tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178986472024-03-07T01:21:08.888-05:00Barn-RaisingOur learning journey on and off the farm.Madeline Rainshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05075400838213199585noreply@blogger.comBlogger476125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898647.post-29152013265879410462010-11-05T09:00:00.007-04:002010-11-05T14:05:52.396-04:00Food dancingGiving up control over my kids' food choices was a long, hard road. Floating, taunting GMO, pesticide, dye and corn syrup <span style="color: rgb(0, 204, 204);font-family:lucida grande;" >monsters</span> would swirl around my head, laughing at my inability to protect my kids, every time they ate anything that wasn't organic or was too processed. I didn't <span style="font-style: italic;">always</span> say something, but said enough to make a big issue out of food. This resulted in Gillen sneaking sugary foods into his room and in him biking to the store to find the choices that were denied him at home.<br /><br />We have come through this difficult time. I backed off a few years ago and have learned that the kids do make good choices on their own. They love vegetables and eat them all the time. They eat them raw at the farm and they happily eat things like kale salad, vegetable soups or sauteed Bok Choi. They also like sugar, a lot, but prefer the natural sodas and homemade baked stuff to the nerds and airheads, for the most part.<br /><br />I realized, a few months ago, that Gillen may have the gluten-intolerance that my father and sister and I have. He was having some of the same symptoms. In order to find out, Nicolas, Jesse, Gillen and I did an elimination diet/cleanse, for a week. We ate no corn, gluten, sugar, caffeine, meat, beans, potatoes or dairy. We ate a lot of fruit smoothies, brown rice, quinoa tabouli, stir fries, soup, fish, vegetables and good oils. The first few days were very difficult for Gillen, but he hung on for the whole seven days. The coloring in his face changed, he slimmed down and he had more energy. He told us that he felt great. The rest of us got a lot out of it as well. This was right before Halloween and the candy just didn't taste like we wanted it to. Our taste buds had changed.<br /><br />Gillen is still going to eat gluten and sugar. When he reintroduced gluten, he didn't notice any huge difference in his body. He is eating less of it. If he does has a gluten-intolerance, he will deal with it when <span style="font-style: italic;">he</span> is ready. Now that he has a reference in his body for what it feels like to only eat lots of non-processed pure food, he appreciates eating it even more.<br /><br />At the beginning of the cleanse, Gillen happened to discover Anthony Bourdain, food adventurer, on netflix instant view. Over the last few weeks, we have traveled with Bourdain to eat in Vietnam, China, France (that one was during the cleanse - ridiculous that we kept cleansing instead of eating French cheeses!), Sicily, New Jersey..., last night - Polynesia. It is a fantastic show, besides the fact that it makes us all want to move immediately to each location - well, maybe not the one in Finland that was filmed in winter. It's making me want to eat cool fish and coconut milk concoctions for breakfast, like they did in Polynesia, and to consider eating parts of animals and fish that I would never have considered even looking at before (not that the kids have the same reaction). Food and its preparation is so diverse and gives us such a tangible link to a location that we may not get to see in person.<br /><br />I'm ready to eat even more meals with all locally-produced ingredients. The cleanse reminded us of just how much we can do with our vegetables. But I can't imagine eating this way to the exclusion of unagi (smoked eel in sushi) or Asian meals that call for imported spices, or cheeses and chocolate that come from Europe (although more and more raw, aged cheeses are being produced in America). We can't afford a whole lot of these which makes them that much more special when we do get them.<br /><br />I'm glad to have let go of the protective health fanatic persona that used to try to run the show. Now, food is a dance between following our senses, our associations, our opportunities for something new and different and following our knowledge. Hopefully, we have left behind the fear.<br /><br />Willie, the new puppy, frequently follows her nose to the compost pile. The other day we saw her black blur running by under a big orange pumpkin.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKs3ctBdX6HKDP1W-QHljR-DOEK2X3a0vvi1kIcExZZhjRuVAC4-_xRptQdS-sahL4Tmo1CpZ4TYsbfOP49YXD-zLBzVX7DG5S2UM4WdmCpDUoEtOwyfETvB7-q0Vh18jqMhlw/s1600/DSC_1335.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKs3ctBdX6HKDP1W-QHljR-DOEK2X3a0vvi1kIcExZZhjRuVAC4-_xRptQdS-sahL4Tmo1CpZ4TYsbfOP49YXD-zLBzVX7DG5S2UM4WdmCpDUoEtOwyfETvB7-q0Vh18jqMhlw/s400/DSC_1335.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536050966462100434" border="0" /></a>Turns out that pumpkin is not a good choice for puppies. It was a stinky afternoon.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYC7Rli_povmdiQQBSwGX8lWjC62H_AL4BwMbHzlWxpFpxJ7c6NQrsDPO5A8IgA0Pm2AE9L8e94SNWUzwhNJyiiE78n_HP8OcqOPoIDV67mwOoZ0fxhvUWhBXg1KXGKjKQBLm0/s1600/DSC_1342.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYC7Rli_povmdiQQBSwGX8lWjC62H_AL4BwMbHzlWxpFpxJ7c6NQrsDPO5A8IgA0Pm2AE9L8e94SNWUzwhNJyiiE78n_HP8OcqOPoIDV67mwOoZ0fxhvUWhBXg1KXGKjKQBLm0/s400/DSC_1342.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536050968862709682" border="0" /></a>I love that Nicolas volunteered to help make thumbprint cookies with Jesse the other night, late.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfFkrpv7dyDv9uwSxjbcIU0RSkApb0Zo_04mbLjZiz4VPT7trjeyOCYYV0DqoakM_eMXFvueOwgaRY2_y2Y2ELpR10LKaw764MRxcwX5WnhMHlN_TfmF5XByGLVb6SPh_y66l/s1600/DSC_1329.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfFkrpv7dyDv9uwSxjbcIU0RSkApb0Zo_04mbLjZiz4VPT7trjeyOCYYV0DqoakM_eMXFvueOwgaRY2_y2Y2ELpR10LKaw764MRxcwX5WnhMHlN_TfmF5XByGLVb6SPh_y66l/s400/DSC_1329.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536050960146728706" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHt8IsXtAfA7sdQ6V9HwKyQ8bRMI9xoDbFsHQjGU-lLPdt33ppUszjjFbnCBkEi5SYEW2jFAK2Kh6b-9F55YRJKdOwj25s1WJu7tGUQo1iXieqFCq8XsEGAvtN43pCbG15LgNo/s1600/DSC_1326.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHt8IsXtAfA7sdQ6V9HwKyQ8bRMI9xoDbFsHQjGU-lLPdt33ppUszjjFbnCBkEi5SYEW2jFAK2Kh6b-9F55YRJKdOwj25s1WJu7tGUQo1iXieqFCq8XsEGAvtN43pCbG15LgNo/s400/DSC_1326.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536050951785467522" border="0" /></a>The next night, my turn, we made old fashioned custard. Not exactly exotic, but oh so good.<br /><br />All this food rambling is here to remind me to trust. It's always been easier for me in other areas than in this one.Madeline Rainshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05075400838213199585noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898647.post-88301785290881699012010-10-27T15:37:00.006-04:002010-10-27T17:19:05.189-04:00Stitch and WitchLast month, we spent the weekend with six other GA unschooling families at <a href="http://www.gastateparks.org/FortMountain">Fort Mountain State Park</a> in north Georgia. We hiked, paddle-boated, swam at twilight in our clothes (the youngest and most intrepid of us), played putt-putt golf, ate lots of food and played games such as flashlight tag and "Pretty Pretty Princess" (both popular among the younger boys : ) But we never got around to the knitting or crocheting or stitching. This was a great excuse for me to throw a Halloween stitch and witch party with the same group of people (minus one family with a sick mom who was very missed.)<br /><br />Halloween is my favorite holiday. Somehow, <font style="font-style: italic;">some</font> southern Christians have manipulated things such that we have to trick-or-treat on Saturday whenever Halloween falls on a Sunday around here (apparently we shouldn't worship Satan on a Sunday - I never suspected that Satan had anything to do with Halloween, still don't.) This makes me mad and ranting could now hijack my blog post...I'll chew on some pumpkin seeds. Back to our Stitch and Witch party.<br /><br />Preparing:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HEly-uDywBFdC0pIlzo9Aqy2ZJpEY02h8zC-fi2oKurCYzzTOlQrvPPn7fSP7fdI2UYNMxAivzYwnXZ1_ucxAVEBpu6Bk8t1P-RJ5oeY1qIlkDHCscYimlT5DGR2BvaXc8j_/s1600/DSC_1170.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HEly-uDywBFdC0pIlzo9Aqy2ZJpEY02h8zC-fi2oKurCYzzTOlQrvPPn7fSP7fdI2UYNMxAivzYwnXZ1_ucxAVEBpu6Bk8t1P-RJ5oeY1qIlkDHCscYimlT5DGR2BvaXc8j_/s400/DSC_1170.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532813723466239378" border="0"></a>We lined the hall with larger than life fake webs, but the resident spiders helped us out as well.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxVMwk65nvqvSTTc5Iavgb55Wg_x5nXAXdNgve77q4eLsUQsnUU23w2Xk9im5Jr85WatfdYBHn3GlBjbh4zrgOojb6rN2iR-R0biKOp-260JGPAehrHCz5c8KZO8qT5Wykqvk/s1600/DSC_1193.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxVMwk65nvqvSTTc5Iavgb55Wg_x5nXAXdNgve77q4eLsUQsnUU23w2Xk9im5Jr85WatfdYBHn3GlBjbh4zrgOojb6rN2iR-R0biKOp-260JGPAehrHCz5c8KZO8qT5Wykqvk/s400/DSC_1193.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532813730816886306" border="0"></a>Gillen always gets this expression when he is focused. I wish I'd caught the dimple and the tongue.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0yYay788eHVp6tAFqKWj8-vei1__T_vdOTNv__UhPHSKNOalLMWFOF1oDUZn3UIlFTn5SB23P2NAoNLUJPIEm7bPMz0uNUPf00BnfmSO7o-fGWyitt8oUx-Ohsd2lr9TVO-c/s1600/DSC_1186.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0yYay788eHVp6tAFqKWj8-vei1__T_vdOTNv__UhPHSKNOalLMWFOF1oDUZn3UIlFTn5SB23P2NAoNLUJPIEm7bPMz0uNUPf00BnfmSO7o-fGWyitt8oUx-Ohsd2lr9TVO-c/s400/DSC_1186.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532831404646768274" border="0"></a>Lately, he's been focused on hunting - hours and hours of completely silent waiting (no deer hit by him yet) from 5am-11, and then again for hours at night. He's also focused on guitar and on playing with a group of neighborhood boys, and girl, who ride bikes and play football with him once they're out of school. I miss him.<br /><br />But for the last few days, we had the younger, more homebody side of Gillen at thirteen. He wanted to plan the preparations and help with the cooking. It was mostly younger kids coming to the party so he ended up leaving towards the end of the party to play football with his friends, but he was committed to helping make it happen. <br /><br />There was a moment, during our crazed last minute preparations, when he wanted to drop everything to go shoot a squirrel in the backyard. The idea of having to brine a squirrel carcass right then, with so much else to do, had me screaming liking a banshee (aren't banshees more related to Hallween than satan?) <br /><br />I am working on being a moment-to-moment, mostly-conscious mama. I'm definitely not there yet, especially when <span style="font-style: italic;">I've</span> taken on way too many projects, supposedly <span style="font-style: italic;">for</span> my kids.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzx9991-alizzW6yWYjTRt9i5ENFujWEjUQc-uMnm4rk-0QUIw7_7S9CJvTdT7D7BKKkYvnz-pg63j_RkTRNMVuCJTebh4l_SHDPG1Rrqjf7ArNSGt7Ljcq5QkSc6AzA2ZrZtd/s1600/DSC_1168.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzx9991-alizzW6yWYjTRt9i5ENFujWEjUQc-uMnm4rk-0QUIw7_7S9CJvTdT7D7BKKkYvnz-pg63j_RkTRNMVuCJTebh4l_SHDPG1Rrqjf7ArNSGt7Ljcq5QkSc6AzA2ZrZtd/s400/DSC_1168.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532826238394530578" border="0"></a>The ugly moment passed quickly. The forgiveness I received was as sweet as chocolate (I'd say sweeter than but we all just did a week-long cleanse and right now chocolate is seriously sweet).<br /><br />Stitching with Annie Hall and Zombie Woman/Scar Face:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobSj7vDcgiPqhp7eVvkqsjY3HNWDxXw_nfo-w3dH9xKGHXFxo7_G2xKsR-yFAYJRq2dDDsoL0xLriFpMkvbr41aPsYnR3-5BoRVrmT4HAyqtkI7zJDTMH_Mmy5tFlCe7QNQJo/s1600/DSC_1198.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobSj7vDcgiPqhp7eVvkqsjY3HNWDxXw_nfo-w3dH9xKGHXFxo7_G2xKsR-yFAYJRq2dDDsoL0xLriFpMkvbr41aPsYnR3-5BoRVrmT4HAyqtkI7zJDTMH_Mmy5tFlCe7QNQJo/s400/DSC_1198.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532826246539958674" border="0"></a>Dead Man Walking by:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXFOVCa1PUg_0nuleRHk8U4SKIdv7dwV8AsdARoivW1L3vjCWb39ktbHRnNd32GAAepGt2QTyaKe2JeYJmBLNMsym1JOE4-nRD7RLGMDsVJxG0s5sJmApHK2RdFrw_iiuT2hB/s1600/DSC_1202.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXFOVCa1PUg_0nuleRHk8U4SKIdv7dwV8AsdARoivW1L3vjCWb39ktbHRnNd32GAAepGt2QTyaKe2JeYJmBLNMsym1JOE4-nRD7RLGMDsVJxG0s5sJmApHK2RdFrw_iiuT2hB/s400/DSC_1202.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532826258312572978" border="0"></a>All of the kids on the trampoline, watching each other do skits:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlvgQJMRY9EBqaiC5F2F9WqcGaUFTkqwvt57f75kRkTkN43izFZBsAhH0jGuX8XtqWWXPCCrANj8xI7UXBWAT6uqU4TWERMe6WDbk_FHIAvCjuLhLsH5Lzr7ZwVZSkSrKLr8U/s1600/DSC_1206.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlvgQJMRY9EBqaiC5F2F9WqcGaUFTkqwvt57f75kRkTkN43izFZBsAhH0jGuX8XtqWWXPCCrANj8xI7UXBWAT6uqU4TWERMe6WDbk_FHIAvCjuLhLsH5Lzr7ZwVZSkSrKLr8U/s400/DSC_1206.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532829261844149874" border="0"></a>Nicolas knows the right days to come home for lunch:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1fRakDjJMFMWBfVLHg1PW2isbv2XNtkhbS9w3wTML1yreUVYGjO6Cd-4sjsYBJob01-N27bs_2iszbIc77vWCKbkUR3NG5Qkyv0YR71Km4qXx2hZR3tQJNDpJ-9c-UlMSIlDn/s1600/DSC_1216.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1fRakDjJMFMWBfVLHg1PW2isbv2XNtkhbS9w3wTML1yreUVYGjO6Cd-4sjsYBJob01-N27bs_2iszbIc77vWCKbkUR3NG5Qkyv0YR71Km4qXx2hZR3tQJNDpJ-9c-UlMSIlDn/s400/DSC_1216.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532826260913961490" border="0"></a>Madeline Rainshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05075400838213199585noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898647.post-46866055332748625102010-10-16T11:33:00.012-04:002010-10-19T17:42:25.551-04:00Friends<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0qmtJXQ0hOky5QnWDfl2y0lpvmVmnDPpKXp9YUKJ580jv5gc252K5KmcUQ0sBMHwXzy27ORF5NDyGUVrwyfK3Zy8azE1I8T2tvd0oIcnvEhaB43Vr-aw0FUgU_Z8_OO_ZtnU/s1600/DSC_0881.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0qmtJXQ0hOky5QnWDfl2y0lpvmVmnDPpKXp9YUKJ580jv5gc252K5KmcUQ0sBMHwXzy27ORF5NDyGUVrwyfK3Zy8azE1I8T2tvd0oIcnvEhaB43Vr-aw0FUgU_Z8_OO_ZtnU/s400/DSC_0881.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528690205654318434" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRs8D24cD2UIVYGWfc8IRft6kI8py0MaeXGw73qevALJ4q6DqWGAkOWIdDE87-9sUUZSGcD3Zph3qmW26iH9abL8OjO02XDdfQCGxQthsT-mgVH2hmxDdHHSyDONob1SOMhWF/s1600/DSC_0882.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRs8D24cD2UIVYGWfc8IRft6kI8py0MaeXGw73qevALJ4q6DqWGAkOWIdDE87-9sUUZSGcD3Zph3qmW26iH9abL8OjO02XDdfQCGxQthsT-mgVH2hmxDdHHSyDONob1SOMhWF/s400/DSC_0882.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528690192712896082" border="0" /></a>Playing a great new board game that we bought a few weeks ago, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=settlers+of+catan&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=2879873415&ref=pd_sl_6ui7i26bx_e">Settlers of Catan</a> We have played most every day since:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh5KVjz2J595LdQyJpH85tJYkhocOs4bRwlx3y4-J1gew9QULiPb33YraTI5eScApWuizwe9d9TnCIAfLWnb5aLv7VKXXkr2_B688GjC8iChbInfBKwMd6ZgWvN9aMUCW1VQIl/s1600/DSC_0906.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh5KVjz2J595LdQyJpH85tJYkhocOs4bRwlx3y4-J1gew9QULiPb33YraTI5eScApWuizwe9d9TnCIAfLWnb5aLv7VKXXkr2_B688GjC8iChbInfBKwMd6ZgWvN9aMUCW1VQIl/s400/DSC_0906.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528695909364540274" border="0" /></a>We are so lucky. We have three very local (I'm talking out-here-in-the-boondocks-with-us local) families who unschool. The kids are very close. The kind of close that they can have three people together for a slumber party and no one ever gets left out. The kind of close where they respect each others' differences, with no fear of being judged or dropped. I love hearing, "That's your favorite movie (lego set, yu gi oh deck, book, drink)? Really? Not me." Great debates ensue with no one thinking they are going to change anyone's mind, they just love the debate.<br /><br />I learned a theory from my brother, years ago, who learned it from a consulting whiz, that people learn best when in groups of seven. Interesting. A lot of learning happens with these kids as a result of just hanging out together, sharing their passions, free to experiment, fail and then learn from their mistakes, uninhibited by adult control. It's hard sometimes, not interfering, just waiting for them to ask for help. Especially when directing or art are involved (for me personally). I've learned (I keep <span style="font-style: italic;">re</span>learning this!) that my unsolicited advice just stops their flow, frustrates them, keeps them from that brazen confidence that allows them to take the risks that forge new paths. Risks that I, who mostly learned from books and in classes, am hesitant to take.<br /><br />I'm grateful for all of our friends, near and far.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">And</span>, we're incredibly grateful that our eleven year old dog, Tuki, has a young, new friend:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi285lB4AkRqAwVGpIR5vax8nJunxmqMh_8o_F9sIRVM3_IFUqtY1kyYDgSRa0OY2bAmnzVmAGWO3X7qRLH2kOZXV1GR4Yb8VjTIS0GuAxSdo3WMWjc6iOCTCOsTq8QfUO65t62/s1600/DSC_0916.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi285lB4AkRqAwVGpIR5vax8nJunxmqMh_8o_F9sIRVM3_IFUqtY1kyYDgSRa0OY2bAmnzVmAGWO3X7qRLH2kOZXV1GR4Yb8VjTIS0GuAxSdo3WMWjc6iOCTCOsTq8QfUO65t62/s400/DSC_0916.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528695905055985970" border="0" /></a>Four-month old Willie (named for my great-grandmother) showed up on our porch about a month ago. Tuki has a new lease on life. She's learning and teaching a lot lately.<br /><br />"Follow me Willie, here's how to dig up the chipmunk we buried several days ago":<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQgduwNjvesycEHus-UHsWNHHSwKNbBOBAsjR9bM1SahTZOlslW5mV6YLlRwDrEfDirYWx4dZjiQA2GLoijhKYdqakv82K0NIOoEeYzUuXVGQSqEL6NT4JkiHJ3cM1oPpPEsZ/s1600/DSC_0865.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQgduwNjvesycEHus-UHsWNHHSwKNbBOBAsjR9bM1SahTZOlslW5mV6YLlRwDrEfDirYWx4dZjiQA2GLoijhKYdqakv82K0NIOoEeYzUuXVGQSqEL6NT4JkiHJ3cM1oPpPEsZ/s400/DSC_0865.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528690191917121474" border="0" /></a>That is Leonard next to Willie, lying down exhausted from all the wrestling. Leonard used to be one of the boys favorite beings and is now Willie's favorite chew toy.<br /><br />Willie has been going to work with Nicolas at the farm. Tuki gets a much needed break from the constant Willie love-fest. Time alone is good too. But after a while, we all miss our friends.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTnAr5YvDdbRblmu3nRu-4FRR528N4cznOAZCNDC8z4uFZ0xE7ty5K6gMDuaRHHwX1g1fHfoEzvjhPLnGbhTjFdPpXJalB10M-dDhg0-bElVQzqf5uOUos6LfMXQlu8KXXbPf/s1600/DSC_0887.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTnAr5YvDdbRblmu3nRu-4FRR528N4cznOAZCNDC8z4uFZ0xE7ty5K6gMDuaRHHwX1g1fHfoEzvjhPLnGbhTjFdPpXJalB10M-dDhg0-bElVQzqf5uOUos6LfMXQlu8KXXbPf/s400/DSC_0887.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528690186783652146" border="0" /></a>Madeline Rainshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05075400838213199585noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898647.post-58326468784403155642010-10-10T12:08:00.010-04:002010-10-13T09:19:28.674-04:00A few moments,from the past several months:<br /><br />In the spring, we noticed the local school kids at our public park having their end of year Field Day. Remember that awesome day when you get to ditch the routine for egg tosses and three legged races? Jesse decided that we should have a Field Day too. So we had a few friends come to the same field, a few weeks later, for kick ball, water balloon tosses, egg tosses and three legged races. They even made Field Day shirts. Next year, we'll have to make it bigger!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8h0YR0YTozypTHALUQfEssoRhVEkJOll6O8isotXlxUdUyniIyP02Nxmk6Lq9gWqH_6Zj-R5MHl-aCLmLE7oU75S_n4DxElz0-Ux7K0kSEuyFgQBaU1roIx848H_7EXjCMErr/s1600/DSC_9545.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8h0YR0YTozypTHALUQfEssoRhVEkJOll6O8isotXlxUdUyniIyP02Nxmk6Lq9gWqH_6Zj-R5MHl-aCLmLE7oU75S_n4DxElz0-Ux7K0kSEuyFgQBaU1roIx848H_7EXjCMErr/s400/DSC_9545.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526967421963462786" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdlJOQL0IkdrWhSollwZ-r2dmCzrcWdGcIYfrEyyNKI0BCfIuzNDjeWbluXjUoWjOojezk-mwKHChj5yuutu4SWJF5dXrUuPWbua9OOrYTFz76qyhRuRLB0hIuBs8zeiU219dr/s1600/DSC_9532.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdlJOQL0IkdrWhSollwZ-r2dmCzrcWdGcIYfrEyyNKI0BCfIuzNDjeWbluXjUoWjOojezk-mwKHChj5yuutu4SWJF5dXrUuPWbua9OOrYTFz76qyhRuRLB0hIuBs8zeiU219dr/s400/DSC_9532.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526967415356000370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikaVWBzDZg4Tu5SrN4FfEOrKB7myY6ilgFub1iT2QM9RY2wp0d9PGE0S3DUJzG9HDA1sZpjQALA5XSxIGMOeqMMxlZyXvNoHwArNAz2Lk9IfhzQftDffsU9aIcQOVKb9en_LFS/s1600/DSC_9540.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikaVWBzDZg4Tu5SrN4FfEOrKB7myY6ilgFub1iT2QM9RY2wp0d9PGE0S3DUJzG9HDA1sZpjQALA5XSxIGMOeqMMxlZyXvNoHwArNAz2Lk9IfhzQftDffsU9aIcQOVKb9en_LFS/s400/DSC_9540.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526967409353274418" border="0" /></a><br />Another highlight was going to visit my sister, and friends, in Montana.<br /><br />Hiking in Yellowstone National Park:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXOnod1tel7vLjWCuc2EObDSFxwVp17BlqcuLZ6dNdvy-gz3pa2P0DbEOn_yRAzF9URTClhJ8tQ3EvoUfvF5Sc2D8_oPuzyDKxTeQ2OxzHnBQ5CV_1621TbC5ElMcUgxeqlSU/s1600/DSC_0480.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXOnod1tel7vLjWCuc2EObDSFxwVp17BlqcuLZ6dNdvy-gz3pa2P0DbEOn_yRAzF9URTClhJ8tQ3EvoUfvF5Sc2D8_oPuzyDKxTeQ2OxzHnBQ5CV_1621TbC5ElMcUgxeqlSU/s400/DSC_0480.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526526825141407474" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-V7VOgTNisHL8AWbJeT07uSE8sj2oR7OeXfMSexYYaZbLktDnm-pfmIjq392uESZOQqXBsYI6OUP4SDK-blsAvDS0BFcbeP9VPLqmirssIuHxKJpn8_uABheLjEAPWiHuuCw/s1600/DSC_0393.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-V7VOgTNisHL8AWbJeT07uSE8sj2oR7OeXfMSexYYaZbLktDnm-pfmIjq392uESZOQqXBsYI6OUP4SDK-blsAvDS0BFcbeP9VPLqmirssIuHxKJpn8_uABheLjEAPWiHuuCw/s400/DSC_0393.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526526808360550402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKW1QBM69IZ-EcOg7rjZNAM2PSxoUBHOIEKlPuphxZg-TKOVDLi1Z6VLhqvXwooP-OzMCPimpzj_jiTkVEuxw9LjU_ZGYeXduNzC_LWUF62ZjKzO4U1S04xbJL9M-dRUzQzhu/s1600/DSC_0343.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKW1QBM69IZ-EcOg7rjZNAM2PSxoUBHOIEKlPuphxZg-TKOVDLi1Z6VLhqvXwooP-OzMCPimpzj_jiTkVEuxw9LjU_ZGYeXduNzC_LWUF62ZjKzO4U1S04xbJL9M-dRUzQzhu/s400/DSC_0343.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526526799048856866" border="0" /></a>Skipping stones on one of the beautiful rivers in Bozeman:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2b1Sg7wQUvjpNQUBx4UaDK924ixOr1hMac94zfE7EidJq7sosWLh9tdZBmMLQj-R-om7DKGlPday-enWu2rruzHwciMDNPkEgydl9-b_wVkDtFk7zzNKuKx1xRWv3qdd2gl7/s1600/DSC_0304.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2b1Sg7wQUvjpNQUBx4UaDK924ixOr1hMac94zfE7EidJq7sosWLh9tdZBmMLQj-R-om7DKGlPday-enWu2rruzHwciMDNPkEgydl9-b_wVkDtFk7zzNKuKx1xRWv3qdd2gl7/s400/DSC_0304.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526526781943841810" border="0" /></a>In my sister's back yard creek:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9L6Obf2eTS38Cwa40JLF2l2ruDPxExZiyHmQWWAncC0fU-k16RPihKiOk3WbR021NKl3gQC9Xu9bkC6Uf7OCdHCmlJk66AwJR83gpVFG_G28BTfKirrRipchpVuyXuEN1BZx/s1600/DSC_0244.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9L6Obf2eTS38Cwa40JLF2l2ruDPxExZiyHmQWWAncC0fU-k16RPihKiOk3WbR021NKl3gQC9Xu9bkC6Uf7OCdHCmlJk66AwJR83gpVFG_G28BTfKirrRipchpVuyXuEN1BZx/s400/DSC_0244.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526453555136170338" border="0" /></a>Planning how to launch the homemade raft (we'd been reading Huckleberry Finn together):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwovu9IT9gNG3HiCtRE9K5PRRnBvuSWu4CSRnqpb3kX9L12wJamCqAI4emtCJ1q6kC-T6UOwRY35jWB995wGtOf8NIflsBXm3TI7WpcfwWMpzzaceIBHin6lv94p-7wZx13Xm5/s1600/DSC_0236.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwovu9IT9gNG3HiCtRE9K5PRRnBvuSWu4CSRnqpb3kX9L12wJamCqAI4emtCJ1q6kC-T6UOwRY35jWB995wGtOf8NIflsBXm3TI7WpcfwWMpzzaceIBHin6lv94p-7wZx13Xm5/s400/DSC_0236.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526453550349310354" border="0" /></a>Making the raft:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1DxcBggbo1NpBpEXc74NNWZZSE-CN_cYkKvGd-8FKDjSrEEH6rjww5ecIKvubxL63H7ujn9umxSQBeZdzPWDGPWEBrtfD7Mw6QTesTLve6XSssLZhuAW0f5dWXVDe8_amqit/s1600/DSC_0194.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1DxcBggbo1NpBpEXc74NNWZZSE-CN_cYkKvGd-8FKDjSrEEH6rjww5ecIKvubxL63H7ujn9umxSQBeZdzPWDGPWEBrtfD7Mw6QTesTLve6XSssLZhuAW0f5dWXVDe8_amqit/s400/DSC_0194.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526451362465963570" border="0" /></a>Our intrepid host, Matt, not quite acclimated to summer water temperatures there yet.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5uQz3NXnyjGVAoStqnyJ6p-0WFB8XO1g5csMRLu0tWtvd3KFSE4LLTCBT04XFfA_WMJwudqs0tYGoOSiwbR3g9QEW-PC2Pkwcq-JFsfcdfen-7XhGTUNcKpPd2IHi-qOEG79T/s1600/DSC_0149.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5uQz3NXnyjGVAoStqnyJ6p-0WFB8XO1g5csMRLu0tWtvd3KFSE4LLTCBT04XFfA_WMJwudqs0tYGoOSiwbR3g9QEW-PC2Pkwcq-JFsfcdfen-7XhGTUNcKpPd2IHi-qOEG79T/s400/DSC_0149.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526453537853008978" border="0" /></a>Gillen was in ecstasy there. Fly fishing:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeV9SO5K9Fgghi-o-ORnY3BQkQBcNovk0cy8Xl_25uodbrk24kJkLtSfgm8JAnKmYq18Oknvnr1VGxEE0Txmt9y8m87pyKrIxnHTMGar5LyCyzHPibGfjt1VRmUnqP1ZxlCQoV/s1600/DSC_0228.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeV9SO5K9Fgghi-o-ORnY3BQkQBcNovk0cy8Xl_25uodbrk24kJkLtSfgm8JAnKmYq18Oknvnr1VGxEE0Txmt9y8m87pyKrIxnHTMGar5LyCyzHPibGfjt1VRmUnqP1ZxlCQoV/s400/DSC_0228.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526451374082306946" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeH2dV4Tl7Rph23gB3tq9wmCi3HhyoTwD4W4cUOgDMg10odLQnpr4CjKdC4kfg1BwQO5oUGvmkY8Rnb-D29cLlLDF5jrsti-xhqqAyaOc2LFkCGcbx_Vp8FYuAOcLTFR3F4SD0/s1600/DSC_0249.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeH2dV4Tl7Rph23gB3tq9wmCi3HhyoTwD4W4cUOgDMg10odLQnpr4CjKdC4kfg1BwQO5oUGvmkY8Rnb-D29cLlLDF5jrsti-xhqqAyaOc2LFkCGcbx_Vp8FYuAOcLTFR3F4SD0/s400/DSC_0249.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526451349896971138" border="0" /></a>We even went to a ranch for a few days, where we got to ride horses several times in the mountains near Yellowstone and Gillen did some more fishing. He would like to be a cowboy one day.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguS_3h2K4O09muIA4QDBHJAd-F4V0ad40aqWOvb4EBtg1VM0tJAJVUbueNl8md2jt7rE_uK7lJCewVS0ZMkB3JX_u5_MH1nItiUfUhWOVPr2hdGv8eaJCfMFu0glfg11vsVMu-/s1600/DSC_0516.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguS_3h2K4O09muIA4QDBHJAd-F4V0ad40aqWOvb4EBtg1VM0tJAJVUbueNl8md2jt7rE_uK7lJCewVS0ZMkB3JX_u5_MH1nItiUfUhWOVPr2hdGv8eaJCfMFu0glfg11vsVMu-/s400/DSC_0516.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526451338948481714" border="0" /></a>Madeline Rainshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05075400838213199585noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898647.post-79359311530493198422010-02-12T18:48:00.006-05:002010-02-12T20:30:09.483-05:00Learning something newSince December, I've rarely been on the internet, except to google a few things and to buy some others. I have checked email once or twice a day, though sometimes I've even forgotten to do that. I didn't plan to stop checking blogs or writing here. It was the result of learning something new. It started with meditating. Consistently. Every day. That was new. And then I wanted to learn how to paint. Last week, it was collages.<br /><br />In addition, waiting for Gillen to come out of his guitar class one day, I bought a keyboard. I've been reteaching myself piano (it's been thirty years). Crazy, eh? I'm lovin' it.<br /><br />Of course, when you are surrounded by kids who have the freedom to follow every new passion and whim where it may lead, you tend to want to follow suit. Especially when they are old enough that there is room in the day to do so.<br /><br />And it was Zoe. My friend Zoe left this world in early January after a long battle with breast cancer. She was so intense in her commitment to her kids and to her other passions; I think I have felt inspired to live fully committed to every moment, since I am still here and I can. Zoe means life. I feel imbued with life right now.<br /><br />Though it may only happen once a month, I do want to stay connected to family and friends through this blog, and by reading others' wonderful blogs. Facebook - hmmm. That's a bit harder to take on part-time, but it feels better than quitting it completely, for now.<br /><br />Today, several inches of snow had the boys building forts in the backyard and I picked up my camera - for the first time in months.<br /><br />Again, after getting snow here just last March, a winter wonderland, here in Georgia:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6RWCDNd70sgJO0XY-_EfVH_YbZy2EPClSM9onT09vDSCH2HlYzdvoGTi64aLNNqLHVgugDrqdLwvrk9WmA3DoRUq1JugCys4RQXp-nuDGbY4HCdk2K4h5DgaJB6XkNsUrf-7g/s1600-h/DSC_8827.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6RWCDNd70sgJO0XY-_EfVH_YbZy2EPClSM9onT09vDSCH2HlYzdvoGTi64aLNNqLHVgugDrqdLwvrk9WmA3DoRUq1JugCys4RQXp-nuDGbY4HCdk2K4h5DgaJB6XkNsUrf-7g/s400/DSC_8827.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437508629313411090" border="0" /></a>Life is good.Madeline Rainshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05075400838213199585noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898647.post-72803915666703837002009-12-17T14:02:00.006-05:002009-12-17T14:54:30.489-05:00Sweet momentIn the midst of the usual sibling wrestling and screaming, there was this - an inspired moment of giving. Gillen got up before Jesse did and decided to make him breakfast and bring it to him in his room.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoIwdfKMUxaMXoNWixDwtXHSXC4blco3cV3qOc3GwV0JDhU18jiDjLIyp8_q38BrxNTYBG2oqhD2UYoUDXY8PQmb7crShrdGWaezMmUyJzcw1kAl8GaKZEquvXYVimNSpGQo1m/s1600-h/DSC_8579.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoIwdfKMUxaMXoNWixDwtXHSXC4blco3cV3qOc3GwV0JDhU18jiDjLIyp8_q38BrxNTYBG2oqhD2UYoUDXY8PQmb7crShrdGWaezMmUyJzcw1kAl8GaKZEquvXYVimNSpGQo1m/s400/DSC_8579.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416283514834348450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nVh4mSoPa_6scouo6VwHixsXhMBiouiBvdWtLrNaYD-NBxY19185b1hDRE_GDzZK-8JH3eGw03OJJ8GKau3j7SYC3emauWdoz_fhyphenhyphen82kwRamoljsQgeilbxfI7sj69cisstm/s1600-h/DSC_8580.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nVh4mSoPa_6scouo6VwHixsXhMBiouiBvdWtLrNaYD-NBxY19185b1hDRE_GDzZK-8JH3eGw03OJJ8GKau3j7SYC3emauWdoz_fhyphenhyphen82kwRamoljsQgeilbxfI7sj69cisstm/s400/DSC_8580.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416283520463386178" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzc6tkHgxth-Z_0RGkpiwqqhKcus8ztYkCepyWgXYbpimnjI61glyriLNRVVPBSw7uXNaWu54YnXREOzGdGCqlqTV0-8wcEquvhlcFz-F3081Dsjtr80S3q0Lr96YTMabE7TY/s1600-h/DSC_8584.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzc6tkHgxth-Z_0RGkpiwqqhKcus8ztYkCepyWgXYbpimnjI61glyriLNRVVPBSw7uXNaWu54YnXREOzGdGCqlqTV0-8wcEquvhlcFz-F3081Dsjtr80S3q0Lr96YTMabE7TY/s400/DSC_8584.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416295676520871074" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7eyizmkp77lz1WAaPcgQMMdP61wNkkRfnSzcxK5tVGldeRotcf-8wpxyDqsYTJZ5JFDh6y6WKNFQd-4H-wf2sVVhuR0KVpFEv29fGWotUpJbHVTuZSFGf7DKu6LJDZFJNTWhh/s1600-h/DSC_8590.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7eyizmkp77lz1WAaPcgQMMdP61wNkkRfnSzcxK5tVGldeRotcf-8wpxyDqsYTJZ5JFDh6y6WKNFQd-4H-wf2sVVhuR0KVpFEv29fGWotUpJbHVTuZSFGf7DKu6LJDZFJNTWhh/s400/DSC_8590.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416283543334306258" border="0" /></a>For a moment, Jesse said, he thought it must be Christmas.Madeline Rainshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05075400838213199585noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898647.post-10616680218527078472009-11-24T18:54:00.004-05:002009-11-24T21:45:28.456-05:00What they chose to do todayJesse started a screenplay that is already five pages, printed out and cast, ready for its first day of shooting tomorrow with Eli, Alexander and Gillen. There will be more actors added on Friday. Right now, props and masks are being created.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZgLZboMB04B8GXoAatIwkql23KOR_VpEKOTAqBBy3zRpdY9gb3f3fBe6_nw371BETrzXGH4prgOZVv8NRTwzSnWgfkZAaob0z8S0TsrVh7Dfuq4lD_VnsYDo2PPhe9bUgui2x/s1600/DSC_8432.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZgLZboMB04B8GXoAatIwkql23KOR_VpEKOTAqBBy3zRpdY9gb3f3fBe6_nw371BETrzXGH4prgOZVv8NRTwzSnWgfkZAaob0z8S0TsrVh7Dfuq4lD_VnsYDo2PPhe9bUgui2x/s400/DSC_8432.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407842064455323954" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTaN1QPCYHR9nEGZ7cpMybipeGAPATr-DnTWplrR5Jk7mdc1E_Gxc9IOryHHeOyWjBsZvzNjaIJIin_jbIBaRhSYHiT3apn5mQen_dYpTnGZioc463GPackEgE1kdAxH_ic4Sn/s1600/DSC_8447.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTaN1QPCYHR9nEGZ7cpMybipeGAPATr-DnTWplrR5Jk7mdc1E_Gxc9IOryHHeOyWjBsZvzNjaIJIin_jbIBaRhSYHiT3apn5mQen_dYpTnGZioc463GPackEgE1kdAxH_ic4Sn/s400/DSC_8447.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407825611811120642" border="0" /></a>In his spare time he cracked many pecans from the farm for the pie. We're all still cracking now, while watching SYTYCD and we are only half way there.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNAuh8hbYYn3yXQSlPYblEa2y6GJ3A2LIHIYkrxMmAROyCwjOyZy335MCOx3VH0vgLZ8WfVuwy6M0DO7N-bWWlspm04KIbkJx8vTppYNV9cwBC7tc-7rIFTTNKdq3EWL-fEEg/s1600/DSC_8442.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNAuh8hbYYn3yXQSlPYblEa2y6GJ3A2LIHIYkrxMmAROyCwjOyZy335MCOx3VH0vgLZ8WfVuwy6M0DO7N-bWWlspm04KIbkJx8vTppYNV9cwBC7tc-7rIFTTNKdq3EWL-fEEg/s400/DSC_8442.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407842056440138402" border="0" /></a>Earlier, we realized that we needed more nuts, the squash and the herbs for the next stage of the slow cooking marathon. Gillen brought his newest duct tape creation (intended originally to carry nerf bullets in the next ARGH nerf war) to the farm in order to easily collect the pecans.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9b1FD6Pvu2ZrytKmZiyHMvohJiHdX_uVX5yVqv6UF1C_jrSGbhK4t_Gg87s8ANlrTi5eEX2w40q2U_6A9vAaJevEVRctGne9YaEOXPN5BXChDBUsnpMG1JAl2oXK8NbMlP7XO/s1600/DSC_8444.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9b1FD6Pvu2ZrytKmZiyHMvohJiHdX_uVX5yVqv6UF1C_jrSGbhK4t_Gg87s8ANlrTi5eEX2w40q2U_6A9vAaJevEVRctGne9YaEOXPN5BXChDBUsnpMG1JAl2oXK8NbMlP7XO/s400/DSC_8444.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407825625893045698" border="0" /></a>It makes quite a cool man bag.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRTQzmG71ghzMH1fhgvU1tOR_01_xgCI9Nelfcml4tv_leA9JpcjJr0Wi4pniGQs7tuQQCMNvcksnYTxdaMrEdDii4YjdYqqFe0F4L3bAXajQdfNCZbWW9FzKCJPiOWMF8dav/s1600/DSC_8446.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRTQzmG71ghzMH1fhgvU1tOR_01_xgCI9Nelfcml4tv_leA9JpcjJr0Wi4pniGQs7tuQQCMNvcksnYTxdaMrEdDii4YjdYqqFe0F4L3bAXajQdfNCZbWW9FzKCJPiOWMF8dav/s400/DSC_8446.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407825617489112770" border="0" /></a>And, he came home wanting to make dinner! Man. My gratitude is overflowing. Salad filled with chopped root vegetables, mashed potatoes, and Romanesco cauliflower (newest thing Nicolas is growing - looks like light green broccoli and is delicious).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLjgYLE43ZUvw9XyHB1zUsfpWyKlMTsK2h1a44Lw2hTT6-dxaA-bhoXwpNo8hJBUWKU2cgc3mrhsLYz0C06AzZSaAyw2cSF-A2h7Hi2f7Jtvx4ktG7DlUh7IbVW0_xr1QddxQ/s1600/DSC_8448.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLjgYLE43ZUvw9XyHB1zUsfpWyKlMTsK2h1a44Lw2hTT6-dxaA-bhoXwpNo8hJBUWKU2cgc3mrhsLYz0C06AzZSaAyw2cSF-A2h7Hi2f7Jtvx4ktG7DlUh7IbVW0_xr1QddxQ/s400/DSC_8448.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407825603874014498" border="0" /></a>I am<span style="font-style: italic;"> so</span> grateful to have ended up with these two amazing boys in my life. Now I have to stop writing about them so that I can help them with the cracking.Madeline Rainshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05075400838213199585noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898647.post-81999579035974650792009-11-19T08:50:00.013-05:002009-11-20T10:03:30.671-05:00Local ThanksgivingA few months ago, some talented, young cool women from <a href="http://www.lakeoconeelivingmag.com/lolcurrentissue.html">Lake Oconee Living</a> magazine came to the farm to interview Gillen about his turkeys. In their article about his heritage bird business they also interviewed us about what our family eats for Thanksgiving. Here are some of the recipes we use since becoming more aware of eating locally, all glossy and beautifully dressed up by the magazine:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJR18g5KF2w9AUvmL8GY7INzq4P3jvsq_rOSpxFrtVr9bSEzQUeOcqBipw2XxrcVORgAGBNn73Xo9QhyZeBa5243wzoY9hwHm02vwHQpd93OdStJMPTqmq_LvUsL8gjb2k1qKG/s1600/turkey001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 263px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJR18g5KF2w9AUvmL8GY7INzq4P3jvsq_rOSpxFrtVr9bSEzQUeOcqBipw2XxrcVORgAGBNn73Xo9QhyZeBa5243wzoY9hwHm02vwHQpd93OdStJMPTqmq_LvUsL8gjb2k1qKG/s400/turkey001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405860039922947474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AfEft8Xaz1Ne4lDOn5edJ7tJ4bFKCmLpDeGjD4VLHVGGaO9d_o5Nt59-wXwZ-ACGWc3IEuqZn36qaSYmaMyYPiwYh27SsGX1CaqyNYh2icIRwBB7WNBiLOfSHJPhAWGrFAdl/s1600/turkey006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 380px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AfEft8Xaz1Ne4lDOn5edJ7tJ4bFKCmLpDeGjD4VLHVGGaO9d_o5Nt59-wXwZ-ACGWc3IEuqZn36qaSYmaMyYPiwYh27SsGX1CaqyNYh2icIRwBB7WNBiLOfSHJPhAWGrFAdl/s400/turkey006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405859929444830018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8FL4simJHXqMwrjIA4F54HJChgnbdph2VrFp6tIP0Km2cRn6XH9Btslf9BmAzrUj2u9FYI5GLgzd2i4-9Fji6DEc7pDff7AEWPjVJobD6wRG6Fzf9vxpTjVbA3twtMCInEvJ/s1600/turkey008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 390px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8FL4simJHXqMwrjIA4F54HJChgnbdph2VrFp6tIP0Km2cRn6XH9Btslf9BmAzrUj2u9FYI5GLgzd2i4-9Fji6DEc7pDff7AEWPjVJobD6wRG6Fzf9vxpTjVbA3twtMCInEvJ/s400/turkey008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405859924126904594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3LzdjLEpYCsXa3_H-Gja4HlsZJ2ykU8932FYH5GB30EP48_73XfaD0fdMMXRR0AgU93Vxe_sBoRhQ2thc2jCZcMjAZ0HTuJ1XO44YAyuvHdapcrpOzvjR1_pMClR_6AfhReqv/s1600/turkey009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 296px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3LzdjLEpYCsXa3_H-Gja4HlsZJ2ykU8932FYH5GB30EP48_73XfaD0fdMMXRR0AgU93Vxe_sBoRhQ2thc2jCZcMjAZ0HTuJ1XO44YAyuvHdapcrpOzvjR1_pMClR_6AfhReqv/s400/turkey009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405859920019989762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-fNzpWc6ZxN_B-tRaHiEcLZCmtm0Hq78cTZ2eAhK520ZipeQl5s_-t-W52JHawsC9Tko0nby4ohKD14rk2UCCcTf6K3l6i19pYhwdUptUmcT_RCzki577OjWl1SsUHzwPuP0/s1600/turkey007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 284px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-fNzpWc6ZxN_B-tRaHiEcLZCmtm0Hq78cTZ2eAhK520ZipeQl5s_-t-W52JHawsC9Tko0nby4ohKD14rk2UCCcTf6K3l6i19pYhwdUptUmcT_RCzki577OjWl1SsUHzwPuP0/s400/turkey007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405859912811289602" border="0" /></a>The noble birds who starred on the magazine's cover, here more humbly photographed by me:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvh8EWr1Zeuz5VSRqRFhCi_i1DbhDPKr2k_9IpRhf1f16oRvQYiC_Sxr3VBImz8Cey16Imvci4bAVe1q92Drz-9AvTgVJmPixDVOZAR75GWD3grngi3Z6Bwbmq4px6pIKNMO8I/s1600/DSC_7861.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvh8EWr1Zeuz5VSRqRFhCi_i1DbhDPKr2k_9IpRhf1f16oRvQYiC_Sxr3VBImz8Cey16Imvci4bAVe1q92Drz-9AvTgVJmPixDVOZAR75GWD3grngi3Z6Bwbmq4px6pIKNMO8I/s400/DSC_7861.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405848073866538850" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIHYSnNs_610UQe9GbSVRrnZbkt1rkMVhrLc9S4lYtmATqC4vznOXav4NkWWceKG4gM5k0Kbj1benMcOqthW6ca-ubNDcrJmBsGMS85lglPapvuy08_8AY2zIo5k-hIqJ2IG3x/s1600/DSC_8278.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIHYSnNs_610UQe9GbSVRrnZbkt1rkMVhrLc9S4lYtmATqC4vznOXav4NkWWceKG4gM5k0Kbj1benMcOqthW6ca-ubNDcrJmBsGMS85lglPapvuy08_8AY2zIo5k-hIqJ2IG3x/s400/DSC_8278.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405848067782106978" border="0" /></a>These are a few of those who were experiencing the inside of a coop for the first time the other day. It was their last stage of life before becoming next week's meal. Their end was very quick and Gillen and Nicolas did all that they could to make it pain free. I'm glad that there are still several gobbling and free and that the very first bird, Cody, will die of old age.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvxbnyhU0M3I6wYBFl0pmHFjiPDdx9qCNGOjTO_DnlH8HHWhvY6i-_lyAuy0-G9aHkScknzXZ-G5i0Apl-iguZjp7Np01xePTpk4BkhjT_3wUn2Q4-aw1o2QscxiZlroPfsV1/s1600/DSC_8283.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvxbnyhU0M3I6wYBFl0pmHFjiPDdx9qCNGOjTO_DnlH8HHWhvY6i-_lyAuy0-G9aHkScknzXZ-G5i0Apl-iguZjp7Np01xePTpk4BkhjT_3wUn2Q4-aw1o2QscxiZlroPfsV1/s400/DSC_8283.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405848067157221986" border="0" /></a>Madeline Rainshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05075400838213199585noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898647.post-80523771429398946642009-11-18T08:48:00.005-05:002009-11-18T09:05:28.586-05:00Curing the bluesSometimes, even the most cheerful of us have dire, out of the blue blues. The other day, it was Jesse who was feeling down. It wasn't, of course, completely random. He had waited all day for a Bionicle that he ordered to arrive and when it didn't, he lost his sense of purpose. <br /><br />He didn't think that listening to sad music and really getting into it was the way he wanted to go (yes, I do that) but did decide to take my advice to go outside. <br /> <br />What do you do when you're blue, and you're Jesse? Create a "J" with your bottle cap collection and then bury it in the dirt. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJh8VUYITowzTih9YHtww7FCHhOifijfvRSbKYISzFJTG4G5ueMlhn6vGaX1yrgyXBDbMBrqGi1UHgwcv4qJindcUqMdPDc8xbLR8JgxNtimEQdnqTELJJzVa6Z7FH8Rinr0se/s1600/DSC_8238.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJh8VUYITowzTih9YHtww7FCHhOifijfvRSbKYISzFJTG4G5ueMlhn6vGaX1yrgyXBDbMBrqGi1UHgwcv4qJindcUqMdPDc8xbLR8JgxNtimEQdnqTELJJzVa6Z7FH8Rinr0se/s400/DSC_8238.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405441463790281106" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09zY-rE2T8nlpmFQiKyn4rR101WwvJ6MhqKAaIFTDp_kBnj-qpqlQF8WvuCoxVsXxPzjSyaQUkA20SKCAjj8ujJcj9VfM6k5o2sbiD_sB9uysdAx-IdpiQSW_JwBxWrjlEBRq/s1600/DSC_8256.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09zY-rE2T8nlpmFQiKyn4rR101WwvJ6MhqKAaIFTDp_kBnj-qpqlQF8WvuCoxVsXxPzjSyaQUkA20SKCAjj8ujJcj9VfM6k5o2sbiD_sB9uysdAx-IdpiQSW_JwBxWrjlEBRq/s400/DSC_8256.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405441461298388626" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkiRLg_uXRclVprJ3FXxeN7ftK3iL0g7TQV71pGwMhi4EDaR9_x-_H11lEltF65XNk4-KMcyLSDVO1Vyj9fRkTwvcc1NSX7yNVyR-b__IX3DGLJIixXFOMsYZG8jZp59x_fWS5/s1600/DSC_8245.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkiRLg_uXRclVprJ3FXxeN7ftK3iL0g7TQV71pGwMhi4EDaR9_x-_H11lEltF65XNk4-KMcyLSDVO1Vyj9fRkTwvcc1NSX7yNVyR-b__IX3DGLJIixXFOMsYZG8jZp59x_fWS5/s400/DSC_8245.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405441454297887074" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1O7v9ux8B1qsWVpXkjMD-hi4VJlDOuM8pj2zO3bZssRj1jvH3eLK-wZvFgE_CP6JpZU71c5HFp-UnXT4S7e0cq-JJfM777Vrj5wBv5a5f7aBbvWj786VHuXTrCrCWThslM0oS/s1600/DSC_8264.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1O7v9ux8B1qsWVpXkjMD-hi4VJlDOuM8pj2zO3bZssRj1jvH3eLK-wZvFgE_CP6JpZU71c5HFp-UnXT4S7e0cq-JJfM777Vrj5wBv5a5f7aBbvWj786VHuXTrCrCWThslM0oS/s400/DSC_8264.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405441447508560370" /></a><br />Much better.Madeline Rainshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05075400838213199585noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898647.post-658550530366968512009-11-17T10:50:00.003-05:002009-11-17T12:29:30.153-05:00Moving sand art<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/518XP8prwZo&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/518XP8prwZo&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />My mother's father was from the Ukraine. I grew up hearing, tasting and admiring all things Russian. He died when my mother was 13 (murdered, long strange story) so I never knew him. But she passed along some of this heritage through her passion for Russian artists (mostly dancers), blinis at The Russian Tea Room, and through the music. Oh. How I love the music. I wish that she were still here to have felt this performance with me. I hope one of you watching is as blown away by it as I am.Madeline Rainshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05075400838213199585noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898647.post-6490330250686859652009-11-15T20:39:00.008-05:002009-11-16T08:20:59.412-05:00A bright weekendOn Saturday, Jesse and I went with friends to a Tibetan Festival in Atlanta at a <a href="http://www.drepung.org/">new temple</a> there. We loved the food, the dozens of colorful prayer cloths shining in the sun, and learning how to make sand mandalas. There is a copper tool that is used to place the sand more specifically where you want it. In order to move the sand out of it, you vibrate this tool with a long copper bow. This creates a wonderful, calming hum while you work. I liked the sound and the mandala possibilities so much that I bought one there. It is called the chokpur. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQHQv3vQ1jq86EHL5wLiWPLZpWZ9SSl-vu_rS_XRaRO8yoVSSdfUnPcmWTouFTQV1Q8_eNCLodGSR3uNGicBfAovOh6j-FFfWPJfQIoDUB720vWf_5PaFvmm_sX5P7RTwy50Y/s1600-h/DSC_8000.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQHQv3vQ1jq86EHL5wLiWPLZpWZ9SSl-vu_rS_XRaRO8yoVSSdfUnPcmWTouFTQV1Q8_eNCLodGSR3uNGicBfAovOh6j-FFfWPJfQIoDUB720vWf_5PaFvmm_sX5P7RTwy50Y/s400/DSC_8000.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404510995972194194" /></a>Elizabeth and our new friend Frances checking out the food:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVWF_MYGt1Ip5IODPc2mr9LQ2hpjYQjLlsBa_NUAsFfykIyJPki72taf5Y_uyc399IqWrj0_-jpsd9ju7COlZ4F7T6B4UZkHpL0KJS6B_o9jdrXaHGrYVwAHdOIeilafpz8Wd/s1600-h/DSC_7992.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVWF_MYGt1Ip5IODPc2mr9LQ2hpjYQjLlsBa_NUAsFfykIyJPki72taf5Y_uyc399IqWrj0_-jpsd9ju7COlZ4F7T6B4UZkHpL0KJS6B_o9jdrXaHGrYVwAHdOIeilafpz8Wd/s400/DSC_7992.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404510988411504034" /></a>We liked all of the jewelry, journals and clothes that they were selling to help fund their temple. I especially liked Jesse and Eli in these hats:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoTet_bbL_BLfrGMkLoqLJPQkvkLZRQ1d9eYaQlcJH5o98xgObpXQYkTsmuhi7KtT2xymtUupRwbAZowgzix2K3oQf2YiKfJHw7S3jXr1cHrLI6OUxkZIfZrsG36kqHeAogVr/s1600-h/DSC_7978.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoTet_bbL_BLfrGMkLoqLJPQkvkLZRQ1d9eYaQlcJH5o98xgObpXQYkTsmuhi7KtT2xymtUupRwbAZowgzix2K3oQf2YiKfJHw7S3jXr1cHrLI6OUxkZIfZrsG36kqHeAogVr/s400/DSC_7978.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404510986401502274" /></a>Last night, the brighteness came from Jupiter, the Andromeda galaxy and the dumb bell nebula (an exloded star) - all of which we saw down the street at the nature center. The Atlanta astronomy club meets there every month and they really seemed to love sharing their passion and their telescopes with us. <br /><br />A few more colors from today, with friends on the trampoline:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63_ew69BqlsXJw3cLsFq9YEM7vA7rehp9W-umLuD_zqonl1GdfJAAK4a2r4Heears41HphwFl-HuQIZjtK-vC5708eLgnWZEMvjIHLcWNF38CzuqeJg4RO_PLuzZ5bfTIgiuc/s1600-h/DSC_8174.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63_ew69BqlsXJw3cLsFq9YEM7vA7rehp9W-umLuD_zqonl1GdfJAAK4a2r4Heears41HphwFl-HuQIZjtK-vC5708eLgnWZEMvjIHLcWNF38CzuqeJg4RO_PLuzZ5bfTIgiuc/s400/DSC_8174.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404512882816972562" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlvUJfN3Rw4aMKF42nckuMfxUSmRmbfu-ME_fuwATbbIWTtUUXfdkBtVmMsnraCrF46Oe2y4Ikz5rnOzRLkWWpQXAz3K3ux8VZ5hWsIN7K_8ZhYdqZkkxod8zPPc2PSUASMHIB/s1600-h/DSC_8226.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlvUJfN3Rw4aMKF42nckuMfxUSmRmbfu-ME_fuwATbbIWTtUUXfdkBtVmMsnraCrF46Oe2y4Ikz5rnOzRLkWWpQXAz3K3ux8VZ5hWsIN7K_8ZhYdqZkkxod8zPPc2PSUASMHIB/s400/DSC_8226.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404512879502136658" /></a>Madeline Rainshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05075400838213199585noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898647.post-42425579945792293162009-11-12T09:30:00.013-05:002009-11-12T10:43:27.146-05:00How to get out of my head - a reminder to myself<div>Sometimes I get stuck -mired in my own muddy thoughts.<br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZtdZScN2f36f5_VBmgQlCFCTYOWc38uh8cFszjRos_LEEF8eeYdb4jtf1ybLrlbVgAwEMn1oFFMs_VkdmmySASc7cHZp4m0CIm7DlENtPZYwhO-oQCPtT7u9MoHNAyzcsMD_s/s1600-h/DSC_7720.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZtdZScN2f36f5_VBmgQlCFCTYOWc38uh8cFszjRos_LEEF8eeYdb4jtf1ybLrlbVgAwEMn1oFFMs_VkdmmySASc7cHZp4m0CIm7DlENtPZYwhO-oQCPtT7u9MoHNAyzcsMD_s/s400/DSC_7720.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403225524704623154" border="0" /></a>It's usually when I'm not looking in the right direction.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOSSnYLn2dl0lut7-Kx7amUvTZWLu40XIVvanogG78vlwu0HTs2DUT08JtCJAPvFztc9bohNYseiTMyVJNYpOt-dkqvkzcUdw120XEw4a_jqTv-iiqFTtxE9PDiIjab1KJTCMI/s1600-h/DSC_7832.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOSSnYLn2dl0lut7-Kx7amUvTZWLu40XIVvanogG78vlwu0HTs2DUT08JtCJAPvFztc9bohNYseiTMyVJNYpOt-dkqvkzcUdw120XEw4a_jqTv-iiqFTtxE9PDiIjab1KJTCMI/s400/DSC_7832.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403225518853068322" border="0" /></a>When I forget to see life in unexpected places.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7UWUB46HCSvvLb3YQeVr-Y4jWuAOQ-bZYYE-yTLrvb2mjBABUD_ou3Gr_eMaaNRu4Dw7ZwIfIDwCzy1mP_QOZh0sCsJygUomXFLZHKW_GymlUUpvTv08-iS0KoP7Ap7_s02ic/s1600-h/DSC_7813.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7UWUB46HCSvvLb3YQeVr-Y4jWuAOQ-bZYYE-yTLrvb2mjBABUD_ou3Gr_eMaaNRu4Dw7ZwIfIDwCzy1mP_QOZh0sCsJygUomXFLZHKW_GymlUUpvTv08-iS0KoP7Ap7_s02ic/s400/DSC_7813.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403228186891901666" border="0" /></a>and lose sight of the abundance right in front of me.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYH9cCsTtr2xQM84kjwyWmuuEv5GuRX2-d2s4wRNPgSO6pzMG4W7SqRHt-PsztsuuN16kteEF2eWehsmoU79GX9qW6L-hvCeS21P4Y0Qn4Vzq1i_F78Y_Zr2JhGYDA-ZzNMIH_/s1600-h/DSC_7782.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYH9cCsTtr2xQM84kjwyWmuuEv5GuRX2-d2s4wRNPgSO6pzMG4W7SqRHt-PsztsuuN16kteEF2eWehsmoU79GX9qW6L-hvCeS21P4Y0Qn4Vzq1i_F78Y_Zr2JhGYDA-ZzNMIH_/s400/DSC_7782.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403228178225422162" border="0" /></a>It helps to put on the wide angle lens and take in their perspective (like when I watched Jesse the other day at our former beaver pond, patiently hunting for tadpoles with his spear).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm1OsPkI0M89W0Z4uY9kK2UrdwF1pCRdg7Eq7WfHq8na5ZpPv_JBM-zaR44vPNPwLVNaaVntoldE7LwiyZCo5Ier30QwJCUBiw9DZYK7H3e7vXCX3eLrKcgqsDchx87Y5EODpB/s1600-h/DSC_7715.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm1OsPkI0M89W0Z4uY9kK2UrdwF1pCRdg7Eq7WfHq8na5ZpPv_JBM-zaR44vPNPwLVNaaVntoldE7LwiyZCo5Ier30QwJCUBiw9DZYK7H3e7vXCX3eLrKcgqsDchx87Y5EODpB/s400/DSC_7715.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403227008119483378" border="0" /></a>Listening is good (here, Jesse is describing the interaction of his spear and the tadpole's skull).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvVTxpk185q_3wRUgVmX34WMmzpJ24ra4JGlf1qJZQzvOP_wIfyoeJK6FaGLDfKiPgPrZFBQ494qxoNkX-gT_woZy3bs_vdHAr6cedKDpiY960CGMRVRMmGQmF0kae_Ye9C3uu/s1600-h/DSC_7751.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvVTxpk185q_3wRUgVmX34WMmzpJ24ra4JGlf1qJZQzvOP_wIfyoeJK6FaGLDfKiPgPrZFBQ494qxoNkX-gT_woZy3bs_vdHAr6cedKDpiY960CGMRVRMmGQmF0kae_Ye9C3uu/s400/DSC_7751.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403227013983253026" border="0" /></a>Or, I watch the way others interact.<br />In silence,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7m_woIybRepF1l0cKWBVt5L8XqmlCKU_NMHM3ejgS0xqTsX_tvYru9jDitbmC1KE2BnvVZf6Kx2MntZuazk5IFPCWN2I0bX-kTbLAna6C0PsUCvhdXSudqJRrw4M44zpoJfDk/s1600-h/DSC_7795.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7m_woIybRepF1l0cKWBVt5L8XqmlCKU_NMHM3ejgS0xqTsX_tvYru9jDitbmC1KE2BnvVZf6Kx2MntZuazk5IFPCWN2I0bX-kTbLAna6C0PsUCvhdXSudqJRrw4M44zpoJfDk/s400/DSC_7795.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403230655996505906" border="0" /></a>or not.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5QS5ruz2iQuqrb0JNtroMnctUdXc7LnSwV5fg0yt4hHUpJpu5VUl9-r4wwMW3nmsJR19FAl7QwKO7ll7OU_iVA2NF2ZZUnGBES5tooEnr8c1rIZug6KgAJyU1-KMZW7ltIUxv/s1600-h/DSC_7890.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5QS5ruz2iQuqrb0JNtroMnctUdXc7LnSwV5fg0yt4hHUpJpu5VUl9-r4wwMW3nmsJR19FAl7QwKO7ll7OU_iVA2NF2ZZUnGBES5tooEnr8c1rIZug6KgAJyU1-KMZW7ltIUxv/s400/DSC_7890.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403230640819804930" border="0" /></a>I like imagining through his eyes,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPv4m53Ti69PYQAMyYAIsZG9FmmB57IWtzZni6tQ8FrVPIMi1UJgf9Rgeek6W3bOHovRWpxeWURmygIspHT_9BdMibNkLaxuQ7gzabr8Ifms6NYqiO9N1glOWcMv4PbBITJLY/s1600-h/DSC_7851.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPv4m53Ti69PYQAMyYAIsZG9FmmB57IWtzZni6tQ8FrVPIMi1UJgf9Rgeek6W3bOHovRWpxeWURmygIspHT_9BdMibNkLaxuQ7gzabr8Ifms6NYqiO9N1glOWcMv4PbBITJLY/s400/DSC_7851.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403229042626675650" border="0" /></a>and the reminder to just keep moving.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0w_6FtkLZwYUD77cW2z9lsvbvN9HkZRVWXT4_fNTO29gDE0qqtQVFwAzqyDpH5aTaoPGkYrfgx4naBRUSH_C7OjzhBqDy31ewjlOZoiw-An7qOmEzxyGv8Ag2l1U0V-bExMMW/s1600-h/DSC_7821.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0w_6FtkLZwYUD77cW2z9lsvbvN9HkZRVWXT4_fNTO29gDE0qqtQVFwAzqyDpH5aTaoPGkYrfgx4naBRUSH_C7OjzhBqDy31ewjlOZoiw-An7qOmEzxyGv8Ag2l1U0V-bExMMW/s400/DSC_7821.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403229042082670194" border="0" /></a>Madeline Rainshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05075400838213199585noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898647.post-44301387152759039742009-11-01T10:33:00.002-05:002009-11-01T10:36:55.686-05:00Sara's WanderCraft bookI received a beautiful small scrapbook, sewn together and covered artfully by Sara at WanderCraft. Her <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/WandercraftDesign">etsy store</a> opens today. Check it out! I blogged about her book <a href="http://barn-raising.blogspot.com/2009/10/wandercraft-book.html">here</a>.Madeline Rainshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05075400838213199585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898647.post-73958351240677589992009-10-31T21:29:00.005-04:002009-11-10T10:21:55.084-05:00Halloween Orange<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIuhwZoJeGGuT9BDxZvwXIJ-omStfJ2ExA-qUoWaLCJWjY2YplGq6lbN6m8RAcqosC0njxwgBiSXx_fIjn_FKqdEkpQw3mzWqw31_Sx-WagpGobsaSi2EdXK5F-FyMj2RfInfQ/s1600-h/DSC_7410.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIuhwZoJeGGuT9BDxZvwXIJ-omStfJ2ExA-qUoWaLCJWjY2YplGq6lbN6m8RAcqosC0njxwgBiSXx_fIjn_FKqdEkpQw3mzWqw31_Sx-WagpGobsaSi2EdXK5F-FyMj2RfInfQ/s400/DSC_7410.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401370523425551650" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn52wbFTfOdCctg4mwOVesi6bfDX7M0Po-GsTntO1K861-IDNn2yLBYHDmhZwHQ9GkIB4lY1oO0qUCGpCiAPtbDhNXE_wajwuFARW9325iMFvhm66nkDaqghKPc2M_CM9_YIN0/s1600-h/DSC_7414.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn52wbFTfOdCctg4mwOVesi6bfDX7M0Po-GsTntO1K861-IDNn2yLBYHDmhZwHQ9GkIB4lY1oO0qUCGpCiAPtbDhNXE_wajwuFARW9325iMFvhm66nkDaqghKPc2M_CM9_YIN0/s400/DSC_7414.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401370517063844194" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF0PL_EDCCRgqaZ41AqfP292CDbibiyd96snaYAxR4m53TDp8jEgIJs4JQWbRnJlUZZD75D8h_JQUMjPG-JVALKlHO-qL4moDY60UNai_pjioWVd1oNNlG75jHTxvyPA08pQHp/s1600-h/DSC_7415.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF0PL_EDCCRgqaZ41AqfP292CDbibiyd96snaYAxR4m53TDp8jEgIJs4JQWbRnJlUZZD75D8h_JQUMjPG-JVALKlHO-qL4moDY60UNai_pjioWVd1oNNlG75jHTxvyPA08pQHp/s400/DSC_7415.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401370509934380786" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ECyL-uSCNUGSxvyPKoRQPiHPs-txucVTcY9Dx46Lc59DU9X0UmMVScYzrLEpTLrTsqYgEpfpxfPyAlwFAIug_77E5K8keOvudBG2sHPTEf5klTl1xdOcKdIYEhwAO_y_-CDU/s1600-h/DSC_7427.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ECyL-uSCNUGSxvyPKoRQPiHPs-txucVTcY9Dx46Lc59DU9X0UmMVScYzrLEpTLrTsqYgEpfpxfPyAlwFAIug_77E5K8keOvudBG2sHPTEf5klTl1xdOcKdIYEhwAO_y_-CDU/s400/DSC_7427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398946041242542754" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSptnpRPlju_D0wIwX22wdFJ9gWS1Ca_Z4mYP7XJJFQXyBz07HC_asDu37PcBHtLaFWU_g7P4cjwsybdCwV3dC9e_Y_5AEMf21RBN9AMHC0Ehn5BRW-RaiXZ837ttI_VLTJHn/s1600-h/DSC_7422.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSptnpRPlju_D0wIwX22wdFJ9gWS1Ca_Z4mYP7XJJFQXyBz07HC_asDu37PcBHtLaFWU_g7P4cjwsybdCwV3dC9e_Y_5AEMf21RBN9AMHC0Ehn5BRW-RaiXZ837ttI_VLTJHn/s400/DSC_7422.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398946036485993538" border="0" /></a>And when there was a blue moment, we followed our orange dog to the dirt roads, highlighted by orange of course.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNPzSE2gdKDGixSqAFeduH0zO8rEiYXvTL-h7pzhK48jqSCOeQjyklnDoU-51Lmeyn2XQLrZlHm1ZCm8RsxMNlaEyg9B28e2mlx0lDkZpK-PGzlAU2mj-zGHjzcqDbr509rkF/s1600-h/DSC_7432.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNPzSE2gdKDGixSqAFeduH0zO8rEiYXvTL-h7pzhK48jqSCOeQjyklnDoU-51Lmeyn2XQLrZlHm1ZCm8RsxMNlaEyg9B28e2mlx0lDkZpK-PGzlAU2mj-zGHjzcqDbr509rkF/s400/DSC_7432.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398946030296242546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-T7mwDQQg1eJASioWrseMBAU7Hl4NJOvY4HoBR4Tfu0HhCjy7CRlSL3sFmsOJjLhWqpq-08Elbt8wHgTyZ0UhSwRtT7wiiAjOakThDX35JTXyyM2o0IV9PbpuaSae0uXu1Dup/s1600-h/DSC_7442.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-T7mwDQQg1eJASioWrseMBAU7Hl4NJOvY4HoBR4Tfu0HhCjy7CRlSL3sFmsOJjLhWqpq-08Elbt8wHgTyZ0UhSwRtT7wiiAjOakThDX35JTXyyM2o0IV9PbpuaSae0uXu1Dup/s400/DSC_7442.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398942347254554498" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_a4BeaQ-A2ZODR7cSMlDsM6Sqb4TJEsJSOU7WwxABL7J2uWnbhjOxd5pyawmiury5IV7kr9gUZWsr4OGoPmdqlzluZ0mqUeH-6tB1B-Vg5ruA4yh8RFHOX0Yt-h0f0Ef9VmY/s1600-h/DSC_7447.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_a4BeaQ-A2ZODR7cSMlDsM6Sqb4TJEsJSOU7WwxABL7J2uWnbhjOxd5pyawmiury5IV7kr9gUZWsr4OGoPmdqlzluZ0mqUeH-6tB1B-Vg5ruA4yh8RFHOX0Yt-h0f0Ef9VmY/s400/DSC_7447.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398942341187402482" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9J0MKoz6jOQwteq68O1yElpZsDH2Jb3mkWpHBsMqhUDBckpFDFN9Fx0mmcw7W87-1ZnAz1KdgkNMHDTZukuIX8FHOk_GXxX5SyaO-R84H-s7fe-2G-QptkrC9EAUy8iHAyPb/s1600-h/DSC_7450.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 348px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9J0MKoz6jOQwteq68O1yElpZsDH2Jb3mkWpHBsMqhUDBckpFDFN9Fx0mmcw7W87-1ZnAz1KdgkNMHDTZukuIX8FHOk_GXxX5SyaO-R84H-s7fe-2G-QptkrC9EAUy8iHAyPb/s400/DSC_7450.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398942336107872162" border="0" /></a>Madeline Rainshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05075400838213199585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898647.post-47079734252338335142009-10-31T10:29:00.008-04:002009-10-31T11:11:03.265-04:00Party for The GraveyardAt the beginning of the week we found out about a <a href="http://www.littleshopofstories.com/events.php">party</a> being held last night for Neil Gaimon's (he wrote Coraline, among many other books) newest book - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Graveyard-Book-Neil-Gaiman/dp/0060530928">The Graveyard</a>. We have been to this unique children's book store several times before, once for a <a href="http://barn-raising.blogspot.com/2007/07/requiem-for-wizard-experience.html">rocking Harry Potter party</a>, so we knew it would be worth it to drive in last night for this and we read as much of the book as possible during the week. The invitation asked that only those nine-years old and up attend as they planned to scare the life out of us. Gillen and Jesse wore frightening costumes but you'll have to take my word for it. I only have pictures of them with peeled back layers and with their sweet faces showing through.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKlbcAy4hvaJXjQUiNYkgqZz1xvVeYBpqMC58fM2fcD3PD6qeSJTBG73TiK_R02r-CH0uHImoQfeQD6s3KcgDP92WKvMYw5GRzl41X13gme9jmbQeFQKlcZt0J670KAUQRtJs/s1600-h/DSC_7397.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKlbcAy4hvaJXjQUiNYkgqZz1xvVeYBpqMC58fM2fcD3PD6qeSJTBG73TiK_R02r-CH0uHImoQfeQD6s3KcgDP92WKvMYw5GRzl41X13gme9jmbQeFQKlcZt0J670KAUQRtJs/s400/DSC_7397.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398772125822017762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikx-nOcNezwWwUzxG8yV4v4JasQQBmsGJKYcfFzU938YTSbkC7JwhXzY8Oseijj5fMN93zcm2WA3dfXh3aa7JvMPRdJAv9RWd0CYTFBnVuXKH04l2JdChzCC73-y9BwCRslXln/s1600-h/DSC_7401.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikx-nOcNezwWwUzxG8yV4v4JasQQBmsGJKYcfFzU938YTSbkC7JwhXzY8Oseijj5fMN93zcm2WA3dfXh3aa7JvMPRdJAv9RWd0CYTFBnVuXKH04l2JdChzCC73-y9BwCRslXln/s400/DSC_7401.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398772116066846402" border="0" /></a>I love that Gillen still gets scared. He didn't even go with Jesse and I on the dungeon horror walk. I think this shot caught the moment when his imagination got the better of him and he stepped out of the line.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CWv_QexvcT82Jirn2gybXdBn0shMkNp6YNK2x8zz9UJ0-mTsiflEtK7duKszOia1AvgLAONtkTOGNXR1RG4hsYRyFipvJ5WKjC8O3toLeP9Xqcb6zmAevGAT7atOPMuG0yPz/s1600-h/DSC_7373.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CWv_QexvcT82Jirn2gybXdBn0shMkNp6YNK2x8zz9UJ0-mTsiflEtK7duKszOia1AvgLAONtkTOGNXR1RG4hsYRyFipvJ5WKjC8O3toLeP9Xqcb6zmAevGAT7atOPMuG0yPz/s400/DSC_7373.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398772112019428322" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTD68m6HJlo86YuC67gA-cXdRCM1AtziorI4TbIJsq75irtvnIv_HnwcIkcjlhEKQUEv_zeEW0VL0ptbBlr51FfIQNtEv3W_o-WCC8G_6ziS_xjQhukuL03vG1uEJlcFuAx-q/s1600-h/DSC_7398.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTD68m6HJlo86YuC67gA-cXdRCM1AtziorI4TbIJsq75irtvnIv_HnwcIkcjlhEKQUEv_zeEW0VL0ptbBlr51FfIQNtEv3W_o-WCC8G_6ziS_xjQhukuL03vG1uEJlcFuAx-q/s400/DSC_7398.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398774665193380466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ttfL6ELjSzmSWYOGx35o2IuCG795f47v5jo999vEVrbwxfs1lG7xsX1eMw217SEWanvN_NqKt9jrI432VTIR6i2U6ScRSYX-shbcBprFhUWxX01BTyK9L5wXRfT8N-zVc0ZS/s1600-h/DSC_7384.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ttfL6ELjSzmSWYOGx35o2IuCG795f47v5jo999vEVrbwxfs1lG7xsX1eMw217SEWanvN_NqKt9jrI432VTIR6i2U6ScRSYX-shbcBprFhUWxX01BTyK9L5wXRfT8N-zVc0ZS/s400/DSC_7384.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398774660949911682" border="0" /></a>I love a party that can provide a terrifying ghost walk, an eleven year old <span style="font-style: italic;">great</span> lead singer:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZb9Xxj0fawABX_OKyX6JvMVzE_0HvadkgtKYXjluIQk8mO3-0Cuca83_yNMScXoAJuFbH2Y7C99f2w0GvEcmPA3CqwCOh2d8SpGFSJpyBG0hE7f3cwltad1uLCOI773VC3PG5/s1600-h/DSC_7392.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZb9Xxj0fawABX_OKyX6JvMVzE_0HvadkgtKYXjluIQk8mO3-0Cuca83_yNMScXoAJuFbH2Y7C99f2w0GvEcmPA3CqwCOh2d8SpGFSJpyBG0hE7f3cwltad1uLCOI773VC3PG5/s400/DSC_7392.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398773108829131410" border="0" /></a>AND the possibility of reading books while you party:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4XsMxdoJDqXQX3kftH-cMPpnkGSKB9fFWJ5_meFupx9V2FtO4M6Pdqq3T-r8ijqncSBtk3nfcGNSeki_tYwvUTZS_jHCBC-eCIXJN6JdD-gWCjRpGiwIaarF5oJZ82UQuMn5d/s1600-h/DSC_7395.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4XsMxdoJDqXQX3kftH-cMPpnkGSKB9fFWJ5_meFupx9V2FtO4M6Pdqq3T-r8ijqncSBtk3nfcGNSeki_tYwvUTZS_jHCBC-eCIXJN6JdD-gWCjRpGiwIaarF5oJZ82UQuMn5d/s400/DSC_7395.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398773102144848866" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbzacnHVK6qrdBPxZA_gWJWL6MgytpCuSjLh_g4d0GUZ8abkx0b5aziwOuqVjD0S8HGONdOhiOGPBLeDEXU0PHA21WUQ3X4xJmxjZLRQqHC3o1yOb5fQf06_omd_FyqYUY0DDn/s1600-h/DSC_7390.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbzacnHVK6qrdBPxZA_gWJWL6MgytpCuSjLh_g4d0GUZ8abkx0b5aziwOuqVjD0S8HGONdOhiOGPBLeDEXU0PHA21WUQ3X4xJmxjZLRQqHC3o1yOb5fQf06_omd_FyqYUY0DDn/s400/DSC_7390.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398773092496421906" border="0" /></a>The party was held in answer to a challenge put out by the author, Neil Gaimon, to independent booksellers. Whichever book store put on the greatest Graveyard party will be honored by a visit from Gaimon in December. I don't know how anyone could have surpassed Little Shop of Stories.<span style="font-style: italic;"></span>Madeline Rainshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05075400838213199585noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898647.post-34968119235577152052009-10-29T17:43:00.004-04:002009-10-31T10:28:58.711-04:00WanderCRAFT bookAbout three weeks ago, right before going to the beach for a week on that spontaneous trip to Isle of Palm, S.C. to be with fellow unschoolers, I was quickly checking out some of my favorite blogs, seeking joy in places other than my long packing and cooking to-do list. On that day, I visited Sara, at <a href="http://wandercraft.blogspot.com/2009/10/wandercraft-photojournal-reveal-and.html">Wandercraft</a>, a crafty, dog-loving, great photographer in Boston. She revealed a giveaway for a small travel scrapbook that she had made. The winner would need to scrap a few pages of this book and blog about it and was given a more than generous amount of time in which to do so. Well, you know where this is going. I won! I came home from the beach to find this beautiful book and several scrapping accessories waiting for me on my table. I was so excited. I put it in my art room (a room that has seen far more food and Bananagrams than art lately) and envisioned all of the possible trips that I could scrap about. And, as recovering from the beach, new lives and early deaths took over, I conveniently blocked out the request to have a few pages scrapped for Sara's etsy store by this week. eek! <br /><br />As it turns out, rediscovering this deadline last weekend was just the push my procrastinating, deadline-loving creative side needed. Despite laundry, cooking, knitting for fast growing new babies and planning and cooking for the next trip (in the mountains - leaving on Sunday), I rediscovered my art supplies and any printed out pictures I had on hand from past trips. <br /><br />Here are the scanned images of the front of the book and of the first two pages (Sara created teh map cover and back and I did all the inside work - I love her sewn together book):<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3y3opPEQUhUEZ4wcFUyVD8dOjP9YIbtqqr9POGHVgNcXf451cvxCXWhgD6omz4e9_n5p2LrRr4GuOkgvZ5MUjE7_btD61yGmxAILYJKRz3Y-y9KDOt_jTMKXx5ZZ6X-4AF4Tr/s1600-h/travelbook001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3y3opPEQUhUEZ4wcFUyVD8dOjP9YIbtqqr9POGHVgNcXf451cvxCXWhgD6omz4e9_n5p2LrRr4GuOkgvZ5MUjE7_btD61yGmxAILYJKRz3Y-y9KDOt_jTMKXx5ZZ6X-4AF4Tr/s400/travelbook001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398152350378193138" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0xbud96rdcMXDxHIDKAku9y4-ZEYyCwp4k8cYwT07pyh-VMBXN8LuoU6sur0GqWlPAKKs4J-8leAaTRzCXqF2_P2SPbshWNHdgl7XARXF_mMQjl1jFjewXBas8P8axkAKbhw/s1600-h/travelbook002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0xbud96rdcMXDxHIDKAku9y4-ZEYyCwp4k8cYwT07pyh-VMBXN8LuoU6sur0GqWlPAKKs4J-8leAaTRzCXqF2_P2SPbshWNHdgl7XARXF_mMQjl1jFjewXBas8P8axkAKbhw/s400/travelbook002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398152355173891426" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1algnKQvuXHV4LMJXKO6HZOxoINJeab6oArdW7Npxkguewx_iEQBjha8a9CiCyw5zDx2ZxzQVmgq83EOwLHrCmQLcCBGw9UNz5uMBGK_uHJLQjmXQERDEI-yQxAVsv-SGLCBQ/s1600-h/travelbook003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1algnKQvuXHV4LMJXKO6HZOxoINJeab6oArdW7Npxkguewx_iEQBjha8a9CiCyw5zDx2ZxzQVmgq83EOwLHrCmQLcCBGw9UNz5uMBGK_uHJLQjmXQERDEI-yQxAVsv-SGLCBQ/s400/travelbook003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398152356937627634" /></a><br />On the front of the book, I highlighted a few of the longer routes that we have taken (to Australia and Japan) on the beautiful map-cardstock cover that Sara had created.<br /><br />The book will be a collection of moments from various trips over the years. It will live on our coffee table as a place to go to remember, and to find inspiration for the next journey. <br /><br />Thank you Sara for these precious moments back in the art room. I never would have gone there without you.Madeline Rainshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05075400838213199585noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898647.post-32911787980719726282009-10-25T08:43:00.016-04:002009-10-25T11:34:59.794-04:00FallThe falling leaves, and many human reminders of seasons coming to an end, have me craving quiet and stillness. As much as I may want to just hole up under blankets on my couch, watching last year's "House" episodes on DVDs all day while I knit baby clothes, unschooling won't allow it - at least not exclusively. This is a good thing. My kids and their friends have films to make and places to go and ideas to help implement. There is no time to withdraw, at least not for too long a stretch of time. <br /><br />The first several Bionicle based movies were filmed in my bedroom. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94uHsVSgtqc">Here</a> is Jesse's favorite. My bed is now on You Tube. Luckily, I'd made it that day. ; ) <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzVJBZ_RV4d3JlKa4iVuo5C0E-b3PvRmxsHlHLLRsU0x_Zv17PVDW_NdJks2n_tHZ3zPLn9XrA927t5REP3ezNsmOr8CwTu-xZZIWbdWcymKxedLckA5Lnc8A6HzaX0UXB8mO/s1600-h/DSC_7146.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzVJBZ_RV4d3JlKa4iVuo5C0E-b3PvRmxsHlHLLRsU0x_Zv17PVDW_NdJks2n_tHZ3zPLn9XrA927t5REP3ezNsmOr8CwTu-xZZIWbdWcymKxedLckA5Lnc8A6HzaX0UXB8mO/s400/DSC_7146.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396522393182221954" /></a>The most recent one has been started at the farm, with yet more actors and directors:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTOLOaLqBMf1IjJ5sBpmIkBGM-MGWulP8kZxPilnqE4U03XG4zzGVidlAbwDUZ-tnL8WUV52-XDZx0EBKEpX5s9Sc10HRaaMw3binTLuArFULy3QLWqtpWDvmYrVvRPvJrXEX/s1600-h/DSC_7231.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTOLOaLqBMf1IjJ5sBpmIkBGM-MGWulP8kZxPilnqE4U03XG4zzGVidlAbwDUZ-tnL8WUV52-XDZx0EBKEpX5s9Sc10HRaaMw3binTLuArFULy3QLWqtpWDvmYrVvRPvJrXEX/s400/DSC_7231.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396524900622149650" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWSV7zZFP5PTHWjXMElOjKnp7idnLEMqIJhkzIGOy3hiCDI5UfXb5PACWR8G5CkiiSLa_1-oY33OTrAe82LRZaLSmxW-PgphHNJTXoHlep9PN-_yqd0tpJ6OnudlpmlJWSiPWs/s1600-h/DSC_7230.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWSV7zZFP5PTHWjXMElOjKnp7idnLEMqIJhkzIGOy3hiCDI5UfXb5PACWR8G5CkiiSLa_1-oY33OTrAe82LRZaLSmxW-PgphHNJTXoHlep9PN-_yqd0tpJ6OnudlpmlJWSiPWs/s400/DSC_7230.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396522404256936242" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRm5bM2bi-xowwXvORhX7206SWZC0Y9QYlLHz14Y4sq-oFcgSDxUhUwEWKgGYGcU7WQCBghiefoWPquabTeX-dTEGiy245NEGMqnIU_bFVYAAQK2wKYUDB7zKylGm1mI20ZoH/s1600-h/DSC_7175.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRm5bM2bi-xowwXvORhX7206SWZC0Y9QYlLHz14Y4sq-oFcgSDxUhUwEWKgGYGcU7WQCBghiefoWPquabTeX-dTEGiy245NEGMqnIU_bFVYAAQK2wKYUDB7zKylGm1mI20ZoH/s400/DSC_7175.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396522398873761538" /></a>Reviewing their work on Eli's Flip camera:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0cVhLGukGbZLcIR-vA73v8LZaMI7OREWlvnhmcaZeBuRbcn-6SHNAkpl9ZCtR9EAu8itMvdnLYsBBUBbu9RLnwM1gTNXyPV0zXgYqbcDVl-nKPRoAt8N0ZGyn3g0CGE_oq6NY/s1600-h/DSC_7235.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0cVhLGukGbZLcIR-vA73v8LZaMI7OREWlvnhmcaZeBuRbcn-6SHNAkpl9ZCtR9EAu8itMvdnLYsBBUBbu9RLnwM1gTNXyPV0zXgYqbcDVl-nKPRoAt8N0ZGyn3g0CGE_oq6NY/s400/DSC_7235.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396524913032314370" /></a>In addition, there has been polimer clay to sculpt (This is our newly-unschooling friend Jack):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVUMdFmdC4UJsZcG8P4LEp0KOOgUrFkxaEchFu_fC9viCpjDhozTlDeJzvCjO8hEMkO1gCtpdB4MIk8V7I_WaAY9R8hFnr4oXiotBeMDffNNeTevt1uhRIaDmUlqfoz_PQVFXv/s1600-h/DSC_7135.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVUMdFmdC4UJsZcG8P4LEp0KOOgUrFkxaEchFu_fC9viCpjDhozTlDeJzvCjO8hEMkO1gCtpdB4MIk8V7I_WaAY9R8hFnr4oXiotBeMDffNNeTevt1uhRIaDmUlqfoz_PQVFXv/s400/DSC_7135.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396522389786199842" /></a> and Bananagrams games to play with me. Jesse did this one solo:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir2VwBOs1zwlNl827F6-wrCKujyZcISSq0uXWJlmR1TS1ZWgiVCMwjLWOopghPQlPUx0ljh2iXWu7griinppOojYd28LrOyLIiLsBDpYEZf-z_f5t3m30OY8LUJW-D2-OkkQSF/s1600-h/DSC_7246.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir2VwBOs1zwlNl827F6-wrCKujyZcISSq0uXWJlmR1TS1ZWgiVCMwjLWOopghPQlPUx0ljh2iXWu7griinppOojYd28LrOyLIiLsBDpYEZf-z_f5t3m30OY8LUJW-D2-OkkQSF/s400/DSC_7246.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396524916641251106" /></a>I noticed one word that was missing a few letters and he rearranged whole words and fixed it in seconds. Jesse's Bananagrams ability is something to behold, or to run from , depending on your self-esteem that moment. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHGBOPExZ6tICgBEmcbD03kJmgsa-qZY4IPa0SL6K96g1mLQb2Af__GSPAUXHD3h_UVTOhLIPPmaJLvh2QBZbS8hlVNH1jJXPblN7qOFFoeaEgUB0tj5jhLJH2z72r9oUP75ke/s1600-h/DSC_7251.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHGBOPExZ6tICgBEmcbD03kJmgsa-qZY4IPa0SL6K96g1mLQb2Af__GSPAUXHD3h_UVTOhLIPPmaJLvh2QBZbS8hlVNH1jJXPblN7qOFFoeaEgUB0tj5jhLJH2z72r9oUP75ke/s400/DSC_7251.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396524919888394418" /></a><br />Another highlight of the week was going to a fund raiser in a nearby small town. Social Circle resident, Robbie Baldoni, was a passionate skate boarder who had just begun his own well-organized plan to create a local free skate park, when he suddenly died, at twelve, from a brain aneurism. His family has been continuing the work to make his skate park dream come true. Yesterday, a ramp company from Missouri donated ramps for a fund raiser (drove them here for free!) and we all bought Robbie shirts, Robbie hats and lots of food, to help create the dream park. Their story is <a href="http://www.robbiesdream.org/about.htm">here</a>. They are home schoolers as well. <div><br /></div>At the fund raiser:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlZQ85EwOU8qPOYIEQz6ErgOqc4Gfr4cjddyCrh3wmAOjlbnvvewc82VZpJQJICqUymuFGOuJxeEMppKYrrKz-4sFAe5y6EWYudNkdrV_Z4TjLAKxs6kahkxlwBFz0bRYjx2V/s1600-h/DSC_7285.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlZQ85EwOU8qPOYIEQz6ErgOqc4Gfr4cjddyCrh3wmAOjlbnvvewc82VZpJQJICqUymuFGOuJxeEMppKYrrKz-4sFAe5y6EWYudNkdrV_Z4TjLAKxs6kahkxlwBFz0bRYjx2V/s400/DSC_7285.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396539798146564946" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz489Dd3PfCyQLXtgi9mGQ9fsgIUGJybE5TRhuBeBq5OCT8Clkf1sMecH5l3U8bAzsio1ChplF1H8ddiwRfkVSnrQvUyiXDoNA-gDa2aWBF2tffQEnrzjD6RRbH9gNEV3Ld-XG/s1600-h/DSC_7298.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz489Dd3PfCyQLXtgi9mGQ9fsgIUGJybE5TRhuBeBq5OCT8Clkf1sMecH5l3U8bAzsio1ChplF1H8ddiwRfkVSnrQvUyiXDoNA-gDa2aWBF2tffQEnrzjD6RRbH9gNEV3Ld-XG/s400/DSC_7298.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396539790182034242" /></a><br />Jesse, wearing a hat like the one Robbie always wore when he was on his board:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1b7-fWt3RkBaPE_KMnQy6QO229zuTXSV_EDQtrEYme7C7bz-9nMSlH15fmDH6biWkiigvtlQNHwD4TqpLeRNOuYoLVKEr0QtTrwRUMf0PtSnzcv7sjH5eCIkuKRpy0_1Dv1_C/s1600-h/DSC_7326.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1b7-fWt3RkBaPE_KMnQy6QO229zuTXSV_EDQtrEYme7C7bz-9nMSlH15fmDH6biWkiigvtlQNHwD4TqpLeRNOuYoLVKEr0QtTrwRUMf0PtSnzcv7sjH5eCIkuKRpy0_1Dv1_C/s400/DSC_7326.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396539811908794306" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2wMr-LiKFoBKVWHVHK7edfFSmRq0Qdyq4RkvEDFeQQ4jYxrnN2iSHBr6gojjYzQemVEZF1G31VwYx-TxYpcEF5G-hw5BWBsZnKRfWL5gGbIyXsICf9VAvO3qQPSEbgneDV07/s1600-h/DSC_7328.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2wMr-LiKFoBKVWHVHK7edfFSmRq0Qdyq4RkvEDFeQQ4jYxrnN2iSHBr6gojjYzQemVEZF1G31VwYx-TxYpcEF5G-hw5BWBsZnKRfWL5gGbIyXsICf9VAvO3qQPSEbgneDV07/s400/DSC_7328.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396539804162133154" /></a>Madeline Rainshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05075400838213199585noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898647.post-76751790184779782952009-10-19T09:35:00.006-04:002009-10-19T09:43:40.398-04:00Oh Baby!My brother Kenneth and his wife Naomi just announced the arrival of their second daughter! It took her many hours to get here. Her mom was heroic. We are so very happy for them.<br /><br />My friend <a href="http://cleanupclearout.blogspot.com/2009/10/baby-butterfield-is-here-meet-wesley.html">Persephone</a> had her baby boy a few weeks ago.<br /><br />Now, time to get knitting!Madeline Rainshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05075400838213199585noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898647.post-4851989040999664812009-10-18T20:07:00.008-04:002009-10-18T20:43:25.389-04:00Nothing but sadIt is Hilda and Andy Byrd's twenty-third wedding anniversary today. Andy shared this information with Nicolas and I, tears running down his face as he looked up at us with his beautiful clear blue eyes from his always-present wheelchair. He told us lots of things about Hilda, the love of his life. He told us that she had not wanted to be put on ventilators, if it should come to that, but that yesterday, after a surgical procedure to remove brain tumors had failed, she had whispered to him, "Let them put me on the ventilator. I want one more chance, Andy." The ventilator wasn't the last chance she had hoped it would be. Her body gave up the fight, despite her spirit's strength. Andy held her hand and she was able to squeeze his in response, when he told her that she could let go, could leave him. Moments later, she was gone. <div><br /></div><div>He told Nicolas and I all of this when we reached him at the funeral home, taking our turn in the long line of people who were there to give their respects. Hilda was so loved. She was a foster mother, an organic farmer, long-time wife and caretaker of Andy. She had ten siblings. Her strength was palpable. It seems impossible that strength such as she had could ever have been diminished. </div><div><br /></div><div>I have another forty-something year old friend who is in her final fight with cancer. I have to believe that she will kick its butt. But if Hilda could not, I wonder. </div><div><br /></div><div>"Tell each other every day that you love one another" Andy said to Nicolas and I. </div><div><br /></div><div>Every day. </div><div><br /></div><div>Not just my husband, but also my children, other family and friends. Oh, my friends. Just in case you didn't know, I love you. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Madeline Rainshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05075400838213199585noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898647.post-80472743849033195802009-10-10T11:14:00.003-04:002009-10-10T11:34:07.526-04:00Endless summerMy watermelon blog banner is in honor of how long we get to grow "summer" fruits and vegetables down south. I went up north again last week and I need to keep reminding myself of all of the perks of living down here, of which there really are many. I like being warm in September and October, while eating tomatoes and watching the guys spit watermelon seeds. <div><br /></div><div>Due to some luck and spontaneity, Gillen and Jesse and I are getting to go to the beach in South Carolina with a bunch of other unschoolers this coming week. Unfortunately, Nicolas has to farm. But I think it might be nice for him to be alone for the first time in many months. We leave tomorrow. I have spent the last two days making soups and chili to freeze and take with us. I will spend my time there hanging with my boys and our friends, knitting baby things, and listening to the ocean. </div><div><br /></div><div>We are so lucky. Even when the leaves have turned and the wood stove is lit, we will still be experiencing the freedom of an endless summer. Unschooling rules! (interesting oxymoron there)</div>Madeline Rainshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05075400838213199585noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898647.post-37615936868071647992009-09-29T23:03:00.002-04:002009-09-29T23:15:27.817-04:00OfflineCompletely. Until Monday night. I hope to find lots of juicy news (maybe even about new babies?) when I get back online.<br /><br />Isn't it hard to believe that we used to go miles (well, in the city, it was long blocks) before finding a phone booth and then be at the mercy of whether or not it was free and whether we had a quarter in our pocket? It was strange, a few weeks ago, not seeing many phone booths anymore in NYC.<br /><br />I am so grateful, especially at this moment, for the connections and possibilities to be found in this otherworldly cyber space. But it's interesting having to let go of it once in a while. Like a step back in time.<br /><br />Have a great week! Here, it is finally starting to look and feel like fall.Madeline Rainshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05075400838213199585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898647.post-57168390793854801332009-09-24T16:10:00.001-04:002009-09-25T17:36:29.120-04:00Out of ControlThis week, there were <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/24/us/24rain.html?_r=2&sq=georgia%20flood%20joe%20reynolds&st=cse&adxnnl=1&scp=1&adxnnlx=1253804983-b6BP37IzfLPFUQrxkFV9Ig">the floods in Georgia</a> (the farmer in this NY Times article is a friend and has more damage than he even realized in the interview) and <a href="http://laughingsquid.com/massive-dust-storm-turns-sydney-orange/">the orange dust storms in Sydney</a>, and probably some other unusual weather elsewhere on the globe that I don't know about, all of which could make a human being feel kind of out of control and vulnerable. It could provoke a need to take control in other ways. <div><br /></div><div>I was thinking about this last night at Gillen's baseball game. As usual at these games (and at our local wally world - at least when I used to go there) there were several parents seriously wielding control over their kids. It sounded like this - "What are you doing out there! Wake up."; "Ah, you're not sick, drink some water."; "Hope you have a good game 'cause this is going to be the last one you get to play!" This is all said with patronizing, screechy voices.<br /><br />There are other, loving, trusting parents in the stands. And there is the joy and thrill on my kids' faces when they make the hit or cheer on their team mates. I try to focus on that and keep my glaring down to a minimum.<br /><br />Wouldn't it be cool if these frustrated parents were given control over the refreshment stand at the first sign of needing to control their kids? The more artistic ones could paint murals about global warming or kids rights in the parking lot. Or, there is always toilet patrol. <div><br /></div><div>I have to write about this here so that I won't lose control myself when witnessing this the next game.</div></div>Madeline Rainshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05075400838213199585noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898647.post-55190856395992573052009-09-22T14:02:00.000-04:002009-09-22T14:12:21.140-04:00The sunny sideDespite <span style="font-style: italic;">another</span> huge storm yesterday, in which Tuki went to even greater lengths to feel safe:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQV8YCaIa7tExtaUVFL-aUP3v2dPEs1jbLwrw6r-60L5w-fTb-lkMVXsYy45YlnBii8A4WDlk7f0w4xt4XfnpJxH1p-fNJXSVcskOGdESyLxCduQlZaQKZz7ViX0Qnq20Il3mc/s1600-h/DSC_6914.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQV8YCaIa7tExtaUVFL-aUP3v2dPEs1jbLwrw6r-60L5w-fTb-lkMVXsYy45YlnBii8A4WDlk7f0w4xt4XfnpJxH1p-fNJXSVcskOGdESyLxCduQlZaQKZz7ViX0Qnq20Il3mc/s400/DSC_6914.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384336867904733682" border="0" /></a>I have to say, it hasn't exactly been torturous in here. I think I whinged too much in my last post. There has been loads of game playing:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUhfxMiPPpLcTfgJNz1co2HOZJocXMhbYdx2VGev1U0zEK0L9EJ3ggR57diUDkjDWUrIL_cT9tCDlCgTwNvzNn_os2YSSIGncIV0cBBlRmEKaQr0Hi-z2GJ927RQz6FyTupxG/s1600-h/DSC_6919.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUhfxMiPPpLcTfgJNz1co2HOZJocXMhbYdx2VGev1U0zEK0L9EJ3ggR57diUDkjDWUrIL_cT9tCDlCgTwNvzNn_os2YSSIGncIV0cBBlRmEKaQr0Hi-z2GJ927RQz6FyTupxG/s400/DSC_6919.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384336903527113010" border="0" /></a>A world was completed:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1x1fsjhTY9HVxdo7CJVx9GyhUSNjl8rSXWG_iv5zCUz_yg0RKojSVT81MU6KhgEy0nS5gPrFPYkmva67KGkV4uwxD8YqEEvKI-cPxF3EtR2DGZf_ZE1fA2tpBS_3FuXsm1QHx/s1600-h/DSC_6911.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1x1fsjhTY9HVxdo7CJVx9GyhUSNjl8rSXWG_iv5zCUz_yg0RKojSVT81MU6KhgEy0nS5gPrFPYkmva67KGkV4uwxD8YqEEvKI-cPxF3EtR2DGZf_ZE1fA2tpBS_3FuXsm1QHx/s400/DSC_6911.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384336878724332194" border="0" /></a>And we had mammoth appreciation this morning for the clear skies.<br /><br />Gillen decided to make a huge menu with lots of choices, from which he fed us breakfast <span style="font-style: italic;">and</span> lunch today(and insisted on helping to clean up). Here Jesse is enjoying his breakfast from "In the Garden" cafe. Lunch was served on the side porch. Jesse and I give it five stars.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGCwdOP2gQFylRk8VrvlraUw30i6zGqsOwz-cuai57rpKOQ_UxIIuDc1Y8J9xbYnZXmop1ej0lF-CN3At2_KrbPr1ypC9jMgIxw0dKlgbEi28X4l7ZsMkUcvw94XOavp_iTJM/s1600-h/DSC_6921.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGCwdOP2gQFylRk8VrvlraUw30i6zGqsOwz-cuai57rpKOQ_UxIIuDc1Y8J9xbYnZXmop1ej0lF-CN3At2_KrbPr1ypC9jMgIxw0dKlgbEi28X4l7ZsMkUcvw94XOavp_iTJM/s400/DSC_6921.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384353652821060002" border="0" /></a>After breakfast, struck by the magic of sun rays coming through our sky light, we ran outside with dog and bikes:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5k6DsSZJ0VTYsLbbuHJFip14P9Puuz0_PNNFvdtP57hiAdea-20P8u_5D0o5sDoiXdPZqfw0oMa9kghwGfD9643k1JbXSUnzsGtjka_2EuxBl-OgmzzLameOmk-KOtYgv1-Io/s1600-h/DSC_6973.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5k6DsSZJ0VTYsLbbuHJFip14P9Puuz0_PNNFvdtP57hiAdea-20P8u_5D0o5sDoiXdPZqfw0oMa9kghwGfD9643k1JbXSUnzsGtjka_2EuxBl-OgmzzLameOmk-KOtYgv1-Io/s400/DSC_6973.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384353665400630978" border="0" /></a>and I smelled that good camp-memory inducing green mildewy smell - a smell so different from the mildewy smell (slowly dissipating, or we are just getting too used to it) inside.<br /><br />Huge puddles provided the moistness our new reptilian bodies now crave:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrI8rBictTEkaFV0RoR1aNmS4O0eRyrWHTE0Gz9GBRb211NH2QsocyA_dI_FHOXqVS-ryKUVZbClf2TlS2QP7PvMLJpKOe7TM2Xd2f4NX4PCc8kTnpgV9KH6Tt0BGTfuju6mP/s1600-h/DSC_6947.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 308px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrI8rBictTEkaFV0RoR1aNmS4O0eRyrWHTE0Gz9GBRb211NH2QsocyA_dI_FHOXqVS-ryKUVZbClf2TlS2QP7PvMLJpKOe7TM2Xd2f4NX4PCc8kTnpgV9KH6Tt0BGTfuju6mP/s400/DSC_6947.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384353668713116610" border="0" /></a>As did a skinny dip in the pool!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaa0lbYCmfaepo79eTOJxUO8e8WZmhWPvykFqfCQF9M8Qts1DfKsiTPk6GNunHCDNxVwOagRLHqHPp0x6AFApPysnZBTDd9rDFj4Z3nXjhp7llqt992L-Ve3PRPCBuuqNIJwcl/s1600-h/DSC_6998.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaa0lbYCmfaepo79eTOJxUO8e8WZmhWPvykFqfCQF9M8Qts1DfKsiTPk6GNunHCDNxVwOagRLHqHPp0x6AFApPysnZBTDd9rDFj4Z3nXjhp7llqt992L-Ve3PRPCBuuqNIJwcl/s400/DSC_6998.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384354990814024674" border="0" /></a>Madeline Rainshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05075400838213199585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898647.post-46307633933495580452009-09-21T16:18:00.006-04:002009-09-21T17:25:17.859-04:00Rainy cabin-fevered ramblingI am so grateful right now that Gillen is eagerly being Jesse's audience in this, the sixtieth showing of Jesse's new magic trick. The worse the trick goes, the more Gillen laughs and falls down in joy, and then they both end up hysterical, and then it starts all over, again. Gillen has given himself the hick-ups from so much laughing. I have been part of the weather-induced goofiness all day. At the end of last week (and at <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span> point the dark clouds had only been around for a few days) I found myself alone in my car singing Carly Simon's "Coming Around Again" at the top of my lungs, my tears mirroring the lines of rain on the window. Sometimes a big storm is a great excuse for a melt-down.<br /><br />We are very lucky. Even after a week of mostly on (sometimes off) rain, there has been no big damage at the farm. A slight layer of mildew has started forming over some of our furniture, and over certain badly-situated books (the air conditioner is out - hopefully the rain's attempt to turn everything a whiter shade of pale will be killed with a working air conditioner).<br /><br />Last Wednesday, Nicolas and I spent our first date-night in months emptying the basement of water. But, again, I do feel grateful that we were only at it for an hour or so. After only fifteen minutes, I imagined that we were Mel Gibson and Sissy Spacek in "The River". Unlike them, we had several breaks to go inside where we drank wine and watched "Mad Men" to give us sustenance for the next round of hard bucket lifting.<br /><br />I feel a bit like this much drenched rose.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwEDNgPQY8OglrbQzaH7qA-GSagOIHCRxiqBrHENKlcz97DbvlpxDwE82oOjucJT3cEXtAAc8sPxkH2li2lMq5DixHTytB2EnrwCYlAoSCSHjjOnijj7NbaLA7FKMmyR_QE-o/s1600-h/DSC_6859.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwEDNgPQY8OglrbQzaH7qA-GSagOIHCRxiqBrHENKlcz97DbvlpxDwE82oOjucJT3cEXtAAc8sPxkH2li2lMq5DixHTytB2EnrwCYlAoSCSHjjOnijj7NbaLA7FKMmyR_QE-o/s400/DSC_6859.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384027955243511266" border="0" /></a>Cleansed, rusty and ready for some drying out.Madeline Rainshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05075400838213199585noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17898647.post-53557827603602283542009-09-15T16:13:00.006-04:002009-09-15T16:36:18.071-04:00Anticipation of...:peeling this primeval celery root <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRLa7_DwV2rD8ajGuM-vLSEKAbd-58BRfFC3UhX0QfOSaUC8XjyI5C5iw1Az7ESJn3KJrR6nmooEB2GZ9NfGeNVlfmXJ83x_1jkiEvqS3sQnyThm4ukwT8zpGG8pQXATJ-B-E/s1600-h/DSC_6822.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjRLa7_DwV2rD8ajGuM-vLSEKAbd-58BRfFC3UhX0QfOSaUC8XjyI5C5iw1Az7ESJn3KJrR6nmooEB2GZ9NfGeNVlfmXJ83x_1jkiEvqS3sQnyThm4ukwT8zpGG8pQXATJ-B-E/s400/DSC_6822.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381791451044182994" border="0" /></a>:eating the soup (the smell was fiercely good)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2q3P20wP5Szb2Nm-V98PGKUKgDGcaAiGV6CF0YhOkdGmzqew1ebm-TEMSbJRfJhRjMrdbDLPVTJvBt5nrnp2iKosh-rkyzsCOBBCNPUL0ehU3NU-eU8Q4AtsV4zupOk03PSNk/s1600-h/DSC_6827.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2q3P20wP5Szb2Nm-V98PGKUKgDGcaAiGV6CF0YhOkdGmzqew1ebm-TEMSbJRfJhRjMrdbDLPVTJvBt5nrnp2iKosh-rkyzsCOBBCNPUL0ehU3NU-eU8Q4AtsV4zupOk03PSNk/s400/DSC_6827.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381791457438519730" border="0" /></a>:touching the smooth tiles <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqoXkxp9VhPz-T4sbCbzBHUZWMZXOcFsQANDiv24lweFGsuIQcr1pePisvWeZfn3rgeoGpsHW-e4x2506kHXk3ILyMOFWSnmXgDTtDKqjznMcZdW2sOB2Paef3xpundUEEakgv/s1600-h/DSC_6828.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqoXkxp9VhPz-T4sbCbzBHUZWMZXOcFsQANDiv24lweFGsuIQcr1pePisvWeZfn3rgeoGpsHW-e4x2506kHXk3ILyMOFWSnmXgDTtDKqjznMcZdW2sOB2Paef3xpundUEEakgv/s400/DSC_6828.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381791467304075026" border="0" /></a>:losing to Gillen; losing my inner idea of what I look like when tired. : < 0 <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv71-U_niV0jEzK_h7Xnn0PY0YFYVtjhJ9f8EImPDo0FB9GYKA7UkXvfMfwuh0JlorCCvZW9cjdRKlB9_V2LOm9DfXYDfH8v5cWzPL2xrVVJGNSc-Jnee1-rY0QMIDEe6JKXtt/s1600-h/DSC_6830.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv71-U_niV0jEzK_h7Xnn0PY0YFYVtjhJ9f8EImPDo0FB9GYKA7UkXvfMfwuh0JlorCCvZW9cjdRKlB9_V2LOm9DfXYDfH8v5cWzPL2xrVVJGNSc-Jnee1-rY0QMIDEe6JKXtt/s400/DSC_6830.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381793598427873554" border="0" /></a>Madeline Rainshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05075400838213199585noreply@blogger.com5