dual personalities

Things advanced quickly in the back half of our spring break last week! Katie’s bottom two front teeth came in and she officially began crawling.

She is not terribly skilled at it yet but she’s exponentially more mobile now and we are adjusting. Returning to work has not been very fun — it’s frazzle city over here.

At least we managed to fit in some fun last week, including a trip to a botanical garden…

and a patio happy hour…

with lots of family playtime as well.

Crawling certainly ups the nutball ante, but of course Katie remains as sweet as ever.

And no matter how mobile she gets, we know one thing will stop her in her tracks…

a sisal rug!!

My mother was telling me about some giant potholes recently (boy we lead interesting lives) and it made me think of this classic number.

Of course, when I went to find the clip on YouTube, it only made me want to watch more of The Simpsons. The Monorail episode is often ranked as the best Simpsons episode–and while it is one of the best, it is not my top episode. Because it is Wednesday morning, and because I don’t really have anything else to blog about, and because these clips are bringing me joy right now, enjoy these highlights from some of my favorite Simpsons episodes.

A Streetcar Named Marge

Lisa’s Substitute

Summer of 4ft 2

Colonel Homer

And a bonus clip from that episode.

Two Dozen and One Greyhounds

Homer the Great

Also, how sad is it that I didn’t even have to look up the name of each episode??

I had a fine week. There’s a definite hint of spring in the air and the sun has been shining quite a lot. But what I really long for is a good thunderstorm and plenty of rain to wash away the winter grime. Since the forecast contains no hint of rain, I looked for thunderstorms online, and naturally found myself perusing 19th and early 20th century paintings. Somehow even the grimiest cities look romantic in the rain.

Take, for example, James Tissot’s painting of a Rainy Day on the Thames in 1876.

The date of this painting got me thinking that while people were swanning about in London (and indeed New York, Boston…), settlers were eking out a precarious existence in sod houses on the American prairie or riding to slaughter at the Little Big Horn with Custer (June, 1876).

And that got me thinking that there has always been a disjunction between the experiences of city people and those who live in the countryside. Other people’s struggles are easy to judge from the comfort and safety of our homes but the consequences of such casual judgments can be dire.

Recently, I read the memoir of Sarah Raymond Herndon, who traveled from Missouri to Montana in a wagon train in 1865, during a particularly violent period of the Indian wars in Montana Territory. She has firm convictions — as inexperienced youth often do — and is disparaging about the few Indians she encounters, noting that one warrior “was very disappointing as the ‘Noble Red Man’ we read about. He wore an old, ragged Federal suit, cap and all. There were no feathers, beads or blankets.” Obviously, back in Missouri she developed an idealized view that gave birth to a dangerous contempt when it met reality. Unconcerned about the Indians, she leaves camp frequently and wanders off into the hills to pick wild flowers. She seems impervious to the sight of burned-out sod houses and wagons and to the frequent graves they pass. When two men fleeing Montana because of the Indian deprivations join her train, she writes, “how I pity any man who has so little grit. I should think they’d be afraid to show their faces to their neighbors and say, ‘We were afraid, so we came back home.'” She goes on to remark, “We would not like to be scalped and butchered by the Indians, but it does seem so cowardly to run away from danger.” Her strong belief in God and her ingrained code of behavior give her the gumption to continue the trip as friends die of disease and the Indian threat increases. But make no mistake. Her fortitude is largely the result of inexperience, a jaw-dropping underestimation of the foe, and a deep determination that life will go her way. In short, it’s nothing short of a miracle that the Indians never kidnap her or attack her wagon train.

All of this reminds us of how our preconceptions can blind us to reality. When the news creates a stereotype, ask yourself if there can be more to the story. Next time you want to reject someone who doesn’t believe what you believe, bother to find out why. The answers may be hard to take, but at least they’ll be real.

*John Keats

How’s it going? We are on “spring break” all week, so we are doing well. No grand plans or parties (like the baby shower last spring break!) but we are making the most of the time off from work. DN and I do enjoy hanging out with Katie at the same time, as opposed to the playtime shifts that working from home requires.

Since aunt Mary showed the floral ensemble yesterday, I simply had to show the animal dress she also sent darling Katie (above). How cute is that?

This photo pairing really shows the true Katie, second to second. Contemplating a new toy with great focus (and ladylike crossed ankles!), then tearing her socks off and eating them, rings rolling.

Here Katie is showing off her lunging skills. (And DN Is showing off his photography skills.) I haven’t done yoga in over a year, and she has far surpassed any flexibility I ever had. Still on the way to crawling, and excited about this clearance from the floor!

🙂

*”Lonesome Polecat,” the tune which popped into my head the other day, and which Katie loved. (I sing a lot of songs during diaper changes.) We watched this great scene together and she was delighted.

My sister consistently posts about darling Katie and my mom covered the weekend, so I’m left posting about my craft updates. Oh well, I am who I am.

The Jefferson City Public Library had a book sale this weekend and I made out like a bandit. I got a bunch of DVDs and several records. Tell me this Peter and the Wolf wasn’t a find for a $1! And also the Judds.

I made a new pouch style this weekend.

Pretty cute, if I do say so myself. I also started working on a new endeavor–adult clothing, tunics specifically. Putting the pattern together required quite a bit of floor time.

And then cutting it out! I need one of those garden kneelers!

The end result is not quite ready for primetime, so I’ll leave with this, instead. BONUS KATIE CONTENT.

Someone was quite pleased with her darling ensemble. Oh Mylanta, I can’t handle it.

And neither could Katie!