This summer is all about
gathering what we find
and making music
out of it.
Sometimes it doesn't quite fly,
like our xylophone
constructed of driftwood
and rubber bands.
Scavenged from a sunny beach walk,
and a hoot to make,
it only makes one sound:
plunk.
And yet... sometimes we need to plunk
to figure out what the rhythm is.
Our new rhythm :
Winnie's had her surgery,
and after a long wait,
she can run!
the pain is almost gone!
Oh, the delight!
And here we are
in the crazy whirl.
Driftwood:
Winnie's surgery. Swim lessons. Backyard soccer.
Cousins. Library storytime.
Scissor mishaps.
{That's right. Preschool cutting practice.
Both of them. Missing chunks of hair.
Where was their mama, you ask?
Ten yards away, scribbling in my notebook. }
This has been such a year and more
of wind and weathering.
and here is what I remember -
beautiful things come after turbulence.
sticks become pale as silver when they have tumbled through waves.
spiny stones become round and ripe across the sand,
fruit of sea and storm,
borne through time
and tides.
Is that art? music?
The transformation of rough things
into smooth beauties?
These tides might not be fruitful
in all the artsy, writerly ways I've been wanting.
but they might just be fruitful in the ways that I need.
humbling. compassion. grace. gratefulness.
To my friends going through rough waters right now,
my wish and prayer
is that Love will weather its way
through each of us
that Love will transform the rough places into smooth,
will fill the hollow places with sweet, clear water,
will turn our broken sticks into music,
and somehow
find us
more of Love itself.
Thank you for your words and prayers,
books and courage
that have helped us march through this summer!
We are all so grateful.
Some of our brave reads:
Brother Hugo and the Bear - Katy Beebe, S.D. Schindler
Have You Seen My Dragon? - Steve Light
Soccer Fence - Phil Bildner, Jesse Joshua Watson
A Tangle of Knots - Lisa Graff
Word After Word After Word - Patricia MacLachlan
The Mysterious Benedict Society - Trenton Lee Stewart
A Wrinkle in Time - Madeleine L'Engle
Here we go again!
Tomorrow is the big day.
Tonsils out!
I'm reading about the hero's journey lately -
the road a character takes
to become changed in a story
- a.k.a the story arc.
Writing and life are so linked, don't you think?
We're all on a journey.
We face monsters, magic, trials, portals every day - they just look a little different in real life.
Tests, school, work, laundry...
Pip's monster this week is tonsils.
We're trying to equip her with happy times,
to sustain her on the road of liquid food and couch time.
So we took her ice skating.
And experimented with pennies.
and made some copper valentines.
Did you know salt and vinegar can make some pretty impressive green crystals?
Then it was time for invisible ink, made of baking soda and water.
and purple cabbage juice to reveal our secret messages.
Very spy-like.
To go with the spy theme, I'm making her a book treasure hunt.
Like the book
geo-caching we did last year when Winnie said goodbye to her tonsils.
  |
| Sticky note clues hidden in favorite books: "The Nutcracker" ill. by Maurice Sendak, "The 5,000 Year-Old Puzzle," ill. by Melissa Sweet | | |
|
And speaking of books,
Margaret Bloom's "Making Peg Dolls" book giveaway is coming to my blog soon!
Stay tuned!
Happy, healthy hearts to you!
Sick days, valentines, and writers' journeys:
We like to ring in Groundhog Day
with high style over here.
He sees his shadow, he doesn't see his shadow,
either way we get balloons
because Sugar Snack is four!
Bring on the sweets and sprinkles.
Sugar high!
I'm thinking of changing his name to "Cheeks."
Everyone likes a party.
Even small sewn friends.
Happy day, Cheeks.
And speaking of happy days,
Happy book birthday to Margaret Bloom of
We Bloom Here.
"Making Peg Dolls" is a gorgeous book.
I can't wait to rave all about it.
And I will!
I get to be part of Margaret's
blog tour, which starts today.
Margaret will be giving away a copy of "Making Peg Dolls"
to one of my lucky readers this month.
Stay tuned for giveaway details.
You can also visit Margaret as she tours the blog-globe.
Giveaways and surprises, oh my!
February 4th:
The Crafty CrowFebruary 5th:
The Magic OnionsFebruary 6th:
The ToymakerFebruary 7th:
CleanFebruary 8th:
Anna BranfordFebruary 11th:
Red Bird CraftsFebruary 12th:
Art is a WayFebruary 13th:
Softearth's WorldFebruary 14th:
Chocolate EyesFebruary 15th:
Rhythm and RhymeFebruary 18th:
Wild Faerie CapsFebruary 19th:
Sacred DirtI'm the caboose!
It's going to be brilliant.
Hooray, Margaret!
and in other news, goodbye Pip's tonsils...
That's our next adventure.
I'll let you know how we do.
Sugar Snack's birthday books:
I, Crocodile, by Fred Marcellino
Little Tug, by Stephen Savage
Alphabet City, by Stephen T. Johnson
Shortcut, by David Macaulay
In the Town All Year Round by Rotraut Susanne Berner
Aw, I love the book treasure hunt! I hope the surgery goes well and the recovery is easy and full of books. :)
Sending lots of hearty thoughts for a speedy recovery! Thanks for the writing book recommendations -- I will definitely check those out!
What a lovely day, regardless of the "why." Wishing your little one a quick and easy journey through tonsilectomy. And thanks for the lovely pb list!
I hope her surgery goes well and everything is fast and smooth in recovery. I also hope Mama hangs in there okay too!
I want to do a book treasure hunt... I LOVE that idea. LOVE LOVE LOVE! The idea reminds me of a YA love story that has a treasure hunt (of sorts) hidden in books: Dash and Lily's Book of Dares.
Thanks Faith!
My son had that surgery, too! Hope she's feeling tip top by now. I love your photo essay posts, Faith. Enjoy the lovely winter day.
Faith, thank you! Our recovery is indeed full of good books - Time for another trip to the library!
Thank you, Barb. I look forward to catching up on your blog once we're back to normal. Cheers!
Stasia, thank you. We're doing couch time aplenty over here!
Kjersten, you know! The book treasure hunt is so much fun. They are at the perfect age to appreciate it right now. I will look for Dash and Lily's Book of Dares. It sounds great!
Amy, I hope your boy and his mama survived it well? I'm so glad to see you posting again. I love getting insights from you.