know your religions

Test your knowledge of world religions at the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life by clicking here: QUIZ

I got 100%, but that's no surprise. I was educated at Brigham Young University, after all. Apparently atheists, Jews and Mormons score highest. Why exactly? Do they feel more compelled to study religion because they find themselves needing to defend their faith (or lack thereof)? Or do they value education more than other groups? Or is it the other way around--could there be a correlation between being educated and ending up atheist, Jewish or Mormon?

I'm going to refrain from editorializing on the specific questions specific groups missed until you all get a chance to take the quiz. Spoilers are welcome in the comments, however!

Here is an extra little quiz. Name the three religions (in order) represented in the edifices below:

on his birthday

My Dad is

supportive Kind loving true sympathetic loyal DEDICATED creative thoughtful CURIOUS  frugal willing understanding DUTIFUL helpful realistic steadfast caring careful funny energetic personable SMART  thrifty diligent PROTECTIVE  honest HONORABLE down-to-earth 

Our GRANDPA is

friendly FUN sneaky manly artistic athletic enthusiastic CRAFTSY excited contemplative welcome accommodating ENGAGED NICE easy-going  motivated  experienced  prepared happy welcoming

Mike says, Eldon is

anxiousy-engaged selfless accomplished GENEROUS equitable  outdoorsy FIT well-read  pensive  learned PRACTICAL

 seven candles, one per decade!

where there's a will...

there's a way.

But what if there's no will? That's me tonight. Too tired. No will, no way.

slurp [slurp]

–verb (used with object)

1.

to ingest (food or drink) with loud sucking noises: He slurped his milk.

2.

to upload the contents of a blog into a bookmaking program, like Blurb.

 

imagine the possibilities...

As soon as I finished graduate school and moved out here I found myself at loose ends. I was Berkeley's mommy and little else. I baked so many cookies Mike's coworkers began to make fun of him. Then Sam came along...and since then I've been at full tilt. (...and then I had the girls.)

Now I'm slowing down a bit. You'd think with the youngest in first grade I'd have some serious life-long plans coming swiftly to fruition, right? But no. It's been the same-old. Laundry, dishes, housework, grocery shopping, running art literacy, grading SAT essays, serving in the church...all the stuff I did before, minus the cute little pitter-patter and endless prattle to accompany me. Don't get me wrong: I'm not bored, or even that lonely...but I don't feel as accomplished at the end of each day as I was expecting to.

So I'm wondering if maybe I were REALLY disciplined, and got myself into some kind of schedule, could I accomplish more?  
Maybe I could...
Work out religiously
Learn how not to kill plants
Knit booties for all my future grandchildren
(Learn to knit)
Publish a cookbook
Get better at the guitar
Record a cd
Write my personal history
Make jewelery
Create photo books for every vacation we've had in the digital age
Organize all my closets, cabinets and drawers
Learn a language
Become a great scholar of scripture
Take some art classes
Get another degree...

Feel free to add to the list! What possibilities do you imagine for yourself (whenever you get a little extra time)?

shallow waters

I know I promised some deep thoughts when I announced I would be blogging every day. But they haven't really surfaced, have they? You just can't force these things.

I was sitting in church last week, contemplating my soul and salvation, when a lady caught my eye. She had formerly been blond, and is now light brunette. I've been thinking about cutting my hair short, and now this new idea has seized me. Why not try a color change? And now that I'm fully accessing the shallowest part of my nature by blogging about my hair, I'm going to go ahead and ask for input. Short and brown. Long and brown. Short and blond. Or long and blond?

I admire those ladies who can do a complete change of "look." I just don't know if I can pull it off.

Nothing like this:












Maybe something like this (Who is she, anyway?):

oops

I missed a day. Mike was on my computer when I was getting on my jammies. Next thing I know I had dozed off and it was 12:04 am. Too late to blog. Or maybe I was just too tired to make it happen. I blew it!

Do I have to remove my NaBloPoMo insignia?

OR how about I do two posts today?

art education

Every child is an artist. Adults? Not so much. At some point in life, while riding the conveyor-belt that is modern education, most people get the artist-within stamped right out of them. When they are given a blank canvas and supplies, they ask, what do you want me to paint? What are the steps? The procedures? Is this good? Is this what you wanted?

Children can enjoy the process. Dipping the brush in the paint, watching forms appear. They may or may not  have a plan, but they are generally proud of their results. If you give them direction, they say, "okay, but can I do such-and-such instead?" They are natural-born creators.

Monet's "Water Lilies"

We had our first art literacy meetings of the year. Art Literacy is our school district's answer to insufficient funding for real art teachers. Parents volunteer to teach a monthly one-hour lesson. I get to help plan those lessons and train the parents. We begin this year with Claude Monet, who saw the mottled light in every outdoor scene and strove to depict it with short, dabbed brush strokes. The kids get to see slides of his art, then try their own little Monet project. They dip a Qtip into liquid starch, then into powdered pigment, then dab it onto watercolor paper. They create a painting out of little dabs.

These kids are six! Isn't their art wonderful?

I am no artist but I love teaching art to the children. And the adults. My experience with training adults is that they pay close attention to the directions, ask lots of questions, feel insecure about attempting projects themselves, and then often disparage their own art. BUT they also tend to feel the sheer pleasure of having created something. We should all resuscitate the inner-artist once in awhile!

I love being a mom because...

Among a billion other reasons, it's an excuse to get excited about things. Things an adult isn't supposed to be excited about, like an airplane flying by, a squirrel in the tree outside, or cupcakes with sprinkles...

Or the next HARRY POTTER MOVIE!!!

Fifty-eight days and counting!

meet me at the equinox

After days of gloomy rain, today felt like a peace offering--a reminder that while summer can be dark and rainy,  autumn can be clear and sunny. The girls and I took a long walk in the sunshine this afternoon. I ambitiously put in an order for more fruit, so next week will be all canning, all the time. I love this time of year.

But I want to remember some of the good times of summer, so this post will be a photographic tour of highlights. (Please remember, my decent camera is broken, so these are from my phone--lame, I know.)

First, my beloved Camp Alpine. My family wasn't able to have our annual family reunion, and we wanted to keep our foothold in the reservation system. So my parents let me invite a few friends that week. Between new friends and old, we were able to conjure up a pretty realistic looking fake family. We even had the traditional (un) family talent show. 

My parents came out each day to enjoy the food and company, and to make sure we didn't sully the family name. I enjoyed every minute, but also realized how much my parents do each year to make it all happen! Thanks, mom and dad!

We also enjoyed a few different fun trips to the coast. This is Sam with his buddy Ian, constructing a deluxe "fairy house."

 

We also got to help celebrate friend Katcina's nuptials. Every reception should have s'mores at the end!

We took the obligatory trip to Utah, for a great time with girl cousins.

We also played in our backyard nearly every day, goofing off with friends.

And we did some amazing things with berries. Maia is happier than she looks, posing with our "pavlova," a meringue filled with deliciousness, topped with whipped cream.

 

Sigh... now I guess I'm ready to embrace a new season.

fragrant harvest

Mmmm... I spent the day turning this

and this

into these

Grape juice and peach cobbler. My house smells amazing right now.

annie, get your gun

Our local church is going to do "Annie, Get Your Gun." Coincidentally, we had the opportunity to see a production of it when we were in Utah last month. I dragged everyone there to try to drum up enthusiasm because I have fantasized about being in a play as a whole family. I wanted all of us to try out together.

Although I am a huge fan of theater, I have limited acting experience. In high school I played Ado Annie in "Oklahoma!" She's the girl who "caint say 'no'"--the hilariously dim strumpet who gets kissed a lot before settling down with one lucky farmer.  As opening night approached, I talked it up to everyone: friends, my teachers, grocery store clerks... I remember one teacher looking me right in the eye and saying he would not be attending because he was opposed to the gender stereotypes perpetuated in plays like "Oklahoma!." Um, yeah. That was me--Ado Annie--one of the worst female stereotypes on stage. I was self confident enough to go on with the show, but his comments stuck with me.

As we watched "Annie, Get Your Gun" last month, I squirmed a little at the end. I forgot that she has to fake incompetence to win the man of her dreams. He loves her and she loves him, but her talent gets in the way. The production was great, the music is so fun, and being in a musical is a magical experience. So magical it's hard to see straight. My girls were entranced...here they are with the spunky sharpshooter herself.

Annie Oakley is a much better role-model than Ado Annie, and YES, we're going to be in the play (just the girls and I, just as "townspeople.") Hopefully my girls will not get sick of me whispering to them my own editorial in the wings: Annie didn't have to sell herself short. A girl shouldn't have to apologize for being better. (But she probably doesn't need to rub it in a guy's face, either.)

binge and purge

We took the gang out to Izzy's buffet tonight to celebrate Berkeley and Matthew's PRs (personal records) today at their Cross Country meet. We are so thankful for cross country and good coaches. We are especially thankful for good friends like Matthew. The teenagers made the mistake of asking where the phrase "Maybe the dingo ate your baby..." originated. So we had to watch this youtube clip several times.

It was all fun and games until Maia's fifth trip to the icecream bar. For some reason she asked for a bowl of clam chowder. Then she started to gag a little, holding her hand over her mouth, indicating with wild panic that she was going to lose it. We didn't make it to the bathroom.

I felt a little mad at her. As I cleaned her up I impatiently asked, "didn't you listen to your body? And why on earth would you ask for clam chowder?" She said "I was listening to my body! My body said maybe that was too much chocolate, so I made a sundae with caramel and then one with strawberry, then my body said that was too much, so I tried just vanilla, you know. And then my body said, it's just too much sweetness. So I thought, maybe some clam chowder."

Yikes.

instruments of rock

Our boy Sam started sixth grade band and chose the flute as his instrument. Mike was worried that it's a bit effeminate, but Sam would not be dissuaded. My feeling is that any instrument can rock. So the other night I showed them a flute solo by Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull. Just watch a few minutes and I think you'll agree, a manly man can play the flute just fine.


Go Sam! It may just be "Hot Cross Buns" for now, but you're rockin' it!

to the little gray-haired lady in the red trans am

When I saw your car pull up to the corner I leaned forward to catch a glimpse of the driver, because a red trans am circa 1979 catches my interest. I wanted to see if the driver had the right bravado to pull off such a car. I expected a mustached man in a muscle shirt, and I had distinct plans to peek at him without making eye contact. But it was you, little gray-haired lady, peering over the steering wheel. You're my new hero.



You inspire me. When I am old, not only shall I wear purple, but I may even drive an old red trans am.

decree

All males in this household shall henceforth wear the same brand and size of socks.

Any male found not in compliance will forthwith become his own laundress.

All previously owned socks are now considered banned and will be disposed of on sight.



Effective immediately.
Signed, the Queen

p.s. Girls--we're going to adopt a similar plan. In a couple of years.

baggage

I decided to re-purpose a bag I used to take to church, but haven't used in a while.

Here are the contents, unceremoniously dumped on my stairs.



There are a couple of things in there I need and have looked for...(like my good capo. And my kubaton.) ...And about a hundred things I don't need and have not looked for. Okay, more than a hundred.

27 pens. Eleven pencils. Three crayons. Two bakugans, a littlest petshop critter. Motion sickness pills (from the bag's previous purpose as a cruise carryall). An unopened birthday party invitation from back in March. (oops!)

I feel like a chump for carrying around all that baggage voluntarily.

answer key

Here is the answer key to the super advanced grammar quiz. Or maybe it's just a rough draft of the answer key.

1. To the people that say "take," I say "give."

Replace "that" with "who."

2. That is going to be you and I someday.

Split up the pronoun pair "you and I" and try them one at a time. "That is going to be you someday. That is going to be me someday," but it is never going to be "I someday." That is going to be you and me, baby.

3. His family were gathered all around him.

Mom is right, "all gathered" is better. I hadn't thought of that...I was looking at whether "family" should be singular or plural. The short answer is singular (although sometimes plural in the UK). But then can you say "His family was all gathered around him"? No. "The members of his family were all gathered...," but simplicity is always best: "His family was gathered around him."

4. He laughed at the girl, who he now had a low opinion of.

"The girl" is the object of the laughing, and "who" is a pronoun for "the girl." So it has to be "whom he now had a low opinion of." The rule is use "whom" if you're talking about the object of a verb or a preposition. "Who loves you?" is okay because "who" is the subject. "Whom do you love?" is correct because "whom" is the object of the love.

Mom really cut to the chase, though, reminding me of this: many people think it is not okay to end a sentence a preposition with. As I understand, that is an outmoded throwback to Latin, wherein prepositions are somehow always attached to other words (Those fluent in Latin, please chime in...since I may not really know about what I am talking).

5. What do you want to revenge?

Correct as is!

I had to look it up when I saw the above sentence in a novel last week. I thought revenge was a thing--and that you could seek this thing in order to avenge some other thing. But no, revenge is a verb, and it has to have an object, either a past act, as in "Billy shot his father to revenge a thousand beatings," or a person "Billy shot his father to revenge his little brother, who had endured a thousand beatings."

6. I am thankful to have a family who supports me.

Back to the tricky "family." Change "who" to "that." A family is a thing that supports (well, except in poor Billy's case), not a person who supports.

7. The main parts in the play went to her and Becky.

Correct as is! See #2.

8. Each person should take a page, then they can share their favorite part.

"Each person" has to be followed up with "he or she," then "his or her." Awkward? Yes. Also, the first pronoun is unnecessary (mom's right again). So "each person should take a page, then share his or her favorite part." There are a few progressive grammarphiles out there who think "they" and "their" should be accepted as singular. I assume someone will let us know when they think this is officially true. :0)

9. If she was well, she could travel.

"If she were well, she could travel."

Subjunctive mood indicates things wished for or possible. But the past is the past: "If she was well, she would have been there, but I didn't see her, so maybe she wasn't well that day."

10. Of the two books you read last week, which did you enjoy most?

Debatable. I want someone to help me with this one. I think you want "more," not "most," because we are only talking about two books. "Of the THREE books, you enjoyed one most," whereas "Of the TWO books, you enjoyed one more."

Hope that was as fun for you as it was for me! Next: Punc'ation!!!?

catharsis

My goodness, what great tips I received on dealing with the blues! I appreciate what was said about chocolate, naps, prayer, and serving others. And I especially resonate with the idea of writing as catharsis. So I'm going to blog every day, as planned, even if I don't feel like it. The very process of writing--I mean the physical process--seems to open something up inside and help me tap into my real self. Pen-to-paper is especially effective for me, and it provides the bonus of an extra filter before my thoughts can hit the internet.

A couple of weeks ago I went to a lecture on mental health and was fascinated by the speaker's explanation of depression as a natural occurrence. She said depression is a mechanism that forces you to shut down and spend some time with yourself. (This is the situational, hormonal, or otherwise temporary form of depression--certainly we don't need weeks on end alone with ourselves.) So maybe it's okay to succumb to the inward pull, to retreat into one's self for a day, once in awhile. Under the covers. With ice cream.

But during that time alone I know there is still some "work" to do. Talking it out is necessary. Sometimes writing it down provides me with all the dialogue I need. I've often written out whiny emails, realized just before hitting "send" that I don't feel so bad anymore, erase it all and start over with a more mature perspective. Writing can be all the catharsis I need.

So here's to all the emails unsent and the posts un-posted! Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about censorship and repression. I'm talking about genuinely feeling better. Which I do.

here's the problem

The problem with blogging every day is sometimes I get depressed. I don't answer the phone, and I try to limit my interactions with others because I know only ugliness will come out. I feel nervous and shaky if I have to talk to people. I don't make eye contact. I can fake a happy mood, but only for a little while. Then I have to curl up and hide.

What do you do to get happy again? Please don't phrase it in the form of advice. Just what do you do?

detox day

You remember pledge week, of course. It was the sensational gift of 2009, when we gave up T.V., computer, video games, credit cards, and all unnecessary shopping for a whole week. This was a birthday gift to my sweetheart, and he loved it.

This year we wanted to top it. By some miracle, I got the kids to agree to a "tube cube." We roll it every Monday, and it tells us which day we will enjoy screen-free. The gift that keeps on giving. (Until one of the kids wises up and "loses" the cube.)

What can you do on a day with no T.V., computer, or Wii?

Play a game. We like Settlers, Ticket to Ride, Mystery Garden, Rivers-Roads-Rails, Set, Loot, and Quidler. (Thanks, grandma! Most of those were gifts from you!)

Create art. Watercolor, collage, modeling clay, and pastels are our favorite mediums. Especially collage. Why do I have a big collection of scrapbook paper and stickers anyway? We love to bust it out and use it up.

Listen to audio books. We've gone through six of the seven Harry Potters, all the Gregor the Overlanders, a couple of Percy Jacksons, just to name a few. There's always reading out loud, too. Old fashioned, but it works.

Sing and Dance. We love the sheet music for Fiddler on the Roof, Wicked, Oliver, and the Scarlett Pimpernel. And when I say "we," I'm not just talking about me and the girls. Berkeley started acting out scenes from the Scarlett Pimpernel when he was about six, and now he rocks "Into the Fire" on the piano.

I guess if I were a more balanced person, I wouldn't feel the need to detox. But I do feel the need. Just like I need to swear off sugar and junk food once in awhile. My kids have wondered out loud "when did we agree to this?" But I'm pretty sure they're grateful deep inside.

just usage

So people like grammar, huh? And quizzes! Who'd have figured that's how I'd get a record high number of comments? Well, a couple of you bristled, but I hope you know it's all in fun.

I'm going to wait for Angela, my guru, to comment before I address the actual grammar issues, but I will say that you who commented saw some different problems than I saw. Very interesting. That reminds me, Neil cleverly requested a list of bad word choices, and I just used two of the top ones: very and interesting. So here goes...

Words and phrases to avoid (or at least consider avoiding) in your writing:
-very. If you have to say "very," then the word it is modifying probably just isn't strong enough. Instead of "we were very excited," try "we were ecstatic," or maybe even "over-the-moon."
-"it is interesting to note..." Don't tell me something is interesting. If it's interesting to note, that better be obvious.
-obvious. If you have to point out "it's obvious," then it's not obvious. If you don't have to...why say it?
-"I think," "I feel," or "I believe." You'll usually make a stronger statement without these phrases. And if it's something obviously written by you, it's probably obvious that it contains your thoughts, feelings and beliefs.
-neat. Unless you are talking about something tidy and organized.
-got. As in "She got fifteen dollars for one hour of work." Try "received" or "earned."
-totally.
-anyways.
-awesome.
-a lot.
-irregardless. A lot of people argue that it's an actual word. Yes, some dictionaries are adding it. But they are also adding "refudiate." Part of me wants to scream "Can't we band together and slow the decomposition of our language? Take a stand, people!" But I also see the value of cataloging these little sidesteps, for the sake of history. Maybe the real question is this: what should be the main purpose of a dictionary? (Different post? Okay.)
-that. Often, "that" is just unnecessary, as in "She said that she would go with me."

I can't think of anymore, but maybe you readers can add some to the list. Anyways, irregardless of what I think, I believe that it is very interesting to note how a lot of people find that it is awesome to say a lot of neat things that are really totally about... nothing. (Do you see the only real idea in the previous sentence? Nothing. But that's obvious.)

quiz time

Another funny little thing I started doing in September (along with but not related to blogging daily) is collecting troubling bits of grammar and usage. If something is somewhere on the scale of questionable to appalling, I quickly write it in the "notes" section of my phone. I've even had to pull over to do so, or dictate to a child-passenger. It's becoming a passion.

A couple of these sentences are correct, but most are not. Some may be debatable.

QUIZ
In your comment, write the numbers belonging to sentences you feel or know to be incorrect. You don't have to explain why, but you are welcome to.

1. To the people that say "take," I say "give."

2. That is going to be you and I someday.

3. His family were gathered all around him.

4. He laughed at the girl, who he now had a low opinion of.

5. What do you want to revenge?

6. I am thankful to have a family who supports me.

7. The main parts in the play went to her and Becky.

8. Each person should take a page, then they can share their favorite part.

9. If she was well, she could travel.

10. Of the two books you read last week, which did you enjoy most?

I promise to do an "answer key" post soon. Or maybe a whole series of grammar rule posts, as I come to learn how to explain the answers myself! Wouldn't that be FUN???

all by myself

My first day alone, left to my own devices and what have I done? Cleaned my laundry room. Which isn't even a big room. Probably should not have taken all day. I need to walk down to get my girls in a half an hour, and I have still not even showered.

For me, upcoming change is always a grand illusion: I'll have more time, I'll exercise, I'll get more organized, I'll become more balanced. But the day is gone. The house looks pretty much the same, save one tiny room. I'm still in my workout clothes, but I haven't worked out. Unless you count scrubbing the floor.

I do love my tidy, tiny laundry room though!

end of summer

Today was our last day of summer. We found ourselves at the lake again, this time visiting with cousins. Twenty degrees cooler than last week, but almost everyone jumped in to swim anyway.

These cousins live in a forested paradise, and we love to visit. We get to check the chickens for eggs. We get to take home the eggs and a loaf of fresh bread (and the suggestion of french toast for back-to-school breakfast). We get to hold the new kittens! And we get good food and good company. Fresh homemade berry pie, grilled squash.



On the way home our audio book ended (Gregor the Overlander #5), and we had a full 45 minutes without fictional narration. Yikes. At first we felt withdrawals, but then we started to chat. I smiled to myself to hear Berkeley and Syd get reacquainted. He asked, "So what grade are you going into?" Soon they were laughing and joking around together. Why are those opportunities so rare? (Probably because these are the two least talkative kids, and they are usually dominated by the other chattier siblings)


So now rhe kids are tucked in bed earlier than they have been in three months. They have bathed, made tomorrow's lunches, set out tomorrow's clothes. And they each had a special blessing from their dad, to comfort and fortify them for the year ahead.

They are pretty well squared away. Tomorrow it will be time for me make some plans of my own.

nature's gift

Picking blackberries was always a pretty big part of every summer growing up here in Oregon. We gleaned nature's bounty, then canned the berries plain and as syrup. The plain berries would go into cobblers and pies throughout the year. The syrup was used on pancakes, over icecream, or as flavoring for homemade yogurt.

I would like to say I keep up these traditions, but in reality it has degenerated to a few quarts frozen each year, lots of smoothies and a couple of cobblers when they are in season.

This year we nearly missed it all together. The cool summer, recent rains, and lateness in the season made for slim pickings tonight. But of course we (I mean Mike) made grandma's cobbler.





I know these traditions are worth keeping alive, and I do try. But I am clearly not the pioneer woman my mother was. Whenever I do manage to bottle anything, it seems too precious to eat. And many of the things I freeze don't fulfill their imagined purpose of becoming fabulous pies, etc.

I guess I just want to do these things enough to remember how, and hopefully pass down the knowledge to my kids. If they want it.

GRANDMA'S BLACKBERRY COBBLER
Heat the oven to 425
Melt one cube of butter in a 9x13 pan
In a blender, mix the following:
1 cup milk
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 t. salt
1 T. baking powder
Pour mixture over bubbly butter.
Top with one quart of blackberries.
Bake 20 minutes.
Serve with ice cream (duh).

If you want it this season, you'd better hurry!

things that bring me joy:

~finding a good deal on something I actually need
~homemade birthday cards/coupon books
~giving unexpected gifts and/or the perfect gift
~road trips, complete with audio books
~the way my kids love each other
~books, and time to read them
~teaching someone who wants to learn
~spontaneous singing, dancing and/or piano playing
~people who let me be myself
~the Lord's unconditional love
~helping someone who really needed my help
~home cooked meals
~having my whole family home together
~treats on my doorstep
~when my kids open up about their deepest thoughts, hopes, and concerns
~a job well done
~time with my sweet husband

What brings you joy?