As I write this, it’s Tuesday. The birthday of Meriwether Lewis. You can read a previous post about this American explorer here. As a resident of Jefferson City, living walking distance to the Missouri River, I frequently think about ol’ Lewis and Clark and what it must have been like to be on that expedition. Does that make me weird? So be it.
But really, the river is so big. And the area was so wild. I mean I get nervous when I travel to areas of southern Missouri where there’s no cell phone reception.
In other news, my sewing repertoire continues to grow. I made these cute little booties that kind of look like baby Toms.
Hopefully, little Katie’s feet will fit through the small foot holes. 😂
I also watched this short documentary on YouTube recently. Quilters are an interesting bunch.
Tomorrow is the birthday of Ogden Nash (August 19, 1902 – May 19, 1971), an American poet known for his light verse. This poem, which I haven’t thought about for years and years, was a great favorite of mine as a child. Remember “The Tale of Custard the Dragon”?
Belinda lived in a little white house, With a little black kitten and a little gray mouse, And a little yellow dog and a little red wagon, And a realio, trulio, little pet dragon.
Now the name of the little black kitten was Ink, And the little gray mouse, she called him Blink, And the little yellow dog was sharp as Mustard, But the dragon was a coward, and she called him Custard.
Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears, And Ink and Blink chased lions down the stairs, Mustard was as brave as a tiger in a rage, But Custard cried for a nice safe cage.
Our copy was in “The Golden Treasury of Poetry” illustrated by Joan Walsh Anglund.
I wonder if people still read Nash’s poems to their children as our parents did. Studies show, of course, that reading to one’s children is one of the most effective ways to build the “language” neural connections in their growing brains as well as a strong base for cognitive development. Indeed, babies who are read to have their “receptive” vocabularies (number of words they understand) increased 40 per cent, while those not read to increase by only 16 per cent. (Studies show!)
Well, a toast to old Ogden Nash and a realio, trulio, little pet dragon.
While on the subject of reading, John Piper gives 10 reasons for reading the Bible every day. “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)
(Painting by Mary Cassatt: “Mrs Cassatt Reading to her Grandchildren” -1888)
It’s Monday and I have no cute pictures of darling wee babes to share. Oh well, c’est la vie. Sometimes we have to fend for ourselves, latch on to the affirmative and smile, dude! I had fun this weekend–even without a visit from wee babes–how about you?
Daughter #1 drove home on Saturday and we went to three estate sales (!) and found nothing! Not even so much as a plant rescue or a book. Unheard of, you say. Indeed. We consoled ourselves with take-out margaritas from Club Taco and listening to music all evening.
When daughter #1 drove home to mid-MO on Sunday morning, I tuned in to Morning Prayer with Christ Church, Charlottesville, where David Zahl gave a good sermon on Joseph and his brothers. “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20) Joseph’s story is a good reminder for us all during a trying time that God is with us through thick and thin.
In other news, Matt Rollings, super keyboardist, who has played with Lyle Lovett, Mark Knopfler and many others, just released his first solo album in over 30 years, Matt Rollings Mosaic, and I bought it. I highly recommend it. Here’s a taste:
In another track, Lyle Lovett sings the old Johnny Mercer/Harold Arlen standard, “Accentuate the Positive.” The lyrics seems appropriate to the times.
Gather ’round me, everybody Gather ’round me while I’m preachin’ Feel a sermon comin’ on me The topic will be sin and that’s what I’m ag’in’ If you want to hear my story Then settle back and just sit tight While I start reviewin’ The attitude of doin’ right You’ve got to accentuate the positive Eliminate the negative And latch on to the affirmative Don’t mess with Mister In-Between You’ve got to spread joy up to the maximum Bring gloom down to the minimum Have faith or pandemonium’s Liable to walk upon the scene To illustrate my last remark Jonah in the whale, Noah in the ark What did they do just when everything looked so dark? (Man, they said “We’d better accentuate the positive”) (“Eliminate the negative”) (“And latch on to the affirmative”) Don’t mess with Mister In-Between (No!) Don’t mess with Mister In-Between (Ya got to spread joy up to the maximum) (Bring gloom down to the minimum) (Have faith or pandemonium’s) (Liable to walk upon the scene) You got to ac (yes, yes) -cent-tchu-ate the positive Eliminate (yes, yes) the negative And latch (yes, yes) on to the affirmative Don’t mess with Mister In-Between No, don’t mess with Mister In-Between
On that note, I’ll wish you a good start to the week. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Here it is Saturday, August 15, 2020, what should have been son #2’s wedding day but turned out to be a perfect example of how life sometimes intervenes in our well laid plans. The groom-to-be wrote eloquently about the “s’pos da” phenomenon in this week’s Melville Minute. Do read it.
As luck would have it (and as I’ve mentioned before), I’m teaching The Iliad this semester. Does any literary work do better conveying the message that we humans are not in control of our lives? I think not.
Once again I have been struck by the fact that the most truly and consistently heroic character is not Achilles or Hector but Diomedes, the always brave, polite, and honorable warrior from Argos. When in book 6 he challenges Glaucus to fight and discovers that their fathers share a guest-host obligation, he immediately breaks off and the two exchange armor as friends. Now that’s honorable behavior! Diomedes volunteers for dangerous missions and even takes on the gods in combat, wounding both Aphrodite and Ares. Not only is he the only hero in the epic to hurt a god but he manages to do it with impunity (mostly thanks to Athena who protects him). In this scene, Aphrodites saves Aeneas from Diomedes.
The perfect hero and diplomat (a younger, more studly Odysseus, if you will), Diomedes would never let himself get into the type of argument that Achilles and Agamemnon botch at the beginning of the poem. Next time you read The Iliad pay attention to Diomedes — he’s an interesting character. Yet the things just mentioned are not what make him truly heroic. What earns our admiration is his ability to take setbacks with equanimity. When he gets wounded, he keeps fighting. When Agamemnon is panicking and ready to sail home, Diomedes remains calm and rational. After the war is over (according to Greek legend) when things back in Argos go pear-shaped, he simply starts over again in Italy, founding a couple of cities there.
In other words, Diomedes’ great heroic character trait is the ability to take what comes without complaint and get on with it. You can see why Chris and Nicole reminded me of The Iliad — they’re being very Diomedes like! We could all learn from his example.
Bookplate image via contentinacottage.blogspot.com
Friday at last! We have had a rainy (but cooler) week here in flyover country with trees down and unfortunately quite a bit of flooding.
Lots of detritus to pick up in our yard.
Weather does spice up our sad, isolated lives though. We have so few diversions, don’t we?
Today is the birthday of Steve Martin (born August 14, 1945) –American actor, comedian, author, filmmaker, and musician. I recently watched All of Me (1984) directed by Carl Reiner. It is pretty silly stuff, but I enjoyed it and there are several scenes that are masterfully done where Martin contends with his own body, which has been partially taken over by the Lily Tomlin character’s soul.
The OM was not amused, but when is he?
Sunday is the birthday of T.E. Lawrence, aka Lawrence of Arabia (August 16, 1888 – May 19, 1935). Besides becoming famous for his role in the Arab Revolt, he was a British archaeologist, army officer, diplomat, and writer.
Early Hittite artifact found by T. E. Lawrence and Leonard Woolley (right) in Carchemish.
Well, I am happy to raise a toast to Steve and T.E.
They kind of resemble each other, don’t they?
And I’ll raise another glass to the wee babes who are going back to school!
And to Marty Stuart who will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame!
There’s always something to celebrate! Have a good weekend.
“Grace is the celebration of life, relentlessly hounding all the non-celebrants in the world. It is a floating, cosmic bash shouting its way through the streets of the universe, flinging the sweetness of its cassations to every window, pounding at every door in a hilarity beyond all liking and happening, until the prodigals come out at last and dance, and the elder brothers finally take their fingers out of their ears.” –Robert Farrar Capon, Episcopal priest, Between Noon and Three: Romance, Law and the Outrage of Grace
This week I have been feeling particularly strongly that Katiebelle is rapidly growing up. She really does gain new skills every couple of days, and we continue to say “Does she seem bigger?” when we pick her up in the morning.
Here is the latest in skill development: staring at her own left fist, which she was holding very still.
For quite some time now I have been fretting over the babe’s bassinet, which is tiny and which she has officially outgrown. (My mother has heard me make and then ignore this claim at least 10 times.) For a few nights in a row, we have been awoken by her thrashing about, crying because she has scooched to the bottom of the bassinet and can scooch no more. Now that we have also allowed her one arm outside of the swaddle, she can punch the sides of the bassinet as well. Well I will finally admit she just needs to graduate to her crib (where she already naps during the day) for nighttime sleep. But excuse me? She’s going to sleep in her own room? Which is more than 2 feet from our bed?
“Did somebody say…bedtime?”
I mean, I can just sleep in the twin bed in the nursery if I want. (I want to. Separation anxiety is real, but I’m the one who has it.) But it blows my mind that she’s outgrowing something so substantial as a sleeping arrangement. 10 weeks old seems so tiny, but the babe herself seems so very big.
“Happy soap changed my life”“My mommy is obsessed with me”
In other news, I think my time is up with this ponytail. I return to work next week and I may have to reacquaint myself with heat tools…
I mean, my life may not have the glitz and glamour of Suzanne Sugarbaker’s, but I know the feeling. It seems like our current lives are all exercises in keeping our chins up and keeping busy. I guess this isn’t really unusual, but it does seem like we are all extra aware of this.
While searching the basement for those Beanie Baby cats this weekend, my mother and I did find some lovely fabric that I took back to mid-MO for future projects. I can’t wait to see what I make with these.
I made the above basket on Monday when I got home from work. It looks wonkier in the picture than it is in real life. As I’ve said, this is how I’m keeping busy.
In other riveting news, I repotted my fiddle leaf fig plant last weekend and it seems to be thriving. I was worried that I would traumatize it, but it seems to be happier and that makes me glad.
Also:
I recently finished re-reading a Longmire book–it was like visiting old friends. My mother tells me she has already pre-ordered the new on that is coming out in October. Thank goodness Craig Johnson can write one a year. I don’t know what I’d do, if he wrote at the pace of the Game of Thrones author.
I am reading Lovejoy and enjoying it. And I’m re-watching NYPD Blue in the evenings after my sewing work.
So as always seems to be the conclusion to my weekly blog post, whether visiting old friends through favorite books and TV, learning that three-year-olds think you can juggle, or practicing new skills, there is inspiration all around. It’s just harder to find these days.
So yesterday I was allowed to go to my flyover university office on campus and retrieve my computer and other needful things that I have been doing without for six months (while using my personal laptop at home). Thinking I would be back in a couple of weeks, I left some plants in my office when I vacated the office back in March and they were (of course) all dead. I packed up a few files and such and brought everything home and lugged it inside and set it up.
And, oh boy, I had forgotten how great a big screen is! Anyway, I guess we are telecommuting for the long haul, i.e. the end of the year.
Sigh.
But here’s something to cheer you up if you need it:
Sigh. I’m sure we all need it.
Loving God, you want us to give thanks for all things, to fear nothing except losing you, and to lay all our cares on you, knowing that you care for us. Protect us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, and grant that no clouds in this mortal life may hide from us the light of your immortal love shown to us in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
I took Friday afternoon off and had a picnic with my two pals in Laumeier Park and started off the weekend on a fine note. Daughter #1 arrived in town in time for a beer on the patio.
Then we listened to the 2-record Henry Mancini set she found at an estate sale. Life in the fast lane, man.
We enjoyed a pretty mellow weekend, the highlight of which was a visit from the wee babes who shrieked with delight at the prospect of a play date with their aunt.
On Saturday we had unearthed more treasures from our basement cache of vintage toys, which included a lot more Beanie Babies…
(A pyramid of doggies care of Lottie)
…and myriad other 1990s treats…
The wee laddie preferred to play with his old favorites, “my Cooper” in particular…
although he did climb into the doll crib for a pretend nap.
There is never a dull moment when these monkeys are around.
We FaceTimed with the newest wee babe and her Mommy.
We mused that she really does bear a striking resemblance to her great great grandfather ANC Jr…
Aren’t genes fascinating?
After daughter #1 returned to mid-MO on Sunday, I repotted some plants and caught up with daughter #2. I read some more Lovejoy (I’m on my third mystery.) I tidied up and got my mind set for the work week.
Here are some good words from the Quaker poet John Greenleaf Whittier to start your week:
Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
Forgive our foolish ways!
Reclothe us in our rightful mind,
In purer lives Thy service find,
In deeper reverence, praise.
In simple trust like theirs who heard
Beside the Syrian sea
The gracious calling of the Lord,
Let us, like them, without a word
Rise up and follow Thee.
O Sabbath rest by Galilee!
O calm of hills above,
Where Jesus knelt to share with Thee
The silence of eternity
Interpreted by love!
With that deep hush subduing all
Our words and works that drown
The tender whisper of Thy call,
As noiseless let Thy blessing fall
As fell Thy manna down.
Drop Thy still dews of quietness,
Till all our strivings cease;
Take from our souls the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of Thy peace.
Breathe through the heats of our desire
Thy coolness and Thy balm;
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,
O still, small voice of calm.
*Alan Arkin in The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming (1966)–an hilarious movie which I highly recommend watching.
This week the DH and I managed a little getaway to Chaumont, NY which is about an hour and a half to our southwest on Lake Ontario.
Son #1 took a few days off work to join us, but in order to do so he had to buy a car, his Hyundai having failed to pass inspection. Despite lots of to-ing and fro-ing to Syracuse, it all worked out amazingly well and he is now the proud owner of a CRV — just like the rest of us! (My photos of the new car did not turn out well).
Once we got to our Airbnb, we found it lavishly decorated with hunting memorabilia and Native American objects d’art. Our host is a retired bison farmer and (apparently) a devotee of western life. Family photos and ‘best grandpa ever’ plaques added to the reassuringly homey atmosphere.
The house was comfortable (if full of spiders) and the yard very large. Here’s the view from the back deck.
I’m happy to say the feel was more ‘Oklahoma’ than ‘Signs’ or ‘Children of the Corn’, though there was a definite hint of ‘Kingdom of the Spiders’. Although the corn was as ‘high as an elephant’s eye’, we refrained from breaking into song.
We managed a little antiquing, some light cooking and a few friendly hands of Gin Rummy, but mostly we talked and read.
James left on Thursday to return to work, while the DH and I hiked in the Chaumont Barrens, an alvar grassland and quite a cool place. We saw fossils (no, I don’t know why my husband is pointing with his middle finger),
and a wide variety of flora and cool rock formations. The exposed limestone is full of cracks and fissures, some of which seem bottomless. It would have been nice if there had been signs to tell us what the numbers marking the trail meant, but never mind, we made up our own explanations.
The weather was perfect — not too hot, not too windy — and the bugs were almost non-existent. One other group left as we arrived, but otherwise we had the place to ourselves. It was the perfect culmination to a relaxing getaway.
Although cross-country car adventures are great, sometimes a modest trip is just what you need to recharge. Chances are that there are plenty of sights nearby that you have never explored. Why not visit one of them?
I leave you with this amusing tongue twister:
*The Duck Inn is a tiny motel down the road from where we stayed. I just love the name!
dual personalities 