Wisdom & Greatness

"Keep me away from wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh and the greatness which does not bow down before children" - Kahlil Gibran

Starting our holiday weekend early. Will be back Tuesday with a new "mom to mom" interview. I'll resume "Most Alive Mondays" the following week, but you can still upload to the most alive flickr pool.

In the meantime, let me leave you with my list of irks:

• books with buttons and sound (why can't a book be a book?)
• pop-up books that have absolutely no storyline (all fluff, no substance)
• packaging toys with books as a way to bait children (manipulative)
• supermarkets that print company logos on their free balloons (it would be much more generous, not to mention cost effective, for the store to give away blank balloons. I wrote a letter to Trader Joe's asking them to stop marketing to children).
• all forms of branding
• antagonistic comments by anonymous readers (why are they always anonymous?) Some bloggers are being forced to ban anonymous comments or turn off the comments section altogether. See here, for a particularly nasty one.

Please de-lurk and post an irk......

Have a good weekend everyone!

Pop Pop Pop!

We bought an air popper so Satchel could watch the popcorn pop and fly into the bowl. It was very exciting for him. He clapped, the corn popped and we played Laurie Berkner's "Popcorn song" for the event. (I forgot to post this video earlier)

By the way...I need to tidy up the blog a bit. I was thinking about ditching the recipe swap in my sidebar....tell me, should it stay or should it go? Also, does anyone now how to create a second sidebar on the left so I can divide some of the info?

Mission

...and then, as if by magic, the heat and humidity lifted. We opened all the windows and the song of the world rushed in.

Inspired by Jen's mission, Satch and I went out on a little mission of our own. We posted a sticky note in a local bus stop that read, "Be in love with your life"...


















then we created "Mercury Man" because Satch is interested in robots.

I have no idea what this thing is, but I do know that it needed eyes.



















The amazing Shelley must have been on a mission to rock our world, because this gorgeous book of play rhymes arrived in the mail yesterday. (karmic boomerang!)

Thank you, Shelley!

In the darkness of bedtime:

" mama da moon"
"you saw the moon?"
"yesss an da tars"
"and the stars too?"
"yesss"
(he paused and then with his little index finger pointed up as if to punctuate an important idea)

"bir day eat cake....candles"

The imagery of his thoughts wrapped themselves around my heart, and he fell asleep clutching his giraffe in one hand and his digger in the other. The breeze carried with it, the melody of night, chirping of crickets and the rhythm of our breathing.

Most Alive Monday

"We come spinning out of nothingness,
scattering stars like dust" - Rumi

It was so humid that we barely had time to eat our popcorn before it went soft (seriously)...and that was inside our home with the a/c on. Outside the air was so moist, it felt like a steam room and there wasn't a breeze to be had.



My most alive moment this weekend:

• I made my first pinwheel for Satch out of a branch and this pattern. We took it over to the air purifier and watched it spin wildly. Satch experimented with different heights and angles.

• While he napped I made him a paper giraffe which gave me another idea for a parade of animals to hang from the ceiling above the air vents so they will move with the current. The link to these paper toys and much MUCH more is in my sidebar under the category "make" and subject "toys".
• We read "Goodnight Gorilla" by Peggy Rathman; "The Shape of Me and Other Stuff" by Dr. Seuss, over and over and over.....
• AND I made these shirts for the "shiny happy people" in our lives!

What was your most alive choice last week?
I've decided to make at least one "most alive choice" each day and post my favorite each Monday. This, of course, is to motivate me to consciously "live juicy"! I hope you'll join me and share your "most alive choice" in the comments section.

Speaking of Worms

 A powerful storm rolled in last night waking everyone in the house, including Satch who does not need to wake up any more than he usually does (which is a lot). It wasn't the thunder that was so unnerving, it was the rain. It didn't pour, it roared! I kept thinking it was a jet, though most loud noises sound like jets to me these days. In the morning there were THREE earthworms in our living room. They had some how managed to squeeze under the door to escape the deluge. Even our cats took pity on the worms and did not eat them. Robert tossed them back into the flowerbed to live out their wormishness. Speaking of worms...did I ever mention that my grandmother's name was Irma, but I liked to call her "Worma"?

Yet, in spite of the of all that wet pelting, the peach portulaca (pronounced por-chew-laka) was blooming as it does every day, rain or shine, reminding me that everything is just peachy! I've decided that instead of saying peachy keen, I'm going to start saying peachy portulaca because I like the way it sounds.

My aunt called me tonight and told me that even though she's officially in her new home, she's kept my grandparent's phone number; the very number that I've been calling since childhood; one of the few numbers I know by heart as if imprinted on my soul. The beauty of that gesture was overwhelming. I started crying. To lighten the moment she said, "Yo, I represent", and I laughed through my tears. That's the kind of person my aunt is. She's amazing!

Oh! Before I forget...I've submitted my photo of the old cemetery to JPG magazine and it's time to pimp my photo. Please vote for me here and if you'll tell all your friends to do the same...well, that would be Peachy Portulaca!

Hey...can anyone tell me if my plastic bag counter widget in my sidebar is slowing down this page?

Have a good weekend everybody!

Meanwhile

In the cerulean stillness of night I am roused from slumber...

"Mama Mama... AH TOE PUS!"
"An octopus...where?"
"Hideen"
"It's hiding?"
"Hideen in ah bed"
"It's hiding in our bed?"
"No...no...wan away!"

(then he rolled over and fell right back to sleep)

Book Basket: Book Worms

Satch loves a good book as much as his mama...so I made another small investment in used books. I think that beautiful illustrations are just as important as a good message and these books have both!!!

Here's what we're diggin': (click on photos to learn even more about why we love 'em!)
I'm crazy about the illustrations in this book which were created using gouache, watercolor, collage, pencil, and ink with great attention to detail. The rear cover is covered in buttons! Every inch is a feast for the eyes...and the story is a feast for the soul. Thank you, Simms Taback!

Artist, Stephen T. Johnson created this masterpiece! I bought this book because it presents the alphabet in a fun and creative way...in an urban setting where a simple sawhorse resembles the letter A. It tickles the imagination and engages the reader to look more closely at the world around them.

A hilarious book by one of my favorite illustrators, Maira Kalman, whom you may recognize from The New Yorker. Her gouache paintings are very whimsical and her writing style reminds me a lot of Lynda Barry.


This dreamy little jewel is illustrated by Donald Saaf. In case you don't know...
he's one of my favorite painters.


Ruth Kraus & Maurice Sendak join forces to create this book! Wouldn't "having your cake and eating it too" be a more apt title?

This gorgeous book is about the beauty of nature as experience by a child on a night time walk with her parents. The illustrations by David McPhail are breathtaking and almost glow on the page.

Satch loves the hand play to the Itsy Bitsy Spider so when I saw these two books, by Marc Brown, I knew I had to buy them. Poems and hand gestures...fun, fun, fun!


Playing in Puddles....count us in!  This is a David McPhail must-have.

A child ponders the moon illustrated in gorgeous collographs by the talented, Barbara Garrison!

Most Alive Monday

"Memories of many skies and earths beneath us - many days, many nights of stars" - Anne Morrow Lindbergh

 
We are back from Chincoteague Island....or the "big sandbox" according to Satch.  We splashed...met some wild ponies...and watched the sun set from our room.

 












And my letterboxing adventures led me to some interesting places...like an oyster museum and the grave of an old sea captain where a feisty thorn bush tore my leg from knee to ankle.

 



I discovered an old cemetery, hidden from view, where I met a few more captains.













Our most alive choice: Besides watching sunsets, playing in the sand, and looking for letterboxes and wild ponies? Besides deciding to make it an annual pilgrimage in conjunction with the Perseids (and renting a house to share with family and friends rather than staying in a hotel)? Well....

• We made another small step towards using less plastic. Satch chose this "stop & go" canteen.....and I chose the "logic".

What was your most alive choice last week?
I've decided to make at least one "most alive choice" each day and post my favorite each Monday. This, of course, is to motivate me to consciously "live juicy"! I hope you'll join me and share your "most alive choice" in the comments section.

475-5897

I had no intention of writing another entry today, but I needed to get this out and with it some tears of both sadness and joy....

Cackie & Satch
December 2005

Today my aunt (whom I call "Cackie") is moving from my Grandparent's house, the home where she lived and cared for my grandparents during their last years. She (with the help of her friend and her brother) had the arduous task of clearing out decades of accumulation. I keep imagining how difficult it must have been for her. How exhausting, both emotionally and physically. I can't imagine how hard, how painful it is to clear out your parent's home and knowing that these possessions were important to them for one reason or another. I can't imagine the deep sadness of closing that front door behind you for the last time. My aunt is a much stronger woman, and much more generous than I could ever hope to be. She does whatever needs to be done and often without thanks.

I phoned her today and told her, "I wish I didn't live so far away because I wanted to help you because I know how much work it is, but also for a selfish reason...to help me...to say goodbye".

For as long as I can remember that house was always "Grandma & Gully's" house. After she died, when we visited, it was like she was still there...just not home. We continued to have our holiday dinners there and my aunt did the cooking. When Grandpa died I could still call the number and know that "Cackie" would pick up the phone. Now the house is sold, my aunt is moving, and the reality is really sinking in, It's like feeling the loss all over again. I keep reminding myself that although this is a painful closing, it is also a new beginning for my aunt.

I love you "Cackie"...may this new chapter bring you nothing but joy and new memories with your two beautiful grand daughters.

The Great Fruit Mystery and Other Tales

We're leaving tomorrow to spend a few days at Chincoteague Island where we'll be building sandcastles, petting wild ponies, and searching for at least one letterbox. This will be Satchel's first trip to the sea and I can't wait to see the expression on his face when he realizes it's the biggest "ah-box" (sandbox) he's ever seen.

I'll be back Monday. In the meantime....a film and some linky links for you to enjoy! (PS- our most alive choice this week is to make Chincoteague a yearly summer tradition AND to coordinate it with the Perseids meteor shower).




Love It:

• "Five Ways to Make Childhood Last", by Karen Maezen Miller
• "Taking Advantage", by S. Krause
• "Long Post, No Pictures", by Katurah Richmond
• 
  

Love It Not:

• A new study shows the power of food marketing aimed at our children...see the Today Show clip here!
• And my friend Rochelle, a registered dietitian in NYC, told me about a video called, "Hidden Dangers in Kids' Meals" and suggested I see it....which I will try to find the time to do real soon!
  

Most Alive Monday

" now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened" - e.e. cummings

Introducing....
Most Alive Mondays!

Inspired by Susan, and Élena....I've decided to make at least one "most alive choice" each day and post my favorite each Monday. This, of course, is to motivate me to consciously "live juicy"! I hope you'll join me and share your "most alive choice" in the comments section.

You may also post photos of your "most alive moments" in my most alive flickr pool! (If you post a photo in pool, be sure to include your link in the comment)

Our "most alive choices" this week:

• Running outside during a brief downpour to catch ice cold raindrops on our tongues in the middle of a heatwave.

• And last night I stayed awake to watch the meteor shower and saw one magnificent earth-grazer with a glowing coma before I collapsed into bed.
• Oh, and I pushed past my insect revulsion to pick up this cicada casing for Satch. He was a bit nervous about touching it at first, then carried it gingerly into the house where he examined it at great length before crumbling it to dust.
  
  

And Corners the World Forgets

I've always felt that ALL weekends should be three day weekends so I decided to start a trend. (That is my most alive choice) You guessed it...I'm signing off early. Have a good weekend everyone!

My Days Are Made of You and Me by Karen Howland

You dance tangerine slices across my skin and sing I love you mama.
Your cheeks burst with citrus juice and the sun runs down your chin.
Anticipation is too much, you eat cheese right through the wrap.
It's your first embrace of everything that enamors me so.
Your feet try and leave the certainty of gravity, jubilant
jump, leap, fall into my lap, I quiet you with a kiss, and you're off
flying, feeling, falling the fruit of you, the tree of me, we spin
telling time by milk rather than clocks, and we smell heaven
in cinnamon and pillows and corners the world forgets.
There is a melon slice in your open palm, an orange smile
that travels from your hand, to your face, to my soul.

Dreamers Of Dreams

"We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams" - Arthur O'Shaughnessy (quoted in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory)

We went to the plaza for a kiddie concert courtesy of

Peter McCory ...the Dan Zanes of DC.

He sang his own hip versions of kid-classics while playing the guitar, drums, cowbell, blues harp, kazoo, and train whistle....and sometimes all at once...in 97 degree heat!

















We danced, sang...

and sweat our boo boo strips off.














Peter asked for a request, so we suggested "Lola" by the Kinks. He laughed, sang the chorus and moved on to "Dora the Explorer".

The Stack

It was once said that you can often find me with my nose buried in some book. This statement may be even more accurate today as mamahood makes it more challenging to find time to read...and so the stack keeps getting taller. I suppose, "buried UNDER some books" would be more apt. *Please note, I buy virtually all my books used.

I've been really digging, The Discipline Book by Dr. Sears. He explains the common, yet well meaning, mistakes that parents often make as it regards discipline. He reminds us that discipline is training, not punishment and explains the correct way to use "Time Out". I admire Dr. Sears and his gentle approach to parenting.

Here's what's still in my "to read" stack:


Between Mothers & Sons
I know so little about boys that I try to learn as much as I can about what makes them tick. This book got pretty good reviews.

Real Boys
This book came highly recommended so it, too, is in the pile.


The Wonder of Boys
I confess that I started reading this one some time ago, got distracted and it ended up back in the stack.

Speaking of Boys
This was written by the author of Raising Cain which I though was really thought provoking.


I Love You Rituals
I peeked at this in the book store and thought it had some sweet ideas so I bought a copy.


Everyday Traditions
I love the idea of rituals and traditions so I thought this might spark some ideas....

The Book of New Family Traditions
and thought this one was a gem too!
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Consuming Kids
I'm concerned about the effects of marketing on children, and am trying to protect Satch from it for as long as I can. I want him to be able to see through the hype and make informed choices.


Above All, Be Kind
I read a similar book years ago and found it really insightful. I thought this might be a good read also.

Raising Children Who Think For Themselves
I think the title speaks for itself.

Here's what Satch is reading these days (indulging his current interests):

Where's the Poop?
This is an adorable flap book which incorporates Satchel's love of animals and his new favorite subject, poop. It illustrates that all creatures poop, and Satch likes lifting the flaps to find out where the poop is.

Once Upon a Potty
I bought this because it was the only potty related book that shows body parts and talks about what comes out of where. The translation is terrible and I don't like to use silly names for body parts (except for boobs, because it's such a vibrant word) so I adjust the story a bit to suit our lifestyle.


Time to Pee
Why? Because Mo Willems rocks, that's why!

*By the way, I recently found a few old posts that I had saved as drafts. Since this is my journal I wanted to publish them. I apologize for the confusion if you received any 2006 or 2005 posts in your RSS feeds.

love is a place

"love is a place...
 and through this place of
love move
(with brightness of peace)
all places" - e.e. cummings

Laugh at the Sky

"When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky" - Buddha



There are concrete sculptures that the children like to play on....we thought all that grey could use a little sprucing up. Afterward, we hid a couple of bags of chalk and a bottle of bubbles for other kids to find. Each is labeled, "Please share...and put back in hiding spot. Love Wendy & Satch".
Yesterday, when we out to play, we were pleased to see the treasures in their spots AND all the lovely drawings made by other children.

Satchel's sense of humor is developing as rapidly as his vocabulary. Last night during dinner, Satchel leaned over in his high chair...farted and they yelled, "Walterrrr!" We laughed ourselves to tears.  (A reference to the book "Walter, The Farting Dog".


Have a good weekend, everyone!

Mom to Mom: Andrea Scher

I've been reading Andrea's blog since her first entry in March of 2003 and have been swept along by the current of her life. In 4 years I have witnessed wonders & beauty...a blooming business ( I have 6 of her necklaces - they're addictive!), a beautiful wedding and the birth of a gorgeous little boy! I have a special fondness for Andrea because many years ago, she used her superpowers to get me into a sold out creativity workshop with my beloved SARK, but that's a story for another day. It is with great pleasure that I introduce a real life superhero....

Mom: Andrea Scher
Of : Ben, 7 months
Where: California
Blog: Superhero Journal

(photo by Anna Kuperberg)

1. In what ways has becoming a mother changed you?

Hmm... It feels so early in the process I'm not sure I have perspective on this yet.

The only thing I do know is that I smile and laugh more. I feel more joy more times in a day than I used to, and it is a deep joy.

I also notice that I don't have the luxury of indulging in bad moods anymore (or I'm not allowed to hold onto them for long).

There is a way that I have to show up each day being the very best self I can. Already, Ben keeps me in check this way. With one little smile or concerned look, he snaps me right back in the moment. This is a gift.

2. What is one tip you would like to share about mothering?

Create time for self-care and for your creative work. Put it on the calendar and get help. No one is going to give it to you! It is a gift you must give yourself. Some of us need permission to take it... we feel guilty if we don't want to be with our wee one full time or if we are not making money when we're away from our babe. I give you permission right now to take time out for yourself. You've likely heard it before (that analogy about putting on your own oxygen mask first) but it's so true that you have SO much more to give if you can take care of YOU.

3. What is your creative outlet/medium?

writing, photography, painting, jewelry

4. How do you find time for creativity?

I find it in the tiny slices. I have always enjoyed working quickly at my creative pursuits. Call me ADD, but I love the 15 minute writing exercise where you don't take the pen off the page and write as fast as you can. I love getting a painting done in a speedy whirl while the emotion of the moment is totally present.

I find that little bursts of creativity are much less intimidating and way more realistic. The perfectionist in me wants the perfect conditions for creativity, doesn't even want to begin unless I have a big chunk of time, a perfect space, a clean desk, etc. This is a great way to avoid creating! And essentially avoid the vulnerability of failure, or risk making something I don't like. Of course, once I begin I care so much less about the result and remember that the process is where the deep joy is.

5. Why do you blog/journal?

Ohhhh... such a big question!

I journal for a lot of reasons. I journal to remind myself of the good stuff in my life. I journal to count my blessings,

to celebrate what's working, to remember where the color is, where the joy is, who I love, what I'm learning. I journal to work out

the tough stuff, to feel less alone and exorcise the demons.

I journal to make an offering of my life. I journal so that someone else might feel less alone or be inspired or feel connected.

I journal to feel connected.

I journal to share myself and my life. I journal because I want to create a habit of celebrating. I journal to remind myself and others that the world is full of beauty, often tucked away in the most ordinary and unlikely places. I journal to remind myself that there is beauty everywhere.

I journal because it helps me to practice seeing.

6. Which blogs do you frequent?

jen lemen, jen gray, design mom, mightygirl, ali edwards, noplace 2 hide, blogflickr, bohemian girl, penelope illustration, pink coyote, chookooloonks

7. Who are some bloggers that you would like to meet?

Ali Edwards, Wendy Cook, I've had a chance to meet some of my faves at Blogher last year!