By Whim

By Appointment or By Whim, the Kenspeckle Letterpress is open for business (http://www.kenspeckleletterpress.com/). I should have checked on that before locating it in Duluth last Friday.We could only gaze in the glass between the door and artwork at the 19th Century presses and typefaces. Fortunately for our family, founders Rick Allen and Marian Lasky were in the Sivertson Gallery when we stopped there, and we were invited to experience the 5 cent tour with Rick. Though he thought he would bore our three sons, they had oodles of questions and were completely engaged in his stories, explanations, and processes. Each found various fascinating things and were astounded by Rick's depth and breadth of knowledge. We loved learning about upper case and lower case, Mark Twain, the three presses used for Rick's work, and the way some typefaces need brass and copper spacers filled in for fonts with uneven spaces. They were amazed at the numerous blocks used to create just a single illustration for Joyce Sidman's Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night. We experienced far more than a 5 cent tour.

Do check out the video recently created for the Perfect Duluth Day series: http://www.kenspeckleletterpress.com/blogspeckle/warrior-printress/our-three-minutes-of-fame/. It will give you a better idea of what happens in this incredible space.

Quilting Words

I accompanied my mom and aunt to one of their favorite quilt shops on the North Shore yesterday morning. They chattered about patterns and fabrics and the recipients of their latest projects. In the shop, they continued that banter, much to the amusement of the shop owners (also sisters) who kept suggesting fabrics and finding patterns and buttons. With our years of experience, a new pattern should not be necessary...yet that is what I bought (two, in fact), and we all want to to craft a new quilt design called Radiant. Now comes the thoughtful part: choosing the perfect fabrics.

Book Order Arrival

When I get a shipment notification message from our book vendor, I go to the office to see if it has arrived yet...and either bring it back or wait impatiently for it to arrive. We received two boxes on Wednesday, and the title I really wanted to read was on the top of the first box I opened. It was Marion Dane Bauer's new novel Little Dog, Lost. Three characters are each lost in a way, and each hopes for something. There is the title character, a dog named Buddy; her owner had to give her up due to a move. There is Mark, a boy living in the town to which Buddy comes; he has always wanted a dog. There is Mr. LaRue, the caretaker/owner of a large mansion in that town of Erthly; he lives a solitary, silent life.

Each character's story is told in verse. With a comfortable familiarity, Marion conversationally provides appropriate asides in which she directly addresses the reader:


"Do you know what 'scruff' means?
I'll tell you,
just in case you don't.
'Scruff' is another word for 'nape.'
Oops!
You don't know 'nape' either?
How silly of me.
It means the back of the neck.
Yes, I know.
I could have said so.
But 'scruff' is such a satisfying word,
don't you think?"

Clearly a dog-lover and dog-owner, Marion describes dog characteristics and mannerisms with an accuracy that helps the reader see just what she has created for the characters.

Buddy, the little dog, finds herself alone in a strange town, and she howls: "Bark! Bark! Bark! A-wooooo-ooo-ooo! Bark! Bark! Awooo!" When Mark lies awake, thinking about the dog park he hopes to plan for his town of Erthly, he hears that howl, only it sounds to him like, "Mark, Mark! I need yoooo-ooo-oou!"

Whether a person wants a dog or a boy or a comfortable home or people's acceptance, all have longings, and that is clearly expressed.

"So much longing.
So many lives
filled
with longing.

It's what stories - 
all our stories - 
are made of.

And what is longing
made of
except hope?"

Make Way for Courtyard Ducklings

The word spread quickly this week at school. The ducklings have hatched! One mallard has nested in the courtyard annually, and our school community hopes each year for her return. All of the 940+ students and 100+ staff members have found a reason to walk by the library courtyard, hoping to catch a glimpse of our own Mrs. Mallard and her ten adorable ducklings. She guides her line from one end of the courtyard to the other, weaving among the trees and occasionally taking everyone for a dip in the pond. The small waterfall proved to be a bit powerful and slippery for the ducklings; they found an upward route free from water. When she is agreeable (she flew to the roof when one attempt was made), gym mats will line the hallway to the exterior doors, and the ducklings and their mama will make their way to the unprotected world.

Package of Ducklings

A package arrived in yesterday's mail from the Extended Shelf Life Fan Club. Most folks are not aware of the club's existence, but those in office must know me well. Inside the mailer was an angelically wrapped square  green box. Inside the box was a bracelet of art snippets (and two pins) from my favorite picture book, Make Way for Ducklings. From one clasp to the other, the images include

• a mother and son reading on a bench in the Public Garden
• a bottle floating in the river when Mr. Mallard is leaving for his "trip to see what the rest of the river was like, further on"
• an egg from Mrs. Mallard's nest
• the 6th duckling (Ouack?) getting ready to step off the curb while Michael holds up traffic
• Mrs. Mallard's jaunty bill and head as she looks at the traffic Michael has kept at bay)
• Michael himself, whistle in his mouth

The pins show Mrs. Mallard and her brood quacking as Michael comes running and tweeting his whistle and the duckling looking up ate his father just after hatching.

What a treasure! Thanks to that club for such a wonderfully fitting gift. I wore them to school today in celebration and in honor of an annual event in the library courtyard. More on that tomorrow.

Two from One Girl Cookies

I love these ladies so much that I had to share them. Leona and Lucia emerged from my kitchen this week to rave reviews. Leona is a Raspberry Coconut Oat Bar, and it was impossible for me (and my test subjects/school colleagues) to have just a bite. Lucia, an Espresso Caramel Square with White & Dark Chocolate Swirl, took a bit more effort, but, mmmm, the result is delicious. Serving them on two of my favorite heirloom plates brings to mind the cooks and bakers who have shaped my kitchen experiences...Hazel, Helen Lucille, Mabel, Crystal, Ruthie, and my sweet mom, Sue. Someday I need to visit One Girl Cookies in person!

Map Weights

Third graders are finishing their unit on map-reading this week. There are so many things I take for granted as a map-user, things that need explanation for their understanding. So, I began the instruction with a review of terminology and a demonstration about ways to locate places. Common misunderstandings included

* What is meant by the "North Shore" of our state (aka "the Arrowhead")

* How the interstate highways cross the U.S.

* What is meant by "borders", as in "Which state borders our state at Moorhead?"

Two independent students choose to work in an isolated each week. They are quite proud of the way they display the map and wanted to be in this photograph! I just love watching their map skills develop.