Book Bag - no. 18

That little green book you see is called, This is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness.  I had to do a double take at the library, to make sure I was seeing the title correctly. It is collection of poems written by a sixth grade class, and then the responses to them. Beautiful and Funny and Poignant.

This time we treated, Follow Follow as a game of riddles. One of us would read the poem, and the rest would have to guess which fairy tale it was created for.  I think that's the whole point of the book, but the game deeply satisfied Fiona, who is always asking me for a riddle, at which my mind goes completely blank.  So now she can look back on her childhood with fond memories of her riddling mother. Mission accomplished. Thank you, Marilyn Singer.

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Tonight is one of those Friday nights that I am actually looking forward to. It feels like it has been a while with March threatening to freeze us to death.  We are dismissing Fiona early from to school to go to one of those crazy trampoline parks. There was a sale running, and a friend going, and with sheets of ice as far as the eye can see; I am more excited about this than I care to admit.  And then we come home to pizza, and root beer, and licorice and Dr. Doolittle.  Fo' shizzle! And this is just even more amplified because I actually got my brother's wedding gift in the mail a good three hundred and sixty days earlier than etiquette required me to. Talk about peace of mind. I found the most amazing, cast iron candle holders at Patch NYC in the south end of Boston. They were exactly what I was hoping to find, along with one of most memorable shopping experiences I have had in years. 

And on that note, I bid you, adieu. I hope that something in your own evening tonight brings you rest. 

Christmas Gift Guide

December hit and I painted my kitchen purple.  Earlier this week, I walked into the paint store knowing I had something dramatic up my sleeve and there I saw a shiny, glimmering sign displaying Benjamin Moore's color trends of 2015. I was sold!  I settled on cinnamon slate in record time and now, three days later I stand and can't help but smile at the comforting color of kings on my wall.  Apparently Advent was penetrating my subconscious. It feels so festive. Like the color of plum pudding.

Above are some titles that I am giving this year.

October Lessons

     This past weekend we celebrated my niece, Verity's second birthday. I love October. It is a wonderful month. The blur of adjusting to new routines has melted away and the air is ripe with the anticipation of cozy evenings filled with stories and firelight. And hope is renewed that maybe some projects might actually get accomplished. 

      Verity is a big Steve Light fan, so this gift was a shoe in. The bag, I made from leftover pieces of linen to help her transport small, stuffed friends. Myles stitched one strap into place, so it was really a "team effort."

However, there was a bit of cajoling involved to make that last part happen. 

     Yesterday evening I watched a friend gracefully parent her son.  We were at soccer practice together and something happened on the field that caused this little boy to run over to us in tears looking for comfort. We didn't actually catch what happened, but as my friend dusted him off, it became clear that he had no intention of finishing out the practice. They went back and forth for a minute, but after realizing the banter was going nowhere, she let him run off and smooth his ruffled feathers in his own way. He played on the playground with the sisters, while she continued to read her book in the same spot, still half watching the practice. What she didn't do was pick that battle and force her child into submission like someone else I know would have done. Gulp.

    After reflecting upon that interaction, I realize that there are too few battles that I don't pick.  Many details of our home life, I am willing to fight for.  The small things are important, Gosh Darnett.  So shoot me that I take things pretty seriously. This is so true, that in quiet moments standing around, people will ask me, "Is something wrong? You look like you're really upset." And then I'll realize that my brow is furrowed thinking about some decision that is lying ahead of me, and try and snap out of it for their sake. (It's not that fun watching someone in deep mental labor.) "Oh, no. Im fine," I will say. "Just preoccupied with creating an unrealistic more perfect existence."  This shows up in my parenting, big time.  Sometimes, I will let things go, like the towel on the bathroom floor, or the lunch sack left to ripen in a backpack over the weekend. But typically I feel like I am in constant parent motion. Listening in, picking up, instructing. Blah, Blah, Blahing.

      I have experienced burn out often enough to realize that I want to try to diversify my strategies. This, letting it go thing sounds amazing. It sure looked amazing on my friend.  Talk about taking the pressure off.  

     I am in the middle of listening to this talk about play and its really making me think and consider how well  I am letting my children experience risk and encounter natural boundaries, while discovering their own inclinations for good and creative endeavors.  I hope that forcing myself to relinquish some control, will also support this aspect of their childhood, and make me a more gentle mother. It is certainly worth a try. 

                                                      

Gift again, and again

This one will find its way into the hands of my grandfather and Myles' teacher. It is the perfect gift for your lover of history and iambic pentameter. 

My Christmas spirit feels a little impeached at the moment actually. I just said goodbye to my dearest of childhood friends who was visiting for the night and day. She and her husband brought good cheer and company on a much needed rainy, gloomy Monday.  We discussed Housekeeping, and she doesn't think Sylvie is ill like I had written her off as.  I guess I will have to think a little bit harder. 

This week I must make good on some plans I have committed to. Remember the paper whites in the tins?  Oh yeah, and all that baking. 

Holiday Gift Guide 2.0

I guess the good thing about life flashing before our eyes, is that before you know it the holidays are here. Thankfully. We jumped through many hoops over Thanksgiving. And now as the dust settles, it is with great expectation that we face the most beautiful of seasons.  Here are some titles that we are giving our friends and family this year.

1. The Story of Christmas, by Pamela Dalton
2. Paul Thurlby's Alphabet, by Paul Thurlby
3. Dusk, by Uri Shulevitz
4. Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, by Peter Brown
5. Locomotive, by Brian Floca
6. Fortunately, The Milk, by Neil Gaiman
7. Little Master Dickens: A Christmas Carol, by Jennifer Adams

two good things

Two good things are that it is raining which might cancel soccer practice, and that I actually have gifts for the birthday parties we will be attending this weekend. Granted I will still probably be wrapping them on the drive, but this is a step toward the organized person I am trying to become. However I did feel annoyed at myself when I walked up to the counter of the book store to fetch my nephew's special order of Traction Man, several days ahead of time. Just who do I think I am, having it all together, and stuff.  So today, in response, I had to go and chop off all my hair. I needed to say to that accusing voice inside my head, "You haven't got me yet! I could pack us all up and move to Oregon. If I really wanted to." Anyways, its on my list to see the Beverly Cleary sculpture garden.

Autumn Reading List

1. And Then Comes Halloween by Tom Brenner
2. This is Our House by Hyewon Yum
3. Round is a Tortilla by Roseanne Greenfield Thong
4. Henri's Scissors by Jeanette Winter
5. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
6. When We Go Walking by Cari Best
7. The Surprise by Sylvia van Ommen

Everything in my life right now feels crooked and blurry like the picture above. Yet, in the background are beautiful things, like this crisp fall day, and delightfully, comforting books about tortillas and sweaters.  I hope you had a great first week in one of the best months of the year.  I realize that many wonderful things happened in the year 1987. But, this worksheet that Myles brought home on his first day of second grade was not one of them. Deep breath.  My friend who had this teacher last year, is talking me off the cliff.  Thankfully, tomorrow is fresh with no mistakes in it yet.

Bon Anniversaire Mila

Yesterday, we had the joy of meeting our cousin for the very first time. She was enchanting, and I am hoping she will teach us all French one day.  We knew she'd be a trip-trapping sort of gal, and thus gave this favorite folk tale for her first birthday.

Father Fodder

I will not attempt to fill you in on my day, for it dealt with waving broom sticks, slammed doors,  and a pervasive lack of deep breaths. So on to bigger and better things. Fatherhood. Above are some titles that inspire, and one very well could provide a missing piece to lucky dad's book collection. 

Holiday Gift Guide

It is official. The holiday season is here! Indeed, it is better to give than to recieve, and no matter who your recipient is, picture books make the best presents bar none. They are thoughtful and friendly and lasting. You can find the perfect one for every person on your list. Biographies under the tree bring wonder, and as the wrapping paper gets thrown away, curling up with a new friend on the couch is a beautiful thing. And a Little House book tied up with a peppermint stick? You are giving the gift of wholesomeness. Enrapture the family with fairy tales, and apart from good food, you don't need much else.

Here are the titles that I will be giving my family and friends this year!

1. Amelia Lost, by Candace Flemming. An award winning biography of an icon.
2. A Boy Called Dickens, Deborah Hopkinson. Step back into time with Charles Dickens as he overcomes obstacles to become one of the greatest writers of all time.
3. A Clever Beatrice Christmas, Margaret Willey. A tale perfect for a niece who is clever enough to convince others to believe.
4. Snow, Uri Shulevitz. A highly acclaimed celebration of an ancient city's first snowfall led by a boy and his dog.
5. This is New York, M. Sasek. Vintage and Fascinating. Perfect for any New York lover, young or old.
6. Bon Appetit! the delicious life of Julia Child, Jessie Hartland. A wonderful and comical presentation of Julia Child's winsome career as we celebrate 100 years.
7. The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm, Noel Daniel. A beautiful collection certain to captivate.
8. Do You Know Which Ones Will Grow?, Susan A. Shea. A clever book for a curious toddler.
9. Little House in the Big Woods, Laura Ingalls Wilder. I find someone to give this to every year!
10. A Pocketful of Posies, Salley Mavor. A unique treasury of nursery rhymes illustrated with rich fabric and colorful threads. Winner of the 2011 Horn Book Award.

I made a promise to myself that I would pre-order these books from local books stores, and I am sticking to it, so help me God. No super-fast-track-members-only-free-shipping for me this year. Care to join?


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The 3 Bears and Goldilocks

We could read folktales all day. They are antiques for the soul. This is especially true when one takes a delightful new twist! In The 3 Bears and Goldilocks, created by the award winning duo of Margaret Willey and Heather Solomon, who brought us Clever Beatrice, an old time story is transformed into an adventure with an unexpected perspective.

The writing sings and the illustrations captivate.

Goldilocks is cunning, mischeivous, and naive. 

Not a twirpy blonde. 

Fiona gave this book to a bosom friend on her birthday. 

I think it makes a great gift.

Enjoy!