Haven’t blogged for a while, but i couldn’t pass up this opportunity to brag on Carman (now 13 and a half and in full bloom in so many ways) and on Wikipedia. Here goes…
So, over breakfast, Carman and I (Marathon) were reading an article that included the following (probably apocryphal) anecdote:
“After 9/11, staffers and others present in the white house realized they didn’t know where Afghanistan was and had to find a globe.”
He laughed at that and said it would be “so easy” to know a thing like that. I looked back at him suspiciously.
Then I had an idea: “Okay, wise guy, you draw a map on this side of the refrigerator and I’ll draw mine on that side. Draw Afghanistan and the countries around it.”
A minute later, we had our maps. First I’ll show you mine.
I knew that Afghanistan didn’t have any coastline, but I couldn’t seem to resolve it without having India border Afghanistan to the south. Iran to the west and Pakistan to the east were easy, and I stabbed in the dark the Kazakhstan lay north.
Okay, here’s Carman’s map. Wow! He nailed the (very important) shape of Pakistan and stayed away from my error of having India border Af. Also, he surpassed me by naming Turkmenistan as one of the northern neighbors. We both messed up with Kazakhstan — The other northern neighbor turns out to be Tajikistan.
So, how does one account for a 13 year old who can do this? I would lay the credit on two things.
First, in our house, we talk about the world: politics, economics, history, etc. It’s one of those homeschool freebies.
Second, Milkmaid and I decided — about a year ago– to give the older kids free run of certain websites, the most important of which is Wikipedia. Since then, Carman estimates he has visited over a thousand Wikipedia pages, usually liking for some snippet of info about a country or event that interests him.
Moral: freedom opens the door for unexpected things. Some of them really good things.
Here are some recent hits we found at the library:
Supersister by Beth Cadena, illustrated by Frank W. Dormer - a little girl appears to be full of herself — until you get to the sweet ending.
My Abuelita by Tony Johnston, illustrated by Yuyi Morales - from a child’s perspective about living with her larger-than-life grandmother. Spanish words sprinkled throughout.
Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Chris Van Dusen - my 3 reading children think these books are hysterical. Silly, silly, silly with cute illustrations.
Inkheart by Cornelia Flunke - this one was a big hit with my 12-year old son. Almost as intriguing as Harry Potter.
Another tooth is gone. We can’t find it. This time Doodle doesn’t even know when it came out! Sudoku noticed that it wasn’t in his mouth. When she asked, “Doodle, where’s your tooth?”, he just gave her a puzzled look.
My eldest (with the smug grin below) is a magnet for 4-leaf clovers. He claims that last spring he found 8 in one day. He has no proof of that claim. But he did find 5 yesterday (we have proof and witnesses) without even trying to find them! Somehow, he just seems to spot them from afar — or something? For instance, he was climbing our rope swing, looked down and spotted a 4-leafer. He jumped down and picked it. I don’t know how he does it. And neither does he.
He’s found a couple of 5-leaf clovers too.
Maybe we have some lucky clover patches in the yard? Sudoku has found a couple of four-leaf clovers this season too. Is this normal?
Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Tom Lichtenheld - about perceptions; simple and funny
Spot It!: Find the Hidden Creatures by Delphine Chedru - these hidden creatures your three year old can find. Mine was delighted.
The Big Blue Bowl: Sign Language for Food by Dawn Babb Prochovnic, illustrated by Stephanie Bauer - cute and pretty clear. My little ones loved it, and I saw one of the older ones checking out the signs.
It’s a Snap!: George Eastman’s First Photograph by Monica Kulling, illustrated by Bill Slavin - great story and great illustrations. (I enjoyed this the most. It will be most appreciated by adults.)
Have you discovered some literary delights for your littles? Please share.
“Kid’s Folk Music” station on Pandora. You’ll hear Professor Banjo, Wayne Potash, Woody Gunthrie, Enzo Garcia, John Kirk and Trish Miller, Dan Zanes, Jack Johnson, Kimya Dawson…
Years ago a friend told me about making hummus. And though in theory I like to try new things, I tend to be a stuck-in-a-rut kind of gal, and never got around to trying it.
Years later (recently), I finally made some hummus after buying some tahini and then searching for something to do with it. Hummus was the answer. My first batch was tolerable, but not great. Subsequent batches have gotten better, and we really enjoy it now as a vegetable dip or sandwich spread.
I don’t really follow a recipe. I just mix things in until it seems right. Here’s the basic instructions.
I put the following in a blender, blend, taste, modify and repeat.
1 can garbanzo beans
2-3 Tablespoons tahini
about 1/2 cup Daisy sour cream
about 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 clove crushed garlic
salt to taste
about 1/2 teaspoon cumin
This could be healthier if I bought dried garbanzo beans, soaked and cooked them myself. Or…I wonder if this dish would work with sprouted beans. Has anyone tried this?
The other new thing I tried was a recipe using puffed millet I had picked up with the intent of making a healthy version of a Rice Crispy treat. Instead, Sudoku suggested we try a recipe on the back of the bag for Cheesy Dill Squares. I didn’t have dill on hand, so we used basil instead. They were sooo yummy and surprisingly filling (thanks to all the healthy fats). Here’s the recipe (we double it and bake in a 9×13″ pan):
Mix together the following:
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. black pepper
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup pastry flour (I used arrowroot powder)
1 egg
about 2 tablespoon lemon juice
Then fold in 2 cups puffed millet.
Press into a greased 8″ square pan. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes, or until lightly browned. 20 minutes was just right for my pan and oven.
We had a sunny, balmy afternoon a couple of weeks, and we went to our local Nature Center to take in the sunshine and fresh air. I thought I’d pull these photos out. They’re a nice break from all the rain we’ve been having.
on the boardwalk
With Rosebud walking (rather than riding in the stroller) my hands were free to take pictures. I was rather unhappy though with how these turned out. I guess my hand wasn’t too steady. And the pictures look browner than I remember the day being. Funny how that happens.
Doodle has lost his tooth. I mean, it came out of his mouth, and it is lost. Gone. Poof.
I think we may be jinxed in the lost tooth department.
My first tooth was washed down my grandparents’ sink when I tried to clean the bloody thing. Carman’s first loose tooth was pulled out with a piece of string, shot across the floor and was never found. Sudoku swallowed hers when she was eating lunch. (Marathon has never mentioned losing a lost tooth, but for whatever reason, our kids are following in my steps. Hopefully Rosebud will buck the trend some day.)
A couple of nights ago, while Marathon was playing with Doodle and Rosebud, Rosebud bumped Doodle’s mouth and out came the tooth. Doodle feels certain he didn’t swallow it, but we’ve looked and looked and can’t find that tiny baby tooth.
Marathon sent the Tooth Fairy an email, explaining the situation. Doodle was delighted when he found some dinero under his pillow this morning.
Later he got a twinkle in his eye as he speculated about finding his tooth, then putting it under his pillow, as if he had lost a 2nd tooth. With eyebrows rising and falling he said, “Maybe the Tooth Fairy will give me more money!”
But no. We’re not going to trick the Tooth Fairy. Anyway, I’m pretty sure she has x-ray vision, you know.
We’ve been dancing frequently lately. We’ve been contra-dancing as a family, and Marathon and I have given swing dance a try too. Contra dance offers a family friendly setting. No dance partner or experience necessary. Lots of fun for people 9-ish and up. Since the caller goes through the steps before each dance, contra-dance seems like a great way to begin dancing.
Swing dance is great for couples. The basic swing step is easy, but there are all these complicated twists and moves that can be integrated with (or used instead of) the basic swing step. Lots of room for creativity and learning with your partner.
Next dance to learn: the shim sham. Frankie Manning makes this look so very fun.
