Landenberg Muse

Tis the Season

2010-12-15T18:13:00.000-08:00

Tis the season for what, I might ask. The stark wind and cold complements the month of December well. Keeping the wood stove going is a welcomed break from the other tasks at hand, those of fulfilling the Christmas requests. There's the remote control monster truck (gas powered? really?), the board games and the DVDs, the gift cards to the mall. In our household, Santa brings each child three presents and a stocking. Simple, but complicated still. This all requires planning, insight, saving and spending.

My husband's task of wrapping the presents helps, as well as him offering the eventual shoulder to cry on. He shares solace and humor, comfort and wisdom. He reminds me to relax. I remember that while I am out there shopping, he is outside working, in the wind and cold, often high up in a tree, with both a pole saw and a chainsaw snapped onto his harness. Now, which task presents a greater challenge? They are probably about the same. I seek to streamline the holiday experience, and add a finesse and grace as I execute my tasks. We are an American family celebrating an ever changing tradition.

There are some traditional Christmas characters that are new to me this year: The spritely angel Christkindl, the dark goat creature Krampus, St. Nicholas' companion Knecht Ruprecht, and an old lady gift giver named Babushka. These days the flash mobs known as 'Santarchy' are rising in popularity. How's that for modern tradition?

A New Season

2010-10-20T18:58:00.000-07:00

Goodness, this summer was dry and hot! We made best use of an August pool membership. The kids were swimming laps all the way into September. They all took swimming lessons, and made progress in their own ways. Our oldest discovered that freestyle swimming yields a cardiovascular workout similar to running. Our seven year old gained the freedom of the diving board. My goodness, those kids jumped into the pool for hours! Our youngest slowly learned how to float on his back. Even I was able to take time to enjoy swimming in the lap lane. Using my set of fins made for a very efficient workout.

Just as much fun as swimming was the companionship of meeting friends at the pool for dinner. It was all so spur of the moment, and yet it became a routine very quickly and without much effort. We would confirm the meeting time and what food we would bring to share. We just used what we had at hand, and so meals like watermelon, sandwiches and pretzels became standard fare. That pool membership was the best hundred dollars I spent all summer.

The weather is turning cooler. Autumn is here, indeed. The leaves are changing colors, and there are grey and rainy days more often. Soccer season is upon us. It is a time of keeping to a schedule of practices, games and recovery. Our daughter has been playing since kindergarden, and it has become a very important part of her life. She expresses a focused intensity out there on the field, and really grows in her strategy and skill every season.

Our seven year old joined a local team this year as well. On the morning of the first game, her advice to him was this: "OK, you gotta go out there and play your hardest, every time. Don't give up, keep on it. Play your best, all the time, every game!" Yes, that pretty much sums up how she plays.

We've been plugging away at various tasks involving firewood and fence repair. There's talk of building a simple structure to house the family bicycles. Piles of weed debris are slowing 'melting', as our four year old describes it. The backyard is looking nice, and at times it feels even more comfortable to sit there than in the living room. Family living can be hectic and loud and boisterous. I'm getting better hiding at my desk, playing ninja, staying current with record keeping tasks and such. Still, the outdoors never ceases to humble and amaze me.

Summertime

2010-07-24T05:16:00.000-07:00

The heat has just not stopped. We don't have A/C, and this year I am really considering a window unit. Our house is surrounded by trees, for the most part, and we live in a valley, which does help cool things off at night. Still, icy cold indoor environments are a nice break from the heat.

The kids and I have been making lots of trips down to the creek to splash around in the water. One of our favorite things to do is build up stone walls in the shallow currents. My youngest child is particularly fond of this, and becomes fully absorbed in the activity. He'll sometimes pick up a stone that is too heavy for him, and I'll gently suggest, "Roll it. Roll it in the water." I'll model this for him, and then watch as he adds on to his wall with ease. After working for a while, he'll step back and look at the whole thing, and implores all of us to do the same. With his arms folded, he smiles gently, in awe of what he has built with his own two hands.

The other two kids enjoy swimming in the deeper parts; the best place we've found is a spot where two branches of the creek meet, where the water is about four and a half feet deep. My daughter has been giving the dog swimming lessons. They have grown quite accustomed to the whole routine.

One afternoon last week I took the boys up to Amish country. I had an assignment for work and decided to tow part of the gang along. After a long car ride and an hour outdoors in the sun, the kids had had enough. The seven year old started whining for a Slurpee. He was almost to tears. I knew there was no place in sight to buy such a thing, and was glad that it didn't become a, "Mom, you never buy us anything good," conversation. Rather, we were poised to seek out a solution together, and focused on the task of finding a cold drink.

A few miles down the road we found a gas station, clean as a whistle, with a huge market garden to its side. This place had fresh corn, tomatoes, peaches and other fare for sale right there inside the store. Apparently they've been doing things this way since 1985. I let the kids each have a root beer, and ordered up some french fries to enjoy outside. We enjoyed our treat in the shade of a large, clean pavilion. There was a wonderful breeze blowing up the hillside, and the kids played on a swing set after their snack was done.

"I will never forget this day, Mom," my seven year old said. By this time we were snacking on ripe, juicy peaches.

"Oh really, why is that?"

"This is the day you bought us soda and french fries!"

We both grinned.

2010-07-18T18:59:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T18:43:00.000-07:00

This Mother's Day was especially pleasant. I got to sleep in, and was greeted in the kitchen by a full plate of scrambled eggs, English muffin with jam and fresh strawberries. Our daughter has been cooking eggs this way for a couple of months now. Her best friend taught her how. The food was delicious! Indeed, it was a better breakfast than I make for myself on most days! Almost every day my husband makes strong, dark coffee in the French press. That is one specialty I get to enjoy all year.

Throughout the day I put a lot of effort into not doing too much. I wanted to see if I could slow things down, and really appreciate the day and all that it had to offer. I had plans on taking a long bike ride or going on a run, but I put those ambitions aside when I started feeling a little sick. Out of nowhere came sneezes so loud you would have sworn it was a distant dog barking. There's nothing like a little head cold to make life slow down.

Lately though, this spring has been extra special. I am not sure what it is, but it could have something to do with the kids getting older. I can work outside in the garden for a good two hours with only a few mild interruptions. I have regular time to enjoy weekly bike rides and trail runs. It's like I am a kid again, pretending that my bike is a hover craft, only now my neighborhood is next to miles and miles of wooded trails. When it is all said and done, I am still home before the street lights come on.

2010-04-05T20:29:00.000-07:00

Last week I found some incredible documents at the recycling center. I was gathering newspaper for a mulching project in the garden. The metal bin was quite filled, and as luck would have it, this pile of old papers was laying right on top. My eyes were first drawn to the old maps. Some were simple road maps from the 1950's, while others were more elaborate, detailing state highway department districts. One map detailed a driving route along the Civil War battlefields, while another documented the various Native American tribes. I brought them home, and I plan on hanging some of them up around the house.

2010-03-19T19:36:00.000-07:00

I never really wanted a dog. I am not a 'dog person'. I perceive dogs as outdoor creatures who are best suited to very specific, important tasks. I have very little room in my domestic life for a dog whose main purposes are entertainment and companionship. Much to my eventual dismay, I acceded to welcome a dog into our family. My present opinion is this: This is the one and only dog our family will ever take care of, so I may as well accept it and try to enjoy it.

You see, when other people tell me stories about the funny things their dogs do, I don't really care. Usually I am polite and listen well. I try to understand what is so interesting about the dog's antics. But really, so what if the dog does something funny? I don't understand what all the fuss is about. If someone proclaims how cute a dog is, I have a difficult time agreeing. Dogs just look different, and they smell weird, and they're just so, doggish.

Friends assured me that once I saw how happy my kids would be with the dog, it would make it all worthwhile. Hmm, nope. The kids were happy before the dog. In fact, our youngest is now in competition with the dog, but over what I don't know. You see, I don't understand dogs, I don't speak their language and I certainly don't know what the heck they want, besides constant attention. I don't need another creature to take care of. Like I said, I never really wanted a dog.

People have told me that our dog is a really good dog. He has a command for coming back to us, and he doesn't bark at all. He 'bays' when he has important needs to express. He sleeps a lot, which is nice, and he doesn't have fleas, which is essential. He enjoys spending a lot of time outside. But there are still a couple of things I don't understand: Why is he always following us around? Why does he always want to sit right next to us when we're on the couch?

After complaining about it a lot this week, I began to get tired of the sound of my own voice. I suppose a change of attitude is in order. I can choose to be humbled by our newest family member, and I can choose to adjust to this new lifestyle. Sigh. I can choose to be a 'dog person'. Chuckle. I can choose to be amused by the dog. Grin. For the sake of new possibilities, I can choose to enjoy the challenge of loving and accepting our newest family member.

2010-03-17T21:05:00.000-07:00

The weather has been warm this week, and the ground has finally dried out. I'm in outdoor mode, working in the garden, playing in the yard, neglecting the indoor world of housework, laundry and food prep. I want to make a small fire pit in the garden, for cooking and for twilight warmth. I think once a week we'll eat outside around the fire. This is the time of the year when I need to make adjustments in the usual routine. When the weather is nice out, playing in the sunshine becomes the top priority.

The Factory

2010-03-01T20:20:00.000-08:00

Last week the boys and I went to the old Chrysler factory. The contents were on display for public viewing in preparation for an auction. I was inspired to treat the opportunity as one would a field trip to a special museum. I packed a backpack with drinks and some light snacks, put fresh batteries in my camera and arrived early enough so that we didn't feel rushed. Along the way I said a few things in advance about our visit:

"Now, this is an old factory where they used to make cars. It may smell a bit like chemicals, and it will probably be dark and cold. We're going to see a lot of neat machines and tools. When I stop to take a picture, you need to stay near me. No wandering off. Just let me know if there are any neat things you see that you would like for me to photograph."

The entrance was welcoming, and as we stepped inside, I tried to imagine what it must have felt like to work there. The air was cold and the lighting was dim. There were acres of concrete floor, vents and electrical wiring overhead, rows upon rows of small metal pieces, and rooms upon rooms of all types of machinery.

The boys were enamored by the vastness of it all:

"Mom, what's that? An indoor street sweeper truck?"

"Oh, take a picture of that thing, over there, the one with all the buttons!"

"Hey, that looks like gold. Maybe they forgot this. It looks important."

We had a lot of fun exploring, and we're looking forward to watching the cranes disassemble it in the coming months.

Mitsumasa Anno's Math Games II

2010-01-24T14:44:00.001-08:00

I discovered this great series of books about math in the 'Games' section of my favorite bookstore.

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T19:43:00.000-08:00

The morning of Christmas Eve presented a unique challenge. Our seven year old woke up earlier than usual, and his first words to me were this: "Mom, what about breakfast with Santa?"

I gently reminded him that the snow kept us home from a local event in which families enjoy breakfast and a visit with Santa. My answer was no consolation. "But how will he know what I want?"

His concern was valid. In his world, this was a very important matter. I felt a renewed focus to help him on his quest. I bravely replied: "I think Santa will be at the mall today. Let's get ready now to go and see him."

We arrived early enough to wait in line for a short twenty-five minutes. The entire production was professional, with a clear focus on the photographed memory. Santa himself seemed a bit tired, a little grumpy and ready to be done with the whole thing. I wish I had quietly told the team--the usher, photographer and Santa himself: "We don't care about the picture. My son just wants to talk to you."

Hindsight being twenty/twenty, the kids and I got swept up in the production. Twenty dollars later, we left for home, just as families were being given pagers to be notified for their space in line.

* * *

This Christmas has been quite enjoyable. The kids all got toys that take batteries: a simple digital camera, a voice recorder which also plays MP3s (all the bells and whistles without the screen), a pretend chainsaw with four different sounds. I did most of the shopping last minute, choosing wisely not to get stressed out. I know, Mom's are often in charge of such things. Jugs of maple syrup, good olive oil, freshly roasted coffee...who doesn't enjoy such delights?

The gifts I received were really nice: a case of seltzer water, a lightweight jacket, a small set of ceramic houses my sister and I used to play with , and a copy of The J Peterman Company Owner's Manual No. 72. It's the most clever print advertising I've read in years.

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T18:16:00.001-08:00

2009-11-04T18:55:00.000-08:00

I would love to live in a neighborhood like this: clean, surrounded by mature trees, with real sidewalks for pedestrians and cyclists. Every house has a large porch, intended for use as an outdoor room. How soon will we see these kinds of neighborhoods sprout up along the eastern United States?

www.rosschapin.com

Dinotopia

2009-10-09T19:41:00.000-07:00

This week I ran across the book Dinotopia: A Land Apart from Time, written and illustrated by James Gurney. I was floating around one of my favorite places, the Kennett Area Senior Center Book Store. It's a used book store whose donor base is often both affluent and educated, so the selection is good. I had a spare hour, child free, and wanted to enjoy every minute of it.

I am enamored by this book and plan to enjoy the other two in the series which follow. There's discovery and adventure, inventions and engineering, contemplation and philosophy. Read aloud season is upon us, when the kids and I bundle up in bed and enjoy a chapter book together. I might suprise them with this book soon.

For three weeks now, the paw paw trees have been yielding their sumptuous fruit. Some describe the taste of North America's largest native fruit as that of banana-pineapple, others say it is like a sweet mango, while others say it has an aspect of vanilla-root beer. Some hand sized raspberry plants padded into a small nursery bed in the spring quickly grew to productive canes within months. We've been enjoying the month long backyard harvest. Yesterday my husband brought in three chestnuts, the first ever to fall, from two trees which were planted when our seven year old was just a baby. We promptly set to roasting them, and enjoyed the warm, starchy sweetness.

New Discoveries

2009-09-01T18:50:00.001-07:00

Abstract:

Fascinating and elegant shapes may be folded from a single planar sheet of material without stretching, tearing or cutting, if one incorporates curved folds into the design. We present an optimization based computational framework for design and digital reconstruction of surfaces which can be produced by curved folding. Our work not only contributes to applications in architecture and industrial design, but it also provides a new way to study the complex and largely unexplored phenomena arising in curved folding.

I've spent the last month transitioning into the new family schedule. I thrive off of newness and variation, though this new set of responsibilities has sent me back to the drawing board. My husband has been a great anchor, providing a calm focus in contrast to the background chatter of life with three young children.

My birthday passed by without much fanfare. In my haste, I forgot to ask for the day off (from mothering that is!). I was delighted by the special recognition at work. With every year that passes, I still feel ageless. Thirty-four seems a lot like twenty-eight, which seemed a bit like twenty-three. Although now when I listen to my favorite Miles Davis album, Live-Evil, the music has never sounded so good. It still sounds like the first time I heard it, which was decades ago. I bet I'm not the only person who feels this way about their favorite Miles Davis album.

So, new discoveries for this month include: hydrofoil surfboards, kite-surfing, paper folding, barefoot jump rope games, freestyle dance, roller derby, the writer Malcolm Gladwell and digital video cameras that film 1,400,000 frames per second.

Unison Hand Made Pastels

2009-08-29T19:44:00.001-07:00

These beautiful pastels are hand rolled and air-dried by a small company in Northumberland, England. This may be a place where work and play are used as synonyms. Those colorful sticks remind me of the ones my older brother and I used to make when we were little. I recall one of our main games of playing pretend centered around the idea of 'work'---where we worked, what we did at work, that we were either going to or coming back from work. At one time, my 'office' was up in a pine tree. These games of make believe lasted hours, days, months, years.

Yesterday the rain poured on and off and kept my husband away from his usual tasks. He is a landscaper and an arborist, and for the most part he loves his work. He is also a musician, a composer. After tending to the kids and their needs all morning, he set aside some time in the afternoon to sit down at the piano.

He started off with a familiar tune, some classic jazz standard, and then kept going until he got through it without a flaw. As he warmed up, he went into some of his own compositions, playing them in rounds, changing a few notes here and a few notes there. The house filled not only with the chords, but also with the memories and feelings, the times and situations when he first sat down and played the bits and pieces of what would become full songs. Whenever I hear him play something new that sounds bright, distinct and special, I put in a gentle request:

"Oh, I like that one. Can you write it down?"

2009-07-22T08:31:00.000-07:00

There's something about the warm weather that makes me feel like building. When I was a kid, about nine years old, I recognized that I wanted to be an architect when I grew up. A couple of years later, my family embarked upon a summertime labor which brought me close to that aspiration. In our back yard, starting in the summer when I was eleven, we built an addition that doubled the size of our house. My dad was a teacher, and had the summers off. He supervised us with incredible patience and care. The older siblings were all given a new pair of sneakers, a hammer and a nail apron. We started off the project with digging, shovel by shovel, the crawl space and foundation. The younger kids had a great time playing in the piles of dirt.

If I remember well, that phase took a month or two. I enjoyed the physical labor, and didn't hold much of a grudge on 'having to' work on the addition. We worked the morning until lunch, took a two hour break, and then worked some more through the afternoon. Any socializing or hanging out was done after dinner.

The addition was like a part of the family. Our cousin played a main role on the work crew, as well as various aunts and uncles. I remember when the trusses were delivered early one morning. We all stood there in our youth, commenting on how in the world we would get the largest ones up to the second floor, let alone nail them in. We were a motley crew, and we knew it. Somehow we knew that this great responsibility was really an honor.

So, as the summer rolls along, I aim to focus my skills and build something with wood, hammer and nails. Of course the kids will be asking, "Mom, can I help?"

2009-07-01T07:22:00.000-07:00

Summer vacation is in full swing. The kids were finished school on the 17th of June; it was a very long school year. We've been passing the time with board games, hanging out with friends and visiting with family. The kids caught up with two different sets of cousins, first nearby in Newark, and then at the beach.

I got to try out a new set of fins while swimming in the ocean. The week prior, I'd spent a little time reading up about free diving. While the ocean is not the safest place for me to try this out, our neighbors up the hill have a one acre spring fed pond. With friends nearby, I look forward to exploring the underwater world there.

2009-06-05T20:31:00.000-07:00

On most days when I'm not at work, you'll find me at home in the backyard, working in the garden. Pictured above are the snap peas and broccoli. Our youngest child has a wheelbarrow and set of tools which keep him happy. He's got a pile of sand and soil of which he is fully in charge. He helps me water and mulch, and will gladly transport piles of weeds onto the compost. Even in the heat of the day, he stays focused on the task. When he's tired, he stops working and lets me know he's ready to go inside. I try and follow his lead. These are very special times that we share together.

This week there was an incredible thunder and wind storm. The power was out, and dinner had been served hours before. I was ready to be relieved of any domestic chores, so I decided to go out for a run. Our second child was adamant about joining me.

"Not today. I want to go by myself."
"Mom, I want to go with you. Please, please Mom!"
"Sometimes I say yes and sometimes I say no. Right now the answer's no."

He runs away as I lace up my shoes. By the time I am finished putting my hair up in a ponytail, he returns, holding his thickest pair of winter socks. He proceeds to put them on, pulling them up as high as they can go.

"OK, come on, we'll go together."
"Yeah!! Thanks Mom."

Children are so easily pleased. We drive to a nearby trail, and the second we close the car door he's off and running. I follow his lead, and let him set the pace. When he's tired, he walks, and I run ahead and then back, so that we're always in sight of each other. Half-way through he asks if he can take off his shirt.

"Sure."
"Yeah, I saw two other people running with their shirts off."
"Well, it's pretty hot."
"Hey Mom, if you're sweaty, you can use my shirt to wipe your forehead."
"Thanks. Can I use it right now?"
"Yeah."

He's a very considerate person. We had a wonderful time, and we've got plans to run together once a week. Next week he says he wants to have a race.

Our daughter has been busy, with end of the school year projects and tests. Last week we finally caught up for some laughter and conversation.

"So, what are you reading now?"
"The Percy Jackson series. Oh Mom, the 5th one came out last week. Can we go to Borders soon?"
"Let's go tomorrow after breakfast."
"Oh, cool, thanks."

She's old enough now to buy these things with her own money. The next day she spends all afternoon reading on the couch. I admire the way she works hard at school, and then sets out to relax on the weekend. She's meeting her own needs. She was one of twelve students (out of 56 who applied) chosen to be an ambassador for her school. Reading that letter of acceptance was a moment for me to step back and realize that her school community recognizes her for the wonderful individual whom she is. I am happy for her, and humbled by her wisdom and grace.

It is really helpful for me to recognize how easy it can be to be a positive, loving presence in my family's life. They are continual reminders of the never ending present moment, otherwise known as 'life'.

Such an interesting article...

2009-05-16T21:51:00.000-07:00

Cyber Millenials: High-tech And Highly Educated Young Adults Who Drink Way Too Much

ScienceDaily (May 17, 2009) — "Audience segmentation" refers to categorizing people by their behaviors, attitudes, opinions, or lifestyles. It is widely used in social-marketing efforts. A new study uses this method to find high-risk drinkers in the US, leading researchers to a group dubbed the Cyber Millenials: "the nation's tech-savvy singles and couples living in fashionable neighborhoods on the urban fringe."

"Marketing research provides a unique window on individuals as consumers that has rarely been used in alcohol-prevention efforts," explained Howard B. Moss, associate director for Clinical and Translational Research at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and corresponding author for the study.

"We already know that a substantial proportion of the morbidity and mortality associated with alcohol use is due to heedless high-risk drinking," said Moss. "In this study, we utilized an established and widely used marketing research database and merged it with data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in order to identify high-risk drinkers, their demographics, and consumer behaviors and media habits."

"This is a new approach, which is exactly why this paper is so interesting," added Vivian B. Faden, acting director of the Office of Science Policy and Communications at NIAAA. "Analyses such as this one may provide an important additional way to identify high-risk drinkers by understanding the 'social' groups in which they are most likely to be found. Understanding these groups better and more broadly in terms of their habits, likes and dislikes, and shopping, entertainment and other preferences can help inform prevention efforts."

Moss and his colleagues used multiple marketing-research data sources merged with the CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System database. They performed a segmentation analysis of those individuals who self-reported consuming five or more drinks per drinking episode at least twice in the preceding 30 days.

"We identified the top 10 audience segments in the U.S. that engaged in twice-a-month, high-risk drinking," said Moss. "Five of these audience segments were made up of young adults, and five were middle-aged individuals. The young adult segment we called the 'Cyber Millenials,' with the highest rate of risky levels of alcohol drinking, represented well-educated, ethnically mixed, technologically sophisticated individuals who live in urban fringe areas on the West Coast and Middle Atlantic regions."

One of the surprising things about this group, added Moss, was that it is one of the most health-conscious segments of American society. "They have a lower-than-average smoking rate, they go to the gym, they consume organic produce, yet they binge drink at a level that is clearly detrimental to their well-being."

What was not surprising, observed Faden, was that this group was relatively young. "Drinking and high-risk drinking are most prevalent among young people," she said, "and many Cyber Millennials may be continuing drinking patterns established in their late teens and early twenties. In addition, this is an affluent group whose members have the resources to pay for multiple drinks, in a bar or club for example."

"Clinicians tend to be more blasé with younger, healthier patients, and might not even ask them about their level of alcohol consumption or screen them for alcohol problems," said Moss. Since half of our top 10 high-risk drinking segments are young adults, clinicians might want to 'ratchet up' their index of suspicion when these individuals present clinically. Asking about drinking behavior, giving advice, or conducting a formal brief intervention might save lives in the short-term, and reduce the risk of later development of alcohol-related organ damage or alcohol dependence."

"The average reader may be interested in figuring out which group they belong to," said Faden. "Knowing what the drinking habits of that group are may encourage them to reflect on their own drinking practices and recognize that they may be engaging in high-risk drinking." These findings could also be very useful in designing health campaigns for different audiences, she said.

"Readers need to recognize that a healthy lifestyle should include moderation in the consumption of alcoholic beverages," said Moss. "Being young, sophisticated, smart, successful, affluent and physically active does not protect against the adverse effects of heedless and excessive alcohol consumption."

Rain, and lots of it...

2009-05-05T19:46:00.000-07:00

The cold rain hasn't stopped the boys from playing outside. A break in the clouds or even a steady drizzle has them putting on any available dry footwear. I coax them into hats and jackets, and remind them to be careful.

"It's slippery outside. Be careful on your bike."
"OK Mom, we'll be careful."

I stay inside, warm and dry, looking out the window every five minutes or so. For me, it is cookbook weather. I make a hot cup of tea and sit down at the kitchen table with a nice stack of favorites beside me. There's Nigella, Jerry Traunfeld, Heidi Swanson and the Barefoot Contessa, all set out to join me for the rainy afternoon. After sorting through half the pile, rereading old favorites and studying the pictures and techniques, I set out to make something delicious.

I set some water onto boil, get out the measuring cups and salt, roll up my sleeves and get to work. Really though, it is more like play. I get to mess around in the kitchen and create edible expressions of love and care. First, cornmeal mush with butter and smoked cheese, as the kids will be hungry from playing outside like puppies. Next, I sautee some onions for a while, to allow time to chop and steam vegetables for a spicy peanut stir-fry. There's a pot of rice cooked yesterday to go with that.

Then onto something sweet. There's a favorite recipe for bars, with oats, dried cranberries and ginger. I double the recipe, and soon find out that this is best made one batch at a time. Oh well, it makes for a pleasant granola. I make another cup of tea while I wrestle with the dishes. The boys burst in from outside, smelling like wet dogs. Their pants are soaked up to their knees, but their eyes are shining. They soon get changed into warm, dry clothes and join me at the table to enjoy bowls of cornmeal mush. It is an honor, to care for my family in this way.

Storage Units Make Great Neighborhoods

2009-04-24T21:18:00.000-07:00

Photos by Christina Storozkova

I found this interesting article on www.handsonbuildergrower.blogspot.com :

Color Matching by the Color Blind

Color matching is an important aspect of the printing industry and something I got pretty good at after 8 years in the industry. Generally, when a color is not right it needs one of five colors to make it right - red, blue, yellow, black, or white/clear. 15 years later, I still describe colors as having more of one primary color and less of another (I have never been good at naming all the crayon colors).

Sometimes when we were stumped, we would ask our color-blind associate to help us. He could only see color as gray, but he could tell if one gray was darker (denser) than another and that would help us make the adjustments that to color that the rest of us couldn't see.

This was a surprise to me, that a color blind person could help match colors. When I asked around about it, I was told that color blind people were used to look at aerial photos during World War II. They did not see the camoflage. They could pick out hidden artillery or tanks that others wouldn't see.

Think about that the next time you are picking out numbers from the colored dots at the eye doctors office.

2009-04-21T20:33:00.000-07:00

With the warmer weather comes the inevitable days spent at the creek. There is a place nearby where two branches meet. The water is clear, and there's ample shade and a sandy beach on which to have a picnic. There is an old rail road trestle whose stone walls are still standing strong. The kids enjoy a safe place to climb and descend. The other day we found some charcoal from a small fire pit, and promptly set out to decorate the larger stones nearby. These afternoons are well spent with friends and their young ones.

2009-04-11T19:41:00.000-07:00

I've been sick this week, hiding underneath my sleeping bag, laying on the couch for days. The kids have gotten used to fending for themselves. Sure, I've gotten up to make a few meals, wash the dishes and cook up a strong pot of soup. Because of sheer exhaustion, coupled by a paradoxical case of insomnia, I feel as if I have reached some new threshold of mothering. Yesterday afternoon I had to get out of the house. My husband and the kids lit a small fire outside. I laid down on the grass to watch the clouds roll by and listen to the twilight bird songs. I wish I had a week off from mothering, in full health!

With this incredible amount of 'free time' to get better, I've been rereading piles of favorite books: anything written or illustrated by Barbara Cooney, David Wiesner's visual journey's and
Charlotte and David Yue's series on various Native American tribes. I set up a short playlist of favorite Ray Charles songs: "Busted", "It's Not Easy Being Green", and "Ring of Fire". This too shall pass, and soon I will be back in good health.

To Renew or Not to Renew

2009-03-26T09:04:00.000-07:00

We have an abundance of magazine subscriptions. One of my favorites is The Smithsonian. My grandmother always had a copy on her coffee table. The photographs are fantastic, and the articles offer a variety of interesting topics.

We've held onto Permaculture Magazine for years. It is published out of England. The articles are didactic and project oriented, like this month's "Wild Brewing", "Transition Allotments", and "How to Build Reciprocal Framed Roofs". Runner's World was the best choice offered from a fundraiser for the kids' school. ReadyMade was a gift from a friend.

I.D. is a design magazine, with reviews on projects and designers from around the world. I obtained enough free copies of Inventors Digest from a local library to commit to a one year trial. It's a thin publication, though the information is focused and precise.

I chose to let go of Dwell--two years was enough, and the focus on eco-modern is too narrow for my appetite for learning about new things. CMYK, a quarterly, proved enjoyable, though costly. It may be up to fifteen dollars an issue now. From the library I enjoy Entrepreneur, Writer's Digest, Bicycling and Saveur. I am on the lookout for something dance oriented, as well as something focused on positive parenting.

My newest subscription is to Metropolis. The focus is on innovation and trends in the world of architecture and design. From within its pages I recently learned about the A2B tricycle (pictured above), as well as this engaging article about instructing and learning:

In recent years, IDEO has spent a lot of time and effort thinking about education. The firm’s work with Ormondale Elementary School, in Portola Valley, California, helped pioneer a special “investigative-learning” curriculum that inspires students to be seekers of knowledge. We spoke to Sandy Speicher, who heads the Design for Learning efforts at IDEO. Her insights provide powerful lessons for architects and designers creating the schools of tomorrow:

1. Pull, don’t push.
Create an environment that raises a lot of questions from each of your students, and help them translate that into insight and understanding. Education is too often seen as the transmission of knowledge. Real learning happens when the student feels the need to reconcile a question he or she is facing—and can’t help but seek out an answer.

2. Create from relevance.
Engage kids in ways that have relevance to them, and you’ll capture their attention and imagination. Allow them to experience the concepts you’re teaching firsthand, and then discuss them (or, better yet, work to address them!) instead of relying on explanation alone.

3. Stop calling them “soft” skills.
Talents such as creativity, collaboration, communication, empathy, and adaptability are not just nice to have; they’re the core capabilities of a 21st-century global economy facing complex challenges.

4. Allow for variation.
Evolve past a one- size-fits-all mentality and permit mass customization, both in the system and the classroom. Too often, equality in education is treated as sameness. The truth is that everyone is starting from a different place and going to a different place.

5. No more sage onstage.
Engaged learning can’t always happen in neat rows. People need to get their hands dirty. They need to feel, experience, and build. In this interactive environment, the role of the teacher is transformed from the expert telling people the answer to an enabler of learning. Step away from the front of the room and find a place to engage with your learners as the “guide on the side.”

6. Teachers are designers.
Let them create. Build an environment where your teachers are actively engaged in learning by doing. Shift the conversation from prescriptive rules to permissive guidance. Even though the resulting environment may be more complicated to manage, the teachers will produce amazing results.

7. Build a learning community.
Learning doesn’t happen in the child’s mind alone. It happens through the social interactions with other kids and teachers, parents, the community, and the world at large. It really does take a village. Schools should find new ways to engage parents and build local and national partnerships. This doesn’t just benefit the child—it brings new resources and knowledge to your institution.

8. Be an anthropologist, not an archaeologist.
An archaeologist seeks to understand the past by investigating its relics and digging for the truth of what was. An anthropologist studies people to understand their values, needs, and desires. If you want to design new solutions for the future, you have to understand what people care about and design for that. Don’t dig for the answer—connect.

9. Incubate the future.
What if our K–12 schools took on the big challenges that we’re facing today? Allow children to see their role in creating this world by studying and creating for topics like global warming, transportation, waste management, health care, poverty, and even education. It’s not about finding the right answer. It’s about being in a place where we learn ambition, involvement, responsibility, not to mention science, math, and literature.

10. Change the discourse.
If you want to drive new behavior, you have to measure new things. Skills such as creativity and collaboration can’t be measured on a bubble chart. We need to create new assessments that help us understand and talk about the developmental progress of 21st-century skills. This is not just about measuring outcomes, but also measuring process. We need formative assessments that are just as important as numeric ones. And here’s the trick: we can’t just have the measures. We actually have to value them.

Gardening in the Rain

2009-03-19T20:11:00.000-07:00

After breakfast and clean up and board games and puzzles, the kids chimed in the inevitable:

"Mom, I want to go outside."
"OK, go put your shoes on."

It was chilly and gray. I wore an extra layer, and was glad I did when the rain really started falling.

"Kids, come on, it's raining. Time to go inside," I said that more to myself than to them. The boys were having so much fun, just doing what they do outside, only a bit more slowly in the rain. It didn't seem to bother them, so I ran inside to grab the camera. I took some pictures underneath my extra jacket, and then set out to enjoy the day as any other.

Of course the sun and warmth are wonderful; so too is the quiet stillness of the gray and cold of early spring. Both are immanent, and enjoyable in their own regards. I aim to appreciate life as it presents itself. I can lean into most challenges, questions or conflicts, and just be present. I can listen deeply, and be patient with myself to respond.

2009-03-11T23:57:00.000-07:00

Warm weather one day, then cooler with a bit of fog, then windy and cold...how is it that March gets away with this every year? I can appreciate the novelty. Everyday there is something new.

Sour news from last week: A good friend's student died, at home, from a sudden accident. He was eleven, the same age as our daughter. The unpublished cause of death was self-asphyxiation. What realms these young people are exploring through oxygen deprivation, I am certain can be taught to them with much safer methods. The mind and imagination are limitless, though our culture does not have a tradition of tapping into its infinite potential. For our American youth, it has not yet been offered as a brand, lifestyle choice or identity.

It shakes a parent in a certain way, this idea that life is so close to death. Death itself is not wrong, or right. It seems like a matter of appropriateness. Explore other realms in a safe and loving way, in a way that does no harm. As a parent, it reminds me to help my kids access new and exciting ways of experiencing the world.

Along a lighter note, the Meyer lemon tree is nearing bloom. There is one final lemon (still green) from last year's growing cycle hanging on the tree. The south-western winter sunlight keeps it happy. The garden beds which were prepared during the last warm days of the autumn are ready to plant. Today I set in some sweet pea seeds along the fence. Snow peas are germinating on top of the fridge. Next week: radish and spinach.

The subway in Warsaw

2009-03-06T20:43:00.000-08:00

2009-03-04T20:04:00.000-08:00

The Black Maria Film and Video Festival will be making it's annual stop in my hometown of Newark, Delaware, next Tuesday afternoon. I am making sure I'll be there this year.

2009-02-26T19:34:00.000-08:00

Feeling slightly bogged down by an ever growing list of 'things to do', I started compiling a different sort of list. It skims the surface of the things I'd like to do in life. I can add as many things as I'd like, and there is no pressure whatsoever to accomplish any of them. Just imagining the possibilities makes them real.

To Do:

learn two new tricks with my jump rope this winter
learn how to double dutch this summer
hover alongside of a mesa in a wing suit
set up a bungee cord in the backyard to practice aerial dancing
test out the latest gravity-defying boots
enjoy ski biking and snow kiting in Iceland
weave a series of 4 walls out of wool
carve a set of chess pieces
build structures out of stone
live in an outdoor shelter for a season
hunt for food with a bow and arrow
map out an audio atlas of indigenous drum rhythms
sleep deeply on a regular basis

2009-02-14T19:15:00.000-08:00

I am two fools, I know,
For loving, and for saying so,
In whining poetry.
-John Donne

A friend and I were talking at work the other day. It was gray and bleary outside, and we were trying to uplift the mood of the afternoon. Our musings went something like this:

"I would be the first warm day in May---no, the first warm night in May---no, even better, the first warm twilight in May...""

My friend replied, "I would be a sunlit day in autumn when the leaves are in full color, and the trees are just holding onto them---and the local school burns down---an electrical fire in the middle of the night, of course no one is harmed---and everyone gets to stay home from school..."

"If I could be any memory, I would be the summer I lived in France when I was sixteen---riding my bike, wearing my favorite wool sweater, living off of chocolate and bread..."

We stood there marveling within the world of thoughts and words. Language can be such a subtle form of time travel. What a gift it is, being human.

For now, I am content to live life in a way that will yield many wonderful thoughts and adventures to access for future reverie. Pictured above is one such example. Our lovely family went to the home of another lovely family, to share food and conversation on a cold winter night. The hours passed by all too quickly; one by one the children either fell asleep on the couch, or broke out into fits of laughter or tears. Good times abound and await.

2009-02-06T19:45:00.000-08:00

This winter has been absolutely wonderful. The gentle snowfalls have supplied a beauty to the surroundings. For a couple of days, there was a slick surface of icy snow on which to sled. There's nothing like playing out of doors in the brisk cold on a sunny day.

The middle of the winter has passed. And still, who doesn't feel like sleeping in? Sleep is a gift, along the likes of true friendship, classic jazz and clean water. Imagine a society that placed high importance around the enjoyment of a daily nap.

2009-01-24T19:49:00.000-08:00

Arriving home from work in the evenings is always an adventure. I work every other day, so the routine is predictable. Though, of course, with most things in life, there is also constant change. I want to relax, have a seat on the couch and enjoy a hot cup of tea. The kids welcome me home in their own loving ways: our daughter peers out from behind her book, our second child breaks his focus from the piano long enough to ask what I brought him, as our youngest happily announces that he wants to nurse, "Now, Mom, now!".

I aim to ignore the aspects of family life which are not as conducive to relaxation: dishes, small piles of paperwork, crackers on the carpet. Sometimes I forget that people without children still have to wash dishes, clean their homes and do the laundry.

The other evening I received a most welcome surprise. As usual, I was home at dinnertime and I wanted to be fed. If I don't prep something ahead of time or get creative with the slow cooker, my work is cut out for me in the kitchen. My husband was setting bowls out onto the table, and soon thereafter came the soup spoons on top of cloth napkins.

"I made some lentils."
"Oh, thank you so much."

It was that easy. I didn't even have to ask. The salt, the pepper, the olive oil and glass of water were all there waiting for me. I sat down in my usual seat, and I didn't get up until I was done.

Why do I love the cold of winter?

2009-01-18T19:46:00.001-08:00

There is a certain isolation that the winter's chill brings on. There is a silence and a stillness outside this time of year. I think of the cold weather as something to embrace. I am refreshed by its sharpness, and I am up for the challenge of maintaining a comfortable warmth. It brings a lightness to my insides, and a smile upon my face.

Good Hours

I had for my winter evening walk--
No one at all with whom to talk,
But I had the cottages in a row
Up to their shining eyes in snow.

And I thought I had the folk within:
I had the sound of a violin;
I had a glimpse through curtain laces
Of youthful forms and youthful faces.

I had such company outward bound.
I went till there were no cottages found.
I turned and repented, but coming back
I saw no window but that was black.

Over the snow my creaking feet
Disturbed the slumbering village street
Like profanation, by your leave,
At ten o'clock of a winter eve.

---Robert Frost

2009-01-08T21:05:00.000-08:00

After twelve years of living with a wood stove, I am now skilled in the art of making a fire. The bed of coals pictured above is the result of tending the fire all day. Every half hour or so I check in with it, open up the door and see what the situation calls for. Maybe the coals need to be raked in closer to the front, or perhaps another piece of wood is needed to burn with the one already inside. It is interesting to watch how the flames travel upwards, almost the exact opposite of water, which falls, and always finds the lowest places in any given situation (that I am aware of...I'll keep my mind open for a correction on that).

Gathering, chopping, stacking and carrying the wood is no easy task. The wood stove cannot be compared to having constant needs, like that of a child. It is more like a trusted friend, a devoted companion. It asks for a mutual exchange: seasoned wood, fresh air, and a bit of maintenance. Though in return, it gives a warmth like nothing else.

2009-01-08T20:39:00.000-08:00

The persimmons were incredibly delicious this year. With the frost, the fruit softened inside, and became slightly more sweet. When most trees are bare of their leaves, this tree and its fruit welcome the sturdy cold of late autumn and winter.

2008-12-28T18:59:00.000-08:00

One of my sons plays Pokemon. It has become a new world of interest and verbal exchange. The other day he was showing me all of the characters in his book of cards.

"See Mom, I have this one, and this one, and this one, and this one, and--"
"Wait, what's this one?"
"Hmmm, I don't know. But look, I have this one and this one and..."

He trailed off, but I held the page open long enough to read the name of the card: Mom's Kindness. What an honor, to have a card named after something so special. Every warrior can take refuge in the warmth of their mother's arms. The card is termed a 'Supporter'.

I got a nice dose of 'Mom's Kindness' today, as well as 'Aunt's Kindness'. After a flurry of family and in-law visits, the kids have all spent the last 24 hours with a stomach virus, throwing up. The piles of laundry today have been comical. At five am, after two hours of helping the kids, we were fresh out of clean warm blankets. Even the sleeping bags lay in the queue next to the laundry.

I am so thankful to have my loving family nearby, with so many ready to help out. I was raised within this helpful, loving environment. Along with making each other laugh, helping is one of the things we do best.

My youngest sister just had her first baby. I look forward to being there for her, in all of the ways in which she was there for me. It is a currency of love and care.

2008-10-15T09:58:00.000-07:00

"Some years ago at Abercrombie and Fitch I bought a cattle caller, an
automobile horn manipulated by a lever with which nearly all cow emotions can be imitated, from the sweet lowing of a romantic heifer to the growling roar of a bull in the prime and lust of his bullhood. I had this contraption on Rocinante, and it was most effective. When its call goes out, every bovine within hearing distance raises its head from grazing and moves toward the sound."

---from 'Travels With Charley' by John Steinbeck

2008-10-06T19:27:00.000-07:00

"I'm not taking a poll, but how does the election seem to be going around here?"
"I wish I knew," he said. "People aren't talking. I think this might be the secretest election we ever had. People just won't put out an opinion."
"Could it be they haven't got one?"
"Maybe, or maybe they just don't want to tell. I remember other elections when there would be pretty peppery arguments. I haven't heard even one."
And that's what I found all over the country---no arguments, no discussion.

---from 'Travels With Charley' by John Steinbeck

2008-08-25T20:00:00.000-07:00

"Calpurnia appeared in the front door and yelled, "Lemonade time! You all get in outa that hot sun 'fore you fry alive!" Lemonade in the middle of the morning was a summertime ritual. Calpurnia set a pitcher and three glasses on the porch, then went about her business. Being out of Jem's good graces did not worry me especially. Lemonade would restore his good humor."

---To Kill A Mockingbird

It sounds like Cal really had a nice routine going. My Grandmother raised her six children with the help of a German girl. Every morning she would come over and work with my Grandmother on the laundry, cleaning and child care. I remember asking her how she managed the expense of domestic help, living off of my Grandfather's military pay. Her response was this: "Every southern woman has money in her budget for good help."

2008-08-08T21:21:00.000-07:00

Summer Reading

2008-08-08T20:41:00.000-07:00

..."Thereafter the summer passed in routine contentment. Routine contentment was: improving our treehouse that rested between giant twin chinaberry trees in the back yard, fussing, running through our list of dramas...Thus we came to know Dill as a pocket Merlin, whose head teemed with eccentric plans, strange longings, and quaint fancies.

But by the end of August our repetoire was vapid from countless reproductions, and it was then that Dill gave us the idea of making Boo Radley come out."

---from To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Every summer, in the heat of July or August, I read this book. I wait until the weather mimics the never ending Alabama heat that is present throughout most of the story. When there was no AC to cut the humidity, and when the screened in porches were used for sleeping. There is something so magical about transforming one's state of mind through surrending to a story.

During the pregnancy of my third child, I announced that if the baby was a girl, she would be named Jean Louise, though refered to as 'Scout'. Oh, the protests that my other kids gave:

"Mom, that's a dog's name! And besides, when are we getting a dog?"

"You can't name the baby Scout! That's too confusing--the Jean Louise thing."

Needless to say, we had a boy. I could have pressed for Atticus, though it sounds better suited for a middle name. Jem, as well as Dill, were never considered.

Every year I notice a new layer of the book. There are 31 chapters, though they are really more like vignettes or observations lasting from three to five pages long. Seen in that way, it makes writing a book appear more managable. What elements make this book a classic? What are the classic books being written today?

Creative Work by Julie Goldstein

2008-07-16T08:54:00.000-07:00

New Adventures

2008-07-11T20:15:00.000-07:00

Long time no blog. Last week was the 4th of July. I was at the beach with my family in-laws, creating great memories. Every year we gather at their family home on the shores of Long Beach Island, New Jersey. The festivities culminate with an annual block party thrown by the neighboring families. A tented dance floor is set up for a band that plays three sets! Fliers and tee-shirts are designed by the owner of the graphic arts firm at www.freemandesign.biz. The street is taken over by kids on bicycles and scooters, along side games of paddle ball and frisbee. It is the perfect kind of wildness and play.

What is it about the ocean that makes you forget about every little thing besides the next wave that is coming towards you? Just when you think that you've had enough of being tossed around like a stringy clump of seaweed, you are ready for another underwater tumble. The water was soooo cold--the coldest I had ever swam in during the summer. It was numbing at first,and then numbing some more, and yes, still cold even while swimming around. I'd take it again though, any day over jellyfish, strong undertow or riptides.

We arrived home to a living room filled with water. Apparently the washing machine malfunctioned. It may take up to a week for the wooden floors to dry out. We'll see if the floors, along with our sanity, can be preserved! The house is turned upside down, with five industrial de-humidifiers set on full blast. We are staying at my parents'--it has been a fun adventure.

Back from vacation, we headed straight into another kind of vacation. There are new things to enjoy here too, while the days go by. My parents live in a neighborhood, and the kids think the sidewalks are simply amazing. Last night we walked to the park. We didn't have to pack up and drive. It really wasn't a big production. Oh, and everywhere I drive takes like, ten minutes less to get there. I could get used to this kind of life.

Friday Night Routine

2008-06-27T20:53:00.000-07:00

Friday is the day of the week that feels the most like summer. This is the day when I try to take it easy; you won't see me washing windows or tackling some domestic project. The mornings are left open for backyard play. In the afternoon, we go swimming at the pool and have pizza delivered there for dinner. I let the kids get popsicles from the snack bar. We go home all fed and tired out from swimming, get changed and then watch a movie. I take some time for myself at the kitchen table, sort the mail and write out the week's bills. I make a cup of tea and read a magazine. There's no rush or bedtime hurry. By nine o'clock the movie is over and the kids have brushed their teeth. I wonder, can every night be this simple?

But really, this smooth sense of mothering is no easy task. Did I fail to mention that our youngest child cried for nearly half an hour because he didn't want to go to bed? He has been staying up so late, sometimes until eleven, and the child rarely naps! It can be exhaustive, dealing with his amped up behavior. I understand him, I do, as I too am energized by the cool night air. I have become an expert at the ten minute power nap. I wonder, what would life be like, living fully rested?

2008-06-20T20:21:00.000-07:00

Lonesome Wholesome Goodness

2008-06-20T19:59:00.000-07:00

I made a box of muffins for breakfast the other morning. Typically, the kids squabble over who gets to add what, whose turn it is to mix and who gets to spoon the batter into the tin. For this lovely batch, I did it all myself. It was no easy feat, distracting them with orders like:

"OK, you guys can pour yourselves some drinks."
"Now, who is going to get out the jelly and a small spoon?"
"Sweetheart, could you set out the plates please?"
"I think we need a fresh stick of butter."

When it was all said and done, the breakfast was simple and delicious. I cut up some apples and sat back with a nice hot cup of peppermint tea. I ignored the soaking dishes, and I pretended not to notice that the floor was speckled with drifts of flour. A sweet calm surrounded me and a veil of acceptance draped over my shoulders like a pair of sparkling fairy wings.

As a mother, I will never escape this lovely cycle of nurturing. It is my one truly obvious purpose in life: to care distinctly for my offspring. As the female head of household I must remember, the soup that I make for my family is intended to nourish me as well.

2008-06-13T20:59:00.000-07:00

a backyard mushroom

2008-06-13T20:56:00.000-07:00

a photo taken by my daughter

2008-06-13T20:48:00.000-07:00

Here is an example of a very young cluster of paw paw fruits. Paw paws are North America's largest native fruit.

Testing, One-Two-Three

2008-06-13T20:23:00.000-07:00

I am attempting to transfer photos from the camera onto the computer. Though I've made it this far, I wish I had an assistant.

Weekends in Early June

2008-06-06T20:51:00.000-07:00

There is a heat wave coming on. I can feel my mind preparing for it. Tomorrow my body will begin to adjust. I think of how I can protect my offspring from getting too feisty in the heat. I think back to how I kept cool as a child. We had a clubhouse set up in our garage. The floor was a concrete slab, and the walls were made of grey concrete block. We would open up the bay door and sit on metal chairs inside the shaded structure. There were piles of National Geographic, and so began my love of other cultures. We would sit and read for hours, all the while drinking lemonade from paper cups and crunching slowly on the ice.

I long to replicate that structure. I imagine myself marking out a spot in the backyard, right alongside another shed. I would have to clear the land of any brush and vegetation, dig the footing with a shovel, dig and mark the foundation, set a series of plumb lines (is that what they are called?), check that the excavation is level, mix up some mortar in a wheelbarrow, put on some masonry gloves and lay the block foundation, score the seams evenly and check every side with the level. There are probably some other steps in between. It is fun to imagine all of the work that it would take to make a little concrete building in the shade.

Every year a few key discussions about coping with the heat are had:

"Should we get an air-conditioner? Just a little one, for the upstairs bedroom? "

"No, the window fan set on intake pulls in the cool valley air just like AC."

"Should we join a pool this year?"

"Yes, definitely."

There's talk of camping in the back yard. The kids want to light a bonfire, melt chocolate and marshmallows, stay up late and run around. I'm open to the possibilities of the summer.

I'd Like A Blog Too, Please

2008-05-30T20:45:00.000-07:00

First things first, this is my premier blog entry. A friend of mine writes the Backwoods Boogie column (I know, I am supposed to refer to it as a 'blog'). Not only is she sharing her stay at home mama perspective from the southern Chester County hillsides, she is sharing her beautiful photography as well. In essence, I want one too. True, I will have to learn some essential blogging skills such as uploading media, choosing fonts and blog designs.

Being a creative type, I wonder how I've made it this far not ever having made or maintained a blog. I think I'm going to have to think up another term besides 'blog'. It sounds a bit too 1983. I 'll have to set some posting ground rules as well; this blog may not interfere with my established night owl tendencies. Too late on that one, it is past midnight already. Blogging while thirsty puts me at a risk for dehydration. Anyone else ever feel like managing their thirst is a part-time job? Always blog with a fresh glass of water nearby. Refill glass when empty.

Most importantly, I think this blog will help supply a sense of creative accomplishment. Life is full enough with survival tasks and endorphin diversions. Who will wash the dishes in the sink tomorrow, if not I tonight? Is the task not the same, bleary eyed as the French press bubbles or weary eyed as the nighttime tea steeps? Perhaps a time niche will develop, an hour or two every week will appear, and I will respond creatively. We shall see!