Wednesday, October 31, 2012

tea with teddy

We fly out next week to celebrate Faye and Emer's birthday. Megs is busy planning a little lady and little man party. Can't wait.

ld and I bought them each a 'real' gift, but I like to stitch and glue a little something, too.

Guess what's in this bag?





Yup, Tea-to-go. Made from felt scraps and whatever I could find around the house. The bear is one of several my mother used to decorate her Christmas tree. I think she would approve of Teddy Beara re-locating to Wisconsin.



The hat I fashioned out of, you guessed it, cardboard and then covered it in fabric.

Hope Faye likes it. A lot of love with each imperfect stitch.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

spooks are coming. get ready.



Missing our little Wisconsin spooks. Waiting anxiously for pictures.

More pics of our Utah grandgirls over on GP.

Friday, October 26, 2012

preschool culture exchange

Jiao taught Cate's preschool about China yesterday.



Chopsticks instructions







Saturday, October 20, 2012

gaudium #999,000

Morning walk up the canyon.



excerpts from Autumn, by John Clare (1821)

And I do love the varied hue,

And I do love the browning plain;

And I do love each scene to view,

That’s mark’d with beauties of her reign.




I love the year’s decline, and love

Through rustling yellow shades to range,

O’er stubble land, ’neath willow grove,

To pause upon each varied change:




For every leaf, that twirls the breeze,

May useful hints and lessons give;

The falling leaves and fading trees

Will teach and caution us to live.


Tuesday, October 9, 2012

the case against bimbo pretty

Lots of discussions around my house on how to raise women of substance. I'm adding this to the conversation. I would link to the video but there's a big f-bomb in it. Google it if you want, it's pretty powerful, bad word notwithstanding.

“This, this is about my own some-day daughter. When you approach me, already stung-stayed with insecurity, begging, “Mom, will I be pretty? Will I be pretty?” I will wipe that question from your mouth like cheap lipstick and answer, “No! The word pretty is unworthy of everything you will be, and no child of mine will be contained in five letters. “You will be pretty intelligent, pretty creative, pretty amazing. But you, will never be merely ‘pretty’.”

--Katie Makkai (Pretty)

Being pretty is not any kind of achievement, really. And if it is all a woman has to recommend her then it becomes frustratingly painful when the looks go. And go they will. We all lose our youth, age fades us all.

But here's the thing, my whole life I have been surrounded by beautiful women. My mother was lovely and my own daughters, too. I have nieces, sisters in law, all of them very attractive. Physical beauty does draw you in at first glance.

But believe me when I say that there better be something behind that pretty face, because it really is only character and competence and caring that matters or endures.