I'm cheating this week, and am rerunning Ramona's "camping"-inspired poem. The original poem post is here, and the reason "camping" is in quotation marks is here.
from Ramona, age almost-five, up early in the morning with Mommy, and overlooking the hills:
It's so beautiful here
If only insane,
I could be a whip-poor-will.
The Poetry Friday round-up is at Shaken and Stirred today. You can find it here. Thank you, Gwenda, for hosting, and as always, thank you Kelly at Big A little a for creating Poetry Friday (hope you're having an amazing time in Scotland, as if I had to wish for such a thing ....)
Friday, June 29, 2007
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Tell Him. I dare you.
You know the old saying, "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans"?
I keep going back to that, with my recent musings on planning, homeschooling, being flexible and changing directions.
I hope to write a real post about this in the next day or two, but for now, just think about this:
If, two years ago, you could have peeked into the future, would you have been able to predict everything that's happened in the last two years? What about five years? Ten?
Nope. I couldn't have.
Maybe the reason I don't stress too terribly (I do have my days, though ... please don't picture me serenely floating through each and every moment) about changes in our homeschool (style, curriculum, whatever) is that I've seen the many, many surprises God has sent our way. And, no matter how much they threw me for a loop at the time, they've been good.
Very, very good.
God has laughed at me so many times that I've lost count.
And, that's all I have time for right now -- bedtime stories are calling. Back soon.
I keep going back to that, with my recent musings on planning, homeschooling, being flexible and changing directions.
I hope to write a real post about this in the next day or two, but for now, just think about this:
If, two years ago, you could have peeked into the future, would you have been able to predict everything that's happened in the last two years? What about five years? Ten?
Nope. I couldn't have.
Maybe the reason I don't stress too terribly (I do have my days, though ... please don't picture me serenely floating through each and every moment) about changes in our homeschool (style, curriculum, whatever) is that I've seen the many, many surprises God has sent our way. And, no matter how much they threw me for a loop at the time, they've been good.
Very, very good.
God has laughed at me so many times that I've lost count.
And, that's all I have time for right now -- bedtime stories are calling. Back soon.
He makes me laugh
My friend, Tim, writes this humor column (and blog) for his company's newsletter. And, I just never know what he's going to talk about, or what persona he'll adopt, or what angle he'll take. But, he always makes me laugh.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
It's starting again
Ok, so I meant it when I said I'm schizophrenic.
I'm the Planning Unschooler. The Unschooler with a Plan. The Scheduler without a Schedule, or the Unscheduler Who's Always looking at Her Watch.
Yes, I'm eclectic, unschoolish, and flexible. I like to allow my children to follow their interests, and explore things of their choosing.
But, I also love to browse curriculum catalogs. I love them. I love the nifty little packages, the clever resources, the tools and supplies neatly grouped together and offered as a sort of prize to the tuned-in, credit-card wielding, homeschooling mother. I love to come up with plans.
I love to browse and dream. But, that doesn't mean I purchase all that nifty stuff that I find within the pages of my beloved catalogs. As I confessed last year, I'm really just a nerd with a goofy hobby.
But, it's a hobby that bears fruit. Though I may not purchase every tempting tool or set of books that I crave, I do come away from those catalogs with ideas ... a few well-chosen purchases, and lots of ideas.
And, as I said in this post last summer:
So, perhaps instead of the negative connotations associated with "schizophrenic" I will rename myself the Flexible Homeschooler.
Or, maybe I'll just plan to rename myself. But then, I'll deviate from the plan.
You know how it goes.
I'm the Planning Unschooler. The Unschooler with a Plan. The Scheduler without a Schedule, or the Unscheduler Who's Always looking at Her Watch.
Yes, I'm eclectic, unschoolish, and flexible. I like to allow my children to follow their interests, and explore things of their choosing.
But, I also love to browse curriculum catalogs. I love them. I love the nifty little packages, the clever resources, the tools and supplies neatly grouped together and offered as a sort of prize to the tuned-in, credit-card wielding, homeschooling mother. I love to come up with plans.
I love to browse and dream. But, that doesn't mean I purchase all that nifty stuff that I find within the pages of my beloved catalogs. As I confessed last year, I'm really just a nerd with a goofy hobby.
But, it's a hobby that bears fruit. Though I may not purchase every tempting tool or set of books that I crave, I do come away from those catalogs with ideas ... a few well-chosen purchases, and lots of ideas.
And, as I said in this post last summer:
Part of the fun of summer is planning our homeschooling journeys, even if we don't always end up at the originally intended destinations. In spite of our many side trips, planning keeps me aware of the big picture and accountable to the kids, my husband-the-principal, and myself.Planning is the vision, the idea, which is a straight path (and, despite my flexible ways, I do have an overarching vision.) But, how can one be flexible (as in, "capable of being bent") if there's no straight line to begin with?
So, perhaps instead of the negative connotations associated with "schizophrenic" I will rename myself the Flexible Homeschooler.
Or, maybe I'll just plan to rename myself. But then, I'll deviate from the plan.
You know how it goes.
Ramona's woeful life
Ramona (slumping to to the floor) : I can't watch TV right now? I haven't watched a video in years. Oh, this is hard."
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
And why I love Scott
Because, who else would find and then post stuff like this? (Not to mention intelligent, thoughtful commentary, but that's a lot of other links.)
And, if I sound fickle ("I love Jennifer ... I love Scott ... I love bubble wrap ....") know that it's not a fickle heart that so loves, but rather one that spends too much time on the computer.
And, if I sound fickle ("I love Jennifer ... I love Scott ... I love bubble wrap ....") know that it's not a fickle heart that so loves, but rather one that spends too much time on the computer.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Why I love Jennifer
Because she says stuff like this:
"So where to begin? I take a cue from the always reliable God and begin with time."
Read the whole post (her plans for second-grade crafts) here.
"So where to begin? I take a cue from the always reliable God and begin with time."
Read the whole post (her plans for second-grade crafts) here.
"Tidal" sounds so much nicer
Melissa Wiley calls her style "Tidal Homeschooling" (which sounds so much nicer and more sane than "schizophrenic" ....) and she's talking about it at The Lilting House. See this post, too.
She's also created a new discussion group (which is what prompted me to post "Label Me Schizophrenic" to sum up my own back-and-forth style) for those of us who don't fit neatly into any one category:
Visit Tidal Homeschooling to check it out and get in on some great conversation.
She's also created a new discussion group (which is what prompted me to post "Label Me Schizophrenic" to sum up my own back-and-forth style) for those of us who don't fit neatly into any one category:
Visit Tidal Homeschooling to check it out and get in on some great conversation.
Do you unschool?
Have a post about it? A thought? A story?
Want to read about it?
Check out Unschooling Voices -- the next edition will be out on July 1, so send your submissions this week. Details are in the above-linked post.
Want to read about it?
Check out Unschooling Voices -- the next edition will be out on July 1, so send your submissions this week. Details are in the above-linked post.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Label Me Schizophrenic
(This article originally appeared in the March/April, 2006 issue of Home Education Magazine.)
Classical. Charlotte Mason. Unschooler.
Yup, that’s me.
There’s just a slight problem. The labels contradict one another, don’t they?
Yes.
And no.
They’re accurate but inaccurate. (What is the sound of one textbook flapping? I’ll move beyond the Zen musing and get to my point.)
I dislike labels. I refuse to label our homeschool. My aversion to labels has been both advantageous and embarrassing over the five years we’ve been doing this: advantageous, because I’m free to approach learning in a variety of ways. Embarrassing (in the beginning, though I’m over that now) because I never had a succinct answer to, "What curriculum do you use?"
I used to hem, haw, stutter, and say something about an eclectic mix. I was reluctant to say, "We unschool," because most people interpreted that as, “Yes, I homeschool because I’m lazy.” I shied away from saying “We’re pursuing a Charlotte Mason education” because I didn't follow CM methods to the letter, and hadn’t even read all of her original writings. I didn't want to say, "We’re classical" because, although some classical elements were present, we fell short of the mark. I feared someone would ask me to say, “My child adores The Iliad," in Latin, Greek and one other language of my choice.
So, what was I? Not having a definitive answer used to bother me. But these days, when faced with The Question, I look my inquisitor in the eye and brazenly reply, "I design our curriculum myself." It’s a true and simple answer that covers the fluid flexibility of our days. Sometimes I design structure, routines and the tackling of a workbook. At other times, our copywork from classic literature would make Charlotte Mason quiver with pride at the thought of her mentoring. And often – quite often – my design includes open-ended time full of reading, writing, observing, talking, experimenting and growing.
The point is that I have never found a single, definable “method” that works all the time for all my children. No two years of our homeschool have been the same. Well, perhaps that’s not entirely true. What has been constant is that I've included a mixture of methods that works for my kids. Each year there’s been some formal, structured curriculum, driven and directed by me. I made the choices, introduced it to the kids, and in most cases, we all enjoyed what came of it.
When we didn’t enjoy it, I asked myself, "Why am I doing this?" If the answer was that as a responsible, loving parent I’d determined this study to be in my children’s best interest, then we continued. Some parts of life are simply like that. I don’t, for example, clean toilets because it’s a “delight-directed” activity. It is, however, in everyone’s best interest that I don’t allow mold to grow in dark corners, so I push on with the toilet-cleaning. But if I push a hated school agenda not because it’s in our best interest but because I think we “should” do this, or “everyone has to go through that,” or simply because I’m having trouble letting go of "the plan," then I know it’s time to reassess. It’s usually at that point that someone will ask, “But how will your children learn to do things they hate?”
Ah, yes. The Life-Is-Full-Of-Stuff-We-Hate objection. To the surprise of some, though our homeschool is relaxed, my kids don’t always – gasp – get to do only what they love. Yes, it’s true we all must learn that life is difficult. But, life is also full of joy, beauty and unexpected delights. I don't want to stomp on all the goodness while trying to prove to my kids that the world is a tough place.
The tough stuff intrudes on the best of days, the happiest of families and the most joyful of times without my help. I don't have to create opportunities (such as six extra pages of math problems) for my kids to learn that life is hard and they must do things they hate. They can learn that when they deal with the neighborhood bully or scoop the litterbox. What I do instead is seize opportunities to teach them how to respond to life's hard edges.
And that brings us back to the hard edge of a world that demands labels. If I must be labeled, the only homeschooling tag I’ll take is “schizophrenic.” Our homeschool simply doesn’t fit neatly into one educational box and I’m drawn to a variety of approaches, from the aforementioned unschooling to touches of classical.
This collage that is our life was nicely illustrated one recent day. I had planned “A Planning Day,” looking ahead to what I hoped we’d investigate in the coming months. My planning was interrupted by my 9-year-old when she ran into the house, cupping a cricket in her hands. Suddenly, there were all kinds of questions: How long will he live? What will he eat? What can I keep him in? How can we find out? We grabbed Anna Botsford Comstock’s Handbook of Nature Study
and the kids looked up crickets. They called the local pet shop, remembering crickets they’d seen there (albeit unsuspecting ones who are food, rather than who get food, as we found out when the clerk laughed, "I do know what eats them.”) That day, my girls did some basic research, used indexing, reference and alphabetizing skills and learned that crickets will eat anything, up to and including watermelon, chocolate chip cookies and paper.
The point is that I had to let go of “The Plan” – my plan for the day – and seize the new plan that had presented itself. We were all much happier and learned more than if I’d said, "Go away. I'm planning your education."
And I was grateful for yet another day of richly layered, meaningful learning, made possible by this mom’s aversion to labels.
Viva a collage of homeschooling, and long live aversions to labels.
Classical. Charlotte Mason. Unschooler.
Yup, that’s me.
There’s just a slight problem. The labels contradict one another, don’t they?
Yes.
And no.
They’re accurate but inaccurate. (What is the sound of one textbook flapping? I’ll move beyond the Zen musing and get to my point.)
I dislike labels. I refuse to label our homeschool. My aversion to labels has been both advantageous and embarrassing over the five years we’ve been doing this: advantageous, because I’m free to approach learning in a variety of ways. Embarrassing (in the beginning, though I’m over that now) because I never had a succinct answer to, "What curriculum do you use?"
I used to hem, haw, stutter, and say something about an eclectic mix. I was reluctant to say, "We unschool," because most people interpreted that as, “Yes, I homeschool because I’m lazy.” I shied away from saying “We’re pursuing a Charlotte Mason education” because I didn't follow CM methods to the letter, and hadn’t even read all of her original writings. I didn't want to say, "We’re classical" because, although some classical elements were present, we fell short of the mark. I feared someone would ask me to say, “My child adores The Iliad," in Latin, Greek and one other language of my choice.
So, what was I? Not having a definitive answer used to bother me. But these days, when faced with The Question, I look my inquisitor in the eye and brazenly reply, "I design our curriculum myself." It’s a true and simple answer that covers the fluid flexibility of our days. Sometimes I design structure, routines and the tackling of a workbook. At other times, our copywork from classic literature would make Charlotte Mason quiver with pride at the thought of her mentoring. And often – quite often – my design includes open-ended time full of reading, writing, observing, talking, experimenting and growing.
The point is that I have never found a single, definable “method” that works all the time for all my children. No two years of our homeschool have been the same. Well, perhaps that’s not entirely true. What has been constant is that I've included a mixture of methods that works for my kids. Each year there’s been some formal, structured curriculum, driven and directed by me. I made the choices, introduced it to the kids, and in most cases, we all enjoyed what came of it.
When we didn’t enjoy it, I asked myself, "Why am I doing this?" If the answer was that as a responsible, loving parent I’d determined this study to be in my children’s best interest, then we continued. Some parts of life are simply like that. I don’t, for example, clean toilets because it’s a “delight-directed” activity. It is, however, in everyone’s best interest that I don’t allow mold to grow in dark corners, so I push on with the toilet-cleaning. But if I push a hated school agenda not because it’s in our best interest but because I think we “should” do this, or “everyone has to go through that,” or simply because I’m having trouble letting go of "the plan," then I know it’s time to reassess. It’s usually at that point that someone will ask, “But how will your children learn to do things they hate?”
Ah, yes. The Life-Is-Full-Of-Stuff-We-Hate objection. To the surprise of some, though our homeschool is relaxed, my kids don’t always – gasp – get to do only what they love. Yes, it’s true we all must learn that life is difficult. But, life is also full of joy, beauty and unexpected delights. I don't want to stomp on all the goodness while trying to prove to my kids that the world is a tough place.
The tough stuff intrudes on the best of days, the happiest of families and the most joyful of times without my help. I don't have to create opportunities (such as six extra pages of math problems) for my kids to learn that life is hard and they must do things they hate. They can learn that when they deal with the neighborhood bully or scoop the litterbox. What I do instead is seize opportunities to teach them how to respond to life's hard edges.
And that brings us back to the hard edge of a world that demands labels. If I must be labeled, the only homeschooling tag I’ll take is “schizophrenic.” Our homeschool simply doesn’t fit neatly into one educational box and I’m drawn to a variety of approaches, from the aforementioned unschooling to touches of classical.
This collage that is our life was nicely illustrated one recent day. I had planned “A Planning Day,” looking ahead to what I hoped we’d investigate in the coming months. My planning was interrupted by my 9-year-old when she ran into the house, cupping a cricket in her hands. Suddenly, there were all kinds of questions: How long will he live? What will he eat? What can I keep him in? How can we find out? We grabbed Anna Botsford Comstock’s Handbook of Nature Study
and the kids looked up crickets. They called the local pet shop, remembering crickets they’d seen there (albeit unsuspecting ones who are food, rather than who get food, as we found out when the clerk laughed, "I do know what eats them.”) That day, my girls did some basic research, used indexing, reference and alphabetizing skills and learned that crickets will eat anything, up to and including watermelon, chocolate chip cookies and paper.The point is that I had to let go of “The Plan” – my plan for the day – and seize the new plan that had presented itself. We were all much happier and learned more than if I’d said, "Go away. I'm planning your education."
And I was grateful for yet another day of richly layered, meaningful learning, made possible by this mom’s aversion to labels.
Viva a collage of homeschooling, and long live aversions to labels.
"Camping"-inspired poetry
At dusk, we heard a whip-poor-will and Ramona was enchanted.
Early the next morning, she composed and recited to me:
I had to ask twice if she was actually saying, "insane." She confirmed that yes, indeed, she was.
"As in, 'crazy'?" I asked.
"Yes, Mommy. Insane."
Okay. Just checking.
Such a sane poem, don't you think?
Early the next morning, she composed and recited to me:
It's so beautiful here
If only insane, I could be a whip-poor-will.
I had to ask twice if she was actually saying, "insane." She confirmed that yes, indeed, she was.
"As in, 'crazy'?" I asked.
"Yes, Mommy. Insane."
Okay. Just checking.
Such a sane poem, don't you think?
Ramona, why did you pack Mr. Potato Head?
That's what Atticus and I heard Betsy ask as we were headed out for our "camping" trip.
I say "camping" because I don't really camp. I "camp" in a cute little cabin that is equipped with beds:
And, who knew, but it turns out that Mr. Potato Head is quite the little outdoorsman. He enjoys fishing:
taking in the view:
a cool drink after a hike:
... until next time ... when, there's no doubt, our spudly little friend will join us.
Ramona, I'm so glad you brought Mr. Potato Head.
I say "camping" because I don't really camp. I "camp" in a cute little cabin that is equipped with beds:
air conditioning, a kitchen, a patio:
and this view:
And, who knew, but it turns out that Mr. Potato Head is quite the little outdoorsman. He enjoys fishing:
rock climbing:
taking in the view:
a cool drink after a hike:
and, of course, s'mores:
He was nearly the victim of a tragic grilling accident:
but was rescued by three quick-thinking girls at the last possible moment.
Said girls then enjoyed a quiet time around the campfire:
The same girls also enjoyed photographing dangerous wildlife:
Alas, all good "camping" must come to an end, and we bid paradise adieu:
... until next time ... when, there's no doubt, our spudly little friend will join us.Ramona, I'm so glad you brought Mr. Potato Head.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Topping Ramona
It started way back here, with this.Ramona was one-upping me in the "I love you" department, and I said I couldn't top her after her cute, "I love you loadser."
Then, the always-lovable Amy at Between Daydreams said, "You could love her loadser with a cherry on top." And, since that night, the pile of things on top of the I love yous has grown exponentially. Ramona and I have a grand time, as I'm tucking her in, thinking of new ways to one-up the "I love yous". Ramona is a master.
Last night, it was this:
"I love you a whole, whole lot, all the way to heaven and back five times, and to infinity and beyond, with ice cream on top, and whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles and all the chocolate sauce in the world, and nine million, billion, eighty, ten, ninety cherries on top. And the cherries are very red and polished and really, really shiny."
Whew. How to top that?
(Confession: sometimes I cheat and respond, "I love you that much, too, with 97 more red and polished cherries on top." I'm simply not as wide-awake at bedtime as she is.)
Don't let Harry frighten you
Go congratulate Nancy Brown -- her book, The Mystery of Harry Potter, is now available! This book addresses the HP series and its themes, and takes a look at the reasons a faithful, orthodox Catholic needn't worry about the content or premise (age-appropriateness is another matter, but that always requires a parent's discernment.)
I can't wait to get my hands on a copy!
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Revisiting the pirate prayer
Last November, I mentioned "the pirate prayer." If this post is a rerun for you, please feel free to skip on to your next blog (it's okay ... I know I'm not your one and only.) I'm revisiting it because another priest at our parish mentioned it this past weekend in his homily. I took that as a nudge to once again spread the word about a very helpful way to pray.
To save you the click-through, here's the old post:
To save you the click-through, here's the old post:
My spiritual director introduced me to the pirate method of praying. You don't have to head for the high seas, or wear an eye patch, but you do have to remember "ARRR" (though you don't have to actually say it out loud....)
ARRR stands for:
Acknowledge
Relate
Receive
Respond
These steps in prayer are especially helpful to me when I'm responding to something with great emotion. At times, I find (or my spiritual director oh-so-gently points out) that I've intellectually sifted through a problem, but I'm still reacting strongly to the situation. Then, it's time to take it to God in prayer, and "ARRR" helps me in this way:
Acknowledge
Acknowledge what I'm feeling.
Acknowledge what I'm really feeling, not what I think I should feel, what I wish I could feel, what I think God wants me to feel. Acknowledge -- to myself -- my true feelings, no matter how irrational, unjustifiable or unpleasant they may be.
Relate
Relate those feelings to God. Tell Him -- tell Him what I've honestly recognized in myself. Lay it down at His feet, and hand it over to Him.
Receive
Receive what God has to offer me. Is He calling me to forgiveness? To healing? To action? Be open to what He offers.
Respond
This is self-explanatory. What did I receive from God in prayer? How will I respond to it?
These steps don't always occur as neatly as I've spelled them out. The "Acknowledge and Relate" stages may stretch out over many moments and sessions of prayer. Sometimes I find that I have to acknowledge over and over again what I'm really feeling about something before I'm ready to move on. So, the "Acknowledge and Relate" stages may include tears and times of simply pouring my heart and my feelings out to our loving God. Because I have to empty myself of my self before I'm ready to receive anything from the Lord.
But, I also have to remember that I can't get stuck in the "Acknowledge and Relate" stages. Reminding myself that I'm in the middle of a process is so helpful, so encouraging. When I've really and truly given up to God all that I've been holding on to, He will be there to pour out new graces that I'll then be ready to receive. Knowing that I'm only two steps into a process wards off despair and nurtures hope.
I know that there will be gifts to receive, and that He will give me the strength to respond to them.
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:13)
No eye patch required.
Ramona's not the only one
The Bookworm's daughter, Angel, also likes to be precise and literal. See this post for a very funny example.
It reminds me of something else Ramona said yesterday. I had to scold her for hitting her sister.
"We don't hit people," I admonished.
"But, Mommy," she said plaintively, "what if I literally have to hit them?"
Stifling a laugh (and isn't roughly 85% of good parenting knowing when to stifle a laugh?) I asked, "Now why would you literally have to hit them?"
With a little shake of her head, as if she could not believe her mother hadn't grasped this, she said, "Sometimes they just won't do what I want."
It reminds me of something else Ramona said yesterday. I had to scold her for hitting her sister.
"We don't hit people," I admonished.
"But, Mommy," she said plaintively, "what if I literally have to hit them?"
Stifling a laugh (and isn't roughly 85% of good parenting knowing when to stifle a laugh?) I asked, "Now why would you literally have to hit them?"
With a little shake of her head, as if she could not believe her mother hadn't grasped this, she said, "Sometimes they just won't do what I want."
Monday, June 18, 2007
She likes to be precise
Ramona was up before anyone else. She crept into the living room and (she later told me) looked at Beachcombing
for awhile, then tiptoed up to my side of the bed and woke me.
As I stumbled toward the coffeemaker, she said to me, "I went to the computer, but you weren't there."
"No," I yawned, "I wasn't. You were the first one up."
She glanced over at the cat. "No, technically, Mr. Putter was the first one up. But I was the first person."
for awhile, then tiptoed up to my side of the bed and woke me.As I stumbled toward the coffeemaker, she said to me, "I went to the computer, but you weren't there."
"No," I yawned, "I wasn't. You were the first one up."
She glanced over at the cat. "No, technically, Mr. Putter was the first one up. But I was the first person."
Sunday, June 17, 2007
More truly, more madly
This is the image that should have been chosen for Truly, Madly, Deeply instead of the silliness that was inexplicably used on the video and dvd covers.
Ana, in the comments on my earlier post, asked for more information, saying that she was highly skeptical of this film and its maker, as she was decidedly not a fan of The English Patient (which I never had much desire to see and so can't really comment about.) I've not seen Anthony Minghella's "bigger" movies and initially, I didn't even realize that this one was done by the same director.
The premise of this film has no doubt kept many potential viewers away (not to mention the bad video cover art, which seems to want us thinking this movie will be full of zany fun. Uh-uh.)
The premise: Nina (Juliet Stevenson) has lost her beloved, Jamie (Alan Rickman) and she's slowly been swallowed up by her grief. But then, one day, Jamie comes back. From the dead.
"Oh, n-o-o-o," Atticus moaned, "It's like that Patrick Swayze movie!" and he immediately lost interest (and who could blame him? And how many others have thought the same thing? I now blame Patrick Swayze for the fact that I did not get to experience Truly, Madly, Deeply much, much earlier in life.)
And, just in case you're wondering, yes, Atticus did watch it with me last night (I first watched it the night before, when he was out of town) and yes, he liked it. Very much. Not quite the head-over-heels reaction I had, but ultimately he was charmed. I can always tell he's enjoying a movie if he actually pauses it when he has to leave the room. If he casually mumbles, "No, that's okay, leave it running," I know I've got a thumbs-down on my hands.
Truly, Madly, Deeply was Minghella's very first film, and the story behind it (included on the dvd's special features) is interesting. He says it grew out of "an act of cowardice" -- he accepted the job of making this movie for the BBC as a way of experimenting with directing on a small scale, with a project he thought no one would really see should he happen to fail miserably. It was shot in 28 days, mostly on first takes.
What is it about this movie that made me fall in love with it?
Just about everything, actually.
I'll admit to being a pushover for a movie that uses Bach and a cello so beautifully. Clearly, it had me with the opening scenes.
But, there's also Juliet Stevenson's acting, which is exquisite. There's the pointed look at grief and loss, and the genuine, searing pain of it all. There's wit and a sense of humor and unexpected lines that make you laugh out loud with their sharp revelation of character. And, there is the utterly affecting portrayal of a very real love between a man and a woman, complete with in-jokes and goofiness.
I was going to try to write the definitive review of this new favorite, but then while Googling, I stumbled on this review, at a site I'm sure I would otherwise never have found. It's a near-perfect look at the movie, and I realized there was no point in my efforts at capturing my reactions. This woman has said just about everything I would have said (I have only minor quibbles) -- almost every favorite line of mine, every brilliant touch -- I might just love this review as much as I love Truly, Madly, Deeply. Thank you, whoever you are. (But, reader beware: lots of plot spoilers in this thorough look at the film.)
I'll leave you with the following glorious, ironic scene. I love Nina's giddy joy here as she revels in Jamie, who has just returned. And, as the above referenced reviewer has noted, it's going to take at least a week to get this song out of my head. Even Ramona is singing it.
Here is a clip of Alan Rickman and Juliet Stevenson doing The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore.
Now. Go rent the movie.
6/23/07: edited to add this link, for the above referenced review. For some reason, the site I linked to seems to have disappeared from the face of cyberspace. People, people ... please feel free to tell me that I have a faulty link ....
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Marriage Meme
This one's an old meme. Jean at Catholic Fire tagged me awhile back and I started it, but it got buried in my Drafts file. So, here it is, popping up on a Saturday morning, like a good friend ready to fill in for me when I'm too tired to go to work.
1. Where/How did you meet?
In college -- i.e., in a previous life.
Don't believe in reincarnation? I do -- it's just that it happens during this life, not after. It's called redemption. In other words -- the people we met back then? Not the people we are now.
2. How long have you known each other?
27 years.
3. How long after you met did you start dating?
I knew Atticus vaguely when I was a freshman. He was an ex-Marine who scared me. My best friend said he had the handwriting of an axe murderer.
I found out later that Atticus saw me in a play that year (I played the part of an 80-year-old woman dying of cancer) and said to himself, "I'm going to marry her." I was relieved to find out that he based this on my picture in the program rather than on how I looked onstage (although, it was a truly awful picture, proving that he's always had quirky taste in women.)
A couple of years later, he was in a play, and I thought he looked dashing rather than scary. I made my move.
4. How long did you date before you were engaged?
That depends on what you mean by date and by engaged.
5. How long was your engagement?
About three weeks. I said, "Hey, my parents will be in town for my sister's wedding. Should we get married that weekend, too?" He said okay.
I'm not kidding.
6. How long have you been married?
23 years, to everyone's surprise.
7. What is your anniversary?
The feast day of St. Thomas Aquinas (though clearly we had no idea at the time.)
8. How many people came to your wedding reception?
About 15.
9. What kind of cake did you serve?
One that served 15.
10. Where was your wedding?
In the courthouse. We were married by a judge (a valid marriage in the eyes of the Church, by the way, as neither of us was Catholic nor had we been raised Catholic. The marriage became a sacramental one six years later, when I was baptized; Atticus had been baptized in the Lutheran church as an infant. We didn't have to "do anything" about our marriage when I, and later Atticus, became Catholic.)
11. What did you serve for your meal?
Everyone ordered his or her own meal at a restaurant.
12. How many people were in your bridal party?
Two -- the matron of honor and the best man.
13. Are you still friends with them all?
My sister is still my friend, thank goodness. And, yes, we still stay in touch with the best man, who was a former college professor.
I almost had my best friend, Jack, act as my "man of honor" but ended up deciding on my sister.( I was, however, the "best woman" at Jack's wedding.)
14. Did your spouse cry during the ceremony?
I don't think so.
15. Most special moment of your wedding day?
Realizing I was actually married, that I was actually Mrs. Edmisten (although, I didn't change my name for seven or eight years.)
16. Any funny moments?
No -- unless you count our entire way of doing things.
17. Any big disasters?
No -- unless you count our entire way of doing things.
18. Where did you go on your honeymoon?
We didn't go anywhere right away, but went to Florida about six months later.
19. How long were you gone?
Long enough to get a really bad sunburn, eat a lot of shrimp, and go to Disney World.
20. If you were to do your wedding over, what would you change?
On the one hand, everything. I've sometimes wondered what a normal wedding would have been like.
On the other hand, nothing. God took the raw material of who and what we were, and here we are today, by His grace. Can I improve upon His handiwork?
21. What side of the bed do you sleep on?
The side children always seem to show up on.
22. What size is your bed?
Big enough for both of us, a cat, and sometimes a child, though I sleep better without a small child's feet in my face.
23. Greatest strength as a couple?
That we both really love being home together, we both really love being parents, and we -- finally -- share our faith.
24. Greatest challenge as a couple?
Agreeing on the date night video.
25. Who literally pays the bills?
I sit down to do the paperwork, overflowing with gratitude that Atticus supports the mission of a stay-at-home mom.
26. What is your song?
Nat King Cole singing, The Christmas Song. Very sweet story behind it.
27. What did you dance your first dance to?
At our wedding? Or ever? If it's "ever" it's probably something that involved pogoing.
28. Describe your wedding dress:
It was a simple dress, probably not worth describing to those who enjoy such things ... I've never been good at describing much of anything about clothing. Most of the time, my eyes glaze over and I'm lost when it comes to talking fabrics, beads and accessories.
29. What kind of flowers did you have at your wedding?
At the time, I was sort of the same way about flowers that I was about dresses and fabrics.
But, if I were to marry Atticus again, I would want just a few roses, to thank St. Therese for her intercession over the years.
30. Are your wedding bands engraved?
No. They're simple, plain gold bands. I didn't want an engagement ring, either, because we didn't really do the whole engagement thing and I've never cared much about diamonds.
But, I treasure my plain, gold band. It's been through a lot with us.
1. Where/How did you meet?
In college -- i.e., in a previous life.
Don't believe in reincarnation? I do -- it's just that it happens during this life, not after. It's called redemption. In other words -- the people we met back then? Not the people we are now.
2. How long have you known each other?
27 years.
3. How long after you met did you start dating?
I knew Atticus vaguely when I was a freshman. He was an ex-Marine who scared me. My best friend said he had the handwriting of an axe murderer.
I found out later that Atticus saw me in a play that year (I played the part of an 80-year-old woman dying of cancer) and said to himself, "I'm going to marry her." I was relieved to find out that he based this on my picture in the program rather than on how I looked onstage (although, it was a truly awful picture, proving that he's always had quirky taste in women.)
A couple of years later, he was in a play, and I thought he looked dashing rather than scary. I made my move.
4. How long did you date before you were engaged?
That depends on what you mean by date and by engaged.
5. How long was your engagement?
About three weeks. I said, "Hey, my parents will be in town for my sister's wedding. Should we get married that weekend, too?" He said okay.
I'm not kidding.
6. How long have you been married?
23 years, to everyone's surprise.
7. What is your anniversary?
The feast day of St. Thomas Aquinas (though clearly we had no idea at the time.)
8. How many people came to your wedding reception?
About 15.
9. What kind of cake did you serve?
One that served 15.
10. Where was your wedding?
In the courthouse. We were married by a judge (a valid marriage in the eyes of the Church, by the way, as neither of us was Catholic nor had we been raised Catholic. The marriage became a sacramental one six years later, when I was baptized; Atticus had been baptized in the Lutheran church as an infant. We didn't have to "do anything" about our marriage when I, and later Atticus, became Catholic.)
11. What did you serve for your meal?
Everyone ordered his or her own meal at a restaurant.
12. How many people were in your bridal party?
Two -- the matron of honor and the best man.
13. Are you still friends with them all?
My sister is still my friend, thank goodness. And, yes, we still stay in touch with the best man, who was a former college professor.
I almost had my best friend, Jack, act as my "man of honor" but ended up deciding on my sister.( I was, however, the "best woman" at Jack's wedding.)
14. Did your spouse cry during the ceremony?
I don't think so.
15. Most special moment of your wedding day?
Realizing I was actually married, that I was actually Mrs. Edmisten (although, I didn't change my name for seven or eight years.)
16. Any funny moments?
No -- unless you count our entire way of doing things.
17. Any big disasters?
No -- unless you count our entire way of doing things.
18. Where did you go on your honeymoon?
We didn't go anywhere right away, but went to Florida about six months later.
19. How long were you gone?
Long enough to get a really bad sunburn, eat a lot of shrimp, and go to Disney World.
20. If you were to do your wedding over, what would you change?
On the one hand, everything. I've sometimes wondered what a normal wedding would have been like.
On the other hand, nothing. God took the raw material of who and what we were, and here we are today, by His grace. Can I improve upon His handiwork?
21. What side of the bed do you sleep on?
The side children always seem to show up on.
22. What size is your bed?
Big enough for both of us, a cat, and sometimes a child, though I sleep better without a small child's feet in my face.
23. Greatest strength as a couple?
That we both really love being home together, we both really love being parents, and we -- finally -- share our faith.
24. Greatest challenge as a couple?
Agreeing on the date night video.
25. Who literally pays the bills?
I sit down to do the paperwork, overflowing with gratitude that Atticus supports the mission of a stay-at-home mom.
26. What is your song?
Nat King Cole singing, The Christmas Song. Very sweet story behind it.
27. What did you dance your first dance to?
At our wedding? Or ever? If it's "ever" it's probably something that involved pogoing.
28. Describe your wedding dress:
It was a simple dress, probably not worth describing to those who enjoy such things ... I've never been good at describing much of anything about clothing. Most of the time, my eyes glaze over and I'm lost when it comes to talking fabrics, beads and accessories.
29. What kind of flowers did you have at your wedding?
At the time, I was sort of the same way about flowers that I was about dresses and fabrics.
But, if I were to marry Atticus again, I would want just a few roses, to thank St. Therese for her intercession over the years.
30. Are your wedding bands engraved?
No. They're simple, plain gold bands. I didn't want an engagement ring, either, because we didn't really do the whole engagement thing and I've never cared much about diamonds.
But, I treasure my plain, gold band. It's been through a lot with us.
Truly, Madly, Deeply
Where has this movie been all my life?
I truly, madly, deeply loved Truly, Madly, Deeply. I realize I'm about sixteen years late to the fan club (but then, that's my modus operandi.)
Ignore the awful DVD cover.
Savor the quirky, sweet, funny, romantic, gut-wrenching, lovely details of this film.
I truly, madly, deeply loved Truly, Madly, Deeply. I realize I'm about sixteen years late to the fan club (but then, that's my modus operandi.)
Ignore the awful DVD cover.
Savor the quirky, sweet, funny, romantic, gut-wrenching, lovely details of this film.
The Immaculate Heart of Mary
Friday, June 15, 2007
Great article about Poetry Friday!
Via Kelly (founder of Poetry Friday), at Big A little a, and also brought to our attention by Becky at Farm School:
Susan Thomsen, from Chicken Spaghetti, has a great article about Poetry Friday. The article is here, at the Poetry Foundation. Susan calls Poetry Friday "an online literary happy hour, without the quaffs."
Included are some excellent resources to check, such as a link to the U.S. Copyright office and Poetry Friday for Dummies, by Mitali Perkins (who links to this piece at Stanford University Libraries on "Copyright and Fair Use.")
Poetry Friday is spreading ... spread the word, and spread the poetry.
To participate, visit Kelly at Big A little a. Check the schedule in her sidebar to find out whose hosting, head over to the host's blog and leave a link to your post. It's that simple!
Susan Thomsen, from Chicken Spaghetti, has a great article about Poetry Friday. The article is here, at the Poetry Foundation. Susan calls Poetry Friday "an online literary happy hour, without the quaffs."
Included are some excellent resources to check, such as a link to the U.S. Copyright office and Poetry Friday for Dummies, by Mitali Perkins (who links to this piece at Stanford University Libraries on "Copyright and Fair Use.")
Poetry Friday is spreading ... spread the word, and spread the poetry.
To participate, visit Kelly at Big A little a. Check the schedule in her sidebar to find out whose hosting, head over to the host's blog and leave a link to your post. It's that simple!
Poetry Friday
Visit The Simple and the Ordinary for the Poetry Friday Round-up today.
Gotta love the new "Mr. Linky" way of doing things.
I linked to this poem by Betsy, who has announced, "Mommy, I decided to be a poet when I grow up."
And, she has also already experienced the anguish of being a writer:
"Oh, Mom! This latest poem I tried to write ... it came out sounding like one of Ramona's little books:
The lion this,
the lion that,
blah, blah, blah ... it doesn't sound like a poem at a-a-a-all!" she wailed.
Welcome to the writing world, my sweet, where the words don't always flow ... but keep writing anyway. They'll come, they'll come. In their own good time, they'll come.
Gotta love the new "Mr. Linky" way of doing things.
I linked to this poem by Betsy, who has announced, "Mommy, I decided to be a poet when I grow up."
And, she has also already experienced the anguish of being a writer:
"Oh, Mom! This latest poem I tried to write ... it came out sounding like one of Ramona's little books:
The lion this,
the lion that,
blah, blah, blah ... it doesn't sound like a poem at a-a-a-all!" she wailed.
Welcome to the writing world, my sweet, where the words don't always flow ... but keep writing anyway. They'll come, they'll come. In their own good time, they'll come.
It's the World Day of Prayer for
the Sanctification of Priests. Dear Papa John Paul II appropriately chose the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus as the day on which we should pray and fast for our priests.
Be sure to offer your Friday penance, and any additional fasting and prayers for our priests, who so need our help, support, and love.
As always, see the wonderful Catholic Culture, Women for Faith and Family, and the Catholic Encyclopedia for more information.
I'm Intrigued
Paul Thigpen's new book, My Visit to Hell,
looks really interesting.Reviews, anyone?
H/T to Sarah, at Another Day of Catholic Pondering ... I was checking out her list: "Nose Inserted" ....
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Where are the Kratt Brothers?
I love these guys.
Now, thanks to the magic of DVD, Ramona does, too.
But, Kratt Brothers ... where are you? All I can find that's more current than Zoboomafoo is this series on DVD, called Be the Creature.
It was on the National Geographic channel, and was geared to adults, though I think my kids would love it. It looks like a gem.And, it looks like we're not the only fans, as I found this fan club site via Google.
Kratt Brothers ... where are you now?
Getting Good Books into Your Library
Visit Maureen Wittmann here for great ideas about making purchasing suggestions to your library. And, be sure to check out her wonderful Pope St. Nicholas V list, which offers specific book suggestions, as well as other ideas and encouragement.
LOAFing with the Bookworm
Awhile back, I noted this post from The Bookworm on my Google Reader's Shared Items.
In it, Kathryn talks about a great acronym for the ways in which we can try to shop more ethically:
I have been trying to make a few changes along these lines, too. Awhile back, I posted about how our focus during Lent (through Operation Rice Bowl) was convincing me that I needed to be more concerned about the coffee I drink and the chocolate I eat.
As Kathryn says:
I'm working on a few things at a time, such as the coffee and the chocolate. I haven't succeeded entirely. I'm due to place another order for more fair trade coffee, and will do so today. But, my addictions (as previously noted) are tragic and pathetic, and I was recently seen skulking into the grocery store to score whatever coffee I could find.
I tried to switch our milk source (to a local dairy farmer who delivers), but she told me they had all the customers they could handle. So, the milk situation is trickier, since the organic, locally produced stuff in the store is much more expensive.
Organic fruits and vegetables are also more expensive, but I'm trying to switch over here and there. It's easy to find locally grown stuff in the summertime, when farmer's markets are all over the place, but it's not easy year-round.
Any feedback or ideas on how to more economically make these kinds of changes is appreciated.
In it, Kathryn talks about a great acronym for the ways in which we can try to shop more ethically:
After Mass last week I spotted a poster in the Parish Hall from Christian Ecology Link which set out succinctly the principles towards which I was blundering under my own steam. Apparently, I am now using my LOAF by looking for items that are:
* Locally produced
* Organically grown
* Animal friendly
* Fairly traded
I have been trying to make a few changes along these lines, too. Awhile back, I posted about how our focus during Lent (through Operation Rice Bowl) was convincing me that I needed to be more concerned about the coffee I drink and the chocolate I eat.
As Kathryn says:
I am not worrying about an all-or-nothing approach, and simply trying to do what I can. Given that I am starting from a near-zero base anything has to be an improvement! My budget will not run to a complete switch, and I am trying to balance costs and benefits.
I'm working on a few things at a time, such as the coffee and the chocolate. I haven't succeeded entirely. I'm due to place another order for more fair trade coffee, and will do so today. But, my addictions (as previously noted) are tragic and pathetic, and I was recently seen skulking into the grocery store to score whatever coffee I could find.
I tried to switch our milk source (to a local dairy farmer who delivers), but she told me they had all the customers they could handle. So, the milk situation is trickier, since the organic, locally produced stuff in the store is much more expensive.
Organic fruits and vegetables are also more expensive, but I'm trying to switch over here and there. It's easy to find locally grown stuff in the summertime, when farmer's markets are all over the place, but it's not easy year-round.
Any feedback or ideas on how to more economically make these kinds of changes is appreciated.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
St. Anthony of Padua
My meditation for today, in OSV's My Daily Visitor, is about St. Anthony of Padua:
Now ... back to my birthday girl, Betsy.
The Language of God
St. Anthony of Padua (1195-1231; proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1946) was known for outstanding preaching. He said: "The man who is filled with the Holy Spirit speaks in different languages. These different languages are different ways of witnessing to Christ, such as humility, poverty, patience and obedience; we speak in those languages when we reveal in ourselves these virtues to others." Anthony's own humility and obedience were evident in the path he chose, so different from the privileged life his parents had planned for him.
Many of us have turned to St. Anthony when we've misplaced our car keys, but we can also ask this patron saint of finding lost objects to restore humility, poverty, patience and obedience when those virtues seem nowhere to be found.
St. Anthony, pray for us!
This morning, we found ourselves invoking St. Anthony's name and thing-finding prayers. The bracelet she recently bought is missing. The many links she got for her birthday are right here, patiently waiting to be attached to their new home.
As soon as we can find it.
St. Anthony, pray for us!
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
And the birthday girl says ...
... in response to my request for her forgiveness and the offer of a cake from the bakery if she wanted to pick one up before the friends came for cake:
"Why would I want a cake from the bakery when I can have your delicious cake??"
It was affectionately dubbed "The Earthquake Cake" for the huge crater that ran through its middle.
It was enjoyed by all chocolate fans, and loved all the more for its flaws.
Just like the mom who made it.
The daughter? Oh, she's perfect. Just perfect.
"Why would I want a cake from the bakery when I can have your delicious cake??"
It was affectionately dubbed "The Earthquake Cake" for the huge crater that ran through its middle.
It was enjoyed by all chocolate fans, and loved all the more for its flaws.
Just like the mom who made it.
The daughter? Oh, she's perfect. Just perfect.
Monday, June 11, 2007
C'mon, you can do it
There's still time to participate in the raffle (55 prizes!) at Danielle Bean's fundraiser for the St. Gianna Maternity Home. So far, you generous donors are up about $6,000. Awesome!
Get over there now -- you have only until 9 p.m. EST tonight, June 11th.
All the details are here.
Get over there now -- you have only until 9 p.m. EST tonight, June 11th.
All the details are here.
Ever ruined your daughter's birthday cake?
I'm just not the best at this stuff. Sometimes I feel like such a schlep at all things domestic.
Actually, I often do fairly well on cakes; sometimes I even make a really pretty one.
But this one was a disaster from start to finish -- falling apart, a crater running through the top layer, one layer sliding off the other, frosting that wouldn't hold its shape ....
Sigh.
I know my Betsy, though. She won't care. She'll see the love that went into the baking and despite the failed decorating she'll say, "That's okay, Mommy. It will still taste good!" And she'll be right. It won't be perfect, but it will still taste good.
And yet, I wanted it to be perfect for her.
Sort of like the way I want the world to be for my children. I can't always stop that from slipping and sliding out of place, either, and maybe that's the lesson here.
"You did your best, didn't you?" Atticus asked sweetly, as I teared up looking at the awful result of my labor.
"Ye-e-e-s," I whined. "But it still didn't come out right!"
Yes. It's true.
Sometimes, we do our best and things still fall apart.
But, a mother's love, a husband's sweetness, and a little girl who can see beyond outward trappings ... those things go a long way toward putting the pieces back together.
And, because it's chocolate, it will still taste good.
And, of course, I get the best present of all: Betsy the Best.
Actually, I often do fairly well on cakes; sometimes I even make a really pretty one.
But this one was a disaster from start to finish -- falling apart, a crater running through the top layer, one layer sliding off the other, frosting that wouldn't hold its shape ....
Sigh.
I know my Betsy, though. She won't care. She'll see the love that went into the baking and despite the failed decorating she'll say, "That's okay, Mommy. It will still taste good!" And she'll be right. It won't be perfect, but it will still taste good.
And yet, I wanted it to be perfect for her.
Sort of like the way I want the world to be for my children. I can't always stop that from slipping and sliding out of place, either, and maybe that's the lesson here.
"You did your best, didn't you?" Atticus asked sweetly, as I teared up looking at the awful result of my labor.
"Ye-e-e-s," I whined. "But it still didn't come out right!"
Yes. It's true.
Sometimes, we do our best and things still fall apart.
But, a mother's love, a husband's sweetness, and a little girl who can see beyond outward trappings ... those things go a long way toward putting the pieces back together.
And, because it's chocolate, it will still taste good.
And, of course, I get the best present of all: Betsy the Best.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Feast of Corpus Christi
A blessed Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the most Holy Body and Blood of Christ!On this feast day six years ago, our eldest daughter received her First Holy Communion. It was a day soaked in sunshine and rejoicing.
Prior to Atticus's conversion, I'd prayed that God would draw Atticus to the Catholic Church before Anne-with-an-e first received her First Eucharist.
God has such impeccable timing, doesn't He?
I asked. I received.
It's not always quite that simple, of course.
And, to imply that Atticus's journey to the Catholic Church was "simple" is less-than-accurate. I'll skip over the screaming matches we had after I became a Christian (I wasn't always -- ahem -- a quick-study when it came to putting my newfound faith into practice.) It was a long road, an often painful trip.
But, as arduous trips go, it was one worth making. We're so grateful that we slogged through the muck to reach the end, which is really, as any Christian knows, a profoundly new beginning.
Happy anniversary of your First Holy Communion, my sweet Anne.
And thank you, Heavenly Father, for Your many ineffable gifts.
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Turning to Betsy-Tacy News ....
Thanks to Irene at the 4Real forums for alerting us to the following:Betsy-Tacy, by Maud Hart Lovelace,
will soon be available on audio CD.Could this bode well for the future of the books?
technorati tags: Kid Lit
Date Night
We're on a Jane Austen kick.The latest was Persuasion.
Gorgeous. Lush. Romantic. Be prepared for a quiet little movie (Atticus commented that it was, at times, "Jane Austen meets Ingmar Bergman") but, really lovely. If you're husband is up for "lovely" on date night.Technorati tags: Movies
The Best Dad
I was just looking for something at Amazon,and found this on the front page:
Now ... who do you think I voted for? (And, he's currently tied for second place with Cliff Huxtable, after Homer Simpson. Doh!)
and found this on the front page:Click to Vote for Your Favorite Dad:
Homer Simpson
Atticus Finch
Tony Soprano
Cliff Huxtable
Mike Brady
Darth Vader
Homer Simpson
Atticus Finch
Tony Soprano
Cliff Huxtable
Mike Brady
Darth Vader
Now ... who do you think I voted for? (And, he's currently tied for second place with Cliff Huxtable, after Homer Simpson. Doh!)
Friday, June 08, 2007
Bored? Turn to Semicolon
Thanks to the wonderful Sherry at Semicolon for these two great listsBored: Nothing to Do
and
100 More Things to Do When You're Bored: Summer Edition
which are now posted in our kitchen. I even plan to expand and tailor the lists to apply more directly to my very own, personal collection of kids.
Note from the Mom-Tested Department:
Especially popular here last night was #17 on the second list: Goop. It's not quite as bad to clean up as one might think, but I'd suggest putting newspaper down on the mixing surface. Live and learn.
And let's hope it's the last
Ramona, after blowing bubbles into her breakfast beverage:
"Well! That's the first time today that I've gotten chocolate milk in my eye!"
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Today's Meditation in My Daily Visitor
Danielle Bean's Charity Raffle
Danielle Bean is running a raffle to raise money for the oh-so-deserving St. Gianna Maternity Home!
This is a great cause, a great way to raise money, and a fun way to donate.
Please see this post at Danielle's site for all the details.
Danielle writes:
The prizes are listed in the above-referenced post and range from books, to gift certificates (there's a $25 Amazon certificate donated by yours truly), to subscriptions, a toy, a planner and other great surprises.
Don't miss this chance -- donate a few dollars to the beautiful work of St. Gianna Maternity Home, and you might win something fun this summer!
Updated on 6/7/07 to note: 50 prizes! Yes ... 50 prizes!
This is a great cause, a great way to raise money, and a fun way to donate.
Please see this post at Danielle's site for all the details.
Danielle writes:
... your donation just might win one of 39 super-cool prizes! Did I say 39 super-cool prizes? Why yes, I did. When I put a call out for prize donations, people absolutely overwhelmed me with their generous responses. Every $5 you donate to St. Gianna Maternity Home will earn you one chance in a random drawing for the following fabulous prizes ....
The prizes are listed in the above-referenced post and range from books, to gift certificates (there's a $25 Amazon certificate donated by yours truly), to subscriptions, a toy, a planner and other great surprises.
Don't miss this chance -- donate a few dollars to the beautiful work of St. Gianna Maternity Home, and you might win something fun this summer!
Updated on 6/7/07 to note: 50 prizes! Yes ... 50 prizes!
Love in the Little Things
Love in the Little Things: Tales of Family Life, by Mike Aquilina, is a "little book." You know what I mean: you take a look, think you can knock this book off by lunch time, and that'll be that.But, Love in the Little Things
is bigger than that. Yes, the reading is quick and easy, but the ideas loom larger than their appearance. Hmmm ... kind of like Jesus of Nazareth ... growing up in a non-descript way, living a quiet family life, full of hidden things beyond this earthly realm, beyond our imagining.And that's what Mike Aquilina shows us: that family life is a very real reflection of the Trinity. It's the path to holiness for those of us who are called to this vocation.
But, these little vignettes aren't heavy-handed lectures. They are charming tales about Mike (often self-deprecating), his wife, Terri (adoring), and their delightful children (abundant fatherly love abounds.)
In this post, I mentioned that Mike used a few lines from one of my favorite Gerard Manley Hopkins poems. In "It's Verse than I Imagined" (and yes, many of the titles are punny, as are Mike's blog post titles), Mike takes a look at his daughter Mary Agnes's growing awareness of the unrelenting ways in which life will break our hearts. He inserts the Hopkins lines at the perfect moment -- and every parent will face a version of this moment -- and in doing so, elevates this essay from sweet and charming to profound.
And, he keeps doing that. In short pieces about his wife, his children and his parents, he shows us, time and again, that family life is bursting with opportunities to grow in holiness. Bishop Thomas Tobin, of Providence, called this book "a domestic catechism for the domestic church," and it is that, indeed.
I'm starting to sound like a broken record -- every time I read a writer I love, I say I want that writer to live next door to me, and come over for copious amounts of coffee (I think Mike would approve the beverage choice ... one of the essays is entitled, "For the Love of Coffee" ....)
I'm afraid it's true again. It's no secret that I love Mike Aquilina -- I spelled out the reasons why in this post about my first piece of published writing -- and I would love for Mike and Terri to move in next door. I'd love to meet their poetic Mary Agnes and their blunt Isabella (who, in "The Truth About Butterfly Princess" told her father, "That's OK, though. I'll bet you were really handsome back when Mommy married you.") I'd love to talk to Rosemary, the "great and cute saint," to meet sneaker-wearing Michael, who pays as much attention to what's on his feet as does my Anne-with-an-e, and to hug their little Gracie, whose encounter with beloved Papa John Paul II was as sweet as it was enviable.
In other words, I'd love to meet the whole crew. You will, too, after reading Love in the Little Things. And, while you're being charmed by these tales of family life, you just might pick up some tips and inspiration for that long and winding road to heaven along the way.
My Betsy, my poet
Betsy came in from playing outside last night, and sat down at the coffee table. She began writing, quickly, quickly. This is what came out:
The Road
(by Betsy, almost 11)
As I sit
amongst the clover
I stare across
the broad, vast arch
to the future.
I rise
with a stone in my hand.
I throw it across
and listen to it clatter.
Then I turn and run
from the broad, vast arch
to the future.
(also included in the Poetry Friday round-up at The Simple and the Ordinary.)
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
The Loveliness of Taking Meals Outdoors
Be sure to visit Jennifer, for the
Loveliness of Taking Meals Outdoors fair.
It's lovely! It's outside!
What more could one ask on a fine summer day?
Monday, June 04, 2007
Ramona's Tragic Existence
One recent night, as I was tucking Ramona into bed, she whimpered and whined pathetically.
When I asked her what was wrong, she wailed:
"I didn't get to say goodnight to Betsy in a foreign language!"
When I asked her what was wrong, she wailed:
"I didn't get to say goodnight to Betsy in a foreign language!"
I'm tired just thinking about what Donna's up to
Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle is one busy woman. Her new book, Prayerfully Expecting: A Nine-Month Novena for Mothers-to-be, is now available, and she's busy with book signings and talks. See this post for more details.
And, she will now be a monthly guest on "Catholic Connection" with Teresa Tomeo. She talks a little more about that in this post, and asks for topic suggestions for upcoming shows.
And, she will now be a monthly guest on "Catholic Connection" with Teresa Tomeo. She talks a little more about that in this post, and asks for topic suggestions for upcoming shows.
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Eight Things Meme
I was tagged for this meme by Susan at Chicken Spaghetti. (Gosh ... just when I'd sworn off memes, too. I always seem to end up saying or revealing something silly or embarrassing....)Rules:
"For this meme, each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog."
Alrighty. I can handle that. Here are my eight:
1. I drink too much coffee. Turning on the coffee pot is the first thing I do in the morning, and sometimes I actually dream about doing it. Yup. I really look forward to my coffee.
2. I usually drink my coffee black, though I also love it with cream, or with milk. I can drink regular or flavored coffee, but I never, never, never add sugar. Ever. Unless I'm having one of those lavishly sugared-up cappuccinos and then I relish the sweetness, but that's not really coffee.
3. I eat too much chocolate.
4. I love milk chocolate, dark chocolate, chocolate with nuts, chocolate truffles, chocolate with toffee, caramel and chocolate, chocolate with peanut butter ... almost any kind of chocolate except chocolate-covered cherries. Can. not. handle. them.
5. I always volunteer for Vacation Bible School. I always -- by the second day -- wonder why in the world I volunteered for Vacation Bible School. I always, by the last day, am so happy that I volunteered for Vacation Bible School.
6. I was blessed to know (and to have great relationships with) all four of my wonderful grandparents well into my adulthood. The last of them passed away when I was 40.
7. When I was six years old, I had a crush on Jonny Quest.
8. Atticus is in charge of meals on the weekends. I love that. I love him for that. He cooked for me on our first date, and I fell completely, instantly in love. A reader, a writer, a scholar, a poet's soul, and a cook? I was a goner.
I am tagging these blogs:
Daily Donna-Marie
Between Daydreams
S/V Mari Hal-O-Jen
Maureen Wittmann
Ana Braga-Henebry's Journal
Waltzing Matilda
Small Treasures
Minnesota Mom
(Fortune cookie picture courtesy of Image Chef.)
Karen E.'s Shared Items
Oh, how I love the "Share" feature on Google Reader!
I just added about five new entries -- posts I'm sure I'll get back to over here in the main column, but in the meantime, "Shared Items" can act as my reminder, my planner and my linky-ness.
Have a beautiful Feast of the Holy Trinity!
I just added about five new entries -- posts I'm sure I'll get back to over here in the main column, but in the meantime, "Shared Items" can act as my reminder, my planner and my linky-ness.
Have a beautiful Feast of the Holy Trinity!
Friday, June 01, 2007
I survived VBS, 2007!
Whew.
Now that Vacation Bible School is over, I might actually get back to real life and real posting over the next week or so. Between Atticus's surgery, a week-long visit from my parents, and then VBS, I haven't known what day it was since roughly the middle of May.
While all of it was grand (except the surgery, of course, if I may speak for Atticus), it will be nice to slow down and meander into our summertime routine, which will, naturally, be full of -- what else? -- planning for the next school year.
Now that Vacation Bible School is over, I might actually get back to real life and real posting over the next week or so. Between Atticus's surgery, a week-long visit from my parents, and then VBS, I haven't known what day it was since roughly the middle of May.
While all of it was grand (except the surgery, of course, if I may speak for Atticus), it will be nice to slow down and meander into our summertime routine, which will, naturally, be full of -- what else? -- planning for the next school year.
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