Musings

Summer

2011-08-01T21:35:00.005-04:00

porch swings
city pool
evening strolls
iced drinks
shade trees
paperback books
afternoon naps
endless sea
family dinners
balmy nights

What I've Been Reading

2011-05-02T22:21:00.010-04:00

Extraordinary, Ordinary People

Condoleeza Rice attributes her success to her loving, wise parents, who taught her in 1960's Birmingham to "be twice as good." The book is a tribute to them. The Rices were devoted proponents of education and hard work, not only in the life of their own daughter but also in the lives of hundreds of students in several states through many decades.

The Hound of the Baskervilles
My first Sherlock Holmes! I felt like I already knew Holmes from the BBC portrayals of him and from Laurie King's novels. My dad loaned me his lovely Heritage Press copy, which had beautiful illustrations to accompany the suspenseful, spooky story set on the moor.

Big Stone Gap
I love visiting southwest Virginia, where my grandparents lived and where my mom grew up, so the setting of Big Stone Gap, Virginia, was the primary appeal of this book to me. I also enjoyed the characters and plot. Big Stone Gap is a series of four books by Trigiani, and the element of style which detracted from my overall enjoyment of the series was her use of present tense--so unnatural in a narrative.

My Life in France
Tres bon! Reading this book was like traveling to France every night before I drifted off to sweet, delicious dreams!

The Bad Luck of the Irish

2011-02-24T21:38:00.006-05:00

I recently enjoyed two books about Irish folk down in their luck: Betty Smith's novel A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and Frank McCourt's memoirs Angela's Ashes.

Of course, these books have been around a while and are quite well known, but I only just read them. Both are so sad. When I say I "enjoyed" them, I mean that I thought they were well written, moving, honest stories. Both are about children of alcoholic fathers who fail to provide for their families. The mothers are overworked and tired. The children are hungry and cold. Both are coming-of-age stories in which the children grow and triumph over their impoverished circumstances.

Someone in my library class said that we read to know that "other people's lives are as crappy as our own." A sort of "catharsis" may occur when reading these books. I was reminded of how richly blessed my life is now and always has been (loving, responsible parents; cleanliness, food, and shelter; faithful husband; healthy children) as I "experienced" the situations described by Smith and McCourt.

Pursuing the American Dream--working hard in a land of opportunity to achieve a better life for oneself--delivers the protagonists in the end of both books.

The Book Thief

2011-02-24T21:15:00.003-05:00

The Book Thief is an award-winning young-adult novel set in WWII Germany. I was a bit creeped out when I began the story because it is narrated by Death, who is very busy gathering souls throughout the years portrayed in the book. He witnesses the worst of humankind as he observes Hitler and members of the Nazi party, but he is impressed each time he encounters young Liesel.

Reading books--which she steals--helps Liesel endure the loss of her brother, her adjustment to living with foster parents, her fears that the Nazis will discover her beloved Jewish friend in her basement, and the bombing of her city.

This is a sad yet somewhat triumphant book in which Death and the reader are able to observe the courage and love of Liesel, her foster father Hans, and her friends Rudy and Max in the midst of horrific holocaust Europe.

Good News for Couch Potatoes

2010-11-14T20:54:00.004-05:00

I used to hate running. It made me feel miserable--sick, really. For decades I've assumed I simply wasn't meant to be a runner. All of us have different gifts, and my All-American-track-star twin sister is the runner.

Enter John Bingham's book. Bingham has been transformed from a smoking, overweight couch potato and music teacher to a slender, fit marathon runner and motivational speaker. His book explains how his marvelous transformation occurred one slooooooow step at a time.

Too many runners, according to Bingham, burn out by running too quickly too far too soon. They believe they are not true "runners" otherwise.

Bingham says that anyone can be a runner. He says even the guy who cannot walk around the block can begin an exercise program by putting on a pair of running shoes, running for thirty seconds, then walking for four-and-a-half minutes, and gradually--very gradually-- increasing the running time and decreasing the walking time. The beginner should never run so fast that he is unable to carry on a conversation comfortably.

I began run-walking in June as I walked my dogs. As I increased my "running" time, I found myself actually looking forward to these walks each day, and I enjoyed it even more when my husband joined me. We built up to jogging 2.8 miles a day, several days a week by fall; and we completed our first 5K last month.

Sometimes as an adult, I have seen a child running through a field with abandon, and I have wondered what happened to the child I was who could do that and love it. Now, when I jog in the autumn evening and breathe the cold air, I am that child again for a moment.

Bingham's book is humorous and encouraging. His personal struggles with obesity make him sympathetic and gracious to those just getting up off the couch; his advice is realistic and helpful; and his success is inspirational.

For Fellow Anglophiles

2010-10-19T21:22:00.002-04:00

American author Laurie R. King writes English literature! I'd heard of her book The Beekeeper's Apprentice for years and had wanted to read it; I was intrigued with the idea of a twentieth century Sherlock Holmes coming out of retirement and solving mysteries with a young student. I finally checked out the book at my wonderful local library, and I liked it so much that I'm now reading the fifth in the series.

What do I enjoy in King's mystery books? (1) King's writing style. Believably British in its complex sentence structure, precise use of language, details. She doesn't jump quickly from scene to scene as though her reader has watched too much television and has no attention span. (2) Characters. Mary Russell is a bit more feminist than I, but she lives in a time when it is more difficult to be a woman and to be taken seriously as a woman. She is a suitable partner for Holmes in her intelligence and an effective agent for allowing the reader to see the private, more tender side of Holmes. (3) Setting. I love "traveling" in Oxford, London, Dartmoor, Sussex.

Shamefully, I have not read the original Holmes books. I'm perfectly happy with the Holmes portrayed by King. But I gave King's first book, Beekeeper's Apprentice, to a Holmes expert--my father--to critique, and he said yes, King's portrayal of Holmes is believable, and he enjoyed the book.

So for people who love Brit Lit, don't be put off by the fact that Ms. King is from San Francisco. She is a Holmes expert, has lived part of her life in Britain, is an excellent writer. Enjoy her Mary Russell series.

Grocery Savings

2010-02-01T21:19:00.005-05:00

I have a friend who is on a very small grocery budget (half of my grocery budget, which itself is quite modest), yet she feeds her family well and saves hundreds of dollars a month by combining sales with coupons. I've always rejected this method of shopping; when I've looked through the Sunday coupons in the past, most of the coupons are for items my family would never buy. Instead, I have for years made weekly menus and shopped for the ingredients, thinking that it helped me avoid impulse spending. I always have spent much less than the average family, but after talking to my friend, then reading Shop Smart, Save More (which I found while browsing new books at my wonderful local library), I knew I could do better.

Though my family does not use most items featured in the Sunday paper's coupon section, we do purchase enough of the brands to justify the $2.00/issue of the Sunday paper. Even if we don't buy Gorton's fish sticks, the savings we get on Speed Stick, Secret, and Crest are easily over $2.00. So I've joined the coupon band wagon. On Sunday evenings I clip the coupons that I want from the paper, then I read through the flyers of the two stores I like to frequent: Food City and CVS. Food City is more convenient to me than Walmart or Kroger, and if I return to CVS every week or two to spend my ExtraBucks before they expire, I can save tens of dollars a month there. I make a list according to the items listed on sale in the flyers, and often I'm able to combine the sales with a coupon. I stock up on those items and have a "stash" from which to draw at home rather than paying full price for an item later. I'm saving at least $75-$100 a month using this new shopping method.

More Yummy Soup

2010-01-08T22:13:00.010-05:00

My sister has inspired my to "hide" vegetables in more of the foods I serve. Today, before I made broccoli-potato soup, I cooked a head of cauliflower with onions and celery. I pureed it in the blender, and the result was several cups of thick, white puree.

I added the puree to my usual recipe for broccoli-potato soup. The result was delicious--at least, 4/5 of my family thought so. My youngest does not like broccoli in anything.

The soup was richer and thicker than usual. I have also pureed spinach, carrots, and broccoli and added them to my spaghetti sauce. No change in the taste--maybe a slight change of color. But everybody loved their spaghetti dinner and got an extra serving of vegetables.

Snow Day

2010-01-08T22:04:00.006-05:00

Schools were closed today, and since my husband and I are teachers, our entire family was able to enjoy the day at home. The boys were the only ones who wanted to play in the snow since the temperature stayed below twenty degrees Fahrenheit.

Happy New Year

2009-12-31T23:26:00.009-05:00

I always feel inspired in the New Year to make changes for the better. My list is long--there is much room for improvement! I'd like to post more blog entries in the new year. I'd also like to find more time to "read and stitch." But near the top of my list is getting my house in better order. I'm going to loosely follow the "flylady" system. (If you are not familiar with the Flylady, check out her website at http://flylady.net/ ). I particularly appreciate her de-cluttering suggestions and her idea of dividing the house into "zones" and focusing on a different zone each week.

So today I worked on Zone One: the entrance and the dining room. I've been storing gift bags, rolls of gift wrap, tissue, hats, etc., in my entry closet. Every time we open the door, an avalanche of paper and hats falls on our heads. I worked in the closet for an hour; got rid of lots of old, too small, or dated coats, shoes, etc.; and boxed up my gift bags according to size. Here are some before/after photos.

Above are gift bags/tissue in the floor being sorted. Below is the messy shelf in the closet.

The next two photos show the newly organized closet: boxes now hold the gift wrap, and the baskets of hats/scarves have been weeded and sorted.

Hope to share more with you in the new year!

Lentil Soup

2009-12-05T22:04:00.002-05:00

Soup season is here! My lentil soup recipe is a combination of two or three recipes I've tried. It is one of the only dishes I make which pleases all of my family members. It is also economical and nutritious.

Lentil Soup

1/2 lb. lentils, rinsed

5 c. water

handful of rice or barley

2 beef bullion cubes

1 t. salt

1 t. pepper

1 t. dried basil

1 t. garlic powder

1-2 T. olive oil

1 small onion, finely chopped

2 carrots, finely diced

1 stalk celery, finely diced

1 can diced tomatoes

2 T. sherry

Cook lentils and rice in water until tender (about 45 minutes). Add seasonings and vegetables and simmer another 30-45 minutes. Add sherry just before serving. Yummy with warm homemade bread!

Cousins

2009-07-13T21:22:00.003-04:00

We are usually able to get all the cousins together only one day each year.

Relaxing

2009-07-13T21:19:00.002-04:00

My grad school comprehensive examination is behind me, and it feels good!

Texas

2009-06-19T21:40:00.007-04:00

We just returned from visiting my sister and her family in Austin, Texas.

We stopped by the gulf coast on the way.

We toured the state capitol.

Here is my Davy from Tennessee standing in front of a portrait of Davy Crockett of Tennessee who died in Texas at the Alamo.

If you look way up in the capitol dome, you can see my children and husband in the tippy-top (I was chicken!).

Thanks, Elizabeth and family, for a wonderful visit!

Budget Pizza

2009-04-09T13:53:00.007-04:00

Well, my grocery bill is going out the roof. We like to splurge and eat at Mr. Ghatti's once in a while, but in my efforts to cut back, I decided to try making one of our favorite selections from Mr. Ghatti's at home.

It is BBQ chicken pizza. I made bread dough--enough for one loaf--and divided it for two crusts. Then I added our favorite bbq sauce, some left-over chicken, and mozerella cheese. Bake for twenty minutes or so at 400 degrees. It turned out YUMMY!

Like Paperdolls!

2009-02-26T16:13:00.009-05:00

Though my frugal, pragmatic side poo-poos fashion, my feminine, seamstress side really enjoyed putting together this set on polyvore.com.

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-13T18:55:00.003-05:00

Reading in the New Year

2009-01-10T19:32:00.002-05:00

A late Happy New Year to you, the few and faithful.

This is what I'll be reading for the next few months. I'm taking a cataloging course; it is the twelfth of the fourteen courses required to complete my master's in Library and Information Sciences. I should be able to finish up in December 2009!! I've read another book by Arlene Taylor in the program and found it to be clearly written and full of practical information for the librarian.

Musical Inspiration

2008-12-30T21:04:00.002-05:00

Seems I'm always late to discover what other people have been excited about for years. The Kite Runner which I discussed in an earlier post is one example. So is Chris Thile. Chris Thile, formerly of Nickel Creek and now of the Punch Brothers, is the most superb mandolin player in the country--maybe in the world. Everyone else seems to know that already, but I just discovered him as I ordered a tutorial dvd from Barnes and Noble in which he instructs in mandolin technique. His beautiful playing inspires me.

Enjoy the talented Chris Thile!

Snowflakes

2008-12-19T22:31:00.002-05:00

Several of the young students I teach enjoy cutting out snowflakes for me when they have any free time in class; therefore, I was inspired to add a little something extra to their Christmas cards and treat bags this year. I used a simple pattern--Bev's 15-minute snowflake--found at http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/christmas/cp6.html to crochet these little ornaments. They actually took me more like thirty minutes for my first few, and I probably cut it down to twenty by the time I had crocheted the fourteen I needed for my class. I started doing one or two a night a couple of weeks ago. Yesterday I saturated them in glue and water to stiffen them, and they were dry this morning--just in time to put them in students' cards.

It Was Twenty Years Ago Today. . .

2008-12-17T06:00:00.001-05:00

. . .that I married this handsome, rugged poet. He is a faithful, kind, hard-working, talented husband and an active, wonderful father to our three children.

Happy Anniversary, Heart's Dearest. I am, as I ever was, and ever shall be, Yours.

The Kite Runner

2008-12-08T19:02:00.002-05:00

I love classics and I've read a lot of classics. In my humble opinion, this book is destined to become a classic of the twenty-first century. Beautiful writing. Significant themes. Dynamic characters.

Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner was published in 2003. My mum loaned it to me several months ago, and I was slow to pick it up. I did not think I could enjoy a book set in Afghanistan--so unfamiliar and tumultuous. When I finally began reading it, I would have believed it was another Potok novel: first person coming-of-age narrator desperate for the love of his powerful father--so desperate that he commits acts of betrayal toward his faithful childhood friend. Throughout the rest of the novel he is learning to live with and in spite of guilt. After he has made a new life for himself in America, he has an amazing opportunity for redemption.

I highly recommend this novel.

For Your Listening Pleasure

2008-12-03T22:28:00.002-05:00

Enjoy some lovely Christmas music!

Change

2008-11-06T11:28:00.007-05:00

Well, since everyone has voted for change, I'll share some changes occurring around here.

1) Gorgeous Fall Weather: Our deciduous trees have changed to their beautiful autumn colors. I can't get enough of it!

2)Sweater: Edith has a new sweater to toast the season. Dear daughter knit it, cable stitch and all.

3) Comfy chair: My parents-in-law gave us one of their recliners; Edith and I have a new favorite spot.

Twins at 41

2008-10-26T19:17:00.007-04:00

Happy birthday, Goose! I gotta say, we're still lookin' good, girlfriend!!

Kentucky Mandolin

2008-10-24T20:48:00.003-04:00

I've been admiring mandolins at the music store for several months now. Husband and children thrilled me this week by letting me pick out a mandolin for an early birthday gift. Here is a photo of an instrument identical to mine: the Kentucky mandolin model KM150S. Thanks to free video tutorials by Brad Laird at http://www.freeguitarvideos.com/mandolin/lessons.html , I've already had three lessons! Mr. Laird has taught me how to change strings, to tune the mandolin, and to play several chords. I also have a Mel Bay book to get me started. So I'll let everyone know when my first CD comes out!

Reading the OED

2008-09-14T18:14:00.002-04:00

I discovered the Oxford English Dictionary when I was in college twenty years ago. I loved looking up a word and seeing its entire history and examples of usage. I thought it would be great fun to be one of the scholars who researched the history of a word to such depth. The OED fills several large volumes. The only copy I could perhaps afford someday would be the one-volume Compact Edition of the OED which comes with a magnifying glass. You can look up words in the OED online now through library databases, but you cannot "browse" through it as you could with a physical copy.

Of course I was interested when I saw this title at my local library. It's fun to read about how Shea completed such a monumental task as reading through the OED. Each chapter consists of details of his experience, followed by a list of words and definitions which most appealed to him. If you have an appreciation for dictionaries and lexicography, you might enjoy this book.

If you're interested in pilates. . .

2008-09-14T17:59:00.003-04:00

. . .then I highly recommend Ana Caban's "Beginning Mat Workout." I've been teaching myself pilates for over a year now by using a couple of excellent books from my library. When I first tried the workout on this video, it was quite difficult for me. I had to do the alternate, "easy" positions demonstrated by Ana's assistant. After I developed strength for a couple of months from my "book" workouts, the video workout was much easier. It takes about twenty-five minutes to complete, and I do it three or four days a week, along with walking my dog at least a mile every day. This is the first year I've exercised regularly. Hitting forty has motivated me. I commit 30-60 minutes per day to my workout (walk every day/pilates every other day), and I feel great despite having more demands than ever at work and home.

I'm ready to graduate to Ana Caban's "Intermediate Mat Workout"! Pilates strengthen your "core" muscles--abdominal and back. The exercises are helping me to improve my terrible posture and my flexibility. Caban is an excellent instructor. She's a former ballet dancer who discovered the benefits of pilates after suffering a back injury. Practicing pilates enabled her to completely do away with visits to the chiropractor.

New Go-Cart

2008-08-09T21:59:00.003-04:00

Another summer project that my husband and younger son have been working on is almost finished. It is bright and shiny and looks fantastic. I've been told it has a smooth ride! Just needs brakes, but they had to try it out tonight (down a gentle slope). Thanks to Mike at the Fix-It shop for the old mower, and thanks to Aunt Laura and Uncle T for the stroller wheels.

Remodeling Progress

2008-07-31T21:56:00.004-04:00

The bathrooms have come a long way. I think we'll meet our "by the time school starts" deadline! Still need to hang towel bars, curtains, etc.

"My Grandfather's Son"

2008-07-18T21:09:00.003-04:00

I certainly cannot tell Clarence Thomas's story better than he can, but I highly recommend that you read it. To read of his difficult childhood, his fascinating grandfather, his evolving ideologies, his hard work and the obstacles he overcame, his faith, and his rise to one of the most powerful positions in the country--all written with humility and grace--is inspirational.

Before. . .

2008-07-03T20:38:00.006-04:00

This is what two of our bathrooms look like right now. My talented husband is remodeling them this summer (with the help of my father-in-law and a plumber). Hope I'll have some shiny "After" photos to post before fall.

New Top

2008-07-03T20:33:00.002-04:00

Another Built-By-Wendy Simplicity 3835 creation.

Thinking ahead. . .

2008-06-23T22:02:00.004-04:00

. . . to Christmas! I've had some Christmas fabric stashed away and made some aprons. Using a sort of "assembly line" method made short work of the task.

Summer Sewing

2008-06-15T20:40:00.006-04:00

I have joined the Built-By-Wendy Simplicity #3835 bandwagon after admiring other bloggers' creations for a year now. The only details I have to complete on this dress are to insert the zipper and to finish the neckline and hem. Very easy dress, except I had a bit of trouble distributing the gathers on the neckline.

I've also been knitting a scarf with some beautiful bamboo yarn given to me by a precious student. It shimmers and drapes beautifully. I know I will enjoy wearing it to work this fall and winter.

Two New Favorites

2008-06-04T20:23:00.009-04:00

School's out for summer! Although I enjoy the books I read for work and school, one of my favorite aspects of summer break is that I can read anything I want. I'm enjoying reading the works of two "new" authors--both of the twentieth century and now deceased, and both Jewish.Chaim Potok: To supplement their study of the twentieth century, my students were assigned Potok's The Chosen this spring. This was the first time I had read any of Potok's works. I've since read The Promise, In the Beginning, and My Name Is Asher Lev. The Chosen is a coming-of-age novel about two Jewish boys, sons of immigrants, living in Brooklyn during WWII. It is narrated in first person by one of the boys, Reuven. Both boys gain insights about how to reconcile being religious with being free to explore all ideas (including non-religious), a theme that runs through all of the Potok novels I've read. The Promise is the sequel to The Chosen and continues the story of Reuven as he's in college. I'm so impressed with the scholarship of Potok's characters. They are hungry for knowledge, study diligently, and are frequent users of dictionaries and libraries :) .

Asher Lev is also a Jew growing up in New York, but My Name Is Asher Lev is set a decade or so later than Chosen and Promise. Asher Lev is a gifted artist and son of devout Jews. Though he shares his parents' faith, he cannot ignore his art, and he struggles throughout the novel to reconcile the two. It is probably the most powerful of the four Potok novels I've read, and I plan to read the sequel. In In The Beginning, the young narrator, again, shares the Jewish faith of his parents. He suffers for his faith through his childhood as neighborhood kids frequently abuse him, and he struggles with the restrictions of his conservative sect of Judaism as he matures.

I like the style, the quality of writing, the themes explored, and the characters and settings of Potok's books.

Bernard Malamud: The setting of the Potok novels reminded me of a short story I enjoyed in college English class written by Bernard Malamud called "The First Seven Years." I found this nice collection of Malamud's short stories at my local library. Malamud grew up above his immigrant father's grocery story in New York in the earlier twentieth century. Many of his stories have to do with the struggles of various Jewish immigrant tradespeople in that time and place. Sometimes the characters are self-deceived and comical, sometimes their situations seem quite hopeless, but most times they're ready to try to do better tomorrow. He consistently presents a pretty accurate picture of human nature.

I think my dear husband has secretly wondered if I may be converting to Judaism as he's watched me read this stack of books. No. But I've enjoyed reading these excellent authors and believe the inward struggles of their Jewish characters to be quite universal.

Homemade Costumes

2008-04-30T21:44:00.008-04:00

We put together some fun "frugal" costumes for my children's History Day at school. My two older children are dressed in costumes from the Civil War era which they studied earlier in the school year. My youngest studied the War for Independence and is dressed as a colonial soldier. We bought a prom dress at the local thrift store and cut off the sequined, strapless top to obtain the skirt. My daughter already had the "Victorian" blouse, and the capelet is a velour fabric scrap. I ordered the boys' hats (one under $10, and one under $5), got the union-blue shirt at the thrift store, and made my little guy's knickers from some too-short khaki pants.

Settling In

2008-04-03T20:49:00.003-04:00

Hmmmm...Edith certainly is making herself at home here!

More About Edith

2008-03-29T22:06:00.006-04:00

After researching online, we have determined that our Edith is mostly minpin (miniature pinscher). Though these dogs look like tiny dobermans, they are not related. Minpins are German toy dogs with some dachshund and Italian greyhound blood. Both my daughter and I have observed that Edith sometimes looks like a prancing, long-legged dachshund. When she is fully grown, she will be about 12 inches long and 12 pounds. She has many of the personality traits of a minpin: overly courageous around big dogs, learns quickly, likes to burrow under covers, prances and jumps when taking walks, loves to play one minute and cuddle in your lap the next. We are enjoying Edith immensely. You can read more about minpins at the following site: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/miniaturepinscher.htm .

Welcome, Edith!

2008-03-15T19:41:00.003-04:00

Breed: Who knows?

Age: Who knows? (3-5 months)

Special traits: sleek and beautiful, intelligent, gentle and loving

Tennessee Music

2008-03-08T11:24:00.003-05:00

It has been a pleasure to read Peter Coats Zimmerman's Tennessee Music! I'm so inspired by some of the featured artists--many of whom are not well-known, nor are they seeking fame and fortune. They work hard mastering their instruments simply for "the pure joy of playin' music." Zimmerman certainly discusses famous artists as well, such as the Carter family, Gillian Welch, and Dolly Parton.

He emphasizes what all of us Tennesseans know--that Tennessee is actually divided into three distinct regions: East Tennessee, Middle Tennessee, and West Tennessee. Each region has contributed different styles of music through the past century. East Tennessee has produced more "Old Time" music in the style of the Carter family; Middle Tennessee and Nashville offer pure "Country"; and West Tennessee is home of the "Blues." All have influenced one another, of course.

My one complaint about the book is that many of the featured artists are not native Tennesseans but are migrants. Gillian Welch, for instance, spent most of her life in southern California and New York. Zimmerman himself is a New Yorker. He has Tennessee roots, however, and I don't blame anyone for claiming the great state of Tennessee as his/her own!

Red

2008-02-28T13:31:00.002-05:00

This is the second room we've painted in our house since we moved here last year: our breakfast nook. I'm usually conservative with color, so this is quite bold for me. It took four coats of paint, even though we put a dark gray primer underneath. I shouldn't say we; my beloved husband painted this room for me for my Christmas present. Thanks, Dearheart.

Still Here

2008-02-24T18:18:00.004-05:00

It's been a while since I've updated! Since getting back to work after Christmas break, I've had no time for sewing or knitting, sadly. I'm taking one graduate course this spring--an IT course for which I'm reading Discovering Computers 2007--A Gateway to Information by Shelly/Cashman/Vermaat. I entered the library science program because I'm a bookworm, not because of a desire to learn IT; however, IT has been an integral part of the program, and I really enjoy it!

I just finished teaching To Kill a Mockingbird. The book is still probably my favorite 20th century American novel. Beautiful! Harper Lee's gift, as Gregory Peck once said. We're now reading Anne Frank's diary. It is exciting to see my students looking beyond their own circumstances and caring about the trials which others have endured.

Review of Viper's Tangle

2008-01-05T22:33:00.001-05:00

A friend loaned me Viper's Tangle, the 1932 novel by France's Francois Mauriac, winner of the Nobel prize for literature in 1952.

Written in first person, the novel consists of letters and memoirs of Louis, a bitter, dying lawyer. In analyzing and verbalizing to his wife his reasons for his bitterness, he experiences self-discovery and peace with God and family.

This is a psychological novel, not one with an action-packed plot or captivating prose. Its honesty as it delves into human nature and its hope in redemption for that nature are where its appeal lies. Mauriac, like Elizabeth Prentiss in Stepping Heavenward, paints a painfully honest portrait of Man in all of his warped and selfish motives and misunderstandings. I had to ask myself, "Is Louis's change of heart believable after so many years of bitterness?" Only if he derives it from a power outside of himself, which he does.

How would Mauriac feel about the centuries-old statement of another French writer, Francois de la Rouchefoucauld, who said, "Hope is the last thing that dies in man; and though it be exceedingly deceitful, yet it is of this good use to us, that while we are traveling through life it conducts us in an easier and more pleasant way to our journey's end"? I think the Hope in Mauriac's novel is eternal, not deceitful nor dying.

Dan Fogelberg 1951-2007

2007-12-17T21:09:00.000-05:00

Goodbye to a musician I've loved since I was a young girl.

Little Black Dress

2007-12-13T17:32:00.000-05:00

Just finished a new dress--except for the hem. The Christmas scarf will spruce it up for a holiday party I'm attending this weekend. I used a twenty-year-old Vogue pattern and a heavy polyester fabric.

Lovely Sock

2007-12-07T22:08:00.000-05:00

I am so proud of my twelve-year-old daughter! This is the first sock she has ever knit! Isn't it beautiful? She used Yarnart Crazy Colors yarn, which is 35% wool, and size 3 double-pointed needles. The yarn is varigated and becomes lovely color patterns when knit. Her skills have surpassed mine; I've only knit house socks out of chunky yarn, but now I'm inspired!

"Urchin" Beret

2007-12-05T21:29:00.003-05:00

I had only one beret--fuschia--which I'd worn for about twenty years, and I decided it's time to invest in a new one. I wanted to knit or crochet one quickly with yarn that I already had in my stash. Ysolda's Urchin pattern, published in the Fall 2007 Knitty online magazine (http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall07/PATTurchin.html ), seemed ideal.

It uses chunky yarn and is knit sideways rather than knit in rounds. It took me a couple of evenings to make, and I've been very happy with it. I did add one more wedge of knitting than the pattern calls for so that the hat would be a little "slouchier."

Ysolda is a young Scottish knitter and extremely creative in her pattern designs. I've enjoyed seeing her ideas posted on her blog at http://ysolda.com/wordpress/ .

Old Slipper/New Slipper

2007-11-29T10:49:00.000-05:00

My doubly-warm hand-knit elf slippers have served me well for a couple of years but are now quite worn. I will repair the holes, but I thought it was time for a new pair. These slippers (pocket book slippers--pattern at http://knitwits-heaven.tripod.com/pocket_book_slippers.htm ) were so easy to knit. I did one a night while watching television. They stretch to fit any size foot. I may try them knitting with two strands instead of one; they're a little thin and not as warm as my old slippers.

Review of "The First Christmas Morning"

2007-11-04T18:47:00.003-05:00

This cd was released in 1999, and I've known of its existence since last year. I decided I'd treat myself to a little music for my (ahem) fortieth birthday. My only regret about ordering this cd is that I didn't get it eight years earlier. It is worth the purchase price just to hear Dan's rendition of "What Child Is This."

It is medieval in style and includes four instrumentals composed by Dan in which he plays acoustic guitar, mandolin, and autoharp, to which are added flutes and various other woodwinds and strings.

One of the best songs is "This Endris Night" from the fifteenth century. Also good are Dan's own compositions "Christ the King" and the title song "The First Christmas Morning."

I highly recommend this cd for anyone who likes medieval, reverent yet celebratory Christmas music. And say a little prayer for Dan, who has cancer.

Spooky Book for Fall

2007-10-17T17:49:00.000-04:00

Dogwoods are beginning to turn in my backyard. This is my favorite time of year. Of course I enjoy seeing the colors through late October and early November; but when the leaves are gone, one of my favorite images is of bare, black, gnarly branches silhouetted against an orangy sunset.

Perfect time of year to read Robert Louis Stevenson's gothic novella, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I just read this short novel for the first time along with my seventh and eighth grade students. Most of my former ideas about the story and the images in my mind were influenced by cartoons and spoofs. This book is not about a monster. It is about the monster in Man.

The good vs. evil battle in Dr. Jekyll occurs within Man himself--Henry Jekyll, specifically. I must have reacted just as Stevenson intended: My heart aches for Henry Jekyll when he has only minutes left before he irrevocably turns back into Hyde. Yes, it's his own fault for indulging in his science and for giving his "evil" nature free reign. His experiment grows beyond his control. Can't all people sympathize with his weakness?

I am grateful there is a Power beyond Man that delivers us from Evil.

And I recommend the Stevenson's novella. Of course, his nineteenth century British style of writing is exquisite!

Thomas Wolfe

2007-09-06T09:03:00.001-04:00

In the old parlour of the house on Woodfin Street--that musty old frame of the golden days, with its sweet cool narrow glade of orchard reaching far behind--I heard the sea for the first time. Below the marble-topped table, covered with the Bible, the album, the stereoscope, and a glass-caged platter of waxen fruit, surrounded at every quarter by the horse-hair varnished sofas and chairs, enclosed by the four walls of sober brown, hung with the benign countenances of my whiskered ancestry--the first time, let me say, any of them had been hung--there were four great conch shells.
--and faint and far heard breakers pounding on the ends of the earth. --the Notebooks of Thomas Wolfe, pp. 48-49

I saw Ted Mitchell's Thomas Wolfe--An Illustrated Biography in my library's new books display and enjoyed spending a couple of evenings skimming through it. I read Wolfe's Look Homeward, Angel about a decade ago and have a love/hate relationship with it. Sometimes I think he was a self-centered scoffer--really hard on his family and his hometown in his brutally honest, biting book. Other times I'm blown away by his beautiful, powerful prose. I love his style, full of long lists of sensory details that enable me to go back and experience life in Southern America one hundred years ago.

Mitchell's book is full of photos and excerpts to whet the reader's appetite for more from the intense, tragic Wolfe.

What I've Done With My Summer, Pt. 6

2007-08-07T15:10:00.000-04:00

On really hot days, the kids and I sometimes like to spend a couple of hours in the library. When I think back on my summer, I realize I've read quite a bit in addition to required reading for school 1 and school 2. Reading books like these seen in the photo is my equivalent of watching television. I can skim through such a stack in a couple of evenings and usually glean several good ideas.

What I've Done With My Summer, Pt. 5

2007-08-05T22:06:00.000-04:00

I took an interesting graduate course in June which focused on the scientific journal: its history and evolution, its contents, its role in the work of the scientist, and, especially, the open access/subscription journal debate.

What I've Done With My Summer, Pt. 4

2007-08-03T22:01:00.001-04:00

This summer I did something I've wanted to do for years: I went to Carter Fold to hear some good live bluegrass.

My grandmother grew up in southwest Virginia just down the road from A.P. Carter, and she lived just a few miles farther from Carter Fold when I visited her throughout my childhood. A zillion smells (cornbread, fried apples, etc.) and sounds (trains) and sights (lightning bugs on summer nights) and sensations (barefoot on cool grass) remind me of visiting southwest Virginia. I love it there.

My husband is a Johnny Cash fan, and I recently read the memoirs of June Carter Cash and also Mark Zwonitzer and Charles Hirschberg's excellent biography of the Carter family. Visiting Carter Fold is like stepping back in time. Not much has changed there in the past hundred years.

As soon as the music started, people aged 1 to 100 walked down to the floor in front of the stage and began dancing. No inhibitions--some could clog well; some couldn't, but everyone was having a wholesome, wonderful time. I was a bit conservative this time and just listened to the music from my seat. Next time, I'm going dancing!

What I've Done With My Summer, Pt. 3

2007-08-03T21:42:00.000-04:00

I have done some sewing this summer, though not as much as I'd hoped. I've made a couple of peasant tops without using a pattern. I intended this one to be for my daughter, but it is slightly too big, so if she doesn't like it, I'll wear it. It is seersucker with turquoise, pink, and white vertical stripes--the fabric looks kind of funny in the photo.

What I've Done With My Summer, Pt. 2

2007-08-02T21:31:00.000-04:00

This summer I finally had a little more time to get settled in our new house. For instance, I organized my books. The librarian in me would like for them to be much better organized and then catalogued. Maybe next summer. But at least they are now divided into broad categories: novels, anthologies, literary criticism, history, theology, arts and crafts, and education.

Also note my husband's deer head and the ever-present pile of laundry on the couch.

What I've Done With My Summer, Pt. 1

2007-08-02T09:19:00.000-04:00

Summer has flown--less than two weeks until school/work starts back. I've done lots of relaxing: watching movies with the family, sleeping in a little, taking walks with my husband. I have to ask myself whether or not I've done anything productive with the last two months, and I am able to respond, "Yes!" Interspersed amongst lots of r&r have been moments of productivity.

For instance, I've taken up pilates! The fortieth birthday is fast approaching this fall, and I've been feeling convicted about how out-of-shape I am. I've never really exercised regularly and just want to have more strength and energy and better over-all health.

I checked out 15-Minute Pilates from my library. The moves are precisely explained; it took just a couple of sessions of careful reading to be sure I'm doing them correctly. The author is all about developing strength and controlling movements in order to recover from injury or poor posture habits or to prevent future injury. I'm trying to go through the exercises three days a week or so, in addition to walking and working out with weights.

Summer Knitting

2007-06-16T18:50:00.000-04:00

I was able to knit about three inches on this cotton spring/summer shawl while we traveled last week. It is a Shetland lace pattern--easy to do, relaxing--but I seem to complete only a few inches a year before I move on to other things (I began this project over two years ago!) Someday, Lord willing, I'll enjoy wearing this shawl!

More Books

2007-06-13T19:32:00.000-04:00

I've had to interrupt my reading of Trollope to start preparing for teaching in the fall. Students will be covering 1850-present in history, and literature selections will correspond. Just finished Irene Hunt's Across Five Aprils, the coming-of-age story of Jethro Creighton set in Illinois during the Civil War. I thought it was pretty balanced: though the protagonist sides with the North, one of his brothers fights for the South, and valid defenses for both perspectives are presented.

Jethro is quite naive in the beginning of the novel: "War meant loud brass music and shining horses ridden by men wearing uniforms finer than any suit in the stores at Newton; it meant men riding like kings, looking neither to the right nor the left, while lesser men in perfect lines strode along with guns across their shoulders, their heads held high like horses with short reins. . . " He is too young to fight and stays home to help on the family farm. Several painful occurrences help him to develop into a self-sacrificial, responsible young man.

My biggest criticism of the book is the fake dialect spoken by the major characters.

Since my students will read To Kill a Mockingbird late in the year, I couldn't resist checking out Charles Shields's Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee when I saw it on the "New Books" shelf at my local library. I'm so impressed with Shields's detective work and prose. His introduction explains how he gathered his facts about the mysterious Harper Lee by conducting interviews with her acquaintances, digging up and reading the few interviews she gave back in the 1960's, reading archived articles about the novel, studying the papers of Truman Capote, etc. He brilliantly puts his bits and pieces together to "bring to life" Lee's past in Monroeville, Alabama, and in New York City. I'm not quite finished with this biography and look forward to discovering what Harper Lee has been doing in the last twenty years or so.

More Sewing for Spring

2007-05-01T12:22:00.000-04:00

Made a new shoulder bag for spring, inspired by the great tutorial at Tiny Happy: http://tinyhappy.typepad.com/tiny_happy/2006/06/shoulder_bag_tu.html

To keep it organized, I also made a cell phone sock and some little zipper bags in coordinating colors. Thanks to Mom for the fabric from her stash. This project was easy and enjoyable, so I may make more this summer for gifts.

On to Trollope

2007-04-18T20:24:00.000-04:00

Just finished another P.D. James mystery, The Black Tower. Still love her style. Still love her detective. The story, however, is just too morbid for me to even elaborate. It leaves me with a blue feeling which no one wants from their "escape" reading.

So, it's on to Trollope. My dad has been recommending Trollope to me for several months now. P. D. James loved him, too. He was a British writer of the mid nineteenth century. Last summer I found a beautiful red hardbound copy of The Warden and Barchester Towers for $1.00 at a used book sale! It's small enough to hold in bed and pretty enough to feel special. I know I will enjoy it immensely.

I'll be getting a slow start on it as I wrap up my grad course and have five weeks of teaching left. I'll probably read the bulk of it in the first couple of weeks of summer.

Another Skirt

2007-04-03T11:08:00.000-04:00

I made another tiered skirt for my daughter on Saturday--this one a little longer. These skirts go together in an hour or less, and, again, I used recycled fabric and no pattern. I may put up a tutorial when I make another.

Spring Skirt

2007-03-24T19:16:00.000-04:00

I made my daughter a simple tiered skirt for spring. She loves bunnies, and this bunny fabric is actually salvaged from an old dress. This style of skirt is so simple to make and looks so cute on her with a t-shirt and sandals, and I plan to make her a few more for summer. She helped with part of the sewing and hopes that she can soon make one herself.

Cleopatra

2007-03-24T13:23:00.000-04:00

Well, my spring break is almost over. What a refreshing week I've had! We've had a couple of family movie nights and went to visit my folks for a couple of days. I've been able to catch up on work for my graduate course and to loosely plan out the last nine weeks of assignments for my students.

I've also sewn. The kids and I need costumes for our school's History Day next Friday. We have to dress as someone from the era we've studied this year. I'll feel more like Scarlet O'Hara than Cleopatra in this since it is made of fabric and trim from my mom's drapery/upholstery stash!

Twin Booties

2007-03-17T17:46:00.000-04:00

My friend at church is expecting twins, so here are a couple of pairs of booties I made for her using my favorite pattern found at http://www.knitting-crochet.com/twofavknibabpat.html . I've modified the pattern a little, changing the garter stitch on top of the foot to stockinette, and making shorter ribbing at the top of the booties.

P.D. James

2007-03-08T20:00:00.000-05:00

"The silence was numinous, broken only by the sound of the sea. He listened to it, not in the sense of being aware of the rhythmic crash of the waves against the unyielding granite, but letting the perpetual sound enter into some deeper level of consciousness so that it became an eternal lament for the unhealable anguish of the world."

Just finished another P.D. James mystery: The Lighthouse. It is the third Adam Dalgliesh mystery I've read, and I've enjoyed all three. Reading P.D. James is not really edifying nor educational, so why do I spend precious time reading her books?
1) Escape and entertainment. I read lots of other educational and edifying books. Sometimes I just want to relax before going to sleep; to not think about responsibilities.
2) Good writing. P.D. James's favorite authors are Anthony Trollope, G.K. Chesterton, and Dorothy Sayers. She is an old-school British writer and knows how to use our language beautifully.
3) Some universal questions. Through the thoughts of detectives Adam Dalgliesh and Kate Miskin, James actually does explore some of the biggies regarding the nature of God and the nature of Man and the significance of each life.

March

2007-03-01T07:36:00.000-05:00

February showers bring March flowers. See what my daughter found in our yard?

The Real Me

2007-02-24T14:15:00.000-05:00

Some family members are under the delusion that I'm organized. Here is a photo of the usual state of the couch in my den, just to set the record straight.

Happy Birthday, Mom!!

2007-02-21T21:32:00.000-05:00

I have a very talented mother. These paintings demonstrate only a fraction of her talent. She also sews beautifully; is a marvelous cook; can knit, crochet, macrame, and do needlepoint; and is gifted at home decor. She does not have a bitter bone in her body, and she's gorgeous, to boot!

Mom's birthday is Friday. Happy Birthday, Mom!!

Keeping Warm

2007-02-20T08:38:00.000-05:00

Our new house is at least twice the size of our former home and does not have a woodstove. We keep the thermostat set pretty low, but wrapping up in a quilt with a good book and a pot full of green tea and honey is one way to stay snug.

Great Salad Recipe

2007-02-19T08:35:00.000-05:00

Here is a salad recipe I acquired from my Aunt Judy years ago. My entire family, even kids, really like it. It makes enough to serve as a side for my family of five for two meals.

Broccoli-Ramen Noodle Slaw

2 pkgs. Oriental flavored ramen noodles

1 16-oz. pkg. broccoli slaw

1/2 c. shelled sunflower seeds

Crumble dry noodles and combine with broccoli slaw and nuts. Pour dressing over broccoli mix and mix well. Refrigerate until serving.

Dressing

In a small saucepan, heat 1/2 c. sugar, 3/4 c. canola oil, 1/4 c. red wine vinegar, and 2 pkgs. ramen noodle seasoning mix. Heat to simmering. Cool.

Happy Valentine's Day

2007-02-14T17:26:00.000-05:00

My sweet husband and children gave me cards and a rose to plant outside for Valentine's Day. We've had lots of sweet treats, too!

My New Dress

2007-02-11T15:38:00.000-05:00

Here is the dress I'm working on using New Look 6615. The neckline was the hardest part for me to construct and is a little crooked. I just need to finish the hem. Overall, I'm pleased with it and look forward to wearing it when the weather warms up.

2007-02-10T20:14:00.000-05:00

Trying out the link feature. Here is the pattern for the booties I'm working on: http://www.knitting-crochet.com/twofavknibabpat.html .I've made zillions of these. They're a nice baby gift.

Currently reading. . .

2007-02-10T19:54:00.000-05:00

I'm working through several books: Shakespeare's Julius Caesar for the seventh grade class I teach, Lamb's Tales from Shakespeare for my sixth graders, and some P.D. James just for fun. I'm also reading through Margaret Young's Internet for my info. science course. Will provide book reviews.

As far as my "stitching" is concerned, I'm knitting lots of booties for some new moms at my church, and am almost finished with a New Look dress for spring. Hope to post some photos of those projects soon (after I learn to work all the tools on this blog).

I've enjoyed reading blogs for a couple of years now and am glad to experiment with one of my own. So check in again some time to see how I'm progressing.

New Blog!

2007-02-10T00:35:00.000-05:00

Well, I finally did it! I have my own blog and hope to share news with a few folks now and then. I'll mostly share book reviews and progress in my sewing and knitting projects.

Thanks for checking in!!