so the cream flavor comes through).
Spread jam on bottom cake layer. Smooth some cream over this. Top with second round.
Cover with remaining whipped cream. Decorate with strawberries.
Serve immediately and keep remainders in refrigerator.
Suburban Sadness
For my local readers: isn't it sad that the most exciting thing to happen around here recently is the opening of that new grocery store?
But, oh, it is a very nice, clean, friendly, well-stocked store . . .
I need to get out more (and not there!).
But, oh, it is a very nice, clean, friendly, well-stocked store . . .
I need to get out more (and not there!).
Yahrzeit
Today is the first anniversary of the death of our beloved cat Morgan.
And so we mark his life with fond memories and the lighting of candles.
And watching our two cats, Albus and Hermione, chase each other and their favorite mice toys.
And so we mark his life with fond memories and the lighting of candles.
And watching our two cats, Albus and Hermione, chase each other and their favorite mice toys.
Monday, February 25, 2008
The Play's the Thing
A recent article in the NYTimes entitled "Taking Play Seriously" (which, for the life of me, I can't get the Times page to pull up; it was on Feb. 17, 2008) examined the scientific community's understanding of play, both the sympathizers and the skeptics. While I skimmed much of the discussion of various experiments (do we really need to euthanize animals to research this?), I was interested in discussions of the role of play, especially dramatic or fantasy play.
Because the kiddos love to play. We are even emerging from parallel play to playing together. For example, a new favorite game is "office." One child waits in the hallway while the other goes into the office. The outside child knocks and receives a hello from the inside child, who invites him in. The visitor says, "it's a beautiful office." And the office occupant comments that she is working. And then they switch, and do this ad infinitem.
Another one: they spread my striped blanket (the cat isn't the only one who loves it) on the floor, strip to their diapers, and "swim." They used to do this without the blanket (or the diapers!) on the kitchen floor but changed the game when Gommie was here. Now they dive or splash off a toddler bed into the ocean, where they swim, sometimes with DD riding on DS who is a dolphin (this, he says, is "hard work"). They take turns diving. And when Gommie and I were watching, from the mud, apparently, they began to address us as the "audience," and make announcements like, "Audience, take your seats, I am going to make a really big splash."
They love building houses with my couch cushions. DS especially likes doing this, creating a house with a gate and a backyard. Today we even added a sidewalk made with all the little throw pillows. When the house is made out of pillows in the middle of the floor, instead of in the couch itself, they call it a "chinny-chin-chin" house, like the 3 little pigs.
They've been polar bears in the leafless burning bush outside that is currently covered in snow, as well as polar bears in their toddler beds covered with canopies or tents. They go on airplane or train trips, particularly to Chicago, by lining up the kitchen chairs or the paper blocks. They have lots of picnics and tea parties and birthday parties. They especially like making pies in the backyard with leaves stacked high in my planters and baking in the bathtub and calling the bubble bath "whipped cream." They have a collection of hats, scarves, and bandanas that allow them to go on safari, drive a train, be a construction worker. They use their hands to create imaginary instruments which they play in their parades (though, sometimes, they use our real collection of instruments too). They build Lincoln Log, Mega Block, and cardboard brick houses for their little plastic animals. We drew Dinosaur Land and the Fairy Garden on our new magnetic chalkboard wall and they spent an afternoon having dinosaurs and fairies visit back and forth across the river with the bridge. And sometimes, they even play doctor and check each other for tummyaches.
It's this amazing, fun, yet serious world that I am sometimes invited to join, but oftentimes watch quietly from the outside, purely enthralled with what they come up with. DD and DS seem to share the task of coming up with the game, but it is DD who usually sets the rules, even if it's a game DS originated. And she is more likely the one to shift gears and take them on to the next level or another game. Sometimes, the play is inspired by what we've read or seen on tv, and I'm okay with that. They use it as a starting point for their own play script instead of reenacting what they've seen or read. I certainly remember my days of playing Star Wars or Little House on the Prairie, borrowing locales and characters I knew for my very own stories (mind you, I didn't mix the two. And it strikes me now that they were very different games. LHOTP was always outside, while SW could be either in or out). I could spend hours playing this way as a kid, by myself or with neighbohood friends. When my own kiddos are fully engaged in this kind of play, they forget to fight, often perfectly perform turn-taking and sharing, and sometimes forget to have midday snack. It really is this incredible other realm.
And I'm lucky they invite me back into it now and then.
-=-=-=-
DP's own reading of the article netted something I didn't find (I wonder if it was the same article?): the contrast of imaginative play with toy-play. The appearance of specific toys for play, first advertised by Mattel during the Mickey Mouse Club in the 1950s, she said, ended play-for-play's sake and made it all toy-based and more material. It occurs to me that almost none of the games I mentioned above require any kind of specific toy, only "open" toys like blocks and scarves and pillows. I hope we can keep it that way.
Because the kiddos love to play. We are even emerging from parallel play to playing together. For example, a new favorite game is "office." One child waits in the hallway while the other goes into the office. The outside child knocks and receives a hello from the inside child, who invites him in. The visitor says, "it's a beautiful office." And the office occupant comments that she is working. And then they switch, and do this ad infinitem.
Another one: they spread my striped blanket (the cat isn't the only one who loves it) on the floor, strip to their diapers, and "swim." They used to do this without the blanket (or the diapers!) on the kitchen floor but changed the game when Gommie was here. Now they dive or splash off a toddler bed into the ocean, where they swim, sometimes with DD riding on DS who is a dolphin (this, he says, is "hard work"). They take turns diving. And when Gommie and I were watching, from the mud, apparently, they began to address us as the "audience," and make announcements like, "Audience, take your seats, I am going to make a really big splash."
They love building houses with my couch cushions. DS especially likes doing this, creating a house with a gate and a backyard. Today we even added a sidewalk made with all the little throw pillows. When the house is made out of pillows in the middle of the floor, instead of in the couch itself, they call it a "chinny-chin-chin" house, like the 3 little pigs.
They've been polar bears in the leafless burning bush outside that is currently covered in snow, as well as polar bears in their toddler beds covered with canopies or tents. They go on airplane or train trips, particularly to Chicago, by lining up the kitchen chairs or the paper blocks. They have lots of picnics and tea parties and birthday parties. They especially like making pies in the backyard with leaves stacked high in my planters and baking in the bathtub and calling the bubble bath "whipped cream." They have a collection of hats, scarves, and bandanas that allow them to go on safari, drive a train, be a construction worker. They use their hands to create imaginary instruments which they play in their parades (though, sometimes, they use our real collection of instruments too). They build Lincoln Log, Mega Block, and cardboard brick houses for their little plastic animals. We drew Dinosaur Land and the Fairy Garden on our new magnetic chalkboard wall and they spent an afternoon having dinosaurs and fairies visit back and forth across the river with the bridge. And sometimes, they even play doctor and check each other for tummyaches.
It's this amazing, fun, yet serious world that I am sometimes invited to join, but oftentimes watch quietly from the outside, purely enthralled with what they come up with. DD and DS seem to share the task of coming up with the game, but it is DD who usually sets the rules, even if it's a game DS originated. And she is more likely the one to shift gears and take them on to the next level or another game. Sometimes, the play is inspired by what we've read or seen on tv, and I'm okay with that. They use it as a starting point for their own play script instead of reenacting what they've seen or read. I certainly remember my days of playing Star Wars or Little House on the Prairie, borrowing locales and characters I knew for my very own stories (mind you, I didn't mix the two. And it strikes me now that they were very different games. LHOTP was always outside, while SW could be either in or out). I could spend hours playing this way as a kid, by myself or with neighbohood friends. When my own kiddos are fully engaged in this kind of play, they forget to fight, often perfectly perform turn-taking and sharing, and sometimes forget to have midday snack. It really is this incredible other realm.
And I'm lucky they invite me back into it now and then.
-=-=-=-
DP's own reading of the article netted something I didn't find (I wonder if it was the same article?): the contrast of imaginative play with toy-play. The appearance of specific toys for play, first advertised by Mattel during the Mickey Mouse Club in the 1950s, she said, ended play-for-play's sake and made it all toy-based and more material. It occurs to me that almost none of the games I mentioned above require any kind of specific toy, only "open" toys like blocks and scarves and pillows. I hope we can keep it that way.
Coffee and Sympathy
As I mentioned earlier, I am always somewhat depressed when my mom leaves (hi, mom! so sorry to hear you took home some kind of Yankee revenge stomach flu. Ugh! Get better soon!). There are usually tears, but only recently have the kiddos even noticed.
Yesterday, as I let fall a few tears after Mom left, DD actually hauled her step stool to the bookcase and dragged down the good tissues so she could bring me one. She then proceeded to wipe my face, looking deeply and seriously into my eyes with her pretty, dark, round ones. "Are you better now?" DS reminded me to drink my coffee because that always helps.
Then last night, I got a little teary at bedtime as the kids rehashed "Gommie's not here," then "No, Gommie went home to Pop and puggy puppy in Texas." DD came over and gave me a kiss, "that will make you happy." DS added his own hug and kiss, "now you won't be sad." Both wanted to know if I was "happy now?"
And of course, with that kind of love, who wouldn't be?
Yesterday, as I let fall a few tears after Mom left, DD actually hauled her step stool to the bookcase and dragged down the good tissues so she could bring me one. She then proceeded to wipe my face, looking deeply and seriously into my eyes with her pretty, dark, round ones. "Are you better now?" DS reminded me to drink my coffee because that always helps.
Then last night, I got a little teary at bedtime as the kids rehashed "Gommie's not here," then "No, Gommie went home to Pop and puggy puppy in Texas." DD came over and gave me a kiss, "that will make you happy." DS added his own hug and kiss, "now you won't be sad." Both wanted to know if I was "happy now?"
And of course, with that kind of love, who wouldn't be?
Naming Theory
I have a new theory, involving names of lesbians in couples:
The woman with the "girlier" (more stereotypically feminine) name is the more butch of the two.
We counted 6 separate examples tonight.
And yes, that goes for us as well . . . . make of it what you will.
The woman with the "girlier" (more stereotypically feminine) name is the more butch of the two.
We counted 6 separate examples tonight.
And yes, that goes for us as well . . . . make of it what you will.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
It's Oscar Time
We're watching the Oscars. Haven't seen a single nominated movie, though we have Elizabeth the Golden Age from Netflix but didn't finish it with Mom here. Mom left today. We had a wonderful visit.
I'm always a little depressed after she goes. So, more later. Lots to tell.
I'm always a little depressed after she goes. So, more later. Lots to tell.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
I Think She's Right
DP suggested to me yesterday that our cat Albus might have had a striped mom. You see, she had seen him kneading my new striped fleece blanket, something he hasn't done anywhere else.
And last night around 2 a.m., I decided she was right. Albus curled up behind my legs, kneading and purring and rubbing around, the happiest cat in the world. He doesn't usually sleep on my side. But I had just spread out my new striped blanket on my side recently and he seems very attached to it.
Maybe his feline mommy was striped. His nighttime people mommy sure is.
-=-=-=
Fleece Blanket Pattern
2-3 yards of 2 different kinds of fleece (I usually choose one patterned fleece and one complementary color)
sharp scissors
measuring tape
Wash fleece. Cut off selvage edges.
Lay one fleece piece out on the floor, face down. Lay the other fleece piece on top of that, face up. Straighten so they line up without any huge wrinkles.
Cut 4" square piece out of each corner (a friend of mine has a swatch piece 4" square that she uses just for the corners). The spread out your measuring tape along one side and make 4" cuts every 1". This will give you fringe 4" long and 1" wide (it's easiest if you stretch the measuring tape from corner to corner and cut upto the tape every one inch).
Tie the top and bottom fringe together. I like to tie them in a knot so that the contrasting color is on each side (i.e. patterened side with solid fringe and vice versa). It's best to finish one whole side at a time but it is not necessary to finish the blanket in one sitting.
I'm not very good at writing patterns, so if you want to see another version with slightly different measurements, check here.
And last night around 2 a.m., I decided she was right. Albus curled up behind my legs, kneading and purring and rubbing around, the happiest cat in the world. He doesn't usually sleep on my side. But I had just spread out my new striped blanket on my side recently and he seems very attached to it.
Maybe his feline mommy was striped. His nighttime people mommy sure is.
-=-=-=
Fleece Blanket Pattern
2-3 yards of 2 different kinds of fleece (I usually choose one patterned fleece and one complementary color)
sharp scissors
measuring tape
Wash fleece. Cut off selvage edges.
Lay one fleece piece out on the floor, face down. Lay the other fleece piece on top of that, face up. Straighten so they line up without any huge wrinkles.
Cut 4" square piece out of each corner (a friend of mine has a swatch piece 4" square that she uses just for the corners). The spread out your measuring tape along one side and make 4" cuts every 1". This will give you fringe 4" long and 1" wide (it's easiest if you stretch the measuring tape from corner to corner and cut upto the tape every one inch).
Tie the top and bottom fringe together. I like to tie them in a knot so that the contrasting color is on each side (i.e. patterened side with solid fringe and vice versa). It's best to finish one whole side at a time but it is not necessary to finish the blanket in one sitting.
I'm not very good at writing patterns, so if you want to see another version with slightly different measurements, check here.
Friday, February 22, 2008
You Can Eat This Yellow Snow
We have had a huge snowstorm here in CT, by recent snow standards (though nothing like the blizzard of '93 in NYC, which is my benchmark). It was what Pop asked for this Christmas--maybe he didn't specify that he wanted it at Christmas and wanted to see it himself. He's in Texas while Gommie is here.
We just made maple syrup candy. I heated the syrup while DP and Gommie got the kids outside and filled a cookie sheet with snow. Then I ran outside and drizzled the syrup in the snow in ribbons, something I first read about in Little House on the Prairie (or one of the series, maybe Little House in the Big Woods?). The candy cooled and turned crunchy immediately.
And DD has carried a piece stuck to her glove for an hour, biting and licking it as she went along. We're back inside now, to get more candy, since she ran out of her piece while we were making three generations of snow angels--Gommie, Mommy, and DD. DS, who only just tasted one piece of candy, was inside playing the piano with Mama.
-=-=-=-=
Maple Syrup Snow Candy
1 cup maple syrup (Grade B tastes better)
½ tablespoon butter
Combine maple syrup and butter. Heat to 260°F (hardball stage). Watch carefully because syrup scorches at this temperature. Remove from heat.
Pour into a ribbon onto snow, lift, and eat. For non-snow areas, pour carefully onto a cookie sheet. Make any pattern you want.
Store candy in a dry and tightly sealed container.
Circle Round
We just made maple syrup candy. I heated the syrup while DP and Gommie got the kids outside and filled a cookie sheet with snow. Then I ran outside and drizzled the syrup in the snow in ribbons, something I first read about in Little House on the Prairie (or one of the series, maybe Little House in the Big Woods?). The candy cooled and turned crunchy immediately.
And DD has carried a piece stuck to her glove for an hour, biting and licking it as she went along. We're back inside now, to get more candy, since she ran out of her piece while we were making three generations of snow angels--Gommie, Mommy, and DD. DS, who only just tasted one piece of candy, was inside playing the piano with Mama.
-=-=-=-=
Maple Syrup Snow Candy
1 cup maple syrup (Grade B tastes better)
½ tablespoon butter
Combine maple syrup and butter. Heat to 260°F (hardball stage). Watch carefully because syrup scorches at this temperature. Remove from heat.
Pour into a ribbon onto snow, lift, and eat. For non-snow areas, pour carefully onto a cookie sheet. Make any pattern you want.
Store candy in a dry and tightly sealed container.
Circle Round
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