For a moment, Jesse said, he thought it must be Christmas.
Showing posts with label Gillen and Jesse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gillen and Jesse. Show all posts
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Sweet moment
In 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.
For a moment, Jesse said, he thought it must be Christmas.
For a moment, Jesse said, he thought it must be Christmas.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Because of these guys:
- I didn't have to make dinner last night. Gillen decided to make us omelettes, to order. Because of the kind of guy he is, he added a centerpiece of strawberries and grapes and the really good glasses. 
- I didn't have to wash the car before our trip tomorrow. They decided to do it, after playing baseball all day. 
- and how cool they are, I am getting to speak at a conference in Mass. next week.
- I have redefined peace.
- I didn't have to wash the car before our trip tomorrow. They decided to do it, after playing baseball all day. 
- and how cool they are, I am getting to speak at a conference in Mass. next week.- I have redefined peace.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
The Great "Raid Expansion" (where the whittling led)
So there they were, on the back steps with their sticks and their whittling knives, in boyish whittling communion. That's where I left them, to whittling peace. I asked about the specifics of the game ideas later.
"I'm going to open a weapons shop," said Gillen.
"I'll make more quests for the weekly raiding with the Wilson brothers," thought Jesse. All raids need good weapons (used on trees and crash test hay dummies, by the way, not on each other).
The great raid expansion game was born. The next day, when the Wilson brothers came to the farm, there would be new quests and new weapons for them to buy, with money created by Gillen and Jesse.
Gillen made "AC"s and "Q"s (the money). Jesse made "honor marks" which would lead them to strategically placed clues around the farm. They both made "open" and "closed" signs for the tables where they would display their wares.
Gillen made several weapons.
This morning, they rushed to the farm to set up the clues, and their tables, before the Wilsons' arrival. 
Gillen was pulled away to have lots of pictures taken, by Angelina, for an article about he and his turkeys:
Jesse munched on the whites of Bok Choi (handing me the greens) and read his book, his honor marks hidden under sticks and rocks, where they waited for the Wilson boys to get there.
And then, they came!
They loved the quests. After completing each one they came back and used their "AC"s and "Q"s to buy more, 
and to buy a weapon:
Apparently, this expansion of the raiding game is going to continue every week, as long as the quest ideas and armour/weapon improvements keep coming (as well as the raiding customers, of course).
"I'm going to open a weapons shop," said Gillen.
"I'll make more quests for the weekly raiding with the Wilson brothers," thought Jesse. All raids need good weapons (used on trees and crash test hay dummies, by the way, not on each other).
The great raid expansion game was born. The next day, when the Wilson brothers came to the farm, there would be new quests and new weapons for them to buy, with money created by Gillen and Jesse.
Gillen made "AC"s and "Q"s (the money). Jesse made "honor marks" which would lead them to strategically placed clues around the farm. They both made "open" and "closed" signs for the tables where they would display their wares.
Gillen made several weapons.
This morning, they rushed to the farm to set up the clues, and their tables, before the Wilsons' arrival. 
Gillen was pulled away to have lots of pictures taken, by Angelina, for an article about he and his turkeys:
Jesse munched on the whites of Bok Choi (handing me the greens) and read his book, his honor marks hidden under sticks and rocks, where they waited for the Wilson boys to get there.
And then, they came!
They loved the quests. After completing each one they came back and used their "AC"s and "Q"s to buy more, 
and to buy a weapon:
Apparently, this expansion of the raiding game is going to continue every week, as long as the quest ideas and armour/weapon improvements keep coming (as well as the raiding customers, of course).
Monday, July 27, 2009
Whittling Brothers
What a good day. It was one of those meandering, never know where they're going to end up unschooling days that I felt privileged to witness, handing them food, drink and other supplies when asked, but mostly trying to stay out of their way. Maybe I'll get to adding in more details tomorrow. If not, this was a favorite bit - the two of them whittling together on the back deck, plotting a new game (which they then perfected for hours).
Monday, July 13, 2009
The Farming Gene
These are the hands of a farmer, who creates life by skillfully playing in the soil. You can't see all of his callouses and scars here, but I know them well. I like hands, especially these. 
Here is a boy in a moment of regret.
This son of a farmer had agreed that he did indeed want to work at the farm for a bit yesterday. But then there was this moment of remorse. Jesse has many other passions, beside farming, that make any farming genes less apparent for now.
He does, however, have great staying power. He could have left with me to pick up Gillen. But he decided to stick it out. When I came back, he had seeded six trays of lettuce and was hitching a ride on the tractor to move out the spent tomato plants - not a fun job. Look at his face! At the farm! Not playing a game or running on a field. Joyfully farming. (Also look at our cheerleader worker John, but don't let him distract you from Jesse's new face. Cheerleaders will do that - distract you from the main event.)
Then there is Gillen, who inspired this post. He is a farmer. For him, it runs deep. Yesterday, he had gotten up before 7am (after a late night in Atlanta with us) to go to his archery/hunter safety camp. When I picked him up mid-day, he was tired. We got to the farm and he saw that Camp Kingfisher was there (they bring campers to the farm once a month). He leaped out of the car and ran to the field where they were working and stayed there for hours, way after the campers had left.
I understand liking the dirt and nature, and appreciating the abundance of good food, but not the having to farm. I don't have the farmer gene (just a willingness to serve the farmers and to wash their jeans).
This is a bunch of campers looking the way I would have looked if you had told me "for nature camp today, we are going to drive for an hour to a farm and get to do some hard work!"
But every once in a while, despite the heat and the bugs and other realities of outdoor summer work, a camper finds that they have farmer tendency or even farmer genes. It's usually the girls.
I'm so grateful for the farmer genes that inspire this back breaking, vital work. So, we learned recently, is Jesse. We saw a commercial for a devise that allows you to grow tomatoes by hanging them upside down. It's called the topsy turvy. The commercial stressed how much work the farmer has to do and asked why you would want to break your back doing this when you can just let the topsy turvy work for you?
Then a topsy turvy showed up at the farm.
It hadn't been working for someone, so Nicolas agreed to try using it in a hoop house. Jesse saw it and started crying. He hates the topsy turvy people, whom he feels don't rightfully appreciate farmers. Maybe, too, he realized he didn't completely like the back breaking work himself. It was powerful to see him so passionately defending the farmer.
Here is a boy in a moment of regret.
This son of a farmer had agreed that he did indeed want to work at the farm for a bit yesterday. But then there was this moment of remorse. Jesse has many other passions, beside farming, that make any farming genes less apparent for now.He does, however, have great staying power. He could have left with me to pick up Gillen. But he decided to stick it out. When I came back, he had seeded six trays of lettuce and was hitching a ride on the tractor to move out the spent tomato plants - not a fun job. Look at his face! At the farm! Not playing a game or running on a field. Joyfully farming. (Also look at our cheerleader worker John, but don't let him distract you from Jesse's new face. Cheerleaders will do that - distract you from the main event.)
Then there is Gillen, who inspired this post. He is a farmer. For him, it runs deep. Yesterday, he had gotten up before 7am (after a late night in Atlanta with us) to go to his archery/hunter safety camp. When I picked him up mid-day, he was tired. We got to the farm and he saw that Camp Kingfisher was there (they bring campers to the farm once a month). He leaped out of the car and ran to the field where they were working and stayed there for hours, way after the campers had left.I understand liking the dirt and nature, and appreciating the abundance of good food, but not the having to farm. I don't have the farmer gene (just a willingness to serve the farmers and to wash their jeans).
This is a bunch of campers looking the way I would have looked if you had told me "for nature camp today, we are going to drive for an hour to a farm and get to do some hard work!"
But every once in a while, despite the heat and the bugs and other realities of outdoor summer work, a camper finds that they have farmer tendency or even farmer genes. It's usually the girls.I'm so grateful for the farmer genes that inspire this back breaking, vital work. So, we learned recently, is Jesse. We saw a commercial for a devise that allows you to grow tomatoes by hanging them upside down. It's called the topsy turvy. The commercial stressed how much work the farmer has to do and asked why you would want to break your back doing this when you can just let the topsy turvy work for you?
Then a topsy turvy showed up at the farm.
It hadn't been working for someone, so Nicolas agreed to try using it in a hoop house. Jesse saw it and started crying. He hates the topsy turvy people, whom he feels don't rightfully appreciate farmers. Maybe, too, he realized he didn't completely like the back breaking work himself. It was powerful to see him so passionately defending the farmer.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Brothers
They play hard, argue passionately and defend one another ferociously. I've learned so much watching these two interact, including what I've modeled that works, and what doesn't. And I'm learning that the wrestling matches are some kind of male bonding ritual that is really not about anger at all. Nine times out of ten, no one gets hurt and there is often an awful lot of giggling involved. I admit, I prefer watching them bond over guitars, in the pool, playing baseball or playing World of Warcraft. I can't help it. I'm a girl. But I'm getting more male-educated and brother-enamored every day.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Father's Day
The boys are back in town! We are so happy to have them home.It was a good week. Jesse created a video game called "Sacred" and Gillen had a blast discovering the world of Crime Scene Investigation. I didn't rewrite a book or anything but that will come. I'm taking my time on the rewrite. I did de-clutter closets, photos and my mind!
Back to the joy of baseball in the backyard followed by pool relief.
Jesse is wearing his new baseball birthday gifts - a Blue Jays hat from Poppy and cleats from us.
This is one great papa. It will be challenging to show him just how much we love him. Gillen made him meusli this morning. They both made sweet cards. I got him some new headphones. We're going to see "Up" with him later. It's not a parade, like I'd like. But it's a start.
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Boy friendship
Today, Gillen recruited his new friend David to help him shovel and spread compost.
Jesse and the Wilson brothers played lots of hide and seek, tag and their usual raiding game with swords and sticks - sorry, they call them "maces".
They do this for hours and rarely give each other a scratch. 
Last night, this brave six year old boy spent the night here, without his brothers. It was his first sleepover without them, ever. He really wanted it. It was challenging, in the dark, with so many new sounds and a new bed, but he went the distance.
Even with the constant physical play, the volume, the booger and butt talk, I really like hanging out with these boys.
Jesse and the Wilson brothers played lots of hide and seek, tag and their usual raiding game with swords and sticks - sorry, they call them "maces".
They do this for hours and rarely give each other a scratch. 
Last night, this brave six year old boy spent the night here, without his brothers. It was his first sleepover without them, ever. He really wanted it. It was challenging, in the dark, with so many new sounds and a new bed, but he went the distance.
Even with the constant physical play, the volume, the booger and butt talk, I really like hanging out with these boys.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Home
In my opinion, there is not much that can compete with the joy of holding a six-week old baby. Isha is feminine, tiny and perfect. I washed our clothes yesterday but was careful to leave out the shirt that smells like her. It was hard to say goodbye to she and my sister.
At the same time, it was wonderful coming home to my guys, and to the newest blossoms from the farm:
Today, Gillen, Jesse and I finally had a quiet day at home. I have been fully appreciating all that these eight and eleven year old boys are about. No more intoxicating essence coming from the top of their heads, but it is nice to sometimes know what they are wanting/thinking. 
I did not take my camera to Montana but my sister let me take a few with her's and will be sending me a CD. I'll get to wax poetic about Isha then.
At the same time, it was wonderful coming home to my guys, and to the newest blossoms from the farm:
Today, Gillen, Jesse and I finally had a quiet day at home. I have been fully appreciating all that these eight and eleven year old boys are about. No more intoxicating essence coming from the top of their heads, but it is nice to sometimes know what they are wanting/thinking. 
I did not take my camera to Montana but my sister let me take a few with her's and will be sending me a CD. I'll get to wax poetic about Isha then.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Where the Boys Are
This past weekend, visiting Boston and Brookline and my friends from thirty years ago, was magical. I loved growing up in that part of the world alongside those people. Much of my long-ago past rushed back to me through the city smells, the walking, the subway rides, the ancient bricks, the street signs and through the (previously forgotten to me) stories shared by my friends. I will post about it soon.
Today, it was all about my guys. Being away from them for a few days, especially when there is a plane involved, always makes me smotheringly appreciative of them when I return. I so love Boston. But this is where the boys are.
Nicolas hosted a big Seeds of Change event at the farm today. I blogged about it at that other blog. I love watching him talk about the farm. Even better was the moment when he pulled me into the barn, opened the cooler and... (you're having crazy thoughts now, aren't you) handed me a huge bunch of asparagus he'd put aside for me. Mmmmm...as good as my first kiss ever, with red-headed John Tayer in seventh grade.
There were thirteen new additions to the farm over the weekend. Twelve are from Gillen's heritage breed turkeys, the Bourbon Reds. One is a Standard Bronze turkey. Gillen's glad that he will have so many new heritage birds. He is feeding the poults yogurt and egg yolk (thanks to Danielle) and we hope this group will make it.
Jesse gave me a tour of the vegetables he had discovered on "that really long day" (Friday) that he spent at the farm while I was gone. Thankfully, he had a great time the rest of the weekend.
The tomatoes have outgrown him:
He led me to his favorite row - the sugar snap peas - and picked me a handful.
Despite my love of the Boston Public Library, which I did get to re-visit, there is something to be said for reading Calvin and Hobbes in the middle of an unoccupied field:
It is good to be home.
Today, it was all about my guys. Being away from them for a few days, especially when there is a plane involved, always makes me smotheringly appreciative of them when I return. I so love Boston. But this is where the boys are.
Nicolas hosted a big Seeds of Change event at the farm today. I blogged about it at that other blog. I love watching him talk about the farm. Even better was the moment when he pulled me into the barn, opened the cooler and... (you're having crazy thoughts now, aren't you) handed me a huge bunch of asparagus he'd put aside for me. Mmmmm...as good as my first kiss ever, with red-headed John Tayer in seventh grade.
There were thirteen new additions to the farm over the weekend. Twelve are from Gillen's heritage breed turkeys, the Bourbon Reds. One is a Standard Bronze turkey. Gillen's glad that he will have so many new heritage birds. He is feeding the poults yogurt and egg yolk (thanks to Danielle) and we hope this group will make it.
Jesse gave me a tour of the vegetables he had discovered on "that really long day" (Friday) that he spent at the farm while I was gone. Thankfully, he had a great time the rest of the weekend.The tomatoes have outgrown him:
He led me to his favorite row - the sugar snap peas - and picked me a handful.
Despite my love of the Boston Public Library, which I did get to re-visit, there is something to be said for reading Calvin and Hobbes in the middle of an unoccupied field:
It is good to be home.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Kids interview meme
I stole this from Ginger's blog. I was so surprised by how willing Gillen and Jesse were to be interviewed. And then, their answers! I hope you get a chance to do this with your kids.
1. What is something your mom always says to you?
Gillen: I love you
Jesse: Do you want to go on a walk with Tuki and I?
2. What makes your mom happy?
G: Doing art together
J: When we do things together
3. What makes your mom sad?
G: when we don’t even want to try something
J: When we aren’t a man of our word.
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
G: By dancing
J: By singing
5. What did your mom like to do when she was a child?
G:play with friends and watch “Saturday Night Live”
J: play with friends
6. How old is your mom?
G: 44
J: 45
7. How tall is your mom?
Jesse:5” 3”
Gillen: 5’ 8”
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
G: Write and finish a book
J: Art and watch “Grey’s Anatomy”
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
G: clean the house
J: write a book
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
G: Being an actor
J: Being a celloist (interviewer's note - I have yet to touch the cello)
11. What is your mom really good at?
G: Everything
J: Being an unschooler
12. What is your mom not very good at?
G: hunting
J: singing
13. What does your mom do for her job?
G: nothing
J: Unschooling
14. What is your mom's favorite food?
G: Lemon tart with fresh blackberries
J: Creme Brulee
15. What makes you proud of your mom?
G: That she can take really good pictures
J: That she gives me freedom to decide things
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
G: Elastigirl, Popeye
J: Jen in Sixteen
17. What do you and your mom do together?
G: Art, photography
J: eat
18. How are you and your mom the same?
G: we both love the spring and to take pictures of flowers
J: we both like string instruments
19. How are you and your mom different?
G: I like to hunt and don’t like board games anymore
J: I don’t care how I write and she does care about her handwriting
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
J:Trust me, you can tell!
G: She says it everyday and she is very kind
21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
G: That he is bald and that he is Belgian
J: That he is papa and a farmer
22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
G: Home
J: somewhere she’s never been
Whenever I'm in a funk, I am going to remember that I AM Elastigirl and that I have a son who believes that I will be great at the cello.
1. What is something your mom always says to you?
Gillen: I love you
Jesse: Do you want to go on a walk with Tuki and I?
2. What makes your mom happy?
G: Doing art together
J: When we do things together
3. What makes your mom sad?
G: when we don’t even want to try something
J: When we aren’t a man of our word.
4. How does your mom make you laugh?
G: By dancing
J: By singing
5. What did your mom like to do when she was a child?
G:play with friends and watch “Saturday Night Live”
J: play with friends
6. How old is your mom?
G: 44
J: 45
7. How tall is your mom?
Jesse:5” 3”
Gillen: 5’ 8”
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
G: Write and finish a book
J: Art and watch “Grey’s Anatomy”
9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
G: clean the house
J: write a book
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
G: Being an actor
J: Being a celloist (interviewer's note - I have yet to touch the cello)
11. What is your mom really good at?
G: Everything
J: Being an unschooler
12. What is your mom not very good at?
G: hunting
J: singing
13. What does your mom do for her job?
G: nothing
J: Unschooling
14. What is your mom's favorite food?
G: Lemon tart with fresh blackberries
J: Creme Brulee
15. What makes you proud of your mom?
G: That she can take really good pictures
J: That she gives me freedom to decide things
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
G: Elastigirl, Popeye
J: Jen in Sixteen
17. What do you and your mom do together?
G: Art, photography
J: eat
18. How are you and your mom the same?
G: we both love the spring and to take pictures of flowers
J: we both like string instruments
19. How are you and your mom different?
G: I like to hunt and don’t like board games anymore
J: I don’t care how I write and she does care about her handwriting
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
J:Trust me, you can tell!
G: She says it everyday and she is very kind
21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
G: That he is bald and that he is Belgian
J: That he is papa and a farmer
22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
G: Home
J: somewhere she’s never been
Whenever I'm in a funk, I am going to remember that I AM Elastigirl and that I have a son who believes that I will be great at the cello.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Farm Capers
It was a beautiful day at the farm; except for these ugly guys, and their brothers and sisters. Really, nothing like they looked and acted as poults and not half as cute as even the adult Muscovy ducks. I am impressed with how quickly their faces turn a horrible shade of blue and how alive their feathers become when I enter their pen.
We helped Nicolas and his gang put up two more high tunnels. Well, we held down some of the plastic for a short while and were then told to go play, but I sensed that we were vitally important for that windy period of time.
And then I got to take pictures. It was a perfect day for it. The barely blossoming plum trees were conducting the clouds.
The tractor posed through the tire swing. 
We brought home lots of Kale and ate it cold as a salad - mixed with 2 tbls. braggs (your can also use soy sauce), 2 tbls. olive oil, 1 tbls. apple cider vinegar, sea salt and garlic powder. It takes lots of massaging to tenderize the leaves. 
I love the subtle highlights on the Swiss Chard:
Jesse played restaurant, picking and washing lots of greens and baby turnips and then plating them up:
As well as admiring his place between the sun and the earth.
Gillen and his friend Aaron (who is out of school for the week) started work on a new fort.
There were some territorial wars for a bit when Jesse decided to build a fort forty or so feet away from Gillen's property. We sat in the woods and talked about it for a while and finally they came up with a solution. It's amazing, with so much land to share that they still feel conflict over boundaries. Is this just human nature?
I quietly wondered why they didn't just want to renovate the old fort, which is filled with beautiful bamboo. Jesse hung out there for a while before following the scent of men who have moved on to "bigger and better" real estate.
Gillen's lack of neighborly spirit with Jesse was probably partly due to frustration over not being given the green light to drive the farm truck alone with friend Aaron to the back fields. He is a good driver but not quite ready, at eleven, to show off his off-road shifting abilities to anyone but us. Though I'm afraid that Nicolas doesn't agree.
Because I was there, he was reduced to playing Top Gear (a favorite tv show, that we're watching as I type) in the Radio Flyer.
I hope this is the beginning of a new season of Monday Farm Photos, with more vegetables next time. I promise.
We helped Nicolas and his gang put up two more high tunnels. Well, we held down some of the plastic for a short while and were then told to go play, but I sensed that we were vitally important for that windy period of time.
And then I got to take pictures. It was a perfect day for it. The barely blossoming plum trees were conducting the clouds.
The tractor posed through the tire swing. 
We brought home lots of Kale and ate it cold as a salad - mixed with 2 tbls. braggs (your can also use soy sauce), 2 tbls. olive oil, 1 tbls. apple cider vinegar, sea salt and garlic powder. It takes lots of massaging to tenderize the leaves. 
I love the subtle highlights on the Swiss Chard:
Jesse played restaurant, picking and washing lots of greens and baby turnips and then plating them up:
As well as admiring his place between the sun and the earth.
Gillen and his friend Aaron (who is out of school for the week) started work on a new fort.
There were some territorial wars for a bit when Jesse decided to build a fort forty or so feet away from Gillen's property. We sat in the woods and talked about it for a while and finally they came up with a solution. It's amazing, with so much land to share that they still feel conflict over boundaries. Is this just human nature?I quietly wondered why they didn't just want to renovate the old fort, which is filled with beautiful bamboo. Jesse hung out there for a while before following the scent of men who have moved on to "bigger and better" real estate.
Gillen's lack of neighborly spirit with Jesse was probably partly due to frustration over not being given the green light to drive the farm truck alone with friend Aaron to the back fields. He is a good driver but not quite ready, at eleven, to show off his off-road shifting abilities to anyone but us. Though I'm afraid that Nicolas doesn't agree.Because I was there, he was reduced to playing Top Gear (a favorite tv show, that we're watching as I type) in the Radio Flyer.
I hope this is the beginning of a new season of Monday Farm Photos, with more vegetables next time. I promise.
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