from emily dickinson

I'm nobody, who are you?
Are you nobody too?
Then there's a pair of us.
Don't tell--they'd banish us, you know.

How dreary to be somebody.
How public--like a frog--
To tell your name the livelong June
To an admiring bog.

from "Dicey's Song" by Cynthia Voigt

"Gram," Dicey said, her voice so loud Gram's eyes popped open. "But you knew how to do everything."
"I knew how to do nothing," Gram told her. "I just did everything. There's a difference. You should know that."

Miracle Earthquake

I experienced my first earthquake yesterday. It was scary, powerful and awe-inducing.
And so many good things resulted from it:

• Many, many lovely friends and family members called! It was so fun to talk with my nearest and dearest.
• Nobody got hurt. Everybody along the East Coast seems to be uninjured.
• The damage to property was very minor.
• My husband, who was supposed to work late, got to come home on time.
• My family had a lovely evening at home.

When I was feeling panicked as I went to bed last night, I recalled these facts and was humbled at the goodness of God.

there must be a name for this

My Girl is at the age when it seems she should start preschool. I say "it seems" because people keep asking me where and when she is going to start school.

Well, she's not. For about a million different reasons she's staying home with me.

However, that doesn't mean that we won't be doing preschool at home. And I guess that mean I'm homeschooling... (Does this mean that any parent who has ever taught their child anything at home homeschools? Or is it only homeschooling once education becomes mandated by the state?) I'm not sure.
  
Our preschool plans can be summed up thus: read, create art, explore the world, play, build, run, jump, read, read, go to museums, have fun. It's not much of a departure from what we do already.

But I decided to gather some books and other resources to make this fun and fantastic and a bit more methodical. Also, I am not a childhood education specialist, so I'm happy to get help from those who are...in the form of books.

Here are the books I'm using:

Slow and Steady Get Me Ready by June R. Oberlander
We've been using this book for almost a year. And while the reviews complain about the design and layout, I say "get over it." The content is excellent. The activities are enjoyable. And My Girl gets plenty of fun learning using this book as a guide.

Honey for a Child's Heart  by Gladys Hunt
I bought this book because I've been buried in piles of reading lists. Every blog I read has a list of recommended books to read. There are list at the library. There are reading lists within books. There are lists at the dentist's office. Reading lists at the grocery store. And there is no way that I can read ALL those books. Nor should I. I want quality books. And from what I've seen of this book, the author does a good job finding the best. This book helps me from getting reading list whiplash.

Before Five in a Row by Jane Claire Lambert
A lovely book. The ideas are simple. I don't feel pressured to do every suggested activity. I pick and choose what questions and activities seem the most appealing and fun for My Girl. So far, this is a big hit. My Girl is all about reading books multiple times. I make sure to do the books that she really loves. I think this is the key to success when using this book.

Teach Me to Do it Myself by Maja Pitamic
This is a Montessori book that tells you exactly how to do Montessori. I've read many  Montessori theory books. This one puts it into practice. Another hit. I especially like how the author addresses introducing letters and numbers.

Science Play by Jill Frankel Hauser
A simple way to explore the world with sections on water, air, weather, plants, soil, sounds, movement and more. We've only done one experiment, but we like it so far. The instructions are simple, the required materials are usually on hand and the lessons are short.

First Art by MaryAnn F. Kohl
I was hesitant to get this beginning art book, but decided to go for it - as opposed to purchasing the next level art book. There were so many activities in this book that we hadn't done yet and it was easy to see ways to make the activities more sophisticated as My Girl grows. And honestly, I don't want to rush her. I want her to take it nice and slow and make her jumps in understanding in her own time. So, the beginning book was the place to start.

Playful Learning by Mariah Bruehl
We just got this today. And honestly, it seems that it's a bit advanced for my 2.5-year-old but I kind of suspected that when I ordered it. But, I got it anyway because I really loved the ideas about organizing space and creative centers. And I know that we'll do the fun ideas in the future.

now

We are...

• enjoying some cooler temperatures (78-82 degrees, anybody?) and some much needed, though sporadic, rain
• painting with acrylic paints on canvas for the first time and LOVING the results
• reading stacks of books: mostly Newbery winners from 1978 to the present (my favorite so far is "The View from Saturday" by E.L. Konisburg - it is a remarkable, inspiring creation and I am not sure why people aren't constantly raving about it)
• loving our farmer's market: we had Damson (I think?) plums and fresh figs with our lunch on Saturday...and the gratitude I feel, a woman with a black thumb, knows no bounds for these lovely, hard-working gardeners and farmers who provide these tasty treats for me
• dreaming of Halloween costumes for My Girl...actually, I've started sewing it, but am still in the dreaming stage for the wings of her costume
• loving the crepe myrtle that is blooming everywhere
• rejoicing in a quiet, book-filled weekend
• looking forward to a visit from a Tucson friend, a steel drum concert and sharing a strawberry-peach pie this weekend
• procrastinating about my workout!
• wondering how it is already mid-August

What are you up to?

i think you may like this as much as i did

This post from Orangette's blog is brilliant. (8.03.11)
She said is just right.
So if you write and...well, that's all you need to do to be able to relate to this post.
Just read it.
And the link she includes of Elizabeth Gilbert speaking at TED is worth following.

i am not even sure i should share this, but i'm going to anyway

I am exhausted by the behavior of the economy.

(Anybody else? Can I see a show of hands?)

The moodiness and fickleness of the whole thing is making me feel sad and scared.

I record everything we purchase.
I stick to the budget.
I use what we have.
I use coupons.
We don't eat out.
We share.
We borrow.
We simplify.
We only buy what is on the list.
We go to the library.

I do all those things that a good little recessionista is supposed to do.

And sometimes I allow myself to breathe a little. I allow myself to consider registering for a class to improve my writing. I allow myself to make a list of the books I would buy if someone gave my $100 and demanded that I spend it ONLY on books. I think about finally getting a nice haircut.

And then the stock market throws a tantrum...

Sigh.

And I am left feeling like a fool for even considering that silly class.

And I am angry that other people's stupid financial choices influence my life so much.

And I am scared.

And when I get scared I start making small, fearful, hopeless choices.
And making choices from a place of fear is NEVER a good thing.

I do not know what to do with these feelings.

from The Complete Tale of Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne

"When you wake up in the morning, Pooh," said Piglet at last, "what's the first thing you say to yourself?"

"What's for breakfast?" said Pooh. "What do you say, Piglet?"

"I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?" said Piglet.

Pooh nodded thoughtfully.

"It's the same thing," he said.

happy list

1. a bouquet of purple cone flowers on my kitchen table
2. sending off my manuscript
3. fresh, hot coffee
4. reserving a handful of great books from the library
5. August!
6. a well-rested girl - finally
7. making major progress on my scrapbooks
8. deciding NOT to do a Week in the Life
9. my new clothesline
10. clean sheets

art gallery

Looking at these photos makes me think I need a better way of displaying my girl's creations. Suggestions?

the gallery

on the right, notice the three sheets of handmade paper



watercolor creations



art camp

This week, we did art camp at Belmont. And it was lovely. We made sun prints and handmade paper - which was so much fun. And, of course, all I want to do now is make sun prints and handmade paper. So far, I am refraining.

But, truly, what was the most pleasant part about this two-day adventure was the fabulous people. Parents, instructors, children, grandparents - the mix of personalities and ages was lovely and the result was a really mellow and kind-hearted art camp. A true delight.

I am grateful we got to be a part of this.

sun prints drying

a bit of paper-making instruction



all ears

This takes care of #2.

pony penning

Friends, I've been to Pony Penning Days. The event may sound familiar if you're a fan of Marguerite Henry's "Misty of Chincoteague."

I told myself and others that I was going because I really wanted my daughter to see the wild ponies. And that's true. But if you want something closer to the honest-to-goodness, authentic, turn the lights off and I'll tell you the truth, it's this: I've wanted to go watch the wild ponies swim and parade and do everything that I'd read in that book since I was a kid. A little, powerless kid.

The feeling, the thrill, the internal (and external) smile that the whole day was - even though it was a boiling 100 degrees outside - that is something that doesn't happen very often, I'm afraid.

I felt fulfilled.

Happy.

As I peered through the binoculars at the ponies plunging through the water and as they came so near as they paraded by, it felt right. Like, here's this piece that you didn't even know was missing and ta-da! it fits. And more importantly, it's really important that you have this piece.



watching the pony parade



ponies relaxing at the corral on the carnival grounds

 My pictures are less than fabulous. If you want to see fabulous photographs, check this out.

This takes care of #14.

right now

• preparing to participate in A Week in the Life
• rewriting a manuscript now that I've got my editor's brilliant comments and ideas in hand
• drooling over the prints at Quercus Design. I discovered this woman's work during my visit to Maine. The postcards stopped me in my tracks and danced around my mind for weeks. OK, her collections are still dancing in my head. And I like it.
• crossing off #21 on The List
• making notepads by stapling stacks of my scrap paper together
• loving the produce at the farmer's market: fingerling potatoes, beans, watermelon, cantaloupe, corn, artichokes, cherry tomatoes.
• reading these books: Great Expectations by Charles Dickens (again), One Man's Meat by E.B. White, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell, Water Paper Paint by Heather Smith Jones (her last name cracks me up, I assume Smith is her maiden name and when she got married she added Jones, you  know to spice things up)
• yearning for a nap
• rejoicing for this cloudy day
• using our toddler crayons (line a muffin pan with parchment paper, fill with broken crayons that have been peeled, heat in an oven heated to 250 degrees until sort of melted, this took about 30 minutes for us) these  crayons are brilliant: I no longer have to deal with crayons snapping in my hands as I color, I just put one of these beasts in my hand and go crazy on the paper. SO SATISFYING!
• listening to some Dan Zanes

words to ponder

This was written by Erma Bombeck near the end of her life...

"If I had my life to live over, I would have talked less and listened more. I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded. I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace. I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth. I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed. I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains. I would have cried and laughed less while watching television - and more while watching life. I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband. I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day. I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime. Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle. When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner." There would have been more "I love you's".. More "I'm sorrys" ... But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute... look at it and really see it ... live it...and never give it back."

doing the heavy lifting

"You are not going to find the meaning of life hidden under a rock written by someone else. You'll find it by giving meaning to life from inside yourself." ~ Dr. Robert Firestone

gem

I stumbled upon this blog a month ago and have to share it with you.

So far, it's inspired me to write a family mission statement (along with the help of the family), put together a Home Management Notebook and to start seeing myself as a professional mom.

I hope it's helpful and inspirational to you as well.

flump

We have been: driving! hiking! exploring! seeing! thinking! eating new food! getting overloaded (with ideas)! trying to process those ideas! drinking coffee! reading! doing laundry! sorting! making! creating! reading! vacuuming! hustling! reading! hustling! fixing! preparing! going! going! going!

And I need some deep breathing and a quiet moment.

And then I'll be back, really.

happy list

1. sea glass
2. long walks
3. 70-degree weather
4. family reading time
5. mason jars
6. blank notebooks
7. the perfect shade of blue on a t-shirt
8. hand-me-down clothes
9. animal crackers
10. perfect timing

right now

We are:
digging us some Edith Piaf
reading Stuart Little by E.B. White out loud
creating collages
dreaming of beachcombing
working on a new manuscript
creating our own summer reading program because the one here is PATHETIC
trying to figure out how I will physically return the 82 (no joke!) books I have checked out from the library
making some yummy mesquite chocolate chip cookies

klein bag

My latest addiction:

I've never been a purse girl. Yet, I have been struggling with how to store my wallet, keys, pencil and pen, moleskine, sunglasses, bandana and lip gloss.

And then I discovered these Klein hardware storage bags.

All my stuff fits in there, with just enough room to spare. I throw it in the passenger seat of my car and go, it fits into my grocery basket perfectly, I can toss it in my girl's stroller and we're off. It's just right. It's not too precious, so I can wash it in the washing machine. A practical, yet funky solution to keep my stuff together.