September

A new month has begun, perhaps my favorite month because it contains both my birthday and our anniversary.  September also marks other family birthdays:  our second daughter's, my sister's, my uncle Tommy's, and my uncle David's.  Tommy shares the 10th with me, though he was born twenty-five  years before I was, and I always thought that was special. 

Saturday afternoon I played for a memorial service honoring a cousin of a man at Trinity.  Though the mourners were few in number, their grief was no less significant.  His two sons spoke of their father's importance in their lives; their mother died several years ago.  I could not help but think of the memorial service in my (probably near) future.

Books

Last Saturday I finished reading two books.  One was on my iPad so I read it mostly when at E's; the other was a hardback so I read it at home.  Wonder, by R. J. Palacio,  tells the story of a boy with a facial deformity who  starts fifth grade in a private school after being taught at home.  He deals with bullying, teasing and confusion as he spends time with lots of new children.  Point of view shifts from one character to another.  This recently was made into a movie, but I haven't seen it.  Great story, well-told.

The Devil in the White City is a fascinating look at the 1893 Columbian Exposition (or World's Fair) in Chicago.  The author weaves together the lives of the lead designer of the fair and a serial killer, revealing to us much about life in the 1890's.  Erik Larson has written several books like this.  The first one I read was Dead Wake, about the sinking of the great ship Lusitania in 1915 (I think, maybe 1914).  Since I grew up in Illinois and have been to Chicago I especially enjoyed learning more about the fair.

I recommend both of these books.

A new friend

I'm making a new friend.  Carolyn is also a piano teacher, a little older than I, with two grown daughters.  I think I first met her at the community chorus a few years ago.  We spoke in passing and shared a few tips and commiserations about problem students.  But since es was born we have spent more time together.  She worked as a nanny when she was much younger and still enjoys little children, so occasionally she comes over to play with es and ec.  We have also met for tea and talk without the children.  Once she and her husband came over for supper.  Recently we took a walk along the lagoon, pausing every few minutes to rest on the benches by the water (she has some sort of foot problem that limits her walking).  We spoke about what we like to do besides teach, hobbies we have or would like to have.  Carolyn wants to learn to draw and do more camping, maybe learn Spanish.  I would just like to have more time for the things I already do, like quilting and scrapbooking.  Spending time with her is pleasant.

Raft

Perhaps I've talked about rafts before, but es still builds them with regularity in the den.  A quilt forms the bottom of the raft, and pillows are the edges that keep out the water.  Often lots of books appear on the raft, because when one goes for a long trip she needs something to keep her busy.  Sometimes little blocks and balls go along as "food."  It looks like this one has chairs; I wasn't there when it was created so I don't know how the chairs were described.

"Dig, Dig, Digging"

When her aunt Sarah gave this book to es about two years ago, she wanted nothing to do with it.  We couldn't read it to her, show her pictures, nothing.  It had to be put back on the shelf.  But eventually it became a favorite.  One day Sarah fit the words to a familiar tune, then I copied her idea.  Perhaps it was getting older, perhaps it was the music, but es came to really like the book and the whole idea of large construction vehicles.

Now it's her brother's turn, and he "digs" this story!

A place for everything...

Yesterday I began to clear my cutting table so I could finally cut the binding for Grand Illusion.  But then I became distracted as I sorted some of the patterns and bits of paper mixed in with pieces of fabric.  Rather than just put them on the desk to look at again later, I put them into appropriate places, like the recycling bin, or a drawer for Sarah's pictures, or a folder.  As I sat at the desk I looked at scrapbooks, so I put a few loose photos in sheet protectors then into binders to remind myself where they would eventually go.  And before I knew it, it was time to make supper.  I actually did get the table cleared off; maybe today or tomorrow I will choose the binding fabric and cut it into strips.  Maybe I will even sew it on to the quilt!

'Cause why?

This has been one of those days.  es has talked or made sounds constantly, even after I asked her to be quiet.  "Why?" she asked.  "Because I asked you to."  More sounds, a humming but with nonsense syllables.  "Because we're in the kitchen and sound carries.  Your dad is working."  More sounds, perhaps a tad softer.  After ec went to bed I let her watch a short video about Princess Sophia, but I admit I didn't pay careful attention to the story.  "Why did the sea monster want Oona's comb?"  "I don't know."  " Why do you think he wanted it?"  " I don't know," which is not an acceptable answer. "Guess."  And round and round.

"It's time for you to have quiet time."  "I don't want to.  I can't.  I don't want a book."  Finally I told her she had to be by herself for a while because I needed quiet time.  And that worked.

Current project

This is the first sock of the pair I am now knitting.    I'm nearly done with the foot and will soon change to the double-pointed needles to work the toe.  Then on to the second sock.  The color is called Clover Colors.  I really like how the yarn changes from green to teal to orange to red and back, gradually.  I'm not sure I would think of clover in these colors, but I like the effect.

This morning I took a long walk with a friend.  We ended at the near-by coffee shop and sat down with our cups, talking some more about our families, work, life in general.  Then I had lunch with another friend, who will be moving to Iowa in July.  Her husband died last fall, and she wants to be closer to family.

I had hoped to get the binding cut for the Grand Illusion quilt, but so far other things have claimed my afternoon.  And tonight is choir practice, our next-to-last rehearsal before we break for the summer, so no quilting will happen.

Sorting

Once again I am sorting through the massive amounts of paper that have accumulated in our closets, bookcases, drawers, all over the house.  Wednesday morning I worked on the area around the piano where I keep music and music-related items.  After about an hour I had removed this stack of books, papers, copies of songs, and catalogs.  Most went in the blue bin; some will go to the White Elephant sale.  I also went through community chorus music and papers.  Most of that was recycled, freeing up a nice tote bag.  Now the floor in front of the etagére is clear, and the binders that sat on the floor beside the piano are on a shelf.  Some loose papers still need attention, as does my Clavier Companion archive.  This work is just the tip of the iceberg:  genealogy forms and research, scrapbooking supplies, bank statements, books, fabric and quilting supplies, the list goes on and on.

Geraniums

Monday after ec went to daycare, es and I went to the nearby nursery to buy some plants for the container by our front door.  We wandered around a bit then had to ask where the restroom was for es.  After a few minutes in the serviceable but not fancy restroom, we resumed looking for geraniums.  We found some pretty pink ones (for me) and placed three pots on a cart.  Then es chose two purple plants.  We added a pair of child-size gardening gloves, paid for everything and took it all to our house.  E sent some soil for us to add to the planter. es had her own ideas of where to place the plants, so I let her dig holes, with a little help from me.  Finally it was time to water our creation.  The new flowers certainly brighten the entry!

Blocks

These colorful blocks are a good size for ec to play with.  (I think they're Maxi Blocks.)  He has been building by himself more, perhaps because he has blocks at daycare, and I imagine he sees the other children playing with them.  It wasn't too long ago that he would just knock down any tower that I built.  Now he approaches slowly, carefully, smiling in glee,  before knocking it over.  I like the wheeled units; they can hook together making a train or be separate cars.  The blocks fit together quite easily, unlike most LEGO® bricks.

The other day I spread E's "I Spy" quilt on the floor helping ec notice the various pictures of fruit, children, animals, etc.  He soon dragged the big stuffed animals (horse, dog, bear) out of their corner and placed them on the quilt.  His sister likes to make a "raft" with a quilt or the Hawaiian fabric then furnish it with "food" and toys, so perhaps this was his interpretation of the raft.

I suppose his biggest accomplishment lately is moving one of the little chairs over to the bookcase unit then climbing up on it to reach the books.  We can no longer put things on the shelf assuming they are safe from his little hands!  He falls off the chair occasionally, but it doesn't seem to bother him too much.  In fact, he seems to fall a lot--he tries to run and trips, or he stumbles over a toy on the floor, or he changes direction too quickly.  I was not watching es when she was this age, so I did not see her climb or fall when learning to walk.  I wonder if he will be a movie stunt man when he grows up!

Add two cups...

I arrived home from practicing last night to the delicious aroma of country style ribs baking.  I soon started making mashed potatoes and gravy to accompany the meat.  The potato flakes sit for a few minutes in the boiled water and milk, then you fluff them up a bit.  When I took the lid off the pan I saw really soupy potatoes.  What was wrong?  I've made instant potatoes for many years and don't recall ever having this problem.  I added some flakes, which helped, but why had this occurred?  As I stirred I happened to glance at the Pyrex cup I had used to measure the water.  The directions called for two cups of water, so I had filled the cup two times without paying attention to the fact it is a two-cup measure.  Yes, I had used twice as much water as needed.  I added more potato flakes to the soupy mixture, and it set up just fine.

Wow, could I be under stress or tired?

El Capitán, here I come!

This morning ec climbed up on the brown sectional for the first time after several attempts.  While I verbally encouraged him I did not guide his feet or arms since I'm not quite ready for him to be that mobile.  But he loves to climb, so it was inevitable that he would reach this goal before long.  He already manages to get into the booster seat on a dining room chair.

His first two days of "school" went smoothly.  He ate well, slept a couple of hours on his cot, and enjoyed the toys.  So far, so good!

Yesterday es and I went to the library and the park then to Burger King for lunch.  She really wanted French fries.  I appreciated being with her alone.

Can you guess?

The Dr. Seuss Foot Book teaches opposites by describing different kinds of feet, such as these "Sick feet."  The other day es was quite taken by this picture and asked me to guess what was wrong with the feet.  I suggested a couple of possibilities, such as the creature had stepped on broken glass or been stepped on by an elephant, but that wasn't enough.  So I tried a couple more.  Perhaps he fell asleep in the sun and burned his feet, or his new shoes gave him blisters.  I tried to encourage her to guess what was wrong, and finally, after I had named many possible causes, she came up with some on her own.  Admittedly some were variations on things I had said, but still she made them her own.

I knew he'd be fine

Hurray for our little dude!  His first day away from home at day care went smoothly!

And what did I do yesterday?  I took a three and a half mile walk with a friend, did grocery shopping, went to the bank to ask about an apparent email phishing, then ironed several shirts before our dinner and game group.  After practicing this morning I hope to get in a bit of quilting on the Grand Illusion quilt that's been pinned and waiting for several weeks now.

Poor little dude

Last night I tore off the final link in my countdown chain, but ec did not go to daycare today after all.   He has apparently caught the stomach bug his sister had last week.  Yesterday we walked down to the farmer's market where I bought a sticky bun, the first one since January, to share with E. ec slept about twenty-five minutes in the moving stroller, waking up as we stopped back at his house.  After a while I was sitting on the floor holding him on my lap as we read.  All at once he opened his mouth and vomited up his breakfast.  After a day or two of mild foods he had eaten a little orange and sausage, but I guess it was too soon.  Fortunately I keep a spare pair of pants at E's for just such an event.  So instead of meeting his new caregivers and playing with other little boys and girls he spent the day with his mom.  We hope he will be better by Friday and begin his daycare then.

Color theory

This quilt was on the wall at the Indiana University medical center where my dad had his treatment earlier this month.  The color scheme and pattern appeal to me.  It reminded me I was signed up for a color theory workshop through our local quilt guild held April 14.  While I learned a bit about color schemes, the best part was meeting some women from the guild and talking with them.  I was disappointed in the presentation; I'm not sure exactly what I thought the art teacher would teach us, but I don't think she presented anything new to me.  Her basic plan for the class may have been good, but her implementation seemed weak.

Homework

K's father, sister and nieces are here for a couple of days.  His dad hadn't yet met ec, so he flew out from Ohio, and Maegan and the girls drove up.  It is such fun to see the cousins together.  Sunday they all will drive to SoCal, and Richard will fly home from there.  Right now cousin v is sitting at the table with her mom's laptop, doing her kindergarten homework.  It involves reading comprehension and knowing how to use the computer.  es is watching carefully; she still has a couple of years before kindergarten.

Counting the days

On Tuesdays when I finish at E's I usually go to the church (which is just a couple of blocks away) to practice, which means I get home about 6.  On the third Tuesday of the month Randy leaves about 5:30 to go to Session meeting at church; supper is served to the elders before the meeting so they can come straight from work if need be, and it also provides an opportunity for them to talk and get to know each other better.  This week after I practiced I ate a chicken sandwich at Burger King then returned to E's.  She helped me begin a photo book of wedding pictures.  So it was after 8 when I arrived home.  I went into the living room and turned on NCIS.  After a bit I went to the kitchen for some water and realized I had walked right past this paper chain.  es and I have made several chains, to count the days till her birthday or till Christmas or whatever.  Now Randy had made one for me to count the days till ec begins day care, and I have two days off each week.  How sweet this is!  What a fun surprise!  I will have Wednesdays and Fridays off beginning next week.

Snow day?

Last night I read that Skyline High School delayed the start of classes for two hours Monday morning due to the hail-icy streets.  Parents had trouble, as did buses, making it up the slick hills to the school.  Some children got out sleds or even pieces of cardboard to slide down the streets.  I didn't take a picture of the streets covered in pellets of hail, but I did copy these from the newspaper.  It was simply amazing to see.  Snow on our hilltops is not that unusual, but this sure is.