How I Celebrated Release Day!

No, I didn't stomp grapes, but we did spend the week in Virginia. Here I am with my book and two kids, pretending to stomp grapes in Busch Gardens Italy section.

(If my son looks bored, I think it had more to do with it being well into the 90s then anything else.)

More pictures to come!

Guest Blogging

Please stop by and visit me over at Climbing Rose Blog where I'm guest blogging this week. Today I'm wondering why I still have to do laundry, not that I'm published.

Guest Blogging

Please stop by and visit me over at Climbing Rose Blog where I'm guest blogging this week. Today I'm talking about when I first saw my books.

Release Day!

It's here!

The official release date of When Mike Kissed Emma!


Here's me when I first got to hold a copy in my hot little hand:



And here's the trailer:



And the waiting is over, you can buy your copy today!

Guest Blogging

Please stop by and visit me over at Climbing Rose Blog where I'm guest blogging this week. Today I'm talking about magical first kisses.

Guest Blogging

Please stop by and visit me over at Climbing Rose Blog where I'm guest blogging this week. Today I'm talking about the very beginnings of When Mike Kissed Emma.

Interview over at The Climbing Rose Blog

This week I will be guest posting over at Climbing Rose Blog, starting with an interview today. So please stop by!

The Kids in the Park Put on a Show

For the sixth year running we've been lucky enough to be part of the Kids in the Park program for kids ages 8 to 11 (they're a bit flexible with the ages and both my kids started at 7). This year Pippi was too old to be in the show, but she was still involved as one of the helpers backstage.

The show was Mary Poppins and Harry had the unusual role of Al Gore. What can I say, this is an adaptation of the original.

The program runs for two weeks, rain or shine. On the first Monday they have auditions and on the last Friday they put on a forty-five minute show with songs, dances and lots of fun.

During the two weeks they have "music class" and "dance class" and "arts and crafts" where they put together costumes and props.

They even have a talent show so all the kids can showcase their unique talents.

So today we watched Mary Poppins and now I have this uncontrollable urge to fly a kite. I wonder why?

Off to Go Fly a Kite

Okay, not literally - in that I won't be flying a kite, but it is time for the theater camp's production of Mary Poppins. My son has a small role, unique to this production, and my daughter is a helper this year - having aged out of this camp. Pictures later.

Tuesday's Proverb

When a wicked man dies his hope perishes, and what is expected from strength comes to nought. (Proverbs 11:7)

Talented Kids

On Friday I watched the talent show at the theater camp my kids go to. Neither one of my children opted to perform, so I just sat back and watched the other people's kids.

Things I learned.
1) There are a lot of talented kids out there.

2) Kids are brave.
Some of these kids weren't particularly talented, but they got out there and did their thing anyway. Good for them. You need to take that chance and make that leap.

3) Kids have fun working together.
Groups of kids did little dance routines together and you could just tell that they had as much fun getting together and practicing during the past week as they did performing on Friday.

4) There are lots of different talents in the world. Some kids can sing, some can dance, some can tell jokes and others can make strange noises with their mouths. But it's all good. It's all a way of getting up there and saying "Hey, look what I can do!"

Just so you know, my kids have participated in the talent show every other year, this year they just opted out.

Tuesday's Proverb on Wednesday

The virtue of the upright saves them, but the faithless are caught in their own intrigue. (Proverbs 11:6)

(I need to start scheduling these so I don't miss any more Tuesdays)

Drum Roll, Please

Yes, that's what it looks like. I got my books yesterday! You can go here and read all about it.

It's Here!

Even though the release date for When Mike Kissed Emma is still a couple of weeks away, you don't have to wait any longer! It is now available to order at Amazon.com.

The Sweetest Place on Earth

We had a mini-vacation this week with a trip out to Lancaster and Hershey Park. The Lancaster part of the trip involved good eating and fun shopping and of course a trip to the archery supply store to get accessories for my daughter's favorite sport.

We got to Hershey Park on Friday night and took advantage of their evening preview. You buy tickets for the next day, but get to go in for the last 3 hours or so that they're open the night before (plus you only pay once for parking.) So we were there until eleven going on some of the rides we knew we wanted to go on and that might have long lines the next day. It's very fun being able to just go on what you want without any waiting.

The next morning we got to the park before it opened and went on the "Chocolate Factory Tour" which isn't really a tour of the chocolate factory, but a ride that shows what the factory is like (assuming there are singing cows in the factory.) Then into the park at opening time. Nearly twelve hours later we headed home.

Pippi agreed to go on a roller coaster (not one of the crazy big ones) and she found that she really enjoyed it and even went on it again. Harry had even bigger ambitions and went on The Comet - a large wooden roller coaster - with his Dad. He loved it and that was another ride that had to be done again before we could leave.

We had a very fun and exhausting time at the Sweetest Place on Earth.

The (Puppet) Play's the Thing

When I went into the kitchen yesterday to prepare dinner I was surprised to find that a show was in progress. A ticket had been sold and presented, a chair was set up in front of the stage and the sound system consisted of the mp3 player plugged into the amp.

The first play up was a love story between Minnie Mouse and Tigger. It consisted of a lot of them singing about how much they loved each other and a wedding where they promised to feed each other and protect each other from the plague.

I was a little lost on the plot of subsequent productions as the audience and players shifted positions.

For at least an hour last night the kids played with the puppet theater, entertaining each other with delightful plays. The puppet theater is one I made probably close to eight years ago, after seeing a similar one in a catalog. It is suspended in the doorway with a tension curtain rod. When not it use it hangs by two hooks in the sun room, brightening up the white wall. It's not used far more often than it is used, but how delightful when they put it in place and put on a play!

Best Laid Plans and all that

In a futile attempt to be organized I plan my meals a week at a time. I even check the weather forecast. If it's supposed to be really hot - then maybe a make-ahead cold salad would be good. And if it looks like nice weather I plan on using the grill.

Checking yesterday for this week, the only day that didn't have possible thundershowers as part of the forecast was today. Just a happy little sun telling me all was well and that it would be a perfect day to grill some burgers.

So, yeah, it's raining.

Though I see clear sky in the distance, maybe it will dry up by the time I want to cook dinner.

Tuesday's Proverb

The honest man's virtue makes his way straight, but by his wickedness the wicked man falls. (Proverbs 11:5)

Animal Instincts

You know how a cat will sit for hours curled up in front of the hearth and then at seemingly no provocation leap up and run around the house four or five times at top speed before settling back in front of the hearth again?

Well that's what my son's like.

Except for sitting for hours curled up in front of the hearth.

(Though he can spend a bit of time in front of the computer.)

Mystery Flower

This delicate little flower is busy spreading itself through my front flower garden. I don't know what it is. I suspect it might be a weed.

But a weed is just a plant in a place you don't want it. I like this flower and want it in my garden, so I declare it 'not a weed.'

The blossoms only last for a short time. This is what it looks like before the blossom opens. Anyone (Mom?) have any idea what this flower might be called?

Where to Start a Story?

When you can't just say "Once upon a time" a story needs a compelling first sentence. When Mike Kissed Emma went through several before I settled on a keeper. Head on over to Simply Put to see what they were and guess the winner.

Early Attempts at Fiction

Over at Simply Put the countdown to When Mike Kissed Emma continues as I tell about an early story I wrote and the TV shows that influenced it.

Tuesday's Proverb

Wealth is useless on the day of wrath, but virtue saves from death. (Proverbs 11:4)

Why I Never Made it to Broadway

Stop by over at Simply Put to find out why I never made it as a Broadway actress, and what that possibly has to do with When Mike Kissed Emma, which is coming out next month.

Men on the Moon

Forty years ago today man first walked on the moon. Even forty years later it's still a feat to be astonished at - though I suspect that some people figured that by now we'd have colonies up there or something.

Many people can tell you their memories of that day. They remember watching the grainy footage. They remember the first words spoken. They know where they were and what they were thinking as they were watching it.

I'm not one of those people.

I was three years old when the men landed on the moon and something much more important was happening in my life than a moon walk. My little brother had just been born three days earlier.

A second little brother.

That didn't seem fair. I already had a little brother, I needed a sister. I told my father as much when he informed me that I had a new little brother.

I remember sitting on the floor in the kitchen, surrounded by pots and pans that I had removed from the cupboard. My dad handed me a snack bag of potato chips from the hospital - part of my mother's lunch that she didn't eat, I suspect - and told me I had a new baby brother.

And what was my reaction. "Bring him back and get me a sister. And while you're at it, get me more potato chips."

See - it's not that I don't have specific memories of that time - just not of the moon landing.

I'm happy to say my parents did not trade me new little brother in for a sister. He grew on me over the years.
How could he not?

Summer Nights

When I lie awake on a summer night, crisp clean sheets beneath me and a slight breeze rustling the curtains, the fan whirring overhead, it brings me back to overnights at my grandparents house.

I would be on the rollaway bed while my brothers shared the pull-out in the spare room at my grandparent's house. The room that had been our father's when he was a teen. We were too little to appreciate teenager-hood. That was practically a grown-up as far as we were concerned.

We'd be freshly showered, but still sunburned and beach-tired from a day at the ocean. The ocean was one of the highlights of my grandparents' house. Winter or summer we would go down to the beach when we visited. In the summer we would go back to the house and get the sand off at the outside shower at the back of my grandparents' house (how cool is that - an outside shower!)

After dinner we'd watch a little TV while my grandparents' did the dishes. I remember my grandpa drying while grandma washed, aglow in the yellowish light over the sink. I love a kitchen with a cozy yellowish light in it, it gives me a happy feeling inside.

Finally we'd all settle into the guest room. The traffic sounds would be different than at home. The beds were different. I wasn't usually in the same room as my brothers. There was giggling and talking and probably a bit of quibbling. But eventually I'd hear the even breathing that meant sleep had overtaken the boys and I'd lie awake, hoping for that hint of a breeze through the windows. It all had a quintessential summer feeling to it and when I lie awake at night hoping for that hint of a breeze through the window it transports me back to that house with the cozy yellow light.

(the picture is of my brothers and me at the beach by my grandparents - around 1972)

Tuesday's Proverb

The honesty of the upright guides them; the faithless are ruined by their duplicity. (Proverbs 11:3)

Braces

We entered a new phase around here. The phase of orthondontia. Pippi has mixed feelings about getting braces. On the one hand she wanted them on so she could start the process of fixing her overbite (plus, all her friends have them). Now that they're on though she's lamenting the things she won't be able to eat and the extra work involved in brushing them. Besides, 2 and 1/2 years looks like quite a long time when your standing at the beginning of it.

I don't know how well you can tell in the picture, but the bands around the brackets are colorful. She chose blue and green to start with. In two months, when she goes back, she can pick different colors. Her friends have already figured out how they plan to coordinate their bands with the year (red and blue for fourth of July and so forth).

Right now she only has the top set on, she'll get the bottom on in 8 or 9 months.

In the meantime, I think need to sell a lot of books to help pay for all this new hardware.

Tuesday's Proverb

When pride comes, disgrace comes; but with the humble is wisdom. (Proverbs 11:2)

Happy Fourth of July

We celebrated the Fourth with family - and except for one little ER visit (everyone's okay now) we had a fine time. Tyler really liked his first taste of swimming, I think he wore his daddy out.

The Festival

Yesterday we went to the Kutztown Pennsylvania Dutch Folk Festival. We watched a glass blowing demonstration (fascinating stuff), there were people demonstrating how to thatch a roof and make sauerkraut and make apple butter and candles. And how to make brooms, or weave or work leather. All kind of hand crafts were being made and on sale. We ate funnel cake and kettle corn and hot dogs with sauerkraut. We watched a couple of great shows featuring musically talented families. The weather was beautiful. A great day - but exhausting!

Trailer for When Mike Kissed Emma

The release date for When Mike Kissed Emma is coming up fast (August 19) so I decided it was time to finalize the trailer and get it out here for people to see.

Without further ado - here it is:

Tuesday's Proverb on Wednesday

False scales are an abomination to the LORD, but a full weight is his delight. (Proverbs 11:1)

A Secret Message

Flipping through one of my yellow notepads for a blank page, I came across this cryptic message, in all caps and written in pencil:

Attention AGENT
THE PSA IS ALMOST READY
TO QUESTION THE
CRAB
F.UR.THER INVESTIGATION
COMING SOON
P.S. THIS MISSAGE
WILL SELF-DESTRU
CT
_______________
THE RED LIGHT
SPELLS "YOU ARE
"COOL" IN MORSE

I think the kids have been reading spy books. Or are planning a coup.

Summer Sunday Afternoon

What could be better than hanging out on the hammock and eating popsicles? (the popsicle is obscured by Pippi's foot, but it's there.)

Summer Fun

Thursday was the last day of school and, amazingly enough, it wasn't raining. And as an added bonus The Princess and Spiderman were spending the night at Ammy and Grampy's house. So after school we piled into the car and headed to the start of summer.

Celebrating the Good Times

We went to a wedding yesterday.

We didn't have far to go, the church was down the road and the reception was next door, in our neighbor's backyard.

Everything about it was fun, the Mass was lovely, the party was fun, the weather (after what seems like endless rain) was gorgeous. But what really made this party special is that it was so long in coming.

When we first moved into our house we met our neighbor who was living with his elderly mother. We also met his girlfriend (who didn't live there). She told me that they'd been dating for about ten years.

We moved in almost fifteen years ago.

Yes, this was a marriage twenty-five years in the making.

All of their friends and relatives were so happy to finally be able to say they were at Lou and Kathy's wedding. (Because, quite reasonably, some of us never quite expected that day to come.)

We hung out with our other neighbors, and danced and drank (and yes, despite what one of my neighbors insisted, you can have too much Sangria). The kids ran back and forth between the food and our backyard where they ran around and played on the swing set and generally had more fun then if they'd had to keep out of the way around the grown ups.

It was a night to remember. As it should be. After all, it was twenty-five years in the making.

As an aside: Anyone else ever think it odd that an iconic song for a generation, a song that everyone knows all the words to is "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" by Meatloaf?

Tuesday's Proverb

The lips of the just know how to please, but the mouth of the wicked, how to pervert. (Proverbs 10:32)

Toys for the Ages

There's been a lot of talk lately in the kidlitosphere about kids and if they are being pushed to read books that are too advanced for them to early. Don't push kids away from picture books too early, is one bit of advice, let them enjoy things that are designed for their age. Some of the best links to this discussion are here at Jen Robinson's Book Page.

Then yesterday the kids got out the marbles and the marble machine pieces and were having a blast playing with them. "Maybe we can get another set and add to this," Pippi suggested. That's when I realized I had bought the set for Harry about 5 or 6 years ago when he was in pre-school. I considered it a pre-school toy - but they are having just as much fun with it now, maybe more, then they did when we first got it.

There are a lot of toys we've kept through the years (there are also things we've gotten rid of or passed down - space is rather limited after all.) Every now and then the kids get out the Thomas the Tank Engine set or all the Fisher Price Little People and have a blast. Pippi still loves playing with her doll house and setting the rooms up. And I even find her playing with the Barbies now and then (something she never actually did in pre-school.)

Our neighbors are always quick to throw things out (their house must be so much more organized than ours!) but their daughter was only about five when the play kitchen went out with the trash. All I could think was that she probably could have enjoyed that for several more years.

But are we too quick to move kids up and through toys. Give them Barbie when they're two and then by the time they are six they will feel too grown up for it. But do we really want our kids to feel too grown up for toys by the time they hit double digits? Isn't it as bad as pushing them past picture books as soon as they can decode words on their own.

People lament how children grow up too fast. But what if we didn't make it seem that once they were in school they were too old for dolls or trains? What if we encouraged them to play like kids even when they were well into elementary school - or beyond?

Just something to think about.

Tuesday's Proverb

The mouth of the just yields wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off. (Proverbs 10:31)

Monkey Boy

When one of my brothers was about three he was told he could be anything he wanted to when he grew up. He said he wanted to be a monkey.

I think my son takes after his uncle. Not 0nly does he regularly climb doorways and walls today he was getting his kicks by shimmying up the legs of the swing set in the park, hanging from the top bar and jumping down.

If I didn't know better I'd think he was part monkey.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad

Forty-four years ago two young people pledged to love each other forever. So far they're doing a pretty good job of it.

My parents got married while my dad was in law school. I was born the next year - a year before he graduated. This year he retires.

My parents showed us by example how to live a good life, how to be good partners to each other and how to be good parents. Hopefully we'll live up to the example.

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

Tuesday's Proverb

The just man will never be disturbed, but the wicked will not abide in the land. (Proverbs 10:30)

Knowledge We've Gained and Lost

I was thinking about technology the other day and how wonderful it is to have a world of information at my fingers via the Internet and Google.

When I wanted to make rhubarb-strawberry crumble, but didn't feel like sifting through my cookbooks for a recipe, I simply typed it into Google and found a recipe that worked for me.

When my son was hit by a baseball and complaining of serious rib pain, I looked up the symptoms for cracked ribs on the internet, and since they pretty much matched his symptoms, brought him to the emergency room (where, luckily his ribs turned out to be merely bruised.)

Want to know if the guy in one movie was in another, or when a book was written, or when the next book in a series is coming out. The internet provides the answers.

Does this make us smarter, I wonder, then people who lived a hundred years ago?

But then I think of the things a woman if a middle class neighborhood in a town in New Jersey would probably have been able to do 100 years ago, that I really can't lay claim to now.

She would have known how to take a chicken in the backyard and turn it into dinner. I prefer my chicken boned and skinless and if presented with a chicken in the backyard I think I would switch to eggs on the menu as opposed to the meat.

She would have been able to make clothing for her children - and possibly for herself and her husband as well. In my defense I did make my daughter a sun dress once. She was four. She's twelve now.

She would have been able to can and preserve food and it would have been a part of her regular seasonal chores.

She would have knit hats and mittens and scarves for her family. (I did crochet hats this year).

She would have a better understanding of natural cures for things. Instead of reaching for the bottle of medicine she would have concocted a poultice of some sort.

Not to say that there aren't people these days who do these very things; but most of them (especially regarding the chicken or canning) live in more rural conditions than I do. And would the woman from back then have been at a disadvantage in many other ways - of course.

But what are we losing?

When reading The Swiss Family Robinson I felt vastly inferior to that old-fashioned family that could be stranded on an island and immediately know what plants to eat for food and how to build themselves a liveable structure. Should I find myself in that situation, I'm much more likely to die of starvation or exposure. (So, I'll try to avoid that situation - why I never auditioned for Survivor)

There was another book I read once, The Harvester, by Gene Stratton Porter (and I could have long and lengthy discussions about this book, but I'll spare you) where the main character collects herbs for medicines. Is there anyone who knows that sort of thing anymore? Who can make usable medicines out of herbs growing in a garden. Is this information that was passed down from generation to generation to generation and is now simply not needed anymore.

It all just makes me wonder, what have we lost? If a modern, urban American, were left to live by his or her wits without Internet access or stores. Could we do it? And how much would we have to re-learn that our grandparents simply took for granted?

Making the Trailer

Edited to add: If you can't see the embedded video, please let me know. And, if you can't see it, here's the link.

Movies have trailers. And now books do too. So, I've been thinking that When Mike Kissed Emma needs a trailer too.

What I'm going to share with you here is not the finished product. And will only be available to view until the finished product is ready. But I had so much fun making up this dummy trailer that I thought I'd share it with you.

Rest assured the real thing will be more polished, and it won't feature pictures of my kids. (Though Pippi thinks the one of Harry with the trombone should stay).

Tuesday's Proverb

The LORD is a stronghold to him who walks honestly, but to evildoers, their downfall. (Proverbs 10:29)

'Cause That's So Much Better

"We used to play Terminator in gym class," said Pippi. "It's a lot like dodge ball. But they banned dodge ball because it was too dangerous."

Friday Flowers

A little peek at my backyard gardens tells me that the roses are in bloom, the rhododendron needs to be cut back (see my kitchen window hiding behind it), the Mary Garden has been taken over by hostas and the rhubarb is ready to pick.

One of the Crowd

Pippi has never been one to care if she fit in with the crowd. She was always happy to go her own way, do her own thing. She didn't care if everyone else had these sneakers or did this thing. She did what she wanted and was happy about it.

That's why I was so surprised to hear her say, tonight, "but everyone else has them, I want mine now too."

Was she talking about a cell phone? (no, she already has one.) The latest designer clothes? (they wear uniforms at their middle school.) Her own laptop? None of these things.

She's talking about braces.

The trip to the orthodontist today ended with "come back in four weeks, when that back molar has grown in more."

(I guess the days when kids were traumatized because they needed braces are long gone.)

Tuesday's Proverb

The hope of the just brings them joy, but the expectation of the wicked comes to nought. (Proverbs 10: 28)

More Prom Mania

As Climbing Roses continues it's Prom Mania this month head on over there today to see what I had to say about my junior prom. Oh, yeah, there's a picture too - trust me, you don't want to miss this.

Tuesday's Proverb

The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked are brief. (Proverbs 10:27)

Happy Mother's Day

Here's a picture of me and my mom an unspecified number of years ago.

Mom taught me a lot, like how to stop and smell the flowers.

And she still teaches me every day about the right way to live, just by her wonderful example.

So Happy Mother's Day to Mom and all the mother's out there!

Prom Pictures

Over at the Climbing Rose blog there is a contest going on. Some of the Climbing Rose authors have their prom pictures up. Can you identify the author? Guess the year of the picture? Or even the decade? Pop on by and try your hand at it as Prom Mania continues.

And is my picture over there? I'll let you stop and by and see if you can figure it out.

What a Game!

Last night after days of rain, Harry actually played a baseball game. His team hasn't been doing that great. It's not that as a team they were really worse than the other teams, but between lucky breaks for the other team and silly errors on their side, they seemed to have trouble getting ahead.

Until last night.

Last night it was like their team finally figured out what they were out there for. They made several successful outs at first base (as opposed to the first baseman missing the ball when its thrown to him). The pitchers they had were firing them in. The outfield was on it's toes (except for the one time when the ball landed between two outfielders and they both stood - each a couple of feet from it - and looked at it - and then when one of them finally picked it up they argued over who should have gotten it, instead of throwing the ball right away). The infield was at the top of their game.

Harry got the best hit he's gotten in years of little league. A fly ball far into left field. A double.

The other most exciting play of the game was the triple play our team managed to pull off. Bases were loaded, no outs. Kid hits a fly ball. Infielder catches it. Throws it to third, throws it to second and suddenly the inning is over. Whoa! That was exciting.

If you win all the time you get complacent. When it doesn't happen that often - it's thrilling - and these kids were on top of the world last night. And now they know what they're capable of. Let's see if they can do it again!

Those 'Bad' Words

My kids don't curse.

I am very pleased to be able to say this. It's not that they don't know bad words, it's not that they don't occasionally say something they shouldn't in a moment of anger, but in general they don't curse.

We've made it clear that there are words which are inappropriate to use, but we've never made that big a deal of it.

Pippi tells me that there are kids in her school who can't seem to have a conversation without using a hundred curses. The "f" word is a popular adjective I suppose. So, even though one would think she would be a little numb to bad words, when we were reading Shakespeare together and the quoted text she had to read said "Hell", she blushed and changed it to "heck."

One time Harry was upset about something (I don't remember what) and he looked at me and asked "Can I curse?" And I said yes. "Just this once." Because I know that sometimes when something really has you upset, it can kind of help to say something really bad. He looked shocked at my answer and then, real softly said (and I quote) "d word". Even given permission, he couldn't bring himself to actually say something bad (I was very proud.)

Lately though Harry has taken to "beeping". You know, pretending to curse but "beeping" himself out. So his sentences are littered with censored curses. But when I (after getting tired of constant beeping) told him that even though he wasn't saying the word, he was thinking about cursing, and he should try not to do that either, and he stopped.

Let's hope they keep this up!

Tuesday's Proverb

As vinegar to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes, is the sluggard to those who use him as a messenger. (Proverbs 10:26)

What Sayst Thou?

After her Religious Ed. class tonight, Pippi was in a conversation with the Director of Religious Ed. and a family friend who is going to be starting up a youth band.

The Director of Religious Ed. was making the point that old style music and Gregorian chants are hard for kids to relate to. Even the traditional words of prayers, like the Hail Mary, don't reflect the way people talk anymore. She turns to Pippi. "When was the last time you used 'thou' in a sentence?"

Pippi just kind of said, "Well......"

And the family friend explained, "She's been reading Shakespeare."

So, yes - the last time she used 'thou' in a sentence was yesterday as we read The Taming of The Shrew together. She also has a tendency to occasionally speak Shakespearean English. But she understood the DREs point nonetheless.

Also at Religious Ed. tonight the director asked the assembled students if they knew what Alpha and Omega was. Pippi raised her hand. "The first and last letters of the Greek alphabet" and she knew that the Church used them to refer to God.

Of course it helped that two years ago I showed the kids this video - and it works, Pippi learned the Greek alphabet in ten minutes, and hasn't forgotten it.

Notes on Notes

I blogged over at Simply Put today about my organizational skills, or lack thereof, when it comes to keeping track of new story ideas.

Tuesday's Proverb

When the tempest passes, the wicked man is no more; but the just man is established forever. (Proverbs 10:25)

April Flowers

I just love the flowers of early spring. Especially tulips. Must be the Dutch ancestry in me, but tulips just make my heart sing.

Not a Morning Person

Pippi is not a morning person.

This morning a little before six I woke to the sound of sobbing. I traced the sounds to her room. "Are you crying? What's wrong?"

"I can't sleep. The birds are chirping!" She said with as much venom as she could muster. "They start at five o'clock and don't stop. And then it just gets lighter and lighter. It's like I'm watching the sunrise."

"But watching the sunrise is a wonderful thing," I tell her, and then get out of there before she can throw something at me.

Seriously though, I did shut her windows in order to muffle the sound and she apparently went back to sleep - because it's after 9 and she hasn't emerged from her room yet.

Getting to Know Your Characters

Just assign your main character an essay to write. That's what I do. I post about it over at Simply Put.

Spring Cleaning

It's Spring Cleaning time in our town. For the next several weeks, rotating through the township, it's time to clean up and get rid of stuff.

It's actually a good incentive. Different weekends are designated as "permit-free" garage sale weekends. Last weekend was our chance. We didn't have a garage sale, but there were sales all over the neighborhood. And it was a beautiful day for it too.

But tonight is the real fun night. You see, the township also declared that on the Thursday following the garage sales as the day you could throw out big stuff without having to pay an extra fee to have a big item collected.

What an incentive to look around and see what big things have been taking up space that really need to go out. We put out some lawn furniture, a kid's picnic table, two air conditioners, a dehumidifier and a computer monitor (we still have a spare- *sigh*).

I've seen furniture, TVs, lots of boards (I think someone dismantled a room or something), all kinds of fun things out at the curbs.

And the scavengers are out. People in pick up trucks and vans cruise slowly down the streets looking to see if there is anything they want. Hey - I'd be thrilled if someone wanted our junk - I just don't want it anymore.

There's still a lot more Spring Cleaning I could (and should) do - but hey at least we got rid of a few things taking up space. It's a start.

Tuesday's Proverb

What the wicked man fears will befall him, but the desire of the just will be granted. (Proverbs 10:24)

Cousins

There's nothing like spending a beautiful spring day with your only girl cousin. Pippi and the Princess had a wonderful time together.

Flowers and Fairy Houses

Today we finally had a beautiful day - windows open, kids outside. Gardening, biking and building fairyhouses. All in all a very productive Friday if I do say so myself.

Tuesday's Proverb

Crime is the entertainment of the fool; so is wisdom for the man of sense. (Proverbs 10:23)

Happy Easter

When Pippi was 4 I was going to tell her the story of Easter. She told me she already knew it. And proceeded to tell me this story.

When they laid Him down they wrapped Him up in cloth and then they prayed for Him. Then they made a table for His family and they laid Him on the table. The table was made out of stone. Everybody was sad because they would miss Him. And then on the third day the two Marys (not the ones that were Jesus’s Mommies, only two Marys) then the two Marys said where is Jesus. The Angel said (he was a boy Angel) – the angel said “Don’t worry, He’s outside the cave waiting for you to tell His whole human beings.” So they went to tell His human beings about Him and then they told everybody in the city of Egypt. Then Jesus went to Egypt to see His men. They wrapped Him up in purple robes and everyone laughed. Then He looked and then He went over to the two Marys and everyone was happy.

Have a Happy and Blessed Easter.
(reprinted from 2006)

Easter Crafts

It's Holy Saturday and around here that means coloring Easter eggs.

This year we also tried another craft - sting eggs.

We did the first part yesterday. I don't have any pictures of that because my hands were a sticky mess as I tried to help the kids dip embroidery floss in a corn starch mixture and then wrap them around balloons. We let them dry and today we popped the balloons.

We didn't get quite the effect we were looking for - but we do have something decorative to show for our efforts. We decided that we needed both heavier string and more of it. Maybe next time (if there is a next time).

A Happy and Blessed Easter to all.

Good Friday

The youth group at our church does a Living Stations of the Cross on Good Friday. We went tonight, as we have the past couple of years. The presentation is well done and powerful.

Two kids we've known for years and years had the parts of Jesus and Mary. It was hard to put aside that it was "Jake" and "Val" up there. I kept thinking about how much they've grown and about times when they were little. And then I realized that this wasn't pulling me out of the passion, but bringing me closer into it.

When Jesus walked that path, some of the people who watched were people who had known him his whole life. People who could say "I remember when he was little." And the pain in their heart was the greater for it.

And I could watch "Jake" and "Val" and the others and think of how great my pain would be for them if they were suffering in the way they were portraying.

And that is how much I should ache for our Lord.

Holy Thursday

For the first time we decided to take the kids to the Holy Thursday Mass. In the past my husband has gone, and I've stayed home with Harry and Pippi. The Mass is long - closing in on two hours and this is the first time we figured they'd be able to handle it.

I'm glad we went, because it really helps to set the mood for Easter to participate in the various Holy Week offerings.

We had been offered (a month ago) the opportunity to present the Chrism Oil at this Mass. We didn't respond quickly enough and they found another family. It was too bad we didn't have that special job to do - but then again...

Harry was really bothered by the incense. He spent most of the time with his coat over his mouth and insisting the smell was making him sick.

It probably wouldn't have been too good if we'd needed to be part of the various processions with Harry gagging his way along because of the incense. I guess it was just fine that we could sit anonymously in our pew.

Have a blessed Triduum.

Talking about Revisions

I'm talking a little about revisions today over at Simply Put, go join the conversation.

Tuesday's Proverb

It is the LORD'S blessing that brings wealth, and no effort can substitute for it. (Proverbs 10:22)

Do You Have A Favorite Element?

My kids apparently do.

At dinner tonight:
Harry: Do you know what element has the atomic number 92?
Me: Um, no. Not really.
Harry: It's Uranium

The conversation went on from there. As Harry and Pippi discussed different elements and which ones were their favorites.

Me: You have favorite elements?
Harry and Pippi: Of course.

Now, Pippi is in sixth grade and is doing a unit on chemistry, but Harry is in third grade. They are not studying chemistry. So I asked "How do you know these things? And why?"

Harry: It's what I do in my spare time.

Okay then. (Turns out his binder has a science divider with the periodic table of the elements on it.)

His great-grandpa with a doctorate in Chemistry would have been so proud.

Oh and for the record their favorite elements are: Pippi: Unununium, Harry: Magnesium

Librarians Are Important

I wouldn't want to be the person in charge of school budgets when the economy is in the tank. Everyone thinks that anything that might affect their child is something that better not be touched. And I totally understand that if there is no money there is no money.

That said, I really regret that our board of education has decided that a good way to save money is to eliminate the position of librarian in the elementary schools. According to the news reports I've seen, they believe that the lack of librarian can be made up for with school aides, volunteers, and classroom teachers.

I will agree that volunteers are a great asset in a school library. I think our school right now has about four people who volunteer to help out. For a couple of hours at a time. That in no way covers the whole school week. The volunteers can check in books, check out books and shelve books. To some extent volunteers can help a child find a book. But volunteers do not necessarily know what books to recommend or even what books are appropriate for different ages.

I suppose the school aides can do the same thing the volunteers can do - and with the same limitations. They have the advantage of already being paid by the school with an expectation that they will be there for certain hours a day.

Classroom teachers. Personally I think that our society has gotten to the point where they expect way too much from classroom teachers. Not only basic education, but special education and drug awareness, and abuse awareness, and bully awareness and being on the look out for abused children. Anything society wants done regarding children the answer seems to be: the teacher can do it. You know what. No. The teacher can't. Not everything. It's not possible.

Can teachers teach research skills and how to look up books. Of course they can. Will they? If they have time when all the test prep work for the State testing is done. Maybe.

And who is going to order the books? And keep the selection of books up to date? I haven't seen this issue addressed at all.

For some children the only opportunity they have to pick out a book on their own is the school library. Why jeopardize that?

A school librarian is not simply a person in the library with glasses on a chain who reads books to children and teaches them the Dewey Decimal System. A certified school librarian is both a certified teacher and has a degree in library science. There is knowledge that comes with those degrees that a random volunteer has no hope of having.

I realize that hard decisions have to be made regarding budgets, and that these decisions aren't made lightly by the people in charge. But in my opinion doing away with school librarians does a disservice to the students and sends the message that libraries and books and reading aren't important. And that is not the message you want to send young children just learning to read.

Edited to add: From this news report it looks like principals would be in charge of maintaining the library collection.

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.