A Visit With PJ Hoover

PJ (Tricia) Hoover came to visit yesterday. She gave a presentation at the school for an adoring crowd and then repeated some of the presentation in the kitchen so that Harry, who'd missed some of it due to a baseball game, could see it.

It was so wonderful to finally meet someone who I've gotten to know through blogs and e-mails. She was as delightful as I knew she would be, and we would have stayed up talking even later into the night had we been able to keep our eyes open anymore.

I'm so glad she was able to come, my only regret is that the visit didn't last nearly long enough.

I blogged more about her presentation at Simply Put.

Tuesday's Proverb

The just man's lips nourish many, but fools die for want of sense. (Proverbs 10:21)

Tuesday's Proverb

The just man's lips nourish many, but fools die for want of sense. (Proverbs 10:21)

The Train Set

I remember when the train set was first built. We were still living in Trenton, so I was younger than nine. My dad spent lots of time getting the trains and the buildings right. It was a Christmas surprise one year, and the train set had pride of place in our large basement. Many of the buildings (like the bakery and butchery shop above) were built by my grandfather.

When we moved the new house had no basement. This posed a dilemma for the train set. But my dad figured a way around that. He set it up in the boys room on a table that could lift into the wall. Part of the year the train set was down and working, other times it would be stored away (it couldn't be stored away daily or anything like that - too much stuff to take off the set).

As Leo grew and the older boys lost interest, the train set moved to Leo's room, where it stayed for awhile, only eventually to be taken down and dismantled. I don't remember if the train set got set up again when the older boys moved out on their own.

But when my parent's moved to a different house about 11 years ago they had a basement that was just right for trains. And they had something else: grandchildren (okay, one at the time - but more were to follow).

Since then the train set has taken on various forms - at one point the set took up most of the basement. It has shrunk down to a more manageable size now and Harry has learned how to operate the trains - which he makes sure he does whenever we visit Ammy and Grampy's house.

All of the grandkids enjoy watching the trains. I'm sure when Baby T is a little older he'll love watching them too!

And since my Dad is about to retire - who knows what he might do with it next!

Celebrating Birthdays

March brings lots of birthdays in our families. Today was my brother Pete's birthday. Unfortunately, Pete and his family were the only ones unable to make it to March birthday celebration today (but they don't live within driving distance). We celebrated my parents' birthdays and my sister-in-law's birthday. Everyone loved playing with the new baby. Four-year-old Superhero will be very happy when Baby T is big enough to play with, but for now he liked holding him and feeding him. He even washed his own hands in hopes of then being allowed to hold the baby.

The kids got to blow out the candles. Yeah, none of their birthdays are in March, go figure.

Check This Out

It's almost here.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Tuesday's Proverb

Like choice silver is the just man's tongue; the heart of the wicked is of little worth. (Proverbs 10:20)

Young Writers

Pippi was delighted to find that one of her friends was the seventh grader chosen to represent their middle school at the Young Writer's night. Pippi read the two poems I posted for Poetry Friday last week. Her friend read an essay about a Thanksgiving dinner her family prepared when their kitchen was under construction and they had no stove or oven (it included grilling the turkey in the backyard and unsuccessfully making cornbread in the toaster oven)

All of the poetry and essays shared by the 6th through 12th graders was wonderful. There is a lot of wonderful talent out there. Two of the most moving were a poem written by a tenth grader in honor of her father who passed away last year, and the story the eighth grader read about how when she was four years old her mother came to America - and how the rest of the family followed from Poland four years later.

Pop Culture References

I posted over at Simply Put today about putting pop culture references in your writing.

Is it better to be up-to-date and hip? Or timeless?

Poetry Friday

My daughter was chosen to represent her school at "An Evening with Young Writers" at our town's art center.

The two poems that were selected are ones I've posted here before on Poetry Friday, but they bear repeating. I'll put one here and the other over at Simply Put (spread the wealth)

Beauty and the Beast
By KRM

I was the big
Big man,
Muscular
Athletic, wonderful.
But she didn’t want me.
She fawned over
A beast locked
In a haunted castle
These years
What did he
Have that I
Didn’t.
Naturally, I started
Pressing her buttons.
But that made her
Hate me even more.
So then I set
Out.
Last straw.
Kill the beast!
A little lie here
A little blood there,
The benefit was mine.
The girl…mine!
But still,
My plan backfired,
Pushed off a
Tower. Landing
KERSPLAT
Down below.
And that was
My story.
My intentions
Started out
Good.
All I wanted was
Beauty
And
Instead got the
Brunt of the
Beast.

The Poetry Friday Roundup is by Tricia at The Miss Rumphius Effect.

Can Assigned Reading be Fun?

Harry was complaining the other day that having to read a book for school "sucks all the fun out of it."

I can't really argue with him.

Reading a good book-getting lost in that world to the point that you're surprised to find you haven't actually left your chair-is one of life's pleasures.

Having to discuss theme and character motivations and what have you - are generally not quite so thrilling.

Now - just to be clear - Harry's not in a class that teaches everything in a dry pedantic way. They answer questions based on the story, yes, they discuss the story in a group, sometimes he has to do a writing assignment that takes an aspect of the story one step further and requires a little critical analysis: what qualities do you think make a good hero, who do you consider a hero? But he's nine and he wants to just read the book and be left alone.

But reading a book for school, doesn't it have to be discussed? Don't questions have to be asked to check for a certain level of comprehension? In his reading class they do not have a "reading book" they use novels. I think that's good. But is it better to have a class that focuses on shorter passages in a reading book and leaves the novels for fun time only?

I remember when I was in middle school and we had to do at least 15 minutes of silent reading at home each night as part of our homework. Reading for 15 minutes a night was not a problem for me, then, as now, I loved to read. The part I didn't like about the assignment was that we had to keep a journal and log. We had to mark down our writing time and write a short summary of what we read every day. I hated that part. (I remember doing a week's worth of summaries at a time before handing the journal in on Fridays).

But isn't that a reasonable way to make sure that a child is actually reading something? There are always going to be students that the teacher knows is reading no matter what. But there are others who won't. Is keeping tab on the time you read and writing a short summary (I'm talking a couple of sentences here) really so awful. I thought it was when I had to do it.

So... how do you teach reading and keep reading fun at the same time?

Tuesday's Proverb

Where words are many, sin is not wanting; but he who restrains his lips does well. (Proverbs 10:19)

What Would You Say?

The rallying cry "put prayer back in schools" can sometimes be heard across the land. The proponents of such a measure will say that the country has gone to heck in a handbasket since prayer was removed from school.

And perhaps in areas where 99% or even 100% of the children attending the school share a religious background it might make sense.

Our school is not that homogeneous. So the question would naturally become "what prayer?" "whose god?" Because in our school it's not even a matter of different Christian denominations with a few Jewish people thrown in for good measure. No there are Muslims and Hindus as well. And probably other beliefs that I'm not even aware of.

This came to mind today because of an incident when I was helping in the school library. A second grade boy asked his teacher (who I happen to know to be Catholic) if God was just a fairy tale. She raised her hands in dismay and rolled her eyes and said "Heavens no, who told you that?"

"My Dad," responds the boy. "He just believes in science."

The teacher turns to me and says "Can you believe a parent teaching their child that?"

I didn't say anything, but I can see a parent teaching their child that if that is what the parent believes. And perhaps that same parent would be appalled that someone else's child is being taught there is a God.

Another boy piped up. "His Dad believes in the devil though."

"You can't have the devil without God," I answered.

The teacher agreed.

"My Dad is from Africa," the first boy said.

Then someone else came to the desk and I didn't hear the rest of the conversation between the boy and his teacher. I did hear something to the effect of "that's not what your mother believes, you should listen to her."

I don't know this boy's family. I don't know what his father believes. But I can see the conversation that could go on tonight.

"I asked the teacher if God was a fairy tale and she said no. She said I shouldn't listen to you."

Now imagine if the teacher was an atheist and a child asked if there was a God. Then the conversation at home would go like this "I asked the teacher if God was real, but she said he's a fairy tale and that I shouldn't listen to you."

Just something to think about.

Light a Fire Under Him

There is a story in my family history about an uncle of mine. Actually he would have been an uncle of my grandmother's I believe. I don't vouch for the veracity of this story - only that this is how the story was told to me.

My great-great uncle was walking along the canal paths of the Erie canal. He came upon a mule that was refusing to pull it's load. No matter what the driver did to it that mule just stood there. The driver was fed up. My great-great uncle said he would buy the mule for a quarter (maybe the amount was even less, I'm not sure). The driver, facing a worthless animal agreed and turned the stubborn mule over to my uncle but wondered what my uncle would do with an animal that refused to move.

Simple. He lit a fire under him and the mule moved right quick. And my uncle got himself a mule right cheap.

Hopefully no one actually has to light a fire under me to get me writing and blogging again.

Tuesday's Proverb

It is the lips of the liar that conceal hostility; but he who spreads accusations is a fool. (Proverbs 10:18)

More Snowboarding

Snowboarding

Uncle Leo took Harry out snowboarding this afternoon. And of course, since Harry's only other experiences with snowboarding have been down the slide in the backyard or down the big pile of snow by the driveway when we have a decent snowstorm he absolutely loved it.

He wants to go back and do it again next week. (Sorry Harry, that's not happening)

I'm waiting for my brother to send me the pictures and videos he has - from going down the big slope. My husband took these while they were having the snowboarding lesson.

And what did Pippi and I do while Harry was off snowboarding? We hung out with baby Tyler and Aunt Kristen. That was my kind of afternoon!

Two Points

It wasn't nearly enough to win the game, but when Harry scored his first basket of the season, it was also his team's first basket of the game and the other team already had eight points.

So it those two points brought loud cheers from our side.

Any baskets bring loud cheers from our side. We're very supportive.

But those two points didn't mean our team won. No, it was 26 to 12. Thankfully the season is almost over.

Tuesday's Proverb

A path to life is his who heeds admonition, but he who disregards reproof goes astray. (Proverbs 10:17)

The Horns of a Dilemma

I was minding my own business in the grocery store - picking up a few necessities for the week - when over by one of the frozen food displays a woman approaches me.

She was very apologetic and a bit frantic. Her story was that she had lost her job two weeks ago and had had no income for two weeks. Her cupboards were bare. She had two children. Could I help her?

Now of course if someone is truly in need I want to help. But there were a few things happening here. One, I don't carry a lot of cash with me, so I couldn't hand this woman any money to go buy some food. I was surrounded by food in the store but I hadn't paid for it yet - I couldn't just hand her some food.

The other problem was that I didn't believe her. Two weeks unemployed and she has run through any savings and all her food? Possible of course, but... doubts lingered. Adding to my doubts was the fact that she looked remarkably like a woman who approached me and my kids in her car on Halloween. She was driving around a very quiet neighborhood trying to get together cash to pay for gas so she could drive to pick up her kids from their father's house about 20 minutes away. I had no cash on me that time either - and really didn't believe that story.

But... what if she wasn't lying. What if she really was out of food and was desperate to feed her kids. The food pantries are turning people away because they have too many to serve. So I stood there, next to the frozen fish and tried to figure out what to do.

What I did was told her that I'd buy her some cold cuts. If she was at the check out lane when I checked out I would give them to her then. I told her it would only be a few minutes. She said she'd wait for me there and thanked me profusely.

So I picked up two extra packages of sandwich meat and finished my shopping and a few minutes later I checked out.

The woman was nowhere to be seen. I looked around as I was leaving the store - but didn't see her.

Now I have two extra packages of sandwich meat and a vaguely dissatisfied feeling.

Birthday Boy

Harry is nine years old today. Not all the cousins were able to make it today, distance, snow or sickness, kept various people away, but the princess and superhero were here to help their big cousin open his presents.

And It's Not Even a Sport

That's what Harry said when he expressed his new found pleasure in crocheting.

"It's supposed to be relaxing," he said, "and it's fun too, and it's not even a sport!"

Tuesday's Proverb

The just man's recompense leads to life, the gains of the wicked, to sin. (Proverbs 10:16)

Birthday Fun

What do you do when a princess and a superhero (in a Steeler's jersey) share a birthday? Why you have a party that makes it look like Christmas came again. Then you play a little football. And if you're the newest cousin in the bunch you wonder what is going on.

Today my niece and nephew celebrated their fourth birthday and we got to meet the newest addition to the family for the first time.

It was a great day!

Tuesday's Proverb

The rich man's wealth is his strong city; the ruination of the lowly is their poverty. (Proverbs 10:15)

The World's Loss - Heaven's Gain

Word came this evening that a dear and wonderful friend of ours had passed away. Jackie had been suffering from cancer for the past several years, and it is a blessing to know that she no longer has to suffer. But that doesn't ease the pain for the rest of us who have to live without her now.

This was Jackie - always smiling, always happy - last year at our annual New Years celebration. She didn't make it to this years celebration because she was in the hospital, but she was with us in spirit. As you can see, last year, she has delighted to get her annual New Years' gift of bananas.

We first met Jackie when I was not quite two years old. We moved into the house next to her in-laws. Jackie was expecting her first child (my dear friend, Maria) and my mother was expecting my brother Peter.

Soon after that they moved into a house nearly across the street. And as my mother once said "you grew up in each others' houses." It was true. Jackie (the only adult we called by her first name, because her mother-in-law, our next door neighbor was already "Mrs. Maruca") was always welcoming and loving. She treated us as her own. She was more a favorite aunt then a neighbor and friend.

She will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her. Especially her loving husband, Rocky, her three children and her grandchildren.

And here's one more picture. Jackie is in the middle in the green shirt. This was from Christmas 1974. I'm wearing the blue robe with the gold halo in my hair, Maria is next to me with the blue cape, my brother is the one munching on the carrot (we had apparently put on a Christmas play.)

Rest in peace, Jackie. We love you.

Dinner Conversation

The conversation at dinner tonight progressed from the destruction of Pompeii when Vesuvius erupted, to the fall of the Roman Empire to Elmo from Sesame Street (and no, there were no toddlers at the table.) I'm not quite sure how we got from one to the other.

She's Got a Point

Pippi: Whoever named the speech disorder where a person can't pronounce the letter 's' a 'lisp' was just plain mean.

Feb 6, 1909

One hundred years ago.

That's the day my grandfather, Leo Tanghe, was born. I wish he had lived to see his hundredth birthday - but he did not, so we'll just have to honor the day on our own.

When asked to tell about his youth he started with "I was born, as most people are..."

He was a scientist to the core, making note of the minutia of life and recording it. His daily diaries are more accounts of what he ate and who he saw and what temperature it was than how he felt about any particular thing. But that didn't mean that he didn't also have the soul of a poet hiding behind that doctorate in chemistry.

When on a train trip away from his soon-to-be wife (in 1934) he detailed some of the experience in a letter home.

The Pullmans are fixed up quite nice compared with the day coaches. Only the middle half of the car is taken up by sleeping quarters. At one end there is the men's washroom and smoking lounge. Hot water, mirrors and towels are available. At the other end there is a similar compartment for the women (I presume, without making a thorough investigation of the matter.)
...
The berth had a great deal more room than I had expected. Two could lie side by side provided they did not worry too much about getting their clothes mussed up, or about lying real close to each other.
...
It seemed as though we were going along leisurely at about the same rate that Alan might be pulling a cart down the sidewalk with no particular destination in mind. Yet the train must have been going about 60 miles an hour in order to get there in eight hours.

He kept a diary during their honeymoon trip. The first entry is from June 30, 1935, the morning after the wedding.

Fine day to start out our honeymoon. Warm and sunny all day long. Our destination is the Adirondacks - no special place in particular - except to be able to give vent to desire to see the massive wooded hills again. There is something attractive about the mountains. Even after having been here several times before, I return again in preference to going to a place where I have never been before.

Such an unpardonable error, for now we are two - Ruth and Leo. The word "I" must be cast into oblivion.

Such joy I never again expect to experience, as when I looked on her pretty head resting deep in the pillow. On that pillow too, I could rest my head right next to hers.

There is the word "I" again, but I am sure that word speaks for the both of us. Whatever joy was mine, was also hers. Our joys bound right back from one to the other, just as light does from two mirrors facing each other.

They raised six children together, my grandmother home taking care of the children, my grandfather working as a chemist for Kodak.

He loved photography and nature and especially mushrooms. He was a noted mushroom expert in the Rochester area and would be called upon to identify possibly poisonous mushrooms or even to discuss mushroom poisoning incidents on television as he did in 1995 - and recorded the event for several journals (second section).

When my daughter was born he sent a letter telling us what he was doing as they awaited news of her birth

We got this message [that I was at the hospital] just before we left for the 9:30 Mass at St. Charles. This is quite a struggle for us during the winter. I have to get out of our house through the back door on my butt and then get into the wheelchair and let Ruth push me to the car in the garage. Luckily I do not have any trouble driving [yeah, that raised my eyebrows too]

He loved to make jams and jellies and would invite all of his local great-grandchildren over in the spring and they would make raspberry jam from the raspberries growing in the backyard.



He had a recipe for Hot Pepper Jam that showed his scientific side:

4 lb sweet peppers
4 lb hot peppers
1 lemon
6 c vinegar
5 lb sugar
2 pkg (1 3/4 oz each) Sure Jel

I prefer red over green pepers - better flavor and more appealing color. These are available in late Sept and early Oct. at the Publbic market.

Quarter the sweet peppers and remove stem and seeds. Cut tops off red peppers and leave sees in. Quarter the lemon and use it all. Put peppers and lemon through coarse food chopper. Some juice may run out; catch it and add it to the ground mix. Place in a large pan or kettle with a heavy bottom.

Add vinegar and bring to a boil.

Add sugar and bring to a boil

Add Sure-jel and bring to boil (about 102 degrees C or 217 degrees F) and continue to boil until the thermometer reaches 104 degrees C or 220 degrees F while stirring. It is important to stir occasionally at the beginning and more often near the end. If you don't it might stick to the bottom or boil over and make a mess you will never forget. This will take about an hour, depending on the heat setting.

At this point put a test portion in a small container (bottle cap or milk carton cap) and cool it in the refrigerator. If it is too runny when chilled, boil it a little longer. With practice you can tell by the consistency when it has been boiled down enough.

Pour into sterilized jelly jars and cover with melted paraffin wax. If the jars have screw caps and take dome lids, wax is not necessary.

You will love it or hate it. You can adjust the "hotness" by varying the amounts of sweet and green peppers. You might want to use half or quarter of the above amounts for a first trial, but if you like it make a big batch and give some to your friends.

He was always ready to share his knowledge with anyone who was interested. Here he shows my cousin Jodie how to use a sliderule. Ten-month-old Pippi looks on, figuring this may be important someday.

For more great pictures go to my mom's blog Morning Glory Alley.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa.

Tuesday's Proverb

Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool is imminent ruin. (Proverbs 10:14)

Winning isn't Everything

...but it sure would be nice now and then.

Sure we all saw the Cardinals almost pull a victory out of last night's Superbowl and the Steelers rallied back. An awesome few minutes of sports. We cheered for the Steelers, we felt bad for the Cardinals. But hey, even though the Cardinals didn't win the Superbowl - they got there. That means they won a lot.

Now - to this year's township basketball season. There are four teams in the minor boys division. There are about a dozen games. We're more than half way through the season and Harry's team hasn't won a game yet.

Oh, we've come close. There have been times when we were ahead by a few points. But the other team always ends up ahead at the final buzzer. Usually by about three points. Sometimes only by one.

It's hard to watch your kid's team lose all the time. You want them to win. At least once in awhile. Everyone likes to win.

And there's still more games. Maybe Saturday will be our lucky day!

Musical Interlude

Harry's downstairs doing something on the computer and singing (repeatedly) at the top of his lungs in good old opera style:

Life is like a love song
If you know what I mean

His sister is upstairs saying "I don't know what you mean."

Tuesday's Proverb

On the lips of the intelligent is found wisdom, (but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence). (Proverbs 10:13)

Dream Planning

And I don't mean like your goals and aspirations. I mean dreams. You know those crazy picture shows in your head at night.

Ever since I was little I've determined that if you think of something while falling asleep you will dream about it.

I've used this time to plan the perfect bedroom for myself as a teen (I remember lots of blue, steps, a loft, a private bathroom and a balcony), to imagine TV shows with me as an added character (I had lots of great Charlie's Angels plots where I could play the role of Sabrina's [made up] younger sister Jamie) and of course to figure out story ideas.

Story ideas are the things I've stuck with the most. After awhile it gets boring to plan a room you'll never actually have - and I grew out of the idea of wanting to be on Charlie's Angels, but I still need to plan out stories.

Before I fall asleep I'll let a troublesome scene run itself over in my mind. I can get great dialogue this way - the key is to remember it in the morning.

Now - the big question: does thinking about something before you fall asleep make you dream it. It hasn't worked for me yet.

And last night I dreamt that a Revolutionary War battle was going to be fought outside our house and we were watching through the windows waiting for people to arrive. When the soldiers in their red and blue coats showed up we went into town to get out of the way. The whole time I was very concerned about backing up my computer. And when we got back, and the soldiers were gone, I was mighty upset they had put holes in our new screen door.

Yeah - I didn't think about any of that before falling asleep.

Okay then...

I told my son to get in the shower.

He told me he wanted to finish reading the Declaration of Independence first.

Who am I to say no to that?

Tuesday's Proverb

Hatred stirs up disputes, but love covers all offenses. (Proverbs 10:12)

Poetry Friday

I've decided to post the poem for Poetry Friday over at my writing blog, Simply Put. Go check it out for a wonderful new poem by Pippi.

Shopping Lists...

...are apparently just suggestions to me.

I put five things on a shopping list today.

Five.

While at the store I took the list out of my pocket to make sure I didn't forget anything. I got a few things that were on the list and a few things that weren't.

I double checked the list and made note of the things I hadn't picked up yet.

I finished my shopping, came home, put the things away.

And then a few hours later I opened the bathroom cupboard and remembered I needed Dixie cups. And they were on my list. And I didn't buy them.

Sigh.

Tuesday's Proverb

A fountain of life is the mouth of the just, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. (Proverbs 10:11)

Finished

Now I can get on with the rest of my life.

*and it doesn't usually take me this long to finish a puzzle, but I wasn't able to work on it last week.

She Has a New Book Boyfriend

It took less than one chapter for Pippi to fall in love with Edward Cullen in Twilight.

Her friends have been bugging her to read Twilight for over a year now. She resisted, saying that vampire love stories weren't really her thing.

Then she made a deal with one of her friends. If N would read the Percy Jackson series, then Pippi would read Twilight.

She came home from school on Thursday and said she was going to read Twilight, because N had gotten the first Percy Jackson book out of the library.

So the next day, while doing some birthday shopping for Pippi, I picked up Twilight (our first stop would normally be the library, but with renewed interest from the movie, the books were all out with waiting lists. I gave her the book on Friday (early for her birthday, but figured she could read it over the weekend.)

And by the time she had finished the first chapter she told me she had a new book boyfriend.

She plans to finish the book today (she would have finished it already if we hadn't had a baby shower to go yesterday, and a school dance Friday night.)

I guess I better finally read this book and see who exactly it is my daughter has fallen in love with.

Tuesday's Proverb

He who winks at a fault causes trouble, but he who frankly reproves promotes peace. (Proverbs 10:10)

Puzzle Progress

Blogging has been light - as well as everything else I probably should be doing - because what I've been working on is the puzzle that Pippi gave me for Christmas. Making progress. But I still have a way to go. Sorry the picture is a bit blurry. If you want to see what it is supposed to look like when it's done- go here.

Brew Masters

While Pippi and I were out attending a baby shower, my guys were home with their brewing kits. Mr. Beer and Mr. Root Beer. Looks like we have some good drinking ahead of us - for everyone!

New Year's Traditions

Or - of radishes and bananas

Once upon a time our family moved away from some dear friends. Several months later, one of the friends invited us back for dinner on New Year's Day. The other family was there as well.

Every year since the three families have gotten together for dinner on New Year's Day (or reasonably close to it).

That first year was 1976.

Not everyone can be there every year. But every year each family is represented by at least one member.

And we give gifts. This started naturally enough, because we were good friends getting together shortly after Christmas. The gifts are simple things - but there s always something else.

It's hard to explain exactly how it all started (and it's been tried: each time someone marries into one of the families and wonders why everyone is so excited about radishes and bananas)

I believe my father complained there weren't enough radishes in the salad that first year and every year since he has been presented with radishes as a gift. Sometimes they are artfully arranged, as in the time they were made into "Radish Man", other times, it's simply a bag of radishes.

Rocky gets hot peppers every year - and I'm honestly not sure why - I'm sure someone knows.

My mother always gives the two other families something to do with bananas. And this stems from a trip to Long Beach Island many years ago - when we were all together and my mother spent the time trying to get someone to eat bananas - since she had them and didn't want them to go bad. We started calling her a banana pusher. She took the calling seriously and every year bananas are part of the gift.

Salt is also a traditional gift. Since Dad and Ray love their boats - they're just a couple of 'old salts'.

So every year the New Year is celebrated with good friends and radishes, bananas, peppers and salt. Could you ask for anything more?

Oh yes - this year the boys sang some karaoke as well!

Happy New Year

Here's wishing a wonderful 2009 to one and all.

Last night we had a fun-filled New Year's Eve at home. For dinner we used the fondue pot and got to cook our own dinners - chicken, hot dogs, broccoli, carrots and cheese, dipped in a tempura batter and deep-fried.

Then we had a rousing game of Apples to Apples (best family game ever).

Followed by watching Heidi on DVD.

The movie wasn't quite over yet at midnight, so we switched to regular TV for a couple of minutes to watch the ball drop in Times Square, wished each other a happy new year, watched the rest of the movie and off to bed.

Today we're off to our traditional New Year's Gathering with family and friends.

More about that later (and if you're good I'll explain the odd tradition we have involving radishes, bananas, hot peppers and salt - I know you're dying to know)

Happy New Year everyone!

Tuesday's Proverb

He who walks honestly walks securely, but he whose ways are crooked will fare badly. (Proverbs 10:9)

A Day in the City

We had a family outing to New York City today. We took the train in to Penn Station and from there walked hither and yon around Manhattan. We saw Macy's and Times Square. We almost got run over by some guys moving some Good Morning America furniture out into the street (will we see that set on TV on New Year's Eve?). We saw the tree in Rockefeller Center and of course the ice skaters. The window displays at Macy's and Sak's and Lord and Taylor. We went in Barnes and Noble (can never resist a good bookstore, but since the gift cards were all at home we didn't buy anything). We went into St. Patrick's cathedral and lit a couple of candles. We went into the New York Public Library, but couldn't find any books (don't laugh at me, we were running out of time) - nice builiding though.

The crowds were immense. I can only imagine what it must have been like before Christmas. And New Year's Eve must be insanity itself there. I enjoy the vitality of New York. I love looking at all there is to see there. And this time we didn't even do any museums or shows. But the crowds are a bit much for me. I like a bit of elbow room in my life - and that was something there was very little of today in the city.

It was a lot of fun. And now I'm tired.

Cousins and Best Friends

A few years ago my nephew, Anthony, asked his mother if cousin meant best friend. Because he and Harry were cousins and best friends. They are a week shy of being one year apart in age and when they were in pre-school spent many many hours together. Anthony and family moved away a few years ago and now their visits are once - maybe twice a year - if we are lucky.

Today was one of those lucky days and the two cousins got to be best friends again for the afternoon.

Christmas Eve - and a Happy Birthday Wish

The Christmas Eve that I recall the most clearly growing up was the year that I was seven. My two younger brothers and I were in the TV room watching cartoons early in the morning when our dad came into the room and said he had something to tell us.

"Mom went to the hospital last night," he said.

"No, I just saw her go into the bathroom," I answered.

"No, she's at the hospital," Dad said. We went back and forth for a little before he convinced me that Mom was really not in the bathroom - in fact, not in the house at all.

"And," Dad said, once I finally agreed, "She had the baby."

The baby wasn't due for a couple of weeks yet. This was before regular ultrasounds told you if the baby was a boy or a girl before it was born. But I knew it had to be a girl. After all, I already had two brothers. In seven-year-old logic, that made perfect sense. And besides, my parents had promised me I could have a bunk bed like my brothers if I had a sister.

I'd been referring to the baby as "Virgina" for weeks now. I was ready for my sister. And now the baby had been born.

"You have a new baby brother," Dad continued.

My mouth fell open to a shocked 'Oh.' How was that even possible? Three brothers? And no sisters? Where was the fairness in that?

It only took a moment though before I was excited about my new baby brother named Leo.

Then the realization dawned on us that Mom was not going to be home for Christmas. How was that going to work? Who was going to cook the turkey and do everything else? It turned out that Dad was up to the task - making a wonderful Christmas for us all.

Though apparently he had a few rough moments during the evening. He tells of the phone call to the hospital after we had all gone to bed and the nurse telling him that it was after visiting hours so she couldn't put the call through unless it was an emergency.

"Listen," Dad told her, "I've got three kids seven and under and a room full of unwrapped, unlabeled toys."

She quickly agreed it was an emergency and put him right through.

The next morning Dad got his 8mm movie camera ready and called the hospital before we were even allowed downstairs. The phone, off the hook, was left on the floor, where we could run over and tell Mom about the presents we got - and in the meantime she could hear the background noise. And Dad filmed us all, so Mom could watch it later, when she got home.

Mom says that was her best Christmas ever, as she relaxed with her newborn son.

And I must say, that the brother I got for Christmas 35 years ago makes that my best Christmas ever too!

Happy Birthday, Leo!

Edited to add: If you want to see the baby picture of this little brother - head on over to my mom's blog, Morning Glory Alley, where she posted a page from Leo's baby book!

Christmas Caroling

Today was our annual Christmas Caroling party. We've been doing this for the past few years on the last day of school before Christmas break. The kids come here for a couple of hours after school and their parents get a chance to do any last minute stuff they might want to.

They practice the songs and then we go around the neighborhood to whoever happens to be home in the middle of the afternoon.

Then it's back to the house for hot chocolate and cookies. This year - thanks to my mom's help - we had gingerbread cookies for the kids to decorate and eat.

They certainly don't lack enthusiasm! The only problem was to make sure they were all singing the same song at the same time. And, you know, pretty much on the same words.

This is a party I love to host every year because it is just a winner in every way. The kids always have fun, the mom's like the break, and the people who we do catch at home enjoy hearing the singing. Sometimes they even give the kids money - which we put in the poor box at church. After all, we're not in this for any kind of gain - just to spread the Christmas spirit.

And all this for a few hours of my time, a bunch of hot chocolate mix and Christmas cookies!

Gingerbread House

What are Christmas preparations without a gingerbread house. This was one of the easiest kits ever. It came with a tray that had grooves to help hold the walls, and the icing was all ready to use, in a tube - no mixing with water.

And other than the fights about who ate more of the candy - the construction and decorating went fairly well.

Cookies and Friends

Long-standing traditions are sometimes the most fun. My friends and I started getting together during high school to bake Christmas cookies. We let it go a little while we were in college, but once we were married and had our own places we started up again.

I remember the year that the twins (pictured with Pippi in the center picture above) were six months old. I was eight months pregnant. Poor Liz did most of the work that year, as I sat to rest and Linda had to keep an eye on the babies.

When all the children were little we would let them play while we baked actual cookies - from recipes we had selected ahead of time.

We've gotten smarter as the children have gotten older - though as my friend Linda (who hosts this great event) points out - it doesn't seem like there's any less work for us now. Now we buy packaged cookie dough. Hand it out to the kids along with cookie cutters. They fill their cookie trays - and later ice and decorate the cookies by themselves. Or, in the case of the boys, glob a lot of icing on a cookie, throw some sprinkles on, and immediately eat it.

What we've learned along the way is that it isn't the cookies that are really the important part of the day (though we make sure through all our busy schedules that we manage to schedule our cookie baking day). What's important is getting together with friends and sharing a tradition - that for the kids - goes back to before they were even born.

Time To Make The Cookies

As we embark on our annual cookie baking extravaganza, I'll give you a taste of what this event has looked like in years past.

Home is...

Pippi had to write a poem for school. The title and theme: Home is...

Here is what she came up with:

Home is...
by KRM (6th grade)

Home is guitar music
Set to blasting,
Echoing on the stairwell.
Home is the tapping of keys
As Mom's fingers dance
Over her laptop keyboard.

Home is Dad, sleeping
On the couch downstairs
Quiet, like a cat.
Home is our dying
Maple that isn't as young
As it used to be.
Home is books
Scattered around the
Living room haphazardly.

Home is red raspberry bushes
In the sweltering summer,
Prickly stems, bright berries, and all.
Home is rosebushes
In the springtime
Surrounding the backyard
With their sweet aroma

Home is love,
All year round.

Writing Wednesday

I have a Writing Wednesday post over at Simply Put.

The Mysteries of Shipping Packages

Usually it's pretty straight forward. I order something online (usually books) and a few days later it arrives at my door. I often try to get to that $25 threshold for the free shipping. I like free shipping, and I don't mind that it might take a day or two longer (it's usually not an urgent purchase.)

So, I ordered some books and the order was split into three packages for shipping. Each was sent on a different day. One was shipped UPS on December 9 from Nevada. I got that last week. The other two were sent from Monroe, NJ.

Now, I live in NJ. Monroe is maybe a half hour away - maybe longer if there is traffic. These two packages were shipped via DHL. One was shipped on December 8. It went to Maryland and then was transferred to the regular postal service. That got here on Monday.

The other was shipped on December 7th (also from Monroe) and went to Kentucky, where it was transferred to regular postal service. Following the tracking information it made it back to NJ on the 13th (to Jersey City - a half hour in the other direction from Monroe). It still hasn't arrived at my door.

The mystery I'm pondering is WHY? Why on earth did my packages have to go to Maryland and Kentucky - when they started out so close to here. I know the shipping is free, but, seriously, is that really the most efficient way to ship?

I feel fairly confident that the package that is in NJ, but not here yet, will arrive by Christmas, but... why did it have to go to Kentucky first?

Tuesday's Proverb

A wise man heeds commands, but a prating fool will be overthrown. (Proverbs 10:8)

Philosophy on a Friday

Pippi - on observing the full moon: "How do we know that the moon is round and not shaped like a potato chip or something?"

Me: "Observation. We can see it. It's round."

Pippi: "But what if it's not?"

Me: "But it is. The first step in scientific discovery is observation. You look at something and see what properties it has."

Pippi: "But in philosophy they say your eyes can deceive you."

Right. So maybe the moon is just a big potato chip.

Memories of Christmas Past

Want to see what I wanted for Christmas when I was little? My mother found an old letter to Santa of mine and posted it on her blog, Morning Glory Alley.

I Made Another Hat

Harry wanted a hat when he saw that Pippi had one. So, I made one for him.

Christmas Pictures

We took our Christmas card picture yesterday. Then I noticed that the dollhouse family was all ready for their picture too!

Anticipating Christmas

The manger is empty and waiting for its special occupant.

Mary and Joseph (and a lazy donkey) have made it as far as the sunroom.

The wise men are still in the kitchen. But I can see that their camel is in the spirit of the season.

I Made a Hat

Pippi with the hat I just made for her. I only had to re-start about six times to get it right.

Tuesday's Proverb

The memory of the just will be blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot. (Proverbs 10:7)

Getting Ready for Christmas

We got the outside lights up. The doll house family has been busy decorating too.

Tuesday's Proverb

Blessings are for the head of the just, but a rod for the back of the fool. (Proverbs 10:6)