Necessary Chocolate

Reading with flowers?

Last year, I went out and cut flowers (or maybe bought some?) and deliberately read near them. I even went to public gardens and read. And, I might point out, I managed to do that while recovering from a broken arm. This year, I'm not sure that I cut many flowers at all. But not to fear. Remember that cocktail party that I mentioned?

It was a lovely night, with great food, beautiful flowers, and many many people who I didn't know.

So does it count that I hid in the bathroom and read a book? I was near flowers, anyway.

I did end winning a lovely miniature garden in the silent auction, and I've read since it was in the house. Yep, that totally counts.

 

I'm going to develop the prototype prize this weekend. The prize that I was going to create over the summer. Hmm. Anyway, I'll let you know when it's time to report. Until then, feel free to keep reading for fun!

The first week

And it starts again. This year's course of study - The Old Testament! How fun will that be?

On our first day, the students modeled their favorite stories in Play-doh. Here are a few of them. Can you guess the stories?

story here

story here

story here

It appears that my class of mostly boys will not have issues with some of the more troubling stories of the Old Testament...

Read a fairy tale

I was going to read a real, honest-to-gosh fairy tale as part of this summer's reading challenge, but instead I've read a few retold fairy tales this year. Two I refuse to mention, because they were just too stupid. One I really enjoyed, but wouldn't be caught dead with in public because of the title* (but then, I'm not the target audience).

Last year, I adored Adam Gidwitz's A Tale Dark and Grimm. Funny, gruesome, and heart-wrenching - everything a fairy tale should be. This summer I discovered an equally funny, gruesome, and heart-wrenching tale. There aren't any fairies, but there are dragons, so it's just going to have to count.

 

 

It's Anthony Trollope (Framley's Parsonage, to be precise), but the main characters are dragons. It's not a mash-up parody; it's a remarkably Victorian novel. And I loved it.

Since I so dislike reviewing books, here's a much better synopsis and recommendation.

 

*one of the great blessings of the nook is that no one can see the sometimes embarrasing cover** or title of an otherwise great book. Did I mention that I'm obsessed with the YA series "Heist Society?"

**yes, I do worry way too much about what other people think.

Ten years ago there was frivolity, too

Yes, I know that others have been remembering where they were ten years ago last Sunday. It was not until today that I remembered what else went on in my life that week.

Today's the oldest of the Arizona girls' birthday. Ten years ago the princess skirts were delivered on time for her birthday party. 

Such a happy memory among all the other thoughts this week.

Oh frabjous day

My office has internet and phones. First day since the hurricane. Callooh Callay!

The Saturday after hurricane Irene

Cleaning up in Schoharie after Hurricane Irene. I learned that wet carpet weighs a lot, that children pulling wagons full of food for volunteers make me cry, and that stuff is just stuff.

It's bad. And these are people that I admire and love. But I've also loved seeing the number of volunteers just showing up, walking into houses, and going to work. Yesterday, many of the members of my congregation left church early when they heard that there was a need for volunteers. They ran home, changed into their workclothes, and left. Immediately. Many went back again today, working in the rain. Shoveling mud, rinsing dishes, carrying out garbage bags full of wet debris. We'll be back in force next Saturday.

As I'm sure you've heard, this is just one town that was hurt. It just happens to be the town with my friends (some of you will know the pumpkin patch - the barn was flooded and the crop is probably lost). There will be lots of opportunities to send funds and donations, I'm sure - one author is already gathering books for the flooded libraries. When I hear more, I'll post. But for now, they need shovels and willing workers.

What I did tonight instead of reading

Or sewing. Or working, for that matter. I was really supposed to be writing a report. Instead, I spent way too much time creating my very own little pony here.