tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59406675130899595972024-03-13T08:59:46.565-07:00In the purple houseLisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004349018085389442noreply@blogger.comBlogger432125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940667513089959597.post-19702088925175903092013-11-06T20:15:00.000-08:002013-11-06T20:15:09.902-08:00A Lullaby(sung to me in the wee hours when the alarm rang too early, by Lucy, age 4 3/4, and then recreated later in the day by her so I could write it down)<br />
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Once upon a time ago<br />
in a lonely cabin deep in the big woods of Wisconsin,<br />
there was a little girl born, named Mary<br />
with her mother, Caroline,<br />
and her daddy, Charles.<br />
Then another girl was born in the lonely cabin in Wisconsin forest.<br />
And her name was Laura.<br />
And they moved to the prairie, the prairie.<br />
And then another girl was born and they named her Carrie.<br />
Two years were skipped,<br />
so we don't really know when Grace was born,<br />
but we do know that Grace was born.<br />
And they turned around<br />
and they went back to the big woods of Wisconsin<br />
(I'm going to change it a little so Grace sees the big woods)<br />
and Grace, their newborn baby, saw the big woods of Wisconsin<br />
where Black Susan lived<br />
and Jack, their brindle bulldog. Lisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004349018085389442noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940667513089959597.post-18865338719865170622013-02-06T18:36:00.000-08:002013-03-06T18:43:00.176-08:00The Nields in valentine and doll formIt continues to be <a href="http://www.inthepurplehouse.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Nields">all Nields all the time</a> in our house. <br />
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This week, I've got a self-serve valentines-making buffet set up in the studio. Like all the kids, Lucy is making lots of valentines for her friends and family. But hers have a special twist: they all feature The Nields.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4TdAMVGE3hWv5nCAZJfSlrVUBYxU6KfoPDIGz4Zubk1GtnoeOqOC9WoEp_0fw3_68izJp_1L9h1x7xn_tEARizhwUCeEX17L69_Z7hUzL0xJ58sChpCpB2ayys1bzHvnVuD8wlNLNhtk/s1600/IMG_1756.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4TdAMVGE3hWv5nCAZJfSlrVUBYxU6KfoPDIGz4Zubk1GtnoeOqOC9WoEp_0fw3_68izJp_1L9h1x7xn_tEARizhwUCeEX17L69_Z7hUzL0xJ58sChpCpB2ayys1bzHvnVuD8wlNLNhtk/s640/IMG_1756.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
A few days ago, we read the liner notes inside <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rock-All-Day-Night/dp/B001HEX5WS/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1360203747&sr=1-1&keywords=rock+all+day+rock+all+night">Rock All Day; Rock All Night</a>, and we learned a wonderful story about Katryna and Nerissa having the chicken pox as children (combining Lucy's favorite topics: childhood stories, The Nields, and sickness). So Lucy's recruited the other children to take parts in the drama of a miserable, moaning Nerissa, unable to hold her new baby sister, while Katryna (Lucy) holds her tenderly. She adores this game, and we play it again and again.<br />
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And of course, it's spawned many drawings of spotted people, including this valentine card:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSUiS8OJYdvZxeizUHpUCWftD3j8XNj-W7JSrmdbgQVysV_YdP8k52K4Qk8VeQsxOcXOOhdppSaE4E32uGg1mzFn_wUdeHKOjRd0u-GZDqnsAlXVy8ppa9FoGDGB_uYwXjAfqHU0A2Dw/s1600/IMG_1774.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSUiS8OJYdvZxeizUHpUCWftD3j8XNj-W7JSrmdbgQVysV_YdP8k52K4Qk8VeQsxOcXOOhdppSaE4E32uGg1mzFn_wUdeHKOjRd0u-GZDqnsAlXVy8ppa9FoGDGB_uYwXjAfqHU0A2Dw/s640/IMG_1774.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
(Katryna's on the left, separated by a piece of plywood from Nerissa, who's in bed--all details from the CDs notes.)<br />
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Also today, there was a Nields concert on the coffee table:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHAWgKbdBM_8jdkwYO5RBKU1T4zeroz5Ef4d9baNqfHh25iEARl8gKbUoyHNp_2X0KUU-1BBYop6Pewp9Tx9NaVHQ2YAhfWG1mz07nYTBaq1r_Amn-qlpyh2_f3hijWlOW9kSYZgejoA/s1600/IMG_1772.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHAWgKbdBM_8jdkwYO5RBKU1T4zeroz5Ef4d9baNqfHh25iEARl8gKbUoyHNp_2X0KUU-1BBYop6Pewp9Tx9NaVHQ2YAhfWG1mz07nYTBaq1r_Amn-qlpyh2_f3hijWlOW9kSYZgejoA/s640/IMG_1772.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
(My favorite part? Those two old grey-haired matching-clothes ladies represent Andi and I. "They're old, so you know it's you.")Lisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004349018085389442noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940667513089959597.post-42657459280553343872013-01-31T19:22:00.000-08:002013-02-05T17:58:41.326-08:00Multiple drafts are amazing!This week, one of the kids checked out <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780763620578?aff=mcghol">My Grandpa is Amazing!</a> from the library. After reading it, she decided to write her own <u>My Dad is Amazing!</u> book. So, <a href="http://www.inthepurplehouse.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-nields-project.html">naturally</a>, Lucy decided to write <u>Katryna and Nerissa are Amazing!</u> I have some little blank books available for such occasions, so I sat down to take dictation.<br />
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Lucy wrote:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSR__P7sQjAShLVzwC2uWxao2YJJjU8mVV3uDcF3hvm4wkDzMQjnJjMf4a5_9vyB3wS3uqTKb9H8Wt9GNA70z2XSKRwHH5cwXd7-PUEH1bMBKJE6_UUHNSJg7N-_nT6v1W_PSO0HSD8g/s1600/Amazing+book+p.2.tiff" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSR__P7sQjAShLVzwC2uWxao2YJJjU8mVV3uDcF3hvm4wkDzMQjnJjMf4a5_9vyB3wS3uqTKb9H8Wt9GNA70z2XSKRwHH5cwXd7-PUEH1bMBKJE6_UUHNSJg7N-_nT6v1W_PSO0HSD8g/s320/Amazing+book+p.2.tiff" width="301" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCq9d00U_C3n131KezPyz5Uvlpp33diWNqOm_MBEzsC-WOuNZZ35TbYPR8ggJkLi5UiiBw_Q5wToYI9JxiM6_GI-5IKEW53pvNAtFbGM93sTv8HLSxUNG_UQcjrOeos9itduE3rpb9aE/s1600/Amazing+book+p.1.tiff" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCq9d00U_C3n131KezPyz5Uvlpp33diWNqOm_MBEzsC-WOuNZZ35TbYPR8ggJkLi5UiiBw_Q5wToYI9JxiM6_GI-5IKEW53pvNAtFbGM93sTv8HLSxUNG_UQcjrOeos9itduE3rpb9aE/s320/Amazing+book+p.1.tiff" width="246" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCq9d00U_C3n131KezPyz5Uvlpp33diWNqOm_MBEzsC-WOuNZZ35TbYPR8ggJkLi5UiiBw_Q5wToYI9JxiM6_GI-5IKEW53pvNAtFbGM93sTv8HLSxUNG_UQcjrOeos9itduE3rpb9aE/s1600/Amazing+book+p.1.tiff" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDxvJuY0KA8a2ZO3KgZlhbmBAhrfzKV7j3H2lfaMAi7yna6PoBpVppKSfoMemyatDlzr24vmedknSzS7bZuKgJ58UorKZ0hI4coh2ra0kNQEK35WJ2vMJ_kDt-ZpK-y462YEAG4wyTwYk/s1600/Amazing+book+p.3.tiff" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDxvJuY0KA8a2ZO3KgZlhbmBAhrfzKV7j3H2lfaMAi7yna6PoBpVppKSfoMemyatDlzr24vmedknSzS7bZuKgJ58UorKZ0hI4coh2ra0kNQEK35WJ2vMJ_kDt-ZpK-y462YEAG4wyTwYk/s320/Amazing+book+p.3.tiff" width="247" /></a><br />
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At that point, Lucy told me that was all she wanted to write, but that she would fill up the rest of the pages with pictures. And she began to draw Katryna and Nerissa again and again and again.<br />
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Now is when I hear the worried parents who've been in my classrooms over the years. "All he does is play with blocks." "If I left it up to her, she'd play fairies all day every day." And to them, I say "what's bad about that?" If only we can trust the value in what they choose to do!<br />
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On the very next page, Katryna suddenly had a neck, a body, legs, and feet (something Lucy's rarely done before):<br />
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Then it was back to only heads, as she practiced eyes:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoffro4M8jqaU5j2ecQiLzhfmi4Y5PyleXxJQl02lxCkEriVRi9NWtRHr-oyFUUJ_2N8UH-NaOMLMu9mhp1wJk0eHm9aKAUyuqoTj0GJQkuNWvtFPCyS1x257qgQeKlskuZoGxTrIZ0uo/s1600/Amazing+book+p.6.tiff" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoffro4M8jqaU5j2ecQiLzhfmi4Y5PyleXxJQl02lxCkEriVRi9NWtRHr-oyFUUJ_2N8UH-NaOMLMu9mhp1wJk0eHm9aKAUyuqoTj0GJQkuNWvtFPCyS1x257qgQeKlskuZoGxTrIZ0uo/s320/Amazing+book+p.6.tiff" width="241" /></a></div>
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Then came arms with hands and fingers:<br />
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Lori Pickert, in her book <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781475239065?aff=mcghol">Project-Based Homeschooling</a>, encourages parents to "try to put yourself into a different frame of mind. Creating multiple drafts of the same work allows your child to raise his efforts to a level that isn't possible if he simply creates first drafts over and over again. Rather than thinking about new versus old, consider the importance of an artist or craftsman revising and polishing their work, introducing improvements at each pass. Think about first and final drafts--and how much the work improves between them... Creating representations is about communicating, and doing multiple drafts allows your child to get closer to what he wants to say." (pp. 117-118)<br />
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And, of course, books can't communicate without a reader (or listener). So Lucy's been reading her book to everyone this week, including Monkey:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_toQgW2C4nbgK9uf8ewsg2f_Kh_QRH4POhyphenhyphen-CmdLK2rEIDLpmjLp2NyWR4mDU8KcQoxIuepdtl9yIULKcmMTyicvAVOx60l8Nt4Mhrq0goDUhZfI6qpQlLGNZJPRkroJ7vRi-sIF4gHA/s1600/IMG_1667.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_toQgW2C4nbgK9uf8ewsg2f_Kh_QRH4POhyphenhyphen-CmdLK2rEIDLpmjLp2NyWR4mDU8KcQoxIuepdtl9yIULKcmMTyicvAVOx60l8Nt4Mhrq0goDUhZfI6qpQlLGNZJPRkroJ7vRi-sIF4gHA/s320/IMG_1667.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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A few days ago, Lucy decided she <a href="http://www.inthepurplehouse.blogspot.com/2013/01/representing-nields.html">couldn't draw a guitar</a>. But she was so pleased with these new bodies, she thought maybe she could try again in one of the many pictures she draws of Katryna and Nerissa each day. And this time, she was satisfied with her results. (Nerissa's holding the guitar, on the right, below.)<br />
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Lisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004349018085389442noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940667513089959597.post-71427788591603184362013-01-26T10:37:00.003-08:002013-01-31T19:33:26.884-08:00Representing The NieldsLucy's <a href="http://www.inthepurplehouse.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-nields-project.html">Nields project</a> is still going strong, and it is so exciting to see all the many ways she's found to pursue this passion. In just one day this week, she:<br />
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<i>Told imaginative stories with Nerissa and Katryna as the main characters.</i> (I didn't write them down, and am wishing I had! Will return to that...). She tells stories about "when Nerissa and Katryna were little" or about the reasons they did what they did in concert. <br />
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<i>Imagined how Katryna might do things:</i> "I think Katryna would do it like this, don't you?" (Katryna has a unique loose-limbed way of dancing, a quick smile, and a sense of humor that Lucy appreciates, and she's applying those characteristics to aspects of her own life, like how Katryna might paint.)<br />
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<i>Pretended to be Nerissa in dramatic play</i>, asking me to be Katryna. "I like doing them. I mean making--doing it with ourselves. With our bodies."<br />
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<i>Painted several pictures of them.</i> I was preparing materials for the kids to paint something else, and she told me "I'm going to do something different. I'm going to paint Nerissa and Katryna." I asked if she'd like to look at their photo for reference, and photocopied it from their book. She cut around the photo and clipped it to the easel. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-5Y_Ut8zsDCwE79x-M8v6Dvr8WYHQD7O11rF59UCgSulHalE8tnItcvdrJpYuGK0OuEznbhRYn857weiao36O1n2r2diQDv6hpnd6l3NQKBQbopphDZwkpAN19Hsr9AoOS036tRAxnk/s1600/IMG_1584.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-5Y_Ut8zsDCwE79x-M8v6Dvr8WYHQD7O11rF59UCgSulHalE8tnItcvdrJpYuGK0OuEznbhRYn857weiao36O1n2r2diQDv6hpnd6l3NQKBQbopphDZwkpAN19Hsr9AoOS036tRAxnk/s640/IMG_1584.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
She began with the portrait, and then added imaginative elements:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zwbYg_62Z6gZiivjChA5zqV4B-vxRS2-V7k-xHNbflEY2ecgUUYj_Fx7s_BFG4ftkf1swja2H0U7DmFEVXbkWA5Zj1AZtAGf2ADZZSONbQvbVGrHW83diVNkkiCxX_HKwRSzdYUrZzw/s1600/IMG_1590.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zwbYg_62Z6gZiivjChA5zqV4B-vxRS2-V7k-xHNbflEY2ecgUUYj_Fx7s_BFG4ftkf1swja2H0U7DmFEVXbkWA5Zj1AZtAGf2ADZZSONbQvbVGrHW83diVNkkiCxX_HKwRSzdYUrZzw/s640/IMG_1590.jpg" width="480" /></a> <br />
Katryna, in red, has just stepped out of the shower, and water is spiraling down from her hair and puddling below. Nerissa, in blue, is holding a guitar and dripping from the shower, too.<br />
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Her next painting showed Katryna and her daughter on a path, across the street from a building where they were to have a concert, with a crosswalk leading to the building. She was thrilled with how it came out:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgACbMKSRBNUXdtegGfc-E_dgM1XDymL3G98dcYVUh4vca-AyWkZu_NnhMZVEMbDwPamFJ4q1hrlGQ89RXSj6tlFImf8n_p9CyAtpo2oSpuaFhI9JBQSgPS5FhLw5J_uwjOF_DF5CLwmz8/s1600/IMG_1599.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgACbMKSRBNUXdtegGfc-E_dgM1XDymL3G98dcYVUh4vca-AyWkZu_NnhMZVEMbDwPamFJ4q1hrlGQ89RXSj6tlFImf8n_p9CyAtpo2oSpuaFhI9JBQSgPS5FhLw5J_uwjOF_DF5CLwmz8/s640/IMG_1599.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
She was much less thrilled when she tried to draw clasped hands ("I think Katryna and Nerissa would hold hands, don't you?") and Nerissa's guitar. She's not very confident in her drawing abilities yet, but was motivated by this passionate interest to keep trying through the tears. (Below, she's starting again, after scribbling out one attempt.)<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOcJNg82yJT6DR1k6_yCfvhXcDaDjNpwwP3VmU_unVafXfVxQa2Bb4fZwVOFkQkcWGJrVp-aaxzWvGEcsi8Bg57jsuLRp8Ddt3CSWJa3atIy72rd6wmPSLiSUMTtEl1JpEyMDFUSUreBA/s1600/IMG_1601.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOcJNg82yJT6DR1k6_yCfvhXcDaDjNpwwP3VmU_unVafXfVxQa2Bb4fZwVOFkQkcWGJrVp-aaxzWvGEcsi8Bg57jsuLRp8Ddt3CSWJa3atIy72rd6wmPSLiSUMTtEl1JpEyMDFUSUreBA/s640/IMG_1601.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
<i>Read her <a href="http://www.inthepurplehouse.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-nields-project.html">book</a> to a friend.</i> Here, she's showing a picture she drew of Katryna throwing up (she's fascinated with throw up these days). Her book's waiting beside her: she read the title and sang every song. She's also got <a href="http://www.amazon.com/All-Together-Singing-Kitchen-Creative/dp/1590308980/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359224879&sr=8-1&keywords=singing+in+the+kitchen"><u>Singing in the Kitchen</u></a> "in case C. and E. want to know more about Katryna and Nerissa." <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAToilQiKPc5RSbGNdg8OxV1UyZW9xcBGxu6rXU0hBK0X_jySTZllxsv-2QGfJdJvlle-4GVdAvpkuUbD1h04cs-qJOsN9rC7T_qsX6Mx0sYlwzmhJ2Tt4iDkZft7dJyPzvVoLkOdoiig/s1600/IMG_1579.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAToilQiKPc5RSbGNdg8OxV1UyZW9xcBGxu6rXU0hBK0X_jySTZllxsv-2QGfJdJvlle-4GVdAvpkuUbD1h04cs-qJOsN9rC7T_qsX6Mx0sYlwzmhJ2Tt4iDkZft7dJyPzvVoLkOdoiig/s640/IMG_1579.JPG" width="640" /></a> <br />
<i>Dictated a note to the families in my program about the Nields</i>. (I'd asked the kids' help in writing an email about something else, and she asked me to add this.) "Favorite singers: Nerissa and Katryna. Are my favorites of singers. And Nerissa and Katryna are my favorites because they sing all these good songs. And they sing (she bursts into song) 'Babar the elephant rides the elevator up, up, up, up, up! Babar the elephant rides the elevator down, down, down, down, down.' That's one of their songs. And they sing 'Living on a farm, an organic farm. And on that farm there was an organic chicken, and the chicken said bok, bok, bok, bok, bok, bok. And the chicken laid eggs. And the chicken had a baby, and they called it a chick.'"<br />
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<i>Wrote her own song (about doctors) while playing guitar</i>.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_MQFOgYMOAMY7XT38hNDPzmzsoQ1HdrrTqwsTQKGqn-ed8tkQfbNgERJrSIfayqatFC08PXkZT9J3ZMlJozC9DPHRhSuXt4hyQAyKZimQXDE_JlfHmwiCkGRsx38FJQh5Sm5VGyq5Do/s1600/IMG_1602.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_MQFOgYMOAMY7XT38hNDPzmzsoQ1HdrrTqwsTQKGqn-ed8tkQfbNgERJrSIfayqatFC08PXkZT9J3ZMlJozC9DPHRhSuXt4hyQAyKZimQXDE_JlfHmwiCkGRsx38FJQh5Sm5VGyq5Do/s640/IMG_1602.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<i>Gave guitar lessons" a la Nerissa</i>. She'd wanted to have her guitar out while the kids were here, but didn't really want to share it with them--until I told her that Nerissa teaches guitar lessons. Suddenly, she was eager to "teach" the kids how to play.Lisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004349018085389442noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940667513089959597.post-16880556680894282542013-01-21T17:54:00.001-08:002013-02-05T17:58:19.211-08:00The Nields projectLucy has a new <a href="http://www.nields.com/">love</a>.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhLT-UrFDb7Ggf_wubq7HFjxJPNCxqzUIE7hxsuJttNFjylk2u6yeJgoi_LaAkX5LMKIKlPWbzykndm2lw9lcFKMkb9wbLz-fnYWsyU-qdEtFGHESjYwZ3wxN4wPVU24vJB2ZlAS6BrM/s1600/IMG_1521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhLT-UrFDb7Ggf_wubq7HFjxJPNCxqzUIE7hxsuJttNFjylk2u6yeJgoi_LaAkX5LMKIKlPWbzykndm2lw9lcFKMkb9wbLz-fnYWsyU-qdEtFGHESjYwZ3wxN4wPVU24vJB2ZlAS6BrM/s640/IMG_1521.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Almost from day one, she has disliked it when we sing, or when we listen to CDs. Early on, she took a music class with Katryna and Nerissa Nields, and she enjoyed it. But she's a talker. And if we sing--or listen to music--we're not available for conversation. No good. So she'd usually ask us to stop, or turn it off, or she'd just talk right over the music.<br />
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But we love music. So we kept on trying. And for some reason, seeing the Nields at First Night this year flipped a switch.<br />
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Three weeks later, she's still singing all the songs they sang that night. And asking us, again and again and again to talk about when Katryna fell asleep. (You know the song "Mama's Taking Us to the Zoo Tomorrow?" When they sang about getting sleepy on the way home, Katryna yawned, sang slower and slower, sat, lay down, and eventually snored.) "I can't stop talking about that snoring part! I have to laugh every time we talk about it; I can't stop."<br />
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That part had made a huge impression. So had the motions that Katryna used while they sang. She loved the flailing hands for "in cases of emergency," and from that, was able to remember the whole song:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SmULHeSjai4LcR_CpinISehAAlz_7OqjNG5DELPMaqO68e59OlDU8tybEE72kln7-02RnOGHPC8GLDmKk6f_HXSABWCDngeeOx-0DW5fsPORiVGsSVCWaKSNVE53c7U-HDCOMJnpA0c/s1600/Scan+7.tiff" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SmULHeSjai4LcR_CpinISehAAlz_7OqjNG5DELPMaqO68e59OlDU8tybEE72kln7-02RnOGHPC8GLDmKk6f_HXSABWCDngeeOx-0DW5fsPORiVGsSVCWaKSNVE53c7U-HDCOMJnpA0c/s640/Scan+7.tiff" width="640" /></a><br />
She was so interested, I pulled out the Nields' CDs which have been gathering dust for a while as she's been uninterested. Suddenly, we're all singing the songs together with joy (oh, what joy!).<br />
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One song on a CD got her wondering. What does "Mango Walk" mean? I remembered that they had explained it in their <a href="http://www.amazon.com/All-Together-Singing-Kitchen-Creative/dp/1590308980/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358818810&sr=8-1&keywords=all+together+singing+in+the+kitchen">book</a>, so I pulled it out. Now she had a new avenue for her Nields' research. "I can't stop looking at the photo in the <u>Singing in the Kitchen</u> book." She turned the book back and lay it on her pillow, photo up, to study before going to sleep at night. We could hear her after lights out, reciting to herself "Katryna and Nerissa. Katryna and Nerissa." She flipped through the book, studying each of Katryna's little sketches, matching each one to a person, or a song.<br />
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It seemed to give her an idea. Maybe she could draw them, too. Yesterday, she emerged from the studio with a drawing of two faces on an index card. "It's Katryna and Nerissa." Then she left and came back with another drawing: "it's the train song! That's the chain, and that's the train, and those are the people inside, and that's a singer." <br />
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<a ango="ango" bp.blogspot.com="bp.blogspot.com" can="can" div="div" does="does" had="had" her="her" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tvqaXjuer_w/UP%C2%A0%3C/a%3E%3Ca%20href=" http:="http:" jxrqqtz5hz0="jxrqqtz5hz0" s1600="s1600" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" t_o8dodi="t_o8dodi" tiff="tiff" wlmpyf94="wlmpyf94"><img border="0" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk98tZAVPxTVIZZuPTi4oCy8iOBD_yZE-6xkwLRHCON1YXc7bSPfckjX2JQTMsU0myjO96Pi_ApvxyQtXDxGZmKuh4JU7tD53hrXQTfncPkG34pzawryAFYgApJVvbMWb8zl3vBiB0xyM/s640/Scan+4.tiff" width="640" /></a><br />
I asked if she might like to draw some of their other songs. She loved the idea! She ran back and forth, showing us each as she finished. I wondered if she might like to put them into a book. YES!<br />
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She decided her book should have only songs they sang at First Night. After she drew them, we discussed what lyrics should be added, and I took her dictation for those and for a title. She found an illustration of a singer on stage, and was inspired to cut it out and add it to her cover.<br />
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I loved her little book so much, I wanted to share it with Katryna (who'd once been a parent in my classroom). So we made a copy, added a letter, and it's in the mail. (Lucy's quotations here are from her letter.)<br />
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Today, she played guitar (being Nerissa) and directed me to be Katryna, and we sang and bantered back and forth as they do. "I like to play Katryna and Nerissa." Later, we took a walk around the block, and the whole way, she kept us in persona, asking me to tell stories with her that we "remembered" from when we were girls. ("Katryna, remember when you were sick, and you threw up...?")<br />
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I'm loving this project of hers, and can't wait to see where it takes us next.Lisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004349018085389442noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940667513089959597.post-82323970629435017792013-01-11T11:46:00.000-08:002013-01-11T16:21:26.771-08:00A peek at right nowI've missed sharing here. We've had huge family things going on that changed my mood about blogging, and once you're away, it's hard to come back. Even now, I'm not sure I can commit to being back regularly, but I can say, today I'm here. The easiest way, for me, I think, is to just jump in with <i>now</i>, rather than trying to catch up.<br />
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<i>Right now</i>, we're having a sick day. It's just what we needed--some slow time and no pressure to do anything but rest. <br />
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<i>Right now</i>, I'm crocheting some <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/african-flower-hexagon">African Flower Hexagons</a>. (And looking at that photo as I posted it, I realize I made a glaring mistake in that top one! How funny. I've looked at it again and again in person, but never noticed. Will have to fix that.) I've been up way too late at night, addicted to working on these (while watching Downton Abby on Hulu.)<br />
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<i>Right now</i>, Lucy (age 3.10) is appliqueing a mushroom of her own design. It's to become a pillow for our couch. She is constantly planning projects these days, inspired by everything around her. This one was inspired by a candy-cane appliqued sachet I helped her make as a Christmas gift, and by some modeling wax I'd been playing with, ultimately ending up with a little mushroom. Lisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004349018085389442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940667513089959597.post-86405132426056603402012-06-25T20:08:00.000-07:002013-01-11T17:05:34.754-08:00Stopping by the river after strawberry picking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Lisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004349018085389442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940667513089959597.post-89885169856336723722012-06-04T17:03:00.000-07:002013-01-11T17:04:36.487-08:00We're backPlease indulge me in a bit of a vacation-photo slide show. We're just back from a week in Bar Harbor, Maine.<br />
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It wasn't perfect. Everyone wants you to come back and say "it was great!," but to be honest, there was hardship and sadness on this trip.<br />
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But there was beauty and joy, too, and sunny days amidst the fog.<br />
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Here are a few glimpses of the parts I want to remember:<br />
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Low-tide treasure hunts. Lucy is enamored of rockweed, which she treats like bubble-wrap: pop!<br />
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The view from "our" cottage on a gorgeous day.<br />
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<img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuP42jZ7QgugBKrZsunEfxLZF4MJ2o3Bm-EsqHjNKbJG1C8U5Kv6OObXsrkKKDNbQeFZILVgF7iqbkfv4xSVr-UnZxL8sVRiu8j02wA3ShyphenhyphenXx1J7Umnyh2WCbM4YNYj7uRgopQTf0SICU/s640/P1050956.jpg" width="480" /><br />
Lots of delicious meals and treats.
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A slow morning exploring "the bar."<br />
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Exploring water flow and erosion at Sand Beach.<br />
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A gorgeous hike with our brave, strong hiker. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(and these weren't even the most-beautiful parts of the hike; those came after the camera battery died)</td></tr>
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Lots of gliding down big hills on Lucy's balance bike.<br />
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Watching boats and marveling at the juxtapositions: big and small, old-fashioned and modern, luxury and working.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNZ696IXHev9oxpc88ww4N_nmr_HW0fvYyID1MBTUnCevtNfUPqQWYaCq7TDgdgGvkuIVi0lGWN3ZSqQOEh-R5WG2wmVxTzL1fL19EzrPQrlB3uOgNsimy7NizrSNVV35ayMzUuoS7BM/s1600/P1050967.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNZ696IXHev9oxpc88ww4N_nmr_HW0fvYyID1MBTUnCevtNfUPqQWYaCq7TDgdgGvkuIVi0lGWN3ZSqQOEh-R5WG2wmVxTzL1fL19EzrPQrlB3uOgNsimy7NizrSNVV35ayMzUuoS7BM/s640/P1050967.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
Time on nearly-empty beaches with gorgeous views.<br />
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Spectacular treat choices for our dairy-free girl (blueberry-basil, here).<br />
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Taking time to check out the view from the tippy-top of this bridge's tower on the way home.Lisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004349018085389442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940667513089959597.post-84670757950107731272012-05-24T11:05:00.000-07:002012-05-24T11:06:27.104-07:00Goin' for a ride in my car, car...Lucy's favorite thing lately is for me to "tell me a story about when you were a little girl." I love that request, I love her interest, I love the connection it's building between us. But after months of retelling my stories over and over every day, I'm sick of them, and completely out of new ones. And we're about to take a 7-hour drive twice in one week. I cannot fill all that time with stories! So I've been working on back-up plans.<br />
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<i>When I was a little girl</i>, we drove 18 hours to Lake Michigan for two weeks every summer. My mother held the bag of M&Ms and doled them out one at a time to the first to spot "a red car" or "a blue station wagon." She packed big piles of library books. My sisters and I lay stretched out with pillows in the back of the station wagon, reading, playing, and eating candy from the specially-stocked mini suitcases my mother packed for us. (One year, there was one of those things you draw on with a red plastic stick and then peel up the plastic covering to erase your picture. What were those things called? Anyway, I stuck the red thingy in my ear, and we ended up making an emergency trip to the doctor...)<br />
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I kept my mom's ideas in mind as I perused <a href="http://pinterest.com/mcghol/travel-activities/">Pinterest</a> and brainstormed my own list.<br />
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Here's what I've packed for Lucy's entertainment on the road:<br />
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Cookie sheet with magnetic <a href="http://tpettit.best.vwh.net/dolls/pd_scans/golden_playbook/end.html">paper dolls</a> (made with printable magnet sheets and free downloads). I planned to make <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/67835538107621111/">these</a> car trays, but I just didn't have any more time to spare right now (or a large-enough clean cookie sheet). For containing items in the car, she'll use a wooden tray rigged to her car seat.<br />
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An "I Spy" bottle. My mom and I had tons of fun gathering tiny things for Lucy to try to find hidden in the rice (I spy mama's hair clip, a googly eye, and a button right now). There's a photo of all the objects, so she'll know what she's looking for. I really loved <a href="http://brandyscrafts.blogspot.com/2011/02/dry-erase-i-spy-bag-tutorial.html">this</a> idea, but again, limited time, so a recycled bottle it is.<br />
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Mad Libs. I loved these as a kid and certainly spent car-time on them myself, but I would never have thought to buy them for a 3-year-old had I not happened across this one at Goodwill when I was shopping for car activities. I realized there was no reason I couldn't teach Lucy what a verb is, and have her offer those while Andi suggests the rest, and then maybe do verbs and nouns. I think she'll love it.<br />
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Our family songbook.<br />
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A <a href="http://www.amazon.com/YummyEarth-Organic-Lollipops-Assorted-Flavors/dp/B0017SPYN2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1337824733&sr=8-3">lollipop</a>. Bought them for Halloween, and still have a few. I thought it might buy us a few minutes of quiet. (Lucy eats very little candy, so this will be a huge treat.) There's one for the trip home, too.<br />
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A couple of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Peekaboo-Farm-Great-Board-Book/dp/0679870016/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337825017&sr=8-1">favorite</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ein-Tag-Stadt-Dieter-Wellershoff/dp/B0036Z123U/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1337824935&sr=8-5">books</a> with lots and lots of details to study.<br />
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Pipe cleaners, beads, and buttons.<br />
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Markers and scissors. <br />
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/67835538107621120/">Goop</a>.<br />
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A tiny flashlight.<br />
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A little mirror.<br />
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A notebook holding paper, stickers, mama-made Bingo (seen above), and printed <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/67835538107644798/">Bingos and scavenger hunt</a>. There are also dry-erase crayons (borrowed from Nanny) for marking the bingo pages and I spy photo, which are all in page protectors. Nanny also loaned us a dry-erase board to take along.<br />
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Not pictured: our iPod, loaded with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Winnie---Pooh-A-A-Milnes-Classics/dp/0786182407/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337824083&sr=8-1">Pooh</a> and <a href="http://www.sparklestories.com/stories/#m-s">Sparkle Stories</a>.<br />
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It's all packed up in Lucy's tote from Granny:<br />
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I'll let you know if it kept us happy in the car!Lisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004349018085389442noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940667513089959597.post-21146007425823521612012-05-23T17:26:00.000-07:002012-05-23T17:26:22.185-07:00Yarn along: anticipation <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCNCWcrBadi2zOQ3u2CBEyzpMWs2HrvE-U-RLFFYgsfuhZtEGGN1oAZzs2jchZDpJP4WXY7FzHHO-0ejhtzUsnl5FU4irLzKhXe7fwxo_PhfMzvVl6ppwHCqhdr0XpJOglfuRnBjTTSg/s1600/P1050740.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCNCWcrBadi2zOQ3u2CBEyzpMWs2HrvE-U-RLFFYgsfuhZtEGGN1oAZzs2jchZDpJP4WXY7FzHHO-0ejhtzUsnl5FU4irLzKhXe7fwxo_PhfMzvVl6ppwHCqhdr0XpJOglfuRnBjTTSg/s400/P1050740.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
Ahh...I'm finally able to join in again for Ginny's
<a href="http://www.gsheller.com/2012/05/yarn-along-78.html">yarn along</a>. I haven't had much time lately for either reading or crochet, but I have only one more day of work before I get to go on vacation! So I've picked out a pattern and some yarn and have it packed and ready to go (6 1/2 hours in the car minus tons of Lucy-entertaining-time equals <i>some</i> time for crochet, I hope!)<br />
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I wanted something super-simple to help me ease back in to crochet after a long absence (my brain is going to be in vacation mode, after all), and I wanted to use yarn we had on hand (thanks, Melissa!). I chose <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/merlin-2">Merlin</a>. Wish me luck; maybe I'll come back from vacation inspired to be crafty again.<br />
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I'm reading <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781555975142?aff=mcghol">One Vacant Chair</a> by Joe Coomer, but unfortunately, it's been slow going. In the past, I've loved Joe Coomer's books, especially <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780684824406?aff=mcghol">Beachcombing for a Shipwrecked God</a>. (I read that many years ago, and immediately began it again, very rare for me. A few years later, I found myself in Portsmouth, NH, and kept saying "I've been here before," "I know this place," though I hadn't. I finally realized it was his descriptive writing that made me feel I'd been there.) This time, however, I'm just not getting into it. I can't blame the book. I've been like this with most books lately. I just don't have the time to sink deeply into a book, and I am almost always sleep deprived. I've packed pure fluff reading for this trip to accommodate my current brain fog.<br />
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Have any good recommendations for this tired, time-crunched Mama?Lisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004349018085389442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940667513089959597.post-79468723743059831132012-05-22T18:02:00.003-07:002012-05-22T19:41:15.587-07:00We've got mailI was very excited to discover Lucy quietly at work in the studio this morning, on a project of her own design. She'd collected clay, twist ties, wooden beads, and bamboo from their various places and brought them all to the table.<br />
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When I came in, she was just beginning her second in a three-part series (one for "mommy, mama, and Lucy--our whole family!"):<br />
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As she finished each one, she ran across the studio<br />
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to deliver them to our mailboxes. (There's one there for each of the kids in our early childhood program, as well as for Andi and I.)<br />
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(I've just recently returned from a Reggio-inspired teachers' conference at which Lella Gandini described the three-year-old classrooms' mailboxes being transparent, because three-year-olds might put anything in there, such as a half-sucked lollipop. :-) So the intentionality in three-year-old Lucy's mailed gifts particularly struck me today.)Lisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004349018085389442noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940667513089959597.post-65668707898252635872012-05-19T10:08:00.000-07:002012-05-19T10:08:47.274-07:00Help in the kitchen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Lisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004349018085389442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940667513089959597.post-76106008694009041622012-05-13T18:15:00.001-07:002012-05-13T18:19:43.517-07:00Happening these days in and around the purple house<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Thanks for the good gear, Tim and Eric!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(look familiar, Jules?)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9kh0pRU170N2n6OrY4wyu5T1dtyq9hvrQyT8jJHAp01yBdVJ73XI7Uw2GHiamXcB4KaJk2KTxtXxrZnic7cOc5G76Y4hvOednFX2C2gtr2Ga1I2leH-O0DDO9__GmfA01VI-cK_6M_u8/s1600/P1050502.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9kh0pRU170N2n6OrY4wyu5T1dtyq9hvrQyT8jJHAp01yBdVJ73XI7Uw2GHiamXcB4KaJk2KTxtXxrZnic7cOc5G76Y4hvOednFX2C2gtr2Ga1I2leH-O0DDO9__GmfA01VI-cK_6M_u8/s400/P1050502.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Rani Arbo and Daisy Mayhem doing songs from "Ranky Tanky"--a current fave)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Julie, once we'd talked about it, it had to be done immediately!)</td></tr>
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<br />Lisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004349018085389442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940667513089959597.post-58848420405838225322012-05-05T20:38:00.000-07:002012-05-05T20:38:53.997-07:00Great blue herons to the rescueWe conquered the sleep-deprived grumpies today by getting out into nature. (Is it just us, or do full moons drastically affect sleep in your house, too?)<br />
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A friend recently told us about a hike we had to take, to a great-blue-heron rookery, from a downtown neighborhood, of all places!<br />
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The last time we went (a few weeks ago), we saw the herons building their nests. Today, Lucy and I returned and found them all sitting on the nests.<br />
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It's so bizarre to see these big huge birds perched high in the trees like that!<br />
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Right next door to the herons is a bald eagle, also nesting.<br />
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It's a truly amazing sight.<br />
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Closer to earth, we saw a garter snake,<br />
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a tuft of unidentified fur (a mystery to ponder), lots of animal holes, big fat bumblebees, some butterflies, red-winged blackbirds, wood ducks, and heard many, many different bird calls.<br />
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It was amazing to see that the brown woods we'd visited so recently was now lush and green. (And completely full of poison ivy! We kept our bodies small and centered on the path.)<br />
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Later, we went out to dinner with friends, followed by dessert and dandelion-blowing in a little park in the center of our town.<br />
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And when bedtime came and went by an hour, with no sign of sleep, I got Lucy back out of bed and into the car and we went in search of the "supermoon." We caught glimpses of it through the trees in all its huge orange glory, and continued looking for a good viewing spot as it rose, lightened, and got hidden by clouds.<br />
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It was well worth the extra-late bedtime.<br />
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My best cure for a difficult day--take it outside and breathe in the wonders of nature.Lisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004349018085389442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940667513089959597.post-16525517964870034032012-05-01T18:45:00.000-07:002012-05-05T20:43:44.787-07:00Here<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQa1k7GaLPnNPfX6cAY3GspjsYcNlgWAO6A99ZD40Ik7b8YXOOvnbbHJSqFn0_f-xNQbWR7KUADSy1dM4PyMkegt0pItBDzURrJtdAx9hKYRcuB5FD1GBg3dWlFy64OOe5Ik0lMfOsy0M/s1600/P1050265.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQa1k7GaLPnNPfX6cAY3GspjsYcNlgWAO6A99ZD40Ik7b8YXOOvnbbHJSqFn0_f-xNQbWR7KUADSy1dM4PyMkegt0pItBDzURrJtdAx9hKYRcuB5FD1GBg3dWlFy64OOe5Ik0lMfOsy0M/s400/P1050265.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
We're here.<br />
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We're doing our usual things. <br />
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The computer and camera have not been cooperating. Life
has been hectic. I don't understand how to use this new blogger (please
excuse the mess).<br />
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But things are starting to look sunnier.<br />
Perhaps you'll hear more from me soon?</div>Lisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004349018085389442noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940667513089959597.post-15285814298300699762012-03-08T19:19:00.004-08:002012-03-08T19:32:49.066-08:00Bird cat toy: Lucy's projectLucy (observing our cat, Eliot, at the window, birdwatching): "Cats like watching birds, just like I do! We should make a toy bird for the cats. And put that stuff that cats like in it."<br />me: "Catnip?"<br />Lucy: "Yes!"<br />me (rummaging around in the cabinet): "It looks like we don't have any catnip right now. I can put it on the grocery list."<br />Lucy: (going into the studio, and finding some colored cellophane): "We can use this."<br />me: "That would make a good sound inside the bird. I think the cats would like that."<br />me: "Can you draw what you want your bird to look like?"<br />Lucy:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxVIZR7n0hyphenhyphen-nb-0pklaF5BVg0miaIc2GWs4H5eCJgE1E4JrKEDygrXel9d-Qpdcj2Tc3Y6sBxg7BarL-SesHn36JFilDZsR0NZIEeGyq8_EoduGLiqIE2sZ5AN7NIwvge2HG939EaJo/s1600/P1040943.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxVIZR7n0hyphenhyphen-nb-0pklaF5BVg0miaIc2GWs4H5eCJgE1E4JrKEDygrXel9d-Qpdcj2Tc3Y6sBxg7BarL-SesHn36JFilDZsR0NZIEeGyq8_EoduGLiqIE2sZ5AN7NIwvge2HG939EaJo/s400/P1040943.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717732195161296498" border="0" /></a><br />(the drawing picked up a few stray squished water beads along the way)<br />I lay Lucy's drawing on the light box, with fabric on top, and traced her design. With her permission, I added a line to the beak (the line on the far right), to make it more triangular, explaining that it needed to be wider for us to be able to cut it out and sew it. I cut out two bird shapes, pinned them together, and showed her how to sew the edges together. She sewed some, I sewed some, and we passed it back and forth until it was mostly sewn together. We were careful not to sew the beak shut, as she wanted it to be able to open. A friend helped her cut the cellophane and stuff it in.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2G4pLXE6ynd14j8-gq0vm7RqJ0UsigMbSIp7lFwgrcBNMfsOFok0S_MgwTV9WkM1UcUIWDVmnM46H0mTAzptxbPXrdnnzJ_S1mTlCBazF4v6Qe_k2EAMujITE0Hu2fRMXpb8RmaFG5SA/s1600/P1040944.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2G4pLXE6ynd14j8-gq0vm7RqJ0UsigMbSIp7lFwgrcBNMfsOFok0S_MgwTV9WkM1UcUIWDVmnM46H0mTAzptxbPXrdnnzJ_S1mTlCBazF4v6Qe_k2EAMujITE0Hu2fRMXpb8RmaFG5SA/s400/P1040944.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717732202861141602" border="0" /></a><br />The finished bird (now with an eye she added after watching me trace her drawing:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8aexa3ryKUcjTul2Jsqtr7GCNn9caPVgxlqtMzbOuxxSJiqSW08VUzHugji_OXKVX4ERpD5bMioasCqEOEF915E9whL8mcSf3vtUHqUEa7TUM4YWUmS4bjx57D_DmG2kClhcsFUDclo/s1600/P1040948.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8aexa3ryKUcjTul2Jsqtr7GCNn9caPVgxlqtMzbOuxxSJiqSW08VUzHugji_OXKVX4ERpD5bMioasCqEOEF915E9whL8mcSf3vtUHqUEa7TUM4YWUmS4bjx57D_DmG2kClhcsFUDclo/s400/P1040948.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717732212588468722" border="0" /></a><br />Proud of her finished toy, Lucy offered it to Austen:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqOtROmfZNGT6I8TIXGAZ5zcwFD99egj36vc98s3RFDHsvS21-HUa6zOGSATTlWaQyJwNb66A8y5-4ZPRmvwZHL8n-F1CY4VSK_r7BYaz6M63GE8e_IgxgviSI8JKtFHxNtfy99IMN2Ys/s1600/P1040949.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqOtROmfZNGT6I8TIXGAZ5zcwFD99egj36vc98s3RFDHsvS21-HUa6zOGSATTlWaQyJwNb66A8y5-4ZPRmvwZHL8n-F1CY4VSK_r7BYaz6M63GE8e_IgxgviSI8JKtFHxNtfy99IMN2Ys/s400/P1040949.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717732216301599474" border="0" /></a><br />He showed his approval by rubbing it with his head.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkhcrnLmLY9vgKO55jUx14FgiNNsHyUuWArg-rnS8Ukk1zWqt8KZQ3qfqFW0y0lkAukWAmZ2XNuuVY-QKR1NB9Yi4LE93wLfBGFK5ue6HK90hcnAthWn0t75UA6jnp6hsiCiu_SWSMsI/s1600/P1040950.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkhcrnLmLY9vgKO55jUx14FgiNNsHyUuWArg-rnS8Ukk1zWqt8KZQ3qfqFW0y0lkAukWAmZ2XNuuVY-QKR1NB9Yi4LE93wLfBGFK5ue6HK90hcnAthWn0t75UA6jnp6hsiCiu_SWSMsI/s400/P1040950.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717732382595858402" border="0" /></a><br />Afterward, Lucy had second thoughts. She didn't want the cats to tear her bird, so she decided that instead, it could be a "band for cats" (as in, it makes music, so we can play it for them like a band). She offered me pots to clang together and paraded me through the house, crinkling the bird, a band for cats.Lisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004349018085389442noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940667513089959597.post-44944785387532886212012-02-22T18:11:00.000-08:002012-02-22T18:59:37.208-08:00Vintage book surpriseLook what arrived in the mail this weekend!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx2M1cWWb-x8CqrFK7UdHBtN7sx9ifhnJSH6AAXoWCMlZU64s7JKts7Zedeg9_zWcCQXsV_S9UhR-5FtNJ5Qb5DXwE8-yf5NYUWV_49MVmXaFWwCdzA1I1Zqzvla7DqHpio2rCWm00F4k/s1600/P1040724.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx2M1cWWb-x8CqrFK7UdHBtN7sx9ifhnJSH6AAXoWCMlZU64s7JKts7Zedeg9_zWcCQXsV_S9UhR-5FtNJ5Qb5DXwE8-yf5NYUWV_49MVmXaFWwCdzA1I1Zqzvla7DqHpio2rCWm00F4k/s400/P1040724.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712148847633431090" border="0" /></a><br />25 books from Burgin Streetman, author of the fabulous blog <a href="http://www.vintagechildrensbooksmykidloves.com/">Vintage Kids' Books My Kid Loves</a>. She's clearing out her shelves, and I won her resulting giveaway!<br /><br />Burgin's blog is dangerous for me. She makes me want to run out to a library book sale <span style="font-style: italic;">right now</span>, and adds new must-have books to my wish list on an almost-daily basis. When I first came across her blog, I went right back and read all the archives, and knew I'd love her new-t0-me recommendations because I loved what she had to say about the books I did know. When I'm at a library sale or thrift store, I love it when I come across a book she's reviewed, and grab it up like it's an old friend. I've discovered many wonderful authors and illustrators this way (and greatly endangered my already-groaning bookshelves).<br /><br />So what a thrill to open that box and see what was inside!<br /><br />So far, this is my favorite new discovery:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmi-gLD2St4DNh1chxdLtkQmr7k55Ro8gqlkAkITlPW72x_4ScgZLYzx4M76hIptU0vKFpUSn8cChI03Av0Y3Iz26-yjxorjNPcUEB8oGVBqiif20CFe7n1v8m1A6hUcipXROkSUEi7gQ/s1600/P1040731.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmi-gLD2St4DNh1chxdLtkQmr7k55Ro8gqlkAkITlPW72x_4ScgZLYzx4M76hIptU0vKFpUSn8cChI03Av0Y3Iz26-yjxorjNPcUEB8oGVBqiif20CFe7n1v8m1A6hUcipXROkSUEi7gQ/s400/P1040731.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712148871126437170" border="0" /></a><br />Doesn't look like much from the outside. But check it out inside:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKWiYbTtn3SCEf5EI47A8vgo16KCeKx6pK3ojVFKgYNCF7iRX20mzaFA4Pxue-2I_9roN__yVZKIoWzDvvHybmoOqbiwBV6qY2T7VCYTEd9N4XFHhYc8DqWlAz3WxE4zvjRClNPlLs-g/s1600/P1040732.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKWiYbTtn3SCEf5EI47A8vgo16KCeKx6pK3ojVFKgYNCF7iRX20mzaFA4Pxue-2I_9roN__yVZKIoWzDvvHybmoOqbiwBV6qY2T7VCYTEd9N4XFHhYc8DqWlAz3WxE4zvjRClNPlLs-g/s400/P1040732.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712150179241162738" border="0" /></a><br />So much to see! So much to talk about.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0xDaS_LQlF3wFHNRk_ZhgcIGLWqILJgDS8qzvgnJg3UDjYaZ_3tdgsnBBIpSjyPzwHP2q6Qg9so_xBxGWpcMQZhyphenhyphenoUJiZ_owkhtOzhs4eI2_htJkhgI8gojiQtKeS3KYJzBH-keYkGs/s1600/P1040733.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0xDaS_LQlF3wFHNRk_ZhgcIGLWqILJgDS8qzvgnJg3UDjYaZ_3tdgsnBBIpSjyPzwHP2q6Qg9so_xBxGWpcMQZhyphenhyphenoUJiZ_owkhtOzhs4eI2_htJkhgI8gojiQtKeS3KYJzBH-keYkGs/s400/P1040733.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712150171600035394" border="0" /></a><br />And the kind of slow, detailed storytelling that makes me think of a grandmother sitting beside you, telling you all about what life was like when she was a girl. They describe just the sorts of things a young child would be interested in, so that you can almost feel you are there: "But a farm in the country is not quite as deserted and quiet as it seems. Listen carefully. Cows moo. Dogs bark. The sheep complain. Cocks crow. Geese gabble. The cats meow. The tethered goat is bleating. A combine whirrs and rattles. A door slams. A shutter creaks. The wind gossips with the leaves."<br /><br />She included lots of science and nature books. I love the illustrations in this one, and the interesting way that the animals are presented, with predator and prey together on a page ("polar bears and seals," for example):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTgvWs4h-1SZvrkD2JdD-8dueSNBKhpgVnBwUqAONhW0wDXmLJ3EMd28ve5CSK04N7RAqjGm8pwR2z6WDuxTWayvykxxZfUyiOh_qaEaX5X_he41Lvpkm6AkxqVwnEGp1-So8HBnYw0u4/s1600/P1040728.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTgvWs4h-1SZvrkD2JdD-8dueSNBKhpgVnBwUqAONhW0wDXmLJ3EMd28ve5CSK04N7RAqjGm8pwR2z6WDuxTWayvykxxZfUyiOh_qaEaX5X_he41Lvpkm6AkxqVwnEGp1-So8HBnYw0u4/s400/P1040728.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712148863832755602" border="0" /></a><br />(One of the reasons I love vintage science books is the way many of them rely on very detailed realistic drawings and paintings rather than on photos. Gorgeous and inspiring in a way not usually found in newer books.)<br /><br />This one made me want to get out a magnifying lens and start studying stuff I'd never thought to before. I look forward to sharing it with Lucy some day:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg56nL-xw7I9zQOd9B5sIumZSwxQEb5cBERVM28vnhvKNQl50nfApdXjWqJgfCrIp_Pm7B9hC8vGn3Sfv7ZEXybwysP9Yw5YLm5yLFZTSh6mbd9wabs7jdPKWkYiearTKKsJaioH-tF8vM/s1600/P1040725.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg56nL-xw7I9zQOd9B5sIumZSwxQEb5cBERVM28vnhvKNQl50nfApdXjWqJgfCrIp_Pm7B9hC8vGn3Sfv7ZEXybwysP9Yw5YLm5yLFZTSh6mbd9wabs7jdPKWkYiearTKKsJaioH-tF8vM/s400/P1040725.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712148853311334930" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There were some for sharing with others, too. This one was perfect for my horse-loving niece: <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4I5CSA5A8ackoikw0fmnKXZtJYxaxalBKn3OmAwLVew4K1adtSznHraNASP4e87I4AmmORCk8jG_m647Pb9SA3xMdRAYK1qf2OwcWXd9NspdHcDuvnemaxnsLV7zVTpKu3quAvZrQwNg/s1600/P1040730.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4I5CSA5A8ackoikw0fmnKXZtJYxaxalBKn3OmAwLVew4K1adtSznHraNASP4e87I4AmmORCk8jG_m647Pb9SA3xMdRAYK1qf2OwcWXd9NspdHcDuvnemaxnsLV7zVTpKu3quAvZrQwNg/s400/P1040730.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712150186908496914" border="0" /></a><br />(I remember loving the cat book in this series way back when.)<br /><br />And I had this one, but I have another niece who's fascinated by bodies, so it's for her:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9NHBfYZVmcGDTQdZYEhG2dkLbOKEyS-b_nmhCZvinXxwb9Als0snGH0sP_N7aAPSeAZlnjbrk0j4IIewB7KOyFhXKBWR-708RGgzbE51A4Oy2HBVw4Ry1l4ndkhBobyrP0F7V6hNFgCg/s1600/P1040729.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9NHBfYZVmcGDTQdZYEhG2dkLbOKEyS-b_nmhCZvinXxwb9Als0snGH0sP_N7aAPSeAZlnjbrk0j4IIewB7KOyFhXKBWR-708RGgzbE51A4Oy2HBVw4Ry1l4ndkhBobyrP0F7V6hNFgCg/s400/P1040729.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712150193275185394" border="0" /></a><br /><br />That just barely scratches the surface of this big pile of books! <br /><br />Thank you so much, Burgin!Lisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004349018085389442noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940667513089959597.post-30265636886179326692012-02-20T17:55:00.001-08:002012-02-20T18:05:47.181-08:00Scenes from a long weekendTime to tap the trees! (Actually, with this strange winter, I think we could have been sugaring for a long while now.)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhCq0YmLPHgl2xcVxuCllNNL1YRlnj6a-vNdi8E1qdVDa-laSrdlebdkwaR1NNgRRJJaDASmhaoKaoqGpz0Pd9xA59B1r1ENGgSwzYpgvOIG0RaxZcCP89gIxXMS-blTFYrQI2__LWT0/s1600/P1040734.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhCq0YmLPHgl2xcVxuCllNNL1YRlnj6a-vNdi8E1qdVDa-laSrdlebdkwaR1NNgRRJJaDASmhaoKaoqGpz0Pd9xA59B1r1ENGgSwzYpgvOIG0RaxZcCP89gIxXMS-blTFYrQI2__LWT0/s400/P1040734.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711402155527800466" border="0" /></a><br />Reach,<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSXSjVKMIQSWnnSzgHGcf_ullGSeXgiaOHjGZ1uf7gBSGUv4trexYwP986XWvZIFciQ3NMpPwfjUTax3N8MCTFUssWUvC3gzERIAUlP9dYn9Xu2rj9n_tVpxFy06cxx_eiJerKpmv57o/s1600/P1040742.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSXSjVKMIQSWnnSzgHGcf_ullGSeXgiaOHjGZ1uf7gBSGUv4trexYwP986XWvZIFciQ3NMpPwfjUTax3N8MCTFUssWUvC3gzERIAUlP9dYn9Xu2rj9n_tVpxFy06cxx_eiJerKpmv57o/s400/P1040742.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711402584805245058" border="0" /></a><br />snatch,<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZ32fJqtUnSGn2C1t3qbrdGbrpSfSZ0GXBWgkdLgnCrW0qlxGRkgV70OmDeDOUN7ofU3ha1e4puLVF_OQUOQvC0HjZ0hZAgNNYGL73sXd9s8poP7Sl6pcBP7k-IUxEL-Saf-zCwSQjZQ/s1600/P1040743.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZ32fJqtUnSGn2C1t3qbrdGbrpSfSZ0GXBWgkdLgnCrW0qlxGRkgV70OmDeDOUN7ofU3ha1e4puLVF_OQUOQvC0HjZ0hZAgNNYGL73sXd9s8poP7Sl6pcBP7k-IUxEL-Saf-zCwSQjZQ/s400/P1040743.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711402573794269922" border="0" /></a><br />slurp!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja9wooAFipxwUOWDWhjYv-5j909tvEFHLX64t_m3MRlF6hT6Sm6V4R5e8OiNlMoK0ucsTZaHVIAiYmN76alf-TU5rMcLN9Tx7EHyTogQhsQBB9BLrbBFAqJmYPE4HVRwUM0DB67jRQSE0/s1600/P1040744.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja9wooAFipxwUOWDWhjYv-5j909tvEFHLX64t_m3MRlF6hT6Sm6V4R5e8OiNlMoK0ucsTZaHVIAiYmN76alf-TU5rMcLN9Tx7EHyTogQhsQBB9BLrbBFAqJmYPE4HVRwUM0DB67jRQSE0/s400/P1040744.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711402566854806754" border="0" /></a><br />Repeat.<br /><br />An afternoon walk with Alexa, visiting from Michigan.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLReM9g60v-0Jhz65r97whaFXvZQEEaL1d6Bp3j9NEuhwuIYFZiJSz2k98eBz4SGY_hJGTUF1Rn6MWxVUNg_SaHDiww4BemjPiy99vZXQuDmdAFpaUOPeLKGm6IvHyjhmc8qfSX2eoQF4/s1600/P1040748.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLReM9g60v-0Jhz65r97whaFXvZQEEaL1d6Bp3j9NEuhwuIYFZiJSz2k98eBz4SGY_hJGTUF1Rn6MWxVUNg_SaHDiww4BemjPiy99vZXQuDmdAFpaUOPeLKGm6IvHyjhmc8qfSX2eoQF4/s400/P1040748.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711402195747415346" border="0" /></a><br />With gliding!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkUG-Mc6hL8VGttCQMK5Ry5vM2C1pKEzJ_VX6BhofgLxkZ2_kpxHJ0aJgEOvr0Dv8QvcigFLD07XV3jH07ted6HclHoLVRenNITtNYmp8ATqaQjdpiXx4caQ18aSMLbW19bbH1mBWqx0/s1600/P1040749.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkUG-Mc6hL8VGttCQMK5Ry5vM2C1pKEzJ_VX6BhofgLxkZ2_kpxHJ0aJgEOvr0Dv8QvcigFLD07XV3jH07ted6HclHoLVRenNITtNYmp8ATqaQjdpiXx4caQ18aSMLbW19bbH1mBWqx0/s400/P1040749.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711402185456205042" border="0" /></a><br />A morning at the children's museum, especially to see the ambulance (a current interest of Lucy's):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPi5-rZTL6RVjKAGnUm686JJRtD28MNMUSyZhhJoePpXhYZ85BtT07Mh6CCqADkXE4teSkXXVHegPk3u3wkI3EbwfBHpz2hF_ttEqFakVkrZ5iep-Pc0b08lEYzl5z814SeIA66JbB6PE/s1600/P1040756.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPi5-rZTL6RVjKAGnUm686JJRtD28MNMUSyZhhJoePpXhYZ85BtT07Mh6CCqADkXE4teSkXXVHegPk3u3wkI3EbwfBHpz2hF_ttEqFakVkrZ5iep-Pc0b08lEYzl5z814SeIA66JbB6PE/s400/P1040756.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711403042917862402" border="0" /></a><br />With climbing,<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigU0wee9S4Yld2gttE5kgpBln96Iid7dpX8f3bZubal4eHDZUqSIaFlNPoYFxHDZBoIlmtymXiuVexNza4gC9aMZyLLseuHGgyAdzi-ENFXxxAl4fry54AHjcDXfDvoA58IelO0AtQ6s4/s1600/P1040769.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigU0wee9S4Yld2gttE5kgpBln96Iid7dpX8f3bZubal4eHDZUqSIaFlNPoYFxHDZBoIlmtymXiuVexNza4gC9aMZyLLseuHGgyAdzi-ENFXxxAl4fry54AHjcDXfDvoA58IelO0AtQ6s4/s400/P1040769.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711403033202146354" border="0" /></a><br />and big bubbles.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLd6BxZw1tuC0NHhyphenhyphenrARnO6RkOeRhdL94Z6JnlPjlrGmRdhXSDo8RCUfOzZHoCq_9s9mR6WlUPF3zpx1SbWi_M1zr6IzCjqXuvkSLwnzG1Hv5-fP5Pk8J4Bzoh-hxn6a6pIEv0NlqcbSk/s1600/P1040775.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLd6BxZw1tuC0NHhyphenhyphenrARnO6RkOeRhdL94Z6JnlPjlrGmRdhXSDo8RCUfOzZHoCq_9s9mR6WlUPF3zpx1SbWi_M1zr6IzCjqXuvkSLwnzG1Hv5-fP5Pk8J4Bzoh-hxn6a6pIEv0NlqcbSk/s400/P1040775.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711403056115983490" border="0" /></a><br /><br />How was your weekend?Lisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004349018085389442noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940667513089959597.post-19259064740045532232012-02-16T17:45:00.000-08:002012-02-17T12:13:15.598-08:00Three!Our "baby" turned three yesterday. (She is so, so, SO far from a baby now! But in my heart, she'll always be...) I did a terrible job of capturing the day, but here are a few little memories:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Jc9_e0FJADrJr7Ocb-9ou0nrnUZtW374pCtzFILHXcst8tAI4GN_O5Bst1xSW9mIW3YPCRlnQuhMJ_QeVjGDpIkmPExX6ih3gXDeyYBZuoSMbDelbg5aixegKn19Hd_09OrNs6-CsEo/s1600/P1040671.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Jc9_e0FJADrJr7Ocb-9ou0nrnUZtW374pCtzFILHXcst8tAI4GN_O5Bst1xSW9mIW3YPCRlnQuhMJ_QeVjGDpIkmPExX6ih3gXDeyYBZuoSMbDelbg5aixegKn19Hd_09OrNs6-CsEo/s400/P1040671.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709915428913122002" border="0" /></a><br />We were up and celebrating in pjs by 6 am. Her cards and gifts, birthday crown, cake, and other things awaited her on the dining-room table. Here she is, dancing along to her favorite card--a musical one, sent by her cousin Katherine. (We must have heard that song 100 times by now.)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiaiGerCM9eOiXjrDdMBsvJo7D-YMw8rCCi9Jtio2uQIaDg95u7dK09hyphenhyphenGUwq0rMxQzh0KseN8-uA_EO4ZVY6qXOd5SPE_9WvmCeO8GSsQ5aoF-Ul6S9kAeYfvOrmBeBUT-w25DcgFw4/s1600/P1040667.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiaiGerCM9eOiXjrDdMBsvJo7D-YMw8rCCi9Jtio2uQIaDg95u7dK09hyphenhyphenGUwq0rMxQzh0KseN8-uA_EO4ZVY6qXOd5SPE_9WvmCeO8GSsQ5aoF-Ul6S9kAeYfvOrmBeBUT-w25DcgFw4/s400/P1040667.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709915421086761874" border="0" /></a><br />Here's a bit of her birthday table. Lucy had requested a "spinning Pooh cake" (because <a href="http://inthepurplehouse.blogspot.com/search/label/birthdays">last year's cake</a> had spun, and because Pooh has been a huge part of our life this year.)<br /><br />I began reading <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780525444473?aff=mcghol">The World of Pooh</a> to the kids in my program sometime last year, and was amazed at how much Lucy was listening and understanding. So we began reading chapters ahead on the weekend, and soon it became our every-night-before-bedtime reading. Oh, how I love Milne's use of language (don't even get me started on the bland, watered-down Disney versions...ugh!) And I adore sharing my beloved childhood book with her. And she loves it, too. Her most-requested story is "in which Piglet is entirely surrounded by water," but she has many favorites. Her language is peppered with Pooh-isms (my favorite is "I'm not quite certain.") Our conversations about daily life often end up referring back to favorite Pooh stories. So...<br /><br />Pictured above you can see a few of the Pooh characters I painted this past month as her main gift. (I haven't yet gotten a photo of all nine. Soon?) Pooh and Christopher Robin are perched on the sad-excuse-for-an-umbrella-as-boat cake, off to rescue Piglet (oh, well, the cake didn't work as I'd hoped, but Lucy was happy with it, and it was delicious). They're floating along through the 100 Aker Wood on a map Andi and I copied from the end paper of the book (one of Lucy's favorite parts of the book). Beside it is a birdhouse made from a Pooh book, a gift from Tim and Eric (it's perched atop my Pooh book and <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780525444480?aff=mcgho">The World of Christopher Robin</a>, which we started reading because we wanted to know more about Pooh, and now know almost as well. Do you know it? The poems are just brilliant. Daily I find myself reciting in my head from this book.)<br /><br />I also made her a beehive pinata with honey sticks inside (Pooh's favorite, you know.)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_XXlfm2oTrL7ceWwPAGnN94i6ILi-V0YkhVxEtW1UexLhm-2l8RX2N1Ide6HvHp5VwsqsvuV-doWvy2vN62EFAe3EoV4GmtLTcStL2ayM7hLuBIwdzl0qJcCWtKAbLrMy0wBsdh7Yh6c/s1600/P1040690.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_XXlfm2oTrL7ceWwPAGnN94i6ILi-V0YkhVxEtW1UexLhm-2l8RX2N1Ide6HvHp5VwsqsvuV-doWvy2vN62EFAe3EoV4GmtLTcStL2ayM7hLuBIwdzl0qJcCWtKAbLrMy0wBsdh7Yh6c/s400/P1040690.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709924749318278882" border="0" /></a><br />(Horrible photo showing my inability to keep a tidy house. Boots I'm not sure I'm keeping yet under the piano; random ugly light fixture atop it...this is our house having been "cleaned up" for a party! Sigh. Other priorities right now...)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSP3aYO8F_UpMD9C_01G-IIL-2H6-HGgHciyX7mPSoWM2_GDo6hwv5CFNDIQUAey7j_z3MK7U9nYCKFjIMQBL0uTLdjLI2lD2CIadmwUSRN0V-7f5Elx4b581rh8Q7sHVbOuQtOE5vqTE/s1600/P1040695.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSP3aYO8F_UpMD9C_01G-IIL-2H6-HGgHciyX7mPSoWM2_GDo6hwv5CFNDIQUAey7j_z3MK7U9nYCKFjIMQBL0uTLdjLI2lD2CIadmwUSRN0V-7f5Elx4b581rh8Q7sHVbOuQtOE5vqTE/s400/P1040695.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709915399889267858" border="0" /></a><br />We continued the celebration in the evening, over dinner with family. (Lucy'd insisted on wearing her new summer dress from Granny <span style="font-style: italic;">right away</span>, so we layered it up for her.) My mother (Nanny) was able to come (she'd started a new, very draining chemo this week, and we didn't think she'd make it), which made the evening extra special for me. Here, Lucy's opening a donkey-themed lunchbox from her, about to discover the stuffed donkey inside, ("Eeyore!"), which she hasn't put down since.<br /><br />I didn't get a good photo of her party, but it was Nanny, Tim, Eric, and Randy there in person, and Granny there through Skype.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OhPmZOb08EcaUersIGXZn7Ev0-lzAX2O6ei5SZDr4onn5tVQ2mT5s8Rcdi4YMU2HcwB6PYuke9tnvFFsjpMsXKeF8cXe8Rv_UlX2-cclGZjtFLh8AokWVyr43tiNIK3nbQlWf11OGAc/s1600/P1040712.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OhPmZOb08EcaUersIGXZn7Ev0-lzAX2O6ei5SZDr4onn5tVQ2mT5s8Rcdi4YMU2HcwB6PYuke9tnvFFsjpMsXKeF8cXe8Rv_UlX2-cclGZjtFLh8AokWVyr43tiNIK3nbQlWf11OGAc/s400/P1040712.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709915388169293778" border="0" /></a><br />Here, Lucy tries to get enough air to blow out her candles. (I'd pulled Pooh and Christopher Robin and the umbrella's "handle" off the cake and was about to cut it when I realized I'd forgotten the candles!)<br /><br />At the end of the night, as she tried to settle for sleep, Lucy was revisiting her day. She asked me "on my next birthday, can we have everything the same? But can I have balloons? Would that be all right with you?" Yes, my darling, that would be all right.Lisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004349018085389442noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940667513089959597.post-88335492748148370162012-02-14T11:45:00.000-08:002012-02-14T11:56:45.256-08:00Happy Valentine's Day!6:45 am:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiVezK5ODgz4HIU3h2Geho_baMyrRHzMgsqoR4TQi0EdTMQKsF5_LsGwoRewFOaRPxPw2NZ72dkbpESWEDUGTdf451HP_0TOajYHZSMWZCBnCHsoFxAMGqe3ZP5vMGGKu91X1PxH-Sol4/s1600/P1040615.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiVezK5ODgz4HIU3h2Geho_baMyrRHzMgsqoR4TQi0EdTMQKsF5_LsGwoRewFOaRPxPw2NZ72dkbpESWEDUGTdf451HP_0TOajYHZSMWZCBnCHsoFxAMGqe3ZP5vMGGKu91X1PxH-Sol4/s400/P1040615.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709080602289009378" border="0" /></a><br />Later:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWr1IqNJd2rv6tWiIaBFgXmTym8boaHtoIw3BFkifvREMWhfHCud-eYh68IzbscVyi-xPQAHSXfD0hhokIex-4ylwROtsNBB0T7ceSR-3zo0NcYlyTk3vqf9StI-nbU2NxrpulTjHCvU0/s1600/P1040623.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWr1IqNJd2rv6tWiIaBFgXmTym8boaHtoIw3BFkifvREMWhfHCud-eYh68IzbscVyi-xPQAHSXfD0hhokIex-4ylwROtsNBB0T7ceSR-3zo0NcYlyTk3vqf9StI-nbU2NxrpulTjHCvU0/s400/P1040623.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709080613065013106" border="0" /></a><br />Breakfast:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicruW1_BzE-9xXUv7GL_8dJxqc3nwN9nvkfeVQS3pEClHktjfLYiSxfAWQ0FsdLG3v8frO3uwB3p80WF0TQrwbYYwk49pMA4dm6LPvcFXjNq_YslwIJj-Uwwug76B4T3_4wugu_yOp5_g/s1600/P1040617.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicruW1_BzE-9xXUv7GL_8dJxqc3nwN9nvkfeVQS3pEClHktjfLYiSxfAWQ0FsdLG3v8frO3uwB3p80WF0TQrwbYYwk49pMA4dm6LPvcFXjNq_YslwIJj-Uwwug76B4T3_4wugu_yOp5_g/s400/P1040617.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709080189376732130" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">(and just so you don't think it's all sweetness and light all the time, this offering was greeted with a wail of "I didn't want </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" >that</span><span style="font-size:78%;">!!" She will be three tomorrow, after all.)</span><br />8:00 am:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTz_9p50h4mtdcqe2K_KX5KM8QJzuvDBPh4-k8zfb6_3vlkz2w9NBjv9SVruB2PCbMdXItZoS70UUM02VDexln99AkgJl7CV2jwe-zM6O54v1-CiLdoCUWXj2F2ecIrdyA4I11yGAOaL8/s1600/P1040656.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTz_9p50h4mtdcqe2K_KX5KM8QJzuvDBPh4-k8zfb6_3vlkz2w9NBjv9SVruB2PCbMdXItZoS70UUM02VDexln99AkgJl7CV2jwe-zM6O54v1-CiLdoCUWXj2F2ecIrdyA4I11yGAOaL8/s400/P1040656.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709080628730137426" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">(valentine's boxes)</span><br />Morning snack:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYI5kuM-DCfvtztX-521b8MTYOuePDbtx_MvD9C2-K5h615wA-mnRzKapYkdoMHIEjE3VWWBjTd6fq7X_gboz8JBlAObBVD9PSfWEduOEeuep0COmHvO5KnQ3KGLjqwgg3WZdaQwHiuA/s1600/P1040625.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYI5kuM-DCfvtztX-521b8MTYOuePDbtx_MvD9C2-K5h615wA-mnRzKapYkdoMHIEjE3VWWBjTd6fq7X_gboz8JBlAObBVD9PSfWEduOEeuep0COmHvO5KnQ3KGLjqwgg3WZdaQwHiuA/s400/P1040625.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709080205843397986" border="0" /></a><br />10:00 am:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFuTGT5o7jQ_YfR24Asy7Cb5_XZVW8pYRZ05XrQ8o41-yYoDIr9FilTZBtdKEMgwMvokdhR7UbA730Kd8we2vGkcYI9nSsrJ-8MDz_FMM5Qc65CdwJq4uX6ArZ4IYnL74bcaoG5PYZcoQ/s1600/P1040627.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFuTGT5o7jQ_YfR24Asy7Cb5_XZVW8pYRZ05XrQ8o41-yYoDIr9FilTZBtdKEMgwMvokdhR7UbA730Kd8we2vGkcYI9nSsrJ-8MDz_FMM5Qc65CdwJq4uX6ArZ4IYnL74bcaoG5PYZcoQ/s400/P1040627.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709081000339700338" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhjYHjFE6iKBIA0_b60-Cu87WVJknOPpO2rr7KgCGgg06XJdomBsyFXd72FTjCP0hCfoYbtwyLjToqmL-uOL25DnWxltfjy4yp1v8Cd9xUqJ4l4d9NLHRm14g0J6EROX6fzycxwn3Pb7Y/s1600/P1040636.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhjYHjFE6iKBIA0_b60-Cu87WVJknOPpO2rr7KgCGgg06XJdomBsyFXd72FTjCP0hCfoYbtwyLjToqmL-uOL25DnWxltfjy4yp1v8Cd9xUqJ4l4d9NLHRm14g0J6EROX6fzycxwn3Pb7Y/s400/P1040636.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709080960475693730" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNSnklMeFJweBWPGF652YuNrplV-XKdjmjqZ2j7j6NI2XGGUb4Y5iv38ZmhcMNn0Hoe1XK8PM8n3WoR7KiBwgMeuI1K4C3KbAzPesEuBSjhQTl_BQy3sE1Je9le02sKtOpBGs2C6BhFBY/s1600/P1040647.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNSnklMeFJweBWPGF652YuNrplV-XKdjmjqZ2j7j6NI2XGGUb4Y5iv38ZmhcMNn0Hoe1XK8PM8n3WoR7KiBwgMeuI1K4C3KbAzPesEuBSjhQTl_BQy3sE1Je9le02sKtOpBGs2C6BhFBY/s400/P1040647.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709080953080577794" border="0" /></a><br />Lunch:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNyWySMSwqSRy95EKYIdYL8ZeCsAilc4KjUq91-rnEUJOKP7zncSrYsAFE4AWTpZeSLZuUM1s5SRvrl61tFE2vdsWPOjEHDuj1ImRnxRUYuU2peXnHdt6_23oeDi-OJQayb_UBroTJ_Ps/s1600/P1040657.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNyWySMSwqSRy95EKYIdYL8ZeCsAilc4KjUq91-rnEUJOKP7zncSrYsAFE4AWTpZeSLZuUM1s5SRvrl61tFE2vdsWPOjEHDuj1ImRnxRUYuU2peXnHdt6_23oeDi-OJQayb_UBroTJ_Ps/s400/P1040657.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709080180781801730" border="0" /></a><br />Here's hoping your day was full of love, too.Lisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004349018085389442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940667513089959597.post-15302886577843443922012-02-13T14:21:00.000-08:002012-02-13T14:21:00.913-08:00A plain white slipBefore(ish):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0M7-u7TjAL8c-aV0_E1B57vTsqS1iXLdFeih4L8y4_QV83JyV7ce2P7D2F8EO5WnQHGmoQsMhHCq73FdGJMHA-TJalZKS56PP67asYy4zT5iZS8pUlw5wtxzWN5fi_16PyVK1oBzInhM/s1600/P1030981.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0M7-u7TjAL8c-aV0_E1B57vTsqS1iXLdFeih4L8y4_QV83JyV7ce2P7D2F8EO5WnQHGmoQsMhHCq73FdGJMHA-TJalZKS56PP67asYy4zT5iZS8pUlw5wtxzWN5fi_16PyVK1oBzInhM/s400/P1030981.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708710428686609250" border="0" /></a><br />During:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyX_aTbk-5MqwmGZRB1G3jWfRwigP3kkczT-z8cGjqBbAz8bKMgZWStdHS4BgtoGaB2vseM-hQHQtlDKCgfCF31DqGK2_VxpQee30f75-XnGwhliIAwhQrFF0Ojs9BGZLv2KFg7rMXn8/s1600/P1030982.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyX_aTbk-5MqwmGZRB1G3jWfRwigP3kkczT-z8cGjqBbAz8bKMgZWStdHS4BgtoGaB2vseM-hQHQtlDKCgfCF31DqGK2_VxpQee30f75-XnGwhliIAwhQrFF0Ojs9BGZLv2KFg7rMXn8/s400/P1030982.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708710438384006578" border="0" /></a><br />After:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiny4LXk4VXUuXXHktf-mH0oUnfa7aT15WZ7K7w7hZL1qY_UPGBqgfBLi-0X9Cf1pKG2mqq5n2ndWBEQYBkP5iNOr7MvEzLLRa_4OC4B7n-oVvtZDlen8G9FktUjNnUiqtamkw51qzfJSI/s1600/P1040600.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiny4LXk4VXUuXXHktf-mH0oUnfa7aT15WZ7K7w7hZL1qY_UPGBqgfBLi-0X9Cf1pKG2mqq5n2ndWBEQYBkP5iNOr7MvEzLLRa_4OC4B7n-oVvtZDlen8G9FktUjNnUiqtamkw51qzfJSI/s400/P1040600.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708710456646934338" border="0" /></a><br />Whoo, hoo! I finished a project I've been wanting to do for <span style="font-style: italic;">years</span>!<br /><br />This free-to-us chair is super-comfy, has simple lines, and is nicely-scaled for our little rooms. But it's ugly!<br /><br />Don't worry, it never looked quite that awful in our house; we kept it draped with a white chenille bedspread, which looked lovely for about five minutes each morning before the kids started climbing all over it. But all that drapey fabric took up so much visual space, and hid so many dust bunnies and long-lost toys. I've always wanted a nice tidy slipcover, but the estimate we got was for $350, not including fabric!<br /><br />Then I was given a gift of 4 hours sewing time (thanks, <a href="http://amothersojourn.wordpress.com/">Karen</a>!), and it was just the motivation I needed to finally tackle it. A $25 painter's dropcloth, a morning sewing with her, several late nights by myself, a few choice words for the sewing machine and my ineptitude, and we have a slipcover! <br /><br />Now to tackle the other chair, and then the couch... (just hoping it gets easier each time!)Lisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004349018085389442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940667513089959597.post-92164638699392492682012-02-11T18:15:00.000-08:002012-05-16T10:10:20.464-07:00Exploring more light box possibilities<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBUh0l-5GLSpT-76MxzjGVcIG94kO2AaxGMccWejdN9LPI4sV_UNn_s8upJ8EzVlmHTMFocZZcjsLU7VgMrHZmu_TtmYoh-ckf_1Xs_mnrxrTHz2Q9F99x7bieCI43dlPb27DWo99DX98/s1600/P1040527.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708067611051576050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBUh0l-5GLSpT-76MxzjGVcIG94kO2AaxGMccWejdN9LPI4sV_UNn_s8upJ8EzVlmHTMFocZZcjsLU7VgMrHZmu_TtmYoh-ckf_1Xs_mnrxrTHz2Q9F99x7bieCI43dlPb27DWo99DX98/s400/P1040527.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCuH58dEwLx3yEFn640EBqyHI81Zm-zAR2PHclP5PDvNyE5e_LZnNx4l_Zux96xQeEMIdq-s2WnG-hgU2lZTsPjvRUxl-w9daJ5S9CTnKk_hDpCal0mNN6S0HfABV5ScNJxeAs6pMJ3ss/s1600/P1040257.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708068408490887602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCuH58dEwLx3yEFn640EBqyHI81Zm-zAR2PHclP5PDvNyE5e_LZnNx4l_Zux96xQeEMIdq-s2WnG-hgU2lZTsPjvRUxl-w9daJ5S9CTnKk_hDpCal0mNN6S0HfABV5ScNJxeAs6pMJ3ss/s400/P1040257.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KC2PCwkg3QZXPpaPnNSOVzpDV-K63RQHiiDcckUFTmkMfui10dk-25N5RKnXFZj-gEsv5yNKxGrbHs7oFjQ54TxBBbrDyrSdk7djKy8hiJbu1NcPLmYtPVeQhM_nLIuNSyxBHChZUrU/s1600/P1040321.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708068400728082322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KC2PCwkg3QZXPpaPnNSOVzpDV-K63RQHiiDcckUFTmkMfui10dk-25N5RKnXFZj-gEsv5yNKxGrbHs7oFjQ54TxBBbrDyrSdk7djKy8hiJbu1NcPLmYtPVeQhM_nLIuNSyxBHChZUrU/s400/P1040321.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQu5afwE1RKGtOdB_npRb2XLQXm6mhTG-VWs9yMF82tE1n6pbzki1fpgljm6puTkIWEh3Mq7rIC7J_nRqotYeoAPum6GFR5WkyqRXXfRPdo_cDpL30t9fo3M6v187tHkdx7MqxwDTbHWM/s1600/P1040307.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708068417608103042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQu5afwE1RKGtOdB_npRb2XLQXm6mhTG-VWs9yMF82tE1n6pbzki1fpgljm6puTkIWEh3Mq7rIC7J_nRqotYeoAPum6GFR5WkyqRXXfRPdo_cDpL30t9fo3M6v187tHkdx7MqxwDTbHWM/s400/P1040307.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxu4pIvNqzvNvY0sfG9n7UXtksujLUkleBLK2jNClSWUKH-B7uSHKbbBLY6unU5yphSa56i5y8CVo8LILRfix5l0Q9KALR4z3s_vLI3rAmk_yLq5dmXZ6CGovp6Y3enaLOiLiZ3w9U0KQ/s1600/P1040539.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708067616640490114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxu4pIvNqzvNvY0sfG9n7UXtksujLUkleBLK2jNClSWUKH-B7uSHKbbBLY6unU5yphSa56i5y8CVo8LILRfix5l0Q9KALR4z3s_vLI3rAmk_yLq5dmXZ6CGovp6Y3enaLOiLiZ3w9U0KQ/s400/P1040539.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBUh0l-5GLSpT-76MxzjGVcIG94kO2AaxGMccWejdN9LPI4sV_UNn_s8upJ8EzVlmHTMFocZZcjsLU7VgMrHZmu_TtmYoh-ckf_1Xs_mnrxrTHz2Q9F99x7bieCI43dlPb27DWo99DX98/s1600/P1040527.JPG"><br /></a>Lisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004349018085389442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940667513089959597.post-84196701272379554402012-02-10T13:33:00.000-08:002012-02-10T16:49:03.531-08:00How we know she's related to me<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBYEYMK13B2QcrpEGMEwIuCrY3PQcgH7Bs4OIYRVvzJZbRD3Qyg9DSlGTNrhgtoAGv8Kz0RijjZzTbK7IbLBts_Pz9ev9-HMh9TnV06oH8EfpVJtzWkOkQPH-1m1oAOXneFSDgikv44A/s1600/P1040515.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBYEYMK13B2QcrpEGMEwIuCrY3PQcgH7Bs4OIYRVvzJZbRD3Qyg9DSlGTNrhgtoAGv8Kz0RijjZzTbK7IbLBts_Pz9ev9-HMh9TnV06oH8EfpVJtzWkOkQPH-1m1oAOXneFSDgikv44A/s400/P1040515.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707623553796690626" border="0" /></a><br />She may not be my daughter by birth, but our feet tell the true story.<br /><br />Yes, there's still snow on the ground in places.<br />It was about 40 degrees.<br />Those are her nice warm wool socks in the pot.<br />This scene was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">preceded</span> by her saying "don't look, Mama" and ended soon after when she decided that, alas, it's still too cold for bare feet.Lisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004349018085389442noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940667513089959597.post-38312790351937861442012-02-09T12:06:00.001-08:002012-02-09T18:11:12.863-08:00Reserved for familyThere hasn't been much time to write lately, but that's because we're been spending our free time with family.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGvya50iXA5UevJJvTuQfJsWs8mBrDx4YiueQ2I3qIaV1sPTfv07IBkIfS6noy3L4ZTpK7_-mZD6jcYJSt6dqEnEIG6NeFdrOLEZhWaez3XhwFwsEbE7vJdpkQMyB5XWo_uEH5i8oG6c/s1600/P1040449.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGvya50iXA5UevJJvTuQfJsWs8mBrDx4YiueQ2I3qIaV1sPTfv07IBkIfS6noy3L4ZTpK7_-mZD6jcYJSt6dqEnEIG6NeFdrOLEZhWaez3XhwFwsEbE7vJdpkQMyB5XWo_uEH5i8oG6c/s400/P1040449.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707313517495196546" border="0" /></a><br />My mother moved from four-hours-away to only half-an-hour-away this past year, so Lucy and I are able to spend at least a morning a week visiting with her.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5aQ5oNM1jk1Rucqj_nVLqaqPsdbZyGg-iL6nTh4TSb0KtzbuHlrwNqNdRy4BTQyRY-hHMHAqTf28aR2ncnc57vlgHk3dT5s-VgYS652jIDtwkbzSgLZAxlDBkzYWERJ4SVVNUxsX4g8/s1600/P1040459.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5aQ5oNM1jk1Rucqj_nVLqaqPsdbZyGg-iL6nTh4TSb0KtzbuHlrwNqNdRy4BTQyRY-hHMHAqTf28aR2ncnc57vlgHk3dT5s-VgYS652jIDtwkbzSgLZAxlDBkzYWERJ4SVVNUxsX4g8/s400/P1040459.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707312926307316258" border="0" /></a><br />And this past weekend, Lucy's paternal grandparents were in town, so we spent lots of time playing, hiking, and eating out with them.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8N61Aka9hLl5D2lW-jIcLtg6_rjjX9p8HQAGDteSSKwpoj97SodtaEhMcThJhXMXZl4WiorhHIaz4OW5nylZOFBb11OIHJGSyiMR6GZxplFd6wXBeD-F9qVjUEIEu7cuT4iVLgRdaJ9M/s1600/P1040460.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8N61Aka9hLl5D2lW-jIcLtg6_rjjX9p8HQAGDteSSKwpoj97SodtaEhMcThJhXMXZl4WiorhHIaz4OW5nylZOFBb11OIHJGSyiMR6GZxplFd6wXBeD-F9qVjUEIEu7cuT4iVLgRdaJ9M/s400/P1040460.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707312920606440754" border="0" /></a><br />So there's been a lot of flexing schedules, messing with naps, and traveling around when it would be easier to stay at home.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZyCLFX33ezLjHjBaPOmPPeqEEbsIsscUVHDvCp_DuT-bLXfmFUj7cWcyL0frepIIIznpGYg7ohBhk8DJtwRlCtGWvsVgalQ3ct7yBEWxlI6-HdeGpG0VSHKq0CG7a9o8V6bbxtrzuSc/s1600/P1040474.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZyCLFX33ezLjHjBaPOmPPeqEEbsIsscUVHDvCp_DuT-bLXfmFUj7cWcyL0frepIIIznpGYg7ohBhk8DJtwRlCtGWvsVgalQ3ct7yBEWxlI6-HdeGpG0VSHKq0CG7a9o8V6bbxtrzuSc/s400/P1040474.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707312441273558978" border="0" /></a><br />But family is worth it. I'm so grateful for this time together, and for Lucy's opportunity to know her grandparents.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFl7jFkkGNk5Re5Icf8_lkzW_YJyhRLkpxVh4d0FQFAxW_EXENKstx00ksa4en3b8zZjFdzAxlkOMrsM0VQdBSslnSSj3tPYAHMBApIjjIItiF7P57H5YAXY8eiw8grElIzVW6TVhvjwk/s1600/P1040469.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFl7jFkkGNk5Re5Icf8_lkzW_YJyhRLkpxVh4d0FQFAxW_EXENKstx00ksa4en3b8zZjFdzAxlkOMrsM0VQdBSslnSSj3tPYAHMBApIjjIItiF7P57H5YAXY8eiw8grElIzVW6TVhvjwk/s400/P1040469.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707312449744673074" border="0" /></a><br />Please excuse our absences now and then.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBa2XwDTyqUHpzntbqLL3Cl0ZNlDN666daoBHsFb558BWSdPEvXkDBJ77zP8ONmvcn_Qhz3mImggoO1nt-TTLVAzK0dH4nGx48vx_Ue9LCcOIeir0gvjya9n61IiRzmTlkHtbspSzm9o/s1600/P1040493.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBa2XwDTyqUHpzntbqLL3Cl0ZNlDN666daoBHsFb558BWSdPEvXkDBJ77zP8ONmvcn_Qhz3mImggoO1nt-TTLVAzK0dH4nGx48vx_Ue9LCcOIeir0gvjya9n61IiRzmTlkHtbspSzm9o/s400/P1040493.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707312435591982882" border="0" /></a><br />This moment is reserved for family.Lisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004349018085389442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940667513089959597.post-21354373004878792722012-02-06T17:29:00.000-08:002012-02-06T17:41:53.285-08:00Lucy's alphabet<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedCBf9jL5-igcbdGb5QRzc9JPeHQrP50M2JKFy3ykJmCQLM3VPHYADAnQ2AOndlFe5lY7eW2OaGI76iRtL3AvhiKM5-87CrzbKejkbuQ77JIk82LKqW0oz0HFiDegOsYZ2b_zmUC656I/s1600/photo%25282%2529.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedCBf9jL5-igcbdGb5QRzc9JPeHQrP50M2JKFy3ykJmCQLM3VPHYADAnQ2AOndlFe5lY7eW2OaGI76iRtL3AvhiKM5-87CrzbKejkbuQ77JIk82LKqW0oz0HFiDegOsYZ2b_zmUC656I/s400/photo%25282%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706200098203252706" border="0" /></a><br />In the past few months, Lucy's begun noticing letters everywhere we go. Crossing a parking lot with freshly-painted lines, she excitedly calls out "there's an A for Mommy!" (Mommy's name is Andi), "an L for Lucy and Mama!" (Mama is me, Lise), "a T for Tim!", etc.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPCsKnGjorxrI9T9cHt1j2t6IWeg6bxfgabif6LJCjOjkq3OcD6pHt9QmuEmzIUbtAhRozBQwx_VMA9uSKQA96npYirIGpgpCohNRa_eeNhEXIeuN75dWq9hGqg0Uyqd1xaCu5lk65QI/s1600/photo%25285%2529.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPCsKnGjorxrI9T9cHt1j2t6IWeg6bxfgabif6LJCjOjkq3OcD6pHt9QmuEmzIUbtAhRozBQwx_VMA9uSKQA96npYirIGpgpCohNRa_eeNhEXIeuN75dWq9hGqg0Uyqd1xaCu5lk65QI/s400/photo%25285%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706200100454993042" border="0" /></a><br />We began photographing her letters, thinking some day we'd make them into an alphabet book for her. Because we're keeping it completely Lucy-led (in other words, we don't go out on a letter-hunting walk, but just wait for her to show us another one), it might have been a very long time before all the photos were ready for the book.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinlzfyCz_syFXCEr_lDW_GlZJuSzhb1zM2PjUeNzuS5CNeaJzIwAR4C5-Ebqof0u1rjJfMGdGQrZZsWZbhOuakNvmqwncVpmIpdaTYSGx-1vO9n_DVVhhSjpcrtQre5hKo7R6oqWT0Oco/s1600/P1040446.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinlzfyCz_syFXCEr_lDW_GlZJuSzhb1zM2PjUeNzuS5CNeaJzIwAR4C5-Ebqof0u1rjJfMGdGQrZZsWZbhOuakNvmqwncVpmIpdaTYSGx-1vO9n_DVVhhSjpcrtQre5hKo7R6oqWT0Oco/s400/P1040446.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706200106148879106" border="0" /></a><br />But I've begun to learn a good trick of making things, especially handy for busy moms. Don't wait until you're ready. Do it now, or you may never do it. So last week, I grabbed a little photo album (not the perfect one for the project, just the one I had on hand), and put in the four photos we'd taken so far. On the other pages, I put in index cards, on which I'd written the letters for which we don't yet have photos. Now her book is ready to read <span style="font-style: italic;">now</span>, when she's most excited about the project. Quick, easy, not as beautiful as the "perfect" book I might have imagined, but here and in use, unlike those "someday" perfect projects.Lisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16004349018085389442noreply@blogger.com3